DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Archie C. Black, Bus Ad ’84
Golden Valley, Minn.
As the CEO of SPS Commerce, a global technology business, Archie Black faced new challenges while navigating his company and retail customers through the global pandemic. His leadership focused on finding new growth opportunities and initiating meaningful changes to his community. Archie’s actions resulted in the company’s continued success and embodied the four pillars of Marquette’s mission: excellence, faith, leadership, and service.
Archie demonstrates these pillars by remaining agile, responsive and able to adapt quickly to change with an open mind. He constantly strives for excellence and improvement, both personally and professionally. Archie embraces the concept of “Be the Difference,” working hard to build a company that excels because its employees value one another and strive to improve how retailers work.
Archie is passionate about serving his community. He advocates for equity and access in education, especially for first-generation students. He partners with Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in the Twin Cities to sponsor students and offer work-study experiences at SPS Commerce. Archie is also actively educating himself and his team about the racial issues that have led to unrest in Minneapolis and the rest of the country. He encourages his community to break down barriers and fears and be more purposeful about creating space for listening and learning about one another’s culture, perspective, and ideas.
Archie fondly recalls the influence of Dr. Don Giacomino on his time at Marquette and his career: “Beyond the classroom, he truly showed an interest in his students. He inspired me to have a passion for accounting and to become a person that inspires others. I have kept in touch with him over the years and view him as a lifelong mentor and friend.”
What is one of your favorite Marquette memories?
Marquette holds a special place in my heart for the education and lifelong relationships that it gave me. It is where I first met my wife, Jane, Bus Ad ’84. We have been married for 35 years and have four children together. Looking back, I have very fond memories of the block parties where students and faculty came together to kick off each new year and of celebrating the winning legacy of basketball at Marquette.
Name someone (past or present) with whom you’d like to have dinner.
Two individuals come to mind, one past and one present. I’ve always been interested in Nikola Tesla. He was absolutely brilliant, and his futuristic inventions have influenced us all. He experimented and pushed the boundaries of engineering, improved the world in which he lived, and had all-consuming passion for invention. In present times, the current pope would be my choice. He is the first pope from the Americas and is known for his faith, humility, desire for open communication, and concern for the poor. I appreciate that he is a pope of the people and employs a less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors.
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