Northwood University’s 2026 Class of Outstanding Alumni includes alumni who have significantly impacted their professions and communities while demonstrating their commitment to their alma mater and The Northwood Idea.
“Each year, it’s an honor to celebrate alumni who carry our institutional philosophy, The Northwood Idea, into their careers and communities,” stated Senior Alumni and Engagement Officer Julie Adamczyk. “This year’s honorees represent the very best of what a Northwood education can inspire, from business leadership to service and scholarship.”
Tony Di Fiore is Achievement Award honoree
Receiving this year’s Achievement Award is Tony Di Fiore, a 2000 alumnus from Strongsville, Ohio, who is an entrepreneur and serves as president of Car Parts Warehouse. Tony has grown his family’s automotive aftermarket business into one of the top 25 automotive aftermarket parts distributors in the country, all while building a broader portfolio of successful enterprises across Northeast Ohio.
Tate Treacy and Dan Smith are Leadership Award recipients
Tate Treacy and Dan Smith are this year’s Leadership Award honorees.
Tate Treacy, a 1998 alumnus from Grand Haven, Michigan, is a Retail Performance Manager at Hyundai. He is an XAM Alumni Leader and serves on the Auto Show Gala Committee, remaining an active and visible presence in Northwood’s alumni community.
A 2007 alumnus from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Dan Smith is an economics professor and director of the Political Economy Research Institute at Middle Tennessee State University’s Jones College of Business. He regularly returns to campus to speak with students, presents at the Freedom Seminar, and is a dedicated advocate for The Northwood Idea.
Midland’s Charlee Simanskey is Young Alumni Award honoree
This year’s Young Alumni Award recipient is Charlee Simanskey, a Midland, Michigan, resident who earned her BBA and MBA through Northwood’s accelerated degree track in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Simanskey currently serves as a senior supply chain scheduling specialist at Dow. She also is a member of the President’s Circle of Young Alumni and serves on the Alumni Council, reflecting her ongoing dedication to Northwood.
Dallas Rau is Alumni Service Award recipient
A 2018 alumna from Freeland, Michigan, Dallas Rau is the director of the Great Lakes Bay Mental Health Initiative at CMU Health and this year’s Alumni Service Award recipient. A dedicated community leader, Rau is known throughout the region for her tireless volunteerism and commitment to strengthening the Great Lakes Bay community.
The Outstanding Alumni Awards will be presented during an awards banquet from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in the Hach Student Life Center in the Bennett Sports Complex at Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. Northwood University invites the community to celebrate these exceptional individuals and their accomplishments. Tickets are available on the event’s webpage.
