Regis Life
With a $100,000 gift, Mary Pacifico-Valley invests in a bright future for Regis leaders
For more than 30 years, Regis University has held a special place in the life of Mary Pacifico-Valley, a Regis donor, volunteer and friend who recently made a $100,000 gift to support the next generation of Regis students.
“Regis has my heart,” says the two-time Regis alumna and member of the Board of Trustees. “I know that I wouldn’t have been able to get as far as I have in my life and in business if it wasn’t for Regis University.”
As the owner and president of Rickenbaugh Automotive Group, Mary credits her steady rise to the top of Colorado’s automotive industry to a Regis education. In 1984, not long after she first joined the company at 19, she completed a bachelor’s in business administration. As she worked her way up through management positions, she returned to Regis, taking night classes toward the MBA in finance and accounting she received in 1990.
“A month later, I got promoted, based on that MBA,” she says. “I owe a lot to Regis for offering that program, that worked around a working person’s schedule. Having that degree gave me confidence in my decisions. Confidence that I could get the job done. Confidence in my leadership and the skill set itself that eventually led to my purchasing the dealership itself.”
In honor of her achievements as one of a few women in the country to own an automotive dealership group, Mary received the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. In 2019, she was named Colorado’s Time Dealer of the Year, one of the automotive industry’s most prestigious honors.
A long-time Regis donor, Mary hopes her recent donation will help Regis students reach similar heights, with support for tuition and other expenses.
“If there’s anything I can do to support students who want to be there, I want to do that,” she says. “Let’s see what they can accomplish when they go out into the world. Let’s let them go out and own their own businesses and make a difference and give back.”
I am deeply grateful for Mary's unwavering commitment to our faculty, staff and students. She is an inspiring business and community leader helping guide Regis University to live its mission to help build a more just and humane world.
“Regis has my heart,” says the two-time Regis alumna and member of the Board of Trustees. “I know that I wouldn’t have been able to get as far as I have in my life and in business if it wasn’t for Regis University.”
As the owner and president of Rickenbaugh Automotive Group, Mary credits her steady rise to the top of Colorado’s automotive industry to a Regis education. In 1984, not long after she first joined the company at 19, she completed a bachelor’s in business administration. As she worked her way up through management positions, she returned to Regis, taking night classes toward the MBA in finance and accounting she received in 1990.
“A month later, I got promoted, based on that MBA,” she says. “I owe a lot to Regis for offering that program, that worked around a working person’s schedule. Having that degree gave me confidence in my decisions. Confidence that I could get the job done. Confidence in my leadership and the skill set itself that eventually led to my purchasing the dealership itself.”
In honor of her achievements as one of a few women in the country to own an automotive dealership group, Mary received the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. In 2019, she was named Colorado’s Time Dealer of the Year, one of the automotive industry’s most prestigious honors.
A long-time Regis donor, Mary hopes her recent donation will help Regis students reach similar heights, with support for tuition and other expenses.
“If there’s anything I can do to support students who want to be there, I want to do that,” she says. “Let’s see what they can accomplish when they go out into the world. Let’s let them go out and own their own businesses and make a difference and give back.”
I am deeply grateful for Mary's unwavering commitment to our faculty, staff and students. She is an inspiring business and community leader helping guide Regis University to live its mission to help build a more just and humane world.
– Salvador Aceves, President
Regis donor, volunteer, and friend Mary Pacifico-Valley