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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S LETTER FROM THE DEAN
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NEWS 2-3 HIGH-IMPACT PRACTICES WHERE IS THE CLASS OF 2018?
ANNUAL REPORT FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS
2017-18
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FACULTY & STAFF
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THE YEAR IN REVIEW
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ALUMNI OF EXCELLENCE
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ADVISORY BOARDS
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Hello alumni and friends,
I am delighted to present the Love School of Business annual report for the 2017-18 academic year. This is the seventh annual report during my time as dean, and just as in years past, the news is all good. Thanks to the strong support of President Connie Ledoux Book, President Emeritus Leo Lambert and Provost Steven House, and the outstanding work of my faculty and staff colleagues, the LSB continues to excel while growing. While Elon’s incoming classes have been growing in size each year since I came to Elon in 2012, the LSB has also been attracting an increasingly larger percentage of those students, resulting in significant growth in the LSB. Growth in and of itself is good, but continuing to excel while growing takes work and this is where the work of our faculty and staff colleagues comes in. We continue to keep our attention on the things that matter to students, parents and employers — an unrelenting focus on making sure we are preparing our students to meet the needs of a rapidly changing marketplace, helping them land internships and jobs, and working to make sure they have a memorable experience at Elon University. We are especially conscious of the fact that a strong background in the arts and sciences is essential for our graduates as they strive to succeed in a world buffeted by ambiguity and uncertainty. That is why, as a group, we make sure business students participate in the high-impact practices for which Elon is consistently recognized. These high-impact practices — undergraduate research/creative projects, service learning, study abroad, first-year experiences, senior capstone experiences, internships, learning communities and writing in the disciplines — help us graduate well-rounded, hardworking, collaborative and globally-minded individuals. Our alumni, parents and friends help them by opening doors to internships and jobs. Thank you for your support. We will work hard to continue earning it. Sincerely,
Raghu Tadepalli, Dean
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ELON BUSINESS
ELON UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Connie Ledoux Book, Ph.D. PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Steven House, Ph.D. DEAN Raghu Tadepalli, Ph.D. ASSOCIATE DEAN Jennifer Platania, Ph.D. EDITOR Nicole Filippo ‘04 G’18 DESIGNER Bob Nutt COPY EDITOR Alexa Boschini ‘10 PHOTOGRAPHER Kim Walker This report is published yearly for alumni and friends by the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. Published September 2018 SEND INQUIRIES TO: Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Elon University 2075 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244 336.278.6000 nfilippo@elon.edu elon.edu/business
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Elon ranks among country’s top 50 undergraduate business programs The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business undergraduate business program was ranked No. 48 in the United States by business education news outlet Poets & Quants. The annual survey that includes private and public institutions of all sizes focuses on three main components: school admissions standards, alumni perspectives on the educational experience and employment data. Elon ranked 37th for academic experience, 40th for the employment of its graduates and 71st in admissions standards. Dean Raghu Tadepalli noted that among private schools, Elon’s Love School of Business ranked 24th on the 2017 Poets & Quants list.
Elon MBA receives top marks from The Princeton Review The Princeton Review ranked Elon the nation’s No. 4 “best administered” graduate business program and also among the top business schools in the Southeast in its 2018 edition of the “Best 267 Business Schools.” The annual guide of top graduate business programs is based on data provided by schools and a survey of 25,000 business school students and administrators across the nation.
Love School of Business joins international network of business schools In fall 2017, the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business joined the International Partnership of Business Schools (IPBS), a consortium of 12 leading business schools in the United States, Europe and Latin America. The IPBS is dedicated to the development of a lifelong cross-cultural international community of business students, alumni, professors, researchers and staff. Partner schools offer undergraduate programs granting dual degrees. These programs require study in two countries and promote language and cultural fluency along with business aptitude. Elon’s business dual degree program involves a two-year immersion in another language and culture in another country, a full-time semester-long work experience abroad and a capstone undergraduate research experience.
HR Career Track meets SHRM standards The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) determined the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship’s Human Resource Management Career Track fully aligns with SHRM’s core curriculum guidelines. Developed by the global professional association for human resource professionals, the guidelines define the minimum human resource content areas that should be studied at the undergraduate and graduate levels. “This recognition shows that our course curriculum imparts knowledge and skills that aspiring HR professionals need upon graduation,” said Brian Lyons, associate professor of management. “It also enables our students to take the SHRM-CP exam, which provides them an opportunity to attain this prestigious certification before graduation and market it to potential employers.”
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NEWS2017-18
Alpha Kappa Psi wins community involvement award Elon’s Mu Pi chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi received the 2018 Reverend Richard McBride Campus and Greater Community Involvement Award from the Student Government Association. In addition to its regular service activities, which included volunteering at Kopper Top Life Learning Center and the Positive Attitude Youth Center, the professional business fraternity hosted its first annual Trent Stetler 5K to raise money and awareness for The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The event brought together 162 students, faculty and community members, and featured remarks from Betsy Rhodes, head of the North Carolina chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Delta Sigma Pi receives charter Silicon Valley pioneer Mitch Kapor honored with entrepreneurial leadership award Mitch Kapor, founder of Lotus and founding chair of the Mozilla Foundation, was awarded the Elon University Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership in an April 12 presentation. The honor recognizes individuals who possess integrity, innovation and creativity, a passion for lifelong learning and a commitment to building a dynamic community. As a partner at Kapor Capital and the Kapor Center for Social Impact, Kapor and his wife, Freada Kapor Klein, focus on finding seed-stage technology companies that are looking to close a gap in access, opportunity or outcomes for low-income and/or minority communities.
Doherty Center adopts new name The Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership was renamed the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in September 2017. “This new name signifies the continued growth and evolution of entrepreneurship programs at Elon,” said Ed Doherty P’07, chair of the Elon University Board of Trustees. In fall 2018, the center moves into the new Richard W. Sankey Hall.
Love School of Business partners with Envestnet The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business partnered with Envestnet to offer the Envestnet Institute on Campus program, which builds a bridge between the classroom and the asset and wealth management solutions industry. The program consists of seven classes, optional learning modules and resume writing and interview skills assistance. The content is reviewed and approved by Money Management Institute, the leading voice for global financial services organizations. The Department of Finance can award up to 25 scholarships per semester for students to complete the program at no cost.
Elon’s Phi Psi chapter of Delta Sigma Pi received its charter in November 2017. The co-ed professional business fraternity met biweekly throughout the academic year to learn from speakers, participate in workshops and improve their networking skills. The chapter has 96 brothers and is advised by Mark Courtright, instructor in management.
Beta Alpha Psi, SHRM achieve ‘Superior’ status Elon’s chapters of Beta Alpha Psi and the Society for Human Resource Management received recognition for their programming and professional development opportunities, service activities and chapter operations. For the 10th consecutive year, Beta Alpha Psi was recognized as a Superior Chapter at the Beta Alpha Psi annual meeting. Patty Cox, assistant professor of accounting, advises Elon’s chapter. The SHRM chapter received its first Superior Merit Award from the professional association. Elon’s chapter is advised by Brian Lyons, associate professor of management.
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HIGH-IMPACT P R A C T I C E S
One of Elon University’s distinctions is its leadership in the area of “high-impact” educational practices. Each year U.S. News & World Report issues a “Focus on Student Success” ranking of key programs that enrich the college experience. Elon is the only university in the nation identified as a leader in all eight high-impact practices: undergraduate research/creative projects, study abroad, learning communities, writing in the disciplines, service learning, first-year experiences, senior capstone experiences and internships.
RESEARCH COMPETITIONS Elon Champion Analytics Challenge hosted by the Center for Organizational Analytics and HanesBrands Inc. Fifth District Regional College Fed Challenge Great Northwoods Sales Warm-up Sarah Chadwell ’18, Josh Ellsworth ’18 and Emily Freirich ’18 placed in the top 20 out of 60. They were coached by Caroline McGranahan ’19 and Assistant Professors of Marketing Nawar Chaker and Erin Gillespie.
Collegiate Ethics Case Competition The team of Nicole Resetar ’18 and Connor Dwyer ’19, mentored by Associate Professor of Business Law Christy Benson, placed second in the North Region division. X-Culture Competition International Collegiate Sales Competition Out of 70 teams, Daniela Hernandez ’18 and Will Shiebler ’18 placed sixth overall. Jesse O’Brien ’18, Helena Zaeh ’18 and Assistant Professors of Marketing Nawar Chaker and Erin Gillespie served as coaches. Amica Elon Sales Challenge hosted by the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center and Amica Mutual Insurance National Diversity Case Competition Beta Alpha Psi Southeast Regional Meeting Christina Byrd ’18 and Victoria Simpkins ’19 placed second in the “Branding Your Chapter” Best Practices category. CFA Institute Research Challenge The team of Elliot Eisen ’18, Dan Ford ’18, Matt Kushner ’18, Lauren Ray ’18 and Nicole Resetar ’18 won the North Carolina level, advancing to the Americas Regional. Raj Gupta, associate professor of finance and director of the Reed Finance Center, and Kate Upton, assistant professor of finance, mentored the students.
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McDonough-Hilltop Business Strategy Challenge American Marketing Association Triangle Marketing Jam Jeremy Keyes ’18 and Sara Machi ’18 were members of the first-place team, and Nicole Pantaleone ’18 and Margo Pierson ’18 were members of the second-place team. Additionally, the students presented their work at the AMA Triangle High Five Conference.
Society for Marketing Advances Conference Sara Machi ’18 presented her Lumen Prize research, “An International Transformation of Produce: The Marketing of Imperfect Produce in France and the United States.” She was mentored by Alisha Horky, assistant professor of marketing. Eastern Economic Association’s 44th annual conference Amanda Feldman ’18, Brooke Hunziker ’18, Stephan Marsh ’18, Austin Martin ’18, Grace O’Hara ’18, Christian Reese ’18 and Adam Wanstall ’18 presented their theses. They were mentored by professors in the Department of Economics. National Conference on Undergraduate Research American Accounting Association Annual Meeting Christina Byrd ’18 presented her Love Award for Excellence in Business Leadership project, “The Effect of VITA Participation on Student Empathy.” She was mentored by Susan Anderson, professor of accounting.
Milgard Invitational Case Competition on Social Responsibility
Student Spotlight: Christina Byrd ’18
Elon Innovation Challenge hosted by the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
While at Elon, accounting and finance double major Christina Byrd was the Beta Alpha Psi service chair (2017-18), Campus Outreach treasurer (2016-18), presenter at two Beta Alpha Psi annual meetings and part of the second-place team in a Beta Alpha Psi Best Practices Competition. The Love Award for Excellence in Business recipient presented her research paper, “The Effect of VITA Participation on Student Empathy,” at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and American Accounting Association annual meeting. Her volunteer work with Mebane Children’s Outreach, Hawfields Nursing Home, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and the Beta Alpha Psi high school financial literacy program earned her recognition on the LSB Honor Roll for Social Responsibility. Additionally, Byrd interned with RSM U.S., LLP and Cobb, Ezekiel, Loy and Company, P.A., and studied abroad in Australia and New Zealand. After completing the Master of Accounting program at North Carolina State University next year, the Academic Excellence Award in Accounting recipient will join RSM as a tax associate. “Through classes, conferences, organizations and other means, I’ve grown significantly in my ability to collaborate and work with others, present and speak publicly, and think both creatively and critically to solve problems,” Byrd says of her time at Elon. “Not only do I feel I have the specific knowledge from my majors that I need to enter the work world, but I believe the Love School of Business has also provided me with a solid understanding of what the business world is actually like and the role I will play in it.”
National Collegiate Sales Competition
Business Analytics Competition at Manhattan College The team of Angeline Sanders ’18, Noah Brown ’19, Aidan Draper ’19 and Jack Redpath ’19 won the poster category. Mostafa Mesgari, assistant professor of management information systems, served as the team advisor.
PRESENTATIONS Academy of International Business Southeast Conference International Conference on Information Systems Caroline Perry ’18 presented her Honors thesis, “The Use of ICT to Promote Refugees’ Integration.” She was mentored by Haya Ajjan, associate professor of management information systems.
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GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
LSB students who studied abroad in 2017-18
25 656 MBA
Undergraduates
LSB STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCES
MBA International Business (Europe) Thirteen Elon MBA students met with professionals at VF Corp. in Switzerland, AkzoNobel Coatings in Italy and UPS and Cisco in Hungary to identify and better understand international business concerns. The cohort, led by Assistant Professor of Marketing Alisha Horky and Assistant Professor of International Business Carri Tolmie, also visited a variety of cultural sites to deepen appreciation of past and present cultural issues in Europe.
“It was so valuable to see local economies and the individual cultures of different cities and how that affects business practices of global organizations.” —Corie Hampton ’09 G’18
Love School of Business Center Abroad in Shanghai Japan with Seoul Lincoln Financial Professor of Economics Tina Das and Associate Professor of Economics Mark Kurt traveled with 13 students in Japan and South Korea in summer 2017. The class investigated the modern-day complexities rooted in the ancient historical past in the Land of the Rising Sun and South Korea. Students also learned how international trade, business and economic activity influence culture, politics, wealth and society across this region and the world. The course was anchored at KansaiGaidai University near Osaka, Japan. Students had peer-to-peer interaction with Japanese students and attended lectures delivered by professors in Japan and Korea. They also visited Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang in Korea and Google and Coca-Cola in Japan.
Five Martha and Spencer Love School of Business students spent fall 2017 at East China Normal University. They took Principles of Management and Principles of Marketing with Associate Professor Scott Buechler, the LSB Center Abroad faculty-inresidence, and business electives taught by ECNU faculty. The students toured the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation Volkswagen production facility and the Nypro Shanghai design and manufacturing plant. They also completed internships with various companies, including PwC, Atlas Distribution, Emil Coffee and Action Kids.
“I was intrigued to see management practices relating to lean operations and sustainability applied to a manufacturing facility. It is difficult to show how management strategies directly impact a firm. However, touring Nypro Shanghai did just that.” —Alex Gaulkin ’19
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Business and Culture of Vietnam Assistant Professor of Accounting Ifeoma Udeh and Assistant Professor of Finance Todd Stonitsch led a Winter Term course through Vietnam to gain a firsthand look at the country’s efforts to become a “socialist-oriented market economy.” The class visited various business, cultural and political sites, including the Hanoi Stock Exchange, Topica Edtech group, the Imperial Palace and the War Remnants Museum.
“Vietnam is so interesting because it is just moving into the free market sphere. The people we met in Vietnam were as interested in us as we were in them, which allowed us to learn so much more about their hopes and dreams for their economic future.” —Emily Fouche ’19
Business and Culture of the Pacific Rim Students traveled through Vietnam, Taiwan and Hong Kong during Winter Term to gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges brought about from an increasingly connected world. They also explored conflicting opinions on future growth prospects in the developing world relative to developed economies. The class, led by Associate Professor of Finance Raj Gupta and Associate Professor of Marketing Sharon Hodge, visited Theodore Alexander and ScanCom in Vietnam, AmCham and UPS in Taiwan, and Allegis and Glen Raven in Hong Kong, as well as the Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta in Vietnam, Taipei 101 and Tamsui in Taiwan, and Lantau Island in Hong Kong.
“A key skill that many of us came to adopt during our time in Asia was becoming comfortable with discomfort. We launched ourselves into an environment that, for the majority of us, was brand new, fast-paced and a bit daunting. We marched confidently into the unknown, experienced foods and traditions we’d never been exposed to prior and are more culturally-aware men and women because of it all.” —Katy Bellotte ’18 and Iria Garcia ’18
MBA International Business (Vietnam) Fourteen MBA students learned about the economic, legal, political and cultural environment for doing business in Vietnam during a study experience in Hanoi and Ho Chi Min City. Students met with executives at HanesBrands, ScanCom, VF Corp. – Timberland, Austin Home Interiors and Piaggio Motor Cars. They also worked with representatives from Plan International, an aid organization that provides programs and support to impoverished girls in northern and central Vietnam, to develop recommendations for addressing the organization’s strategic challenges.
“Not only did this trip contribute to my growth and development as a business professional, but also as a global citizen. The opportunity to study abroad was paramount to my Elon experience. It will continue to inform my coursework in the MBA program and my professional career path.” —Kate Kryder G’19
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WRITING IN THE DISCIPLINES Through the Writing Excellence Initiative, Elon aspires to prepare every student to be an excellent writer. The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business incorporates writing projects into the curriculum for each major in contexts that are appropriate for students’ field of study. Examples of writing projects include: Employment Law: A regulatory audit of an existing organization. Students describe the relevant facts, analyze the data in terms of general legal requirements and make reasonable suggestions for steps the organization can take to increase compliance and decrease potential liability. Business Economics: A business report for a consulting project. Students do rigorous analytical work in Microsoft Excel and write their results and client recommendations. Strategic Management: An executive brief that analyzes a struggling business, diagnoses the root cause of the problem and identifies solutions. Principles of Accounting: A financial statement footnote, prepared to conform with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, for a fictional company’s property, plant and equipment disclosures. This assignment emphasizes concise, technical writing for intended use by a firm’s external stakeholders, such as investors and creditors.
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Investments: An investment policy statement reflecting the goals, risk tolerance and constraints facing a client. Students manage client funds using real financial products in a simulated environment and produce reports explaining their performance and how it relates to the investment policy statement created at the start of the simulation. Accounting Information Systems (AIS): A semester-long project in which students describe revenue, expenditure and human resource business processes of their own design. Emphasis is placed on thinking critically about appropriate applications of internal control principles.
Rebecca Herring ’18, J. Ames Murray ’18 and Anderson O’Brien ’18 won first place in the AIS Educator Association 2018 Student Project Competition. As part of Associate Professor of Accounting Catherine Chiang’s AIS course, the students designed an accounting information system for a small business, applying what they learned in other business core courses to justify the creation of their business and explore existing accounting technology tools for small businesses.
LEARNING COMMUNITIES Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community The Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community provides a residential space for students who share a desire to develop their entrepreneurial thinking. Located in the Colonnades Neighborhood, the space fosters a collaborative environment that encourages continual dialogue and idea sharing among students.
14 Residents 2017-18 Highlights:
Business Living Learning Community The Business Living Learning Community gives students the opportunity to live with like-minded business students and enhance their learning through intentional connections between community programming, academic courses and co-curricular interactions with Elon faculty and staff. Located in the Colonnades Neighborhood next to the Ernest A. Koury, Sr. Business Center, the community is very accessible to the class hubs of business students.
36 Residents 2017-18 Highlights:
Elon Challenge Course
Meet and greet with Dean Raghu Tadepalli
College Night at American Underground
SAS company visit
2017 Internet Summit
LSB junior and senior student panel
SAS company visit
Chat with LSB Executive-in-Residence Mike Gannaway
B Corp networking event at N.C. State University
Resume and LinkedIn workshop with the Porter Family Professional Development Center
FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCES Elon 101 This one-credit-hour seminar supports the transition of firstyear students as they become active participants in an academic community. It integrates academic advising with other academic orientation elements, such as the honor code and creating a graduation plan. Eight Martha and Spencer Love School of Business faculty and staff taught a section of Elon 101 in fall 2017.
“Elon 101 can serve as a safe space for first-year students to unpack and make meaning of their college experiences through continuous reflection, observation and intentional planning with the goal of preparing students to become engaged learners. I’ve taught Elon 101 for the past five years and I truly enjoy seeing the growth of our first-year students in regard to the expansion of their academic and interpersonal skills, as well as the increase in their confidence and competence to successfully navigate the Elon environment.” —Stacy Outlaw, director of undergraduate programs for the Love School of Business
First-year Business Fellows spend two weeks abroad as part of a Winter Term cohort course examining global business issues.
Business and Culture in the United Arab Emirates First-year Business Fellows traveled to the United Arab Emirates during Winter Term to explore business operations as well as cultural sites in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The cohort met with executives at Intercoil, Coca-Cola, Nakheel, Abu Dhabi Port Company and Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange, among others. The course was led by Nawar Chaker, assistant professor of marketing, and Danny Lanier, assistant professor of accounting.
“One company that stood out to me was Coca-Cola. In the Middle East, it is considered the underdog and has to implement very different marketing strategies than it uses in the U.S. I took away a lot from that visit because I was able to easily compare the presentation to what traditionally takes place in the U.S. soft beverage industry.” —Alexandra Pirsos ’21
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Mentored by Assistant Professor of Marketing Alisha Horky (left), Lumen Scholar Sarah Machi ’18 researched the marketing of imperfect produce in France and the United States and examined how a shift in consumer attitudes can impact food waste. After graduating with a marketing degree, Machi now works as the hub coordinator for Grow Ohio Valley through the AmeriCorps program.
CAPSTONE EXPERIENCES Economics Thesis Twenty-three economics and international economics majors successfully presented their senior research theses to Department of Economics faculty members. The senior thesis serves as the culmination of the students’ required comprehensive evaluation in economics. Students work individually with a faculty mentor to use the economic concepts and data analytics skills that are developed in their economics coursework. Austin Martin ’18, mentored by Assistant Professor of Economics Brandon Sheridan, received the Best Thesis award for “Exploring the Effect of International Wage Differences on Brain Drain.”
“This high-impact research project gives students the opportunity to further develop the kinds of skills employers are seeking: working with real data, writing code, conducting rigorous statistical analysis and communicating the results of their research.” —Steve DeLoach, chair and professor of economics Strategic Management Through the analysis of current global trends, organizational strengths and challenges, and the competitive environment facing the organization, the Strategic Management course provides a framework and techniques for students to consider strategic organizational decisions. The course focuses on how these decisions will be implemented throughout the functional areas of business while considering the organizational and leadership implications of execution. Faculty taught 19 course sections during the 2017-18 year. 10
Student Spotlight: Matthew Jegier ’18 After graduating with degrees in finance and management (business analytics), Matthew Jegier ’18 begins his professional career as a business consultant in the Business Advisory Program for Financial Services Organizations at Ernst & Young. During his time at Elon, the Business Fellow was the goalkeeper for the men’s soccer team, earning several records and titles including NCAA Men’s Soccer Academic All-District First Team. Jegier served as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee from 2016 to 2018 and volunteered with Elon’s “It Takes a Village” Project. He studied abroad in the United Arab Emirates, Spain and South Africa, and interned with EY and Glen Raven, Inc. Jegier also authored the research project, “Innovating returns: Incentive alignment and acquirer innovation in mergers and acquisitions,” which he presented at Elon’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum. Jegier’s favorite business courses included Portfolio Management, a senior Business Fellows cohort course involving managing more than a quarter of a million dollars of Elon’s endowment, and Strategic Management. “We focused on real companies, addressed real problems and developed real solutions,” Jegier said of the capstone course. “We learned how to use the knowledge we gained from the successes/failures of others and the information taught in the classroom to make the best strategic decision.”
SERVICE LEARNING
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Service learning courses include service components relevant to course objectives. Examples of such courses taught by Martha and Spencer Love School of Business faculty include:
2017-18 internships completed for academic credit:
Marketing Research The Marketing Research class sections taught by Assistant Professor of Marketing Tim Norvell and Associate Professor of Marketing Sharon Hodge partnered with local nonprofit organizations to address marketing research needs. Students helped their clients define problems and objectives, conducted focus groups, designed research questionnaires and collected and analyzed data. They presented their findings and strategic recommendations to their clients, which included the Boys & Girls Club of Alamance County, Allied Churches of Alamance County, Salvation Army of Alamance County, N.C. Volunteer Firefighters Association, United Way of Alamance County, Kernodle Senior Center, Women’s Resource Center of Alamance County, African-American Cultural Arts and History Center, Alamance County Sheriff’s Department and Burlington Downtown Corporation. MBA Marketing Management The sections taught by Associate Professor Sharon Hodge partnered with nonprofit businesses on eight separate projects in the Alamance County and Research Triangle Park areas. Using a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods, students worked in teams to help clients address marketing problems. Students presented strategic recommendations in an end-of-semester report and presentation to their clients. The client list included the Alamance County Public Information Office, Burlington Police Department, Burlington Downtown Corporation and Elon’s MBA program in RTP. HRM Strategy and Consulting Taught by Brian Lyons, associate professor of management, this class worked with organizations to improve and expand existing human resources materials. Students engaged in 382 hours of service learning with the following local organizations: African-American Cultural Arts & History Center (volunteer manual, pay structure and 13 job analyses), Habitat for Humanity of Alamance County (employee climate survey and employee manual revisions), Harvey Newlin Elementary School (volunteer manual) and Alamance County Government (HR process recommendations).
“It instills a sense of confidence in myself to have my knowledge and skills valued in a real-world, hands-on setting. The opportunity to apply what is learned in the classroom is extremely valuable.” —Roxanna Wood ’19
OUTSIDE THE U.S
IN THE U.S
393 64 Events Accounting Meet and Greet hosted student participants Fall Sales Meet and Greet hosted student participants
14 employers and 150
24 employers and 102
Spring Sales Meet and Greet hosted student participants
18 employers and 87
Porter Family Professional Development Center Held
2,179 individual advising appointments 85 workshops
Presented
2 Resume Blitzes (fall and spring), assisting 40 students with their resumes Coordinated
Reviewed
100 resumes virtually during the summer and
Winter Term breaks
2 Sophomore Success programs (fall and spring), which brought 15 employers to campus and engaged 77 sophomore business students Organized
Advised and instructed
457 interns in the business
internship course (credit-bearing internship)
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WHERE’S THE CLASS OF 2018? Organizations 1776 3D Systems Adecco Group Adwerx AlphaSights Amica Mutual Insurance Aon Benfield Archer Daniels Midland Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Athenex Atlantic Coast Conference Baker Tilly Baltimore City Mayors Office Bank of America Barclays Baystate Financial BDO Belk Black Knight BlackRock Bloomberg BNY Mellon Boston Private Bank Brandwatch Brasco Carbon Black, Inc. Citizens Bank City Line Capital Cobb Ezekiel Loy & Company, PA Cohen & Steers, Inc. Coleman Research Group CoreLogic Cotton & Company LLP Council for International Education Exchange Cranberry Sunset Farms Credit Suisse Cvent D.C. Executives Dataminr, Inc. Dell EMC Deloitte Duff & Phelps DuPont Dynamic Signal Edward Jones EF Education First Elon University Eventective Exelon Energy EY FactSet Fidelity Investments Fidus Partners Fletcher Spaght inc. Flow Automotive inc Front of the House Gartner Gilliam Coble and Moser LLP Global Brands Group Goldman Sachs Golin Goodmortgage 12
Grant Thornton Gravitate Solutions Greenspring Associates Grow Ohio Valley Guardrails Etc. Inc. Hall & Partners Horizon Media HSN ICR Inside Out Sports Insight Global International Management Solutions Intuit Ipreo Jefferies Jon Poppe Jones Lang LaSalle JPMorgan Chase & Co. Kendra Scott KPMG Laker Sealing LLC Lincoln Financial Group Lowe Vintage Instrument Company LPR International M & C Saatchi Marcum LLP MassMutual Merkle Metro Washington Airport Authority Moneta Group LLC Morgan Stanley Nashville Fellows Program Neiman Marcus Nestle New York Life Insurance Northern Trust Northwestern Mutual Oracle NetSuite OTR Global Palo Alto Networks Peoples United Bank PepsiCo Phaidon international Phillips 66 PNC Bank Pocono Springs Camp Power. Energy. Risk. Premier Executive Consultants Primary Insight, LLC. Prometheus Group Prudential PwC Raymond James Financial Red Ventures Red West Analytics RHYS Commercial Real Estate RSM S&P Global Salsify Sartori Company
Sazmining, Inc. Scripps SEI Sherwin-Williams Smith Leonard Snow Phipps Group Sompo International Standard Life Aberdeen Stanley Black and Decker Staples State Street Global Markets Stout Advisory Suffolk Construction TACT International Art Management TaylorMade Techtronic Industries The Walt Disney Company TIAA Toll Brothers Total Quality Logistics Triage Consulting Group Tuggle Farrier Inc Turbonomic Union Beer Distributors University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Unruly US Army Vanguard Venture for America Vettery Wayfair Wells Fargo Werner Enterprises Woodside Health World 50 XPO Logistics Yelp Young Life Zimmer Biomet Graduate Schools Appalachian State University Charleston School of Law Duke University Elon University Erasmus University, Rotterdam School of Management George Washington University Georgia Institute of Technology Goldsmiths, University of London Melbourne University North Carolina State University Quinnipiac University Sciences Po University of Edinburgh University of Maryland University of St. Gallen Washington and Lee University
FACULTY & STAFF NEWS Jen Platania, associate professor of economics, became associate dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business June 1, 2017. She previously led the Department of Economics as chair. Committed to mentoring, Platania has served as a faculty mentor to Elon’s College Fed Challenge team, advisor to the Economics Club and mentor to 31 senior economics theses.
Robert Moorman, Frank S. Holt Jr. Professor of Business Leadership, received the 2000 Decennial Award from The Leadership Quarterly for his co-authored article, “Transformational leader behaviors and their effects on followers’ trust in leader satisfaction, and organizational citizenship behaviors.” The editorial team chose the article as the most influential on academia and the best reflection of the journal’s emphasis on methodological and theoretical rigor from the 1990s.
Susan Anderson, professor of accounting, was named the 2018 Business Professional of the Year in the education category by Beta Alpha Psi, the international honor organization for financial information students and professionals, as well as the 2018 Gerald Francis Outstanding Educator of the Year by Elon’s Student Government Association. Anderson was nominated by Elon’s Beta Alpha Psi chapter for her commitment to the community through service learning as well as her passion for inspiring curiosity in her classroom. She serves as the site coordinator for Elon’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and is the faculty coordinator for the M.S. in Accounting program.
Paula Weller, senior lecturer in accounting; Linda Poulson, chair and associate professor of accounting; and Brian Nienhaus, associate professor of business communication, won second place in the 2017 Summer Institute of Management Accountants Case Writing Competition for “Ethical Choices at Choice House.” The case challenges students to overcome the internal control and ethical problems of a small nonprofit organization.
New full-time faculty & staff
Mark Courtright
Brooks Depro
Crystal Haley
Scott Hayward
Margarita Kaprielyan
Ray Knight
Mark Mallon
Brittany Mercado
Kim Phipps ’90
Kristin Roland
Kristy Ruiz
Barjinder Singh
Michael Spencer ’15
Lecturer in management
Professor of accounting
Director of graduate programs for the Love School of Business
Assistant professor of economics
Assistant professor of strategic management
Assistant professor of management
Program assistant
Assistant professor of management
Assistant professor of management
Program assistant
Assistant professor of finance
Assistant professor of accounting
Program coordinator for the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Dean’s Awards Faculty and staff members were honored during the Love School of Business annual awards program on April 26. Andrew Greenland, assistant professor of economics, and Chris Harris, assistant professor of finance, received the Excellence in Teaching award; Tim Norvell, assistant professor of marketing, received the Excellence in Scholarship award; Casey DiRienzo, professor of economics, received the Exemplary Service – Faculty award; Stacy Outlaw, director of undergraduate programs, received the Exemplary Service – Staff award; and Sara Vanderpool, instructional technologist, received the Exemplary Service – External award. 13
THE YEAR IN REVIEW NOVEMBER
SEPTEMBER North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall outlined her keys to economic success for the state. Beta Alpha Psi inducted 19 students.
The Department of Accounting hosted 120 CPAs for the 19th annual Continuing Professional Education Seminar. As part of the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center Speaker Series, Jeff Schlossnagle ’97, vice president of North America Sales for Omnicell, Inc., discussed how to build a successful sales career. Alex Dempsey ’12, World Bank Group; Taylor Beberman ’17, JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Maxwell Hausle ’17, Vanguard; and Thomas Patierno ’17, Duff & Phelps, shared advice and insights with finance students during a Homecoming alumni panel discussion.
Elon Business Fellows traveled to Boston to visit a variety of companies, including PwC, Fidelity, GE, Lean Box, Baystate Financial and Datadog.
OCTOBER
Donors and Elon community members came together to dedicate the site for Richard W. Sankey Hall. Opening fall 2018, Sankey Hall will house the Doherty Center for Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship, Chandler Family Professional Sales Center, a design thinking center and financial education center. Fourteen interdisciplinary teams of Elon students demonstrated data analytics skills in the inaugural Elon Champion Analytics Challenge. Craig Dubitsky, founder of eos products and hello products, offered insights about what drives his business ventures during the C. Ashton Newhall Endowed Lecture. 14
Beta Gamma Sigma hosted a panel discussion on the intersecting roles of the Environmental Protection Agency and business. Panelists included Stan Meiburg, former acting deputy administrator of the EPA, and Love School of Business Executives-in-Residence Eileen Claussen and Mike Gannaway. Thirty-one students joined Sigma Iota Epsilon. During the induction ceremony keynote address, Jackie Orr ’15, associate data scientist at MetLife, discussed how to define success. Peter Fox ’14, Coller Capital; Tayler Sirabella ’14, JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Dan Ford ’18, Credit Suisse; and Tanisha Gupta ’19 shared their perspectives on working in the banking industry during a panel discussion moderated by Associate Professor of Finance Raj Gupta and hosted by the William Garrard Reed Finance Center, Porter Family Professional Development Center and Financial Management Association.
FEBRUARY Beta Alpha Psi inducted 20 students. The Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Elon’s Student Professional Development Center hosted a panel discussion about innovation and entrepreneurship in the black community featuring Kya Johnson, RainbowMe; Joe Battle P’17, Success360i; and Kennedy Ojimadu ‘17, Wells Fargo. David Morrow ‘07 L’10 served as moderator. The Elon MBA Class of 2018 completed the annual capstone case competition. Meg Anderson Farabow ’11, account executive at ADP, spoke to students about building a partner network and her career path as part of the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center Speaker Series. Nethra Venkatesh, principal consultant at Edgeworth Economics, LLC, discussed the difference between economic consulting and management consulting, and shared tips on how to begin a career in economic consulting.
The Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship hosted W.E. Do! Women Entrepreneurs for the Greater Good. The conference promoted a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and offered inspiration through speakers, panels and roundtable conversations. Participants heard from Elon President Connie Ledoux Book, ECOlifestyle pioneer Marci Zaroff P’20 and Tory Burch Foundation’s Gabrielle Raymond McGee ’06. Omicron Delta Epsilon inducted 24 students. Assistant Professor of Economics Brandon Sheridan delivered the keynote address.
MARCH The Center for Organizational Analytics partnered with the Direct Selling Education Foundation for a panel discussion exploring using data analytics to drive sales. Bassam Alqassar, vice president of information systems and technology at Princess House, and Yemi Mateola, director of solution delivery and architecture at ACN NA, served as panelists. Matthew Jegier ’18 moderated the discussion. The Love School of Business hosted the workshop “Why Women Should Ask: Closing the Gender Pay Gap,” presented by Brandy S. Propst.
More than 65 students received endowed scholarships and academic achievement awards during the Love School of Business annual awards program.
APRIL
Three interdisciplinary teams presented their ventures during the Elon Innovation Challenge finale sponsored by the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Marc Smith, founder of NodeXL, presented a workshop on social network analysis to students, faculty and staff.
MAY Beta Gamma Sigma inducted 42 undergraduates, seven MBA/ MScM candidates and two faculty members. Chapter honoree Terri Smith ’80, CFO of MDC, spoke to students about ethics in the workplace. Members selected Assistant Professor of Economics Steven Bednar to receive the Professor of the Year award. The Chandler Family Professional Sales Center hosted the Elon Sales Leadership Dinner honoring top graduating sales students. Josh Ellsworth ’18 received the Earl D. Honeycutt Jr. Sales Leadership Award. The Love School of Business and Center for Organizational Analytics hosted more than 90 professionals, faculty and students at the Elon Business Analytics Conference held at SAS. Data scientists shared their insights and experiences using big data.
The Business Fellows Class of 2018 received medallions in a ceremony attended by faculty, staff and family members. Jonathan Lindberg ’04 G’18 received the Richard H. Behrman Award from Elon MBA faculty during the Elon MBA and M.S. in Management Class of 2018 graduation dinner. 15
ALUMNI OF EXCELLENCE
Top 10 Under 10 Bernard “Bernie” Coston II ’08 Business initiatives consultant, Wells Fargo
Elon University Distinguished Alumnus of the Year W. Cecil Worsley III ’86 P’14 Owner, Black Gold Holdings, LLC Owner, Springer Eubank Company Presented during Homecoming weekend, this award recognizes an alumnus who has distinguished himself in a profession and in the community and brought honor to Elon.
Elon University Young Alumni of the Year Brandon S. Shore ’08 Senior director of football administration, Miami Dolphins
Ryan Guthy ’09 Co-founder and co-owner, Wicked Weed Brewing Coston and Guthy were among the alumni recognized in an April program for their professional contributions and investment in the future of Elon.
Forbes’ America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Mike Kanner ’02 Portfolio management director, SVP-wealth management and financial advisor, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Kanner was ranked No. 48 on Forbes’ list of 500 “resilient millennials.”
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Maryland C. Ashton Newhall ’98 Managing general partner, Greenspring Associates
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Ashleigh J. Palmer Weathers ’08 Tax supervisor, Warady & Davis LLP
Newhall was recognized in the Business Services category and was one of seven Maryland entrepreneurs honored.
Shore and Weathers were honored during Homecoming weekend for their professional achievements and community service.
Christopher Pacitto ’17 Audit associate, RSM US LLP
Elijah Watt Sells Award
Pacitto received the award from the American Institute of CPAs in recognition of his outstanding performance on the CPA Examination.
SUPPORT TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING THROUGH THE LSB ANNUAL FUND Annual gifts from alumni and friends sustain excellence in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and support the work of outstanding students and faculty scholars.
Forty-eight students received endowed scholarships in spring 2018.
In addition to funding scholarships for students to study at Elon, gifts play a vital role in enabling students to participate in high-impact practices such as case competitions, study abroad experiences and research. For faculty, gifts provide funds for research resources and conference presentations. Annual gifts of all sizes are appreciated and are put to work immediately to enhance programs and opportunities that set Love School of Business graduates apart from their peers. To make a gift to the Love School of Business today, visit elon.edu/makeagift. For more information about supporting the Love School of Business, contact Brian Baker, associate vice president for University Advancement, at bbaker7@elon.edu or (336) 278-7453.
ADVISORY BOARDS Martha and Spencer Love School of Business
Richard Kane P’16 Advent International Corporation
Megan Farabow ’11 ADP
Eric Henry TS Designs
Thomas Kremer ’00 ViiV Healthcare
Emma Battle P’17 Windsor Circle/Success360i
John McCombe P’16 Richard Bernstein Advisors
Michael T. Gannaway P’01 Love School of Business
Carl Pawsat ’08 Lincoln Financial Group
Michael J. Bear P’15 The Apophasis Group
Thomas D. McGowen, Jr. Stout Stuart McGowen & King LLP
Jeff Schlossnagle ’97 Omnicell
Lenny Jordan Lazy Hiker Brewing Company Pitt Street Brewing Company
Scott Camp ’91 Atlas International Trade Group
James A. Moncure II IBM
Patricia Chadwick P’16 Ravengate Partners LLC Chair, Board of Advisors
Shane Powers ’99 Credit Suisse
Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
William B. Courtney Jr. ’86 P’21 Medtronic Business Services William S. Creekmuir P’09 P’10 Pinnacle Search Partners, LLC Donna DeMaio P’17 P’19 AIG Jeffrey Dufficy P’15 P’17 Dufficy Enterprises, Inc. Laurence D. Forte P’15 Wells Fargo Capital Finance John S. Gaither P’09 Retired Chairman, Reichhold, Inc. Michael T. Gannaway P’01 Love School of Business, Elon University Frank Hood Kingsdown, Inc. John Humphrey P’18 Roper Technologies Dina B. Jennings ’87 Biscuitville, Inc.
Louis M. Riccio ’85 P’17 La-Z-Boy Incorporated Jack Ryan Jr. P’17 GE Capital Terri Smith ’80 P’16 P’20 MDC Derek B. Steed Glen Raven, Inc. Grace Ueng Savvy Growth Jarvier T. Young ’08 Wells Fargo Chandler Family Professional Sales Center Bob Chandler Chandler Concrete Billy Chenault ’85 Luck Companies J. Philip Clark Brooke Davis G’12 SAS
Ian Baltutis ’08 Vibration Services, LLC Emma Battle P’17 Windsor Circle/Success360i Jason Cox Aedos Group Craig Chabon Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC Ashhok Dinakaran A&D Real Estate Holdings Ed Doherty P’07 Doherty Enterprises Joan Doherty P’07 Doherty Enterprises Lou Anne Flanders-Stec Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Steven Friedland Elon University School of Law Steven Graven P’15 Innofa Americas Elizabeth Greenberg ’14 Non-Scents Flowers
Paul Koonts Oertel, Koonts & Oertel PLLC John Maynard P’15 Tarheel Research, Ltd. Robert Neff Author, Entrepreneur and Business Executive Bruce Nelson Reverence Farms Eleanor Reid Reid & Company, LLC Christie Soper Suncierge, Inc. Craig Stone ’90 HireNetworks, Inc. Ryan Vet ’12 Anutra Medical Department of Accounting James Mitchell IV Smith Leonard PLLC Advisory Board Chair Stephanie Collins ’05 BB&T James Etchells ’10 BGE/Exelon Susan Ezekiel Cobb Ezekiel Loy & Company, P.A.
Ryan Rate ’06 PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP C. Thomas Steele Jr. P’17 Pittman & Steele, PLLC Alison Upton ’06 KPMG Scott Venus ’00 Deloitte & Touche LLP Center for Organizational Analytics Gayle Bieler RTI’s Center for Data Science Amie Blanks Ecolab Tom Capotosto GM Ethan Lane Glen Raven Ben Martin Hanesbrands Inc. Jerry L. Oglesby SAS Matt Rose Beach Re Ltd.
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Martha and Spencer Love School of Business
P.O. Box 398 Elon, NC 27244 Change service required
The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business launched an accelerated, full-time Master of Science in Accounting program in spring 2018. The 30-hour program includes a global study experience in London and emphasizes intense preparation for the CPA exam. Learn more at www.elon.edu/msa.
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