Joseph C. Woodford of Woodford Manufacturing will receive the UCCS College of Business Lifetime Entrepreneurship Award at an April 29 campus luncheon.
Woodford will be recognized for his dedication to empowering individuals and improving the quality of life in the Pikes Peak region. During his 35 years as president and CEO of Woodford Manufacturing Company, a manufacturer of specialty plumbing products, he transformed areas such as employee profit sharing, quality control, marketing and purchasing to help the company become a market leader. He built ethics and integrity into the governing principles of the business and continues to serve as its board chairman.
“Through this award, the College of Business underscores the kind of ethical, engaged, entrepreneurial leader we want our business students to become” Venkat Reddy, dean, College of Business, said. “By following the lead of those such as Joe Woodford, they can build their own successful futures.”
The award luncheon is a fundraising event to support the College of Business scholarships and efforts to strengthen alumni, student, college, and community connections. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. April 29 in Berger Hall. Dean’s Circle sponsors of the award luncheon are American National Bank, Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, and the UCCS College of Business.
Woodford assumed leadership of the family-owned company in 1972. He moved the company from Des Moines, Iowa, to Colorado Springs in the late 1970s, contributing to the economic growth of the region and providing employment for numerous Colorado Springs residents, many of whom have been loyal employees for more than 30 years.
Woodford also founded the Woodford Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes individual freedom and economic literacy. He led the establishment of the UCCS Center for the Study of Government and the Individual and continues to fund the center. To assist others in starting their own small businesses, he helped establish the Pikes Peak Minority Business Foundation and Peak Entrepreneurs. As a community activist, Woodford also is involved in many other community organizations, including United Way, Urban League, Goodwill Industries, Myron Stratton Home, Springs Youth Challenge, Penrose-St. Francis Hospital, Red Cross, Silver Key, and Leadership Pikes Peak.
The luncheon keynote speaker is Thomas Duening, El Pomar Chair of Business & Entrepreneurship. Before joining UCCS in Sept. 2009, Duening was the director of the Entrepreneurial Programs Office in the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State University. He also founded the Arizona Technology Investor Forum. Prior to that, he served for nine years as an assistant dean at the C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. Duening works closely with local business organizations and leaders to promote economic development in our community. He is the author of numerous journal articles and 12 books on business, management, and entrepreneurship.
— Jana Hyde
I grew up with Joe and this is not surprising to me. He has always been a caring and giving person. I am so happy that he is being rewarded for all his efforts. What a country this would be if more people were like him.
I just met Joe at his presentation breakfast for Bob Cutter. Didn’t know much about him until then and subsequently researching this fascinating citizen of our beloved Colorado Springs. If I had ten of him I could rule the world!
Utmost respect for Joeseph as a person and employer. Woodford Mfg always represented Quality in products and Company perception.