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IM native receives Distinguished Alumni Award from LSSU School of Business

SAULT STE. MARIE – Lake Superior State University’s Lukenda School of Business has presented its 15th Distinguished Alumni Award to Heather (Benjamin) Verhagen, a senior manager at the big four international professional services firm Deloitte and Touche LPP in Milwaukee.

Verhagen accepted her honor during the school’s annual graduate recognition dinner at The Crossings at Sault Ste. Marie Golf Course in Sault Ste. Marie.

On hand to see their daughter get the business school’s highest recognition were Gary and Dee Benjamin of Iron Mountain. Gary Benjamin received the award himself in 2007. Heather Verhagen is the award’s youngest recipient.

The citation recognizes Verhagen’s career in banking and accounting for such industry luminaries such as KPMG, Discover Financial Services, Associated Banc-Corp, and, since 2012, Deloitte & Touche LPP.

At Deloitte, she is a senior manager in the audit and enterprise risk services with a primary focus on business risk for bank and financial services clients. Her role is to provide guidance and support services to Deloitte’s banking and financial services clients regarding risk management over regulatory and legal requirements.

Verhagen graduated in 2001, with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, obtained her CPA license in Michigan and Illinois in 2003, and earned a master’s in business administration from Michigan State University in 2006.

“It is important to recognize the support and relationship that we have gained from our professors at LSSU. Having smaller class sizes, LSSU students receive personal attention from our professors. Our professors truly take an interest our development and success, not only when we are students, but after graduation as well,” Verhagen said. “It is especially important that we continually give back to our alma mater, recognizing that our LSSU foundation is essential in our career development and future success.”

Verhagen’s parents, Gary and Dee Benjamin of Iron Mountain, graduated from LSSU in 1970 and 1971, respectively. Gary is a former member of the LSSU Board of Trustees and a 2001 recipient of the LSSU Alumni Association’s Outstanding Alumnus Award. Heather received the Association’s Paul Ripley Young Alumna Award in 2012.

“The Lukenda School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes significant personal and professional accomplishments of alums that serve as leaders and set an inspiring example for our students,” said Prof. Madan Saluja during the introduction of his former student. “We also look for a continuous involvement in the support of the university and its school of business.”

Indeed, Verhagen remains connected to her alma mater, returning to campus regularly for Great Lake State Weekend and special events. As a former member of LSSU Students in Free Enterprise (today known as Enactus), she has participated as a SIFE judge in Chicago and sponsors dinners/happy hours for LSSU students when they are in Chicago and when she visits Sault Ste. Marie.

When Verhagen is not traveling across the country for work, she lives on the Fox River in Waterford, Wis., with her husband, Judd.

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