The University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business honored Mark Pollack as the 2016 Distinguished Alumni of the Year during an Oct. 19 award luncheon at the downtown Little Rock Marriott.

Pollack, president of Affirmative Risk Management, is a former member of the UALR College of Business Advisory Council, a current member of the UALR Foundation Fund Board, and a longtime supporter of the university.

More than 375 business professionals attended the event, which also recognized Thomas Dickinson, general manager of McGeorge Contracting Co., as this year’s winner of the Dean’s Award for Excellence.

Dickinson, a 2007 graduate of the UALR Executive MBA program, is a former member of the UALR Alumni Board, a current member of Rotary Club 99, a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Arkansas, the treasurer and vice president of the Arkansas Chapter of the Associated General Contractors, and a board member of the UALR Board of Visitors.

Related: Watch “A Day in the Life” by the UALR College of Business

Stephen Harrow Smith Dean of Business Jane Wayland announced the creation of the College of Business Alumni Board. Members of the board were recognized during the luncheon and include Brittney Allen, Whitney Campbell, Robert Grasby, Kyle Houston, Ivan Hudson, Gus Leeper, Rebecca McEachern, Mario Montenegro, Glen Ritta, Christa Rowland, Charley Swann, Abbey Vibhakar, Andrijana Vukovich, and J.C. Keeton.

Lynn Hamilton, president and general manager of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, served as the master of ceremonies. UALR College of Business Student Ambassador Kiauna Rome gave an inspiring talk about why she chose UALR and the impact the experience has had on her life.

In the upper right photo, UALR Chancellor Andrew Rogerson (center) congratulates award recipients Thomas Dickinson (left) and Mark Pollack (right) during the College of Business Distinguished Alumni Luncheon.