Dr. Robert "Bobby" Savoie, a 1981 MBA graduate from the College of Business at Loyola University New Orleans, has been awarded the 2020 Alden "Doc" Laborde Award for Ethical Entrepreneurship, according to an Oct. 6 press release from Loyola University. 

The award, named after the co-founder of Loyola's Center for Spiritual Capital, honors entrepreneurs who use the highest ethical standards in their business practices. 

Savoie was an engineer for 28 years before returning to school for his doctorate degree. He also devoted much of his personal time to humanitarian and civic service. His dedication included serving on the Loyola University Board of Trustees for nine years, including tenure as Vice-Chair in 2017 and then Chair in 2018-2019. Savoie spent time on the boards of Greater New Orleans, Inc., the UNO Foundation, BioDistrict New Orleans, the National World War II Museum, the Louisiana Technology Council, the Atlantic Council of the United States, the Boy Scouts of America, the US Small Business Technology Foundation, the J. Bennett Johnston Science Foundation, the Academy of the Sacred Heart, the Isidore Newman School and the Ochsner Health Foundation. 

The award recipient is currently CEO of Geocent, LLC, an engineering services and information technology company with commercial and government clientele from throughout the United States.

In 1986, Savoie created the Integrated Resources Group (IRG), and acted as CEO until the company merged with Science and Engineering Associates 11 years later. He then served as CEO of both companies until they merged with ITS Services, Inc., and became Apogen in 2004. 

Savoie said in the release that he was honored to be receiving the distinction from Loyola University, "an organization built on the ethics of Jesuit values."

"Everyone who knows me can attest how strongly I feel about the city of New Orleans and Loyola University, so this award is very special for me,” Dr. Savoie said in the release. “Ethical entrepreneurship is a foundational piece of the American dream and spirit—and it’s a core principle of how Geocent operates daily. On behalf of the Savoie family and everyone at Geocent, thank you for this kind recognition.”