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Constantino is Poole’s Person of the Year

Michael T. Constantino, assurance partner and managing partner for the Raleigh and Greensboro offices of Ernst & Young, has been named Person of the Year by the Poole College of Management.

“This award is presented annually by Poole College to a distinguished individual who has made outstanding contributions to the college, to his or her profession and to the NC State community,” said Dean Ira R. Weiss, who will present the award to Constantino during the college’s Leadership and Innovation Showcase on April 24.

“Throughout his career, Mike has demonstrated the professionalism and commitment to service that is so important in today’s professional environment,” Weiss said. “He also has been a tremendous friend and supporter of the college and the university.”

Constantino received two degrees from NC State: a bachelor’s degree in business management in 1984 and a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1985. He and his wife Lori established the Michael and Lori Constantino Endowment Fund that provides fellowship awards to students in the Jenkins Master of Accounting program. The Constantinos also are strong supports of NC State athletics and the Wolfpack Club.

Constantino has served on the college’s Board of Advisors since 2003, including a term as chairman of the board from 2004 to 2006. In addition, he has been instrumental in developing and maintaining a strong relationship between Ernst & Young and NC State. Ernst & Young is now the number one employer of NC State’s master of accounting graduates.

He also is a mentor to accounting students and alumni employed throughout the Ernst & Young organization, and has helped to secure financial support for the Department of Accounting from the Ernst & Young Foundation’s University Fund Grant program. In 2004, Constantino was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by the NC State Alumni Association and the Poole College of Management.

Constantino has more than 25 years’ experience working with public and private companies in the life sciences, contract research and manufacturing, and mining. He has extensive experience assisting clients with initial public offerings, debt offerings, mergers and acquisition transactions, and private equity offerings.

Additionally, Constantino serves many clients with significant international operations, as well as subsidiary companies of global entities. He is a member of the AICPA and has CPA licenses in North Carolina and Georgia.

He also is very active in the regional business community. He is a member of the executive committee and the board of directors of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center; treasurer and member of the board of directors of Stop Hunger Now; and member of the Fifty Group and the National Association of CEOs.

Past Person of the Year Award recipients are:

2011: Lonnie C. Poole Jr., founder, Waste Industries, and benefactor, Poole College of Management.

2010: Steve Zelnak, chairman and chief executive officer (retired) of Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

2009: James Owens, chairman and chief executive officer (retired) of Caterpillar.

2008: Benjamin Jenkins, managing director and vice chairman for retail banking (retired), Morgan Stanley and formerly vice chairman and president of the General Bank at Wachovia Corporation.