Jim Byrne Gives—and Receives—Awards

Jim Byrne, executive director of The Beard Institute, served for 22 years on the Lennox International Board of Directors. His professional journey, which carried him through the then-new fields of computers and technology, started with his graduation from Duquesne’s School of Business in 1957.

Both Byrne’s roots and his legacy recently have been recognized.

On March 21, Byrne received the Distinguished Alumni Award at the 30^th annual senior/alumni business school luncheon.

As executive director of The Beard Institute, Byrne oversees programs and events related to business ethics, sustainability and responsible financial management for faculty and students as well as for alumni and members of the business community.

Byrne joined Duquesne in 2007 after spending a career in the technology sector, beginning with General Electric in New York and culminating in his service as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the international software firm OpenConnect. Along the way, he served as senior vice president of semiconductor operations for United Technologies Corp., vice president and general manager of the data communications division of Harris Corp., and president of Harris Adacom Corp.

In addition to serving on four publicly traded U.S. boards, Byrne was invited to serve on the boards of corporations in Mexico, Hong Kong, Germany, France, Israel and the United Kingdom. He also was a founder and board member of the Microelectronics and Computer Corp., a consortium of American companies collaborating in advanced research and development.

In honor of his years of leadership and contributions to Lennox International and to the advancement of the School of Business, Lennox and Donahue Graduate School of Business established the James J. Byrne Award for Responsible Leadership. The first recipient of the award was selected in February from Duquesne’s part-time MBA students. The inaugural recipient, Amanda Morel, is public affairs manager at BNY Mellon. She works in the Downtown headquarters.

“(Amanda’s) dedication to social responsibility in business, her track record of leadership in community service, and her strong academic performance in the Master of Business Administration program showcased her commitment to making a contribution in business and society,” said Dr. Dorene Ciletti, assistant professor of marketing and sports marketing, who is a member of the selection committee.

This commitment, plus outstanding academic performance, community service, excellent citizenship and leadership are important considerations for the Byrne Award, according to Ciletti.