Don Gher was humbled.

Gher, managing director and chief investment officer of Coldstream Capital Management, received Oct. 23 the Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2003.

“I feel flattered and humbled” to receive the award, Gher said. “I certainly didn’t expect it.”

Gher began his investment career in 1974 after earning his bachelor of science degree in business from Eastern. Currently, Gher, a founder of Coldstream, is also chairman of the board.

Since he graduated, Gher has been in touch with Eastern.

He has been on the Business Advice Board for six years, the Alumni Association Board of Directors for about a year and a half and recently become a member of the EIU Foundation.

Additionally, Gher stops by classrooms and meets with professors and students while in town on business.

“When you travel two thousand miles for a board meeting, it’s nice to do some other things and make the trip worth while.”

Gher said he lectured to four classes last Thursday.

He said he is typically on campus three times a year for board meetings. If there are business classes professors think he would be useful at and his schedule permits, Gher stops by.

“Also, I keep in touch with professors to talk about real world standings.”

Michael Boorom, department chair for the School of Business, said the award began around the late 1970s.

It is awarded once a year “to honor an alum for both accomplishments in business and things they have done for the school (of business) and Eastern,” he said.

The candidate for the award is selected by “mainly just myself, but I got input from the Business Advisory Board.”

“I keep track of what all business alums are doing and select from that.”

The main reason he received the award was because “Don’s been an executive in residence, which means he speaks to students in several classes, and stays involved mainly with faculty and financial students.”

Gher gives the school advice, Boorom said. The school asks several business alumni for advice and he is one who has helped.

Also, Boorom said Gher has a private wealth management company which puts out a newsletter and Gher sends copies to the school.

“It keeps us up with what is going on in the stock market and the securities industry,” Boorom said.

One future goal of the business school right now include having a securities analysis lab, where students are able to analyze companies and their earnings on a database, Boorom said. Legally they cannot trade, but the students will have the opportunity to learn and get experience.

Campus Editor Jennifer Chiariello can be reached [email protected].