Rand Berney new executive in residence at College of Business Administration
Monday, March 25, 2013
MANHATTAN -- Rand Berney has been appointed executive in residence at Kansas State University's College of Business Administration. Berney is retired from ConocoPhillips, where his last position was senior vice president, corporate shared services from 2009 until his retirement in May 2012.
With Berney's appointment, the college has started its expansion of its executive-in-residence program to bring retired senior business executives closer to students and faculty to foster learning, mentorship and collaboration.
"The presence of world-class executives such as Rand Berney in the college will provide an industry perspective to our students and faculty," said Ali Malekzadeh, Edgerley Family dean of the college. "Their professional experiences and personal lessons will help prepare our students for their future careers, and help our faculty pursue applied research."
John Graham, chairman and CEO of Graham Capital Management, has been executive in residence in the college since January 2000. Since his appointment to the position, he has taught undergraduate and graduate courses, and has done research in estate planning, investments and real estate. Graham has been associated with the college for 43 years, serving as a full-time faculty member and administrator for eight years and as an adjunct professor for 22 years while serving as chief executive officer of Farm Bureau Insurance Companies and affiliates before his current appointment.
With the expanded executive-in-residence program, students will have more opportunities to learn about finding balance in their work-life dynamic, lifelong learning and philanthropy through the experiences of highly successful individuals. Faculty will find partners to study trends and participate in industry groups. Executives in residence also will participate in curriculum innovation and research.
"I am looking forward to bringing my experience to the students and faculty of the College of Business Administration and being a part of this exciting time in the college," Berney said.
Berney began his career with Phillips Petroleum Company in 1981 as a senior staff accountant and had various financial positions during his career until being name associate tax officer in 1992, assistant treasurer in 1993, assistant controller in 1995, general auditor in 1996 and vice president and controller in 1997, in which he served for Phillips Petroleum Company and then ConocoPhillips until 2009 when he was named to the position of senior vice president of corporate shared services.
He graduated cum laude with a degree in accounting from Kansas State University in 1977 and has a master's in business administration from Oklahoma State University. He is a certified public accountant, a certified management accountant and a certified internal auditor. He is in the Kansas State University Accounting Hall of Fame, was named an alumni fellow for the College of Business Administration and was the college's distinguished leader of the year in 2004 and its distinguished lecturer in spring 2011. Berney also serves as an executive mentor in the college.
Berney is on the Kansas State University Foundation Board and is a member of various professional organizations and philanthropic boards. He is also on the board of Arvest Bank in Bartlesville, Okla. He and his wife, Patti, have a long history of helping advance the university and the college through engagement and philanthropy.
