Month: December 2011

Business Mastery Program for Public Service Certificate Ceremony

Posted on by Claire Hall

The School of Business Executive Education Business Mastery Program for Public Service Professionals held its certificate ceremony at the Graduate Business Learning Center (GBLC) in Hartford on December 15. Dr. Robert Bird, Associate Professor in UConn’s Marketing Department, welcomed honorees, friends and family, distinguished guests and program faculty and staff. He also shared experiences from his course module, Introduction to Employment Law. Dr. Karla Fox, Dean of the School of Business, addressed the group with congratulatory remarks. Other distinguished guests attending the ceremony and assisting Dean Fox with the distribution of certificates included: Department of Transportation Commissioner James Redeker; UConn Director of the Institute of Material Sciences, Dr. Harris Marcus; State Health Care Advocate, Victoria Veltri, JD, LLM; Department of Public Health Deputy Commissioner, Lisa Davis; Department of Social Services Operations Manager, George Chamberlin; Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services, Joseph Drexler; and Chief of Quality and Planning, Department of Children and Families, Fernando Muniz.

In closing the ceremony, Dr. Lucy Gilson, Associate Professor in UConn’s Management Department, remarked that she recently brought her MBA change management class to the GBLC to hear Governor Malloy give a speech stating that Connecticut is, “open for business,” and “we are going to compete.” In this speech Governor Malloy outlined a number of changes that the state had made and was in the processes of making to encourage, support, and facilitate business as well as attract new companies and industries to our state. More specifically however, he talked about how we needed to reposition Connecticut to attract and keep current industries. He also discussed how UConn could work in tandem with the state to meet these goals. “Tonight, I believe we are taking a big step toward achieving this goal,” noted Professor Gilson. “The business mastery program which tonight’s honorees have completed helps to insure that our state employees have the managerial tools necessary for us to compete” she added.

Certificate recipients honored included: Bruce Bourgoin, Department of Transportation; YoungHee Chudy, UConn; Patricia Dunn, UConn/Department of Social Services; Africka Hinds-Ayala, Office of Health Care Advocacy; David Madonna, Department of Public Health; Elieen McMurrer, Sharon O’Neill and Wayne Seidel, Department of Developmental Services; Tricia Morelli, Department of Social Services; Cristina Pereira, formerly of Department of Transportation; Marc Petruzzi, Department of Public Safety; Ilia Stranko, Department of Children and Families.

The two-course Public Service Professionals Certificate Program offers Introduction to Management and Introduction to Employment Law & Government Processes. Participants either earn 4 undergraduate or 3 graduate non-degree credits per course. To date, 59 participants have completed the program from agencies and departments, throughout the State. By providing customized educational opportunities to public service professionals, the program enhances participants’ skills, while benefiting State agencies and the residents of the State of Connecticut. Our alumni have credited the program with networking and promotional opportunities as well as the development of advanced management skills. Testimonials on the value and benefits of the program can be found at: www.business.uconn.edu/publicservice.

Pictured (top right): Business Mastery Program for Public Service Professionals 2012 Certificate Recipients, Dean Karla Fox, Faculty and Staff. Pictured (above, left to right): Dr. Robert Bird, Professor of Business Law; Dr. Lucy Gilson, Professor of Management; Mary Palmer, Program Manager; Nancy Brouillet, Adjunct Instructor.

Dr. Kramer Receives Award by the CT Chapter of American College of Health Care Administrators

Posted on by Claire Hall

Dr. Kramer Awarded Chapter Award by the CT Chapter of American College of Health Care Administrators

Dr. Jeffrey Kramer, Director of Programs in Healthcare and Insurance Studies, was honored by the Connecticut Chapter of the American College of Health Care Administrators at their Annual Holiday Luncheon held on Friday, December 2, 2011.  Professor Kramer received a Chapter Award for his many years of service in promoting the profession of long-term care administration, and especially for mentoring the numerous individuals who currently serve as Administrators in Connecticut’s nursing homes.

Professor Kramer received his BA, MBA, and Ph.D all from UConn.  He specializes in the study of managed care and long term-term health care organizations. He also has served as a key investigator for utilization review programs, a study evaluating the performance of managed care organizations, and a study examining the effects of deregulation of private pay rates in long-term health care facilities.

Photo: Dr. Jeffrey Kramer

UConn Student Wins First Place in National PSE Competition

Posted on by Claire Hall

On November 18th, 2011, at the Widener University in Chester, PA, Pi Sigma Epsilon, held their National Speakers Competition.  Armando Jimenez, a junior studying business management with a concentration in entrepreneurship at the University of Connecticut, and a member of the Epsilon Omega Chapter on campus, won first place in the national competition.  Jimenez said that he went out for the competition because he enjoys public speaking, it sets him apart from his peers, and it allows him to influence diverse audiences.

Jimenez gave a 6-minute speech discussing the “9 Realities of Life.”  The speech touched upon realities and truths that go overlooked in our daily lives.  Through the sharing of personal experiences and information that Jimenez learned from others he was able to mention points relative to career, academia, and personal realities.  Jimenez said, “the purpose of my speech was to bring awareness to my peers about some of the things we (as a society) do not pay close attention to.”

Jimenez gave his speech to a panel of professional and peer judges and placed first.  He won a Pi Sigma Epsilon national convention package to Indianapolis, IN, in March, where he will have the opportunity to emcee a keynote presentation at the week-long event.

Photo: Armando Jimenez giving his speech