Alumni

Dr. Rowena Ortiz-Walters Selected as Dean of School of Business and Economics

Posted on by Pamela Costa

The State University of New York at Plattsburgh issued the following news release:

The chair of management in the School of Business and Engineering at Quinnipiac University is the new dean of SUNY Plattsburgh’s School of Business and Economics.

Dr. Rowena Ortiz-Walters, a professor of management at the Hamden, Conn., university, accepted the position March 30 with the intent of being on campus this summer.

“Dr. Ortiz-Walters is a perfect choice to lead our School of Business and Economics,” said Dr. James Liszka, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “Her qualities as administrator and scholar, and her outreach to communities, are sure to benefit SBE and our Plattsburgh businesses and organizations.”

Ortiz-Walters was selected from a field of outstanding candidates, said President John Ettling. The national search was chaired by Dean of Library and Information Technology Service Holly Heller-Ross.

Ortiz-Walters received a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, an MBA from Technology Management University of New Haven and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from theUniversity of Connecticut. Her works appear in such scholarly publications as “The Journal of Organizational Behavior,” “Journal of Vocational Behavior,” and the “Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship.”

Her interests include examining mentoring relationships as a career developmental tool for women and racial minorities, issues of diversity in the workplace, and the entrepreneurial ventures of racial minorities and women. Ortiz-Walters is a founding member of Quinnipiac University’s B-WISE — Business Women in Search of Excellence — initiative and a member of Connecting Women, a School of Business Advisory Board committee. In addition, she has served as an advisory board member for a study of gender diversity for the Harvard Medical School and is co-founder of the Center for Women and Business at Quinnipiac.

“We are delighted that Dr. Rowena Ortiz-Walters has accepted the position as dean of the School of Business and Economics,” Ettling said. “I would like to thank the committee and the search firm that produced some excellent candidates. We are fortunate and look forward to her arrival on July 1.”

As dean of the SBE, Ortiz-Walters will oversee 38 full-time faculty members and an undergraduate enrollment of more than 1,000. The school offers bachelor’s degrees in 11 programs and minors in 10 programs. SUNY Plattsburgh received accreditation in 2002 from the AACSB International — the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business — the premier accrediting agency for schools of business. Ortiz-Walters will oversee the accreditation processes, ensuring that the SBE exceeds AACSB standards.

No stranger to AACSB, Ortiz-Walters was a senior leadership team member at Quinnipiac during its most recent maintenance visit by the AACSB reviewers. As such, she was responsible for meeting with the Continuous Improvement Review Team to discuss AACSB standards issues.

Ortiz-Walters said she, too, is “delighted to be joining the SUNY Plattsburgh academic and business community.”

“Many aspects of the school are attractive to me, including a strong faculty with terminal degrees, a strong international and first-generation student presence and an investment in new facilities,” she said. “This is an exciting time in the history of the school, and I look forward to supporting its success as the next dean.”

Contact: Gerianne Wright, Assistant Director of Communications, 518/564-2090, news@plattsburgh.edu

Business, Law Students Collaborate During UConn’s First Joint Negotiation Competition

Posted on by Claire Hall

The University of Connecticut School of Law hosted the first UConn Law School-UConn Business School Joint Negotiation Competition last month.

The event fostered professional achievement and collaboration among the students, with four MBA students continuing on to a regional competition at Villanova University in April.Continue Reading

Top Connecticut Experts Discuss Success of Healthcare Initiative: “We’re Not There Yet—But We’re Making Great Strides”

Posted on by Claire Hall

2015-03-16_aca2When it comes to access to healthcare, Connecticut residents are much better off now than they were prior to the creation of the Affordable Care Act, according to a panel of experts.

But, this new system is still in its infancy and there is still much to be done in order to achieve an ideal healthcare delivery system, they agreed.

The five panelists shared their expertise in a UConn School of Business program titled, “Grading the Affordable Care Act.” The March 4 program drew 75 people to the Graduate Business Learning Center in downtown Hartford. Continue Reading

Students Enter Their “Stay-Up-All-Night-Working-On-It’’ Projects In Hopes of Becoming UConn’s Innovation Quest Champ

Posted on by Claire Hall

Have you ever tried to buy concert- or theater- tickets online and been asked to retype two words, which are displayed in squashed, blurry, italic font that is virtually impossible to distinguish?

If you’re like Theo Marrinan, that hurdle absolutely drives you nuts. Marrinan has a plan that will make that task a little easier, a great deal more fun, and may also be intriguing to advertisers who could use it to promote their product.

Continue Reading

Connecticut Aspirations in Computing Awards Reception

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NCWIT is the National Center for Women & Information Technology, a national coalition of over 450 prominent corporations, academic institutions, government agencies, and non-profits working to strengthen the IT workforce and cultivate technology innovation by increasing the participation of women. The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing recognizes young women at the high-school level for their computing-related achievements and interests. Winners are recognized at an awards reception on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at the University of Connecticut Alumni Center.  This year, we have 15 winners and 3 runner-ups coming from high schools throughout the state.

Ella Ackerman Greater Hartford Academy Of Math And Science
Sara Banach Greater Hartford Academy Of Math And Science
Allison Barone Farmington High School
Shruti Bhatia Farmington High School
Kathleen Burkhardt The Academy Of Information Technology
Jennifer Da Silva The Academy Of Information Technology
Kaitlyn DaSilva Farmington High School
Megan Go Farmington High School
Maeve Howard Greater Hartford Academy Of Math And Science
Helen Liu Amity Regional Senior High School
Catalina Michea Conard High School
Sarah Mogielnicki Greater Hartford Academy Of Math And Science
Belma Pehratovic Pathways To Technology Magnet School
Kathleen Quinn Sacred Heart Academy
Andreea Rotaru-Barac Howell Cheney Technical High School
Zara Saldanha Wilton High School
Lauren Schneider Farmington High School
Danielle Swanson Farmington High School

In 2007, NCWIT began recognizing girls for their aspirations and achievements in computing via the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing.  By generating visibility for technical young women the award encourages continued interest in computing, increases awareness of the gender gap in computing and IT, and emphasizes at a personal level the importance of women’s participation in computing.  Seanice DeShields, director of the Office of Diversity Initiatives in the School of Business and chair of the Connecticut Aspirations in Computing Committee says, “Recognizing the use of technology and computing by young women not only serves to close the gender gap but it’s also building the next generation of IT leaders and professionals.  The work these young ladies are doing is amazing and I’m privileged to be a part of this organization that supports them in their achievements.”

To be a part of the CT Aspirations in Computing Committee or to be a corporate sponsor for the awards reception in March, please contact Seanice.DeShields@business.uconn.edu.

 

2014 Business Graduates Quickly Landing Competitive Jobs, Noteworthy Salaries

Posted on by Melissa Ferrigno

2015-01-08_placementThe vast majority of the Class of 2014 from the School of Business, both undergraduate and MBA, were quickly employed following graduation, with many commanding impressive salaries.

UConn career services experts credited this success to well-prepared students who are ready to roll-up their sleeves, who have had meaningful internships, and a powerful and committed alumni team who are networking, coaching and hiring new grads.

Dean John Elliott has emphasized the power of this package. “Increasingly our courses and degree programs are designed and changed based on advice from committed alumni and other corporate friends, who help ensure that our students have the best education we can provide. Moreover, they step forward to mentor students and help open doors to them as job candidates. Of course the ultimate job offer is something the student earns and that is as it should be.”

MBA Graduates Averaging $101,000 Salaries

Graduates of the Full-time MBA program had great employment success, with 76 percent having jobs at graduation, and 94 percent having a job within three months of graduation. The mean salary was $101,562. The average student commanded a starting salary that was almost 12 percent higher than 2013 graduates. The highest salary reported among new graduates was $160,000.

New graduates from the MBA program also reported significantly larger sign-on bonuses as compared to their counterparts from 2013.The mean sign-on bonus for 2014 was $19,500, up 63 percent from 2013.

U.S. citizens reported higher salaries than foreign nationals, earning an average of $102,500 a year to the foreign students’ $95,000. However, the foreign students saw a 25 percent increase in their average base salaries compared with their counterparts from the previous year, indicating that the pay gap is closing. “We are recruiting stronger international students with great communication skills, and employers are recognizing their talent and hiring them,” said Meg Warren, assistant director of the MBA Career Development Office. All the foreign nationals accepting a job, did so in the United States.

“What we think is really impressive is that the jobs MBA candidates are accepting are diversified,” Warren noted. “Our students are getting great regional jobs, but also accepting challenging jobs across the country. Our students are fighting for competitive jobs, and getting them. We are a small program, but we’ve kept our admission standards at a high level, which, in turn, impacts successful job placement.”

Top companies like GE, T-Mobile, Paypal/eBay, Pitney Bowes, Philips, Prudential and The Hartford are regularly recruiting from the School of Business’ MBA program, she said.
“I don’t know what we’d do without our alumni,” Warren said. “They give generously of their time and willingly converse with our students. This has strengthened students’ preparedness and therefore affects the bottom line: securing a meaningful internship or job.”

Undergraduates Boast 77 Percent Employment

Undergraduate students also fared well in employment. Three months after graduation, 77 percent of those seeking employment had secured jobs. The average salary for student full-time hires was $55,683, but UConn business school graduates received offers up to $75,000 in management information systems and $70,000 in finance.

“The School of Business’ reputation has grown each year,” said Lorraine Liswell, program manager for the Undergraduate Career Development Office. Many more employers are coming in, hoping to interview students on campus, she said.

“Companies find UConn students competitive and willing to roll up their sleeves and go to work,” she added.

Many recent graduates are staying in Connecticut, or nearby in New York or Massachusetts, she said. She’s noticed that new alumni are gravitating to “rotational programs” in large companies that allow them to experience four or six different roles before selecting the one that best suits them.

Kathy Hendrickson, assistant director of the Undergraduate Career Development Office, said she’s noticed a change in undergraduate students, who arrive on campus with long-term plans.

“Freshmen are walking in our door and asking about the job-search process within the first few weeks of arriving on campus,” she said. “They’re asking what they need to do to land an internship as a freshman. This type of energy and preparation at the beginning of their college career makes them stronger candidates for landing competitive jobs.”

Likewise, the corporate community is also focused earlier in the process, and many firms are beginning the process of talent identification and relationship building in the freshman or sophomore year, earlier than ever before, Elliott noted.

More than ever, UConn faculty and alumni are invested in helping undergraduate students find good jobs right out of school, she said. For example, marketing professor Bill Ryan invited representatives from Whirlpool in Michigan to meet students, and this relationship helped create new internships and led to some students obtaining full-time positions.

“We also have a strong alumni base that consistently pushes the needle at their organizations to hire more UConn alumni,” Hendrickson said. “Dan Toscano ’87 at Morgan Stanley, and Tom Marshella ’79 at Moody’s, and Shapleigh Smith at Citi are examples of alumni who take a personal interest in the success of our students. It is a team effort that helps the School of Business students to compete and succeed in the job market.”

Marketing News and Notes

Posted on by Melissa Ferrigno

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

Betsey B. Gainey ’97 is the 2014 winner of Hartford Business Journal’s 40 under 40. Gainey is currently the vice president and director of client services at Cronin and Company, the largest full-service independent marketing communications agency in Connecticut.

Gregg B. Schuster ’05 MBA will resign as the First Selectman in Colchester, Connecticut to take on the challenge of managing a town in transition in Pocono Township, Pennsylvania.

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

Alumni News & Notes – August 2014

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UConn AlumniThe latest alumni news from UConn School of Business.

Scott D. Beggs ’94 MBA has joined Basin Street Properties as chief financial officer. Basin Street Properties, a real estate investing firm, has acquired 19 locations involving nearly a million square feet over the past two years.

Howard J. Bryerman ’75 has opened a franchise of PROSHRED®, a shredding business. Bryerman is an investment professional with 20 years of experience as a high yield bond portfolio manager and analyst. Bryerman has partnered with his wife, Simone, in their new business.

Carol Cox ’00 has been named vice president of strategy and corporate communication at NuVasive, Inc. Cox is an executive with extensive global healthcare experience in corporate strategy, investor relations, corporate communications, media relations, brand strategy and government relations.

Melissa B. Cummings ’98 MBA has joined Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island as senior vice president and chief customer officer. Cummings currently serves on the Board of Directors for the University of Connecticut Center for Healthcare and Insurance Studies.

Gregory J. Fedele ’00 MBA has been named president of Innovative Capital Holdings’ subsidiary Sabreliner Aviation. Fedele was most recently the senior vice president of customer business, helicopters and light turboprops at Rolls Royce.

Thomas M. Foran ’81 has joined Standard Insurance Company as vice president of underwriting and product development for the Employee Benefits Group. Foran joined Standard Insurance Company from Symetra where he was vice president of Group Life and Disability.

Betsey B. Gainey ’97 is the 2014 winner of Hartford Business Journal’s 40 under 40. Gainey is currently the vice president and director of client services at Cronin and Company, the largest full-service independent marketing communications agency in Connecticut.

Haiyan Grzelak ’06 EMBA has been awarded the Teacher of the Year award at the Chinese Cultural Center at Central Connecticut State University where she taught Chinese to a class of students ranging in age from 11-50.

William S. Hall ’08 MBA has been designated as a premier advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors. The Premier Advisors Program is a distinction that reflects Mr. Hall’s achievement of professional success by meeting or exceeding Wells Fargo Advisors’ high standards as measured by one or more of the firm’s criteria for revenue generation, educational attainment and client-service best practices.

Douglas J. Hammel ’89 will be joining Guilford Public Schools as principal of grades 5 and 6 at Abraham Baldwin Middle School. Hammel was previously the principal at Deans Mill Elementary School in Stonington, Connecticut.

Sarah B. Jeffrey ’14 MBA has received the prestigious Early Career Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award by the Connecticut Association of Healthcare Executives. The award recognizes Jeffrey’s contributions toward the achievement of the goals of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the advancement of healthcare management excellence. Jeffrey is currently an administrative fellow at Bristol Hospital.

Eric J. Kaplan ’90 MBA has joined Reval, the leading global provider of a comprehensive and integrated software and service solution for treasury and risk management as a solution consultant on the North America team. Kaplan has nearly 15 years of finance experience with a focus on cash management that spans senior positions at GE Capital and PepsiCo.

Sean F. Mulready ’93, ’02 MBA has been promoted to senior vice president, commercial real estate at Webster Financial. Mulready serves on the board of the Northside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance and on the local advisory committee of Local Initiatives Support Collaborative.

Donna A. Rosequist ’76, ’82 MBA was promoted to vice president at Segal Rogerscasey. Rosequist was most recently Director, Alpha Investment Research in Darien. Rosequist has 20 years of experience as a fiduciary and advisor on private equity research. She assists clients with the design of private equity programs including plan structure, strategy and performance monitoring.

Gary Z. Siegel ’79 has been appointed by Vision-Sciences, Inc. to vice president of finance and the company’s principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. Prior to joining Vision-Sciences, Inc. Siegel was the vice president of finance at Genta Incorporated.

Thomas Sullivan ’00 MBA was appointed as senior advisor insurance at the Federal Reserve, Board of Governors, in June. Sullivan was most recently a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Hartford after serving for four years as Insurance Commissioner in Connecticut. He is a former executive at The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., where he worked for more than 20 years.

Clyde W. Tinnen ’01 MBA has been elected to special counsel at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, an international law firm. Tinnen is a partner in the Chicago and Stamford offices and focuses his practice on corporate law matters, including finance and securities law, banking and mergers and acquisitions.

Shuai Yang ’14 Ph.D. has successfully defended her dissertation titled, “Two Essays on Matching Strategy in Paid Search Advertising.” Yang has accepted an offer at Donghua University (Shanghai) and will be joining in Fall 2014.

Leslie A. Zoll ’93 has been appointed to serve on the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants Advisory Council for the 2014-2015 activity year. Zoll is a manager for BlumShapiro in West Hartford, Connecticut and will represent the CTCPA Governmental Accounting and Auditing Committee on the Advisory Council.

Alumni: Submit your career, education, marriage, and birth announcements to the Business Alumni Network.

Let us know what you’ve been up to!

alumni.business.uconn.edu.

Entrepreneurial Alum Brews Back East

Posted on by Brian Kelleher

Back East Brewing Company is a small Craft brewery located in Bloomfield, Connecticut, founded by alums Tony Karlowicz ’01 MS and Edward Fabrycki, Jr. ’92 (ENG), two cousins with a passion for great-tasting, high-quality beer.

Tony developed his appreciation for Craft beer during his undergraduate years in Vermont and always imagined launching a brewery. Tony is an entrepreneur at heart and a CPA with extensive experience in accounting, auditing, and insurance. He gained a love of building a successful business from the ground up from his parents who owned a candy store in Bloomfield, and he also started a landscaping business while in high school. Edward, originally from Connecticut, began to home-brew while living in San Diego in the early 1990s. He eventually moved “Back East” to Connecticut in 2000, with the dream of someday operating a Craft brewery. As a Professional Engineer, Edward enjoys the technical aspects of brewing. Tony and Edward began homebrewing in early 2006 with a small pilot brewing system in a Southington garage.

With investments from family and friends and an $80,000 small business grant from the state, the company hired an experienced head brewer who had worked at the Harpoon Brewery in Boston and moved into its current location on Blue Hills Avenue in Bloomfield in January 2012. In July 2012 their dream became a reality, in the form of a 4,500-square-foot state-of-the-art brewery capable of producing tens of thousands of gallons of beer a year.

Over time, they have developed several exciting recipes, including the company’s signature beer, Back East Ale, which won 2nd place in the American Amber Ale category at the 2013 Great International Beer Festival. Their Back East Porter also took home awards in both the 2012 and 2013 Great International Beer Festival.

Back East brews several different styles of beer, distributed in draft, six-packs of 12 ounce cans, and 750ml bottles at fine establishments. Their tasting room is open to the public Wednesday through Friday, 4-7:00 p.m., and Saturday noon-4:00 p.m. Tours are offered on Saturdays, beginning at noon, 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00.