University of Portland alumni success story Rich Baek, Entrepreneur
Residence: Portland, Oregon
Masters degrees earned from UP: MS Electrical Engineering ’93, MBA ’02
Business portfolio: VTM Group, chairman and founder Allion USA, chairman and co-founder Novitec North America, partner
Organizational descriptions: My companies and brands operate in a variety of industries, including technical marketing, event management, public relations, engineering services, certifica- tion testing, hospitality, and high-end automotive tuning.
What you like most about your career: I have the privilege of enabling the officers of my companies to run the businesses based on ethical and strategically sound principles rather than having to worry about shareholders’ short-term gains.
Like least: Wouldn't change a thing.
Favorite causes: My calling is to help cultivate the next generation of leaders through education. I serve on the boards of University of Portland, Concordia University, and Z- Man Scholarship Foundation.
Guiding principle(s): First: Always create harmony and happi- ness in sincere personal relationships. Second: Create mutually beneficial rela- tionships in business to ensure sustain- able success while fostering an environ- ment of dignity and mutual respect.
The word that best describes you: Diligent.
c•o•n•n•e•c•t
Goals to yet achieve: Professionally: Continue to be a good steward of my businesses until I am called to hand it off to my successors. For fun: Drive the most exciting automotive race tracks in the world.
Your mentors: My mom, who taught me so much about business, unconditional love, and faith. The late Grand Master Tae Hong Choi, who taught me how to be a good human being, how to be physically fit, and instilled in me the confidence to lead.
Advice for today’s students: Set goals and go after them relentlessly. Don’t
forget that the game of success is mentally, emo- tionally, and physically demanding.
Favorite UP moment: After completing my undergraduate degree at a large state school, I just about fell out of my chair when a UP professor called me by name in one of my first classes.
Why are you involved with UP? The University of Portland is a special place. Students gain an outstanding academic educa- tion and ethical character formation through the faith and formation component, which is why I hope both of my boys will go to UP.
To start your alumni success story, find out more about the Pamplin School of Business at
business.up.edu.
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