Kennesaw State’s Michael J. Coles College of Business inducted two business leaders into its Hall of Fame Wednesday, Oct. 30, for their longtime support of the school.
“The Coles College of Business is proud to recognize these notable men and women who have paved remarkable paths in business and industry and serve as role models to future generations,” Interim Dean of the Coles College of Business Robin Cheramie said.
Founder and CEO of Silver Spirit Global Sid Mookerji and owner and president of Avid Wealth Management GroupRichard Taylor were inducted for their work with entrepreneurship, leadership and advancing personal integrity, according to KSU News.
“Honorees are inspirational, and their actions compel others to act,” Cheramie said. “Through their leadership and service, these professionals demonstrate their commitment to innovation, community service and global engagement — elements that speak to the heart of the Coles College mission.”
Cheramie said that inductees like Mookerji and Taylor impact the success of KSU students in a variety of ways, such as providing students with internships and scholarships.
Inductees sometimes mentor students and have acted as keynote speakers or guest lecturers in the past at the Coles College.
Cheramie said that both Mookerji and Taylor actively work with the Shore Entrepreneurship Center and Coles College’s School of Accountancy, and that the school looks forward to a continued partnership with them for years to come.
Before selling the company in 2016, Mookerji previously co-founded Software Programs International. SPI was responsible for providing internships and job opportunities to Coles College students, according to KSU News.
Mookerji then became a guest lecturer within the school and mentored students seeking their Master’s of Business Administration degree and those working in Coles College’s Robin and Doug Shore Entrepreneurship Center.
Taylor has used his position to recruit Coles students to work at his company annually since 1981. He has hireddozens of KSU alumni to work for him that have gone on to become highly successful, according to KSU News.
A certified public accountant for over 40 years, Taylor was also a member of the School of Accountancy’s advisory board for 26 years.
The Coles Hall of Fame was established in 2015 to recognize the achievements and donations made by local business leaders who “embody personal integrity, community leadership and an entrepreneurial spirit,” according to the Coles College website.
To view the full list of Coles College Hall of Fame inductees, their biographies and the companies theyrepresent, visit the “About Coles” section of the Coles College website.
