Business Exchange: Fall 2008

Volume 2, Issue 2 Fall 2008

BusinessExchange A Magazine for The James F. Dicke College of Business administration

Fall 2008

contents A Message from the Dean

ON THE COVER

BE Feature

5-7

First Steps to Success

Networking

8

Student-Employer Networking Events

Global Research

10-11

Journey of Discovery

Student Organizations

12-13

Join the Club

14-15

True Success

16-17

Internships Alyssa Ahlers Kyle Edington

True Success

Behind the Wheel of the Motorists Insurance Group

John Bishop, BSBA ’72

Faculty Profile

Behind the Wheel of the Motorists Insurance Group

Michele Govekar

In Brief

18

20

Future of the U.S. Auto Industry

Staff Profile

22

Diane Thede

Advisory Board

23

Business Exchange

3

Business Exchange

Volume Two - Issue Two Fall 2008

Editors/writers Josh Alkire Carlie M. Ellis Laurie Wurth Pressel Autumn K. Steiner Designer Jeni Bible Photography Kenneth Colwell Produced under the auspices of the Ohio Northern University Office of Communications and Marketing. contributing editors Ann E. Donnelly, BA ’99 Danielle (Verone) Murray, BA ’01

Business Exchange is published by The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration at Ohio Northern University 525 S. Main St. Ada, Ohio 45810 (419) 772-2000

The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration prepares students to become successful business and community leaders in a changing world. The college offers nationally accredited academic programs in six majors and five related areas of study. The integration of theory and practice and ongoing mentoring opportunities are hallmarks of this outstanding academic program.

www.onu.edu

Message from the Dean Dear alumni and friends of The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration, A word that resonates with our students and alumni is “success.” This issue of Business Exchange includes inspiring articles about alumni, recent graduates and students who have achieved success in many areas.

The alumnus featured in this edition is John Bishop, BSBA ’72, the chairman and CEO of Columbus-based The Motorists Insurance Group. John is a clear example of an alumnus who is actively engaged with both the college and ONU in general and has been for many years. He is a role model for all alumni.

The faculty and staff members profiled in this edition are Dr. Michele Govekar, associate professor of management, and Diane Thede, senior administrative assistant. Read about these two outstanding women known for putting students first.

Student business clubs and organizations provide another practical outlet to learn to apply business disciplines. Read about a few of these organizations and their successes.

Another featured article describes the college’s lecture series and the role it plays in educating our students today. One of the highlights of last year’s lecture series was Dr. David Cole, a recognized international expert on the auto industry, who spoke about the current status of the industry.

We hope you enjoy reading Business Exchange. If you have any opinions or comments about this publication, please share them with us by e-mailing me at j-fenton.1@onu.edu Sincerely,

James W. Fenton Jr., Ph.D. Dean and Professor of Management

BE Feature

First steps to success In today’s tough job market, recent business graduates need to be at the top of their game to land that first job. At Northern, the job hunt starts day one, freshman year.

The College of Business Administration provides students with a solid academic background, along with numerous opportunities to network and build an outstanding résumé through internships, study abroad programs, clubs and organizations, undergraduate research projects and much more. In the next few pages, we’ve opened our files to show you a few of our outstanding young graduates who are well on their way to successful lives and careers. tes

ful Gradua ONU Success

2008

Background : Woodville, Ohi o

Andrea

BA ’08

, BS Moenter

, native; acco unting major.

Description: Friendly, upb eat, compassi onate. “I’m always smiling . My clients so metimes ask me ‘why are yo u so happy?’”

Job: Staff accounta nt, Rea & Ass ociates, Lima, a regional acco unting firm. M oenter was offered the po sition the sum mer before her senior ye ar after intern ing at the firm She provides . tax, book-keep ing and audit services to fo r-profit, not-fo r-profit and governmenta l entities. “I’ve wanted to be a CPA since I was in eighth grade. I love numbers and working with clients.”

Noteworthy accomplishm ent: Moenter has been a comm unity service volunteer sinc e high schoo l. At ONU, she spent he r spring break s constructin homes for Hab g itat for Human ity in North Carolina, Mis sissippi and A labama. “I love helping peop le. It’s amazin g what you ca accomplish in n one week.”

Business Exchange

5

BA ’07

y, BS Jeff Sala

Karla G

eise, BS

BA ’07

Backgr ound: Brecks ville, O hio, na tive; ac Descri countin ption: g major Compe . titive, p ersiste always n t, hard wanted workin to be th to get a g. “ e best.

‘B’ in a I didn’t I’ve class if getting wan s an ‘A.’” omeone else wa t Job: s Auditor ,K public a PMG, Clevela nd, a B ccount ig in the pos ition af g firm. Salay w Four ter a su clients mmer in as offered in ternsh of elect clude Diebold ip. His ro In and Ste nic voting ma c., manufactu chines rer rling Je and AT welers, jewelry M t s h compan , y in the e second large opport unity t s w t o r ld . “I hav o work and see e the in dif a wide spectru ferent indust world. ries m My of shape w experiences a the business t KMPG here I a m goin w Notew g in the f ill orthy a u ture.”

Salay p c comp assed a ll four p lishment: on the art firs 10 perc t try, a feat a s of the CPA e ccompli x ent of e shed by am xam ta kers. just

Background: Fort Loramie, Ohio, native; double major in management and marketing. “In business, there’s not a set career path. You can do anything you want to do.”

Description: Competent leader, outgoing, loyal.

Job: Assistant director of alumni affairs, Ohio Northern University. Geise keeps alumni engaged with the University by planning events, organizing alumni clubs and disseminating information. “I have a passion for ONU, so I’m passionate about my job. I get to work with a wonderful group of enthusiastic alumni.”

Noteworthy accomplishment: Geise shines in leadership positions; she was an officer for several organizations and clubs while an ONU student. Her senior year, she received the DeBow Freed Leadership Award, given to just one female and one male student in each class.

Background: Liberty Center, Ohio, native; double major in finance and management.

Description: Relationship oriented, dedicated, serious.

Stepha

nie Bel

l, BSB

A ’08

Job: Investment analyst, J.P. Morgan, Private Wealth Group, Chicago, Ill. Bell is attending a three-year training program that leads to direct management of accounts for high-net-worth individuals and families. “I am proud to work for such a prestigious, first-class company. I plan to earn my way and win the respect of my colleagues throughout the organization.”

Noteworthy accomplishment: Bell was a hardworking and dedicated student. She excelled in the classroom and played an essential role with the Student Investment Club and the President’s Club.

“In high school, I dreamed of living in a big city and working for a well-known company. Northern gave me a solid preparation and helped me get where I am today. I am truly fulfilling my dream.”

P Monte

asc

SBA hal, B

’07

2008

Job: rsky anagement, Siko Supply chain m Conn., d, ation, Stratfor Aircraft Corpor helicopter k aw Black H e th of r re tu ac sks manuf schal accesses ri Pa . ft ra rc ai r he and ot with es, makes deals and opportuniti liers pp ternational su domestic and in illion in m 0 sibility for $5 and has respon year. expenditures a complishment: and spent Noteworthy ac to 12 countries ed el av tr s ha l Pascha rt of an ONU Germany as pa in g in liv er m t his MBA a sum m. He plans to ge ra og pr ad ro ab e abroad study agement and liv an m l na io at rn tries and in inte st in other coun re te in y “M . ay somed ere’s a huge akes me tick. Th m t ha w is s re s exciting cultu undaries, and it’ bo r ou e id ts ou world it.” and experience to learn about it

uates ONU Successful Grad

Background: major in , native; double d.

In , ne ay W rt Fo siness and international bu d an t en em ag man or in Spanish. economics; min Description: dent. motivated, confi Globally minded, ter af go d rds high an “I set my standa what I want.”

Business Exchange

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Networking

You’re needed for the network Who: Ohio Northern business college alumni

What: Attend a Student-Employer Networking Event to connect informally with ONU business students and share information about opportunities at your company/organization.

Northern business students are eager to make connections and learn about expectations and opportunities in the business world.

If you are willing to participate in a StudentEmployer Networking Event, contact Diane Thede, 419-772-2082, d-thede@onu.edu.

Why: It’s a great opportunity to meet well-prepared and top-notch job candidates. It’s a chance to give back to your alma mater.

When: Cleveland—October 30 Columbus (Dublin)—November 11 Minster/Dayton—December 9 Northwestern Ohio (Dicke Hall)—January 15 Chicago—Date TBA

4HE

.ORTHERN &UND

3HOW 9OUR

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.ORTHERN #OMMITMENT

Annual Support for The Northern Fund and The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration

Give back to give forward Ohio Northern University is proud that previous generations have always given generously to the next.

Your annual support goes to work immediately through scholarships, research, technology, cultural opportunities and campus improvements. Giving back truly does give forward to the ONU of tomorrow with a new generation of ONU students.

Please give back – and give forward – with your True Northern Commitment. www.onugive.com Business Exchange

9

GLOBAL RESEARCH

Journey of discovery research process is a journey of discovery.

When students explore a business topic in-depth, they learn to think analytically, assimilate information and learn independently, skills that will benefit them in graduate school or in their career. Because of these invaluable benefits, quality academic programs find ways to support undergraduate research, explains Michele Govekar, Ph.D., associate professor of management.

The

In The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration, every student is required to produce a research paper at some point in his or her college career, either as a course requirement, an honors seminar project or an independent study. During each phase of the research process, from selecting a topic, to finding information sources, to refining content, professors offer guidance. “We foster a collaborative atmosphere,” says Peter Banfe, Ph.D., associate

professor of international business.

“Professors develop close relationships with students and serve as mentors.”

For those students willing to put forth extra time and effort, a research project can lead to a published paper in an academic journal or an invitation to present at an academic conference – high honors for an undergraduate student. “It’s a real résumé booster,” says Banfe. “It shows intelligence, ambition and maturity.”

The college not only encourages students to submit exceptional papers for consideration, it even provides financial support for conference fees and travel. This past year, four students, whose papers focused on global topics, were invited to present at academic conferences in Washington, D.C., and Austria.

Martha Claypool, BSBA ’08, a Lancaster, Ohio, native who majored in management and

marketing, presented her paper, “Saving a Failing Market: Foreign Real Estate Investments in the Weak U.S. Housing Sector,” at the Society for the Advancement of Management International Conference in Washington, D.C., in April. Claypool wrote the paper for her final project in the Business and Society class she took with Govekar.

Ever since she was a little girl, Claypool liked to tag along with her dad, an electrical engineer, when he checked on his commercial building projects. “I’ve always been fascinated by how commercial buildings are used by owners and why they are bought and sold,” she says.

An article in The Wall Street Journal (provided free of charge by the college to all business students) sparked Claypool’s interest in foreign investment in the U.S. commercial real estate market. She relied on government Web sites,

Erica

Mt. Ca stl

e

Enser r e f i n Jen newspaper articles and other secondary sources to develop a report on the role of foreign investors in the current market. “I discovered that most of the commercial real estate trades that were occurring in the U.S. were initiated by foreigners,” she says. “By buying real estate in the U.S., these foreign corporations were not only helping to stabilize a weak market, but were in some cases paying less than top dollar for prime real estate in a country that is traditionally socially and economically stable.”

Jennifer Enser, BSBA ’08, a Dunkirk, N.Y., native who majored in management, and Quentin Elsea, BSBA ’08, a Findlay, Ohio, native who majored in management, were invited to present their paper, “Chinese Guanxi and Western Human Resource Practices: Friends or Enemies?,” at the European Applied Business Research Conference in Salzburg, Austria, in June. Elsea was unable to attend, so Enser represented them both at the conference.

Enser and Elsea collaborated on the paper for the International Management class they took with Banfe. Interning in the human resources office at ONU, Enser had developed an interest in human resource practices, so she handled that end of the research. Elsea thoroughly examined Chinese culture.

The two brought their research together in a comprehensive report. “This paper concludes that the use of Western human resources without considerations

and changes to accommodate Chinese cultural differences would be an unwise and ineffective way to utilize the most important resource, the human element,” they wrote.

Enser was nervous about the presentation in Salzburg, so she spent considerable time preparing. “The experience increased my comfort level with speaking in public and interacting with people from all different backgrounds,” she says.

Erica Mt. Castle, BSBA ’08, a Lewisburg, Ohio, native who majored in international business and Spanish, presented her paper, “Free Trade Agreements: A focus on the JapanThailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA),” at the European Applied Business Research Conference in Salzburg, Austria, in June.

Mt. Castle worked on the paper for the International Management course she took with Banfe. Class members were required to select a topic with a Southeast Asia twist, so Mt. Castle focused on Thailand because she didn’t know much about the country. “It was interesting to me, so I dove right in,” she says. She soon discovered there were myriad directions she could take her research on the JTEPA. With the help of Banfe, she narrowed her topic

to the controversy surrounding the trade agreement with a particular look at the Thailand perspective. “The paper argues support for the JTEPA, in spite of criticisms and the difficulty of predicting what the future for Japan and Thailand will entail,” she wrote.

Mt. Castle was excited, and astounded, when she learned her paper was accepted by the conference. “I did not think for even one minute that my paper would be chosen,” she says with a laugh. “It was just a positive experience all the way around.”

The Global Business Issues Journal has been published for six years under the auspices of the International Business Club in The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration. It provides a venue to promote and showcase outstanding undergraduate student research. Professors in the College of Business Administration blind review all submissions and select the top papers for inclusion. Each year, one paper is chosen to receive the “best paper” award and a $50 cash prize. Plans are underway to expand the audience, and the competitiveness, of the journal by accepting submissions from undergraduate students at other colleges and universities in Ohio.

Business Exchange

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Student organizations

Join Club the

The Dicke College of Business Administration places a high priority on experiential learning. Practical experience, internships, study abroad and award-winning student organizations are just some of the ways in which students may obtain invaluable “real-world” education while at Ohio Northern University.

Student groups, in particular, are great ways for students to learn outside the classroom, hone leadership skills and get the chance to attend regional and national conferences for competitions and networking. The Student Investment Group and ONU’s collegiate chapter of the American Marketing Association are two such organizations.

Student Investment Group The Student Investment Group (SIG) began in spring 1989 when Henry L. Metzger, BSED ’41, Hon. D. ’94, then president of the Robert E. Hillier Family Charitable Trust, suggested that $35,000 of the Trust’s $100,000 pledge to the University be used for a scholarship fund to be managed by students who would gain experience in investment management. Three juniors and three seniors were initially selected to participate in the group, which made its first investment in May 1989.

Success is judged in two ways: through educational opportunities and through profitable investments. “We never want to lose money, and we take our responsibility for ONU’s funds very seriously,” says Jeffery Heinfeldt, associate professor of finance and SIG’s faculty advisor. “However, the educational aspect is very important, and we try to learn from our mistakes.”

Andrew Hartman, a senior accounting major from Williston, Ohio, and incoming president of SIG, agrees. “The group is very passionate about maintaining a successful portfolio, but sometimes the stock market doesn’t work in our favor.”

The group meets every two weeks to discuss stock performance and action items. In addition, SIG members take a field trip each year to a financial firm (past destinations include Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch and Spero-Smith).

These experiences expose the group to real-world applications of financial theory and serve as professional networking opportunities.

“These trips give SIG members a great chance to meet and network with finance professionals, observe the ‘real world’ environment of finance and discuss career options,” says Heinfeldt.

American Marketing Association

During the 2007-08 academic year, SIG also sponsored a “Finance Overnight” experience for high school students interested in finance and Ohio Northern.

During this event, the high school students interacted with members of SIG, listened to professional guest speakers (alumni of the College of Business Administration) and attended business classes.

SIG’s chief benefit to students is the practical experience it provides. What they do is not a simulation; its members invest in real markets with real money.

“From a professional perspective,” Heinfeldt says, “SIG gives students an opportunity to apply financial theory to the management of a ‘real-money’ portfolio, conduct research using various resources and gain experience working in a group.”

“My Student Investment Group experience proved to be essential in preparation for my career as an investment analyst. We understood the importance of teamwork, which led to fruitful performance. Listening and challenging one another opened doors to new viewpoints and further comprehension of the investment world,” agrees Stephanie Bell, BSBA ’08.

As of July 31, 2008, the group’s portfolio value had reached $111,000. This performance can be tracked online at www-new.onu.edu/node/1331

ONU’s chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA) promotes marketing education, high marketing ethics and marketing career support. The largest marketing organization in North America, the AMA is for individuals and organizations involved in the practice, teaching and study of marketing worldwide. The AMA’s collegiate chapters include over 13,000 students across the country. Each year, the ONU chapter has approximately 35 members.

“The primary mission of AMA is to get students acquainted with what the ‘real world’ is like in marketing,” says Jeremy Berg, a junior accounting major from Lima, Ohio. “We are open to all students and greatly encourage any major to attend one of our meetings.”

Another goal of ONU’s chapter of the AMA is to send as many students as possible to the annual International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans.

While there, students participate in leadership workshops, career programs and marketing competitions. During the 2008 conference this past April, ONU members took part in a trade show event, competing against 38 other universities in creating and operating a mock trade show booth for the evening. More than 1,200 conference attendees and 70 faculty advisors visited this exhibit. The team also was one of 15 chapters selected to present a leadership workshop addressing fundraising.

“At the national conference every year, ONU’s chapter of AMA represents the University extremely well while networking and learning new marketing skills,” says Curtis See, a senior management major from Gahanna, Ohio.

Berg continues, “The importance of the national conference is to get Northern’s name out to the rest of the world and to show the smaller schools in attendance that, with determined members, their group can be successful, too.”

To maintain active status within the national organization, ONU’s chapter must develop a 10-page chapter plan at the beginning of each school year and a concluding chapter report at the year’s end. The national organization reviews these documents as it determines the status of its members. At the 2008 International Collegiate Conference, the ONU AMA received a national award for its excellence in these club communications.

In addition to the national conference, the AMA chapter assists with the college’s Mock Interview Day, in which more than 30 businesses are invited to campus to conduct practice interviews with students. “The AMA does a lot for the college in organizing the Mock Interview Day, participating in various charities and setting a booth up during Homecoming,” says See. The AMA provides a key marketing education and experience to students who may not receive formal marketing instruction in the classroom. “The AMA shows ONU students, not just business majors, the importance of a marketing background and what it can do for a student’s career,” says See. Berg shares this opinion. “AMA has made me a more well-rounded individual. I’m an accounting major, and I realized that I will need to promote my firm to potential companies that I may do business with in the future. This aspect isn’t always covered in the classroom but can be easily learned in AMA.”

Business Exchange

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Internships “I sent e-mails, I tried calling, but I just couldn’t get through to her. I didn’t give up, and finally I got an interview. It was supposed to be 15 minutes, but it turned into two hours; I even got to tour the facility.”

After her successful interview, Ahlers set her sights on interning for the Reds, eventually securing the job the following winter. She began working for the Reds at the start of this season, rounding out the 12 interns in her department.

An Internship Home Run Alyssa Ahlers hit a lead-off home run with her first internship, and her career is just gaining momentum. The ONU junior lived out a fantasy as a summer intern for the Cincinnati Reds.

Ahlers helped with all in-game and outside-game promotions through the Reds’ Promotional Events and Gameday Operations department.

Raised a Reds fan, Ahlers chose to apply her love of sports to her required internship for her dual major in marketing, and professional and organizational communication. “I knew sports marketing was something I wanted to pursue because it’s an exciting field,” she says. “Working for the Reds was great because they have loyal fans and so much history behind them.”

When Ahlers was a freshman, she took an interviewing course with communication arts lecturer Bill Asman. She was assigned to interview someone with her ideal career, and the Reds seemed a natural choice for the project.

“I called the Reds’ front office, and the receptionist pointed me to Karen Forgus, vice president of communications and marketing,” Ahlers explains.

“My internship gave me a sense of the opportunities in the marketing field. I worked with inspiring people, and made important connections every day. Seeing these people pushed me to work hard and get ahead,” says Ahlers, noting the valuable skills she learned.

Her job description included a laundry list of autograph sessions, fan-club events and community days.

“I worked all home games, and helped with prize drawings, mascot races, pregame activities and basically everything dedicated to getting people excited about the Reds.”

Ahlers prefers a full schedule, both in the work place and during the school year. “I hate to be bored,” she says, listing memberships in the College of Business Administration’s Dean’s Advisory Council, the Dean’s Mentorship Program, President’s Club, the American Marketing Association and Delta Zeta social sorority.

She also holds four campus jobs and contributes to The Northern Review.

Her work ethic caught the attention of her bosses, including Forgus, who recognized her at the annual interns’ luncheon. “She pointed me out of the crowd and applauded my persistence in getting the job. I was embarrassed, but also flattered, especially since I’m the second-youngest intern.”

Ahlers hopes to return for a second season with the Reds, perhaps in another department. As her career progresses, she’ll always remember the highlights of her first internship.

“It’s nice to be able to say I did this on my own. It’s only an internship, but I went into it without knowing anyone and made it work. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished.”

But it was not all work for Edington, whose internship included several perks. “This is the show that made country music famous, so to stay after work and catch the Tuesday performance was a lot of fun,” he says. “I would look at the audience enjoying the show and know that the collective efforts of our department made it happen.”

Gone Country Kyle Edington’s summer job combined red-hot country music and more than 80 years of tradition into one “grand ole” internship. The ONU junior was an interactive marketing intern for the Grand Ole Opry, where he was part of the team that brought the longest-running live radio show to the stage.

Edington, a native of Saline, Mich., says his music tastes have always been “eclectic.” He remembers his grandparents watching the Opry, with its famous barn backdrop, but it was a simple change in radio stations that led him to country music.

“I used to listen to a classic rock station, and then one day it switched to country. I just kept listening and became a fan,” says Edington, whose appreciation for the history and tradition behind the genre deepened over the summer.

At events like the Country Music Association Festival, City of Hope Charity Softball Game, and the Opry Fan Club Brunch, Edington was surrounded by country’s brightest stars, including Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill. Stars and staff alike, however, are awed by the Opry. When Darius Rucker, former frontman for Hootie and the Blowfish, made his Opry debut, he told the soldout crowd how nervous he was to be standing where greats like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash once played. “Seeing someone like Rucker be so humbled shows the impact the Opry has made in the music world,” Edington says.

For Edington, the Opry has affected his career goals, professional skills and leadership ideals.

“I think this internship is an example of what I might be doing in five years,” he says. “Now that I understand what it’s like to be dedicated to a serious position, I’m excited to return to ONU and continue to improve my job possibilities. I want a job I’m passionate about, one where I truly enjoy going to work every day.”

When he needed an internship for his marketing major, Edington searched the Nashville, Tenn., area where his family now lives, uncovering an opportunity with the Opry. After a phone interview and a second in-person interview, he was offered the position.

As a full-time intern, his job included updating the Web site to showcase the performances each week, embedding videos on forums like YouTube and MySpace, and working on long-term projects to enhance the Web site. Edington says his core classes at Northern, especially PC Applications for Business, proved beneficial.

Business Exchange

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True Success

BEHIND WHEEL MOTORISTS Insurance Group OF

T H E

THE

When a new acquaintance asks John Bishop, BSBA ’72, what he does at The Motorists Insurance Group, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Bishop delights in giving a simple response: “A little bit of everything.” If the acquaintance probes further, however, he or she will discover they’ve received a vastly understated answer from the company’s leader, a man who is, at his core, unassuming and down-to-earth.

As chairman, president and CEO of The Motorists Insurance Group, a conglomerate of nine insurance entities with business dealings in 28 states and net assets of $1.5 billion, Bishop shoulders a wide range of responsibilities. His role as leader, he says, is to set the vision for the company and then rely on a strong management team and more than 1,200 associates to manage the day-to-day operations. “I’m involved across a broader perspective in the company’s operations,” he explains. “I make sure the values, direction and strategies are consistent with the interests of our policyholders and the intent of the board of directors.”

Bishop joined Motorists 36 years ago as a young and eager marketing management trainee fresh out of Ohio Northern University. “I didn’t get much time off after graduation,” he says, with a laugh. “I graduated on May 14 and started work on May 15.” Through the years, Bishop rose through the company’s ranks, relocating to Indiana, Pennsylvania and multiple locations in Ohio to take on positions with increasing responsibilities.

His people skills, integrity and keen knowledge of the insurance industry eventually landed him the top position in the company in 2001.

Because he’s been treated fairly, offered opportunities and never asked to compromise his integrity, Bishop has deep loyalty to Motorists. “In 36 years with the company, I’ve never been asked or expected to do something that wasn’t ethical,” he says. “It may sound corny, but this is the main reason why I am still here. We have explicit core values and guiding principles and our everyday actions are consistent with those.”

Bishop’s mission is to ensure that each associate at Motorists has the same positive experience at the company that he’s had. It’s a win-win situation, he explains. Associates who are treated with respect, which includes fair compensation, opportunities for advancement and an ethical environment, are more likely to be happy with their job and stay at the company long term. Seasoned associates are vital to Motorists’ success because they have built trusting relationships with their customers and possess invaluable expertise. “We are in one of the world’s largest service industries,” Bishop says.

“Our core strength is our great team of associates.”

In an industry where relationships rule, Bishop is a master at relationship-building. He is the quintessential “people person,” on a first-name basis with the vast majority of his associates and independent agents. He even takes time to meet one-on-one with new associates several times during their first year of employment to see how things are going.

In all his dealings, Bishop follows the “Golden Rule.” “You need to treat people in the manner you want to be treated in all aspects … it’s pretty fundamental in developing positive and meaningful business relationships,” he said in an article that appeared in Smart Business Columbus.

Bishop’s skill at relationship-building stems from his genuine and caring nature, says Tom Ogg, senior vice president and corporate secretary at Motorists, who has worked with Bishop for 35 years. “There is an old quote stating ‘no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care,’” says Ogg. “John cares about the people in the company, agents and associates. He cares about the business, and he wants the company to succeed, again for the agents and associates. He cares about our industry. That’s just the business side. You can’t talk to him for long without gaining insight on how he feels about his family and friends.” (Bishop and his wife, Shirley, are extremely proud of their two sons, two daughters-inlaw, and three grandchildren.)

for giving him the tools needed to succeed in the business world. “I have long been a believer that you forget about 95 percent of what you learn in books,” he says. “But I learned a lot about myself at ONU, and it positioned me to be a better leader.”

Believing in the importance of giving back, Bishop has been a generous donor for many years. Past contributors, he says, have helped many students achieve their dreams and have enabled ONU to achieve the prominence it enjoys today. “It’s the obligation of succeeding generations to assist the University in meeting its future challenges through their continued financial support.”

Bishop also has served on the ONU board of trustees for six years and the College of Business Administration advisory board for more than 12 years. His involvement has benefited him personally and professionally, he says.

“I have renewed relationships with people I first met 40 years ago. I have met a cross-section of accomplished individuals from all walks of life and through them have learned new ways to approach challenges.”

Because he feels so positively about Northern’s “highquality and high-touch” education, Bishop makes sure Northern students and graduates are aware of the internships and entry-level positions available at Motorists.

“I ask my HR people to shoot straight with me, and they assure me that ONU students and graduates are always at or near the top of the pool based on preparation,” he said.

As Bishop looks ahead, he believes his biggest challenge as a business leader will be to prepare for change, especially for changes in the work force as baby boomers begin to retire. But Bishop has a solid foundation to build on. Throughout its 80-year history, Motorists has successfully weathered change and experienced growth.

In fact, the company has more than doubled in size since Bishop took the helm seven years ago. Whatever the future brings, says Bishop, he will continue to lead by example and keep the focus on what he feels matters most: people and relationships.

Through the years, Bishop also has maintained a strong relationship with his alma mater. He credits Ohio Northern Business Exchange

17

Faculty Profile

Michele Govekar Associate Professor of Management College professor isn’t the only hat that Michele Govekar, Ph.D., has worn in her lifetime.

She’s also been a real estate agent, social services director, substitute teacher, community theatre producer and thrift store manager, just to name a few occupations. These diverse experiences have shaped her teaching style: the best learning, she’s discovered, happens through doing.

As an “army wife” for 25 years, enduring frequent moves across the U.S. and Germany, Govekar had to be flexible when pursuing employment.

With each new city and career, she gained valuable insights. “I discovered I was good at management,” she says. “But I was clueless as to why. It raised a lot of questions in my mind.” Eager to learn why some management strategies worked and others didn’t, Govekar decided to further her education, obtaining a master’s degree in finance from St. Bonaventure University in New York and a doctorate in strategy from the University of Minnesota.

While in graduate school, Govekar was given the opportunity to fill in for a professor on leave, and she discovered she loved teaching at the college level. After completing her doctorate, she taught at the University of Pennsylvania in Erie for four years before accepting a position at Ohio Northern University in 1997.

At Northern, Govekar teaches courses in management, organizational behavior, small business management, and business and society. She is known for being a caring and dedicated professor who prefers to guide, not direct, her students. “Like a piano or dance instructor, I want students to build on what they know,” she says. “I want them to practice continuous improvement so they keep it up.”

According to Karla Geise, BSBA ’07, assistant director of alumni affairs, Govekar encourages students to think for themselves. “Her classes are interactive,” she explains. “She doesn’t spoon feed you all the answers and information; she requires you to work to find them.”

Believing in the power of firsthand experience, Govekar uses service-learning projects and hands-on activities to illustrate concepts. For example, to teach teamwork and group dynamics, she has classmates break into small groups for a competition to build houses out of index cards. She also has small groups find their way out of hypothetical situations – like being lost in a basement in San Francisco after an earthquake. Students are always required to reflect on what they’ve learned after each exercise.

Govekar never hesitates to give extra time to help her students. “I want them to do their best work,” she says.

“My students know that I am totally willing to put down what I am doing to sit and help.” When she learns about a former student’s new job, graduate school plans, wedding or new baby, she takes the time to write a short note of congratulations. Seeing students and graduates achieve success, she says, “is just great, it’s the whole point.”

“Dr. Govekar inspires and motivates me to reach my full potential both in business and in life. She cares deeply about the well-being of her students and wants them to succeed.”

– Daniel Schifer, senior, international business and economics/French Govekar’s main research interests are learning methodologies and management/strategic planning at non-profit organizations. She is the faculty advisor for Northern’s chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Management and serves on numerous University committees. She also serves as secretary on the board of trustees for Hardin Memorial Hospital. Her colleagues and students admire her strong commitment to her career and her family. For many years, she has juggled her professorial duties with caring for her elderly parents.

Govekar’s husband, Paul, is an assistant professor of management at the College of Business Administration.

They have two adult children. In her free time, Govekar enjoys playing golf and reading crime mystery novels.

Show Your

PRIDE

ONU

Join us for these Homecoming activities sponsored by The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration: Saturday, Oct. 18 8:15 a.m.–9:30 a.m.

Continental breakfast; alumni can reconnect with faculty members, including Roger Young, who has returned to the college to teach accounting this year.

Check out these and other James F. Dicke College of Business Administration items online at

9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Lecture, Dicke Forum; Dr. Anas Alhajij, associate professor of economics and international expert in energy economics, will present “Oil Prices and Speculation – Don’t Shoot the Messenger!”

www.cityapparel.net/ONU-DICKECollegeofBusiness Business Exchange

19

In Brief

Future of the U.S. auto industry Expert shares insights with Northern audience David E. Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich., shared an insider’s perspective on the current state and future of the U.S. automotive industry in a lecture titled “Transcending Turbulence in the Auto Industry: A New Beginning?” on May 1, 2008, in the Freed Center.

Cole, former director of the Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, has extensive experience working with internal combustion engines, vehicle design and automotive industry trends. He is a soughtafter media expert, has been quoted in the New York Times, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal, and has appeared on National Public Radio and the Discovery Channel.

The automotive industry is facing the “perfect storm,” said Cole in his address. Rising gas prices have changed consumer behavior, making companies scramble to develop new technologies and products. In addition, the automotive companies haven’t been able to pass on increases in material costs and health care costs to the consumer. “There is no pricing power in the industry,” Cole continued.

Cole was optimistic, however, that the automotive industry could weather the storm and emerge stronger than ever.

“There are good news and bad news in a crisis,” he said.

“The bad news is it is tough. The good news is it creates a sense of urgency to do big things.” According to Cole, the old business model is broken and the Big Three automakers are adopting new models, becoming lean, agile, globally integrated, collaborative and better at harnessing knowledge and empowering employees. The industry is “at the edge of a revolution” in product technology, Cole explained, which is going to change the game. “The better days of the industry are ahead of us,” he said.

The audience was impressed with Cole’s presentation, said James W. Fenton, Ph.D., dean of the college. “The benefit of having speakers like Cole come to campus is that it exposes our students to cutting-edge knowledge and information about important topics that they probably would not receive otherwise,” he said.

Other speakers in 2007-08 included Jack Shewmaker, former president and CEO of Wal-Mart, who spoke on “Building and Maintaining Corporate Ethics,” and Elizabeth Klimes, vice president, Six Sigma, of Eli Lilly and Company, who spoke on “Charting Health Care’s New Frontier.”

Lovett values practical, quality education The practical, quality education he received at Ohio Northern University in the 1960s inspired Carroll Lovett, BSEd ’61, to become a lifelong donor of the University. His contributions have included the establishment of a distinguished lecture series for The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration.

and technical committees of the National Fire Protection Association. He retired from Xerox in 1994.

Lovett first arrived on ONU’s campus in the late 1950s.

He had completed an associate’s degree at a large university but wanted to pursue his bachelor’s degree in a smaller, more personable setting. He formed lasting friendships during his student days and often recalls fun times with his Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brothers, such as building elaborate Homecoming floats. “I still have contact with many of my fraternity brothers,” he says. “During the winter I host a reunion with my classmate brothers who live in Florida or who are ‘snow birding’ in Florida.”

When Lovett’s mother was living, he encouraged her to include ONU in her will. Upon her death, Lovett wanted to establish a perpetual fund at Northern, and a lecture series for the business college was a perfect fit. “During my college years, my primary focus was on courses that would have a direct benefit to a future position,” he says. “By having guest speakers come to campus, I feel students can benefit from being exposed to ‘realworld’ experiences in non-academic settings.”

After graduation, Lovett embarked on a career in fire loss prevention, working for The Travelers Insurance Company and Aetna Life and Casualty, before leaving the insurance industry for a new field. He spent the next 25 years with Xerox Corporation in Stamford, Conn., where he was responsible for fire safety engineering at all Xerox facilities. “During my tenure at Xerox, I had the opportunity to travel throughout the world, inspecting and auditing almost all the large facilities,” he says. “I never had two work days that were the same. This kept the work enjoyable all those years.” Lovett was also active on the boards

Throughout his life, Lovett has placed a high value on education and the advancement of knowledge.

He and his wife established a college scholarship fund at their church and are donors to several universities and one foundation. “But ONU is by far my favorite,” he says.

Even though Lovett is retired, Xerox matches his financial gifts to higher education institutions to the maximum of the company’s plan amount.

Lovett encourages other Northern graduates to find out if their employer offers a matching-gift program. “It is so easy to double or, in some cases, even triple, your contribution,” he says.

“Participating in your company’s matching-gift program is a win-win proposition for everyone.

It takes so little time and effort to complete the necessary forms. Your company gets a tax write-off, you get to give more to ONU, and ONU benefits from the additional funds.”

Carroll V. Lovett Distinguished Lecture Series 2008-09 speaker:

William S. Marth, president and CEO, TEVA North America, who will present on future developments in the pharmaceutical industry, on Jan. 22, 2009, at 7 p.m. in the Freed Center.

Other speakers scheduled for 2008-09 include:

Karen Bohn, president, Galeo Group LLC, who will present on corporate governance, Dec. 11, 2008, at 7 p.m. in Dicke Forum.

Business Exchange

21

Staff Profile

Diane Thede Senior Administrative Assistant Diane Thede came to Ohio Northern University when her husband, Les Thede, retired professor of electrical engineering/computer engineering, was looking for a new job after teaching for 12 years at DeVry University in Kansas City, Mo. The Thedes are both natives of small farming communities in Iowa, so Ada felt like home for the couple. It was a perfect place for her family, so she and her husband both took jobs with the University.

Twenty-five years later, Thede is a major part of The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration.

She takes care of the daily needs of the faculty, directs special projects for the dean and associate dean, and helps students when they come into the office with questions.

In fact, the students are Thede’s favorite part of her job. “It’s really great to get to know the students and watch them grow from freshman year to graduation,” she says.

“From my standpoint, Diane is professional, very experienced and competent,” says James W. Fenton, Ph.D., dean of The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration. “She is productive, works hard and is sensitive to her primary constituencies, those being our students and the college faculty. I personally enjoy working with her.

In addition to the daily responsibilities in the office, Thede also is in charge of several different projects.

She handles the college’s mentorship program, networking events and the Early Warning System. She also coordinates with student members of the American Marketing Association and professor Randall Ewing for the annual Mock Interview day.

“Diane is an amazing person,” says Paul Govekar, assistant professor of management. “She juggles the demands of the faculty while meeting the needs of students and alumni, maintaining faculty records and keeping our syllabi and exams straight. Without her help, I am sure the instructional efforts of the college would grind to a halt.”

For the next two years, Thede will continue with these duties and assist in preparation for the college’s AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation visit and the transition from quarters to semesters. She will join her husband, who served in the College of Engineering for 23 years, in retirement in September 2010.

“My first job out of high school was in the dean’s office of the college of business administration at the University of Iowa,” explains Thede. “It is only fitting to end my career in the College of Business Administration here at ONU!” Outside of work, Thede enjoys playing cards with a bi-weekly bridge club, is a member of ONU Women (in which she has held various executive positions) and is part of the ONU Women’s Literacy Group. She and her husband also run a business, EverLasting Furniture, and enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren at their second home in Indiana.

After she retires, Thede plans on spending even more time with her family and helping her husband run their business.

Mr. Phillip Caris BSBA ’82 Vice President, Sales & Marketing Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. P. O. Box 550 Findlay, OH 45840 Mr. George Atkinson BA ’72, BSBA ’06 President Hartzell Fan, Inc. P.O. Box 919 Piqua, OH 45356 Mr. Lawrence C. Barrett BA ’71, H of F ’04, BSBA ’06 Regional Vice President Sagemark Consulting 28601 Chagrin Blvd.

Suite 300 Cleveland, OH 44122 Mr. John Bishop BA ’72, BSBA ’06 Chairman, President, CEO The Motorists Insurance Group 471 East Broad Street Columbus, OH 43215-3861

Mr. Shawn Bogenrief BSBA ’82 Partner/Director Gardener & White 5925 Wilcox Place, Suite D Dublin, OH 43016 Mr. Larry Boord BA ’71, JD ’75, BSBA ’06 Principal Jacob, Haxton & Boord, LLC 100 W. Old Wilson Bridge Rd. Worthington, OH 43085 Mr. Paul Carbetta II BSBA ’90 Financial Advisor Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 150 E. Wilson Bridge Road Suite 100 Worthington, OH 43085

Mr. Jason S. Duff BSBA ’05 President/CEO Community Storage & Properties, Ltd. COMSTOR Outdoor, Ltd. 9016 State Rt. 117 Box 151 Huntsville, OH 43324 Mr. Jeff Gillson, CLU, CFP BSBA ’92 Partner New York Life 1336 Woodman Drive Suite 100 Dayton, OH 45432

Mr. Mark Henschen BA ’77 President Minster Bank 95 West 4th Street Minster, OH 45865 Mrs. Betty Kemper President The Kemper Company 10307 Detroit Ave. Cleveland, OH 44102

Mr. Lee Lemke BSBA ’84 2963 Barnes Rd. Centerburg, OH 43011 Mr. Rob Lydic BS ’97 Principal Structured Innovations 228 S. Latson Rd. #228 Howell, MI 48843 Ms. Candada Moore BA ’78, JD ’81 Senior Vice President, Product Group Manager for Corporate Trust Huntington National Bank Corporate Trust Department 7 Easton Oval - EA4E63 Columbus, OH 43219

Mr. Michael D. Swick BSBA ’80 President and CEO Lima Memorial Hospital 1001 Bellefontaine Ave. Lima, OH 45804 Ms. Karen Swinehart BA ’94 Associate Director of Product Marketing ATT&T Business Marketing 350 N. Orleans St., Floor 3 Chicago, IL 60654

Ms. Molly (Shoup) Hofmann BSBA ’90 Customer Solutions Manager Grocery Sector-Growth Channels Kraft Foods Global, Inc. 1 Kraft Court Glenview, IL 60025

Mr. Paul Kramer BA ’76, BSBA ’06 President Kramer Enterprises 116 East Main Cross Street Findlay, OH 45840

Business Exchange

23

the James F. Dicke College of Business Administration OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY 525 S MAIN ST ADA OH 45810-9989