Author: Claire Hall

Katherine Pancak named among Inman News’ Top 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders

Posted on by Claire Hall

Inman News, a national real estate news service, has named Katherine Pancak, professor in residence of finance and real estate at the University of Connecticut in Stamford, among its 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders for 2013. The ‘Top 100’ list “recognizes those who embody leadership, ingenuity, strength, conviction, power, persistence, perseverance and progress—their voices and actions can move the industry toward change.”

Professor Pancak conducts research on real estate brokerage, real estate agency, and consumer protection and public policy. Her research on real estate law topics has been published in the Journal of Real Estate Research, the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, the Real Estate Law Journal, and the Boston College Environmental Law Review. Pancak has also developed pre-licensing and continuing education course materials for real estate licensees.

Other influential real estate leaders named among the Inman 100 include the Vice President and Chief Economist of Fannie Mae, the Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the National Association of REALTORS®, the Chief Economist of Zillow and the newly appointed Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

» Read more about Dr. Katherine Pancak

» Read the full Inman 100 report, “100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders”

» Learn about the University of Connecticut School of Business Center for Real Estate and Urban Economic Studies

UConn Ranked #8 by U.S. News & World Report for Online Graduate Business Programs

Posted on by Claire Hall

The University of Connecticut School of Business online Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program has been ranked #8 among the 2013 Best Online Graduate Business Programs in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Online Education Program Rankings, 2013 Edition.

According to U.S. News, these are the best online master’s in business degree programs, based on factors such as level of accreditation, reputation for excellence among peer institutions, and academic and career support services offered to students.Continue Reading

Stamford Learning Accelerator Student Teams Propose New Business Uses for IBM’s ‘Watson’

Posted on by Claire Hall

IBM, developer of the “Watson” computing system best known for beating human contestants on the TV game show, “Jeopardy!” has turned to student teams at the University of Connecticut School of Business’ Stamford Learning Accelerator for ideas on turning data among Watson’s vast inventory of unstructured information into purpose-based recommendations.Continue Reading

School of Business Ph.D. Program Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Posted on by Claire Hall

On November 8-9, 2012, the University of Connecticut School of Business Ph.D. Program celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Since the beginning of the Ph.D. Program there have been 164 graduates including; 35 in Accounting, 48 in Finance, 31 in Management, 26 in Marketing, and 24 in Operations and Information Management (OPIM). Continue Reading

4th Annual Cornell Real Estate Competition

Posted on by Claire Hall

On November 15, 2012, a team of undergraduates from the University of Connecticut School of Business placed among the top three universities in the Fourth Annual Cornell Real Estate Case Study Competition in New York City.

Fifteen of the best international undergraduate real estate programs were represented as they vied for the top spot. Teams were judged on their approach, analysis and presentation skills in solving a real estate investment case based on a real-world transaction. The UConn team, which consisted of Michael Hovey ’13, Brian Kaukas ’13, Mallika Winsor ’13, TJ Mills ’12, Frances Gibbons ’14 and Austin Smyth ’15, received the case on Saturday, November 10th and worked endlessly to come up with the best solution. The team made their presentation on November 15th to a panel of prominent industry judges. The UConn team won their group and advanced to the final round where they presented to all participating schools and judges. Among the other final round teams (University of Pennsylvania and Indiana University), UConn was the only team to recommend the actual course of action taken in the real-life transaction down a few percentage points.

Other schools to participate in the case study included first place winner, University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School of Business, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Cornell University, Indiana University, Maastricht University, New York University, Pennsylvania State University, Renmin University of China, University of Cambridge, University of Guelph, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina, University of Wisconsin at Madison and Villanova University.

MBA Students Welcome President of Bigelow Tea to Stamford Learning Accelerator

Posted on by Claire Hall

Cindi Bigelow, president of Bigelow Tea in Fairfield, Connecticut, the #1 market leader of specialty teas in the United States, spoke to 45 MBA students recently in the Stamford Learning Accelerator (SLA) Rotunda at the University of Connecticut’s Stamford campus. Also present from Bigelow Tea were Lauren Westbrook, Brand Manager, and Patrick Rowan, Sales Representative.

Cindi was invited by Brian Brady, director of the SLA and faculty Instructor in Residence for “Thinking, Acting and Managing Entrepreneurially” in the Management Department, one of the MBA classes Bigelow addressed. Additionally in attendance were Professor Wynd Harris of the Marketing Department and students from her MBA course, “New Product and Management Innovation.” Also attending was Professor Tim Dowding of the Operations and Information Management Department and Associate Director of the International Business Accelerator at UConn Stamford.

Under Cindi’s energetic leadership, Bigelow Tea has embraced social media and continues to expand a product line that now includes over 120 varieties of black, green, decaffeinated, herbal and iced teas. The company produces over 1.6 billion tea bags annually.

Weeks prior to Cindi’s visit, the MBA students conducted research on tea drinkers and shared their findings with Cindi who led an interactive discussion on what it’s like to be the third generation running a family business, staying ahead of the competitive tea industry and why Bigelow Tea’s over 300 employees are like family. Cindi also engaged all of the students in a hands-on Earl Grey tea cutting demonstration, comparing Bigelow Tea’s brand to major competitors.

Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference Announced

Posted on by Claire Hall

At a University of Connecticut press conference this morning, Coach Geno Auriemma, School of Business Dean John Elliott, Professor Lucy Gilson, and UConn President Susan Herbst, along with other members of the university community, officially announced a major new leadership initiative: the inaugural Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference, presented by Walmart, to be held April 29-30th at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center in Uncasville.Continue Reading

Risk Management Conference Draws Audience of 165+

Posted on by Claire Hall

The University of Connecticut School of Business was proud to host our First Annual Risk Management Conference on November 9, 2012. Over 165 risk management and regulation professionals, faculty members, and graduate students in the Master of Science in Financial Risk Management (MSFRM) program gathered to discuss new challenges and opportunities in the field. Among the many notable guests in attendance were faculty members from several other universities, including Sabanci University in Istanbul, Turkey. Continue Reading

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

Posted on by Claire Hall

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