WWI SI S CC OO NN SS I NI NS C HH OO OO L LO O F FB U R ILNLG2 20 01122 SC B SUISNI ENSESS S• S• PFA
FROM THE DEAN
Dean François Ortalo-Magné on the vision for the year ahead
FOCUSED RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
Professor Gerhart and Associate Professor Trevor challenge common beliefs about compensation, and Professor Heide examines overdelivery
PREMIUM LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Applied learning in the classroom: new programs for BBA and MBA students
EXEMPLARY KNOWLEDGE ENTERPRISE
Exploring the power of working across departments and industries
We believe lifelong learning unleashes human capital, transforming the world. At the Wisconsin School of Business, we transform the world through our research and teaching. We offer the world insights and degrees and, to our alumni, a lifelong partnership. The industry of higher education is on the cusp of major transformation. We have come to understand the limitations of addressing our students all at once in classrooms where they sit behind linear tables. Recent developments in communication technology have demonstrated the power of addressing students online, one at a time, tailoring our teaching to their learning. This shift in the delivery of content has allowed many to access, sometimes for free, what was once available only in lecture halls for a cost. To thrive in this context, traditional research universities like ours must demonstrate the relevance of the on-campus student experience. At the Wisconsin School of Business, we have a long history of delivering participatory learning experiences. We also offer our students diverse and meaningful interactions with leading researchers and practitioners; these types of interactions are not replicable online. Therein lies the premium on which we will build our future. We will claim leadership in business education by staying true to who we are, while taking advantage of new teaching methods to
1 • UPDATE Fall 2012
Dean François Ortalo-Magné
challenge, support, and inspire our students to greatness. We will offer a hybrid of diverse experiences that combine customized online learning with live participative experiences organized around real questions, asked by real people, looking for real answers. We will provide opportunities for our students to interact with those shaping the industry: leading academics and practitioners among our alumni and corporate partners. And, we’ll add in the opportunity for some fun at the Memorial Union Terrace or Camp Randall Stadium that has no equivalent in the virtual world. The world is handing us a chance at leadership. Let’s seize this opportunity. Together, we shape the future. On, Wisconsin!
François Ortalo-Magné Albert O. Nicholas Dean Wisconsin School of Business
View online at bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12
LEARNING UNLEASHES HUMAN CAPITAL AND TRANSFORMS THE WORLD. 3-4
INNOVATION
Higher Education on the Cusp of Transformation
Business Badger Learning Outcomes: KDBIN Innovative Approach to Blended Learning
5-6
FOCUSED RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
Team Compensation: Lessons from the NHL
Barry Gerhart Recognized for Career Achievement
Jan Heide Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Reframe the Question to Make the Best Decision
7-8
PREMIUM LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Applied Learning: Inspiring Students to Greatness
Career Readiness and Leadership Development for All Undergraduates
Research Expertise Drives Premium Learning
9-12
EXEMPLARY KNOWLEDGE ENTERPRISE
From Lab to Market
Connecting Business and Art
Wagner-Henry Named Director of Bolz Center
Q&A: Higher Education’s Role in Lifelong Learning
13-16
CLASS NOTES
2
INNOVATION Higher Education on the Cusp of Transformation Online educational startups like EdEx, Coursera, and Udacity have put higher education in the spotlight by shaking up the traditional university education model. Content normally delivered in lecture halls to a select number of students is now presented online to the public. Both traditional institutions and new startups are participating in the frenzy to offer online education to the world. The Wisconsin School of Business is taking a fundamental approach to transform our industry. The school is working to move the traditional mission of higher education from teaching students in linear classrooms to taking responsibility for their learning. When a student receives a grade of B in a class, did he or she learn enough to truly benefit from the next class level? Recent improvements in online learning and broader advances in teaching methodologies offers the school opportunities to articulate learning
3 • UPDATE Fall 2012
outcomes for students, and assess their learning. For example, students will learn how to build a professional network in preparation for entry into the workforce, as well as develop a strategy to create and evolve the network over time. With identified learning outcomes and assessment methods, the school will be in a position to optimize what students learn online and what they learn from our campus experiences and interactions with researchers, practitioners, staff, alumni, and corporate partners. This shift in the educational mission is not a small undertaking; it is the Wisconsin School of Business’ chance at true leadership for the future of business education.
View online at bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12
Business Badger Learning Outcomes: KDBIN Knowing. Doing. Being. Inspiring. Networking. KDBIN (pronounced “KayDeeBin”) is a framework that the Wisconsin School of Business has implemented to help define the learning objectives for students in all business degrees and programs. Knowing, doing, and being are not new concepts. The focus is to acquire knowledge, develop competence, and build character. As a research institution, the school’s faculty brings firsthand insights to each of these objectives. Building on knowing, doing, and being, the school has added two dimensions to help differentiate Wisconsin School of Business students: inspiring and networking.
These attributes are particularly unique to the school’s students, thanks to the dedicated support of our strong network alumni. The school has a history of creating opportunities for alumni to interact with students in meaningful ways and inspire them to greatness. Delivering on these five dimensions will create well-rounded graduates who can differentiate themselves from their peers in the professional realm. For more information on KDBIN, visit futures.bus.wisc.edu.
Innovative Approach to Blended Learning The Wisconsin School of Business is piloting an online teaching platform, Canvas, as part of a pilot partnership with Instructure. The partnership enables students to learn online material at their own pace and monitor their progress in order to address learning needs individually. This approach, dubbed “blended learning,” helps students and professors make the most of their time together. Professor Morris Davis will use this approach with his spring 2013 macroeconomics class for MBA students. Professor Davis has been an advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank, wrote briefings for Alan Greenspan, and has published a macroeconomics textbook with Cambridge University Press. He is an expert at building on macroeconomics theory to derive business insights. Students will have a chance to learn theory from the textbook and mini-lectures Professor Davis posts online. He will devote class time to the interpretation of economic news and provide a forum to discuss and apply the theory to real-life events.
This type of platform enables the school’s most prolific researchers to package their insights in a way that makes a difference in the world beyond campus. The school aims to build upon this foundation to create a lifelong partnership with alumni. By offering access to lectures and organizing premium opportunities with thought leaders like Professor Davis, the Wisconsin School of Business will continue to bring cutting-edge learning to students and alumni. For more information on innovation at the Wisconsin School of Business, visit bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12/innovation.
4
FOCUSED RESEARCH EXCELLENCE Team Compensation: Lessons from the NHL Ann earns more than Ben, who earns more than Chris. Ben wastes considerable time grumbling to Chris about his pay being lower than Ann’s; the gossiping hurts the team’s performance. Would the team perform better if all three were paid the same? That’s an example of an issue related to pay dispersion, the extent to which pay levels differ across team members. Many argue pay dispersion is detrimental to team performance: pay Ann, Ben, and Chris the same amount of money and the team will perform better. Not so fast, say Department of Management and Human Resources Professor Barry Gerhart, Associate Professor Charlie Trevor, and Greg Reilly (Ph.D. ‘07) in their latest research, published in the Academy of Management Journal. Their argument does not just rest on theory; they use data from the NHL, where team performance depends critically on cooperation among team members. Pay dispersion within teams has a negative reputation because pay differences are often unrelated to individual performance. First, the researchers argue, managers should ask what drives the pay dispersion. Is Ann making the most because her contribution to the team is the
greatest? If so, the difference is not a problem. Second, pay dispersion matters for who joins the team. Gerhart, Trevor, and Reilly find that organizations with high pay dispersion attract and retain more highly talented players when they allocate pay based on individual contributions. To read more about these research findings, visit bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12/ top-teams.
Barry Gerhart Recognized for Career Achievement The Academy of Management presented its Herbert G. Heneman, Jr. Career Achievement Award in the field of human resources to Professor Barry Gerhart, Bruce R. Ellig Distinguished Chair in Pay and Organizational Effectiveness. Gerhart ranks among the top one percent of most-cited authors in the field of management from 1981 to 2004, was founding director of the Wisconsin MBA in Strategic Human Resources, and recently completed four years as chair of the Department of Management and Human Resources. Visit his profile on Google Scholar to learn more.
Jan Heide Receives Lifetime Achievement Award The American Marketing Association’s Interorganizational Special Interest Group’s 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed on Professor Jan Heide, the Irwin Maier Chair of Marketing, for significant contributions to interorganizational research and service to the profession. Heide is well known by many MBA alumni who have enjoyed his top-rated teaching in the school’s core marketing class. His latest research will likely resonate with many decision makers: he shows why firms design and market products that overdeliver—products that are too complex with too many capabilities, which ultimately frustrate customers. Learn more about Heide’s latest research when you visit bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12/overdelivery.
5 • UPDATE Fall 2012
View online at bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR JORDAN TONG: Reframe the Question to Make the Best Decision Would you prefer $100 today or in three months? Most people would say: today, of course. Assistant Professor Jordan Tong, the newest addition to the Department of Operations and Technology Management, knows that alumni remember the time value of money from their days at the Wisconsin School of Business. Given these kinds of simple choices, people will always make the profit-maximizing decision, right?
This may not be a large issue for the average household budget, but it could be for those who manage inventory in a large corporation. Tong’s research shows the psychological forces that influence consumption decisions also affect inventory managers who deal with complex, highdollar decisions. Like the average person, inventory managers may make decisions that contradict the time value of money concept if the payments for inventory are strategically framed in the supplier’s offer. When inventory managers make such irrational decisions, it can result in significantly lower profits and supply chain coordination issues for their corporations.
Tong and his coauthors reframe the question to introduce their latest research on inventory management. Imagine someone is about to book a $100 hot air balloon ride scheduled two months from now. The person has the following two payment options: (1) drive to the launch site and pay today, or (2) return to the site one month after the ride and pay then. Which option should they choose?
By revealing the psychological forces behind inventory decisions, Tong and his coauthors can help managers reframe decisions to encourage optimal behavior and improve the efficiency of their buyer-supplier contracts.
Many people would choose to pay today, which contradicts the concept of the time value of money. What explains the difference in the decision? Psychology suggests that paying today is less painful than paying later because if they pay today, they can look forward to the ride. Moreover, when paying today, the person knows the ride in the hot air balloon will be more enjoyable later because they’ve already paid.
Assistant Professor Jordan Tong just completed his Ph.D. at The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. For more on his research, see the article “The effect of payment schemes on inventory decisions: the role of mental accounting,” co-authored with Li Chen and A. Gurhan, forthcoming in Management Science. To read more about Associate Professor Tong, visit bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12/ jordan-tong.
6
PREMIUM LEARNING EXPERIENCES Applied Learning: Inspiring Students to Greatness The Wisconsin School of Business strives to provide every student with the opportunity to test and apply what they learn, giving them a chance to tackle questions they might face in their career. Together, faculty, staff, alumni, and industry partners are shaping learning experiences that challenge students to solve real problems. They expose students to a diverse set of roles, and provide them the opportunity to interact with leading practitioners in their field. Whether designing a marketing strategy to present to a real company, creating and implementing an investment plan for a live portfolio, or pitching a business plan to win valuable seed money, Wisconsin School of Business graduates are highly sought after because of the skills they develop through these applied-learning experiences. Alumnus Corey Capasso (BBA ’09) took full advantage of applied-learning opportunities as a student, co-creating several successful businesses including ExchangeHut.com; Add the Flavor, LLC; and the social marketing platform Spinback, now owned by Salesforce.com. Capasso worked with other students to create the business plans and earned start-up funding in the G. Steven Burrill Business Plan Competition.
“We’ve seen a lot of success from graduates of the Wisconsin School of Business,” said Simon Kho, director of national student programs and global initiatives for KPMG. “University of Wisconsin-Madison business students are not only technically prepared, but they join us with real-life experiences. This gives them the foundation to be truly impressive employees.” Alumni and corporate partners are key to the success of these experiences, helping students create invaluable connections to the world that awaits them upon graduation. When students must report their findings to the stakeholder who designed the case, not only do they learn more, they are often inspired to perform beyond their own expectations. This dimension of the school’s curriculum is critical to creating transformational student experiences.
7 • UPDATE Fall 2012
View online at bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12
Career Readiness and Leadership Development for All Undergraduates A new undergraduate leadership program expands opportunities for Wisconsin School of Business students to develop leadership skills and challenge themselves professionally. The Compass Program was developed from alumni and recruiter feedback with the goal of helping students excel in business after graduation. Starting this fall, newly admitted students are required to complete certain curricular and extracurricular activities during their first year, which include learning the importance of community service, participating in academic and career advising, and developing their résumés. The program is designed to further advance learning outcomes by providing students not only knowledge, but the skills to incorporate leadership practices outside of the classroom. While these services have been offered in the past through elective opportunities, thanks to resources from alumni and friends, the Wisconsin School of Business is now able to offer the experience to all undergraduates.
“While our undergraduate students are already known for their experience and professionalism, Compass will take them to the next level,” said Joann Peck, associate dean of undergraduate programs. “It is an exciting time to be a Wisconsin BBA Business Badger.
Research Expertise Drives Premium Learning In response to demands for premium leadership experiences for MBA students, the Wisconsin School of Business challenged leadership expert Assistant Professor Mary Triana to put her research into practice through an appliedlearning course. The five-week, two-credit Department of Management and Human Resources’ Leading and Working in Teams course is based on Triana’s research in the area of leadership and group functions. This course helps students understand key principles of dealing with team design, conflict, performance and productivity, decision-making, and creativity.
“I integrated research findings on team dynamics into the course so that students could leave my class with a strong set of tools based in empirical evidence,” Triana said. “I combined research findings from the teams’ literature and from my own research on team diversity to help students develop a framework for understanding team dynamics and team performance.” MBA student Daniel Sosnay thought the class provided a unique approach to learning about team dynamics because it incorporated aspects of psychology and behavioral economics.
“Instead of lionizing one researcher’s method or approach, Professor Triana equipped us with an expansive toolkit from which to draw when performing as a member or leader of future teams in either a corporate or non-profit setting.” Sosnay said. “I felt that the course was executed extremely well.” Assistant Dean Blair Sanford led a seminar to compliment this course during orientation called Being the Best You Can Be, which utilized self-assessment tools, case studies, and discussions to help students identify and build on their strengths while learning how to work effectively in teams.
8
C-Motive presents their business plan at the G. Steven Burrill Business Plan Competition in April 2012.
EXEMPLARY KNOWLEDGE ENTERPRISE From Lab to Market The University of Wisconsin-Madison consistently ranks among the top three universities for research expenditures, investing more than $1 billion annually in research to provide opportunities for faculty and students to explore bold solutions to the world’s challenges. The Wisconsin School of Business is proud to help the best ideas move to the market. One example of this is C-Motive Technologies, Inc., the brainchild of three electrical engineering Ph.D. students. Justin Reed, Dan Ludois, and Micah Erickson are pioneering fundamentally new approaches to electric motors and generators that could help reduce the industry’s dependence on rare earth materials. The generators use wireless power transfer, eliminating the steel laminations and copper windings present in most electrical engines. The team’s journey at the business school started with the Wisconsin Entrepreneurial Bootcamp (WEB), a one-week intensive training program for graduate students in the sciences, engineering, and math looking to launch a technology-based startup. WEB integrates content from case analyses, lectures, expert panelists, speakers, experimental exercises in financial and market assessments, and social
9 • UPDATE Fall 2012
events. Students have the opportunity to interact with and learn from successful entrepreneurs and business owners. After their introduction to the business school through WEB, the group enrolled in Wisconsin Applied Ventures in Entrepreneurship (WAVE), a class that offers selected students an applied practicum for starting and growing a venture. In WAVE, the trio of engineers was paired up with MBA student Brett Hoerz (MBA ’12). Together, they entered the G. Steven Burrill Business Plan Competition, where they won second place and were named the “Incubator Ready” team, an honor that comes with a $15,000 office space package. C-Motive is just one example of an innovative company that started at UW-Madison. The Wisconsin School of Business aims to be a partner for creative minds in engineering and other disciplines across campus. The school provides access to the training, partners, and networks of entrepreneurs and investors necessary to push ideas from concept to reality. In the meantime, the generator industry has access to lighter, cheaper, and more efficient electric engines because of cross-departmental innovation and collaboration.
View online at bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12
Connecting Business and Art What do Steve Jobs, Cindy Crawford, and Edgar Degas all have in common? They are all entrepreneurs who look to principles of beauty as a measure of quality. A growing awareness exists among educators and business professionals that creativity can be taught and that beauty, design, and aesthetics are relevant to success. The Bolz Center for Arts Administration at the Wisconsin School of Business has long understood the valuable role of beauty and art in businesses and communities. Starting in 1969, the center first focused on training leaders of arts organizations including symphonies, museums, and theaters. The school’s alumni, often artists themselves, have enjoyed careers providing an environment for artists to flourish. University of Wisconsin-Madison student artists have taken notice of the training offered at the Wisconsin School of Business. As the ultimate entrepreneurs, they are keen to learn the critical business skills that will allow them to fund their passion and thrive. Today, the school is proud to partner with every art
department on campus to open new training opportunities for our budding artists within the new Arts Business Initiative. As part of this initiative, the Bolz Center is offering the new course with the support of our alumni and friends. Art students will learn and practice business skills, including principles of entrepreneurship finance, risk management, legal, copyright, and tax matters. Students will learn from and network with artists and creative professionals, as well as participate in hands-on projects to secure grants, find donors, negotiate contracts, and price their work. Artists bring a diversity of perspectives to our business students. These perspectives, along with creative thinking and communication skills, generate valuable exchanges for all students. The next step is to build on the strength and experience of the campus arts departments to help business students understand and master the creative and entrepreneurial mindset of the artist.
Wagner-Henry Named Director of Bolz Center Sherry Wagner-Henry joined the Wisconsin School of Business this fall as the new director of the Bolz Center for Arts Administration. Wagner-Henry came to the school from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where she oversaw production and programming for the university’s theatre and dance programs and served as executive director of the Minnesota Centennial Showboat. Most recently, she directed graduate programs for the College of Continuing Education, including the Master of Professional Studies in Arts and Cultural Leadership, a program she founded. As director of the Bolz Center, Wagner-Henry will concentrate her efforts on growing the Wisconsin MBA in Arts Administration and expanding the reach of the Arts Business Initiative. As part of the initiative, she will work to expose a growing number of University of Wisconsin-Madison students to the fundamentals of business, collaborative teamwork, and venture creation necessary for successful careers in design, culture, and the arts.
10
Q&A with Steve King, Director of Executive Education:
HIGHER EDUCATION’S ROLE IN LIFELONG LEARNING Learning doesn’t stop when we leave the classroom. Indeed, methods of learning expand and change as we move throughout our careers. Steve King, the new director of Wisconsin School of Business Executive Education, understands the value of lifelong learning and brings significant expertise to the school. King’s past positions include chief learning officer and vice president of talent management for Baxter International, senior vice president of human resources at Hewitt Associates, and chief learning officer at Hewitt Associates. Steve sat down with Update to talk about trends in executive education and how he plans to use them to shape the executive education curriculum. Update: What innovations in executive education and professional development are making the biggest impact right now? Steve King: The most visible innovations are happening in delivery platforms. In the past, executive education was exclusively handled in classrooms and often at executive learning centers. Today’s technology enables us to offer executive and professional learning opportunities virtually. Less-visible innovations include the growing services available at traditional executive programs. These include top talent assessment, the development of customized success profiles and competency models, assistance in building succession management processes, mentoring programs, and
11 • UPDATE Fall 2012
executive search services. These expanded offerings speak to the growing interest at businesses to more thoughtfully manage their talent pipeline. Update: Does this mean you see increased opportunities for a more holistic approach to executive education? Steve King: Yes, and actually I see a continued drive toward integrating content from multiple disciplines into holistic learning experiences. For example, in the past we might have focused the development of project managers strictly on the tools and techniques of project management and suggested students take a change management program to round out their skills sets. Today, we are more likely to see a project management curriculum designed to incorporate change management tools and techniques. This integration offers a holistic perspective that is more closely aligned with the workplace experience. Update: What do you say to critics who argue that the best learning happens on the job, not in a classroom? Steve King: I certainly agree that most learning, and perhaps even the most profound learning, takes place on the job. However, I believe university programs provide unique opportunities to step back and become acquainted with new skills and frames of reference. For example, I like the programs we offer to employees in transition from one role to another or from one level of their organization to another. Both at Hewitt and at Baxter, I observed that one of the most difficult transitions in someone’s career is when they move from being an individual contributor to managing employees. In a university
View online at bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12
How can I connect with other executives to share and learn best practices?
How can I build and execute a plan for organizational change?
How can I motivate my employees to be professionally successful while positively contributing to the company’s bottom line?
How can I take my current expertise and strengths and apply them to my new role as a manager?
How can I work across organizational lines to get my projects and initiatives successfully completed?
program, they can learn the basics of giving a good performance review or building and managing an effective team. On the job, they can practice and hone those skills. Another difficult move is transitioning from managing employees to managing managers. Again, we understand these transitions and can prepare leaders to get a headstart once promoted. Update: Before taking on this new role, you used to buy executive education for corporations. Now you are on the selling side, with both corporations and individuals as your customers. Where do you see the most growth for the school going forward? Steve King: On the corporate side, we are creating a great new program to address professional development needs in the health care industry. I am excited about the partnerships we have built with the medical, pharmacy, nursing, and engineering schools on campus to offer customized applications of business skills to address the challenges faced by those in the health care industry.
In terms of how we relate to individuals, I am excited about the school’s vision to establish a lifelong partnership with alumni. I believe lifelong learning is an important part of that partnership, and we have much to offer our alumni throughout their career and beyond. Certainly, we will help our alumni through those crucial transitions I mentioned earlier, and we will continue to innovate in the ways we share our expertise and research insights through a variety of delivery platforms. Long term, we hope to be the one-stop shop our alumni rely on to help them choose among the learning opportunities available to them—at any point in their lives. Visit bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12/courses to see our upcoming Executive Education courses.
12
CLASS NOTES 1950-1959 Gene Bussian, BBA ’50, completed 65 years with the Mutual Trust Life Insurance Company of Oak Brook, Illinois. Conrad Siegel, BBA ‘56, along with his wife Gail, returned to Madison for the first time since graduating 56 years ago. They attended the Greenfield program, visited with Jed Frees and Margie Rosenberg of the Actuarial Science program, saw brain researcher Richard Davidson of the Weisman Institute, spent two days in Spring Green at Taliesin, and saw two plays. Ron Schmaedick, BBA ’58, is making another attempt at retiring after 50+ years as a licensed real estate broker. He is now volunteering to help formerly homeless veterans settle into civilian society. Joseph Spence, BS ’59, BBA ’61, enjoyed watching the 2012 Olympics. In 1984, he made the last cut to go to the Olympics in the Triathlon: swim, bike, and run. In 1989/1990/1991, he placed 3rd/1st/1st in the Quadrathon; run, bike, swim, and bench press. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he was on the wrestling team.
1960-1969
Joanne Howard, BBA ’62, MBA ’63, was in Madison to attend Grandparents University with her grandson, Josh. She took the opportunity to introduce Josh to one of her favorite daytrips (New Glarus Inn) and had him feast on a threecourse meal of fondue. They enjoyed the yodelers who serenaded their table!
Jack Clarke, BBA ’63, continues to help those who hurt physically or financially, as he has for 20 years. He needs some help doing what he does, so if you know someone he can train, please have them contact him. Go Badgers! Linda Philipps, BBA ’66, had a great year kicking off 2012 at the Rose Bowl game and parties and then continuing the year in Tampa (where she is president of the UW Alumni Club), the eighth annual golf outing to raise scholarship money for Tampa Bay kids going to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Rays game event with Babcock ice cream, and fun times with other Badgers and their friends! Howard Carver, BBA ’67, was appointed to the audit committee of Pinnacol Assurance, the workers compensation facility for the state of Colorado. Steve Cain, BBA ’68, relocated to Chicago and his business continues to improve. He raises capital for start-up companies and assists middle-market companies with their equipment leasing needs. Chuck Schell, BBA ‘68, has been elected president of the Utah Sports Hall of Fame Foundation. He assumes the position for a two-year term, which follows another two-year term as president-elect. Schell is a native of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. He will guide the 45-year old foundation until December 31, 2013. Among those the foundation will induct in its 2013
class will be long-time NBA greats Karl Malone and John Stockton.
1970-1979 Michael J.T. McMillen, BBA ’72, JD ’76, MD ’82, has joined the international law firm of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP as a partner in the New York office. Michael specializes in international finance, particularly Islamic finance, and project and infrastructure finance. Gretchen Nelson, BA ’74, MBA ‘81, was hired in February by Food For Thought, a Sonoma County AIDS food bank, to manage marketing and public relations for the antique store that it has owned for five years. John Henderson, BBA ‘75, is finishing his 34th year of practicing law in Colorado. He enjoys biking, ski racing, and hiding out in his mountain cabin. Viveca Chan, (BBA ’76) was named one of the “100 Most Influential Women in Advertising” by Advertising age in 2012. Chan is the chairman and CEO of Chinese ad agency WE Marketing Group, with clients, including: Estee Lauder, Mercedes-Benz and Lufthansa, along with numerous Chinese brands.
Bob Collins, MBA ’70, Ph.D. ‘73, recently retired after over 35 years in marketing education and research. The last 21 years of his career were spent at University of Nevada-Las Vegas, where he was Conrad N. Hilton Distinguished Professor of Marketing and editor of the Journal of Marketing Education. Bob and his wife Diane are now traveling and enjoying life in both southern Nevada and West Palm Beach, Florida, where they regularly visit their two lovely grandchildren.
Tweet us at @UWBusiness OR @WiscBusAlumni Like us on Facebook WISCONSIN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
13 • UPDATE Fall 2012
View online at bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12
Michael Katz, BBA ’76, started a new blog called “Katz of the Day” at mjkcreativearts.com for commentary on fiction, photography, film, and music. Wayne Crosse, BBA ’77, is back in the Midwest! He’s located in Rochester, Minnesota, with the Mayo Clinic.
1980-1989 Patrick O’Brien, BBA ’80, MBA ’81, is currently chairman and co-founder of Patina Solutions, a fast-growing firm that provides experienced professionals for short- and long-term projects plus interim executive and management roles in six U.S. markets and Asia.
Robert Eames, BBA ‘78, MBA ’80, received the 2012 Community-Based Teaching Award at Calvin College, where he is a professor, as well as a Teaching Best Practices Award at the 2012 CBFA Conference in Langley, British Columbia. Robert LaBarbera, BBA ’79, just released a book that provides a step-by-step plan for unemployed or underemployed recent college graduates to land the job they really want. It’s called “The Strategic College Graduate: 7 Steps to Getting the Job You Really Want” and is available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
Jeff Patterson, BBA ’80, has had a long career in commercial real estate brokerage and consulting. He has a specialization in corporate services and recently represented local Direct TV giant Multiband in the relocation of their corporate headquarters office building. He also enjoys a passion for athletics, most recently cross-country ski racing, including 23 American Birkebeiners. Mohammad Abrishamchian, BBA ’81, moved back to the United States last year and now lives in California. He is currently in the process of setting up a new venture for import of artwork from lessdeveloped countries to distribute in the United States.
George Moore, BBA ’79, is still enjoying work at AT&T as a director of sales for Wisconsin. He has been with the company for 31 years. His daughter just graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in May with a biology degree; she is hoping to get into medical school. He still gets back to Madison for football and basketball games, and hopes to retire back in Madison someday… go Bucky!
Buckley Brinkman, BBA ’82, is having a blast being back in Madison and leading the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP), which helps small and medium manufacturers reach their full potential. The organization has mastered the public-private partnership and offers cutting-edge programs and advice normally only available to Fortune 500 companies. It just completed its second record year in a row and passed $2 billion of economic impact created for Wisconsin manufacturers. The results speak for themselves!
Susan Lentz Parisi, BBA ’83, JD ’89, was recently named vice president and associate general counsel of the Credit Union National Association, the nation’s premiere trade association for credit unions. Dean Rohde, BS ’83, MBA ’86, JD ’89, was selected as a 2011 and 2012 “Wisconsin Super Lawyer” by Milwaukee Magazine, an honor given to 5% or less of the attorneys in Wisconsin. He was also selected as a “Wisconsin Top 100 Trial Lawyer” by the American Trial Lawyers Association. Dean’s son Jackson is a senior at the University of WisconsinMadison majoring in economics and agricultural business management. Dorothy Washington-Jones, BBA ’83, has recently published an e-book entitled “The Runaway Christmas Tree” and is working on a sequel. The book can be purchased online at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com. Susan Schuldes, BBA ’84, started a business—E&S Entrepreneur Advisors, LLC—with a great partner in 2009. The firm provides accounting and other financial advice to small business owners, and it specializies in managerial accounting and writing business plans. Brian Oshefsky, BBA ‘86, recently celebrated his 25th anniversary working for Ford Motor Company. Besides working for a great company in many exciting assignments, he and his wife Christine stay very busy with six wonderful children between the ages of 5 and 16. Although they have lived outside of Wisconsin since graduation, the family remains loyal suppor ters of the Badger and Packer teams.
Erbert Johnson, BBA ’83, was appointed to the Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corporation, effective April 24, 2012.
14
CLASS NOTES clients who attended Big Ten schools or who simply know the reputation of good old Madison. He is trying to get back to campus at least once a year now that he is so close.
Sharon Kieffer, BBA ’88, MBA ’90, was named one of the “Top Women in Grocery” by Progressive Grocer magazine. Kieffer is a managing partner at 2x Consumer Products Growth Partners, a growth-capital provider to branded consumer- products businesses primarily within the $2 million to $25 million revenue range. She joined the private equity fund and fellow Badger Andrew Whitman (BBA ‘89) 18 months ago after a successful consumer products career with PepsiCo, Kraft, and Leo Burnett. Doug Barton, BBA ’89, was recently promoted in global product marketing with IBM Business Analytics, responsible for software solutions focused on risk, compliance, and per formance optimization. He completed his third Ironman distance triathlon this year and enjoys spending time with his two teenage daughters and wife. Go Bucky!
Neil Shapiro, BBA ’92, and Jonathan Bergman, BBA ’97, have formed a relationship with its roots in the Wisconsin School of Business. In 2009, a University of Wisconsin Foundation director introduced them. Soon after, Bergman asked Shapiro to join the Wisconsin Business Alumni Board, which Bergman chaired. More recently, Shapiro recruited Bergman to join TAG Associates, the $6 billion, New York City-based, multi-family office. Now both Badgers are working in tandem to help wealthy families allocate capital, develop tax-efficient income tax and estate plans, and coordinate philanthropic plans. Aaron Baugh, BBA ’94, was recently promoted to residential business development manager for North America for Rinnai.
1990-1999 Kurt Sowle, BBA ’90, has started his own business, KS Essential Services, providing essential home and smallbusiness services including electricity and natural gas. He is enjoying growing the business by acquiring customers and growing the team of people he works with every day. Heather La Freniere, BBA ’92, is the newly appointed head of sales at an independent finance company.
Aaron Mikulsky, BBA ’95, has recently rejoined CNA Insurance as the underwriting strategy and analytics director for small business. He spent the previous five years with the Bermudabased company Arch Insurance Group as vice president, regional operations manager. He currently serves as a Wisconsin Business Alumni board member. Alex Grant, BBA ’95, is living in Chicago and recently helped open the Chicago office for Twitter. He says it has been an amazing experience to be a part of a company that is on the bleeding edge of the media/social space. His education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has always helped him connect with
15 • UPDATE Fall 2012
Nancy Woolver, BBA ’95, recently joined New York Life, where she is enjoying helping families and business owners protect themselves and invest in their future! David Pausch, BA ’97, MA ‘03, answered the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s siren call and began his third tour as a Badger in August 2012, this time as the alumni relations coordinator for the School of Education.
2000-2012 Chris Tierney, BBA ‘00, was promoted to resident director at Merrill Lynch. Ankur Malhotra, MBA ’01, was featured in The New York Times for his work to preserve the ancient folk music of the Manganiyars, a caste of hereditary Muslim musicians from Rajasthan, India, which is a tiny village about 400 miles southwest of New Delhi. Malhotra and his business partner Ashutosh Sharma hope to preserve the music and bring it to a wider audience through Amarrass Records, a small, independent record label they began with two friends. The project was underwritten in part with $30,000 from one of Malhorta’s advisors at the Wisconsin School of Business. Patrick Conway, BBA ‘02, and his wife Rebecca (BBA ’03) welcomed Lucas Conway to the world on December 12. Brian Blackader, BBA ’03, is engaged to Johanna Rüschoff, and they will marry next August. John Ikeda, MBA ’04, recently finished a summer internship with the World Bank in Indonesia, where he worked to develop a strategy for expanding access to rural sanitation. He will be returning to Cambridge to finish his second year at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, where he is pursuing a master’s degree in public administration in international development (MPA/ID).
View online at bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12
Carlos Sava, BBA ’04, has launched an investment advisory firm—Clarendon Capital Management LLC—based in Arlington, Virginia. S u s a n Va r g h e s e , M B A ‘ 0 4 , will be starting an adjunct instructor position this fall in the new Bioengineering Innovation course at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
Lucia Weise, MBA ’04, and her husband Sean (Ph.D. ‘05) welcomed their son Alexandru on April 3, 2012. He is already a Badger fan, like his parents. Tony Carlson, BBA ’05, was promoted to vice president of the Grandbridge Real Estate Capital Minneapolis office in July 2011. John Halter, MBA ’07, received his MS degree from DePaul in computational finance in March 2011, and is now working as a quantitative trader at Ketchum Trading in Chicago.
Kurt Kober, MBA ’07, and Stephanie (Morey) Tourand, MBA ’06, were featured in Fast Company’s United States of Innovation article in June which highlighted start-ups across the country. Their company, Red Clay, is the first crowd sourcing platform to partner designers with brands while engaging consumers throughout the process of product development in the home space. Learn more by visiting redclaydesign.com.
Bryan Mueller, BBA ’08, has worked in business and legal affairs at a film company for the past four years, but is moving abroad this fall to start a master’s degree in media and communications at the London School of Economics. Tim Staton, MBA ’08, started as marketing director of Saris Cycling Group in May 2012. Saris Cycling Group owns the Saris, CycleOps, and PowerTap brands and still makes its products here in Wisconsin. Matt Tutaj, BBA ’08, MAcc ’09, will be marrying Christine Lehmann (BBA ‘08) on October 20, 2012.
Carly Miller, BBA ’12, graduated in May then started her first job at General Mills. Besides the great Badger support in the company (audible cheers when she introduced herself as a Badger), the Twin Cities are full of fun and welcoming to Bucky lovers. She says it has been amazing to have such a strong network when moving to a new city. As a bonus, her younger sister starts her college career at the University of WisconsinMadison in the fall. On, Wisconsin!
Eliot Pattee, BBA ’12, recently graduated with a degree in finance and spent the last few months on the road as a Hotdogger driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. He has been to numerous cities throughout the southeast— Charlotte, Chattanooga, and Savannah to name a few—and will be traveling the Hot Dog Highways until next June. Besides driving a 27-foot vehicle, he is responsible for promotional event execution and conducting various media appearances. It’s a job that anyone would relish!
Susan Gotrik, BBA ‘09, took a work hiatus after three years full time with 3M to stay at home full time with baby Badger Felicity. Felicity turned one in August and looks forward to her Badger dad, Kevin, graduating with his Ph.D. from MIT next year and to a little sister or brother next March. Katie Lewitzke Hensel, BBA ’06, founded the non-profit Tri 4 Schools to help combat childhood obesity and get kids active through triathlon. It just finished its second season, donating over $17,000 to local schools. Every dollar supports school health and fitness programs, and to date 1,100 kids have c o m p l e t e d t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n ’s youth triathlons.
Annette Knuckle, MBA ’12, just star ted her new job at American Express.
Tweet us at @UWBusiness OR @WiscBusAlumni Like us on Facebook
WISCONSIN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
16
DEAN’S ADVISORY BOARD Robert Pollock (Board Chair)
Debra Perry
President and CEO Assurant, Inc.
Director, BofA Funds Series Trust and Sanford C. Bernstein Fund Korn/Ferry International
Michael Casey Senior Managing Director The Blackstone Group
Timothy Daniels President ApolloGlobal
Tom Formolo Partner CHS Capital LLC
Laura Francis Vice President of Finance/CFO Promega Corporation
Jeffrey Hammes Partner Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Cynthia Ihlenfeld Artist and Community Leader
Peter Leidel Founder and Member Yorktown Partners LLC
John Mulligan Chief Financial Officer, Treasury and Accounting Target Corporation
John Neis Managing Director Venture Investors LLC
Mark Nerenhausen Founding Director and Professor of Practice, Art Leadership Graduate Program Syracuse University
Gary Rappeport CEO Donlen Corporation
Ann Schwister Vice President, Global Oral Care Finance and Accounting Procter & Gamble
Richard Searer Former President Kraft North America
Toni Sikes Co-CEO The Art Connection
Sandra Sponem Senior Vice President and CFO Mortenson Construction
Stew Stender Partner Stewart Lawrence Group
Thomas Stevens Chairman and President Los Angeles Capital
Scott VanderSanden President AT&T Wisconsin
John Ver Bockel Senior Vice President and CFO Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
Don Walkovik Senior Managing Director Brock Capital
Bill Nygren
Jeff Yabuki
Oakmark Fund Portfolio Manager Harris Associates L.P.
CEO Fiserv, Inc.
17 • UPDATE Fall 2012
View online at bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12
UPDATE CONTRIBUTORS
Melissa Anderson Lavilla Capener Kaylene Christnovich Jenn Kallias Steve King Ali Klunick Meloney Linder Bridget Prendergast PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY
Bruce Fritz Camilla Klyve Jeff Miller all others by personal submission
UPDATE is the official alumni magazine of the Wisconsin School of Business. Questions or contributions may be directed to update@bus.wisc.edu.
A special thank you to our alumni and friends who have supported us throughout the past year. To view our Honor Roll of 2011 donors, visit bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12/honor-roll online.
18
975 University Avenue Madison, WI 53706
to be n a e m it s e o d t wha
a
BUSINESS BADGER? What does someone it mean to beasks a business Bucky wants to know: When badger? about your experience at the Wisconsin School of Business, what’s the first thing you say?
Share your unique Business Badger stories and experiences with us. Visit bit.ly/Rg9QYL or scan the QR code to the left to access our online survey.
#bizbadgers 20 • UPDATE Fall 2012
View online at bus.wisc.edu/updatefall12