Ms. Friars has been active in a variety of business and community organizations and serves on the MasterCard U.S. Region Business Committee. She is a member of the Simmons College Board where she co-chairs the Finance Committee, and she is president of the Charlotte Repertory Theatre. In the September 1994, American Banker, Ms. Friars was chosen as one of the 10 card-program executives who made an impact on their institution, their chosen market and their industry. She is currently a member of the Board. Having passion about what you do.
People get more excited about building a cathedral than about stacking bricks.
Acceptance Speech Given by Eileen M. Friars Outstanding Business Leader 1998 Thank you. This is very humbling when I listen to the prior awardees and I look at their backgrounds. In fact, I m reminded of a story that I heard about George Burns when he was awarded an honorary degree from Stanford University, and he said You know, I really don t deserve this. I was also inspired by the students today, and it made me think back to when I was in college and how I got from there to here. When you talk about 72 and 74, it seems like a long, long time ago.