Joel Anderson and Kenneth Kitts
FLORENCE-Joel Anderson was awarded an honorary bachelor of business administration degree at the annual College of Business Awards Banquet Monday night, April 13.
Anderson said receiving the degree meant quite a lot to him. “I was truly honored to receive an honorary bachelor’s degree from UNA. And it happened on the 50th anniversary of when I would have graduated. I can now grace a wall in my office with a degree I am sincerely proud of, Roar Lions!”
The UNA Board of Trustees approved the honorary degree for Anderson at their March meeting. Marty Abroms, UNA Board of Trustees president, said the degree for Anderson is a well-deserved honor.
Marty Abroms, UNA Board of Trustees president
“Most everyone knows about the impact Joel has made on the Shoals and UNA,” Abroms said. “But what most folks do not know is that Joel has had a very significant impact on entire industries on a national and international level, primarily the pyrotechnics and wholesale distribution industries. He was an innovator of the efficient use of computer technology in the magazine and book distribution business and we can thank Joel for making the importation and use of consumer fireworks one of the safest industries in North America thanks in large part to his promoting and founding of the American Fireworks Standards Laboratories.”
Anderson is the chairman and director of Anderson Companies, and he serves as the chairman of Anderson Media. He was born and raised in Florence and attended UNA for a brief time in 1963-64; he left college to pursue business interests after his father’s death. He currently serves on the UNA Board of Trustees as well as many other boards. Anderson is also very active in many civic and philanthropic activities centered on efforts to improve lives through education.
MEDIA RELEASE/UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA/BRYAN RACHAL, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND MEDIA RELATIONS
1 comment
Congratulations!