On Friday, October 30, INCAE paid tribute to a great friend, Steve Aronson, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Institute's first endowed chair: the Steve Aronson Chair in Strategy and Agribusiness, led by Professor Esteban R. Brenes.
Enrique Bolaños, Rector of INCAE, opened the event with a few words of recognition to Steve for his role in institutional initiatives that have contributed to the integral development of the region. "Thanks to Steve, our students can now recognize that agriculture does not end at the farm, but is just where it begins, but, above all, that the only way to have social peace in these countries is to have an active and growing economic life in agricultural areas; and the best way to do this is to add value to the agricultural product. And it is for this reason that this chair, created a decade ago, will continue to be in force and to open the way for posterity," said Bolaños.
Professor Esteban R. Brenes presented the results of the Chair highlighting the faculty members and researchers who have been part of the Chair's initiatives, books, journal articles, case studies and publications that have been developed thanks to the Chair. He also emphasized the Chair's participation in more than 20 conferences and more than 10 regional and international forums and congresses, such as SMS, Balas and IFAMA. In these 10 years, the material produced has also had a direct impact within the programs of INCAE, where the different texts are taught in the full-time MBA, Executive MBA, Senior Management Program and other Executive Education programs, such as Agribusiness Management, as well as in various academic conferences and cooperation spaces.
In recognition of Steve's more than 20 years of institutional relationship with the school, he was presented with the book "Harvesting Success in Latin American Agribusiness" with a detailed report of the Cátedra, as well as messages from various members of the INCAE family. Additionally, he received a bonsai of the Juniperus chinensis species, also known as Juniper or Juniper, of the same age as the Chair.
Dean Camelia Ilie in her words during the presentation stated, "Your affinity for the sun is how we at INCAE feel embraced by your vision, trust and guidance. We hope that you see in this gift the symbol of the strength of this relationship, the impact you have had and continue to have on this institution, and so that together, through the chair and the different projects in which you continue to be involved with INCAE, we continue to contribute to the growth and development of the region that needs it so much." His youngest grandson, 3-year-old Max, was the bearer of both gifts for Steve.
The new Master's Degree in Agribusiness was also presented at the event at INCAE in conjunction with the Zamorano School. The Associate Dean, Bernard Kilian, indicated that the main objective of the new Master's program is to prepare future leaders in agribusiness with an entrepreneurial vision. This program will begin in September of next year and will last 10 months.
Aronson, in a very emotional moment, commented: "The transformation that Café Britt underwent could not have been possible without the collaboration of INCAE, it was at that moment that I identified that INCAE was the right partner to bring this Chair to life. I want to congratulate INCAE, Esteban and the collaborators who have led this Chair, it makes me proud and makes me feel that the commitment of INCAE and the way in which the school has added value to the work I have done in my life makes me feel like a Incaísta."
The event was intimate and virtual, with the presence of Steve's family, his wife Anne and 4 of their 5 children, Philippe, Benjamin, Jeremy and Catherine, friends from the Britt Group and the Demain Foundation, as well as members of the Board of Trustees, the Rector's Advisory Council, faculty, and a group of close allies of the institution.
