The Bethel College Wall of Fame recognizes successful Bethel College alumni who espouse the values of the college and serve as examples to the community. This year’s recipients will receive their awards at a special Alumni on the Town dinner at Carmela’s at Macri’s in South Bend, Ind. on Friday, Oct. 2. It’s all part of Bethel’s 2015 Homecoming Weekend.

Tania Grimes

Tania Grimes ’86, Director, Xavier School of Excellence

Tania Grimes entered Bethel College as a shy, first generation college student and left a pioneer in the education field. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Bethel in 1986, Grimes went on to earn a master’s degree in Elementary Education and certification in ESL and School Administration from Indiana University South Bend. From there, she began teaching in the South Bend Community School Corporation, where she’s served for 23 years and received many accolades for her work. She was named to Who’s Who of American Teachers three times, the 2006 Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year, and was selected by her peers as the school’s Teacher of the Year four times at four separate institutions (Monroe Elementary, Warren Elementary, Wilson Primary Center, and Warren Primary Center). Grimes was honored as the 2008 SBCSC Teacher of the Year, and was then selected as the 2009 Indiana State Teacher of the Year. She was also a nominee for the National Teacher of the Year.

In July 2011, Grimes became the director of Xavier School of Excellence, a charter school in South Bend, Ind. She has served on advisory boards for Indiana State Superintendents Tony Bennitt and Glenda Ritz, as well as for U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. She currently serves on a state Principal’s Advisory Panel for the Center for Quality Education and on the Education Cabinet for Indiana Speaker of the House Brian Bosma.

Grimes recently completed her requirements for an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at Walden University, and is expected to graduate in January of 2016. Grimes’ dissertation focuses on “Teacher Retention in Urban Charter Schools.”

Tammy Boetsma

Tamara Boetsma ’93, CEO of HMR Acquisition Company

Tammy Boetsma ’93, was born and raised in South Bend, Ind. Boetsma graduated from Bethel College’s adult program, obtaining her bachelor’s degree in two-and-a-half years while working full-time as a Bob Evans server. Boetsma went on to take and pass the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) exam on her first attempt. She then began working as a CPA. In 2000, Boetsma left her career in public accounting and joined HMR Acquisition Company, Inc., (a company that operates 20 restaurants including Hacienda, LaSenorita, and BarBici Italian Street Food) as Vice President of Finance. By 2004, she was promoted to CFO of the company. In 2010, she was named Executive Vice President/CFO, and then in 2014 was promoted to CEO.

Boetsma is a vice chairperson on HMR’s board of directors. She also serves as treasurer for the Boys & Girls Club of St. Joseph County and is a member of the AICPA and Indiana CPA Society. She is married and has one son and three grandchildren.

 

Thomas_KrakeThomas Krake ’78, Vice President, Finance, Eli Lilly and Company

In 1983, he completed his master of business administration degree at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Finance.  He has 30 years of global financial experience in the pharmaceutical industry, holding positions in global sales and marketing, global research and development, corporate mergers and acquisitions, corporate venture capital and corporate treasury, among others. He retired from Lilly at the beginning of 2013. While his various roles included successful development of strategies and implementation of operational plans worldwide, he views his most significant career legacy as the mentoring and development of global talent and future leaders, which he continues to do post-retirement.

Krake’s broad geographic experience includes living outside of the United States for 11 years and having held chief financial officer positions with responsibilities for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, parts of North America, and Global Research and Development. Lilly is a 139-year-old pharmaceutical company of almost 40,000 employees with it’s products marketed in 125 countries.

Andrew ClydeAndrew Clyde ’85, CEO of Clyde Armory

Andrew Clyde received his bachelor’s degree from Bethel College and graduated with cum laude honors in 1985. He founded Clyde Armory in 1991 and proceeded to earn his MBA from the Terry School of Business at the University of Georgia in 1999. Clyde became the CEO of Clyde Armory, Inc., which he built into a business with $12 million in sales and 30 employees.

Clyde Armory has received a number of accolades, winning “distributor of the year” awards from various industry suppliers. In 2014, Clyde Armory was named to the “Bulldog 100,” a list that recognizes the 100 fastest growing businesses owned by University of Georgia alumni.

Clyde retired as a commander from the U.S. Navy Reserves in 2013, following a 28 year career. During his time as a commander, Clyde was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, four Navy Commendation Medals, and one Navy Achievement Medal for his outstanding service.

Clyde now serves as a member of the board of directors for the WMSL Christian radio station in Athens, Ga., and on the board of directors of Clark Federal Credit Union. He purchased and donated a 5,000-squre-foot facility to Mercy Health Center and Athens Crisis Pregnancy Center in 2013. Clyde is actively involved in political campaigns for political leaders who are committed to conservative Constitutional values and religious liberty. He has also held and maintained many significant leadership roles in his church.