MONROE — John Baumann, president and CEO of Colony Brands, received the Distinguished Service Award May 26 from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

The Distinguished Service Award is given annually to journalism school graduates for significant contributions in journalism and mass communication. Baumann earned his Bachelor’s degree from school in 1982.

The award recognized not only Baumann’s leadership in making Colony Brands one of the largest consumer catalog and e-commerce companies in the United States, but also his commitment to the Wisconsin Idea.

Baumann serves on the board of directors of the University of Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association as well as the board of visitors of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine. In addition, Baumann and his wife, Katie, also a UW-Madison graduate, established the Inspiration Project, which sponsors two college scholarships for Monroe High School students attending the University of Wisconsin.