This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 4, Issue 3 (Spring 2014)

Five luminaries of the business world were inducted into the UConn School of Business’ Hall of Fame on May 2 at the Hartford Marriott, surrounded by dozens of family members, friends, colleagues and admirers.

Inductees included James V. Agonis ’71, retired CEO and president of AirKaman Cecil, Inc.; Kevin A. Bouley ’80, president and CEO of Nerac, Inc.; Joanne L. DeBlasis ’76, ’83 MBA, president, Accident & Health Division, Navigators RE; Amy J. Errett ’79 (CLAS), CEO and co-founder of Madison Reed; and Lisa Klauser ’90, president, Shopper and Consumer Marketing, Integrated Marketing Services.

In addition to their remarkable and inspiring business careers, the inductees have all been leaders in their communities, said John A. Elliott, dean of the School of Business. The inductees spoke briefly about their career journeys and how UConn shaped both their professional and personal lives. They join more than 100 other alumni who have been recognized since 1993.

Retired CEO James Agonis Finds New Purpose In Helping Abused, Drug-Addicted Costa Rican Orphans

Throughout his successful career, including serving as president of his own company, UConn alumnus James Agonis ’71, dealt with giants of the defense industry.

Ten years after his retirement, his focus has switched to abused and defenseless children, who are trying to establish a happy childhood in a Costa Rican orphanage.

“Most of the times when I visit the orphanage, I go out in the backyard and cry like a baby because of the horrible things these children have experienced,” said Agonis, who is the principal supporter of the Hogar Cuna orphanage.

Some of the 18 children who live there have been attacked by their own family members, have lost both parents in car crashes, or were born addicted to heroin.

“I pick them up and I hug them until I finally have to put them down because my arms are sore and I can’t do it anymore,” said Agonis, the retired CEO and president of AirKaman Cecil Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida.

With unwavering tenacity, Agonis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the School of Business in 1971. It took him seven years to complete his degree because he often had to take semesters off to wait tables to earn enough money to pay for additional schooling. “I’m extremely proud of my UConn education,” he said. “UConn provided the foundation, and I’ll be forever grateful to its faculty and advisers for my success.”

Agonis and his wife, Glenna, presented a $100,000 gift to the Accounting Endowment for Excellence in the School of Business in 2011. “I have tremendous empathy for the student struggling with academics because of an after-school job,” he said. “It would be my dream to help someone like that get through school.”

With his finance and accounting skills, Agonis worked for the federal government and then spent 20 years with Kaman Aerospace Corp., a Fortune 500 company and defense contractor in Bloomfield, progressing to group vice president. He then formed his own company, AirKaman Cecil, a fixed-base operator managing the daily functions of an airport in Jacksonville, Florida. Customers included Boeing, Grumman, the Navy and Coast Guard. AirKaman Cecil experienced tremendous growth under Agonis’ leadership, which he credits to strategic management, innovative marketing and customer relations.

He and his wife now enjoy family, traveling, international big-game fishing and watching UConn basketball. Agonis also donated $125,000 to establish a scholarship fund named in honor of UConn women’s basketball Assistant Coach Chris Dailey.

“I have watched Chris Dailey for more than 20 years, and to me there is no better person in women’s basketball,” he said. “She’s the most selfless person, working in the background, being a mentor, coach and friend.”

Kevin Bouley’s Passion Is Promoting Connecticut’s Brainpower, Creativity, and Inventions

It was supposed to be Kevin A. Bouley’s moment in the spotlight.

But instead of highlighting his own professional achievements at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Bouley ’80, took the opportunity to praise some people he admires.

Alicia Echevarria ’13 (ENG), he said, is designing a new bridge column that is more resilient during earthquakes. Eric Sirois ’09 (ENG) is developing a trans-catheter, aortic-valve technology. And Michael Zilm (ENG) is creating biomimetic bone scaffolding. All three aspiring entrepreneurs are graduate students from UConn’s School of Engineering.

“There is an emerging culture of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship taking root at UConn,” Bouley said. Partnerships between various disciplines and schools within the university are reaping amazing results.

“We need to leverage the state’s investment in our system of higher education and use it to build our economic future via new innovations,” he said. “The potential economic benefits of new technologies being commercialized in Connecticut… are enormous.”

Bouley is the president and CEO of Nerac, a research and advisory firm for companies developing innovative products and services. Based in Tolland, Nerac’s team of analysts address corporate concerns ranging from intellectual property strategies, to competitive business threats, and scientific reviews.

Bouley earned his Bachelor of Science degree in finance in 1980. He became vice president of Nerac in 1987, and maintained that position until acquiring the company 12 years later. Under his direction, Nerac has enjoyed strong growth, more than doubling in size.

Nerac has five times been named to the Deloitte & Touche prestigious Technology Fast 50 program for Connecticut, a ranking of the 50 fastest growing tech companies in the state.

Bouley is also an active “angel investor,” nurturing innovation, investing money and resources in start-ups, many of which are hosted within Nerac’s building. He works regularly with UConn’s School of Business and School of Engineering, alumni and members of the local business community to bring more business-development programs to fruition by connecting entrepreneurs and potential investors.

“I have reached an age where I care less about my resume and more about leaving a legacy to the next generation,” he said. “A critical component of this legacy is to inspire, teach and mentor students and other budding entrepreneurs in Connecticut.”

He envisions the Tolland business corridor, including UConn, as a regional destination and growing hub of entrepreneurial activity, drawing the best and brightest. He would also like to see a rebirth of manufacturing in the state.

Bouley has served on many technology and business associations, and currently serves on the UConn School of Engineering Advisory Board and the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation Advisory Board. He is a recipient of the UConn Alumni Association 2007 University Service Award and the UConn School of Engineering 2010 Distinguished Service Award.

Not only did UConn enrich his career path, Bouley said, but it is where he met his wife, Lorraine ’80. They have two daughters. Richter is a sophomore in the UConn School of Nursing, and Turner is a high school student.

Taking A Risk On Yourself May Bring Career Rewards Counsels Insurance Expert Joann DeBlasis

If she could offer one piece of advice for new business graduates, Joann DeBlasis ’76, ’83 MBA, would tell them to take risks. “Taking on a new position, as scary as it might be, enables you to grow in your career,” she said. “Many people get stuck in a rut because they are afraid if they try something new, they will fail. My advice is to push for it.”

What makes her thoughts particularly striking is that DeBlasis has spent her professional career assessing and insuring against financial risk. The humor in those contrasting perspectives is not lost on her.

As a president at Navigators RE, a division of Navigators Management Co., Inc., DeBlasis is responsible for the accident and health division. She has enjoyed a lengthy career in the reinsurance industry, starting with Cigna in the early 1990s.

Her accomplishments include starting a health-reinsurance product line for three separate insurance companies, where she supervised all facets of administration, underwriting, pricing, marketing and financial management.

She has hired many people during her career and seeks a few key traits in a new colleague. “I want to work with someone who has a passion for what they do,” she said. “Equally importantly, they must have the ability to get along with other people. I think it is important to always be polite and treat people how you would want to be treated. That means being honest when something goes wrong and offering appreciation and recognition for success.”

DeBlasis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the UConn School of Business in 1976. Although her guidance counselor pressured her to attend a different institution, she never regretted her decision to attend UConn.

Her college days, she said, were filled with wonderful experiences and lifelong friendships. She was joined at the Hall of Fame ceremony by four good friends from college, with whom she has shared all of life’s struggles and joys.She later earned her MBA from the UConn School of Business’ Hartford campus, attending classes at night while working full-time.

“It was extremely challenging to attend school in the evening after working all day,” she said. “But I thought it was important to earn my MBA. I knew it would lead to new opportunities.”

In 2012, she established a scholarship to benefit students at UConn’s Stamford campus. “I was very fortunate that I graduated from college debt-free because my parents were able to pay for my education. Some people graduate with huge debts. I decided to establish a scholarship to help others get through their education and pass along my good fortune.”

DeBlasis is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants. She lives in Connecticut and has two adult sons. In addition to spending time with family, DeBlasis enjoys golf, travel, fitness and gourmet cooking.

Unrelenting Optimism, Enthusiasm for Innovation Drive Success of Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist Amy Errett ’79 (CLAS)

To appreciate why Amy J. Errett ’79 (CLAS) is phenomenally successful in business, you first have to grasp her fearless enthusiasm for life. She describes herself as a “horseback riding, fly-fishing, black-diamond snowboarding, wine collecting, San Francisco Giants-loving Californian.” She also appreciates great food, nature and everything high-tech. She revels in trying something new.

“I come from an athletic, outdoor family; people who are real ‘doers.’ I like to travel, explore and enjoy nature and the outdoors,” she said. “I pretty much like to have a good time.”

Errett earned a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from UConn in 1979, and an MBA in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1988. During her multifaceted career, she has worked as an entrepreneur, a senior executive, a venture capitalist, and as a passionate advocate for social change.

Before beginning her own business in February, Errett was a general partner and ran the San Francisco Bay-Area office of Maveron, a leading venture capital firm. She has also served as the CEO and as an owner of Olivia, repositioning the travel business as a complete lifestyle company. During her tenure at Olivia, she was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California.

Errett also founded and served as CEO of The Spectrem Group, a worldwide strategic consulting, information and merger-and-acquisition advisory firm. After selling the company, she joined the senior management team at E*Trade, where she diversified the company’s business beyond brokerage, and ran a $200 million business that encompassed the company’s growth areas.

“I think the two threads that tie my career together are that I love to build great teams of people to work together, and I like innovation. I’m a fan of the latest app, the newest technology and the best electronics,” she said.

“I don’t worry about failing. Some people would call me blindly optimistic,” she said. “I think positive energy just fosters and creates good things.”

Her newest venture is Madison Reed, a company striving to transform the at-home, hair-coloring experience. Errett said she devised the company after her friends complained about the high cost of salon treatments and their concerns about the harsh chemicals in hair dyes.

The company, which launched in February, is named after her 11-year-old daughter. Madison Reed hair products contain no ammonia or harsh chemicals and the company employs 35 “on call” colorists who assist with everything from application techniques to selecting the right hair color.

Although she lives in California now, Errett is still a die-hard UConn sports fan. As a student athlete she played field hockey and dabbled in basketball. “I bleed blue. I’m a Husky forever,” she said. “Before each Final Four (basketball tournament), everyone counted us out. Look where we are today—and the best is yet to come!”

In addition to her family, work and hobbies, Errett is deeply committed to humanitarian work. She chairs the Board of Directors of Glide, San Francisco’s largest non-government social services organization. “If we don’t look out for each other in this world, who will?” she said. “I think giving back is critical. It makes you a better leader and a better person.”

When asked how she manages to accomplish so much, Errett laughs. “Well, I don’t sleep a lot,” she said. “I also have a phenomenal assistant. I’m very focused on time management. I get up early and go to bed late, and I try to make every day count.”

Consumer Expert Lisa Klauser ’90: Resilience, Dissatisfaction with Status Quo Will Propel Students to Success

Lisa Klauser ’90 will tell you she’s living the American dream.

As president of Consumer and Shopper Practice for Norwalk’s Integrated Marketing, she supervises a team of 200 and works with well-known clients such as People magazine, Energizer Personal Care, Hillshire Brands and Barilla.

“I came to UConn planning to be a Spanish teacher,” Klauser recalled. “I tried a business course, and that was a game-changing moment for me. I loved the competitive side of American business. UConn gave me everything I needed to begin my journey.”

She credits her parents for giving her the values that have served her well. Her father only had an 8th grade education and sometimes worked three jobs to support the family. He taught her the value of hard work, dependability and always doing the right thing. Her mother bestowed on her the gift of confidence.

“I’ve lived the American dream, but I think it is still unattainable for many,” said Klauser, who worries about the growing gap between the middle class and the poor.

Klauser has served on the Board of the University of Connecticut Foundation since 2012, and as she watches the next generation of students pass through the University, she experiences both a sense of excitement and caution.

“I want to instill the entrepreneurial spirit into students. We are blessed to have the most amazing university right in our backyard. The university has invested in high-caliber faculty, innovative programs, and its courses are well-geared toward the business world. Hopefully UConn will shape the future of the next generations.

“For our young adults today, I believe the most important thing they need is resilience. This is a challenging time in our country and in business,” she said. “It is important to be able to pick yourself up, reinvent yourself, and keep pursuing your goals, while still maintaining a strong moral compass and your integrity. I hope they carry a restless dissatisfaction with the status quo.”

Klauser earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the School of Business in 1990. She began her career at Nestle Foods, and later worked at Kraft Foods. She then spent 19 years at Unilever, most recently serving as vice president of Consumer and Customer Solutions for North America.

One of her passions is helping women in the workplace. She served on the Board of Directors of the Network of Executive Women for the Grocery Manufacturers Association of America. She also led the Women’s Interactive Business Network at Unilever. She has served as the vice chair for the Promotion Marketing Association.

Klauser was inducted into the Shopper Marketing Hall of Fame in 2012 and was named as one of the Top Women in Grocery in 2010 and 2011. In 2013, she was selected as one of Ad Age’s Top Women to Watch. She resides in New Jersey with her husband, Rick, and two teenage children.

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 4, Issue 3 (Summer 2014)

Faculty & Research

Tim Folta, professor and Thomas John & Bette Wolff Chair in Strategic Entrepreneurship, was named editor for an upcoming 2016 issue of Advances in Strategic Management on the topic of “Corporate Strategy and Resource Redeployment.” Folta was also appointed to the editorial board of Strategy Science and accepted as a fellow to the University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study.

Hongju Liu, assistant professor of marketing, presented a research seminar on advertising spillovers in the pharmaceutical industry on May 2 in the School of Business.

Bill Ross, professor and ING Global Chair, along with co-authors Saerom Lee (University of Texas at San Antonio) and Karen Page (Penn State), were recently published in the Journal of Consumer Research for their research on the roles of empathy and justice in charitable giving.

Data released by Academic Analytics for the 2009-2013 period places UConn’s Management Department in first place (tied with Penn State) in per capita scholarly productivity. Known as the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index, this ranking considers the research activity of 186 universities nationwide.

The Association for Information System’s (AIS) Senior Scholars’ Basket of Journals ranks UConn’s Operations & Information Technology Department in the top 15 schools worldwide for research productivity over the last five years and 10th in the top two premiere journals alone.

Faculty members retiring from the School this year include Walter Dolde, Linda Klein, Gim Seow and Jim Sfiridis.

Programs & Initiatives

The MS in Business Analytics and Project Management (MSBAPM) Program has been listed among the most prominent big data and analytics degree programs by BI Software Insight.

The School was recently recognized by Insurance News Net for its adaptability to the job market in expanding business programs at UConn Stamford, as well as strengthening its ties with the business community.

Fiserv, Inc., the Savings Bank of Danbury, and Greylock Federal Credit Union have partnered with the Financial Accelerator to develop a business case for enhancing the millennial banking experience through leading-edge technology from Fiserv.

IBM is partnering with the School as part of a nationwide education initiative to help expand and launch new curricula, as well as provide students with business knowledge and IT skills for data intensive careers.

The Financial Management undergraduate major at UConn Stamford has been accepted into the CFA Institute’s University Recognition Program, offering students exclusive support from institute member companies such as Barclays, CreditSights, and Atlantic Asset Management, including access to a wide array of research and financial analytic tools.

The School’s Connecticut Information Technology Institute (CITI) at UConn Stamford has been authorized to provide project management certification training for veterans and other eligible U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs beneficiaries.

The School’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program completed its 14th consecutive year with 68 student volunteers assisting 650 taxpayers in completing their income tax returns. The IRS-sponsored program provides free tax assistance and tax return preparation services for individuals who are economically disadvantaged, as well as for international students and scholars.

UConn’s new research partnership in sustainable energy with the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology was awarded a supporting gift from the Satell Family Foundation, founded by Ed Satell ’57.

The School has joined a newly formed Military & Veterans Employer Resource Group (ERG), a collaboration of employers, institutions of higher education and veteran groups dedicated to veteran-centered topics in the workplace, including deployment, resume sharing and buddy programs.

On June 25, the Board of Trustees approved a Master of Science degree and Advanced Business Certificate in Human Resource Management beginning fall 2014.

As of July 1, the Full-time MBA Program and Graduate Career Center have officially moved from the Storrs campus to the Graduate Business Learning Center in downtown Hartford.

Student Achievements

Two UConn teams (out of 200 entrants) placed in the 2014 Connecticut Business Plan Competition: UConn Stamford undergraduates Karlian Brown and Christian Tovar won three months of free co-working space in the Stamford Innovation Center; and Michael Maczka ’14 MBA won a $500 grant for Best Oral Presentation and $2,500 in legal services.

Doctoral student Margaret Luciano (management) was awarded a Society for Human Resource Management Foundation (in partnership with the HR Division of the Academy of Management) Dissertation Grant for 2014 to support her dissertation research.

Recipients of the 2014 Departmental Ph.D. Student Teaching Awards include: Biyu Wu (accounting); Yihong Xiao (finance); Wonseok Choi (management); Selcan Kara (marketing); and Gang Wang (OPIM). Wang also received the School’s Outstanding Ph.D. Student Teaching Award. Margaret Luciano (management) received the 2014 Outstanding Ph.D. Program-wide Student Scholar Award.

Event Roundup

On April 8, the MS in Business Analytics & Project Management Program hosted a career fair in Hartford with representatives from 10 companies and more than 60 students participating.

On April 24, the Accounting Department hosted more than 300 guests at its annual honors banquet and awarded 157 student scholarships.

On May 1, the 12th annual Real Estate awards banquet honored 28 students, alumni, faculty and businesses for their outstanding contributions and achievements.

On May 22, UConn Stamford hosted the first International Haitian Diaspora Summit on Education and Business to promote education, business and cultural exchanges between the State of Connecticut and Haiti.

On June 18, the School, together with Vichara Technologies, hosted “How Technology Can Drive Your Performance Edge,” a 100 Women in Hedge Funds® event at the Stamford campus.

In Memoriam

Ernest A. DiMattia, Jr. ’81 MBA, former faculty member of the UConn School of Business and president and chief executive officer of The Ferguson Library in Stamford, Connecticut, passed away on June 28, 2014.

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 4, Issue 2 (Spring 2014)
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1960s

Scott S. Cowen ’68, ’10H has been awarded the 2014 TIAA-CREF Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence. Cowen and his wife, Marjorie, were also recently awarded the Hannah G. Solomon Award by the National Council of Jewish Women.

1970s

Robert J. Genise ’75 MBA has been appointed as an independent board member at Frontier Airlines. Genise is currently chairman of the board of PCA Aerospace and chief executive officer of Aergen, LLC.

James F. Klotz ’77 has been appointed to vice president, claims strategic operations systems at Selective Insurance Group. Mr. Klotz has held positions such as senior vice president and chief information officer at PMA Insurance and vice president of information systems at Travelers.

Robert E. Schneider ’79 MBA has been appointed to second vice president, compensation at The Phoenix Companies. Mr. Schneider will manage general and executive compensation programs for the company.

1980s

Claire R. Fennessey ’86 joined Clarus Marketing Group as the chief marketing officer. Ms. Fennessey has over 20 years of marketing experience and most recently she was the president of Palm Publishing.

Daniel A. Migliaro ’88 has been named vice president, commercial business development officer, at Newtown Savings Bank. Mr. Milagro also serves as a board member of the Connecticut Business Development Corporation.

William M. Nelson ’87 MBA has been named as the manager for high income funds at Ivy Funds. Mr. Nelson is also a portfolio manager of Ivy Funds VIP High Income and Waddell & Reed Advisors High Income Fund.

Steven C. Snelgrove ’80 has been named president of Howard County General Hospital, a Johns Hopkins Medicine member institution.

Gregory J. Trudel ’83 has been appointed to president and CEO of Encision Inc. Most recently he was the global director of marketing within a division within the Surgical Solutions Group at Covidien.

Rita J. Ugianskis-Fishman ’88, ’95 MBA has been named vice president and general manager of The ASI Show. Ms. Ugianskis-Fishman was most recently managing director of Penton’s Waste Industry Group and is an accomplished trade show executive.

Anne M. Wilkins ’88 has joined AllazoHealth as an advisory board member. Ms. Wilkins has more than 20 years of healthcare experience with a long history of leadership in population health management.

1990s

Jonathan R. Collett ’95 has been elected to partner at CohnReznick in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Mr. Collett is a certified public accountant and is a member of the firm’s financial services industry practice group.

Matthew D. Danyliw ’99 has been appointed to senior vice president of Khamelon Software, Inc. Prior to his appointment at Khameleon, Mr. Danyliw was chief financial officer of Office Furniture, Inc.

Lyle T. Fulton ’94 MBA has joined Guilford Savings Bank as the vice president, commercial loan officer. Mr. Fulton is a seasoned commercial lender in northern Connecticut with over 25 years of experience.

John Y. Kim ’87 MBA has been elected a vice chairman of New York Life. Mr. Kim will now oversee the company’s technology function. He is currently the president of New York Life’s Investments Group.

Anthony A. Licata ’95 has been appointed chief operating officer by Morgan Lewis & Bockius. Prior to his appointment at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, Mr. Licata was chief operating officer at Dechert.

Luigi A. Peluso ’93 MBA has been named managing director of the enterprise improvement group at AlixPartners. Prior to his appointment at AlixPartners, Mr. Peluso served as senior vice president of operations at Hitachi Consulting Inc.

Thomas P. Trutter ’99 MBA received the 2013 Construction Industry Recognition Award from Associated General Contractors of Connecticut. Mr. Trutter is currently UConn Health Center’s associate vice president of campus planning, design, and construction.

2000s

Adam B. Camara ’03 is the co-founder of the national internet marketing firm, Network for Solutions.

Joshua J. Gopan ’02 has been appointed as director of leasing of Hutchinson Metro Center. Mr. Gopan previously worked at Colliers International where he served as a leasing specialist and managing director.

Greg Oshins ’05 MBA has been promoted to vice president of investments at National Realty & Development Corporation. Mr. Oshins has been at NRDC since 2006 when he was a member of the acquisitions and development team as well as the company’s leasing team.

Amanda H. Wallace ’07 MBA has been recognized as a 2013 Working Mother of the Year for representing the best in working motherhood as well as for her outstanding leadership ability. Ms. Wallace is the assistant vice president of strategy and planning for the U.S. insurance business at MassMutual.

2010s

Ryan G. Demadis ’11 has been appointed to vice president, associate producer at NorthMarq. Prior to his appointment at NorthMarq, Mr. Demandis was an associate broker at RM Bradley. He is also the co-founder/director of fundraising for RiseUp Leadership Development Program which provides financial support and mentoring for inner city youth.

Lauren D’Innocenzo ’14 Ph.D. successfully defended her dissertation titled, “Predicting Leader Role Occupance: An Exploration of Shared Leadership Emergence in Project Teams”. Dr. D’Innocenzo accepted a position as assistant professor of management at Drexel University.

Erin Henry ’14 Ph.D. successfully defended her dissertation titled, “The Information Content of Tax Expense: A Firm- and Market-Level Return Decomposition.” Dr. Henry has accepted a tenure-track faculty position at the University of Tennessee.

Bryan P. Schmutz ’13 Ph.D. successfully defended his dissertation titled “Essays on Life Insurance and Healthcare Finance.” Dr. Schmutz has accepted a position at Western New England University as an assistant professor of finance.

Claire Simonich ’13 received the Undergraduate Student Award at the UConn Provost’s Awards for Excellence in Public Engagement. Ms. Simonich spent her time at UConn working in the Office of Community Outreach to lead a new Alternative Spring Break trip to Appalachia focused on rural poverty and labor law. She also led an English language tutoring program for international students at UConn.

Marinela Shqina ’11 has been promoted to controller at Arbors of Hop Brook in Manchester, Connecticut. Ms. Shqina is also a member of the Association of Health Care Facilities, Healthcare Financial Management Association and is a non-CPA member of the Connecticut Society of CPAs.

Tingyu Zhou ’14 Ph.D. successfully defended her dissertation titled, “Three Essays on Decision Making Strategies.” Dr. Zhou has accepted a tenure track position as assistant professor at Concordia University in Montreal.

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The Business Connections Learning Community graduates its first class of students.

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 4, Issue 2 (Spring 2014)

When she enrolled in the University of Connecticut four years ago, Andrea Llivichuzhca ’14 wasn’t sure that majoring in business was the best choice for her.

Today the graduating senior, an accounting major, knows she made the right decision.

Llivichuzhca has an impressive resumé, which includes an internship at GE, participation in a corporate leadership program, and a 10-day trip to Paris sponsored by the School of Business. Her experiences also included an internship at The Hartford, where a job is waiting for her after graduation.

She credits some of her success to a choice she made the summer before college—to live in a new, experimental Business Connections Learning Community (BCLC). Located within Belden dormitory, the BCLC opened in 2010 exclusively to incoming UConn business students. Designed to foster their success, the BCLC’s goal is to make students feel like a part of the School of Business from their earliest days on campus.

“I had such a great experience there,” said Llivichuzhca. “I developed close-knit friendships, I visited interesting companies, and I figured out what I wanted to do with my life. I found my passion. I found myself.”

How It Works

Whether visiting Wall Street or local companies, traveling abroad, or enjoying a lunch-time lecture on how to make the most of LinkedIn, the BCLC program caters to the needs of aspiring business students. The programs offered supplement the traditional curriculum and are a special benefit of living in the community.

The first class of students to participate in the program will graduate this year. Although the evidence so far is anecdotal (a formal study is underway), the popular program seems to be paying off with great success. Most of the BCLC participants will be leaving the university with job offers in hand.

“This program is all about helping students acquire the awareness, skills and insight they need to succeed, as soon as they arrive at UConn,” said Nathan Ives, director of alumni relations and co-director of the BCLC. “We want to instill in them from the beginning that they’re part of something special. This is a unique program, and there are many ways to fit in.”

“I like to think of it as a vitamin supplement that gives you the critical thinking tools and skills you need,” he said, “and a powerful way to secure internships and, ultimately, jobs. Our program is making a difference for these young adults.”

Day One

The BCLC program accepts about 150 students each year. The program grew out of student concerns that they didn’t feel “connected” with the School of Business until junior year when they began taking their business classes.

At the BCLC, faculty and staff are available to help students move in, give them a tour of the business school, introduce them to the Dean, and make them feel welcome. Originally designed for freshmen, the program is now open to sophomores by popular demand.

“The first day, move-in day, was a little crazy; but in a good way,” said Sydney Morrison ’17, a freshman from Trumbull. “I was nervous about what my classes were going to be like, getting around the big campus and meeting new people. But my accounting professor came by and asked how everything was going, and the sophomores, too, were very welcoming. I was more excited to start my college career.”

Llivichuzhca remembers that first impression as well. “I couldn’t believe professors helped freshmen move into the dorm! But that’s the culture of the learning community. Everyone gets involved from day one,” said Llivichuzhca of Bristol. “I always had a feeling that the people in the School of Business were looking out for us.”

Not only do students appreciate that extra attention, their parents do as well, because they feel like the University has a greater stake in their child’s success, Ives said.

The first goal of the program is to help the freshmen bond as a class. Students residing in the BCLC usually take several required classes together, including a First-Year Experience class. Because they live together, it is easy to form study groups before tests or exams.

They are also required to serve on one or more BCLC committees, including community service, international, marketing and public relations, social, sports, house and outreach, which usually leads to strong friendships.

Nick Walcott ’14 from Framingham, Mass., lived in the BCLC his first three years on campus, the latter as a Resident Assistant.

“At first I was very unsure about whether I’d want to live exclusively with business majors, but being from out-of-state and not knowing anyone, I thought it would help my transition,” said Walcott. “I met friends quickly. UConn is a huge school, so that helped it feel smaller.

“As a first-generation college student, I really didn’t know what college was about,” Walcott said. “People showed me the ropes and wanted to help me. I had such a great experience there that I wanted to offer others the same.”

Travel

Another unique component of the BCLC program is that it offers an annual business-oriented international trip. In its inaugural year, students went to Paris. The following years they went to Munich and Prague, followed by Beijing and Shanghai. This May, students will travel to Madrid and Barcelona.

Samantha Ragusa ’17, a sophomore from Cheshire, said she thinks her trip to Beijing and Shanghai will give her an edge in the workplace.

“I went to historical sites like the Great Wall, but also got to tour five or six companies while I was there. It was great to get that close-up view of international business,” she said. “When I interview, I think it will be something impressive and interesting to talk about.”

The annual trips are underwritten in part by generous alumni contributions that make them more affordable for students, Ives said.

Rebecca Smith ’14 of Niantic lived in the BCLC as a freshman and sophomore and returned as a Resident Assistant her senior year. Now planning a career in healthcare management, she was able to travel to Paris, Munich, Prague and Guatemala during her time at UConn. This summer she will travel through Europe with friends she made her freshman year in the BCLC program.

“You’re making these great connections with your peers, faculty and alumni,” Smith said. “And you know you will meet them again, professionally, at some point in your career.”

Robbie Simpson ’14 from Milford, will begin work at PricewaterhouseCoopers in January. He hopes the BCLC will continue for many years after he leaves UConn.

“UConn is a huge school with so many opportunities and so many people. You have to find a niche,” he said. “What better way than to live with other people who share your interests? By the end of the year, I knew everyone by name.”

“Many freshmen don’t know what to select for a major and this program challenges you to explore new avenues,” he said. “At the same time, it doesn’t consume your whole life. Students still have time for sports or Greek life. I think it works so well because the people in charge really care about it. They made the BCLC really special with all the effort they put into it.”

Through his connections in the BCLC, Walcott got a job working in the School of Business. One day he was asked to give a tour to a potential student. At the end, he gave her his contact information and said to text him with any questions. It turned out the future student’s mother was a high-ranking executive at Deloitte, where Walcott has now accepted a full-time job.

“Thanks to the BCLC, you just have so many connections as soon as you walk in the door,” he said.

Fran Graham, manager of alumni relations for the business school, said her favorite part of the BCLC program is simply the students.

“You see them transform rather quickly. They enroll in the First-Year Experience classes and they just come alive. They visit the School of Business and they serve on one of the committees and they come out of their shells.”

“Many of them come in not knowing what their concentration will be. Some change their major five times! But they soak in everything that’s offered to them. On the international trips, they are in awe. ‘I could work here!,’ they say. They start thinking like business people. They are a joy to work with.”

Without a question, the connection between students, faculty and School of Business staff has strengthened enormously because of the program, Graham said.

“It’s so fulfilling to see them grow and understand the opportunities that are available to them. It’s phenomenal,” she said. “Commencement is going to break our hearts. But we’re so happy for them.”