July 6, 2006
Business alum gives $6 million for chair, building
J. Gary Shansby, co-founder and chairman of TSG Consumer Partners and a graduate of the UW Business School, has given $1 million to establish the J.Gary Shansby Endowed Chair in Marketing Strategy and $5 million to support the school’s construction of a new facility.
Shansby, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the UW in 1959, said, “The motivation for the gift is my respect and dedication to the university, and my desire to contribute to the education of UW students in a new world-class building, as well as my chosen field of marketing strategy.”
For more than four decades, Shansby has provided strategic planning and marketing strategies for some of the nation’s largest consumer products companies, including Colgate-Palmolive Company, Clorox Company and Shaklee Corporation. Shansby was the chairman and chief executive officer of Shaklee Corporation between 1975 and 1985, and is a founding partner and chairman of TSG Consumer Partners (formerly The Shansby Group).
Since the Business School began its fundraising efforts in 2002, it has raised $46 million from private donors, as well as a commitment of $40 million from the University toward a $120 million building project. This summer, architects will begin the design process, with construction likely to start within two years.
UW President Mark Emmert said, “Gary Shansby is an exceptionally talented and successful business leader. This marvelous commitment to the UW Business School provides not only great financial support, but also allows us to recognize one of the Business School’s most prominent alumni. Gary’s generosity and engagement will allow us to continue the fine progress of the Business School.”
When completed, the new building will increase the school’s total space by nearly 35 percent, adding 75,000 square feet that will contain interactive lecture halls, wireless classrooms, computer labs, study areas and offices for faculty and staff.
“New facilities are absolutely essential to fulfilling our education mission,” said Business School Dean Jim Jiambalvo. “Gary’s spectacular gift gives us great momentum as our building plans enter the full schematic design phase and the finish line for this ambitious project is now within sight. His endowing the new J. Gary Shansby Chair in Marketing Strategy will help us to maintain and strengthen our faculty expertise in marketing, a field in which he has distinguished himself as one the nation’s preeminent practitioners.”
Shansby is an advisory board member at the UW Business School. Several years ago, he funded a chair in marketing strategy at the University of California, Berkeley, Business School. He has served on numerous government, university and college boards, and was the chairman of the California State Commission for Review of the Master Plan for Higher Education.
TSG Consumer Partners was co-founded by Shansby in 1987. The company invests in the acquisition of established middle-market companies in consumer industries and has completed more than 60 consumer transactions. The company has realized an annual internal rate of return on investments in excess of 60 percent. TSG Consumer Partners investments have included the Famous Amos Cookie Company, Mauna Loa Macadamias, La Victoria Foods, Spic and Span Cleaners, Glaceau Vitamin Water, Smart Balance Foods and Met-Rx Nutrition.
