Whitworth University School of Business Dean's Review: 2022

DEAN’S REVIEW 2022

DEAN’S MESSAGE

One of my greatest pleasures at Whitworth is meeting people I call the “pillars” – men and women who have made extraordinary contributions to this institution. For example, one morning last spring, Charles L. “Chuck” Boppell ’65 dropped by my office along with Whitworth President Emeritus Bill Robinson, who is himself a major pillar in the history of Whitworth. In 2011, Chuck donated $3 million for an endowed chair, with the proceeds supporting educational programming for students and faculty development. Because of this gift, the Whitworth School of Business was able to achieve accreditation in 2020. The impact that the pillars of the community have on the WSB is substantial, and it’s evident in the success of the individuals and programs we are featuring this year.

For the last three years, Addie Grow ’09, our school’s assistant director of internships & external relations, has been an internal pillar, expanding and improving programming that connects business professionals to Whitworth business students. In February 2022, Addie organized both virtual and in-person mock interviews, effectively connecting 50 students with 50 practicing professionals from human resources, accounting, finance, marketing, operations and sales. In the weeks following the mock interviews, the connections that students made led to a dozen real interviews for actual internships and job opportunities. In addition, seeing that the remotework environment made the annual spring Career Trek to Seattle unrealistic, Addie collaborated with campus partners from institutional advancement and the Center for Career & Professional Development to organize a “reverse” Career Trek, bringing representatives from companies across the West Coast to the Spokane Club instead. While Addie has since moved on to a new role as talent acquisition advisor at Northwest Farm Credit Services, she left a lasting imprint and remains actively involved with the School of Business.

Speaking of moving on, Assistant to the Dean Tara Tucker, or “Mrs. Tucker” as we have always called her, took her file folders, paper clips and rubber bands over to a new job in the provost’s office, leaving a large void in both our storage space and our hearts (see P. 14). Happily, she has agreed to still attend all WSB parties.

Each semester I facilitate the Dean’s Executive Leadership Series course, where the guest speakers are not only business leaders but are also community pillars dedicated to civic engagement that improves Spokane and Eastern Washington. This spring, I was delighted when U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers spent an evening with students during which she described how her Christian faith has helped her build bridges in the hyperpartisan environment of Washington, D.C. (see P. 5). She did an extraordinary job highlighting the importance of creating trust, being humble and leading as a servant. These themes were emphasized by most of our executive presenters and they characterize the community of students, faculty, staff and alumni featured in this report.

I hope that you enjoy reading the Dean’s Review

Tim Wilkinson, Ph.D. Professor and Charles L. Boppell Dean

traveled to Panama and Costa Rica in January 2022 for Associate Professor of Economics Vange Ocasio Hochheimer’s Sustainable Development Abroad course. Offered every other Jan Term, the course explores past, present and future challenges of economies abroad, while also giving students the opportunity to stay with and learn from host families. “My greatest takeaways,” Brian Mullin ’22 says, “were learning how to be comfortable being uncomfortable in new cultures and experiencing God in a new place across the world.”

YEAR IN REVIEW

HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTIONS

The Whitworth School of Business held a joint induction ceremony for two of our honor societies. (Photos at right and immediately below.) This year, 10 of our bachelor of business administration students were inducted into Omicron Delta Epsilon, and 26 students (nine BBA, six continuing studies and 11 MBA students) were inducted into

CFA TEAM

After winning the regional competition for six consecutive years and running its own mock competition in 2021, Whitworth’s student team won the regional Chartered Financial Analyst Institute Research Challenge again in 2022. Whitworth Student Investment Group alumni helped prepare the team (pictured, from left: Jason Gillingham, Maya Moggia, Chance Curry, Lukas Seeley, Jonah Coffee, all ’22) for the competition. WSIG faculty advisor Duff Bergquist says, “I am humbled and energized by the willingness of our alumni to give back to the school and for the current students that continue to push the wheel up the hill.”

NEW GRADUATE DEGREE

Whitworth Graduate Studies in Business announced its new master of business leadership (MBL) degree, which offers a unique interdisciplinary focus. The only graduate leadership degree available through an AACSBaccredited business school in the region, the 30-credit MBL allows students to customize their degree with business and leadership electives and to choose from different learning modalities.

MOCK INTERVIEWS

After holding virtual mock interviews in spring 2021, the WSB was excited to offer both in-person and virtual mock interviews in spring 2022. One hundred students and business professionals came together to sharpen their interviewing skills and expand their networks. “I had not had an in-person interview in the last two years,” Matthew Porras ’23 says. “This gave me the opportunity to see where I was and how I

CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers spoke in the Dean’s Executive Leadership Series course in spring 2022. The course welcomes professionals to campus to speak to students about leadership and their personal experiences, including successes, failures, and lessons they have learned. The congresswoman shared her insights on these topics and engaged in conversation with students.

ECONOMIC FORECAST

Students and faculty attended the 24th annual Economic Forecast presented by Greater Spokane Incorporated and the in November 2021. Associate Professor of Economics Vange Ocasio Hochheimer spoke as one of the keynote speakers and panelists for the third consecutive year.

REVERSE CAREER TREK

Instead of traveling for the traditional Seattle Career Trek in spring 2022, students attended a “reverse trek” that brought professionals from various companies to the Spokane Club. Students made career connections through workshops, panels and more.

OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPS CHARACTER, CONNECTIONS

The Whitworth School of Business believes everyone has the potential to be great, and that greatness is a conscious choice. Our defining moments are those when we choose growth in the face of change and adversity. Amid the litany of challenges and changes facing our community in 2020-21, the WSB set out to build a new national network of professionals who could collaborate, innovate and lead in their communities through a shared ethos of humility, gratitude and service. And so, with a generous founding gift from Northwest Farm Credit Services, the Whitworth Institute of Leadership was launched in fall 2021.

The inaugural cohort of students consisted of 19 people from five states and nine industries, all bringing a wealth of experience and a desire to deepen their impact in their organizations and communities. The institute is led by WSB instructor and business owner Kevin Parker ’96, who describes the program as “a place where you share your failures and setbacks, while learning to convert those experiences to victories in your life and in your organization.”

Parker invited his mentor Marty Linsky, a retired Harvard professor and the father of adaptive leadership, to join

him in building the institute curriculum. Together they designed a three-course, nine-month experience that pairs discussion-based classroom learning with peer consulting and practical applications. Each course (called an “intensive”) takes place in a different, scenic West Coast location.

Spencer Shanholtzer, director of human resources for Canopy Credit Union, was a member of the institute’s inaugural cohort. “This was the most transformative experience I have ever been a part of. I left inspired, motivated, and able to connect with a community that I will have in my corner for the rest of my life,” Shanholtzer says. “The Institute of Leadership has given me a wide range of actionable and realistic tools, each of which has allowed me to grow as a servant leader.”

It is clear by the immediate growth of the inaugural cohort that the impact of the institute will fulfill its founding hope to develop courageous leaders of character.

“This was the most transformative experience I have ever been a part of.”

-Spencer Shanholtzer

A FULFILLING ROLE

Deb Jackson Helps Adult Students Reach Their Goals

Deb Jackson combines her personal experience, passion and growth mindset in her new role as Whitworth’s assistant dean of the School of Continuing Studies and director of evening business programs.

“Being a lifelong learner and self-development junkie has produced a passion for serving others and helping them to achieve their goals,” Jackson says. “My primary objectives are to create and maintain programs that best serve those outcomes.”

Jackson knows firsthand what it’s like to be a business student at Whitworth, twice over. She is a 2019 graduate of the School of Continuing Studies’ organizational management undergraduate program (now known as business management) and a 2021 graduate of the master of business administration program.

The six-week format of the organizational management program was one of the unique factors that led Jackson to choose to attend Whitworth. She learned to think critically,

be curious and ask tough questions, all while building personal and lasting relationships with her fellow cohort members.

Now, Jackson wants all of Whitworth’s adult students to have this type of experience. In her first year, she has worked to identify efficiencies and new enhancements to further develop Whitworth’s evening programs. Jackson plans to implement simulations that mirror real-world scenarios, which students will use to demonstrate and apply the skills they are learning in their coursework. She also intends to increase the use of software platforms and corresponding digital badges, and to provide more flexible options for textbooks.

“Seeing adults reach their educational goals is only the beginning,” Jackson says. “The work they put in brings about relational changes and career changes that are lifechanging for most. Having even the smallest part in that process is everything to me.”

Alumni Spotlight

JOCELYN CHEN ’16

HR Generalist, Moss Adams

The most rewarding part of my job is helping business leaders identify what motivates their people and find solutions to help retain their team members. COVID has changed the work environment and created a really competitive job market, so building employee engagement and creating that “sticky” factor is more important than ever. It’s also very rewarding when we can make a change to policies or processes that will positively impact the employee experience. I see working in HR as an opportunity to help the business bridge any gaps with their most important strength and resource: their people.

TAYLOR BURNIGHT DAGGY ’16

Financial Accounting Manager, The Walt Disney Co. Whitworth showed me how big of a place the world truly is and the amount of opportunities throughout. I learned to take control of my life and go after my dreams, rather than sitting back and letting life happen. At Whitworth I was challenged to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and to set goals outside of my comfort zone. I’m constantly learning every day, whether it’s how costs for a theatrical film are amortized or the nuances surrounding participating in a multi-employer pension plan. I’m surrounded by a team that wants the best for me and challenges me to keep striving for more.

KODY DAVIS ’17

Supply Chain Management Analyst & Procurement Agent, The Boeing Co.

I was never the “A” student and knew that test taking and memorization of random pieces of information was not my forte. Having a strong work ethic, the ability to learn quickly and high social intelligence were key to getting me to where I am. Most business professors at Whitworth have had incredible careers in the field. Taking classes from them helped me to learn more about real-life business and not business from a textbook. The most rewarding part of my work is seeing the next generation of Boeing airplanes fly for the first time. I support parts for all commercial airline programs, so I have a part in building each of them. Most recently the 777X made its first flight and it was incredible to watch.

ANDREW SHAW ’17

Senior Strategic Analyst, PACCAR Inc

I found a job after graduation that was not well suited to my skill set. After about a year, I decided to move on to something that was a better fit. After looking for a few months, a Whitworth contact sent my résumé to my current supervisor and suggested he consider me for an entry-level analyst position in the corporate development group at PACCAR. After a few interviews I was offered the job and have since been promoted to senior analyst. Maintaining a network of professional contacts, especially from Whitworth, was essential to me finding a meaningful career that I really enjoy.

SAM SPENCER ’15

Real Estate Investment Officer, Oregon State Treasury

Investing can often be overly associated with Wall Street or linked to sharp-elbow cultures, but I want to encourage students that this doesn’t have to be the case. I mentor young women looking at careers in investing through Whitworth and through the nonprofit Girls Who Invest, and this is a common concern or perception. My experience has been the opposite. The teams that I’ve been on and the people I’ve met through the industry are some of the most supportive and collaborative individuals I’ve ever met. Don’t let the negative perceptions or portrayals of the industry prevent you from considering investing as a career option. Intellectual curiosity and collaborative teamwork have governed my experience so far.

GEORGE VALLE ’16

Associate Director, West Coast Sales, PitchBook Data

I work for a company called PitchBook Data based in Seattle. We are a financial technology company working with clients in the venture capital, private equity, and mergers and acquisitions space. I started in an entry-level sales role right after graduating from Whitworth and now manage a small team of sales reps on the West Coast. I had an army of folks who were instrumental in my job search as I approached graduation my senior year.

I have to give a special shoutout to Sinead Voorhees, Dale Hammond and Scott McQuilkin, who were generous in reaching out to Whitworth alumni in the Seattle/Spokane areas and making introductions. This allowed me to have dozens of conversations to figure out what opportunities were available to me and which ones I thought would be the best fit.

ARI VAN PEURSEM ’19 Director of Business Development, Medcurity

I secured my current position by continually saying “yes.” It sounds cliché, but this opened doors over and over again. I started out in direct sales, which in itself was a humbling experience, but as I kept saying “yes” to calling that list, creating that new email campaign, speaking in the next webinar, I found myself building a partner program from scratch and now leading our business development efforts across the company as we scale. Have the last two years felt like drinking from a fire hose? Yes. Would I go back and change anything? Not a chance.

A NEW CHAPTER FOR ACCOUNTING & FINANCE STUDENTS

Beta Alpha Psi Provides Means for Networking, Service

By Abigail Douglas ’22

After the Whitworth School of Business received AACSB accreditation in late 2020, accounting faculty members and students seized the opportunity to bring a Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) chapter to Whitworth’s campus. BAP is an international honors organization for students studying accounting, finance and information systems. Associate Professor of Accounting Candice Correia and Tyler Greene ’22 led the initiative. Having participated in BAP events as a student herself, Correia says, “I knew a chapter on our campus would be invaluable, especially to Whitworth students who are community-oriented. I’ve been waiting for this day since I started teaching at Whitworth.”

The chapter is still in petitioning stages, but the WSB hopes the chapter will become a highly visible and permanent fixture on campus. In our first year, I served as co-president, and we established a great executive team and group of regular members who attended our biweekly meetings. “As an upper-division accounting major,” says Brendan Miller ’23, “I have greatly valued my time in each and every BAP meeting and will continue to attend future meetings up until I graduate.”

In line with BAP’s mission and bylaws, the team planned a year of opportunities to network with professionals and peers, hosting around 20 accounting and finance professionals representing various industries and specialties such as private, public, consulting and wealth management. Through these new connections, students grew their networks, heard inspiring stories and learned from successful people in the industry. “In addition to offering a breadth of professional networking experiences and community service events,” says Assistant Professor of Accounting Michelle Li-Kuehne, “BAP is a fantastic opportunity for forming strong student peer relationships through mentoring and tutoring.”

I am excited for the future of Whitworth’s BAP chapter and hope it continues to serve and develop those who are passionate about financial information. “BAP has provided the opportunity to engage with a broad spectrum of accounting professionals who have given us the inside scoop to what life looks like for students after graduation,” Chelsea Gossen ’22 says. “This knowledge has encouraged me to finish my time at Whitworth strong and makes the world beyond less daunting.”

Fall Recruitment Event Connects Accounting Students to Careers

By Abigail Douglas ’22

Companies within the financial services industry offer excellent leadership programs, scholarships and internships to accounting students. However, because the college recruiting cycle for accounting is highly competitive and accelerated, it is vital for students to know recruiters and their firms’ application requirements to secure these opportunities.

Since 2006, the Whitworth School of Business has hosted an annual fall accounting recruitment event that welcomes professionals from public, governmental and private accounting organizations to campus to connect with students who are eagerly pursuing careers in accounting. This event provides students with information and connections to guide their internship searches and solidify their post-graduation plans. Students often secure fulltime offers for post-graduation employment before they even begin their senior year.

“I like that the connections formed have helped me to make new friends, meet new people, and land a job at a public accounting firm,” Jerry Ladderud ’23 says.

Turnout for the fall 2021 event exceeded expectations, as it was one of the first held in person since early 2020. The newly formed Beta Alpha Psi chapter helped facilitate the

event and will continue to do so going forward. Students were able to expand their networks, ask important questions and become knowledgeable about each firm’s application processes for internships and full-time jobs. Both firm recruiters and practicing professionals, including many WSB alumni, shared their companies’ opportunities with students as well as stories about their own career paths.

Over the years, the event has utilized panel presentations, table discussions, CPA exam prep workshops, Zoom breakout rooms and more, but the feature that is most looked forward to is the meal that students share with our guests, followed by continued conversations during a reserved time for networking.

“This event is always very successful and is a reflection of the strong partnership between the School of Business and outside firms,” Assistant Professor of Accounting Tara Lambert says. “WSB alumni are eager to participate to attract the next Whitworth graduate who will offer their talents and skills to make a difference in their firm.”

“The connections formed have helped me to... land a job at a public accounting firm.”

-Jerry Ladderud ’23

WSB Launches Career Closet DRESSED TO INVEST:

The new Whitworth School of Business Career Closet is about more than clothing; it’s about building confidence and creating space for career conversations as students browse for professional outfits. “What a student should wear to an accounting interview is not the same as what a social media intern could wear to their first day of work, but both outfits should be thoughtfully chosen,” says Addie Grow ’09, the WSB’s former assistant director of internships & external relations.

What started as a few items on a clothing rack is now a permanent fixture filled with new and gently used donated clothes, including pieces students can take and keep and ones they can check out. Since the closet is strategically located in the WSB career advisor’s office, students have a consultant on-site to help them decide what is suitable for their upcoming event. This new service complements the many student resources the WSB offers, including job and internship search support and assistance with interview preparation.

Building the WSB Career Closet was made possible through a donation from Northwest Farm Credit Services. Sonja Jensen, the company’s head of lending programs, helped plan the project and says Northwest Farm Credit Services appreciated the opportunity to partner on it.

“Students have worked so hard to obtain internship and job interviews. The Career Closet helps get them one step closer, ensuring they have something to wear that will make them feel their best,” Jensen says. “Going into an interview with confidence means the student’s skills can shine through.”

Chance Curry ’22 received a suit that was donated by a WSB alumnus and wore it for the first time to the most important presentation in his college career. “I found a note in my jacket pocket 20 minutes before presenting that let me know the donor wore this suit to his first interview for the firm he still works at, and he wished me good luck,” Curry says. “Every time I wear that suit, I’m reminded of the generosity of the Whitworth alumni network and the care alumni have for current students like myself.”

The career closet “before.”

New Program Creates Pathways for Internships

Gaining professional experience through internships is a primary goal for Whitworth undergraduate business students. While unpaid internships can offer just as valuable experiences as paid internships, for many students, paid internships are the only viable option. In response, the Whitworth School of Business launched the Career Pathways Fellowship Program in fall 2021 to offer compensation to students who secure unpaid internships with nonprofit organizations and startups.

Four students completed unpaid internships between fall 2021 and summer 2022 and received compensation through the donor-funded program. The students interned with Spokane Hoopfest Association, Rogue Heart Media/North Monroe Business District, Mama Beans On Holy Grounds and the Academy of International Business’ U.S. West chapter.

The program seeks to remove the financial barrier that would otherwise deter a student from pursuing a beneficial internship experience, while also encouraging organizations to offer internships, ultimately increasing the number of feasible opportunities. “This funding

develop social media content, communicate effectively, and build relationships with Whitworth faculty.”

With the success of the program in its inaugural year, the WSB plans to continue the program in the 2022-23 academic year to facilitate opportunities for another set of students to gain valuable skills and serve their communities.

& STAFF HIGHLIGHTS

Tara Tucker transitioned to a new role at Whitworth in 2021 after serving the WSB for 14 years – eight as a program assistant and six as the assistant to the dean. She now serves in the office of academic affairs as the executive assistant to the provost & executive vice president. The WSB is grateful for Tucker and her continued service to Whitworth.

Hailey Rile joined the School of Business as the assistant to the dean in August 2021, after serving in the Whitworth School of Continuing Studies for nearly six years. A 2019 graduate of Whitworth’s MBA program, Rile values collaborating with faculty, staff and students on the operations, projects and initiatives within the WSB. “I enjoy the combination of both hard and soft skills I have the opportunity to use and develop in this position,” Rile says.

Tess Abbott, a 2021 Whitworth MBA graduate, joined the School of Business in June 2021 as the associate director of the Institute of Leadership. Prior to joining the WSB, she served in Whitworth’s admissions office for nearly four years. Abbott enjoys introducing people to Whitworth’s mission and community. “It’s always fun to hear how Whitworth exceeds expectations for so many,” she says.

Richard “Rick” Cloutier joined the School of Business in fall 2021 as a visiting assistant professor of finance after originally being introduced to Whitworth through the Investment Forum that Whitworth hosts each year. Cloutier and his family moved from Massachusetts to Spokane in 2011, where he served as chief investment strategist at Washington Trust Bank. A seasoned professional in investing and real estate, Cloutier found his enjoyment for teaching through creating a development program for investment professionals. Cloutier is also the author of the ghost novel

Tara Lambert ’93, MBA ’12, assistant professor of accounting, received the honorable mention for the 2021 George Krull/ Grant Thornton Innovation in Junior and Senior-Level Teaching Award from the American Institution of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). This honor recognizes the excellence in her teaching plans that play a part in influencing and preparing future accounting professionals. Using her friend Jessie Veselka’s business as a case study for her cost accounting course, Lambert created “How much money am I making? BeYoutiful Bath Bombs Inventory Costing Project.” A student remarks, “This project really showed the importance of teamwork, even in a profession like accounting where it seems like accountants typically work on their own projects without

Assistant Professor of Accounting Michelle LiKuehne earned her doctor of business administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2021. Her dissertation is titled “The Impact of Community Social Capital and Trust on Levels of Accounting Conservatism.” She has completed four academic years of teaching accounting courses in the undergraduate, continuing studies and master of business administration programs.

A true Whitworth pillar, Professor of English Leonard Oakland retired in 2022 after 56 years of service to Whitworth, making him the university’s longestserving professor. Oakland taught English literature, film studies and in the Core 250 program, impacting the lives of generations of Whitworth students across departments.

WSB ADVISORY BOARD 2021-22

GREGG AMEND ’97 Spokane Partner in Charge Moss Adams LLP

DARIA BROWN ’98 CPA Daria K Brown, CPA, LLC

KUNAL CHOPRA CEO Kaspien

BILL CONDON ’03 Executive Vice President Colliers International

ANDREW ERICKSON ’84 Retired, Sales Representative/Partner Washington Fruit & Produce Co.

ROBERT FORSTER

Principal Forster Financial

KRISTIN GOFF President Wendle Motors, Inc.

TAUDD HUME ’94 Attorney Witherspoon Brajcich McPhee PLLC

BOB INGERSOLL ’67

Retired, Corporate VP –Contracts & Pricing Boeing

CAROLYN KADYK ’03 Executive Director MultiCare INW Foundation

DAVID KIMMET ’99 President Rehn & Associates

JAMES KING ’12 Audit Senior Manager Deloitte

DANIEL MAHONEY

Retired, CEO Fastor Systems (acquired by Smart Modular Technology)

JIM MASTERSON CEO LightEdge Solutions

TIM MITROVICH ’99 CEO/Chief Investment Officer Ten Capital

HOLLY MONTGOMERY Vice President U.S. Bank

TRAVIS PREWITT ’73 President of Investments UBS Financial Services, Inc.

BARBARA RICHTER ’77

Retired, Center of Excellence Leader Procter & Gamble

KEN ROBERTS ’68 Chief Investment Strategist Palouse Capital Management

DAN SANFORD ’65 Professor Emeritus, International Management Whitworth University

FRED STOCKTON

Retired, Global Service Line Director Keywords Studios

AARON VACCARO ’14 Vice President WestRiver Group

TIM WILKINSON

Charles L. Boppell Dean School of Business Whitworth University

OF

LEADERSHIP