Lipscomb University College of Business by Lipscomb University

2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

Launch of Initiative for Purposeful Business will bring transformation to the profession page 26

Our Mission

To develop business leaders who embrace the values and virtues of Jesus.

OUR VALUES

PG 2

Impact on the

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Purposeful Bold

PG 12

Impact on the

WORKFORCE

Credible Creative

PG 22

Impact on the

KINGDOM

Serving PG 30

Impact on the

FUTURE

“And David shepherded them with integrity of the heart; with skillful hands he led them.” PSALM 78:72 Editor’s Note: Throughout this report, members of the Dean’s Board mentioned in the text are marked with (DB) and members of the Alumni Advisory Board are marked (AAB).

A force for good through transformative change It is our honor to share with you our Lipscomb College of Business Dean’s Report for the 2022-23 academic year. Our journey to be a leader in Christian business education saw us achieve a long-sought goal in spring 2022: AACSB International accreditation, representing the highest standard of excellence for business schools. In 2022-23, the journey continued as the college received its first ever U.S. News & World Report national rankings. Our undergraduate school obtained the U.S. News Best Business School status, listed as third in Tennessee following only Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Our MBA program acquired its first U.S. News ranking among the top five business schools in Tennessee. Our undergraduate business programs were again ranked No. 1 in Tennessee for the seventh consecutive year by Poets&Quants. Our students competed and won many competitions (see page 14) and recognitions including seniors Julia Carvalho Correa (BBA ’23), international business major, and Gregor McKenzie (BBA ’23), finance major, who were selected by Poets&Quants as two of its top 100 students in the Best & Brightest Class of 2023 (see page 17). I refer to Psalms 78:72 often which describes King David as an inspirational leader, “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” As a College of Business, we, too, see ourselves as a leader—a leader in Christian business education. Our “skill of the hand” commits us to being a quality business school and being recognized by outside metrics, and our student achievements are just more evidence of the excellence of our programs.

However, it is the focus on the “integrity of the heart,” through our intentional emphasis on faith and character, that is our “heart” and gives us our distinction. You can read more about this as the college focuses on our Initiative for Purposeful Business (see page 26). Our goal is internally to use academics to transform the business profession and externally to use the business profession to transform society. Certainly, we will continue to prepare learners for gainful employment as an outcome of their investment in business education; but we also desire to prepare learners with knowledge and skills that improve the lives of all stakeholders, not only shareholders. AACSB’s vision of societal impact is that high-quality business schools contribute their specialized expertise to help mitigate some of society’s most pressing economic, social and human problems. We strive to create Impact on the Marketplace, Workforce, Kingdom and Future, that ultimately will lead to transformative change through the values and virtues of Jesus. This impact results from our internal and external initiatives and aligns with the concept of a business school being a force for good. Thank you for letting us share our past year, and we encourage you to connect and let us find ways to collaborate in the pursuit of excellence.

Ray Eldridge Dean, College of Business Pfeﬀer Graduate School of Business

2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

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35 10 11

6 3

8 9

32 33

2 34

12 5

16 14

20 17

impact on the marketplace 22

21 23 24 25

26 27 28 29

LIPSCOMB.EDU/BUSINESS

Partners in the Greater Nashville area

Since 2019, Fast Track MBA students have held Directed Work Experiences, long-term paid internships, with 79 partner organizations in the greater Nashville area. Pictured here is a selection of the wide variety of employer types and locations since that time. 1.

Zander Insurance

Plumlee & Associates

HCA Healthcare

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Bank of Tennessee

Cairn Financial Group

Sapphire Development Group LLC

Studio Bank GS&F

Lagos Creative

10.

LSC Communications

11.

Healing Innovations, Inc.

12.

Inflammo

13.

Enablr Therapy

14.

Envision Advantage LLC

15.

Turner Construction Healing Hands International Tractor Supply Company Store Support Center

18.

Capital Financial Group Compassus Brown & Brown of Tennessee, Inc. The Kirkland Company

19.

LBMC Dominion Payroll Integra Software Systems

22.

EDGE BIOMED

23.

Johnston & Murphy

24.

Philips Healthcare Reliable MicroSystems

25.

Sage Park

26.

DesignWorks Investments Way Nation Solutions

27.

Schneider Electric - Nashville Hub

28.

Full Focus

29.

Franklin Synergy Bank

30.

Lighthouse Counsel

31.

ThinkingAhead Executive Search

32.

Genesco, Inc

33.

V. Alexander and Co., Inc. Better Business Bureau Serving Middle Tennessee & Southern Kentucky

34.

Stock’d Supply

35.

Ryman Hospitality Properties

36.

Velocity International Group

37.

Alchemy Nashville

“The students provided immediate value to the supply chain team at Tractor Supply. Their strong work ethic and intellectual curiosity at both strategic and tactical levels directly reflect the guiding principles established by this program.”

At Lipscomb, we know our students need to apply their classroom knowledge in a real-world setting to make a positive impact on the marketplace upon graduation. Through our innovative Directed Work Experience (DWE) program—a component of the Fast Track MBA program—students are strategically matched with employer partners to offer key benefits to partner companies.

17.

21.

DWE program brings the classroom to life for Fast Track MBA students

Will Sparks, a supply chain leader at Tractor Supply Company

16.

20.

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Students Provide Value Citywide

Originally implemented as part of the Master of Management program in 2013, the results have been overwhelmingly positive for both students and employers. “The DWE program has been the cornerstone of our FastTrack MBA program,” said Bart Liddle (BA ’94), associate professor of management. “Not only does it provide our students with incredible work experience and often their first full-time role within the workforce, but it also serves our business partners by providing them with hard-working and well-trained team members who are prepared and ready to add significant value to their organization on day one.” Through extended internships, the program allows employers to develop a trained resource, utilizing students’ skills and talents across multiple projects. Employers gain a long-term, part-time employee who serves as an integral part of the employer’s team. In addition, they have the opportunity to hire a trained, experienced employee upon graduation if the DWE employee is a fit for long-term needs. MBA students offer fresh perspectives informed by current business trends and concepts learned weekly in classes. With built-in project checkpoints, faculty members provide students guidance based on employer feedback. Employer partners gain access to networking opportunities with College of Business alumni and business partners, including invitations to exclusive events. “The DWE program provided me with great insight into the world of business. I was able to learn an immense amount about all aspects of human resources,” said Madison Staed (MBA ’23). “Ultimately, my DWE placement with Compassus helped me find my niche in recruiting. The DWE program not only helped me bring the classroom to life, but it also helped me to secure a great full-time role!”

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ACCOUNTING

THE LIPSCOMB MARK ON THE

marketplace

MAcc program director honored by state accounting organization In July, the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants’ (TSCPA) awarded Perry Moore (LA ’77, BS ’81) the 2023 TSCPApex Special Recognition Award, recognizing the many ways that individuals contribute significant time, energy and intellect to developing the accounting profession and fostering its success.

Kim Hatley, Vice President of Internal Audit, HCA Healthcare, on Accounting Part of what makes Nashville a global health care capital is the presence of the HCA Healthcare headquarters. Part of what makes HCA a health care leader is Lipscomb’s accounting alumni. With hospitals and health care facilities in 21 states and total revenue that places it firmly in the Fortune 100, HCA has a huge impact on American lives nationwide.

“Year-in and year-out, HCA Healthcare hires more Lipscomb accounting graduates than recruits from any other university. Lipscomb graduates have had a foundational and lasting impact on the success of HCA since its first decades in operation.” From HCA’s Chief Accounting Officer Jeff McInturff (BS ’98, MBA ’11) to the CFO of HCA’s flagship Nashville hospital Centennial, Tom Jackson (BS ’99), and even the COB’s own Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Management Bart Liddle (BA ’94), who is also a former HCA executive, the corporate giant of health care has been guided and shaped by Lipscomb accounting alumni.

Moore was recognized by TSCPA for his extensive work on Tennessee state-specific ethics, which has made a significant impact on CPAs and the accounting profession in the state. He revised the state-specific ethics course the past two years and has traveled extensively across the state making numerous ethics presentations. He has also served TSCPA for many years in a variety of volunteer roles and has contributed his talents and expertise to the Tennessee CPA Journal.

MAcc student earns state’s top score on CPA exam In August, Kelsey Swerdfeger (A ’22) was presented the TSCPA John Glenn Award which honors the successful candidate who achieved the highest score on the Uniform CPA Exam in Tennessee and successfully passed all four parts of the CPA exam on their first attempt.

Learn more about Lipscomb’s School Accounting Programs at lipscomb.edu/accounting.

Swerdfeger passed the Uniform CPA Exam in 2022. She currently works as an audit associate for Blankenship CPA Group and is based out of its Brentwood office. Swerdfeger, who studied in the Master of Accountancy program, graduated summa cum laude from Concordia University Irvine with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a minor in accounting in 2015. She also earned a Certificate of Achievement in Accounting from Saddleback College in 2021.

COB FACULTY

HCA is just one Nashville company that has relied on Lipscomb accountants for decades.

Jeff Jewell, Chair

Tim Creel (MBA ’02)

Accounting, Finance and Economics; Professor of Finance

Assistant Professor of Accounting (2022), Associate Professor

Marcy Binkley Assistant Professor of Accounting (2022-23)

of Accounting (2023)

Susan Galbreath Professor of Accounting

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FACULT Y

Faculty make new connections with the community through podcasts Since its grand opening in fall 2022, the Content Creation Studio, funded and fully equipped by donations from last year’s Day of Giving Campaign, has allowed College of Business faculty members to share best leadership practices with the Nashville community and business world and connect with local leaders through a new format: podcasting. THE MANAGEMENT MINUTE The Management Minute, launched by Donita Brown in February, engages the business community with Lipscomb’s College of Business in a different and meaningful way by discussing practical tips for management in 15 minutes or less. Brown draws on her prior experience with 20 years in management and has interviewed local leaders including Elliott Kershaw, director of strategic sourcing at HCA Healthcare and equity partner at Kountry Wall Street LLC; Daniel Alexander, director of automation delivery and support at HCA Healthcare; and Zach Evans (BS ’99), chief technology officer at XSOLIS. With more than 3,000 listeners in the first 25 episodes, The Management Minute is quickly making an impact on the marketplace by sharing easy-to-consume material. AWAKENING, REAL LIFE ECONOMICS EXPLAINED Awakening, Real Life Economics Explained, by Julio Rivas, breaks down current events to make them relatable for everyone—from market experts to the average joe who wants to learn more about the economy. After participating in several TV interviews and live shows, Rivas identified this need. While mainstream media covers news, many people are unable to interpret the information or identify how it impacts their lives. By sharing his interpretation of economic and financial news based on his Ph.D. research, Rivas seeks to bridge that gap with a short, fun and interesting podcast. GLADNESS & HUNGER Gladness & Hunger, by Leanne Smith (BA ’89, MBA ’09), explores the vocational magic of stories and soft skills. Inspired by a quote by Frederick Buechner, Smith’s podcast helps listeners identify their purpose by finding a career that is satisfying both to their soul and bank account. As Buechner said, “Where your soul’s deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Based on her own journey of becoming a writer and professor, Smith’s podcast, launched on May 1, introduced listeners to practical how-to’s in turning vocational dreams into realities while helping them bring their own strengths and passions to their roles. Fanning the flames of listeners’ hope, this podcast offers inspiration as others seek to contribute their own God-given talents to the betterment of the world.

Rebecca Burcham, Chair

Andy Borchers

Carol Lusk (MBA ’18)

Management, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing

Associate Dean, Accreditation and Assessment

Instructor of Management

Allison Duke (MBA ’02) Senior Associate Dean; Professor of Management

(2022); Professor of Management (2023-24) Joe Ivey

Professor of Management

Leanne Smith (BA ’89, MBA ’09) Associate Professor of Management 2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

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FACULT Y

Selected Scholarly Publications, Presentations and Pursuits Publications

Presentations

Brown, B. , Rosenthal, L., Higgs, J., and Rupert, T. (2023). Tax Software versus Paid Preparers: Motivations and Predictors for the Mode of Tax Preparation Assistance. Accounting Horizons.

2022 American Accounting Association Annual Meeting, San Diego, California:

Chen, H., and Sabherwal, S. (2023). The Effects of Option Trading Behavior on Option Prices. Journal of Risk and Financial Management.

Moore, P. G. “Using Monopoly as a Practice Set in an Advanced Auditing Course.”

Dillingham, L. L. (2023). Embracing Opportunity and Bracing for the Future: Renewal Discourse and Inoculation. Management Communication Quarterly.

Creel, T. and Binkley, M. R. “The Importance of Teaching Soft Skills in Accounting Classes.”

Galbreath, S. C., Jobe, M., and Chen, H. (2023). Staying Competitive in a Tight Hiring Market. Tennessee CPA Journal.

Galbreath, S. C. “Reflections and Take-a-ways on Post-COVID Pandemic Teaching: The Keepers, Innovators and Losers.”

Galbreath, S. C., Chen, H., and Jobe, M. (in press 2023). A Historical Analysis of Accounting Salaries as a Key Factor in the Staffing Crisis. Journal of Business, Industry and Economics.

Moore, P. G. “Using Monopoly as a Practice Set in an Advanced Auditing Course.”

Moore, P.G. and Garvin, W. (2023). 2023 Ethics Update— What’s Your Ethical Insight?. Tennessee CPA Journal. Stolze, H., Nichols, B.S., Kirchoff, J.F., and Confente, I., (2023). When Brands Behave Badly: Signaling and Spillover Effects of Unethical Behavior in the Context of Triple Bottom Line Sustainability. Journal of Product & Brand Management.

Books and Chapters Dillingham, L. L., Ivanov, B., Hester, E. B., and Parker, K. A. (2022). “Enhancing catastrophic event preparedness and response: The inoculation approach.” In H. D. O’Hair and M. J. O’Hair (Eds.), Communication and Catastrophic Events: Strategic Risk and Crisis Management.

COB FACULTY

Creel, T. “The Benefits of the Paperless Accounting Classroom” and “Flipgrid: A Great Tool for Online Accounting Classes.”

Creel, T., Binkley, M., and Galbreath, S. C. (2023). The Growing Importance of Teaching Soft Skills in Accounting Classes. Journal of Accounting and Finance.

Liddle, B., Weech-Maldonado, R., Davlyatov, G., O’Connor, S. J., Patrician, P., and Hearld, L. R. (2022). The Organizational and Environmental Characteristics Associated with Hospitals’ Use of Intensivists. Health Care Management Review.

Creel, T. and Binkley, M. R. “Is There a Correlation Between CSR Reporting and Marketing Expenses?”

Han-Sheng Chen Associate Professor of Finance Julio Rivas Associate Professor Wlamir Xavier Professor of Finance (2023-24) LIPSCOMB.EDU/BUSINESS

2022 American Accounting Association Conference of Teaching and Learning in Accounting, San Diego, California:

Creel, T. (2022). “Using a Virtual Plant Tour to Teach Job Order Costing.”

2022 Competency-Based Education Network CBExchange, Amelia Island, Florida: Galbreath, S. C. “Selecting an LMS for CBE Programs: One School’s Process and Outcome;” “Planning a CBE Program for the Financial Game to Score!;” “Creating a Strong Financial Plan Before Opening Excel;” and “Putting the Financial Puzzle Together: First, Let’s Get the Edges in Place.”

2023 Southwest Finance Association Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas: Chen, H. and Lin, Y. “Diversification with Cryptocurrencies. Southwest Case Research Association” and “Reexamine Information Asymmetry and Corporate Spin-offs.”

Individual Presentations: Binkley, M. R. (2022). “Information Technology Risk Culture Profiling.” Accounting Information Systems Educators Conference, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Chen, H. and Lin, Y. (2023). “Reexamine Information Asymmetry and Corporate Spin-offs.” Taiwan Finance Association International Meeting, Taichung City, Taiwan. Cohu, J. (2022). “Startups and ‘Viral’ Moments: Lessons from the Field.” United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship National Conference, Raleigh, North Carolina.

U.S. News & World Report

Best Graduate Schools Pfeffer Graduate School of Business, 2023-24

#128

among Tennessee schools

in the nation

Cohu, J. (2022). “Institutional Barriers for Immigrant Entrepreneurs.” Subsistence Marketplace Conference, Los Angeles, California. Dillingham, L. L. (2022). “Embracing Opportunity and Bracing for the Future: Renewal Discourse and Inoculation.” National Communication Association Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana. Galbreath, S. C. (2022). “Lessons Learned from CBE Pioneers: A Panel of National Experts.” Arizona State University + Global Silicon Valley Summit, San Diego, California. Galbreath, S. C. (2022). “Post-COVID Pandemic Teaching Take-a-ways: The Keepers, Innovators and Losers.” American Accounting Association Southeast Regional Meeting, Orlando, Florida.

Scholarly Awards Lindsay Dillingham (BA ’05) 2023 International Award for Excellence The Journal of Communication and Media Studies

Scholarly Service Andy Borchers Case Writing Workshop for The PhD Project at Providence College, Rhode Island

Executive director of the Society for Case Research Publication director for the Christian Business Faculty Association Co-Editor for Journal of Critical Incidents

Han-Sheng Chen Reviewer for Global Journal of Accounting and Finance

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FACULT Y Jeff Jewell Reviewer for Society for Case Research

Reviewer for Global Journal of Accounting and Finance Mark Jobe Board member for Society of Business, Industry and Economics Nina Morel (BA ’84) Board Member, International Coach Federation Tennessee Perry Moore (LA ’77, BS ’81) Delta Mu Delta, board member and global treasurer, chair of the Finance Committee

Tennessee Society of CPAs, Scholarship Committee

Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, International Teaching Excellence Award Committee

Galbreath, S. C., Chen, H., and Jobe, M. (2023). “An Analysis of Accounting Salaries: One Factor in the Staffing Crisis.” Society of Business, Industry and Economics, Destin, Florida.

Tim Creel (MBA ’02) Question writer for the Certified Management Accountant and Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis exams

Jewell, J. J., Mankin, J. A., and Rivas, J. A. (2023). “Gaming the Market: Regulatory Scrutiny of the Largest Acquisition in Video Game History.” Institute for Global Business Research Spring Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Reviewer for Accounting Education Journal

Society for Case Research, President

Lindsay Dillingham (BA ’05) Reviewer for the Western Journal of Communication, 2022

Leanne Smith (BA ’89, MBA ’09) Association for Business Communication Society for Case Research

Reviewer for Communication Reports, 2023

Hannah Stolz Guest Editor of the Journal of Business Logistics, 2021-2023.

Stolz, H.J., Lee, M.D., and Daniels, D. (2022). “Faith Identity in For-Profit Business Organizations: A Grounded Theory Conceptual Framework.” Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington. Tomaszewski, L. and Duke, A. (2023). “HRD within Healthcare: Employee Engagement and the Quadruple Aim.” Academy of Human Resource Development, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

President of Tennessee Society of Accounting Educators

Reviewer for the Southern Journal of Communication, 2023 Susan Coomer Galbreath Financial Executives International, member

Reviewer for American Accounting Association

Articulation and Transfer Council, Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA), council member

TICUA representative on the TBR/UT/TICUA Articulation and Transfer Council and the Reverse Task Force

Julio Rivas Institute for Global Business Research, Vice President

Editorial Review Board member for the Journal of Supply Chain Management

Reviewer for the International Journal of Physical Distribution

Lesley E. Tomaszewski Editorial Advisory Board member for Open Health Editorial Board member for GLOCALITY

Research on impact of coaching on healthy self care habits of students published in 2023 As part of a focus to integrate performance coaching into the college’s academic programs, three professors, Nina Morel (BA ’84), Allison Duke (MBA ’02) and Donita Brown, have spent the past two years conducting research on the impact of three types of coaching on healthy self-care practices by graduate students. The professors’ 2022-21 project was selected for publication by the International Psychology in Coaching Journal fall 2023 special issue in education. They also presented their findings at the annual Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Annual Meeting in Dallas and the MBAA International Conference in Chicago.

The published study, conducted in 2021-22, showed that students responded positively to group and individual coaching, and that a mixture of group, individual and text-based habit coaching was an affordable and effective intervention for graduate students to develop self-care habits. This research is applicable to graduate programs that wish to help students avoid burnout by improving resilience and self care. In a follow-up study, currently under review for publication, the professors tested the coaching model with undergraduate students in fall 2022, assessing their levels of religiosity, self-awareness, self-efficacy, emotional intelligence and self-care habits. The study showed that high-religious students demonstrated significant gains in healthy self care overall when coached using the model.

2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

UP AND COMING

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DATA ANALY TICS

bison in business

Katia Hanger improved lives of thousands through data projects Katia Hanger (BS ’22, MBA ’23) had already achieved a successful soccer career and earned a Bachelor of Science in exercise science before entering the Fast Track MBA program in 2022. But when her directed work experience (DWE) turned out to be at Healing Hands International (HHI), “I knew it was the Lord very clearly opening a door for me,” she said. Hanger’s DWE assignment as a data analyst intern at the faithbased nonprofit that touches thousands of people’s lives around the globe, was a dream come true as she had long felt called to work for a faith-based nonprofit in some capacity, said Hanger. As part of her internship, she became the leader of a large project to implement a data collection and analytics process for the organization. Using a software platform called mWater, she spent months learning the nuances of the software as well as learning about the programs and processes at Healing Hands in order to build and implement an efficient data protocol.

Learn more about Hanger at lipscomb.edu/hanger.

Looking Ahead: Data analytics certiﬁcate to debut in 2024 In fall 2024, working professionals will be able to expand their capabilities in data analytics at the graduate level through the college’s new graduate certificate program. Whether enrolled in a graduate business program or not, students in the 18-hour data analytics certificate program will gain the analytical expertise to help their companies excel and get results in a fastchanging data-driven world. Students will learn hands-on skills with real-world data analytics technologies including Python and Tableau. A required capstone project will focus on practical applications of data allowing students to engage with real-world projects. The certificate provides students with a competitive edge in an increasingly valued field. In addition, Lipscomb’s connected faculty provide students with various opportunities to form relationships with leaders in the industry.

To learn more about the data analytics certificate, contact Karen Risley at 615-966-5145.

LIPSCOMB.EDU/BUSINESS

THE LIPSCOMB MARK ON THE

marketplace

Andy Flatt (BS ’84), CIO of National Healthcare Corporation, on Data Analytics If you’ve been breathing in 2023, you’ve heard of artificial intelligence. With tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E becoming available to the public, more businesses than ever are seeking ways to harness emerging technologies for competitive advantage. In recent years, the field of data analytics has been one of the most rapidly transforming areas of technology, driven by advancements in computational power, data storage and artificial intelligence.

“The whole world is racing towards data analysis and datadriven decisions. We have more data today than yesterday; we’ll have more tomorrow than today. CEOs who don’t base their decisions on real data are going to wake up and find their competitors have passed them by.” Lipscomb is already making an impact on today’s business world by providing graduates in all disciplines who understand the power of data and how to mine it for their employer’s advantage. With the launch of the school’s data analytics and data science degrees in fall 2023, graduates who have been focused neck-deep in data for four years will be able to bring new insights, new innovation and, most importantly, new leadership to the management of data to the benefit of their chosen workplace.

Learn more about Lipscomb’s School of Data Analytics at lipscomb.edu/data-analytics.

U.S. News & World Report

Part-Time MBA Debuted at No. 226 in the nation

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BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Global company Schneider Electric beneﬁts from project management and analytics students co-project In spring 2023, College of Business faculty members Hannah Stolze and Marcy Binkley teamed up with Schneider Electric, a global company focused on digital transformation and energy management, to provide their students a unique real-world opportunity in the constantly changing global marketplace. Stolze brought her project management students together with Binkley’s accounting analytics students to address a real need at Schneider, a company that provides end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services. The analytics portion employed an industry leading tool (Tableau) to provide a color-coded dashboard to highlight delayed shipments. The project management aspect led students to meet with Schneider employees at their Franklin, Tennessee, hub on a weekly basis to apply agile techniques to keep the work on track.

This combined effort involved 40 undergraduate students who worked in teams of four on specific aspects of the project. This opportunity highlights two curricula developments in the College of Business. All Lipscomb business majors now complete a sequence of business analytics courses. Students use new software tools in analytics to not only compute but also visualize trends in dashboards for managers. Second, the project management curriculum has evolved from traditional predictive to newer adaptive methods which work in an iterative way to meet changing business requirements.

Marketing students help South African events firm open new avenues to income This assignment to tackle a real business challenge encouraged students to apply course concepts in a way that positively impacts others, while reinforcing the concepts learned and helping them build skills in creativity and problem-solving, said Instructor Davis Brown (BBA ’17, MBA ’20).

Tshatedi joined the class virtually to speak about her operations. Students were tasked with analyzing each stage of the buyer behavior process for potential clients and developing a way Elysian can market to prospects in each phase, including need recognition, information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase and reaction.

Many of the ideas the students provided to Elysian have already been put into practice, he said.

COB FACULTY

This spring, students in Principles of Marketing went beyond the pages of their textbook to create a marketing plan for Petronella Tshatedi, founder of Elysian Event Productions, an event management company in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

“They shared fantastic feedback and ideas on various ways they believed we could improve our marketing from website design and social media campaigns to processes for maintaining strong relationships with our client long after an event,” said Tshatedi.

Bart Liddle (BA ’94) Associate Dean, School of Data Analytics & Technology (2022); Associate Professor of Management (2023)

Jacob Arthur (LA ’04, ’08, MAcc ’08) Director, Center for Data Analytics and Assistant Professor of

Information Security and Analytics (2022-23); Assistant Dean, School of Data Analytics & Technology (2023-24)

“We felt as if our work was meaningful, and it gave Elysian effective deliverables to use. Not to mention all the fun we had working with the real owners!” said Natalie Blickensderfer, a finance and data analytics junior in the course. This fall Principles of Marketing students continued to work with Elysian as well as additional businesses and organizations in Zimbabwe.

Rick Holaway (’01, MBA ’09)

Davis Brown (’17, MBA ’20)

Chair, Management, Entrepreneurship &

Instructor of Marketing (2023-24)

Marketing (2022-32); Assistant Professor of Marketing (2023-24)

Joseph Bamber Associate Professor of Marketing (2022-23)

Lindsay Dillingham (BA ’05) Associate Professor of Marketing

2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

BOLD BISON

making a mark in business

April Britt honored as 2023 Woman of Inﬂuence in Nashville

When you hear the word “creative,” most people don’t immediately think: “banking.” But that’s what April Britt (MBA ’13) and a group of friends thought of immediately in 2017. “Humans are social creatures. Creating is more fun with others!” says Britt, today a 2023 Woman of Influence Award winner. “We think a bank can serve as a unique nexus point for bringing together people from all walks of life and different industries—where they have a common connection (such as Studio Bank). We want to build community.” Britt and the founding group started building that community in 2018, when Studio Bank—a bank that is “uncommonly modern and surprisingly human”—was born. The bank was founded as the first true new bank in the Greater Nashville area in over a decade. In its first five years in business, Studio Bank has been recognized as one of the Nashville Business Journal’s Best Place to Work companies. Britt has a lot to do with that as the bank’s chief experience officer, overseeing marketing and the brand, human resources and culture, bank operations and technology, and the retail banking division. Expounding on her passion for creativity and community, in 2020 Britt launched the Studio Women’s Collective, a community of more than 700 Middle Tennessee women business owners and executives, as a space for women to connect, create and collaborate together. Nashville Cable nominated Britt for the Nashville ATHENA Young Professionals honor in 2016 and awarded her Cable’s Rising Star Award in 2015. Britt was also recognized as a 2013 Top 40 Under 40 and a 2019 Women in Music City honoree by the Nashville Business Journal.

Read more on Britt at lipscomb.edu/britt.

COB FACULTY

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ALUMNI

THE LIPSCOMB MARK ON THE

marketplace

Karizma Whitfield, Manager of Agenda 21 Internship Program, Tennessee Hospital Association, on Leadership Lipscomb is not working to create more health care administrators; it is working to create more health care leaders devoted to caring for people and making transformative change. The students in the Master of Health Care Administration program do more than learn about persistent problems, they tackle and solve them. One way the students sharpen those skills is through the Tennessee Hospital Association’s Agenda 21 internship program. Only 12 or fewer students are selected each year for this program, focused on diversifying hospital leadership in the 21st century. A Lipscomb MHA student has been among those chosen since the MHA program was established three years ago.

“The Lipscomb interns have not only been open and willing to learn throughout the 12-week internship, but also had the opportunity to contribute fresh ideas and insightful perspectives to the hospitals where they were placed.” Four Agenda 21 interns from Lipscomb, Chloé Ligon (MHA ’21), Nick Pounder, Travis Harris (MHA ’23) and Natalie (Slaughter) Browning (MHA ’22), learned on-site from TriStar, ScionHealth and LifePoint’s top leaders while also providing tangible benefits to the health care providers, including developing processes to use new technology to find misplaced wheelchairs, recommendations for procedures to ensure inventory compliance, implementing a new digital wayfinding system and conducting research on health equity concerns in Middle Tennessee. By confronting complex real-world problems, Lipscomb’s MHA program is creating leaders who see beyond the numbers to their impact on the community and the individual.

Learn more about Lipscomb’s Master of Health Administration at lipscomb.edu/mha.

Lesley Tomaszewski

Ashley Yarborough

Director of Health Care Programs; Associate Professor of Healthcare Management

Assistant Professor of Operations Management (2023-24)

Hannah Stolze

Nina Morel (BA ’84)

Director, Center for Transformative Sales & Supply Chain Management; Associate

Executive Director of Coaching and Leadership

Professor of Supply Chain Management (2022-23)

Development

New Faces in 2022-2023

Faculty in the News

Ashley Yarbrough

Nashville’s local media outlets continue to call on Lipscomb’s faculty experts to make sense of the economic and marketplace changes going on in Middle Tennessee. Check out the topics below that faculty members Andy Borchers and Julio Rivas were tapped to discuss in 2022-2023.

Assistant Professor of Operations Management Yarbrough began her new role as assistant professor of operations management in January. Yarbrough earned her Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering at Auburn University in 2022. Yarbrough’s work experience includes internships with Rolls-Royce, Indianapolis, Baptist Medical Center in Montgomery, Alabama, and Erlanger Health Systems in Chattanooga. Yarbrough’s research expertise comes from the Toyota Production System, better known today as lean manufacturing. Her work focuses on digitalizing manufacturing data and information to ensure the right data is in the right place, at the right time, and in the right form to make the best possible decision. Traditional continuous improvement efforts focus on the flow of products on the plant floor. Yarbrough’s research takes this a step further by focusing on the flow of data that supports the plant floor. Her work will help manufacturers identify improvement opportunities that were not previously realized.

Bonnie Brown Assistant Professor of Accounting, Director of Accreditation Brown joined Lipscomb from her previous post at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She earned a Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Central Florida; and an M.S. and B.S. from Appalachian State University. Prior to joining academia, Bonnie worked in public accounting in North Carolina for McGladrey & Pullen. She primarily focused on corporate taxation and the taxation of business entities, particularly in the manufacturing industry. During her time in public accounting, Brown was involved in the analysis and disclosure of tax risk for positions taken by business taxpayers, as well as federal and state compliance, research, planning and projects involving the international tax function and various credit studies. In addition to practice, Brown is also interested in academic research in both individual and corporate taxpayer decision making, such as understanding what factors motivate taxpayers to use tax software versus a paid preparer. She also has examined decision making in a corporate tax setting—investigating how corporate decision makers utilize tax advice.

Mark Jobe Hilton and Sallie Dean Chair of Accountancy; Professor of Accounting (2023) Perry Moore (LA ’77, BS ’81) Director, MAcc program; Director of Assessment; Charles E. Frasier Professor of Accountancy

MARKETPLACE

FACULT Y

Julio Rivas NewsChannel5+ hosted Rivas as a guest four times on its OpenLine news analysis show to discuss how government spending, artificial intelligence, gas prices and inflation have all affected the economy in the past year as well as to forecast our local economic future. In addition, Rivas appeared on the NewsChannel5+ show MorningLine to discuss inflation, the debt ceiling and interest rates, and WTVF-CBS interviewed Rivas four times throughout the year on slowing inflation rates, the cost of eggs, gas prices and rising interest rates.

Andy Borchers Before leaving for a sabbatical in the spring, Borchers made three appearances on WTVF-CBS to discuss the impact of a railroad workers’ walk-out on supply chain reliability in Tennessee, indicators of a recession and changes in taxes for the year.

500,000+ Viewers in markets that broadcast Borchers’ and Rivas’ expertise

553 2022-23 Enrollment

Bonnie Brown Assistant Professor of Accounting; Director of Accreditation (2023-24)

2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

MARKETPLACE

impact on the workforce

LIPSCOMB.EDU/BUSINESS

WORKFORCE

Learning to dream dreams, solve problems and push through challenges 2023 students gained hands-on experience running micro-businesses in their ﬁrst year of college study. No matter what career or industry each student dreams of entering, College of Business students in 2023-24 all got the chance to apply their dreams, skills and new knowledge to a semester-long business venture in the Introduction to Business and Social Entrepreneurship class. Since 2015, students in the freshman-level course have profited over $80,000 by establishing and running their own micro-businesses on campus. Many disadvantaged and challenged people have also profited, as the proceeds earned by student teams have been used as startup capital for aspiring entrepreneurs across the globe, as funding for local nonprofits or as humanitarian aid. “The intent of the class is to introduce students to every facet of business, and to see how it all works together,” said Leanne Smith (BA ’89, MBA ’09), who co-taught one section of Introduction to Business in the fall 2023 semester. “We had 14 teams that operated businesses,” Smith said. “Our most profitable team was called “More Than a T-shirt.” This group of students, led by veteran student Ryan Anderson, junior, partnered with the Veteran Services Office on campus to sell T-shirts just before Veteran’s Day.” Meanwhile, other groups focused on upselling items they thrifted or bought for a low price, such as disco balls, cowboy hats and thrift store clothing. At the end of the semester, teams in the course totaled over $5,440 that was then donated to a nonprofit of their choice. Throughout the semester, students learn various business factors that make a company successful. One team, “Beauty of the Earth,” a flower business started in the class section taught by Rob Touchstone (BA ’97, MDiv ’12), former director of business as mission class, profited $1,865 with a total of 120 transactions. Led by student CEO Carsyn Wharton, sophomore, the group utilized Lipscomb events as opportunities to sell their product. “They were very opportunistic,” said Touchstone. “They took advantage of Singarama, Lipscomb Palooza, and even sold flowers to faculty and staff on Valentine’s Day.” This semester, the $4,031 profit earned in Touchstone’s class went primarily to Peter Andre, brother of business student minor Donken Andre, senior. The brothers grew up in an orphanage in Haiti called Danita’s Children’s Home. While Andre is finishing up his education at Lipscomb, Peter is starting his own solar power business selling small solar units. Every assignment in the class builds on the previous, creating the next step in building a business and bringing a product to market. Students learn valuable business skills including marketing, selling, basic accounting skills and how to develop customers.

2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

WORKFORCE

STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

COB students are making the grade at business competitions across the nation The 2022-2023 school year was a milestone year for student accomplishments, with two students advancing farther than any Lipscomb student ever before at the 2022 CEO Global Conference and Pitch Competition; students continuing their two-year run of participation at the elite TCU Values and Ventures competition; and Lipscomb students sweeping the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards at the regional competition hosted by EO Nashville. 2023 Clouse-Elrod Foundation Awards $500 value each

Made possible by contributions from Dr. Wil Clouse (BA ’59) Robert O. Clouse Innovation Award | Lily Corley Virgie Elrod Clouse Creativity Award | Natalie Blickensderfer Wil Clouse Eagle Award | Reece Collie

TCU Values & Ventures® Competitors Aidan Miller (BBA ’23) and Natalie Blickensderfer | Isoko, a Rwandan coﬀee washing station and milling company This pair of students finished second in their flight, defeating Yale, Michigan State, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech and Ohio State universities in this invitation-only, rigorous competition with 38 selected schools out of almost 400 applicants competing in Fort Worth, Texas. Lipscomb was the only school from Tennessee represented.

9th Annual Student Managed Investment Fund Consortium Conference in Chicago Kyle Joaquin and Kendal Matas First place, poster competition

American Marketing Association’s International Collegiate Conference Natalie Blickensderfer Second place, elevator pitch competition | Finalist, sales competition.

COB STAFF

Jordan Forbes, Muslia Jemal, Karolina Podryadchikova and Jason Southall Finished in the top 10, marketplace simulations competition

Olivia Lusk (’17, MBA ’23) Assistant Director, Student Services Mayci Rawls Program Coordinator, Student Services Amy Westerman (’94) Executive Assistant to the Dean, Director of Administration BUSINESS.LIPSCOMB.EDU

Best Colleges for Business in Tennessee, 2024 Niche.com

Best Colleges for Accounting and Finance in Tennessee, 2024 Niche.com

Global Student Entrepreneur Awards regional competition hosted by EO Nashville First Place: $3,500 Aidan Miller | Kwizera Coffee Represented the region at the National GSEA Competition

Second Place: $1,000 Anna Belle Skidmore | Granola’d

Third Place: $500 Lily Corley | Bespoke Expressions

2022 CEO Global Conference and Pitch Competition in Chicago Anna Belle Skidmore | Granola’d Placed fourth and received $2,000 in funding Aidan Miller | Kwizera Coffee Finished in the top 25 out of a pool of more than 600 students Reece Collie, Lily Corley, JP Coffman and Jackson Fox Finished third in the marketplace simulations challenge Dimitri Kemp Received a cash prize for his performance in an entrepreneurship video game in the Venture Valley Esports tournament

Kittrell Pitch Competition 2023 Made possible by contributions from alumnus and Board of Trustees member Marty Kittrell (BS ’77). First Place: $8,000 Nick Regas and Grant O’Callaghan Sports supplement water enhancer Enerza

Second Place: $5,000 Kinley Boyd Pop-up event The Great Music City Bake

Third Place: $3,000 Lily Corley Wedding and memorial speech-writing service Bespoke Expressions

To see more about each winner of the Kittrell Pitch Competition, go to page 20.

National Shore Sales Challenge Competitors Isabella Cantwell Jelldrik Dallmann Savanna DeBoer

Lipscomb partners with Tractor Supply Co. to host regional supply chain case competition Student teams from Belmont University and Middle Tennessee State University participated in the Lipscomb-hosted Regional Case Competition, held in partnership with Tractor Supply Company (TSC) in February. Rebecca Burcham and Hannah Stolze coordinated with Tractor Supply’s Will Sparks and Tashley Hutton to create the competition which involved sales and supply chain students from colleges around the Nashville area. Sparks, director of inventory/planning systems and analytics, wrote and presented the fictitious case centered around the market expansion and environmental packaging of a consumer-packaged goods product. Students worked on cross-functional teams to present a solution that was both efficient (from a supply chain perspective) and effective (from a marketing perspective) with an environment and cost analysis. The Lipscomb team members who participated in the competition were Fady Megaly (BBA ’23), Annabelle Bridges (BBA ’23), Jelldrick Dallman (BA ’23) and Carson McCann, senior. The students also had the chance to learn about TSC’s programs and development opportunities, to tour the facilities and to engage with company leadership: Colin Yankee, chief supply chain officer; Clay Jackson (MBA ’14), vice president of merchandise planning and inventory; and Tracie Haislip, director of inventory management. Both Lipscomb and TSC plan to continue with the Regional Case Competition in 2024.

“The case competition was very fun and insightful. It gave valuable experience in working on real-world business problems and then pitching the solution to business professionals, whose critiques helped me understand how real corporations work.”

Carson McCann, senior 2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

WORKFORCE

GLOBAL LEARNING

The World is our Classroom From value-based health care to the effects of Brexit, College of Business master’s students used the world itself as their classroom in 2022 and 2023. Argentina In March, Julio Rivas and 10 hybrid MBA students in the International Business course traveled to Argentina. The Latin American nation provides an excellent opportunity to learn how to apply international business theory in a real-world country that does not have business-friendly policies, said Rivas. Students learned how to conduct business abroad within a large dynamic city, and explored the area by visiting various historical buildings and sites, the famous Ateneo bookstore and Colonia, Uruguay, on a day trip.

Ireland In August 2022, Marcy Binkley, Ireland native John Tougher (BBA ’16, MBA ’18) with EY, and Partner-in-Residence Kevin Monroe (DB) led a group of 30 Masters of Accounting students on a trip to Ireland as part of the International Accounting and Taxation course. Students met with several of the “Big Four” professional service firms, a representative of HCA Healthcare stationed in London and companies in the insurance and banking industries to discuss international taxation practices, tax and tariff structures, regulatory practices, the effects of “Brexit” and Ireland’s investments in its finance and insurance industries.

Germany and the Czech Republic In December, Joe Ivey and a group of 18 professional MBA students traveled to Germany as part of the International Business course. In May, Ivey led 15 professional business students to Germany and the Czech Republic visiting organizations in Prague such as the U.S. Commercial Service, Linet and CSOB. Students on both trips gained greater insight on the contrast between eastern and western approaches to business. Both trips covered themes such as technology, women in business best practices, cybersecurity, manufacturing production, banking systems, venture capital and medical devices.

Netherlands MBA and MHA students traveled in May to the Netherlands, the No. 2 nation in the world for health care innovation, with Lesley Tomaszewski and Rebecca Burcham. Students studied value-based care, a management approach struggling to take hold in the U.S., according to Tomaszewski. Students visited health equipment company Medtronics to meet with its director of value-based care, they met with the minister of public health and visited various hospitals to observe their operations.

Vietnam In December 2022, 19 Fast Track MBA students, led by Bart Liddle (’94) and CEOin-Residence Phil Pfeffer (DB), traveled to Vietnam. Students received a briefing from U.S. Commercial Service agents and met with executives from various companies such as UPS, GreenViet, FPT Software, Uloft, Saigon Newport Corporation and Hung Phat Tea Company. Students came away with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the distinctive culture of Vietnam along with the complexities of doing business in that region.

LIPSCOMB.EDU/BUSINESS

bison in business

Sean Hagan MBA candidate, turns interest in Bitcoin into job Sean Hagan (LA ’18, BA ’23) says he “loves the act of creation,” but he has chosen what many may see as an unusual canvas for his handiwork: Bitcoin. Hagan, a current MBA student who works in media at BTC Inc., a company committed to creating, informing, educating and supporting Bitcoiners, discovered his passion for the original crypto currency during his undergraduate years at Lipscomb. He became convinced that it can be a tool for financial inclusion by providing a more accessible and more consistent store of wealth for populations living in uncertain economies across the globe. He decided to sell his entire stock portfolio and put it into Bitcoin. As an officer in Lipscomb’s Sigma Alpha social club during his undergraduate years, he successfully encouraged the club to be the first on campus to set up the ability to accept dues and donations in Bitcoin and to be the first in the world to invest a percentage of the club’s income into Bitcoin. In 2022. Hagan worked a summer internship with the Bitcoin Policy Institute, where he was able to observe and support discussions and lobbying for digital currency legislation across the United States. In his senior year, Hagan developed a business venture designed to use Bitcoin as a way to get money to missionaries in underground churches and developing nations around the globe. Such churches in Latin America or Africa often cannot set up a bank account to support congregational growth and services. It turns out that Nashville, his hometown, has quite a thriving Bitcoin industry, and Hagan landed a job with BTC Inc., the company behind Bitcoin Magazine, The Bitcoin Conference and UTXO Management. Hagan said that being an MBA candidate at Lipscomb is already having an impact on his career. “The program has taught me a tremendous amount. Not just technical skills either, but soft skills too. The program has been very comprehensive, and I am glad I made the choice to join the accelerated program straight out of school.”

Read more on Hagan at lipscomb.edu/hagan.

WORKFORCE

UP AND COMING

STUDENT EXCELLENCE

2023 Poets & Quants Best and Brightest The College of Business celebrated a first when Julia Carvalho Correa (BBA ’23) and Gregor McKenzie (BBA ’23) were named to the 2023 Poets & Quants Best and Brightest. To compile this year’s list, Poets & Quants invited each of the Top 50 undergraduate business programs to nominate two seniors, who exemplify academic excellence, extracurricular leadership, personal character and innate potential. Correa is an international business graduate from São José dos Campos, Brazil, who has served on the inaugural President’s Student Advisory Council, as the treasurer for RAICES (Hispanic/Latino Heritage Club), the executive treasurer for Pi Delta Women’s Social Club and a member of the W.E.B. Du Bois Intercultural Honor Society. During her time at Lipscomb, she has interned at GEODIS in both the executive and IT Project Management Office and plans to potentially continue working for them after graduation.

“My time at Lipscomb has truly been the best four years of my life. Besides the community I was able to be a part of, I grew spiritually and professionally. Lipscomb has helped me to become the person God created me to be, and this place will forever hold a piece of my heart.” JULIA CARVALHO CORREA

McKenzie is a finance graduate from Oxford, England, who plans to continue his education by earning a Masters in Financial Analysis at London Business School after graduation. During his time at Lipscomb, he interned at UBS Wealth Management, EY as a financial services assurance intern and LFM Capital as a private equity intern. Additionally, he volunteered at Operation Stand Down Tennessee, was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and was a member of the NCAA DI golf team.

“It’s been an excellent experience. I’ve learned much more than I could have imagined. The support I’ve received throughout my time here has been outstanding and I’ve particularly enjoyed the opportunity to develop connections with my professors.” GREGOR MCKENZIE

2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

WORKFORCE

CAREER CONNECTION

It’s about more than finding a job. It’s about crafting a career. Middle Tennessee employers continue to show up and stake their claim for Lipscomb’s in-demand business graduates at the annual Career Fair held by the COB Career Connection oﬃce. Each year more than 2,100 employers and potential hires participate in COB events to build a professional network and to search for a job or internship. Check out what Greater Nashville’s company recruiters and leaders are saying. “Lipscomb students are among the most grounded, inquisitive, respectful, and mature I’ve ever met. They are well-prepared and project such character and depth. In the case of a ‘tie’ in qualifications, I would hire the Lipscomb graduate every time.”

“The students are prepared and ask great questions to employers. They were professional and enthusiastic about their future. That to me is the best start to their career. The power of positivity goes a very long way!”

“What I appreciate the most about hiring Lipscomb grads is that not only are they aligned with our organization’s faith-based mission but they are quick learners and always professional from day one on the job.”

COB STAFF

“Everyone my firm spoke with was excited to speak with us and noted seeking us out. That tells us they were not only well prepared but that Lipscomb did a great job of promoting who would be part of the career fair.”

Suzanne Sager

Petchell Luepke

Associate Dean, Professional Development & Engagement

Assistant Director, Career Coach, College of Business (2022-23)

Davis Brown (‘17, MBA ‘20)

Beth Mangrum (BA ’93, MA ’22)

Assistant Director of Content Marketing & Communications (2022-23)

Alumni Fund and Event Director

Hannah Lynn (BS ’20, MBA ’21) LIPSCOMB.EDU/BUSINESS Professional Development and Communications Manager

WORKFORCE

CAREER CONNECTION

Gallup’s CliftonStrengths help students turn talents into strengths they can leverage in their career

The word “strength” took on new meaning for COB students, faculty and staff in 2022-2023 as the Career Connection infused its career readiness efforts with Gallup’s CliftonStrengths Assessment. Aligning with a universitywide effort, the Career Connection implementation of CliftonStrengths provided business students with a transformative experience to help them lead purposeful lives.

and individualized cards outside the office doors of each faculty member listing their top five CliftonStrengths. In the Connect to a Successful Career course, students identified their unique gift and how to use it for a higher purpose. Interactive, monthly strengths workshops allowed students to dive deeper into leveraging their top talents and leadership domains in post-graduate careers.

The assessment determines students’ natural ways of thinking, feeling and behaving. Once students identify their top talents, they can learn how to invest in them so that their talents become strengths. As employers list “knowing who you are” as a top desire when recruiting new employees, the CliftonStrengths investment proved invaluable in helping students understand their unique value and how to articulate their strengths during their job search.

Staff administered the assessment to the Professional MBA and Fast Track MBA students, and each student shared their top talents with the cohort. That knowledge allowed students to better collaborate on project assignments based on the value they each brought to the overall team setting.

Career Connection infused the assessment throughout the college with visual cues in the Swang Center such as the “Strengths Board”

Faculty and staff members participated in training sessions about the four strength domains—executing, influencing, relationship building and strategic thinking—and heard recommendations for how they could use their shared talents to achieve goals together.

Lipscomb Career Connection is building tomorrow’s workforce

96%

Career placement rate for the 2022 May, August and December classes within six months of graduation

433

111

2,107

Individual career discussions with students and discussions with employer partners

Professional development opportunities for students

Participants, including students, faculty, alumni, employers and guests at Career Connection events

12,000+

Internships posted in Handshake 2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

WORKFORCE

CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION

2023 Kittrell competition winners to enter tourism, sports supplement and wedding industries The Kittrell Pitch Competition winners earned $16,000 in prizes for innovative new companies for Nashville. Commemorative speeches, a local Great British Baking Show-style experience and a reliable, trustworthy sports supplement were the top innovative ideas at the annual Kittrell Pitch Competition, a contest where students deliver a business or product pitch to compete for funding to help bring their idea to reality. The spring finals, where seven students delivered 10-minute pitches to a panel of judges, was held in April, and students Lily Corley (BA ‘23), Kinley Boyd (BA ‘23) and Nick Regas, MBA student (who presented virtually at the event) and Grant O’Callaghan (GC ’22, GC ’22) snagged the top three prizes. Regas and O’Callaghan, the founders of Enerza, won the $8,000 first-place prize, to be used as capital to energize the success of their brainchild, a safe, effective energy-boosting supplement. O’Callaghan and Regas were both athletes during their undergraduate years in college and both became frustrated with energy boosting supplements.

Most of the time they either didn’t provide a long enough energy boost or they caused a physical and emotional crash after they wore off, said O’Callahgan during his pitch. The two students set out to develop a new supplement that was safe, effective, did not use artificial sweeteners and used a modest amount of caffeine. The product they developed qualifies for the NSF endorsement for sports supplements. Boyd was awarded the second-place $5,000 prize for her idea of The Great Music City Bake, a pop-up, all-ingredients-included baking experience to be targeted to tourists in Nashville, especially bachelorette groups. Boyd’s idea was sparked on a trip to London where she and her mother signed up to participate in The Great London Bake, a fun, low-stakes baking challenge based on the BBC’s phenomenally popular The Great British Baking Show.

The Great Music City Bake would provide all the ingredients, utensils and a recipe for teams of two to enjoy a 90-minute baking and decorating challenge. Eventual addons could include professional photos, a customized apron and spoon, or a video of the participants baking, said Boyd. At the moment, Boyd plans to partner with local restaurants and event locations to host the pop-up event, but eventually would like to have her own brick-andmortar location. Corley won the third-place $3,000 prize for her creation, Bespoke Expressions, a company to provide customized wedding vows and funeral speeches for those with stage fright or high anxiety during a stressful, busy time in their lives.

COB FACULTY

Whereas most of the companies providing such services are online only, Corley plans to provide face-to-face, personalized service. In the future, her company could move into scripting entire wedding ceremonies, creating tribute videos, holding workshops or creating memorial items.

Jeff Cohu Executive Director, Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation; Associate Professor of Management Alexandria Arnette (’17, MBA ’20) Assistant Director and Operations Manager, Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation BUSINESS.LIPSCOMB.EDU

115 Bachelor’s 117 Graduate 2022-23 Degrees Conferred

WORKFORCE

BOLD BISON

CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION

making a mark in business

Bradley Bruce’s All People Coffee is about more than caffeine You’ll get more than a caffeine pick-me-up at All People Coffee, located in the historic Cleveland Park neighborhood of East Nashville. You’ll step into a community gathering place with a mission to unify neighbors. “There was so much divisiveness during the pandemic that it got me thinking about doing things differently,” says Bradley Bruce (MHA ’21), assistant vice president at HCA Healthcare and co-owner of All People Coffee. He and a friend from his church congregation, Cory Alexander, were sitting on his rooftop, pitching ideas when they thought about coffee being “the great unifier.” That very night, the idea for a neighborhood coffee shop was born. The shop offers a variety of traditional espresso-based coffees, bagels and breakfast bites and the fan-favorite blue matcha latte. While Nashville is full of terrific coffee shops, All People Coffee stands out from the rest for a number of reasons. One of only a few Black-owned coffee shops in the city, it is located in the neighborhood of Cleveland Park, where Bruce lives and described as a “coffee desert” when he pitched the idea for the shop at Lipscomb’s Kittrell Pitch Competition. He won second place and $5,000 in funding for the venture. It is a for-profit business that takes very seriously its coffee craft and high-quality, mainly locally-produced food items, but it is equally intentional about creating a space where everyone is comfortable coming as they are and staying for a while. Bruce and Alexander open the shop’s doors for special events and host poetry and live music nights. An artist cooperative has been born within the shop.

Partnering with a neighborhood school, they give educators a discount and have invited students and parents to come for a demonstration on how lattes are made. They also provide coffee for a couple of nearby churches. “I had always loved the idea of a coffee shop and starting one,” said Bruce. “I think there is a lot of history and heritage in coffee. It originated as a drink for black and brown folks. I wanted to highlight that and represent the African American community from a coffee shop perspective.” Bruce says that he learned a lot about marketing while earning his MHA degree in the College of Business and took the opportunity to tap into Lipscomb’s business faculty expertise. “I was able to ask a lot of questions of the faculty,” says Bruce. “They poured into the idea and worked with me on areas of opportunity where we could improve.” All People Coffee has been open for about a year and a half and Bruce says “everything is going well so far.” They have acquired a coffee trailer and are exploring options for a mobile coffee business.

Looking Ahead: Certiﬁcate in Entrepreneurship Starting in fall 2024, the College of Business will launch a new graduate-level Certificate in Entrepreneurship. The one-year, 12-credit-hour certificate will take students through the process of idea generation, opportunity evaluation, funding and launch. Classes will meet in a hybrid format including online and in-person instruction, and the program includes individual coaching from faculty and local entrepreneurs. Throughout the program students will develop a validated business model with a full plan for implementation including attracting investment capital.

The curriculum is rooted in the phases of design thinking: empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test. It will prepare students to build, measure and learn in a process of continuous experimentation, developing their abilities to sense, act and mobilize under conditions of uncertainty. This program is ideal for students who want to take an existing idea to the next level and want individual attention to help make that happen. The certificate can also be combined with the PMBA program for students who want a more in-depth knowledge of business. 2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

impact on the kingdom

BUSINESS.LIPSCOMB.EDU LIPSCOMB.EDU/BUSINESS

KINGDOM Dean Ray Eldridge (left) with Snider Fleet Solution’s CEO Marty Herndon (right).

Snider Fleet Solutions partners with Lipscomb to bring a ‘Beautiful Day’ to neighbors in need In spring 2022, during her first academic year as Lipscomb University president, Candice McQueen (BS ’96) decided to renew a legendary tradition: Beautiful Day. But while Lipscomb’s annual surprise day-off for students has traditionally involved plenty of fun and socializing, McQueen decided to add service to the mix of activities offered to students on that unexpected day. For the second McQueen-era Beautiful Day, in spring 2023, the president collaborated with the College of Business and its generous partners to provide an on-campus service opportunity that impacted tens of thousands of lives. COB leaders knew just who to approach to make 2023’s campuswide service project a reality. Marty Hernon, a member of the COB Dean’s Board and president and CEO of Snider Fleet Solutions, had partnered with the college on past service projects. In April 2018, 85 COB students and faculty spent the morning reading to Cumberland Elementary School students in northwest Nashville, and every student took a book home with them thanks to Snider. At the college’s 2019 service day, 70 students and faculty went to Carter-Lawrence Elementary Magnet School to wash students’ feet and Snider provided each student with a brand new pair of shoes from the nonprofit organization Samaritan’s Feet. This past spring, Snider reached out to the Pack Shack, an organization that coordinates “Feed the Funnel” packing parties that allow large crowds to join together and have fun while packing a nutritious, easy to cook meal of red beans, white rice, bell peppers and seasoning. Snider sponsored the event, providing $30,000 for the resources, and the project was set up in Allen Arena where hundreds of students participated in putting together more than 80,000 meals. The Lipscomb student labor on Beautiful Day 2023 provided 80,000 delicious, healthy meals packed and ready to send to neighbors in need, all within two hours, said Rich Cannon, vice president of human resources. “In partnering with The Pack Shack and the use of their funnel process, the Lipscomb University staff, students and a few Snider employees crushed the challenge,” said Cannon, who was on-site to help “feed the funnel.”

2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

KINGDOM

GLOBAL MISSIONS

College establishes partnership with Ghana’s Heritage Christian College to bring new opportunities for students in Ghana and Nashville This past spring the College of Business laid a foundation for Lipscomb University to build on its ties in Ghana, Africa, bringing potential academic, economic and development benefits to Ghana as well as academic and experiential benefits to Lipscomb students. Andy Borchers, professor of management, spent the spring 2023 semester on sabbatical teaching at Heritage Christian College in Accra, Ghana, and Jeff Cohu, associate professor of management and executive director of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI), led a first-time mission trip for Lipscomb COB students in May to work with Heritage students on developing micro-businesses. Lipscomb has sent students to an orphanage called Village of Hope in Ghana for the past 14 years, but COB officials hope these two efforts will be the beginning of expanding entrepreneurial education opportunities in Ghana. Heritage has established a program for credentialed visiting faculty from the U.S. to teach in their specialty areas. Borchers was the first to accept Heritage’s invitation to teach for a semester. The sabbatical in Ghana was a time of renewal for Borchers, allowing him to shift gears from administrative work back to teaching. For the Heritage students, they had an opportunity to learn entrepreneurship (a major focus at Heritage), cost accounting and ebusiness from a professor who has experience working at General Motors and who has received almost $2 million in grants to develop entrepreneurial education. Borchers, whose academic expertise also includes supply chain management, spent a great deal of time learning about Ghana’s supply chain challenges in hopes of building new partnerships with organizations. He spent time in meetings with business leaders and bankers, met members of Parliament and visited the country’s major container port.

LIPSCOMB.EDU/BUSINESS

In May, Borchers used the knowledge and experience he had gained to help facilitate a group of COB students who arrived for an entrepreneurial mission trip. Cohu and Alexandria Arnette (’17, MBA ’20) led a group of six students on a mission trip, working with local entrepreneurs, including students at the college, for three weeks. “In entrepreneurial mission work, the goal is to use business coaching and mentoring to support Christians in other countries with economic development opportunities and to share our faith with those who are not Christians,” said Cohu. With the informal economy of Ghana composed of mainly small businesses, subsistence entrepreneurship is critical for Ghanaians to survive in the current economic climate. The Lipscomb COB mission team engaged students in hands-on learning opportunities to provide real-world experience in marketing, business planning, forecasting and financial modeling. “Heritage Christian College has made entrepreneurship training a major emphasis of their strategic plan. We were able to work with a student team that was preparing to compete in a global entrepreneurial pitch competition,” Cohu said. At the same time, the Lipscomb group learned about several different business models as well as the Ghanaian economy and business culture. The team worked with both existing businesses and business startup ideas. Several of the companies included a poultry farm, bakery, a greenhouse business and catfish farm. “We view business as a force of good whether in our own local community or throughout the world,” said COB Dean Ray Eldridge. “Providing these opportunities for students to use their business acumen to improve the lives of others is not only key for their own business education but for being God’s hands and feet.”

KINGDOM

SERVICE

A faculty actively engaged for a better community today and tomorrow In March, Perry Moore (LA ’77, BS ’81) and three Master of Accounting alumni traveled to the Ciudad de Angeles orphanage in Cozumel to voluntarily perform internal auditing procedures. Randy Bostic (LA ’92, BS ’97), a member of the Ciudad board and a 2023-2024 Lipscomb assistant professor, invited the group after a previous successful trip in 2016. “I could not have asked for three better individuals who worked so well together,” said Moore. “Each had passed the CPA exam and worked at one of the Big Four accounting firms.” “I would have never thought I could use my work skills on a mission trip, but this experience gave me a new perspective on the importance of accounting… Going on this kind of mission trip made me realize how lucky I am to have grown up in such a supportive environment. Sometimes we forget to appreciate the little things in life.” JACOBO GARCÍA-NIETO (MACC ’22), OF EY

“This was easily one of the most fulfilling missions trips that I have been on. The experience was eye-opening, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to spend time with people from a different culture… It helped me learn more about myself, possibly as much as I learned new information about others.” NATHAN MORGAN (BBA ’19, MACC ’20), OF EY

“It was a fun experience to collaborate with my peers, and it was energizing to know that the work we were doing was making an impact. I was encouraged by the way everyone on the team brought unique skills and perspectives to our work. I learned a lot from the work and from our collaboration.” REBEKAH MARTIN (BBA ’20, MACC ’21), OF DELOITTE

Andy Borchers Member At Large, Computer Accreditation Commission, ABET Davis Brown (BBA ’17, MBA ’20) Board Member, Urban Promise Nashville Rebecca Burcham Board Member and Past President, Nashville Humane Association Founding Board Member, Bluegrass Doberman Rescue SAFE Coalition, Nashville Mayor’s Oﬃce Jeff Cohu Board Member, Entrepreneur Latina Leaders of America Committee Member, LaunchTN Campus Roundtable Tim Creel (MBA ’02) United Way, Board Member and Treasurer Ray Eldridge AACSB Peer Review Team member Leadership Middle Tennessee-Williamson County alumni member Williamson County Chamber of Commerce & Economic DevelopmentWilliamson Forward member Susan Coomer Galbreath Member, Financial Executives International Joe Ivey President’s Advisory Council, Christianity Today Inner Circle Member, World Vision Recovery Lending for Resilience Program Board of Directors, Tokens Show LLC Bart Liddle (BA ’94) Board Member, The Well Coﬀeehouse Finance Committee, Habitat for Humanity Greater Nashville Advisory Board Member, Rocketown Nina Morel (BA ’84) LIFE Program, Volunteer and Coach Mentor, TennAchieves Program Perry Moore (LA ’77, BS ’81) Scholarship Committee, Tennessee Society of CPAs State Specific Ethics Instructor, Tennessee Society of CPAs Board Member, Institute of Internal Auditors Nashville Chapter Julio Rivas, Board Member, Faith Family Medical Center Board Member and Treasurer, Kindred Exchange Suzanne Sager Leadership Middle Tennessee Leanne Smith (BA ’89, MBA ’09) Historical Novel Society American Christian Fiction Writers Lesley E. Tomaszewski Member: American College of Healthcare Executives of Middle Tennessee Career Advancement Committee 2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

KINGDOM

PURPOSEFUL BUSINESS INITIATIVE

Launch of Initiative for Purposeful Business will bring transformation to the profession The integration of faith and business has always been key to the educational and spiritual mission of Lipscomb’s College of Business. In 2023, the college launched a new holistic approach to preparing the Psalm 78:72-professional for the marketplace called the Initiative for Purposeful Business.

Methods to integrate IBP into the entire college include:

IBP will take the college’s proven framework to integrate faith and business education that was centered around one academic center and now immerse it throughout the College of Business. The framework has expanded beyond providing missional experiences to holistically equipping business students regardless of their post-graduate positions. In this context, we are committed to prepare business students to exercise powerful leadership through their influence by embracing the values and virtues of Jesus.

• Missional business, continuation of the college’s successful global experiences abroad (see page 24);

COB FACULTY

The IBP effort will work on two tracks: one intended to fuel the business profession transforming society through external initiatives such as thought leadership, partnering with stakeholders and linking our unique Christian mission with AACSB accreditation expectations for societal impact. The second track aims to nurture academics transforming the profession by all members of the college bearing responsibility to advance IBP within their classrooms, scholarly efforts and community engagement.

• Curriculum, core classes in which to infuse the concepts of purposeful business; • Faculty and staff who will develop personal goals to advance the initiative through teaching, research, service or engagement;

• COB chapels; where invited Christian business leaders provide realworld models for using their business acumen, competences, faith and character to be a force of good; • Co-curricular experiences, structured as Purposeful Business Fellows; • Collaboration with the Center for Vocational Discovery, a university-wide program to help students not only prepare for a career but to also discover their purpose and to inspire them to use their talents to serve others (see the profile of Donken Andre on page 29); and • A unique Be Well engagement program to address students’ spiritual self-care deficit and designed to improve the spiritual and overall health of all students, faculty and staff. Specifically, we believe educating students to see business with a missional framework and integration of faith in all one does will produce the use of profit for impact, empowerment through job creation, the formation of strategic partnerships, students engaged in a high level of experiential learning and employees who contribute greater value to the workplace.

Donita Brown Instructor of Health Care Management (2022); Assistant Professor of

Management, faculty lead for Purposeful Business and Be Well program (2023) Lauren Pinkston

Assistant Professor of Business as Mission (2022-23)

28% Students of underrepresented ethnicity

New Faces in 2022-2023 Wlamir Xavier Professor of Finance Xavier began his role as professor of finance this fall and arrived on campus as one of the three scholars holding the Bill Pollard Faith & Business Research Fellowship. Sponsored by the Seattle Pacific University Center of Faith & Business, the fellowship includes a one-week residency in Seattle, use of the faith and work library at the university and a cohort-based research collaboration on a project addressing the business-faith interaction. Xavier’s research is a case study on ServiceMaster (now Terminix), a once Fortune-500 firm with solid Christian principles that decided to abandon Christian directives around the 2000s. Xavier comes from Biola University, where he has taught courses in finance, economics and international management. He has more than 30 peer-reviewed publications. Xavier has been a visiting scholar at the University of Paris Dauphine, the Wharton School, the Copenhagen Business School, the University of La Sabana, Colombia, and Chongqing University, China.

Learn more about Xavier at lipscomb.edu/xavier.

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PURPOSEFUL BUSINESS INITIATIVE

Be Well program provides spiritual self-care for graduate students The Be Well program is an essential branch of the Initiative for Purposeful Business (IPB), aimed at caring for the whole student while they are enrolled in Pfeffer Graduate College of Business programs. A recent study led by Donita Brown shed light on a concerning self-care deficit within graduate students’ spiritual and physical lives. While 52 universities in Tennessee offer graduate programs, only 72.2% of the 220,000 students enrolled complete their degrees within six years. This attrition rate is partly attributed to the self-care deficit experienced by students, leading to exhaustion, stress, burnout and ultimately dropouts. Navigating the demanding terrain of higher education, many graduate students are detached from their spiritual and physical wellness. These gaps may affect their personal lives and their ability to shine as Christian lights in their professional environments, said Brown.

Be Well is a specially designed beta program for graduate students to help them identify, understand and bridge their spiritual self-care deficits. The program’s mission is to create a holistic approach that integrates faith into daily routines and professional lives, fostering a sense of spiritual wellness. The program begins with a space designed for graduate students to use while not in class for quiet time, prayer, meditation and to meet with mentors who may be able to provide additional support to help them navigate life’s demands while in a graduate program. “By addressing the spiritual selfcare deficit, Be Well intends to shape individuals who excel in their professions and exemplify the principles of faith, love and integrity in all aspects of life,” said Brown. “It is an essential step towards realizing the broader vision of the IPB, embodying the values of Christianity in modern professional landscapes.”

2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

KINGDOM

STUDENTS

Values and Virtues Student Award Winners As part of our efforts to provide students with aspirational goals, the College of Business introduced the Values and Virtues Awards at the fall 2022 Declaration Dinner. The following students were nominated by faculty members for demonstrating one of the five values and virtues in the College of Business: Purposeful, Bold, Credible, Creative and Serving. Purposeful “Cody Neill (BBA ‘22) completed multiple accounting internships to see what he wanted to do with his career. He was very purposeful in his role as an officer of the accounting ethics club, the Student Center for Public Trust.” – FROM THE NOMINATION BY MARK JOBE

Bold “Aiden Miller (BBA ’23) has boldness in his blood... Aiden had a heart condition when he was young and had an urgency about him that he always wanted to make a difference. He started a tour company when he was 14 and Kwizera Coffee when he was 16.” – FROM THE NOMINATION BY LEANNE SMITH (BA ’89, MBA ’09)

Credible “Gregor McKenzie (BBA ’23)... is someone who will do exactly as he says. He performs at the highest level possible which is what we like to expect from all of our students. I have heard comments from people in very high places in the industry who have been very impressed with Gregor.” – FROM THE NOMINATION BY JULIO RIVAS

Creative “I admire how creative Adele Brothers (BBA ’23) is in her faith... She puts herself in uncomfortable situations so that she has a chance to share what the Lord means to her... Every day she is looking for how she can share a kind word or greet someone and make everything better.” – FROM THE NOMINATION BY SUZANNE SAGER

Serving “Jeffrey Martin (BBA ’23) is ‘Mr. Quest.’ In his role on the Quest Team, Jeffrey serves the students and the administration in helping make sure that the first week on campus for students during registration shows all that Lipscomb can be.” – FROM THE NOMINATION BY PERRY MOORE (LA ’77, BS ’81)

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bison in business

Donken Andre: One class can change lives

KINGDOM

UP AND COMING

STUDENTS

“The way that (Touchstone) taught the class and the way he talked about vocation and calling... he opened my eyes to the idea that everything you want to do can be part of your vocation; it doesn’t have to be inside the church.” Andre decided to move beyond preaching and start a nonprofit foundation using missional entrepreneurship concepts to help young men and women in Haiti break the poverty cycle. “I want to partner within villages to create jobs, bring educational opportunities and create business curriculum and programs,” he said. “In a country where there’s a lack of job opportunities, you have to become self-sustaining because you cannot rely on a company to hire you. You have to have an entrepreneurial mindset,” he said. The Introduction to Business class even carried out a pilot test of sorts of what Andre would like to accomplish with his foundation in Haiti: $4,031 in profits from student-run microbusinesses operated that semester went primarily to Peter Andre, Donken’s brother, who is starting his own business selling small solar units.

Growing up in an orphanage in Ouanaminthe, Haiti, Donken Andre, senior, thought his calling in life was to be a pastor. However, after arriving at Lipscomb and experiencing its unique blend of spiritual, leadership and missional programming, he realized that goal was just too small for God’s work. Now he is working toward launching a foundation to advocate for the people in Haiti through business education as well as ministry. Today he wants to help the young men and women in Haiti break out of the poverty cycle through leadership both inside—and outside—the church.

Throughout his studies and during this summer, Andre has worked on the logistics of creating his new nonprofit with Touchstone, who has become a board member for his developing foundation. “The beauty of the story is that earning profit becomes more than a grade or learning experience,” said Touchstone. “It becomes purposeful and missional, teaching students that business can do good in the world.”

Born in Gunayeve, Haiti, Andre went to live at an orphanage called Danita’s Children at the age of seven after his family lost everything in a flood that destroyed his hometown. Jeanie and Mike Cunnion met Andre in Haiti and offered to host and finance his education in the U.S. Upon arriving at Lipscomb as a transfer student, Andre enrolled in the College of Bible’s 4+1 Pastoral Leadership program, a dual degree program that graduates ministers equipped with practical skills to be pastoral leaders, not just preachers. During his first year at Lipscomb, Andre began to discover his higher purpose when he took the Introduction to Business class taught by Rob Touchstone (BA ’97, MDiv ’12), current director of the Center for Vocational Discovery and former faculty in the College of Business. “That class was a life-changing class for me. It changed the course of my life and took it in a whole different direction. I thought the only way I could possibly be involved in God’s mission and God’s kingdom was to be behind the pulpit,” said Andre.

2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

impact on the future

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FUTURE

Giving day brought good vibes in 2023 Giving Day 2023 brought “good vibes” like never before, as the College of Business pumped up student engagement by emphasizing that the annual fundraising campaign is not just about money, but about the benefits and value to the hundreds of COB students. The 24-hours of giving on Feb. 23 resulted in more than 300 people making contributions to the college, exceeding the 2023 goal and raising more than $131,000; the most student involvement of any college on campus and the largest single gift donation in Giving Day history, said Beth Mangrum (BA ’93, MA ’22), coordinator of the alumni fund. The “Good Vibes Only” festivities set up in the Swang Business Center included a photo booth and take-aways for students who donated $5 including custom COB stickers, purple and gold Body Armor sports drinks donated by Coca-Cola Consolidated and donuts donated by Fox’s Donut Den, both Christian business leaders in the area. Giving Day is about providing new opportunities in the most practical way to help students succeed. Contributors were given several options of how to benefit specific students in accounting, missional entrepreneurship and through a new alumni-generated scholarship. The College of Business Alumni Advisory Board members had a desire to establish a student scholarship inspired by Psalm 78:72, the scripture that boldly greets all who enter the doors of the Swang Center: “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart and skill of hand.” Through the vision of the board and many generous donors, two $5,000 scholarships were created in 2023 and were given in October at the Declaration Dinner to undergraduate students Grace Knetter and Anna Graff, who demonstrate these qualities inside and outside of the classroom. “None of us would be where we are today without leaders and mentors who have helped us along the way,” said alumni board member Jordan Dobberstein (BBA ’12). “The Psalms 78:72 scholarship offers the opportunity to recognize the current generation of student leaders who, even through their own challenges, have achieved success and are seen by those around them as someone with ‘integrity of the heart.’ It is a way for us as alumni and the greater Lipscomb College of Business community to honor and build up the next generation of leaders in recognition of those who came before us and supported us when we were first starting out.” Lipscomb’s legacy as one of the most successful and well-recognized accounting programs in the state motivated 117 alumni and friends to enthusiastically give to the cause. Alumni know firsthand that costs to sit for the CPA exam and the review materials to prepare for it can exceed $3,500. “There is a great need in the industry for accountants; we do not want a financial burden to be the reason anyone does not sit for the CPA exam,” said Perry Moore (LA ’77, BS ’81). “Accounting alumni continue to support Lipscomb in other ways as well, including guest speaking opportunities, recruiting our students for internships and jobs and increasing awareness among their friends and business partners of what we do here at Lipscomb.” By supporting the numerous missional entrepreneurship opportunities offered throughout the year, donors are empowering students to participate in international service experience, a crucial part of developing business leaders who embrace the values and virtues of Jesus. These life changing experiences, like the most recent trip to Ghana in May and an alumni trip to Mexico, can be costly for the participants. “Many students desire to use their business skills to serve globally but are restricted due to high travel costs,” says Jeff Cohu, director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “The money raised for these trips will certainly have a far-reaching impact on the lives of all of those who can now participate.”

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Alumni Advisory Board “A well-prepared student will be better able to serve the Nashville community and other communities around the world.” So says Bob Sircy (BS ’74), a longtime member of the Alumni Advisory Board, which works throughout the year to bring their own business expertise and wisdom to the next generation through the Lipscomb College of Business. Bob Sircy Sr. Exec. VP of SageSpring Wealth Partners Bachelor’s in accounting and business management

After graduating from Lipscomb, Sircy joined what is now the large CPA firm Deloitte. After reaching the manager level, he was recruited to be the CFO of a small public company. A few years later, he was recruited to The Southwestern Family of Companies, where he served on the board of directors and was eventually named CFO. In that role, Sircy helped start several companies, and later joined one of those companies as a financial advisor. In 2021, his group was able to purchase that company from Southwestern and, as part of the purchase agreement, change the name to SageSpring. Within the company structure, Sircy developed a team of six to serve clients.

Q A

Q A 32

How does your company and your work within it make an impact on the Nashville community? In one way or other, almost everything we do involves money. We all need help in understanding how to make and spend money. Our firm and my team help clients plan for their financial future by developing a well thought-out, long term financial plan. This includes advising, as appropriate, on accumulating assets and using those assets to accomplish their short and long term goals, along with legacy planning and other aspects of a financial plan. When individuals in a community are fiscally sound, they have the resources (when so inclined) to make a difference—such as supporting religious, social and community organizations.

Q A Q A

Why is it important to you to be involved with Lipscomb University? I believe strongly in the importance of education and think that being in a Christian education environment makes a difference in all areas of our lives. The most important is the development of our faith, of course. But I also believe being surrounded by others who have similar values and goals improves the probability of success in life, not just financially, but in living a life of significance.

LIPSCOMB.EDU/BUSINESS

Q A

How do you feel that the next generation of Lipscomb COB grads will be making an impact on Nashville and beyond? In our fast-paced, complex and constantly changing world, it is critical for young people to have a solid foundation. Lipscomb students have an opportunity to be exposed to what is important, to be able learn and develop essential skills. I think Lipscomb students are taught to think and work together instead of just gaining book knowledge. A well-prepared student will be better able to serve the Nashville community and other communities around the world.

How do you think your professional experience and work on the Alumni Board help make an impact on the students, and how does that pay forward to the community? I have enjoyed the opportunity to give back time and resources that will make a difference to the students such as with the Financial Markets Lab or conducting mock interviews or one-on-one mentoring. The better prepared the students are, the more likely they will be able to be strong and faithful community members.

How does your work on the Alumni Board make an impact on you and your work in your company and the community? Being on the board encourages me in our increasingly complex and challenging world, that we have a generation—if guided properly—that can take our world to levels we can’t even envision.

FUTURE

FACULT Y IN-RESIDENCE

In-residence faculty bring the marketplace into the classroom Kevin Monroe (DB) Partner in Residence • Former Audit Partner, Deloitte; Tennessee State Board of Accountancy member • Co-teaches and mentors accounting students and co-leads accounting global trip.

Sue Nokes (DB) Executive in Residence, Lipscomb Board of Trustees • Former Global Customer Solutions SVP, Asurion; COO, T-Mobile • Serves as leadership and career class speaker, panelist and mentor to business students.

Burt Nowers (DB) (BS ’79) Business as Mission Executive in Residence • Former CFO and Founder, AIM Healthcare; former President, Healing Hands International • Serves as advisor to the new Initiative for Purposeful Business, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and class speaker to business students.

Phil Pfeffer (DB) CEO in Residence, Lipscomb Board of Trustees • President and CEO, Treemont Capital; former Chair and CEO, Ingram Distribution Group; former CEO, Random House • Co-teaches, mentors, leads global trips and advisor to MBA programs.

Greg Sandfort CEO in Residence • Former CEO, Tractor Supply Company • Serves as class speaker and case study guide and mentor to business students in capstone courses.

Ernesto Silva (DB) CEO in Residence • Former CEO, Coca Cola FEMSA • Resides in Mexico City and serves as class speaker for global business, ethics and faith integration.

Joe Slawek (DB) CEO in Residence • Chair and CEO, Slawek Family Holdings; former Chair and CEO, FONA International • Serves as class speaker for leadership and faith integration for MBA students.

John Weissenseel CFO in Residence • Former SVP and CFO, AllianceBernstein • Serves as class speaker, mentor and advisor to finance students and faculty.

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PARTNERS

Dean’s Board “The Bible says, the same measure that you use will be measured back to you. So when you give, you will receive.” That’s the attitude that long-time Dean’s Board member Mignon Francois, brings to her interaction with Lipscomb and its students. Since 2018, the Dean’s Board members have been providing guidance and input into the college’s mission, goals and strategic plan. Mignon Francois CEO and Founder, The Cupcake Collection

Mignon Francois is the founder and CEO of The Cupcake Collection, established in 2008 out of her former living room. What started as a momand-pop shop run by a family, evolved into a destination bakery in Nashville’s historic Germantown neighborhood and a second location in Francois’ hometown of New Orleans.

Since launching the business, Mignon’s business savvy has earned her the titles of Woman of Legend and Merit by Tennessee State University, Emerging Business Leader of the Year and Black Enterprise Magazine’s Family Business of the Year Award. The success of Cupcake Collection, drawing lines of customers for her iconic flavors, ignited a new movement to the area for other business concepts that might not otherwise have considered doing business in North Nashville.

Q A

She lends her talent as a Nashville entrepreneur to the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation Foundation, Nashville Entrepreneur Center, Pathway Women’s Business Center and to Republic Charter Schools as a board member.

Q A

Q A 34

Because I have experienced a lot of trouble, and when I was going through my most difficult stages of life, I was looking around thinking, why do they have things and I have nothing? And I heard God say, “Are you willing to put in what they put in to get what they get out?” So I understood that that meant that work was required.

How does your company make an impact on the Nashville community? Our company is about so much more than cupcakes. What we’re trying to do is create joy and joyful experiences for people. Joy is not a tangible product that you can pick up, so we want to create an atmosphere where people can come in and feel that joy around them and be healed by that joy. So that’s what I think we do. We just sell cupcakes as a way to entice you to come and experience the joy.

LIPSCOMB.EDU/BUSINESS

I want to make an income, I want to have influence and I want to have impact. I believe that God is a God of “and.” One of the ways that I’m able to make an impact is that I can see opportunities, and I can link to that opportunity and I can amplify the opportunity. Or I see how an opportunity can amplify me. So I am a cheerleader for Lipscomb. Lipscomb opened its doors to me and put its arms around me, so I go out and tell people about Lipscomb. I get to give a scholarship away in the name of Lipscomb every year, so I’m always looking for that underdog person. I want to show other little girls who look like me that you too can go to Lipscomb.

What inspired you to start a new business in a field you had never worked in before?

I started looking at people who were doing great, amazing things, and seeing that they never complained about where they came from, and a lot of them have had the same sort of background that I had. When I realized that, I started studying what they were doing, and I told God, “I want to be the Beyoncé of baking.”

How do you, personally, strive to make an impact on the Nashville community?

Q A

At no other university do I give my time more than Lipscomb, but that’s because Lipscomb wants me to be here. I’m constantly out there trying to be that purposeful, bold and creative person.

How has your involvement on the COB Dean’s Board been helpful to you as a businesswoman? For me, it’s as much about an affirmation for what you can do if you believe, as it is about bringing my ideas to the table to a group of people who listen. I believe that you are the sum total of the five people who you hang around with, and if you’re the smartest person in the room, then you need to switch rooms. The Bible says, the same measure that you use will be measured back to you. So when you give, you will receive. If you think about how I show up in a room— that same level of passion comes back to me, and that’s what I see happening at Lipscomb all the time.

FUTURE

BOLD BISON

PARTNERS

bison in business

Scott Huitink: Tennessee’s Small Business Person of the Year Scott Huitink (MBA ’23) has a passion for serving others that goes to his very core. He served his country in the U.S. Army, and he chose a career in medicine so he could serve young people through his pediatric practice, Compass Pediatrics in Gallatin, Tennessee. Huitink’s journey to a career in medicine began more than 25 years ago. A native of Arkansas, he earned his undergraduate degree from Wheaton College, and he dreamed of going to medical school. In 1997, he received a health professions scholarship from the Army to attend. Returning to his home state, Scott earned his medical degree from the University of Arkansas College of Medical Sciences before beginning his military medical career. Following his military service and prior to moving to Tennessee, Huitink worked as a pediatrician in Waco, Texas, where his entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found an applied behavioral analysis therapy company to meet the needs of children in the community with autism. In August 2019, Huitink launched Compass Pediatrics with his colleague, friend and business partner, Mary Kathryn Oliver. They had worked together in another clinic and knew they had different, complementary skill sets that would be conducive to opening a business together.

Huitunk says he has been impressed with Lipscomb. He is thankful for the Veterans Services team and for having access to the Veterans Services Resource Center for studying and working while on campus. He also has deep appreciation for his academic experience.

Learn more about Huitink at lipscomb.edu/Huitink.

Earlier this year, Huitink was one of 52 individuals selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a 2023 Small Business Person of the Year. He says this recognition is a validation that he has followed the right path. “When I step back and reflect on the past, I remember how I considered quitting medicine three different times and was at a conference to get out of medicine in 2018 when I felt like God was telling me to start a clinic. When I set up Compass Pediatrics, I knew it was my calling,” Huitink shares. “Since launching the clinic, I have been very fulfilled in partnering with parents in the care of their children and leading this team.” When Huitink decided to pursue a graduate business degree, he chose Lipscomb because it offered an in-person MBA program and accepted his Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon benefit. He says the program has been “incredibly practical” with class projects being utilized to address challenges in his practice and to put the foundational work together for a second clinic. “Every semester there was a group project that had a direct impact on the direction of my business,” says Huitink. “Additionally, so many discussions were beneficial in regards to how to approach different business problems I have faced in the past two years.”

“The College of Business is a gem. I am so incredibly thankful this MBA program introduced me to Lipscomb and the unique school and faculty that make it exceptional. I am proud to be a Lipscomb graduate.” Scott Huitink

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Nurturing the next generation of mavericks Alumnus Wil Clouse: trailblazer, maverick, professor and entrepreneur develops and supports entrepreneurial initiatives Dr. R Wilburn “Wil” Clouse (BA ’59) has had a long and distinguished career that has taken him to 48 U.S. states and 18 foreign countries and has earned him a number of interesting and diverse titles such as biochemist, professor, executive director, entrepreneurship endowed chair, professor emeritus, international consultant, trailblazer, pioneer and maverick. All of which he wears with great pride, resulting from his multidisciplinary background from biochemistry, polymer research, computer and information science, leadership theory, and in the last 25 years, emphasizing entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. He’s a Ph.D. holder who started his studies in chemistry at Lipscomb and was on the faculty at Vanderbilt University for 40 years, but he’s not the stereotypical academic. He’s much more interested in passing on his “maverick,” gogetter attitude to future leaders. His personal goal is “to have an impact on the way students think about the future,” he said. He pursues this goal not so much by cracking textbooks, but instead by providing crossdisciplinary learning opportunities designed to develop the next generation of entrepreneurial mavericks. He does that these days through The Clouse-Elrod Foundation Inc., which he founded to support projects that nurture creative thinking, innovation and the willingness to grab opportunities in the next generation of entrepreneurs. At Lipscomb, the foundation has funded grants for operations and initiatives of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI), scholarships, fellowships, student involvement in a regional Maverick Innovators program and three student awards for creativity and innovation in entrepreneurship. All the foundation’s grants to Lipscomb support performance-based activities, of particular interest to Clouse since that is how he has lived his life thinking outside of structured environments and across disciplines. Students receive awards for demonstrating outside-the-box thinking with new and bold ideas that reflect a maverick-like spirit related to creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.

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(Left to right) Lily Corley, Wil Clouse, Reece Collie and Natalie Blickenderfer

Six fellowship awards have been given at Lipscomb and the 2023 award winners were honored at the spring Kittrell Pitch Competition: • • •

Lily Corley, Robert O. Clouse Innovation Award Natalie Blickensderfer, Virgie Elrod Clouse Creativity Award Reece Collie, Dr. Wil Clouse Eagle Award

“Seeing opportunities that others don’t see is essentially what I’m trying to do at Lipscomb,” said Clouse, who is also an innovation advisor to the College of Business and engaged with students as a mentor through the CEI program. That’s exactly what the 86-year-old Clouse has done throughout his own career, which has involved product and process development at the E.I. DuPont Company and starting two businesses with global reach. While developing new and bold ideas teaching at multiple universities, Clouse was able to transmit that new knowledge to business and industry through two consulting firms and a foundation he founded: Clouse & Associates in 1975, Matrix Systems Inc. in 1981 and The Clouse-Elrod Foundation Inc. in 2011. These ventures worked to develop and promote computer-based management systems and digital learning environments designed to boost creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial skills in organizations and students all over the world, thus transferring Clouse’s maverick-like spirit to the next generation of entrepreneurs. “Seeing new and innovative ideas is exciting,” Clouse said, “and learning to pivot is important in today’s environment.” Upon arriving at Lipscomb, Clouse majored in chemistry. After three years working in biochemistry, however, he made a career pivot and went on to earn a master’s in economics and a doctorate in educational administration and to carry out a postdoctoral post at the Bush Public Policy Institute in North Carolina. Everywhere he went, Clouse made opportunities for himself, an adage he shares with Lipscomb students: don’t wait for opportunities to present themselves, make them yourself. In his early research in biochemistry at Vanderbilt, Clouse studied the structure of glycopeptides related to multiple Myeloma cancer, and at DuPont he helped

develop new products related to Dacron, a polyester fiber. He developed the state’s first associate’s degree in computer science technology at Columbia State Community in the 1960s. He was on the faculty at Vanderbilt from 1969 to 2008, holding a variety of positions including an assistant director of administration for one of 12 national research centers and founder of the Entrepreneurship Forum. Clouse’s company, Matrix Systems Inc., developed a 10-year contract arrangement with the IBM Corporation to develop marketing strategies and instructional materials for the IBM personal computer during the rise of Apple computers in the 1980s. Over the years, throughout all these endeavors, Clouse was on faculty at Columbia State Community College, Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky University, Middle Tennessee State University; and Lipscomb, where he taught part-time from 1967 to 1971 at the invitation of legendary accounting professor Axel Swang. Beginning his first academic assignment in 1967, Clouse has over 57 years of university experience, 100 published articles and approximately 10,000 former students who serve in many different roles including five university presidents, one being Lipscomb’s president Candice McQueen. “I want students to see the excitement of living each day,” said Clouse, who also appreciates Lipscomb’s faith-based approach to business education. “Seeing what they can come up with, that will impact the future!” If nothing else, Lipscomb can lay claim to establishing Clouse’s reputation as a maverick. When Ray Eldridge, dean of the College of Business, asked him how he should be listed in an official document, Clouse responded off the cuff, “a maverick.” Eldridge adopted the term and now introduces him everywhere as “Maverick.”

2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

FUTURE Members of the 2022-2023 Dean’s Board

Thank you to all Lipscomb University College of Business Board Members! DEAN’S BOARD ALFONZO ALEXANDER (MBA ’08) President and CEO, Alexander Success Group Inc. Chief Relationship Officer NASBA

JENNIFER BALDOCK (BA ’93) EVP, Chief Administrative and Development Officer, Surgery Partners LLC

JACQUELINE CAVNAR (MBA ’06) Former Chief Operating Officer, Mental Health America of Middle TN Executive Director, Justice Industries

BURTON NOWERS (BS ’79) Retired CFO and Founder, AIM Healthcare

MIGNON FRANCOIS

Retired President, Healing Hands International

CEO and Founder, The Cupcake Collection

PHILIP PFEFFER

TONY GIARRATANA

Lipscomb Board of Trustees

Principal, Giarratana Nashville and Founder of

President and CEO, Treemont Capital Inc.

Premier Parking of Tennessee

GLEASON ROGERS (BBA ’10)

STEVE GROOM (BA ’73)

Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Tractor

Managing Partner, Dedicated General Counsel

Supply

PLLC

JOHN RUTLEDGE (LA ’66)

MARTY HERNDON

President and CEO, American Physician Partners

President & CEO, Snider Fleet Solutions

JOE SCARLETT

EVP, Asset Management Ryman Hospitality

WINSTON JUSTICE

Chairman of Tractor Supply Company (Retired)

Properties

Financial Advisor, AllianceBernstein Private

PATRICK CHAFFIN (BS ’96)

ERNIE CLEVENGER (BA ’75) Co-Founder, President and CTO CareHere Lipscomb Board of Trustees

BARRY DEAN (BS ’76) Retired Partner, Cherry Bekaert LLP

DALE DENNY (BS ’83) Chief Financial Officer John Bouchard & Sons

DAVID DINGLER Health Care Strategies, Former CEO, Medical Reimbursements America LLC

and Founder of the Scarlett Family Foundation

Wealth Management

DEWAYNE SCOTT

Former NFL Player

Co-founder/President and CEO, TDS & Associates

GLENN MCGEHEE (BS ’90)

Deputy Commissioner for Tennessee Department

Principal and President, SouthStar

KEVIN MONROE Former Audit Partner, Deloitte

of Labor and Workforce Development

FLOYD SHECHTER President, SmartSpace LLC

Member of the Tennessee State Board of

ERNESTO SILVA

Accountancy

Former CEO, Coca-Cola FEMSA

SUE NOKES

JOE SLAWEK

Lipscomb Board of Trustees

Chairman and CEO (Retired)

Former Executive Committee Member and Global

FONA International Inc.

MARK EZELL (LA ’78, BS ’82)

Customer Solutions SVP, Asurion

Commissioner Tennessee Department of

Former Chief Operating Officer at T-Mobile

TIM SLEMP (MBA ’16)

Tourist Development

DAVID FISHER (Chair) Managing Director, Benjamin F. Edwards Co.

LIPSCOMB.EDU/BUSINESS

CEO, USGI, Lieutenant Colonel US Army (Retired), Special Forces Officer

GRAHAM KISER (BS ’17, MBA ’21)

DANA BONAMINIO

Senior Business Intelligence and Insights Analyst,

Women’s Imaging National Subspecialty Lead

Founder and Managing Director, Meritage Private

Jackson Financial Services

Breast Imager, Advanced Diagnostic Imaging,

Equity Funds

ANDREW LEE (MBA ’21)

Director of Breast Imaging, Ascension Saint

JODY VENKATESAN

Assistant Director, Indoor Facility and Recreation

Managing Member, Platinum Business Services

Center, Vanderbilt University

MARK WHITACRE

MATTHEW MCCALL (MAcc ’14)

VP of Culture and Care, Executive Director of

CFO, American Constructors Inc.

T-factor, Coca-Cola Consolidated

FRANK OSTEEN (BS ’82, MBA ’18)

ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD

Director of Graduate Enrollment, Lipscomb

SYDNEY BALL (BBA ’12, MBA ’14) Vice President Business Development, NFP

MATTHEW BROWN (BBA ’15, MAcc ’15) Audit Manager, Deloitte

MIQUEL CORTEZ (BBA ’14, MBA ’16) Assurance Senior, EY

JORDAN DOBBERSTEIN (BBA ’12) Manager Competitive Insights, Jackson

GRANT EXLINE (BBA ’18, MBA ’19) Global Category Marketing JLL

RACHEL EXLINE (BBA ’19) Licensed Real Estate Agent, Pilkerton Realtors

ANDY FAUGHT (BS ’01) Managing Partner, Continuum Planning Partners

BENNIE HARRIS II (BBA ’20, MBA ’21) Associate, Coker Group Healthcare Business Advisor

University

JENNIFER SELLERS (BA ’15, MM ’17) AVP, Commercial Associate Bank of America

BOB SIRCY (BS ’74) Sr. Exec VP, SageSpring Wealth Partners

REED SIRCY (LA ’10, BBA ’14) Licensed Realtor, Bradford Real Estate LLC

MARSHA SWADER (MBA ’11) Former Director, Payor Contracting, Sound Physicians

JAKE THOMAS (BBA ’14) Senior Financial Analyst at Amazon

REBEKAH TRAN (BS ’11, MBA ’17) Assessment Manager and Data Analyst, Lipscomb University

AUDRA WAIT (MBA ’10) (Chair) President, Wait & Co

Thomas Midtown Center for Breast Health, Advanced Diagnostic Imaging/Radiology Partners

MARK BROWN Chief Operating Office, Nashville General Hospital

ALEX DAMPF (BBA ’10) President, Oakmont Benefits

CRAIG CORDOLA Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Ascension

WES FOUNTAIN Chief Financial Officer, HCA TriStar Division

DON GIBSON (MBA ’16) Chief Medical Officer, Mercy Community Healthcare, Franklin

CHRIS HELM Senior Director, Learning and Development, Compassus

TODD KAESTNER EVP Corporate Development and President CCRC Division, Brookdale Senior Living

PAUL KECKLEY (BA ’71) Managing Editor, The Keckley Report

JIM LORDEMAN Retired

TIM MANGRUM (BS ’90)

Sr. Talent Acquisition Consultant, Vanderbilt

HEALTH CARE EXECUTIVE ADVISORY BOARD

Medical Center

JIM BLUE

Chief Medical Officer of ADVANCED HEALTH,

Vice President, American Physician Partners

Saint Thomas Medical Group

DON HULSEY, JR. (MA ’12, MHR ’12) (Vice Chair)

FUTURE

DAVID SOLOMON (BS ’81) Lipscomb Board of Trustees, Chair

Medical Director of Saint Thomas Medical Group,

Members of the 2022-2023 Alumni Advisory Board

2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

FUTURE

JOHN MASON

BRAEDEN BURROW

MIKAYLA WEBER

Senior Vice President and CIO, Quorum Health

Finance (’26)

Business Management (’23)

JARED MEGGS (MS ’11)

BRYCE CAPLES

ALEXIS WILLIAMS

Founder and CEO, Prosody

Accounting (’24)

Marketing and Management (’23)

DAPHNE PALAKIE (MHA ’21)

ASHANTI CHATMAN

WARREN WILSON

Senior Director, CereCore/HCA Healthcare

Business Management (’25)

Corporate Finance and Accounting (’24)

ENCORE DEAN’S BOARD

BRYCE SILLYMAN

SELENA FRITZ

Chief Operating Officer, Wellstar Health System

Finance and Music (’23)

BOBBY STOKES

ASHLEY GIBBS

Retired, HCA

Business Finance (’25)

MAT WAITES

BENJAMIN GOVAN

Retired, DaVita, The Little Clinic

Business Finance (’23)

CHANTA WILDER (MHA ’22)

MICAH HAWKINS

Administrative Resident, LifePoint Health

Accounting (’23)

CHRISTI WITHERSPOON

HOPE LOVELL

Medical Director, Alegis Care, Heritage Medical

Business Management (’24)

Associates

CATHERINE MARSHALL

BILL WRIGHT

Business Management (’24)

Senior Director, HCA Healthcare

CASEY MOBLEY

DEAN’S STUDENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

Business Management (’24)

LISA PATEL

DEAN’S REPORT TEAM

MADISON ALLIE

Accounting and Business Management (’23)

HANNAH LYNN (BS ’20, MBA ’21)

Accounting (’22)

ALEX PIRVULESCU

NATALIE BLICKENSDERFER

Finance (’26)

Finance and Entrepreneurship (’25)

EMILY RICHERSON

REAGAN BOLT

Business Management (’26)

Finance (’24)

KENDALL SAIN

ANNABELLE BRIDGES

Accounting (’25)

International Business/German (’23)

CLARA SAMUEL

GRACELYN BURRIS

Business Management (’24)

Management Minor Accounting (’24)

JASON SOUTHALL

KENT CLEAVER (LA ’74, BS ’79) Executive Vice President, Pinnacle Bank

TOM GRAY Founder, Employee Pooling

MICHAEL DUNCAN (LA ’70) Retired CFO, HSD Holdings LLC

VIC ALEXANDER (BS ’82) Owner, KraftCPAs PLLC

DAN JORDAN (LA ’58) President, Jordan Properties Inc.

KELL HOLLAND (LA ’79, BS ’84) Executive Vice President, Zander Insurance

Professional Development and Communications Manager, College of Business

AMY WESTERMAN (BA ’94) Executive Assistant to the Dean and Director of Administration, College of Business

JANEL SHOUN-SMITH (LA ’89) Senior Communication Manager, Lipscomb University

Marketing (’23)

TO FURTHER CONNECT WITH US WE INVITE YOU TO:

Instagram @lipscombbusiness

Facebook Lipscomb University College of Business

Thank You

for being a continued supporter of the College of Business and the Pfeffer Graduate School of Business. We could not build future business leaders who embrace the values and virtues of Jesus without the contributions of our entire community. 40

BUSINESS.LIPSCOMB.EDU

LinkedIn Lipscomb University College of Business Support students ﬁnancially Beth Mangrum beth.mangrum@lipscomb.edu Consider a graduate degree Karen Risley karen.risley@lipscomb.edu Hire an intern or alumni Suzanne Sager suzanne.sager@lipscomb.edu

FUTURE Lipscomb President Candice McQueen and College of Business dean Ray Eldridge with the 2023-2024 Dean’s Student Leadership Council.

Lipscomb pays it forward to make meaningful impact Back at the turn of the millennium, a new idea was spreading through pop culture: pay it forward. Sparked by the 1999 novel Pay It Forward, by Catherine Ryan Hyde, and the following 2000 movie, the concept of paying it forward, where the recipient of a favor does a favor for three others rather than paying it back in an effort to make the world a better place, began to spread through American society. Perhaps there is no better place to see that concept at work than in a Christian higher education institution. Each day faculty pay forward the knowledge and insight they received from someone else to a new generation of young adults. And here at Lipscomb, as each year goes by, the university continues to pay forward its industry knowledge, business expertise, godly insight and spiritual formation to generation upon generation of new business leaders, who then have an immeasurable impact on society to make our world a better place. I hope you have enjoyed reading about how the College of Business is making an impact on the marketplace, the future workforce, God’s Kingdom and our earthly future by paying forward its academic scholarship, innovation, creativity and grounding of future leaders in the values and virtues of Jesus. Faculty such as Perry Moore, professor of accountancy, are paying it forward by updating the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants’ ethics course and making ethics presentations around the state. Andy Borchers is paying it forward by bringing entrepreneurship, cost accounting and ebusiness education to students in Ghana. Donita Brown is paying it forward by leading the college’s new Be Well program, teaching graduate students self-care techniques to improve their spiritual and physical health throughout their careers.

The college is paying it forward with service projects to feed the hungry; providing expertise to nonprofits and microbusinesses overseas; and establishing the new collegewide Initiative for Purposeful Business, a program with the intentional goal to transform the business profession through thought leadership, partnering with stakeholders, academic scholarship and community engagement all linked to its Christian mission. Lipscomb’s business students are already paying it forward, before they even graduate, by bringing their fresh ideas, hard work and enthusiasm to companies all across Nashville. And finally, alumni are paying it forward through active engagement with students through mentorships and on advisory boards. They are also literally paying it forward through generous financial support to the college on the annual Giving Day campaign and through the Alumni Advisory Board’s new Psalm 78:72 Scholarship. These little things taking place each day make a big, meaningful and sustainable impact on our world and on our future. I hope that they inspire you too to pay it forward for the betterment of tomorrow’s world, whether that includes becoming engaged here at Lipscomb, or simply reaching out a hand to someone in need.

Dr. Candice McQueen President, Lipscomb University

2022-23 DEAN’S REPORT

College of Business One University Park Drive Nashville, TN 37204-3951 T 615.966.5950 lipscomb.edu/business