ELONBusiness MARTHA AND SPENCER LOVE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
2011-12 annual report
prepared for Alumni and Friends
ELONBUSINESS
Elon University President Leo M. Lambert - Interim Dean Scott Buechler, Ph.D. Associate Dean Cassandra DiRienzo, Ph.D.
Contents
Associate Dean for Graduate and Executive Programs William J. Burpitt, Ph.D. Published September Editor Nicole Filippo ‘04 Designer Carolyn Nelson Photographer Kim Walker Copy Editor Keren Rivas ‘04 Contributors Eric Townsend Rachel Vierling ‘12 Elon Business is published yearly for alumni and friends by the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Elon University 2075 Campus Box Elon, N.C. 27244-2020 336.278.6000 nfilippo@elon.edu elon.edu/elonbusiness
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2011-12 year in review
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A year of high marks
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MBA spotlight
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Chandler Family Professional Sales Center
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Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership
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Porter Family Professional Development Center
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Faculty accomplishments New faculty
Mission
To provide exceptional learning experiences that facilitate the transformation of students into knowledgeable, responsible business professionals and leaders who make a difference in their professions, their organizations and the global economy. Connect with us: Martha and Spencer Love School of Business @ElonBusiness Martha and Spencer Love School of Business
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Student success
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Expanding our global perspective
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Awards & accolades
Dear LSB Alumni and Friends,
Student success. Faculty achievements. Outstanding accomplishments from our centers. And gratifying recognition of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business by national ranking agencies. Academic year 2011-12 was a good one, as you will see in our fourth annual report. Our faculty were recognized for their outstanding scholarship and contributions to education and continued publishing relevant research. Our students achieved top results in national competitions against teams from elite colleges and universities. In our continued effort to better prepare students to do business across national borders in diverse societies, this past year the LSB increased its offerings of international programs, including new study abroad opportunities. We were honored to have Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus visit our campus in April. Besides graciously accepting the Elon University Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Professor Yunus shared with our students valuable insights about the power of socially responsible business practices. Preparing students to compete for quality positions will only become more important in the future; this past year we achieved a new level of excellence in our career services office. We added highly qualified staff to the Porter Family Professional Development Center who bring a new level of experience and creativity. Working closely with the university, we are investing in our future by investing in our students’ future. This will pay off nicely over the coming years. As we refine our strategies for achieving further excellence, we are delighted to welcome Dr. Raghu Tadepalli as the new dean of the Love School of Business.
He brings vast experience from working with great universities, including Babson College in Boston, a premier business school continuously ranked among the best in entrepreneurship and creative curriculum, and Xavier University, an institution that has much in common with Elon. Great things await us under Dean Tadepalli’s leadership. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as interim dean of the LSB for the past year. The school continued its upward trajectory, as is evident in this report. Your support is critical in our efforts to advance; thank you for your contributions of time, financial resources, ideas and more, and best wishes for the coming year.
Scott Buechler, Ph.D. 2011-12 Interim Dean, Martha and Spencer Love School of Business
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The year in review
Elon Business Fellows in New York City
JUNE John G. Currin, Jr., presi-
dent and chief executive officer of Alamance Regional Medical Center and ARMC Healthcare, received the Frank S. Holt, Jr. Business Leadership Award, Elon’s highest honor for business leadership. The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business established the Holt Award to recognize a local citizen whose contributions to business and the community reflect the same progressive, visionary leadership exemplified by the award’s namesake.
ing David Beahm Designs, Omnicom, Mainstay Investments, New York Life, Credit Suisse, BNY Mellon and UBS.
OCTOBER Jeff Casullo ’09 of Deloitte Consulting, Carl Hairston ’11 of ADP, Claire Tamer ’11 of IBM and Betty Thayer ’80 of Boy-
nization for management in the U.S. During the ceremony, SIE national executive board member Art Rasher presented the chapter’s charter, and Industrial Paper Products CEO Jack R. Lindley ’56 P’83 served as the keynote speaker.
den UK Executive Search spoke at the annual LSB alumni panel discussion during Homecoming weekend. They shared career advice and personal insights about how their Elon experiences prepared them for life after graduation. The LSB
JULY Issues in Political Economy, the under-
graduate research journal published jointly by the economics departments at Elon and the University of Mary Washington, published its 20th anniversary volume. The senior editorial staff included Kevin Sheridan ’11, Micah Boomer ’11 and Zachary Gillis ’12. Faculty mentors were Steve DeLoach of Elon and Steven A. Greenlaw of Mary Washington.
SEPTEMBER Beta Alpha Psi hosted its 10th annual Meet and Greet, connecting account-
ing and finance students with 25 firms, including KPMG, Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Twenty-one Business Fellows and four faculty members traveled to New York City to visit the New York Stock Exchange and several firms, includ[2]
FEBRUARY Mark White P’13, chief operating of-
Silver Anniversary Reception followed
the discussion. The Chandler Family Professional Sales Center hosted its fall Sales Meet and Greet to provide networking and ca-
reer opportunities to students interested in marketing and sales careers. Companies in attendance included ADP, New York Life, Oracle and Red Ventures.
NOVEMBER Twenty-four students were inducted into Elon’s newly formed chapter of Sigma Iota Epsilon, the premier fraternal orga-
ficer at SAP and member of the LSB Board of Advisors, visited Elon as part of the LSB Executive-in-Residence program. He shared career advice with students, visited classes to speak about SAP and conducted mock interviews. Elon’s Financial Management Association sponsored the Careers in Financial Services panel discussion as part of the university’s Professional Discovery Week. Panelists included Linda Erickson of Erickson Advisors, Jeff Blaser of Blaser Investment Management Group LLC, Tom McGowen
of Stout, Stuart, McGowen & King LLP, and Lou Pierce IV, CLU, ChFC. Lowe’s Executive Vice President of Merchandising and visiting LSB Executive-in-Residence Robert Gfeller, Jr.
spoke with students about marketing, merchandising and management, as well as the importance of finding a work-life balance. Marine biologist Arsenio Rodriguez gave an enterprise presentation on planetary sustainability and consciousness. The visit was sponsored by General Studies, the Liberal Arts Forum, the LSB Principles of Responsible Management Education initiative (PRME) and Voices of
Discovery. Renowned economist and LSB
Management graduate course and Human Resource Management undergraduate course as part of the LSB Executivein-Residence program. He spoke about Deloitte’s human capital sector, his professional journey and the consulting industry. The Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and the LSB presented the Elon University Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership to Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus in an
Executive-in-Residence David Blanchflower P’13 spoke about austerity mea-
sures and their impact on the European economy to a packed LaRose Digital Theatre. The presentation was cosponsored by the LSB and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Chandler Family Professional Sales Center’s spring Meet and Greet. Com-
panies in attendance included E&J Gallo Winery, EMC, Paycom and Piper Enterprise Solutions. Joe Villani P’13, USS chief engineer and vice president of Lockheed Martin, visited campus as an LSB Executive-inResidence to share his knowledge of project management and international business experience in select 400-level courses. Sigma Iota Epsilon and the Department of Management organized Manage Your Future, a one-day event to address the complexities of searching for and securing a job. Topics covered included how to identify the ideal job, incorporate a social media strategy in the job search, negotiate a contract and take advantage of the first 100 days at a new job.
MAY The Chandler Family Professional Sales Center hosted its annual Professional Sales Dinner, where 48 students received sales certificates. Karl Sherrill G’08 was the keynote speaker. Lindsay Richardson ’12 received the Earl D. Honeycutt, Jr. Sales Leadership Award
sponsored by ADP. Forty undergraduate and MBA students and three faculty members were inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society. Britt Carter, vice president and general manager at FleishmanHillard Inc. and a member of the LSB Board of Advisors, was the chapter hon-
MARCH More than 60 students attended the
of Faazah Inc. and Mark Saad of Feelgoodz LLC, spoke to students about how to start their own ventures. The panel discussion was part of the C. Ashton Newhall endowed lecture series.
April 4 ceremony. Read more on page 7. The LSB, Beta Alpha Psi, Beta Gamma Sigma and PRME initiative co-sponsored the Workplace Ethics: Impact and Risks of Social Networking panel discussion. Panelists included Sam Burke ’89, Patricia Mulvaney and Todd Topolka, all with PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Sam Upton ’12. Professor Gowan moderated the panel. The LSB held its annual awards program, in which 15 academic achievement awards and 36 endowed scholarships were presented to students. Entrepreneurs Brent Gilmore ’10 and Katie Pietrowski ’10, both with FitCampus.com, along with Ennette Kemp 2012 LSB Academic Achievement Award recipients
oree and guest speaker. Linda Poulson, chair and associate professor of accounting, received the inaugural Professor of the Year award. The Business Fellows Class of 2012 was recognized in a ceremony on May 18. Former Interim Dean Scott Buechler presented medallions to 22 graduating Fellows.
APRIL Dave Potts ’95, senior manager of hu-
man capital at Deloitte Consulting, guest lectured in Professor of Management Mary Gowan’s Topics in Applied [3]
A year of
high marks
Love School of Business earns top-50 ranking for its undergraduate program In Bloomberg Businessweek’s “The Best Undergraduate B-Schools” list, the Love School of Business was ranked #43 among the nation’s top business programs. This year’s ranking was 17 spots higher than last year’s, when Elon debuted in the survey at #60. “This top-50 ranking is a testament to the hard work by the students, faculty and staff of the Love School of Business, who are constantly striving to reach new levels of excellence,” said Steven House, Elon’s provost and vice president of academic affairs. [4]
The business school also earned an “A” for quality of teaching and an “A+” for facilities and services. Bloomberg Businessweek identifies the nation’s top undergraduate business programs using a methodology that includes nine measures of student satisfaction, post-graduation outcomes and academic quality. This year, 142 schools were invited to participate in the process and 124 were ranked. “A rise in the rankings such as this is extremely gratifying,” said Scott Buechler, former LSB interim dean, “mainly because it confirms that we are doing the right things in the LSB. We will continue to devote our efforts to the intellectual and professional development of our students and hopefully will continue to see similarly gratifying results in the rankings of the national media.”
Elon MBA ranked #1 in the nation by Bloomberg Businessweek Bloomberg Businessweek named Elon’s part-time MBA program the nation’s best, with top scores in student satisfaction, p o s t M B A outcomes and “A+” grades in teaching quality and curriculum. The 2011 ranking is up from a #6 ranking in 2009. According to Bloom-
berg Businessweek’s “The Best Business Schools” report, 74 percent of Elon MBA graduates reported a salary increase, with an average increase of 26.8 percent. The average completion rate for the program is 92 percent. The average class size is 20, and the caliber of classmates in the program is rated at “A.” The program is rated best for both job changers and career switchers. Bloomberg Businessweek surveys students about all aspects of their academic experience, and the results are combined with data on average GMAT scores, average student work experience, percentage of teachers who are tenured, average class size in core business classes, number of business electives available to part-timers and the percentage of students who ultimately complete the program.
Elon MBA named nation’s best administered program The Princeton Review ranked Elon the #1 “best administered” school and also ranked Elon #5 in the “best campus facilities” category in the 2012 “Best 294 Business Schools.” The annual guide of top graduate business programs is based on data provided by schools and a survey of 19,000 business school students across the nation.
Q&A & &A MBA SPOTLIGHT
with Bill Burpitt, associate dean for graduate and executive programs
Q. A.
What goes into making a #1 MBA program?
First of all, continual refinement in the program – always looking to meet the continually changing needs of our students and employing firms. For instance, just a few years ago, the term “organizational analytics” was not part of the business vocabulary. We teach it today. Another important element is the emphasis we put on building a community of students. We want our part-time program to be as personal and engaging as a full-time program. We organize
MBA 501, the first course taken in the program, so that everyone entering the cohort knows everyone else. We also offer a range of social events including summer “pig pickin’s,” tailgate picnics and baseball games. Another very important factor in our continued success is the excellent customer service provided by our MBA coordinator, Judy Dulberg. From the moment someone enters the program until they walk across the stage, Judy delivers highly personalized, prompt attention to the needs of our students. She knows
Ali-Imran Bawangaonwala is the 2012 recipient of the Richard H. Behrman Award, presented to the most outstanding graduating MBA student. He is a product-marketing manager at RF Micro Devices in Greensboro, N.C.
“I feel confident about the decision-making and analytical tools I learned during the course of my MBA. I am a firm believer that an MBA is a must-have to become a good leader.”
who they are, where they work, their class schedules and all about their family.
Q.
How does the Bloomberg Businessweek ranking align with your vision of the MBA program?
A.
This ranking is a great affirmation of the work we have been doing to drive the Elon MBA to the highest levels of excellence. We are especially gratified to be ranked #1 in the student survey results. We are a studentcentered program and we are thrilled to have such a vote of confidence from the professionals we are working with. We’re also very proud of the “A+” grades earned by the faculty who have devoted their energies and talents to building the nation’s best program.
Q. A.
What future plans do you have for the program?
The MBA program needs to grow in order to maintain its position in a very crowded MBA market. Such growth can come about in any number of ways: by adding a branch location to reach other population groups, developing specialized non-MBA graduate business programs, or developing a parallel online program. The entire market for delivering graduate education is evolving and to remain relevant and competitive, we need to change with it.
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Chandler Family Professional Sales Center
The Chandler Family Center hosted two successful Meet and Greets for recruiters and students this past year.
Director Earl Honeycutt retires In the past year, the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center saw its program recognized among the best in the nation, expanded its partners program from three companies to seven, presented 48 students with certificates for successfully completing Elon’s sales track and coached students through three national sales competitions.
Elon named a top university for professional sales education Elon’s sales program was named a Top University Sales Program for the second year in a row by the Sales Education Foundation, a component of The Dayton Foundation nonprofit. The program, anchored by the Chandler Family Center, was selected based on its strong sales curriculum, university recognition and experiential learning component.
Center named full member of USCA The University Sales Center Alliance voted to approve the Chandler Family Center for full membership after reviewing the center’s staff, structure, curriculum, affiliation and quality. The center joined the USCA, a consortium of sales centers located in universities throughout the country, as an associate member in 2009 and is the only sales center to earn full membership in Virginia and the Carolinas.
Partner program grows Paycom, Piper Enterprise Solutions, The Select Group and the Tom James Company joined Dell, EMC and ADP as Chandler Family Center partners. These companies participate in a number of recruitment events at Elon, assist in developing the sales curriculum and help coach students for sales competitions.
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Earl Honeycutt joined Elon’s faculty as a professor of marketing in 2002. While at Elon, he served as the first director of the Chandler Family Center, received Elon University’s 2008 Distinguished Scholar Award and became the first Martha and Spencer Love Term Professor in 2011. In addition to being a prolific researcher, who has authored four books and more than 200 articles, Sharon Hodge, outgoing chair of the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, noted Honeycutt has been a supportive, collaborative and generous colleague. Honeycutt’s most memorable moments at Elon include the LSB’s accreditation from AACSB International, the opening of the Chandler Family Center and seeing how the center has grown “phenomenally” over the past four years. Honeycutt said he will miss working with students the most and offered them the following advice: “Select a career path for which you feel passion. You will be spending one-third of your life working, so do something that provides you with satisfaction. Also, don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Falling flat on your face is a great teacher when you understand why you failed and change to correct your shortcomings.” His post-Elon plans include relaxing, revising his sales management textbook, traveling with his wife, Laura, and spending time with his three grandchildren.
Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership
Throughout the year, the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership sponsored a number of activities to engage students in outof-class activities. These included Idea Launch Pad, a public forum where students share ideas for ventures; the C. Ashton Newhall endowed lecture series; and the awarding of the Elon University Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership. The Doherty Center also worked with the Student Entrepreneurial Enterprise Development (SEED) organization to coordinate Global Entrepreneurship Week at Elon, which concluded with the Elon Innovation Challenge, a creativity competition held in conjunction with the Stanford Global Innovation Tournament.
student organization (EMI), which was founded in 2009 by three business students and inspired by Yunus’ book, Creating a World Without Poverty. The group has taken on several projects, including supporting eight international small businesses through Kiva, a nonprofit organization that allows people to lend money through the Internet, and providing consulting support to three local businesses. Yunus encouraged the group to keep exploring possibilities to help those in need. He advised the students to first decide on an objective and put some thought into it before jumping into action. Only then they can start thinking about a solution, he said, adding that having an active imagination is an important tool during this process.
Entrepreneur spotlight: Student starts origami venture
l-r, Ed Doherty, Joan Doherty, Muhammad Yunus and Elon President Leo M. Lambert
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus receives entrepreneurship honor Social business pioneer Muhammad Yunus received the Elon University Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership during an April 4 ceremony. Sponsored by the Doherty Center and the LSB, the medal recognizes an entrepreneur who is a leader in his or her industry and who exemplifies the values of Elon University, including integrity, innovation and creativity, passion for lifelong learning, and commitment to building a dynamic community. Yunus founded the Grameen Bank in 1983, establishing a revolutionary microcredit system that allows the rural poor to secure small loans to be used for self-employment and to establish credit without requiring collateral. In 2006, he and the Grameen Bank received the Nobel Peace Prize. During his visit to Elon, Yunus took time to meet with the Doherty Scholars and the Elon Microfinance Initiative
When Elizabeth Greenberg ’14 discovered she could not bring flowers to a sick friend in the hospital – they may contain allergens that could cause complications for patients receiving care – she came up with an alternative gift. She made a floral arrangement out of pipe cleaners and paper with messages of encouragement tucked inside the petals. The favorable response her gift received led her to create Non-Scents Flowers, a company that sells origami flower arrangements with personal notes. Greenberg has worked with her mother to develop and market the business. She also sought counsel from Gary Palin, executive director of the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. They discussed market penetration and manufacturing strategies that would allow Greenberg to selffund the venture. “Through a Winter Term course (Global Entrepreneurship Ventures) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I was introduced to and fell in love with the ideas of entrepreneurship,” Greenberg says. “Since that course, I’ve declared a double major in marketing and entrepreneurship, and six months later, applied for an LLC for Non-Scents. Without the Love School of Business, particularly the Doherty Center, I don’t know how far I would have gotten with starting a new venture.” You can find more information about Greenberg’s venture at nonscentsflowers.com.
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Porter Family Professional Development Center
Jan Pogoria (l), director of internships, talks with Priyanka Sundaram ’14 (r) about internship possibilities.
The LSB continues to expand its professional development services and programming for its students. Through the Porter Family Professional Development Center, the school provides services and resources such as resume and cover letter development, professional transition courses, mock interview preparation and targeted career fairs with select employers. The Porter Center is staffed by Jan Pagoria, director of internships, and Jane Mehringer, associate director of career services, both of whom joined Elon this year. The center, which is endowed by a gift from Elon trustee David Porter P’11 and his family, works in conjunction with Elon’s Student Professional Development Center, home to the Career Services and Corporate and Employer Relations offices.
School holds inaugural LSB Connect Conference The Porter Center and the LSB held the inaugural LSB Connect Conference in fall 2011. The all-day, off-campus event was designed to equip second-year students with skills necessary to compete in a demanding workforce. “The LSB Connect Conference is one of the outcomes of conversations we’ve had over the past two or three years about the best ways to get students on track for professional development fairly early in their academic career,” says Scott Buechler, former interim dean. The conference included plenary sessions, an etiquette luncheon, breakout sessions exploring career opportunities in various industries and a networking reception with business professionals. “The sessions were extremely informative,” said Austin Rhoads ’14, an international business and marketing major. “I learned how to improve my speaking skills, answer questions in an interview and network.” [8]
Alex Dempsey ‘12 (l) and Jane Mehringer (r), associate director of career services, discuss professional development opportunities.
“Through competitions, student organizations and interactions with faculty, Elon has offered me the best experience I could have imagined.These experiences have strengthened my interpersonal skills, which will be extremely important in my future when working with clients and cohorts.” Alex Dempsey ’12 graduated from Elon with degrees in accounting and finance. During his college career, he was a member of several honor societies including Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership) and the Order of Omega (Greek leadership). Dempsey also was involved in the service organizations Habitat for Humanity and Students Helping Animals Regain Equality (SHARE), Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, Business Fellows, Beta Alpha Psi and the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute Research Challenge. He worked as a student ambassador in the Porter Family Professional Development Center and completed internships with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Haverford Trust Company. He now works at PricewaterhouseCoopers as an advisory associate.
New Faculty Cindy Conn, assistant professor of business
communication, received a Ph.D. in organizational communication from Purdue University. Before joining Elon, Conn held positions at Texas Tech University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Her areas of research include business communication and applied learning.
Faculty Faculty Accomplishments Alexander Yap, associate professor of management information systems, authored Information Systems for Global Financial Markets: Emerging Developments and Effects. In his debut book, Yap sheds light on the systems and technologies that automatically execute transactions based on complex formulas involving prices and trends. Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management John Burbridge contributed content to one chapter, and Professor of Finance Wonhi Synn and Associate Professor of Finance Robert Pavlik served on the editorial board of the project. Art Cassill, Wesley R. Elingburg Professor
of Accounting, was named the 2012 Outstanding Educator of the Year by the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants.The award recognizes a member’s outstanding performance and contributions to the field of accounting education. Betsy Stevens, associate professor of busi-
ness administration, received a citation award from the Journal of Business Ethics for her article, “An Analysis of Corporate Ethical Code Studies: Where Do We Go from Here?” The journal included the article, which was originally published in 1994, in its list of “citation classics.”
Beth McAlhany, lecturer of marketing, received a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She previously served as the director of merchandising and director of marketing at Kindermusik International. Amy Moorman, senior lecturer of business
law, received a J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law and an MBA from Indiana University. Prior to joining Elon, Moorman taught at Creighton University, the University of Memphis and Doane College. Her research interests include environmental law and business ethics. Robert Moorman, Frank S. Holt, Jr. Pro-
fessor of Business Leadership, received a Ph.D. in organizational behavior from Indiana University. Previously, he was the Robert Daugherty Chair in Management, associate dean for graduate business programs and founding director of the Anna Tyler Waite Center for Leadership at Creighton University. Moorman also taught at West Virginia University and the University of Otago in New Zealand. His research interests include the study of leader integrity, work group cooperation, organizational justice and the performance of organizational citizenship behaviors. Irana Scott, assistant professor of account-
Matthew Valle, professor of management,
received the Best Reviewer Award for 2012 from Career Development International. In 2011, CDI used more than 100 reviewers, in addition to members of the editorial board, to review submitted manuscripts. From this pool, Valle was one of two reviewers selected for this recognition.
ing, received a Ph.D. from the University of Memphis. Scott previously taught at the University of Memphis, James Madison University, University of Virginia’s College at Wise and Averett University. Her research interests include auditing, cash flows, revenue manipulation, revenue recognition and fraud discovery. Scott is a CPA in the state of Virginia.
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success student
“It is fantastic to see how these premier competitions really do transform the way students view themselves as competent professionals
with high level analytical, problem solving and communication skills. This experience not only helps our students integrate knowledge from many different courses into solving real world cases, but also opens up for them new international and professional networks with top schools and companies participating in and sponsoring these competitions.” —Christy Benson, assistant professor of business law and faculty mentor
Beta Alpha Psi receives Gold chapter status Elon’s chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, the honorary organization for financial information students and professionals, was awarded “Gold chapter” status during the national organization’s annual conference held in Denver. Elon was one of seven chapters to achieve the honor, which is the highest award level a chapter can receive. The award is given to chapters who continually demonstrate and exemplify the highest values of Beta Alpha Psi: leadership, scholastic success, lifelong learning and development, service, and ethical behavior. Patty Cox, faculty advisor and assistant professor of accounting, attended the conference with eight students.
“The National Sales Challenge was a great opportunity to compete with top sales students from across the country as well as network with recruiters. This competition has given me Lindsay Richardson ‘12 and Allison Kutz ‘12
valuable experience that will help prepare me for a future
Elon students place first at National Sales Challenge Seniors Lindsay Richardson and Allison Kutz took first place at the 2011 Russ Berrie Institute National Sales Challenge at William Patterson University in New Jersey. Richardson placed first in the sales call role-play portion of the competition, which involved engaging in a 15-minute meeting with a
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business executive. Kutz competed against 54 students to win the speedselling event where students met individually with executives to give two-minute pitches on why he or she should be hired. Richardson and Kutz were accompanied to the competition by their faculty coach Michael Rodriguez, assistant professor of marketing, and students Chris Antal ’12 and Cody Lance ’12.
in professional sales.” —Lindsay Richardson ’12 A marketing major, Richardson received the 2012 Earl D. Honeycutt, Jr. Sales Leadership Award. She was the president of Pi Sigma Epsilon, a professional fraternal organization in sales, marketing and management, a Business Fellow, and member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority and Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society. She works at Oracle as an associate sales consultant.
“My time in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, especially the entrepreneurship program, has been instrumental to my progression in terms of business concepts and presentation skills.” —Alex Carberry ’12 During his time at Elon, Carberry, a Doherty Scholar, served as vice president of communications for Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, president of SEED and president of the Interfraternity Council. He graduated with degrees in entrepreneurship and computer information systems and works at Credit Suisse as an IT analyst. Dalhousie Business Ethics Case Competition team
Elon wins international business ethics competition Alex Carberry ’12, Oliver Goddu ’13, Michael Small ’14 and Nick Unkovic ’14 won first place at the Dalhousie
Business Ethics Case Competition in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The competition, hosted by Dalhousie University, consisted of three rounds that tested knowledge of all aspects of business. Elon’s team used core business curriculum and the Elon Honor Code in their case recommendations. Assistant Professor of Business Law Christy Benson served as faculty advisor. This was Elon’s first appearance at the competition, which included teams from Purdue University, Queens University, University of Alberta and University of Prince Edward Island.
Elon finishes in top eight at national business ethics competition The Elon team of Stephen Azar ’12 and David Krohe ’12 was named East Region Runner-up at the Eller Ethics Case Competition. Assistant Professor Christy Benson coached the team. The “invitation only” competition, hosted by the University of Arizona, exposed students to a case involving the mortgage industry in Arizona and a hypothetical family.Teams were tasked with analyzing the ethical, financial and legal considerations involved, and
creating an ethical solution based on their analysis.
“It’s easy to talk about problems, harder to create viable solutions. I definitely respect the business leaders and policy makers struggling to create those solutions after going through the process with my teammate.” —David Krohe ’12 A management major, Krohe was the treasurer of Elon’s Martial Arts Club, served as the resident assistant for the Business Learning Community and volunteered as an Elon Ambassador for the admissions office. He is attending Officer Candidate School for the U.S. Navy.
Elon places second in College Fed Challenge Jordan Duffey ’13, Thomas Gutierrez ’13, Brian McGerigle ’12, George Piland ’13, Zachary Power ’12, Charles Rice ’13, Justin Wanner ’13 and Thomas Whyel ’13 placed second
in the regional College Fed Challenge. The competition, held at the
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Charlotte branch office, is a simulation of an Open Federal Market Committee meeting. Students were tasked to undertake research, analyze data on current economic conditions and decide on an appropriate action for monetary policy. This was Elon’s first year participating in the annual competition. Economics professors Jennifer Platania and Vitaliy Strohush coached the team.
Student team finishes third in NASCAR Kinetics competition Juniors Ryan Vet, Eric Carroll, Alyssa King, Michelle Nadler and Kevin Simon placed third in the NASCAR
Kinetics marketing contest, which culminated with a race viewing party at ACE Speedway in Alamance County, N.C. The team represented a collaborative effort between the LSB and Senior Lecturer of Operations and Supply Chain Management Coleman Rich, and the Department of Sport & Event Management, with Assistant Professor Tony Weaver and Associate Professor Hal Walker leading the SEM students. In addition to the viewing party, students participated in a case study about Michael Waltrip Racing, Aaron’s, and social media, as well as a case study
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Elon’s SIFE named regional champion
CFA Institute Research Challenge team
about how to incorporate Dodge into the NASCAR realm more efficiently.
Elon participates in CFA Institute Research Challenge state finals Seniors Andrea Brooke, Alex Dempsey, Andrew Matz, Brad Schwartz and Greg Speake surpassed teams from Duke University, Wake Forest University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to compete in the state finals of the 2012 CFA Institute Research Challenge. The students, who were mentored by Assistant Professor of Finance Neeraj Gupta, were tasked with analyzing RF Micro Devices Inc. and presenting their recommendations for a one-year stock price target.
Economics major wins best paper at national meeting Senior Grace Foster’s honors thesis,
“The Effects of Single-Sex Education on Short- and Long-Term Extracurricular Participation,” was named best paper of the undergraduate sessions at the 2012 Midwest Economics Association annual meeting. Her findings suggest that single- sex schooling is beneficial to a student’s choice to participate in extracurricular activities in high school and in college. Foster worked under the guidance of economics professors Katy Rouse and Steve DeLoach. She also presented her paper at the Eastern Economics Association annual conference, Elon’s
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Spring Undergraduate Research Forum and the Duke Economics Department Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Elon’s chapter of Students in Free Enterprise was named a regional champion and rookie of the year at the SIFE USA Regional Competition in Charlotte, N.C. Teams presented the results of their community outreach projects to panels of business leaders and were evaluated based on how successful they were at using business concepts to improve the quality of life and standard of living for those in need. Elon’s presenters were Kyle Cassaday ’13, Liz Jester ’14, Sean McCormick ’14, Andrew Somers ’12, Kelvin Walker ’13 and Christopher Welch ’13. Jeff Baldetti ’15, Andrew Ganim ’13 and Hope Williams ’13
also attended the competition along with chapter advisor Sarah Thomas ’05 G’09, director of undergraduate programs for the LSB.
Students travel to Canada for JMUCC Scott Bishopric ’14, Liz Jester ’14, David Ordog ’14 and Christian True ’13 used their knowledge across
a great way for me
several business disciplines to analyze real world business cases and present strategic solutions at the John Molson Undergraduate Case Competition in Montreal. The Elon team came within just a few points of entering the finals. Assistant Professor Christy Benson coached the team.
to get feedback from
Elon MBA presents at SABR
“I’ve been able to present my research at three venues outside of Elon, which has been
economists at other schools.” —Grace Foster ’12 Foster graduated with a degree in economics. While at Elon, she was involved in Sigma Kappa sorority serving as vice president of finance, the women’s club rugby team, Elon’s Honors Program and Catholic Campus Ministry. She works for JP Morgan Chase in the corporate analyst development program.
Jeff Colgan G’12, Mike Kopczynski G’13, Tripp Pendergast G’12 and Ben Tario G’12 attended the 2012 Society
for American Baseball Research Analytics Conference and participated in the SABR Case Competition, which involved analyzing and presenting recommendations regarding a baseball operation’s case problem. This is the first time Elon has attended SABR. The team was accompanied by their faculty coach, Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management John Burbridge.
Elon team examines nonprofit at Georgetown competition In Elon’s first appearance at the McDonough-Hilltop Business Strategy Challenge, Stephen Azar ’12, Alex Carberry ’12, David Krohe ’12 and Brian Serow ’12 analyzed the challenges facing local nonprofit StreetSense and recommended improvement strategies. The invitation-only competition was hosted by Georgetown University. Assistant Professor Christy Benson coached the team.
Senior competes at World Collegiate Sales Open After successfully competing against 200 students in the World Collegiate Sales Open’s first three rounds, senior marketing major Jennifer Small advanced to the finals where she placed third in the reverse job fair event. Assistant Professor Michael Rodriguez served as Small’s faculty advisor. The WCSO is hosted by Northern Illinois University and includes competitions in: voice mail, appointment call, elevator pitch, reverse job fair and telephone sales call.
Seniors represent Elon at NCSC Seniors Cody Lance and Brittney Baglino competed in the National Collegiate Sales Competition, hosted by Kennesaw State University. Out of 130 students, Lance placed among the top 16
and Baglino finished in the top 30. Assistant Professor Michael Rodriguez served as faculty coach. He was assisted by student coaches Lindsay Richardson ‘12, Kyle Schoemaker ’12, Patrick Reynolds ’12, Zach Henderson ’12 and Julie Rodriguez ’15.
“Being an active member of the Elon Sales Team for three years has been such a rewarding and beneficial experience. Through extensive training, preparation, as well as the competitions, I was able to prepare for life beyond Elon. There is no better preparation for a future in sales than to participate in role plays and real-world situations.” —Cody Lance ’12 While at Elon, Lance was a member of Pi Sigma Epsilon and volunteer for ELONTHON, Elon’s Dance Marathon benefiting Duke Children’s Hospital. After graduating with a degree in marketing, Lance joined Reckitt Benckiser’s sales and marketing graduate program.
Support Transformative Learning through the LSB Annual Fund Annual gifts from alumni and friends sustain excellence in the Love School of Business and support the work of outstanding students and faculty scholars. Combined with university resources, private gifts play a vital role in enabling students to participate in high-profile competitions and faculty to present their research at professional conferences, strengthening the reputation of the Love School of Business and the entire university. To make a gift to the Love School of Business today, visit www.elon.edu/makeagift. For more information about supporting the LSB, contact Brian Baker, executive director of major and planned giving, at bbaker7@elon.edu or 336-278-7453.
National Collegiate Sales Competition team
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Expanding our global perspective
T
oday’s business school graduates need not only a strong knowledge of business concepts, but also cross-cultural awareness and experiences to successfully operate in a complex global business environment. To better prepare students to do business across national borders in diverse societies, the Love School of Business launched two new majors – international business and international economics – and its first dual-degree program this past fall. “Like the rest of Elon, internationalization is important in the LSB,” says Thomas Tiemann, Jefferson Pilot Professor of Economics and director of dual-degree programs. “There was a large demand from students for international business and the economists decided that we could have a strong international program, too. Our dual-degree program provides a top-of-the-line program for those who want it.”
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Dual degrees, dual impact The LSB formed a partnership with the top-ranked European School of Business (ESB) at Reutlingen University in Germany to offer a business dual-degree program that allows students to receive degrees from both institutions. Participating Elon students spend their first two years on campus and their last two years in Germany, which includes a semesterlong, full-time internship. Upon completion of the program, they will be awarded a B.S.B.A. in International Business from Elon and a B.Sc. in International Management from ESB, and have the knowledge and skills needed for a future leadership position in international business and management with companies operating globally. “We want the students to be truly fluent in two languages and be comfortable in the foreign business world and culture,” Tiemann says, adding that beginning fall 2012, the LSB will also offer a dual-degree program with Reims School of Management in France. Ryan Griggs ’14, Elon’s first student to travel to Germany to complete the program, will begin his studies at ESB this fall. He hopes the program will help him “build a strong professional network, learn the ways of various European cultures and work to master international business relations.” To learn more about the dual-degree programs at Elon, visit www.elon.edu/dualbusiness.
Business German program: a bold initiative
“The Indo-Gulf course showed us how much potential there is in the world. Dubai was a small desert community 30 years ago, and is now a thriving business hub in the Middle East. On the other hand, India has the potential to become a major player in the global economy, but they are weighed down by government corruption and a lack of infrastructure. There is so much potential in India, and I will be paying close attention to see what happens in the next
The Department of Foreign Languages collaborated with the LSB to create the Business German program to forge connections between study of the German language and post-graduation career opportunities. Program directors David Neville and Scott Windham, both German professors, did a “soft” rollout of the program last fall, which attracted 15 students. “Most students tell us that they see the program as being a valuable addition to their education, one that increases their chances of employment after graduating by equipping them with the linguistic and cultural skills necessary to manage a multicultural and global work environment,” few years.” Neville says. The program features an online component as well as biweekly labs to provide face-to-face support. At the end of the program, students are given the opportunity to take the Zertifikat Deutsch für den Beruf, an internationally recognized examination that tests the level of German language ability for proof of German business language proficiency. More information about this program can be found at www.elon.edu/businessgerman.
IBC organizes 1st Elon International Career Conference The newly formed International Business Club held the inaugural Elon International Career Conference on March 1 in Moseley Center. The event included sessions on the impact of international careers, international business and global supply chains, the Department of Commerce and international trade, the role of nongovernmental organizations abroad, and living and
working in a foreign country. “Students need to be open to the very real possibility of working in a foreign country,” says Austin Rhoads ’14, the event’s co-director. “The Elon ICC was an opportunity for students to network with professionals and gain a better understanding of what an international career truly entails.” IBC President Elizabeth Larson ’13 says the student organization was formed to “provide a forum for students to enhance their education with a more global perspective.”
Students study abroad in Vietnam, Turkey, India and more
The LSB sent students on several study abroad courses during Winter Term, including three new programs: Business and Culture of Vietnam, —Laura Bondi ’12 EUROMED: Melting Pot or Frying Pan? and Business and Culture of the Indo-Gulf. During the Business and Culture of Vietnam course, students visited Hanoi, Hue, Hoi, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City to learn about Vietnam’s political and economical development. EUROMED: Melting Pot or Frying Pan? focused on the impact the European Union has on societies in the EUROMED region, specifically Turkey and Greece. Students traveled to India and Dubai for the Business and Culture of the Indo-Gulf course, which explored the opportunities and challenges that come with a better-connected world and the impact this has on developing countries. A returning course, Business in the Caribbean, explored the impact of globalization on the culture and environment of the Cayman Islands. Additionally, first-year Business Fellows traveled to Krakow, Poland, to explore determinants of economic growth while Elon MBA students traveled to China to visit U.S. and foreign-owned firms.
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Awards & accolades Alumni of Excellence Alumni Association Awards Ten outstanding alumni were honored for professional achievements, community service and contributions to Elon during the annual Alumni Association Awards Ceremony held during Homecoming, including the following LSB alums:
Dean’s Awards The following faculty and staff members were honored for their service during the LSB annual awards ceremony in April.
W. Thomas Amick ’69 P’13 - Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award
Patty Cox, assistant professor of accounting, received the
Chief executive officer, Discovery Laboratories, Inc.; member, Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Board of Advisors
Dean’s Award for Exemplary Service-Faculty. Linda Poulson, chair and associate professor of accounting,
received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Student Professional Development Center staff received the Dean’s Award for Exemplary Service-External. Shannon Kimball, program assistant, received the Dean’s
Award for Exemplary Service-Staff. Katy Rouse, assistant professor of economics, received the
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship.
Reconnect
with us and each other! The Elon Alumni Association’s new comprehensive online directory is now available, providing a substantial resource for personal and professional networking among the LSB’s graduates. The database is password-protected and offers basic and advanced search options to help alumni reconnect. The service also allows alumni to quickly update their contact information with the Office of Alumni Engagement. Visit www.elon.edu/alumni and click the “Alumni Directory Register/Login” button on the right side to access the database. For questions, please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at (877) 784-3566 or alumni@elon.edu. [ 16 ]
Samuel L. Burke ’89 - Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award
Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers; member, Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Board of Advisors Jay A. Hendrickson ’71 - Distinguished Service to Elon Award
Member, Elon University Board of Trustees Zachary T. Walker III ’60 - Distinguished Service to Elon Award
Member, Elon University Board of Trustees
Top 10 Under 10 Awards The following LSB alumni were honored during the Elon Alumni Association’s Top 10 Under 10 awards ceremony held March 31. They were recognized for their professional success, community service and support to Elon. James Black ‘09, U.S. Army Specialist, psychological opera-
tions Jay Perry ’03, Owner, Seal Pros, Inc. and Pothole Pros, Inc.
“Top 40 Under 40” J. Karl Sherrill, Jr. G’08 was named to The Business Journal’s
annual list of the Piedmont Triad (N.C.) region’s “Top 40 Leaders Under 40.” Sherrill leads the manufacturing specialty group at Senn Dunn Insurance, serves on boards for the LSB and Chandler Family Professional Sales Center and in leadership roles for the Boy Scouts and Jamestown United Methodist Church.
Board of Advisors 2011-12
Louis M. “Mike” Riccio ’85
William S. Creekmuir P’09 P’10
La-Z-Boy Incorporated
Chair of the Board of Advisors Clarity Advisors, LLC
Jamie Ridout G’13
W. Thomas Amick ’69 P’13
Graduate Representative Durham Regional Hospital
Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Advisory Board
Department of Accounting Advisory Board
W. Thomas Amick ’69 P’13
Advisory Board Chair
Advisory Board Chair Discovery Laboratories, Inc.
Smith Leonard
Raj Ananthanpillai P’11
Stout Stuart McGowen & King, LLP
James Mitchell IV
Discovery Laboratories, Inc.
J. Karl Sherrill, Jr. G’08
Samuel L. Burke ’89
Senn Dunn Insurance
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
Brian Serow ’12
Britt W. Carter
Undergraduate Representative
Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.
Jay B. Shipowitz P’12
Charles R. Clohan ’98
Ace Cash Express
Dittmar Company
John H. Slayton
John G. Currin, Jr.
The Trust Company of the South
Joan Doherty P’07
Alamance Regional Medical Center
Donald A. Dibble
Bernadette M. Spong ‘78 G’07 P’09 P’10
Mitch Javidi
Lincoln Financial Group
Rex Healthcare
IBM Nanophrades
John S. Gaither P’09
Derek B. Steed
John R. Maynard P’15
Reichhold, Inc.
Wishart Norris Henninger & Pittman, P.A.
Tarheel Research, Ltd.
Donald S. Galante P’08
David A. Stevens ’81
Duffie McKee
Gala Capital Management
SunTrust Bank, Central Carolina Region
Community One Bank
Michael T. Gannaway P’01
Peter L. Tourtellot
Joan Siefert Rose
VF Corporation
Anderson Bauman Tourtellot Vos
Charles D. Greene
Linda T. Weavil
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
AT&T North Carolina
Elon University
Rhonda Skiles
Captain Thomas J. Harper (Retired)
Mark R. White P’13
Bernard Robinson & Co., LLP
SAP America
Frank S. Holt III
C. Thomas Steele, Jr.
Mac Williams
Wishart Norris Henninger & Pittman, P.A.
Alamance County Area Chamber of Commerce
Bill Wilkinson ‘85
Holt Sublimation Printing and Products Co.
Nicholas Igdalsky ’99 Mattco Inc./Pocono Raceway
Elmer D. “Eddie” Yost
Jeffrey W. LeRose
Prudential Yost & Little Realty
InfoZen, Inc.
Greg Chabon Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC
Ed Doherty P’07 Doherty Enterprises, Inc.
Doherty Enterprises, Inc.
Council for Entrepreneurial Development
Linda Aldridge ’87 Neil Boswell ’01 IBM
Michele Cash ’84 Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
Susan Ezekiel Cobb Ezekiel Loy & Co., PA
Kenneth Hancock David Johnson
Apple, Bell, Johnson & Co., PA
Jonathan Kraftchick Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, LLP
Karla D. Munden Lincoln Financial Group
Ryan Rate ’06
Gilliam Coble & Moser
Research Triangle Software, Inc.
John R. Maynard P’15 Tarheel Research, Ltd.
Thomas D. McGowen, Jr.
Chandler Family Professional Sales Center Advisory Board
Stout Stuart McGowen & King, LLP
Traci Butler G’96
Judy C. Miller
LabCorp
RSVP Communications, Inc.
Bob Chandler
John T. Mollen P’12
Chandler Concrete
EMC Corporation
Michael T. Gannaway P’01
James A. Moncure II
VF Corporation
IBM
Kevin Kelly P’11
Brad Morton
UBS
LabCorp
James McCarthy ’95 G’04
Michael Nowak ’11
British Telecom
Teach for America
J. Karl Sherrill, Jr. G’08 Senn Dunn Insurance
The Love School of Business is accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Fewer than 5 percent of business schools worldwide have AACSB accreditation.
Nonprofit organization US postage PAID Permit No. 1 Elon, NC
Post Office Box 398 Elon, North Carolina 27244 336-278-6000 www.elon.edu/elonbusiness
Homecoming Weekend Oct. 19-21, 2012 Â The Love School of Business faculty, staff and students are excited to host returning alumni on Friday, Oct. 19 for the following events: 4 p.m. Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Alumni Panel Discussion LaRose Digital Theatre, Koury Business Center 5 p.m. Love School of Business Reception Burbridge Atrium, Koury Business Center
Visit www.elon.edu/homecoming to preregister and for a full schedule of Homecoming events.