Musser Excellence In Leadership Award

Dr. M. Moshe Porat, Dean, The Fox School of Business
2003 Musser Awards Speech

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I’m delighted to welcome all of you to our seventh annual celebration of excellence in leadership.

The Musser Award program represents The Fox School’s opportunity to honor a number of distinguished individuals who demonstrate each day the importance of being a role model. A mentor. A leader.

The Fox School is the largest provider of management talent to this region and is proud to educate the students who become the business and management leaders, the professionals and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

The majority of our students come from this region and many of them stay here after they graduate and continue to make a difference throughout the region and beyond, for years to come. This is why recognizing leadership excellence for this region is the mission of the Musser Award program at the Fox School.

In addition to tonight’s honoree, Dennis Alter, we also honor representatives of each of our stakeholders here at The Fox School – teachers, researchers, administrators, students and alumni.

Each one of tonight’s awardees does outstanding work in their professional responsibilities. They share their knowledge and expertise with those around them – inside and outside of the classroom.

They don’t do this because it is required of them. They do it because they truly care about the people they work with, the students they teach, the scholarship they engage in and, of course, the community of which they are members.

Tonight’s honorees are people we can all look up to and aspire to become. In their own special way, everyone being honored this evening is making our community a much better place.

Each year, for the past seven years, I have been astounded by the accomplishments of the award recipients, especially the keynote honoree. In the past, we have honored distinguished business leaders Bill Avery, John Bogle, Sidney Kimmel, Bill Rouse, Felix Zandman, and, of course, and Pete Musser, who the award is named after. All of these men have epitomized the ideal and vision for this award. Their leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and foresight for their businesses and the community, have put them at the vanguard of contemporary business society.

This year is no different, yet this year is also extra special.

Dennis Alter is an extraordinary role model and in my opinion, a true Renaissance man. He comes from modest beginnings, the son of teachers and has achieved tremendous professional and personal success – something we hope many of our graduates are able to achieve.

Indeed, we are extremely proud to present this award to a distinguished business leader who is also a Temple alumnus, this is the first time we have had this honor in the history of the award.

I must say, there has been a considerable amount of research and controversy into what constitutes a good business leader in today’s society. As we know, the past few years have been rampant with corporate scandals, and confidence in corporate America has been shaken somewhat. However, good business leaders are still around.

Many scholars agree that successful and positive leadership boils down to three key attributes – strong values, good judgment, and the ability to make challenging, difficult decisions.

Dennis indeed epitomizes what the studies have shown, and his background and accomplishments are truly special. Dennis acquired his good values from his parents. Time and wealth have improved Dennis. He has taken the values instilled in him into his business, into his dealings with employees, to his customers – especially women and small business owners – and to the community. Just like a good teacher, Dennis has an uncanny ability to anticipate what is needed and to use his leadership and resources to fulfill those needs.

Dennis also shows good judgment. He is an expert in balancing his successful business pursuits with his family life, his health and fitness activities, and his support of community endeavors.

His ability to make challenging decisions enabled his company to successfully enter into highly competitive financial services business long before others, yet Dennis consistently shows courage and determination in all his dealings.

Dennis also is one who does not seek the limelight, yet he works tirelessly to change the lives of the people who work for him and the organizations he supports through his philanthropic pursuits – whether it is the arts, sports, healthcare or education. He is a true change agent.

It is impossible to count all of the people who have benefited from Dennis’ commitment to the community. We are proud and honored to have such a relationship with Dennis Alter and Advanta and benefit from their generosity.

Dennis, you have changed the lives of many here at The Fox School forever. You truly exemplify the ideal of the Musser Award for Excellence in Leadership – that is, achieving extraordinary success in business that also benefits the larger community.

Congratulations Dennis, to you and your family.

M. Moshe Porat

For more information, contact The Fox School:
215.204.8118
nancy.lerner@temple.edu