Monticello, Bentley & Shields Honored at Top Dog Ceremony

Estemeed Jordan College alumni Walter Bentley and Marcello Monticelli & former faculty Elizabeth and John Shields were among 15 honorees recognized for their numerous contributions to the campus, community and industry at the 2021 Top Dog awards ceremony that was televised in April.

Monticelli, vice president of North Coast winemaking for E. & J. Gallo Winery, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award — the highest career achievement honor given by the Fresno State Alumni Association — for his innovation in the winemaking industry and the creation of an award-winning portfolio of wines from Sonoma County. Born into a family of vintners in Pistoia, Italy, he graduated from Fresno State (magna cum laude) in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in viticulture and enology. He began his winemaking career at Gallo in 1970 and later helped develop the Gallo Estate and Gallo single-vineyard wines (read more). Photo Gallery

Retired faculty John and Elizabeth Shields were selected for the prestigious Arthur Safstrom Service Award. John Shields, who received the award posthumously, was a professor emeritus of agricultural economics, and Elizabeth Shields was a professor of finance. The couple dedicated their lives to supporting the University, students on campus and humanitarian efforts around the world (read more). Photo Gallery

Bentley was raised on a 140-acre family orchard operation near Stockton, and was drawn towards integrated pest management at an early age. After graduating from Fresno State, he served the Central Valley as an entomology farm advisor and researcher in Kern County and at the UC Kearney Agricultural Center after related work with the U.S. Army & Colorado Department of Agriculture (read more). Photo Gallery

Other honorees this year from other campus areas included:

• College of Arts & Humanities:  Barry Falke (2001), chief operating officer for the Pacific Division of the American Red Cross
• Department of Athletics:  Kelly Rodriques (1989), chief executive officer of Forge Global
• Craig School of Business:  Debbie Adishian-Astone (1988, ’94), vice president for administration and chief financial officer, Fresno State
• Kremen School of Education and Human Development:  Maria Maldonado (2000, ’16), former assistant superintendent, Fresno Unified School District
• Lyles College of Engineering:  Juanita Leal (1990, ’95), associate technical fellow and flight test engineer, The Boeing Company
• Division of Graduate Studies:  Bob Nelson (1995), superintendent, Fresno Unified School District
• College of Health and Human Services: Lisa Casarez (1994, ’00), founder and CEO, Angels of Grace Family Foster Agency
• College of Science and Mathematics:  Rosemary Rockwell Waters (1966, ’72), professor emerita, Fresno City College
• College of Social Sciences:  Geri Yang-Johnson (2009), vice president and community relations senior consultant, Wells Fargo
• Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management:  Andy Souza (1981), chief administrative officer, Immanuel Schools
• Library:  Frank J. Johnson, Sr. (1964), author and retired publisher and former superintendent of West Fresno School District

 

Watch the hour-long Top Dog Alumni Awards broadcast below, and visit https://topdog.fresnostate.edu for more information.