FORT WAYNE, Indiana – Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has announced the appointment of a new trustee of Purdue University and the re-appointment of two current trustees.
Shawn A. Taylor was appointed for a three-year term, replacing Don Thompson, who resigned after 13 years on the board. Lawrence (Sonny) Beck and Malcolm DeKryger were reappointed to three-year terms.
Taylor, from Houston, is a graduate of the Purdue Krannert School of Management and received his Bachelor of Science degree with honors in 1982. A successful CEO, industry leader and entrepreneur, Taylor brings diverse business experience with expertise in the restaurant and food industry having owned, developed and operated 33 Taco Bells and subsequently eight Zaxby franchised restaurants. His company became the largest African-American owned Taco Bell franchise with sales of over $30 million and more than 500 employees.
In addition, Taylor has been a strategic advisor to franchise operations, helping guide companies to success and growth, and holds leadership positions on several advisory boards, including the School of Management’s Dean’s Advisory Council. Taylor was a limited partner of the 2017 World Series champion, Houston Astros Major League Baseball, from 2011 to 2017.
A determined and proactive national ambassador for diversity in the workforce, Taylor is passionate about influencing organizations on the benefits of organizational diversity and has successfully recruited, coached and developed minority groups to achieve long-term success.
Beck was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2013. He is a Purdue alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and a master’s degree in agricultural economics. He is CEO of Beck’s Superior Hybrids in Atlanta, Indiana, where his business philosophy emphasizes quality, service and the importance of agronomic research to the future welfare of the American farmer. Beck is a board member of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
DeKryger is one of three alumni trustees first elected in 2016. He earned a master’s degree from Purdue’s College of Agriculture in 1983. DeKryger is President and co-owner of Belstra Milling Co., an independent cattle feed company based in DeMotte, Indiana, and the general contractor and manager of “The Pig Adventure,” a working pig farm at Fair Oaks Farms that educates visitors about the pork industry.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a leading public research organization developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. For each of the last four years, Purdue has been ranked by US News & World Report as one of the 10 Most Innovative Universities in the United States, delivering world-changing research and extraordinary discoveries. Purdue is committed to real-world, hands-on and online learning, providing transformative education for all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, allowing more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops making the next big leap at https://stories.purdue.edu.
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