P E N N S TAT E B E H R E N D
Black School of Business NEW S  |  2020
8 Listen Up Professionals speak to students in new podcast series 5 Networking 2020 Style 6 Hobby Becomes Serious Business 11 Executives in Residence Enhance Student Learning 12 Virtual Major Days Grow Audience
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DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Greetings from the Black School of Business. The 20202021 academic year is far from typical because of the global pandemic— but for us, as much as normality is possible, we are proud DR. GREG FILBECK of how we are moving forward to create the best possible experience for our students. Our professional development and mentoring programs are all virtual right now. What used to be “Corporate Days,” in which professionals from a dozen or so companies joined us for a day of class presentations, meetings with faculty and students, and time for students to discuss internship and job opportunities, has shifted to a virtual one-hour series of “Corporate Spotlights.” In these sessions, companies, many of which, as it happens, would have been unable to travel to the college under normal conditions, present to students about career opportunities. At the same time, Black School of Business Advisory Board members have contributed to a video series on professional development. We have expanded our career networking days to more areas. In several of our academic programs, we are holding daylong events that feature panel discussions and networking opportunities—with panelists from around the country participating virtually. Our student clubs have not missed a beat. They’re now conducting their meetings virtually. Mentors from our professional development, academic, and cross-cultural programs meet with their mentees using an online format for structured activities. In other words, we have done as so many businesses have done: We have adapted. Many of the changes we have made will likely continue after the pandemic ends. Our faculty, who have led online education trends for two decades, have more tools available to them now than ever before. This fall, with 2.5 percent year-over-year growth in headcount for students touched by our programs, we are at an all-time enrollment high of almost 2,100 students. We thank you for your support.
In Brief MARKETING STUDENTS SHARE CREATIVE IDEAS
Penn State Behrend students in Marketing 444 Buyer Behavior and Applied Research are helping the Hagen History Center with marketing plans to reach younger audiences.
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his spring, students in Behrend’s Marketing 444 Buyer Behavior and Applied Research courses were tasked with writing marketing plans for the Hagen History Center (HHC), to help the museum attract visitors under the age of 30 and grow that audience’s interest in history. Students, working in small teams, conducted focus groups and researched other museums, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh’s Heinz History Center. By the end of the semester, students had generated ten detailed and insightful marketing plans for HHC. Behrend students told HHC administrators that the individuals in the under-30 demographic are most interested in “experiences.” They want to have fun, share photos with friends, and buy keepsakes to remember the day. The students provided other insights as well—for example, that young adults learn about events on social media primarily and they prefer to watch short videos rather than read long stories to gather information. The recommendations by the students included sponsoring unique events—an “escape room” experience in the WatsonCurtze mansion, history trivia nights, a
food truck festival, a virtual-reality interactive exhibit— providing enhancements to social media, featuring more videos on the center’s website, and planting a flower garden to enhance photos of the facilities. They even suggested some unique items to carry in the gift shop. Museum administrators have already implemented some recommendations. This is the second time Behrend Marketing students have worked with the HHC. In the spring of 2019, they recommended the museum use the moniker of Hagen History Center (it was previously known as the Erie County Historical Society), promote the slogan Make History with Us, and create a beer exhibit, an attraction that is, in fact, now nearing completion. The exhibit—Brew History with Us—is planned for 2021 and will examine the history of beer production in Erie. The HHC has developed several interactive and fun events (for the over-21 set) too. “This will emphasize engaging, fun exhibits about our rich community,” said Geri Cicchetti, advancement director for the center. “When these exhibits open, we hope the pandemic will be history and people will get out and visit our ever-growing and dynamic Hagen History Center.”
BEHREND STUDENTS TOLD HHC ADMINISTRATORS THAT THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNDER-30 DEMOGRAPHIC ARE MOST INTERESTED IN “EXPERIENCES.” 2
STUDENTS INDUCTED INTO BUSINESS HONOR SOCIETY
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hirty Black School of Business students were inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma international business honor society earlier this year. They represent students enrolled in the college’s residential programs as well as Penn State World Campus majors that are offered by the Black School. Beta Gamma Sigma recognizes scholastic excellence among students in the world’s top business schools. Only those schools accredited by AACSB International—the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business—are eligible to host collegiate chapters. The Black School of Business is the only school in the Erie region to hold the AACSB designation. To be considered for membership, students must rank in the top 10 percent of bachelor’s degree programs or the top 20 percent of graduate programs. “Being inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma represents a high achievement for students,” said Dr. Greg Filbeck, director of the Black School of Business. “Membership in the society is available to students at less than 5 percent of business schools worldwide. Additionally, students must distinguish themselves among their peers in terms of academic achievement. We are proud of our new inductees.” THE BLACK SCHOOL’S BETA GAMMA SIGMA INDUCTEES FOR 2020 ARE: Meadow Adams, Arlington, Washington Janelle Agnew, Conneautville William C. Arent, Boston, Virginia Jason M Bentley, Waterford Jane A. Brenc, Springboro Anna Leigh Buck, Danville Margaret E. Burns, Lakewood, New York Christopher James Butler, Jamestown, New York Chelsea Czerwinksi, Erie Katherine D. Erb, Oak Harbor, Washington Kristoffer A. Featheringham, Stone Ridge, Virginia Sarah N. Garnica-Saldana, Erie James Goodsel, Erie Richard Grendys, Export Tyler Michael Hall, Greensburg Michael Harmon, Warner Robins, Georgia Michaela Hodinko, Erie Melody Yu Jin, Dunmore Nicole Kittelberger, Pittsburgh Benjamin John Kozminski, Greenville William Hezekiah Kuhns, Pittsburgh Leanne Lazenby, Erie J. Michael Lindner, Erie Kelly Alexis Mitchell, Erie James Norwood, Chicago Brandon Michael Riazzi, Waterford Jason Turkovich, Erie Lucas Vasiladiotis, Bulger Dainora Visockaite, Irvine, California Scott William Waite, Erie
FACULTY NEWS NEW FACULTY Dr. Linh Le has been hired as an assistant professor of accounting, and Dr. Seth Powless has joined the school as a lecturer in project and supply chain management. PROMOTIONS
Dr. Tim Krause has been promoted to associate professor of finance. Dr. Varun Gupta has been promoted to associate professor of operations and supply chain management. ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Dr. Ozgun Caliskan Demirag, associate professor of operations and supply chain management, has been named associate director of the school.
Dr. Greg Filbeck, director of the school, has been named the Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania’s 2020 Outstanding Board Member. In addition, Penn State Behrend was chosen by Junior Achievement as the 2020 Outstanding Contributing Company.
Dr. Varun Gupta, associate professor of operations and supply chain management; Carol Putman, assistant teaching professor of management; and Dr. Yohannes Haile, assistant teaching professor of management, were awarded Open Lab Awards by the college for their work developing, supporting, and encouraging interactions between Behrend and external partners in business, industry, and the community.
Robert Patterson, lecturer in accounting, recently received the Chapter Advisor of the Year Award from Delta Sigma Pi for his work with Behrend’s Mu Pi Chapter of the national business honor society.
Dr. Matthew Swinarski, associate professor of management, and colleagues Dr. Faisal Aqlan, associate professor of industrial engineering; Dr. Qi Dunsworth, director of teaching initiatives; Dr. Chetan Nikhare, associate professor of mechanical engineering; and Dr. Mohammad Rasouli, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, have been awarded a $300,000, three-year National Science Foundation grant. The interdisciplinary team will work on improving manufacturing education by helping undergraduate students develop a system view of manufacturing.
ON THE COVER: Vishal Shah is a senior majoring in both Management Information Systems and Accounting. After his graduation in May of 2021, he plans to pursue a career as a business analyst. 3
In Brief continued SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO FINANCE STUDENTS
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ROBBINS HONORED WITH INDUSTRY AWARD Eric Robbins, assistant teaching professor of finance and associate director of corporate outreach and research in the Black School of Business, recently received the 2020 Mid-Atlantic Region Excellence in Teaching Award from the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA). The award showcases faculty members who have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to their institution and continuing education through their advocacy, teaching, program development, research, and service to students. Robbins was honored at the UPCEA’s virtual conference in early October.
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he Black School of Business has awarded scholarships to seventeen students enrolled in the school’s residential finance program and online finance program offered through Penn State World Campus. The scholarships are a component of the CFA Institute’s University Affiliation Program (UAP), which promotes ethics-based investment education that incorporates the core knowledge, skills, and abilities that are expected of global investment professionals. The Black School is the only business school in northwestern Pennsylvania with UAP status conferred by the CFA Institute, which offers one of the most respected credentials in finance. To earn a CFA Charter, graduates must pass three exams and have at least four years of relevant professional experience. Preparation for the exams can require up to 300 hours of study. “Our financial curriculum is distinct from most other programs, as it is mapped to the CFA program, enabling students to be workforceready upon graduation,” said Dr. Greg Filbeck, director of the Black School. “The CFA exams are rigorous, but a
CFA Charter will be a functional and financial advantage at every stage of our graduates’ careers.” The UAP scholarships reduce the cost of the CFA Level I exam by approximately $1,000 and also lower the cost of study materials, saving students an additional $700. THIS YEAR’S RECIPIENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY AFFILIATION PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS ARE: Mark Barnes, Glensdale Justin Berdik, Pittsburgh Nicholas Berquist, Corona, California Justin Boyd, New Cumberland, West Virginia Connor Bryant, Overland Park, Kansas Christopher Butler, Jamestown, New York Laurel-Ashley Christian, Silver Spring, Maryland Patrick Everett, Pickney, Michigan Arshdeep Hanjra, Stewartsville, New Jersey Josh Kirkpatrick, Pittsburgh Steven Lindquist, Reno, Nevada Cuyler McCoy, Whitsett, North Carolina Elise McNeil, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Fouad Moabi, Erie Simon Nero, Hookstown Rita Pellens, San Juan, Puerto Rico Eric Tieman, Irving, Texas
NETWORKING IN 2020
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etworking, a vital aspect of doing business, is a challenge during a pandemic when we’re all keeping our distance from one another. No shaking hands. No meeting for coffee. No business lunches. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. Students, faculty members, advisory board members, and alumni recently
met up virtually by Zoom for a networking event hosted by Behrend’s American Marketing Association student club, with some help from career counselors in the college’s Academic and Career Planning Center (ACPC). Students posed questions to the professionals on the call in a panel-style interview. One question that generated
interesting responses was: “What classes would you take if you were back in college now?” Some panelists said they would take more math and statistics courses, because it would be helpful in their current careers. Others said they would take more psychology courses to help understand consumer behavior. At the end of the meeting, students had the chance to practice on the professionals their “elevator speeches,” which they had refined with the help of the ACPC counselors. Professionals who participated included: Justin Wheeler ’13, senior quantitative analytics and model development analyst for PNC; Jeff Stempka ’07, ’09 M.B.A., senior associate brand manager with Campbell Soup company; Marisa Smith ’99, vice president of finance and technology for WhirleyDrinkWorks; and Stephanie MaslowBlackman, founder and creative director of Metalicious Jewelry.
MANAGEMENT FACULTY MEMBER CHOSEN AS FIRST RECIPIENT OF PROFESSORSHIP Dr. Joongseo Kim, assistant professor of management in the Black School of Business, is the first Behrend faculty member to receive a new early career professorship established by Ed Auslander, retired president and chief executive officer of LORD Corporation. The endowment for the Dr. Chester “Chet” L. Wolford Early Career ProfesDR. JOONGSEO KIM sorship was made possible through a gift from Auslander and his wife, Elaine, to honor the late Wolford, a former professor of English at Behrend. Auslander, a 1985 graduate of the Penn State College of Engineering, earned a master of business administration (M.B.A.) degree at Behrend in 1991. Auslander said that throughout his career, which included oversight of business operations in twenty-six countries, with annual revenue in excess of $1 billion, he relied on skills he learned in a business writing course taught by Wolford. “I have thought of Dr. Wolford often over my thirty-five-year career,” Auslander said. “His advice—be efficient, effective, and concise with your words—was so profound that I still think
about it every time I write. I will always be thankful for the advice and guidance I received from him.” Kim teaches graduate courses in leadership and project management. His research, which focuses on business culture and behavioral ethics, has been published in the Journal of Applied Psychology and the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, among others. “It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the first recipient of the Dr. Chester ‘Chet’ L. Wolford Early Career Professorship,” Kim said. “The benevolence and trust connected with this endowed professorship will be well placed as I continue to advance my teaching and research in the field of management and business ethics.” The focus on graduate courses is appropriate, said Gretchen Wolford, who was married to Chet Wolford for forty-one years. She also taught writing at Behrend. “Teaching M.B.A. students was the highlight of Chet’s teaching career,” she said. “He loved the challenges that his students brought to the classroom, especially the working professionals who earned their M.B.A. while working full-time jobs. He had a special respect for them, and he would be gratified to have inspired such an accomplished and generous student.”
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A Warm Mug of Inspiration ALUMNA BUILDS POPULAR HOME DÉCOR LINE FROM THE BASEMENT UP While many small businesses have suffered in 2020, barely hanging on through the pandemic, others—like Sweet Water Décor (SWD) owned by Melissa (Weibel) Horvath ’10—have thrived. “More people were staying at home and shopping online, so we had a boost in sales, similar to what we would have seen during Christmas shopping season,” said Horvath, who graduated from Penn State Behrend with a degree in Finance and minor in Marketing. “It was crazy. We have hired twenty-three people since COVID-19 hit the country in March.” That growth attracted the attention of the Today Show, which featured Horvath and SWD in a fall segment about businesses that are doing well during the pandemic. (You can find a link on the college’s Facebook page at facebook. com/pennstatebehrend.) It’s not the first time Horvath and her work have been showcased by a major outlet. The shows and publications SWD has been featured in include Good Morning America, Marie Claire magazine, Glamour magazine, and Business Insider.
HOBBY TURNS INTO SERIOUS BUSINESS Six years ago, Horvath had a successful career working full-time as a financial analyst for FedEx Ground in Pittsburgh. In the evenings, she escaped into her creative outlet, making custom mugs that she sold in an Etsy shop. What started as a fun side-gig in her basement quickly turned into serious business, with customers drawn to her simple, yet modern designs and inspirational messages hand-lettered on her tablet. Horvath had her first wholesale order on the line when her mug supplier stopped doing custom work. She turned to other Etsy shop owners for help. With 6
Chris and Melissa Horvath ’10, owners of Sweet Water Décor.
the guidance of one gracious shop owner, she bought a sublimation machine and started producing her own mugs. Within nine months of starting her Etsy shop, she quit her job at FedEx to go all-in on SWD. She soon had items in the first major retail outlet to carry her products—Francesca’s. Horvath expanded her line from mugs to candles, makeup bags, refill dispensers, jewelry dishes, pens, planners, and more. “It was so surreal to see my products in a store, I loved going in there,” she said.
FROM ETSY TO HOMEGOODS Today, you can find her designs in more than 3,500 shops and boutiques around the world, including HomeGoods, T.J. Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, and more. And, of course, you can shop online at sweetwaterdecor.com. “We’re growing quickly and have been running two and three shifts in the warehouse to meet demand and ship on time,” she said. Among SWD’s 2020 bestsellers? A soy candle labeled, “Let’s stay home.”
AND, NOW, YOU HAVE A WAREHOUSE AND EMPLOYEES? Yes, this year marks our sixth year in business and we now have more than thirty employees who work for SWD. ARE YOU THE ONLY DESIGNER? Yes. I design every product in our shop, and most have my hand-lettering on them. YOU’VE LICENSED SOME OF YOUR DESIGNS. HOW DOES THAT WORK? Licensing allows others to take your designs and put them on their products. You can sell your design outright or you can choose to receive a royalty, a percentage of each product sold, which is what I do. DO YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE IN RETAIL SALES? When I was in college, I was a sales associate and then a sales leader at Bath and Body Works. I loved working retail and took in as much information as I could, learning everything from floor sets to how they analyze sales by the hour, and more. After college, I worked in Dick’s Sporting Goods’ corporate office as an assistant buyer before I moved to FedEx Ground.
We caught up with Horvath to learn more about SWD and its extraordinary business trajectory. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE PENN STATE BEHREND? Horvath: I’m a third-generation Penn Stater, so I wanted to keep that tradition going. When I toured Behrend, I fell in love with the campus and I liked that it was close to my home in Butler. IS THERE A STORY BEHIND YOUR COMPANY NAME? My husband, Chris, and I live in Sewickley, which is named for a Native American word that means “sweetwater.” Many places around us are named sweetwater something-or-other. We decided to use it as two words, though.
DO YOU HAVE INVESTORS? No and we have no business debt. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE FACED? Right now, it’s managing the growth. Sales have increased quickly, and we have had to do a lot of hiring to get our products out the door on time. IT ALL STARTED WITH MUGS? Yes, custom-made mugs. When I started, I did a lot of handwritten digital products on Etsy, too, things like wedding invitations, baby shower invitations, etc.
YOUR HUSBAND IS YOUR BUSINESS PARTNER? Yes, Chris is an accountant and was working on his CPA when I began SWD on Etsy. Today, he not only handles the accounting for SWD, but runs the production side of things, making sure the warehouse runs smoothly each day, which allows me to concentrate on design. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR STUDENTS OR RECENT ALUMNI? If you find that you don’t love what you are doing, turn in the direction of something that does interest you. I knew I loved retail and analyzing things, but I just wasn’t sure how to make that a career. I think all of the experiences I had along the way were important learning opportunities. Get as much background as you can in whatever it is that excites you. And, don’t be afraid to start small. It’s easier to manage that way, and you have room to make mistakes and figure things out.
Visit sweetwaterdecor.com to see Horvath’s work or join her 65,000 followers on Instagram.com/sweetwaterdecor. 7
LISTEN UP
New podcast series highlights marketing professionals
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wo of the basic principles of modern marketing are “know your audience” and “engagement is everything.” Who are you trying to reach? What do they like to do? How to do they like to communicate? What will inspire them to learn about or engage with your product? These are questions Dr. Mary Beth Pinto, professor of marketing, keeps in the back of her mind when she is planning courses and programs. Always looking for strategies to enhance lessons, Pinto recently found a way to maximize what has already proven to be a formula for student success in her MKT 301: Principles of Marketing classes: guest speakers. “I know those experiences are vital for career exploration and networking, so I thought about recording them so that students will have a wealth of speakers and advice to turn to whenever they want,” Pinto said. Here’s where the “know your audience” part comes in. “College-age students love podcasts,” Pinto said. The statistics back up that assertion. According to the website podcastinsights.com, 48 percent of monthly podcast listeners in the United States are under age 34. Pinto had listened to podcasts but had never created one on her own. She wasn’t worried about the interviews or finding professionals to chat with since those are both in her wheelhouse, but for the technology side of things, she turned to Jodi Herman, multimedia specialist in the Centers for Teaching and eLearning Initiatives at Behrend. Working together, Pinto and Herman came up with a plan to record audio interviews via Zoom, then post to an online channel that Behrend students could access. For the Professionals on Demand (POD) series, Pinto has now conducted interviews with more than twenty industry insiders from a wide range of fields, including Jeff Blackman with NBC Universal, Veronica Lorya with Moët Hennessy USA, and Jeff Stempka with Campbell Soup company. As Pinto suspected, the series has been a hit with students. “They love it,” she said. “We have had a lot of positive comments from students. We can tell them what the world of marketing is like, but they really value hearing about it from people who are working in the field every day.” Student feedback has included: “The podcasts have motivated me to look beyond what I know and consider possibilities throughout all levels of marketing,” “They inspired
Vishal Shah, senior Accounting and MIS major.
“HERE’S WHERE THE ‘KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE PART’ COMES IN. COLLEGE-AGE STUDENTS LOVE PODCASTS,” SAID DR. MARY BETH PINTO.
me to look more deeply into retail career options,” and “I had no idea that a position like this even existed.” What started as a way to enhance classroom lessons has blossomed into more. Pinto sees more ways to use the podcasts beyond the classroom. “Career exploration is vital,” she said. “We can highlight these interviews as a way to market the major and give students some insight into the career. A lot of students don’t even know what marketing is. These podcasts can be used to show them that it’s a very versatile degree.’” Pinto would like to expand the audience beyond Behrend. “We’d like to use the podcasts as a form of high school outreach and make them available to schools to use in their own marketing and business classes.” To listen to podcasts in the “Marketing Professionals on Demand” series, visit behrend.psu.edu/marketing.
Are you an alum or a marketing professional willing to participate in a future podcast? Email Dr. Mary Beth Pinto at mxp49@psu.edu. 8
Jodi Herman, multimedia specialist in the Centers for Teaching and eLearning Initiatives at Behrend, edits an episode of Professionals On Demand, a podcast series started by the Black School of Business’ Marketing program.
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CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS STUDENTS THE BEST WAY TO THWART A CRIMINAL IS TO THINK LIKE ONE. That’s the idea behind a cybersecurity escape room that Behrend students had the opportunity to participate in last fall, thanks to Steve Bugajski, vice president and chief information officer for U.S. Steel, who serves as the Executive in Residence (EIR) for the Black School of Business’ Management Information Systems program. Bugajski, along with other U.S. Steel executives and the company’s cybersecurity team, hosted the event in which more than fifty students were challenged to think like hackers during a fun, interactive day-long activity (held, it should be noted, prior to the pandemic). Following the escape room activity, U.S. Steel information technology experts hosted a hacking demonstration to teach students how to spot and stop attacks. “It was nice to work with my fellow students in the escape room and to use what we’ve learned to think outside the box,” said John Peterson, a senior MIS major. U.S. Steel has embraced the Black School of Business’ EIR program, offering executive-to-student mentorships, special events, guest speakers, and more. A number of MIS majors are now being mentored by company executives, who routinely assign the students tasks and meet via phone or video conferencing with them to discuss their career goals and offer feedback. “This has been an awesome experience for students,” said Dr. Kathleen Noce, teaching professor of MIS. “Mr. Bugajski has created numerous opportunities for our students to learn about the corporate environment and how U.S. Steel is utilizing the technologies, tools, and foundational knowledge they are learning in their courses. This year, the MIS program piloted an on-campus internship with U.S. Steel, which Noce hopes will lead to multiple on-campus internships in the future. “The internship I did with U.S. Steel showed me how big businesses
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Students participate in a cybersecurity escape room activity, hosted by U.S. Steel executives, in the fall of 2019.
work internally on many levels,” said Marcello Frollo, who graduated in May with a degree in MIS. “It gave me a lot of confidence as I headed out into the job market.” U.S. Steel has found the EIR program to be a valuable partnership, too. “We have the opportunity to interact with tomorrow’s professionals, giving us insight into the skillsets and capabilities of the future workforce,” Bugajski said. “It also enables us to help guide students in the direction that internet technology is moving in the corporate world. As an alumnus of Behrend’s MIS program, the EIR partnership allows me to give back and share my professional experiences with students to enhance that same educational foundation that put me on a solid path early in my career.”
IN OTHER NEWS, THE MIS PROGRAM IS NOW OFFERING PYTHON PROGRAMMING COURSES. “Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics,” Noce said. “It can be easily used for on- and off-line projects, small and large, including web development, simple scripting, and data analysis. It’s the leading language of choice for most data scientists.” Additionally, the MIS program is now offering MIS 417 Advanced Data Analysis, a course focused on extracting useful information out of vast stores of data, primarily using Python. “Big data” is useful to organizations if they can understand and learn from it, which is why businesses in nearly every sector are working to manage it, Noce said.
Executives in Residence Bring Experience to Students Who better to introduce students to some of the realities of the business world than a successful industry insider? That’s the idea behind the Black School of Business’ Executive In Residence (EIR) program, which invites professionals to share their experience directly with students and faculty members. Appointed by Dr. Greg Filbeck, director of the school, the executives bring business perspectives to the classroom, research projects, and learning-by-doing experiences. They guest lecture, lead workshops, serve on advisory boards, judge
business competitions, sponsor projects, and mentor students. Building relationships with business leaders can lead to career opportunities for students, including summer internships and full-time positions. While the Black School hosts many business practitioners as visiting lecturers and conference participants each year, Executives in Residence maintain long-term relationships with the school. The EIR program, which began in 2017 with just two executives, now has six leaders currently as EIR.
STEVEN D. BUGAJSKI, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, U.S. STEEL
EUGENE “GENE” NATALI, CEO AND FOUNDER, TROUTWOOD
Bugajski, a native of North Huntingdon, joined U.S. Steel in 2008 as general manager of the Infrastructure division in the Information Technology department. He was appointed chief information officer in 2019. As CIO, Bugajski leads U.S. Steel’s global IT operation, including delivery of overall digital strategy and cybersecurity. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from Penn State Behrend and an MBA from Waynesburg University. Before joining U.S. Steel, he held senior IT leadership positions in the health-care field. As an EIR, Bugajski works closely with students in the MIS program.
Natali is the CEO and founder of Troutwood, a fintech company focusing on financial empowerment. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and an MBA with a concentration in finance. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and board member of the CFA Society Pittsburgh. In 2012, Natali co-authored an awardwinning investment guide titled The Missing Semester, which provides practical financial advice to high school and college students across the country. As an Executive in Residence, Natali works closely with the Finance program.
JEREMY CHAFFEE, DIRECTOR, NORTH AMERICAN BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS, LOGISTICS PLUS INC.
ANN SCOTT, COMMUNITY OUTREACH MANAGER, ERIE INSURANCE GROUP
Since 2000, Chaffee has held a wide range of positions with Erie-based Logistics Plus, including manager of International Forwarding Operations and director of Global TMS System Integration and LTL Carrier relations and pricing, among others. Among his career achievements, he helped establish the North American Division and Logistics Plus Mexico. Chaffee holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish with minors in German and Russian. He is both an Executive in Residence and an advisory board member for the college’s Project and Supply Chain Management program.
Scott oversees Erie Insurance Group’s charitable giving and community outreach, including philanthropy, volunteerism, and employee giving. She is the vice chair of the board of directors of the Penn State Behrend Council of Fellows and on the advisory boards of the Black School of Business and School of Humanities and Social Sciences. She has a degree in Communication and an MBA from Behrend. Scott works closely with the Black School’s C3W Mentoring Program, which is designed to engage and mentor female students, emphasizing connectedness, capability, and confidence.
DANIEL LEVSTEK, PRESIDENT, MDL INTERNATIONAL
JEFF STEMPKA, SENIOR ASSOCIATE MARKETING MANAGER, CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY
Levstek has been involved in the international power industry for more than fifty years. Before launching MDL International, a personal consulting business for the power industry, Levstek was senior vice president for CMI Energy. He is an adjunct instructor in the Black School, where he serves on the advisory board and is a member of the Professional Development committee, and also is a member of Penn State Behrend’s Council of Fellows. Levstek works with the Interdisciplinary Business with Engineering Studies and International Business programs focusing on the potential roles for domestic and international students in the global workplace.
Stempka will join the program in January 2021, working primarily with the Marketing program. At Campbell, Stempka leads product innovation across the Campbell Condensed Soup and Swanson Broth and Stock portfolios. Prior to serving in this role, he worked in marketing, strategy, and corporate transformation roles at Tyson Foods, U.S. Steel, and Advanced Manufacturing Technology Ventures, LLC. Stempka has a master’s degree in market research and consumer behavior, as well as an MBA and bachelor’s degrees in marketing and international business from Penn State Behrend. 11
WEBINAR SERIES LAUNCHED Development and Alumni Relations is hosting informative webinars featuring Behrend faculty and staff and others. The latest webinar, Financial Health: Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead, featured Black School of Business Director Greg Filbeck and other professionals from the college and Penn State’s development office offering tips for financially concluding the year and exploring investment strategies beyond 2020.
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College Black School of Business 281 Burke Center 5101 Jordan Road Erie, PA 16563-1400
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See the recorded presentation at behrend. psu.edu/riseandshine, where you can also find a list of upcoming webinars. Register in advance to get links to attend future presentations.
Major Days Go Online, Offering Additional Opportunities
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ruj Bhargava wore a suit and tie to Penn State Behrend’s 2020 Finance Day program, even though he could have easily attended in pajama pants and his bare feet. Like so many other educational and professional events during the pandemic, the program, which is designed to help students explore career options in finance, went virtual. The Zoom format didn’t concern Bhargava, a sophomore from El Dorado Hills, California. He knew he’d still have plenty of time to connect with the program’s guest speakers—through his MacBook Pro.“My goal was to have a chance to learn about and explore different opportunities in finance, and to network,” Bhargava said. The online format opened the mid-October event to c-suite executives and alumni from across the country, said Eric Robbins, assistant teaching professor of finance and associate director of corporate outreach and research in Behrend’s Black School of Business, which coordinates the program. The school also presented an Accounting Day and a Project and Supply Chain Management Day this semester. “All four people on our alumni panel were from out of town,” Robbins said. “Some of our presenters were in New York City, and others were on the West Coast. They have significant professional roles, and the virtual environment enabled them to join us.” The Finance Day program featured eight presentations, including talks by John Battilana, a vice president and portfolio strategist at KeyBank, and George Emanuele, a senior director of wealth management at BNY Mellon. Emanuele is a member of the Black School of Business Advisory Board and a former Executive in Residence at the school.
Each talk highlighted different career opportunities, from traditional banking and investment management to alternative investing and corporate finance. Nearly 100 students participated in the event, which concluded with a virtual career fair, organized with the help of the college’s Academic and Career Planning Center. Recruiters from Vanguard, Federated, First National Bank, Erie Insurance, and Fort Pitt Capital, among other companies, participated. Bhargava was there for all of it. “It was a chance to hear from respected professionals in different areas of finance, and to learn what they do on a dayto-day basis, and what they find of value,” he said. “Whether online or in-person, that’s a valuable opportunity.
Black School of Business News is published annually and provided free to alumni and friends of Penn State Behrend Black School of Business by the Office of Strategic Communications, William V. Gonda, wvg2@psu.edu, senior director. Editor: Heather Cass, hjc13@psu.edu. Designer: Martha Ansley Campbell, mac30@psu.edu. This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. U.Ed. EBO 21-149 All of the photos in this publication were taken prior to January 2020, were self-submitted, and/or were taken with high social distancing measures in place.
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