Innovation Quest gives students the knowledge, mentors needed to launch a successful start-up company

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 4, Issue 1 (Winter 2014)

If you think you know exactly what a spider looks like, Mark Smith ’13 (CLAS), may persuade you to take a closer peek.

Up close—really, really close—that little creature has a breathtaking beauty, intricacy and, yes, even a trace of creepiness, which one can’t appreciate from afar.

Smith, a recent UConn alumnus, scientist and inventor, has developed and commercialized an inexpensive, portable and easy-to-use 3-D imaging technology. It produces high-resolution macroscopic images, like the magnificent spider photographs on his Macroscopic Solutions company web site.

But his product isn’t just for a scientist in the lab. Bring it to a football game and, even from the farthest bleacher, you can take close-ups of your son kicking a field goal, he said. The Macropod by Macroscopic Solutions captures images so precisely they can be enlarged to immense sizes without degrading the quality.

The project won first place last spring in the University’s Innovation Quest (iQ) program, which is akin to “boot camp” for aspiring entrepreneurs.

The 2013 iQ program drew more than 100 students, across all disciplines and campuses, each hoping to take their proposal from an idea to the marketplace.

“Like all scientists, I have thousands of ideas, but I lacked the business know-how and money to get started,” said Smith, who earned a master’s degree in Geoscience from UConn under the advisement of Associate Professor Jean Crespi.

Through the iQ program he, and other students, were paired with business experts who guided them through building prototypes, applying for patents and raising money. Within six months, Smith co-founded Macroscopic Solutions with his best friend and fellow researcher Daniel Saftner.

“This company is our number one priority,” said Smith, who has presented his invention at Harvard University, Jackson Laboratories and a number of other prestigious institutions.

 

Confidence, Coaching and ‘Mental Toughness’

John Elliott, dean of the School of Business, said he believes the iQ program not only fosters the success of UConn students but ultimately will lead to job creation in Connecticut and elsewhere.
“The creativity of our students is boundless. But what good is a brilliant idea if it doesn’t turn into something useful?” Elliott said. “Innovation Quest gives these students an opportunity to capitalize on those ideas and to receive guidance and inspiration from alumni with the business knowledge, entrepreneurial experience, and passion required to fuel a successful start-up.”

Alumnus Keith Fox ’80, a longtime business entrepreneur, executive and philanthropist, introduced iQ at UConn in 2012, after discovering the successful program at California Polytechnic State University.

“Innovation Quest is about giving students the confidence to follow their dreams and ideas,” said Fox, who serves as both a program mentor and financial supporter. He describes it as an intensive coaching process that includes “inspiring the passion and mental toughness to create a successful company.”

The program’s success is due, in part, to the tremendous teamwork of the university faculty and staff, volunteer alumni mentors, and risk-taking investors, he said.

“We’re grateful to the alumni who provide the mentorship and practical advice to our student teams that will lead to a higher likelihood of market success,” said UConn Provost Mun Choi.

“I hope this program becomes engrained into the UConn culture for decades to come,” Fox added.

 

Newer Entrepreneurs Enjoy the Opportunity to Give Back

Asking the difficult questions is the job of volunteer alumni and entrepreneurs-in-residence (EIRs), who serve as expert resources and innovation judges. Tom Bachant ’13 (ENG) and Nadav Ullman ’12 (CLAS) are the founders of Sobrio, a mobile application that connects college students to designated drivers at their university. Named among the Connecticut Technology Council’s “2012 Tech Companies to Watch,” Sobrio is expanding to college campuses across the country. The founders participated in iQ in 2012, and returned as EIRs in 2013 to help others.

“We use this experience to put ourselves in their shoes and share what we learned throughout the process,” said Bachant.

“We had lawyers, accountants, and industry experts help us work through some of the challenges we were facing,” Ullman said. “This hands-on experience helped us with some essential aspects of building a startup.”

“The diversity of experiences and thought can help thrust a powerful idea or concept into a new product or service,” said Mary Holz-Clause, vice president for economic development at UConn.

Adam Boyajian ’12 also served as an alumni mentor. “I love the startup world and the pulse around people who have that entrepreneurial spirit,” he said.

Mentor Hugh Tansey ’74 (ENG), agrees. “It’s both satisfying to give something back to the university and also energizing and fun to participate with all the great new ideas being proposed,” he said.

Mike Parelli ’12, a former entrepreneur-in-residence, is an active alumni mentor for iQ. “It was a great experience as a student and I was very appreciative of the successful alumni sacrificing their valuable time, which in turn has motivated me to give back my time. The mentor network that Innovation Quest is building will be invaluable for everyone involved moving forward.”

“Working with the mentors was a pleasure,” said Eross Guadalupe ’13 (ENG). “They genuinely wanted us to succeed and I cannot stress enough how much I appreciated them for taking time to help us learn what it takes to be successful as an entrepreneur.”

 

Trust in Yourself, Work Hard, Mentors Advise

During the first phase of Innovation Quest, some 31 teams prepared their competition applications, worked on prototypes and discussed marketing plans. The top eight were selected to continue to the next level, and the three top teams received cash prizes of $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 to put toward their new businesses.

Trust in yourself and be prepared to work many hours, advisers told the participants. “There is no room for doubt. And there is no substitute for hard work,” said mentor Dave Pepin ’66, ’70 MBA, a venture capitalist.

“Get out of the classroom, dorm, or office, and talk to as many subject-matter experts and potential customers as you can,” advised Mike Wisniewski ’06 (BGS), ’10 MBA, an investment analyst at Connecticut Innovations.

“When starting your venture, surround yourself with people that see the same opportunity as you and are willing to work just as hard to achieve success,” added adviser Frank Milone ’92, a founding partner in FML, an accounting firm in Glastonbury.

The second step was an accelerated training program, dubbed the inQbator, where students learned how to build their businesses. Alumni specialists in fields ranging from entrepreneurship to patent law donated their time and expertise to guide the inQbator teams.

“Being in the inQbator was like learning a year’s worth of business courses in six weeks,” said Alicia Echevarria ’13 MS (ENG). “The sessions were long and demanding, but also extremely informative and beneficial.”

Boyajian told the students that they have to see if people really want what they’ve created. “Capital providers are interested in funding companies that are focused on serving a market that has well-defined, unmet needs and the potential to gain customers and revenue rapidly,” added Nat Brinn, a partner at Vital Financial LLC, a venture capital investment group.

For the final inQbator workshop, teams may opt to present their business and funding needs to local investors.

“At this stage of Innovation Quest, we want to see these businesses and ideas starting to make their way from innovation to commercialization,” said associate professor Rich Dino, director of the UConn iQ program.

Seeking financing for startup costs, including patents, licensing agreements, product development, and funding go-to-market strategies, seven entrepreneurial teams pitched their innovations to a group of enthusiastic supporters in June.

“The [iQ] experience was invaluable,” said Matt Cremins, an MS candidate in the School of Engineering. Cremins’ company, Secor Water, came out of an idea he developed with fellow engineering students Yanbing Guo, Joseph Mummert, Jeffrey Peterson, and Thuy Pham, of providing clean, green, customizable water delivered to customers through a network of commercial water dispensing stations. Cremins said he and his colleagues now have the confidence to take it to the next level.

Even the experts were surprised at the range and depth of the innovations that were presented.

“I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the students, their ideas, work ethic and dedication,” said Pepin.  “Being an entrepreneur requires a great deal of brain power, willingness to take risk, and dedication to their idea. It is not for the ‘faint of heart.’ ”

“UConn has great talent,” added Brinn. “In comparison to all of the groups and universities that we interact with across the country, the intellectual property coming out of UConn is top notch.”

 

The 2014 Innovation Quest program will kick off on Tuesday, February 11 at the UConn Storrs campus. For more information and updates about iQ, visit innovationquest.org or contact khuntington@business.uconn.edu.

   

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 4, Issue 1 (Winter 2014)

1960s

Scott S. Cowen, Ph.D. ’68, ’10H was recognized at the 2013 Edith Stern Legacy Award Luncheon for his commitment to education, community service and civic engagement.  Cowen also received the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the UConn Alumni Association.

1970s

Frank Genovese ’72 was appointed by Governor Robert F. McDonnell to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors.

James F. Klotz ’77 was appointed to vice president, claims strategic operations systems at Selective Insurance Group.

James M. Mahoney ’79 was elected the new CPA and managing partner of Mahoney Sabol & Company, LLP, and has been appointed to chairman of the Board of Directors for the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain.

Lauralee E. Martin ’79 MBA was elected to president and chief executive officer at HCP.

1980s

David L. Albrycht  ’89 MBA was named president and chief investment officer at Newfleet Asset Management LLC.

Geri Armalavage ’87 received designations from the Certified Business Appraiser as well as the Appraisal Institute. Armalavage is the senior managing director of Valbridge Property Advisors.

Christopher A. Bleck ’80, ’88 MBA was appointed to the Product Advisory Board of Alcresta.

Nancy E. Cleaver ’81 MBA was appointed to senior vice president and chief lending officer at Crest Savings Bank.

Tim G. Cocchi ’89 MBA was named country manager for Hong Kong operations at Aetna.

Claire R. Fennessey ’86 was appointed to chief marketing officer at Clarus Marketing Group.

Christopher T. Fraser ’80 was appointed interim president and CEO to lead KMG Chemicals, Inc.

Marvin S. Goldwasser ’83 was named vice president of marketing at Payveris.

Brian J. Kelley ’86 MBA was appointed to be on the Board of Directors at Alteva. Kelley is currently the chief executive officer at snom Technology, Inc.

Stuart A. King ’87 MBA was appointed to vice president of northeast energy consulting at Amerex Energy Services, a division of Amerex Brokers LLC.

Todd A. Krygier ’87 was named the new coach of the Muskegon Lumberjacks, a tier one junior hockey team.

Jill M. Maguire ’83 joined Reby Advisors as a financial advisor.

Brian P. McKeon ’84 was named executive vice president and chief financial officer of IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.

David A. Samuels ’83 was named the CFO of the Year 2013 by the Washington Business Journal.

1990s

Paulette R. Alviti ’92 was appointed to the position of senior vice president and chief of human resources at Foot Locker.

Matthew D. Danyliw ’99 was appointed to senior vice president of Khameleon Software, Inc.

Shawn R. Fields ’99 was selected as the new C.H. Booth library director.

Maureen K. Hays ’91 MBA was appointed to managing director of consultant relationships at Principal Financial Group Inc.

Gregory P. Lewis ’91 was named the vice president and chief financial officer of Automation and Control Solutions.

David R. Longfritz ’91 MBA was named vice president of marketing for life and annuity at National Life Group.

Donny E. Marshall ’96 was appointed to analyst for the Brooklyn Nets at YES Network.

Rod P. Recor ’97 MBA was named vice president of product development at Comprehensive Pharmacy Services.

Gerald D. Starsia ’95 EMBA was appointed to senior associate dean and chief operating officer at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

Thomas P. Trutter ’99 MBA received the 2013 Construction Industry Recognition Award from Associated General Contractors of Connecticut.

2000s

Ashley M. Battle ’04 was named Chartiers Valley High School’s girls basketball coach.

Luke J. Florian ’08 is the co-founder of the national real estate investment firm, Elite Property LLC.

Hang T. Nguyen ’08, ’13 Ph.D. successfully defended her dissertation titled, “Three Essays on the Financial Impacts of Branding Strategies and Marketing Assets.”

William T. Oravecz ’01 MBA was named director of ICD-10 Implementation at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford.

Daniel D. Pinho ’02 MBA was recognized as one of the “20 Under 40 Latinos Going Places” by Poder 360 magazine.

Shaun H. Sheridan ’04, 04 MSA was recognized on the Hartford Business Journal’s “40 Under 40″ class of 2013.

Amanda Wallace ’07 MBA was recognized as a 2013 Working Mother of the Year from Working Mother magazine.

2010s

Li Qu ’13 Ph.D. successfully defended her dissertation titled, “An Evaluation of Outlier Treatment Methods in Accounting Research.”

Claire Simonich ’13 received UConn’s Undergradute Student Award at the Provost’s Awards for Excellence in Public Engagement.

Le Sun ’13 Ph.D. successfully defended his dissertation titled, “Three Essays on External Monitoring and Corporate Decisions.”

 

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This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 4, Issue 1 (Winter 2014)

The UConn School of Business would like to gratefully acknowledge the following alumni and friends who made gifts to the School of Business during fiscal year 2012-2013.

We value every gift and extend our heartfelt thanks to all who gave so generously of their time and support to aid in the enhancement of our academic programs.

$250,000 – $499,999

The Travelers Companies Inc.

$100,000 – $249,000

Simon ’96 and Doris M. ’50 Konover

$50,000 – $99,999

Christopher J. Balfe
Comcast
John R. ’85 and Sally Fodor
Keith R. ’80 and Pamela A. Fox
The New York Community Trust
James ’60 and Hannelore G. Nuttall
Syracuse University
TicketNetwork

$25,000 – $49,999

Bank of America Corporation
Myron ’61 and Barbara ’61 Dickstein
Joseph M. ’55 and Lorraine T. DiPietro
Farmington Bank
Drew ’83 and Michele H. Figdor
Robert C. ’92 (CLAS) and Barbara D. ’93 (CLAS) Hughes
Michael G. ’78 and Shari K. Koppel
Prudential Financial, Inc.
S. Brian ’60 and Beth N. Simons
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wendy R. ’74 and H. Thomas Watkins

$10,000 – $24,999

Aetna Inc.
Altria Group, Inc.
Mark A. ’82 and Pamela J. ’82 (CLAS) Beaudoin
Christopher A. ’95 and Larissa K. ’93 (CLAS), ’95 Chapin
Connecticut Attorneys Title Insurance
Mark P. ’79 and Lynda C. ’80 (CANR) Coville
George M. ’54 and Phyllis A. Demko
Gerald D. ’82 and Katrina DesRoches
Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust
Craig A. ’77 and Marilyn P. ’77 (CLAS) Douglas
John A. Elliott and Laura A. Philips
Mark E. Freitas ’81
Clinton G. ’77 and Karen A. ’77 Gartin
David B. ’84 and Cheryl A. Greenfield
Joseph M. ’71 and Cheryl W. Grisé
International Business Machines Corp.
Norman W. ’72 and Celestine K. ’99 (CCS) LaCroix
The Malfettone Family
Michael E. ’81, ’94 and Barbara A. McPhee
New York Life Insurance Company
Thomas J. and Joyce O’Brien
Laurie A. Paternoster ’82 (CLAS) and Michael A. Paternoster, Jr.
Christopher E. ’77 and Gail T. Scudellari
Ambassador Paul W. ’69, ’72 and Renee J. Speltz
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
Tyco International US Inc.
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.

$5,000 – $9,999

James V. Agonis ’71
George R. Aylward, Jr. ’88
Stephen M. Wood and Gail E. Barley
Melinda T. Brown ’77, ’85
Selma Cagatay-Searfoss ’94 and David W. Searfoss ’76*
Frank W. Carmon IV ’06
Guy F. ’64, ’66 (CLAS) and Donna S. Caruso
William T. ’76 and Pamela Casey
Cigna Corp.
Timothy J. Curt ’84 and Dona M. Bissonnette
Joann L. DeBlasis ’76, ’83
Dymax Corporation
Ernst & Young, LLP
Amy J. Errett ’79 (CLAS) and Clare E. Albanese
Fidelity Investments
Jason A. ’97 (CLAS) and Lesley A. ’91 (CANR), ’98 Fronio
General Electric Co.
George P. Johnson
Joseph A. ’91 and Joann Guay
Matthew J. Halprin
Hanover Insurance Group
Leo B. ’81 and Janet M. ’78 Hansen
Lynn M. ’90 and Kenneth J. Horton
Lisa R. Klauser ’90 and Richard T. Klauser, Jr.
Peter C. ’63 and Judith R. Larson
Edwin G. ’75 and Karen L. Reif
Arnold M. ’63* and Rochelle M. Robin
Paul J. ’84 (CLAS) and Maria L. ’85 (CLAS) Selian
Douglas R. ’79 and Barbara J. Seymour
Richard L. Thompson ’65 and Dee R. Matthews
TopCoder, Inc.
UConn Alumni Association
United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
VLink, Inc.
Christopher M. ’87 and Brenda Wilkos
Frank C. Wuest ’82 and Lyn M. Duncan

$1,000 – $4,999

Rogaia M. Abusharaf ’88 (CLAS), ’94 (CLAS) and Mohamed E. Hussein
David Acampora ’79 and Margaret M. Landrey ’79 (CLAS), ’83 (LAW)
Ritesh Agrawal
Robert P. Amenta ’07
Jack T. ’80 and Joyce E. Ampuja
Craig C. ’89 and Kimberley A. Anderson
Edgar A. ’86 and Jo-Anne M. Anderson
Michael J. ’99 and Barbara J. Arman
AT&T, Inc.
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
John P. Barniak ’75
Christopher L. ’88 (CLAS), ’95 and Stephanie J. Bell
Jonathan E. ’76 and Susan B. Beyman
Laura A. Bieling ’89
BlackRock Foundation
BlumShapiro & Co., PC
Boston Partners Financial Group LLC
Patrick M. ’79, ’81 BUS and Susan R. Brand
Caroline Brecker
Bristol Myers Squibb Company
Robert A. Canyock, Jr. ’80, ’86 and Deborah L. Canyock
Mark A. ’84 and Linda S. Caplan
Lawrence J. Carboni, Jr. ’86 and Kathleen A. Carboni
David A. ’75 and Nancy M. Carlson
Donna E. Cashman ’96
Christopher J. ’89 BUS and Sherri S. ’90 (CLAS) Cesare
Edward J. and Elaine S. Chanda
Jeffrey R. ’83 and Lori T. Charlton
Cintas Corporation
Ari F. ’94 and Aliza E. Cohen
CohnReznick
Gregory J. Coleman ’81
Colliers International
William E. ’75 and Suzanne L. Congdon
Connecticut Association of Realtors, Inc.
The Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants
Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Inc.
Crane Fund for Widows and Children
Lauren B. ’97 and Frank D. Csongor
Thomas M. ’86, ’91 and Karen O. Curtin
John A. ’66 and Kim N. Cutler
Michael D. Della Fera ’80
Deloitte
Douglas G. ’83 and Pamela J. ’85 (CANR) Denyer
Richard M. ’86 and Teresa M. Dooley
Kevin L. Downer ’90 and Toby Bishop
Lawrence S. ’65 and Pamela Doyle
Nicholas ’66 and Arlene O. ’67 (CLAS) DuBiago
Eastern Bag and Paper Co., Inc.
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Fiondella Milone and LaSaracina LLP
John J. ’67 and Leola K. Fitteron
Richard E. Fournier, Jr. ’83 and Karen K. Fournier ’83 (CLAS), ’83 (NEAG)
Gary W. ’70 BUS and Carol D. French
The Gabelli Foundation Inc.
William B. Geary, Jr. ’57
William J. George, Jr. ’86 (CLAS) and Lori George
Michael L. ’93, ’09 and Deborah A. Giuffrida
Global Impact
Michael P. ’84 and Deborah A. Golden
Lawrence J. and Cathy K. Gramling
Peter L. ’97 and Janelle B. Grant
Lawrence D. ’67 and Sharon ’68 Handler
Michael W. Harold ’81
George S. Harrison ’74 and Charlotte Pier
The Hartford CFA Society
Glenn R. ’83, ’95 and Susan Heiser
Stuart C. ’80 and Ellen Hochberger
Rob and Mary H. Hoskin
Robert L. Howard, Jr. ’93 and Heidi L. Howard
H & R Block, Inc.
Susan D. Jackson
Atul Jain ’01, ’01 (CLAS)
Harry M. and Lynn A. Johnson
Robert T. Kaufman ’74
Warren E. ’78 and Denise Klein
Richard F. and Margaret J. Kochanek
Ilene D. ’94 and David Kohlun
Christopher R. Kunz ’02
Sue Larson
Donna Lasher
Raymond L. Lewis, Jr. ’83 and Ellen T. Lewis
Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc.
Mary D. Lindsay
Theodore F. ’92 and Melissa J. Lunney
Christine M. Lussier ’89 and Robert Hamill
Brian A. ’96 and Kathy S. Lutes
Robert L. Manfreda, Jr. ’84, ’94 (LAW) and Carolyn C. Manfreda
Kathleen Mangan
Marcum, LLP
Mark J. ’82 (CLAS) and Kimberly B. ’80 (CLAS), ’90 (LAW) Marroni
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
James E. ’82 and Sonya S. Masur
The May Department Stores Company
Anne E. McAloon ’74 (CLAS), ’80
Lee B. McChesney ’94 and Wendy Doan-McChesney
Lawrence D. and Patricia A. McHugh
Lincoln Millstein ’77 (CLAS) and Irene B. Driscoll
Keith Moody ’89
Nicholas R. Morizio ’74
Charlie Murrin ’10
National Philanthropic Trust
David M. ’68 and Linda A. Nolf
Northwestern Mutual Financial
David J. and Priscilla H. Papandria
Steven R. ’85 and Sheila Pegolo
John D. Phillips and Amy E. Dunbar
Brian ’86 and Deborah Pierne
George A. Plesko and Martha D. MacMillin
Jeffrey R. Podziewski ’98
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
Paul T. ’84 and Christine Quistberg
Ramsey Junior High School
Michael R. and Mary J. Redemske
Mary A. Reichlen ’81
Sean R. Riegler and Jill Tomlins
Thomas L. Rollins ’80 and Lisa Cassidy-Rollins
Douglas K. ’79 and Sara J. ’79 Russell
Peter D. Schaffer ’83 and Eleanor Kedney-Schaffer
Schwab Charitable Fund
Edward S. Scovel, Jr. ’51 and Gladys Scovel
Matthew D. ’66 and Carol A. ’66 (CLAS) Shedd
Charles E. ’94 and Deana M. Shirley
James B. ’75 and Laura S. Sugarman
Robert L. Sullivan ’59
Stuart C. ’93 and Kristin Sziklas
Richard J. Tavolieri, Jr. ’89 and Dawn Tavolieri
Diana L. Timlin
The Tom James Company
Daniel D. ’87 and Tresa Toscano
Towers Watson
Kevin M. ’88 and Julie L. Trapp
United Technologies Charity Trust
United Technologies Corporation
United Way of New York City
Andrew J. ’78 and Lauren B. Wagner
John W. ’80 and Suzanne K. Welch
J. J. Went ’53 (CLAS)
James F. Whalen, Jr. ’82 and Diane L. Conley
Harriet R. Winograd
Zeta Beta Tau

$500 – $999

Denise Armstrong
Vincent P. ’99 and Christine Asaro
Mona H. ’89 and Scott W. Baird
Carl G. ’82, ’87 and Dale A. ’82 (NEAG) Baker
Jordan N. Barrow
Jeffrey D. Bennis ’92
Brian D. ’02 and Kristen C. Binkley
John S. ’85 and Deborah U. ’86 (CLAS) Bohling
Nicolas J. Figueiredo ’07 (ENG) and Donna D. Bramlett ’11
David H. ’84 (CLAS), ’88 (SODM) and Cynthia J. ’88 (SODM) Burkard
M. Kathleen Carey-Reid ’86 and David R. Reid
Laurence J. Cass, Jr. ’86 and Charlene M. Cass ’86
Ida S. Chaplinski ’96
Mark Cicchini
Michael F. and Rosemary E. Collins
Jane P. ’84 and Alex M. Corl
Eric D. ’83 and Catherine A. ’00 (CLAS) Cormier
Labkhand Dadyar ’96 (SFA)
Lynne DePaulo
Ellen DiLeo
Lawrence A. ’93 and Sondra C. Dillon
Marci Dionne
Karen Douyard
Stephen Eilers
Peter I. ’65 and Elaine Elinsky
Jennifer O. ’05 and Scott G. Estabrook
Richard L. Evans ’77 and Jean P. Foy-Evans
Timothy M. Flynn ’77 (CLAS), ’80
William J. Flynn ’01
Forensic Accounting Services, LLC.
Tracie Foster
Carolyn M. Freiheit ’13
Paul J. ’80 and Cathy M. ’78 (CLAS) Fucci
Robert J. ’77 and Anne M. Gallagher
Greg S. Haley ’94 and Diane C. Mobley ’93 (SFA)
Sharon A. Hamilton ’97 and Edward Healy
Sarah M. Hammel ’81 and Tricia Vivado
Frank G. ’86 and Francesca Hauser
Christina Hays
Oliver F. Hays ’04 (CLAS)
Linda A. Herzog ’03 and Shaun F. Clancy
Ravindra and Saras Jain
Curtis Jones
Jennifer L. Jordan ’94
Andrea L. Lanese ’87 (CLAS) and Barry Aurio
Jean M. ’81 and Richard C. LaVecchia
Anna P. Liamzon ’00
James Marshall
Cynthia Martinez
Raymond J. ’77 (CLAS), ’81 and Susan L. Martino
Eric A. ’80 and Penelope C. Marziali
Chappella Mayweather
Alan and Lucy Michaud
Charles K. ’63 and Pam M. Molander
Bruce B. ’76, ’12 and Joanne Monahan
James J. ’01 and Deborah Y. Moravecek
Jon Moussette
Jay Mullarkey
Jared Murphy
Frank W. ’81 and Linda O. ’82 (NUR), ’96 (NUR) Nevins
William J. Newman
NorthMarq Capital
Michael L. Notarangelo ’03
O’Connor Davies, LLP
John P. ’97 and Melissa M. O’Hara
Kurt P. ’73 and Susi E. Orbanowski
Petra Construction Corp.
James Petras
Pitney Bowes, Inc.
Edward Rado
Anuradha Raghavan
Ilia A. Reinfelds ’05, ’07
Meredith Ritz
William E. ’66 and Doris A. Roberts
Stephen Roche
Debora Romano-Connors
Saint Paul Public Schools
John P. ’00, ’00 (CLAS), ’07 and Serafina A. ’01 Salemi
Sheldon D. ’59 and Susan S. ’82 (CCS) Schneider
John E. Schramm, Jr. ’59 and Cheryl Schramm
Matthew R. French ’91 (CLAS) and Lucille Sheng-French ’91
William C. ’76 and Deborah D. Sherman
Skiff Whitney Associates, LLC
Danielle G. Skinner ’04
Henry C. ’50 and Barbara E. Smachetti
Bryan D. and Shannon N. Smith
Dennis J. Stanek, Jr. ’89 and Jeanette S. Stanek
Richard D. ’62 and Judith B. Suski
Jeffrey R. Talbot ’00
Allanah Tempe
Marc Thibeau
Scott A. ’82 and Cynthia B. Trenholm
Mark A. Tschiegg ’06
United Health Group Incorporated
United Way of Greater New Haven, Inc.
United Way of North Central MA, Inc.
Alex Urquhart, Jr. ’88 and Judy C. Urquhart
Allan J. Vartelas ’80
Robert J. ’68 and Barbara B. Wade
Neil Wechsler
Howard S. ’95, ’02 and Jennifer Weinberg
David J. Whitehouse ’95 and Barbara L. Ruggiero
Timothy G. and Mary T. Whitten
Sandra Wickman-Mason
Regina ’90 (CLAS) and Thomas Williams
Rose M. Wyman
Alicia A. ’95 (CLAS) and Jonathan E. Young

$250 – $499

John Allis III ’75 and Nancy Allis
Linda S. ’79 and Kurt Bahrs
Susan M. Banks ’98 and Matthew H. Lynch
John A. Barbosa, Jr. ’76, ’80 and A. Linda Barbosa ’80
George A. ’87 (CLAS), ’89 and Carol M. ’88, ’97 Barrios
Arthur C. Barton
Diane M. ’77, ’80 and Thomas Beck
Richard A. and Michelle Beyman
Edward R. and Kathleen W. Binder
Timothy P. ’83 and Claudia Block
Robert L. ’65 and Bette J. Brandt
Ronald F. ’56 and L. Victoria Brien
Jeffery F. ’84 and Cindy G. Brill
David J. ’74 and Judith W. Casey
Michael P. Cassidy ’02 and Diane S. Dagostino
Christopher J. ’88 and Jean Chadbourne
Michael B. Cohen ’81 and Samuel J. Barrera
William L. ’96 and Amy Cone
Owen P. Cocking ’84 (CLAS), ’93 and Virginia B. Connolly ’93
Mark J. Cowan ’91, ’04 (LAW)
William C. ’90 and Anna R. ’91 (CLAS) Croce
Joseph J. DeMaio ’81 and Cecelia McCulloch
William P. ’71 and Rachel M. Desautelle
Carmen Desiato ’93
Ernest A. DiMattia, Jr. ’81 and Susan S. DiMattia ’81
Peter S. ’64 and Hinda M. Drotch
Francis J. Evon, Jr. ’89 and Laura S. Evon ’90
Robert A. Feiner ’80
Joseph D. Filomeno ’51
William R. ’77 and Joyce A. ’76 (NEAG) Finlayson
Bertram Frankenberger, Jr. ’54 and Harriet Frankenberger
Dominick J. Galletti ’06 (CCS), ’10 and Kristi E. Mackin Galletti ’95 (CLAS), ’00 (LAW)
Katherine E. Giordano ’05
Alan ’62 and Janice L. Glaubinger
John D. ’94 and Elizabeth A. Godin
H. Kent and Penny C. Goetjen
Chris J. McCarty ’96 and Jennifer W. Grey ’93
Colleen Gruner ’82
Jean F. ’68 and Larry P. Haberman
Charles G. Haddad ’76
Robert J. ’82 and Priscilla A. Hagerty
Joyce M. Harrison ’83 and Paul J. Swanke
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
Sid and Ruth L. Horowitz
Marc A. Jeffreys ’01
Kathryn J. Jervis, Ph.D. ’97
Aimee Kass-Krol
Thomas P. ’77 and Deborah S. ’78 (NUR) Kelley
Sean W. ’82 and Grace M. ’82 (NEAG) Kelly
Fred C. ’54 and Sally Kile
Aurelia N. Knox
Art ’75 and Elisabeth C. Komninos
KPMG International
Michael P. Krol ’74, ’87
Edward F. ’82 and Catherine A. ’81 Krzanowski
Ann E. Kummer ’09
Marc A. Lambert ’85
Michelle M. ’80 and James A. Lapides
Terry A. ’74 and Lisa Lashin
William C. Lawler, Sr. ’68 and Carol J. Lawler
Marc A. Levine ’88
Donald P. ’60 and Maureen Lucian
Kevin M. Magee ’81
Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.
Michael J. Murphy ’96
John M. ’74 and Darlene A. Oblak
Robert A. Ostertag, Jr. ’72 and Barbara Ostertag
Jon D. Pedersen, Sr. ’93 and Kristen L. Pedersen
Leslie G. ’77 and Susan C. Polgar
Scott M Pritchett ’89
Christopher M. ’98 and Kerry Puglia
John S. ’64 and Rosanne C. ’63 Purtill
Brenda H. ’82 and James B. Rouse
Edward V. ’77 and Peggy P. Sands
Judson P. Saviskas
Zeki ’02 and Monica M. ’03 Simsek
Frederick H. ’74 and Suzanne S. Steinhagen
Robert T. Sullivan ’77
Karl ’69 and Ingrid F. Svendsen
Chelton D. ’73 and Diane C. Tanger
James D. ’74 and Helen M. Tapper
Sue M. ’85 and Christopher P. Tompkins
Michael J. Trevelyan ’89
Gerald K. Tsui ’01
Jennifer W. ’94, ’00 and Scott E. Vanderwall
Thomas D. Walker ’95
Jeffrey J. Webb ’04
David P. Weber
Chris S. ’90 and Eileen A. Westfahl
Michael J. Whyte ’97
Gary and Patricia M. Widlitz
James M. ’92 and Lauren M. ’90 (NEAG) Yanosy
Joseph A. ’68 and Sue A. Zaccagnino
Maryann Zacchea
Michael J. ’12 and Marcy C. Zacchea
Dean H. ’87 and Katherine F. Zirolli

For more information on giving to the UConn School of Business, contact: Diana L. Timlin, CFRE Director of Development dtimlin@foundation.uconn.edu V. 860.486.2656 • C. 860.336.6930

   

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 4, Issue 1 (Winter 2014)

Her pumpkin-colored business card simply reads: Hiccupops. Mallory Kievman, CEO.

What it doesn’t say is that the CEO is only 15 years old, still wears braces, or that just last October she was awarded her first patent.

Nor does it mention that her invention, a sweet-tasting lollipop that cures hiccups, is drawing interest among the medical community, because sometimes hiccups can be a serious medical condition.

“It hasn’t really registered with me how cool it is to be 15 and have my own invention,” said Kievman, of Manchester. “I’m more excited about the opportunity to help a lot of people.”

Although the concept for the Hiccupops was all Mallory’s, UConn MBA students and staff have guided her as she prepares to bring her invention to the marketplace. She is currently looking for a manufacturer and distributor.

“When I was younger I had a lot of hiccups,” Kievman explained. “It wasn’t anything serious, but it was irritating.” She tried some 100 remedies, including pickle juice (“it was really gross”), standing on her head, and guzzling glasses of water.

Then she hit on the perfect concoction. She blended warm apple-cider vinegar with sugar, and then hardened it into a lollipop. The Hiccupop works by overstimulating a set of nerves in the throat and mouth that are responsible for hiccups, thus stopping the reflex.

She entered the Hiccupop into a school-wide invention contest and won. She then competed in the 2011 Connecticut Invention Convention at the University of Connecticut. She beat 700 other students for the top prize, which included business guidance from the university.

“That’s when I really started to think it was a legitimate prospective business,” said Kievman, now a sophomore at Loomis Chaffee School and a varsity soccer player.

Kievman had targeted Hiccupops as a consumer product. But UConn MBA students conducted additional research and found out that hiccups have serious medical consequences. Patients undergoing chemotherapy frequently suffer from hiccups, as do dialysis patients. A patient who has hiccups after surgery can risk tearing sutures. And sometimes nicotine patches can have hiccups as an unpleasant side effect.

Now Kievman has changed her strategy, and plans to introduce Hiccupops as a medical product. She is also considering partnering with another company that offers related products.

“UConn has been a huge resource for us,” said Adam Kievman, Mallory’s father and Hiccupops’ only other employee. “Both the business and engineering schools last summer helped with the core marketing research and investigated what opportunities might be. They really helped guide Mallory in the marketplace.”

“I think this invention has some real possibilities,” said Chris Levesque, interim executive director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at UConn, which at any given time has six new ventures in development. “To cure or ameliorate the symptoms of hiccups seems to augur well for a successful product.”

Kievman—whose father is an executive recruiter for a large pharmaceutical company and whose mother, Shannon, is a teacher—said discussing ideas for new businesses is a common dinnertime conversation in her family, which includes three younger siblings.

“Mallory sets the bar high for everyone, including herself and her siblings,” her father said. Because of her invention, she has appeared on the Nickelodeon television network, rung the opening bell on Wall Street, and has been featured in a New York Times article. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Invention Convention.

Originally planning to become a doctor, Kievman said the closer she gets to college, the less sure she is about a career path. But she hopes it will be something that serves mankind.

“This opportunity has opened my mind to things I wasn’t interested in before,” she said.

 To learn more about Hiccupops, go to http://hiccupops.com/.

   

Conor Horrigan ’11 MBA says UConn’s “paw prints” all over his Stamford brewery

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 4, Issue 1 (Winter 2014)

The day Conor Horrigan planned to welcome six politicians to his Half Full Brewery, the enterprise into which he has poured his heart and soul, he walked in to find the business flooded. Fortunately it was only filtered water—not his trademark Bright Ale or popular seasonal Pumpkin Ale—that covered the Stamford brewery’s floor. The tour was postponed, the faulty pump switch repaired, and today Horrigan can laugh about the experience.

In fact, that “we can handle this” attitude is reflected in the name of his brewery and much of what he does. He relishes the idea that life, like the glass, is half-full, not half empty.

Horrigan, 31, began his career as an investment banker and trader on Wall Street. After three years, he was very successful, but completely miserable. “I kept asking myself, ‘What can I do that will make me excited about going to work in the morning?” he said.

With a sense of optimism that somehow everything would work out, he quit his job. He and then-fiancée, now wife, Lindsay, toured Central Europe. Aboard a train from Prague to Vienna, “Half Full Brewery” was conceived.

Horrigan knew he would need more than optimism to make his idea a success. He enrolled in the MBA program at UConn, where each project or internship he undertook was geared toward the beer-making business. UConn faculty and advisers helped Horrigan with everything from the business plan to marketing and distribution. Many still advise him today. “UConn’s paw prints are all over this business,” he said.

Immediately after graduation, Horrigan began raising funds and found 51 investors who believed in him. He renovated a Stamford factory, and on Aug. 7, 2012, the inaugural Half Full beer was sold at local restaurants and bars.

Horrigan describes Half Full’s beer as light and drinkable with a twist—a splash of citrus, spice, or a nutty flavor.

“They are all a little bit different, but very approachable,” Horrigan said. “We want people to say, ‘Hey, I can drink this beer.’ We consider ourselves a lifestyle brewery. We want them to like our beer, but also like what we’re about.”

The company is now turning a profit. Half Full draft beer is sold in bars and restaurants in Litchfield, New Haven and Fairfield Counties, and will soon be available in Westchester County, N.Y.  Next spring Horrigan hopes to begin selling Half Full in cans—and expand the draft beer sales into Hartford County. Brewery tasting nights and “tap-takeovers” fill Horrigan’s days, which often run from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The small staff is comprised of “passionate individuals, who care about what they do and talk about it 24/7,” Horrigan said. “We work very long hours here because we’re inspired and passionate people.” In November, the male employees grew “Half Full beer-ds,” shaving only one side of their faces, to draw attention to men’s health issues.

“I like the idea of always mixing it up,” Horrigan said.  “When I was on Wall Street, you were expected to do things a certain way and you were treated as a number. You knew you could always be replaced.”

“I wanted to be at the table and steer the vision. I like approaching things from a different perspective,” he said. “I always thought like an entrepreneur. I liked to flip things on their head, and that’s easier to do when you’re the boss.”

DID YOU KNOW? Conor isn’t the only alum with a craft brewery in the Nutmeg State! In 2012, Tony Karlowicz ’01 MSA opened up Back East Brewing Company in Bloomfield, Connecticut.