November 19, 2026
Seattle Sheraton Hotel
5:30 PM | Reception
6:00 PM | Awards Banquet
The UW Impact Awards is the Consulting & Business Development Center’s annual celebration of the business, civic, and student leaders who power our mission: creating opportunities for students, businesses and communities across Washington and throughout the US. Each year, this event welcomes more than 500 leaders from across the corporate, small business, civic, and University of Washington communities.
2026 Special Opportunity
Honoring Founding Director, Michael Verchot
In 1994, MBA student Michael Verchot joined Dean William Bradford, Professor Thaddeus Spratlen, faculty colleagues, and fellow students to imagine something simple and radical: a university-based center that expands access to business expertise and opportunity. What began as an idea has become the nation’s most impactful university-based business center, largely because of the commitment of partners like you who believed in this mission and helped build the Center to what it is today.
Michael will retire in January 2027, and the 2026 UW Impact Awards will be our opportunity to honor his founding leadership and the partnerships that turned a vision into impact. With your support, we have:
- Grown the Center from 15 students serving six businesses in central and southeast Seattle to 300+ students supporting 125+ businesses and nonprofits across Washington.
- Helped Washington businesses create nearly 210,000 jobs and generate $360M+ in new revenue since 1995.
- Through the Ascend National network, grown 500+ multi-million-dollar firms owned by socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, generating $4.4B+ in new revenue.
- Advanced and disseminated knowledge that is advancing the growth of under-served businesses through the largest group of business faculty researchers in the nation.
Welcoming the Next Chapter
As we celebrate Michael’s retirement, we will also introduce Mo Malakoutian, the Center’s new Executive Director, who is already advancing the Center’s work alongside award recipients and long-standing supporters. We hope you will help make the 2026 UW Impact Awards a defining moment that honors what our partners and Michael have built, and launches what comes next.
Platinum Event Partners donation ensures support to the CBDC’s programming. Premium benefits include featured video at the event, a named table of ten, logo and podium recognition at the event, in the event program and in associated marketing that
reaches an audience of approximately 425,000.
Award Partner (2-Year $25,000/year commitment)
Partners have the opportunity to acquire naming rights for individual awards by making a two-year, $25,000/year commitment. Premium benefits include an award presenter designate, a named table of ten, logo and podium recognition at the event, in the event program, and in associated marketing that reaches an audience of approximately 425,000.
Gold Event Partner ($15,000)
Gold Event Partners donation ensures support to the CBDC’s programming. Premium benefits include a named table of ten, logo and podium recognition at the event, in the event program, and in associated marketing that reaches an audience of approximately 425,000.
Silver Event Partner ($10,000)
Silver Event Partners donation ensures support to the CBDC’s programming. Premium benefits include a named table of ten, logo recognition at the event, in the event program, and in associated marketing that reaches an audience of approximately 400,000.
Bronze Event Partner ($5,000)
Bronze Event Partners donation ensures support to the CBDC’s programming. Premium benefits include a named table of ten, logo recognition at the event, in the event program, and in associated marketing that reaches an audience of approximately 385,000.
This award is presented to a Foster School alum whose investment of talent and treasure has significantly advanced the Center’s mission
The William D. Bradford Business of the Year Award
This award recognizes an outstanding business that has demonstrated leadership through its revenue growth, management quality and investments in efforts to grow other businesses owned by people of color.
Client of the Year Award
This award is presented to a business client that has best utilized the Center’s programs to grow jobs and revenues.
Corporate Partner of the Year Award
This award recognizes a corporation whose investment of talent and treasure has significantly advance the Consulting and Business Development Center’s mission
Board Fellow of the Year Award, Sponsored by Harborstone Credit Union
This award is presented to an MBA student who has demonstrated exceptional skills, leadership ability, and commitment to inclusion and diversity through work with the Center.