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The lawn mower, snow blower or generator parked in your garage is likely powered by a Briggs & Stratton engine. And Briggs & Stratton is powered by University of Wisconsin Oshkosh alumnus Todd Teske ’87.

Teske, of Pewaukee, serves as the chairman, president and chief executive officer of the world’s largest producer of gasoline engines and a leader in outdoor power products with revenues exceeding $2 billion annually.

In October, Teske will be one of five top alumni to receive the UW Oshkosh Alumni Association’s highest honor—the Distinguished Alumni Award—at a dinner as part of  the University’s Homecoming 2012 activities. Teske earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UWO and an MBA from Northwestern University.

He started working at Briggs & Stratton in 1996 as an assistant controller and has worked his way up the corporate ladder.

“It is a testament to Todd’s intelligence, work ethic and leaderships skills that he has, in a relatively short time frame, climbed to the top of one of the state’s signature corporations with a brand name recognizable the world over,” said Kurt Bauer, president and chief executive officer of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC).

Teske serves on 10 boards of directors, including chairing WMC and MRA—the Management Association, the second largest employers association in the country. He also serves on the UWO College of Business Advisory Council.

“Todd Teske is focused on helping us powerfully execute our mission: to help business thrive,” said Susan Fronk, MRA president and chief executive officer. “He is very well-read and excels in taking complex concepts and breaking them down to meaningful, actionable steps that engage people at all levels of the organization.”

Teske is most proud of helping others realize their dreams and life ambitions.

“My UWO education helped in setting the foundation for my life journey,” he said. “I not only received a business education, but I also learned a lot about myself and about life.”

For more information about the alumni awards dinner or Homecoming 2012, please contact the Alumni Relations Office at (920) 424-3449 or send an email to alumni@uwosh.edu for information.

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