UNOBUSINESS 2017
GAME CHANGERS
Omaha star athletes, business grads return to lead their former teams
UNO BUSINESS 2016–2017
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FROM THE DESK OF LOUIS G. POL, JOHN BECKER DEAN
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few weeks ago, we began our seventh year in Mammel Hall with a sense of excitement. Our neighborhood, Aksarben Village, is buzzing with 400 additional students living in UNO’s newest residence hall, Scott Crossing, less than 200 feet from Mammel Hall. Construction crews just down 67th Street are building a new corporate home for HDR as well as an additional hotel.
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Moreover, the first day of classes started with a solar eclipse. Students, staff and faculty together watched with great expectations, eyes protected, one of nature’s best shows. The 2016–2017 academic year was marked by innovation, creativity and achievement. Our students, alumni, staff, faculty and other friends made us all proud of their work. The stories that follow provide a sense of accomplishment, but in many ways give only an introduction to the many great things happening here at Mammel Hall and beyond, every day. This academic year also brought a change in university leadership. Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., is now leading both UNO and UNMC. Learn more about Dr. Gold and our deepening collaborations on the next page.
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Our top priority is simple: bring significant value to our students, partner organizations and community. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to that end. Please tell us your stories of success and how your favorite professors and staff members influenced your life. Also, tell us how you think we can improve our programs or processes. All the best,
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CONTRIBUTORS
COMMENTS OR STORY IDEAS
Chelsea Bailey Tim Fitzgerald Anthony Flott Ryan Henriksen Mark Kuhlmann Ellen Lincoln Josh Nichol-Caddy
unocbainfo@unomaha.edu
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JEFFREY P. GOLD, M.D., IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER AND TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR TRANSFORMING HIGHER EDUCATION, ACADEMIC MEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE DELIVERY.
Welcome, Chancellor Gold
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n April 27, Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., added another title to his vitae: chancellor of UNO. Dr. Gold, who is also chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, takes over for Chancellor Emeritus John Christensen, who retired after leading UNO for more than a decade.
The new chancellor’s joint leadership of UNO and UNMC builds on collaborative efforts already underway — including those with the UNO College of Business Administration — that are growing Nebraska’s economy and quality of life. The opportunities for collaboration are unlimited, Dr. Gold says, whether it’s a new pipeline program for students, collaborative or combined degrees, or research grants that are available only if both institutions work together.
Doctor of Pharmacy — and offers a business certificate program for biomedical Ph.D. students. Projects on the horizon include curriculum collaborations in health administration, nursing and allied health sciences as well as an elective track for healthcare professionals enrolled in UNO’s Executive MBA program. Aside from joint degrees and research opportunities, the chancellor says he’s interested in other endeavors such as developing learning academies and using CBA’s expertise to enhance technology transfer operations and commercialization. Dr. Gold says he plans to work hard, in partnership with Dean Pol and other leaders at CBA, to turn these ideas into realities.
“That’s what’s really exciting to me,” Dr. Gold says of leading both To that end, Dr. Gold says he prioritizes two items in his job description: universities, “to better serve our communities by amplifying what “The first is to constantly turn challenges into opportunities … and each of the campuses can be individually and making them stronger, the second is to make other people’s dreams come true.” better and more sustainable together.” And while Dr. Gold has held many titles over his decades-long career Particularly interested in the crossroads between business and health that has stretched from the operating room to the boardroom, his care, Dr. Gold says he sees tremendous opportunity with CBA. favorite one to date is Grandpa. The college already has three dual MBA degree partnerships with UNMC — including Master of Public Health, Doctor of Medicine and
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CBA ALUMNI TAPPED TO LEAD MAVERICK TEAMS
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t first glance, Mike Gabinet and Evan Porter have little in common except their job title: coach. One is Canadian. The other, a corn-fed Nebraskan.
But there are additional similarities — and no shortage of accolades — between the two. Both hold business degrees from UNO. Both are storied student athletes who went on to play professionally. And now in their first years leading NCAA Division I programs, both have the opportunity to write the next chapter at their alma mater. As new head coaches, these two Mavericks are laser-focused on creating their team cultures, a task that both hope will help churn out not only talented athletes but also players who will reach their full potential long after they hang up their cleats … or skates. Both coaches sat down to talk with the UNO College of Business Administration about their days as students, careers post college and plans for their Omaha teams.
READ COACHES’ STORIES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES ...
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MIKE GABINET BSBA, Finance 2004 Mike Gabinet played defense from 2000–2004 and was an alternate captain as a senior. In 130 career games, he scored six goals and 41 assists for 47 points. He still ranks 10th all-time in points by a UNO defenseman.
Coach brings a history of winning to Omaha
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uring his five-year tenure coaching college hockey, Mike Gabinet has already tasted the fruits of success that stem from hard work … and a little luck. In his first stab as a head coach, his team finished 36-0.
This feat earned Gabinet a Coach of the Year award and a spot in the Canadian college hockey history books as the first rookie head coach to lead a team to an undefeated season.
And then there’s his grandpa, legendary Canadian hockey coach Clare Drake, inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 and just recently elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. “I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of good mentors that are friends of my grandpa’s that are really elite in their field of coaching,” he said. “I almost call it an unfair advantage.” Humble, yes, but also confident. As a leader, Gabinet has an insatiable appetite for growth. “You’re always going to have challenges and setbacks,” he said. “You have to learn how to embrace those and thrive in that environment rather than get down or look at what you can’t control.” The 35-year-old native of Edmonton, Alberta, is no stranger to setbacks. Gabinet played professionally for eight years in the American Hockey League, ECHL and across Europe, but he battled injuries. “So I got to watch a lot of hockey,” he said. “I always enjoyed dissecting the game.”
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Coaching felt like a natural next step. So when his professional career ended, he volunteered his time and got his foot in the door. “I thought it would be a lot easier,” he said of coaching. “In my opinion, it’s a learned profession.” He served as an associate coach at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, learning as much as he could while working his way to the top. Soon after his debut undefeated season at NAIT, Omaha came knocking. “It’s a big decision when you have a family,” said Gabinet, who signed on as associate head coach at UNO in 2016. It meant moving his wife, Antara, and young son, Noah, across the continent. “It was a big decision but an easy decision because it’s Omaha. I have really fond memories of going to school here and being a student athlete here.” A 2001 Los Angeles Kings draft pick, Gabinet played defense for the Mavericks from 2000–2004 and graduated with a business finance degree. He still ranks 10th all-time in points by a UNO defenseman. “I always enjoyed campus,” he said. “I think that’s why I came back.”
“I owe a lot to what I have in my life today because of my time here at the school, getting my education and setting up my hockey career.” While his hockey-playing days may be done, the young coach is just getting started. In April 2017, Gabinet was named the third head coach in Omaha hockey history. A few days before the announcement, he and his wife welcomed a daughter, Jordyn, born in Omaha.
VOLUNTEER POSITION REUNITES FORMER TEAMMATES Alumnus David Brisson (BSBA 2002, MBA 2008) returned to the Mavericks in August 2017 as a volunteer assistant head coach. Brisson played for the Mavericks from 1999–2003, spending his last three seasons with Mike Gabinet. An early star of the UNO hockey program, Brisson is the first player from the program to be inducted into the UNO Athletics Hall of Fame and still ranks third all-time in UNO history with 144 career points and 65 career goals.
“In addition to developing their hockey skills, our student athletes will now be spending time with one of Omaha’s outstanding young business and With a growing family and a demanding schedule, Gabinet keeps a cool head. community leaders,” Gabinet said.
Amid recruiting, hiring new staff and planning the season, he is deliberate about establishing a culture that endures. One day at a time.
A prolific reader and podcast consumer, the coach also prioritizes his own professional development. Every Monday night, he carves out time for a call with his mentor. Periodically, he interviews business executives and NHL coaches, taking in advice on managing time, teams and adversity.
While filling coaching duties at UNO, Brisson also serves as the vice president of fixed income sales at Wells Fargo.
Gabinet’s commitment to personal and professional growth underlines how he runs his program, from the team’s core values to the quote in their locker room: Champions take personal responsibility to get better every day. “I think we have one of the best spots in the country to go to school and play hockey,” he said. “So the culture is really, really important to me. I think it’s my job to protect that culture and create an environment for people to get better.” For Gabinet and the Mavericks, staying static is not an option — with one exception. “I really like Omaha,” he said. “It’s a spot I can see myself staying for a long time. It’s a pretty special place to play and hopefully we can earn a lot of respect from our university in how we do things.”
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TRUE TO HIS SCHOOL All-American returns to UNO as coach EVAN PORTER BSBA, Marketing 2009; MBA 2016
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STILL SPORTIN’ THE O One of the most decorated players in UNO history, Evan Porter was a four-year starter at shortstop from 2005–2009 and a two-time All-American.
Baseball and business degree build leadership
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or a 30-year-old, Evan Porter has a lot of life experience — and many friendships to show for it.
“To me, the best part about baseball is the relationships you make,” he said. Starting tee-ball at 4 years old, Porter grew up playing ball with his best friends and dreaming of going pro one day. “Like all little leaguers,” he said, “I wanted to play in the big leagues.”
In 2009, Porter was drafted by the Phillies, taking him to Pennsylvania and then Florida, where he was eventually released. Soon after, opportunity opened overseas. In 2010, he signed with the Solingen Alligators in Germany. “I played well enough to be able to bounce around Europe the next few years,” he said. He bounced from Sweden to Australia to Holland and back to Sweden. Thanks to his travels, he has friends all over the world. “It’s pretty cool the number of people I’ve met in other countries,” he said, “different cultures, different experiences and different styles of baseball.” The Omaha Athletics website calls Porter one of the most decorated players in UNO history. He calls himself a late bloomer in baseball. “I developed later in my high school years,” said Porter, an Omaha native and product of Millard North. “I was, and maybe still am, a skinny, awkward, uncoordinated person.” He said he was halfway through high school when he realized he might have a shot at competing in college ball. UNO was interested, and Porter wanted to attend a four-year university. It was the right fit, he said.
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UNO baseball media day in February 2017
this is a dream job ... At UNO, he made a name for himself and the Mavericks. A four-year starter at shortstop (2005–2009) and two-time All-American, Porter was part of teams that earned a berth to the 2007 NCAA Division II College World Series, set a school record with 45 wins (2006 and 2008) and won the 2008 NCC championship.
A lot of what he learned about leadership and organizational culture as an MBA student is really resonating now, he said. As for the future, Porter is focused on finding the right players to fit the culture he’s building, and he’s keeping a close eye on the talent in Omaha. Could his personal experiences as a UNO student and player give him an edge?
In Roskens Hall (CBA’s former home on campus), Porter majored in marketing and enjoyed his business classes — except statistics. He’s “I get really excited when we bring a recruit in who’s interested in indebted to Professor Janet Pol, who worked in the stats lab, helping business,” he said. him and other guys on the team stay on top of their studies. “She was probably one of the more impactful professors in my undergrad experience,” he said. “I never even had a class with her.” Something else that made an impact: CBA Dean Louis Pol and Janet showing up at his games, one as far away as Florida. “It meant a lot to see them at our games,” Porter said. Fast forward to 2012, Porter had a homecoming of sorts, joining Omaha baseball as an assistant coach. He juggled his coaching duties and continued to play overseas.
“It’s easy to talk about how great all the professors were for me and how much I’ve taken away from my business college experience here. It has a special place in my heart.” Long term, Porter’s goal is to build a successful program, a program that’s embedded in the community and one that players are proud to be part of.
Porter’s experience as an undergraduate, along with the life experience of living abroad, prompted him to pursue an MBA. He graduated, again, in 2016 — the same year he got the call that would “This is a dream job that I’m in right now, being the head coach of plant him back in Omaha full time. UNO Athletic Director Trev the program I care about so deeply and played for,” he said. “I’ve Alberts offered him the top job, and it’s been a whirlwind ever since. got my undergraduate and graduate degrees here. I love this school. I love Omaha. I love the community. I want this program to be as “To take over a program is a unique experience,” he said. “I have successful as possible.” learned a lot and look forward to learning more as the years go on.”
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HONORING A UNO LEGACY
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With many fond memories from college and fulfilling careers afterward, alumni Alfred and Beverly Thomsen felt compelled to give back.
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rofessor C. Glenn Lewis was the type of teacher who couldn’t wait to get his class started. “It’s no exaggeration,” said Alfred Thomsen, Lewis’ former student. “He was at the door, and he would pull you in the class when you were coming down the hall.”
Now, a 7-foot bronze statue outside Mammel Hall depicts the late real estate professor, his hand extended as though he’s still welcoming students to class.
“Even people who didn’t know him knew he loved what he was doing,” said Beverly Thomsen, Al’s wife of 59 years. “You could just tell.”
Lewis statue unveiling event in May 2017
Dr. Lewis founded UNO’s real estate program in 1948 and led the “I have no idea what would have happened to me, number one, if program for more than 20 years — developing curriculum, teaching I hadn’t met Beverly, but number two, if I hadn’t have been lucky and establishing partnerships with real estate organizations — until enough to get involved with Professor Lewis,” said Al, the first in his he retired in 1971. family to attend college. “He was so involved and so interested in seeing his students’ progress — and hoping that they stayed in the real estate field,” Al said. Thanks to Lewis, Al stayed in the field and thrived. He was part of the commercial real estate community for over 40 years before retiring in 2001. The UNO alumnus said he owes a lot to Lewis and the university: It’s where he found his career and where he met his wife. “Without the university, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now,” said Al, perched next to Beverly on a curvy purple couch at their Omaha home, a colorful, custom two-story.
A lucky break The Thomsens met at Omaha University in the 1950s, locking eyes for the first time at the Fieldhouse. Beverly was engaged at the time but soon broke up with her fiancé to spend more time with Al. Their fraternity and sorority friends took bets on how long they’d date. “Nobody thought we’d last longer than six months,” Beverly said. Beverly earned an education degree, teaching fourth grade until she and Al had two children of their own — a boy and a girl, who grew up to be an emergency room doctor and the manager of a Dallas-based record label, respectively.
One semester, Al needed three more credit hours to complete his schedule. A fraternity brother convinced Al to enroll in Lewis’ real estate principles class. Big on building connections, Lewis created an internship program for his students. He worked hard to find Al an intern position in real estate management. “That [program] set me up for the rest of my life,” Al said. Al worked for the Walter C. Johnson Company, which specialized in real estate and building management, and then was transferred to the Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society (now WoodmenLife) at 17th & Farnam in downtown Omaha. Interestingly, his internship turned into his life’s work. After graduating in 1957, Al worked his way up, eventually becoming the real estate building manager at WoodmenLife. He was involved with the construction of the new 30-story Woodmen Tower, dedicated in 1969. After serving on the building committee responsible for the design and construction of the Woodmen Tower, Al formed the Alfred G. Thomsen Company, which was the exclusive managing and leasing agent for WoodmenLife from 1966 through Al’s retirement in 2001. Through his company, Al took on other projects in Omaha — including the IBM building, First National Bank building and Old Mill — and throughout the country.
After their kids left the nest, Beverly went back to work, serving as a “The Woodmen people were incredible to work for,” said Al, calling substitute teacher for 25 years. Beverly always knew she wanted to his career one of the luckiest things to happen to him, aside from attending UNO and meeting Beverly, of course. be a teacher. Al, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure about his career. UNO BUSINESS 2016–2017
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Giving back Reminiscing on their time at UNO, Al and Beverly said the campus had a small family feel. While walking across campus, Al said, it wouldn’t be unusual to receive a personal shout out from Milo Bail, president of Omaha University from 1948-1965, or John Lucas, founding dean of the College of Business Administration. With many fond memories from college and fulfilling careers afterward, the Thomsens felt compelled to give back. “We paid a pittance for the education that we actually received,” Al said. “I’ve always felt that I owe the university for that education and for the experiences that we had.” In addition to funding a scholarship in C. Glenn Lewis’ name and designating a major gift through their estate, Al and Beverly caught wind of the College of Business Administration’s quest to name the dean’s suite after John Lucas, dean from 1952–1969. Al remembers Lucas as friendly and approachable. “He was like a Fortune 500 executive,” Al said. “He was tall and very well dressed.” After considering everything Lucas did for the university and the business college, Al and Beverly decided to establish the John Lucas Dean’s Suite. But Al wasn’t content with only a placard on the wall. He wanted something more prominent. So Al and Beverly, along with CBA Dean Louis Pol and Development Director Sue Kutschkau, came up with the idea for a statue. They worked with Omaha artist and sculptor Matthew Placzek on not one but two pieces, first for Lucas and then Lewis. The Thomsens visited Placzek at his Midtown studio, giving their feedback on facial features and other details so the statues would be just right.
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They also worked with CBA Assistant Dean David Nielsen on placement, selecting two locations on opposite sides of Mammel Hall to display the permanent fixtures. In November 2016, John Lucas’ statue was unveiled. C. Glenn Lewis’ statue followed a few months later in May 2017. Al gave remarks at both ceremonies in front of special guests, including family members, donors and students. “When I look back on it, the whole thing has been fun,” Al said. “All the people we worked with were super.”
A lasting legacy The Thomsens have left their marks in different ways. For Beverly, it’s through all the children she poured into as a teacher. For Al, it’s the buildings he opened and managed. Many years into retirement, the Thomsens are still busy building their life and filling their time with projects around the house, parties with neighbors and vacations with their family — including two grandchildren. Looking back, Al said, “It’s been an incredible life. Absolutely incredible.” And thanks to their contributions to the college, they have helped the legacies of Dean John Lucas and Dr. C. Glenn Lewis live on, as well. Plaques in front of both statues include a short bio of the men they depict and the names of the people who made the structures possible. The names of Alfred G. and Beverly A. Thomsen are included — a lasting mark of their generosity.
Meet the sculptor MATTHEW PLACZEK KNEW AT A YOUNG AGE he wanted to be a sculptor. The Columbus, Nebraska-born artist began sculpting as a teenager and hasn’t stopped since. For more than three decades, he’s created stunning structures — small and large — for hospitals, corporations, universities and more in Omaha and abroad. His favorite piece? “It’s like choosing your favorite child,” he said. Most days, Placzek is camped at his studio, pushing around clay — the medium he uses “I was very pleased,” he said. “The whole to create intricate details and movement in process was enjoyable. Everyone was such a pleasure to work with and very enthusiastic each piece. about the sculptures.” “I get to create something new every day,” he said. “That’s what I look forward to when I wake up in the morning.”
From start to finish, each statue
Juggling a half-dozen projects at a time, he starts each sculpture with research on the subject and a rendering. The rendering is then formed with foam and steel and coated in clay. Once the clay hardens, Placzek carves in the details. Next, it’s passed off to a mold maker and, finally, the foundry for the bronze casting process.
took about 10 months, and each weighs around 400 pounds.
In addition to the Lucas and Lewis statues, Placzek’s recent work includes 80 sculptures for the “Alaskan Adventure” splash park at For the John Lucas and C. Glenn Lewis Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium statues, Placzek used photos and video as well as a new statue at Boys Town called footage of both men to get a feel for their “The Work Continues.” mannerisms and style. He learned about their careers and accomplishments, and he Placzek’s pieces have become landmarks in received feedback along the way from Al and many cities, and with each project, he works to create a personal connection between his Beverly Thomsen. art and the viewer. Al Thomsen told Placzek about how Lewis loved to shake students’ hands before class. “I want to continue creating pieces that people can relate to and bring a little joy to “I wanted that enthusiasm to transfer to the their everyday life,” he said. piece,” said Placzek, who had only three photos of Lewis to work with. Learn more at www.placzekstudios.com. Luckily, there were more photos of Dean Lucas. Perusing the photos, Placzek noticed that Lucas often stood with his hand in his pocket. When Lucas’ daughter, Barbara Lewis, saw the statue at the unveiling event, she told Placzek, “That’s exactly how he stood.”
Statue of Dean John Lucas at Mammel Hall
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t’s not every day that you see a work elephant lumbering along the shoulder of a traffic-packed road, hauling bamboo logs to a work site. Or a downtown street vendor killing and butchering a live chicken for a businessman’s takehome dinner.
But as 10 College of Business Administration students discovered during a trip to India in March, that’s how business can happen in the world’s fastest-growing economy of 1.3 billion people — two-thirds of them 35 and younger.
The CBA contingent — six undergrads, three MBA students and one pursuing a master’s in economics — were among 16 UNO students who traveled to India during spring break. The trip was the capstone to their Business and Social Action in India class taught by Professor Patrick McNamara, director of UNO’s International Studies Program, and developed with help from Professor Phani Tej Adidam.
ALL BUSINESS IN INDIA by Anthony Flott, UNO Alumni Engagement, University of Nebraska Foundation
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The class prepared for the trip by studying Indian politics, society and culture, and U.S.-India relations. The real learning, though, came almost immediately after arriving at their host site, the campus of the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) in Ghaziabad, one of India’s top business schools. That began a whirlwind of lectures and Q&As with some of the country’s brightest business minds. IMT faculty led the way, providing insights into Indian consumers, social values, HR management systems and “Making Sense of the Indian Workplace.” Siva Nagarajan, managing director for Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetables, an India Fortune 500 company, spoke to the group about India’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) government mandate requiring companies to spend 2 percent of their net profit on social development. The concept resonated with the UNO students, exposed so often to community service initiatives on and off campus. “I found it refreshing to see the pride they have for the sustainability of their country and how willing they are to invest in the future of India,” said MBA student Andy Max, an asset/liability market risk manager at First National Bank of Omaha. The group also visited the home of B. K. Goswami, chairman of the Gupta Charitable Foundation and uncle to Vin Gupta, founder and former CEO of Omaha-based Infogroup. Later, at the U.S. Embassy’s American Center, First Secretary Matthew Asada provided insights into India’s demonetization of the 500 and 1,000 rupee notes, a possible first step toward a cashless society. The students also visited the corporate offices of Business World Magazine and BetaOut, an analytics startup. On their final day in India, the UNO group toured one of five orphanages run by Salaam Baalak Trust to help the nearly 400,000 children who live on Delhi streets. Throughout the trip, just as much learning took place on the long (and bumpy) bus rides as IMT student hosts engaged their UNO counterparts in lengthy conversations on far-ranging topics, including banking, government corruption, open markets, Pakistan, pop culture and — perhaps their favorite topic — President Trump.
“I found it refreshing to see the pride they have for the sustainability of their country and how willing they are to invest in the future of India.”
Despite India’s “youth bulge,” which will require the country to create 1 million new jobs each month to employ its workforce, IMT students were generally optimistic about their country’s future — even if business doesn’t always transpire the way it does in the United States. That was not lost on the UNO group. “I can’t wait to see how the fastest growing global economy will impact the world over the next 10 years with their substantial talent pool,” Max said.
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IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
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BA professors Jonna Holland and Catherine Y. Co led a group of students to Vietnam this summer as part of a multiyear project to expand economic opportunities for ethnic minority women in Cao Bang province.
Before the trip, the professors co-taught a new course, International Microenterprise Development, during the spring semester. Eight students from the class were selected to travel to Vietnam. While in Vietnam, the group experienced the hustle and bustle of Hanoi, the country’s capital, and toured three remote villages in Cao Bang.
Amid taking in the lush landscapes and visiting landmarks, the students had a job to do: interview the women in the villages about their handicraft work. Matched with a high school student (who served as an interpreter), they talked to the women about their skills, family, community and hopes for the handicraft microenterprise the team is helping the women launch. Despite the language barrier, the women and students bonded over smiles and home-cooked meals. Back in Omaha, the students worked through jet lag to combine their research on cultural, economic and marketing issues with their in-country interviews. In August, the team launched a new brand for the budding business: Món Quà, which means gift in Vietnamese. This November, the women’s handcrafted products, ranging from Christmas ornaments to hemp zipper pouches, will be available for purchase. Proceeds from the sales support the women and their children, giving them a chance for a better life. The microenterprise project is made possible by the generous support of Bob Dodendorf.
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To learn more about the handicraft project, visit facebook.com/MonQuaGifts.
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Follow Mauve on Instagram: @heymauve
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Omaha’s new online fashion boutique is powered by a strong mission and three Mavericks
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oxie. Mission. Momentum. Mauve has it. So much so that it’s hard to believe the new business is only a few months old.
An online boutique, Mauve is tailor-made for women in their late teens to midtwenties, selling fashion-forward clothing and accessories — along with confidence at no extra charge. The founders, all three in their early twenties, are avid boutique shoppers and University of Nebraska at Omaha Mavericks. Kat Slump, chief of product, graduated in May with a degree in IT innovation. Alissa McMahon, chief of fashion, started her
senior year at the UNO College of Business Administration this fall. Keegan Mahoney, chief of operations, graduated in 2016 and works as a project manager. “We thought boutiques in the area weren’t displaying strong, confident women,” Slump said. So they set out to create a brand built on empowerment, an idea sparked during a spring break trip. Soon after, Mauve had amassed thousands of fervent fans on social media, and the trio took first place at the Maverick Business Plan Competition. Their business plan and strong social media following earned them $3,000 in prize money. The next day, Mauve was officially open for business. A few days later, the business became profitable, McMahon said. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind for the founders, who are all working the boutique as their “side hustle.” “At the start of this, we said we’re not going to put our lives on hold,” said McMahon, who is studying marketing and management while working 25 hours each week at a dance
studio. “We want this to be a fun second thing. If it works out, awesome.” Business has continued to boom. Over the summer, Mauve hosted a pop-up shop at a local salon, Hank & Ax. The girls also traveled to one of the largest women’s apparel and accessory trade shows, WWDMAGIC, in Las Vegas to scope out the latest trends, stock up on inventory and connect with new wholesalers. “We want to keep growing,” McMahon said, who works with wholesalers, selects the inventory and tracks what’s selling best. With growth in mind, Mauve plans to add additional brands and offer more pop-up shops. They are also constantly learning and refining their skills to help the business and save on costs, including social media marketing, photography and even accounting. “It’s definitely been a learning process for all of us,” McMahon said. “It’s been fun.”
To shop online, visit heymauve.com.
Moxie. Mission. Momentum. Mauve co-founders (from left): Alissa McMahon, Kat Slump and Keegan Mahoney UNO BUSINESS 2016–2017
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UNO GROWS ENTREPRENEURIAL LIVING LEARNING COMMUNITY
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ourteen first-year students started college together this fall as members of the Entrepreneurial Living Learning Community (ELLC) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
The ELLC enables entrepreneurially driven students to start college with purpose, already part of a supportive community.
The fall 2017 cohort joins other entrepreneurially driven students who started the ELLC program in fall 2016. Over the past year, members of the inaugural cohort completed an entrepreneurial foundations course together, attended weekly meetings of UNO’s award-winning Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, participated in networking events, toured local companies and even visited Chicago to explore the city’s startup community.
Launched last fall, this two-year cohort program is designed to support and inspire students in any major who are interested in “Before the ELLC, we often didn’t meet entreinnovation and entrepreneurship. preneurially minded students until they were juniors or seniors,” said Dale Eesley, Members live together in UNO’s Scott Village director of UNO’s Center for Innovation, residence hall, complete entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship and Franchising. cohort courses, attend extracurricular activities and receive scholarship support thanks to six generous donors.
“The ELLC allows us to reach high
“I am excited to be part of a group of students with similar interests,” said Thomas Kienow, a pre-dental student who plans to open his own practice. Several ELLC students have already experienced success as entrepreneurs. Erica Pokorney, for example, owns a four-year-old business called The Cupcakery, inspired by baking with her grandmother. “It has become more successful than I could have ever imagined,” she said. “I can’t wait to see how the ELLC will help me further my business.”
potential students earlier and give them a chance to develop their talents throughout their time at UNO.” To apply, candidates must show a record of innovative or entrepreneurial accomplishments and a desire to develop their skills, interests and connections in college.
For more information about the ELLC, visit cba.unomaha.edu/ellc. Interested in providing ELLC scholarship support? Call Sue Kutschkau at 402.502.4109.
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FALL 2016 COHORT Omaha Caleb Cox Jeremy Hoich Usman Kahn CJ Monahan Omar Nazarie Luke Schnepel, Carson, IA Zachary Vincent, Bellevue Jared Zwiener, Albion FALL 2017 COHORT Omaha Christina Becker Isabelle Brown Abigail Centarri Alexis Centarri James Van Eperen Justin Hoich Colten Adams, Orchard Thomas Kienow, Gretna Candido Morales, Schuyler Erica Pokorney, Shelby Taryn Rannals, Yutan Makayla Rohrer, Hickman Alex Seigel, Papillion Erik Tena, Schuyler
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CBA SCHOLARS ACADEMY SCHOLAR-LED SERVICE Fundraiser Games for a Change raised $276 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. A raffle raised $503 for the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. Diversity Week included a networking dinner and speaker from Inclusive Communities. An applied leadership project, Sew for Souls resulted in 60+ pillowcases for kids at Children’s Hospital.
Career Skills and Community Connections AS THE CBA SCHOLARS ACADEMY CONTINUES TO GROW, STUDENTS ARE FINDING NEW WAYS TO SERVE, COMBINING THEIR BUSINESS SKILLS, GIFTS AND PASSIONS. READ ABOUT A GROUP OF SCHOLARS WHO PLANNED AN ENTIRE WORKSHOP ON THEIR OWN — WITH REMARKABLE RESULTS.
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his spring, more than 50 high school students spent their that they are often academically gifted but lack confidence when it school day at Mammel Hall to increase their networks, comes to creating a resume, interviewing or eating in a formal setting. polish their resumes and improve their interviewing skills. “These skills are just as important as having academic skills,” she said. This event, coined the Career Skills Workshop, was created by students, for students. To address the problem, Eisert and her team got busy planning an informative and interactive event. They recruited CBA faculty and Four members of the CBA Scholars Academy — Brianna Eisert, Philip staff as well as local business professionals to teach workshops that Faughn, Karina Pisetsky and Chris Winchester — planned the entire focused on resume reviews, mock interviews and internship advice event, held April 28. as well as workplace and lunch etiquette. All four Scholars were fueled by the same passion: combining their business skills and desire to help others. “The main purpose of this project was to help students feel more confident in their skills and ability to be successful in their college and career endeavors,” Eisert said. Through her interactions with teens, Eisert said she has noticed
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Dundee Bank and BKD sponsored the event, which also included professionals from Cox, First National Bank, Union Pacific, First Data, Cintas and Gallup. “It was great to see the interaction between the business professionals and the students,” Eisert said. “My group and I hope this event was able to help students feel more confident in their skills to be successful.”
IN ADDITION TO SERVING OTHERS (AND STUDYING HARD FOR THEIR CLASSES), SCHOLARS RECEIVE MANY PERKS. AMONG THE MOST POPULAR IS THE ACADEMY COACH PROGRAM.
ACADEMY COACHES CAME FROM THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES
Mentoring program provides wisdom, internship opportunities
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uring a cold, drizzly January day, students went behind the scenes at Lozier Corporation, enjoying a tour of the corporate headquarters and a hearty breakfast. A couple weeks later, a group traveled to Gallup, completing a strengths-based activity that sparked lively conversation over lunch.
These visits, and many more, were part of the Scholars Academy Coach Program, which pairs each student with a mentor from the business community. The agenda is simple: create a space for business professionals to share their wisdom with students and give students an opportunity to ask questions of business professionals. During the 2016–2017 year, Scholars and their mentors toured 12 companies in diverse industries. Students could ask questions, learn about different career paths and gain business contacts.
KARINA PISETSKY | 2015 COHORT My mentor this past year was Adrian Hernandez. He is the VP at Dundee Bank as well as a loan officer. After he had seen my resume, he had given me a call and offered me a position at Dundee Bank — before we had even met! I worked at Dundee Bank the majority of my sophomore year and absolutely loved the culture and management. It was a phenomenal job, and I’m excited to go back when I’m finished with my internship. The management at Dundee Bank continually cheers me on in all of my endeavors and is very supportive with my schooling. ALEJANDRA ESCOBAR-SERRANO | 2016 COHORT I really did not expect to develop such a strong relationship with my mentor, especially outside the Academy Coach Program setting. My mentor is Diana Tedrow from Cox Business. She sends us information about activities that her company is hosting or events they have tickets for, and she also invited us to a lunch and boat ride this summer.
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Five Departments. Countless Accomplishments.
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69.6% CPA exam pass rate within one year of graduation (ACCOUNTING)
250 seniors participated in the Capstone Cup (MANAGEMENT)
Nearly 500 students in one department (FINANCE, BANKING AND REAL ESTATE)
$800,000 equity portfolio managed by students (FINANCE)
150 entries in 2016 BigIdea! Elevator Pitch Contest (MARKETING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP)
Stedman’s Cafe served more than 5,000 people in summer 2017 (MARKETING)
ACCOUNTING Department Highlights The Master of Accounting program added four concentrations, effective fall 2017: generalist, financial reporting and auditing, strategic management accounting and information analysis. Jillian Poyzer was promoted from instructor to lecturer. She also leads the department’s career program.
Professor Susan Eldridge (center) with guest speakers Richard Bowen and Kristen Sullivan
Venkatesh Acclaimed for Excellence in Teaching, Leadership Associate Professor of Accounting Roopa Venkatesh — or Dr. V, as her students know her — was named a 2017 Faculty Leadership Award recipient. This prestigious global award recognizes distinguished leadership, service and contributions to the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). A professor at UNO since 2009, Venkatesh also received the Alumni Association’s Outstanding Alumni Teaching Award, established in 1997 to honor distinguished teaching in the classroom.
UNO students continue to earn high marks on the CPA exam. Pass rates have soared to the highest levels in four years. • First-time results: 59.9% pass rate (54.4% overall) • First-time results after testing within one year of graduation: 69.6%
Student honors organization Beta Alpha Psi continues to earn Superior Chapter status for professional engagement and community service. The department hosted the first annual Accounting Careers Expo in January, a conference that introduces students to accounting career options and professionals in the industry. The annual Accounting Speakers Series event continues to attract excellent speakers and a large crowd. The 2016 event featured keynote speaker Kristen Sullivan, partner at Deloitte, and ethics speaker Richard Bowen, best known as the Citigroup whistleblower.
ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT REMEMBERS HOESING Long-time adjunct instructor Mike Hoesing passed away in February at age 63. He was a UNO alumnus and member of the UNO Accounting Advisory Board. Hoesing held many certifications and credentials in accounting, information systems, and auditing. At the time of his death, he worked at First Data Resources.
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ECONOMICS
Department Highlights Ben Smith was selected by CBA graduate students as the MBA Professor of the Year. Jinlan Ni was promoted to professor. Ni has a Ph.D. in Economics from Purdue University. Her research focuses on applied microeconomics, financial economics, labor economics and international economics. The department created new classes and a new graduate concentration in data science, launching next year.
Professor Catherine Y. Co in Vietnam
Professors Launch OpenAccess Journal for Economic Education Community
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Economics professor Catherine Y. Co and marketing professor Jonna Holland led a group of students to Vietnam this summer as part of a multi-year project to expand economic opportunities for ethnic minority women in Cao Bang province. Before the trip, the professors co-taught a new course, International Microenterprise Development. Full story on page 18.
n open-access journal dedicated to sharing economics pedagogy launched last summer. The Journal of Economics Teaching (JET) is the result of a joint effort among scholars who represent 11 universities from across the country, including the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Dr. Ben Smith, assistant professor of economics at CBA, serves on the journal’s advisory board and works as the website developer. This peer-reviewed, electronic journal publishes original research with a distinct focus on innovative ways to teach economics — from social media and pop culture to service learning and classroom experiments.
Learn more at journalofeconomicsteaching.org
Professor Ben Smith
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Q&A Digging Deeper with Dr. Dustin White Assistant Professor of Economics
Q. What classes are you teaching this year? This year, I am teaching Business Analysis and also introducing two new courses: Business Forecasting and Tools for Data Analysis. I am really excited about these new courses, as they are part of the new econometrics and data analysis concentration. The tools class will teach students about programming principles as well as how to do things like scrape data from the web or use web API’s to collect data, and how to clean that data for analysis. Forecasting will give students the tools needed to analyze data that they have collected, so we are able to take students from no data, to clean, analyzed data through the course of the concentration. We believe this will make our students very competitive on the job market as they complete their degree.
Q. Which of your current research projects are you most excited about right now? I am currently most excited about working on a follow-up to my job market paper about NCAA Basketball and alcohol consumption. That project suggests that male students drink a lot more during major sporting events. (Two in three male students binge drink during the tournament if their school team makes the tournament.) I am now working on a project to measure the amount of crime occurring during the NCAA near participating schools to measure the effect of that very large change in alcohol consumption on crime rates.
Q. How do you see your research helping in the
rows of data and perhaps a few hundred columns. When companies like Amazon analyze consumer data, they are looking at hundreds of millions of rows and millions of columns (variables). I was fascinated by the methods that he discussed and their potential in solving difficult problems. The next semester, I was enrolled in courses that helped me prepare to work with big data and to teach it here at UNO. Data analytics matters for the same reason that Billy Beane was able to revolutionize baseball: data helps us make better decisions. I cringe when I hear people talking about making business decisions using their gut. We collect data so that we can do better than that! Data analytics, combined with the power of modern computers, has enabled us to look at huge amounts of data and find ways to improve business practices. It doesn’t matter what the industry is; if we carefully collect data, we can find ways to improve our product, our delivery or our internal processes — and become more efficient.
real world?
Q. What’s your favorite thing about teaching at
I think that honest conversations about the role of athletics at universities are very important. Athletics is a valuable tool that universities use to increase their visibility, but they frequently downplay the costs of athletics on the student body. Previous research has shown that good sports years lead to bad school years for many students, and we have already found that it also increases dangerous drinking. Hopefully, schools can find a way to curtail the negative effects of athletics while still providing a fun environment for students.
My favorite part of teaching at CBA has been the enthusiasm of everyone in the building for making Mammel Hall a place that really focuses on high-quality teaching. There is nothing more exciting to me than having a really good idea about how to improve my class, getting to share it with colleagues, and learning what they do to engage their students and improve their teaching. It really makes this an exciting place to be!
Q. You are passionate about big data. How did you get interested in data analytics and why does it matter? I really got interested in big data when Greg Duncan, Amazon’s principal economist, came to my school to give a talk to our economics department. While data analysis is a critical component of economics training at all levels, his talk made it clear to me that just knowing how to handle the data that fits in a spreadsheet isn’t enough anymore. Spreadsheets typically can handle up to 1 million
the UNO College of Business Administration?
Q. If you weren’t a professor, which profession would you choose and why? I would probably either be a business economist or an epidemiologist. I think that data has a huge role to play in healthcare, especially in the prevention of disease and illness. I would love to be involved in helping people around the world stay healthy and live happy lives.
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MANAGEMENT
Department Highlights Gina Ligon was named a 2017 Greater Omaha Young Professionals “Change Maker.” She spoke at the YP Summit in March. Patti Meglich spent the summer as a visiting professor teaching at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. Erin Bass and Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles earned tenure. Bass also received the 2017 Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Research. Supply chain professors Steve Schulz and Phillip Witt expanded CBA’s relationship with Bryan High School’s Transportation, Distribution and Logistics Academy.
From left: Louis Pol, CBA Dean; Katherine Geeser, USSTRATCOM program analyst; Hesham Ali, Dean, College of Information Science & Technology
Strategic Command Leader Development Program Enters Fourth Year
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n January, a group of 10 civilian employees from the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) began a semester-long course led by experts from across the University of Nebraska system, including several faculty members from the Management Department.
Housed at Mammel Hall, the Fellows program is a 13-week, graduate-level course specifically designed for civilian leaders who have been identified as committed to delivering results, making sound decisions, and showing commitment to the mission, values, and personnel of USSTRATCOM. In November 2016, University of Nebraska’s National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) presented a Team Excellence award to the Fellows program and its leaders for excellence in teamwork that supports national security research efforts. CBA management faculty and administration involved in the program include Gina Ligon, Chris Diller, Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles, Lynn Harland, David Nielsen, Leif Lundmark and Erin Bass.
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Erin Bass and Amy Rodie started the Business Ethics: Compete for a Cause competition between CBA’s graduate and undergraduate Business Ethics classes. The initiative resulted in 151 donations to the Maverick Food Pantry as well as 49 pounds of granola bars for the Open Door Mission. More than 250 seniors participated in the Capstone Cup (formerly known as the Case Study Competition) in 2016–2017. This award-winning case study competition is an undergraduate capstone experience that facilitates integrated learning with community and alumni engagement. Learn more at cba.unomaha.edu/capstonecup. In April, two supply chain management students, Johnathan Parker and Levi Lancaster, were among the four college students in Nebraska to receive the 2017 Debra Smithers Excellence in Business Scholarship from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM-Nebraska).
Baright trustees and students at the Investment Science Lab dedication in April 2017
Hollis and Helen Baright Foundation Names the Investment Science Lab
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Department Highlights
he college’s investment science laboratory is now named thanks to a gift from the Hollis and Helen Baright Foundation. The new Hollis and Helen Baright Investment Science Laboratory at Mammel Hall was unveiled in April.
The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) approved CBA’s bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in real estate, allowing graduates to apply a significant amount of their The naming gift will benefit CBA through an endowed fund for the Department coursework toward the educational hours required of Finance, Banking and Real Estate — one of the largest departments in CBA, for a real property appraiser credential. with nearly 500 students. Created to help UNO business students understand the importance of savings, the nuances of investing and the process of value creation, the Hollis and Helen Baright Investment Science Lab is fully equipped: • Dual computer monitors at each seat • Bloomberg machines • S&P Research Insight database • Historical price data from the Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP) • Ticker board and digital displays with the latest market data The lab also houses CFA preparation courses, Series 7 licensing courses, the student-led management of an $800,000 equity portfolio and other activities that help students branch between the classroom and business community.
FINANCE, BANKING & REAL ESTATE
Steve Shultz, director of research for the Center for Real Estate and Asset Management, released a new report, “Omaha Single-Family Housing Price Appreciation 2000-2017,” that indicates housing values have rebounded in Douglas and Sarpy counties. Five students were the first to attain ARGUS Enterprise certification through the department’s pilot program. Laura Beal hosted the annual Maverick Investment Camp in June, attracting more than 20 students who spent one week at CBA learning about investing. Jeff Bredthauer received the 2017 Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Teaching.
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MARKETING & ENTREPRENEURSHIP DriveOff Wins Pitch Contest, Startup Weekend
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bout 150 students with an original business idea entered UNO’s BigIdea! Elevator Pitch Contest last October. Erin Dabbs won first place for DriveOff, an application that aims to reduce distracted driving fatalities by incentivizing drivers to stay off their phones. Her prizes included $1,000 and a trip to Tampa, Florida, for the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization national conference. Dabbs developed the idea for the app during Startup Weekend Omaha, hosted at Mammel Hall Sept. 23-25, 2016. During the weekend, about 60 college students, along with many community members, mentors and judges, embarked on a 54-hour frenzy of starting a business from scratch. Participants pitched ideas on Friday night and formed teams around the winning pitches. Nine teams spent the remainder of their time developing a business model, designing a logo, coding a website, creating a minimum viable product, validating market needs and more. On the final day, the teams presented to a panel of judges. DriveOff won first place. In addition to Dabbs, DriveOff team members included Ian Addy (also a CBA student), Landon Miller, Marvin Roe, Wendy Holley and Cara Heacock.
Additional accolades for Dabbs — studying management, marketing and entrepreneurship — include a first-place finish at St. Louis University’s national pitch contest and selection as UNO’s Student Organization Member of the Year.
UNO Welcomes MCI Rector Andreas Altmann The rector and executive director of Austria’s Management Center Innsbruck (MCI) Andreas Altmann visited Mammel Hall in February to meet with university administration, faculty and students. Altmann, who holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Innsbruck, helped design and create MCI Management Center Innsbruck– The Entrepreneurial School. A sibling university of UNO for many years, MCI has more than 3,200 students, 1,000 faculty and staff, and 250 partner universities from around the world — including strong ties to the UNO College of Business Administration.
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Department Highlights The Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Franchising (CIEF) hired Jenna Taulman, a CBA alumna, as assistant director. Dale Eesley, director of CIEF, received the 2017 Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Service. Eesley and Taulman hosted the annual Maverick Young Entrepreneur Boot Camp in June, helping more than 20 teens explore entrepreneurship in Omaha. Stedman’s Café, CBA’s student-run business, continues to innovate. The café catered all 28 UNO Orientation sessions, serving more than 5,000 people throughout the summer.
Seventh annual Maverick Business Plan winners (from left): Tim Bielecki, Alissa McMahon, Will Payne, Kat Slump, Tyler Scherr, Keegan Mahoney, Ben Jones and Pallav Bajracharya
Birud Sindhav led a spring break study abroad trip in China that included stops in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Tongli. Phani Tej Adidam presented at the Belgium Chamber of Commerce on how to do business in the United States. The exclusive event included 45 micro, small and medium enterprises in Brussels. Adidam taught at four of CBA’s partner schools: Aalto University (Finland); Ghent University (Belgium); Management Center Innsbruck (Austria); and Misr International University (Egypt). Yanhui Zhao and Xiaoming Yang advised Executive MBA students’ capstone projects and led associated market entry research in China. Zhao published a paper that won the 2016 James M. Comer Award for best contribution to selling and sales management theory from the Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management. The paper presents a first-of-its-kind view of sales literature’s intellectual cornerstones, knowledge structure and thematic developments over 35 years. Amy Rodie organized the James R. Schumacher Ethics Speaker Series, featuring Kevin Cook, who presented results from the 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer global survey.
Dr. Birud Sindhav with students near the Great Wall of China
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AWARDS
UNO’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization chapter won four awards at the 2016 CEO national conference: FIRST PLACE: Outstanding Chapter Fundraising Initiative RUNNER UP: Outstanding Entrepreneurial Networking Initiative RUNNER UP: Outstanding Chapter Business RUNNER UP: Outstanding CEO Chapter Advisor UNO BUSINESS 2016–2017
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CBA WELCOMES ONE OF THE LARGEST FACULTY CLASSES IN COLLEGE HISTORY
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everal faculty members arrived during the 2016–2017 academic year. These new faces span each of the college’s five departments and represent CBA’s growth, momentum and commitment to providing curriculum and programs in high-demand areas, such as supply chain management and data analytics.
Ê Brent Clark, Ph.D., Business Administration, Assistant Professor of Management
“They have impressive
Brent Clark has lived in many places, backgrounds in academia and including Texas, Kentucky, Utah, Indiana, Missouri, South Dakota, and even Ecuador, industry that will enhance though he claims Waldorf, Maryland, as his hometown. When he isn’t teaching, he’s hard students’ learning experiences at work on several research projects. “I am working primarily on understanding how and contribute to our culture of technology impacts our decision making,” said Clark, who earned his Ph.D. from the quality teaching, transformative University of Missouri’s Trulaske College of Business. “I also study how entrepreneurs research and community deal with uncertainty and how companies recover from crime and fraud events.” engagement.” — Dean Louis Pol Clark’s hobbies include basketball, soccer, gardening and woodworking. He spends most of his free time with his wife and Ì Megan Harris, CPA, B.S., three kids.
Ë Zhigang Feng, Ph.D., Economics, Assistant Professor of Economics Originally from China, Zhigang Feng has enjoyed an extensive career in academia. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Miami, he spent three years in Switzerland as a post-doc researcher at the University of Zurich. Later, he worked as a visiting professor at Purdue and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Feng’s fascination with economic growth in his home country launched his career in economics and academia, researching topics such as macroeconomics, public finance and health economics. Outside the classroom, Feng stays busy with his growing family. He enjoys collecting artwork, hiking and fishing.
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Mathematics and Accounting, Accounting Instructor
Megan Harris is a certified public accountant and a member of the Nebraska Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs. Before entering academe, she worked in public accounting at KPMG LLP and in private accounting in a variety of industries, including financial services, nonprofits and healthcare. Harris earned a BSBA in Accounting from UNO as well as a B.S. in Mathematics with an emphasis in business and finance from University of Iowa.
Í Destynie Sewell, J.D., MBA, Assistant Professor of Business Law and Ethics Destynie Sewell’s first job at age 13 was at the Ak-Sar-Ben Race Track, now the site of
Mammel Hall. The Omaha native earned her MBA at UNO and said she’s humbled to return, knowing her career will sunset where it all began. Before UNO, Sewell worked in human resources at a hospital, managing labor and employee relations, workers’ compensation, employee benefits and performance management teams. She researches labor and employment law as well as serves as the legal advisor to UNO’s PreLaw Cohort, which received the Nebraska State Bar Association Diversity Award in 2016. Sewell is proud of the program’s accomplishments to encourage diversity in the state’s legal profession.
Î Dustin White, Ph.D., Economics, Assistant Professor of Economics Originally from Redmond, Washington, Dustin White has called several places home, including Utah and Brazil, where he became fluent in Portuguese. With a doctoral degree from Washington State University, White teaches business analytics in the MBA program. His research includes the impact of sporting events on health outcomes, the impact of working from home on wages and why firms might share valuable intellectual property with their competitors. White is well-versed in data analytics, including neural networks, deep learning and machine learning. He is introducing data analysis more extensively in the Economics Department and hopes the UNO community will be able to leverage this technology to benefit students and the greater Omaha community.
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Ï Phillip Witt, Ph.D., Operations Management, Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management
Ð Xiaoming Yang, Ph.D., Entrepreneurship, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship
Phillip Witt grew up in Provo, Utah, and received his bachelor’s degree and MBA in his home state before moving to Washington State University to pursue his doctorate. He previously worked in the quality management field for an engineering firm and an aerospace manufacturing firm, so his dissertation naturally focused on an evaluation of Six Sigma, specifically how the personalities of team members affect project success. Witt continues research in this area as well as in healthcare supply chain management and humanitarian operations management. Outside of work, Witt spends time with his wife and three daughters. They enjoy doing outdoorsy activities like biking, hiking, camping and fishing.
Xiaoming Yang is originally from Xi’an, China, one of the world’s oldest cities. A globetrotter, he spent four years working and studying in Singapore before starting his doctoral program at the University of MissouriKansas City. Now that he’s at UNO, Yang plans to focus his research efforts on lean startups and corporate entrepreneurship. “I like sharing the interesting stories that I’ve seen and learned around the world with my students,” he said.
Ñ Yanhui Zhao, Ph.D., Marketing, Assistant Professor of Marketing Originally from Shandong, a province in eastern China, Yanhui Zhao comes to UNO after completing his doctoral degree from Michigan State University’s Eli Broad Graduate School of Management. His research focuses on topics related to marketing strategy, such as branding strategy and sales management. When he’s not teaching or researching, Zhao enjoys traveling, photography and playing basketball. “I decided to become a professor mainly because of my passion about research and teaching,” he said. “Research gives me a chance to create new knowledge and enhance the understanding of marketing. Teaching gives me a chance to disseminate the knowledge and make an impact on students’ lives and careers.”
Turning passion into action SENSING A GROWING DESIRE TO HELP in response to the world’s refugee crisis, Phil Witt and his wife, Angie, decided to turn their passion into action. “We could either sit there and stew or do something about it,” he said. The Witts connected with the Refugee Empowerment Center in Omaha to help resettle a refugee family from Burma. They got busy collecting donations and purchasing items to stock a small apartment. A handful of families from their church congregation pitched in. Plus, Angie sold refugee/multicultural peg dolls through her online business, The Painted Peg, using the
proceeds to buy household essentials and a week’s worth of groceries. With their three daughters (ages 2, 6 and 9) in tow, Phil and Angie spent a couple days in May setting up the apartment, trying their best to create some semblance of a space that would make the family of three feel welcomed. “The transformation was fun to see,” Witt said. This summer, the Witts were surprised to learn that the Refugee Empowerment Center selected them as outstanding volunteers. They were recognized during a World Refugee Day celebration at the Joslyn Art Museum on June 24.
Of course, the real reward was the experience. “We wanted to try to set an example for our kids,” Phil said. “It’s important to try to give back as much as we can.” He added, “I think the best way to alleviate any frustrations or stresses about issues that are going on is to pick an issue and go out and try to help.”
UNO BUSINESS 2016–2017
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A NEW ERA FOR A cornerstone of UNO’s Executive MBA program, the capstone consulting project not only provides international business experience but also memories that last a lifetime. This summer, the Class of 2017 split into four groups and traveled to Tanzania, Canada and China.
TANZANIA TEAM: Rishi Batra, Jeanee Weiss, Chelsie Olson, Jon Nguyen, Marissa Stanton FACULTY ADVISOR: Dr. David Volkman DESTINATIONS: Moshi, Arusha, Zanzibar PROJECT: Develop a functioning business model and create a sustainability plan for Mosaic International, a nonprofit that serves the intellectually disabled while building caring communities in Moshi, Tanzania
CHINA TEAM: Andrea Singsaas, Chris Denney, Leah Jackson FACULTY ADVISORS: Dr. Yanhui Zhao and Dr. Phani Tej Adidam DESTINATIONS: Shanghai, Shenzhen PROJECT: Market expansion and research
CHINA TEAM: Daniel Narez, Theresa Faure, Arulvel Kumarasamy, Ayoola Ogun FACULTY ADVISORS: Dr. Xiaoming Yang and Dr. Phani Tej Adidam DESTINATIONS: Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen PROJECT: Research and market testing
CANADA TEAM: Delette Olberg, Alice Kueh, Kristen Paulmeyer, Hallie Hanlon-Ward FACULTY ADVISOR: Dr. Erin Bass DESTINATIONS: Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; Ottawa, Ontario PROJECT: Assess market entry into Canada for electric power generation for Tenaska
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EXECUTIVE MBA KRINGS NAMED NEW DIRECTOR
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elanie Krings started as Executive MBA program director on April 1. Serving as the program’s assistant director since March 2014, Krings was selected after a national search process conducted by Aureus Group and after current director Bill Swanson announced his plans to retire.
“It is an honor to step into this new role with Executive MBA and Executive Management Education,” Krings said. “I look forward to building on the momentum of the past eight years and continuing the collaboration with our valued alumni, faculty and community partners. I also thank Bill for his mentorship during my career here at UNO.” With a decade of higher education experience, Krings oversees the Executive MBA and Executive Management Education programs, providing strategic direction in areas such as external relations, program development and evaluation, marketing and recruitment, international projects and fundraising. Employed at UNO since 2008, Krings has led recruitment, marketing and operations for Executive MBA in addition to teaching part time and holding other campus leadership positions, including Staff Advisory Council president and appointments on UNO’s Strategic Planning Committee and the Chancellor’s Global Risk Management Taskforce. She earned an MBA as well as bachelor’s degrees in business administration and journalism from UNO. “Melanie has been an asset to the Executive MBA program for many years, and we are excited to name her the new director after a competitive selection process,” said Louis Pol, dean of CBA. “I also want to commend Bill for his many years of service to UNO, including nearly nine years leading Executive MBA and Executive Management Education. Both programs are in a strong position thanks to Bill’s and Melanie’s leadership.”
MINI MBA cba.unomaha.edu/MiniMBA
Bill Swanson’s career at UNO spanned nearly 20 years, including positions as assistant dean of CBA, assistant to the vice chancellor, campus legislative liaison and director of career services before his time as Executive MBA program director. He has also held managerial positions at Valmont Industries and First National Bank. Swanson earned an Executive MBA from UNO in 1991. “Melanie has been a great addition to the EMBA team and has done an excellent job of serving the program,” Swanson said. “She is positioned well to move the program forward with the continued support of alumni and faculty.” Founded in 1975, UNO’s Executive MBA is the 13th oldest program in the nation. The 17-month, AACSB-Accredited program is designed for experienced working professionals, includes an international business consulting trip, and boasts award-winning faculty and a global alumni network.
To learn more, visit emba.unomaha.edu.
CBA Launches New Certificate Course Building on the college’s longstanding Executive Education program, this openenrollment professional development course is designed for anyone who wants to gain cutting-edge business knowledge and marketable skills.
TAKEAWAYS • Earn a certificate of completion and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) • Learn how to apply key business topics to your own career through interactive classes and case studies • Network with other Omaha-area professionals UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA SYSTEM EMPLOYEES AND ALUMNI RECEIVE A $300 DISCOUNT. UNO BUSINESS 2016–2017
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Joe Roy, Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Nisha Avey, Nebraska Department of Economic Development; Wei Jing, NBDC; Eric Zeece, Invest Nebraska
NBDC VALUES COLLABORATION
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s Spreetail employees, dressed in bright-colored shirts bearing the company’s logo, came in and out of the company’s offices and Tom Petty B-sides played over the speakers, various economic development organizations set up for their first week of office hours at Nebraska Innovation Campus (NIC) in Lincoln. Since May 8, Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) has held office hours with Invest Nebraska and Nebraska’s Department of Economic Development (DED) as well as UNL’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), NUtech Ventures and NIC.
“We wanted to create a one-stop shop for startups,” said Wei Jing, director of NBDC’s technology commercialization program. In a statement about the collaboration, Dan Curran, director of DED’s business development team, said, “Entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their businesses and opportunities, in both urban and rural
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areas, often appreciate direct and early guidance from economic partners. Providing this information in one location can assist in a seamless transition to additional growth in Nebraska.” Jing said entrepreneurs can get answers or immediate referrals to someone who can provide more information. One Lincoln-based company, for example, came to talk with representatives of DED about applying for a grant to develop a prototype. NBDC marketing consultant Josh Nichol-Caddy discussed the research the client would need to satisfy the application requirements. Then the client was introduced to Dan Hoffman of Invest Nebraska, who could answer questions about accessing capital. The office hours also provide opportunities for representatives of these organizations to get to know one another.
NEBRASKA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER During the past year, NBDC has worked with many partners:
NEBRASKA INNOVATION CAMPUS
Economics professor Chris Decker to quantify the organization’s economic impact throughout the state, based on data collected from clients.
Various professors within the college of business. NBDC provides real business challenges as classroom case studies.
Maverick PR as well as the Academic and Career Development Center to assist NBDC clients seeking guidance in promoting their business or students to fill internships.
Catholic Charities of Omaha’s Juan Diego Center and Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation through bilingual graduate assistants who deliver workshops and consulting assistance.
“When you see people at events, discussion revolves around the topic of the day,” Nichol-Caddy said, “but these office hours have made Dan along with Nisha Avey and Ben Kruspa of DED feel more like coworkers. We talk regularly and QQ Greater Omaha Chamber, Nebraska Enterprise plan more long range.”
Fund, Small Business Administration (SBA) and SCORE forming the Entrepreneurship Education Collaborative to coordinate workshops and other economic development initiatives in Omaha.
Nichol-Caddy said these conversations have helped him better understand what types of clients best fit the goals of their organizations. And that will help him consult clients about how to craft a proposal and make their pitch. “This partnership is an extension of NIC’s efforts to foster Nebraska’s growing culture of entrepreneurs,” said Dan Duncan, executive director of the innovation campus.
SBA’s Veteran’s Business Outreach Center and U.S. Export Assistance Center, both operating out of St. Louis, as well as Economic Development Administration’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Center in Kansas City.
National Safety Council, Nebraska to develop a certificate in safety leadership.
Jing, Nichol-Caddy and Richard Yoder, an NBDC consultant who also participates in the office hours at NIC, think the partnership represents an important part of NBDC’s mission, too.
“I talk to my clients about the importance of finding partners who can help them turn ideas into reality,” Jing said. “That’s
Learn more at nbdc.unomaha.edu.
good advice for all of us.” Jing said she has learned a lot from other economic development professionals, and they have learned from her. Together, they have developed shared knowledge that benefits entrepreneurs across the state.
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BREVAN JORGENSON AGE: 22 HOMETOWN: Omaha, Nebraska JOB TITLE: Technical Consultant MAJOR: IT Innovation & Management Information Systems GRADUATES: December 2017 FUN FACT: His dad is a CBA alumnus. CLAIM TO FAME: He turned his 2016 Honda Civic into a self-driving car. FAVORITE GADGET: Joule, a tool for sous vide cooking.
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Staff Spotlight A STUDENT WORKER TURNED FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBER, BREVAN JORGENSON IS EQUAL PARTS PERSONABLE AND TECH-SAVVY.
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revan Jorgenson is busy — and that’s exactly how he likes it. When he’s not sitting in classes at the Peter Kiewit Institute, he’s walking the art-adorned hallways of Mammel Hall, helping with a little bit of everything. Technology consulting, moving furniture and managing the building’s digital signage are all in a day’s work.
Growing up, Jorgenson spent time tinkering with his dad’s computers. “I was always taking them apart, clicking things and messing them up,” he said, surmising that these experiences likely sparked his interest in, and comfort with, technology. When the time came to choose a college major, Jorgenson briefly considered a career as a pediatrician or physician assistant. But then he realized his dislike for science labs.
“I’ve worked my way up the ladder,” said Jorgenson, 22, referring to his tenure at the UNO College of Business Administration, where his customer service skills match his technical know-how, making him a rare breed indeed.
“I just stuck with tech stuff because it was easy for me,” he said. “I do enjoy it — a lot more than labs.”
He started as the lead lab consultant, and now he’s managing seven student workers in CBA’s operations department.
After a brief stint in computer engineering, he switched his major to IT innovation and has never looked back.
As a technical consultant, he serves as the primary point of contact for the Jack and Stephanie Koraleski Commerce and Applied Behavioral Laboratory, home to a host of biometric research technology such as eye tracking and facial expression recognition.
In March, Jorgenson received a taste of fame when he found his name published in the MIT Technology Review.
Jorgenson also works with community members who use Mammel Hall as an event space, assisting with technology needs during meetings, conferences and other functions.
“I expected a picture and a quote,” he said. Instead, he was surprised to see the story centered on him. The headline: “How a college kid made his Honda self-driving for $700.”
“I’ve never been in a work environment that’s so involved with the community,” he said.
The story sparked dozens more, including a feature on a local TV news station, and led to speaking opportunities at the Drone Focus Conference in Fargo, North Dakota, and TEDxMileHigh in Denver, Colorado.
Jorgenson spends the bulk of his time trouble-shooting technology issues and opportunities. Problem-solving is his favorite part of the job.
Building a solid resume and a name for himself, Jorgenson expects to graduate in December. He eventually wants to earn a graduate degree, but not right away.
The technology setup at Mammel Hall is unique compared to other units on campus and even at other universities, Jorgenson said. “I’ll spend months researching an issue. Once you finally fix it, that’s a really good feeling.”
“I don’t plan on leaving CBA any time soon,” he said. “I wake up every morning looking forward to coming to work.”
STUDENT TURNS HONDA CIVIC INTO SELF-DRIVING CAR FOR $700 UNO BUSINESS 2016–2017
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ALL-STAR STUDENTS AND ALUMNI
SUIT GAME — STRONG: VAUGHN PEREZ
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BA senior Vaughn Perez has held as many titles as he has goals after graduation. To name a few … President. Culture Manager. Yell Leader. 2017 Student of Academic Excellence. (He also worked at Men’s Warehouse for two years, hence the headline.)
The president of UNO’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) and a sales employee at rapidly growing Eat Fit Go, Perez gains his diploma in December and will hit the ground running.
He plans to stay at Eat Fit Go, aspiring to manage his own store and maybe even become the CEO. He says he’s also working on his own business idea and is considering a graduate degree in sports administration. “I also look to work for an NBA franchise and move up in the organization so that I can ultimately help that team win a championship,” Perez says. “It’s all about that ring baby!” His dream job? Be the general manager of the Houston Rockets. Perez is an Omaha native, although his parents were born and raised in the Philippines. After graduating from Creighton Prep High School, Perez wasted no time jumping into the UNO community. He joined many student organizations and chased anything that gave him the chance to network and meet new people. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE UNO BUSINESS 2016–2017
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VAUGHN PEREZ, CONT. A self-proclaimed D1 athlete, Perez is a regular competitor in UNO’s Ultimate Frisbee Club. When he’s not busy on the field, he’s in the stands cheering for other athletes.
“My favorite thing about the UNO College of Business Administration is the friendships that I’ve accumulated,” he says. “The personalities and the people I’ve met here will take me as far as I go.”
An original member of the Maverick Maniacs, Perez leads the student section — recently named the best in the country by the National Collegiate Student Section Association — in a number of chants at all major events.
Originally an engineering major, Perez says switching to business was one of the best decisions of his life.
“From the resources and the connections with other students to the mentoring from professors, CBA has provided me with everything Additionally, Perez has served in a number of leadership roles for CEO, I need to achieve not only as a student but also as a person.” UNO’s nationally renowned entrepreneurship club. As a member, he has twice traveled to the CEO national conference, meeting Never without a backup plan — or two — Perez has set his career entrepreneurs like himself from across the country. Opportunities goals high. And thankfully, his closet is stocked with enough suits like these have taught Perez the value of relationships. to see him through.
BUSINESS WISDOM BEYOND HIS YEARS: JUSTIN KORTH “Growing up in a family business taught me more than just business skills,” Korth said. “It taught me a strong work ethic and the importance of building and keeping trust.” At UNO, Korth wasted no time plugging into the campus community, serving as president of five student organizations by the time he graduated in May 2017. Korth’s main goal in his extraordinary involvement was to build relationships. “Business is fundamentally based on relationships,” he said. “I’ve learned this through my small-town upbringing and the multitude of connections I made at CBA.” In the classroom, Korth excelled, making the Chancellor’s List every semester and receiving many honors, including the AICPA/ Accountemps Student Scholarship, awarded to only four students across the nation.
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ustin Korth’s drive to succeed was planted long before he became a Maverick. Raised on a farm near Randolph, Nebraska, he spent his childhood working for his family’s seed supply business.
At age 10, he was helping with the books and serving the 200-plus customers his family supplied, instilling important business and life lessons.
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He also received the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame Scholarship in 2016 and in April 2017 received the university-wide Senior Vice Chancellor’s Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award in addition to the CBA Dean’s Award. Korth’s resume touts a variety of internships at notable firms, including Lincoln Financial Group, Seim Johnson and Wells Fargo Investment Institute. The alumnus currently works full time at Lutz and plans to continue his career in public accounting.
STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT: CARLO EBY
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arlo Eby is not coasting through his senior year. In addition to triple majoring in finance and interning at Green Plains Inc., he is leading UNO Student Government as student body president.
“Running for president was something that I knew I wanted to do early in my college career,” said Eby, a first-generation college student. “I like being involved on campus.”
The Omaha native grew up near UNO’s campus and graduated in 2014 from Creighton Prep High School. Before being elected as student body president, Eby served as a student senator for three years. His favorite thing about CBA? “The sense of community. In every class, or even sitting in the Stedman’s area, I have always felt like I could talk to people and we were all, more or less, on the same team.”
OUTSTANDING YOUNG OMAHANS: EMILY POESCHL AND LESLIE FISCHER
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Emily Poeschl
wo CBA alumnae were among the 2017 class of Ten Outstanding Young Omahans. The Omaha Jaycees host the TOYO Awards annually, honoring local professionals who demonstrate a commitment to their community and careers.
Among the honorees were Emily Poeschl (MBA 2011), marketing director at UNO, and Leslie Fischer (BSBA 1999), co-founder of Together A Greater Good (TAGG). Poeschl is a mentor for Girls Inc., serves on the board of Susan G. Komen Great Plains and is actively involved with several other organizations, including the Women’s Fund of Omaha and United Way of the Midlands. In addition to co-founding TAGG, a social good app, Fischer co-founded Ladies Who Launch Omaha, a resource group for entrepreneurs, and serves on the boards of Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue and B4B Society.
Leslie Fischer
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CBA HONORS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI A MAJOR GENERAL, RETIRED COLONEL AND GLOBAL MANAGING DIRECTOR WERE HONORED IN MAY DURING CBA’S 30TH ANNUAL DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS LUNCHEON. Major General Richard J. Evans III U.S. Strategic Command
Elizabeth M. Durham-Ruiz U.S. Transportation Command
Gustavo E. Oberto Conductix-Wampfler AG
Major General Richard Evans is responsible for over 600 reserve members and is principal advisor to the commander on USSTRATCOM’s diverse missions, including strategic deterrence and assurance, space and cyberspace operations, full-spectrum global strike, integrated missile defense, joint electromagnetic spectrum operations and joint warfare analysis.
A memb er of the S enior E xe cutive Service, Elizabeth Durham-Ruiz leads U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) oversight of the Joint Deployment and Distribution Architecture, enterprise portfolio information technology investments, regulatory and statutory compliance for USTRANSCOM’s information systems, migration activities into the DoD Joint Information Environment and the enterprise infrastructure portfolio. She also provides insight and execution management oversight of USTRANSCOM’s cyberspace operations mission areas.
Gustavo Oberto is responsible for overseeing $300+ million in company sales across three regions for Conductix-Wampfler, the world’s leading manufacturer of energy and data transmission systems for mobile industrial equipment. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, but working out of the company headquarters in Weil am Rhein, Germany, he is responsible for driving growth across key industrial markets including ports, mining, cranes, automotive, intralogistics, transit, entertainment and e-mobility.
Evans graduated with a BSBA in finance from UNO in 1984 and began his career in the U.S. Air Force and Nebraska Air National Guard. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School. Evans has commanded multiple units and expeditionary forces, has flown combat missions and is a master navigator with over 3,800 flying hours in eight different aircraft, including 153 hours supporting combat operations. Evans was promoted to his current rank of Major General in 2015, making him one of only 45 officers in that rank or higher in the Air National Guard.
Durham-Ruiz graduated in 1982 from the U.S. Air Force Academy, serving as an officer for 24 years. After retiring from active duty as a colonel, she held a variety of positions at United States Strategic Command as a senior civilian. In addition to earning an Executive MBA degree from UNO, she holds a master’s in systems management from the Florida Institute of Technology and a master’s in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
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Oberto joined Conductix-Wampfler in 1999 and has more than 20 years of experience in international business development. Before joining his current company, he worked for Travelex Global Payments devising foreign currency hedging strategies for Fortune 500 companies. He also worked as international liaison to former Nebraska Governor Ben Nelson, advising Midwestern companies on how to penetrate the Latin America agriculture market. Oberto received his Executive MBA degree from UNO in 2005.
2016–2017 CBA SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS: 263 | STUDENT RECIPIENTS: 157 | TOTAL AWARDED: $733,808
THANKS TO CBA’S MANY GENEROUS DONORS Barbara O. Miller Memorial Scholarship Ben and Martha Simmons Scholarship Beta Gamma Sigma Scholarship Beverly Grace (Ward) Spencer Memorial Scholarship Building Owners and Managers Association Scholarship Building Owners and Managers Association-Stephen M. Cary Scholarship Bun Song Lee Scholarship C. Glenn Lewis Scholarship C. Marsh Bull Honors Scholarship in Marketing CBA Student and Faculty Excellence Scholarship Charles and Gloria Billingsley Scholarship Charles T. and Denise A. Olson Scholarship CMs A Cut Above Scholarship Dean and Maria Jacobsen Scholarship Dean John Lucas Marketing Scholarship Dean’s Scholarship Delaine R. and Dorothy M. Donohue Excellence Scholarship Dr. James J. Conway Memorial Scholarship Dr. Roger P. and Jeannine K. Sindt Scholarship Duffy Family UNO CBA Scholars Academy Scholarship Ed Belgrade Scholarship Emma Weibel Scholarship Ernest and Joyce Kenyon Scholarship in Public Accounting Esther Gehr Jepsen Young Entrepreneur Scholarship Financial Executive International Scholarship Frank L. Mansell Scholarship FrankelZacharia LLC Scholarship/Fellowship Fund Gary Penisten Talent Endowment Scholarship Genius of Buffett Scholarship H. Steve Anderson MBA Fellowship Herb Sklenar Scholarship Hoenshell Leadership and Scholars Scholarship
Hollis and Helen Baright Scholarship Horace Wu and Kate King Wu Accounting Scholarship Horace Wu and Kate King Wu International Scholarship Jack Haley Scholarship presented by DEI Communities Jack W. and Diane M. Williams Scholarship James C. Horejs Economics Scholarship Jaksich Family MACC Fellowship John A. and Phyllis S. Jeter Accounting Scholarship John and Mary Schleiger Accounting Scholarship/ Fellowship Jon Guinn Scholarship/Fellowship Fund presented by Lutz & Company P.C. Karla J. Stowe Memorial Scholarship/Fellowship Karla J. Stowe MACC Fellowship Keith V. Kiernan Scholarship Laura Gogan Memorial Scholarship Lucille Gannon Memorial Scholarship Lynn A. Stephenson Memorial Scholarship Magid Family Real Estate Scholarship Major Thomas A. Spencer Business Scholarship Mark and Frances Grieb Accounting Scholarship MC “Mike” Biggerstaff Memorial Scholarship Natan and Hannah Schwalb Scholarship Nebraska Bankers Association Scholarship Nebraska Society of CPAs Accounting Scholarship NSCPA 5th Year Accounting Scholarship Ora C. and Fred B. Vomacka Memorial Accounting Scholarship Paul and Barbara Kistler Scholarship R. Craig Hoenshell Talent Scholarship Richard and Jeanne Morrison Nuts and Bolts Scholarship Richard E. Prince III Memorial Accounting Scholarship Robbins Family Finance/Investment Science Scholarship Robert Benecke Outstanding Finance Student Scholarship
Robert C. Stedman UNO College of Business Scholarship Robert E. Bernier Nebraska Business Development Center Graduate Assistant Fellowship Robert Kreitner and Margaret A. Sova Textbook Scholarship Robert Kreitner and Margaret A. Sova Tuition Scholarship Ron and Shirley Burns Leadership Scholarship Ronald J. Bauers Memorial Scholarship Rose Marie Baumgarten Accounting Scholarship RSM Accounting Scholarship/Fellowship Sam and Dorie Leftwich Scholarship Scott Copple Memorial Scholarship/Fellowship Securities America Inc. Fund for Academic Excellence Scholarship Society of Industrial and Office Realtors Scholarship Stanley J. & David M. Widman Memorial Scholarship Tal Anderson College of Business/Athletic Scholarship Tim and Traci Harrison Scholarship Timothy J. Jensen Accounting Scholarship Trever Lee Memorial Scholarship Union Pacific MBA Scholarship Union Pacific Scholarship UNO Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Scholarship Van Carl Deeb Entrepreneur Scholarship Virginia Pettengill Scholars Academy Scholarship Ward Y. Lindley and George T. Lindley Business Administration Scholarship Wayne M. Higley (Delta Sigma Pi) Scholarship William Brown Scholarship Willy Theisen Entrepreneur Scholarship Woodmen of the World Leadership Scholarship
To make a gift, contact Sue Kutschkau, CBA director of development: sue.kutschkau@nufoundation.org or 402.502.4109
UNO BUSINESS 2016–2017
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University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Business Administration Mammel Hall 6708 Pine Street Omaha NE 68182-0048
NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 301
402.554.2303 cba.unomaha.edu
OVER
90%
OF OUR RECENT GRADS LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN OMAHA
At UNO’s College of Business Administration, careers begin well before commencement. That’s why we call Omaha our campus and classroom—a creative partnership that prepares our graduates to add value at their companies and engage in their communities.
cba.unomaha.edu
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The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. 0785ADCBA0517