This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 2, Issue 1 (Fall 2010)

The UConn School of Business would like to gratefully acknowledge the following alumni  and friends who made gifts to the School of Business during the fiscal year July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. 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 our the academic  programs.

$50,000+
Ms. Selma Cagatay-Searfoss ’94
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony J. Esposito ’65
Mr. and Mrs. Keith R. Fox ’80
Henry T. Mazon Revocable Living Trust
The Travelers Companies Inc.
Ms. Wendy Reeves Watkins ’74

$25,000 – $49,999
Mr. and Mrs. David I. Barton ’61
Mrs. Barabara E. ’61 and Mr. Myron ’61 Dickstein
Linda A. Ellis, Ph.D.
Mr. and Mrs. Drew A. Figdor ’83
Mrs. Patricia H. ’80 and Mr. Timothy K. ’80, ’83 Friar
Ms. Mary F. McVay and Mr. Theodore R. Rosenberg ’55
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel D. Toscano ’87

$10,000 – $24,999
Altria Group, Inc.
Mr. Christopher J. Balfe
Mrs. Pamela J. ’82 and Mr. Mark A. ’82 Beaudoin
CATIC Foundation
Mrs. Larissa K. ’93, ’95 and Mr. Christopher A. ’95 Chapin
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald D. DesRoches ’82
Mrs. Marilyn P. ’77 and Mr. Craig A. ’77 Douglas
Mr. and Mrs. Mark E. Freitas ’81
Mrs. Karen A. ’77 and Mr. Clinton G. ’77 Gartin
Mrs. Marjory C. ’66 and Mr. Roger A. ’65 Gelfenbien
Mrs. Barbara D. ’93 and Mr. Robert C. ’92 Hughes
Liberty Mutual
Mrs. Renae S. ’89, ’95 and Mr. Eugene F. ’87, ’89 Martin III
Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. McPhee ’81, ’94
Dr. and Mrs. Suresh K. Nair
The People’s United Community Foundation
People’s United Bank
Ms. Deborah M. Reif ’95
Mr. Sean R. Riegler
Mr. Douglas R. Seymour ’79
SimplexGrinnell LP
The Honorable and Mrs. Paul W. Speltz ’69, ’70, ’72

$5,000 – $9,999
Alfiero Family Charitable Foundation
Bank of America Corporation
Bank of America Foundation, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan E. Beyman ’76
Mr. Frank W. Carmon IV ’06
Mr. Guy F. Caruso ’64, ’66
CCR LLP
The Community Foundation Serving
Richmond and Central Virginia
The Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants
Mr. Timothy J. Curt ’84
Dymax Corporation
Ernst & Young Foundation
Fidelity Foundation
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund
Mr. David B. Greenfield ’84
Mr. Matthew J. Halprin
Mrs. Janet M. ’87 and Mr. Leo B. ’81 Hansen
Mr. and Mrs. Peter C. Larson ’63
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard P. LaSalandra ’78
Ms. Elva E. McCann
Mrs. Lorraine E. ’84 and Mr. Brian P. ’78 McKeon
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Meoni ’55
Northeast Utilities Service Company
TopCoder, Inc.
Towers Watson
Unilever United States, Inc.
United Technologies Corporation
United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
United Way of Greater New Haven, Inc.

$1,000 – $4,999
Dr. Rogaia M. Abusharaf ’88, ’94 and Dr. Mohamed E. Hussein
Aetna Inc.
Mr. Bruce C. Angevine
Babson Capital Management, LLC
Mr. John P. Barniak ’75
Mr. Prashant A. Bhatia ’92
Blum Shapiro Foundation, Inc.
Mrs. Deborah U. ’86 Mr. John S. ’85 Bohling
Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Canyock, Jr. ’80, ’86
Mr. Mark A. Caplan ’84
Mr. and Mrs. David A. Carlson ’75
Ms. Carrie Casciani
Mrs. Sherri S. ’90 and Mr. Christopher J. ’89 Cesare
Mr. Edward J. Chanda
Mr. Ari F. Cohen ’94
Mr. William E. Congdon ’75
Connecticut Association of Realtors, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Curtin ’86, ’91
Mr. and Mrs. John A. Cutler ’66
Deloitte Foundation
Deloitte, LLP
Mrs. Pamela J. ’85 and Mr. Douglas G. ’83 Denyer
Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. DiMella ’89
Mr. and Mrs. Dominic D. DiNeno, Jr. ’61
Mr. Lawrence S. Doyle ’65
Mrs. Arlene O. ’67 and Mr. Nicholas ’66 DuBiago
Dr. Amy E. Dunbar and Dr. John D. Phillips
Fiondella Milone & LaSaracina LLP
Mr. Gordon J. Flynn ’56
Mr. Gary W. French ’70
Mrs. Lesley A. ’91, ’98 and Mr. Jason A. ’97 Fronio
Gail Barley Interior Design, LLC
Ms. Terry L. Gellin and Mr. Samuel L. Schrager
Mr. and Mrs. William P. Gendron ’83
Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence J. Gramling
Mr. Charles A. Griebell
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Guay ’91
Mr. and Mrs. Paul T. Quistberg ’84
Mr. and Mrs. Peter P. Gwiazdowski III
Mrs. Sharon ’68 and Mr. Lawrence D. ’67 Handler
Mr. Gregory P. Hughes ’88
International Council of Shopping Centers Foundations
Ms. Susan D. Jackson
Dr. and Mrs. Harry M. Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Warren E. Klein ’78
Dr. and Mrs. Richard F. Kochanek
Mrs. Ilene D. Kohlun ’94
Kostin, Ruffkess & Co., LLC
Ms. Margaret M. Landrey ’79, ’83 and Mr. David Acampora ’79
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond L. Lewis, Jr. ’83
Mrs. Mary Dean Lindsay
Ms. Martha D. MacMillin and Mr. George A. Plesko
Mr. S. John Malinowski ’54, ’61
Mr. James E. Masur ’82
Ms. Anne E. McAloon ’74, ’80
Mr. and Mrs. Denis M. McCarthy ’64, ’65
Mrs. Monique A. ’90 and Mr. John P. ’83 McCarthy, Jr.
McKesson Corporation
Mr. Keith Moody ’89
Dr. Elaine Mosakowski and Dr. P. Christopher Earley
Mrs. Catherine S. ’85 and Mr. Jay S. ’82 Nickse
Mr. David M. Nolf ’86
Nordstrom, Inc.
Norwalk Hospital Foundation
Thomas J. O’Brien, Ph.D.
Mr. and Mrs. David J. Papandria
Ms. Charlotte Pier ’74 and Mr. George S. Harrison
Pullman & Comley, LLC
Purdue Pharma L. P.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Redemske
Ms. Mary Ann Reichlen ’81
Mr. Edwin G. Reif ’75
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rodin ’77
RSM McGladrey, Inc.
Mrs. Sara J. ’79 and Mr. Douglas K. ’79 Russell
Mrs. Susan S. ’82 and Mr. Sheldon D. ’59 Schneider
Ms. Debra A. Hess ’86 and Mr. Paul R. Senecal
Mrs. Carol A. ’66 and Mr. Matthew D. ’66 Shedd
Ms. Eve S. ’86 Sopko and Mr. John T. Schorum ’86
Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Tavolieri, Jr. ’89
UHY LLP
United Health Care
Ms. Lynn Waibel ’80
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Welch ’80
Mr. Frank C. Wuest ’82

$500 – $999
Ms. Cynthia L. Anderson
Mr. and Mrs. Gary G. Apanaschik ’82
Mrs. Mona H. Baird ’89
Brothers Oil Company
Mr. John P. Calcutt, Jr.
Mrs. Mary E. Capaldi ’89 and Mr. Robert E. Capaldi
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence J. Carboni, Jr. ’86
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen T. Clayton ’83
Mr. and Mrs. George M. Demko
Mr. Michael D. Della Fera ’80
Mr. and Mrs. Brian J. Downey
Mr. and Mrs. Peter I. Elinsky ’65
Mr. Joseph D. Filomeno ’51
Mr. William J. Flynn ’01
Mr. Andrew P. Giangrave ’92
Mr. and Mrs. Michael P. Golden ’84
Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Hauser ’86
Mrs. Rene M. ’95 and Mr. Paul ’95 Holle
Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Howard, Jr. ’93
Mr. Atul Jain ’01
Mr. and Mrs. Ravi Jain
J. H. Cohn LLP
Mr. Thomas P. ’77 and Mrs. Deborah S. ’78 Kelley
Mr. Michael P. Krol ’74, ’87
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis C. LaGanza ’81
Liberty Bank
Mrs. Nicole M. Lindsay ’96 and Mr. Josiah Lindsay
Marien and Company, LLC.
Mrs. Laura ’06 and Mr. Ashley R. ’01 Martella
Mr. Charles K. Molander ’63
Mr. James J. Moravecek ’01
Mr. Thomas R. Pajolek ’80
Mrs. Roberta E. ’82 and Mr. Stephen M. ’80 Peet
Mr. Brian Pierne ’86
Mr. Jay J. Rasmus
Mr. and Mrs. Marc A. Reich ’83
Mr. and Mrs. David A. Rogan ’80
Mr. and Mrs. Coleman D. Ross
Mrs. Barbara R. ’59 and Mr. Raymond A. Serra
Mr. Kenneth M. Shuskus ’88, ’01
Mr. Paul M. Sterczala ’77
Mr. and Mrs. Scott A. Trenholm ’82
Mr. and Mrs. Alex Urquhart ’88
Mr. Allan J. Vartelas ’80
Mr. Robert J. Wade ’68
Mrs. Rose M. Wyman

$250 – $499
Mr. John Allis III ’75
Mr. and Mrs. Rodney W. Ambrosie
Mrs. Elizabeth J. ’75, ’99 and Mr. Raymond E. ’68 Archambault
Mr. Christopher L. Bell ’88, ’95
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy P. Block ’83
Lt. Col. Robert L. Brandt ’65
Ronald F. Brien, Esq. ’56
Ms. Marilyn T. Bronzi ’71
Ms. Elizabeth C. Brown ’82
Ms. Susan A. Buffum ’80
Ronald E. Burt, MD
Mr. David J. Casey ’74
Mr. Michael P. Cassidy ’02 and Ms. Diane S. Dagostino
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph P. Castellon ’52
Mrs. Alison B. Chapman ’84
Mr. William B. Clemens III ’89, ’98
Mr. Michael B. Cohen ’81
Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Cooper ’58
Mr. Mark J. Cowan ’91, ’04
Mr. Patrick J. Coyne ’84
Mr. Thomas R. Cox ’67
Mrs. Sheila R. ’65 and Mr. Howard F. ’65 Crossman, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. David J. Curran ’64
Mr. Richard L. Evans ’77
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Farley ’63
Fred C. Kile & Associates
Mr. Kenneth R. Fredette ’08
Mrs. Jacqueline R. Gattoni ’85
Mr. and Mrs. William B. Geary, Jr. ’57
Glen Gate Company
Mr. and Mrs. H. Kent Goetjen
Dr. Laura M. Graves ’81, ’82 and Dr. Gary N. Powell
Mrs. Donna M. ’86 and Mr. Thomas C. ’83 Harmon
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Hennes ’69
Ms. Caroline Horner ’06
Mrs. Margaret B. ’70 and Mr. Lawrence D. ’66 Hutchins
Mrs. Jacqueline T. Jamsheed ’00
Mr. Peter E. Keene ’79
Mrs. Phyllis A. ’84 and Mr. Edmund S. ’81 Kindelan
Mrs. Aurelia N. Knox
Mr. Christopher R. Kunz ’02
Ms. Catherine K. Kurtz ’82
Mr. and Mrs. Paul D. Lantz ’77
Mr. Kevin M. Magee ’81
Mrs. Debra O. Marsteller ’80 and Mr. Franklin D. Marsteller
Mrs. Patricia L. McCarthy
Ms. Patricia E. McGowan ’89
Mr. Daniel P. Menzer ’86
Mr. and Mrs. Jamie B. Meyers ’84, ’93
Mr. and Mrs. Emmett J. Murtha ’60
Mr. Douglas M. Nelson ’82
Dr. and Mrs. John M. Oblak ’74
The Orange County Community Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold J. Price ’53
Mr. Richard T. Roth ’82
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold M. Robin ’63
Ms. Brenda H. Rouse ’82
Mr. and Mrs. Edward V. Sands ’77
Mr. William E. Schmidt ’59
Mr. Timothy J. Smith ’96
Smith Whiley & Company
Dr. Susan Spiggle ’70, ’80, ’81
Mr. and Mrs. William K. Stahl ’76
Mr. Keith P. Suchy ’88
Ms. Sheila R. Sullivan and Mr. Richard A. Schondelmeier
Mr. and Mrs. Karl Svendsen ’69
Ms. Aricia Symes-Elmer ’94 and Mr. Michael W. Elmer
Ms. Audrey Tierney ’55 and Mr. Richard J. Marsh
Mr. Mark A. Tschiegg ’06
Mrs. Jennifer W. Vanderwall ’94, ’00
Mr. Thomas D. Walker ’95
Wellspeak Dugas & Kane
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wiacek ’85
Mr. John A. Wolff ’86
Mr. Dean H. Zirolli ’87

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 2, Issue 1 (Fall 2010)

The School’s Hall of Fame was established in 1993 to recognize the outstanding business  and community achievements of its alumni and students. Since then, over 100  alumni have been inducted. Alumni with outstanding achievements in business were  inducted into the 17th Annual Hall of Fame Celebration. This year’s alumni inductees are Michael G. Koppel ’78 and Joseph E. Parsons ’79. Fifteen School of Business students  were honored as Hall of Fame Fellows. The Travelers Companies, Inc. received the Outstanding Strategic Partner Award.

The Travelers Companies, Inc.

The University of Connecticut is committed to addressing the state’s needs through education, research and outreach. To fulfill this mission, partnerships with leading Connecticut businesses are vitally important. The enduring support of The Travelers Companies, Inc., a much valued collaborative partner, has significantly strengthened UConn and, in so doing, benefitted the people of Connecticut.

Because the company has a major presence in Connecticut, Travelers and UConn share a commitment to developing a well-educated workforce and improving the quality of life for the state’s residents. Travelers has employed more than 700 University of Connecticut alumni employees and continues to actively recruit UConn graduates.

From 1982 to 2009, Travelers’ philanthropic gifts to UConn exceeded $6 million. Of that amount, more than $1.2 million was directed to the School of Business for scholarships and a variety of programs, most notably a college access initiative targeting  underrepresented youth that has awarded scholarships totaling $534,000 since 2007.  Travelers EDGE: Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment is designed
to increase access to higher education and provide students with the opportunity to excel.

Joseph E. Parsons ’79
Management Committee Member
Bridgewater Associates, LP

Joseph E. Parsons joined Bridgewater Associates as a member of its Management Committee in 2010. Prior to joining Bridgewater, Joe was a vice president of General Electric Company and president & CEO of the GE Real Estate’s Global Investment Management division. Before taking on these responsibilities, Joe was president of GE Real Estate’s North America Equity division, where he led a group of real estate businesses stretching throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico with more than $25 billion invested in real estate assets Prior to leading North America Equity, he was president and
CEO of GE Equity, where he managed a $5 billion portfolio. Joe earned an MBA from the University of Arkansas and a BS in Finance from the University of Connecticut.

Michael G. Koppel ’78
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Nordstrom, Inc.

Michael G. Koppel is executive vice president and chief financial officer of Nordstrom, Inc., one of the nation’s leading fashion specialty retailers. Mike has more than 25 years of retail
industry experience in finance, strategy and planning and operations. After joining Nordstrom in 1999 as corporate controller and principal accounting officer, Mike was appointed CFO in April 2001.

Additionally, Mike supports and serves as a member of the board of Nordstrom fsb, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nordstrom, Inc. and federally chartered savings bank. In 2009, Mike was recognized by for the third time in Institutional Investor magazine as one of “America’s Best CFOs.”

Student Fellows

Gregory M. Autuori ’10
Undergraduate Program

Ethan C. Beschler ’10
Undergraduate Program

Bryan W. Bystricky ’10
Part-Time MBA, Hartford

Sophia K. Cerreta ’10
Undergraduate Program

Russell A. Gagain ’10
Executive MBA, Hartford

Jennifer K. Gorman ’10
Full-Time MBA Program, Storrs

Simone T. Hill ’10
Undergraduate Program

Nicholas C. Misenti ’09
MS in Accounting

Ezra J. Okon ’10
Undergraduate Program

Andrew O. Oladipo ’09
Part-Time MBA, Stamford

Camron Rafiee ’10
Undergraduate Program

Tawney Schwarz ’10
Part-Time MBA, Waterbury

Harpreet Singh ’10
Ph.D. Program

Yevgeniy Teplitsky ’10
Undergraduate Program

Sana Zuhaad ’10
Undergraduate Program

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 2, Issue 1 (Fall 2010)

Keith Fox ’80 offers advice to undergraduates at commencement

Keith Fox, who graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1980 with a major in  marketing, was Keynote Speaker for the 2010 Undergraduate Commencement  Ceremonies at the School of Business. Addressing more than 700 graduating students along with families, friends, and faculty, Fox wished the audience a Happy Mother’s Day,  and then spoke of the dedication and determination required to finally reach this important  milestone:

“You got to this wonderful day through incredible sacrifice and hard work — not all of it your  undertaking. You were under your parents’ wings the first half. Then you were given the opportunity to step out and earn some personal freedoms — your High School years. You passed that test, and it brought you here to UConn. You have done well, and your  presence here at graduation portends that you are ready to solo.”

Fox also recalled his four years at UConn, the classes, sports and dorm life, and of his own indecision following graduation:

“Now to be honest, I had the same range of emotions you are probably feeling today. I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I graduated. I wanted a job and to make enough money to be on my own. I started working at a small computer store in Norwalk Connecticut, in sales and marketing. I did well enough to be noticed and hired by a little company at the time called Apple Computer.”

Tracing the arc of his fifteen-year management career at Apple, and then at Cisco Systems where he was Vice-President of Worldwide Corporate Marketing, Fox offered a  challenge to the graduates:

“I tell you this because you will have many life experiences. You will continue to discover yourself. You will grow. You will have more than one job in your career. You will work for more than one company. You will most likely have a family… and you, like your parents, will invest in others.

Think big… have a plan… work hard… and have fun along the way. Compete hard… and play fair. If you aren’t in a good career place, change it. It’s your journey…it’s your life. UConn has prepared you well. Be confident that you can compete with professionals from all over the world… Continue to make yourself, your family, and your friends proud.”

Keith Fox

Fox is currently the CEO of the Keith and Pamela Fox Family Foundation focused on  children’s health and education. His philanthropic work also includes a board seat at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital, a board seat at the University of Connecticut  Foundation, a board seat on the Leadership Cabinet for the Dean of the UConn School of  Business, and an executive cabinet position for the President of California Polytechnic  State University.

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 2, Issue 1 (Fall 2010)

A Conversation with Clinton Gartin ’77

Clinton G. Gartin is Vice Chairman of Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking Division and oversees the firm’s health care franchise. He graduated from UConn in 1977 with a BS in  accounting and later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. He joined Morgan  Stanley in 1981 and has held a variety of positions with the firm since that time, including  co-head of Global Industries, Head of Health Care and Chief Administrative Officer of the  investment banking division. Mr. Gartin has extensive experience in both mergers and  acquisitions and capital raising. He has served as advisor to over $500 billion of M&A  transactions. He lives with his wife and four children in Darien, Connecticut.

You’ve pledged a substantial gift to the University of Connecticut School of Business over the next five years. What do you hope this gift will accomplish?

From my perspective, the UConn School of Business has made great progress over the last decade. National prominence is within reach and I hope my support and the support of others will help the School of Business reach that goal. This all ties into the difficult  economic times we’re currently experiencing. This is a time for alumni to step up with the financial support that will allow the University to continue its mission.

This is not your first gift to the school – can you tell us a little about your philanthropy and what has prompted it?

I had a great experience at the school. I had excellent professors and the courses I took were well designed; but despite that experience I had lost touch with UConn until about 15 years ago when I ran into Tom Gutteridge (former Dean of the School of Business) and got to talking about the school. He persuaded me to join the school’s board of advisors, and frankly, I became very enthused about what they were doing. It seemed like a good thing to give a little back to the school that had given me such a good grounding.

The other thing I’d say about general philanthropy is that I think education is the one great investment you can make as a donor that has a guaranteed return. You know that every dollar you invest helps the future. I think there’s a very clear payback. When you educate people and prepare them to do things for the rest of their lives, you get paid back forever.

Can you tell us a little bit more about your encounter with Dean Gutteridge?

Sure. I ran into him at a homecoming weekend celebration. My wife, who was a cheerleader at UConn, was marching in the parade and it was raining. I ducked into the School of Business to stay dry and there he was. So we got to talking.

Your wife also attended UConn?

Yes, I met my wife the second weekend of our freshman year.

The university has just initiated a major Capitol Campaign. What can you share with other School of Business alumni to prompt their participation in giving back to their alma mater?

I guess I’d say that for anyone who went to the UConn School of Business, at least some portion of their success can be attributed to the education they received there. We all had the good fortune of graduating during good economic times, which enabled us to leave school and embark on successful careers. Giving back to the school would enable others to enjoy the same benefits we have enjoyed, especially during these trying economic
times.

You mentioned the poor economy. What is your perspective on the current financial crisis?

I think it’s fair to say we’ve been through one of the most difficult economic times in any of our memories, and we’ve taken a number of steps that have been very positive to reverse that. I think we’re in the beginning of a recovery, but I don’t think anyone should underestimate the amount of work that we have left to do. It’s going to take an attitude
toward financial risk that is much more conservative than we’ve had for the last decade.

How did the education you received at the School of Business prepare you for your success in business?

I think the most important thing is that it created a very solid base level of business knowledge. All of the key tools in finance and accounting were extremely well taught at UConn. I walked out of UConn well prepared for a career in business.

Did you know your own career path from a young age?

I knew I wanted to be in business and I had a notion I might major in accounting. When I got to UConn and took my first accounting class, I liked it a lot and I decided that Accounting would be a great major. Interestingly, I’m one of the few people who turned down Duke to go to UConn — and I did that because if you go to Duke, you can’t take the CPA exam. They don’t have a very good basketball team either.

Are you a Connecticut native?

No, my father worked for GE so I grew up around the country. I lived my senior year of high school in Fairfield, Connecticut, so I decided to stay in-state for college.

Do you have any special memories of the school that you’d like to share?

Yes, there was one professor, a gentleman by the name of Dick Kochanek (currently Emeritus Professor of Accounting) who was my intermediate accounting professor. He was an exceptional educator and individual and he created a level of enthusiasm around a subject that does not always generate a great deal of enthusiasm. I came away from his classes excited about the field of business. One of the things that was distinctive
about him is he knew every student by name and called on them by name. The other thing that was distinctive about him was how excited he was about what he was teaching. He was interesting; he was funny; and he really captured your attention. He is still one of the most popular professors on campus.

Tell us what you did after college. How did you embark on the career you have now?

After I graduated in 1977 I went to work for one of the Big Eight accounting firms, Arthur Young & Company in Hartford. I left there in 1979 to go to Harvard Business School, where I graduated in 1981 and joined Morgan Stanley later that year. I started at Morgan Stanley as an associate in corporate finance. Over the years, I have done a variety of things,
but I now principally do mergers and acquisitions and capital raising. Last year, my colleagues and I represented Wyeth in its sale to Pfizer, for $68 billion dollars, the largest deal in the world last year. I also worked on the sale of Schering-Plough to Merck, which was $46 billion.Working at Morgan Stanley has been exciting and fun. I still enjoy it after all of these years.

What advice can you give to upcoming graduates?

I think the most important thing is to do something that you really enjoy because you’ll do the very best at those things you are most enthusiastic about. If work can be fun, you’ll do  well. If you wake up every morning saying, “I get to go to work” instead of, “I have to go to work,” you’ll be successful.

The only thing I might add is that nothing comes to people by accident. Success comes to people who work hard and who are focused and determined. Those who are self-reliant and have a goal can achieve a lot. I think that getting an  education at a school like UConn is a great base from which to achieve those types of goals. Students also need to understand that academic performance really matters. No one wants to hire someone who is average because they don’t think their business is average. They want to hire someone who is exceptional. College should be a wonderful time; it certainly was for me. But it needs to also be a time when you have objectives and goals. I’ve always told my kids that the eight most important years of your life are high school and college because they set the stage for everything that you accomplish thereafter.

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 2, Issue 1 (Fall 2010)

Jean M. LaVecchia ’81 MBA rewrites the rules to the triple bottom line

For Jean M. LaVecchia, Vice President of Human Resources at Northeast Utilities,life can be mysterious – and hopeful. From math to human resources, man-hole covers to energy grids, Millstone to ethics reform – LaVecchia has led the charge – bringing about changes in industry and education that affect not only how we live and learn, but how we interact with each other and the environment. Speaking to a group of over 200 MBA students and
alumni, LaVecchia retraced her career and the challenges that she has faced.

Graduating in 1973 summa cum laude from Connecticut College with a degree in  mathematics, she began her career in the Bell Telephone system as an economic  engineer for Southern New England Telephone. Luckily, her managers stressed the importance of education – providing opportunities for internal and external development.  So, when she had the opportunity to enroll in UConn’s Full-Time MBA Program in 1980, she jumped at the chance.

“I would drive from New Haven to Hartford each day to attend classes – and it has provided me with opportunities I never would have had… Earning an MBA degree demonstrates your own commitment to learning and investment in your own career,” notes LaVecchia who graduated from the UConn Program in 1981 and resumed her career at SNET.

Notwithstanding the recession of the early 1980’s, LaVecchia was able to advance within SNET – becoming Assistant Treasurer in charge of 401(k) plans, financial planning and analysis and soon thereafter, being appointed Vice President for Retail Marketing. Yet, through a series of “quirks and wonderful opportunities,” she found herself transitioning from finance to human resources. It began in the late 1980’s – a challenging time for SNET as labor strikes over benefits threatened to halt service. With an agreement reached, the organization underwent internal changes at the executive management level – creating more opportunities in Human Resources that would bring the focus back on talent development. For LaVecchia, it was an opportunity to blend her analytical and strategic capabilities with people – and she was a shoo-in for the role of Senior Vice President of Organizational Development. Leveraging her ability to analyze issues, she realized that the jump from finance to human resources wasn’t as vast as she originally believed.

And she was off. During deregulation of the telecom industry, LaVecchia led the restructuring of SNET into wholesale and retail operations and developed a multi-year strategic change management process focusing on leadership and organizational adaptability. She later left her 24-year career at SNET to accept an opportunity at People’s  Bank in 1998 – becoming Executive Vice President of Corporate Services directing the bank’s strategic planning and overseeing its human resources functions. But, while the
corporate environment was undergoing dramatic changes brought on by the dotcom era and a hyper-competitive global market, LaVecchia was undergoing a change management process herself – and took on quite possibly her most challenging (and gratifying) career  move.

LaVecchia left People’s Bank in 1999 to join Northeast Utilities – reeling after the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant crisis. Memorialized on the cover of TIME magazine – the media castigated Northeast Utilities, challenging them to upgrade their safety initiatives and punish those managers who chose retaliation against employees for reporting safety violations. By chronicling the plight of whistleblowers who went outside the company to tell their story because senior managers wouldn’t listen, Northeast Utilities found itself in an ethical quandary. “We learned the hard way; and many companies and leaders are still learning the hard way…”offers LaVecchia who now serves as Vice President of Human Resources and the organization’s Chief Ethics Officer. “Ethics and leadership build the heart of the company – and human resources fills a necessary role in informing and educating employees. But it takes great leaders to ensure a pervasive culture of ethics – and great leaders are role models who always do the right thing.

Ethics is now a top priority for the company and our leaders course-correct when  necessary, even if they need to eat humble pie. My mother always told me that ‘if it’s too good to be true, it is’, so when you see something wrong, you’ve got to be proactive,  courageous, speak up, and not just go along with the crowd. Could-a, should-a, would-a  never helped anyone.” Motivated by the spirit of service, LaVecchia has been the chief promoter of doing the right thing – and promoting “doing the right thing” as a core corporate value. “We need to know  that when we move, we’re moving in the right direction; and it benefits everybody,” offers  LaVecchia who now evaluates opportunities on the basis of their economic, environmental and social impacts.

Of course, infusing a culture with innovation can be a bit “like turning the Queen Mary” admits LaVecchia. “These days are much more exciting as this industry is on the leading edge of change; but we’ve met the innovation challenge head on. We found that we had
to infuse new talent into the organization and hire those who have more strategic planning skills and know how to react quickly. We need people who have experienced the pace of change. There are tremendous opportunities advancing through the stimulus package to upgrade our network – to automate it so that it is self-diagnosing and self-healing.”

LaVecchia also praised the expertise of UConn students. “UConn is our premier school.  We recruit heavily at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In fact, over 400 NU employees are UConn graduates and this past summer, we hosted 120 interns.” UConn’s graduate and undergraduate degrees boast a robust curriculum that incorporates  experiential learning, so students now have the advantage of working in cross-curriculum-based teams. “To the extent you can work in teams, learn from each other and faculty, test assumptions and models, probe for better information, better understand the  interdependent role of regulation and government, network, and build your team and communication skills – it will be very helpful to you in your careers,” she noted.

In offering advice to students, LaVecchia added “Consider, more broadly, what you want to do – and as you go through your program, explore other fields… As one of my  management professors told me, do not seek a career or positions because you want to be it – seek it because you want to do it. ‘Being’ is one thing, but finding your passion is  ever more important.”

Jean M. LaVecchia

Jean M. LaVecchia is vice president – Human Resources and Ethics Officer for the Northeast Utilities system (NU). She is a member of the Senior Management Committee responsible for all aspects of human resources, including workforce planning and  development, ethics and safety.

A native of Connecticut, LaVecchia joined NU in November of 1999. She has more than 25 years in the telecommunications and banking industries at People’s Bank and Southern  New England Telecom Corporation (SNET, now AT&T) where she has played integral management roles in strategic planning, human resources and organization development,  communications, marketing and auditing.

LaVecchia is a member of the Board of Governors for Higher Education and a member of the board of advisors of the University of Connecticut’s School of Business. LaVecchia graduated from Connecticut College summa cum laude in 1973 with a Bachelor’s degree
in Mathematics. She received her MBA degree in Finance from the University of Connecticut in 1980. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Societies.

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 1, Issue 1 (Summer 2009)

“Creativity is in our DNA at Walmart,” noted Bill Simon ’81, ’88 MBA, a distinguished UConn School of Business alum.  Simon, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Wal-Mart US., and his colleague, Hank Mullany, President of Wal-Mart Northeast, were addressing questions from Full-Time MBA students at a forum about organizational  transformation on Tuesday, April 21st.

After the forum, they opened the floor to a question and answer session regarding career management, a topic of particular importance to students in this economic climate. The forum held at UConn was focused on the organizational transformation that Walmart Executives Address Organizational Transformation and Careers with MBA Students Walmart has undergone in the past few years and career advancement.

Mr. Simon started with a quote from Walmart CEO, Lee Scott, “To stay out in front of change, we must make unique contributions to the community.” Walmart does this through a strong strategy around climate, waste and products. Stores are becoming more energy efficient through solar power and renewable energy, creating zero waste and selling products that sustain resources and the environment. This is a two-fold effort: it gives Walmart a great image, but it also saves the company millions of dollars a year. Smaller packing allows the company to save waste and lowers the cost of operation. Aerodynamic trucks save 32 million gallons of fuel each year.

Walmart’s corporate motto “Save Money. Live Better.” follows this notion. Mr. Simon is proud to be a Walmart employee; he believes that Walmart’s position as an established leader in the retail segment is driven by its ability to save consumers money and provide them with fast and friendly stores. Simon also noted that Walmart is adept at executing new ideas by staying on the cutting edge; he’s never experienced a company that does it better.

In the career session, Simon and Mullany spoke to MBA students about the skills and traits that are needed to excel in today’s business world. Students should leave their MBA program with a willingness to work hard. Mullany notes that having a “fire in your belly” that will fuel work ethic is among one of the most important skills. In addition, strong  communication, leadership and analytical skills will contribute to success in the business world.

Today’s business world is competitive and Mr. Simon and Mr. Mullany reminded all students to be proactive, not reactive. A new employee can make a difference early on and has the opportunity to shine when first starting a new job. In order to be successful in finding the right job, Mr. Simon reminded all students not to take a job simply because the pay seems right. He asked the students to always remember three basic principles: ask yourself what you get from the position, what you give to the position/company and what is in it for you. Mr. Mullany followed with stressing the importance of having a vision of what you want out of a career. The skills Mr. Simon learned at UConn helped to prepare him for his career trajectory.

Mr. Simon is currently Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of WalMart US. He is responsible for the retailer’s U.S. operations, covering more than 3,600 stores, logistics, asset protection, transportation and store innovation. The Walmart U.S. retail units include Discount stores, Supercenters, Marketsides and Neighborhood Markets. He was promoted to his current position in 2007. Mr. Simon was previously EVP of Professional Services and New Business Development where he managed Pharmacy, Optical, Tire and Lube Express, Photo, and Connection Centers. Mr. Simon also led the team that created and launched Walmart’s $4 generic prescription program.

This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 1, Issue 1 (Summer 2009)

When Selma Cagatay-Searfoss ’94 (SSW) sought to mark the passing of her husband, David Searfoss ’76 MBA, she and her children created an endowment in David’s honor to support the School of Business’s Student Managed Investment Fund. “With this fund, we hope to encourage students’ education, but also to promote David’s legacy,” says Selma. “I think this fund really captures his vision and spirit. The whole family is thrilled with the establishment of the fund and with its current success.”

One of the School of Business’s most popular educational programs, the Student Managed Fund, established in 1999, offers students a rich experiential learning immersion in stock selection, trade execution, and portfolio management. Funded by the UConn Foundation in cooperation with the School of Business, the Department of Finance, alumni and private donors, the fund gives students a unique opportunity to apply classroom concepts to real-life investing.

Investing in the financial markets was a passion David Searfoss developed early in life. After starting his career as a Certified Public Accountant and eventual Audit Manager with Price Waterhouse in Hartford, he then became the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Orion Group. After serving as Vice President and Controller of the Orion Capital Corp, he became Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Company. David was also a Certified Financial Analyst, and formed Sears Investment Management, LLC a registered advisory firm.

Selma’s and David’s son Cengiz Searfoss, a managing director at DCS Capital, has taken on a more instrumental role in overseeing the Student Managed Fund. He greatly appreciates how experiential learning enables School of Business students to think more critically about their investment selections and the timing with respect to those decisions. “That type of risk awareness is something that doesn’t come instinctively until you start to manage money. These students gain
a good understanding of what they’re getting into and why. They really understand the backdrop, the industry, and the fundamentals; their in-depth understanding of decision-making is a real testament to the students and to UConn,” he says.

Both Selma and Cengiz agree that David would be especially proud of the character building that students experience as a result of their involvement with the Student Managed Fund. “Teaching students how to maintain the highest levels of integrity while maximizing returns is so important, so teaching students the importance of character building and business acumen is what would make David very happy,” Selma emphasizes. If any of the student’s investments go bad, they know they must be accountable to the board, and, as Cengiz shares, “that’s part of the accountability process.”

Selma, a native of Turkey, agrees that the family’s support of the Student Managed Fund is a particularly fitting way to  celebrate David’s legacy. “David always mentored young people, and he was an incredible teacher. He was such a gentle soul, in that sense. He demanded and expected more, but he was a great teacher and loved sharing his knowledge. He expected young people to strive and excel,” she says.

David’s love for discussion and ideas was infectious. His niece, Shebna Olsen, a wealth management professional with HSBC Securities, indicated that David “always talked to me like I was a peer. He constantly shared things with me; he was the best mentor I could ask for. Although he was a CFO, he would give all his knowledge away, if you were willing to talk with him.” As a son, brother, husband, father, uncle, and grandfather, David always encouraged those he loved to pay close attention to the world around them. He knew that understanding the broader world not only helped others make more informed financial decisions, but also helped one appreciate diversity and difference.

The Searfoss family looks forward to making the Student Managed Fund even stronger in the future. For example, both Cengiz and Shebna have expressed interest in strengthening the semester-long mentoring relationships between board members and students. Selma agrees that this mentoring reflects David’s spirit. “It’s important that we make sure students think about investments and finance with the highest levels of integrity, especially given the financial scandals of late. David had such incredible integrity, and that integrity is so important for our future business leaders to pass down to the next generation of investors,” she says.

In honoring her husband’s legacy, Selma hopes to set an example for future UConn alumni. “Giving to UConn is gratifying for us. I take it very seriously, for I feel it is our civic duty. Graduates gain so much, and it’s important for them to then give back. Our future generations need to see modeled for them the importance of giving back. I’m so delighted we are giving back to UConn. I enjoy passing the baton to young ones, and we all have to somehow be reaching out to the world.”

Cengiz also takes great pride in carrying out his father’s legacy. “I think my father would be over the moon with what has been accomplished with the Student Managed Fund. I think this program reflects so many of the values that he shared.
Investing was a passion that my father had, and I share that passion. With the Student Managed Fund, I feel that the students, the board members, and UConn’s faculty are all really rowing in the same direction, so to speak. It’s important to encourage these young minds to continue to think things through, to keep asking questions.”