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SBCC Team Visits ESPN

Posted on by Claire Hall

Kelly Kennedy and the team from the School of Business Career Center, including Assistant Dean Jim Lowe and staff Meg Warren, Robert Volle, Kathy Hendrickson and Lorraine Liswell, had the pleasure of touring ESPN this week in order to gain better insight on what types of roles School of Business students would be engaged in if hired at ESPN’s Bristol campus. Although ESPN recruits from a few dozen schools, they hire from as many as 100 colleges nationwide, and the company has made a strong commitment to increase the number of hires from the University of Connecticut. The SBCC team (shown in photo, right, in 1 of 9 studios at ESPN’s Bristol, Connecticut location) was provided with an overview of the key elements of ESPN’s college recruiting season, with an emphasis on learning the critical information that will help students customize their resume and gain a competitive edge when submitting an application to ESPN.

One highlight of the day was hearing from Joe Franco, ESPN’s Head of College Recruitment. He shared many stories about ESPN’s humble beginnings and his personal history as a key member of their core team of employees who opened the doors in 1979. Joe took the time to talk candidly about the key skills that are necessary for someone to be part of the ESPN team. He explained that, “During the job interview, students need to demonstrate exactly how they will not just meet expectations on the job, but exceed them.” He stressed how employees at ESPN are expected to go above and beyond their defined roles. Having this passion for working at ESPN made it evident that ESPN is not just a team, it is a family. Joe Franco and a team of ESPN’s line managers will be on campus to recruit UConn students on November 7, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 106. This event is open to all majors. The Career Center strongly recommends that anyone interested in working at ESPN attend this information session.

SBCC Senior Night Kicks Off Fall 2012 Recruiting Season

Posted on by Claire Hall

On Wednesday, September 12th, Lecture Hall 106 was filled with School of Business Seniors who are embarking on their full-time career search.

Kathy Hendrickson and the team from the School of Business Career Center welcomed students back to campus and kicked off the Fall 2012 recruiting season. Presenters at the event included Jim Lowe, Assistant Dean of External Relations, Margaret Sweeney, Accounting Internships Program Manager, and Lorraine Liswell and Kelly Kennedy, Program Managers from the Business Career Center. Special guests included Mark Gelinas, Director of College Relations at The Hartford Financial Services, and Jessica Hitt, UConn MBA Candidate and Hartford Financial Services Intern.

The students were provided with an overview of the recruiting season with an emphasis on critical timelines to help them get their job search started. One highlight of the evening was the Employer Tips section, which provided interviewing tips specific to key target companies such as ESPN, RBS, Liberty Mutual, McKesson and The Hartford, to mention a few. Mark Gelinas took the time to talk candidly with students about the career search process as a whole and offered advice to navigate the field of job search.

Students left the event armed with dates, knowledge of employer trends and an unexpected early graduation gift from The Hartford Financial Services Group. As we work with students to prepare them for success beyond UConn, the SBCC was able to partner with The Hartford in the creation of the UConn School of Business Backpack to Briefcase – Making a Successful Transition to the Workplace book.

(Pictured, Left to Right: Mark Gelinas, Director of College Relations at The Hartford Financial Services, Kathy Hendrickson, Undergraduate Program Manager, Jim Lowe, Assistant Dean of External Relations)

NAACP Urban Business Expo

Posted on by Claire Hall

The first Urban Business Expo was held on August 28th, 2012 at the Artist’s Collective in Hartford. This event, sponsored by the NAACP, was designed to bring together Connecticut-based minority and women small business owners with different organizations that educate and assist with funding, development, certification and marketing issues. In addition to business assistance organizations, also present were different companies and agencies in the healthcare, education, government, professional union, and infrastructure development and maintenance fields. Vendor booths were also set up to showcase some local small business owners. The University of Connecticut’s School of Business was represented by Seanice Austin from the Office of Diversity Initiatives and Kathryn Huntington from the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CCEI).

The event was well attended, and small business owners in industries ranging from yoga studios to independent cable providers mingled and networked with representatives in the over 70+ booths. Vendors were able to network with each other at the event, and many promising connections and plans for collaboration between different organizations were made. In addition to the expo booths, there were panel discussions and themed sessions running throughout the day. The theater-style seats were filled, and some sessions were filled to the point of standing-room only. Speakers included Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segara, and representatives from various organizations who provide business assistance to new ventures in the state. Also present on the panels were successful individuals who gave their stories and perspectives, and urged the audience members to take advantage of the different programs and organizations that are able to provide assistance for their business challenges.

It is often the case that small business owners are unaware of programs, funding, or initiatives that are available to them. The Urban Business Expo was designed to create awareness of all these different opportunities, and inspire an increase in the number of minority and women business owners in Connecticut. Austin remarked, “Participating in this event with the NAACP allowed the School of Business to reach out to minority small business owners in Hartford. We connected with some promising individuals and are excited to build relationships with business owners throughout the state.”

Management Information Systems Student Receives Prestigious Information Security Scholarship

Posted on by Claire Hall

Ryan Fried, a senior in MIS, received an Information Security Scholarship from (ISC)2 Foundation. Scholarship recipients were announced on September 11, 2012. This year, Ryan is one of only seven recipients of the Undergraduate Scholarship, which was open for applications worldwide.

When asked why he is interested in Information Security, Ryan said: “I enjoy the challenge of staying one step ahead of hackers and discovering vulnerabilities before they do. For the future, I plan on working as a consultant or in a technology leadership rotational program to further my knowledge of information technology.”

(ISC)2 (‘ISC-squared’) is the largest not-for-profit membership body of certified information security professionals worldwide, with over 86,000 members in more than 135 countries. Globally recognized as the Gold Standard, (ISC)2 issues the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP®) and related credentials. The (ISC)2 Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust that aims to make the cyber world safer for everyone by supporting cyber security education and awareness in the community through its programs and the efforts of its members.

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NPR Discusses MIS Recruiting with UConn OPIM Department

Posted on by Claire Hall

Dr. Ram Gopal, department head of Operations & Information Management (OPIM) at the University of Connecticut School of Business, accompanied by OPIM faculty members Ramesh Sankaranarayanan, Sudip Bhattacharjee, Dmitry Zhdanov, and students Walid Namane, Imrus Sadiq, Carlo Guerriero, and Lily Elawar chatted with Neena Satija of NPR News about the overwhelming need for MIS (IT) skills in the state job market.Continue Reading

UConn Business Career Center Presents at Annual NCDA Conference

Posted on by Claire Hall

In June, the National Association of Career Development (NCDA) hosted their annual Global Career Development Conference in Atlanta, with the theme of “Building on the Dream.” The annual event is designed for Career Services Professionals to share experiences with their peers from Higher Education, and includes training programs in areas such as technology, career assessments, ethics, and career information.

Kelly W. Kennedy, Program Manager at the University of Connecticut School of Business Career Center (SBCC) led the training session: “Making Connections with Purpose, Passion, and Possibility.” Kelly shared the SBCC’s successful best practices using a marketing plan to accelerate the careers of young professionals. She discussed the innovative and interactive career development program at the business school, which teaches students to remain competitive in the workplace through networking skill building programs and events, and guides them to take a strategic and long-term approach when thinking about their careers.

The session was well received by Kennedy’s peers in career development, with comments such as “Thanks so much for your presentation at NCDA! I really enjoyed learning about your marketing plan for students and took a lot away from the experience.” “Your presentation at NCDA drew an enthusiastic crowd and I appreciate the time you spent with me afterward.”

The UConn School of Business Career Center provides a wide range of career development and recruiting services to both employers and students, and encourages students to start their job search as early as freshman year for undergrads, or first semester for graduate students. Career development professionals at the SBCC can be reached at (860) 486-5136.

Dean Elliott Welcomes Incoming Class of MBAs

Posted on by Claire Hall

On Wednesday evening, University of Connecticut School of Business alumni, faculty, and MBA students joined together at the UConn Graduate Business Learning Center for a networking & cocktail reception hosted by the School of Business. Event guests included representatives from Cigna, GE, and UTC, as well as faculty and administration from across the University.

The annual event welcoming new MBA students and alums for a networking reception featured new School of Business Dean John A. Elliott as keynote speaker. Dean Elliott was welcomed by University Provost Mun Choi. Choi briefly discussed future plans for the University, addressing the upcoming development of innovative, up-to-date infrastructure projects over the next three years. These projects include the UConn Health Center’s Bioscience Connecticut and a new Technology Park at the Storrs Campus, which will be designed to create an environment where industry partners, entrepreneurs, students and faculty can collaborate on exciting new projects that are expected to add billions of dollars to the Connecticut economy over the next few years.

In just the eighth day of his position as Dean, Elliott noted his observations of the impressive level of commitment to education and the university from President Herbst, alumni, corporate partners, and the State of Connecticut. He commended the numerous collaboration efforts taking place between University departments, and stressed the value of Learning Accelerators in supplementing business education with practical experience.

In closing, Dean Elliott provided the incoming MBA class with some advice, encouraging students to maximize their time in the MBA program by being “active learners,” seizing opportunities as they arise, and using the many resources available to them as students.

Dr. Karla H. Fox Retiring from Faculty Position

Posted on by Claire Hall

After many years of dedicated service, Dr. Karla H. Fox will retire from her faculty position at the University of Connecticut on August 1st. She will be taking on the administrative role of Special Assistant to the Provost, effective immediately.

Dr. Fox has been a distinguished faculty member at the University of Connecticut since 1976. Most recently, she has served, with distinction, as Interim Dean of the School of Business, where she guided the School through an exciting year of growth. In her many contributions to the business school, Dr. Fox has served as the Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, the Executive Director of the full-time MBA Program, and head of the Business Law Program. She also served the University as head of the Music Department in the School of Fine Arts from 2008-2010 and Associate Vice President for University Affairs from 1999-2004.

We thank Dr. Fox for her steadfast dedication and many valuable contributions to the School of Business and the University, and look forward to her continued contributions in her new role.

Dr. John Elliott, recently named the new dean of the University of Connecticut’s School of Business, will begin his tenure in mid-August. Dr. George Plesko, Associate Dean, will assume responsibilities in the interim.

Professor of Accounting Awarded $10,000 Grant

Posted on by Claire Hall

Gim Seow, an associate professor of accounting at the University of Connecticut School of Business, was awarded a $10,000 grant by the PwC Foundation this summer.

Dr. Seow will be using this grant to develop an International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) component to his financial accounting theory course, offered to students in the online Master degree in Accounting (MSA) program at the University of Connecticut. He will also be working on a research project that examines the adoption of IFRS in different stock exchanges across the world.

The award is part of the PwC INQuiries program, whose goal is “to help domestic colleges and universities incorporate important updates and issues facing the accounting profession into their curricula.” Grants from the PwC INQuiries program also support faculty research in the accounting field.

PwC donated $520,000 to 52 universities in the U.S. this year and has contributed more than $59 million to educational institutes since 2007.

Decorated Marine Appointed to Lead Veterans Programs at UConn School of Business

Posted on by Claire Hall

A decorated Marine who runs the University of Connecticut’s program to help other military members become entrepreneurs has been appointed to lead veterans’ outreach and support initiatives at the School of Business.

Michael Zacchea, a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient who holds an MBA from UConn, will coordinate programs to recruit and support veterans and help them with job placement, continuing education, career planning, and other services.

Zacchea also continues in his role as director of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities, which welcomes a new group of participants to UConn this fall. UConn is among eight prominent business schools offering the bootcamp in collaboration with the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University.

“We are thrilled to have Mike Zacchea on board for this very important post. His outreach to the veteran community is vital to our continued support of veterans in regard to continuing education and job placement,” says James R. Lowe, assistant dean of the UConn School of Business.

“This, coupled with Mike’s leadership of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV), completes a robust offering of services to this valued community,” Lowe says.

Zacchea, a native of Long Island, N.Y., who now lives in Brookfield, will work with programs and veterans at all of UConn’s campuses.

Zacchea also received the U.S. Small Business Administration’s award as 2012 Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year for his work with the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities.

“I’m very happy to tell the story about UConn and its service to veterans because UConn has been so good to me in terms of returning and re-integrating and planning my future,” Zacchea says.

“We’re doing so much at UConn to re-engineer the student veterans’ experience and recognize them as a specific constituency with unique needs,” he says. “Both UConn and Connecticut as a whole have a story to tell returning veterans about their opportunities here and the support we can provide.”

Zacchea was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1990 and served in Somalia and Haiti before being deployed in 2004 as a major to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

His team and the Iraqi army battalion it trained were involved in heavy combat many times. They included an incident in which he was wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade and received shrapnel in his shoulder and a traumatic brain injury, which required him to undergo several years of rehabilitation.

His military awards include the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, the Purple Heart Medal, a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, a Combat Action Ribbon, and many unit and campaign awards.

Zacchea, who held a master’s degree from Hawaii Pacific University and a bachelor’s from Notre Dame, earned his MBA in May from UConn and has been active in veterans’ groups on campus, statewide, and nationally.

He was an analyst for Morgan Stanley before enrolling in UConn’s MBA program, where he specialized in entrepreneurial marketing.

He says some specific goals in his new position with the School of Business include creating coherent policies to help veterans locate educational opportunities, job training, and other services they need.

He also wants to advocate for creating certain non-degree certificate programs to help veterans bolster their knowledge and give them an edge in the job market, and to work with others at UConn in its efforts to offer strong support to veterans throughout their college careers and once they are alumni.