UConn in London

November 14, 2012

busnmag_uconn-in-londonThis article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 3, Issue 1 (Fall 2012)

Summer 2012 in London was a remarkable place to be—a time and place where hopes and aspirations were fulfilled for many a member of the UConn family. Among the UConn contingent in London this summer were 40 undergraduate students studying abroad, international alumni ambassadors, visiting alumni, faculty, staff, athletes, fans, and friends, who were drawn together by the Olympic games.

The School of Business is proud to have been globally represented by such an extraordinary delegation of students, alumni, and Husky Olympians, including Asjha Jones ’02, USA Women’s Basketball; and Chinyere Pigot ’15, Suriname Flag Bearer during Opening Ceremonies and Swimmer (50-meter freestyle).

Summer Olympics Study Abroad

Forty undergraduates ranging from sophomores to seniors in a variety of majors spent six weeks in London this summer learning about complex global issues ranging from gender iniquities in sports to urban poverty. The students took courses through the Florida State University (FSU) Center in London, studying “London and the Olympics, a Cultural History,” “Shakespeare in a Global Context,” “New Media, Politics and Society,” “Literary London,” and “London’s Global Geographies.” In addition to coursework, an internship component designed to enable the students to learn about community building placed them in London schools, inner city youth projects, and the local women’s basketball center where they coached local kids in basketball fundamentals.

The students also found time to enjoy the Olympics and to experience some of London’s cultural activities. In addition to reading Shakespeare plays for class, they also saw live performances at The Globe Theatre. Each student was provided with tickets for two Olympic basketball games and attended an event featuring Geno Auriemma and the UConn alums on the U.S.A. women’s national basketball team.

“These students exhibited a great deal of enthusiasm, passion, and excitement about UConn and about being in London,” remarked School of Business Dean John Elliott, who spoke with some of the students at the event in London.

International Alumni Ambassadors

As part of a program started by the University of Connecticut Alumni Association in 2008, International Alumni Ambassadors serve as a point of contact for information about their countries of residence for UConn alumni, faculty, or students who may be traveling to that region. Elizabeth James ’08 and Alejandro Blanco-Moreno ’07 currently serve as ambassadors in London.

Elizabeth James ’08

londonElizabeth (Liz) James, a 2008 graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Business, is an International Alumni Ambassador, fundraising volunteer, and a 2012 Olympic Torchbearer. A Greenwich, Connecticut native, James was a Marketing and Professional Sales major at the School of Business and a member of the National Honor Fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi. Commenting on her undergraduate experience, Liz says, “The UConn Business School laid the foundation for my business knowledge and pushed me to achieve more than I ever thought possible.”

Liz was hired by the Nielsen Company after graduation as part of their Emerging Leaders Program, which moved her from Tampa to San Francisco, Chicago, and

New York. After working on some sports-related projects, she was asked to go live and work in London in 2010 in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.

Six months before the Olympic Torch Relay, Liz was nominated by her peers and selected by a panel of senior managers at the Nielsen Company to be a Torchbearer. “I was flattered to be selected out of 1,500 candidates in our UK offices!” exclaims Liz. One of nearly 8,000 torchbearers to carry the Olympic flame during its 70-day journey across the UK as part of the ancient Olympic Torch Relay tradition, Liz carried the flame through the London Borough of Bromley on July 23. “It was amazing to meet my fellow torchbearers on my route (there are 30 people per route) and to be around such wonderful, selfless people. When I got off the Olympic bus to start my 500-meter run, I was greeted by about 40 family members, friends and work peers! Everyone had either an American flag or a UConn flag to show their support… I ran as slow as I could with the torch, so I could soak up every moment of it! This is an experience I will never forget.”

Now that the Olympics are over, Liz is preparing for her next adventure. Will it be Rio for the next Olympics, or perhaps back home to the United States? Says Liz, “Our company is in over 150 countries, so the possibilities are limitless!”

Alejandro Blanco-Moreno ’07

Alejandro (Alex) Blanco-Moreno, is a 2007 graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Business and has been living in London for over five years, where he also serves as an International Alumni Ambassador.

Originally from Spain, Alex enrolled at UConn through UCAELI, a program for international students to learn English and qualify to attend universities in the United States. When asked why he chose UConn, Alex responds, “Most of my relatives have studied abroad in different countries, and I did quite a lot of research. I was looking for a school in a rural setting that had a good balance between sports and academics. [The UConn School of Business] was starting to greatly improve its position nationally, thanks to the big investment taken not only to provide its students with brand new classroom facilities, but also to greatly increase its staff and broad offer of available majors and study programs. That was the final reason that made me leave Spain and start my new life in Storrs.”

A couple of months before graduation, Alex accepted a job offer that would return him to Europe. Joining structured credit brokerage OTX, a start-up company in London at the time, Alex rose through the ranks quickly, eventually taking on the role of CFO. Commenting on the experience, he notes, “The fact that we started trading right in the middle of a global financial meltdown only helped to put into practice everything that I learned back in the classroom, and combine it with all the non-textbook experience that you gain in an economic event with such huge international consequences as the one we have gone through the last few years.”

On hiatus this summer, Alex spent time with many notable UConn friends in London, among them alumnus and donor Mark R. Shenkman ’65, who was elected to the UConn School of Business Hall of Fame in 2002 and has endowed the Shenkman Family Chair in E-Business for the business school. Mr. Shenkman is founder and president of Shenkman Capital Management, Inc., a registered investment advisor with offices in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut. “Of course it was a great honor to be able to meet Mark Shenkman and his family during their stay for the London 2012 Olympics. Mark is not only a very important and generous alumnus to the University, but also an extremely nice and approachable person,” mentions Alex. When Mark and his family needed advice on directions or things to do in London, Alex was happy to share his knowledge about the city.

Serving as a local advisor and arranger, Alex provided many London visitors this summer with information on matters ranging from getting to the Olympic arena, organizing dinners at restaurants to satisfy all budgets and palates, and coordinating a tour of the city with plenty of interesting facts that are unknown even to many fellow Londoners. “As Alumni Ambassador here in the UK, I always try to assist any fellow members in anything I can… It is always very exciting to see how many proud Huskies are out there, even after having graduated many years or decades ago,” said Alex.

Reflecting on his UConn experience, Alex notes the importance of how international the School of Business is. “[It] fully represents the environment you encounter when you start working after graduation.”

Alex is now looking for a bit of a career change, with a continued focus on finance. He is also full of ideas for increasing alumni involvement in the UK. “I really hope that our network keeps growing at an even faster pace in the future, so we can show the huge international presence and importance that our students and alumni have all around the world today,” Alex says.

Alumni Event

In a celebration of the UConn family in London, nearly 250 alumni, students, faculty, family, friends and donors gathered at the Charing Cross Hotel on August 8 for an evening sponsored by the UConn Alumni Association, UConn Foundation, Office of Global Programs, and the School of Business. Highlights of the evening included welcomes by Lisa Lewis, Executive Director of the Alumni Association; Warde Manuel, UConn Athletic Director; and Team USA women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma. Recognized attendees included international alumni ambassadors, donors, and the athletes present, including Tony Hanson ’97, a former UConn Guard, and the 6 former huskies on the national team, including Asjha Jones ’02.

In a moving “special presentation,” Geno presented former men’s basketball coach (1969-1977) Donald “Dee” Rowe with an autographed basketball and game shirt. Rowe was unable to attend the 1980 Olympics as assistant coach of the U.S. team due to a national boycott of the Moscow Olympics that year.

Several alumni traveled to London just to attend the reception and to see the women’s basketball events, coming from across Europe and the United States. “We have a group of very dedicated alumni whose loyalty to UConn was strongly felt at this event,” commented School of Business Dean John Elliott. Deb Crary, Manager of Alumni Services at the UConn Alumni Association added, “Everyone left there feeling really proud to be connected to UConn.”


   

Business Briefs & Accolades (Fall 2012)

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 3, Issue 1 (Fall 2012)

busnmag fall 2012Business Briefs

Universitas 21 Doctoral Research Conference in Business

u21.business.uconn.edu

The University of Connecticut School of Business hosted the inaugural Universitas 21 (U21) Doctoral Research Conference in Business (DRCB) on April 10-13, 2012. PhD students from twelve U21 schools, including UConn, presented research and received feedback regarding their dissertations from their counterparts, faculty from the participating universities, and UConn faculty. The vision of U21 DRCB is to create a global learning and research platform to prepare the next generation of intellectual leaders.

UConn MBA Program Rises in US News Graduate School Rankings

mba.uconn.edu

The University of Connecticut MBA Program rose several spots in the US News & World Report’s 2013 Best Graduate School rankings. “It’s always flattering to be considered among the best graduate business programs in the country,” noted Michael J. Deotte, director of the Full-time MBA Program. “Positive rankings such as this, reflect our steadfast commitment to affordable, quality graduate management education.” UConn’s Full-time MBA Program ranks 61st (31st among public business schools); the Part-time MBA Program ranks 52nd among part-time programs.

CCEA Collaborates in Winning DoE Grant for
Solar Installations

ccea.uconn.edu

The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) is funding a variety of initiatives designed to reduce non-hardware costs for photovoltaic (PV) solar installations by 15-20%. The core objective is to develop innovative policies, models, tools, and data management systems that will deliver this result. The Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis (CCEA), now housed in the UConn School of Business, assembled a University team to analyze hardware and non-hardware costs for roof-top solar PV. The ultimate objective is to create a tool that would permit possible PV purchasers or vendors to evaluate the solar potential of the roof on their building.

CCEI Holds Annual University-Wide Business Plan Competition

ccei.business.uconn.edu

The Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) at the University of Connecticut School of Business held its annual business plan competition in spring 2012. The interdisciplinary teams helped to bring a wide array of perspectives and ideas to any project. All submitted plans were reviewed by experienced entrepreneurs, investors and UConn faculty. Additionally, the CCEI hosted multiple workshops dedicated to helping teams improve and polish their plans in order to maximize their prospects for success.

MS in Accounting Does Well in US News Ranking

msaccounting.business.uconn.edu

The MS in Accounting (MSA) at UConn’s School of Business has received accolades for its online delivery in the U.S. News and World Report’s first annual rankings of online degree programs. The magazine’s latest ranking evaluated business programs in four categories: admissions selectivity; student engagement and accreditation; faculty credentials and training; and student services and technology. An overall ranking was not given. The University of Connecticut ranked seventh in the admissions area and 17th in student engagement.

  • Professor & Cizik Chair in Management John Mathieu was recently elected to and inducted as an Academy of Management Fellow.
  • Jeffrey Kramer, Emeritus Associate Professor-in-Residence and Director of Programs in Healthcare and Insurance Studies, received an award by the CT Chapter of American College of Health Care Administrators.
  • Gim Seow, Associate Professor of Accounting, was awarded a $10,000 grant by the PwC Foundation.
  • Professor Suresh Nair has been appointed the Interim Associate Vice Provost of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness in the Office of the Provost at UConn.
  • The Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Associate Professor Robert Bird to the Northeast Utilities Chair in Business Ethics.
  • Professors Michael Lubatkin, Zeki Simsek, John Viega, and PhD graduate Yan Ling received a Scholarly Impact Award by the The Journal of Management for their research.
  • In Fall 2012, the MS in Financial Risk Management (MSFRM) Program accepted its first class in Hartford, Connecticut.
  • The paper, titled “Why Give Away Something for Nothing? Investigating Virtual Goods Pricing and Permission Strategies,” co-written by UConn OPIM faculty members, Sulin Ba, Professor; Jan Stallaert, Associate Professor; Zhongju Zhang, Associate Professor; and Dan Ke; was nominated as the best ACM Transactions on Management Information Systems paper of 2010 and is also one out of five recipients of the Best IS Publications of the Year Awards 2010.
  • The Westchester/Greater Connecticut Chapter of the National Black MBA Association named the University of Connecticut School of Business the 2012 Educational Institution of the Year. This award recognizes organizations and businesses for successful efforts in encouraging the development of African American students.
  • The School of Business launched its MS in Business Analytics and Project Management (MSBAPM) in Fall 2011.
  • The School of Business Career Center (SBCC) celebrated its 30th anniversary.
  • The UConn PhD Program celebrated its 25th anniversary.
  • UConn’s EMBA Program celebrated its 20th anniversary.

In the Media

Have you seen us in the news? Look who’s talking about us:

Faculty Awards

Faculty awards are given annually by the UConn School of Business to recognize its faculty’s achievements.

Research

Best Paper: Sarah Rice and David Weber. “How Effective is Internal Control Reporting under SOZ 404? Determinants of the (Non-) Disclosure of Existing Material Weaknesses”

Runner up: Robert Day and Robert Garfinkel. “Integrated Block Sharing: a Win-Win Strategy for Hospitals and Surgeons”

Honorable Mention: Gregory Reilly. “Reconsidering Pay Dispersion’s Effect on the Performance of Interdependent Work: Reconciling Sorting and Pay Inequality”

Honorable Mention: Robert Day. “Quadratic Core-Selecting Payment Rules for Combinatorial Auctions”

Teaching

  • Research Excellence co-winners:Ram Gopal and John Mathieu
  • Graduate Teaching co-winners: Lucy Gilson and Kevin McEvoy
  • Undergraduate Teaching Co-winners:Mark DeAngelis and Mark Spurling
  • Teaching Innovation Award: Dmitry Zhdanov

Service and Outreach

  • David Papandria

Ackerman Scholars

The Ackerman Scholar award recognizes significant and continuing all around academic productivity among the faculty of the School.

Appointed for 2012-13 and 2013-14:

  • Jose Cruz, OPIM
  • Gary Powell, Management
  • Greg Reilly, Management
  • Ramesh Sankaranarayanan, OPIM

Continuing in their second year:

  • Sulin Ba, OPIM
  • Joseph Golec, Finance
  • John Harding, Finance
  • Suresh Nair, OPIM
  • Rexford Santerre, Finance
  • Zeki Simsek, Management.

Intrigued?

Read these articles and more at business.uconn.edu/pressroom


   

Message from the Dean (Fall 2012)

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 3, Issue 1 (Fall 2012)

Dr. John A. Elliott, 14th Dean of the University of Connecticut School of Business

Welcome to the 2012 issue of UConn Business. Following an exciting summer, we are pleased to share some of the intellectually stimulating activities taking place at the School of Business, a multitude of recent student and alumni accomplishments, and to keep you informed as we continue through the 2012-2013 academic year.

A Global Welcome

John ElliotI am delighted to join the University of Connecticut School of Business at such an exciting time. August 15, my first day on campus, was planned around the London Olympics. When I received the phone call last January and began to consider the Deanship at the School of Business, I had standing plans to go to London with my wife and son. So joining the School of Business ultimately followed our return from a remarkable experience in London. In this issue you will read about several linkages between UConn, London, and the Olympics.

While in London, I attended a UConn gathering featuring Geno Auriemma and the six UConn alumnae who were playing for the U.S. women’s basketball team. There, I found myself in the company of about 250 alumni, students, faculty, and friends who assembled in London on behalf of UConn. The group included about 40 students who were studying there for the summer. What a wonderful introduction to the UConn family. I was particularly impressed by the students. They were energetic, passionate, and excited young people whose commitment to UConn was inspiring.

The following evening, my wife, son and I were together with friends at the semi-finals when the USA women’s basketball team played Australia. If you recall, the first half did not go well. Toward the end of the third quarter, I heard a vocal fan behind me, whose voice sounded familiar. Wondering who it could be, I turned around to discover that, in one of those amazing happenstances, it wasWarde Manuel (our new Director of UConn Athletics) with prominent alumnus, Mark Shenkman ’65. Having secured our tickets separately, we were nontheless sitting front-to-back in this enormous stadium of people. Geno must have found the right words during half-time, because the women’s team went on to win. It was a great evening!

So, as it happened, part of my first “official” UConn activities with respect to UConn were abroad, in London, among the global community. The experience validated my sense of who the University is, who we want to become, and of the strong enthusiasm and commitment shared by alumni, students, and faculty.

The UConn Distinction

deanOne of the most common questions I hear is, “Why would you leave the largest business school in the United States to come to UConn?” The answer is evident in the level of commitment to education in Connecticut. One of the things that immediately focused my attention was what I heard about UConn President Susan Herbst and Governor Malloy, and about the commitment they were making on behalf of education as an engine that will drive the future of the economy in Connecticut.

What is going on in Connecticut, and what is happening at UConn made a strong impression. The search committee talked about it, and the people I interviewed with talked about it. I have happily been uniformly pleased that what I was told to expect is what I have encountered. There is exciting new activity; the faculty is ready to take on new challenges and create new opportunities. We are well poised to be an even better institution in five years than we are today.

I see a campus ready for the next phase. I see the state investing in that next phase. Everywhere I turn, I see people committed to the University. Students, alumni, and corporate leaders are all dedicated to their relationships with the School of Business and the University.

Initiatives such as UCONN 2000 and 21st Century UConn are enhancing academic and research activities on all of our campuses. UConn’s membership in Universitas21, an international network of leading research-intensive universities from 16 countries, is extraordinary. Only two universities from the United States (the other is the University of Virginia) are members of this exceptional network. These programs are indicative of a unique approach in Connecticut, where higher education is treated as a cornerstone of economic development.

Furthermore, the University’s commitment to hire new faculty without growing the student population demonstrates a forward-looking process focused on quality and improving the student-to-faculty ratio. It is exciting and refreshing to hear such commitments after encountering several years of draconian budget cuts and faculty losses. It’s also distinctive in the United States, where higher education is more often being cut and extreme tuition increases are common. At UConn, tuition increases appear to be modest and planned.

The School of Business Today

Many changes have taken place at the School of Business over the past few years, and now is the time to evaluate those changes. We assigned a task force to evaluate the success of the Full-time MBA Program redesign of three years ago; to understand the nationwide decline in applicants and enrollment; and to identify new opportunities. A second task force has been assigned to the Executive MBA Program, now in its 20th year, to ensure that we continue to meet businesses’ most critical needs and to encourage and inspire more engagement and sponsorship of students.

Our graduate programs are expanding with the recent addition of two degrees. The Master of Financial Risk Management (MSFRM) is in its third year in Stamford. This new specialized master’s degree has attracted students internationally and is now also in its first year in Hartford. The Master of Business Analytics and Project Management (MSBAPM) is a timely, topical degree program supported by an advisory council and populated by professionals that find it is a perfect fit for their educational needs. Our ten-year old Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) has attracted excellent students and graduates and is the cornerstone and foundation of distance learning for the School of Business.

As the University positions itself to be an integral part of the state and its economy, there is significant room to expand our engagement with the business community in Connecticut. In Hartford, for example, we are working to increase our involvement with the MetroHartford Alliance to assist in the business and economic development in the capitol and surrounding areas. In Stamford, we are hosting several events to enhance the ongoing development of our relationship with the Stamford business community. In October, we hosted, in conjunction with The Business Council of Fairfield County, a panel discussion on Innovation for Business Growth in Fairfield County. It featured panelists from Hearst Publications, Bridgewater Associates, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and the Digital Media Center at UConn. In November, we will hold our first annual risk management conference in which the corporate community will participate. Sponsored in part by IBM and Travelers, featured conference speakers include representatives from UBS, Corporate Executive Board, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), IBM, Bridgewater Associates LP, Wells Fargo, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

One of the competitive advantages of the University of Connecticut School of Business is the role of active learning, of real world experience we provide students through our innovative learning accelerators. As we speak with the business community this fall, we are working on identifying additional programming which would be valuable for our community, including certificate programs and non-degree Executive Education.

In closing, I’d like to reiterate how pleased I am to join UConn and the School of Business. I look forward to working with our faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends in the months ahead as we embrace a future filled with boundless opportunity.


   

Update: Webcast Recording Available for “Town Hall” Meeting on U.S.-China Relationship

November 7, 2012

UConn-Stamford Joins 60-City Live Program with U.S. Ambassador to China

The University of Connecticut’s Stamford campus and the Business Council of Fairfield County are teaming to offer a unique opportunity to students, business leaders and other community members to learn about critical U.S.-China relations.

UConn-Stamford will be one of 60 venues nationwide offering the Oct. 29, 2012, presentation of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations’ sixth annual CHINA Town Hall. The live webcast event, “National Reflections, Local Connections,” includes a discussion and a question-and-answer session with Gary Locke, the U.S. Ambassador to China.

UConn-Stamford’s event starts at 7 p.m. and includes a presentation by China specialist Keith W. Abell, co-founder the Sungate Properties real estate investment company. His discussion precedes the webcast of the Town Hall, which starts at 8 p.m.

UConn-Stamford will present the discussion and live webcast in its Gen Re auditorium on the first floor of the downtown campus. Admission is free.

Ambassador Locke will deliver a special address to be broadcast live to audiences in the 60 cities and towns across the United States. He will then respond to questions from audience members nationwide in a discussion, moderated by Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations.

The presentation of the live webcast at UConn-Stamford is part of the University’s commitment to offering timely, compelling events and resources to students, the region and its business community.

“China is now part of Fairfield County’s daily reality. This event is an important investment in our region’s growing understanding of the US-China relationship,” says Christopher P. Bruhl, President and CEO of The Business Council of Fairfield County.

Ambassador Gary Locke has been U.S. Ambassador to China since August 2011. Previously, he served as the Secretary of Commerce from 2009 to 2011 where he was point person for achieving the President’s National Export Initiative, which achieved a thirty-two percent increase in exports to China from 2009 to 2010.

Before his appointment to the President’s cabinet, Ambassador Locke served two terms as governor of Washington, where he helped double the state’s exports to China, and as a partner in the Seattle office of the international law firm, David Wright Tremaine LLP, where he co-chaired the firm’s China practice.

The National Committee on United States-China Relations is the leading national, non-partisan public affairs organization devoted exclusively to building constructive and durable relationships between the United States and China.

For more information, contact:

Timothy Dowding, UConn School of Business International Business Accelerator
(203) 251-9582 or timothy.dowding@business.uconn.edu

Michael J. Deotte, UConn School of Business Director of Marketing
(860) 486-4478 or mdeotte@business.uconn.edu

Joseph Weed, Director of Communications
National Committee on United States-China Relations
(212) 645-9677, ext. 11 or jweed@ncuscr.org


   

2012 MBA Women International Conference & Career Fair

November 6, 2012

The 2012 MBA Women International (MBAWI) Conference & Career Fair was held October 18-20 in Phoenix, Arizona. Marlys Rizzi represented the University of Connecticut School of Business at the event and served on the conference planning committee. This year’s theme, “Leadership Trends, Achieving Peak Performance,” was designed to assist women, both students and professionals, as they continue along the journey to develop and enhance their leadership skills. Continue Reading

Finance Society Visits Morgan Stanley, Gets Inside View of Wall Street

November 1, 2012

In the early hours of Friday morning, October 26, 2012, eighteen members of the School of Business Finance Society embarked upon a trip into Manhattan to meet with Dan Toscano ’87, Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Leveraged and Acquisition Finance at Morgan Stanley. Mr. Toscano and his team hosted a Teach-In on Global Capital Markets for the business students. While learning about the inner workings of one of the leading global financial service firms in the world, the students followed up a question/answer session with a trip to the trading floor of Morgan Stanley’s world headquarters in New York.

During the afternoon hours, following a brief visit to the 9/11 Memorial Site, the students traveled to Wall Street to participate in the Wall Street Financial Crisis Tour which offered an insider’s view of the most significant financial event since the Great Depression. Also in attendance at the day’s events were Jim Lowe, Executive Director of the School of Business Career Center (SBCC) and Kathy Hendrickson, Program Manager of the SBCC.

Innovation for Business Growth in Fairfield County

October 31, 2012

Over 110 UConn Alumni and business leaders from Greater Stamford gathered at the “Innovation for Business Growth in Fairfield County” event at the Stamford Learning Accelerator last Thursday. The event, hosted by the University of Connecticut School of Business and The Business Council of Fairfield, Connecticut, featured a panel discussion on topics such as new business growth in Connecticut and why companies are relocating to Fairfield County.

Moderated by Dean John Elliott of the UConn School of Business and Christopher Bruhl, President and CEO of The Business Council of Fairfield County, the panel was comprised of UConn alumni business leaders in the area as well as UConn faculty. Panelists included Tim Hunter, Professor and Head, Digital Media & Design Department, UConn Schools of Business and Fine Arts; Lincoln Millstein ’77, Executive Vice President, Deputy Group Head at Hearst Publications; Seth Ruzi, VP & Associate General Counsel, Starwood Hotels & Resorts; and Joseph Parsons ’79, Management Committee Member, Bridgewater Associates.

The interactive discussion was followed by a cocktail party and networking reception welcoming the new Dean, where attendees were also able to chat with panelists directly.

The Business Career Center Breaks the Mold on Career Fairs

October 26, 2012

On October 12, 2012, the School of Business Career Center hosted its inaugural Business Career Expo during which they welcomed over 480 registered business students and over 100 key corporate professionals to an invitation-only career event. The Expo, held on a Friday during the hours of 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., was marketed to employers and students alike as “Not your Classic Career Fair” and was the first event of this kind for not only the School of Business, but the University as well. Absent from the room were the long tables and employer banners which usually serve as the backdrop of career fairs and which can form a barrier to more personal conversations.

The day was structured around three components: networking, information sessions and personal career placement conversations. The main Expo room, set with bistro style tables, was filled with light and an open energy flow which resonated around both employers and students alike. In breakout rooms across the hall, 17 individual employer information sessions ran concurrent to the Expo and offered students the ability to learn more about individual companies and placement opportunities. “We designed the day in a setting that was intended to foster compelling, impactful conversations with a direct focus on student placement. Based on attendance as well as student and employer comments, the day was such a resounding success that we plan to continue the event in the coming years.” said Jim Lowe, Executive Director of the School of Business Career Center and Assistant Dean of External Relations and Outreach.

The day concluded with a private luncheon for our corporate partners hosted by the Business Career Center. Mary Holz-Clause, the University of Connecticut’s Vice President of Economic Development, and Jim Lowe spoke briefly at the luncheon to welcome and thank all of our corporate partners for their continued support of our students.

Risk Management: New Challenges and Opportunities Conference

October 22, 2012

The University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Business announced today it will host the inaugural Risk Management: New Challenges and Opportunities Conference on Friday, Nov. 9 in Stamford, Connecticut.

James B. Comey, Jr., former U.S. Deputy Attorney General and general counsel, Bridgewater Associates LP, will deliver the keynote address.

“Following recent economic turmoil, the finance and accounting sectors are taking a more proactive role in risk management, as well as adjusting to more rigorous requirements and regulations within the industry,” says Jud Saviskas, Executive Director for the School of Business at UConn-Stamford. “The Conference will bring together financial and accounting professionals, faculty and graduate students to discuss key issues and challenges in risk management.”

Sessions emphasize the common forces affecting a wide range of institutions, including banking, insurance and investment management, as well as regulators, industrial firms and accounting/consulting firms. The event is organized by the Master of Science in Financial Risk Management program at UConn.

The event is from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., and topics include:

  • Measuring and Managing ERM Effectiveness
  • New Perspectives on Risk Appetite and Hedging Policies
  • Moving Towards a More Integrated Approach to Risk Management
  • Risk Management from a Legal/Regulatory Perspective
  • Risk Management: Advancing Multiple Stakeholder Mandates
  • Emerging Risks – Identifying and Managing Over-the-Horizon Risk Events

Registration is $200 and includes all sessions, breakfast and lunch. To register, visit business.uconn.edu/riskconference. For more information, contact Chinmoy Ghosh at chinmoy.ghosh@business.uconn.edu or Jud Saviskas at jud.saviskas@business.uconn.edu.

The Master of Science in Financial Risk Management (MSFRM) program at the University of Connecticut School of Business is a 15-month program offered on both the Hartford and Stamford, Conn. campuses. The program is designed for business professionals who want to enhance their careers by fully understanding how to identify and manage various types of risk faced by multinational firms. Learn more at msfrm.uconn.edu.

For more information, contact:

Jud Saviskas, UConn School of Business, Executive Director
(203) 251-8442 or jud.saviskas@business.uconn.edu

Chinmoy Ghosh, Professor and Department Head of Finance
(860) 486-4431 or chinmoy.ghosh@businesss.uconn.edu

Michael J. Deotte, UConn School of Business Director of Marketing
(860) 486-4478 or mdeotte@business.uconn.edu

Start-up Nation Transformation: The Case for Veterans

October 17, 2012

It takes a special mindset to volunteer to join the military in times of war. To leave the comforts of home, to leave family and friends, to go into harm’s way in far off foreign lands creates a complex mindset. It takes a certain mentality to brave the dangers of combat, to go outside the wire and engage the enemy on their grounds.

What is it, ultimately, that makes veterans different from civilians? I have been interested in this question since 1994 – my first recruiting tour of duty. Why did some people sign on the dotted line for four years or more, and some not? What was the unmoved mover that prompted the best and brightest of America’s youth to raise their right hand and take a solemn oath to support and defend the Constitution? Over 6 years and two recruiting tours of duty, I never could put my finger on it. It remains a mystery to me, even now.

We have to recognize the difference between transitioning from the military to civilian life, and transformation from a warrior to an entrepreneur. Transition is merely a change of position. Transformation is a change of substance. It takes a specific attitude to make a transformation. There is a world of difference, and we should celebrate that difference.

I read a book entitled Mindset by Carol Dweck, a psychologist who studies success. In her book, she posits two fundamental mindsets, Growth vs Fixed. Growth mindsets have a tendency to learn experientially, a willingness to take on new challenges and explore new opportunities, and maybe most importantly, a proclivity for hard work. In other words, qualities we most often associate with successful entrepreneurship.

A body of academic research exists about why veterans the world over tend to be successful entrepreneurs. In their book Start-up Nation, Dan Senor and Saul Singer explore the factors contributing to the entrepreneurial success of Israel, on a per capita basis, the most entrepreneurial country in the world. They assert one of the key reasons is Israel’s compulsory universal military service, which creates a common language and outlook for mission accomplishment and – once again – hard work.

Hard work, mission bias, and problem solving skills are at the heart of the veteran-entrepreneur transformation. Here in CT, we have a population of greater than 250,000 veterans; but more than 40,000 veteran-owned businesses, about a 1-in-6 ratio.

Today, as I speak, the unemployment rate among disabled veterans is 15.8 in CT, and here among the current generation of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, the unemployment rate is greater than 30%.

Approximately 2.5 million Americans have served in overseas  theaters of operations in the Global War on Terror since 9/11. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan draw to a close, and as budgets are cut and the military draws down over the next decade, more than 600,000 service members a year will leave the military and transition to civilian life; as many as 10,000 veterans a year will return to CT.

If 1-in-6 of those veterans started businesses – our nation would create more than 100,000 veteran start-ups per year. We could create more than 1,000 veteran start-ups here in CT. We veteran-entrepreneurs, with our Growth mindset, as we transform from warrior to entrepreneur – we are part of the solution to the present economic situation.

We can create a start-up state, and a start-up nation.