Celebrating CBAT’s 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees
East Tennessee State University’s College of Business and Technology inducted five people into its Hall of Fame at a recent awards ceremony. The college presented awards in four categories: Excellence, Lifetime Achievement, Faculty Lifetime Achievement Awards and Horizon, honoring inductees who have earned noteworthy achievements in business, technology and community service. These inductees exemplify the College's mission to educate, innovate, collaborate, and inspire, shaping the future of their industries and making a lasting impact on society.
Joe LaPorte
Jeffrey Fraley
Dr. Gary Burkette
Dr. Ugur Yavas
Dr. Heather Cook
Excellence Award: Joe LaPorte
Joe LaPorte is a seasoned banking executive and community leader from Elizabethton currently serving as chairman of the Board and Trust Officer at Citizens Bank. LaPorte’s distinguished career, marked by leadership roles in local organizations and significant contributions to economic development, has earned him accolades including the 1995 "40 Under Forty" award and his 2023 induction into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. He is supported by his wife Hope and their three children, remaining dedicated to his family, profession and community throughout his career.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Jeffrey Fraley
Jeff Fraley earned a Bachelor of Science in computer and information sciences from ETSU in 1984 and spent 33 years at Eastman Chemical Company, where he held various roles in IT, accounting, research, and acquisition integration, eventually retiring as a director in 2018. During his time at Eastman, he played a key role in developing the company's first personal computer-based data analytics system and maintained a strong relationship with ETSU, serving on the Department of Computing’s advisory board and helping integrate SAP into the curriculum. After retiring, he fulfilled a longtime goal by returning to ETSU as an instructor, becoming the Department’s first Professor of Practice and mentoring students in both technical and professional skills.
Faculty Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Gary Burkette
Dr. Gary D. Burkette's career in accounting and academia spans decades, marked by his leadership as Chair of the Department of Accountancy at ETSU from 2006 to 2020. After earning his Ph.D. and holding roles in both public accounting and academic administration, Dr. Burkette joined ETSU in 1992, where he became a key figure in the department, winning the College of Business Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching twice and mentoring Beta Alpha Psi students for over 15 years. His dedication to maintaining the department’s AACSB accreditation and his involvement in professional organizations solidified his legacy before his retirement in 2020.
Faculty Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Ugur Yavas
Dr. Uğur Yavaş, born in Istanbul, Turkey, is a distinguished marketing professor who served at ETSU from 1987 until his retirement, earning the Faculty Excellence Award for Research seven times. He holds a Ph.D. from Georgia State University and has taught at numerous institutions, including King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, contributing extensively to marketing research with over 150 conference presentations and multiple awards. Residing in Johnson City, TN, with his wife Ayse, Dr. Yavaş is a proud father and grandfather, leaving a lasting impact on marketing education and scholarship.
Horizon Award: Dr. Heather Cook
Dr. Heather Cook, founder of Cook & Company, specializes in managing complex milestone celebrations, including notable events like Bays Mountain Park's 50th anniversary and the MATE ROV's 20th World Championship. With a background in marketing, public relations, and nonprofit leadership, she has also held key roles such as Director of Marketing for Kingsport and Executive Director of Healthy Kingsport. Dr. Cook, a member of ETSU’s inaugural class of Roan Scholars, holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from ETSU and remains active in her community, serving on various boards and speaking at national conventions.
East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.
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