UNO
ON THE COVER 2024 Student Hall of Fame
Winners: Left to Right: Ellen Vogltanz, James Hamlette, Katelin Dittman, Dean Michelle Trawick
CONTRIBUTERS
Editor: Melissa Lindell Kozak
Timothy Fitzgerald
Kristi Lynch
Kelly Jefferson Minty
Ailene Nielsen
Ryan Soderlin
Design & Layout:
Dana Osborne Design
COMMENTS OR STORY IDEAS unocbainfo@unomaha.edu
CONNECT WITH THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
/UNOCBA @UNOCBA @UNOCBA
/UNIVERSITY-OFNEBRASKA-AT-OMAHACOLLEGE-OF-BUSINESSADMINISTRATION
[ CBA.UNOMAHA.EDU ]
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 education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation being taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity.1329BKCBA0923
MICHELLE W.
TRAWICK,
PH.D. DEAN, UNO COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
The stories you read in this year’s CBA Magazine remind us of a guiding principle as we continue this journey to be “the business school of choice for hard-working learners of all backgrounds.” That principle is excellence. We strive for excellence in all we do, and as you read, you will notice many stories of excellence.
We cannot wait for you to review this year’s magazine, where you will find just a sample of the excellence in business education from Omaha’s business school! Your University of Nebraska at Omaha’s College of Business Administration (UNO’s CBA) continues to be as relevant and impactful as always through innovation and growth. You will read about our innovation and growth in our students’ applied learning experiences, our faculty’s meaningful research projects, the committed award-winning faculty and staff, and our community and business outreach and engagement. The stories you read in this year’s CBA Magazine remind us of a guiding principle as we continue this journey to be “the business school of choice for hardworking learners of all backgrounds.” That principle is excellence.
I hope you take pride in reading about the exceptional work our students are doing every day, both in and out of the classroom. Take
Jerry Brito-Mendoza, for instance--he recently achieved something that only one other UNO student has ever done before. His story, and many others like him, are not just about academic success but about personal growth and achievement that will inspire you.
Another tale of personal growth tells the journey of a non-traditional student, often called an “adult learner,” Charles Castle, Jr. Charles struggled early in adulthood and eventually found his way to higher education. He will graduate soon and is the perfect example of why pursuing excellence in CBA is never too late!
Make sure you read about our award-winning faculty and staff.
The Institute for Management Accountants recognized Dr. Roopa Venkatesh as this year’s Exemplary Global Board Member. One of my favorite faculty stories is about the impactful research of Dr. Erin Bass, the James R. Schumacher Chair of Ethics and a Professor of
Management. Her work, highlighted in the Harvard Business Review, has significantly changed the required board structures for many publicly traded companies.
Dr. Phani Tej Adidam recently won another Fulbright and the University of Nebraska system-wide President’s Excellence Award for outstanding teaching. By the way, excellence is also a theme in the Adidam household. Dr. Adidam’s daughter, Ms. Ishani Adidam, is walking her own excellent path as a CBA senior studying Business Analytics and Human Resource Management. Ishani is serving as the current President of the UNO Student Government Association and UNO’s Student Regent on the University of Nebraska’s Board of Regents!
I cannot forget the incredible work of our staff members; two excellent advisors have been singled out this year by the campus for their work with our students. Kristy Schweitz and Jessica Kampfe commit daily to ensuring our students feel supported and cared for. Their dedication is a vital part of what makes our college a wonderful place to learn and grow.
Finally, you will read stories about alums and community partners committed to the college’s excellence. Take time to read about
Jesse Brickner, an impressive 2014 graduate with concentrations in Accounting, Banking, and Finance. Jesse’s story is like that of many of our CBA students: drive and work ethic lead to excellence! That drive continues in his commitment to serving as a sounding board, advocate, and supporter for our Recent Alumni Advisory Board in hopes of making a difference in his alma mater.
Community partners like Carmen and Bob Tapio are also integral to our college’s commitment to excellence! Our CBA strategy for excellence includes improving access to business education for all community members. That focus on access aligns perfectly with the Tapios’ passion to change lives, one person at a time! Like me, the Tapios know that increasing education in our community improves not only the life of the individual but also their families and their families’ families. Read why they view the CBA Prep Academy as an excellent way to support the college whose mission perfectly aligns with their passion!
The magazine is a bit longer this year because we have many stories of excellence! I encourage you to read the entire magazine. And if something you read about aligns with one of your passions, let me know!
DALE EESLEY’S ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTHUSIASM DRIVES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Dale Eesley, Ph.D., professor and director of the Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Franchising has dedicated his life and career to promoting and cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship among students and business owners in Nebraska and beyond.
Dale Eesley has taught and consulted in the field of entrepreneurship for over 18 years. He is currently the John Morgan Community Chair in Entrepreneurship, founder, and professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at the UNO College of Business Administration.
“I was recruited at UNO in 2008 to start an entrepreneurship center. I founded the Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Franchising,” Eesley says. “My job was to bring opportunities and training to students in order to expose them to the benefits of selfemployment.”
provides an opportunity to give back to the local community in meaningful ways.
In addition, the center runs a Maverick Technology Venture Alliance program where students are hired to do due diligence on intellectual property. The program works mainly with UNeTech, the intellectual property arm of UNO and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC).
Eesley says he has aimed to add one program each year from the time that he founded the center.
“We added a pitch contest, a Maverick Business Plan contest and a student conference that brings in between 300 to 400 students from 30 universities, with guest speakers from around the country,” Eesley says.
Eesley adds that he introduced a summer camp for junior high students and then worked with other faculty members to develop some major programs for the College of Business Administration.
“The first program we developed was Stedman’s Café, which is a student-run café right here in Mammel Hall in 2016,” Eesley says. “In the same year, we also started an entrepreneurial living learning community which recruits eight young men and eight young women whom as a cohort, take classes together and then later travel to entrepreneurial hotspots around the country.”
Eesley says he is quite proud of the center and the work that they do because it gives students an opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship and engage with it by making contact with business community members that can help them.
Most recently, Eesley introduced the Maverick Venture Fund, which is one of the programs that exemplify community engagement in the city. Students listen to business pitches, conduct research, make investment decisions and become engaged with founders and entrepreneurs. The majority of investments of the fund have come from within Omaha.
“I started a student-run venture fund called the Maverick Venture Fund that has so far invested around $200,000 into 10-12 startup businesses,” Eesley says. “It is a really exciting program because very few schools like ours have a student-run venture fund that actually makes investments.”
Eesley says that the Maverick Venture Fund is a great program for community engagement because not only do students learn how to talk and engage with real-world companies, but working in business
“This entails that if somebody invents something over at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, these hired students on the program write a report on how it can be used in the world and the report is then shared with potential entrepreneurs who want to license it.” Eesley says.
Other than their work with students, Eesley, along with other faculty members at the College of Business of Administration, often spend time encouraging and coaching local business owners on entrepreneurship skills that they can utilize in their businesses.
“I run a 12-week certificate program with a cohort of about 20 minority business owners from all over the Midwestern region. The program is conducted over Zoom and I along with six or seven other faculty members teach different topics to these business owners,” he says, “And the engagement has been great.”
As a business owner himself, Eesley notes that he uses the skills and principles that he teaches in the classroom and applies them to his own businesses. He describes his teaching style as ‘very hands on’ and oftentimes uses his business as a teaching example for his students.
“About five or six years ago, I decided it will be helpful to take what I know and buy a business that I could use as an example in my teaching. …. My motivation was how can I make things more interesting for my students and for myself,” Eesley says. “One important lesson that I always teach my students is the importance of prioritizing people, not just customers, but employees too. Do not focus on maximizing profits before you maximize what you can do for your employees and that is something I wouldn’t have taught with the same authenticity had I not experienced it in my own business.”
educational mission, the university aims to play a key role in the region’s socio-economic development.
“The students, faculty, and staff treated me as part of their community right away. The faculty were very generous with their time, making sure that the workshops run smoothly; but, also arranging activities such as visiting a tea farm and museum in Thai Nguyen,” Dr. Co said.
Dr. Co views this short visit as the first step to a long-term engagement with ISTNU faculty and students. She is committed to building an institution-level engagement between UNO and ISTNU. She also plans to develop new opportunities for UNO students interested in international business, trade, and development.
“This FSP fellowship opens opportunities to build on the successes of my prior Fulbright award (2014-15) in Vietnam which gave UNO students since 2017 an opportunity to be involved in a unique handicraft project with societal impact,” Dr. Co said.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational and cultural exchange program. Through its various faculty and student programs, Fulbrighters build “lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries—building mutual understanding between nations, advancing knowledge across communities, and improving lives around the world.”
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers U.S. citizens the opportunity “to teach, conduct research, and carry out professional projects around the world.” These awards typically require an academicyear or semester long commitment at a host institution abroad. The Fulbright Specialist Program is a two to six weeks long project-based opportunity for U.S. scholars.
DR. CATHERINE Y. CO ADVOCATES FOR FULBRIGHT EXPERIENCES
Department of Economics Professor Catherine Y. Co is a strong advocate for the Fulbright Program. Dr. Co has completed two Fulbright Fellowships, a four-week assignment at the International School - Thai Nguyen University (ISTNU) in Vietnam as a Fulbright Specialist in 2023, and a 10-month assignment as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar in 2014-15 at International University - Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
As Fulbright Specialist at ISTNU, Dr. Co conducted several student workshops on international trade and statistics and curriculum development and research methodology workshops for faculty. She also co-led a workshop on digital transformation for area high school students.
According to Dr. Co, ISTNU was an ideal place for a trade economist to visit. The university has a multi-year plan to increase its international engagement and network which includes internationalizing its business and economics curricula. Besides its
Dr. Co is happy to share her experience with the Fulbright application process with faculty interested in the Fulbright program. Feel free to reach out to her at cco@unomaha.edu.
TEACHING EXCELLENCE
Phani Tej
Adidam,
Ph.D.,
Receives System-Wide President’s Excellence Award for Teaching
The system-wide President’s Excellence Awards honor faculty whose work has had a significant impact on students, the university and the state. They are awarded under four categories: teaching, research, engagement, and commercialization. Dr. Adidam received the award for teaching.
Phani Tej Adidam, Ph.D., professor and chair in the Department of Marketing & Entrepreneurship was awarded the Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award (OTICA). This award recognizes individual faculty members who have demonstrated meritorious and sustained records of excellence and creativity in teaching.
Always on the lookout for new and innovative teaching techniques, Adidam has worked tirelessly to elevate the quality of business education throughout his 27-plus years at UNO. Undergraduate business students have several concentration opportunities that were unavailable before Adidam joined the faculty, including a
“THIS RECOGNITION IS A TESTAMENT TO THE INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE INSPIRED AND SUPPORTED ME THROUGHOUT MY JOURNEY.”
concentration in international business, because he recognized opportunities that would be valuable to students and voluntarily stepped up to make the changes happen. He also played a key role in redesigning the MBA and Executive MBA curricula. Adidam is a past recipient of UNO’s Excellence in Teaching Award and the UNO
photo left to right: Ishani Adidam, daughter of Dr. Adidam, Dr. Phani Tej Adidam, and Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, NU President
Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award, among other honors, and he has published more than 40 research papers in distinguished peerreviewed journals.
“This recognition is a testament to the incredible community of students and colleagues who have inspired and supported me throughout my journey. To my students, both past and present, your curiosity, dedication, and enthusiasm have been the driving force behind my passion for teaching. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow alongside you. To my colleagues, your collaboration and encouragement have created an environment where excellence thrives. I am honored to represent UNO at the awards ceremony,” Adidam said.
“Great faculty are at the heart of the University of Nebraska’s work and mission. We are fortunate that our classrooms and research labs are led by people who care deeply about creating a strong future for students and our state,” former Interim NU System President Chris Kabourek said. “I’m honored to have this opportunity to lift up the work of some of the University of Nebraska’s most outstanding faculty, and I thank them for all they do to change lives in Nebraska and around the world.”
Other President’s Excellence Awards include the Outstanding Research and Creative Activity (ORCA) Award, Innovation, Development and Engagement Award (IDEA), and Faculty IP Innovation and Commercialization Award (FIPICA). Award recipients are selected by system-wide committees of faculty members and community members. Recipients each receive a $10,000 stipend. They were honored at the August Board of Regents meeting.
BUILDING STRATEGIC MINDS
THE EVOLUTION OF UNO’S CAPSTONE CUP COMPETITION
Ten years ago, Dr. Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles and Emeritus Management Professor Rebecca Morris were searching for a new way to bring strategy to life for their students when PleggenkuhleMiles stumbled across a case competition that intrigued her.
“The case competition we modeled after was a one-day competition with a live case – an actual business. We wanted to embed ours in a class and made it more of a tournament-style competition,” said Pleggenkuhle-Miles.
And with that, UNO’s College of Business Administration’s Capstone Cup was born. Originally called the Case Study Competition, it was designed to provide students with a unique and valuable educational experience, but it looked much different in 2014.
“We wanted them to focus on the information in the case and use the tools they’d learned in class. So, we didn’t allow any technology!” said Pleggenkuhle-Miles.
“We still invited external judges to come in and participate because that’s where the real value of all of this lies. Right away we had support from different community members, which continues today.”
When Dr. Erin Bass joined the faculty, she and Pleggenkuhle-Miles continued to change and improve the competition. To further engage organizations, they developed a sponsorship opportunity that provides prizes for winning teams, professional headshots for all students and other support along the way.
The Capstone Cup is a semester-long event and an opportunity for seniors to translate classroom learning into practical solutions for Omaha businesses. Students work in teams and spend months doing diligent research to develop detailed poster presentations. The finals include live presentations and interactive Q&A sessions with judges made up of community members, local professionals and experts in their fields.
“I initially chose to be a judge to get connected to the university for recruiting purposes as well as get connected to other business leaders in the community,” said Brian Woolfolk, head of the Institutional Division at Pacific Life. “I keep coming back year after year because I really enjoy it.”
Previous Capstone Cup case study businesses include Scooter’s Coffee, Quantum Workplace, Rocket Car Wash, Right At Home, and
“THE CAPSTONE CUP EXPERIENCE WAS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM AT UNO. IT BROUGHT MY BUSINESS EDUCATION TO LIFE.”
the Omaha Supernovas – Omaha’s new Pro Volleyball team.
“The Capstone Cup experience was one of the highlights of my undergraduate program at UNO. It brought my business education to life,” said William Scheopner, Spring 2023 Capstone Cup winner.
“The real-world experience provided by it helped me to prepare for the next step of my career and gave me a concrete experience to talk about in interviews.”
Today, the Capstone Cup is a flagship experience for CBA students. The experiential learning aspect equips students with the practical skills and confidence needed to thrive in today’s competitive market.
“I think it has helped the students get a deeper understanding of strategy and the integration of business,” said Bass. “It helps them see everything they’ve learned in their business degree in one cumulative project.”
“IT BEGINS IN NEIGHBORHOODS”
Why Carmen and Bob Tapio are passionate about the CBA Prep Academy
Carmen and Bob Tapio have made it their life’s work to build up people. Carmen is the founder and CEO of North End Teleservices LLC and several other enterprises in the city of Omaha. The company, founded in 2015, provides state, federal, and local government entities and commercial enterprises, with stateof-the-art contact center solutions and services. Bob has had a career in the food service and restaurant industry and has always believed that most people can come together around food. Previously, he was Food Service Director at Boys Town, an organization that provides youth care services for thousands of children nationwide.
Carmen and Bob have deep roots in the community. Bob grew up in South Omaha with his family of eight and attended South High School. Carmen originally came to Nebraska with her military Air Force family in 1975. While her career has taken her all over the world, she has always called Omaha home. Their daughter Caityln is a commodity trader and their son Josh runs an insurance agency. Josh and his wife Anne are graduates of UNO.
Their love for their community has compelled them to make diversified investments, not just financially but also through community philanthropy and serving on boards.
Bob serves on the Father Flanagan League of Devotion Board. Carmen is the chair of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce and serves on many other boards including the University of Nebraska Trustee Foundation, and the Omaha Zoological Society. Together they serve on the University of Nebraska CBA Capital Campaign Committee.
Their passion for people and the city of Omaha has led them to invest in causes and projects that they believe in. One of those causes is CBA’s Prep Academy, a college preparatory program for students of all backgrounds, designed to create a diverse talent pipeline from high school to UNO CBA to the Omaha workforce through programs like the Prep Academy’s summer camps.
“What we find is that early exposure to anything such as the arts, education, science, music, culinary arts, sports, etc. is very important. What young people believe is possible, and their early experience and interaction helps them understand what is accessible to them. We support the Prep Academy because of that. We think it’s really important for that early exposure,” Mrs. Tapio said.
“WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE BELIEVE IS POSSIBLE, AND THEIR EARLY EXPERIENCE AND INTERACTION HELPS THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO THEM.”
In the fall of 2020, senior leadership at UNO announced new strategic investment areas of inequality, social justice, race, and class in our society. There was a universitywide call for program proposals focused on these areas, with the opportunity for some to be selected to receive temporary funding. The CBA Prep Academy was one of them and officially began operation in October 2021. The CBA Prep Academy’s mission is to provide the academic skills, exposure, and support necessary to succeed in college and the workplace thereafter to all students, including those who are first-generation, low-income, and/ or underrepresented.
Ultimately, the program aims to uplift under-resourced populations within the Omaha community, diversify the student body of UNO CBA, and create a diverse pipeline of CBA graduates who will bolster the Omaha workforce.
“We love the University of Nebraska system and the leadership. I’ve had an opportunity to work closely with Rebecca Atkins (Director of the Prep Academy) and her team as well as CBA Dean Michelle Trawick and the faculty, and we just feel like it’s a really good recipe for success for the Prep Academy,” Mrs. Tapio said.
The Tapios want to encourage others to support things that they are passionate about.
“Investing in others is a great way to advance and enrich our community and drive positive things. My mom instilled in me a great passion for cooking and food. She said food is our common denominator. Why not make it enjoyable? It’s something I have always thought about in my 40 years in the food service and restaurant industry. You never know where your passion is going to take you and what impact it is going to have on you and your community,” Mr. Tapio said.
One of their passions is to help revitalize North Omaha. Investing in a program like the CBA Prep Academy is a great way to help with education in the community and young people in North Omaha, an oftenunderserved area of the city.
“We are all in on being a part of helping to revitalize North Omaha through North End Teleservices, and other business ventures. I like to tell people about how the University of Nebraska was founded in North Omaha (the original Omaha University was founded in 1908 in the Kountze Place neighborhood of North Omaha. The first classes were held at the Redick Mansion once at North 24th and Pratt Streets). It begins in neighborhoods,” Mrs. Tapio said.
The Tapios say they want their legacy to be about changing lives, one person at a time, and the CBA Prep Academy is a way to do that.
“The mission of North End Teleservices and our mission is to take holistic care of people and help them overcome the barriers that prevent them from being economically independent. We want to be a part of removing barriers and exposing young people throughout our city to what’s possible at an early age. We want our legacy to be one life changed at a time,” Mrs. Tapio said.
DRIVEN TO SUCCEED
Jesse Brickner ’14 has always been driven. During his undergraduate years at UNO CBA, he worked tirelessly pursuing his bachelor’s degree in business administration with concentrations in accounting, banking, and finance. Brickner spent his mornings and afternoons working at a warehouse and installing windows. His evenings were filled with his degree coursework, often until 10 p.m. Brickner had his sights set on earning his CPA designation too, which meant he had to earn 30 extra credit hours. But none of this phased the soon-to-be accountant from Omaha.
“It was an interesting time in my life. I didn’t want to graduate from college with a lot of student debt, so I worked 40 hours a week and went to class,” Brickner said.
Brickner’s parents had him while they were still in their teens, and his father went on to earn his college degree while Jesse was in elementary school. From a young age, they instilled in him the value of an education.
“It took me a couple of years to realize that college was more than just going to class. There is a lot more to the college experience. There is networking and utilizing all the great resources that the
school has to offer to get you started in your career,” Brickner said.
So Brickner began networking. He joined the accounting and finance honor society Beta Alpha Psi which fit into his busy schedule. He soon landed an internship at the accounting firm Hancock Dana, PC.
“I interned here [at Hancock Dana] from November of 2013 and continued on as a full-time employee after I graduated that following May. It was eye-opening, to realize the different trajectory that your life can go on with a college degree,” Brickner said.
“...ALLOWING OTHER RECENT ALUMNI TO STAY INVOLVED WITH THE SCHOOL IS EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL.”
And his life has been on quite the trajectory. After he passed his CPA exams in only five months, Brickner settled into his job at Hancock Dana and except for a brief stint doing in-house corporate tax for
another company, he has been there ever since.
At age 32 Brickner was named a Partner at the firm. “Being here has offered me tremendous growth opportunities right from the start when I was an intern. I have been able to build relationships with clients and with (Hancock Dana Partner and UNO CBA alumnus) Leonard Sommer. Having that early experience, being able to contact clients and work directly with people in your community and being able to help them out in the tax world, it has been incredible,” Brickner said.
Despite his busy schedule, he has found time to be a founding member of the newly formed Recent Alumni Advisory Board founded in 2022 by CBA Dean Michelle Trawick. Trawick recruited several recent graduates to advise on, and stay involved in, CBA matters. For Brickner, the experience has been rewarding.
“Getting it off the ground floor is exciting and allowing other recent alumni to stay involved with the school is extremely beneficial,” he said.
Brickner and his wife Ellen (UNO CBA ’15, MBA ‘18) have two children, three-year-old Gannon and one-year-old Gordon. They live in Omaha.
UNO CBA IS HOME TO AWARD WINNING ACADEMIC ADVISORS
Kristy Schweitz was named the 2024 Academic Advisor of the Year. Jessica Kampfe was named Advisor of the Month for May.
The Academic Advisor of the Year Award recognizes undergraduate, professional academic advisors for their exceptional service to students, their colleagues and/or the university.
Kristy Schweitz is the assistant advising director in the UNO College of Business Administration (CBA). She received a framed certificate and $500 award at the Faculty Senate/Staff Advisory Council/Academic Advising Council Banquet.
Schweitz’s nominators describe her as a consummate professional who leads from the heart. One of her student nominators shared that “despite the uncertainty of when or how I’d graduate, she paused and just told me that she was proud of me thus far in life, regardless of the degree I earn. You never know the magnitude of a moment until it becomes memorable. That is how I will remember Kristy. She was hopeful despite my hesitation, helpful despite my hardship, and positive which in turn made me proud to be a student again.”
She serves as a leader in the UNO Advising Community, is chair of the Academic Advising Council Social and Recognition Committee, and has been a mentor to new UNO academic advisors. She is noted by multiple nominators as one of the most positive people that is wholly committed to her students and colleagues as an advisor.
The Academic Advisor of the Year Award recognizes undergraduate, professional academic advisors for their exceptional service to students, their colleagues and/or the university. The award was created in 2015 to recognize and honor UNO professional advisors for their:
• Contribution and service to students and academic advising on campus
• Advocacy and collaboration for students and academic advising best practices
• Initiative and attitude in improving academic advising
Congratulations to UNO’s 2023-2024 Academic Advisor of the Year, Kristy Schweitz!
Jessica Kampfe, Academic Advisor, was named the “Advisor of the Month” by the Academic Advising Council (AAC) for May.
The award was presented to Kampfe at the May Academic Advising Council meeting.
Jessica’s nominators said:
“Jessica has been the sole MBA student advisor for the past nine years. We have more than 500 actively enrolled students, so she is incredibly busy providing exceptional service to our students on a daily basis. She offers early morning appointments a few times a week to accommodate our working professionals, and she works late at night making sure she’s prepared for the next day’s meetings. As student situations arise, Jessica is always quick to troubleshoot the issue and works collaboratively with others to help resolve any problems as quickly as possible. A primary example of this is her recent work with international students who have been facing financial and mental health challenges. She has worked closely with faculty, international advising, CAPS, and other resources on campus to assist these students. She also spends a great deal of time meeting with them and providing them assurance through the process. Through her work and dedication to the job, you can tell that she truly cares about each student and their success in the program. I strongly recommend Jessica Kampfe for Advisor of the Month due to her exceptional dedication and support in achieving my academic goals. She has been instrumental in navigating through exceptions and in facilitating the declaration of my minor. Jessica is consistently prompt in responding to emails, and her answers are always clear and helpful. Her deep understanding of the MBA program and its various concentrations is invaluable. I am truly fortunate to have her as my advisor!”
For being selected as the AAC Advisor of the Month, Kampfe received a certificate and gift card.
DR. VENKATESH WINS IMA AWARD
“SHE IS A WONDERFUL AMBASSADOR FOR IMA AND ANYONE WHO KNOWS ROOPA, KNOWS SHE DOES WHAT SHE DOES ‘FROM THE HEART’.”
exemplifies through preparation, participation, and service what a Board member should be and do. This individual, regardless of length of service to IMA, serves as an example for all Board members and sets a standard for superior performance.
“It is an honor to serve on the IMA board alongside Dr. Roopa Venkatesh. As Board Chair, I deeply appreciate her exemplary combination of passion and expertise. Roopa is a stellar example of servant leadership, inspiring fellow board members, staff, and all IMA members, and is highly deserving of this distinguished award,” said IMA Global Board Chair, Rich Brady, CMA, CGFM, CDFM.
IMA Past Chair, Steve McNally, CMA, CPA, says, “Roopa is a passionate IMA leader! Through her service on her local chapter board, within the academic community, among her student base, through her research, publications, and presentations, and as an engaged leader of IMA’s Global Board, Roopa has proven her dedication to advancing our profession. She is a wonderful ambassador for IMA and anyone who knows Roopa, knows she does what she does ‘from the heart’. She is a true servant leader!”
Chair-Emeritus of IMA’s Global Board of Directors of the 20232024 Fiscal year Gwen Van Berne, CMA says, “Roopa is an exemplary leader who brings a healthy dose of criticism to our Global Board. She is always constructive and well prepared and she brings a very thoughtful perspective to our discussions.”
Founded over 100 years ago, IMA is the worldwide association of accounting and finance professionals in business with more than 140,000 members in 150 countries. Dr. Venkatesh serves on the IMA Global Board of Directors. She is the recipient of the 2020 IMA R. Lee Brummet Award, the 2020 IMA Champion Award, and the IMA Faculty Leadership Award in 2017. She is the Chair of the Volunteer Leadership Committee (VLC) on the IMA Global Board and is the Chair Emeritus of the Committee on Academic Relations (CAR), and is a founding board member of the IMA Platte Valley Chapter, Nebraska.
“I am truly humbled and honored to receive this award and recognition given that I serve alongside other IMA Global Board Directors who are very accomplished accounting and finance professionals and academics from different parts of the world. It is a privilege to serve alongside my esteemed fellow IMA Global Board Directors to collectively recognize the symbiotic relationship between accounting - education, research, and the profession, and make a positive impact on our profession.” Dr. Venkatesh said.
Dr. Roopa Venkatesh, the Director of the School of Accounting in the UNO College of Business Administration and the Union Pacific Professor of Accounting, has been awarded the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) Exemplary Global Board Member Award. This distinguished award recognizes a member of the IMA Global Board who, consistent with IMA’s Mission and Global Core Values,
Her teaching and research interests are in the area of managerial accounting. Her research has been published in The Journal of Management Accounting Research, Accounting Horizons, Issues in Accounting Education, Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, IMA Statements of Management Accounting, Journal of Theoretical Accounting Research, IMA Educational Case Journal, Strategic Finance, and Ethics & Behavior.
UNO CBA RANKED HIGHLY BY U.S. WORLD NEWS & OTHERS
According to the 2024 “Best Graduate Schools Rankings” from U.S. News and World Report, CBA’s part-time MBA is included among the top programs in the nation.
The new rankings list UNO’s part-time MBA as No. 87 in the country, placing it above similar programs at Creighton University, The University of Denver, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
CBA offers four graduate degrees, dual degree options, graduate certificates, and executive education programs.
For more information, visit mba.unomaha.edu
U.S. News has also ranked CBA #23 for Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs. According to the U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of online programs, UNO’s 2024 recognition is based on a variety of factors such as student engagement, faculty credentials, and services and technologies.
“This ranking affirms what we Business Mavericks already know,” said Michelle W. Trawick, John Becker Dean of the College of Business Administration. “We are 100 percent committed to inclusive access and meeting our students where they are, in person and online. Our dedicated staff and award-winning faculty provide cutting-edge
business education in collaboration with industry partners that help us ensure these learners, near and far, will advance their individual and community prosperity.”
SupplyChainGuide.org ranked CBA’s Logistics & Supply Chain concentration #5 for the nation’s best online Bachelor’s in Logistics programs in 2024. The rankings are determined by a scoring system designed around program affordability, quality, outcomes, and reputation.
“Since the beginning of our program, our mission has been to produce employable graduates. Input from our Industry Advisory Board has been instrumental in guiding the development of our curriculum,” said Steve Schulz, Lucas Diamond Professor of Management.
CBA has developed a range of academic pathways for logistics students. For instance, anyone interested in broadening their training can select one of the 14 other BSBA concentrations and easily add Logistics and Supply Chain Management as a secondary concentration. We also offer an Accelerated MBA program, which allows you to apply nine credit hours to both your undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Chances are, you’ve already read or seen Madison Wajda’s work, but you may not know it.
The sophomore, who is working towards her BSBA with a concentration in marketing, has been one of the voices behind the Instagram account, “Omaha Places” since 2022. The account is run by the agency 402 Social and highlights small businesses and events in Omaha for people to check out. Omaha Places also consists of a TikTok account, a blog, and a newsletter.
“Originally, Cahner (Olson, Founder of Omaha Places and 402 Social) was making different posts to just get more information out for tourists and people from Omaha that want a way to find things to do in Omaha, and it grew really fast because there is not really any other account like us in the market around here,” Wajda said.
Wajda started with the company as an intern during her freshman year of college at UNO.
“It was just supposed to be a semester-long internship, but then I just kept working there. We worked really well together and the company and the account were growing really fast and so Cahner said, ‘just stay on,’ so I ended up becoming a part-time employee,” Wajda said.
Throughout her two years with the company, Wajda has been getting hands-on learning experiences across the marketing field.
“I started out writing captions for posts for the Instagram account about small businesses in Aksarben, and then when I moved from my internship to working part-time, I began doing copywriting work, so I became the face behind all the captions on our Instagram and Facebook accounts on Omaha Places. Now I work as an account manager where I do the actual posting of the posts and I make sure that everything goes out on time. I also run our blog and occasionally help with filming content,” she said.
For Wajda, there is a lot to love about what she is doing right now. As a sophomore in college, she already has realworld job experience that she is getting paid for, and the position is very flexible.
“It doesn’t really feel like a job, especially when I’m in school. It is also mostly remote. I only go into the office when I want to, we can all just work from our phones if we want to. As long as we get our stuff done, it doesn’t matter. I have always been into social media, so it doesn’t feel
real—getting to do it for a job, especially how young I am,” she said. “I found out that I truly enjoy writing. I always thought that I didn’t like to write because I never enjoyed writing essays, but I do all the writing for Omaha Places and that’s awesome to me. And I have fun doing it,” Wajda said.
She has also balanced having a marketing and sales internship while continuing to work part-time for Omaha Places. “It was completely different from what I do at Omaha Places, but it was such a great experience for me. I do want to stay with smaller companies because I feel like I am making a difference. For example, we started 2023 with just 35k followers on Instagram, and we just hit over 80k followers, so we are growing very quickly,” Wajda said.
Working a part-time job while attending college full-time can be hard for some students, but not for Madison.
“UNO is a great university for aspiring marketers. The College of Business Administration is full of so many different opportunities like the amazing career fairs, the different student clubs and activities, and my colleague told me there is a digital marketing class that she took that inspired her, so I know I am in the right place for me,” she said.
If you are looking for something to do in Omaha, or are curious about a local business or event, make sure you check out Omaha Places on Instagram, Facebook, or online at www.omahaplaces.com
A 55-YEAR JOURNEY AS A CBA MAVERICK
CBA instructor Gary Domet jokes that you know you’re old when you are acquainted with the statues on campus. In the over 55 years Domet has been involved with UNO, he got to know at least two of the men who are now immortalized in statue form on the campus – CBA Founding Dean Dr. John Lucas and Dr. C. Glenn Lewis, the founder of UNO’s real estate program.
“My real love for the College of Business Administration was fostered by Dean Lucas. He was the first person in my life that ever made me feel like I had any value. I did not think I was smart at all. I was a CBA student and had a 2.3 GPA…I will never forget what the Dean of the College of Business did for my self-worth. I began to understand I could study and get good grades. My GPA jumped up to 3.0…I was the same person, but my attitude was such that I believed in myself because of him,” Domet said.
Domet was very involved during his undergrad years: he was a cheerleader, a member of a social fraternity, a business
fraternity, and the real estate fraternity.
After graduating from UNO with a bachelor of science in business administration with concentrations in marketing and management, the Omaha native served in the Army Reserves for eight years and then settled into a career in marketing and sales at the Omaha WorldHerald (OWH).
“IN MY FIRST CLASS, I HAD SIX OR SEVEN STUDENTS IN A CONFERENCE ROOM AT THE COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM. IT WAS PROBABLY A DISASTER FOR THOSE STUDENTS, BUT I ENJOYED IT.”
During his time at OWH, he served on the Board of Directors of the UNO Alumni Association for a six-year term. “After my commitment to the board of directors, I decided that I wanted to have a career of some sort after I retired, I didn’t just want to hang around the house. Initially, I decided I was going to apply to Disney World—I wanted to be the captain of the Jungle Cruise,” Domet said. “I was going to dress up in my cargo pants and get a tan, tell jokes, and drive the boat. But
then I realized I would have to move to Florida…So instead, I decided when I retire, I wanted to teach at the college level.”
So, in 2006 Domet applied to the College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media (CFAM) with the intent to earn a master’s degree and teach. He ended up teaching courses in advertising. At that same time, he became acquainted with Dr. Will Norton, Dean of the College of Journalism at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL).
“Dr. Norton said to me, you know, I’ve always wanted to try and offer a sales class. Would you do that? I told him, okay, but I don’t have a master’s degree [yet]. And he said that’s ok. In my first class, I had six or seven students in a conference room at the College of Journalism. It was probably a disaster for those students, but I enjoyed it,” Domet said.
Domet was hooked. He continued teaching classes and pursued his own degree from UNL—a Master of Arts in marketing, communications, and advertising.
“After I graduated in 2011, I kept teaching one class in Lincoln, and one class here at UNO. But then the [UNL] College of Journalism decided to cut the sales class,” Domet said. With his days freed up, Domet had more time to teach classes at his alma mater.
“I had been acquainted with Dr. Lynn Harland (CBA Associate Dean) from previous Omaha World-Herald events, and she called me and said, ‘We’re looking for someone to teach marketing’. And I was down to only teaching one class at CFAM, so I came over here for one class,” Domet said.
So, nearly 50 years after he graduated from UNO’s College of Business Administration with his degree in management and marketing in 1971, Gary Domet returned to CBA in 2018 to teach part-time for a retirement gig. He’s currently teaching two popular sales classes each semester.
“I tell my students that this is a sales class, and they are my customers. Let’s say you pay $1000 for this class, then I must make sure that they walk out of there with at least $1000 worth of information. And if you come to class, I promise that you will get that,” Domet said.
Domet and his wife Sally have been married for 50 years and have one daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. Gary and Sally like to travel and cook Italian food. He doesn’t show any signs of slowing down in teaching any time soon.
“I must commit [to teaching] at least one semester in advance and so far, I have said yes. But I am over 70 so for now, and I don’t want to become irrelevant, so we’ll just take it one year at a time.”
Left to right: Gary’s Students: Karlie Chonis, Maggie O’Brien and Alex Olson
Domet is pictured in the front row, far left.
When Miles McDonald graduates from UNO CBA in December, not only will he graduate college early, but he will do so with more than a year of full-time job experience under his belt.
McDonald is the Director of Operations at Elevator, a co-warehousing community that brings together small businesses and entrepreneurs in one location to create long-term economic impact. Elevator provides flexible, month-to-month office and warehouse spaces, logistics, and community support for small-to-medium-sized business, e-commerce, makers, and artists. Currently, the space is home to non-profits, boutiques, and e-commerce, among others.
As Director of Operations, McDonald is responsible for overseeing operations activities and improving Elevator’s processes and systems to fuel growth.
McDonald has always been passionate about business. “My freshman year of college I got really involved with CIEF (Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Franchising) in the College of Business Administration at UNO. At the time, Levi Cermak was the assistant director of CIEF. I participated in several entrepreneurship events like Breakthrough Weekend and others, and I grew my relationship with Levi and Dr. Dale Eesley. At the end of my freshman year, Levi left to join Elevator and shortly after he brought me on as an intern to help grow the company. And it has grown. We opened our first location
RISING STAR
Miles McDonald is the Director of Operations at Elevator, a cowarehousing community supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs.
on October 1, 2022, and are scaling quickly. I am now full-time as Director of Operations,” McDonald said.
As McDonald works toward his BSBA with a concentration in management and leadership, he says he has always had a passion for business. “I’ve always known that I wanted to help grow businesses and even own a business someday. My best advice to anyone wanting to do the same is to network and get involved and continue to meet people because you never know what opportunity will arise. Saying yes to opportunities is such an important thing, too,” McDonald said.
He knows that some people may be nervous about saying yes to joining a relatively new business or a start-up like Elevator, but he thinks the rewards outweigh the potential risks.
“The amount of experience, growth, and opportunities that come from start-ups is much more [than from traditional companies] and it can be hard to find the same opportunities in larger, more traditional companies. It also can really help accelerate your career and professional experience. And you get to make much more of an impact in growing the company than anywhere else,” he said.
Elevator continues to grow; the company is looking to expand to two additional markets this year.
Not too bad for a 21-year-old college student!
photo credit: Josh Peterson
DECODING BEHAVIOR, DRIVING BUSINESS
This fall marks 10 years of groundbreaking and innovative research being conducted at the Jack & Stephanie Koraleski Commerce and Applied Behavioral Laboratory (CAB Lab) inside UNO’s College of Business Administration. The lab is a stateof-the-art research facility that enables diverse experimental research with immense practical implications. The Koraleski CAB Lab equips researchers with the tools to capture and analyze rich neuro-physiological data by combining eye-tracking, pupil dilation, facial expression, skin conductance (galvanic skin response or GSR) and virtual reality.
“The lab forces researchers to think differently about their ideas or their research methods,” said Dr. Muntaha Bani Hani, the lab’s Director of Applied Research Operations and Administration. “The lab provides the tools to bridge the gap between theoretical research and applied research. It makes the research applicable to businesses. So, as we innovate, we can look at problems differently and we can help businesses figure out the best way to attract customers.”
“We can look at their website, and the user interface, how can that be modified based on eye tracking and facial expression analysis?” said Bani Hani “So, we can use this analysis to inform businesses in Omaha and the entire Nebraska market.”
The lab has partnered with several Omaha and greater Nebraska area companies including Union Pacific Railroad, Gallup, Kiewit and the Department of Defense to conduct applied business research.
“The CAB Lab bridges the gap and connects students and researchers with businesses in the community,” said Bani Hani “We are trying to reach businesses across the state so they know that we have this lab that they can utilize for their business, and it can help them generate more revenue and reach their goals.” Each of the students who work in the lab and help to conduct the studies do so for different reasons, but they all agree that the ability to take part in innovative research is a big part of the draw for them.
“One of the many reasons I love this job is that it allows me to use the skills that I learn in my classes. From economics to marketing, to sales, I get to contribute to the lab and hone my skills for my future career,” said Sylvia Hutfless, undergraduate research assistant in the CAB Lab.
Graduate research assistant Kellie Lindsay utilized the tools in the lab to conduct a study based on her master’s thesis on
LIONS, AND TIGERS, AND … MARKETING CLASS??? OH MY!
Students in Dr. Shana Redd’s Marketing Innovation course this last spring got the chance to help market Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, voted the #1 Zoo in the Nation, to a new generation.
The class is one of many UNO Service-Learning projects that combines classroom instruction with meaningful, communityidentified service. This form of engaged teaching and learning emphasizes critical thinking by using reflection to connect course context with real-world experiences.
Service-learning instructors partner with community organizations as co-teachers and encourage a heightened sense of community, civic engagement, and personal responsibility for students while building capacity and contributing real community impact.
“This is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to do a project that could have real consequences for a real business, and it is cool to think that they may use some of our ideas in the future,” said Mathis St. Louis ‘24.
Mandy Rosenquist, Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Events for the Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium visited the class and spoke about her marketing campaigns and the initiatives the Zoo is tackling.
“She gave examples of things like how to get the younger generation to purchase memberships, how to increase attendance at special event nights and holidays, or how to increase attendance at the Zoo. We visited the Zoo a few times to conduct research, picked a topic to focus on, and created a project based on that,” said MBA student Peter Lazer ’25.
Abby Tarver ’24 and her team focused on how to increase the Zoo’s app downloads and usage. They wanted to find opportunities for the Zoo to make the app more interactive and to create new incentives for families to make return visits.
“We proposed an app that lets you go to a location and drop a pin, and there would be activities and things inside of each location for you to do with your family or kids. As you do these activities you
earn points that you can redeem in the gift shop or the concessions stand for small things for the children, which creates value to the membership. The app would also let you track where you have been, so you know which exhibits you still need to see on your next trip,” Tarver said.
St. Louis and Chloe Ratel ’24 decided to redesign the Zoo’s Halloween experience. Originally an event for families, the group reimagined it as two separate events, one early in the day for families, then another later in the night for young adults.
“It would bring in more visitors for date night by bringing in outside vendors like food trucks, and have adult games, and it would draw in the college students from around Omaha. We thought they could offer discounts for university students and there could even be a shuttle to the local colleges,” St. Louis said.
The students say they all enjoyed working together on the project, and the collaboration that resulted from it.
Officials from UNO’s Service-Learning Academy agree. “A big value of service-learning projects is the reciprocity between the students and the community partner. So, what are the students learning? And then also, what can we provide as a university, back to the partner in terms of service?” said Caitlin Osborn, MPP, Service-Learning Coordinator. Dr. Redd has taught several service-learning courses in her career. This course she designed from the ground up and tailored it specifically to UNO undergraduate and graduate students.
“As a professor, I’ve always believed in the power of collaboration to enhance learning experiences. In developing the Marketing Innovation course at UNO, I worked closely with the Koraleski CABLab team, who showed us how advanced technology and AI are being used to gather critical consumer insights. The Creative Production Lab team helped us visualize and prototype our ideas. Our industry partner, Mandy Rosenquist from Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium brought her extensive marketing expertise to the table. The Service-Learning Academy connected us with the Zoo and provided essential resources and support that significantly enriched our course. This course was deliberately designed to meet the evolving needs of students and the market, incorporating the innovative and practical principles we teach. After testing these approaches in the classroom, I look forward to refining the course further based on feedback and outcomes, ensuring it continues to serve our students well,” Dr. Redd said.
Zoo officials say they were impressed with the students’ presentations. “It was exciting to see them take information that we had talked about early on and really be thoughtful and take the time and effort to come up with some really great ideas. And some of their ideas were ones that we already had in motion, too,” said Rosenquist. “Our partnership with UNO has been invaluable. It is important that we know what is coming and what we can do for our guests and the next generation, and these students speak to that.”
When Dr. Erin Bass and her coauthors began researching and writing their paper about diversity on corporate boards, they had no idea that they were about to influence how the companies on the Nasdaq exchange make up their boards.
“We argue in this paper that it is great to have diversity on a board, but you need to let those diverse voices be heard. And so, we measured board participation and linked it to outcomes. Shortly after we published this, the Nasdaq created a new Board Diversity Matrix that requires any publicly traded company to share what their diversity matrix looks like,” Dr. Bass said.
In 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved a rule requiring most companies to have at least two directors from underrepresented groups— minority, female, or LGBTQ+--or to explain why they don’t.
HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND A VOICE IN THE DISCUSSION
UNO CBA PROFESSOR’S RESEARCH SHOWS DIVERSITY IN THE BOARDROOM MATTERS
Bass and her team worked with the auditors of 54 U.S. public companies to code the transcripts of every board meeting from 1994 to 2006 to figure out the number of minutes each director spoke. This revealed that women and Black directors typically spoke much less than white men did. (They did not measure other underrepresented groups in their coding.)
“Without the participation of underrepresented directors, the potential benefits of board diversity are lost,” Bass and her team say.
The group found that there are two factors that increase participation in board meetings among Black and female directors. Those who have previously held high-status roles like CEO or president of a university, or a national-level political office, are much more likely than others to speak up. Secondly, boards that have two or more female or Black directors will have more participation.
“One of the things we found was having other diverse members enabled those minority members to participate more. So, if I was a female on the board, that’s one of the variables that we captured. And then an ethnically diverse person was on the board, too, both of us being on the board together, would increase our board participation,” Dr. Bass said.
“It just goes along with what we know about diversity, equity, and inclusion, you have to create spaces where people feel confident and comfortable in order to share their opinions. Because the more diverse opinions we have, the better it is for everyone,” Dr. Bass said.
(Dr. Bass is the James R. Schumacher Chair of Ethics and a Professor of Management in the College of Business Administration).
BILL SCOTT, WHO WITH HIS WIFE, RUTH, WAS ONE OF THE MOST TRANSFORMATIVE DONORS IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, DIED FEB. 27. HE WAS 93.
IN MEMORIAM: BILL SCOTT
University of Nebraska Mourns Passing of Longtime Supporter
Both natives of Ashland and University of Nebraska graduates, Ruth and Bill Scott have been deeply rooted and invested in the Omaha community and the State of Nebraska throughout their lives. With a focus on supporting education and children through their foundation, the Scotts have contributed greatly to the city’s and state’s progress, health and vitality in a quiet but exceptional way.
The Scotts’ generosity has benefited students, faculty and programs across all the University of Nebraska campuses. Just a few examples of their giving at UNO include the Dreamers Pathway Scholarship and Project Achieve to support firstgeneration students, students with limited incomes and students with disabilities at UNO; the John and Jan Christensen Concert Hall in the redeveloped Strauss Performing Arts Center; the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center;
the Biomechanics Research Facility and its expansion.
Along with Carl and Joyce Mammel, the Scotts made a generous gift allowing the college to build the $38.5 million, 120,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility, Mammel Hall, without taxpayer funding or incurring any debt. In 2016, the Scotts were extended membership to the college’s Lucas Society — which honors individuals and organizations that have made a substantial commitment to the growth and continued success of the college. Induction into the Lucas Society is the highest honor bestowed on supporters of the UNO College of Business Administration.
In 2009 they received the Board of Regents’ most prestigious honor, the Regents Medal, for their contributions.
Bill Scott, a 1953 graduate of the UNL College of Business, joined the Buffett
Partnership in 1959 and Berkshire Hathaway in 1970, where he remained until the early 1990s. Ruth Scott, who earned her bachelor’s degree from UNL in education, became a teacher and went on to found the Omaha Bridge Studio.
“Bill Scott was truly one of a kind. He was a treasure to Nebraska and its university — a man who gave generously touching so many projects and programs at the University of Nebraska through his many thoughtful investments,” said Brian Hastings, president and CEO of the University of Nebraska Foundation. “He gave simply to help others and to make Nebraska a great place to live and raise a family, and he did it all without ever wanting to be in the spotlight. We are all better for having known Bill Scott. He will be deeply missed.”
RISING FROM ROCK BOTTOM
“I’M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I FOUND SOBRIETY.”
Those are frank words from a man hesitant to share his story. But it is a success story.
At 43, Charles Castle, Jr. is not your typical college co-ed. He has fought hard for everything he has: sobriety, relationships, grades, and even his job. His journey to UNO CBA is littered with second chances, determination, tenacity, and hard work.
“I did not do well in high school. I was lazy and disinterested. I barely graduated with a 1.57 GPA. College was not really in the cards,” Castle said. Dreams of a military career ended with a football injury, so Castle entered the workforce.
After graduating high school, he moved to Omaha and began to struggle with alcoholism. Castle bounced from job to job, and in his early 20’s he decided to get into the trades. He worked in construction as an apprentice concrete finisher and even helped build some of the buildings in Aksarben Village.
“Then alcohol took more and more of my life and started leading me into trouble. At 29 I got my third DUI and I decided to do something different this time. That was when I got sober by joining a 12-step program… and taking their steps. Slowly my life started to change. I took some direction in my life, and I began working at a manufacturing firm,” Castle said.
At this point, Castle was five years sober, gainfully employed, engaged to be married, and had just bought a house when his sponsor reminded him of an old promise he had made to himself.
“He said, remember a few years ago you said something about wanting to go back to school?” Castle said. He was working at Lozier and wanted to be a supervisor. The company seemed to want their supervisors to have at least an Associates degree.
So, despite what felt like insurmountable odds, Castle started the ball in motion to eventually come to UNO CBA.
“I knew with my transcript I was not going to get into UNO, I would have to start
in August of 2016, and he started his college journey that December as a parttime student.
“I owe so much to my wife and her family. As the daughter of two college professors, she and her family have supported me throughout my entire college journey. On my first day at Metro, I wanted to quit, but my mother-in-law convinced me to stay. My father-in-law was invaluable in helping me edit my papers and guiding me to find my voice. My wife, a Creighton graduate who also took accounting classes at UNO, has been a great help too,” Castle said. “My brotherin-law, who holds a Ph.D. and teaches accounting in Chicago, has occasionally assisted me with particularly difficult questions.”
“ON MY FIRST DAY...I WANTED TO QUIT, BUT MY MOTHER-IN-LAW CONVINCED ME TO STAY. MY FATHERIN-LAW WAS INVALUABLE IN HELPING ME EDIT MY PAPERS AND GUIDING ME TO FIND MY VOICE.
at a community college. I was accepted at Metro Community College,” he said. Castle and his wife, Rucha, were married
I’ve actually worked a few internships since then. This summer, I have a full-time internship lined up with KPMG, a Big Four accounting firm.”
Castle has gone from a student who once barely graduated, to maintaining a 3.98
“A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MADE SACRIFICES TO GET ME HERE AND I WANT TO MAKE IT WORTH IT. I AM THE PRODUCT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE’S EFFORTS,”
Castle graduated from Metro on a Friday in May 2022, and he started classes at UNO CBA the following Monday. Now a full-time student, he has been grinding away, taking classes every semester, including each summer, trying to finish his degree, while working part-time for a good portion of that time.
“Lozier started posting accounting jobs that I felt like I was qualified for, but they couldn’t work with my part-time work schedule [so I could continue going to school] or some jobs just weren’t a good fit. So, six months after I graduated from Metro, I quit and took a tax internship.
GPA and being on the Chancellor’s List all but one semester of his collegiate career. He is a member of Beta Alpha Psi—the International Honor Society for Financial Information Students and Professionals and has served as the president and currently serves as the membership chair. He has been inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the International Business Honor Society.
Castle has been sober for over 13 years now. Once he graduates in May 2025, he will have a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in accounting and business analytics with a secondary concentration in economics. He currently plans to become a tax accountant after graduation. It’s quite a change from 25 years ago. Castle is grateful for all the help he’s gotten along the way, from his family, other members of the 12-step organization, and the faculty at UNO.
“A lot of people have made sacrifices to get me here and I want to make it worth it. I am the product of a lot of people’s efforts,” he said.
STITCHING HER WAY TO SUCCESS
“I HAVE FOUND THAT CROCHETING LOWERS MY STRESS, ESPECIALLY DURING FINALS WEEK OR MIDTERMS.”
As class lets out in Mammel Hall, the home of UNO’s College of Business Administration is bustling with students rushing to their next class. Suzie Piitz ’24 is tucked in the corner of the Sommer Family Mezzanine, concentrating hard. She’s listening to an accounting class lecture in her earbuds, while her hands are busy creating. Her fingers move quickly, working her crochet hook and yarn into what will eventually become a cardigan. Suzie is one of a growing number of her generation who have taken up crocheting as a hobby, and in Suzie’s case—a business!
“My mom is very crafty, and when I was in 6th grade she was crocheting a blanket and I told her that I wanted to learn how to do that, so she taught me, and I made a blanket. One of my younger sisters was really into cows, so I decided to make her a stuffed animal for her. My mom told me that I could probably sell them and make them for other people, and that’s how my business took off,” Piitz said.
And it has taken off. Piitz started her business three years ago, during her freshman year of college. She makes a
variety of things from stuffed animals, cardigans, hats, and Christmas ornaments to a bouquet of flowers! Piitz’s three younger sisters even have gotten involved.
“I mostly do crochet, but there is some sewing involved. My sisters also do smaller crafts when I do pop-up shops. They make friendship bracelets and sew fabric scrunchies too,” she said. Her busy season runs from Thanksgiving through Christmas, but she says the education she has received in her accounting courses has helped her scale and grow her business. “I have learned how to calculate how much my time is worth, how much of a dispatch period I need to have when to cut my orders off during my busy season, things like that have all come from things I have learned in my accounting classes,” Piitz said.
But she doesn’t crochet to make money, Piitz says the repetitive motion helps her unwind. “I use it to relax before bed because accounting is mostly numbers and crocheting just kind of eases my mind at night, it helps me relax, but I always must be doing something with my hands. I have
found that crocheting lowers my stress, especially during finals week or midterms,” she said.
The senior from Brainard, Nebraska graduated in May and earned her bachelor’s degree in only three years. She is very close to her family and said the decision to attend UNO was an easy one.
“I come from a farming background, and I knew that I wanted to do something that I could go back and be able to help my dad on the farm. I would help with his balance books and do seed comparisons and I started doing some cost accounting even before I came to college. I heard that UNO CBA had a great accounting program, and I was also recruited to play in the Jazz Band,” Piitz said.
After graduating, she plans to return to her hometown to help on the family farm. She’s also secured a job as a tax manager for an accounting firm in the farming community, but she’ll still be crocheting in her free time.
You can check out her website here: https://forms.gle/bB3Smuc2hzkZt8YWA
In recognition of her outstanding ability to educate and prepare students to become career-ready, and for her aptitude to implement positive change and build relationships among students, faculty, staff, administrators, employers, and community partners, the Nebraska Society of CPAs is honored to recognize Dr. Susan W. Eldridge as the 2023 recipient of the Society’s Outstanding Accounting Educator Award.
Dr. Eldridge is a results-oriented leader, innovator, and avid learner with a proven track record in strategic planning and management. In July 2021, she was named the associate dean for Faculty, Research, and Planning in the College of Business Administration (CBA) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Prior to that, Dr. Eldridge served as director of UNO’s School of Accounting.
Born and raised in Lumberton, N.C., Dr. Eldridge earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, specializing in accounting, at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill in 1983. That same year, she passed the CPA exam on her first attempt—that was when you took the exam with paper and pencil over two and a half days.
She went to work in Raleigh, N.C., for KPMG (formerly Peat Marwick Mitchell), then one of the “Big 8” CPA firms, where she started out as an auditor.
DR. SUSAN ELDRIDGE RECEIVES OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTING EDUCATOR AWARD
After holding positions in public accounting and as a controller in the construction industry, Dr. Eldridge earned her master’s degree in accounting in 1992 at Appalachian State University, and her Ph.D. in 1997 at UNC-Chapel Hill. She also served as a lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin, and in 2002 joined the faculty at UNO’s CBA.
Since coming to Omaha, Neb., Dr. Eldridge has worked hard and earned the respect of her peers and her students, receiving numerous honors, including the Graduate Accounting Professor of the Year Award, Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Service, Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Performance, Lady Vestey Woman of Achievement Award from the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance, and the Woman Leader in Nebraska Education Award from the Platte Valley Institute of Management Accountants.
She remains a licensed CPA and an active member of the American Accounting Association, the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), Financial Executives International, the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance, and the Nebraska Society of CPAs.
Dr. Eldridge and her husband Mark, who passed away in August 2022 and was also a CPA, have three adult children: daughter Jennifer, son James (Allee), and son Mitchell (Erin).
DAN CURRAN: WRITING A NEW CHAPTER IN NBDC’S NEARLY 50-YEAR LEGACY
“NEBRASKA IS RICH IN BUSINESS SUPPORT.”
Located on the second floor of the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) Mammel Hall is the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC), an organization with a proud history of providing free business consulting services to any Nebraskan wanting to start, grow, or transition a business.
Since opening its doors in 1977, NBDC has had just three executive directors guiding the organization that serves thousands of entrepreneurial and businessminded Nebraskans each year. This past November, Dan Curran was appointed as the third.
“I’m really excited about working with Nebraska’s small business owners and entrepreneurs,” he shared. “Small businesses are the backbone of Nebraska’s economy, and it will be great to watch these businesses flourish as we move NBDC forward.”
Curran is no stranger to the business and economic development realm. He comes to NBDC after nearly 30 years at the Nebraska Department of Economic Development where he managed agency programs for domestic and international business recruitment, direct foreign investment, innovation, business retention and expansion, housing, community development, and marketing.
Curran is now using that experience to bring NBDC’s services across its four programs to more Nebraskans.
“I give a lot of credit to my predecessors, Bob Bernier and Cathy Lang,” said Curran. “In 1977, the Carter administration appointed UNO to be one of the first places in the country to be home to this center where university expertise could be accessed by the public to help with business creation. That was a revolutionary concept at the time.
“They’ve grown NBDC to this incredible service that touches all corners of the state and is a critical resource to the economic development and business community.” Curran is ready to build on that success.
“As a center of UNO’s College of Business Administration, we have access to unbelievable resources that we bring
to Nebraska’s business owners and entrepreneurs. We want to continue to increase access to and awareness of our services.”
Curran says that the relationship between UNO and NBDC is a gift to the business community. “We have faculty expertise, student talent, and world-class facilities that we can connect business owners with. Our relationship with the university also means we have some of the most powerful and comprehensive research databases and tools out there – we can provide information that can make a huge difference in a business’s success.”
He says that he also wants to increase the awareness that NBDC is a wraparound service.
“Many people come to us when they’re just starting out, but we help businesses from the start all the way through to when they’re ready to transition out. We can help through the growth stages, too.”
He says that even if the support a business needs doesn’t align to one of NBDC’s direct consulting areas, NBDC offers a way to get connected to the hundreds of other resources available in the state.
“Nebraska has the support and resources for whatever you’re looking for. One of our programs, SourceLink Nebraska, will get you connected to the right people for your needs.”
Curran also brings a creative spirit to his work at NBDC. In fact, his first job was rooted in artistry rather than business expertise.
“My first professional role was as a graphic artist for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Nebraskaland Magazine,” said Curran.
He’s also a musician and plays bass guitar with the Omaha-based band TRAVIS. “I’ve played professionally for probably about 40 or 45 years, and I’ve played around Omaha and the Midwest for a long time,” he shares. His wife, Angie, sings in the
band. “It’s something fun we get to do together.”
Family is another cornerstone of Curran’s life. Curran and his wife have two sons, Ben and Alex.
“Ben has made a career as a guitarist, and we like to travel to Nashville to hear him play,” said Curran. “My son Alex is a sports fanatic, and we enjoy watching games together. He played sports all his life, and I was fortunate enough to coach for a few years.”
As he continues to plan for NBDC’s future and evolution, one thing is for certain: it will always be a place where entrepreneurs and business owners can get the support they need.
“The piece of advice I would give to an aspiring Nebraska entrepreneur is to not be afraid to seek help,” he advises. “Nebraska is resource-rich in business support.”
“And,” he says, “NBDC should be your first stop.”
The Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) helps Nebraska businesses start, grow, and develop, by strengthening Nebraska businesses for a healthy economy and prosperous communities. NBDC is a University of Nebraska at Omaha center that provides confidential consulting business development services across Nebraska to entrepreneurs and business owners for the life cycle of their business. NBDC partners with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Wayne State College, and Chadron State College to deliver its services statewide. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the U.S. Department of Commerce (EDA), and other federal, state, and private organizations support NBDC. The APEX Accelerator is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense. Visit nbdc.unomaha.edu for more information.
SERVING AS REAL-WORLD BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
TAKES NBDC GRADUATE ASSISTANTS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Serving as graduate assistants (GAs) at the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) at UNO CBA provides a unique opportunity for graduate students to apply classroom work to actual business client issues, obtaining experiences that can impact their careers for years to come.
“Our GAs spend a year or more with us acting as business consultants for real clients,” says NBDC Executive Director Dan Curran. “When they sit down and help a prospective small business owner or entrepreneur write a business plan, it gives them knowledge and confidence well beyond what is gained in a single capstone course. They have to understand the client’s goals, utilize research to set or change the direction, and build a relationship between NBDC and the business owner that will continue long after they open their doors.”
Graduate assistantships are based on academic and professional excellence. Recipients come from around the world to receive tuition remission, a monthly salary and subsidized health insurance to work 20 hours a week while completing their coursework.
NBDC routinely employs from nine to eleven GAs each academic year, depending on program needs, with most also working through the summer. They are hired in a staggered fashion because of different graduate dates. GAs work for NBDC from
one to three years until they receive their graduate degree, and many have gone on to take permanent staff positions after graduation.
Ghaith Al Saifi came from his home in Oman to UNO to earn his Bachelor of Business Administration, concentrating in supply chain management and data analysis, specifically because of the strong reputation of the College of Business Administration (CBA), which is home to NBDC’s Omaha offices.
Currently studying for his master’s degree in data science, Al Saifi works as a GA for NBDC’s APEX Accelerator program. APEX Accelerator consultants navigate the resources and processes that help potential government contractors have the best chance at success.
“Being a data scientist, I conduct a lot of market research while occasionally working directly with clients,” he says. “It’s helped me come to a better understanding of how to work with clients. Each one is different and often it requires different people skills. I’ve gained confidence from that, and from the people around me, motivating me and encouraging me.”
Samiat Ajao came to Omaha from Lagos, Nigeria, to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA). It was her first time traveling outside of Nigeria, which is where she earned a Bachelor of Science in
Economics and Development Studies from Kwara State University.
“It was immediate culture shock,” she recalls. “Lagos is a very busy city. Omaha is a progressive city that also gives me a sense of calmness. You don’t have to rush about, 24 hours a day. I love it.”
Ajao says her eventual goal is to establish her own supply and logistics company. At NBDC, she serves as a GA and a Network Navigator for SourceLink Nebraska, a statewide program that connects entrepreneurs and business owners to resources that help start, scale or accelerate businesses. NBDC is the host for the program.
She says the work “has provided very enriching insight and helped strengthen my communication skills. I used to be introverted. Now, I am able to connect with people and have more fulfilling conversations. That will help me later in life, too. If I am going to establish my own company, I have to be able to lead.”
Ola Babalola came to Omaha from Ibadan-Nigeria and is earning his MBA with a concentration in business technology. As a GA, he works directly with clients as a NBDC business consultant.
Babalola says he has learned a lot about Omaha since coming here. “The only thing I knew about Omaha was Warren Buffett,” he says, chuckling.
He says being a graduate assistant at NBDC is rewarding “because I get to help Nebraska businesses become better.” Like Ajao, Babalola says the experience has helped him sharpen his communication skills and deal directly with clients. “I used to say I was an introverted introvert,” he says. “Now, I am able to tell clients what they should hear, not just what they want to hear.”
The three students identified several qualities that they say are helpful to being a graduate assistant. Among them are being a good listener, being willing to learn, having an entrepreneurial mindset, and having strong organizational skills.
“You need to be dedicated and have a passion for helping small businesses,” Ajao says. “If you have a passion to help them succeed, you will also succeed.”
Al Saifi adds that a dedication to NBDC and its programs is also important. “I believe in the mission and values, and what NBDC is trying to accomplish,” he says. “When clients express their gratitude for our work, it further fuels my passion for what we do.”
IT’S HELPED ME COME TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO WORK WITH CLIENTS. I’VE GAINED CONFIDENCE FROM THAT, AND FROM THE PEOPLE AROUND ME, MOTIVATING ME AND ENCOURAGING ME.”
For the second year in a row, a faculty member from the College of Business Administration was named Educator of the Year by the UNO student organization, Black Excellence.
Destynie Sewell, Assistant Professor of Finance, Banking, and Real Estate at CBA, and Racquel Henderson, Instructor in the Criminal Justice Department both received the award this year.
The group selects the winner(s) by reviewing faculty members who have helped them both inside and outside the classroom.
“I am so very honored to be recognized as the Educator of the Year by the Black Excellence Student Organization at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. It is even more heartwarming to receive this honor in front of my family and share it with my dear friend and colleague, Dr. Shana Redd, who received this honor last year and addressed the student chapter as their keynote speaker this year,” Sewell said. “While our demographic holds the highest ratio of having doctorate degrees, Dr. Redd informed us that only 2% of
BLACK EXCELLENCE: BLACK FACULTY OF THE YEAR AWARD
DESTYNIE SEWELL NAMED EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR BY THE BLACK
EXCELLENCE STUDENT ORGANIZATION
tenured professors in our country are black women. Representation is so very important. It creates a model. It inspires. It opens doors. It encourages others to walk through them. Thank you, Dr. Darryll Halcomb Lewis, for doing all these things for me, including inspiring me to go to law school. I am so very proud to be walking in the path you and so many others have paved.”
Black Excellence was formed to serve as a resource for Black students across the UNO campus. They want to celebrate Black students, faculty, and staff members’ accomplishments and achievements. They have several events throughout the academic year including their Black & Bougie Gala in the spring, a welcome back BBQ in the fall, held with other Black Student Unions at college campuses across the metro, events during Black History Month, and a talent show, to name a few.
If you are interested in joining, contact them at linktr.ee/unobsu or unoblackexcellence@unomaha.edu or DM them on social media.
Kim Whittaker’s journey from Kearney, Nebraska, to the president of FNTS (First National Technology Solutions), a leading managed IT services provider, is a testament to the power of continuous learning and professional growth. With roots in Kearney and a high school education from Lincoln East in Lincoln, Nebraska, Kim has always been driven to expand her knowledge and capabilities.
Kim earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. After gaining some professional experience, she decided to pursue an MBA at the University of Nebraska Omaha, graduating in 2003. Despite the challenges of balancing a full-time job, motherhood, and graduate studies, Kim completed her UNO MBA as a part-time student. Her decision to return to school was fueled by a desire to broaden her skills, particularly in Management Information Systems, which was directly applicable to her role at the time.
Today, Kim serves as the president of FNTS, a wholly owned subsidiary of First National of Nebraska (FNNI), specializing in mainframe optimization and multicloud management. Her MBA has been instrumental in her career, providing her with opportunities for advancement and a broader understanding of IT and IT management. She credits her MBA with expanding her role and responsibilities, which have been key to her success at FNTS.
FROM KEARNEY TO THE C-SUITE
KIM WHITTAKER’S PATH TO SUCCESS WITH FNTS
Reflecting on her time in the MBA program, Kim particularly valued the manageriallevel discussions and the Business Law curriculum. While challenging, these courses have proven invaluable in her current role. Although she may not have considered it her favorite at the time, the Business Law course stands out as the most beneficial, providing her with knowledge that continues to be relevant in her daily work.
The most challenging aspect of earning her graduate degree was balancing her many responsibilities. Managing a full-time job, being a mother, and taking graduate classes required significant dedication. However, Kim is glad she completed her MBA when she did, as it prepared her for future career roles before her children were older.
Kim strongly believes in the value of a graduate degree. She advises prospective students that it is “definitely worth having a graduate degree, as it opens the door to additional opportunities” and is worth the effort. She also emphasizes the importance of case studies and improving presentation skills, which she found highly relevant to her daily work.
Recently, Kim collaborated with MBA Capstone students on a few projects at FNTS. The primary objective was to gather data to inform the company’s strategy for expanding technology solutions into a new market. Kim chose UNO MBA students for this project due to her positive experience with the UNO College of Business
Management Advisory Board, knowing the high caliber of talent both in the faculty and students.
The results of this collaboration were impressive. Kim comments, “Faculty members were very helpful in ensuring our needs would be met and that the team would deliver based on our expectations.” The MBA students provided valuable insights that were instrumental in FNTS’s decision-making process regarding market expansion. This experience not only saved the company time but also gave the students hands-on experience with realworld business challenges.
Kim is a strong advocate for engaging students in active learning. She believes that this type of experience is mutually beneficial. Students gain practical experience and exposure to senior leadership, while businesses like FNTS benefit from fresh perspectives and the opportunity to connect with potential new talent.
Kim Whittaker’s journey highlights the profound impact that a UNO MBA can have on one’s career. From expanding skills and knowledge to providing opportunities for advancement, Kim’s story is an inspiring example of how education and experience can propel a professional to the top of their field.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MBA PROGRAM: mba.unomaha.edu or email mba@unomaha.edu
An invitation to attend the international picnic during the fall 2023 semester may have inadvertently set Chase Rehder ’24 on a brand-new career path. The senior, who graduated in May with a BSBA with concentrations in International Business and Marketing, always knew he wanted to contribute to the global economy but was not exactly sure how he would do that.
“Professor Catherine Co invited me to go to the international picnic, and I wanted to network,” Rehder said. It was there he learned about the International Management Course (IMC) at the Institute of Business and Accounting at Kwansei Gakuin University in Nishinomiya, Japan, and his interest was piqued. “I love the interconnectivity of globalization, and working to help countries climb the ladder together. I chose marketing because it
CHASING HORIZONS: AN MBA JOURNEY FROM OMAHA TO JAPAN
How a Simple Picnic Inspired a UNO Student to Study in Japan and Launch a Career in Marketing and International Management
comes naturally to me,” he said.
Chase applied and received a full scholarship to study the IMC in Japan this fall. IMC is an English-language MBA program at the Institute of Business and Accounting at Kwansei Gakuin University. You can learn more about the program here: Course Information | Kwansei Gakuin University IBA - Institute of Business and Accounting -.
For Rehder, studying in Japan feels like it was meant to be. “When my mom was in high school, she was an exchange student in Japan and has always kept in touch with her friend who still lives there. I have even traveled there with her when I was 3-4 years old, and now I get to go live there!” Chase said. His mother is already planning her first trip to visit her son and
her childhood friend.
Rehder will earn his master’s in business administration degree in Marketing with an International Management slant. The program will take him two years, but his visa is good for five years.
“Japan has a culture for embracing college graduates and large companies there often give recent graduates jobs. I would love to get a job at a company in Japan after I graduate and finish out my visa and then return to the United States after that,” he said.
For someone who once thought that college was not the right path for him, Rehder has certainly changed his mind.
“I did not perform well in my last two years of high school, and I was not planning on
going to college. I was an electrician for a year out of high school, but I did not like it, it did not make me fulfilled, and it was not the career path for me. So, I had to reevaluate my life and I decided to pivot. I went to Metro Community College for a year, I worked 30 hours a week at Nebraska Furniture Mart, and I managed to take 50 credit hours in one year at Metro. During that year, I decided that UNO was the best place for me to get my four-year degree. I knew I wanted to major in business because it would give me the best return on my investment.
During my first quarter at Metro I fell in love with marketing and case studies and strategies. When I came to UNO I met a girl who was president of CBA’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) club who was doing her concentration in
international business and I loved hearing about the opportunities she had because of that, so I tacked on international business as well, and the rest is history,” Rehder said.
Despite taking a year off, Rehder graduated from college with the rest of his high school class in May of 2024 and has been on the Dean’s List every semester.
Professor Co encourages other CBA students interested in (long-term) Education Abroad to explore various opportunities here at www.unomaha.edu/internationalstudies-and-programs/study-abroad/ program-options/exchange-programs.php
I LOVE THE INTERCONNECTIVITY OF GLOBALIZATION, AND WORKING TO HELP COUNTRIES CLIMB THE LADDER TOGETHER.
CBA STUDENTS WIN $15K ACCOUNTING SCHOLARSHIPS
Cassidy Niemoth and Diem Huong Mai Luu are selected as PCAOB scholarship recipients.
Two CBA Students in the School of Accounting have been selected as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Scholars, a Washington, D.C. nonprofit established by Congress to oversee audits of public companies.
Cassidy Niemoth ’25 of South Bend, NE, and Diem Huong Mai Luu ’25 of Omaha, NE were named PCAOB Scholars for the 2024-2025 academic year. The PCAOB Program is mandated by the SarbanesOxley Act and benefits outstanding students who are likely to become accountants and auditors.
“Our UNO School of Accounting is grateful to the PCOAB for making a difference in the lives of our hardworking accounting students. We are so proud of Cassidy Niemoth and Diem Huong Mai Luu for receiving this prestigious recognition. They are both outstanding students in our accounting program and are very deserving of this PCAOB scholarship and recognition,” said Dr. Venkatesh, Director of the School of Accounting at UNO.
“I am so thankful for this scholarship. It has opened so many doors and given me the freedom to pursue my goals in accounting, free from the financial burden. I’m grateful to the CBA School of Accounting for providing me with the education and wisdom I need to succeed. The professors and students at UNO make going to school a rewarding experience,” Niemoth said.
“I am so grateful to Dr. Venkatesh and the PCOAB Program for their support and awarding me this scholarship. Getting this scholarship means the world to me. It is not only a source of motivation for me in my future career, but it also makes my family proud of my academic efforts,” said Luu.
Since 2011, the PCAOB has given this merit-based award to select students who exhibit excellence in an accounting degree program, demonstrate high ethical standings, and have been nominated by a professor.
Jerry Brito-Mendoza ’25 recently accomplished something only one other UNO student has done before him. He became only the second UNO student to take on the daunting challenge of studying, sitting for, and passing the Society for Human Resource Management’s certification exam while still an undergraduate student. Not only that, but Brito-Mendoza was able to pass the test on his first try.
“The SHRM-CP (certified professional) designation is not easily achieved as only about 70% of test-takers succeed on their first attempt. The vast majority of testtakers are individuals already working in the HRM field with some years of experience. As a junior at UNO, Jerry is an exception, for sure!” said Dr. Patricia Meglich, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Management Professor at UNO CBA.
“The test is a way for employers to get an accurate picture of what employees know in the Human Resources field. As a student, I do not specifically need to have this certification, but I felt like it would give me a lead on my competition when I do graduate and search for a job,” BritoMendoza said.
The certification will come in handy this summer when he has an internship with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska. Other students have even been asking him about the process of studying for the exam, and for any tips and tricks he might have.
Brito-Mendoza is currently interested in working within talent development in the Human Resources field, and he has his brother to thank for that.
“My brother studied engineering here at UNO. He knew that I enjoyed helping others and being more of an advisor of sorts, so he introduced me to the concept of HR, specifically the talent development side, saying this could be a great fit for me because I enjoy helping others,” BritoMendoza said.
He has found ways to help others while he’s in college. Brito-Mendoza is the vice president of the Human Resources Association, a student HR organization, which focuses on networking students with HR professionals in businesses. They bring in speakers every month and host resume workshops to help students make
TRAILBLAZING TALENT
Jerry Brito-Mendoza’s Journey to HR Excellence
connections. He is also a member of the CBA Scholars Academy and the Goodrich Scholarship Program and is the chair of recruitment in the Association of Latino American Students.
“My brother and I are first-generation
college students. Our parents left Mexico with 2nd-grade and 5th-grade educations, but they always emphasized how important education is and made sure that we were able to focus on our education and use our brains. They have sacrificed so much for us,” he said.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
The following honorees join an exclusive list that now totals more than 100 distinguished UNO business alumni from a network of more than 20,000.
DAVID CRAFT
BSBA 1990 MBA 1992
Director of Wealth & Investments at First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO)
David Craft currently serves as Director of Wealth & Investments at First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO). As a relationship manager who has spent his career working in the investment, finance, and wealth management industry, he is pleased to be associated with a team of top professionals who support his customer-first approach and desire to see each and every client reach success. David’s primary focus is on building the relationships of private foundations, endowments, and corporate entities.
Prior to joining FNBO, David spent 24+ years as a fiduciary with discretionary investment management responsibilities that included over $900 million in assets. David’s experience includes financial planning, creating customized investment portfolios, and business development.
David holds both an MBA and a BSBA with specializations in Banking, Finance, and Management Information Systems from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). He also holds a Chartered Financial Analyst ® (CFA®) designation and is a Certified Investment Manager Analyst ® (CIMA®) professional and Certified Investment Manager Consultant ® (CIMC®) professional.
David is a proud and active alumnus of UNO. David continues his civic involvement today, lending his professional expertise in the Omaha community by volunteering to serve on several boards. David is the Past President for the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Society of Nebraska from 2021-2022. For over 19 years, David has participated in volunteer work for the CFA Institute. David served on the board of directors and as the past Chairman of the Board for the University of Nebraska at Omaha Alumni Association (UNOAA) from 2014-2015. While serving as Chairman, the UNOAA oversaw the installation of the Maverick Monument on UNO’s campus. David’s involvement with the UNO Alumni Association’s Scholarship Swing Committee helped to raise between $40,000 to $50,000 annually in support of scholarships for high school seniors. For the last 24 years, David has been an advisory board member for the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Business Dept. of Finance, Banking, Real Estate, & Law. David also serves as a judge for the University of Nebraska at Omaha Capstone Cup and a moderator for the Value Investing Panel (VIP) at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business.
David has been married to Lori (also a UNO graduate) for 31 years. They have three adult children. The oldest, Sara, is married to Mitch Hoerning and attending medical school in Colorado. The second oldest, Bryan, is working as a CPA in Naples, Florida. The youngest, Tyler, is a pilot who graduated from UNO with an aviation degree in May 2024.
CHRIS CARLSON-DENNELL
EMBA 2005
Vice President, Specialty Teams
The Reserves Network Search & Staffing
PAT BOURNE
BSBA 1994
Market Leader for Medica
Chris Carlson is an accomplished executive with 30 years of experience in the search and staffing industry. Finding innovative ways to generate new business opportunities, acquire top talent, and build high-performing teams is her passion.
Throughout her career, Chris has designed and executed countless successful strategic marketing and recruiting campaigns. Her expertise in strategic planning and operational analyses has allowed her to guide hundreds of firms in streamlining operations and enhancing workforce competencies to drive productivity and profitability.
Chris began her career at Aureus Group in 1994, where her leadership and vision were pivotal in driving the organization’s growth and success. After the company was acquired by The Reserves Network in 2022, she seamlessly transitioned into her current position as Vice President of Professional Specialty Teams. Her teams provide workforce solutions specializing in Accounting & Finance, Executive & Management, Engineering and Information Technology. Chris holds an Executive MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and is a Certified Personnel Consultant.
Outside of her professional life, Chris has been married to her husband, Dan Dennell, for 22 years and has two children, Chloe and Bruce. They enjoy boating, golfing, traveling, cooking and quality family time.
Pat currently serves as Nebraska’s market leader for Medica. Medica is a not-for-profit health insurance company providing benefits in 12 midwestern states, covering 1.5 million insureds with group, individual and Medicare policies. Pat is responsible for growing the Nebraska and Iowa markets.
With over 25 years in the health insurance industry, Pat previously held leadership roles as the Local Practice Leader for Aon and a Senior Vice President responsible for Sales and Service at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.
Pat is a former Nebraska State Senator from the 8th Legislative District in Omaha, serving for 8 years. Pat served on the appropriations, education, and revenue committees. He concluded his tenure as the Chair of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. Pat is most proud of his work on organ donation, domestic violence and sexual assault, and helping his constituents access state government. Following his service in the Nebraska Legislature, Pat received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the democratic party.
A lifelong Nebraskan, Pat has an associates degree in Auto Body Technology from Southeast Community College, and painted cars for several years before going back to school to get a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Nebraska Omaha, and a law degree from Creighton University.
Pat is on the Concord Center board and Chairs the Omaha School Employees Retirement Systems board. He is an adjunct professor at UNO where he has taught strategic selling as well as law and ethics in the Executive MBA program.
Pat and Renee Fry have been married for 23 years. They have a daughter, Samantha, who recently graduated from Marian High School and is going to college in the fall, and a son, Jack, a project manager for Miller Electric who is married to Emily and the father of Beau.
ALI S. KHAN
Executive MBA 2018
Assistant Surgeon General, USPHS (retired), Dean, UNMC College of Public Health, Richard D. Holland Presidential Chair in Public Health
Ali S. Khan is an American practicing physician and former Director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (PHPR) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since July 2014, he has served as Dean of the College of Public Health and Retired Assistant Surgeon General at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
Dr. Khan received his Doctor of Medicine from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, and completed a joint residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Michigan. He later went on to pursue a Masters of Public Health (MPH) from Emory University.
Dr. Khan’s federal career began in 1991 when he joined CDC and the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer. He has focused his career on bioterrorism, global health equity, emerging infectious diseases, and climate change. While serving as the interim Director for CDC’s global infectious disease activities, he designed CDC’s joint global field epidemiology and laboratory training program. Dr. Khan helped design and implement the President’s Malaria Initiative, a $1.2 billion, five-year project to reduce the burden of malaria and relieve poverty in Africa. He has also been engaged in polio and guinea worm eradication. Additionally, Dr. Khan proposed the BioPHusion program as a new public health initiative to improve knowledge exchange for all public health practitioners. BioPHusion was used during the H1N1 pandemic to identify emerging cases and plan response actions.
Dr. Khan’s initial work in emergency preparedness started in 1999 when he helped establish CDC’s bioterrorism program, which upgraded local, state, and national public health systems to detect and rapidly respond to bioterrorism. As deputy director of the bioterrorism program, he created the Critical Agent list, which has remained the basis for all biological terrorism preparedness. Dr. Khan also published the first national public health preparedness plan, initiated syndrome based surveillance, and designed key focus areas to improve local and State capacities to respond to emergencies. He used these models during the first anthrax attack in 2001, during which he directed the CDC operational response in Washington, D.C.
Prior to becoming Director of PHPR in August 2010, Dr. Khan served as Deputy Director of CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID). He has responded to and led numerous domestic and international public health emergencies, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, monkeypox, Rift Valley fever, avian influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the Asian Tsunami, and the initial public health response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. In May 2011, he made public the CDC’s recommendations for preparing for a zombie apocalypse.
Dr. Khan received his Doctor of Medicine in his hometown from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, and completed a joint residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Michigan. He later went on to pursue a Masters of Public Health (MPH) from Emory University and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nebraska, Omaha.
CBA WELCOMES NEW FACULTY
ASHLEY VARILEK
Instructor of Management & Leadership
Ashley Varilek is an Instructor of Management & Leadership with over 10 years of experience in marketing and sales operations. Following her MBA from the University of Denver, she worked for a nationwide alternative entertainment company. Upon returning to Omaha, Ashley pursued more digital marketing roles at Yahoo and travel marketing company, Sojern. She has held roles ranging from team contributor to team leader, consistently driving success through strategic project management and innovative problem-solving. Before joining the faculty, Ashley led high-impact teams in dynamic business environments, focusing on achieving results and fostering collaboration. She is dedicated to teaching and mentoring students, drawing on her extensive industry experience to provide practical insights and foster their professional growth. In her free time, Ashley is an assistant soccer coach and full-time cheerleader to her three children, enjoys reading, traveling and spending time outdoors with her husband and 2 dogs.
LUCAS NOGUEIRA Instructor of Economics
Luke Nogueira is an instructor who focuses on health and demographic economics. His research delves into economic factors shaping health and population dynamics. Beyond his expertise in economics, Luke boasts a background in computer science and considerable experience in data science consulting for government agencies and start-ups. Specializing in using data to assess policy and business strategy outcomes, he has developed analytics solutions to refine data-driven decision-making and performance assessment.
REBECCA MCQUILLEN
Instructor of Real Estate, and Director of UNO’s Real Estate Center
Rebecca McQuillen serves as an instructor and the director of UNO’s Real Estate Center. Her research, career, and teaching focus on creatively leveraging established real estate development tools for public purposes, including affordable housing. With a diverse background as a lawyer, developer, consultant, and adjunct professor, Rebecca brings a wealth of experience to her role. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family, often combining her passion for real estate with her love for travel by researching comparative real estate laws and developmental practices. She received her J.D. from Creighton University and her bachelor’s degree in political science from Truman State University.
CORRINE CHEN
Instructor of Logistics & Supply Chain
Corrine Chen is an instructor in the Management department at UNO. She brings over a decade of procurement expertise across diverse industries in Canada. She has taught various supply chain management courses, including Purchasing, Logistics, and Operations Management. She and her family recently relocated from Toronto, Canada, to Omaha, NE. Corrine is in her final year to finish her Doctorate in Business Administration, specializing in Leadership and Innovation at Concordia University Chicago. Her research focuses on leadership strategies to enhance supply chain efficiency, particularly in sustainability and process management. Corrine integrates real-world experience into her teaching; she is deeply committed to mentoring students and offering career support to junior supply chain professionals.
CBA WELCOMES NEW STAFF
Muntaha Bani Hani
Director of Applied Research, Operations and Administration, Koraleski CAB Lab
Alexander Coon
Dan Curran
Carlos
Alex Zatizabal Boryca Academic Advisor
Stephanie Jensen Staff Assistant, CBA Student Success
THANK YOU
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS WHO MAKE THESE SCHOLARSHIPS & STUDENT DREAMS HAPPEN.
Barbara Osborne Miller Memorial Scholarship Fund
Ben & Martha Simmons Scholarship Fund
· Beverly Grace (Ward) Spencer Memorial Accounting Scholarship
C. Glenn Lewis Scholarship
C. Marsh Bull Honors Scholarship in Marketing
Carl Arvid Nelson College of Business Administration Scholarship Fund
Carol George CBA Endowed Scholarship Fund
CBA Student & Faculty Excellence Fund-Scholarship
Charles & Gloria Billingsley Scholarship Fund
Charles T. and Denise A. Olson-Olson
Family Foundation Scholarship Fund
College of Business Administration Student & Faculty Excellence Fund
David and Wendy Treinen Accounting Scholarship
David Raymond Talent Scholarship
Dean and Maria Jacobsen Business Scholarship Fund
Dean Emeritus Louis Pol Endowed Scholarship Fund
Dean John Lucas Memorial Marketing Scholarship Fund
Dean’s Scholarship Fund
Delaine R. and Dorothy M. Donohue
Excellence Scholarship Fund
Derek Geschwender Legacy Scholarship
· Derek K. Geschwender College of Business Administration Scholarship
DMSi Software UNO Supply Chain Scholarship Fund
Dr. James J. Conway Memorial Scholarship Fund
Dr. Roger P. & Jeannine K. Sindt UNO CBA Scholarship Fund
Duffy Family UNO CBA Honors Fund
Ed Belgrade Scholarship Fund
Emma Weibel Scholarship
Ernest H. and Joyce Kenyon Scholarship in Public Accounting Fund
Fiserv College of Business Administration
Endowed Scholarship Fund
Frank L. Mansell Scholarship Program Fund
Gary Penisten Talent Endowment Scholarship Fund
Herb Sklenar Scholarship Fund
Hoenshell Leadership and Scholars Program Fund
Hollis and Helen Baright Foundation
Real Estate Scholarship Fund
Horace Wu and Kate King Wu Scholarship Fund
Jack Haley Scholarship Fund Presented by DEI Communities
Jack W. and Diane M. Williams Scholarship Fund
James A. Sedlacek Memorial Scholarship Fund-UNO
James C Horejs Economics Scholarship
James F. and Betty J. Beard Scholarship Fund - CBA UNO
James P Duff Memorial Business Scholarship Fund
Jim & Betty B. Beard and Bob O. Brown Scholarship Fund
John & Mary Schleiger Scholarship Fund-UNO
John A. and Phyllis S. Jeter Accounting Scholarship/Fellowship Fund
John L. Hoich Endowed Scholarship Fund
Jon Guinn Scholarship/Fellowship Fund
Presented by Lutz & Company P.C.
Karla J. Stowe Endowed Scholarship Fund
Karla J. Stowe Memorial Scholarship/Fellowship Fund
Keith V. Kiernan Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund
Keith V. Kiernan Scholarship Fund
Larry and Janice Stoney Endowed Scholarship Fund
Larry and Janice Stoney UNO CBA Scholarship Fund
Larry and Sharon Trussell UNO Accounting Scholarship Fund
Laura Gogan Memorial Scholarship Fund
Leonard Sommer Endowed Scholarship Fund
Louis G. Pol UNO College of Business
Administration Student Support Fund
· Lucille M Gannon Scholarship Fund
M.C. “Mike” Biggerstaff Memorial Scholarship Fund
Magid Family Real Estate Scholarship
Mammel Business Scholarship Fund
Mark and Frances Grieb Accounting Scholarship Fund
Mark E. Wohar Graduate Economics Scholarship Fund
Mary and Rodrigo Lopez UNO College of Business Fund
Natan and Hannah Schwalb College of Business
Administration Scholarship Fund
Omaha Area Board of Realtors Scholarship Fund
Ora Cerny Vomacka & Fred B. Vomacka
Memorial Scholarship Fund
· Paul and Barbara Kistler Scholarship Fund
R. Craig Hoenshell Talent Scholarship
Richard & Jeanne Morrison, Nuts & Bolts, Inc. Scholarship Fund
Richard E Prince III Memorial Scholarship Fund
· Robbins Family Finance/Investment Science Scholarship Fund
Robert C. Stedman UNO College of Business Scholarship Fund
Robert Kreitner & Margaret A. Sova CBA Scholarship Subfund
Robert R. Anthes Memorial Scholarship Fund
Ron & Shirley Burns Leadership Fund
Ron & Shirley Burns Leadership Fund-Scholarship
Ronald J. Bauers Memorial Scholarship Fund
· Rose Marie Baumgarten Accounting Scholarship Fund
Sam & Dorie Leftwich Scholarship Fund
Scott Copple Memorial Scholarship/Fellowship Fund
Steve Schulz Supply Chain Management Scholarship
Tal Anderson College of Business/Athletic Scholarship Fund
Tim & Caroline Jensen Endowed Scholarship Fund
Tim and Traci Harrison Scholarship Fund
Timothy J. Jensen Accounting Scholarship Fund
Trever Lee Memorial Scholarship Fund
UNO CBA Scholarship Fund
UNO Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Scholarship Fund
Wayne M. Higley Delta Sigma Pi Award - UNO
· William Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund
Woodmen of the World Leadership Scholarship Fund
The University of Nebraska’s capital campaign, “Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future, builds on our quest to create a brighter future for our state and our world. We recognize that greatness takes all of us, standing together for something better, stepping up to do more for our communities, and starting today to build the future the world needs now.
We’re all for our University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Business Administration students and the promise they hold, for our communities and the challenges we face, for our path forward and the way we’ll lead together. MAKE
Like the rest of the University of Nebraska, UNO’s College of Business Administration is committed to:
A relentless focus on student access and success.
Enhancement of faculty and academic excellence.
Transformational research and innovation.
In the College of Business Administration, it’s all possible. And it’s all happening here.
University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Business Administration
6708 Pine Street, Mammel Hall Omaha, NE 68182-0048
402.554.2303 cba.unomaha.edu
