Clarence Beckwith Distinguished Alumni Award: Theresa Orlaske-Rich

Theresa Orlaske-Rich is an attorney and human resource professional who has worked for General Motors Corporation since the mid-1980s. There she became a recognized expert in environmental tax law and went on to manage diversity and employee development initiatives. She has been a frequent speaker at diversity conferences in the U.S. and Europe and has delivered training on four continents. Currently, Theresa is the human resource/organizational development manager for three vehicle line teams - each equal in size to a Fortune 100 company. 

Theresa also owns a consulting company through which she specializes as an executive coach in organizational development and effectiveness. 

Theresa earned an Associate in Business Administration degree from LMC in 1980. She also holds a Bachelor in Business Administration and an MBA from Grand Valley State University and J.D. and LL.M degrees from Wayne State University. Currently, she is working toward her Ph.D. at Capella University. 

In her community of Farmington Hills, Michigan, she has served on numerous foundation and non-profit boards, mentors women returning to the workplace, and recently went to Mississippi on a hurricane relief mission.

Theresa Orlaske-Rich received the Clarence Beckwith Distinguished Alumni Award in 2006.