2019 CBA Magazine

UNOBUSINESS COLLEGE OF BUSINE SS ADMINIS TR ATION | 2018 -2019

Mammel Hall Addition

nearly 45,000 square feet of new space

IN THIS ISSUE

LOUIS G. POL FE AT UR E S 12 CBA CAN ALSO STAND FOR BASEBALL

CBA alumnus led UNO baseball to their first NCAA Division I Baseball Regional appearance in 2019.

24 MAMMEL HALL ADDITION Mammel Hall gets a 44,000 square foot addition.

28 CAB LAB PROJECT

CBA’s CAB Lab works on project with Union Pacific.

NE W S 6 COMMUNITY OF ACHIEVERS Celebrating faculty and staff earning awards and honors and those just hired.

10 CONNECTING CBA TO THE WORLD

CBA’s economics professor explores entrepreneurial capitalism—or what he terms “innovative dynamism.”

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UNO BUSINESS

CBA graduates ready to continue writing their story.

38 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI Honoring esteemed alumni who are leaders in their fields.

40 COBALT CREDIT UNION SOARS WITH CBA ALUMNA LEADERSHIP CBA alum leads credit union to success as CEO.

S T UDEN T S 16 CAPSTONE CUP CBA’s unparalleled senior experience.

Student chooses to continue education at CBA.

R E SE A RCH 8 2019 BEST PAPER AWARD Dr. Dusty White awarded Journal of Economics Teaching’s 2019 Best Paper Award.

9 A BANNER YEAR

Associate Professor of Management Dr. Erin Bass continues her trend of exceptional research.

18 MAVERICK BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION Student earns first place with nail salon app.

44 TRUMAN FELLOWSHIP FINALIST CBA student named a finalist in nationwide scholarship competitions.

After 17 years as our dean, I have decided to ‘repurpose’ myself. When I use the term repurpose, I mean that I have a collection of other adventures that I want to go on before the big sleep. One of those adventures involves going back to school (after 41 years) to pursue another degree: Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative nonfiction. My first day of class was July 13. Perhaps one day I will write a story that you will find interesting.

My 17 years have been a time of excitement and great anticipation, sprinkled with a few disappointments. With your support and encouragement, our CBA team, including many of you, have made it possible for us to make significant advances on a host of fronts, all consistent with offering a first-rate business education to students eager to advance their careers and lives. The ride for me has been exhilarating. Imagine living vicariously through the lives of 21,000 alumni, 2,500 students, 150 faculty and staff, and many other friends. At least once a day, I learn of a good story connected to one or more of these many people (you) who mean so much to me. I smile, a lot.

The list of people I wish to thank is very long, so I won’t even try to include everyone here (no list at all). Besides, my goal is to thank all of you personally, although that will take some time. Please be patient.

17 ACHIEVING GOALS AT CBA

MBA and EMBA rankings, new graduate certificate, UNOUNMC Dual Degree Program.

41 CBA PROFESSOR PUBLISHES BOOK

A L UMNI 36 MAVERICKS READY TO LAUNCH

Ivan Gilreath’s return on his investment in a UNO education goes far beyond career opportunities.

20 GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Center for Professional Sales and NU Connections are established.

EMBA teams serve as international business consultants and CBA study abroad students expand their cultural awareness.

46 I AM THE ROI

8th annual Midwest Entrepreneurial Conference shows how far UNO has come as a university.

34 UNIVERSITY CENTERS

This is my last opportunity to offer you an introduction to our premier publication, UNO Business. This time, however, I will deviate from my normal remarks.

22 LIFE THROUGH A NEW LENS

CBA is celebrating the growth and academic achievement within its accounting programs by establishing the School of Accounting.

18 UNO ESTABLISHED AS ENTREPRENEURIAL HUB

Partnerships between Barron’s Education and Carson Group, as well as Wells Fargo, offer new programs on financial literacy.

T R AV EL

30 SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTING

CBA marketing professor has taught at 12 business schools across the globe.

32 FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMS

EMERITUS DEAN UNO COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Happy Trails,

CONTRIBUTERS Jen Decker Tim Fitzgerald Angelica Genovesi Rebecca Gratz Lindsey Hasenjager Kristi Lynch Sam Petto Nick Schinker Rachael Smith Charley Steed

COMMENTS OR STORY IDEAS

unocbainfo@unomaha.edu

SUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL NEWSLETTER

cba.unomaha.edu/connect

CONNECT WITH THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION /UNOCBA @UNOCBA @UNOCBA

[ CB A .UNOM A H A .EDU ]

DONOR S 42 MAJOR SPENCER

Retired Army Major Thomas A. Spencer is a generous supporter of CBA.

45 SCHOLARSHIPS

Thanking CBA’s generous donors.

Louis G. Pol Emeritus Dean, UNO College of Business Administration

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment.

0080BKCBA0919 2018 –2019

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L AT ER T HIS Y E AR UNO’s College of Business Administration will welcome a new dean into a college that is well known for preparing graduates who make their organizations better and stronger. Our focus on student success means that we continuously examine our curriculum to ensure that it remains relevant and develops our students in ways that enhance their long-term career success.

As you read through this edition of UNO Business, we invite you to note the numerous transformative opportunities available for our students—opportunities that have the potential to change the trajectories of their careers and lives.

• Long-term and short-term internships where students solve real organizational problems • Case competitions where teams of students collaboratively develop creative and sustainable strategies that will propel the organization forward • International travel opportunities where students experience different cultures and learn more about themselves in the process • The opportunity to manage an $862,000 investment portfolio or to determine who will receive entrepreneurial venture funding through UNO CBA’s Maverick Venture Fund • Cutting-edge coursework that enables students to develop rare and highly valuable knowledge in areas such as business analytics and professional selling Working closely with business and community partners, UNO CBA faculty incorporate real-world projects into courses that strengthen student knowledge and skills while also providing significant value to stakeholders.

As always, UNO CBA students will continue to stretch themselves beyond their current capabilities in order to successfully prepare for a future that is ever-evolving and changing. We are proud to be a part of their journey.

Lynn Harland, Ph.D. Interim Dean, College of Business Administration

2018 –2019

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A COMMUNIT Y OF

ACHIEVERS

At the UNO College of Business Administration, we practice excellence. Congratulations to our faculty and staff for another academic year marked by many achievements.

2 0 18 -19 CBA FACULT Y AWA RDS A ND HONORS

U N O C B A’ S A N N E S H A M I T R A W I N S U N O

ADVISOR OF THE YEAR Mitra is Director of Undergraduate Advising for UNO CBA and was selected from nominees across the entire university.

The UNO Academic Advising Council released their call for nominations for 2019 Academic Advisor of the Year in December last year. Students across the entire university were asked to nominate advisors that offered exceptional service to students, their colleagues, and the college. The winner receives a plaque and $500 in recognition of their accomplishments.

ANGELIKA WALKER • Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Teaching

CBA WELCOMES

NEW FACULTY SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTING Youngki Jang Dr. Youngki Jang is an assistant professor of accounting and has taught at UNO since fall 2018. His research interests include corporate disclosure and economic consequences of accounting choice. He is a certified public accountant with seven years of professional experience in audit and financial advisory service. Prior to academia, he was a manager at Samjong KPMG (KPMG Korea).

He earned his Ph.D. in management science with an accounting concentration from the University of Texas at Dallas and an M.S. in accounting from Seoul National University.

FINANCE, BANKING AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT Brian Payne Dr. Brian Payne is an assistant professor of finance and retired Lieutenant Colonel with the U.S. Air Force. He is a certified financial planner and has received several awards including multiple Robert L. Taylor Awards for Outstanding Research and a Rita A. Jordan Award for Career Intellectual Contributions. He previously served as a professor of management at the U.S. Air Force Academy and earned his Ph.D. in finance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT Anh Ta Dr. Anh Ta is an assistant professor of management and prior to coming to UNO served as a tutor hiring manager, lab coordinator, teaching fellow, and research assistant for the University of North Texas. His research interests are in the application of statistics and operations research in health care and IT. He earned his Ph.D. in management science from the University of North Texas.

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MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

ANNESHA MITRA

Kelsey Medeiros

• Dean’s Citation for Overall Performance

Dr. Kelsey Medeiros is an assistant professor of management and studies issues related to creativity, ethics, leadership, and gender in the workplace. She earned her Ph.D. in 2016 from the University of Oklahoma in industrial-organizational psychology with a minor in statistics. She is also the co-founder of the ethics consulting firm, Ethics Advantage, where she works with a team to help organizations improve their business ethics practices. She is a faculty fellow at Prevention Innovations Research Center where she works on issues related to sexual harassment and assault.

• UNO Advisor of the Year

ARETHA BOEX • Dean’s Citation for NBDC

DAVID VOLKMAN, PH.D. • Executive MBA Professor of the Year

ERIN PLEGGENKUHLEMILES, PH.D.

UNO CBA’s own Annesha Mitra was named this year’s winner! Anyone who’s worked with Annesha knows the recognition is well-deserved.

She’s worked at UNO since 2011 and started out as a student worker in Dual Enrollment. She then worked in Admissions before moving to CBA Advising in 2015. She earned a BS in Psychology and an MS in Criminal Justice and Criminology from UNO, and she cites her advising experiences during those degrees as the inspiration for her career path.

MARKETING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT

• Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Service

Arvind Agrawal

GINA LIGON, PH.D.

Dr. Arvind Agrawal is an assistant professor of marketing and teaches Principles of Marketing and Consumer Behavior. He enjoyed a 26-year long corporate career, working for financial multinationals and specializing in the launch of new products designed specifically for targeted customer groups. He earned his Ph.D. in 2018 from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in marketing, with a focus on consumer behavior.

• Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Research

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.

• MBA Professor of the Year

“Besides work, I love spending time with my husband and our two puppies. We have a shihtzu bichon named Zara and a poodle bichon named Dexter. They keep us very busy and are really the cutest little pups. I also love watching Netflix shows—I’m always looking for new suggestions!”

Shannon Cummins Dr. Shannon Cummins is an assistant professor of marketing who joined CBA after years of experience growing a thriving sales program in Wisconsin. Under her leadership, UNO’s Center for Professional Sales was established in 2019, with more than 15 partner firms and over 150 students enrolled in sales courses. She earned her Ph.D. in marketing from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and was a Fulbright Scholar at the Warsaw School of Economics.

Anne Herman Dr. Anne Herman is an instructor of marketing and entrepreneurship and has served UNO as both a teaching assistant and instructor since 2001. She is a board member and on the executive committee for Girls Inc. and is a board member of the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands. She earned her Ph.D. in industrial-organizational psychology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and an M.A. in psychology from UNO.

JENNIFER RILEY, PH.D. • Graduate Accounting Professor of the Year • UNO Excellence in Teaching • Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Service

LOUIS G. POL, PH.D. • NBDC Distinguished Service Award

PHANI TEJ ADIDAM, PH.D. • Faculty Excellence in Global Engagement Award

Let’s hear more from our amazing Advisor of the Year!

CLEARLY, ADVISING MATTERS TO YOU. WHY? WHAT MAKES YOUR ROLE SO IMPORTANT AND FULFILLING? “I enjoy working with people. I love helping students and watching them grow up and graduate with their degree. It’s great to see them from the beginning of their college journey all the way until their graduation.

“I had a great experience when I was at UNO doing my undergrad. My advisor, Rachel Tomcak from the College of Arts and Sciences, was always a great support and resource for me. I want to give that back and help students the same way my advisor guided me.

XIAOYAN CHENG, PH.D.

“Advising is so much more than just helping students pick out their classes. Advisors are there to guide students, connect them with resources, and essentially be a big part of your undergraduate degree journey.”

• Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Teaching

WHAT DOES WINNING THIS AWARD MEAN TO YOU?

• NBDC CBA Faculty of the Year

YANHUI ZHAO, PH.D. • NBDC CBA Faculty of the Year

“I’m so excited and happy to win the award. I am very grateful that I get to work with such amazing students, faculty, and staff in CBA. Our undergraduate advising team is just amazing!”

2018 –2019

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DR . DUS T Y W HI T E AWA RDED

BEST PAPER AWARD

DR. ERIN BASS

Dr. Dusty White, assistant professor of economics for UNO’s College of Business Administration, adds a major accolade to his name after winning the Journal of Economics Teaching’s* 2019 Best Paper Award for “An In-Class Experiment to Teach Marginal Revenue Product Using the Baseball Labor Market and Moneyball.”

The previous year has been full of accomplishments for Associate Professor of Management Dr. Erin Bass, who adds to her record of exceptional research and trailblazing initiatives for women, physician leaders, and management professionals.

Dr. Dusty White teaches students about labor markets through a beloved sport—baseball. White’s paper details how to use the book and film Moneyball to teach students about labor valuation by firms.

He outlines a project in which students collect information about free agent baseball players—those not contracted to a specific team— and, during an in-class competition, create the most talented baseball team possible. The article is paired with a Moneyball simulation game.

The paper and game make a unique contribution to economics by placing students in a simulated labor valuation setting. Students are encouraged to perform thoughtful analysis and collection of data and are engaged through sports, a topic students “are typically familiar with and excited about,” White says. “After finishing the competition, students realize that the same technique used to value baseball players can be used to determine the value of workers in any business,” he states.

Concepts outlined in the paper and simulation program can be applied to any member of the workforce. In class, White applies the process to his own salary so students understand the reach of the paper’s valuation techniques.

The process behind the project has been years in the making. White started his research as a graduate student at Washington State University while teaching Sports Economics. He worked with a colleague to create the process of using Moneyball for economics teaching, and for the simulation program, White went back to Computer Science 101 and learned to program. Now, the third version of the Moneyball simulator game is available, and both the paper and software are open access in an effort to teach and engage economics students everywhere.

Congratulations to Professor White for this achievement! * The Journal of Economics Teaching focuses on providing open-access resources to improve the teaching of economics at all levels, from K-12 to universities.

DOWNLOAD THE PAPER AND SIMULATOR AT [ MONE Y B A L L SIMUL AT OR .INF O ]

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A BANNER YEAR FOR

Bass recently published “Top Management Team Diversity, Equality, and Innovation: A Multilevel Investigation of the Health Care Industry” in the Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies. The paper explores the relationship between gender diversity in top management teams and innovation in healthcare organizations.

will feature collaborative sessions between UNO CBA faculty and UNMC/Nebraska Medicine experts. Bass also continues to expand her research contributions outside of the healthcare industry and will present a paper with co-author Ivana Milosevic (College of Charleston) at this year’s Strategic Management Society International Conference.

This paper works in unison with Bass’s award of Mammel Faculty in Residence at UNMC. The fellowship allows Bass to collaborate with UNMC in research and teaching and has acted as a springboard for a variety of research, projects, and appearances.

With co-authors Milosevic and Mary Uhl-Bien (Texas Christian University), Bass will receive a Best Paper award at this year’s Academy of Management Annual Meeting in Boston, MA for their paper “Exploring the Micro-Dynamics of Adaptability: A SymbolicInterpretive Perspective.” The paper explores how entrepreneurial ventures balance the pressure to adapt to changes in the marketplace.

Bass will present two additional papers at the conference.

Bass appeared on the Brave Enough Show podcast with Dr. Sasha Shillcutt, anesthesiologist and vice chair of strategy and innovation at Nebraska Medicine and UNMC. There she discussed how women can develop personal strategies to advance their careers. Bass also began collaborations with Dr. Dele Davies and Dr. Alicia Schiller, both of UNMC, on research related to women in STEM fields. The three are using UNMC graduate data to understand the role of STEM in women’s careers from student to professional.

In addition, Bass worked with Dr. Chandra Are, surgical oncologist and associate dean of graduate medical education at UNMC, on a new collaborative program between UNO CBA, UNMC, and Nebraska Medicine. Bass assisted in the creation of the Executive Certificate in Physician Leadership, which offers attending physicians insight into the business principles that drive meaningful results in healthcare organizations. The program will be co-led by Bass and Are and

Bass recently co-published a study with Monica Riviere of ISC Paris Business School and was invited to discuss her research at the ISC during the Strategic Management Society 2018 Annual International Conference in Paris, France. She presented additional research on social approval in high-hazard contexts while there.

Bass’ strong commitment to producing research focused on important workplace issues is ultimately driven by how her contributions can positively impact others.

“What motivates me to do research is my desire to help others,” says Bass. “By discovering new knowledge about what makes organizations successful, I can then share those insights in the classroom with students and in the boardrooms of Omaha businesses.”

2018 –2019

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DR . PH A NI T E J A DIDA M

CONNECTS CBA TO THE WORLD The thirst for knowledge, and applying our ideas to make our world a better place, is not confined to local clusters or restricted by a lack of resources. The beauty of global engagement is to learn from one another in an open and honest manner that will hopefully lead to win-win collaborations.”

DR. PHANI TEJ ADIDAM, PROFESSOR OF MARKETING

Pictured from left to right: Jane Meza, Associate Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement; Dr. Phani Tej Adidam; Jeffrey P. Gold, Chancellor, UNO and UNMC

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UNO BUSINESS

Dr. Phani Tej Adidam was awarded the Faculty Excellence in Global Engagement Award for his exploration of intellectual diversity and the connections that bind people from different cultures.

Adidam is a professor of marketing at UNO CBA and teaches classes in international business, marketing strategies, sales management, and brand management at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He also serves as director for the Center for International Business Initiatives and has taught at 12 business schools across the globe as visiting professor. In April, Adidam was recognized for his exceptional contributions with the Faculty Excellence in Global Engagement Award.

Adidam’s global activities consistently connect UNO CBA and students with the world, a career-long passion for him.

“Even before I formally got involved with global initiatives at CBA, I was introducing lots of global issues in my marketing courses,” says Adidam. “Eventually, Dean Pol asked me to formally steer CBA’s global engagement efforts, and I felt very honored by his trust and confidence in me. It has been a wonderful journey.”

Adidam reflects on his ability to interact with faculty members, academic leaders, and students from six continents. During his career, he’s realized that the “themes and values of higher education are universal.” Exploring the connections between diverse cultures and peoples became his lasting passion.

“The thirst for knowledge, and applying our ideas to make our world a better place, is not confined to local clusters or restricted by a lack of resources,” says Adidam. “The beauty of global engagement is to learn from one another in an open and honest manner that will hopefully lead to winwin collaborations.”

To encourage these global interactions, Adidam brings his worldwide experiences to the classroom. His course material often reflects his adventures, such as when he translated his conversations with business executives from Saudi Arabia into a communications exercise in his Global Business course.

During all of his travels, he compares and contrasts cultural and economic issues and seeks out common themes to bring back to his students.

“Few students have been exposed to global issues, which could create misleading or false stereotypes,” shares Adidam. “It is incumbent upon us to bring the globe to UNO.” To keep breaking down barriers to global communication and collaboration, he encourages faculty and students alike to be lifelong explorers, travelers, and global thinkers. He’ll continue to lead the way.

Congratulations to Dr. Adidam for his award and continuous excellence in global engagement!

2018 –2019

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ASEBALL

THE ‘B’ IN CBA CAN ALSO STAND FOR UNO CBA alumni Evan Porter, head coach of the UNO baseball program, led a team that included several current CBA students to the Mavericks’ first NCAA Division I Baseball Regional appearance in 2019.

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T

0.984

he Maverick baseball team won the Summit League regular season and tournament championships, and finished the season 31-24-1—more than double the wins of the 2018 season.

The team logged the nation’s best fielding percentage at 0.984. Porter was named Summit League Coach of the Year and saw eight of his players earn All-Summit honors. The team also saw Payton Kinney, who will serve as the team’s pitching coach for the 2020 season, earn Summit League Pitcher of the Year, MVP and Rawlings/ABCA All-America Third Team honors.

nation’s best fielding percentage logged by the UNO team in 2019

It was truly a remarkable effort, especially considering it was only Porter’s third season as head coach. “‘Fulfilling’ would be a good word to describe it,” Porter said, “for me and for the guys in the current program as well.”

As a Mavericks player, Porter was a four-year starter at shortstop from 2005-09 and a two-time All-American. He set numerous records and was a member of the UNO team that earned a berth to the 2007 NCAA Division II College World Series. While Porter was a player, UNO made four straight NCAA regional appearances and won the 2008 North Central Conference championship.

Evan Porter was named Summit League Coach of the Year

He said the 2019 season brought the team “back to where we want to be competing; back to the foundation set by the coaches I played for.”

Porter said he draws upon experiences he gained while in college at UNO, both on the field and in the classroom. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business marketing in 2009 and a master’s of business administration in 2016.

“Culture is everything in business, and culture is also a competitive advantage,” he said. “When I started as head coach, I set about establishing a culture that would be good for the team and our goals. Some guys didn’t fit that culture, so I have tried to recruit guys who did. Our duty as coaches is to bring aboard the right people to succeed.”

Porter reminds his players every day about the vital role culture plays in success. “I tell them how important it is to be a good person, to be good to themselves, and to be good to their teammates,” he said.

He considers CBA to be one of the best business schools in the Midwest. “Every year on average we have eight to 10 guys on the team who are CBA students,” Porter said.

“Whenever we find a recruit interested in business, it’s great bringing them back to a world class facility with world class instructors and programs. It’s an easy sell.”

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players earned All-Summit honors

EVERY YEAR ON AVERAGE WE HAVE EIGHT TO 10 GUYS ON THE TEAM WHO ARE CBA STUDENTS. WHENEVER WE FIND A RECRUIT INTERESTED IN BUSINESS, IT’S GREAT BRINGING THEM BACK TO A WORLD-CLASS FACILITY WITH WORLD-CLASS INSTRUCTORS AND PROGRAMS.”

1,500

EVAN PORTER, COACH, UNO BA SEBALL

seat baseball stadium west of Baxter Arena completed by 2020

He said the entire UNO campus has evolved into an impressive place. “There are so many wonderful things here to show potential students,” he said.

The addition of a new, 1,500-seat baseball stadium to the west of Baxter Arena will give the Mavericks another recruiting tool, and a consistent home stadium that is owned and operated by the university. Porter said its completion is anticipated in time for UNO to host the Summit League tournament in 2020.

“We are willing to put in the work necessary to make certain things keep getting better,” he said, “for the team, the college and the university.”

WE ARE WILLING TO PUT IN THE WORK NECESSARY TO MAKE CERTAIN THINGS KEEP GETTING BETTER—FOR THE TEAM, THE COLLEGE, AND THE UNIVERSITY.” EVAN PORTER, COACH, UNO BA SEBALL

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2018 –2019

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THE C APS TONE CUP: U N O C B A’ S G R O W T H - F O C U S E D

SENIOR EXPERIENCE The UNO CBA Capstone Cup is a semester-long competition compulsory for every student enrolled in the undergraduate capstone strategy course, Corporate & Business Strategy. More than 300 students each year take part in the challenge, where they are asked to evaluate a complex business situation, develop a creative solution, and build a presentation that communicates their analyses to a panel of judges. As of April 2019, more than 1,000 students have tackled the contest.

The competition challenges students to think critically surrounding strategic issues they will encounter in their careers. It demands direct application of their entire undergraduate business curriculum, allowing students to apply what they’ve learned. The Capstone Cup was born at UNO CBA and is unique to the school.

Capstone Cup directors Dr. Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles and Dr. Erin Bass have grown the event to what it is today, and they’ve seen firsthand its role in differentiating both the college and its business graduates.

CAPSTONE CUP

BY THE NUMBERS SINCE 2015

STUDENTS

TEAMS

STUDENTS

TEAMS

JUDGES

EMPLOYERS

JUDGES

EMPLOYERS

2018-19 SPONSORS

1,464

Participants

40% Female

International

7%

Active Military, Veterans, or Military Dependent Students

90 FINALISTS

CONCENTRATIONS

FINALISTS

CONCENTRATIONS

FOR SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION AND INQUIRIES

[ CB A .UNOM A H A .EDU/C A P S T ONECUP ] 16

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UNO CBA and Scholars Academy student Chris Winchester racked up accolades during his undergraduate career, graduating with more than 10 well-deserved awards, honors, and scholarships.

Competitions

30% SPRING 2019

GOALS AT CBA

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“While students graduating from UNO CBA have always been in demand, the Capstone Cup is giving them a bigger edge over the competition and letting students see the opportunities they have beyond their graduation,” says Bass. “We’ve managed to combine classroom learning, knowledge application, and community engagement all into one unique, semester-long event.”

FALL 2018

CHRIS WINCHESTER ACHIEVES HIS

Judges

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Area Employers

UNO’s CBA has all of the resources, capabilities, and potential for any student to achieve what they want as long as they are willing to put in the time and effort.”

Winchester, who earned a BSBA in Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship in May 2019, was honored by each of his concentration departments as their Outstanding Undergraduate Student. He also received the Senior Vice Chancellor Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award, was voted CBA Student of the Year, and became the recipient of the Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key, awarded each spring to the graduating student with the highest cumulative BSBA grade point average.

These accomplishments come in addition to Winchester’s entrepreneurial ventures. Inspired by one of his first classes, Entrepreneurial Foundations, Winchester founded and operated several businesses during his undergraduate career, including wedding planning, floral design, and a metaphysical healing and spiritual guidance business.

According to Winchester, he owes his successes in part to the environment of success that UNO CBA cultivates. He was inspired to select UNO CBA from among 30 different college choices because of the Scholars Academy, which offered him “mentorships from the business community, advanced courses, unique business visits, amazing friendships, and very generous scholarships.”

“I owe a lot to the amazing programs, top-notch faculty, and stellar facilities and resources that CBA offers,” says Winchester. “I may be biased, but amongst all the classes I have taken, there is a clear difference in the level of faculty that CBA offers, including experienced professors and worldrenowned research faculty. Learning from them has made my passion for learning even stronger than before I came here.”

Winchester’s love of learning drives his goals of earning an MBA and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior. He hopes to become a professor and contribute research to the fields of organizational behavior, leadership, management, and entrepreneurship. He also plans to open more businesses and aspires to become an executive for a Fortune 500 company.

“I will be continuing my education here at UNO by working for the next year to attain my MBA. I will work as the graduate assistant for Dr. Miles and Dr. Bass as the Capstone Cup GA,” says Winchester. “In this position I will assist in planning the Capstone Cup, I will write and work to publish the three case studies each semester, and I will also work to pursue further research to get published on my path towards PhD applications.”

“UNO’s CBA has all of the resources, capabilities, and potential for any student to achieve what they want as long as they are willing to put in the time and effort,” says Winchester. “Everything that CBA offers has enabled me to be where I am at today and has instilled the confidence and capabilities within me to achieve my personal, academic, and professional goals.”

2018 –2019

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8TH

ANNUAL During the Midwest Entrepreneurship Conference, hundreds of college students and young professionals gather in Omaha for two days of inspiring speakers, diverse panels, and career development opportunities.

Via a startup career fair, networking and mentoring sessions, a pitch contest, and speeches by nationally recognized entrepreneurs, students leave energized and empowered to apply entrepreneurial action to their own lives.

2019 MAVERICK BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION Ly Phan just nailed it!

MIDWEST ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONFERENCE E S TA BLISHE S UNO A S

ENTREPRENEURIAL HUB Coordinated by the UNO Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Franchising (CIEF) and the UNO Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, the Midwest Entrepreneurship Conference is an empowering opportunity for attendees.

This year marked the eighth annual conference and featured entrepreneurs like Mary Clare Sweet, founder of Lotus House of Yoga, and Casanova Brooks, award winning real estate agent, investor, speaker, and CEO. “Students at UNO get the chance to hear from high profile speakers, many internationally renowned, and entrepreneurs who started great businesses in their early twenties,” said UNO Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship Dr. Dale Eesley. “This conference shows how far UNO has come as a university and specifically as an entrepreneurial hub. Students make useful connections with speakers and each other.”

The Key to Inspiration

FEATURED ENTREPRENEURS Mary Clare Sweet Founder, Lotus House of Yoga Casanova Brooks Award winning real estate agent, investor, speaker, and CEO

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UNO BUSINESS

Eesley, who founded the conference in 2012 and who manages the event agenda each year, selects a combination of speakers and creates an environment that he feels is key to the conference’s inspirational atmosphere.

“Our entrepreneur speakers have great stories to share,” says Eesley. “This lets students know that entrepreneurship is a big deal, and our large number of attendees—almost 400—helps students see that they aren’t alone, and that

there’s a whole community of people interested in changing things through entrepreneurship.”

There’s something for everyone at the conference. All students are welcome to attend, and alumni are encouraged to provide sponsorships or serve as speakers to share powerful stories of their own.

Exciting Entrepreneurial Interest April 5, 2019 also marked A Celebration of Entrepreneurship, the UNO CIEF program’s first ever gala celebrating alumni accomplishments.

“UNO has come a long way over the years, and alumni have every reason to be proud of their school,” said Eesley. “There are so many alumni who have started great businesses, but in the past we didn’t have a forum to recognize them.”

The entrepreneurship gala honors UNO alumni who are changing the Omaha business landscape. The event included a silent auction, food and drinks, entertainment, and awards. Gala proceeds were used to provide scholarships and startup funds for UNO student entrepreneurs.

As for UNO CIEF, the program will keep dreaming up new ideas—in line with the spirit of innovative entrepreneurs—to inspire entrepreneurial interest in students and continue to reinforce UNO CBA’s status as an entrepreneurial hub.

Ly Phan, a Business Administration student from Vietnam with concentrations in entrepreneurship and marketing, took first place with her company, Nailed It!, in the annual Maverick Business Plan Competition hosted by the Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Franchising (CIEF) on April 23. Phan received a $3,000 check for placing first.

Ly is no stranger to winning business competitions: she took first place at CIEF’s BigIdea! Pitch Competition in 2018, earning a cash prize as well as a trip to the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) National Pitch Competition. At CEO Nationals, she placed in the top 16 out of 80 competitors.

Her business concept, Nailed It!, is a management system for nail salons in the form of an app. It benefits nail technicians, salon owners, and customers. It increases communication between salon owners and nail technicians while allowing customers and technicians to build rapport and ultimately loyalty to a salon.

Nailed It! hopes to bring transparency and operational efficiency to the nail salon industry, where many salon owners still manage operations with pen and paper. The app also allows customers to view ratings and reviews of salons and technicians.

In her business plan, Phan describes the huge market potential in the $9 billion industry in 2018. Nailed It! has a ‘freemium’ pricing model that contains ads in the free version, additional features with no ads, and a tiered, monthly subscription for the premium model.

$3,000 NAILED IT! Ly Phan

$2,000 VIETNAMGO Ashton Cornett, Lucian Murphree, Jessica Cabello

WINNERS

$1,000 HOMEAUTHORITY Andrew Roehr, James Buell

Additional Winners and Finalists Ashton Cornett, Lucian Murphree, and Jessica Cabello placed second with their company, VietnamGo. Their product aims to add transparency, validation, and ease to the process of matching educators in Vietnam with U.S. citizens that want to teach English abroad. The team took home $2,000 in prize money for their efforts.

Placing third and winning $1,000 was HomeAuthority, presented

by Andrew Roehr and James Buell. Their mission is to add trust, speed and simplicity to the world of home contractors with an app that screens businesses and jobs to help match contractors with legitimate leads.

Additional finalists who pitched business plans include IT students Makayla Rohrer and Tera Maher with A & B Sitters, an app that pairs parents of children with special needs with qualified baby sitters; Michael Mazgaj with Holler Scholar, a service that provides audible abstracts for scholarly articles; and Jo Biniamow and Jon Tschida who presented MovieBox, a box subscription service for movie lovers.

“This year’s finalists were all very compelling and high quality. It has been a pleasure watching these students develop their ideas throughout the school year and have the opportunity to present their hard work to judges and an audience,” said Dale Eesley, director of UNO’s Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Franchising.

“Many of the finalists have advanced prototypes and have taken significant steps in bringing their concept to marketplace.”

THIS YEAR’S FINALISTS WERE VERY COMPELLING AND HIGH QUALITY. MANY HAVE ADVANCED PROTOTYPES AND HAVE TAKEN SIGNIFICANT STEPS IN BRINGING THEIR CONCEPT TO MARKETPLACE.” DALE EESLEY, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND FRANCHISING 2018 –2019

19

UNO MBA, EMBA PROGR AMS RISE IN

NATIONAL RANKS

Thanks to customized curriculum, online learning options, and exceptional quality of education, UNO’s MBA and EMBA programs continue to rise in national ranks.

TOP 100

Part-time MBA Programs U.S. News & World Report, 2020

UNO CBA’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) programs are exceptional, and the world is taking notice.

The UNO MBA program rose in its overall rating in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 “Best Part-time Business Schools.” It now ranks in the top 100 part-time MBA programs.

CEO Magazine once again recognized both the UNO MBA and the Executive MBA as Tier One programs in its 2019 Global MBA Rankings, with the Executive MBA program rising to #21 in the rankings.

The UNO MBA program recently developed a new dual degree program with the UNMC College of Nursing in which students can earn an MBA and a Master of Science in Nurse Leadership. The UNO MBA program offers a customizable curriculum including 10 different concentrations that allow students to shape their electives around personal interests or professional aspirations.

The Executive MBA program offers a concierge approach where program staff handle logistics, so there’s more time to focus on learning—and less time spent figuring out which parking permit to buy.

NEW GR ADUAT E CER T IFIC AT E IN

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT Graduate students can now gain expertise in this high-demand field.

What Students Gain

The Logistics

Professionals educated in supply chain management are prepared to step into a wide variety of supply chain functions, including:

Students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management earn 12 credit hours, and up to nine of these credits can be applied to the MBA program at UNO for an additional boost to the student’s education and career.

• Logistics, including transportation management and scheduling • Procurement, including purchasing and materials management • Lean manufacturing, lean supply chain management, and effective resource management • Sustainable supply chain management

No entrance exam is required for the Graduate Certificate, and classes are offered in flexible online formats.

Supply chain management is a field abound with opportunities—now students can make the most of these possibilities with UNO CBA’s newest Graduate Certificate.

UNO -UNMC DUAL DEGREES PROV IDE UNIQUE PREPA R AT ION

FOR HEALTHCARE LEADERS

The healthcare industry is an ever-changing landscape, requiring those in leadership positions to navigate complex issues associated with patient care, operations, change management, and public policy. Students pursuing joint degrees in the UNO MBA program and UNMC’s health professions are uniquely prepared not only for healthcare practice, but also for taking on key decision-making roles in healthcare organizations.

For the past ten years, UNO CBA and UNMC have worked together to develop dual degree opportunities in business and health-related professional degree programs, including medicine, pharmacy, public health, and most recently, nurse leadership.

Dual degree students are able to complete MBA core classes alongside UNMC courses. Up to nine credit hours from their UNMC degree are applied toward the MBA, allowing students to complete the MBA faster.

Students like Madeline Blaha, currently in the UNMC Pharmacy-UNO MBA dual degree program, are increasingly seeking out dual degree graduate programs.

Blaha explained that when she was looking at pharmacy schools, she “wanted a program where she could get an MBA too.” Her ultimate career goal is to work in pharmacy or hospital administration, and she’s already realizing the value of her MBA through her pharmacy rotations.

“As I’m finishing up my PharmD with clinical rotations, I’ve already seen multiple instances where my MBA degree has added benefit,” says Blaha. “Just being able to understand the ‘language’ that’s being spoken in meetings with drug purchasing groups, pharmacy leadership groups, etc. is something incredibly beneficial.”

Highlights of the MBA program for Blaha include her finance courses with Dr. Olivier Maisondieu Laforge. “Professor Maisondieu Laforge is awesome!

The classes were challenging, but he opened my eyes to what it takes to run a company,” she says.

Blaha also remembers the impactful leadership seminar with Jane Miller, Chief Operating Officer at Gallup. “I enjoyed seeing a strong, powerful female leader who was personable and funny,” she says.

Graduates of UNO/UNMC dual degree programs learn to think strategically and are positioned to communicate with people representing all facets of the organization, which is critical for effective leadership.

“In the medical field, priority number one is always to care for our patients, so it can feel unnatural to think of pharmacy and healthcare in general as a ‘business.’ The dual-degree PharmD-MBA program has helped me to reconcile the idea in my mind,” says Blaha.“Top priority will always be to care for our patients, but in order to do so, the pharmacy, hospital, clinic, etc. has to remain in operation. Making smart business decisions - in purchasing, personnel maintenance, and so on - helps to ensure we can provide the best care for our patients in the long term.”

In addition to dual degree programs, UNO also offers a Business for Bioscientists Certificate Program for Ph.D. students studying biomedical sciences, as well as a Business in Health Administration Certificate for students in the Master of Health Administration program at UNMC. Both of these certificates provide students additional training in business fundamentals, including accounting, economics, management, marketing, and finance. These certificates are well-suited for individuals pursuing careers in the biotech industry and healthcare management.

Learn more

[ MB A .UNOM A H A .EDU ]

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UNO BUSINESS

2018 –2019

21

LIFE THROUGH A

NEW LENS

CBA students have plenty of opportunities to study abroad, returning with business and life lessons that will carry with them throughout their careers.

2019 E X ECU T I V E MBA IN T ERN AT ION AL

BUSINESS CONSULTING PROJECTS Each year, UNO’s Executive MBA program tackles an international capstone project, which includes several days of travel.

TEAM CHILE Executive MBA students traveled to Santiago, Chile to investigate whether market expansion into the area was viable for a local company. The team met with 10 firms in the recycling and waste industry. They also met with the Ministry of Environment to discuss new laws dealing with recycling and clean-up of Chile’s natural spaces. “Learning from a textbook is very different than being taught information and then going and applying it on such a large scale,” says an EMBA student. “The experience was invaluable.”

MEMBERS Tim Bennett, Jean Bierman, Brandon Lecher, Abbie Lira FACULTY ADVISOR Dr. Christopher Decker

MEMBERS Melissa Anderson, Cecily Haggerty, Wes Heiser, George Wehbe FACULTY ADVISOR Dr. Phani Tej Adidam

TEAM TANZANIA Executive MBA students had the opportunity to meet with clients, business entities, and both local and international partners in Moshi, Tanzania, which was a unique experience for Team Tanzania. “It’s always interesting to adapt to local cultures and practices while developing a business proposal, especially when it’s not a cookie-cutter experience,” says an EMBA Tanzania traveler.

MEMBERS Philip Gomez, Brooke Lukassen, Jennifer Messick, Marlon Morales, Ashley Priefert FACULTY ADVISOR Dr. Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles

TEAM UNITED KINGDOM Executive MBA students traveled to London, United Kingdom to meet with a company acquired by their business client. Stakeholders provided the team valuable insight into Europe’s most diverse workforce. “This experience helped to put in perspective the way business culture works in the United Kingdom,” reflects one EMBA traveler.

22

UNO BUSINESS

VALUABLE NEW PERSPECTIVES The world is becoming increasingly interconnected, and businesses are seeking not only the best and brightest, but the cultured, too. UNO CBA addresses that company need directly with study abroad experiences tailored to giving students a “look at life through a new lens,” says Kristi Lynch, MBA Program Director.

CONCEPTS COME TO LIFE IN INDIA Students and faculty arrived at IMT, Ghaziabad, an MBA university in India. The UNO CBA cohort experienced immersion in Indian culture, business, and government as students were exposed to everything from rural villages to larger environmental nongovernmental organizations like Toxics Link, which researches waste management to influence policy and social change. The trip offered first-hand experience in India for students, where they interacted with business owners, executives, government policymakers, and community members. Students also explored the social impact of global business, including its effects on people and environments.

MAKING VITAL CONNECTIONS IN CHINA

TEAM COSTA RICA Executive MBA students were tasked with evaluating a near-shore presence to assist with recruiting and staff augmentation for a local talent acquisition company. The team met with suppliers and tested the feasibility of their business plan. On-the-ground research allowed the team access to vital information that strongly influenced their ultimate recommendations.

“The ability to couple our research with in-country validation is an incredibly valuable aspect of the EMBA,” says a team member. “The in-person meetings allowed us to better understand the culture of the potential suppliers and those that would fit best with client goals.”

CBA STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES OFFER

MEMBERS Nick Bergin, Erin Delatorre, Ben Hwang, Eswari Kalugasalam Lawson FACULTY ADVISOR Dr. David Volkman

Dr. Birud Sindhav and class visited China to explore how China has pulled 500 million people out of poverty in the last 30 years while developing the second largest economy in the world. Students participated in simulated product marketing exercises in which they were asked to propose a product integration into the Chinese market and estimate demand size. This trip was particularly relevant for our CBA students because many Omaha companies have a major presence in China. “For some China businesses, the entry point is Nebraska,” Sindhav says. “Students need to make that link.

We need to have that connection.”

IMMERSIVE INTERNATIONAL CULTURE IN AUSTRIA AND GERMANY CBA Scholars Academy students traveled to Austria and Germany for an immersive, first-hand experience in European culture and business. Students engaged in corporate visits and tours of prominent locations like the Management Center Innsbruck, Grassmayr Bell Foundry, and BMW corporate headquarters. “EuroUS interactions are some of the biggest influencing factors on today’s world,” says attendee and Scholars Academy student Dylan Loerts. “This trip impacted my understanding of the trends and forces affecting the world today by giving me greater insight into the cultural and political nature of Europe.”

2018 –2019

23

MAMMEL HALL

ADDITION 24

UNO BUSINESS

BRINGS E X C I T E M E N T, PURPOSE, AND POSSIBILITIES

2018 –2019

25

ammel Hall has inspired innovation since the building first opened in 2010. Students, faculty, staff, and community members rely on the building to enable their success. Mammel Hall will expand to accommodate additional student and community projects and open up possibilities yet unconsidered.

In late 2020, a 44,000 square foot addition to Mammel Hall will be complete, adding six new classrooms, four seminar rooms, a newly designed and expanded Koraleski Commerce and Applied Behavioral Lab, and a 180-person general purpose room. It will also house the new CBA School of Accounting. The addition will utilize geothermal heating and cooling to support the college’s commitment to sustainability.

The addition not only speaks to the impressive and growing programs in the college, but it opens up new opportunities for students. For Emeritus Dean Louis Pol, this is the most important part.

The new addition will play a pivotal role in fostering deeper relationships with local organizations and opening up internship and job opportunities for students. A large general purpose room provides space for “different kinds of interactions,” says Pol, welcoming discussions, conferences, speakers, and the forging of long-term business relationships. Businesses utilizing Mammel Hall may return for career fairs and mentoring, bringing further benefit back to the students.

Providing opportunities to students and the Omaha community has been a central focus since the initial opening of Mammel Hall nine years ago. The Koraleski Lab was sparked by the spirit of innovation in the college, and community events such as the Girl Scouts artVenture, the Value Investor conference, the Genius of Warren Buffett course, and the NP Dodge MARTECH conference are now hosted in Mammel Hall.

The addition will welcome more events like these through additional meeting spaces and reception areas. Post-doctoral residencies focused

44,000 square feet

26

UNO BUSINESS

6

on research and grant writing will bring expanded resources to the college, and students will learn and collaborate in spaces dedicated to entrepreneurship, accounting, finance, and CBA Scholars Academy students.

Cutting-edge technology, a cloud-reliant building, and expansive teaching spaces are a response to the needs of a “changing learning environment,” says Pol.

The addition not only speaks to the impressive and growing programs in the college, but it opens up new opportunities for students.”

LOUIS POL EMERITUS DE AN, UNO CBA

“So much learning takes place through application and experiences well beyond the formal classroom,” says Pol. “The old lecture format —read a textbook, hear a lecture, take notes, have an exam, repeat— doesn’t work for students anymore. These days, learning takes place in practice presentations, mock interviews, networking meetings with professionals, conferences, and consultancy.”

So much learning takes place through application and experiences well beyond the formal classroom­—in practice presentations, mock interviews, networking meetings with professionals, conferences, and consultancy.”

And for Pol, these learning methods are exactly what the new addition will foster. The building will be impressive, but it’s the programs housed and pedagogy supported that mean the most.

“Buildings are never enough,” says Pol. “If you don’t have the right technology and programs working along with a combination of business community, student, and faculty partnerships, then none of it works.”

The new addition brings together the best of all these things—and it enhances technology already designed for collaboration, enabling UNO’s business programs to reach anywhere in the world.

“We have many ideas on how our new space will be used,” says Pol. “But then the surprises begin. The unplanned uses bring just as much energy and excitement, and a sense of accomplishment.”

new classrooms

4

seminar rooms

180

person general purpose room

LOUIS POL EMERITUS DE AN, UNO CBA

NEWLY DESIGNED & EXPANDED Koraleski Commerce and Applied Behavioral Lab

SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTING

Undergraduate concentrations and Master of Accounting

2018 –2019

27

THE EYES HAVE IT

THIS PROJECT GAVE MORE THAN A DOZEN CBA STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH UNION PACIFIC PERSONNEL IN A DIRECT PARTNERSHIP THAT FOR SOME HAS LED TO INTERNSHIPS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES.”

IN CAB LAB PROJECT FOR UNION PACIFIC

A four-year project undertaken by a multidisciplinary team of faculty and student researchers in the Jack & Stephanie Koraleski Commerce and Applied Behavioral Laboratory (CAB Lab) at CBA has simplified and improved the software used by Union Pacific (U.P.) Corporation in its revenue collection processes.

Since opening its doors to researchers and students in 2014, the Koraleski CAB Lab has provided researchers with technologies that capture and analyze rich neuro-physiological data such as eye-tracking, pupil dilation, facial expressions, skin conductance (GSR) and electroencephalography (EEG).

The lab also features a mobile component for use in field research. Funded by a gift from retired Union Pacific CEO and CBA graduate Jack Koraleski and his wife, Stephanie, the lab’s combination of technologies is rare among business schools.

The U.P. project began in September 2015. Researchers at UNO worked alongside U.P. personnel to redesign and restructure U.P.’s legacy revenue collection software system.

Dr. Douglas Derrick, associate professor of IT Innovation at UNO’s College of Information Science & Technology (IS&T), served as principal investigator on the project. “U.P. had a fairly complex system with dozens of users, hundreds of thousands of pieces of information and tens of thousands of bills being processed every month,” Derrick said.

The project’s goals included providing a better user experience, making work easier to complete, standardizing business processes, and incorporating the new processes into the U.P. software system.

Eye-tracking and facial expression technologies provided researchers with the necessary data to improve the processes, he said. “We could show the users particular screens and their eyes would objectively tell us what information they needed to see and what they consistently ignored,” he said.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Dr. Douglas Derrick Associate Professor, IT Innovation College of Information Science & Technology

Derrick noted that the neuro-psychological information revealed issues that users might not have been able to articulate or even realize.

“Over time, we were able to utilize the lab’s advanced technologies to objectively identify how information was being used, the order in which it was needed, and how to consolidate it into a simpler system,” he said. “We began with somewhere between 200 and 250 screens, and reduced that to 15.”

CAB Lab studies create important insights for researchers and business clients, while simultaneously providing students an opportunity to engage first-hand with research.

In addition to Derrick, the lab’s core researchers are Associate Professors Dr. Ginamarie Ligon and Dr. Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles, and Assistant Professor Dr. Leif Lundmark, all management faculty at CBA. “The CAB lab and CBA’s Center for Collaboration Science allow researchers from across the campus to work together on projects like this and others,” Derrick said.

He said the U.P. project has resulted in a number of academic articles focusing on aspects like the adoption of new processes, as well as human trust for computers and how that trust develops over time.

“It also gave more than a dozen CBA students the opportunity to work with U.P. personnel in a direct partnership that for some has led to internships and job opportunities,” he said.

CORE RESEARCHERS Dr. Ginamarie Ligon Associate Professor, Management

Dr. Leif Lundmark Assistant Professor, Management

Dr. Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles Associate Professor, Management

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UNO BUSINESS

2018 –2019

29

INTRODUC TION OF

SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTING SPEAKS TO GROWTH Achievement in Accounting Education CBA is celebrating the growth and academic achievement within its accounting programs by establishing the School of Accounting at UNO.

“Our new name is a Regents-approved designation that affirms the exceptional quality and professional focus of our accounting programs here at UNO,” said Susan Eldridge, Ph.D., who will serve as the school’s director.

UNO’s accounting programs have been recognized for their exceptional academic quality and rigor through accreditation by the AACSB. UNO’s College of Business Administration is one of fewer than 190 institutions worldwide to hold specialized accreditations in both business and accounting.

UNO is also the only university in Nebraska to earn an endorsement from the Institute of Management Accountants for its BSBA accounting concentration and Master of Accounting degree programs.

BECOMING THE SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTING PUTS US ON THE MAP FROM A PROFESSIONAL STANDPOINT. IT’S A HIGHER LEVEL OF DESIGNATION. IT SERVES NOTICE TO CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS AS WELL AS OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT WE’RE THE REAL DEAL AT UNO.” DOUG EWALD, VICE CHANCELLOR, BUSINESS, FINANCE, AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Achieving designation as a School of Accounting positions UNO’s accounting programs to meet the rising demand for accountants and auditors. The number of positions in accountancy is expected to rise 10 percent between 2016 and 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Becoming the School of Accounting puts us on the map from a professional standpoint,” said Doug Ewald, vice chancellor for Business, Finance, and Business Development. “It’s a higher level of designation. It serves notice to current and prospective students as well as our business community that we’re the real deal at UNO.” This is also a testament to the quality of instructors within the College of Business Administration.

Ranjina Rai, student in UNO’s Master of Accounting program, has been particularly impressed by the real-world expertise of her professors. “They’re always willing to share what they experienced with us so that, as we go into the professional field, we know what we are getting into.”

The school will be home to UNO’s undergraduate accounting concentration courses as well as the Master of Accounting graduate degree program.

It will be housed within Mammel Hall and will later relocate to the new Mammel Hall addition once construction is complete in late 2020.

Dr. Roopa Venkatesh teaches an accounting class in Mammel Hall.

2018 –2019

31

WE WANT STUDENTS TO BE PROACTIVE WITH THEIR FINANCES, AND KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. WE WANT TO BREAK THE INSIDIOUS CYCLE OF BAD SPENDING AND SAVING HABITS, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO BETTER DECISIONS AND THE ABILITY TO SUSTAIN FINANCIAL FREEDOM.” L A UR A BE A L , DIRECTOR, KEES PROGRAM

FINANCIAL LITERACY

RESOURCES KNOWLEDGE IS POWER WITH THE KEES FINANCIAL LITER ACY PROGR AM Students and community members can take control of their financial well-being through free financial literacy sessions offered by UNO CBA’s KEES program.

Knowledge, engagement, empowerment, and sustainability (KEES) are the tenets upon which UNO CBA’s Financial Literacy KEES program was founded when program director Laura Beal created the program in 2015.

Students often arrive on campus with no experience in managing a budget, planning for retirement, and managing debt. That’s where the KEES program steps in.

“We want students to be proactive with their finances, and knowledge is power,” says Beal. “We want to break the insidious cycle of bad spending and saving habits, ultimately leading to better decisions and the ability to sustain financial freedom.”

In partnership with Wells Fargo, UNO CBA created 75-minute lecture and Q&A sessions on the six core financial literacy topics of: home buying, identity theft, credit and borrowing, investments, retirement planning, and budgeting.

These sessions will be offered in both the fall 2019 and spring 2020 semesters and are free to students from all UNO colleges and community members.

View upcoming sessions and RSVP at unomaha.edu/college-ofbusiness-administration/student-involvement/financial-lit-kees.php For more information, contact Laura Beal lbeal@unomaha.edu | 402.554.2429

6

seminars offered each semester

FREE to all UNO students and community members

1 forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2019/02/25/student-loan-debt-statistics-2019/#22ad49f0133f

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UNO BUSINESS

BARRON’S AND CARSON GROUP PAR T NERSHIP GIVES CBA STUDENTS COMPETITIVE EDGE Students, faculty and staff in UNO’s CBA now have access to a leading financial literacy resource thanks to a generous gift from Carson Group. A new partnership with the Barron’s in Education Program from Dow Jones provides CBA with unlimited access to Barron’s digital real-time content, perspective, and analysis.

In addition to content available to all subscribers—such as Barron’s “Up & Down Wall Street,” “The Economy” and “Tech Trader”—the partnership also includes resources designed to enhance financial literacy and professional development, as well as provide classroom resources for faculty. For example, CBA faculty can utilize classroom editions of top Barron’s stories that include questions designed to elicit student discussions on real-time issues.

“Building future financial leaders is a critical mission at Carson,” said Joanna Swanson, Vice President of Advisor Development at Carson Group. “UNO’s College of Business has a history of strong partnerships with Omaha businesses, and we are excited to be one of those select partners. Collaborating with the College of Business Administration and Barron’s will allow us to work with talented students who see—and can help grow—our industry into a true profession.”

Louis Pol, CBA John Becker Emeritus Dean, says the gift highlights how innovative partnerships with community partners create an applied learning environment that isn’t business school as usual.

“We are committed to providing students a competitive edge in a highly charged industry,” Pol said. “This partnership is an excellent contribution to CBA’s continued mission of teaching and developing empowered business leaders in the Omaha community and abroad.”

2018 –2019

33

UNO CBA

CENTERS

In September 2018, UNO CBA’s Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) was awarded a $560,000 grant by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to create a university center for the NU system.

UNO CBA DEVELOPS CENTER FOR

PROFESSIONAL SALES Lifetime Opportunities

SALES RANKS IN THE

TOP 4

chosen career paths for business graduates regardless of concentration

UNO CBA’s Center for Professional Sales was founded in May 2019 with a 4-part mission: • • • •

Develop students’ sales skills in preparation for related and tangential careers Encourage networking between students and businesses Serve as a staffing resource for local, regional, and national firms Provide sales-related learning resources for local and state businesses

“This course will prepare students for one of the most common career entry points—sales,” says Assistant Professor Shannon Cummins, Ph.D.

250

students in first year and cultivate community partnerships

A 2011 study by Georgetown University found that 32% of all marketing majors pursue a sales career, and a career in sales ranks in the top four chosen career paths for business graduates regardless of major or concentration.1 The value of sales skills regardless of college major inspired Cummins to prioritize the creation of a sales center at UNO. The center aims to reach 250 students annually and cultivate community partnerships that benefit both students and employers.

1 cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/whats-it-worth-the-economic-value-of-college-majors/

SALES PROFESSIONALS INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH THE CENTER FOR RECRUITMENT OR TRAINING PURPOSES, CONTACT: Dr. Shannon Cummins | scummins@unomaha.edu | 402.554.3156

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UNO BUSINESS

“This is the first time the University of Nebraska has received this prestigious grant and we are truly excited to put it into action,” said Catherine Lang, NBDC State Director. “The grant brings together key representatives from each campus to build a program that will make it easier for businesses across the state, regardless of proximity to any particular campus, to access the exceptional resources found within the University of Nebraska system.”

NBDC will administer the grant, with all four campuses—UNO, UNL, UNK, and UNMC—participating in program leadership and development of this University of Nebraska—University Center.

Now going by NU Connections, this university center will build upon existing relationships and grow effective new pathways for businesses to leverage the resources of our diverse campuses.

The 5-year grant will be awarded in Awarded annual installments and is matched with financial support from the University of Nebraska’s campuses.

It will increase opportunities for research collaboration, technology and product development, talent and workforce development, and partnerships with Nebraska businesses and economic development stakeholders—which strengthens the university’s support of statewide economic and business development.

$560,000

“The Nebraska Business Development Center is a valuable driver of economic and workforce growth across our state, serving more than 2,000 Nebraska businesses last year alone,” said former NU President Hank Bounds. “From startup assistance to commercialization, customer leads to recommendations on leaner manufacturing, NBDC provides services that help small businesses thrive. This well-deserved grant will allow NBDC to expand its impact even further. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to strengthen the partnerships among the University’s campuses and with colleagues in business and higher education across the state who all share a vision of growth for Nebraska’s future.”

The center’s newly developed curriculum includes a professional selling concentration for BSBA students, and a sales minor for non-business students. This fall, 144 students are completing CBA’s professional selling course, where they will learn hands-on techniques for improving their relationship-development skills.

The Value Proposition

GOAL IS TO REACH

NU CONNEC TIONS WILL LINK NEBRASK A BUSINESSES WITH UNIVERSIT Y RESOURCES To be competitive in the global economy, Nebraska businesses need access to unique solutions, innovative ideas, and talent.

The University of Nebraska system is an engine of technology, innovation, and talent that propels our state’s economy.

32%

of all marketing majors pursue a sales career

NBDC WINS GRANT TO DEVELOP UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR NU SYSTEM

NU CONNECTIONS WILL: » Develop tools and processes to increase visibility of and ready access to university resources » Identify and/or develop workable pathways and best practices for university business engagement activities » Increase opportunities for research collaboration, technology and product development, and talent and workforce collaborations » Buttress existing university expertise and programming » Develop stronger inter-campus connectivity and engagement

NBDC IS A VALUABLE DRIVER OF ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE GROWTH ACROSS OUR STATE, SERVING MORE THAN 2,000 NEBRASKA BUSINESSES LAST YEAR ALONE. THIS WELL-DESERVED GRANT WILL ALLOW NBDC TO EXPAND ITS IMPACT EVEN FURTHER.” HANK BOUNDS, FORMER PRESIDENT, UNIVERSIT Y OF NEBR A SK A

2018 –2019

35

M AV ERICK S

READY TO LAUNCH

Congratulations to our newest graduates! At the heart of every Maverick is a story that is still being written. These Mavericks graduated in May ready to write their next chapter after college.

When he was a child, fleeing war-torn Somalia with his family, Mohamed Hassan never imagined his journey back home would involve a detour to Omaha to earn a master’s degree.

Inspired by growing up in North Omaha, business administration graduate Tiffany Hunter has her sights set on developing her community’s infrastructure and buildings “to contribute to the betterment of the overall community, including public schools.”

The 1990s collapse of the Somali government took Hassan and his family to Kenya and the Dadaab Refugee Camp, the world’s largest refugee camp. It was here that he had the opportunity to enroll in Kenya’s education system and where he quickly stood out among his peers.

Earning her business degree in real estate and land use, Hunter developed a passion for real estate.

“I learned how behind the curve North Omaha is compared to other neighborhoods,” she says. “West Omaha is fairly nice and developed and South Omaha has a lot of space for small businesses, which benefits their neighborhood economy – but in North Omaha there isn’t too much of either of those.”

“As the conflict intensified and became protracted, the hope to return to Somalia diminished and every refugee learned to accept the cruel reality of life in Dadaab camp, and that it was now a place to call home,” Hassan says. “Despite a lack of adequate teaching staff, scarcity of school textbooks, the pressures of poverty, security problems, and harsh weather, many students exceeded expectations and outshined students at Kenyan government schools that were more well-equipped.”

After graduating, Hunter now hopes to begin tackling the situation head-on, and she is well on her way.

As a real estate intern for Union Pacific, Hunter garnered real-world experience that has given her valuable skills and abilities that she can use throughout her career. She was hired by Union Pacific for a full-time position in the Fortune 500 company’s finance department.

Flash forward to 2016 and Hassan’s resettlement to the United States. Already working towards degrees in business administration and public administration from universities in Kenya, and serving as an operations officer for the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, Hassan knew his next step was to continue his education.

I KNEW I HAD A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP MYSELF PROFESSIONALLY. ADVANCING MY EDUCATION AT UNO IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE MY CAREER TO ANOTHER LEVEL. I ALWAYS HAD THE PASSION TO LEARN AND STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT EDUCATION IS POWER.” MOHAMED HASSAN

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION & GRADUATE COLLEGE

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UNO BUSINESS

“I knew I had a unique opportunity to develop myself professionally,” he says. “Advancing my education at UNO is an opportunity to take my career to another level. I always had the passion to learn and strongly believed that education is power.”

As he sets forth on his goal to begin helping his home country rebuild, Hassan said that his time at UNO has provided him a “second home” thanks to friendly people, state-ofthe-art facilities, and supportive faculty and staff.

“There are a lot of public reforms taking place in Somalia aimed at improving resource allocation and management; increasing program efficiency and effectiveness; and above all, a concerted effort to rebuild public trust in government.

I believe that the vital skills I gained from UNO will help me participate in the reconstruction of my country.”

SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE IS HOW IMPORTANT THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE. A SCHOLARSHIP IS SO HELPFUL, INSPIRES STUDENTS TO BECOME FURTHER ENGAGED IN WHAT THEY ARE STUDYING, AND MOTIVATES THEM TO MAKE A CHANGE IN WHATEVER INDUSTRY THEY PLAN TO GO INTO.”

Because of her great work both inside and outside of the classroom at UNO, Hunter was awarded a national scholarship from the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network Foundation. As the first UNO student to earn this prestigious scholarship, and one of just 20 students from across the country to win, Hunter exemplifies hard work and dedication to both her academics and career.

“Something that people may not realize is how important these scholarships are. A scholarship is so helpful, inspires students to become further engaged in what they are studying, and motivates them to make a change in whatever industry they plan to go into.”

TIFFANY HUNTER

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, REAL ESTATE MAJOR

2018 –2019

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DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS

ELAINE G. MAULDIN

JERRY M. SLUSKY, ESQ.

Elaine G. Mauldin is the BKD professor at the University of Missouri in the School of Accountancy. She teaches accounting information systems and auditing internal controls, incorporating current developments in data analytics. She serves as faculty coordinator of the SAP University Alliance. She also mentors doctoral students, serving as chair on a number of students’ dissertation committees.

Jerry M. Slusky is a partner in Smith Slusky Law, L.L.P. and a member of the Omaha, Nebraska, Iowa, and Florida Bar Associations. He serves local and regional clients in real estate, corporate, and related business matters and is known for expertise in planning, zoning, development, financing, and leasing.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, ROBERT J. TRULASKE SR. COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Mauldin conducts research in auditing, corporate governance, and internal controls. Her research has been published in leading accounting academic journals and in the business press, including the Journal of Accounting & Economics and The Wall Street Journal.

She is currently the editor for The Accounting Review and serves the American Accounting Association (AAA) on the Board of Directors and Council.

Mauldin‘s academic awards for excellence include the Trulaske College of Business Distinguished Research Award (2017-18), Miller/Smith Summer Scholar Award (2010-19), and the Winemiller Excellence Award (2018), among others.

Mauldin graduated in 1976 from UNO with a BSBA in accounting and obtained her MBA from UNO in 1983. In 1997 Mauldin obtained her Ph.D. from UNL and began her academic career. Prior to working in academics, Mauldin was vice president of finance for E&K Companies, Inc. in Omaha.

PARTNER, SMITH SLUSKY LAW L.L.P.

He was inducted into the Midwest Real Estate News Hall of Fame and CRE Summit Hall of Fame, among others. In 2003, he was selected by peer review and inducted as a Fellow into the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL). He was voted among the best lawyers in the United States by Best Lawyers in America, and has been recognized by Omaha Magazine as “One of Omaha’s Best Real Estate Attorneys.”

Slusky is the founder and chairman of the Commercial Real Estate Summit, a highly anticipated annual conference event for commercial real estate industry professionals. In 2018, more than 900 people from Nebraska and Iowa attended. Learn more at attendcresummit.com.

Slusky also acted as former president and chairman of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, the Dakota REIT Board of Trustees, and Angels Among Us Advisory Board.

Slusky earned his BSBA from UNO and Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Creighton University School of Law. He received a LLM in Taxation from the New York University School of Law.

DAVID L. ROTH, P.E.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OMAHA AIRPORT AUTHORITY David Roth is executive director for the Omaha Airport Authority.

In this role, Roth leads a team of professionals at Eppley Airfield focused on providing premier customer service and airport facilities through operational excellence.

Roth started his career with the Omaha Airport Authority as the director of planning and engineering. He has planned and overseen over $400 million in capital improvements including reconstruction of three runways, numerous taxiways, and aircraft aprons, along with other facilities across the airport. Roth assumed additional responsibilities in strategic planning, including financial and succession planning, and now leads the airport’s 20-year Master Plan. The Master Plan incorporates an estimated $1.2 billion of planned capital improvements including the upcoming Terminal Modernization Program at Eppley Airfield.

Pictured from left to right: Elaine G. Mauldin, Jerry M. Slusky, David Roth, Denise McCauley

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Roth served in the United States Army as an infantry officer and has also worked for the Trane Company and Alvine Engineering. He has held roles in the Airports Council International Operations and Technical Affairs Steering Committee Group. Roth also served on the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency Council of Officials and acts in a variety of church leadership positions. Roth earned an electrical engineering degree from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and obtained his MBA from UNO in 2011.

DENISE MCCAULEY

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, WOODMENLIFE Denise McCauley is the executive vice president and chief operating officer at WoodmenLife. In this role, she has responsibility for core operations, business technology, enterprise project management office, and coordination of strategy. She began her WoodmenLife career in June 2008 as vice president, core operations.

She has also held several positions at both First Data Corporation and Alliance Data Systems in areas including operations, product development, client and product management, as well as leading a line of business in the payment processing industry. She serves on the board of Food Bank for the Heartland and on the executive leadership team of the Heart Walk. Previously, McCauley served on the boards of RedBasket and WELLCOM. McCauley grew up in Omaha, NE and earned a BSBA from UNO. She is married to Robert McCauley, who is also a University of Nebraska-Omaha graduate.

2018 –2019

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C OBALT C REDI T UNION SOA R S WI T H

INNOVAT ION UNBOUND: DR. DIAMOND’S NEW BOOK DEFENDS

DEBOER’S LEADERSHIP

INNOVATIVE DYNAMISM

When Gail DeBoer joined SAC Federal Credit Union (now Cobalt Credit Union) as an internal auditor in 1988, the financial institution had three locations and had just reached $100 million in assets. By 2007, she had risen through the management ranks to become president and CEO. DeBoer has led Cobalt Credit Union through a membership-building rebranding, has enhanced employee engagement through a focus on employee development, and has established Cobalt Credit Union as a State of Iowa Chartered institution, thus opening the door to expansion opportunities. In June 2018, Cobalt Credit Union passed $1 billion in assets. The firm has grown to 275 employees and 26 locations.

DeBoer, who earned her bachelor’s degree at UNO CBA, is proud of what she has helped build over the past 30-plus years, but she isn’t done yet. “Five years from now,” she said, “I hope we hit $2 billion.”

DeBoer has both vision and insight, a powerful combination in the financial industry. The insight comes from working her way up through an organization to the top leadership position. Her vision stems from her ability to recognize areas requiring change, and to unite employees by helping individuals to focus on a common goal.

She recalled that, beginning around 2008, several factors helped chart the course Cobalt Credit Union is on today.

“First, we surveyed all of our employees and members,” she said. “We found that our employees and members love us and trust us, but that if you weren’t a member, you didn’t know who we were. We hadn’t done a very good job of telling our story.”

“We also began to understand that we had to rebrand to alleviate our military connection. In 2008, 50% of the public thought you had to be in the military to be a member. That rose to as high as 58%. So, we changed our name.”

Cobalt, she explained, is the color of the Air Force uniform, a nod to

UNO CBA Professor of Economics Dr. Arthur Diamond explores entrepreneurial capitalism—or what he terms “innovative dynamism”—in his new book published June 2019.

the Strategic Air Command origins of the institution, and the three branches of the military that serve Offutt Air Force Base. “Cobalt is also a mineral that, when combined with other minerals, becomes stronger,” she said. “When our credit union helps a wider group of people, we make them stronger financially.”

UNO CBA Professor of Economics Dr. Art Diamond has long believed that innovation is “the key to human betterment.” Diamond asserts that entrepreneurial capitalism, or as he terms it “innovative dynamism,” enables innovation that facilitates improvements in the human condition. His belief in this concept inspired his book Openness to Creative Destruction: Sustaining Innovative Dynamism published

by Oxford University Press in June 2019.

DeBoer is very community-conscious, having served as a member or trustee for more than a dozen civic and charitable organizations, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council. She has received many honors for her service and career, most recently as a 2019 inductee into the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame.

The book explores “how life has improved through innovation, how innovation has occurred through the efforts of inventors and innovative entrepreneurs, how workers on balance benefit from a system of innovative dynamism, and how policies can be crafted to encourage the innovative entrepreneur to bring us more innovations.”

She and her husband of 38 years, John, who retired from the Omaha Public Power District, have three children and a fourth grandchild “on the way.” Having grown up children is allowing DeBoer to “return to some things I have missed. I golf, and we have started skiing again.

And, I like to fly-fish the streams in Colorado.”

Through his research, Diamond aims to challenge economists who claim that innovation is inevitable.

Instead, he asserts that innovation “depends on the hard work, hard thought, and courage of inventors and innovative entrepreneurs” functioning within a system that enables their success.

It took 11 years of night and summer classes to earn her bachelor’s degree at UNO, persistence she does not regret. She later earned an MBA from Bellevue University, and passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.

“I believe earning my undergraduate degree and passing the CPA exam gave me credibility,” she said. “I went after my MBA because I knew the current president would be retiring soon.”

Education has been the cornerstone of a “wonderful career,” she said.

“Truly, I don’t think you can ever stop learning. That’s how you keep moving forward.”

The Purpose Behind the Book

Ultimately, Diamond concludes that innovative dynamism creates more and better jobs than it destroys, and results in innovative products, services, and lower prices, as well as benefiting both consumers and workers.

Influencing the Broader Business Discussion In his book, Diamond also combats the notion that businesspeople should feel guilty for the pursuit of business success. He asserts that their actions result in longer and better lives for ordinary citizens, and that replacing old products and services with new ones is a necessary component of human betterment.

“We cannot sustain innovative dynamism if we keep binding the fast-growing startups that, by leapfrogging the incumbents, create more and better jobs,” says Diamond. “But if we again leave our inventors and entrepreneurs unbound, they likely will find faster cures for cancer, allow us to travel to Mars, and achieve other audacious projects we cannot yet imagine. What is certain is that they will bring us more goods, more jobs, more choices, more life, more hope.”

In the spirit of the innovators he writes about and is inspired by, Diamond also recommends that people continue to investigate and encourage innovation through openness to learning from a diverse variety of people, by reading widely, and being alert to serendipitous discoveries. Most of all, when finding an important truth, Diamond encourages inquisitive minds “have the courage to persevere.”

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REBRANDING

Cobalt is a Color

Cobalt is a Mineral

WHAT’S BEHIND THE NAME?

In June 2019, Amazon.com identified Diamond’s Openness to Creative Destruction as the “#1 New Release in Industrial Management & Leadership.”

Cobalt is the color of the Air Force Uniform, a nod to the Strategic Air Command origins of the institution, and the three branches of military.

Cobalt is a mineral that, when combined with other minerals, becomes stronger.

When our credit union helps a wider group of people, we make them stronger financially.

Diamond has been a faculty member of UNO’s Economics Department since 1986. During his fifteen years of working, he appreciated the encouragement from many of his colleagues and especially the patience of his wife Jeanette, daughter Jenny, and dachshunds Willy and Fritz.

UNO BUSINESS

NEW RELEASE in Industrial Management and Leadership Amazon.com, June 2019

“Innovation depends on the hard work, hard thought, and courage of inventors and innovative entrepreneurs.”

2018 –2019

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I ENJOY GETTING TOGETHER WITH THE STUDENTS, AND I HAVE CONTINUED TO CORRESPOND WITH A FEW THROUGH THE YEARS. I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE CALIBER OF STUDENTS AND GRADUATES THE COLLEGE IS PRODUCING.” MAJ. THOMAS SPENCER, CBA ALUMNI AND DONOR

MAJ. SPENCER

CBA ALUMNI, SUPPORTER & DONOR

A deep devotion to his late wife, and a genuine loyalty to the university they attended, make retired Army Major Thomas A. Spencer a generous supporter of UNO CBA.

The Spencers’ legacy at CBA includes two scholarships and the Spencer Professorship in Government Accounting. Spencer is a member of the University of Nebraska Foundation’s Presidents Club and the UNO Chancellors Club. The Spencers were inducted into the Lucas Society at CBA in 1998.

Spencer and his wife, Beverly Ward Spencer were members of the United States armed services when they met during tours of duty in Spain. Mrs. Spencer was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

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UNO BUSINESS

Married in 1966, Mrs. Spencer left the Air Force to follow her husband on his reassignments. In 1971, the Spencers came to Omaha, where Thomas Spencer enrolled in the University of Nebraska at Omaha Bootstrap initiative for military personnel. The government initiated Operation Bootstrap in the late 1940s to provide commissioned officers a chance to “lift themselves up by their bootstraps” by completing a college degree. The program was introduced at UNO in 1951.

“Being stationed all over, we took whatever courses we could take,” Spencer recalled. “When I only had a semester left to go, the courses I had taken didn’t fit the criteria of most colleges. Besides UNO, there were only two other colleges in the U.S. willing to accept us.”

Spencer earned his bachelor’s degree in business, and later earned a Master’s in Business Administration from Boston University. “It was a big bonus to me that UNO, through the Bootstrap program, was willing to accept the hodge-podge of courses I had taken,” he said. “With my bachelor’s degree, I was able to continue to progress in the Army.”

Mrs. Spencer also enrolled at UNO, where she earned a Bachelor of General Studies degree in accounting in 1972, compiling a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

After their graduation from UNO, the Spencers moved to Germany before returning to the U.S. Mrs. Spencer held numerous government positions related to accounting and obtained her Certified Public Accountant license while living in Texas. Spencer held several

commands and receive an impressive list of military decorations, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star of Valor and Meritorious Service Medal, before retiring from the Army in 1976. He went on to serve as an Emergency Planner and Management Analyst for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, finishing with 32 years of federal service.

After his retirement, the Spencers founded a small finance and management consulting firm. Mrs. Spencer died in an accident in 1983.

Spencer subsequently established the Beverly Ward Spencer Memorial Accounting Scholarship in appreciation for the support provided by the university to the Bootstrap program, and to encourage excellence among young accounting students. He later established the Maj. Thomas A. Spencer Business Scholarship and the Spencer Professorship in Government Accounting.

A resident of Arlington, Texas, Spencer said he visits family in Omaha every year or so, and checks in at college. “It’s a far cry from when I went there,” he said. “Back then, there were only five buildings and some Quonset huts.”

He said that when he returns to the campus, he usually meets with his scholarship awardees in the dean’s office at CBA. “I enjoy getting together with the students, and I have continued to correspond with a few through the years,” he said. “I am very happy with the caliber of students and graduates the college is producing. I think Beverly would be, too.”

2018 –2019

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ESCOBAR-SERRANO NAMED

TRUMAN FELLOWSHIP FINALIST

Junior Alejandra Escobar-Serrano knew when she came to UNO that she would spend her time as a student making a difference in the community. That drive and initiative is what helped the political science and business major, who is also a first-generation student, be named alongside 198 other students as a finalist for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship.

For 40 years, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation has been supporting students from across the country, awarding approximately 60 scholarships each year to junior-level college students in a public-service related degree program to help support their studies.

As part of her application to be a Truman Scholar, EscobarSerrano had to find a way to get from her internship in Washington, D.C., to do an in-person interview in Colorado with the scholarship program’s review board. That is where UNO stepped in to help her find a way to cover her airfare and hotel.

Escobar-Serrano’s journey to rise to a finalist position from well over 800 other applicants is evidence of her commitment to the community and to education.

“I was incredibly thankful for the support from UNO and from the National Scholarship and Fellowship Office,” she explains.

“Dr. Morrison and the office were incredible in helping me with scheduling interviews and gathering UNO faculty to do mock interviews with me. They worked around my schedule in D.C. and so that was incredibly helpful that they were able to accommodate and help me.”

“A lot of what I wrote about in my application for the Truman Fellowship was about mentoring students because I volunteer and give back to my old high school, South High, and provide my time to help edit their essays and encouraging them to go into higher education,” she explains. “That is my focus; getting more people of color into higher education.”

In addition to her work as a mentor, Escobar-Serrano is a member of the UNO University Honors Program, CBA Scholars Academy, the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, and recently completed a three-month internship in Washington, D.C., as part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

“They partner us with a member of Congress, so I interned at the House of Representatives and worked to understand the issues that happen at the federal level,” she says.

Escobar-Serrano participated last summer in Princeton University’s Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship Program, and hopes to use that as a springboard into graduate school once she earns her degree from UNO. Her goal? To find ways to increase access to higher education for underserved populations.

“I appreciate the support from the UNO community, especially through my first year in college. I want to provide that to other students in the future.”

UNO CBA SCHOLARSHIPS PL ACE VALUE ON STUDENTS

92

Total Scholarships

201

Student Recipients

$915,275 Total Awarded

“Scholarships keep the college competitive by attracting the best and brightest students. We want to keep Nebraskans here and attract students from outside our state to pursue an education and career here.”

BETHAN Y HUGHES CBA SCHOL ARSHIP COORDINATOR

The 2018-2019 school year saw a total of $915,275 in scholarship money given to UNO CBA students, and the trend continues as the college places emphasis on providing students with scholarship options for the 2019-2020 academic year.

The college’s exceptional commitment to providing scholarship opportunities keeps focus on what the school values most—the students.

“Many students wouldn’t be able to be in college if it weren’t for scholarships,” says Bethany Hughes, CBA scholarship coordinator. “Scholarships keep the college competitive by attracting the best and brightest students.”

And thanks to donors, UNO CBA continues to provide opportunities to students who may otherwise not attend college at all. In 2018-2019, a total of 92 CBA scholarships were awarded, reaching 201 student recipients. The scholarships not only draw students to the college, but set them up for continued success by allowing them to graduate with less debt.

“We want to keep Nebraskans here and attract students from outside our state to pursue an education and career here,” Hughes says.

The scholarships are essential in achieving that mission, as they go towards tuition, housing, and other college expenses and set students up to create their own success stories.

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UNO BUSINESS

THANKS TO OUR DONORS WHO MAKE THESE SCHOL ARSHIPS & STUDENT DREAMS HAPPEN: · Barbara Osborne Miller Memorial Scholarship (Graduate) · Barbara Osborne Miller Memorial Scholarship (Undergraduate) · Ben & Martha Simmons Scholarship · Beverly Grace (Ward) Spencer Memorial Accounting Scholarship · BOMA/IFMA Scholarship · Bun Song Lee Economics Scholarship · C Glenn Lewis Scholarship · C Marsh Bull Honors Scholarship in Marketing · Carl Avrid Nelson College of Business Administration Scholarship Fund · Charles & Gloria Billingsley Scholarship · Charles T & Denise A Olson Merit Scholarship · Charles T & Denise A Olson Need-Based Scholarship · CM’s A Cut Above Scholarship · David Raymond Talent Scholarship · Dean & Maria Jacobsen Business Scholarship · Dean John Lucas Memorial Marketing Scholarship · Delaine R. & Dorothy M Donohue Excellence Scholarship · DMSi Software UNO Supply Chain Scholarship · Dr James J Conway Memorial Scholarship · Dr Roger P & Jeannine K Sindt UNO CBA Scholarship · Duffy Family UNO CBA Honors Fund · Ed Belgrade Scholarship · Emma Weibel Scholarship · Entrepreneurial Living Learning Community (UNO CIEF) · Ernest H and Joyce Kenyon Scholarship in Public Accounting · Esther Gehr Jepsen Young Entrepreneur Scholarship · First Data Scholarship Fund · Frank L Mansell Scholarship Program · Frankel Zacharia, LLC Scholarship/Fellowship · Gary Penisten Talent Endowment Scholarship Fund · H Steve Anderson MBA Fellowship · Herb Sklenar Scholarship · High School Business Plan Scholarship · Hollis and Helen Baright Foundation Real Estate Scholarship · Horace Wu & Kate King Wu Scholarship · Jack Haley Scholarship Fund Presented by DEI Communities · Jack W. and Diane M. Williams Scholarship Fund · Jaksich Family MAcc Fellowship · James A Sedlacek Memorial Scholarship · James C. Horejs Economics Scholarship · James P Duff Memorial Business Scholarship · John A & Phyllis S Jeter Scholarship Award · John and Mary Schleiger Graduate Scholarship Endowment

· John and Mary Schleiger Undergraduate Scholarship Endowment · Jon Guinn Scholarship/Fellowship Presented by Lutz & Company PC · Karla J Stowe Memorial Scholarship/Fellowship · Karla J. Stowe MAcc Fellowship Fund · Keith V Kiernan Scholarship · Larry & Janice Stoney Talent Scholarship · Laura Gogan Memorial Scholarship · Lucille M Gannon Scholarship · M C “Mike” Biggerstaff Memorial Scholarship · Magid Family Real Estate Scholarship · Mark & Frances Grieb Accounting Scholarship · Maverick Investment Camp Scholarship · Natan & Hannah Schwalb CBA Scholarship · Nebraska Bankers Scholarship · Nebraska Society of CPAs Scholarship · Noack Family Trust · Omaha Area Board of Realtors Scholarship · Ora C & Fred B Vomacka Memorial Scholarship · Paul & Barbara Kistler Scholarship · R Craig Hoenshell Leadership Scholars Program · R Craig Hoenshell Talent Scholarship · Richard & Jeanne Morrison, Nuts & Bolts, Inc. · Richard E Prince III Memorial Scholarship · Robbins Family Finance/Investment Science Scholarship · Robert C Stedman Scholarship · Robert E Bernier Nebraska Business Development Center Graduate Assistant Fellowship · Robert Kreitner & Margaret Sova Tuition Scholarship · Ron & Shirley Burns Leadership Scholarship · Ronald J Bauers Memorial Scholarship · Rose Marie Baumgarten Accounting Scholarship · RSM Accounting Scholarship/Fellowship · Sam & Dorie Leftwich Scholarship · Scott Copple Memorial Scholarship/Fellowship · Securities America, Inc. Scholarship Fund for Academic Excellence · Stephen M Cary Scholarship · Steve Schulz Supply Chain Management Scholarship · Tal Anderson College of Business Administration/Athletic Scholarship · The Woodmen of the World Leadership Scholarship · Tim & Traci Harrison Scholarship · Timothy J Jensen Accounting Scholarship · Trever Lee Memorial Scholarship · Union Pacific MBA Scholarship · UNO Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Scholarship Fund · Wayne M. Higley Delta Sigma Pi Award · William Brown Memorial Scholarship

STUDENTS CAN APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AT

[ CB A .UNOM A H A .EDU/S CHOL A R SHIP S ] 2018 –2019

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I PUT MY UNO MBA UP AGAINST ANY MBA. ANY MBA ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. I’M EXTREMELY PROUD TO SAY THAT I’M A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA.”

I AM ROI the

Ivan Gilreath is an alumnus whose return on his investment in a UNO education goes far beyond career opportunities.

UNO brought out the best in this leader, change maker, and innovator who is making a difference in our communities and enriching our quality of life.

Ivan Gilreath’s journey through the corporate world to his current role as President and CEO of Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands started at UNO. He developed an interest in business as a teenager working part-time at an area McDonald’s. The fast food restaurant was all he knew at the time, which led to his dream to own multiple locations. From there, he earned his undergraduate degree in business.

“The good thing about a business degree is that [it] really teaches you a lot of different skills: accounting, marketing, management, MIS [or management information systems], economics,” Gilreath said. “It allows you to really go wherever your career takes you.”

Gilreath completed his MBA at a time when graduate coursework wasn’t as flexible as it is today. With a wife and newborn son at home, he juggled family life with evening classes, a basketball and mentoring program for kids, and his professional career—not a small task considering the academic rigor of UNO’s MBA program.

“I really can’t remember a bad professor that I had when I was doing my MBA—not because they were easy—it’s because they were rigorous, they were hard, yet they were fair and they helped you in whatever you needed,” Gilreath said.

His passion for business intersected with his heart for children as he came to the Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands. Gilreath’s father left home soon after he was born. His upbringing in a single parent household led to his passion for those he calls “underdog kids.”

“I’ve always sought those kids out,” he said. “Everybody knows the really bad kids, and everybody really knows the athletic kids. Everybody ignores the kids in between.”

Every child that comes into contact with Gilreath learns about the value of education, hard work, dedication, and integrity.

Through the Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands, hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships are given to teens who otherwise might not have the chance to pursue higher education.

Gilreath said awardees keep their scholarships as long as they keep their grades up in college, regardless of their academic performance in high school.

Each scholarship is worth $10,000 and Gilreath reminds students that this kind of money goes much further at UNO than at many other universities, especially those out-of-state.

“You get tremendous, top-notch value for going to UNO,” Gilreath said.

UNO’s high-quality academics and faculty, accessibility, affordability, and active engagement in the community make Gilreath proud to be a Maverick and happy to recommend UNO to anyone considering advancing their education.

“You couldn’t beat it and I put my UNO MBA up against any MBA. Any MBA anywhere in the country...

I’m extremely proud to say that I’m a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.”

2018 –2019

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NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA, NE PERMIT NO. 301

University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Business Administration 6708 Pine Street, Mammel Hall Omaha, NE 68182-0048 402.554.2303 cba.unomaha.edu