BYU Radio – Asaaf Eisdorfer, associate professor of finance at the University of Connecticut, and author of the study, “Corporate Sport Sponsorship and Stock Returns: Evidence from the NFL.” Eisdorfer’s study seeks to examine the effect on Sponsor’s stock returns after game day. Eisdorfer shares his findings.
Department News
Articles about activities within the academic departments
Award-winning Professor Dick Kochanek’s Accounting Class Came with a Bonus: Great Advice for Living Life
“If the person next to you in class leans over and whispers, ‘I love you,’ you have to say: ‘Not until after class. I have to focus on Kochanek’s lecture now!'”
That’s one of the many witty remarks that Professor Richard “Dick” Kochanek has used to engage the 250 underclassmen in his “Principles of Financial Accounting” class.
Kochanek, who retired at the end of fall semester, is one of the most beloved and highly regarded professors at UConn. He has extremely high ratings from his students and is widely credited with turning their curiosity about accounting into a life-long career.Continue Reading
UConn to Honor Donor, Researcher and Patient at Gala
Doubling Down
Students Use ‘Winter Session’ to Get Ahead; Enjoy Small, Intense Classes, Personal Attention
While many UConn students were lounging in bed, working at the mall, or visiting family, the students in Accounting Professor Leanne Adams’ ACCT 2001 Winter Session course spent early January learning the principles of financial accounting.Continue Reading
Internship Success Story: Marisa Crecco
Marisa Crecco is a marketing senior who completed an internship with GOBig Marketing, a full service marketing and advertising agency located in Winter Park, Florida. She found this internship by researching and emailing marketing related companies near her home in Florida. After contacting about 40 different places, she received an internship offer from GOBig Marketing. Continue Reading
On the Ball
Bottom row from left: Edward Leardi, John McLaughlin, Matthew DeLeon, Jeffrey Noonan (Courtesy of Jason Mraz)
New Student-Led UConn Consulting Group Investigates Ways to Make Basketball Fans Love Games Even More
When UConn Athletics noticed a decline in basketball sales, they began to look for new ways to get fans into games. They introduced new package ticket deals, created the ‘Top Dog’ Program, and brought in the UConn Consulting Group (UCG) to help them further analyze UConn and the college basketball industry.
Primarily made up of undergraduate business students, the UCG is a competitive experiential learning group that pursues real-life (work) experience through select consulting projects. Each semester, the group takes on a new project and works to add value to a client’s strategy and operations while letting students develop skills that are, at best, extremely difficult to learn in a classroom.
The UCG worked with UConn Athletics through the fall 2015 semester to identify ways to improve the game-day experience for fans. They began by performing an in-depth analysis of UConn basketball and the different elements that have dramatically shifted the college basketball industry in recent years, such as conference realignment and technological advances. They also conducted extensive research, reaching out to more than 20 comparable universities, reading more than 50 academic research papers and articles, conducting three surveys and analyzing the results of some 1,800 respondents.
Throughout this process, the UCG identified key elements of success, as well as best practices from other universities that could be incorporated at UConn. At the end of the semester, the UCG presented its final recommendation to UConn Athletics.
“The UCG has gone above and beyond this semester to help UConn Athletics be the best it can be,” said John Seagrave, assistant director of marketing for UConn Athletics. “They have given us a lot to think about moving forward and we really appreciate all the work they did to help us out.”
The consulting group was created by Justin Lee ’15 as a way for UConn students to make an impact on their community. An accounting major, who discovered a passion for management consulting, Lee began by reaching out to alumni in the consulting industry and, with the help of Paul Millerd ’07 and Ezra Okon ’10, was able to form the UConn Consulting Group. UCG started with seven members and two alumni advisers, but has since grown to 13 members and four advisers, with more growth on the horizon.
“UCG has grown faster than I ever imagined,” said Lee, who is still an adviser. “The quality of students, and [their] passion to succeed will drive the group to be a premier organization at UConn. I cannot wait to see the group grow.”
Although the UCG has only completed two projects to date—UConn Athletics and a previous engagement with the UConn Foundation—it has experienced overwhelming success, and more importantly perhaps, has made a significant impact on the members.
“UCG has helped me with everything. My communication and technical skills have improved dramatically and it’s all I talk about in interviews,” said Katie Cavanaugh, a junior who is currently leading a project for a financial services startup. “Plus, UCG’s network of undergraduates and alumni advisers is arguably the best on campus. It really is an exceptional group and an incredible opportunity for UConn students.”
In the coming months, UCG will begin working with two start-ups—one based in Connecticut, the other in New York City. The projects will include detailed analyses of things such as revenue growth, cost/benefit of strategic partnerships, valuation, and overall business plan evaluation.
“The UCG is expanding to two projects next semester, allowing us to further our impact even more,” said Stephen Porcello, managing director. “I am very excited about the future and the numerous ways we will continue to grow and develop, and enhance our impact within the UConn community.”
The UCG is currently looking to recruit new members. If interested, please send an email with your resume to uconnconsultinggroup@gmail.com and a representative will get back to you with further details on the recruiting process.
Advocates Say High-Speed Internet Key to Attracting Businesses
CT Post – No matter how much it spends on technology upgrades, Connecticut will never have a city like Boston.
But it can still make investments in hardware, software, networks and data facilities that would appeal to large companies, experts say, and might prevent the next General Electric from leaving — or help to bring in its replacement.
Fighting for Talent: In GE’s Wake, Biz Leaders Call for More High-Tech Recruitment
Professor Ramunni’s ‘Accordion Fever’
Lessons in Patriotism, Family, Perseverance Resonate in Connecticut Accordion Museum
When Paul Ramunni was just 10 years old, his mother announced that he was going to learn to play the accordion.
His reaction was instant disdain.
“No Mom! Anything but that,” he said.
But his mother insisted, and play he did. He rarely practiced and, consequently, wasn’t very good. He considered the instrument a burden. Competitions were stressful. And, worse, it didn’t boost the social status of Ramunni, a glasses-wearing, Italian kid from Long Island. A few fights broke out on the school bus because of the teasing.Continue Reading
Internship Success Story: Dylan Deleon
Dylan Deleon is a marketing senior who currently has an internship with Nerac, a research and advisory firm for companies developing innovative products and technologies. He is an Account Development Intern who consistently communicates with team members and clients, builds rapport with clientele, sets up meetings for future senior analysts and sales representatives, and looks for new clients in the biotech, medical device, and pharmaceutical sectors.Continue Reading