俄亥俄大学校友荣获领导遗产奖

The Walter Center for Strategic Leadership has named Tim Holt the 2024/2025 recipient of its prestigious Leadership Legacy Award.

The award honors Holt's long-standing commitment to Ohio University’s College of Business and his trailblazing role in supporting student experiences through the Wandell Fellows program.

The award was presented to Holt in Miami, Florida, during the Wandell Fellows’ leadership development trip. Students, staff, and alumni gathered to celebrate not only Holt’s continued generosity but also the impact his early support has had on generations of Bobcats.

Holt, a 1997 Ohio University graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration, currently serves as the President and CEO of R2 Technologies, an innovation-focused company in the aesthetic wellness industry. Despite leading a company at the forefront of skin health and inflammation reduction, Holt has never strayed far from his alma mater. He has helped redefine what alumni engagement can look like.

“It’s such an honor to receive the prestigious Legacy Leadership Award, presented by staff and students from the Walter Center,” Holt said. “I’m grateful for the education and experience received at Ohio University, and it’s so important to me to promote and support broad-based and diverse experiences for tomorrow’s leaders! I also enjoyed spending time with current Wandell Fellows students and discussing my career journey and lessons learned.”

Supporting OHIO students

The recognition reflects a legacy that began years ago, when Holt became the first Ohio University alumnus to sponsor an experiential learning trip for students. Long before the Wandell Fellows name or program structure had taken shape, Holt stepped forward and funded what would eventually become the annual senior trip. That bold first move changed everything.

“Tim was the very first alumnus to step up and want to offer students the opportunity to gain a different level of exposure by sponsoring the Select Leaders/Wandell Fellows annual senior trips,” said Tim Reynolds, former director of the Walter Center. “He pioneered the path for others to be inspired to get more involved, with their time and through sponsorships and gifts.”

Since then, Holt has continued to fund the Wandell Fellows senior trips, which are now a program's flagship feature. These immersive experiences have expanded in scale and reach, taking students across the U.S. and now internationally, exposing them to a wide range of industries, leadership models, and cultural contexts. His early support didn’t just launch a trip—it launched a transformative experience.

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As the program evolved, so did Holt’s involvement. He has hosted students in cities from coast to coast and has remained a consistent advocate for providing diverse, high-impact learning opportunities. In December, when the Wandell Fellows junior class traveled to Miami, Holt once again made time to meet with students—this time at his home in Florida and then joined the group at a Florida Panthers game—sharing advice, listening to their stories, and connecting over the values that define strong leadership.

“It’s inspiring to learn how he started in Silicon Valley, from the early stages of businesses to his current success with multiple thriving companies,” said Ryan Maidenberg, a current Wandell Fellow in the junior class.

“We’re so grateful to have the opportunity to explore different parts of the world. Holt’s generosity and willingness to engage with students have been invaluable,” added Grace Cantwell, vice president of recruitment for the Wandell Fellows.

Beyond sponsoring trips, Holt has served as a board member for the College of Business and participated in numerous executive engagement sessions, both in-person and virtual. His support isn’t passive—it’s personal. He shows up, listens, offers guidance, and genuinely invests in student success.

That impact is lasting. Holt's early commitment inspired other alumni to become donors, mentors, and advocates. The ripple effect of his decision to give first and give meaningfully can be seen across the Walter Center's initiatives and in the experiences of students who benefit each year.

Now, Holt joins a distinguished list of Leadership Legacy Award recipients, including Tony Marino, Frank Zammataro, Betsy Lancaster, Tim and Tammy Reynolds, and Greg Moran. But his legacy stands apart, not just as a leader but as a pioneer.

From a single sponsorship act to shaping the future of alumni engagement, Tim Holt’s influence is embedded in the DNA of the Wandell Fellows program and the Walter Center as a whole. His leadership isn’t symbolic—it’s lived and continues to open doors for students every year.