North Star Award

Jeanie Hunter leads an Atlanta-based construction and development firm responsible for more than $600 million in projects. With more than two decades of experience in the industry, Hunter has been recognized for her leadership in construction and economic development, including honors from the Atlanta Business League and recognition as a Titan 100 executive. She is also a strong advocate for expanding opportunities for minority-owned businesses and advancing diversity within the construction industry.

Tara M. Lyons brings more than two decades of experience with the U.S. Department of Justice. She has led major federal prosecutions involving violent crime, civil rights violations, and child exploitation, and played a key role in the federal hate crimes trial in the Ahmaud Arbery case. She previously served as First Assistant United States Attorney and is a recipient of the U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service.

Together, they represent the caliber of leadership and impact the Dr. M. Maceo Nance, Jr. North Star Award was created to honor individuals who serve as guiding lights, illuminating what is possible through dedication, purpose, and a belief in the power of education.

In January 2024, Mike Triplett was named Special Advisor to the CEO ahead of his planned retirement from the company at the end of the year. As part of this transition, Triplett will focus on solutions for key distribution channels and advance enterprise Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategies.

Triplett served as President of Cigna Healthcare’s U.S. Commercial business since 2017 where he was responsible for employer group business growth and drove market strategy, sales, specialty solutions, and local community engagement initiatives. He also led Cigna Healthcare’s network partnerships and performance initiatives with local hospitals, health care facilities, and clinicians to improve affordability and enhance quality.

Triplett is vice chair of The Cigna Group’s Enterprise Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council and executive sponsor of the African American/Black Enterprise Resource Group.

Since joining the company 25 years ago, Triplett has held various leadership and management positions, including President of Regional Segment, Payer Solutions, and Government and Taft-Hartley business. Prior to that, he held numerous sales and leadership positions with IBM for 14 years.

Triplett has received national recognition from Savoy Magazine as one of the Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America four times. He also partners with small, minority- and women-owned local businesses to help them accelerate their growth, and is active on the National Corporate Council for the National Forum for Black Public Administrators.

During his career, Triplett has been involved in communities across the U.S., including working with The University of Memphis Athletic Foundation, The Miami Foundation for New Education Initiatives, The American Red Cross, and The National Civil Rights Museum.

Mike Triplett graduated with honors from South Carolina State University in 1983 with a B.S. in Business Administration and Finance. He was a member of the 1979-1983 football team at South Carolina State University, where he played a key role in the 1980 and 1982 Black College National Football Championship teams. He was also initiated into the Xi Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. In 2015, Mr. Triplett brought his good friend, Mr. Earvin “Magic” Johnson, to SC State’s School of Business for a visit. They both have served as speakers in the School of Business Executive Speaker Series, a weekly component of the Leadership and Professional Development program for business majors. In 2017, the two friends established the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Endowed Scholarship Fund, which still assists deserving students at SC State. Mr. Triplett was honored as the 2015 School of Business Alumnus of the Year and a 2017 University Distinguished Alumnus.

André Rice is the President of Muller & Monroe Asset Management, LLC (M²), which he founded in 1999. M² is a private equity firm that invests exclusively in small and emerging lower middle market managers. M² manages $1.3B for some of the largest public pension plans in the country. André is responsible for general management of the firm, client service, business development, and serves as chairman of the investment committee.

André created Rice Group Ltd (RGL) in 1986 to identify and organize special investment opportunities for wealthy individuals. RGL organized several successful investment partnerships and provided select investment banking services to the world’s largest commodities trading firm. RGL serves as the Managing Member of M².

Immediately prior to founding RGL, André was a Senior Project Manager in the Mergers and Acquisitions Department at Kraft Foods Inc. He worked in securities sales for the Private Client Group at Goldman Sachs after beginning his career as an auditor at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. (now KPMG).

André earned his M.B.A. degree from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business following a B.S. degree in accounting from South Carolina State University. He is a CPA.

André is an independent board member of CNA Financial Corporation serving on their audit, compensation, and finance committees, and more recently he has joined the board of New America Alliance (NAA). He is also a member of both the National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC) and the National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP), serves as a member of Prevent Child Abuse America’s leadership council, and is a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

André has a history of philanthropy, mentorship, and civic engagements. He served on several civic committees under two different Mayors (Rahm Emanuel and Richard M. Daley) and the Cook County Board President, including the Chicago Cook Workforce Investment Board, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority, and the Regional Transportation Authority.

André is a life member of the South Carolina State University National Alumni Association and is very active with his Class of 197