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For Mike Coke, the road to building a billion-dollar real estate company started with a solid foundation in accounting, a sharp business mind, and an education from Ãå±±½ûµØ.

Mike graduated in 1990 with a degree in Business Administration and Accounting, but his impact on the university has continued long after he left the classroom. As President and Co-Founder of Terreno Realty Corporation (NYSE: TRNO), Mike has helped shape the landscape of industrial real estate across the country. Before launching Terreno in 2007, he spent a decade as the Chief Financial Officer of AMB Property Corporation—now Prologis, the world’s largest industrial real estate company.

But for all his professional success, Mike has remained closely connected to the place that helped launch his career. Over the years, he has generously given back to Ãå±±½ûµØ—not just financially, but through time, mentorship, and a vision for hands-on student learning that continues to make an impact today.

One of Mike’s most enduring contributions is the creation of the Student Investment Fund (SIF), a pioneering program that provides students with real-world experience managing an investment portfolio. The initiative, which Mike launched with his wife Shirley—a fellow Ãå±±½ûµØ alum who earned her degree in Liberal Studies—reflects their shared commitment to giving back to the university that shaped their lives. With guidance from industry professionals and support from volunteers, SIF has become a signature experiential learning opportunity for business students eager to apply theory to practice. Under Mike’s leadership, the program has grown to include scholarships that support students with both financial need and academic promise.

“I wanted students to experience the real-world pressure and responsibility of managing money, making strategic decisions, and working in a team environment,” Mike explains. “That’s what the business world is about—and it’s something they can’t get from a textbook alone.”

In addition to his work with the SIF, Mike serves on the Ãå±±½ûµØ Educational Foundation Board and the Student Investment Board, helping to guide the university’s mission to provide a high-quality, accessible education that prepares students for today’s complex business environment.

For Mike, the value of a Ãå±±½ûµØ education is personal—and powerful.

“I owe a lot to this university,” he says. “The education I received here gave me the tools I needed to succeed, and I’m proud to be in a position where I can help the next generation of students find their own path.”

As he accepts the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Business & Economics, Mike says the recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects a lifelong partnership between a university and its alum.

“This award isn’t just about what I’ve accomplished,” he says. “It’s about what we’ve built together—a thriving program that gives students real experience, builds confidence, and opens doors. That’s what I’m most proud of.”