Marketing Alumnus Honored With Two Awards
Todd Kennedy ’69 recognized at Founder’s Day Celebration.
11/06/2014 3:30 PM
By Lindsay Anderson
At last month’s Founder’s Day Celebration, Foster College of Business alumnus and National Council of Advisors member Todd Kennedy ’69 was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award and inducted into the Centurion Society.
The Bradley University Alumni Association adopted the Distinguished Alumni Award program in the spring of 1952 to recognize those alumni who bring highest distinction to themselves, their community and to Bradley University. Thirty years later, to commemorate the University’s 85th anniversary, the Bradley University Board of Trustees established the Centurion Society to honor outstanding Bradley alumni for their career achievements in business, public life, and the professions.
“To receive both awards, I was a little taken aback, and it’s pretty amazing,” Kennedy said. “Bradley was a turning point for me. The education benefited me and now I have the opportunity to significantly benefit other peoples’ lives as result.”
Reflecting on his Bradley experience Kennedy continued, “Studying and working at the Foster College of Business was incredible. I knew I’d graduate, but I was also learning critical workforce abilities such as how to make decisions, how to fulfill commitments, how to stay focused and most importantly, how to never give up.”
Kennedy feels his Bradley University education and experience opened up an array of opportunities for him, and has some words of wisdom for current and prospective students.
“Don’t take a job for the dollars,” Kennedy remarked. “Take a job you’re proud of and can’t believe you’re getting paid to do. Your life will be successful.”
Foster College of Business Dean Darrell Radson also commented on Kennedy winning both of his awards.
“Kennedy has and continues to be an innovative business leader in his rapidly-changing field, as well as a leader and advocate for education in manufacturing,” Radson said. “His leadership and achievements truly represent what both the Centurion Society and the Distinguished Alumnus Award are all about.”
Kennedy is currently the President/CEO of McClarin Plastics, Inc., a premier plastics manufacturer in Hanover, Pennsylvania. He is considered an innovator and partner to both industry and education.
Under his leadership, his company has received a number of awards including 2005 Manufacturer of the Year by the Manufacturer’s Association of South Central Pennsylvania and the 2007 Governor’s Workforce Development Award; and was named one of 2008’s top 50 Fastest Growing Companies by the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal.
In 2007, the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce recognized Kennedy as the “Entrepreneur of the Year.” He has also volunteered his time to a number of organizations and serves on the boards of York College and the Hanover YMCA.
Kennedy graduated from Bradley in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing. He also holds two patents and has 47 patent citations.