Hartford

UConn’s CFA Research Challenge Team Advances to Americas Regional Competition

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CFA Institute Research ChallengeHartford, CT – The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis. The Hartford CFA chapter hosted the local CFA Research Challenge competition for the first time this year. By participating in this competition, students gain real-world experience as they assume the role of a research analyst and are tested on their ability to value a stock, write an initiation-of-coverage report, and present their recommendations.

We are pleased to announce that with the assistance of the CFA Society Hartford Industry Mentor Leslie White and Finance Department Professor Michael Oancea, the CFA Research Challenge team representing the University of Connecticut School of Business was victorious in completing the research challenge for the local Hartford region and are moving on to the Americas Regonal finals in Denver this March. UConn’s CFA Research Challenge Team consists of the following MBA students: Kamran Momenzadeh, Pornpong Lueang (Omo), Jon Singsen and Jeff Makray.

This global competition tests university students’ skills on equity research and valuation, investment report writing and presentation skills. The competition consists of a written investment research report on a single, publicly traded company and a 10 minute presentation to the judges. The winning team is selected based on the thoroughness of the equity analysis and full research report as well as the overall knowledge of the company. Last year, over 775 universities in 54 countries participated in this global challenge.

From Left to Right: Leslie White – CFA Industry Mentor, Kamran Momenzadeh, Pornpong (Omo) Lueang, John Singsen and Jeffrey Makray

UConn Business School Announces New Hands-on Lean Business Process Improvement Interactive Workshop

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Hands-On Lean Process ImprovementThe UConn School of Business has announced a new 2-day workshop – Hands-on Lean Business Process Improvement, designed to provide individuals at all levels of an organization with a solid foundation for using Lean to help achieve operational excellence from the top-down and the bottom-up.

The workshop will be held on February 27 & 28, 9am-4pm, at UConn’s Graduate Business Learning Center in downtown Hartford. The cost of the 2-day program is $1,200.

“The Hands-on Lean Business Process Improvement workshop enables individuals to quickly and easily follow a common roadmap and use simple tools to improve business processes by eliminating waste and improving flow to enhance value for your customers and stakeholders,” says David A. Burn, Chief Statistician in corporate operations for Boston Scientific Corporation and workshop instructor.

The workshop format is highly interactive and relies on simulation and competition to challenge individuals and teams to quickly learn concepts and skills and to reinforce their learning using a low-tech, high-touch approach. Features of the hands-on program include: real-time simulation of business processes; fast-paced competition between teams; and interactive discussion of relevant examples.

At the completion of Hands-on Lean Business Process Improvement, participants will be able to identify waste and flow problems in business processes, and design and follow a structured roadmap toward improvement. In other words, workshop participants will be able to cut costs and increase efficiencies within their organization.

“Lean processing is particularly important for Connecticut companies where the cost of doing business is one of the highest in the nation,” adds Colleen McGuire, director of UConn’s School of Business in Hartford. “We plan to offer more of these timely, relevant workshops in the months to come in support of a stronger, more competitive Connecticut economy.”

The Value of a Day’s Work: Panel Addresses Pay Equity

Posted on by Claire Hall

Women make up 48% of Connecticut’s labor force, and yet in 2011, Connecticut full-time working women earned just 78% of what their male counterparts earned, according to a research brief on pay equity by the Connecticut General Assembly Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW).Continue Reading

Student/Alumni Networking Event Marks the Start of a New Academic Year

Posted on by Claire Hall

The start of a new semester is an excellent time to strengthen connections and welcome in new students. That is just what happened at The Society Room on August 22 in downtown Hartford, as the UConn School of Business community welcomed in new students entering into the MBA, Master of Science in Financial Risk Management (MSFRM), and Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBAPM). Continue Reading

Students “Make Data Tell a Story” in MSBAPM Capstone Course

Posted on by Claire Hall

Analyze…Manage…Communicate… Analyze an industrial size dataset, manage the project risk and time commitment, present and “sell” your results to all the stakeholders. This was the theme of the capstone course in the MS in Business Analytics and Project Management (MSBAPM) program, taught by Sudip Bhattacharjee, Mark Tschiegg, and Michael Vandusen from January – April 2013. The final student presentations were held on Monday, April 22 at the Graduate Business Learning Center (GBLC) in downtown Hartford.Continue Reading

Hartford’s Changing Landscape

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This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 3, Issue 2 (Spring 2013)

A quick chat with Colleen McGuire

McGuire_ColleenColleen McGuire is the Director of the Graduate Business Learning Center, 100 Constitution Plaza Hartford, CT and is responsible for the Executive MBA, Part-time MBA, and Executive Education Programs, as well as the expansion of relationships with the Hartford business community. After almost a year on the job, we chatted with Colleen about the School’s direction and presence in the capital city. 

 

What were your first impressions or thoughts as you got deeper into the job?

One of the first comments I heard as I began to engage in discussions with the community, was that UConn’s downtown Graduate Business School was a “well-kept secret”. Given the breadth, depth and quality of our academic offerings, not to mention the affordability factor of being the state’s flagship university, I was surprised to hear that many companies and organizations did not know that UConn has a sizable operation downtown. So while there has been work to do to optimize and staff the operation, I have no doubt there is tremendous opportunity for growth and expansion of our downtown programs.

 

How do you see the role of the UConn School of Business in Hartford? 

To the extent that a strong workforce drives the economy, I see us as the premiere partner in educating and developing the state’s human talent-base. Whether it’s working with an individual on his/her life-long journey of continuous education or developing mid-level managers into C-suite executives, we can help. UConn’s School of Business can meet business  educational needs through such programs such as our Executive or Part-time MBA, customized executive education programs designed and delivered for a particular organization’s employees, or providing more specialized discipline-specific Master’s degree programs.

 

In addition to the Executive MBA Program and customized education offerings you reference, what other programs are offered in Hartford? 

Our largest and most successful program is the Part-time MBA program. In the last couple of years we’ve added specialized masters programs in the areas of Risk Management and Business Analytics & Project Management. We also have an online Master’s degree in Human Resource Management, as well as various Advanced Business Certificates in functional business areas such as marketing and operations management. We also run very successful programs for veterans such as the annual Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) which provides education, skills, and contacts to assist returning vets in starting their own businesses. One of our goals moving forward is to expand our portfolio of services to the veteran population.
In what other ways does the School partner with the community?

Beyond the traditional educational programs offered, we also have multiple opportunities for companies to get involved with our graduate students and research faculty. Because of our strong focus on “experiential learning” – through such innovative programs as the Financial Accelerator, Innovation Accelerator, and our social entrepreneurship accelerator, SCOPE – we’re constantly looking for real, live projects for students to tackle. Though these opportunities require thoughtful development and company commitment in the way of time, money and data access I’m happy to report that the results consistently exceed the organization’s investment(s) and objectives.

 

Can you share some new things that may be on the horizon?

After a complete and thorough review of our Executive MBA Program, I am pleased to share the launch of our redesigned EMBA program beginning with the entering class this fall. Building upon the quality of the existing faculty and curriculum, the new EMBA program is expected to transform its participants. The 2015 cohort will be a diverse executive student group comprised of individuals who have a history of increasing responsibility and professional success. Importantly,
participants will have a passion for learning in a collaborative environment and seek to lead at the senior level of their organizations.. In addition to the EMBA redesign, we’re focusing quite heavily on Executive Education which includes everything from non-degree and certificate programs to highly-customized company-specific programs.

And of course, we’re very excited about the West Hartford campus relocating and joining us in downtown Hartford. The close collaboration among the public and private sectors, as well as higher education can be a powerful force in the
revitalization of Hartford.

Teaching. Research. Outreach.

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This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 3, Issue 1 (Fall 2012)

Dr. Karla H. Fox Reflects on Past Success, Contributions, and Continued Service

Karla Fox A distinguished educator and administrator at the University of Connecticut since 1976, Dr. Karla H. Fox retired from her faculty position as of August 1. Here, she reflects on her time serving the University and the School of Business, sharing some of her continuing projects and activities in her new position as Special Assistant to the Provost.

Teaching and Research

Reflecting on the past three decades, Dr. Fox proclaims, “[the University of Connecticut] is a dramatically different school than when I started [working here]. UConn has transformed into a truly research-focused institution. We’ve reversed the “brain drain” of 30 years ago, and now we’re a top school of choice for many students.”

In the 1990s, the School of Business made a strategic decision to become a technology leader among business schools nationwide. “It shows,” says Dr. Fox. “We’ve become much more professional in the way we present teaching and instruction, partly because we have access to the latest technologies.” During her time as Interim Dean, Dr. Fox contributed to this availability by implementing the latest in conference technology, enabling meetings or classes to run across campuses and to better link the undergraduate and MBA programs in Storrs, Hartford, Stamford, and Waterbury.

“Building upon the School’s history of excellent academics, we now have an expanded emphasis focused more on research and outreach,” Dr. Fox notes. Securing the approval of then Provost Peter Nicholls, Interim Dean Dr. Fox led the School in hiring 24 new faculty and staff members last year. “Hiring was critical; it enabled us to bring up new programs and strengthen others, such as the Master of Science in Financial Risk Management (MSFRM) program [in Stamford], which we were able to expand to Hartford,” she notes.

Outreach and service have entered the forefront in the last five years, according to Dr. Fox, who plans to continue efforts in this area.

Outreach: Stamford Initiatives

Dr. Fox’s involvement with the Stamford campus has come full-circle. She was one of the main individuals responsible for developing the new Stamford Downtown Campus in the mid-1990s. “That was really exciting!” she exclaims. “I can’t help but reflect on this—fast forward 25 years later, and here I am, working on the expansion of programs offered on that very campus.”

During the transitional period while she was Interim Dean, one of the initiatives Dr. Fox engaged in was the renewed emphasis of activities on the Stamford campus, including the establishment of the Stamford Learning Accelerator, new academic programs, economic development initiatives, and relationships with Fairfield County leaders. She has also dedicated time to the Digital Media Program both in Storrs and Stamford, putting the program on secure footing to facilitate approval from the Board of Trustees in 2011. Dr. Fox will continue to foster and develop these initiatives in her ongoing role.

“We minimized the vacancy of the former UConn/GE edgelab space in Stamford to just 4 months. The repurposed facility is now vibrant and thriving as the Stamford Learning Accelerator (SLA),” says Dr. Fox. “Although the funding to build out edgelab came from GE, it was originally conceptualized to be what the SLA now is—a learning accelerator where the triumvirate of students, faculty, and businesses work together on real-life projects.” She adds, “We’re now able to work on several projects for leading corporations and potential entrepreneurial ventures.”

Dr. Fox will help to implement an expansion plan at the Stamford regional campus in the areas of business and digital media. A new major in Financial Management, to begin the fall of 2013, will be considered by the UConn Board of Trustees at its November meeting. Future projects under discussion include offering undergraduate business programs in the areas of risk management and global business; increasing the academic presence of digital media; and expanding certificate programs in business and digital media.

In addition, Dr. Fox will continue to serve as Interim Director of the Connecticut Information Technology Institute (CITI) program in Stamford, which offers certification or education for both businesses and individuals in business-related technologies or specialties such as project management.

Dr. Fox will work to support academic initiatives in the University’s emerging plan for economic development with Mary Holz-Clause, UConn’s Vice President for Economic Development. She is also working very closely with The Business Council of Fairfield County and the Stamford business community. Dr. Fox concludes that “the issue now is economic development, providing good jobs for everyone in Connecticut so we can get our educated graduates to stay in the state.”

Karla H. Fox

Among her many involvements at the University of Connecticut School of Business, Dr. Karla H. Fox—professor of Business Law with specializations in the Uniform Commercial Code, employment law, and business ethics—has served as Executive Director of the Full-time MBA Program, Associate Dean, and Head of the Business Law program. Dr. Fox most recently led the School of Business through an exciting year of growth as Interim Dean.

Dr. Fox has also served as head of the Music Department in the School of Fine Arts from 2008-2010, Associate Vice President for University Affairs from 1999-2004, and Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. A recipient of the 2010 American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Service Excellence Award, she is also a member of the Connecticut and North Carolina Bar Associations, and is a past president of the University of Connecticut chapter of the American Association of University Professors, as well as a former member of the University Senate and Senate Executive Committee.


   

Investing in Students

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This article first appeared in the UConn Business magazine, Volume 3, Issue 1 (Fall 2012)

The Travelers EDGE Program Builds UConn’s Business Leaders of Tomorrow

investingAs Armando Jimenez sees it, his first lucky break coincided with some bad news for his hometown of Hartford. That was the year his high school lost its state accreditation and Jimenez received a scholarship to attend Salisbury School instead.

Located in the Northwest corner of the state, the private school offered Jimenez the chance to participate in his first entrepreneurship program and be exposed to what he describes as a “different world” than the one from which he came. More importantly, though, it gave him a reason to work hard.

“I made Dean’s List every semester,” Jimenez said. “I wanted to make sure they knew their investment in me was good.”

Jimenez has spent the last few years making good on that initial investment as a student in UConn’s Travelers EDGE diversity initiative program. A management major now in his senior year in the UConn School of Business, Jimenez is one of 23 students currently receiving a four-year scholarship, mentoring, and internship opportunities through the program.

Being accepted into Travelers EDGE, Jimenez said, was his second lucky break.

“It’s an amazing program. The interesting thing about Travelers is that this is a company that’s really investing in the career of the student,” said Jimenez, who has completed two summer internships, at Travelers Companies Inc. and PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), through the program.

Tara Spain, vice president of the Travelers Foundation, said the program began in 2007 with a directive from the company’s board of directors.

“They wtravelersEDGE-Venture-UCONN-2011anted us to do something that was good for the community, but also good for the company,” Spain said. “We feel like we get a lot out of it. It has helped to broaden our pipelines into the company for diverse talents and we’ve been able to strengthen the Travelers’ brand on college campuses. It’s great for the company, great for the brand, and great for our employees.”

The program targets underrepresented groups or first generational college students with the goal of making them more competitive in the business world. Jimenez, who is the first person to attend college in his family and a minority who was raised by a single mother in Hartford, fits both criteria.

“Neither of those factors alone would have gained him entry into the program, however, if Jimenez hadn’t displayed the kind of motivation and commitment to his education that earned him a place on the Dean’s List at Salisbury School,” said Seanice Austin, the director of Diversity Initiatives for the School of Business and manager of the Travelers EDGE program.

“We receive about 30 to 40 applications every year and we take five,” said Austin. “It’s very competitive.”

Students accepted into the program must participate actively and maintain a 3.0 GPA, Austin said. The average GPA of the students currently enrolled is 3.3, she said.

“We want students to be able to tell their own stories,” Austin said. “Once they are accepted, I work very closely with them to make sure they have all the resources and support they need.”

Jimenez agreed, and said he is already trying to give back a little bit of what he’s received. “I grew up in the Boys and Girls Club so I know that a simple “Hi” goes a long way, especially when someone is struggling,” he said.

For that reason, Jimenez started a program his freshman year, called Brothers Reaching Our Society, that provides peer mentoring and help with academics to other male students. “The idea is to do the same for those who come behind you as those who came ahead did for you,” Jimenez said.