Celebrating excellence: 5 leaders inducted into 2025 W. P. Carey Alumni Hall of Fame

Five outstanding alumni will be inducted into Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business 2025 Alumni Hall of Fame this November, joining a distinguished group of leaders whose impact reaches across industries and communities worldwide.

This year’s honorees include visionaries in global finance, real estate, home services and banking. The school will also present the second annual Bill Carey Award to a pioneering business leader whose philanthropic efforts have significantly enhanced access to education.

“It is a privilege to recognize this year’s remarkable inductees,” said Ohad Kadan, Charles J. Robel Dean and W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair in Business. “Their achievements demonstrate the breadth of industries where W. P. Carey alumni are shaping the future. We are equally proud to honor Morton Fleischer with the Bill Carey Award, recognizing his exceptional dedication to expanding educational access. Together, these honorees exemplify the leadership, innovation and impact that define our community.”

Sissie Roberts Shank ('87 BS in finance)
CEO and president, Chas Roberts Air Conditioning Inc.

Roberts Shank has led Arizona’s largest family-owned heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing company for more than two decades, strengthening its legacy of quality, integrity and customer care. She is known for empowering women in business and serving on the boards of Knight-Swift Transportation, U-Haul Holding Company and Greater Phoenix Leadership.

Michael Leskinen ('00 BS in finance)
Executive vice president and chief financial officer, United Airlines

Under Leskinen’s financial leadership since 2023, United has achieved industry-leading performance. He joined United as managing director of Investor Relations before advancing to vice president of Corporate Development and Investor Relations. In 2021, he also became president of United Airlines Ventures. His prior experience includes roles with J.P. Morgan Asset Management and OppenheimerFunds.

Robert Milligan ('03 BS in finance/economics)
Founder and CEO, UDLR Healthcare

Milligan is a seasoned health care real estate executive and the founder and CEO of UDLR Healthcare, a national health care real estate investment company. Before that, he served as the chief financial officer for Healthcare Trust of America, a publicly traded real estate investment trust and the largest owner of medical office buildings in the U.S., until its sale in 2022. His earlier career included roles at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and General Electric. Milligan is a founding board member of RevistaMed and an investor and board member of other health care and educational organizations.

Xinjun Liang ('15 DBA in global financial management)
Chairman and CEO, Xin Family Pte. Ltd.

Liang serves as an independent nonexecutive director of Zhong An Intelligent Living Service Limited, director of the board (seventh term) of Business China Singapore, and advisory committee member of the School of Computing and Information Systems at Singapore Management University. He recently joined Yunfeng Financial Group Limited as an independent nonexecutive director. Previously, he was the executive director, vice chairman and CEO of Fosun International Limited (2005–17).

Young Alumni inductee: Heather Bronson ('08 BS in finance)
Senior vice president and director of commercial loan fulfillment, Comerica Bank

Bronson is an experienced executive in global wholesale banking operations. Before joining Comerica in January, Bronson held positions of increasing responsibility during her 20-year career at Bank of America, including business control executive and head of global syndicated lending operations.

Bill Carey Award: Morton Fleischer
Founder, Fleischer Scholars Foundation

Fleischer is a seasoned financier, entrepreneur and real estate investor. Starting as a janitor, he went on to found over 20 real estate companies, taking three public on the New York Stock Exchange, and is a pioneer in single-tenant real estate and net-lease financing. The Fleischer Scholars Foundation supports economically disadvantaged students in their pursuit of college graduation and encourages them to reinvest their skills and talents in their hometown communities.

The induction ceremony will be held Thursday, Nov. 13, at McCord Hall Plaza on ASU’s Tempe campus. The event will feature a cocktail reception, presentation of the Bill Carey Award, induction of the new Hall of Fame honorees, and closing remarks.

Bring your Sun Devil spirit to the W. P. Carey tent at ASU’s Homecoming Block Party Saturday, Nov. 15, or the W. P. Carey Tailgate on Friday, Nov. 28, for food, prizes and fun before the game. No reservation is required for the block party.

For a complete list of past W. P. Carey Alumni Hall of Fame honorees, visit wpcarey.asu.edu/hall-of-fame.