Arthur H. Rice ’73, Esq., is of counsel at Rice Pugatch Robinson & Schiller, P.A. He has extensive experience as both a litigator and a bankruptcy lawyer, including a significant number of jury trials in state and federal courts. Originally a native of Middletown, Connecticut, Rice graduated from Quinnipiac with a bachelor of arts in 1973 and moved to Miami to attend the University of Miami School of Law. After graduation, he stayed to practice law in Florida. Rice served in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross as well as other citations. He retired with the rank of captain. Rice is a trustee for the Miami Art Museum.


Carlton L. Highsmith founded Specialized Packaging Group, a package design, marketing and engineering firm in New Haven in 1983. By 2009, SPG, with revenues of more than $180 million, had grown to become one of the largest manufacturers of consumer paperboard packaging in North America. The company was recognized as the largest minority-owned company in Connecticut. Highsmith currently serves on the board of directors of Key Bank and chairs the board of directors of the Connecticut Center for Arts & Technology (CONNCAT), a nonprofit organization that provides world-class, market relevant job training and financial literacy training to underemployed and unemployed adults in the New Haven area. He earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and was awarded an honorary degree from Quinnipiac in 2008.


David R. Nelson ’81 serves as the chief executive officer and president of the Veterans Accountable Care Group, based in Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition, he serves as the president of Inovacus, LLC, a strategic consulting and advisory company. Prior to this, he served as COO of xG Health Solutions and vice president, Federal Market at OptumHealth. He also served as chairman, CEO and president of Calvert Health Partners, a health care provider services organization. Nelson has received numerous awards, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Health Care in Maryland. In addition, he serves on the board of trustees for the Living Classroom’s Foundation. He has published many articles on health care delivery. Nelson earned a bachelor’s degree in health administration from Quinnipiac and a master’s in hospital and health administration from the University of Iowa.


Barbara M. Beever ’81 served as a physical therapist at Hartford Hospital upon earning her bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Quinnipiac in 1981. She also provided at-home physical therapy services for many years. Beever was an active member of the School of Health Sciences Advisory Board.

