Business Leaders Magazine 2016

Business Leaders

THE MAGAZINE OF THE WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AT APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Magazine 2016

SERVING OTHERS // Faculty, students join forces to provide service, improve our community

EYES WIDE OPEN

// Students experience rich and raw side of Costa Rica’s coffee industry reassess value of people, planet and profit

VENTURE FUND

// Alumnus Steve Norwood helps establish unique venture fund to help students launch new businesses

Building Momentum // Dean Heather Norris shares how her experiences help the Walker College serve students while navigating the evolving waters of higher education

APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE

The Business Leaders Magazine is published annually by the Office of the Dean for alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University.

FEATURES

Administration Dean Heather Norris

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Administration Sam Formby Associate Dean of International Programs and Assessment Martin Meznar Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Research Sandra Vannoy Director of Development Will Sears

3

16

20

SERVING OTHERS

EYES WIDE OPEN

VENTURE FUND

forces to provide service, improve our community

and raw side of Costa Rica’s coffee industry reassess value of people, planet and profit

helps establish unique venture fund to help students launch new businesses

// Faculty, students join

// Students experience rich

// Alumnus Steve Norwood

Editor Haley Childers Contributing Writers Daniel Bassett Savannah Burns David Rogers Elisabeth Wall

BUILDING MOMENTUM

Infographics Daniel Bassett

// Dean Heather Norris shares how her experiences help the Walker College serve students while navigating the evolving waters of higher education

Photography Sabrina Cheves Marie Freeman Kenneth Kirksey Amy Odom

On the Cover

From left, Associate Dean for International Programs Martin Meznar, Walker Fellows President Kyle Harrison, Dean Heather Norris, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs Sam Formby and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs Sandra Vannoy in Peacock Hall’s recently renovated Lee Barnes Graduate Programs and Research Suite.

Appalachian State University is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students or employees on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disabling condition or sexual orientation. Appalachian also actively promotes diversity among students and employees.

business.appstate.edu

26 CONTENTS 4

Connecting students nationwide

7

Sustainability, waste management win at “Pitch Day”

12

Global opportunities

22

Research spotlight

25

Sustainable business

27

Practical advice from Wells Fargo executive David Carroll

32

Professorships honor favorite professors, ensure Appalachian retains high quality research and teaching faculty

CONNECT

facebook.com/walkercob twitter.com/walkercob

instagram.com/walkercob www.linkedin.com/groups/115193

CALENDAR October 22

Walker College Game Day Tailgate and ASU Homecoming

October 25

Boone Discovery Forum

October 28

Harlan Boyles Distinguished Lecture

November 11 Carole Moore McLeod Entrepreneur Summit December 1

Executive Education Information Session

March 30-31

Appalachian Research in Business Symposium

April 7

Global Opportunities Conference

April 23-29

WCOB Service Week

BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL CHAIR John Belman CEO, Vistage Worldwide, Inc.

A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN We welcomed a record number of business students to Peacock Hall and the Walker College of Business this fall. Data from Appalachian’s Office of Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning (IRAP) reflects an approximate 25% increase in the number of students majoring in business over the course of the last five years.

To meet our community’s growing needs, the Walker College continues to evolve a dynamic curriculum, which this academic year includes a new supply chain management major, marketing sales concentration and both a master’s degree and graduate certificate in applied data analytics.

New coursework is being implemented alongside existing high-quality programming, all of which helps our faculty create transformational experiences for our students and readies them to make a positive impact on our local and global communities.

The Walker College continues to push forward in innovation and entrepreneurship. Programs through our Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship continue to expand, serving more students who are launching small businesses.

In this issue, you will learn how a generous gift from alumnus Steve Norwood has made possible a new venture fund that will allow more student business ideas to become reality. You will read about our students who are building relationships in our communities through service, and faculty members who are incorporating service learning into their curriculum. For example, Accounting Professor Tammy Kowalczyk has partnered with Appalachian Mountain Brewery (AMB) to allow her students to get real-world experience in improving AMB’s triple bottom line (social, environmental and financial impact).

searches for permanent department chair, faculty director, and new faculty positions; execute an internal program review to prepare for our AACSB accreditation visit in 2017-18; and make strides toward major fundraising initiatives, including two new professorships in the college to honor Dr. Harry Davis and Mr. David A. Thompson.

We also aspire to grow our executive education program and, as always, continue to explore new ways of teaching and learning.

To continue our success, we count upon input from our alumni, donors and business community members. I hope you will utilize your network and connect with Appalachian State University and the Walker College of Business by sharing your story, reading your alumni class notes, and visiting campus often. This semester, join us for the October 22 WCOB Football Game Day Tailgate (which coincides with Appalachian Homecoming), the October 28 Boyles Distinguished Lecture, and the November 11 Entrepreneur Summit.

As we graduate more Appalachian alumni, our network grows, and it is my sincere hope that you will utilize your network and connect with not only Appalachian, but to the Walker College of Business, your major, department or program, and the 2,900+ current students in Peacock Hall.

This year, the college will work to complete

Walker College of Business

93.1% In-state students

5% 145 Graduate students

2,791

95%

Ryan Bolick ‘01 Business Improvement Lead, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. H. Edward Boyles, Jr. Managing Director, Wells Fargo Securities Marshall A. Croom ‘86 Senior VP & Chief Risk Officer, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Rick Finlay Partner (ret.), Conyers, Dill & Pearman Benjamin Hamrick ‘82 CEO, Johnson Price Sprinkle, PA Helen Hollifield ‘87 Tax Partner, Deloitte & Touche Thomas H. Hudspeth, Jr. ‘82, ‘83 Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers Roy McCraw Regional Chairman (ret.), Wachovia Beth Monaghan Founder & CEO (ret.), Monaghan Group Phillip Ostwalt ‘83 Partner, KPMG, LLP Kim Price ‘77 President & CEO (ret.), Citizens South Bank Kenneth G. Reece ‘73 Sr. Vice President - Mid-Atlantic Region, First Tennessee Bank John Roos ‘84 Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Communications, BCBS of North Carolina Jack Sheffield, Jr. Managing Director/Client Advisor, Deutsche Bank Securities John E. Silvia Chief Economist, Wells Fargo Securities Allan Singer Manager (ret.), McNair Law Firm, PA Gerry Smith ‘70 First VP Investments (ret.), Smith Barney Hayes Smith ‘82 Managing Partner, Second Creek Development Company Richard G. Sparks ‘76, ‘78 President & CEO, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System Jill Sparks ‘91 Executive Director, Small Business Center and Business Incubation, AshevilleBuncombe Technical Community College

David A. Thompson CFO (ret.), WEDGE Capital Management, LLP

4.5% Part-time students

Joseph Towell CEO, Yadkin Bank

29%

Brad Wall ‘99 President, The Wall Foundation

Marketing

17%

Finance Banking and Insurance

Roger L. Beahm WestRock Executive Director, Center for Retail Innovation, Wake Forest University School of Business

95.5% Full-time students

Management

Total Number of Students

J. Cantey Alexander III ‘86 President, Triad Region, BB&T

Richard Stroupe ‘98 Founder & Managing Principal, Crimson Holdings, LLC

130

2,921

VICE CHAIR Doug Johnson ‘77 CEO, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corp.

15%

Departmental Breakdown

5% 7% 11% Economics

16%

Accounting 2,776 Undergrads Business Comp. Info. Systems & Supply Chain

Members Emeriti W. Winfield Beroth ‘65 William S. Creekmuir Robert G. Darst Joseph F. Freeman, Jr. Robin H. Gagnon ‘82, ‘95 Jamie E. Harris ‘84 William R. Holland Scott K. Lampe ‘94 Charles V. Murray ‘87 Jeffrey A. Shepard Frank H. Skidmore, Jr. Michael A. Steinback G.A. Sywassink

Student Engagement

Student Club Membership

Project Management Phi Beta Lambda Walker Fellows SHRM HTMSA ASE GIS DECA AITP Executive Impact IBSA Beta Alpha Psi Supply Chain Club

Organizational Service Activities One service activity per year

822+

Combined participants

92%

8%

of clubs schedule multiple service projects per year

Clubs organize social activities

0

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

*7 Clubs did not report data

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100% Clubs organize service activities

SERVING OTHERS

// FACULTY, STUDENTS JOIN FORCES TO PROVIDE SERVICE, IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY

S

tudent members of the Walker Fellows organization hosted a first ever Walker College Service Day on April 25, 2016.

The event brought faculty, staff and students together in service to the local community through a week-long canned food drive culminating in the three-hour fundraising celebration. The effort brought in non-perishable food items and raised money to benefit the Hardin Park Elementary School Food Pantry and Snack Program. Traditionally, the program assists families in need throughout the school year, but in 2016 the program also provided assistance to 200 families in the community during the summer months, when some families have the highest need.

Walker College faculty and staff members signed on to be “dunked” in a tank of cold water, and students and peers traded canned food items and cash donations for chances to dunk their favorite professor or colleague.

More than 60 faculty, staff and students from the Walker College of Business joined in the fun. Six faculty members were dunked, and ten Walker Fellow student volunteers staffed the event.

Finance professor Bryan Bouboulis gets dunked in the name of community service during the first annual WCOB Service Day.

“We look forward to making this a legacy event for the future,” said Amy Odom, associate director of the BB&T Student Leadership Center and co-advisor of Walker Fellows. “We’re thankful to our Appalachian family for getting involved in this worthwhile effort, and we especially appreciate fellow student group Gamma Iota Sigma and corporate partner Snyder’sLance for contributing to the effort.”

The Walker Fellows serve as ambassadors and student representatives at various Walker College and University events. They interact with alumni, prospective students and business community leaders on a regular basis.

Their involvement in the College also serves as a student “voice” to college administrators for business students.

2017 SERVICE WEEK

In 2017, the Walker College will expand faculty-student service opportunities during the second annual Walker College Service Week, planned for April 23-29. More than 20 student organizations housed in the college – including the Appalachian chapters of the American Marketing Association, DECA, Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA) – will participate.

To join in the initiative, contact Walker Fellow Vice President Emily Young, younger1@appstate.edu. █

SAVE THE DATE SERVICE WEEK APRIL 23-29, 2017 Hardin Park Social Worker Denise Presnell, second from left, with Walker Fellows Isaiah Keys, left, Emily Young and Jack Terrell.

2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 3 •

CONNECTING STUDENTS NATIONWIDE

// MEMBERS OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS TRAVEL TO ENGAGE WITH, COMPETE AGAINST THEIR PEERS Appalachian Phi Beta Lambda students attend state, national leadership conferences; make connections and showcase their talents The April 2016 Phi Beta Lambda state leadership conference allowed student members of Appalachian’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter to compete in a broad range of business and career-related areas. Winners included junior marketing and management double major John Vines, junior risk management and insurance majors Madie Roach, Joseph Gray, Jenny Zheng, junior international business major Tim Bethea, marketing minor McKenzie Worley, and junior accounting major Abby Young. Their wins qualified them to compete at the national conference in Atlanta in June 2016.

There, Vines earned 5th place in Business Presentation and, along with Roach, earned 7th place in Integrated Marketing Campaign. Young earned 4th place in Future Business Executive and Bethea earned 4th place in International Business. Additionally, Worley was elected as the Southern Region Vice President to serve 2016-2017.

Phi Beta Lambda members at the national FBLA conference in Atlanta.

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Students attend American Marketing Association’s International Collegiate Conference American Marketing Association (AMA) members participated in the AMA International Collegiate Conference for the second consecutive year in March 2016. The New Orleans event included seminars, certifications, guest speakers, competitions, and networking. Participants were sophomore communication and advertising major Michael Lyday, junior international business major Cole Anderson, junior marketing major Molly Caldwell, senior communication studies major Jenny Luihn, senior marketing major Brooke Cohn and sophomore marketing major Shelby Weatherman. Faculty advisor Pia Albinsson and professor David Shows traveled with the students. █

Walker Fellows earns Professional Organization of the Year Walker Fellows has been named the 2016 Professional Organization of the Year as part of the student organization leadership awards presented by Appalachian’s Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (CSIL). According to CSIL, the Walker Fellows organization exemplified outstanding achievement and organizational development among their peer groups. Walker Fellow

member and junior accounting major Emily Young also earned the Rising Star Award, which is awarded to a first year member who has made great contributions to their organization, and club advisors Michelle Boisclair and Amy Odom earned Advisors of the Year awards in recognition of the dedication, availability, and energy shown to the students. █

Beta Alpha Psi attends the BAP Southeast regional meeting Seven Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) students presented during the BAP Southeast Regional Meeting in Birmingham, AL February 25-27. Alongside faculty advisor Tracy Reed, junior accounting majors Levi Barker, Stephen Garrett and Bret Pittman, and senior accounting majors Sam Straw, Benjamin Belk, Arturo Vergara and Cecilia Faulk represented Appalachian at the event.

The students participated in the Best Practices competition and presented to a panel of judges and audience members on the newly implemented BAP peer mentorship program and shared the chapter’s unique service projects. The students also attended sessions by accounting professionals and acquired in-depth knowledge designed to springboard them into today’s competitive job market. █

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AITP earns outstanding chapter of the year award Appalachian’s Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) student chapter received the AITP Regional Outstanding Chapter of the Year award. The honor was announced during the National Collegiate Conference in Rosemont, IL on April 8. Appalachian’s AITP region is comprised of multiple states in the eastern US including North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Out of more than 200 AITP student chapters from 45 states, only two other schools (Texas State University and Ball State University) won awards for their respective regions.

The AITP Outstanding Chapter of the Year award is based upon performance from the previous academic year in five categories: Education, Membership, Public Relations, Meetings, and Association Participation. The award marks the 40th national or regional award that Appalachian’s AITP chapter has received since 2007, when Dr. Scott Hunsinger began serving as faculty advisor. █

Performance and leadership celebrated during honors convocation

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Thirty business students were recognized for their academic performance and leadership of student organizations during the college’s Yadkin Bank Honors Convocation.

// STUDENTS RECOGNIZED FOR LEADERSHIP AND PERFORMANCE

Top Business Student of 2016 Emily Haas, center, with Yadkin Bank Honors Convocation Speaker Vanessa Murray, left, and Walker College Dean Heather Norris.

High achieving business students earn nod for leadership and legacy at Appalachian Appalachian’s Celebration of Leadership and Legacy Award Ceremony, hosted by the Office of Student Development, recognized several business students for their service to the university during a ceremony on April 22.

Emily Haas earned the W. H. Plemmons Leadership Medallion. The Plemmons Medallion recognizes the time, energy, skills, and commitment of students, faculty, student development educators and staff who exceed at providing leadership that enriches the quality of student life and advances the education of students. Haas also earned the Berardino DiBernardi Student Award for Leadership and Legacy. Senior international business and economics major Jack Terrell won the Ronny L. Brooks Leadership Award. The Brooks Award recognizes Appalachian students who have distinguished themselves through their exemplary leadership provided to Appalachian students, programs and organizations. Terrell held leadership positions in the Walker Fellows and the International Business Student Association. Senior accounting major Jeff Cox earned the President of the Year award for his leadership of Beta Alpha Psi. █

Top Business Student for 2016 awarded to Emily Ray Haas The honor for top student overall 2015-16 was awarded to Emily Ray Haas during the April 22 Yadkin Bank Honors Convocation.

Haas, a senior majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management and Entrepreneurship and minoring in Nutrition, has served as President of the Walker Fellows, CEO of BootstrAPPs, and as a member of the Student Conduct Board. Haas has also served as a Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader (SOUL), a Plemmons Fellow, an Alternative Service Experience Peer Leader and as a member of the Dale Tweedy Mentor Program and the Association of Student Entrepreneurs. █

Standing out from the crowd for exceptional product marketing Junior human resources management major Kayla Dean beat out more than 200,000 other students nationally to win MindSumo’s “Bring new and exciting ink technologies to wine packaging challenge,” hosted by G3 Enterprises.

Submissions were scored on both design creativity and functionality. MindSumo, which aims to connect undergraduates with companies and mentors, was founded in 2011 through StartX, the Stanford Student Startup Accelerator. █

Top student undergraduate honorees by major were: Molly Cogburn, Accounting; Benjamin McGrady, Computer Information Systems and Supply Chain Management; Evan Truxton, Economics; Darrow Goff, Finance and Banking; Brian Cade, Hospitality and Tourism Management; Dillon Hewitt-Castillo, International Business; Niko Gibson, Management / Entrepreneurship; Elizabeth Fowler, Management / General; Zully Castaneda, Human Resource Management; Nicholas Reynolds, Marketing; and Boris Salvador-Maldonado, Risk Management and Insurance. Norman Lindsey, Jr. was named top student in the MS in Accounting program and Vanessa Phelps earned the top spot in the MBA program.

Leadership awards were presented to: Cody McKinney, Accountant of the Year; Jeff Cox, Beta Alpha Psi Scholar; Madison Gunning, AIESEC; Trevor Fillingame, American Marketing Association; Tyler Sawyer, Appalachian Supply Chain Club; Stephanie Perrotti, Association of Information Technology Professionals; Hunter Bowen, Association of Student Entrepreneurs; Matt Drake, National Association for Business Economics; Kaylen Kent, Executive Impact; Stephanie Stahle, Finance Student Association; Bryce Jones, Hospitality and Tourism Management Student Association; Hathum Hamam, International Business Student Association; Clayton Garland, Project Management Group; Parker Roberson, Pruett Award for the Outstanding Risk Management and Insurance Graduate; Ulises Luviano, Society of Human Resource Management; and Meredith Sloboda, Walker Fellows. █

Author, entrepreneur and Economics and Finance and Banking alumnus Bobby Martin spoke to the PITCH YOUR IDEA participants and audience members at the March 2016 contest in the Holmes Convocation Center.

THE HOCKEY STICK CURVE

Nearly every thriving business began its life as a fledgling startup, and when looking at the growth charts of these successful companies, there is a common denominator: the track of their year-over-year profits takes the shape of a hockey stick.

More information: http://hockeystickprinciples.com/charts/

6 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

SUSTAINABILITY, WASTE MANAGEMENT WIN AT “PITCH DAY” // BY DAVID ROGERS, BLOWING ROCK NEWS www.blowingrocknews.com

A

s the saying goes, if your business is not being monetized — earning revenue — it is just a hobby. So it’s hardly a surprise that sales guru and Appalachian State alum Bobby Martin would launch (and eventually cash in on) two successful entrepreneurial ventures, become an angel investor serving on the board of innovative start-up businesses, and write a book, The Hockey Stick Principles (2016, Flatiron Books/Macmillan Publishers, New York) that describes the common ingredients of the sales and revenue success enjoyed by some of the world’s biggest blockbuster enterprises: Amazon, Netflix, Facebook, Google, Salesforce.com, Sageworks, Red Hat Software, Lending Tree, Bronto Software, iContact, and his own company, First Research.

So the now 40-something Martin brought back to his alma mater and the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship a special amount of entrepreneurial and business insight on March 24 as the banner sponsor for the university’s “Pitch Your Idea” competition at the Holmes Convocation Center. He spoke in front of a panel of judges for the “Pitch Your Idea” competition and an audience consisting of students, as well as faculty, friends, family and sponsors, many of whom attended the preceding Harlan Boyles Distinguished Lecture produced by the Walker College.

THE HOCKEY STICK PRINCIPLES

Both in his book and to the students, Martin observes that those now mega-companies started out small and may have appeared to be struggling in their first few years. Noting that a chart of these companies’ respective revenue growth looks like a hockey stick, relatively flatlining for 2-3 years before accelerating upwards, Martin explains that you can do all of the planning in the world, but in the early years you are putting plans into action and then adapting, even altering direction in mid-course as new realities are discovered.

“Following a road map is a road to the predictable; innovating is an uncharted journey of discovery,” Martin writes as “Hockey Stick Principle #4” in his book.

SAVE THE DATE DISCOVERY FORUM October 25, 2016 Finalists on stage at the 2016 PITCH YOUR IDEA contest

2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 7 •

Ten student finalists presented to the judging panel and audience after being selected as “the 10 most innovative ideas” by a panel of faculty members.

Each finalist had two minutes to “pitch their ideas” to the judges and win a share of $2,000 in prize money. The audience got in on the action, too, with $500 going to the student voted as the “Audience Choice.”

1st Place — Vixster, by Zak Ammar, an MBA candidate from Houston, TX. PREMISE FOR IDEA: Vixster is a trash and recycling Service Company operating in “The Sharing Economy.”

It facilitates a peer-to-peer removal service for commercial and residential customers. “More than 20,000 residents of Watauga County do not have waste and recycling removal services. Most live outside of the city limits, but many others live inside the city limits and require trash pick-ups more frequently than once per week. 60 other rural counties in North Carolina alone have this exact problem. Vixster addresses the rural waste management challenge by linking waste producers with community members willing to remove it for a fee.

By using a digital, GPS platform, users can create an account, request an ondemand pickup – pay for it online, and Vixster will match them with a driver in the same vicinity to pick it up. The driver receives 70% of the transaction fee paid out bi-weekly.”

2nd Place — Something Green, by Taelor Critcher, a junior hospitality and tourism major from Boone.

PREMISE FOR IDEA: Every year, 2.5 million people get married in the United States. Result: each year weddings contribute 64 tons of carbon and 400-600 tons of garbage to our national environmental footprint. As our society continually becomes more ‘green’ conscious, it is important to provide consumers with opportunities to make eco-friendly choices. Therefore, Ms. Critcher’s idea is to start a business called, “Something Green: Sustainable Wedding Planning and Event Venue,” which will provide brides with the services and resources they need to reduce the environmental footprint on their wedding day. Critcher’s business goal is to have it act as a pioneer for zero-waste and sustainable events in

the High Country. “I plan to build an event barn by using re-purposed and recycled materials, installing solar panels, a rainwater harvesting system, a low flow water system, and a compost and recycling system, the goal being to eventually obtain LEED certification.

My wedding planning services will assist and teach brides how they can make greener choices in various areas of their wedding. This is not only an opportunity for brides to reduce their footprint, but also an opportunity to educate the community on the importance of making greener, more sustainable choices.”

3rd Place — Lok Up, by Lauren Chesnet and Curtis Compton, both sophomore industrial design majors from Mount Airy, NC, and Mooresville, NC, respectively.

PREMISE FOR IDEA: Solves the problem of keeping up with bike locks or carrying around “bulky” bike locks hanging off of bike frames. The pair’s idea consists of a retractable mounted bike lock that is directly mounted to the bike. It would be mounted to where a water bottle cage might be, with screws that can only be removed when the bike is unlocked. The cylindrical form consists of injection molded plastic and fits parallel to the bikes frame. Unlike other mountable bike locks that use keys, this one is unlocked by using a combination lock with easy grip dials. “This eliminates the annoyance of having to carry a key around. It contains a 3/8 inch cable (to

8 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

reduce the chances of it being easily tampered with) that retracts into the main cylindrical form to maintain a sleek aesthetic. Color options could be easily incorporated. This bike lock improves the biking experience, especially of public bikers, because it prevents the chance of forgetting a lock at home or having to figure out a way to carry one around either on their bike or on the rider.”

The Audience Choice Award went to Glance, by Kameron Kales and Chris Comrie, senior business majors. The other 2016 finalists included: AdRenture,

by Noah Koch, Senior, Marketing; Campus Cleaners, by Jake Hartman, Senior, Management; Dry Thighs, by Mollie Gentry, Freshman, Computer Science; Gidoa, by Dale Yarborough, Senior, International Business; NC Downhill, by Bailey Winecoff, Senior, Sustainable Technology; Project Music, by Jabari Myles, Senior, Computer Information Systems, and Kaitlyn Little, Sophomore, International Business.

Bobby Martin is a 1992 graduate of Appalachian State and the author of The Hockey Stick Principles, a research project to figure out how good ideas become successful firms. He is also president and co-founder of Vertical IQ, a leading provider of sales research insight for banks. Martin also cofounded and served as president of First Research, a leader in sales intelligence. █

Student presenters at the 2016 pitch contest included Zak Ammar, counter clockwise, from top left, Founder of Vixster, a trash and recycling service; Kameron Kales, co-founder of Glance; and Lauren Chesnet and Curtis Compton, co-founders of Lok Up.

SOMETHING GREEN

//PITCH WINNING IDEA, STUDENT LAUNCHED BUSINESS

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unior hospitality and tourism management major and sustainable business minor Taelor Critcher is not only a high-achieving student active in many campus organizations, but also a certified wedding planner who now operates her own business, Southern Roots.

The business is derived from her 2016 Pitch Your Idea business, Something Green.

Critcher, who has a passion for “putting smiles on peoples’ faces,” knew at a young age that she wanted to be a wedding and event planner.

While at Appalachian, Critcher launched Southern Roots with support and influence from several Walker College programs and faculty members, including Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship Managing Director Erich Schlenker.

“Erich Schlenker has been more than helpful guiding me in an entrepreneurial direction, he is doing great things for the college,” said Critcher of her

Photo by Elle Sloboda, elleslobodaphoto.com

experience working with the center. “I will continue to seek out his counsel during my last year at Appalachian.”

sustainable practices and student engagement committee.

Critcher participated in the BB&T Student Leadership Center’s Women of Walker (WOW) program for two years; the second year she served as a mentor to the new class.

“WOW taught me many valuable lessons about how to be a successful business woman in an industry that is male dominated: how to negotiate salary, how to network, how to mentor and encourage other young professionals,” said Critcher. “The organization is amazing, and, through it, I was able to really come out of my shell, prepared for anything I may face as a young, female, business professional.”

“Amy Odom, Michelle Boisclair, and Dawn Medlin have created an incredible program for young women in Women of Walker.”

Critcher is also a member of the Walker Fellows, and she has served the college as a student representative of the

Critcher considers hospitality and tourism management professor Carol Kline, with whom she worked on the sustainable practices committee, as one of her mentors. Critcher has taken four of Kline’s courses, during one of which she had the opportunity to travel to the Galapagos Islands to study eco-tourism.

“Dr. Kline helped me discover my interest in “eco-conscious” activities, built up my confidence in myself, and taught me to think more deeply about sustainability,” said Critcher. “She is doing great things for Appalachian and hospitality and tourism students.”

Kline’s influence is apparent in Southern Roots, which specializes in helping brides turn their wedding day into an opportunity to make a difference, educate others, and reduce their footprint, all while giving them the wedding of their dreams.

Although the business only launched in June of 2016, Southern Roots already

2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 9 •

boasts several clients, and Critcher plans to increase strategic marketing and participate in vendor and wedding expos to ramp up business.

importance of sustainability and being eco-conscious, and saves money.

“My goal is to help make ‘greening’ a wedding fun, exciting and educational,” explained Critcher. “By choosing to have an eco-friendly wedding you gain a greater sense of fulfillment in knowing you left a positive impact and helped educate your guests on the importance of making greener choices.”

WHY GREEN?

Critcher grew up in Boone; her ancestors have lived in Watauga County for generations. “My southern roots run deep,” she said. “I love the mountains and am proud to say I was born and raised here.”

Brides will be given a number of options that they can pick and choose from according to their desire to decrease their footprint and budget.

For a full list of greening services, or to learn more about Southern Roots or Something Green, visit Critcher on facebook @southernrootseventsnc or online, www.southernrootsevents.com.

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Because of her healthy respect of her environment, and thanks in part to the sustainable business education she received in the Walker College, Critcher knew she wanted a “green business.”

Appalachian’s administration and faculty have progressively incorporated sustainability education in the curriculum and activities of its students, and the Walker College of Business offers not only the sustainable business minor, but also a graduate concentration in sustainable business and a bachelor’s degree in environmental economics and policy.

The green arm of Southern Roots – Something Green – provides services and resources to brides and grooms to reduce the environmental footprint of their wedding day.

Something Green was Critcher’s initial business idea, which she pitched at the 2016 Appalachian Pitch Competition.

“I won second place, earning $500, and I was absolutely beside myself knowing that the judges approved of my concept.”

Critcher hopes to one day own a wedding venue in the High Country.

“North Carolina is by far one of the most beautiful states to have a wedding,” said Critcher. “I believe it is our responsibility to help preserve this natural beauty.”

Something Green clients learn how to “green” every aspect of their wedding and earn discounts for their participation.

Southern Roots assures that its green weddings will support local businesses and farmers; use reusable and recyclable materials and decorations; compost and donate leftover food; and use local, chemical free flowers. Compared to a typical wedding, a “green wedding” reduces CO2 emissions and waste, provides education to guests about the

Southern Roots Owner Taelor Critcher, top right (photo by Kenneth Kirksey); Erich Schlenker, Critcher and Bobby Martin at the 2016 Pitch Contest, middle right (photo by Sabrina Cheves); All other photos by Elle Sloboda, elleslobodaphoto.com.

10 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

OUTSTANDING PROGRAMMING

// APPALACHIAN BUSINESS STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM STAND-OUT PROGRAMMING OUTSIDE OF THE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE

Female business students participate in two-day professional experience and celebration

Student members of the Bowden Investment Group have another big win at state CFA Challenge

Business students win leadership case competition; earn trip to International Leadership Conference

Twenty-four female business students completed the Women of Walker (WOW) program. To celebrate, the participants showcased their professional skills, developed throughout the spring semester, during a networking social. A pinning ceremony symbolized how individuals can be empowered through professional development and partnerships.

For the fifth year running, a team of

Three teams of business students competed in the 2016 Walker College of Business Leadership Case Competition on Friday, April 22.

Partnering company Red Ventures served as host to the students, and five Charlotte-area female professionals provided a professional panel discussion.

A major theme of the day was a candid look at the challenges each female professional has faced in a predominantly male industry.

“The group traveled back to Boone with a newfound understanding of the power of connections with one another and the business world around them,” said WOW co-director Amy Odom.

The program aims to accelerate professional development, personal growth, and leadership abilities for female business majors at Appalachian through networking, career exploration, travel, and professional development workshops and seminars.

Students interested in becoming WOW members or alumni interested in participating in the WOW speaker series, are encouraged to contact Odom, odomah1@appstate.edu, (828) 262-8119.

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WCOB students won the regional Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Institute Research Challenge. The team members were finance and banking undergraduates Andrew Johnson, Darrow Goff, Amanda Carter, MacGregor Shepard and Aaron Martschenko.

The competition was the culmination of a semester-long case study, sponsored by the college’s BB&T Student Leadership Center. Each team worked together to solve an ethical dilemma and designed a poster that summarized their response, recommendations and analysis. A panel of judges comprised of faculty and staff from the Walker College of Business and Appalachian’s Center for Student Involvement and Leadership provided feedback.

The CFA Challenge is an annual global competition that provides hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis. Students work in teams to research and analyze a publicly traded company. This year’s competition focused on Sonic Automotive (SAH), which is headquartered in Charlotte.

Student teams compiled a thorough analysis of the company and wrote a security analysis report with a “BUY, SELL or HOLD” recommendation.

The winning students were health promotions junior Chris Brands; accounting sophomore Ashlee Harvey; interdisciplinary studies senior Zach Hunter; and hospitality and tourism management and international business junior Carson McMillan. They will travel to Atlanta to attend the International Leadership Association’s 18th Annual Global Conference, The Dynamics of Inclusive Leadership, in November, where they will participate in leadership workshops and compete against student teams from around the world in the international case competition.

The reports were scored by CFA professionals, and the four best teams were invited to present their analysis in the North Carolina finals. Appalachian was selected the first place team based on report and team presentation scores.

Also competing in the state regional finals were teams from Elon University, UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Wilmington.

Student teams from Appalachian have won six of the eight years that the competition has been held in North Carolina, and Appalachian is the only university in the state to have a team in the finals in all eight years.

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2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 11 •

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

// ON CAMPUS AND AROUND THE WORLD, APPALACHIAN BUSINESS STUDENTS ARE DEVELOPING INTERCULTURAL KNOWLEDGE THAT WILL MAKE AN IMPACT ON THEIR FUTURE

INTERNATIONAL REACH

CAMPUS LEARNING

Walker College offers courses taught abroad by business faculty that include a travel portion ranging from one week to one month and are designed to connect coursework with firsthand international experience. In 2015-2016, more than 150 graduate and undergraduate students participated in faculty-led study abroad courses, semester abroad programs, or international internships in roughly 20 countries including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, England, France, Germany, Holland, Japan, Spain, and Taiwan. Short-term study abroad courses covered topics in Management, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Computer Information Systems, Risk Management, Supply Chain Management, Hospitality, Sustainability, and International Business.

Walker College students learn intercultural awareness through study abroad experiences, in the classrooms of Peacock Hall and during the annual Global Opportunities Conference (GOC).

The 2016 GOC, “Problems to Possibilities,” was held in April in the Plemmons Student Union. The event, a collaboration between the Walker College and Appalachian’s QEP Office, University College, the Goodnight Family Sustainable Development Department and the Holshouser Ethics Program, explored the role that innovative business and pioneering entrepreneurs can take in addressing pressing environmental and social issues.

Erin Meezan, Vice President of Sustainability at Interface, shared her vision for a more sustainable future.

Erin Meezan, VP of Sustainability at Interface, addressed more than 250 Appalachian students during the GOC.

The event also featured two “idea talks” from Dr. Dan Fogel, Director of Graduate Sustainability Studies at Wake Forest University, who spoke about”Nature’s Price” and Dr. Jeremy Ferrell, Assistant Professor of Sustainable Technology at Appalachian, who spoke about “Turning Waste into Resource in Latin America.”

Leigh Shamblin, Director of the Global Innovation Management Master’s Program at North Carolina State University, joined both speakers for a luncheon panel discussion to provoke conversation on the conference theme.

An important portion of the day’s event included presentations by students who tell their stories of innovative and sustainable thinking abroad drawn from their experiences.

WEB FEATURE Watch Meezan’s Talk business.appstate.edu/features

COMMUNITY PARTNER: INTERFACE

Guest panelists and student speakers with hosts at the 2016 Global Opportunities Conference, Problems to Possibilities

SAVE THE DATE GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES CONFERENCE April 7, 2017

12 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

The 2014 Sustainability Leaders Report ranked Interface 3rd among the top companies leading the way on sustainability – right after Patagonia.

Since a change in vision in 1994, Interface has reduced waste to landfill by 91%, cut down water intake by 86% and greenhouse gas emissions by 73%.

Mission Zero, their visionary goal, is to source 100% of energy needs from renewable sources by 2020. █

CELEBRATING A 20 YEAR EXCHANGE WITH FUDAN

// THE HOLLAND FELLOWS PROGRAM FOR BUSINESS STUDY IN ASIA CELEBRATES MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY More than 20 years ago, Appalachian began a partnership with Fudan University in China that became the William R. Holland Fellows for Business Study in Asia. Through the visioning of administrators and key community partners, including former Wachovia CEO and Appalachian advocate Bud Baker and former CEO of Dominion Industries and program namesake Bill Holland, the program has flourished through 20 delegations, and it is most commonly summarized by program alumni as “life-changing.”

“In the expanding global economy, the ability to integrate cultural differences in the decision-making process is critical,” said former Walker College Dean and Appalachian’s sixth Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock. “The Holland Fellows Program provides a distinctive opportunity for business students to prepare for leadership in a challenging business environment.”

For more information on the Holland Fellowship, visit hollandfellows.appstate.edu. █

Each year, 12 students from each university work together to analyze business case studies in small groups via the Internet, then collaborate in person when the Fudan students travel to the United States for two weeks in the spring and again when the Appalachian students visit China near the end of the spring semester. The Holland Fellows develop a deep understanding of Chinese and American business practices, visit historical sites and cultural attractions, and experience international business through visits to state-owned enterprises and foreign joint ventures.

Perhaps most importantly, the students meet life-long friends and create international networks.

2016 Holland Fellows were greeted in Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport with a welcome banner.

2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 13 •

A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS

// HOLLAND FELLOWS BID GOODBYE TO BOYA AND HENSON, WELCOME JESSE AND MEREDITH PIPES

Unal Boya

Jesse Pipes

More than 20 years ago, Dr. Unal Boya, a native of Turkey, became a faculty leader for the Holland International Business Fellowship in Asia. A citizen of the world, he has traveled with students to England, France, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, China, Cuba, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Boya stepped down as chair of the college’s Department of Marketing in July.

the Holland Fellows faculty leader since 2008, transitioned to a new role at Spring Hill College this year. The 20th anniversary of the program, marked by a year of transition, welcomes another dynamic duo: Jesse and Meredith Pipes. They join Dull, and faculty leader Betty Coffey, as the newest members of the leadership team.

Jesse, a self-proclaimed serial optimist, teacher, and confident creative, has a penchant for global exploration and creative problem solving. He is a lecturer in the Walker College, where he has developed courses in social entrepreneurship and opportunities in entrepreneurship. He received an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA with concentrations in International and Sustainable Business from Appalachian.

He is a co-founder of Access Health Africa, an international non-profit organization providing health resources and services in the Central Region of Malawi, Africa, and has 15 years’ experience leading the development of community-based health programs and international student expeditions.

It has been 28 years since he joined the Appalachian faculty in the Department of Marketing and almost 40 since he first came to America. He said coming to the U.S. was not a big culture shock, but it was an opportunity he never envisioned.

“As a young man, I did not have the means to even cross the border into Iran or Iraq,” he said. A serendipitous series of events, including being identified by a professor as a candidate for a foundation-based scholarship, landed him at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill’s School of Business. He became active with the International Center there, beginning his avocation of championing international studies and programs. In fact, Boya came to Boone, he said, in part because of the impressive international programs the university already had in place.

WEB FEATURE Read the full article business.appstate.edu/features

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities I’ve had. My travels through Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe instilled in me the value of experiential education,” said Jesse. “These experiences are what fuel my passion for motivating others to explore, learn and take action.”

Read why Boya believes the study abroad experience is life changing and what’s next for him.

The Holland Fellows Program has a history of dynamic duos. In recent years Matt Dull, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations and former Holland Fellow, served alongside Dr. Jennifer Henson. Dull began his tenure in 2012 and Henson, who served as

Ms. Meredith Pipes’ passion for international education has been central to her studies and career for the past 20 years. Since 2010, Meredith has served as the international programs coordinator for the Walker College of Business.

14 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

Meredith Pipes

Meredith earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Appalachian and a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Kansas. She has spent extended time in Mexico, Spain, Uruguay and Honduras and has co-led numerous international programs for the Walker College, including programs in Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, France, Malawi and Turkey. “My travels have shaped the way I view the world and opened doors to opportunities I hadn’t imagined,” she said. “I would love for every Walker student to do the same – to meet people with differing perspectives, to experience other landscapes and communities and to broaden their world view.”

Meredith works closely with Walker College Associate Dean of International Programs Martin Meznar and has been instrumental in expanding intercultural offerings for Appalachian business students.

“This year, Dr. Meznar and I are planning three new short-term international programs,” said Meredith. “We hope to help students get their hands dirty working on various agricultural initiatives in Burma/ Myanmar, as the country has recently opened to the rest of the world.”

The Walker College also aims to provide students (and alumni) opportunities to study in the Colombian Amazon through a partnership with Wine 2 Water, working to secure a clean, reliable water supply for an Amazon Jungle village and to study in Russia and Ukraine, learning about renewable energy initiatives and policies in Eastern Europe and Chernobyl.

Are you an alumnus with an interest in traveling with the Walker College? Please inquire: cobinternational@appstate.edu. █

SERVANT LEADERSHIP

// FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGING HOW WE VIEW THE WORLD Senior international business major and mandarin Chinese minor Benjamin Cao recently completed an internship in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he provided humanitarian aid to earthquake victims after the devastating quakes in April 2015. Thousands of Nepali families were left without homes, and Cao worked to build temporary houses for those suffering losses. Through his internship, Cao sourced and purchased the materials for construction and led a team of 25 volunteers to build 150 houses.

Cao says the experience has made an impact on his daily life; he now constantly strives to help others, and to do more for his community. “This experience fundamentally changed the way I view the world and how I treat people,” said Cao. “I was exposed to such extreme

poverty, suffering, and grief, and I now have a new level of gratitude for what I have as an American.”

Cao, who graduated in May 2016, aims to return to Nepal within the next five years to begin raising awareness for the need for renewable energy and a reliable energy infrastructure. “Eventually I want to found a B corporation with the vision of providing zero marginal cost energy to developing countries,” said Cao. “I hope to help the people of Nepal by providing them renewable, affordable energy to power their homes, businesses, and lives.”

Cao’s mindset is representative of the endeavors occurring on Appalachian’s campus every day, where sustainability, renewability and service are championed. █

STUDENTS ARE MORE THAN A NUMBER AT APPALACHIAN Chancellor Sheri Everts noted in a January 2016 message that there will be a continued focus on wellness, health and safety for our campus community.

Junior marketing major Samantha Bender believes in the well-being of individuals whole heartedly.

Bender planned the first and second annual Positive Post-It Day (PPID), a day for the Appalachian community to ‘speak up’ and encourage and inspire others through simple messages.

“As a marketing major, I want to market something that I think can change the world,” said Bender. “I am a firm believer that there is nothing more powerful than that of a good mindset.” Bender explains that university students, like all individuals, experience various states of mind at any given time. “ Some are dealing with family members that have recently passed, some have just failed a test, some did horribly in an interview, and some are experiencing difficult private situations.”

Bender has received positive feedback from the community, and in response, she encourages students who happen across the positive notes to “please believe what they say. You are worth something... Everything!”

In addition to caring for her fellow humans, Bender attributes her inspiration for PPID to her experiences in Women of Walker, a Walker College program through which she felt encouraged to take her ideas and put them into action.

Student Leadership Center Assistant Director Amy Odom and Appalachian Interim Chief of Staff Debbie Covington were especially instrumental in encouraging Bender to pursue her goals.

“Appalachian is a special place; it is a family,” said Bender. “We strive to help each other.”

The April 2015 Earthquakes in Nepal caused widespread destruction, top. International Business major and intern Ben Cao built housing structures by hand to provide relief for victims.

The event originated in 2015 to honor and memorialize students who have passed away. Thousands of students participated by writing notes for others.

“What could be more beautiful in its own simplicity than a note with a positive message,” said Bender. “Maybe 10,000 positive messages posted around Appalachian State’s campus!” █

Melanie Ward, a Boone area native earning her MBA with a concentration in human resources, picks coffee “cherries” in Costa Rica during a study abroad experience.

Coffee Supply Chain Coffee plants are most productive years old between

7-20

$2

3

Average per cajuela cherry

Types of roasts Light roast Medium roast Dark roast

129 Countries export coffee

Coffee begins losing freshness

72 hours after being roasted

16 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

WITH EYES WIDE OPEN

// STUDENTS EXPERIENCE THE RICH AND RAW SIDE OF COSTA RICA’S COFFEE INDUSTRY AND REASSESS VALUE OF PEOPLE, PLANET AND PROFIT

BY ELISABETH B. WALL Over winter break, Dr. Ken Corley, professor in the Walker College of Business, along with local resident and java entrepreneur Don “Bald Guy” Cox ’93, took 18 Appalachian State University students to Costa Rica for a deep-dive into the workings of the coffee industry.

The focus of the trip was an up close and personal examination of the coffee supply chain. The students saw and learned far more than what an average coffee tour might include. They walked the coffee farms and co-ops, heard from coffee agents and distributors, worked with migrant workers, saw their housing, and visited mills, factories, shipping and distribution centers – “in large part because Bald Guy has such rich relationships in Costa Rica,” Corley said. “He is literally the only white guy I know who has ever walked the coffee fields with his suppliers.”

There are many obstacles for a small coffee producing country like Costa Rica, Corley explained – plant disease, poverty, unfair trade practices, water quality, diminishing work force to name a few – but with education, a shift in sustainable priorities and consumer awareness, he and Cox have hope for the industry and the people.

Opening the eyes of the Appalachian students is a beginning, Cox said.

“Millennials like changing the world. The coffee business emerged from colonial conquest and it’s been that way since the 15th century. In order to change, we need to look at it from the heart of the people.”

“The honesty with which we evaluate the supply chain helps the students engage, evaluate,” Cox said. “This experience gives them exposure to a culture they have never seen before. When they see a Guaymi Indian lady who has been picking all day earn $18 to $20, when they know regardless if her beans are labeled “fair trade” or “organic” she will not realize another dime of the higher priced end product, they begin to get a little frustrated. There’s a lot of hype in a cup of coffee,” he continued. “This group has great DNA for sustainable living and this will impact how they go forward.”

It all comes back to our concept of fair trade, said Melanie Ward, a Boone area native earning her MBA with a concentration in human resources. “Just because the [fair trade] stamp is there and we pay a premium on this end, it doesn’t really impact the farmer. You see the children working, see where they live, all under the stamp of fair trade. What should we do? Stop buying coffee? We can share, tell the story. By not focusing on the bottom line of profit but leaning more toward people and planet... maybe we can figure out a solution.”

Coffee beans during the grading process, a step in the coffee supply chain that students witnessed in Costa Rica.

Asked how this trip would impact her career choices, Ward said, “I always go back to the people. We talk in our sustainable business classes about people, planet, profit. If you don’t support the people in your supply chain, or your employees, whoever you’re interacting with, everything will crumble or fall apart. It’s all about people and relationships. You can’t hide what you’re doing if it isn’t ethically right. So, start with the people. That will help your business strategy, that will impact your success.”

2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 17 •

BEYOND COFFEE – A TASTE OF THE CULTURE

There was down time for the students to get a taste of the culture — try local food, visit a volcano, zip line through the canopy of a rainforest and snorkel in the Pacific.

And, visiting an emerging second world country pushed many of the students out of their comfort zones. Ward was tentative about taking the trip from the start. Corley, she said, “was so straightforward about what to expect: hiking, being in nature, spiders and all … I had all this paranoia. Personally I grew a lot, faced my fear of heights, I did repelling, I had critters under my pillow, in my sheets… sure, I had pre-travel jitters, but I grew up from it.“

Ward said she found the culture calmer, more relaxed than ours. “It was a big change for me culturally to slow things down, be more flexible,” she said. She particularly appreciated the times “when we were able to interact with the farmers .... When I left, [the Nicaraguan man I had been picking coffee berries with] said, ‘Don’t ever forget my name.’ I realized how important the small connection I had with him was.

Sometimes we don’t respect the smaller things.” (Editor’s note: Ward does remember his name. It is Marvin.)

Toward the end of their Costa Rica adventure, the Appalachian students were given seedling coffee plants to sow. Corley’s dream is that in the not so distant future there will be a hillside of thriving plants, sown by Appalachian students, tended by farmers who are fairly paid for their labor; their coffee beans graded on quality, shipped openly and without undue tariffs and red tape, and enjoyed, guiltlessly, by coffee cravers everywhere. █

WEB FEATURE: FROM BEANS TO ZIP-LINING WEB FEATURE View the photos

business.appstate.edu/features

Interspersed with tours of coffee farms and migrant worker housing, factories, co-ops, shipping and distribution centers, the students also zip lined through a canopy of a rainforest, hiked to an active volcano, snorkeled in the crystal blue Pacific and explored the churches, museums and eateries in a number of villages. View Appalachian photographer Marie Freeman’s photo gallery online. █

WEB FEATURE: TALK THE TALK WEB FEATURE Learn the lingo

business.appstate.edu/features

The business students’ takeaway from their experience in Costa Rica is that educated buyers can make a difference in the quality of life for the pickers and growers. “Fair trade” or “organic” labels on the coffee are not always accurate or regulated. Research your suppliers, students suggest, and buy local when possible. Ask “Where do you get your beans?” If the proprietor can’t tell you, go somewhere else. Read an explanation of commonly used coffee certificates. █

PEACOCK HALL’S COFFEE SHOP, BEANS TO BREW, WILL BE A CROSS-DISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION IN 2016

Founded in 2014 by the college’s Association of Student Entrepreneurs (ASE), the Beans 2 Brew (B2B) coffee shop has quickly become a favorite campus hangout.

In 2016, ASE, in accordance with all policies established by Appalachian’s general counsel, campus activities, business affairs, and business administrators, is stepping up their business.

B2B offers entrepreneurial student education, all while maintaining its reputation as an excellent cup-of-joe supplier for customers. Now, B2B will operate as a rolling two-week fundraiser, involving all academic clubs in the college. Each club will perform its unique function in operating the coffee shop (Marketing, Accounting, Supply Chain, Management, etc.) and receive a distribution of profits.

Created as part of the 2015 Peacock Hall re-modernization project, the coffee shop features a multi-purpose counter and kitchen space that, in 2015, enabled the students to sell more than 18,000 cups of coffee to students, faculty and community members.

The B2B reorganization and the networking taking place in Peacock Hall’s Broyhill Commons, both on a daily basis and through the shop operations, are an example of how the Walker College is a leader in innovative, life-changing, and experiential undergraduate and graduate business education. █

18 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

NEW INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS CREATED Two scholarships to help undergraduate business students travel abroad and grow in intercultural knowledge were recently established.

SCHOLARSHIPS MAKE “LIFE-CHANGING” EXPERIENCES POSSIBLE Mariah Breeze, who graduated in 2016 with a major in accounting and a minor in Spanish, was a first-generation college student who paid her college tuition independently. While on campus, the Hillsborough native worked parttime in the Financial Aid Office and for Appalachian’s Food Services, and she volunteered her time at the local Hospitality House and F.A.R.M. Cafe.

Breeze was a Dean’s Club scholarship recipient, and the funding helped enable her to be an active member of Phi Beta Lambda (collegiate FBLA), the college’s Holland Fellowship to China and the Women of Walker program. Breeze hopes to one day give back to a student through the Dean’s Club.

“It is important to me to gain a degree to make something of myself and to prove to myself that I can do it,” said Breeze. “I have had a lot of help along the way, and I am so grateful for it. I know that there are, and will continue to be, plenty of other students who need a little help to reach their goals and dreams, and I am determined to one day be able to give them that push that the Dean’s Club gave me.”

Through her involvement with the Holland Fellowship, Breeze gained extensive international experience through an additional work assignment – an internship with China.org. The organization provides up-to-date news about China, with searchable texts of government position papers and a wealth of basic information about Chinese history, politics, economics and culture.

To support students like Mariah, become a member of the Dean’s Club today business.appstate.edu/give.

“International travel can be a life changing experience for students,” said Walker College Associate Dean of International Programs Martin Meznar.

“However, for many, the financial requirement is not feasible. The number one reason students don’t go abroad is financial.”

ALUMNA EXEMPLIFIES HOW INDIVIDUALS CAN BE A POSITIVE FORCE IN SOCIETY AND HELP CHANGE THE WORLD The important contributions of Appalachian Accounting and International Business alumna Sarah Freed and 29 other change makers were recognized as part of the 2016 AACSB Influential Leaders Challenge. Launched in 2015 to honor notable alumni from AACSB-accredited business schools, the AACSB Influential Leaders initiative continues to recognize business school graduates for the positive impact they make on society, and the inspiring example they set for others.

Student survey results suggest that receiving a $1,000 scholarship makes travel abroad more feasible. Zach Tate ’81, ’85 and Amanda Ratliff ’88 are two alumni working to make a difference in the lives of students.

The Anne Cannon Trust International Travel Scholarship Fund in the Walker College of Business was initiated by Tate and his wife, Linda, through the Anne Cannon Trust. The fund will provide need-based scholarships of varying amounts to qualified undergraduate Walker College of Business students.

Tate is the son of the late Anne Cannon Forsyth, who passed away in 2003, and executive director of the Anne Cannon Trust. Forsyth was the daughter of Z. Smith Reynolds and a granddaughter of R.J. Reynolds. Zach and Linda Tate are partners at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty in Blowing Rock.

Freed is an entrepreneurial social responsibility leader with a decade of experience contributing solutions to systemic global sustainability challenges.

Freed and her peers represent 15 industry sectors—from social enterprise to healthcare to technology—across 11 countries.

“Sarah has an innovative mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, and has made significant social change,” said Walker College Dean Heather Norris. “I am delighted that AACSB has selected her as a 2016 Influential Leader.”

The Howard Coble Scholarship for International Studies has been established in memory of Howard Coble, the longest-serving Republican House member in North Carolina history, by his niece Amanda Ratliff. Ratliff believes that international travel would resonate with her late uncle, who attended Appalachian State as a young adult. Coble, who passed away in November, is remembered for a long military and political career, including nearly 30 years in the Coast Guard. He was an assistant federal prosecutor, state revenue secretary under Gov. Jim Holshouser and state House member before his initial 1984 congressional victory.

Freed is the co-founder of Obliquity Group, an international consulting firm that provides third party, independent audits and performance benchmarking of corporate social responsibility programs. Freed was also recently was named Community Partnerships Manager with Uber, where she will lead the organization’s social responsibility strategy to create authentic, meaningful solutions to key sustainability challenges.

As a student, Freed launched the Global Opportunities Conference to highlight innovative and entrepreneurial ways of addressing global challenges.

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A P PA L AC H I A N S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

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2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 19 •

MAKING AN IMPACT ON NORTH CAROLINA’S ECONOMY, ONE STUDENT-LAUNCHED BUSINESS AT A TIME

// ALUMNUS STEVE NORWOOD ESTABLISHES TRANSFORMATIONAL VENTURE FUND TO HELP STUDENTS LAUNCH NEW BUSINESSES

Alumnus Steve Norwood has served as a speaker for the Carole Moore McLeod Entrepreneur Summit for the past two years.

This spring, Appalachian State University received a gift from Walker College of Business alumnus and entrepreneur Steve Norwood ’80 to seed a venture fund that will help students launch new businesses on campus and promote local and regional economic development.

organizations of all sizes, is co-founder and CEO of Consolidated Asset Recovery Systems, and a member of the TICFE advisory board who has engaged frequently with students on campus through center programs such as the annual Carole Moore McLeod Entrepreneur Summit.

The Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) Student Venture Fund will provide early stage student ventures with preliminary funds to assist with typical startup expenses such as market research, technology tools and marketing. A small percentage of the gift will help to continue and expand the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship (TICFE) operations.

“Funding is a primary hurdle for students to overcome as they pursue entrepreneurial ventures, said Norwood.

“Early seed funding is important to the viability of new businesses, and I’m confident Appalachian’s Center for Entrepreneurship will provide the coaching necessary for student-launched businesses to succeed.”

Norwood, a software supply chain veteran with more than 20 years of experience in building successful

Students applying for funds will collaborate with center staff to prepare a business plan and organize the business

20 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) registered in North Carolina. Qualifying ventures will then present a vision and business plan for their LLC to an advisory council, composed of successful entrepreneurs, that will assess projects on metrics including viability, impact, sustainability and scale, then determine if the student entrepreneur is appropriately prepared to receive and use preliminary funding.

Students pursuing ventures with high potential for social or economic impact will receive preference. The council will monitor the use of awarded funds, in accordance with an agreed upon plan and schedule.

“Students will benefit not only from the funds, but also from the engagement of the partnering council members,”

said TICFE Director Erich Schlenker.

“These entrepreneurs have networks and contacts, provide access to resources and markets, and share insight with our students to grow their businesses.”

“Ultimately, the program will prepare student ventures to pursue additional funding through regional angel networks,” Schlenker added. “These early entrepreneurial successes dramatically expand career opportunities for Appalachian graduates.”

Schlenker hopes to award up to $12,000 per semester to up to six individual student ventures beginning this fall. A student venture may only receive funding from the CFE fund once.

“Transformative student experiences like this create learning environments that supplement the classroom experience and showcase the innovative spirit of Appalachian,” said Walker College of Business Dean Heather Norris. “It’s a privilege to be able to provide additional support for our students beyond the traditional model.”

“The generosity of donors like Steve Norwood makes a huge impact on students during a time of life when they’re paying for college with little to no income. The program saves many from incurring further debt while they work to become successful entrepreneurs,” added Norris.

Implementing the fund required collaboration between several units at Appalachian, utilizing expertise in the legal, financial aid and student accounts areas of campus to establish the infrastructure necessary to execute the program.

The fund is the first of its kind in the High Country, an area that relies heavily upon small business to drive the local economy.

Schlenker added that the university hopes to endow the CFE Student Venture Fund in the future so the program will continue for many years to come. To contribute to the CFE Student Venture Fund, or to become involved with the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship at Appalachian, contact Erich Schlenker, (828) 262-6196, schlenkere@appstate.edu.

Norwood serves customers consisting of over 250 prime and sub-prime lenders who assign cases to more than 1,400 certified agents across the U.S. Through CARS’ provided Web portal, lenders have access to real-time updates and tracking. This allows them to complete the process more efficiently, resulting in savings that range between 40 to 60 percent over the traditional paper-based process.

The Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship at Appalachian State University helps students and alumni launch successful businesses, enhancing their future prospects and the region’s economy. The center was created in 2006 to support a rapidly increasing group of student entrepreneurs, and it was named for Hickory-based Transportation Insight in 2012.

Prior to founding Consolidated Asset Recovery Systems, Norwood held several vice president positions for the following companies: Riversand Technologies, specializing in product information management; eScout, building a team to deliver on-demand SRM solutions to the market; and Requisite Technology recruiting and training a successful sales organization in catalog and content management for the e-commerce market.

STEVE NORWOOD

Throughout his 27-year career, Steve Norwood has become an accomplished executive and manager of technical software and service sales organizations.

He specializes in building successful companies while achieving aggressive revenue goals. For the last 16 years, Norwood has worked exclusively with early stage companies not only to define

CARS was named one of the region’s fastest-growing privately held companies by the Triangle Business Journal in 2015. █

their market and target customers, but also to solidify their sales process and pricing. He accomplishes this while building a sales team that maximizes revenue growth.

In his current role as president and founder of Consolidated Asset Recovery Systems Inc. (CARS), Norwood has built a successful cloud computing software company for lenders to manage the repossession and remarketing process electronically. Fueled by an extensive background in streamlining the procurement process for financial services and aerospace companies,

Steve Norwood

The 2016 Carole McLeod Entrepreneur Summit will feature an address by Mapquest co-founder Chris Heivly. Register online today: entrepreneurship.appstate.edu

SAVE THE DATE ENTREPRENEUR SUMMIT November 11, 2016

2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 21 •

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

//ENCOURAGING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES THROUGH RESEARCH ENDEAVORS

Joseph Cazier

John Whitehead

Carol Kline

Data analytics work furthers research on key bee questions

Economics professor awarded grant for socioeconomic study

Hospitality and Tourism Management publishes work on sustainable tourism

Center for Analytics Research and Education Director Joseph Cazier, along with Computer Science Chair James Wilkes, is working to establish a standardized platform for collection of data from beekeepers, using advanced data analytics across multiple apiary locations. The comprehensive analysis will examine beekeeping economics, best management practices, smart hive development and robust data collection and analytics. Their work is being funded by Project Apis m., a non-profit organization that directs research to enhance the health and vitality of honey bee colonies, as part of the Healthy Hives 2020.

Economics Chair John Whitehead has been awarded $95,303 by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to conduct a socioeconomic study of Atlantic menhaden commercial fisheries. Whitehead will co-lead the project with Dr. Jane Harrison from North Carolina Sea Grant. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Atlantic menhaden constitute the largest landings by volume along the Atlantic Coast – that is, the amount of fish harvested from the sea and brought to the land. Menhaden rank second in the U.S. for landings, behind only pollock, on the west coast of Alaska.

Hospitality and Tourism Management Professor Carol Kline has published Linking Urban and Rural Tourism: Strategies in Sustainability. The book, co-authored by George Mason University’s Sue Slocum, provides commentary around the linkage of urban and rural tourism strategies as they relate to sustainable tourism development. Their work provides insight into inclusive regional development strategies that support both the needs of urban and rural areas whilst enhancing the tourist experience, supporting the positive impacts of tourism and mitigating the negative.

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Departmental Research

92% of full-time faculty in WCOB contribute to research in their discipline

Faculty Intellectual Contributions (IC)* Academic/professional meeting presentations

Academic/professional meeting processing 9%

458

37%

8%

34%

Peer reviewed journals

1,337 Total ICs

22 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

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12%

Competitive research awards

Other IC type selected by the school

*Jan. 2011 - Dec. 2015

Marketing team earns top spot for research on wine industry Marketing professors David Shows, Pia Albinsson and James Stoddard have won Best Paper in Entrepreneurship/Small Business Marketing Track during the Atlantic Marketing Association Conference for their research, “Entrepreneurship Marketing in North Carolina’s Wine Industry.” █

packaging, and marketing.

Tammy Kowalczyk

Accounting professor leads community-student collaboration resulting in first of its kind report The 2016 Appalachian Mountain Brewery (AMB) sustainability report is not only one of the first of its kind, but also features faculty-student collaboration from the Walker College of Business.

The report is AMB’s first sustainability report, and is one of few reports to-date that utilizes new standards from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) in the reporting process.

SASB develops and disseminates sustainability accounting standards that help publicly listed corporations disclose material factors in compliance with federal Securities and Exchange Commission requirements.

“We are proud to be one of the first craft beverage companies to voluntarily adhere to the sustainability standards set forth by SASB. We believe this is an important step in line with our dedication and commitment to sustainability, community, and philanthropy,” stated AMB CEO Sean Spiegelman.

“This initial report will serve as a benchmark for future performance.

From our established benchmarks, we can set targets for future performance and gauge our progress towards meeting our objectives,” said AMB CFO Jeremy Barnes. “We are impassioned by social-mindedness and the many ways it can benefit both our communities and shareholders long-term.”

Faculty participate in regional research symposium; plans in the works to host fourth annual event Appalachian faculty and staff members Rebecca Hutchins, Jerry Hutchins, Pia Albinsson, David Shows, Dawn Medlin, Jonathan Carpenter, Donna Lindabury and Sandra Vannoy joined faculty from East Tennessee State University, Western Carolina University and Eastern Kentucky University to present research projects and share ideas about teaching and learning during the third annual Appalachian Research in Business Symposium (ARBS) April 1, 2016. The 2017 event will be hosted on Appalachian’s campus by the Walker College of Business on Friday, March 31, 2017 with registration and reception on March 30.

Barnes is an Appalachian accounting graduate who is now completing his Master’s Degree in Accounting from the Walker College. In addition to Barnes’ contribution, much of the report was prepared by fellow MS of Accounting student Alex Helms, in conjunction with AMB’s graphic design artist Tommy Lee. The students worked closely with accounting professor and sustainability fellow Tammy Kowalczyk on the project.

“This is an outstanding example of a collaboration between our faculty, students and the community,” said Walker College of Business Dean Heather Norris. “Dr. Kowalczyk and several other Walker College faculty members are leading the way in sustainability research, as well as teaching and implementing sustainable business practices.”

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SAVE THE DATE APPALACHIAN RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM March 30-31, 2017

The report addresses AMB’s progress in energy, water, supply chain and ingredients,

2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 23 •

Walker College alumnus establishes Lee Barnes Benefaction for Learning Enhancement and Enrichment Fund Business students at Appalachian are encouraged to engage in research, and programs are available to offset the associated costs, including the CERPA Scholars Program and the newly formed Barnes Program Research Grants.

Walker College alumnus Lee Barnes has given $300,000 to establish the Lee Barnes Benefaction for Learning Enhancement and Enrichment Fund, which will continue support for the Barnes Scholars Program, the premiere scholarship for Walker College of Business students established by Barnes and his wife, Christy in 2012.

The gift will further student and faculty research endeavors in the college; the grant program will provide business students with up to $2000 in funding to engage in research with a faculty mentor outside of the normal classroom experience. Student research projects often lead to poster or oral presentations by the student at on-and off-campus conferences and papers co-authored by the student and a faculty mentor that are submitted for publication in a professional or academic outlet. The proposals are evaluated by a Walker College of Business faculty committee.

For more information, visit business. appstate.edu/students/research.

Barnes is a Walker College alumnus and a member of Appalachian State University’s Board of Trustees.

Recognizing his passion for research and his long standing support of the college and university, the Walker College of Business will name the newly renovated Lee Barnes Graduate Programs and Research Suite in Peacock Hall in his honor. █

RMI students win AAMGA white paper award May 2016 risk management and insurance graduates Parker Roberson, pictured right, and Hannah Lanier, center, were recognized at the 90th Annual American Association of Managing General Agents (AAMGA) conference in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 23. Associate Professor and Director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center Karen Epermanis, pictured left, accompanied the students, whose awards were presented by AAMGA Chancellor Mark Rothert. 2016 marks the seventh consecutive year that at least one Appalachian student has won the competition. Full versions of Roberson’s paper, “Hydraulic Fracking – The MGA’s Guide” and Lanier’s paper, “The Infringement of Standard Markets on the Excess and Surplus Market” are available online at insurance.appstate.edu. █

Student researchers present on sustainable business topics Five student teams were selected as best research project winners by a faculty vote after a poster session on sustainable business research at Appalachian. The research topics focus on environmental and social concerns, business strategies and practices, and new opportunities to create value for all of an organization’s stakeholders. The top poster was “ZappCab Electric Vehicle Transportation Service in Boone, NC” by Bailey Winecoff, Caleb McGee, Spencer Carmichael, Michael Jennings, and Richard Oakley. The second place poster was “Greenwheels” by student researchers Elena Avis, Nicole Gratzl, and Allison Martin. There was a three-way tie for third place research between “Come Back Shack: A Sustainable Expansion,” “Barberitos: Further than Farm Fresh,” and “Attacking Food Waste at Appalachian.” █

Proposed recreation center to infuse money in economy, create other benefits in High Country Students from Appalachian’s National Association for Business Economics (NABE), supervised by Economics Chairperson John Whitehead, conducted research on the potential impact of a proposed 71,000 square-foot recreation center in Watauga County. The recreation center would positively impact the community, the economy and the health of High Country citizens, according to their analysis. The researchers broke down the recreation center’s benefits to users into three categories: community benefits, economic benefits, and health impacts. The estimated economic benefit outweighs the planned costs, according to the report. Using benefitcost analysis, Walker College of Business economic students concluded that the facility will generate $10.125 million in benefits above costs over a 30-year period. The student researchers are environmental economics and policy major Will Blackwood, economics and finance and banking major Bobby Weant, actuarial sciences major Brittany Ramsey, and economics majors Matt Drake, Ben Sullivan, and Evan Truxton. █

Faculty, students conduct tourism economic impact analyses Members of NABE and the Economics faculty have conducted a number of high country tourism economic impact analyses. Study subjects include the High Country Beer Fest, the Beech Mountain Metric, Blood Sweat and Gears, the Blue Ridge Relay, and 6 Hours of Warrior Creek. Economic impact estimates range from $100 thousand - $1 million. █

WEB FEATURE Economic analyses

business.appstate.edu/features

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS

// WALKER COLLEGE HOSTS BUSINESS FOR GOOD, PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

BUSINESS FOR GOOD

“If you aren’t doing business for good, why are you doing business?” asked Bald Guy Brew proprietor Don Cox ’93 at the second annual Business for Good.

The August 19 event included testimonials around commitment to operating a sustainable business from three community partners as well as presentations

by Dr. Dan Fogel, author of “Strategic Sustainability;” keynote speaker Nicole Miller, managing director, Biomimicry 3.8; and Brad Sparks ’97 ’98, executive director of global corporate citizenship at KPMG. “Last year, we saw a need in the college to provide an educational opportunity on sustainable practices for this community,” said Dean Heather Norris.

“This is something we truly value in the college and we want to advance in the education, research and service aspects of what we do.”

Interim Director of the Office of Sustainability Lee F. Ball thinks Norris is succeeding. “The second annual Business for Good event has quickly become an invaluable faculty development asset. Not only are faculty learning more about sustainability through the lens of the business world, they are able to develop a more personal connection related to their own professional areas of expertise,” he said.

In her keynote, Miller defined Biomimicry as “conscious emulation of nature’s genius, a science-based approach across disciplines where we look to nature for sustainable solutions… We mimic forms; we mimic process; we mimic systems.” Miller encouraged the audience to think beyond sustainable. “You wouldn’t want to say you have a sustainable marriage,” she said. “Sustainable is the base line. We have to ask, ‘What is the next level?’ We have to be in this for more than good, we have to do better.”

Fogel’s remarks were targeted largely to faculty, sharing resources and models for teaching strategic sustainability, many drawn from his book Strategic Sustainability. To faculty, he offered the following counsel: “When students can articulate what they know, that’s our goal. It is your obligation to teach people how to talk about things.” To students, he offered equally candid advisement. “There are opportunities to get involved. Don’t say ‘no.’ You’re not old enough to say ‘no.’ Keep your hand raised.”

Appalachian’s Sustainable Business Collaborative. The “E” stands for economy, environment and equity. Director of the collaborative, Jim Westerman, explained that Norris has provided the platform for the recent strides in sustainable business curriculum and practice at Appalachian. “Dean Norris has built sustainability into our vision, mission and values,” said Westerman. “She has provided the necessary resources for accomplishing our mission and has been an inspiration for all of us in making the Walker College a distinctive driver of business sustainability and a better future.”

At KPMG, Sparks focuses on integrating corporate responsibility across the KPMG global network – developing corporate citizenship strategies, representing KPMG at global sustainability events and reporting progress to KPMG leadership. Sustainability – specifically in terms of asset valuation and reporting – has increased traction in the marketplace, Sparks said. Setting the scene, Sparks said, the likelihood of environmental impacts is high, and the drivers moving industry and business toward sustainable action are regulatory, cost reduction, brand enhancement, risk management and customers and clients. As indicators of the increased traction, he reported 44 percent of executives agree sustainability is a source for innovation and 33 percent see it as a source of opportunity for new business.

Sparks said that in 1993 only 12 percent of a global sample of major corporations was submitting sustainability reports. In 2015, that figure was 92 percent.

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SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS INITIATIVES

• A sustainable business minor open to all majors, which helps leverage sustainable business change tools throughout the university • Sustainable business-focused courses at the undergraduate level in marketing, management, hospitality and tourism, economics, and accounting, among other programs • Sustainable business-focused research grants for faculty, and brown bag events to share research findings • Creation of an environmental monitoring system for Peacock Hall and Green Workplace certification • Increased faculty publication in all areas of sustainable business, with more than 50 percent of faculty publishing sustainable business-related research • Real-world outreach and application – including faculty and students helping to write sustainability reports, data analytics projects tracking bees and power usage, transportation and cross-cultural applications • Faculty collaboration with the Aspen Institute, AASHE, Cicero Center (Oslo) for International Climate Research, the American Sustainable Business Council, and others

GREEN “E” AWARD

During the reception, hosted by WCOB Executive-in-Residence Leigh Dunston and his wife, Pamela, Dean Heather Norris was presented with the first Green “E” award, recognizing her for outstanding accomplishments in the area of sustainable business by

2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 25 •

COMMUNITY PARTNERS & ‘BUSINESS FOR GOOD’ Businesses such as Bald Guy Brew, Coyote Kitchen and Appalachian Mountain Brewery are deeply committed to the practice many are calling ‘business for good,’ or contributing to making the world better through the use of business models that focus on people, planet, and profit.

Bald Guy Brew’s proprietor Don Cox, who recently lost all of his hard assets in a fire at his Bald Guy Brew facility in Valle Crucis, gave heartfelt testimony to the pure, core values of sustainable business: “Business for good is what the leader does when no one else is looking,” he said. “Everybody wants to sell something, and they’re running out of things to say about their products to make them sell. They’ve used up words and made a mess of ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘socially responsible’ and all these keywords to get consumers to buy their products. In the end, we have to not think ‘business for good’ is a good idea.

If we’re only thinking about it, we’re going to compromise when it comes down to bottom line. You do business for good because it is a core value.”

General manager of Coyote Kitchen Danny Bock shared some of his establishment’s sustainable business practices, not least of which, he said, was hiring Appalachian students and teaching them to be responsible, global citizens.

“I ask my workers, ‘What is your pay check going for? Beer, music festivals or tuition?’ I ask them what is their fiveyear plan and make a practice of turning a dishwasher into a cook and then into a supervisor. I get postcards from them when they move on saying, ‘Thanks, Chef. You were right.’”

David Carroll, Senior Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Wealth and Investment Management, delivered the 57th Boyles Lecture at Appalachian State University on March 23, 2016.

Participants also heard from Zak Ammar, CEO of Vixster – a trash and recycling company that provides a peerto-peer waste removal service geared toward reducing the overall amount of wastes and recyclables in High Country landfills and Sean Spiegelman – CEO of Appalachian Mountain Brewery, who spoke about sustainable business initiatives, including Pints for NonProfits, Appalachian’s fermentation sciences program and AMB Venture Capital Fund.

Community partners during the 2016 Business for Good reception in Blowing Rock. From left: Net Impact Club President Kelsey Simon, Vixster CEO Zak Ammar, AMB CEO Sean Spiegelman, Bald Guy Brew Founder Don Cox and Entrepreneurship Lecturer Jesse Pipes.

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26 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

PRACTICAL ADVICE

//WELLS FARGO SENIOR EVP, WEALTH AND INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, SHARES USEFUL FACTS WITH STUDENTS DURING BOYLES LECTURE DAY

D

avid Carroll, Senior Executive Vice President of Wealth and Investment Management at Wells Fargo & Company was the 57th Boyles Distinguished Lecturer on March 24, 2016. The Boyles lecture, held in the Holmes Convocation Center on Appalachian’s campus, offers an opportunity each semester for students to hear first-hand advice from successful executives.

Mr. Carroll’s speech, “Making – and Keeping – Yourself Relevant in Today’s World,” offered students the following advice: • Be intentional about your appearance.

• Control your attitude. (You’re in charge of your own morale.)

• Know where you are, where you want to go, and how you’re going to get there.

• Volunteer in the community – raise your hand – go do something for someone else.

• Be aware that your email and Internet activity is being monitored.

• Make a friend in the technology business.

• Smile a lot.

• Learn the fine line between recognition and humility.

• Be mobile, willing to go where others will not.

• Look people in the eye when you talk to them, literally.

• Raise your hand. It’s an incredible differentiator to be the only one asking for more work.

Mr. Carroll also challenged the students in attendance to:

• Be self aware. Ask for feedback (then listen and act on it).

• Become adept at knowing and reading people. Don’t overlook the human element.

• Develop communication skills. Convey ideas to bring people together, and get things done.

• Be adept at reinventing yourself when you hit life’s roadblocks.

• Be ambidextrous. Learn to operate fluidly between your left and right brain.

• Be well read and adept at developing literacy in career path.

WEB FEATURE Watch Carroll’s Talk

business.appstate.edu/features

The Boyles Lecture is open to the community.

Makes plans to attend the fall event, featuring Transportation Insight Founder and Chairman Paul Thompson. █

SAVE THE DATE Boyles Lecture Friday, October 28, 2016

(L-R) Walker College Dean Heather Norris, Boyles Lecturer David Carroll, Appalachian Chancellor Sheri Everts, and Appalachian Trustee John Blackburn at the Boyles Lecture.

2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 27 •

Walker College Dean Heather Norris with husband, Rob, and daughter, Emma, enjoying a Mountaineer Football game in the Walker College of Business Football Suite.

At the helm of the Walker College of Business ship is Dr. Heather Hulburt Norris, a finance professor who has served as an administrator for the college for over 10 years, in progressively higher levels of responsibility.

THE CHANGING FACE OF BUSINESS EDUCATION

Dean Norris doesn’t view the college as a ship, exactly, but more as a strong and nimble kayak navigating the whitewater of higher education. Institutions like Appalachian State University, with its new focus on public-private partnerships, to the network of community colleges in North Carolina and massive online open courses like those offered by Harvard, are commonly woven into Norris’ stream of thought. It is a frequent topic of conversation for Norris’ executive committee – composed of departmental chairs and associate deans of the Walker College. Whereas business deans of the past needed to chart a steady course for their institution’s business ‘ship,’ Norris is keenly interested in enabling a network of collaborators to innovate new ways of learning and teaching, due to the

evolving landscape of higher education. Norris is committed to seeing the Walker College provide transformational educational experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative and engaged business leaders who positively impact our community, both locally and globally.

WALKING THE WALK

Norris walks the walk of the college’s mission. She is ethical, engaged, and a constant innovator making an impact on our community. “I deeply believe that individuals in leadership roles have the greatest level of responsibility to hold high ethical standards and to act with integrity,” said Norris.

Colleagues affirm that Norris maintains the highest level of integrity in her decision-making and leadership of the college.

Norris finds value in engaging with others in a variety of forums.

She serves on the Board of Directors of Children’s Hope Alliance, and is a member of the board’s finance committee, and previous member of the foundation board and investments committee. She serves on the board of directors for the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and is an active member of its Community and University Engagement (CUE) committee.

28 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

BUILDING MOMENTUM

// DEAN HEATHER NORRIS SHARES HOW HER EXPERIENCES HELP THE WALKER COLLEGE SERVE STUDENTS WHILE NAVIGATING THE EVOLVING WATERS OF HIGHER EDUCATION On campus, you’ll find Dean Norris present and accounted for during college events throughout the year, speaking with Business Advisory Council and departmental advisory board members during scheduled meetings, and attending alumni receptions, football games, and tailgates on Saturdays. She will be supporting the many programs coordinated by the Walker College’s BB&T Student Leadership Center, the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center, the Center for Analytics Research and Education, the Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis, the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship, and the college’s Sustainable Business Collaborative, all of which are heavily engaged in partnerships with students, faculty, and the business community.

THE VALUE OF FAMILY

According to Norris, her most valued engagement is her family. Norris is married to Appalachian alumnus Rob Norris ’87, who served Appalachian for 30 years in the Information Technology Services Office. Rob retired from his role as IT Manager in July 2016, shortly after Heather was named permanent dean of the college. Rob earned his degree from Appalachian in Computer Science, and, like Heather, has a strong work ethic. Rob was born into a military family that settled in Watauga County during his high school years. The Norris family has roots in the area - near the small town of Bethel in Watauga. Rob was a non-traditional college student, as he served as a full-time housekeeper while working toward his degree in Computer Science. The two now live in Bethel, and they have a six-year-old daughter, Emma. Emma aspires to be a future Mountaineer, and loves singing, dancing and watching the Mountaineers play football. The Norris family is pictured, opposite, enjoying a football game day at The Rock September 10, when Appalachian defeated Old Dominion.

Dean Norris also values her family roots. She is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, but was raised primarily in Cumberland, Maryland. She feels lucky to have been born into a family that placed a strong emphasis on learning; her father was a chemical engineer, and her mother a part-time dietitian providing services to the local nursing home. Heather and her only sister, Debora, played school as girls, lining up their dolls to teach them. Both sisters went on to earn college degrees, and Heather continued school after she received her bachelor’s degree in Finance from James Madison University. She earned her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Finance from the Pennsylvania

“I deeply believe that individuals in leadership roles have the greatest level of responsibility to hold high ethical standards and to act with integrity.”

State University and now feels it’s her responsibility to take what she’s been given and share knowledge with others so that they can succeed. “I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to get an advanced education,” said Norris. “There is nothing more rewarding than interacting with students and seeing that ‘light bulb turn on,’ and satisfying their quest for knowledge.” Helping others is at her core. One of Norris’ greatest leadership skills is in listening to the needs and desires of others and working collaboratively to find solutions that meet the needs of all.

“There is nothing more rewarding than interacting with students and seeing that ‘light bulb turn on,’ and satisfying their quest for knowledge.”

COMMITTED TO LIFELONG LEARNING

Norris aspires to continue her education through conferences and educational opportunities such as those hosted by AACSB International – the premier global accrediting body for schools of business – and the accreditor of the Walker College’s programs.

Her long-standing passion for teaching and learning led Norris to study corporate restructuring, determining how corporations are most efficiently and effectively structured, and utilize that knowledge consulting with Fortune 500 firms and private entities alike. Her work has been cited in the popular business press, including the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and Business Week. Norris now lends her ability to create synergies between the Walker College and the local and global communities in which Appalachian operates.

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Through Norris’ vision, the college’s newly adopted value and focus on sustainable business practices is becoming one of college’s distinctives. The Walker College, which has become known as a leader in international experiences, entrepreneurial programs, and real-world applications with industry, is becoming the authority on sustainable business practices, through the creation and work of Appalachian’s Sustainable Business Collaborative, formed under Norris’ direction in 2014. For her efforts, Norris received the inaugural Green “E” Award from the collaborative in 2016.

Recent accomplishments under Norris’ oversight include the creation of Business for Good, an educational summit for faculty, staff and invited guests to learn how sustainable business practices can be implemented; the successful launch of a master’s degree offering in Applied Data Analytics, a BSBA

2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 29 •

program in Supply Chain Management, a minor in Sustainable Business and an executive education program; the growth of relationships with international artners and universities, expanding student educational opportunities to Yasar University in Turkey, the University of Havana in Cuba, and Wenzhou University in China; the strengthening of a network of Walker College advisory boards to help inform the direction of the college; the establishment of a diversity advisory team to serve the executive committee and implement measures to improve a diverse culture in Peacock Hall; and, through partnership with generous alumni – the expansion of entrepreneurial programs,

including the creation of a new student venture fund to help students launch businesses, and research programs, including the infrastructure to support faculty-student collaborative research.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Norris is surrounded by an experienced and capable leadership team. Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Administration Sam Formby brings to the table 30 years of industry management experience including responsibilities in engineering, applied research and development, project management and operations. Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research Sandra Vannoy boasts nearly

20 years of experience at Appalachian and a focus on organizational decisionmaking and social dynamics. Associate Dean for International Programs and Assessment Martin Meznar delivers knowledge of public affairs management in multinational corporations and corporate social issues management. The four Walker College of Business deans form a cohesive team thanks not only to their synergistic interests, but also to a team dynamic that enables each to communicate their respective and varying ideas to establish common goals that further college’s forward momentum.

Key to Norris’ administrative team is open communication and the ability to listen and react to needs of the students.

The Walker Fellows are the student ambassadorial group of the college, and President Kyle Harrison and Vice President Emily Young, like advisory council members, meet regularly with administrators to help guide the college’s priorities.

VISION AND PRIORITIES

Norris’ team’s major priorities for 201617 are to successfully complete searches for leadership positions, prepare for a 2018 accreditation review and further explore new ways of teaching and learning. Longer term goals include attracting, developing, and retaining a highly qualified and diverse faculty; maintaining a rigorous, relevant curriculum that supports learning; providing students with co-curricular and extracurricular activities and support services that foster their professional development; partnering with the broader university community; developing strategic alliances and partnerships with businesses, governments, nonprofits, professional organizations, and other educational institutions.

BUILDING MOMENTUM

Dean Heather Norris with Walker Fellows President Kyle Harrison in front of the newly renovated Lee Barnes Graduate Programs and Research Suite in Peacock Hall.

30 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

With support from her leadership team, consideration of student voices, and engagement with industry and alumni, Norris is guiding the college’s direction and is gaining momentum to ensure Appalachian’s business programs remain a strong and reliable force in developing tomorrow’s business leaders. █

2016 Sywassink Award winners from the Walker College of Business are, from left, Ash Morgan, Jeff Hobbs, Ric Mattar, Christy Cook and David Marlett.

FACULTY AND STAFF EXCELLENCE Five have earned the 2016 Sywassink Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Service, made possible by a contribution from G.A. Sywassink, Chairman of Standard Holding Company of Charlotte and member emeritus of the college’s Business Advisory Council.

The 2016 winners, pictured above, from left, include: Ash Morgan, who was honored for his research contributions; Jeff Hobbs, who received the award for excellence in teaching; Ric Mattar, the outstanding non-tenure track faculty member; Christy Cook, who received the 2016 staff excellence award; and David Marlett, who earned the service award. █

Management welcomed Ed Hassler, Steven Leon and Jason Xiong. Economics welcomed Youngseok Park and Chris Giguere. Management welcomed Rajat Panwar and Steven Newhouse. The Department of Marketing welcomed Ilgim Dara-Benoit, Jeff Foreman, Lubna Nafees and Harvey Simon.

Special Projects, Vice President of Insurance Operations and Technical Affairs, and Interim CEO. █

FOND FAREWELLS

Don Cox, a former Sywassink teaching award recipient, and Dave Wood, a former Sywassink service award recipient, have left Appalachian to teach at neighboring schools Georgia Southern and Middle Tennessee State, respectively.

Cox previously served as associate dean of accreditation for the college and as chair in the Department of Finance and Banking.

Wood served many years as Brantley Risk and Insurance Center director.

E. Stuart Powell, Jr. assumed the position of Insurance Executive in Residence for the Walker College, where he teaches courses in insurance and risk management. During a 42-year tenure with the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina, Powell served as the Director of Education, Director of

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WARM WELCOMES

The college welcomed several new faculty members in fall 2016. The Department of Accounting welcomed Naomi Faw, the Department of Computer Information Systems and Supply Chain

Powell

Dara-Benoit

Hassler

Foreman

Leon

Xiong

2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 31 •

IMPACTFUL GIVING

Existing Professorships Awarded

// PROFESSORSHIPS HONOR FAVORITE PROFESSORS, ENSURE APPALACHIAN RETAINS HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH AND TEACHING FACULTY Two new professorships in the Walker College will honor faculty in the department of finance, banking and insurance.

bankers for 37 years. Consistently rated as one of the most popular professors at Appalachian, his regular classes include undergraduate Commercial Bank Management and Managerial Finance in the MBA program.

Introduced last spring, and approved by the Board of Trustees at the September 2016 meeting, the David A. Thompson Professorship in Applied Investments, to honor Bowden Investment Group co-advisor and finance lecturer Dave Thompson (featured in the 2015 Business Leaders magazine), is coming to a close. Generous gifts from Mr. Thompson’s colleagues, friends, and former students will soon be eligible for a state match, creating a fully endowed professorship to continue the legacy of outstanding teaching and advising of the Bowden Investment Group.

In recognition of his service, the college, in collaboration with the NCBA, has created the Harry M. Davis Professorship in Banking at the Walker College of Business, which will allow Appalachian to attract and retain talent to teach, conduct research and perform service in the field of banking and finance, preserving and building upon Dr. Davis’ lifetime of work and achievement. The professorship is thus far being funded by member organizations of the NCBA, and will be eligible for a state match application in spring 2017.

In his roles as North Carolina Banking Association (NCBA) economist, dean of the NCBA’s North Carolina School of Banking, and NCBA Chair of Banking at Appalachian, Dr. Harry Davis has served the banking industry and shaped the careers of thousands of students and

For details on how you or your organization can make a pledge, contact Walker College Development Director Will Sears, searswill@appstate.edu or (828) 262-6231, or visit business.appstate.edu/give. █

Seven business professors have been awarded professorships for their outstanding performance in instruction, scholarship and service. Many of the professorships are named in honor of significant benefactors to the college.

• Pete Groothuis has been awarded the Beroth Oil – Four Brothers Food Stores Professorship.

• The recipient of the Honorable Harlan E. Boyles Professorship is William M. Baker.

• Finance and banking professor Chris McNeil has been reappointed the L.M. Baker Jr. Partners in Excellence Professorship.

• Marketing professor Pia Albinsson has been awarded the John W. Guffey Jr. Professorship.

• Dana Clark has received the Duane D. Daggett Professorship in Management.

• Dave McEvoy and Joseph Cazier have each been reappointed Dean’s Club Professorships for a second term.

Dean’s Club powers first annual research presentations Research from professors Dan Hsu, Ji Yan, Joseph Cazier, Shawn Bergman, John Whitehead, Jennifer Henson, Mike Dotson, Bonnie Guy, Betty Coffey, Ben Powell, Onur Ince, Pia Albinsson, Dave Marlett, and Carol Pollard was including in the first annual research poster session. Four students, Nicholas Mariano, Reena Patel, Alexandria Moxley and Glen Hutchins also presented research posters.

Finance professor Harry Davis with students in Peacock Hall. Davis has shaped the careers of thousands through his 37 years of teaching and service to NCBA.

A P PA L AC H I A N S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

Join today: business.appstate.edu/give 32 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

The research for the posters was funded in part by the Walker College’s Dean’s Club, an annual giving society designed to benefit students and faculty and to enhance academic programs.

The Dean’s Club provides unrestricted support for critical needs in the college such as: student scholarships, travel funds for faculty and students to attend course-related conferences or visits to professional organizations and corporations, and seed money for new programs or opportunities within the college. business.appstate.edu/give █

A Q&A WITH HARRY DAVIS

knowledge and money – to make the best innovations to help mankind. The two working together could achieve far more than the two working separately.

If universities enter into such arrangements, and actually benefit financially, wouldn’t that be the best possible thing for scholarship funding, research funding? All the things we think are important?

What is your economic forecast for the next five years for the High Country and for North Carolina?

We’re going to experience historically slow growth in the U.S. and North Carolina economy.

North Carolina will do better than the national economy. Employment growth in North Carolina exceeds 2 percent, whereas it’s less than 2 percent at the national level.

Surely in the next 24 months we’re going to enter a recession that will last up to 10 to 12 months, or for as long as 24 months. It will be shallow and relatively short. Recovery [from the Great Recession] is now the fourth longest in the post-World War II period. Generally when expansions go that long, you have to have a recession before too much longer. There will be a bubble burst – a student-loan bubble burst – that will lead to a recession.

The biggest problem with our economy is we cannot get enough growth to have a positive impact on salaries and wages, so incomes are not growing rapidly...

// HIS VISION AND THOUGHTS ABOUT APPALACHIAN, THE HIGH COUNTRY AND THE WORLD

What was the most rewarding time in your teaching career at Appalachian?

I lost most of the sight in both of my eyes about four months ago. I can’t read anymore but I’m going right on – still working, still teaching, still lecturing, still giving public speeches. But I’ve invented ways to do it. So, it’s a real challenge. I had no idea I’d be working this hard at this point in my life. So in some ways this may be the most rewarding time in my entire life in the sense that I get up every morning trying to figure some way to deal with this disability. It’s been very positive for me to keep looking for more ways to get around it. So every day I do that, and every day I find another way to get around it, I feel that much better. So, in a lot of ways this may be the most rewarding time in my whole career. When I can give a public speech in an auditorium to several hundred people, and I can do that and I can hardly see and they clap at the end, I feel pretty good – particularly when they want me to come back.

To support the current initiative to Honor Dr. Harry Davis, contact Walker College Development Director Will Sears, (828) 262-6231, searswill@appstate.edu or visit business.appstate.edu/give.

Photo by Ray Barbour for NCBA

What is the most crucial issue facing our state at this time?

Our secondary education system – both in the U.S. and in our state – is failing. It does a poor job educating the youth of this state.

Clearly, in some places it does an incredibly good job, but the average is not very good. Another problem we’ve got, we turned our junior college and community college system into preparatory schools for the university system.

We deserted or failed generations of high school students who didn’t want to go to college. We didn’t train them. We didn’t give them access to training. We didn’t support the technical skills.

What personal accomplishment are you most proud of?

The University and the North Carolina Bankers Association have jointly agreed to set up a professorship in my name here at Appalachian State University called the Harry Davis Professorship of Banking. That is my crowning achievement.

What are your thoughts about private-public partnership (P3) applications for our campus?

One of the biggest shortcomings of higher education is it has not partnered more frequently with the business community. We should bring the two together –

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WEB FEATURE Read the full Q&A business.appstate.edu/features

2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 33 •

ALUMNI: STAY CONNECTED @ APPALACHIAN BOONE, NC

Boone is a college town in the best sense – a place where people say hello on the street and with a vibrant downtown a block from campus. King Street is an eclectic hub featuring specialty shops, restaurants and cultural attractions that appeal to students, parents, residents and tourists alike.

Whether in town for a weekend or a four-year education, many people find it difficult to leave Boone.

Boone’s accolades include Southern Living’s “South’s Best College Towns,” National Geographic Adventure magazine’s “Best Places to Live and Play,” Outside magazine’s top 10 “Best Towns in America,” USA Today’s “10 Great Small Towns with Huge Backyards,” U.S. News and World Report’s “10 Best Places to Retire in the U.S.” and TripAdvisor’s “Hidden Gems: 13 U.S. Towns That Are Diamonds in the Rough.”

OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE

There are many ways our alumni and friends can stay connected.

• Follow @walkercob on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

• Share your story with us (business. appstate.edu/stories)

• Read your fellow alumni class notes • Visit campus often

This semester, alumni are invited to join three signature events in the Walker College: the October 22 College of Business Football Game Day/ Homecoming Tailgate, the October 28 Boyles Distinguished Lecture, and the November 11 Entrepreneur Summit. █

Boone is ranked the 10th safest place in North Carolina by Movoto.com and 19th in SafeWise.com’s “50 Safest Cities in North Carolina,” based on the latest FBI crime report data.

By the

Numbers

Virginia (634)

WCOB Alumni by State Colorado (148) Tennessee (354)

Georgia (767)

New York (109)

North Carolina (17,148) Texas (267) Florida (653)

California (193)

34 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

South Carolina 1,029

Maryland (125)

22,633 total current WCOB alumni on record

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

// LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS CREATED AT APPALACHIAN A newly launched executive education program provides learning opportunities tailored to the business community.

“Our goal is to help companies develop the leadership skills of their employees while addressing real work challenges and opportunities,” said Walker College Dean Heather Norris. “The executive education program will fill an industry need to further employee growth in functional areas of business.”

According to Walker College Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs Sandra Vannoy, the programs will be provided in customizable formats to engage participants in the way that’s unique to them.

“A collaborative partnership will help our faculty create a curriculum that will enable employees to further their companies’ goals and further their careers,” said Vannoy.

UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ON FILE

To support sustainability initiatives and to become better stewards of our resources, future editions of Business Leaders Magazine will be sent electronically. Unfortunately, due to inactivity, many alumni email addresses were lost during a recent technology migration. To ensure that Appalachian and the Walker College of Business continue to have the ability to communicate with you, please take a moment to update your email record on file with Goldbook at alumni.appstate.edu. You may also wish to connect your LinkedIn account to your Appalachian alumni record, and, by doing so, you will never have to update your current contact and employment information.

Led by experienced Appalachian faculty with doctorate degrees in the selected content area, courses will offer research-based insights and provide the opportunity to develop new expertise in Lean Six Sigma, Sales and Marketing, Managerial Finance, and more.

For more information, or to begin an executive education program, please visit: execed.business.appstate.edu, call (828) 262-2922 or email execed@appstate.edu. █

SAVE THE DATE Executive Education Info Session Thursday, December 1, 2016

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By the

Numbers

Rowan (213)

WCOB Alumni by County

Wake (1,677)

Guilford (1,140)

Mecklenburg (2,685)

Surry (239)

Forsyth (1,097)

Davidson (373)

Gaston (450)

Ashe (214) Wilkes (462)

Catawba (796)

Iredell (557)

Cabarrus (346)

Durham (244)

Watauga (945) Caldwell (413)

Alamance (262)

Buncombe (513)

Burke (312)

Union (524)

17,148 total current WCOB alumni living in N.C.

2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 35 •

BUSINESS GRADS FROM WCOB EMPLOYED AT GRADUATION // WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF COMMENCEMENT, WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS GRADUATES REACH THEIR FIRST DESTINATION AT A HIGHER RATE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE Ninety-two percent of Walker College of Business Class of 2015 graduates have successfully reached their first destination, according to statistics compiled by staff at Appalachian State University’s BB&T Student Leadership Center.

full-time employment include those who have accepted part-time employment or a temporary, full-time job.

The survey response rate was 96 percent.

The North Carolina job market benefited the most with 77 percent of respondents electing to work full-time in the state. While only five percent of graduates sought work in Boone, the majority, 28 percent of the graduates, are working in nearby Charlotte. The Southern Region (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, SC, TN) saw the second highest influx of Appalachian graduates, 11 percent.

First destination statistics report employment rates, salaries and additional information regarding undergraduates six months post-graduation. Seventy-nine percent of those who are at their first destination are employed full-time, making an average base salary of $47,407, with 13 percent attending graduate school and the remaining eight percent involved in non-career related The survey also provided insight about pursuits. Those not at their first destinainternships in business fields at Appation are still seeking employ2014-2015 First full-time Destination Statistics lachian. Of the 2015 Walker College of ment. IndividualsSix who are stillPost seeking Undergraduate Months Graduation FULL TIME COMPENSATION

BASE SALARY

FIRST DESTINATION RATE BY UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR

MEAN

MEDIAN

$47,407

$45,000

SIGNING BONUS

$6,324

$5,000

FIRST DESTINATION DATA COMBINED FIRST DESTINATION RATE

92%

73 %

EMPLOYED FULL-TIME

12%

ATTENDING GRADUATE SCHOOL

7%

NOT SEEKING

STILL SEEKING

8%

INTERNSHIP STATISTICS ONE OR MORE INTERNSHIPS

57%

% FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT

38%

MEAN SALARY

% STUDENTS at FD

100%

RISK MANAGEMENT & INSURANCE

$47,000

FINANCE & BANKING

$47,432

99%

COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS

$53,871

98%

HOSPITALITY & TOURISM MANAGEMENT

$27,333

96%

ACCOUNTING

$48,788

95%

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

$43,667

91%

MARKETING

$39,516

90%

ECONOMICS

$47,125

88%

MANAGEMENT

$40,423

85%

MEAN SALARY

% STUDENTS

EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY INSURANCE SERVICES

$45,659

19%

FINANCIAL SERVICES

$47,014

17%

BUSINESS SERVICES

$36,312

12%

CONSUMER PRODUCTS/RETAIL

$41,286

10%

ACCOUNTING/ACCOUNTING &LEGAL

$50,425

9%

PROCESSING/MANUFACTURING

$45,663

9%

TRANSPORTATION/LOGISTICS

$34,083

6%

ENERGY

$60,150

4%

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

$50,800

2%

ENTERTAINMENT

$34,648

2%

CONSULTING SERVICES

$45,833

1%

OTHER

$54,427

8%

EMPLOYMENT BY REGION REGION

NC

FULL TIME % STUDENTS

77%

** NC NOT INCLUDED

NORTH EAST

SOUTH **

3%

11%

CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI

AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, SC, TN

MID ATLANTIC 1% DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV

WEST 3% AK, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA

MIDWEST 1% IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO

SOUTH WEST 3% AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX

TOP THREE FULL-TIME DESTINATIONS CHARLOTTE, NC

RALEIGH, NC

BOONE, NC

28%

6%

5%

36 | WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY •

OUTSIDE US 1%

Business graduating class, 57 percent held an internship during their course of study. Thirty-eight percent of those who had an internship earned course credit for their experience.

The insurance service industry had the highest percentage of the Walker College of Business graduates entering the field with 19 percent. The financial service industry was second on the list with 17 percent, while consulting services had the lowest percentage of Appalachian graduates, one percent.

“Seven of the nine majors in the Walker College boast 90 percent or higher first destination rates,” said BB&T Student Leadership Center Executive Director Michelle Boisclair.

Boisclair added that students majoring in all functional areas of business at Appalachian have opportunities to interact with industry. “Business Connections, one of several signature Walker College events, provides a day-long forum for business students to learn from, and network with, company representatives on campus.”

“Even the lowest of our first destination rates are much higher than the national average,” said Boisclair. “According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 71 percent of college graduates in 2014 reached were employed full-time or attending graduate school within six months.”

Boisclair attributes the figures to a number of factors, including innovative programs like Business Connections, exceptional partnerships with industry and engaged faculty. █

KNOW YOUR PURPOSE

DIVERSITY INITIATIVES

Marketing alumna and Founder of TAKE Success, LLC spoke to students and family members during the Walker College’s April 2016 Yadkin Bank Honors Convocation.

// COMMITTED TO CREATING A DIVERSE CAMPUS CULTURE IN PEACOCK HALL, THE COLLEGE ENLISTS DIVERSITY TEAM Appalachian is committed to developing and allocating resources to the fundamental task of creating a diverse campus culture. We value diversity as the expression of human similarities and differences, as well as the importance of a living and learning environment conducive to knowledge, respect, acceptance, understanding and global awareness.

A Diversity Advisory Team, composed of Walker College of Business faculty, staff and students, was formed in 2015. The team meets monthly and advises Walker College administrators on diversity and inclusiveness opportunities and needs within the College of Business.

Current initiatives include the Affinity Club, designed to attract and develop diverse undergraduate students through mentoring, and the Collegiate Multicultural Leadership Exchange (CMLE), designed to immerse students from a partnering UNC system university in an atmosphere of learning and engagement.

COLLEGIATE MULTICULTURAL LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE

Murray shared how the Walker College transformed her by providing experiences to engage with people from around the world, inspiring her to be her best self, and giving her the courage needed to take risks.

The inaugural CMLE will be held October 27-28 in partnership with Winston Salem State University (WSSU). Through the partnering of Appalachian and WSSU students, approximately 30 students will:

“This university made a positive impact on my life and gave me the vision and voice to make a difference in the world,” said Murray. She shared her personal life philosophies and advised students to consider their own.

• Develop a heightened perspective of the dynamics of learning and living at other academic institutions of higher education.

Read the web feature to learn what the following philosophies mean to Murray:

• Help create an atmosphere allowing for college student leaders to interact with others who may have a different college experience or cultural journey.

1. Eat breakfast.

2. Think BIG and write down your goals.

• Develop an awareness of the graduate degree offerings from the host university.

3. EIWP–GP (Everything Is Working Perfectly – God’s Plan)

4. Leverage your connections and always keep people over product.

• Strengthen partnerships with other communities at academic institutions across the UNC System.

5. Know your purpose, and live your mission statement.

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WEB FEATURE Read the full speech business.appstate.edu/features

MARTHA GUY SUMMER INSTITUTE

// EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF HIGH-ACHIEVING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA The Martha Guy Summer Institute for future business leaders, established by banking pioneer Miss Martha Guy, provides a unique summer experience to selected high school students interested in pursuing a college degree in business. Participants explore disciplines within business, interact with regional business leaders and develop leadership and professional behavior skills needed to be successful in business careers. █

Participants of the 2016 Martha Guy Summer Institute (MGSI) for future business leaders recently attended the Dixon Hughes Goodman quarterly client meeting, held at the Collider in Asheville, NC.

2016 BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE | 37 •

Non-profit US Postage Paid Boone, NC Permit No. 36

WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ASU Box 32037 Boone, North Carolina 28608

Earn a Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics or a Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics APPLICATION DEADLINES

The US Bureau of Labor predicts a 24% increase in demand for jobs with data analytics skills over the next eight years.

Students from all backgrounds are welcome to apply to two new programs at Appalachian.

MASTER’S DEGREE • One year full-time or two years part-time • Consists of 36 credit hours • Three concentrations available

November 1, April 1, July 1 MORE INFORMATION 828-262-2092 business.appstate.edu/analytics CERTIFICATE PROGRAM • No GRE or GMAT required • 15 hours graduate course work • Prepares students to make informed, data-driven decisions and to apply big data analytics and predictive analytics to meet business objectives

Walker College of Business | (828) 262-2057 | business.appstate.edu | wcob@appstate.edu

APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY