The Tippie College of Business is proud to announce George Hiller (BBA80/MBA82) as the 2025 Tippie Alum of the Year and Santino Morena (BBA17) as the 2025 Tippie Young Alum of the Year.

Tippie Alum of the Year – George Hiller

Hiller is President and CEO of Hiller & Associates, the largest beverage consulting company in North America. Hiller & Associates specializes in soft drink contract negotiations for the restaurant, hospitality, convenience, and entertainment industries. Since founding the firm in 2007, Hiller has helped client partners that range from major food service companies to emerging brands secure contracts totaling over $7 billion in value.

A proud two-time graduate of the University of Iowa, Hiller holds a BBA in marketing and an MBA in management from Tippie. He has remained actively involved with the college, serving on the Tippie Advisory Board from 2017 to 2025, teaching as an adjunct professor in marketing, and speaking to numerous undergraduate and graduate classes. He gave the keynote address at Tippie’s 2018 Fall Commencement.

Beyond Tippie, he has contributed his leadership to the Executive Leadership Board for the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and taught marketing and salesmanship at the University of Cincinnati and Normandale Junior College.

One of his nominators, Jeff Chapman (BBA79), noted that Hiller’s "lifelong commitment to mentorship, leadership, and Tippie engagement continues to inspire future business leaders."

Tippie Young Alum of the Year – Santino Morena

Morena is an Associate Director at MorrisAnderson, where he helps distressed companies navigate complex financial and operational challenges. He works with such industries as technology, energy, construction, and automotive, providing turnaround and restructuring solutions through financial modeling, cash flow forecasting, valuation analysis, and strategic advisory.

A finance and accounting graduate from the Tippie College of Business, Morena has remained actively involved with the college since graduation. He served on the Tippie Young Alumni Board from 2020-2025, including two years as executive chair, and frequently returns to campus as a classroom speaker and career panelist. His commitment to mentorship, which began during his time as a Resident Assistant at the University of Iowa, continues to guide his work with students and young professionals.

One of his nominators described him as “a calm, steady, thoughtful advisor who brings clarity to every challenge." Morena’s impact is felt both in the boardroom and in the Tippie community, where he continues to support the next generation of young leaders.
 

Tippie’s Alum of the Year and Young Alum of the Year awards were established in 2014. View a list of previous award recipients here.