Jeffrey D. McKeever (1960)

Predicting thirty two years ago that the world was changing with new computer technology, a young Jeff McKeever opened a fledgling computer store in a fledgling industry.

Building MicroAge from one retail computer store in Tempe, Arizona to a $ 6 billion public Fortune 500 company with multi-country operations,  MicroAge was recognized by Money Magazine as the 1993  #1 U.S. public company for shareholder appreciation.  In 1997 Fortune Magazine ranked MicroAge in the top third of Fortune 500 companies for return on investment during the previous ten years.

Jeff’s admirable work ethic stands as a model for any of our current CHMS students.  He rises very early in the morning, to be ahead of the Tempe workforce so he can plan his day wisely.  He has continued taking and giving training sessions in the technology industry throughout his career.  He knows education is more important today than ever before.  A book “The MicroAge Way”, documents the fortunes of the company, and a Tempe street is named after his company.

A Renaissance man, Jeff graduated from Catalina in 1960, the first four-year class, and earned his undergraduate and MBA degrees from  the University of Arizona.  He then went into the Air Force, retiring as a Major.  At this time he acquired his love of flying, and continues to pilot.  Jeff was honored as one of the top 25 Most Influential Executives in the Computer Industry for 13 consecutive years.

The University of Arizona honored Jeff as its 1986  Entrepreneurial Fellow;  and in 1984, ASU named him as  Arizona Entrepreneur of the Year.

Jeff was  Financial World Magazine’s1998 Best CEO in the electronics industry. Arizona Junior Achievement named him as an Arizona Business Hall of Fame Laureate.

Jeff’s most laudable quote, “Success is never a given, failure is never final.”

Jeff recently visited with Entrepreneurship classes at  CHMS and is the generous underwriter of a $1,000 annual scholarship for CHMS seniors planning careers in business and entrepreneurship.  We are very grateful for this investment in higher education!