Class of 1984
Scott Rudy received the 2006 IUP Distinguished Alumni Award for his outstanding achievements in national and international computer technology and business leadership. Mr. Rudy received his Bachelor of Science (cum laude) degree in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics from IUP in 1984 and was simultaneously awarded a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate. Mr. Rudy also was awarded a Master of Science degree in Computer Science (concentration in Data Communications) from Johns Hopkins University.
Mr. Rudy is a vice president of Sales for SAP Americas, a subsidiary of SAP AG, the world's largest inter-enterprise software company and the third largest software supplier overall. “Scott Rudy embodies what has made IUP a great university,” affirms the award nomination by retired Computer Science faculty member Gary Buterbaugh '67.
While at IUP as an ROTC student, Cadet Rudy was selected as the one and only Pennsylvania Army National Guard full-scholarship winner in competition against cadets from across the state. He was also selected for airborne school and earned the Parachutist Badge (Airborne). During his career in the U.S. Army, Captain Rudy was the honor graduate and Kilbourne Leadership award winner at his Officer Basic Course; he volunteered for and completed the following high-risk certifications: Jumpmaster, Pathfinder, Survival/Evasion/Resistance/Escape, Light Leader (honor graduate), and the Special Forces Qualification Course and earned the coveted Green Beret. Captain Rudy participated in domestic and international missions and completed his service as a Special Forces detachment commander (leader of Green Berets).
Mr. Rudy's first job after military service was with BDM Corporation, Vienna, Va., where he lead a mathematics, operations research, and computer science team that developed simulation software to analyze threat/response of U.S. Department of Defense systems. He moved from there to GRiD Systems Corporation as systems engineer director, leading an on-site technical team that supported the White House Communications Agency, HMX-1, and Air Force One during the administration of President George H. W. Bush. Mr. Rudy was then promoted to business development with responsibility for secure data communications applications at the CIA, Pentagon, Secretary of Defense, and other government intelligence groups, including NPIC and NSA.
Mr. Rudy next moved to Parametric Technology Corporation, where in ten years he rose from sales manager to senior vice president with responsibility for North and South America. Over that time, he helped the company grow from $44 million in sales to more than $1 billion. While with PTC, he and his family relocated to Stockholm, Sweden, where Mr. Rudy was managing director of Scandinavian Operations. Mr. Rudy received the Pinnacle Award (top leader at PTC), World Wide Regional Director of the Year recognition, and other sales and volume accolades and awards.
In 2002, Mr. Rudy became vice president of Worldwide Sales for technology startup Think3. In this role, he led a team of more than a hundred employees in North America and Europe. With 75 percent of his staff in Italy, Germany, and France, Mr. Rudy traveled frequently to Europe. Under his direction, total sales for Think3 nearly doubled over three years.
Mr. Rudy is very active at Xavier University, where he is an adjunct professor in the business school. As a professor in the undergraduate and MBA programs, he lectures on business strategy, marketing, and sales. Mr. Rudy also serves on the Xavier's Williams College of Business board and is an executive mentor to an XU student.
Active in his local community, Mr. Rudy is involved as a leader with his local church and volunteers alongside his family at a Cincinnati-area shelter for abused and unwed mothers and their children. In addition, Mr. Rudy is the SAP leader for a corporate citizenship program with a focus on community outreach. Mr. Rudy and his team have adopted the Cincinnati Freestore/Foodbank and volunteer there on a regular basis. Mr. Rudy is a precinct judge for the Cincinnati Board of Elections, supervising the precinct process in primary and general elections.
A sports enthusiast, Mr. Rudy has completed more than twenty marathons around the world, including all seven Cincinnati Flying Pig marathons. He is an active triathlete and has completed the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon and the Ironman. Mr. Rudy will participate with family members at Ironman USA this summer.
A Pennsylvania native, he is the son of Scott and Betty Rudy of Lancaster. He is the oldest of five children and has a very large extended family. Mr. Rudy lives in Cincinnati with his wife, the former Carol Fisher, a 1984 IUP alumna. Their five children are Monica, Bridget, Teresa, Scott, and Andrew.