The University of Akron College of Business Administration has honored Sandra Rapp, Timken vice president and chief information officer, as one of its 2019 Dr. Frank L. Simonetti Distinguished Business Alumni.
Rapp, who joined Timken in 2011 as director of business alignment and technology deployment, was named to her current position in 2014. She has more than three decades of experience managing IT systems for leading companies, and has overseen the transformation of Timken’s global IT infrastructure. She credits UA for preparing her for success.
“When I moved to Ohio in 1987, I was looking for a university that offered a graduate program with a concentration in international business,” said Rapp, who earned her master’s of business administration from UA in 1990. “I found that opportunity at the University of Akron, which awarded me a graduate scholarship. I remain grateful to the university for giving me a strong foundation for the global work I do today for Timken.”
The school’s business alumni established the Simonetti award in 1987 to recognize distinguished alumni in the name of Dr. Simonetti, a college alum and distinguished professor who passed away in 2006.
“When I look at the accomplishments of current and past award recipients, I am humbled to be considered among this prestigious group of community leaders,” Rapp said. “It is incredible to consider the broad and deep impact of these award winners not only locally, but around the world.”
Rapp serves on the board of UA’s Center for IT and e-Business, is a member of Women’s Impact Inc. in Canton and is an active participant in the Society of Information Management’s Northeast Ohio chapter. She also serves on the board of directors of the United Way of Greater Stark County and the Girl Scouts of America in North East Ohio.