FALL 2019
Forming lasting professional and personal connections
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School of Business WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY
School of Business Message from the dean
Patience Taruwinga, dean of the School of Business
It is an honor to serve as dean of the Walla Walla University School of Business. A year ago I accepted the invitation to serve as dean, and the past 12 months have reminded me of the critical role we play in shaping the hearts and minds of students as they come through our program. The outstanding success we’ve experienced can be summarized with this phrase from Henry Ford: “Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress, and working together is success.” Coming together is the beginning. When you enter Bowers Hall, home of the School of Business, the sense of a shared purpose is evident. It is common to see students huddled in faculty offices asking questions about a project or assignment and to find faculty mentoring and advising students. During these one-to-one interactions, life lessons are shared and true character development is witnessed. I overheard one student saying, “I needed realignment in my life, and I am glad I met with my business advisor.” Keeping together and working together. I want to express my sincere thanks to our alumni and other stakeholders for supporting the School of Business. Our program is strong because of your contributions as evidenced by the outstanding performance of seniors who scored above the 90th percentile on the Major Field Test for the sixth year in a row. Our business majors engage in project-based learning, solve real-world issues for local and national nonprofits, develop social media campaigns, conduct market research, and develop strategic plans. They enhance their business skills while learning to be socially conscious citizens through participation in Enactus, Shark Tank, the Business Club, and the Investment Club. Our program has seen a 35% growth in enrollment in the last seven years. Our goal is that every student who goes through our program will leave campus competently prepared to enter the workforce and be successful. 2
Business leaders
Enactus chapter encourages global progress through entrepreneurship WWU students attended the Enactus National Exposition in Kansas City, Missouri.
Business students at WWU are leading in the development of a campus chapter of Enactus. Enactus is an international organization that encourages the use of business concepts to develop entrepreneurial projects that improve the well-being of individuals and communities. The WWU Enactus team includes students from all majors. “The more people that are involved, the more work we can get done, and the more people we can help,” said Corbin Edelbach, senior business administration major and Enactus president.
The Enactus team has worked on local projects with the Blue Mountain Humane Society and international projects, such as placing solar panels at the Seventh-day Adventist school in Pohnpei, Micronesia. “With this project completed, the school in Pohnpei should be able to cut their overall energy costs by 60%,” said Edelbach. During spring quarter the Enactus team also evaluated and created blueprints for upcoming projects, including ideas to provide food for homeless shelters by connecting them with farms in the Walla Walla Valley.
Bond joins School of Business faculty Conna Bond will return to the Walla Walla University School of Business faculty as an associate professor of business starting with the 2019–20 school year. “For the fall term, I’ll be teaching Principles of Marketing, Marketing Research Methods, and Advertising—closely related courses that focus on strategy and tactics essential to long-term business success and revenue generation,” said Bond. During the past two years, Bond has taught adjunct courses for WWU, as well as a class in business law at Flathead Valley Community College. She was also a marketing and public relations consultant and book editor with Red Canoe Creative, a business partnership with her husband, Mark. In addition, she has been doing master’s level coursework in environmental science and natural resource journalism at
the University of Montana. Outside the classroom Bond enjoys mountain climbing in Glacier National Park and spending time with her four children and their families. “I’m thankful that one of our daughters and her husband live in Walla Walla so we can see them regularly,” said Bond. She also has two granddaughters in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and two college-age children working with Surfing the Nations, a humanitarian organization on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Bond brings to the classroom expertise in business practice and theory, and experience and passion for the learning process. “I enjoy passing that torch on to students and challenging them to become humble, lifelong learners,” said Bond.
Shark Tank CoLab
Competition encourages innovation and entrepreneurial spirit Karl Haffner ’85 (seated) was emcee for the final Shark Tank event, which was judged by (from left) Kevin Welch, Lia Griffith, Russ Wilkinson att., and Fred Cornforth ’84.
A Shark Tank-inspired competition at WWU called Shark Tank CoLab provided opportunities for student entrepreneurs to work in teams to create new products and develop innovative solutions to problems. The year-long series of CoLab events included brainstorming sessions, opportunities to pitch ideas to a panel of judges, and semifinal and final competitions during which teams were judged based on their ideas and their effectiveness in developing and presenting those ideas. Students from diverse academic areas, such as business, technology, computer science, and engineering, pooled their knowledge, experience, and creativity to collaborate on projects. Five teams made it through to the final competition in April. They developed a variety of products related to recycling, drone use,
solar-powered portable lighting, and an inhome care facility designed to meet the needs of the elderly through special food programs, motor skills therapy, communal events, and technologically advanced health care. The winning team of Levi LeMert, Sean Farris, Lucas Marcondes, and Kaden Sukachevin developed an app to connect providers with people seeking help with handyman jobs. The top three teams received scholarships of $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $2,000 for third place. “In this fast-paced, globally connected world, it is important to have an entrepreneurial spirit. With it, our students will succeed in life,” said Patience Taruwinga, dean of the School of Business and associate professor of business. “This event is about encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit in all of our students.”
Business seniors score in 93rd percentile on MFT Seniors in the WWU School of Business scored at the 93rd percentile on the 2018 Major Field Test (MFT) in business. This continues a trend since 2013 of scoring above the 90th percentile. For the last testing cycle, more than 69,000 business seniors from 496 business schools across the nation took the MFT. The test measures how well students know the core business subjects of accounting, economics, finance, management, statistics, marketing, law, information systems, and international issues. “Achieving exceptionally high scores on this test reflects the quality of our students and program,” said Bruce Toews, associate dean of the School of Business and professor of business. In 2015 and 2016 scores reached the 96th percentile, and in 2017 seniors scored in the 97th percentile. 3
More than a textbook Business students build professional connections and bonds of friendship during trip to Seattle On a Thursday evening in early February 2019 after the majority of classes were finished for the day, 30 business students and faculty boarded a bus near Bowers Hall, the newly renovated home of the Walla Walla University School of Business. The group was headed out of town on a senior trip they had planned months before just as one of the worst snowstorms of the year started building off the coast. After an uneventful trip to Seattle over Snoqualmie Pass, the three-day trip began Friday morning with tours of two top companies in the area: Microsoft and PACCAR Inc., a global technology leader in light-, mediumand heavy-duty trucks. The day started with breakfast at the Microsoft cafeteria followed by a walking tour of the Microsoft campus, a mini colloquium, and breakout sessions. During the visit, students also toured the Azure Cloud Collaboration Center (CCC). This new state-of-the-art facility features a 1,600-square-foot video wall that provides live status of Azure, Microsoft’s cloud-sharing service. “At the CCC a team of experts can identify potential issues before they become problems and resolve incidents promptly,” said Patience Taruwinga, dean of the School of Business and associate professor If you really of business. believe in the Natalie Schmidt, who graduated in June with a major company’s in marketing, said that during mission and the trip, “I learned more about values, then the the ins and outs of Microsoft and PACCAR and their environmental company will policies. Both companies emphasized really believe in the importance of community and made their employees a priority. If you you. really believe in the company’s mission and values, then the company will really believe in you.” During the trip students not only gained unique experience from the company tours but also created lifelong bonds with their peers. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most students,” said Taruwinga. “It’s a rare opportunity to have 30-plus adults
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The Azure Cloud Collaboration Center features a 1,600-square-foot video wall that helps the experts at Microsoft promptly identify potential issues.
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The group enjoyed colloquium presentations at Microsoft where three Microsoft employees spoke about their careers and opportunities at the company. on a trip together for fun and learning. The trip resulted in cemented lifelong friendships. The interactions with professionals at Microsoft and PACCAR were so valuable and the lessons learned are beyond what can be covered in a textbook.” After the tours, the group journeyed to the WWU Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory
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down around the cabins, the students spent time bonding around the fire. “As a professor, this trip helped me to know and appreciate the students at a personal level,” said Taruwinga. “Students took photos that they will share for years and hopefully show their grandkids as they share the stories from that weekend.”
Snoqualmie Pass without an incident,” said Taruwinga. “On our way back, a few hours after we went safely over the pass, they closed it for several days. We could have been stuck for days in the Seattle area. It was God’s grace, that’s all I can say.”
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It was God’s grace, that’s all I can say.
campus near Anacortes, Washington, where they found refuge from the snowy weather and enjoyed a spiritual retreat focused on leadership. The retreat speakers were Kevin Welch and Fred Cornforth ’84, two entrepreneurs who shared their experience as Christian executives. With the snow coming
In the end, the trip would not have been possible without God’s protection and grace. “We almost canceled the trip because of the severe weather forecast that weekend. By God’s grace, we made it back and forth over
WWU students, faculty, and staff started the day on Friday with breakfast at Microsoft and a company tour. Later they had the opportunity to see behind-the-scenes operations.
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Colloquium speakers bring firsthand experience to campus Christopher Maravilla ’12, assurance associate, Ernst & Young
The School of Business hosted a colloquium series during the 2018–19 academic year that featured 10 speakers from diverse industries.
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primary area of focus is auditing financials for not-for-profit health care companies. He has also taught junior high school mathematics with Teach for America. “For me the value is not really just about the money you can make,” said Maravilla. “Just find where your values come from and then when you see your values in potential opportunities that’s really what’s going to help you distinguish what you want to do and ultimately help you build your character as you progress through your career.” “The students really resonated with Chris’s presentation,” said Patience Taruwinga, dean of the School of Business and associate professor of business. “Chris is humble and hardworking, and they appreciated that approach.” Maravilla’s presentation emphasized that small details lead to most of the important
For me the value is not really just about the money you can make.
“A key objective of the colloquium series is to expose students to a broad array of industries and career paths,” said Bruce Toews, associate dean of the School of Business and professor of business. In recent years colloquia have featured speakers that include an official from the U.S. Federal Reserve, a chief judge, entrepreneurs and small business owners, politicians, fraud investigators, authors, newspaper publishers, and investment bankers. Christopher Maravilla ’12, assurance associate with Ernst & Young in New York City, spoke for the series this year. Maravilla’s
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decisions we make, that relationships are your biggest asset, that failures are opportunities, and that hard work is always recognized. “It’s not really what you have that is important, it’s what you do with what you have and how you use that to go forward that is important,” said Maravilla. Business colloquia are free and open to the public. Attendees often include community members, WWU staff members and administrators, and non-business students and faculty. For a complete list of 2018–19 colloquia see the sidebar at right. For upcoming colloquia, visit wallawalla.edu/business.
Colloquium series connects students and industry leaders During the 2018–19 academic year, the School of Business hosted 10 colloquium speakers on campus who shared their experiences and advice with students. Kickoff Colloquium School of Business update Internship Panel Discussion Summer interns share their experiences Daryl Tol ’97, M.H.A. President and CEO, Florida Hospital & Central Florida Division Senior executive vice president of Adventist Health Systems Business and Health Care Career Fair Come-and-go opportunity to meet with dozens of firms Wendell White ’62 Founder and board chair, Generations Inc. Alister Hunt, Ph.D. Principal, Finology Todd Brandenburg ’02 President/CEO, PocketiNet Communications Inc. Steven Mantle, E.M.B.A. Director of sales strategy, acquisitions, and partnerships, Microsoft Inc. Jim Schultz ’05 Manager of business process optimization and IT, Key Technology Inc. Jim Fazio, AAMS Investment and financial advisor, Edwards Jones, Fort Collins, Colorado Shark Tank Competition Winning teams earned a combined $10,000 in scholarships Linda A. Abdel-Malek ’89, J.D. Attorney and partner, Moses & Singer, New York City Robert Schmidt ’88, FSA, MAAA, EA Principal, Milliman, Boise, Idaho
Help launch a career! List your job posting or internship at wallawalla.edu/employer-relations. Questions? Contact Darel Harwell at darel.harwell@wallawalla.edu or (509) 527-2089. 6
Christopher Maravilla ’12, CPA Assurance associate, Ernst & Young, New York City Awards Colloquium Celebration of the accomplishments of business students and faculty
Building for the future Graham thrives on challenges and rewards of varied investment strategies Brandon Graham, senior business major
Senior business major Brandon Graham has a wide variety of interests within the business field. As a student from Canada, his interest in international business is fitting, and his time at Walla Walla University has sparked another interest: cryptocurrency. “What first piqued my interest in cryptocurrency was its relation to online anonymity and individual privacy,” said Graham. “I found there was a cryptocurrency ATM in Walla Walla, so I decided to try it out. At first I thought it was just for the doomsday preppers; however once I owned cryptocurrency and learned about the blockchain, I understood the appeal and what a revolution to the monetary system that cryptocurrency is.”
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While Graham has a few investments he checks on frequently, such as his cryptocurrency or stakes in mutual funds, he values the investment of his time spent with God above all else. “By far the most important investment I make is spending time every morning reading the Bible and praying. I would not be where I am today without God’s direct guidance and blessing,” said Graham. Graham credits his interest in business to two people in his life: his grandfather, who built a multimillion-dollar distribution company with only a shed, a truck, and an eighth grade education, and his father, an entrepreneur and Graham’s mentor, who also encouraged him to pursue a degree in business. His father took
By far the most important investment I make is spending time every morning reading the Bible and praying.
Through this pursuit, Graham became interested in a type of cryptocurrency called Bitcoin. “In my opinion, the value of Bitcoin is representational of the proof of concept for the blockchain and of the growing desire among people for anonymity,” he said. “More technically speaking, what I like about Bitcoin is how the inflation rate halves every year until all the Bitcoin is mined, which will take place approximately in the year 2140. Also, the fact that one bitcoin can be divided into a millionth (one Satoshi), so if everyone in the world adopted Bitcoin there would be enough for everyone!”
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out loans to purchase auto body shops in 2008. “The shops were not doing well when he bought them, but like my grandpa, my dad’s work ethic, personality, and help from God turned those struggling businesses into the very successful businesses they are today,” said Graham. Graham says he is studying business because of its practical applications and because of the wide variety of options available for various career paths. “My dreams for the future in business are to usher in future technology and spread understanding about business topics,” he said.
New WWU club provides forum for learning about saving and investing Brandon Graham, a WWU senior business major, has started a new club on campus called the Savings and Investment Club. He credits this idea to a lunch he had with fellow students Joshua Bibb and Nathan Dobkins and with Patience Taruwinga, dean of the School of Business and associate professor of business. “We were discussing the gaps between what we were learning in class and the real-life applications,” said Graham. With that concept in mind, Graham founded the club and wrote the constitution and bylaws. “We have a great team right now and it will continue to be a team effort moving forward,” said Graham, who is president of the club. The club will host events every week during fall quarter that will highlight topics such as how to retire comfortably and how to do your taxes. The club will also host a variety of guest speakers such as local investment advisors and WWU faculty and staff members with expertise in savings and investment strategies. Students from all majors are invited to attend and events are open to the public.
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Business students find inspiration at third annual Fruition Lab Four WWU business students flew from Walla Walla to Riverside, California, last November for the third annual Fruition Lab, an event that brings together faith-driven entrepreneurs to share their knowledge and experience and to provide opportunities for inspiration and networking. Speakers included Kevin Olusola of Pentatonix and Hollywood producer DeVon Franklin. In the opening session, Frankin shared a message about “making your fears your to-do list.” He encouraged listeners to learn from their failures, a theme that was threaded throughout the three-day event. Kevin Welch, president of Integra LTC Solutions and QS/1, and chief technology officer for the J M Smith Corporation, also spoke for the event. Welch shared his entrepreneurial journey and reflected on balancing social life and business. His message was that “family, faith, and fitness” are the most important things in life. “We networked throughout the weekend with successful investors and entrepreneurs,” said Sabrina Smith, senior business administration major. “With each day we gained new tools and resources to build on
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In June, the School of Business awarded degrees to 57 students in the business program and in joint interdisciplinary programs.
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With more than 500 members, the Business Club is one of the largest student clubs on campus.
WWU students spent three days networking with business professionals at the Fruition Lab. projects and ideas. Fruition Lab 2018 was a life-changing experience that will continue to prove useful as we continue our education and involvement in our community.”
WWU representatives who attended the event were students Corbin Edelbach, Nathan Dobkins, Hunter Giesbrecht, and Sabrina Smith, and instructor in business Licci Zemleduch.
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$37k
The School of Business offers certificates in market research, business analytics, project management, and bookkeeping.
In addition to scholarships presented by WWU, the School of Business awarded $37,000 in scholarships in 2018–19.
Top 10th WWU seniors have scored in the top 10th percentile on the Major Field Test in business for six years in a row.