Volume 4, Issue 1 Spring 2010
BusinessExchange A Magazine for the James F. Dicke College of Business administration
Creating Tomorrow’s Leaders. Ethical. Entrepreneurial. Engaged.
Spring 2010
contents A Message from the Dean BE Feature
5-11
Women in the Workforce
College News & Events
14-15
The Great Recession Cell Phones for Soldiers SAM Case Competition
BE Feature
16-17
Making Connections
Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series
18-19
Michael Kaufmann Amy Hanson
Faculty Profile
20
Susan Schertzer
ALUMNI Profile
21
Phillip Caris
Advisory Board
22
Business Exchange
3
Business Exchange
Volume Four - Issue One Spring 2010
Editors/writers Josh Alkire Laurie Wurth Pressel Designer Jeni Bible Photography Kenneth Colwell José Nogueras
Produced under the auspices of the Ohio Northern University Office of Communications and Marketing.
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 www.onu.edu
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.
Message from the Dean
W
hen Bloomberg BusinessWeek recently announced its fifth annual ranking of the top 111 undergraduate business programs in the U.S., I was thrilled to learn that The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration made the list for the first time! We came in at No. 72 overall, earning high marks in the nine categories used for the rankings, including an A+ grade in “Teaching Quality” and a B grade in “Facilities and Services.” This ranking is a reflection of the high quality of work and effort done by our students, faculty and staff. It also reflects the support that we have received from the ONU administration, our collaboration with other ONU colleges, and our dedicated alumni network, particularly those who have employed our interns and graduates. Truly, for the college to receive such a rating is an achievement based on a total team effort. In this issue of the Business Exchange, we focus on women in business. It’s hard to believe that just 42 years ago, Cheryl (Burcham) Cotner, BSBA ’68, (who this fall received the college’s Outstanding Service Award) was one of just two women to receive a business degree from ONU. Today, female students make up one-half of the college’s enrollment. In our main feature, several business alumnae share their insights on how far they’ve come and the obstacles they still face. I invite you to share your thoughts on this issue. You can e-mail me at j-fenton.1@onu.edu Thank you for your continued support of the college and University. Sincerely,
James W. Fenton Jr., Ph.D. Dean and Professor of Management
BE Feature
In
1968, Cheryl (Burcham) Cotner, BSBA ’68, was one of just two female students to graduate from Ohio Northern University with a business degree. She chose her major because the men in her family were business people. A hard worker with a type-A personality, she thought the business world would be a good fit for her. She soon discovered, however, that her degree couldn’t overcome the gender restrictions of the times. Before the Women’s Rights Movement, career opportunities for women were extremely limited. Cotner was offered jobs as a secretary, bookkeeper and bank teller – all support positions that didn’t even require a college degree. Discouraged, but not defeated, Cotner forged her own path through the years as a teacher, community volunteer and small business owner. Today, she is the executive director of The Future Begins Today, a nonprofit, community-based program in Troy, Ohio, that works with the local schools to help students succeed. Although she’s had a fulfilling life, Cotner recognizes that her career path could have been different if she had graduated a couple of decades later. “My generation of women didn’t
work outside the home. We had full-time careers raising our children, supporting our husbands in their careers and keeping our communities healthy through our volunteer activities,” she says. “If I were entering the workforce today, my opportunities would be endless.” Indeed, the working world today bears little resemblance to the working world that Cotner encountered as a young grad in 1968. More than four decades later, women now comprise exactly one-half of the U.S. workforce (49.9 percent as of July 2009). They can be found in almost every field, even in traditionally male-dominated fields like the military, law, business and engineering. Women are also rising through the ranks. Forty percent of working women now hold managerial or professional positions. In the business world, women are increasingly rising to top-level positions like CEO and CFO. Yet challenges remain. In this article, six Ohio Northern University business alumni share their personal experiences and opinions on the changes, challenges and opportunities facing women in the workplace today. Business Exchange
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Finding Balance Finding a balance between work obligations and family life remains the most formidable issue facing women in all professional fields, including business. “Women still have lifestyle challenges that can become complicated as they take advantage of business opportunities,” says Patricia (Maslen) Goeke, BSBA ’82, president and CEO of Nomadic Display, headquartered in Springfield, Va. “Maybe I’m oldfashioned, but I still believe that, in most families, the woman is the primary caregiver. For many women, the decisions they make in their family life can create challenges in their career.” Goeke, who worked hard to obtain a top leadership position, admits she sacrificed at times when her son was young. She was fortunate to have a supportive husband who shared equally in the responsibilities of child rearing. “For us, raising our son was our priority. My work and travel schedule was flexible enough to allow me to work around my son’s schedule. I didn’t miss much.” Yet, she recalls staying up late many evenings after her son went to bed to complete work. “In the end, you just have to be willing to work outside the standard 9-to-5 business hours if that is what the job takes,” she says. “Having flexibility” is the buzz phrase of our times. But do enough corporations offer their workers flexible work arrangements? In a recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Mary Ann Mason, professor and co-director
of the Berkeley Law Center on Health, Economic and Family Security, contends the answer is a resounding “No!” “Many women enter the workforce only to find that their employers do not offer support systems that allow women and men to balance challenging career and family obligations while rising to positions of leadership and higher pay,” she wrote. “Instead, most workplaces still maintain the structure established in the 19th century, when husbands worked full-time and never had to consider taking time off to care for a family member, because they had wives at home to contend with such matters.”
“Learning how to manage my personal and professional life is my biggest challenge,” states Marcella Lape, BSBA ’01, a litigation attorney for the Chicago office of Skadden, Arps LLP, a leading international law firm. Lape often puts in long hours at the office, sometimes working until 2 or 3 a.m. This doesn’t leave her much time to spend with her fiancé and friends, or for outside activities, like planning her June 2010 wedding. Still, Lape believes the issue of work-family balance is getting better. “Leading organizations are constantly assessing ways to improve in this area,” she says. “Technological advancements, including the Blackberry and the ability to work remotely, are invaluable when it comes to improving work-life balance.” “What did we do before the Blackberry?” agrees Amy (Rettig) Prigge, BSBA ’94, the associate director of communications and marketing at Ohio
For our family, finding balance requires a lot of patience, cooperation, organization, quick thinking and laughter.
Northern. “For our family, finding balance requires a lot of patience, cooperation, organization, quick thinking and laughter,” says Prigge. “We decided to approach our family life as a team. Everyone has talents to share, and when one person is feeling overwhelmed, someone is there to help.” Technology can be part of the solution in Prigge’s opinion. “I believe in the future there will be additional opportunities to work remotely while still meeting critical deadlines and engaging in important business discussions. The next generation of professionals thrives on technology, multi-tasking and immediacy of information and action,” she says. But technology has drawbacks, too, points out Anmarie (Gladieux) Kolinski, BA ’94, BSBA ’94, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Harbor Capital Advisors Inc., in Chicago. “Technology allows you to be accessible 100 percent of the time. So it can really take over if you let it,” she says. “I find myself checking e-mails and putting finishing touches on schedules when I get home after already logging in a 12-hour day.” Kolinski contends that work-life balance has become more difficult with the economic downturn because employers are trying to do more with less. Yet she remains supportive of flexible options, such as part-time work, within her work team at Harbor. “It takes a shift in mindset to accomplish this as well as some creativity in how work gets done,” she says. “However, if you can keep
a good employee by allowing her (or him) to go part-time after the birth of a child, for example, why wouldn’t you?” She believes flexibility is a win-win for both the employer and employees. “I find that employees are happier and work harder when they know they are allowed to determine the most effective way to get their work done or can work at home occasionally to accommodate a personal issue.” But flexibility isn’t always an option for top-level corporate positions, says Goeke. “It’s very difficult to follow an aggressive career path if you take significant time off to raise a family. Let’s face it, people in the position of president or vice president are probably not telecommuting or job sharing. I do believe businesses are becoming more sensitive and flexible about family life, but it’s still tough.” “In some industries, like public accounting, firms are doing a good job of allowing part-time work and flexibility,” says Kolinski. “This change is slowly moving to other industries, but it’s like molasses. It is hard to change a mindset and way of working that have been in place historically.” Many women who encounter companies that are unresponsive to their needs are choosing to start their own businesses. Statistics show this is a growing trend. Thirty-five percent of self-employed people are women. The number of female-owned businesses is
growing at a rate of 23 percent, 2 ½ times faster than the growth in the number of total businesses. Joanne (Griffith) Lipski, BSBA ’72, a self-employed part-time accountant, decided this was the best route for her more than 30 years ago. She worked in the public and corporate accounting fields for several years before deciding to work at home and raise three children. “In the 1970s, it was very difficult to have a two-career family, especially in the accounting industry. Hours and travel would have made life extremely stressful. I decided to put career second and family first and have never been sorry. I still have a rewarding career, just not a high-powered one,” she says. Lipski feels that the workplace environment is much different today. “In 1972, I was the only woman on an audit staff of 35 people,” she says. “Now it is easier for women to balance a full-time career with family because companies have had to make concessions for working mothers. With more women having careers, there is more support.”
Business Exchange
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Searching for Equality In 2010, the typical full-time female employee brings home 77 cents to the dollar compared to her male colleagues. More than 40 years after the Equal Pay Act of 1963, many women, including Lape, wonder why a gap still exists. “I certainly hope there are nondiscriminatory reasons for the disparity in pay,” says the young attorney. Another example of inequality is revealed in a recent study by the American Association of University Women. The study found that a female college graduate with virtually the same characteristics as a male college graduate (same kind of college, same grades, same major, same type of job, and same personal characteristics such as marital status, race and number of children) will earn 5 percent less her first year out of school than her male counterpart. Ten years later, if she keeps pace with the male colleague, she will earn 12 percent less. Goeke says she doesn’t see many examples of wage disparity in her industry. But she and Kolinksi agree that the wage gap identified by the U.S. Department of Labor and in the American Association of University Women study could partially be explained by history. In the past, a woman’s income was considered the secondary income in the family. “In most cases, women were paid less than men,” says Kolinksi. “Unfortunately, it will take a while to even out.” Kolinksi feels another possible explanation is that men are better negotiators in the job-search process. Women are more likely to accept an offer with little negotiation while men often demand a higher salary. “Women need to have confidence in their abilities and research the role and salary levels in the market so they know what to expect. They need to be prepared to negotiate if the salary falls short of expectations,” she suggests.
Lape encourages all companies to periodically assess their compensation and advancement policies. “They need to ensure that all workers are treated equally and that women aren’t penalized due to their gender or the fact they may be mothers,” she says. Even though there may be inequality in wages, Goeke feels strongly that women have an equal chance to rise through the ranks. “Women who have the right skills, the right drive and who work hard will get opportunities,” she says. “In my early years in business, there were just less women around. I would go work at a client’s office and work with only men. All the top positions were held by men. Not so today! I work with as many women as men – and in all positions. The marketing industry where I work is a great industry for women.” Kolinski, however, believes that in some companies and industries, women are still struggling to achieve parity. “Once a woman has achieved a management or executive position, and if she puts in the level of effort commensurate with the role, than yes, she is treated as an equal. But the woman needs to get to the role first. And, in many cases, women just don’t rise through the ranks proportionally with men,” she says.
77¢ to the dollar is what the typical full-time female employee brings home compared to her male colleagues.
Striving for Success Research shows that companies with more women in leadership roles are more profitable than those with mainly men running their business. A July 2009 article in the Washington Post states: “And it’s not only one study, but at least half a dozen, from a broad spectrum of organizations such as Columbia University, McKinsey & Co., Goldman Sachs and Pepperdine University, that document a clear relationship between women in senior management and corporate financial success. By all measures, more women in your company means better performance.” Women who capitalize on their natural strengths and develop additional competencies are the ones who rise to leadership roles, says Goeke. She believes women, in general, possess excellent communication and teamwork skills. “It’s been my experience that women tend to build consensus among team members. Often they have better listening skills and take a more sensitive approach to their communication style. Often men and women get to the same business solution, but their approach may be quite different,” she says. Kolinski agrees. “Women are good at multitasking and, in many cases, have better soft skills,” she says. “They also tend to be good team players more often because (at least in my experience) there are fewer egos to get in the way.” In today’s world, it’s vital to show respect and appreciation for others, adds Lipski. “Respect everyone regardless of their position and include everyone in the decision-making process,” she says. “Women who create a congenial atmosphere receive much more cooperation.”
Exhibit commitment, determination, forcefulness, pride, personal sacrifices, hard work and the wonderful mindset of being a woman.
Competencies that will help young women get ahead, especially in a tight job market, include confidence, technology skills, networking skills and dedication. “The advantage that younger women have is that technology is so natural to them,” says Kolinksi. “I encourage new graduates to go into the workforce and figure out how to automate processes to make them more efficient and better controlled. Young women who do this will be seen as proactive and team players.” Prigge stresses the importance of networking to strengthen one’s professional foundation. “You should continue to build and nurture relationships with professors,
colleagues, internship and co-op supervisors, and fellow classmates throughout your professional years,” she says. “These networks will help whether you need advice on your next career move, need input on how to handle a difficult situation at work, or need insights on what is changing and evolving in your discipline.” Cotner shares this wisdom with young women just entering the workforce. It was a strategy that worked for her more than 40 years ago when she was in their shoes, but facing a very different climate. “Exhibit commitment, determination, forcefulness, pride, personal sacrifices, hard work and the wonderful mindset of being a woman,” she says. Unless otherwise indicated, the statistics in this article were taken from “The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation Changes Everything,” an October 2009 study by Maria Shriver and the Center for American Progress.
Business Exchange
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Meet the Alumni Contributors
Cheryl (Burcham) Cotner, BSBA 68
Patricia “Pat” (Maslen) Goeke, BSBA 82
Anmarie (Gladieux) Kolinski, BA 94, BSBA 94
Cheryl Cotner is the executive director of The Future Begins Today in Troy, Ohio. This nonprofit, community-based organization works with local schools to provide mentoring and financial support to help students succeed with their education. It also provides grants for Troy’s college students. “The most enjoyable part of my job is interacting with college students and other people I am privileged to connect with on a regular basis. No day is ever the same, and that is exciting to me. I am challenged to be creative every day. I never get bored and truly love my job working for my community,” she says.
Pat Goeke is president and CEO of Nomadic Display, a leading company that designs and builds exhibits primarily for trade show and event environments. The Nomadic family consists of six companies, three in Europe and three in the U.S., with approximately 225 employees worldwide. As the company’s leader, Goeke is responsible for setting the sales, marketing and operational strategies. “I love to see our employees grow with the organization and become our next leaders. We have six companies with international exposure, but it still feels like a family business. People really care about each other, and I love that,” she says. “The other area I love is the client projects. We design and build beautiful exhibits. To take our customers dream and make it their reality is a lot of fun.”
Anmarie Kolinski is executive vice president and chief financial officer for Harbor Capital Advisors (HCA) and treasurer of Harbor Funds in Chicago, Ill. HCA is the investment advisor to Harbor Funds, a family of 27 no-load public funds with approximately $45 billion in assets under management. HCA has approximately 110 employees and is owned by a Dutch asset manager. Kolinski appreciates the professionalism and ethics of her employer. “The mission and expectations are always crystal clear,” she says. “In an industry that previously has been plagued by scandals, it is reassuring to work in a place were everyone’s goal every day is the same.” Prior to working for HCA, Kolinski worked in public accounting for nearly 11 years in Toledo, Ohio.
Goeke worked in public accounting before becoming Nomadic’s vice president of finance in 1994, then president and CEO in 1997. She and her husband, Gerard, have one college-aged son and live in Great Falls, Va., a sleepy little village on the Potomac River just outside of Washington, D.C. Goeke enjoys gardening, exercising, and spending time with family and friends.
Kolinski and her husband, Steve, now enjoy living in the Windy City after relocating there in 2007 when HCA moved from Toledo to Chicago. In her free time, she likes to travel (especially overseas and to unusual places), golf and garden. “Gardening can be an obsession. If I am looking through a window and see a weed or dead blossom, I really have to fight the urge not to go out and take care of it … most of the times I do,” she says, with a laugh.
Cotner has two grown children and three grandchildren. “The best reason to have kids is so you can have grandkids,” she says, with a laugh. She also is a member of Ohio Northern University’s Board of Trustees.
Marcella “Marcie” Lape, BSBA 01
Joanne (Griffith) Lipski, BSBA 72
Amy (Rettig) Prigge, BSBA 94
Marcie Lape is a litigation attorney in the Chicago office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, a leading international law firm headquartered in New York with 24 offices around the globe and more than 2,000 attorneys. Her work encompasses large-scale litigations, SEC investigations, shareholder derivative suits and pro bono work. She graduated from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2004. She then worked at Baker & Hostetler LLP in Columbus for two years before taking on a oneyear clerkship with the Honorable Susan Harrell Black on the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. “Business – and particularly law – is a good fit for me because it provides constant challenges and learning opportunities,” she says. “Each time a new case comes in the door, I have the opportunity to meet new clients, learn about new companies and expand my knowledge of different areas of the law.”
Joanne Lipski is a self-employed accountant who lives in Perrysburg, Ohio. Before launching her homebased business, she worked at a public accounting firm and at Devilbiss Company, a division of Champion Spark Plug, where she was supervisor of financial reporting. “I have always loved what I do. My clients are like family to me now,” she says. “The three clients I still service have been with me almost 30 years.”
Amy Prigge serves in a newly created position as associate director of communications and marketing at ONU. She has a leadership role in developing marketing strategies for Northern’s signature academic programs and promoting the University’s reputation for excellence to a national audience. Before joining ONU, Prigge worked in health care and higher education for 12 years at Bowling Green State University. “My profession is constantly changing and evolving at an extremely fast pace,” she says. “That is one of the things I love most. And, I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to share in taking my alma mater to the next level.”
Lape lives in the River North area of Chicago, close to downtown, and is getting married in June 2010. She enjoys golfing, attending sporting events (especially Ohio State football games), reading and traveling.
Lipski and her husband have three grown children. She enjoys cooking and music. She plays organ at her church and leads a Bible study. She has been an active volunteer with the League of Women Voters. She is a member of Ohio Northern University’s Board of Trustees.
Prigge, her husband, Eric, and daughter, Kaitlyn, live near Bowling Green, Ohio, where Prigge is active in numerous community, school and church activities. She enjoys reading and movie classics, cooking, and watching her daughter compete in equestrian events.
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Young Women’s Leadership Experience For high school juniors and seniors July 25-30, 2010 Part of the Summer Honors Institute on the campus of the Ohio Northern University Faculty members in The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration have developed a summer camp to encourage the next generation of female leaders. The camp is designed to be a journey of self-discovery for young women entering their junior or senior year of high school. Through a series of fun and interactive experiences and activities, participants will grow on a team and individual level, exploring risk, leadership, communication, problem-solving and coaching. Specifically, participants will: • Assess their leadership style and personality • Interact with female leaders from many different professions, from all over the country, who tell their stories • Develop individual self-confidence and personal leadership styles • Participate in lots of skill-building activities, workshops, challenge courses, films, field trips and more
Tuition, room and board: $390 Register online at www.onu.edu/shi Questions? s-rausch@onu.edu or 419-772-2070
“ONU changed my life and shaped the person I am today.” – Curtis See
Did you know? Like Curtis, you can set up to make your gift to ONU on an automatic basis using your debit, credit or bank draft account. Many folks give using automatic payments on a quarterly, monthly or biannual basis. Visit www.onugive.com to set your recurring payment today!
Curtis See It’s never too early to think about giving back. Curtis See, BSBA ’09, made plans to give before he even graduated. The idea came to him during a presentation by Ann Donnelly Hamilton, BA ’99, director of alumni affairs, James Fenton, dean of the College of Business Administration, and Phil Caris, BSBA ’82, member of the college’s advisory board. “Dean Fenton and the advisory board offered this awesome deal where they would match my contribution up to $50, so I committed to a monthly donation. Every time my income increases, every six months or so, I increase my monthly pledge,” See says.
See works as a financial network executive with Northwestern Mutual in Columbus, Ohio, an employer he describes as a “perfect match” because the company is so aligned with the ethics, morals and values he received at ONU. “Northwestern encourages my entrepreneurial spirit and grants me the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives while building lifelong relationships.” To See, his donations are an investment. He has the ability to designate exactly where his contributions go. “I give to organizations that I was involved in, where the professors that lead those groups have a mission and purpose for the students that participate,” he says.
But it’s not all about monetary gifts with See. “I give back by donating my time and getting involved with on-campus networking events, recruiting opportunities and speaking in business classes about my ‘post-graduate’ experiences.” He also recently joined a committee headed up by Jason Duff, BSBA ’05, to help Fenton and Hamilton discover ways to encourage other young alumni to give back. “ONU changed my life and shaped the person I am today,” he says. “I believe in the education I received there, and I consider it my duty to contribute to the legacy that is being built.”
The true impact of loyal giving cannot be overstated. There’s never been a better time than right now. For more information, please contact: Contact Ken Block | Executive Director of Development | 419-772-2008 | k-block@onu.edu
College News & Events
The Great
Recession Dr. Tim Fuerst, BSBA ’85, professor of economics at Bowling Green State University, shared his insights on “The Great Recession” with a large group of students and professors on Tuesday, March 23, during an evening campus event.
2009, said Fuerst. “A recession ends once you reach that bottom, and things start going up,” he explained. But, he admitted, the U.S. has yet to see strong, positive growth, and jobs will be slow to recover.
“Market economies have always fluctuated, but market economies also generate great wealth,” said Fuerst, reminding the audience that the U.S is still the world’s richest country.
Fuerst also spent considerable time discussing the monetary policy response of the Federal Reserve Bank to the economic crisis. He also encouraged students interested in the field of economics to become good readers. Read up on economics, mathematics and, most importantly, history, he said. “The past is our laboratory.”
According to Fuerst, the recent economic downturn has been one of the most severe in the post-war period; however, it doesn’t even come close to the Great Depression. During a recession, employment falls, income falls, and spending falls, especially for large ticket items, he said. “Some individuals are clobbered during a recession, and others are unaffected,” he explained. The current recession is over because the bottom was reached in June or July
Fuerst is a 1985 graduate of ONU’s College of Business Administration with majors in economics and finance. After ONU, he earned his master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Chicago and became a leading researcher in the field of economics. In addition to being a nationally known scholar in his field, Fuerst has been a consultant to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland since 1994. More recently, he was appointed as one of six senior advisors to the Fourth District of the Federal Reserve Bank in Cleveland.
Mentors Needed
Attention Business Alumni: Are you interested in mentoring a junior business student? Watch your e-mail for information on how to sign up later this summer or contact Matt Lambdin, director of experiential learning, at m-lambdin@onu.edu
ONU Students Place Second in National Management Competition
Members of the ONU American Marketing Association attended the National Chapter Conference in New Orleans. The students competed against 43 other universities in creating and operating a mock trade show exhibit. This 120-square-foot exhibit had to meet certain requirements: promote the conference theme, provide a marketing education feature and display local club activities. Row one, left to right: Brandy Wilson, a junior marketing major from Saint Marys, Ohio, Meghan Mahoney, a sophomore marketing major from Lewis Center, Ohio, Amanda Winkle, a junior marketing major from Dublin, Ohio, Kathleen Sponseller, a senior management major from Payne, Ohio. Row two: Jessica Kyttle, a senior marketing major from North Baltimore, Ohio, Chelsie Timmons, a junior marketing major from Defiance, Ohio, Nick Coram, a senior marketing major from Novi, Mich., Alyssa Ahlers, a senior marketing major from Saint Marys, Ohio. Row three: advisor Randall Ewing, associate professor of marketing.
SIFE Supports Cell Phones for Soldiers. Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is supporting the Cell Phones for Soldiers charity with a drive to collect 500 cell phones by the end of the school year. “We’re helping the environment by getting cell phones recycled for a good cause instead of having them dumped in landfills,” said Lauren SeGall, a senior marketing major from Greenville, Pa., and SIFE’s president. “We are helping to lift soldiers’ spirits while those at home get peace knowing that their loved ones are safe.
Two teams from Ohio Northern University’s James F. Dicke College of Business Administration competed in the Society for the Advancement of Management (SAM) Case Competition from April 8-11. The first ONU team finished second in the Rutherford Undergraduate division. Its members were Jacquelyn Dunham Waggamon, a senior management major from Lima, Ohio, Melissa Smith, a junior management major from Utica, Ohio, Nicole Fleischman, a junior pharmaceutical business major from Beaver Falls, Pa., Josephine Dunham, a freshman business administration major from Lima, Ohio, and Larry Perry, a senior pharmaceutical business major from Defiance, Ohio. The second ONU team was comprised of Jana Moses, a senior management major from Holland, Ohio, Jared Everline, a senior management major from Canton, Ohio, Nichole Stan, a senior marketing major from New Carlisle, Ohio, Rachel Alley, a senior pharmaceutical business major from Millersport, Ohio, and Christine Lockhart, a senior marketing major from Englewood, Ohio. The faculty advisor for the competition was Dr. Michele Govekar, professor of management. For the competition, students received a business case in January for which they prepared an analysis and a problem/opportunity statement, evaluated possible solutions, and developed a detailed implementation plan. They then made a 15-minute oral presentation before a team of three judges who were then allowed 15 minutes for questions.
Cell Phones for Soldiers works by sending old phones to a recycling company that pays for each donated phone. The money received is used to purchase phone cards for soldiers abroad that they can use to call loved ones back home. To promote the collection of old cell phones, SIFE held a weeklong drive on campus. They also set up drop boxes in Findlay, Ada, Lima and Kenton for local citizens. Press releases were sent out to the local media, and Time Warner Cable in Findlay ran a public service announcement. In addition, Lima’s WLIO TV station aired an interview with SIFE members. Founded in 2004, Cell Phones for Soldiers has raised nearly $2 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers.
Celebrating the SAM teams' success are, from left, Rachel Alley, Jared Everline, Dr. Michele A. Govekar, Jaquelyn Dunham Waggamon, Dean Jim Fenton, Melissa Smith, Christine Lockhart, Nicole Fleischman, Jana Moses and Josephine Dunham.
Business Exchange
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Making Student-Employer Networking Events
enable Ohio Northern business students and alumni employers to connect. In the four years since the events began, many students have landed internships, job interviews and job offers. In this article, several alumni participants share their views on the value of these events.
Employer: Hartzell Fan, Inc., Piqua, Ohio George Atkinson, BSBA ’72, President and CEO The networking events have provided us with the opportunity to meet and identify potential interns and new employees. In addition, the events give students the opportunity to meet and talk with potential employers or just spend time in front of senior executives to gain confidence and experience interviewing. Over the past few years, we have hired three ONU interns, and we recently hired one intern, Isaac Bernard, as a management trainee. He has done an outstanding job for us. I have encouraged other company executives to consider ONU business students for internships and full-time employment if they want well-educated, qualified, business-oriented students.
Hired: Isaac Bernard, BSBA ’09 Job title: Sales Associate Northern’s networking events are great opportunities for students to get recognized by potential employers. Most of the companies attending these events are looking to hire ONU grads, which gives students a huge advantage over just sending out résumés. Relaxing, asking questions, having a few refreshments and just being yourself are the keys to having a successful networking event. I had a great internship that led directly to a great job – all because I attended these events. Being placed in front of employers who want you to work for them is what these events are all about, and that doesn’t happen for students at other universities.
Employer: The Motorist Insurance Group, Columbus, Ohio John Bishop, BSBA ’72, President and CEO Several years ago, my company recognized the need to launch an aggressive recruitment program to bring on board new talent to address the impending retirement of a large number of baby boomer employees. The networking events play right into our strategy of identifying top-quality candidates. The nontraditional nature of these events allows you to see how candidates interact with their peers and how they handle a competitive environment. We’re always on the look out for candidates who exhibit excellent social skills and who have strong academic records and evidence of active involvement in extracurricular activities.
Hired: Eric Harmon, BSBA ’09 Job title: Commercial Lines Junior Underwriter ONU business faculty and staff are sincerely committed to helping students develop a professional network so they can successfully transition from campus to work-force. The business alumni of ONU understand the challenges of the current employment climate and are eager to share their resources to jump-start the careers of young professionals. The networking events provide a special opportunity for students to take advantage of these resources and showcase their education and talents.
Hired: Tiffany Arnold, BSBA ’09 Job title: Personal Lines Generalist These events are a great social-connection tool, unique for Ohio Northern students. Thanks to the strong community that Ohio Northern has established, alumni are eager to aid in the success of each student. At these events, students communicate face to face with highly respected and accomplished professionals who have set high standards for themselves and who are great role models. These events helped me launch my career even in the midst of these tough economic times. Establishing a career right out of college is hard to do alone, and it is comforting to know that the Ohio Northern community is behind each student to assist them in getting that foot in the door.
Business Exchange
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Lecture Series
Michael Kaufmann, BSBA ’85, CEO of the pharmaceutical segment of Cardinal Health, was the guest speaker during the Carroll V. Lovett Distinguished Lecture on April 8. Kaufmann delivered his lecture, “More Than Just Brains,” to a capacity crowd in the Dicke Forum, discussing his personal experiences and the lessons he’s learned about the qualities of good leadership.
“Mike Kaufmann showed me that not only do you have to work hard, but also you must be open to changes in your career path and be willing to learn from all your experiences, even the bad ones.” – Jason Beougher, freshman pharmaceutical business major from Hilliard, Ohio
“Michael Kaufmann’s advice on the importance of risk-taking stuck with me. He explained that making vertical moves and relocating are beneficial opportunities, even if it does not result in a pay raise. He also pointed out that asking questions and offering suggestions are acts that are worth the risk because they show initiative.” – Anne Kosnik, freshman pharmaceutical business major from Solon, Ohio
“This lecture was very informative and provided a realistic outlook on the job market. Rather than having a false idea of rising to the top in short amount of time, Kaufmann stressed the importance of moving laterally to improve your value and show flexibility.”
“Michael Kaufmann’s 11 main points seemed simple enough, but a lot of people are overlooking them in their careers. It was a pleasure to listen to his experience and advice, and I will sincerely take his advice into account when navigating my own career.”
– Anthony Luchansky, sophomore pharmaceutical business major from Youngstown, Ohio
– Anna L. Swartz, sophomore pharmaceutical business major from Vandalia, Ohio
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Today, she is responsible for store design and construction, real estate, credit and customer service, sustainability, and non-merchandise purchasing at Macy’s. With a 150-year history, Macy’s is one of the largest and most prominent retailers in the U.S. Hanson shared with the audience six elements to success in retailing.
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ompetition in retail is “intense, unrelenting and dynamic,” said Amy Hanson, executive vice president of property development and credit and customer service for Macy’s Inc. “Just about every business is highly competitive in today’s climate,” she added. “But no business is as competitive as retail. It really is a jungle.” Hanson was the guest speaker for the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series on Jan. 14, 2010, in the Dicke Forum. Her retail career began in 1983 as a senior auditor, and she rose through the ranks to her present position.
1. Cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit. All employees at Macy’s are expected to be proactive and creative. They are empowered to take risks and implement new ideas. “We want every employee to think and act like a shopkeeper,” explained Hanson. 2. Develop a competitive advantage. If you don’t have an edge on the competition, you’ll be edged out of business, said Hanson. Macy’s has recently invested in a “My Macy’s” model of operation that enables individual stores to cater to the customers in their markets. The retailer created 69 market areas, each led by a vice president with a team of merchants and planners. These teams are positioned to respond to the unique needs of the customers in their geographic areas. “No one else in retailing is doing this,” said Hanson. 3. Be technology-forward. Macy’s has embraced new systems and advanced processes that make the retailer faster, better and more cost effective. The retailer is continuing to grow its online business and is developing a presence in social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter.
4. Hire the best people. Macy’s attracts and develops the best talent. “We put the right people in the right job in every case,” said Hanson. 5. Be customer-centric. Macy’s listens to its customers and reacts. Each year, the retailer receives 1.2 million customer e-mails, not to mention the in-person feedback and phone calls. “We listen to them all,” said Hanson. “We organize and track customer feedback with a high level of detail.” 6. Have a positive attitude. Positivism is pervasive, and customers want to be around people who are upbeat and have a good attitude. “Successful people are positive and forward-looking,” said Hanson. “We can’t control what happens to us each day, but we can control our own attitudes.” Hanson, who grew up in Ottawa, Ohio, was recruited to speak to ONU’s business students by Dr. Susan Schertzer, assistant professor of marketing. Schertzer knows Hanson from her “former life” in the corporate world when she worked for Macy’s (then known as Federated Department Stores). She met Hanson her first day at the company, and they have been friends ever since.
Business Exchange
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Faculty Profile
Splitting Time with Susan Schertzer Susan Schertzer lives a life divided. And it’s been a good thing. Now in her third year as an assistant professor of marketing at Ohio Northern, Schertzer has split her professional life into two distinct phases. After earning an undergraduate degree in accounting from Xavier University, Schertzer took a job in banking, spending “a number of years” in the financial world. “I never really worked as an accountant,” she says. “The only job that I interviewed for that really excited me was at a bank. I got to look at a lot of different areas there, and I became interested in finance. I then took my experience to the treasury functions at both Kroger and Macy’s.” Along the way, she earned an MBA (with a concentration in finance) from Xavier and then a Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati. Looking to get into teaching after obtaining her Ph.D., Schertzer set her sights on a select group of schools. “I wanted to go to a private school, and I wanted to go to a smaller school,” she says. “One that really had an interest in teaching and in the students. That was Ohio Northern.” At ONU, Schertzer has taught principles of marketing, consumer behavior, business-to-business marketing and geographic information systems. Her research interests lie in business-tobusiness relationships and services marketing.
While on campus, Schertzer splits her time between the classroom and the extracurricular. She’s the faculty advisor for Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) and Beta Gamma Sigma, the business honorary. “I’ve been on a couple of different ad hoc committees and projects, too,” she adds. Her circuitous route to a teaching career helped Schertzer gain invaluable levels of experience and real-world knowledge – knowledge that she’s more than willing to share with her students. Students frequently approach Schertzer for class schedule advice and recommendation letters. “I think it’s because of my business background, but at the University, I’ve made an effort to get involved. I love it.” She’s even made her way to the stage of the Freed Center for the Performing Arts. “I don’t know how, but somehow I was invited to be in The Vagina Monologues. That was really fun, because it was an across-the-University production, and there were students that I never had the chance to meet before. It was a really big success.” In terms of residence, Schertzer splits her time between Ada and Cincinnati. She comes to Ohio Northern to work (staying at a rented home during the week), but calls the Cincinnati area “home.” Her husband, Clint, is an associate professor of marketing at Xavier University’s Williams College of Business, and the
“I love what I’m doing because I feel like I’m making a difference.”
couple maintains a permanent residence in Mt. Washington, Ohio. “Since I live out of town, the way my husband and I work it out is this: We work when we’re at school, and then we don’t work at home unless we have to. But he likes to come to Ada, so we spend some weekends here. In fact, he was born 30 miles away in Kenton, Ohio. “Away from school, we love to travel,” she continues. “We love to have adventures. I like art, and I love to paint.” Despite the unique living arrangements, Schertzer is in no hurry to change. “You know, I love what I’m doing. And I love what I’m doing because I feel like I’m making a difference, and I love the kids. I like the teaching, and I like the research because I like to learn.”
Alumni Profile
really helped me with some of my analytical and decisionmaking development.”
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hillip David Caris, BSBA ’82, jumped into the business world right after college. He’s been with Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in Findlay, Ohio, ever since.
he’s held since April 2004. He’s responsible for all of the sales and marketing activities, as well as supply chain operations, for the United States and Canada. He has oversight of Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, a company owned by Cooper. In addition, he sits on the boards of two
I took a lot of philosophy classes that really helped me with some of my analytical and decision-making development. “I had an on-campus interview with Cooper Tire, and I hired with them in spring 1982, directly from college,” he remembers. “I started in an entry-level sales-training program. I went through the training, was placed in the field, and moved into a management position. Every couple of years, another opportunity came up, and I wanted to grow and have more responsibilities, so I took what seemed to come along.” Today, Caris is vice president of marketing and sales North America, a position
emerging companies that Cooper is starting in Mexico. Caris credits much of his success to his time at Ohio Northern University. A management and marketing major at ONU, Caris played soccer and was a member of Sigma Pi. He also very nearly collected enough credits to minor in philosophy, a discipline that helped shape the leader he was to become. “I took a lot of philosophy classes with professor Mark Lenssen, H of F ’03,” he says. “A lot of those classes
These days, Caris is faced with making business decisions in the midst of a down economy, a climate that sees many companies cutting marketing budgets before anything else. “In today’s environment, obviously, there has to be a very strong focus on cost management. We’re asking, ‘How can we operate our businesses, i.e., the sales and marketing, as efficiently as possible?’” he says. “We still need to be market-facing and really work on making sure that the promotional dollars in advertising spend that we have are targeted to the right channels and the right products to drive the consumer behavior,” Caris continues. “So, even though we have reduced our marketing spend, we feel that we’ve been able to do it in a way that still gets the message out and reaches the people that we need to.” Caris has been married to his wife, Cheryl, for more than 22 years. The couple has a daughter, Lauren, a student at Kent State University and a son, Michael, a senior in high school.
Because Caris’ job requires him to travel extensively, he prefers to simply relax and spend time with his family when he returns home. “My son and I have become real big golfing buddies,” he says. “These are the main things that I do: my kids, golf, friends and a few other community activities.” One such activity is the College of Business Administration’s Advisory Board, a post that Caris has held for more than 10 years. “ONU really did a lot in helping me prepare for the next step in my life. So, whether I’m serving the University through contributions, sitting on the board or speaking to classes, it’s very worthwhile to support. Because it does a lot of good things for people in their lives.” Caris implores his fellow alumni to follow his lead and find ways to support their alma mater. “For those alumni that haven’t been back to the University lately, they should come visit because there are some great things happening in Ada. It’s fun to come back and see what’s going on. And I would urge people to get involved again.”
Business Exchange
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Business College Advisory Board
Mr. Paul Carbetta II BSBA ’90 Financial Advisor Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. 150 E. Wilson Bridge Road Suite 100 Worthington, OH 43085 Mr. Phillip Caris BSBA ’82 Vice President, Sales & Marketing Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. P. O. Box 550 Findlay, OH 45840 Mr. Jason S. Duff BSBA ’05 Founder and CEO Community Storage & Properties Ltd. 9016 State Rt. 117 Box 151 Huntsville, OH 43324
Mr. George Atkinson BSBA ’72 President Hartzell Fan Inc. P.O. Box 919 Piqua, OH 45356 Mr. Lawrence C. Barrett, CLU, ChFC BSBA ’71, H of F ’04, AA ’04 Regional Vice President Sagemark Consulting 28601 Chagrin Blvd. Suite 300 Cleveland, OH 44122 Ms. Deeann Beatty BSBA ’91 Bank Examiner Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland East 6th St. & Superior Ave. Cleveland, OH 44144 Mr. John Bishop BSBA ’72 Chairman, President, CEO The Motorists Insurance Group 471 East Broad Street Columbus, OH 43215-3861
Mr. Jeff Gillson, CLU, CFP BSBA ’92 Financial Services Professional New York Life 1336 Woodman Drive Suite 100 Dayton, OH 45432 Ms. Patricia Goeke BSBA ’82 President and CEO Nomadic Display 5617 Industrial Drive Suite E Springfield, VA 22151
Ms. Anmarie S. Kolinski BSBA ’94 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. 111 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 3400 Mr. Paul Kramer BSBA ’76 President Kramer Enterprises 116 E. Main Cross St. Findlay, OH 45840 Mr. Lee Lemke BSBA ’84 Consumer Product Director The Huntington National Bank 41 S. High St. HC0445 Columbus, OH 43215 Mr. Rob Lydic BS ’97 903 S. Latson Rd. #228 Howell, MI 48843 Mr. Jay Molter BSBA ’81 Vice President, Marketing and Sales Glasstech Inc. 995 Fourth St. Perrysburg, OH 43551
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 Ms. Deann Newman BSBA ’83 Partner Deloitte & Touche 600 Renaissance Center Detroit, MI 48243 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 AT&T Business Marketing 350 N. Orleans St., Floor 3 Chicago, IL 60654 Mr. Mark White BSBA ’85 President Vancrest 120 W. Main St., Suite 200 Van Wert, OH 45891
Mr. Mark Henschen BA ’77 President Minster Bank 95 W. 4th St. Minster, OH 45865 Ms. Molly Shoup Hofmann BSBA ’90 Customer Solutions Manager Kraft Foods Global Inc. Grocery Sector – Growth Channels GV 805 1 Kraft Court Glenview, IL 60025
Mr. Shawn Bogenrief BSBA ’82 Partner/Director Gardener & White 5925 Wilcox Place, Suite D Dublin, OH 43016
Mrs. Betty Kemper President The Kemper Company 10307 Detroit Ave. Cleveland, OH 44102
Mr. Larry Boord BSBA ’71, JD ’75 Principal Jacob, Haxton & Boord, LLC 100 W. Old Wilson Bridge Rd. Worthington, OH 43085
Ms. Carol Kline BSBA ’86 Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Tele Tech Holdings Inc. 751 International Isle Drive Castle Rock, CO 80108
For reservations, please call 866-668-2586 www.innatonu.com
Eugene Beeler, BA 49 Eugene Beeler, BA 49, died in 2006, but he created a legacy gift that is helping to create tomorrow’s leaders in The James F. Dicke College of Business Administration – 10 students since 2007! After Beeler graduated from ONU in 1949, he was a certified public accountant and founding partner of the Howard & Beeler CPA Firm in Lima, Ohio. In 1997, he started the Beeler Endowed Scholarship Fund with a gift of cash. At his passing in 2006, he added to the scholarship by bequest. Because of his foresight and gift planning, the Beeler Endowed Scholarship will help countless students attend his alma mater both today and tomorrow because his fund is endowed and designed to last in perpetuity.
You, too, can help exceptional students attend Ohio Northern by creating an endowed scholarship with an immediate gift or by testamentary bequest. Contact Ken Block | Executive Director of Development | 419-772-2008 | k-block@onu.edu
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