Four outstanding graduates of the University of Utah and two honorary alumni were recognized with 2015 Founders Day Awards in February.
The recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Awards were Gregory J. Goff BS’78 MBA’81, a leader in the energy sector; Brent C. James BS’74 BS’76 MD’78 MSt’84, an expert in health care delivery; Gretchen W. McClain BS’84, an accomplished aerospace engineer; and Clayton J. Parr BS’60 MS’65 JD’68, a widely respected natural resources lawyer. John and Melody Taftwere presented with the 2015 Honorary Alumni Award. The Founders Day awards are the highest honor the University of Utah Alumni Association gives to U graduates and friends, in recognition of their outstanding professional achievements and/ or public service, as well as their support of the University.
Gregory J. Goff
After receiving his MBA, Goff was hired by Conoco Phillips, where he held senior leadership positions including senior vice president of the commercial division; managing director and chief executive officer for Conoco JET Nordic (based in Stockholm, Sweden); and president of the international downstream division (based in London). In 2010, he joined Tesoro as president and chief executive officer.
Since he became CEO, the company’s stock and growth have soared, and in 2012, chiefist.com ranked him the No. 1 mid-cap CEO based on the previous two years’ metrics. In addition to donating his time as a member of the national advisory board for the U’s David Eccles School of Business, Goff has also generously donated to the school for decades.
Brent C. James
James is recognized as being among the most influential leaders in health care nationally and has often testified before congressional committees. He serves as chief quality officer at Intermountain Healthcare, and he also teaches at Harvard University, Tulane University, the University of Sydney, and the University of Utah.
Trained and established as a surgeon in Boston, James returned to Utah from Harvard and joined Intermountain in 1987. As the leader of Intermountain’s Institute for Health Care Delivery Research, which offers advanced training program courses for health care executives, James has instructed thousands of health care leaders from throughout the world.