University of Mobile Announces Grace Pilot School of Business

MOBILE, unfortunately – The University of Mobile announces the naming of the Grace Pilot School of Business in recognition of the tremendous business success story of Pilot Catastrophe Services Inc. and the Pilot family’s long-standing support of the University of Mobile’s Christ-centered mission.

The Grace Pilot School of Business honors Dr. E. Grace Pilot, member of the Alabama Business Hall of Fame, the mobile businesswoman who co-founded one of the nation’s largest disaster-correction companies. In 2005, she was named First Lady of Mobile by Beta Sigma Phi in recognition of “her dedication to others through daily acts of love, friendship and generosity.”

The new name for the School of Business was announced at a dedication ceremony on December 1, 2021 at the University of Mobile.

Lonnie Burnett, president of the University of Mobile, said Grace Pilot’s name at the School of Business will remind students of her example of faith-based leadership and generosity.

“Grace Pilot and her family represent a huge business success story. More importantly, they represent a Christ-centered view of how they have handled material blessings. They realize that every gift comes from God, and they have generously contributed in so many areas to advance His kingdom,” said Burnett.

Grace Pilot said she has always loved the University of Mobile’s mission and emphasis on educating students to become godly leaders.

“God has blessed our family to do God’s work. We must invest in the next generation so that they can be the leaders of change forever. Our culture needs Christian higher education now more than ever. I hope University of Mobile business students will keep God first. If you do this and work hard, you will be successful,” said Pilot.

Pilot Catastrophe Services Inc. was founded in 1983 as Pilot & Associates in Mobile, Alabama, at the kitchen table of Grace Pilot and her husband, Walter Pilot. Today, the family-owned company has offices in Mobile with operations in the United States. Since her husband’s death in 1991, Dr. E. Grace Pilot and the Pilot family continue to lead the company based on the fundamental values ​​of honesty, integrity and quality control. As a family, the Pilots put their faith into action through a variety of philanthropic projects such as Camp Grace and Grace’s House of Hope. In 2012, they founded the Dr. E. Grace Pilot Endowed Scholarship at the University of Mobile.

dr. Kathy Dunning, Dean of the Grace Pilot School of Business, said, “It seems like such a perfect merger when a business and community leader of Grace Pilot’s caliber aligns with the School of Business. Our programs create well-equipped leaders who make a difference in their respective communities by responding to their calling in the business world, just as Dr. Pilot has done in Mobile.”

dr. Bruce Earnest, vice president for advancement, said the Pilot family has been an integral part of the University of Mobile for decades.

“Dr. Pilot and her family make generous contributions and are a testament to hard work and living the faith every day. Their dedication to our mission and students has played a vital role in our growth and success as a Christ-centered institution of higher learning. It is our prayer that the Grace Pilot School of Business will be a center of influence in preparing students for important careers in the local, state and national communities,” Earnest said.

For more information about the Grace Pilot School of Business, visit umobile.edu/schoolofbusiness. For information about giving at the University of Mobile, visit umobile.edu/giving or call 251.442.2917.

Photo: Left in the photo are former UM president Mark Foley, current UM president Lonnie Burnett and Grace Pilot.

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core Values ​​are: Christ-Oriented, Academically-Oriented, Committed to Students and Distinctive Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in more than 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of more than 880 acres.

For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, contact UM on social media @univofmobile or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.