UA’s Manderson Honors Forensic Consulting Firm, Southern Co. Employees

TUSCALOOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Manderson Graduate School of Business at the Culverhouse College of Commerce named Accounting, Economics & Appraisals Group, LLC its Manderson Partner of the Year.

The award was presented at Manderson’s recent Speakers Edge luncheon. The annual luncheon marks the conclusion of orientation activities for incoming MBA students.

Activities included judged presentations of managerial dilemmas and business solutions by MBA students and student teams.

AEA Group is a consulting firm based in Birmingham that specializes in forensic investigations and has locations throughout the Southeast.

The Manderson Alumni of the Year Awards were presented to three Southern Company employees, Gary Kerr, Scott Nix and Clay Rikard.

“We are fortunate to have the support of AEA and our other corporate partners here at the Culverhouse and Manderson,” said Dr. Brian Gray, interim dean of the Culverhouse College of Commerce. “This award is a way for us to recognize the commitments and opportunities these companies provide to our students and for their efforts to help our students and faculty achieve greater success.”

“AEA is honored to be recognized as the Manderson Graduate School of Business Partner of the Year,” said Les Alexander, CEO and president of AEA Group. “We have tremendous success hiring MBA graduates from The University of Alabama. It’s a great program, and we look forward to continuing our strong relationship with Culverhouse, Manderson and the University.”

In selecting a winner, Manderson considers support of key initiatives inside the school, length of engagement with the College and surprising, extraordinary activities that advance the graduate program experience for students and faculty.

The Manderson Corporate Partner of the Year award was first initiated in 2009 to acknowledge a company that has or continues to have a significant impact on the Manderson MBA program and the lives of its students. Previous winners of the award include Procter & Gamble, BBVA Compass, Cigna-HealthSpring and most recently, in 2014, Georgia Pacific.