The Collins College of Business at The University of Tulsa proudly congratulates David Dillon, director at 3M and Union Pacific, and Sally Smith, director at Hormel Foods, for being named to The Wall Street Journal’s Top 250 Board Directors list for 2025.
The rankings, developed by Bendable Labs for the Wall Street Journal Leadership Institute, celebrate the 250 most effective and influential corporate directors across U.S. public companies. Evaluation was based on 18 weighted metrics, including company performance, board committee involvement, tenure, and independent governance standards.
Both Dillon and Smith are distinguished past speakers in UTulsa’s Friends of Finance Executive Speaker Series – an initiative of the Collins College of Business that has connected students and the Tulsa business community with insights from nationally recognized business leaders for four decades.
Ranked No. 48 on the WSJ list, David Dillon earned his place through his impactful service on the boards of two Fortune 500 companies: 3M and Union Pacific. Dillon visited UTulsa when he was still the CEO of Kroger Co., and spoke about leadership in retail, sharing lessons from decades at the helm of major corporations.
Coming in at No. 180, Sally Smith was recognized for her role on the board of Hormel Foods and her past leadership as chair and CEO of Buffalo Wild Wings. During her visit to UTulsa, Smith engaged with students and guests about scaling a national brand.
“This recognition highlights the caliber of speakers that Friends of Finance brings to our campus and the lasting impact their leadership has across American business,” said Roberta Preston, president of Friends of Finance. “We’re proud to celebrate their continued success and grateful for their contributions to our community.”
To explore the full Top 250 list and methodology, visit The Wall Street Journal’s feature.
Learn more about UTulsa’s Friends of Finance, a community-based group of organizers, who recently celebrated a 40th year milestone.