Concordia College's National Alumni Board has honored Noah Addy, a 2005 graduate, and Kindra (McGrane) Hall, a 2003 graduate, as the 2023 Sent Forth recipients.
The Sent Forth Award is presented to young alumni who have made an impact early in their career, emphasizing service to others and demonstrating a strong vocational commitment.
Addy is principal group engineering manager of AI Operations and Experiences for Microsoft in Redmond, Wash., running a team working on artificial intelligence and how to leverage it to drive efficiency and cost-savings for businesses across the globe. He also invests in real estate in Seattle where he encourages his tenants to study hard and provides them with resources to transition into better-paying jobs. He has mentored more than 100 people, some with no college degrees, who have landed high-paying jobs as software engineers, product managers, and more. Addy moved to the U.S. from Accra, Ghana, in 2001, and it was the biggest culture shock of his life. He was new to American culture, the educational system, and computers, but made sacrifices, invested time in learning to design software, and worked harder than he could have imagined. He feels the many twists and turns in his life have given him a unique perspective. Addy earned a Master of Science degree from North Dakota State University where he was also a graduate teaching assistant. His determination led to a role where he helped design the consumer shopping experience for Amazon.com and was one of the designers who helped deliver the first prototype for Amazon Prime, among several other positions he has held.
Hall is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author and internationally recognized keynote speaker on storytelling in business. Hall is trusted by global brands to deliver presentations and trainings that inspire teams and individuals to better communicate the value of their company, their products, and their individuality through strategic storytelling. Forbes called “Stories That Stick,” her debut book, “the most valuable business book you’ll read.” Her second book, “Choose Your Story, Change Your Life,” was heralded as one of the top 10 books on happiness. She is the former chief storytelling officer of SUCCESS magazine, 2014 Storytelling World Award recipient, former board member of the National Storytelling Network, and served as guest faculty at Harvard Medical School. Hall received her master’s degree in communications and media studies at New Mexico State University, conducting original research that examined the role of storytelling in organizational socialization. During her time at Concordia, Hall was an awarded member of the forensics team, served as Family Weekend chair, and was crowned Homecoming queen her senior year. Today, she lives in New York City with her husband and two children.
Addy and Hall have embodied the qualities of the Sent Forth recipient throughout their careers. They’ll be honored at the Senior Banquet.