Three alumni have recently been recognized by the Faculty of Business and Economics, and the Cobe Out Standage Alumni Award has been praised for their extraordinary contributions to business and the community. Elizabeth Buggerley, Kang Thong Nguyen and Nick Schlekeway are the winners of the year. These individuals demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation and commitment to giving back, making lasting impact on industry and communities.
Bagherly, Nguyen and Schlekeway will talk to outstanding alumni at the university’s academic excellence luncheon before they begin, filling in the gap between academic learning and professional achievements and providing valuable advice for the future. These excellent alumni posters will be added to the 1120 rooms at Micron Business and Economics Building to others on the walls of Cobe Career Services. Their achievements are evidence of the inspiration for current students and the heritage of excellence in the facility. The university has celebrated 66 outstanding alumni since 2001.
Elizabeth Buggerley
Owner and general manager of Proletariat Wine Company
Elizabeth Buggerley is the owner and general manager of the Proletariat Wine Company (located in Garden City, Idaho and Walla Walla, Washington). She grew up in Treasure Valley and earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and an MBA from Boise State University. Before opening a winery and tasting room in Garden City, she worked at HP for 30 years, where she held various positions in sourcing and strategic alliance management.
Baggerly is on the board for a visit to the Boise Chamber of Commerce tourism division, Eagle’s nonprofit Eagle Rodeo. The Rodeo is in its 24th year and earns revenue from local Treasure Valley charities. She is known for her passion for life and her extroverted personality. She has two adult children and lives in Horseshoe Bend with her husband and three dogs.
Khang Trong Nguyen
Founder, Chairman and CEO MK Group
Khang Trong Nguyen, a Vietnam MBA alumnus of Boise State University, is the founder, chairman and CEO of MK Group, a leading Asian company in smart cards, AI cameras, secure identity documents and digital security. He launched the MK Group after the US lifted its embargo in Vietnam and grew into a global leader for 25 years.
MK Group has pioneered digital transformation with “Make Inbatnam” technology, including chip operating systems, smart cards and authentication solutions. It led the move to Vietnam’s chip-based payment cards, creating over 100 million chip-based citizen ID cards. The company operates factories in Vietnam, Brazil and Ethiopia.
Nguyen prioritizes corporate social responsibility and supports education and disaster relief. Working on innovation to the end, he will drive the expansion of the MK Group and strengthen Vietnam’s role in global technology
Nick Schlekeway
Founder and CEO, Amherst Madison Real Estate Advisors
Schlekeway is the founder and CEO of Amherst Madison, the number one luxury brokerage in Idaho, and has sold over $6 billion since 2013.
At Boise State, Nick was the captain of the soccer team, part of the legendary Fiesta Bowl Championship team in 2007, and an academic national. He earned a general business magna and praised bachelor’s degree in business administration within four years. He holds a Masters degree in Real Estate from Georgetown University.
Schlekeway is deeply committed to his community. He worked on the Make-A-Wish Idaho board and founded a Giving Circle that raised over $600,000 for a nonprofit in Treasure Valley. As an entrepreneur, coach and family, he is dedicated to making meaningful impact.
