How many student interns can say they attended a speech by President Obama, met several Cabinet Secretaries, and watched the Marine One helicopter land on the South Lawn of the White House?
David Rifkin, a UConn senior majoring in Business Management, has done all three, while spending this semester as a White House Intern, conducting research and writing reports for government officials.
Simultaneously, Rifkin is researching leadership styles of early presidents, as well as more recent administrations, as part of an independent research project. He plans to present his findings when he returns to campus in the spring semester.
“It is incredible to walk through the White House gates every morning on the way to work,” said the Glastonbury native. “It is truly inspirational to consider that I am working at the very same place as some of the greatest leaders in American history.
“The thrill has not remotely begun to wear off,” said Rifkin, who is also a member of the UConn Honors program. “I still feel the same magic that I did on the very first day.”
Rifkin is no stranger to public service. Last year, he interned for U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, and also at the international human rights organization Lawyers Without Borders. He has also been active in student government at UConn.
“I thought that an internship at the White House would take my government and public service interests to the highest level,” he said. “My experience as a White House Intern is incredible. To say I’m enjoying myself would be an understatement. The work is quite demanding, but no work I have ever done has been so rewarding.
“On a more personal level, I hope my White House Internship will give me insight into what career path I want to pursue professionally,” he said. “I also hope to further develop my leadership and professional skills, to prepare myself for future personal and career endeavors.”
Rifkin’s research project is under the supervision of Management Professor Zeki Simsek, who describes Rifkin as focused, engaged, mature, observant, reflective and professional.
“I suspect that he will uncover some intriguing contrasts, as well as commonalities among the U.S. presidents in terms of leadership variables, such as openness to new information, belief systems, interpersonal styles, motivation and more,” Simsek said. He has asked Rifkin to explore whether presidents tend to display a dominant leadership style or a multifaceted one, and whether their styles shape their job performance.
Although Rifkin isn’t yet ready to reveal what he’s learned, he looks forward to presenting his findings upon his return.
“I intend for my research to be of value to all those interested in what constitutes effective leadership,” he said. “I aim to become better informed, through my exploration, of what factors contribute to successful management style at the highest level, in a way that can be generalized to leadership positions in all areas from business to government.”
Rifkin said his UConn experiences, both academically and in student government, helped prepare him for his internship.
Asked whether it will be hard to go back to being a student again, Rifkin said no.
“Although a White House Internship is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I certainly miss college at the same time,” he said. “I think the skills gained from this internship will actually enhance my future academic experience. I don’t want this internship to end, but I look forward to being back with my college friends, attending classes, and, of course, watching UConn Basketball.”
Yue Zhu, an upperclassman in the School of Business, has won a $5,000 scholarship from the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2, an organization that promotes international cyber security.
Zhu, who has a cumulative GPA of 3.95, said he hopes to pursue information security as a career after graduation.
“Yue is an exceptional student,” said Professor Dmitry Zhdanov, who is his academic adviser. Last year Zhu was recognized with UConn’s Outstanding MIS Junior Scholarship. He also participated in the CoMIS National Case Competition last April, in which Team UConn won the second place out of 12 colleges from around nation.
The ISC2 Foundation is an international charitable trust that aims to empower students, teachers and the general public to secure their “online life” with cybersecurity education and awareness programs and to fill society’s need for trained cybersecurity professionals.
“This is a highly prestigious scholarship in the information security field, coming from the organization which is a gold standard in information security excellence,” Zhdanov said, noting that Ryan Fried won it as a UConn student in 2012. “It is safe to say that our program is producing top-notch talent.”
Zhu grew up in China, which is still his home, but has been attending U.S. schools since the 11th grade. Although a junior, he has already accumulated enough credits to graduate.
How do credit card companies decide when to boost your credit line or send you a new-card solicitation in the mail?
And how do banks save millions by carefully managing their cash reserves?
Professor Suresh Nair has worked on these, and other pivotal business-research issues, as a means to enhance his knowledge as an educator and as the associate dean for graduate programs at the UConn School of Business.
A project-based, research-focused sabbatical at a large company can be a wonderful alternative to a more traditional academic sabbatical experience, Professor Nair said.
Not only did his sabbaticals in industry save tens of millions of dollars for companies, he has also received research awards, started a company with seed funding from the National Science Foundation, and transformed and strengthened his teaching.
“This is a largely unexplored opportunity for our faculty,” Professor Nair said following his well-received presentation to more than 50 colleagues this fall. “I’ve participated in sabbaticals at General Electric, Merrill Lynch and Booz & Co., and have had excellent experiences.
“I wanted to use my sabbaticals to pick up new skills. Going back to industry helped me stay on top of current issues in financial services, healthcare and entrepreneurship, and also gave me the opportunity to help these companies achieve their goals,” he said. “I left each of my three sabbaticals with new topics to research, and many ‘war stories’ to share in the classroom.”
To a consumer, credit-card solicitations by mail (sometimes derisively called junk mail) may seem like a random process, Professor Nair said. In fact, it is very complex. Who gets offered a credit card, and at what rate, involves complicated analytics, Professor Nair said.
“A company may start out with 10 million contacts and narrow them down to a million or fewer,” Professor Nair said. “The marketing experts want more customers and the risk experts want fewer. If you go to a store and you’re close to your credit limit, and you want to buy furniture, how does the bank determine if it should increase your credit line? If they don’t, you’ll use another card. If they hike it up too much, they risk higher losses if you become delinquent.”
Professor Nair helped create an algorithm—using credit scores and other factors—to determine who would qualify for a credit increase. His work was so sophisticated and unique that it won the coveted Wagner Prize.
During another sabbatical, Professor Nair worked at Merrill Lynch, delving into research of banking reserves.
“The Federal Reserve requires banks to set aside about 10 percent of your checking account balances as reserves. The bank cannot invest these funds and gets very little interest on it from the Fed,” Professor Nair said. “This rule comes from the Depression era, to prevent a run on banks. However, it means that banks have millions of dollars that they can’t invest.”
Professor Nair helped Merrill Lynch optimize its “sweeps” program to save $4 million a year.
The program was so successful that Professor Nair wanted to develop a similar product for smaller banks. He began a successful start-up in South Windsor using a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation.
“It gave me a good experience, the satisfaction of making payroll and creating and commercializing a new product,” he said. “It never would have happened without my sabbatical. It gave me a unique perspective as the founder of a company.”
Professor Nair said he began searching for sabbatical opportunities about a year prior to his leave, and that he was selective in the ones he considered. He found that industry was very welcoming, and wondered why more faculty don’t take advantage of similar opportunities. Industry is happy to host sabbaticals, since they are inexpensive to the firm, as long as an educator can demonstrate a skill that will complement and add value to the company.
Professor Nair worked on his sabbaticals without pay from the firm, since UConn continued to pay salary, asking that the corporations only cover his lodging and travel expenses. At the completion of his sabbatical, some of the companies asked that he continue his work as a paid consultant.
“It is difficult work,” he said. “I asked to be treated like an employee, with the badge, the email, the off-site meetings and everything. Sometimes I worked very long hours and I was away from home at least four days a week. It may not be for everyone. But the opportunities you get, and the real-life exposure to business problems and issues, really can’t be experienced any other way.”
After his presentation, many UConn colleagues said his work was eye-opening and that they would consider a similar, alternative sabbatical.
Professor Nair acknowledged that there is some trepidation on the part of faculty, who are under pressure to publish and might find an industry sabbatical a distraction. But Professor Nair has demonstrated that excellent published papers in top journals can result, and allayed some of those fears through his presentation.
“I felt I could navigate a path which would provide both research expertise, topics for publication, and also improve my teaching,” he said. “To me, it hit all the sweet spots I wanted.”
The University of Connecticut School of Business has been awarded a four-year U.S. Department of Education CIBER grant in excess of $1.1 million, to produce a series of programs and partnerships that center around manufacturing.
The CIBER—Center for International Business Education and Research—award comes following an extremely competitive application process in which only half of applicants had their awards renewed.Continue Reading
Future MBA students seeking high-quality programs without the price barrier of an Ivy League institution should consider UConn among their top choices, according to the latest College Atlas rankings.
“This list is for bright and ambitious students that are looking to find a school that has a reputation for high-quality education, marketable degrees, tuition they can quickly pay off, and reasonable acceptance qualifications that make getting into graduate school a possibility,” according to College Atlas.Continue Reading
Something that gives me* an immense amount of enjoyment is the advising that I do with student start-ups from the UConn Innovation Questprogram. This program is a contest with real cash awards as well as a six week incubator program that puts the student teams directly in touch with start-up experts as well as investors. Just having a cool or innovative idea isn’t enough to compete. The purpose of the iQ program is to create real businesses that have the potential to generate revenue, jobs and growth.
The UConn program is run by Richard Dino, a professor from the School of Business with an endless amount of enthusiasm and encouragement. Keith Fox ’80, an alumnus of UConn, provides iQ support from the national program level. In addition to Rich and Keith, there are twenty or more individuals both inside and outside the University who provide mentoring and other program support.
There are many success stories that have emerged out of the program, but here is a handful of the companies with whom I have regularly stayed in touch. Congratulations to all of these business founders who are now working on their companies full-time!
Macroscopic Solutions
“Whoa, that is cool…” is what I typically hear when I show people images produced from the Macropod. No one can deny that the high resolution photos rank high on coolness.
Macroscopic Solutions, founded by Connecticut-based Mark Smith ’13 MS (CLAS), provides high-resolution imaging products for scientific researchers. Although their primary focus is to enhance scientific discovery, their product is also very popular among manufacturers, fabricators, machinists and mechanical engineers for quality, control and failure testing. Along with Mark, the team includes Daniel Saftner, Annette Evans and Jake Bellaire.
The Macropod is an automated photomacrography system that can rapidly capture and assemble multiple images. The images are post-processed so that only the areas in focus will appear in the final image. The result is an ultra-high-resolution, color image that is completely in focus and rivals that of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).
The technology used in the Macropod was invented while Mark Smith was still in high school. Through his program of donating one Macropod to a school for every 10 that they sell, Mark is giving back by encouraging kids to pursue careers in STEM-related fields.
The Macropod is currently available and Mark is busy selling his product by attending trade shows and providing demos to organizations in a number of scientific and research-oriented industries.
I suppose it is no surprise that I share a bond with other fellow entrepreneurs like Mark that emerged from the UConn Department of Geology and Geophysics (now known as the Center of Integrative Geosciences).
After a successful launch to six universities to help college students find a safe ride home after a night of partying, Dashride made a brilliant pivot of their business concept: their technology is now a software platform that allows independent taxi and limo companies to compete with the big on-demand taxi and ride-share services.
Founded by Nadav Ulman ’12 (CLAS) and Tom Bachant ’13 (ENG), Dashride is following a start-up pattern that involves building a solid product while courting the angel and VC investor community. They have successfully completed a round of angel funding (I am among those initial investors) and are close to closing a seed round that will net them close to $1MM in working capital.
Dashride’s platform allows independent taxi and limo companies to take advantage of the ever-expanding rideshare industry. They accomplish this by providing a SaaS-based platform with minimal up-front investment. They currently have 5 employees and are based in New York City.
Dashride was recently featured in the New York Times business section in an article highlighting tech companies who are enabling small businesses to compete in larger markets. You can read that New York Times article here.
Smpl Bio
Another company that successfully emerged from the first iQ program at UConn was Smpl Bio, founded by James Lindsay ’07 (ENG), ’09 MS and Ed Hemphill. Their company simplifies the process of biomarker selection for scientific researchers through the design and use of their proprietary algorithms.
Biomarkers are used in the bio-medical world to infer the existence of a particular disease, infection or condition. The Smpl Bio team is developing a software platform to allow researchers world-wide to more quickly identify biomarkers for the diseases or conditions that are being studied. The ability to quickly identify the existence of a condition or disease has obvious benefits in terms of speed to treatment.
The team has successfully raised funds through the Connecticut Innovations Challenge Grant program as well as the University of Connecticut Third Bridge Grant. With those funds they have expanded the full-time team to include three new programmers who are doing web development and scientific programming.
James tells me that they are planning on bringing on a full-time technical sales person and veteran bio-science CEO by year end. They also have an impressive and experienced team of scientists and business advisors backing them up.
They are currently finishing up their scalable, cloud-based solution. They are targeting a Q1 2015 date for the general availability of their platform both in the US and internationally.
More Businesses On Their Way!
The 2014 iQ program recently wrapped up and I’m optimistic about the potential success of that next round of new, emerging businesses. I’m also looking forward to the next round of entrepreneurs and their ideas this coming fall!
*This article was written by Rick Kollmeyer ’82 (CLAS), alumni mentor for the UConn Innovation Quest program, and first appeared on the Blue Edge Labs blog on August 12.
This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 4, Issue 3 (Spring 2014)
1960s
Scott S. Cowen ’68, ’10H has been elected to the board of directors at Barnes & Noble. Cowen was also presented with the 2014 Maimonides Award by Hillel International for his dedication to higher education in promoting a deep commitment to Jewish and secular learning. Cowen is a member of the School of Business Hall of Fame. Ronald A. Pace ’69, ’72 MBA was elected to the Ariens Company Board of Directors.Pace is currently group president of interiors for the Kohler Company. He also serves on the boards of Road America as well as The Milwaukee Masterpiece. He is a guest lecturer and adjunct professor at Marquette’s Graduate School of Business. Mark R. Shenkman ’67 (CLAS) received the prestigious 2014 Renaissance Award by Hillel International for his advocacy of higher education and Israel. Shenkman is a member of the School of Business Hall of Fame.
1970s
David E. Sturgess ’78 has been appointed senior vice president, secretary and general counsel of Affinia Group Inc. Prior to his appointment at Affinia, he led all legal activities at ReCommunity Recycling.
1980s
Douglas G. Elliot ’82 has been named president of The Hartford. Elliot joined The Hartford in 2011 as president of Commercial Markets and was previously the president of Hartford Steam Boiler.Elliot is also a member of the School of Business Hall of Fame. Stephen M. Holcomb ’86 MBA has been appointed to chief executive officer at SmartPay Solutions. Holcomb is an experienced leader having worked with several companies in the insurance services and technology markets. Brian J. Kelley ’86 MBA has been named interim chief executive officer at Alteva, Inc., a premier provider of hosted Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS). Kelley joined Alteva’s Board in November of 2013 and is currently the chief executive officer of Four Winds Advisors LLC. John C. Lent ’87 MBA has been appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer of Atlantic Coast Financial Corporation and its subsidiary Atlantic Coast Bank. Prior to his appointment, Lent served as the president of Temenos Advisory. Steven H. Mikel ’86 MBA has joined Caprock Oil Inc. as president and chief executive officer. Mikel has more than 30 years of experience in the industry’s financial and operating sectors. William H. Morgan ’81 has been promoted to co-head of healthcare financial services at Wells Fargo. Prior to his promotion, Morgan led the healthcare financial services in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. Thomas W. Prete ’84, ’01 MBA has been inducted into the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering. Prete is currently the vice president of engineering at Pratt & Whitney. Scott A. Trenholm ’82 has been named leader of the New England audit practice at Grant Thornton. Trenholm has more than 30 years of experience in auditing and financial consulting.
1990s
Brian M. DiBella ’92 has been named president of Legrand North America’s Electrical Wiring Systems division. Prior to his appointment, DiBella was the general manager of Wiremold and previously served as Legrand North America’s chief information officer. Daniel C. Dipillo ’99 has joined PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP as an assurance partner. Dipillo will be focused on the industrial products and aerospace and defense sectors. John P. Gianukakis ’98 MBA has been appointed vice president and treasurer of Frontier Communications Corporation. Gianukakis has 25 years of experience in treasury, financial services capital markets, insurance, bank relationships, and investment and commercial banking and information technology.Most recently, Gianukakis was the senior vice president of finance and treasurer of Castleton Commodities International. Joshua D. Goldfarb ’96 has joined PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP as an advisory partner. Goldfarb will specialize in finance, technology and operations, focusing on the financial service sector. Nicole M. Lindsay ’96 has published a new book, The MBA Slingshot for Women: Using Business School to Catapult Your Career. Her book is a gender-based road map for women to develop the knowledge, skills and relationships to succeed in business school and beyond. Robert T. Peterson ’95 MBA has been named chief executive officer at Millinocket Regional Hospital in Maine. Peterson is a seasoned healthcare executive with more than 25 years of experience. He previously served as patient care administrator for surgery and women and children’s services at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. Scott Wulinsky ’96 has been appointed to chief accounting officer of Affinia. Prior to his appointment at Affinia, Wulinsky served as the director of regulated accounting at Duke Energy Corporation.
2000s
Shelly Abdella ’05 MBA has been promoted to senior vice president of finance and profitability at Webster Bank. Abdella joined Webster Bank in 2001 and has held positions such as financial analyst and vice president of finance with the financial planning department. Robert Casey ’05 EMBA is currently the vice president and director of mutual fund compliance at Hartford Funds. Casey and his family moved from Storrs to Malvern, Pennsylvania in conjunction with the recent relocation of the Hartford Funds from Simsbury, Connecticut to Radnor, Pennsylvania. Wade A. Gibbs ’00 has been named the adult ambassador for the 2014 Greater Hartford Walk to Cure Arthritis by the Arthritis Foundation, New England Region. As an ambassador, Gibbs will help the Greater Hartford Walk to Cure Arthritis reach its fundraising goal of $104,580. Ryan J. Krueger ’06 has been appointed to managing director of equity research at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. Prior to his appointment at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Krueger served at Dowling & Partners securities as partner and sector head. Jose C. Oliveira ’00, ’01 MSA has joined Moriarty & Primack, P.C. as a tax manager. Oliveira is also a member of the AICPA and the Connecticut Society of CPAs. Diana J. Piquette ’06, ’07 MSA has joined The Phoenix Companies, Inc. as second vice president, GAAP accounting and assistant controller. Piquette was most recently an audit manager at Deloitte & Touche, focused on life insurance accounts. Gregg B. Schuster ’05 MBA, former First Selectman of Colchester, Connecticut, was appointed township manager of Pocono Township, Pennsylvania.
2010s
John P. Bonora ’11 MSFRM has joined First County Bank as the senior vice president, chief credit and chief risk officer. Bonora has also recently been honored as one of the Fairfield County 2014 “40 Under 40” business executives for demonstrating extraordinary leadership qualities. Jeffrey R. Carlson ’14 Ph.D. (marketing) has successfully defended his dissertation titled “Exploring the Importance and Value of Studying Subjective Time in Marketing Management.” Carlson has accepted a position as assistant professor at the University of Richmond. Matthew D. Dean ’10 Ph.D. has been appointed to associate professor of business with tenure at the University of Southern Maine School of Business. Dean is also the director of the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Southern Maine. Norman Massel ’14 Ph.D. (accounting) has successfully defended his dissertation titled “The Effect of Exemption from Mandatory Disclosure to the IRS on Firm Value and Behavior.” Massel has accepted a tenure track position as assistant professor at Louisiana State University. John Tartaglio ’14 MBA was featured on the cover of the 2014 spring issue of UConn Magazine: Portraits of Strength. His story appeared among those of eleven alumni who spoke out about their enduring spirit, sharing their darkest struggles as well as their greatest triumphs. Shuai Yang ’14 Ph.D. (marketing) successfully defended her dissertation titled, “Two Essays on Matching Strategy in Paid Search Advertising.” Yang has accepted a position at Donghua University in Shanghai, China.
Gift from Nayden Family Supports Business School’s Pursuit of Excellence
Pictured above: The Naydens were honored for their $3 million gift during the women’s home game on Dec. 5. From left: Coach Geno Auriemma, Denis Nayden, Britta Nayden, Uconn Board of Trustees Chairman Lawrence McHugh, Director of Athletics Warde Manuel, President of the UConn Foundation Joshua Newton, School of Business Dean John Elliott, and former UConn Husky Meg Culmo (UConn Foundation Photo)
This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 4, Issue 3 (Spring 2014)
A fondness for their days at UConn, and their desire to help young people have similar experiences, prompted Denis ’76, ’77 and Britta ’76 Nayden to establish a $1 million scholarship program specifically for college athletes who share the family’s interest in business, physical therapy or kinesiology.
“We are proud UConn grads and this is our way to share and give back, which we both believe in,” Denis Nayden said. Their $1 million gift for scholarships was part of a $3 million pledge to the University that includes $1 million for the Basketball Champions Center and a $1 million challenge grant to match support for the center from former Husky basketball players.
“Philanthropic support like this is absolutely essential to the School of Business and to UConn,” said Dean John A. Elliott. “Support for scholarships plays an absolutely vital role in recruiting the best students to UConn. The availability and generosity of a scholarship is often a crucial factor in a student’s decision about college choice. Private giving for scholarship allows the School of Business to continue to attract the most qualified students and support them while they are here.”
UConn President Susan Herbst also welcomed the generous philanthropic support from the Naydens. “UConn’s new academic plan sets impressive goals for the next decade for research, scholarship and undergraduate and graduate education, all designed to raise UConn to the ranks of the world’s greatest universities,” she said. “Private support from our alumni and friends, such as this gift from the Naydens, is absolutely essential in our journey.”
The Naydens graduated from UConn in 1976, Denis with a BA from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Britta with a BS from the School of Allied Health, now part of the Neag School of Education. Denis received his MBA from the School of Business in 1977, and went on to a successful career with GE and Oak Hill Capital Management, where he currently serves as managing partner. He has served on UConn’s Board of Trustees since 2001 and also has worked diligently on a variety of committees for the UConn Foundation.
“Our donation to the basketball center is an investment in a great program. Our challenge grant is meant to encourage participation by former players, who fully understand the spirit of competition, and our scholarship gift is designed to support student athletes, who share our interest in business, physical therapy or kinesiology. Its support for a great program and for giving young people a shot at a great education, wrapped up in a big UConn bow,” Denis Nayden added.
The incoming freshmen in the Class of 2017 were the most academically accomplished group to enter UConn in its history. With an average SAT score of 1233, they outpaced the preceding year’s incoming freshmen, whose average of 1226 had set the previous record. The increase in high performing students is a key factor in UConn’s rise from number 27 in the 2010 US. News & World Report to number 19 in 2013, said Elliott.
“We are so grateful and so proud that our alumni understand that support for scholarship helps the School of Business attract the kinds of students and scholars who elevate its stature,” according to Elliott.
Note: Denis Nayden is a member of the UConn School of Business Hall of Fame and has been a distinguished speaker at recent School of Business ceremonies.
What should a modern business education encompass?
Innovation, Sustainability, Analytics Top List of Academic Strategies
This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 4, Issue 3 (Summer 2014)
Education is a truly transformative experience.
While it is incumbent upon our students to take advantage of the many wonderful opportunities they have here at UConn, we—the administrators, faculty and staff—have an equally formidable responsibility.
Education is never stagnant. We must be mindful of the changing business climate, tap the expertise and perspective of our business partners, and consistently deliver the knowledge and skills that our students require.
We must embrace change. This year the School of Business will adopt a new academic vision to guide us in our preparation of future entrepreneurs, executives and decision-makers.
In consonance with the University of Connecticut’s newly adopted academic vision, “Creating our Future: UConn’s Path to Excellence,” we have identified the following four areas for emphasis: creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship; sustainability and risk management; analytics and big data; and healthcare management and insurance studies. All are vital to economic growth and solving the world’s problems, be they personalized medicine and genomics, data management or protecting our planet. These areas of emphasis help focus our attention and guide our growth. They engage us with our business community. However, they do not mean we are turning away from the core functional education that our students seek and our business partners rely upon in the traditional areas.
At the UConn School of Business, we strive to be a globally-recognized provider of exceptional managerial and business leadership. We believe that academic excellence in a modern business education requires a global perspective. Our many goals include identifying and addressing business challenges and recognizing our role as a partner in the success of business development both in Connecticut and beyond. We believe our new academic vision will keep us sharply focused on those goals.
In this issue of UConn Business, we have the opportunity to introduce you to a very special family whose generosity will enable us to continue to invite the most deserving students to our ranks.
Denis ’76 CLAS, ’77 MBA and Brita Nayden ’76 have donated $3 million towards the new UConn Basketball Champions Center and for scholarships for student-athletes, with a very generous amount earmarked for School of Business students.
The School honors remarkable individuals by induction into the School of Business Hall of Fame. Denis Nayden has already earned this distinction. In this issue you will also enjoy reading about five of our remarkable alumni whose business accomplishments, character, and dedication to others have recently earned them similar recognition.
While each of their passions and stories is unique, I’m sure they share the mantra of alumna Amy J. Errett ’79 (CLAS), an entrepreneur, senior executive, venture capitalist and philanthropist. When asked how she accomplishes so much, she said: “Well, I don’t sleep a lot … I get up early and go to bed late, and I try to make every day count.”
Our Storrs campus is bustling with the addition of headquarters for the Connecticut Small Business Development Center, now located on the second floor of the School of Business. The CTSBDC provides free, confidential, business advising to entrepreneurs who are forming or growing a business. We certainly believe this partnership will be advantageous for our students, our university, and many businesses throughout Connecticut.
As the summer draws to a close, the School of Business faculty and staff are excited for this academic year. Always a busy time, this year it is even more so, as we usher in new programs in Human Resource Management and in Digital Marketing & Analytics, a rapidly growing field with tremendous employment opportunities.
Best wishes to all,
John A. Elliott Dean and Auran J. Fox Chair in Business
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
James Agonis ’71
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
Kevin Bouley ’80
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
Joan DeBlasis ’76, ’83 MBA
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)
Amy J. 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
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.
