The Rist Family donation is a significant step forward in the development and growth of the DifferenceMaker program.

Rist DifferenceMaker Institute logo. The Rist Family donation is a significant step forward in the development and growth of the DifferenceMaker program. Through the Rist DifferenceMaker Institute we will increase the participation and recognition of UMass Lowell student innovation and creativity across the northeast and the country.

Through the Rist DifferenceMaker Institute (established in May 2019) we will increase the participation and recognition of UMass Lowell student innovation and creativity across the northeast and the country.

We are very grateful to Brian and Kim Rist for this generous contribution, and for their support of their past support of the program.

Kim and Brian Rist ’77, Manning School of Business

Kim and Brian Rist posing for a photo. The Rist Family donation is a significant step forward in the development and growth of the DifferenceMaker program. Through the Rist DifferenceMaker Institute we will increase the participation and recognition of UMass Lowell student innovation and creativity across the northeast and the country. We are very grateful to Brian and Kim Rist for this generous contribution, and for their support of their past support of the program.
  • Brian Rist is the Founder, President & CEO of Storm Smart Industries. He is also the President & CEO of Storm Smart’s parent company, The Smart Companies.
  • Brian is considered an expert in the field of innovate hurricane protection.
  • Since founding Storm Smart in 1996, Brian has dedicated his energies to customer service, product development, company growth and sustainability.
  • A Massachusetts native, he had the idea for hurricane protection after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 revealed how garage-door failures destroyed homes. Initially focused on helping homeowners protect their homes from storms, Storm Smart’s business jumped more than 300% after Hurricane Charley struck the Gulf Coast in 2004.

Thank you to Kim and Brian Rist for supporting the DifferenceMaker Program and UMass Lowell students in the following ways:

  • Establishment of the Rist DifferenceMaker Graduate student fellowship
  • Funding to support DifferenceMaker student team participation in regional and national competitions
  • Naming of the Rist Campus-wide DifferenceMaker award
  • Support of the Rist DifferenceMaker co-op student award
IEP-Designation-opt

Innovation and Economic Prosperity Designation

The University of Massachusetts Lowell has been designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and its Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness, and Economic Prosperity (CICEP).

The APLU Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) Universities program recognizes institutions for exemplary, innovative, and sustainable efforts in economic engagement by those who have received the IEP University designation. The designation identifies institutions working to advance the engagement and economic well-being of their states, regions, and the nation through a variety of efforts. Designees have worked through an intensive process of institutional self-study and engagement with stakeholders to identify the strengths of the university’s economic engagement enterprise as well as areas for growth and improvement.