More alumni move to head of the class

Sun Devil 100 celebrates the achievements of Arizona State University alumni who own or lead successful, innovative businesses across the globe. Spanning industries and locations, ASU entrepreneurs possess a history of enterprise, vision, and leadership. This special awards program was instituted to invite these innovative leaders back to campus for a celebration in their honor. The Sun Devil Class of 2017 is an elite group of talented business leaders who exemplify the spirit of ASU as the New American University.

We are proud to welcome the third group of alumni entrepreneurs and business leaders to the Sun Devil 100. Each year, the ASU Alumni Association celebrates the exceptional achievements of Sun Devil-owned and Sun Devil-led businesses around the world.

In April, the Sun Devil 100 welcomed 34 inductees — including 23 W. P. Carey alumni, three of whom produced the highest business growth rates among all inductees:

Carson Holmquist (BS Management '08)
CEO, Stream Logistics
1,852.32 percent business growth rate

Jonathan Beekman (BS Economics/Finance, BA Spanish '02)
CEO, Launchpad Inc./Man Crates
776.06 percent business growth rate

Matthew Michalowski (BS Finance '09)
President and Owner, PXL Brothers
365.11 percent business growth rate

This year's honorees came from a range of industries. They are pioneers and initiators of change. They are corporate leaders and entrepreneurs. They have founded companies and turned businesses around.

One of the notable traits of this group, like the two before it, is the inductees are addressing key business and community issues, in fields that range from online community management, software for legal professionals, and tax planning to moving/logistics and energy-efficient lighting solutions. Their work demonstrates how they engage with and improve the community that surrounds them. The Sun Devil 100 Class of 2017 find success by leveraging their ASU connections to operate efficiently and creatively.

A startup doesn't have to be rocket science

A former NASA engineer preparing astronauts for future space missions, Deirdre Morhet (MBA '07) helps small businesses with inefficiencies to grow into the future. The 360-degree career change happened gradually after Morhet left NASA in Houston for Intel in Arizona. At the same time, she started a small company with her sister, which inspired Morhet to learn more about small business ownership. She enrolled at ASU to earn her MBA in accounting and finance, adding to her undergrad and grad degrees in industrial engineering.

"It was during my time at ASU that I launched BASC Expertise out of my home," says Morhet, whose business venture started with a class paper that focused on tax preparation for small companies. Morhet continues to work with small businesses with 10 or fewer employees, as well as individuals, still providing sales and tax preparation, in addition to offering accounting, payroll services, QuickBooks setup and training, financial statements, entity formation, and business consultation.

Proximity influences growth and internships

Kimothy Taylor (BLS Liberal Studies '08, MBA '13) relocated his company, Ipro, from north Phoenix to the well–located Papago Technology Center in Tempe, Ariz., making room for business growth — 29.57 percent growth rate — and bringing ASU's talent pool close.

"There are a lot of skilled workers at the university," says Taylor, who will continue leading the recently acquired software company as its president and chief operations officer. "To grow Ipro, we can recruit responsible, educated interns who learn quickly and apply what they've learned. They get our training, and with enthusiasm and effort, can rise to the top of our talent pool."

Learn more about the Sun Devil 100: alumni.asu.edu/sd100class2017