Orfalea College of Business
THE LOOP
FALL 2015
Welcome back! Whether talking to students or alumni, I constantly hear stories about the profound impact you have on them. The Orfalea College of Business continues to receive accolades that reflect your hard work in shaping the lives of our students. Thank you for your commitment to fulfilling our mission of producing career-ready graduates. In just the last two years we have hired 17 talented new faculty, which is nearly a third of the total number of our college’s tenure-track faculty. These instructors represent the future of the Orfalea College of Business, and I hope our senior faculty will continue to help them feel welcome and achieve success with their teaching and research. Last year we launched important new initiatives and made significant progress developing pro grams in career readiness, business analytics, accounting and entrepreneurship, among others. This year will see the continued development and launch of these programs and curricular revision of others as well. Last year we also completed programming for the renovation and addition to our building and received our first significant gift for the project. Our campaign for raising the money necessary for the building project will develop significantly during the year. As of this fall, we will have nearly 20 new members of the Dean’s Advisory Council, many from the world’s most enviable brands. They are excited and committed to help the Orfalea College of Business achieve greater levels of regional, national, and global prominence. And we just learned that the Orfalea College of Business was ranked as a top undergraduate business school in the nation by US News & World Report. As you can see, we have significant momentum! Students and their parents are thrilled with the focus on career readiness, firms are delighted to have closer connection to the college, and alumni are excited to be contacted and engaged. Progress certainly does not come without challenges and hard work, but I look forward to working with you to overcome these obstacles as we continue on the path toward global distinction for experiential business education. Scott
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CAL POLY RANKS 14TH IN THE NATION FOR MEDIAN SALARIES
IN THE NEWS
Cal Poly bachelor’s degree graduates rank 14th in the nation among public universities for median salaries, according to PayScale.com’s 2015-16 College Salary Report. Early career graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly earn an average of $57,800, while graduates in mid-career earn $99,500, according to the report. On the list for bachelor’s-only graduates, Cal Poly tied for 68th place with the University of Southern California on the full list of more than 1,000 public and private universities. goo.gl/3it92G
COLLEGE RANKED AMONG TOP BUSINESS SCHOOLS BY US NEWS & WORLD REPORT For the first time, the Orfalea College of Business was named to US News & World Report’s list of top undergraduate business schools in the nation. The college ranked 131 of 156 schools. For the 23rd year in a row, Cal Poly came in at no. 1 for public-master’s universities in the West and 10th in the nation. Cal Poly was also ranked as one of the best universities in the West for veterans. goo.gl/i83P7e
CAL POLY RANKS NATIONALLY FOR PREPARING VC-BACKED ENTREPRENEURS
TOD NELSON NAMED CIE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Tech.co recently ranked Cal Poly no. 47 of 50 top universities with alumni businesses backed by venture capital. According to the study, 53 Cal Poly entrepreneurs in 49 companies raised $268 million in capital between 2009 and 2014. goo.gl/5DglWD
Entrepreneurship lecturer and entrepreneur Tod Nelson was named the first executive director of Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE). Nelson began his career at Amazon in 1995 as one of the company’s first 10 employees. Recently, Nelson has been the CIE’s entrepreneur in residence at the on-campus incubator, the Hatchery, and as a lead mentor for the CIE’s student programs. In his new role, Nelson is responsible for representing the CIE to its supporters and alumni while building relationships with the local entrepreneurial community. goo.gl/UndKP7
ALUMNAE HIGHLIGHTED BY REFINERY29 Entrepreneurship alumnae Jessie Becker, CEO of InPress Technologies, and Jasmine McDermott, co-founder of Z Living Systems, were highlighted in Refinery29’s recent article “How to Start a Company Before You’re 25.” goo.gl/I0xgHe
BUSINESS ALUMNI TO BE INDUCTED IN TO CAL POLY ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
CAL POLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE DEBUTS
Three Orfalea College of Business alumni will be inducted into the Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame on October 2. They are All-American swimmer Jack Adam (B.S., Industrial Arts, 1963), football standout Craig Johnston (B.S., Business Administration, 1982), and All-American softball player Lisa Modglin (B.S., Business Administration, 2007). In total, eight Cal Poly alumni will be inducted in this year’s class. gopoly.com/genrel/2015hall
The Orfalea College of Business published a revamped version of its alumni magazine this summer. Cal Poly Business Magazine profiled innovative graduates, faculty, donors and programs while sharing recent news. Check out the digital edition of the magazine at goo.gl/ujKqwa
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A multidisciplinary team of Cal Poly students has partnered with People’s Self-Help Housing to develop plans for a 30-unit affordable housing complex for at-risk and homeless veterans in Atascadero, Calif. Cal Poly’s plans recently took second place at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Low-Income Housing Challenge. The project, named Vestri Vita, which means “your life” in Latin, features ADA- compliant design, including a counseling center, first aid resources, and a “maker space,” a facility with resources geared to helping veterans reintegrate into the community. goo.gl/GcyjH7
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Orfalea College of Business Student Services focuses on providing opportunities for students to explore and strengthen personal, academic and career success. Peer Advisors are prepared to advise all Business, Economics, and Industrial Technology students on curriculum and degree progress. Our Professional Advisors take specialized appointments with students who need additional academic support beyond curriculum advising, including academic coaching and handling more complex, sensitive and developmental appointments. Our Professional Advisors coordinate various programs to ensure that students are getting connected and have the opportunity to succeed at Cal Poly and into their careers, including: Peer Mentoring, Tutoring, and Student Ambassadors. The Career Readiness office is led by our Career Readiness Advisor who coordinates college-wide career initiatives and connects alumni and employers with students.
STUDENT SUCCESS CAL POLY BUSINESS STUDENTS LEAD STARTUPS IN ACCELERATOR PROGRAM Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) has accepted 11 startup companies into this year’s SLO HotHouse Summer Accelerator program, an intense 13-week program aimed at helping new ventures succeed. Orfalea College of Business students contribute to seven of the 11 teams selected for the program. Faculty, staff and students are welcome to hear pitches from the startups at Demo Day, hosted September 10 at the Performing Arts Center. goo.gl/s6Ul7F
FINANCE STUDENTS EXCEL ON THE CFA EXAM A group of Cal Poly finance students in the Orfalea College of Business achieved outstanding success on the latest Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 Exam with a pass rate of 67 percent — well above the exam’s average pass rate of 42 percent. Cal Poly students prepare to take their Level 1 exam as part of the CFA Challenge, a senior project created in 2007 by finance Professor Cyrus Ramezani. Each year, Cal Poly students have outperformed the national pass rate by significant margins. goo.gl/oWxUUU
PACKAGING TEAMS PLACE HIGH AT AMERISTAR AWARDS COMPETITION Four Cal Poly student teams placed high in the recent Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) AmeriStar Packaging Awards Competition. The teams developed consumer packaging designs for health, beauty, pharmaceutical and other products through the Orfalea College of Business Packaging Fundamentals courses. Cal Poly packaging Professors Javier de la Fuente and Koushik Saha advised the student teams throughout the year on their projects. goo.gl/SgnZh1
MARKETING CLUB NAMED ASI CLUB OF THE YEAR Cal Poly’s chapter of the American Marketing Association was named “Club of the Year” for 2014-15 by the Cal Poly ASI. The club, one of more than 300 on campus, was recognized for increasing membership, launching a video series on YouTube, participating in industry tours, and delivering professional development opportunities, including the Marketing Career Conference.
ALUMNI UPDATES ALUMNI BUSINESSES LAND ON INC. 5000 LIST Two businesses founded by Orfalea College of Business alumni appeared on Inc. Magazine’s list fo 5000 fastest growing private companies in the nation. Marketing firm Simplicity Consulting, founded by international business alumna Lisa Hufford, and digital marketing agency Hathway, founded by industrial technology alumnus Jesse Dundon, made the list. goo.gl/i2XQhs
ECON STUDENT EARNS HONORS AT CSU RESEARCH COMPETITION Mathew Thomson, a economics master’s graduate, was among five Cal Poly students who took top honors at the 2015 California State University (CSU) Research Competition. Thomson earned a second-place award for his work on the impact of asset selloffs by the Federal Reserve Bank on short-term interest rates. More than 245 students from 22 CSU campuses participated this year. goo.gl/9Mb7ex
FINANCE ALUM RECOGNIZED BY SILICON VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL Finance alumnus Andrew Flachner, co-founder of RealScout, was named to Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list. Flachner, who graduated in 2010, founded RealScout in 2012 to disrupt the real estate industry with a data-driven app for realtors.
INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY AND PACKAGING GRADUATES’ RESEARCH MAKES HEADLINES Research from recent packaging graduates Cameron Fasola and Chad Rebarber made the cover of Ista Views, a transportation packaging industry publication. The study examined how freight stowage systems affect the vibration of a product as it travels through the distribution chain. The article was a result of the duo presenting with Packaging Program faculty at ISTA’s 2015 annual TransPack Forum earlier this year. goo.gl/cfwffN
INFORMATION SYSTEMS ALUM HELPS LAUNCH VETERAN’S SUCCESS CENTER Sean Ahlgren, information systems graduate and veteran of the US Navy, used his senior project to help establish Cal Poly’s Veteran Success Center, which opened in April of 2015. Ahlgren partnered with fellow veterans, Cal Poly administration, and Student Veterans of America to build the business plan, proposals and budgets for the center. In recognition of his efforts, the information systems concentration awarded him the first ever Information systems Faculty Choice Award in June. goo.gl/S4nJPR
I N D U ST R I A L T E C H N O L OG Y & PACK AG I N G
PACKAGING ADVISORY BOARD ADDS ALUMNI AND INDUSTRY EXPERTS
RAMEZANI APPOINTED INTERIM CHAIR OF AGRIBUSINESS DEPARTMENT
Cal Poly recently added five experts to its Packaging Advisory Board from the healthcare, food and beverage, marketing, and technology industries. New members include Paul Marchetti (B.S., Industrial Technology, 2012) of Amazon Lab 126, Sean Frisby (B.S., Agribusiness, 1991), Henry Castillo (B.S., Industrial Technology, 2012) of Niagara Bottling, Anthony Bantung of Amgen, and Marc Bevilacqua of OIA Global. Board members, including many Cal Poly alumni, counsel packaging faculty in the Orfalea College of Business as they develop curriculum and help promote the program throughout the nation.
Finance Professor Cyrus Ramezani has been appointed interim department chair for the College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences Agribusiness Department. Ramezani led the finance area in the Orfalea College of Business and has extensive experience in agricultural economics. Ramezani’s appointment follows the retirement of the Agribusiness Department’s Jay Noel.
OUR TEAM STUDENT SERVICES WELCOMES TWO PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS Chelsea Kidwell will serve as the college’s first advisor specializing in career readiness. Kidwell will work with Cal Poly Career Services, employers and alumni to develop new programs that prepare business students to compete for in-demand positions. Advisor Justin Gomez will specialize in supporting the Orfalea College of Business’ at-risk students. He’ll work closely with the college’s faculty to intervene with students in need and provide timely academic and personal support.
BORIN AND DOBSON NAMED AREA CHAIRS The Orfalea College of Business has announced new Marketing and Finance area chairs. Norm Borin will succeed Lynn Metcalf in leading the college’s Marketing area. Borin joined Cal Poly in 1992 and served as the area’s chair from 2002-2007. In addition to teaching internationally, he specializes in consumer goods, marketing strategy and sustainable business strategies. John Dobson is the new Finance area chair, succeeding Cyrus Ramezani in the role. Dobson joined Cal Poly in 1990 and has since researched extensively on the connection between financial economics and moral philosophy.
ORFALEA WELCOMES NEW FACULTY Eight new tenure-track faculty members join the Orfalea College of Business this fall. They are: • Adam Bordeman, Accounting • Kim Westermann Cole, Accounting • Matt Cole, Economics • Bruce Greenbaum, Management • Ben Alexander, Management • Patty Dahm, Management • Jackie Doremus, Economics • Stefanie Fischer, Economics The college also welcomes three full-time lecturers this quarter. They are: • Marjorie O’Neill • David Kocsis • Rebecca O’Grady
DEAN’S OFFICE ADDS SPACE UTILIZATION SPECIALIST Julie Shires has joined the Dean’s Office as the space utilizations specialist. She will assist with scheduling and event planning throughout the college. Jennifer Boncich, who used to coordinate scheduling, will now focus on her role as the Advancement team’s administrative support coordinator.
LINDAHL NAMED DIRECTOR OF ASSESSMENT Economics Lecturer Solina Lindahl has taken on the role of director of assessment for the college. She will lead the assurance of learning efforts in the college while collaborating with faculty, the Dean’s Office, and UPC. Lindahl takes over for Stern Neill who is on sabbatical this year.
MARKETING PROFESSORS WIN HOOD AWARD Professors Lynn Metcalf and Brennan Davis were named the recipients of the 2015 Hood Professorship in Marketing. Metcalf was recognized for her implementation of the university’s new integrated marketing communications minor and a mentorship program with consulting firm Trusted Peer. Davis has led the Marketing Analytics Task Force comprised of industry leaders to develop courses central to the undergraduate concentration in marketing and Cal Poly’s new Master of Business Analytics program. The award, founded by a family of Cal Poly alumni, is given each year to marketing faculty who push boundaries to evolve student learning opportunities. goo.gl/B8ZzIV
MINTZ HONORED FOR ETHICS AND PROFESSIONALISM Accounting Professor Steven Mintz recently received the Accounting Exemplar Award in the public interest section from the American Accounting Association. The award is given annually to an educator or practitioner who has made a notable contribution to professionalism and ethics in accounting. With this honor, Cal Poly becomes the only educational institution to have two faculty members receive the award. Retired Cal Poly Accounting Professor Mary Beth Armstrong received the award in 2009. goo.gl/ErH6Y2
SPEROW TO LEAD ANNUAL LITC CONFERENCE Lisa Sperow, executive director of Cal Poly’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC), will lead a panel presentation on tax clinics at the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service’s annual conference in Washingon. D.C. Under Sperow’s guidance, Cal Poly’s LITC has grown to support more than 200 student senior projects and save clients more than $2 million.
MOCK TO LEAD M.S.A. TAX TRACK Accounting professor Rodney Mock has been appointed the academic program director of Cal Poly’s Master of Science in Accountancy – Tax Specialization. In this new role, Mock will lead the admissions process, conduct curriculum reviews, advocate for the program on campus, and mentor faculty.
DOBSON ADVOCATES FOR TEACHING ART IN BUSINESS SCHOOLS Finance area chair was a featured speaker at a symposium hosted by University of Wisconsin’s School of Business on Beauty in Business. The title of his presentation was Dwelling Poetically: An Aesthetic Justification for Teaching Art in Business School. Professor Dobson also presented a similar paper this summer at the Philosophy of Management Conference, to be held at Oxford University, UK.
STERN NEILL VENTURES TO CHINA Marketing Professor Stern Neill will be on sabbatical during 2015-16 academic year during which he will be a visiting scholar at Yanshan University in Qinhuangdao, China. There he will combine his previous research in entrepreneurial and global marketing by examining entrepreneurship in China. Neill will conduct research with senior faculty while also helping graduate students and new faculty on how to develop research projects. Professor Neill will bring new thinking on the capabilities that enable innovation and value creation for customers back to the classroom and discipline at Cal Poly.
MARKETING RESEARCH MAKES NATIONAL HEADLINES Cal Poly marketing Professor Brennan Davis and coauthor Brian Wansink, professor and director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab, have introduced new research in the journal BMC Public Health that analyzes 50 years obesity data and media mentions of healthy and unhealthy foods. The study, titled “50 Years of Fat,” analyzed all of the different foods mentioned in stories in the New York Times and London Times between 1960 and 2010 and statistically correlated them with each country’s annual body mass index, or BMI, a measure of obesity. The research was mentioned in the Washington Post and Yahoo. goo.gl/jv7eFD
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR PROFESSOR JIM LAU PASSES AWAY Retired Cal Poly Professor Jim Lau passed away on May 24 at the age of 98. Lau served in the Army in World War II and led a 20-year career with the CIA, with numerous postings in such Cold War hot spots as Vienna, Frankfurt, Munich and West Berlin. He joined Cal Poly in 1971 and taught organizational behavior for 18 years. Lau is survived by his wife of 73 years, Arlene, their children and grandchildren. goo.gl/HdMR10
MANAGEMENT PROFESSOR DAVID PEACH PASSES AWAY Retired Management Professor David Peach passed away on September 1. Peach joined Cal Poly in 1987 and served as a department head for seven years. He also led the Graduate Programs office and led several MBA student teams to place in national competitions. The Orfalea College of Business has created a teaching award in Peach’s memory to support outstanding management faculty. goo.gl/BAAoFk
ON THE HORIZON THE BLOOMBERG SURVEY: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Bloomberg Businessweek will survey graduating business administration seniors as part of their annual undergraduate rankings. Surveys will be sent via email in early December. More than 40 percent of those seniors need to complete the survey by the end of January for the Orfalea College of Business to be ranked. While the college can’t require students’ participation, please encourage students to be aware of the survey and the benefits of graduating from a nationally ranked school. For questions, see the Student Services Center.
COLLEGE ANNOUNCES JACOBSEN FACULTY FELLOWSHIPS Thanks to a generous contribution from alumnus Rich Jacobsen, the college will provide three-year awards of supplemental income to support outstanding faculty members in accounting, finance and economics (one faculty from each discipline will be awarded annually). The Jacobsen’s most important criteria is that recipients will have a demonstrated track record of inspiring students. Nominations are due to McKenzie Cox by October 1. Fellowships will be announced in November.
TRAINING THE STREET WORKSHOP COMING TO CAL POLY Cal Poly will host a one-day program called Training the Street for finance students interested in investment banking. The intensive seminar, which will be hosted Saturday, October 3 at Cal Poly, is used by Wall Street professionals at firms like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs to sharpen excel skills, modeling techniques and financial analysis. The program was made possible by generous donors to the college’s Finance area. For more details, contact Career Readiness Advisor Chelsea Kidwell.
CAL POLY INTRODUCES THE CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP & SERVICE The Center for Leadership and Service, located in University Union room 217, is a campus-wide resource that helps students achieve personal, academic, and career success. Services include leadership consulting services, workshops, StrenghtsQuest events and training, leadership retreats, and a book club. Studies show that students who develop leadership skills on campus and in their communities during college are more likely to succeed in college and in their future careers. goo.gl/gKkzCR
ORFALEA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS JACKETS ON SALE Now is your chance to buy a high-quality Marmont jacket with the Orfalea College of Business logo. Thanks to a partnership with Left Lane Sports, the college is selling the jackets for $99. Only 50 are available. Follow the links below to purchase yours before they run out. Men’s Jacket goo.gl/8Uv1W7 | Women’s Jacket goo.gl/5ZFcnf
UPCOMING EVENTS Thursday, Sept. 10th
Friday, Sept. 11th
Monday, Sept. 14th
Tuesday, Sept. 15th
Wednesday, Sept. 16th
Wednesday, Sept. 16th
Friday, Sept. 18th
Thursday, Oct. 1st
Friday, Oct. 2nd
SLO HotHouse Accelerator Demo Day 4:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center slohothouse.com
New Faculty Orientation and Luncheon for Tenure Track and Lecturers 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Kennedy Library, Julian’s Cafe Lounge www.cob.calpoly.edu/fallconference2015 University Fall Conference 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center, Harmon Hall www.cob.calpoly.edu/fallconference2015 Orfalea College of Business Fall Conference 12:00 p.m. at Edna Valley Winery www.cob.calpoly.edu/fallconference2015
WOW Academic Day 9:30 a.m. in the Recreation Center 11:00 a.m. on O’Neill Green
Kennedy Library New Faculty Reception 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Kennedy Library, Julian’s Cafe Lounge www.cob.calpoly.edu/fallconference2015 Graduate Programs Orientation 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the Spanos Theater Patio RSVP to cobgmp@calpoly.edu
Ernst & Young Inclusive Recruiting Lecture Ken Bouyer, E&Y’s Americas Director for Inclusiveness Recruiting 11:10 a.m. in the Business Silo CPAC Fall Symposium 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Recreation Center, MAC polycpac.com/fall-symposium
Saturday, Oct. 3rd
CPAC Olympics 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Sports Complex Turf Fields polycpac.com
Wednesday, Oct. 7th & Thursday, Oct. 8th
Fall Career Fair 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Recreation Center Main Gym polycpac.com/fall-symposium
Wednesday, Oct. 14th
Finance Career Fair with Keynote Speaker Peter Oppenheimer 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Chumash Auditorium fmacalpoly.com/?page_id=159
Wednesday, Oct. 21st
5th Annual TechPitch 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Alex Madona Expo Center slohothouse.com/techpitch
Thursday, Oct. 22nd to Sunday, Oct. 25th
Mustang Family Weekend alumni.calpoly.edu
Friday, Nov. 6th
Honored Alumni Celebration 5:30 p.m. in the Chumash Auditorium
Tuesday, Nov. 3rd
CIE Elevator Pitch Competition 4:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center goo.gl/j8KHlP
Week of Nov. 30th
IT 407 Maker Fair In the Business Building Breezeway
Saturday, Dec.12th
Fall Commencement 1:00 p.m. in the Recreation Center Main Gym for Orfalea College of Business Graduates commencement.calpoly.edu/fall-2015-commencement