News 2008
Professor Finds Ethics can be Taught in Mainstream Business Classes
December 15, 2008
One might say Bill Wilhelm was ahead of his time. As a doctor of education student at Arizona State University in the 1990s, the Indiana State University College of Business faculty member began looking into ways to integrate ethics training into business classes - long before Enron, WorldCom, and Tyco and before most people had ever heard of subprime mortgages. Initially, Wilhelm's research focused on a report from the U.S. Department of Labor in the mid 1990s about the skills and competencies, particularly the so-called "soft skills" that students should have upon graduating from high school.
In 2005, Wilhelm, an associate professor of business education, was among the first Indiana State professors to receive a Promising Scholars grant, under a program funded by the Lilly Endowment in an effort to attract and retain faculty members with research aimed at solving real-world problems.
In recognition of the successful early stages of his research that involved other professors in testing the instructional methodology and resources he developed, Wilhelm and his colleague, Al Czyzewski, associate professor of accounting in the ISU College of Business, received national recognition recently as recipients of the Delta Pi Epsilon (DPE) Independent Research Award presented at the November national DPE conference in Chicago. At the same conference, Wilhelm received an almost $6,300 research grant from the Delta Pi Epsilon Research Foundation to continue work on integrating ethical decision-making into undergraduate and graduate courses.
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Commencement Filled with Firsts, Hope and Accomplishment
December 13, 2008
Saturday's winter commencement at Indiana State University was filled with exciting firsts, student accomplishments and messages of hope.
Commencement speaker Carolene Mays, a 1985 alumna currently serving as publisher and president of the nation's fourth oldest African-American newspaper, the "Indianapolis Recorder," and "Indiana Minority Business Magazine," took the opportunity to motivate and inspire graduates to take control of their lives during uncertain times.
"You're walking into a world like I've never seen in my lifetime," she said, adding that despite financial crisis, layoffs and businesses closing their doors graduates can be successful.
"But you need to dig deeper and hit harder," Mays said.
Mays, who earned her degree in management, told the graduates to be realistic in their expectations and to be flexible. That is especially true if the ideal company or job isn't available. Along with publishing the Indianapolis Recorder and the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, Mays serves on numerous boards and been involved in her community.
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Harris Named 'Super CPA'
December 9, 2008
Thomas Harris, assistant professor of accounting at Indiana State University's College of Business, has been named one of the state's leading CPAs.
Harris, along with other educators and professionals from around Indiana, was selected as a "Super CPA" in the November issue of Indiana Business magazine.
"I feel very honored," Harris said. "When you're picked out by your peers, it's a special recognition."
In the accounting educator category, Harris was named among instructors from Ball State University, Indiana University, Marian College, Purdue University and the University of Southern Indiana.
"I know many of the names on this list and am glad to be recognized among these distinguished colleagues," Harris said.
Harris joined the ISU accounting faculty in 1988. Recently, he worked with members of the university's criminology department to offer a minor in forensic accounting. Open to students from all majors, the minor provides the skills necessary to investigate, detect and prevent fraud.
Harris holds a doctorate in accounting from the University of South Carolina, a master of business administration degree from Indiana State and a bachelor's degree in economics from Marietta College. His research interests include federal income taxation and tax planning.
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SMART + Money Bus = Teaching Students About Finances
December 9, 2008
Cory Graham offered advice to each student who bought a ticket from him.
"Spend wisely, spend wisely," he would call as each child headed to put into practice what they studied for the previous six weeks. They each eagerly headed out the door to play various video games that would quiz and teach them about financial literacy as they chose toppings for ice cream, to have their picture taken and to donate to charities.
Graham then turned to the next student in line with the greeting, "Welcome to the Money Bus."
Graham, an Indiana State University senior from Indianapolis, spent the previous weeks teaching fourth and fifth grade students at DeVaney Elementary School about financial literacy before their much anticipated visit aboard the bus, which is sponsored by ISU's Network Financial Institute.
"If you don't know how to balance your money at a young age or an old age, as a young adult or mature adult, then a crisis may occur financially," said the elementary education major. "So being able to save before you buy something that is a want, put away for what you need and purchase that first. It's crucial for young people to learn that so when they get old they remember the good money skills."
Graham, a student in Marylin Leinenbach's classes, decided to join 12 other college students for the Students Mathematical After-school Thinking Program (SMART) to teach elementary students about making wise financial decisions.
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Commencement Speaker is Alumnus, Newspaper Publisher
December 8, 2008
The student commencement speaker, Hines and President's medal recipients will be honored as part of winter commencement ceremonies beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 in Indiana State University's Hulman Center.
Indiana State alumna, newspaper publisher and former state representative Carolene Mays will address the graduates. Mays is publisher and president of the nation's fourth oldest African-American newspaper, the "Indianapolis Recorder," and the recently acquired "Indiana Minority Business Magazine."
Her commitment to service and community advocacy led her to run for the State House in 2002. She served three terms as state representative in District 94 on the northwest side of Indianapolis. In the Legislature she served on the Ways and Means Committee, Public Health Committee and as vice-chairman of the Small Business and Economic Development Committee. Nationally, she served on committees with the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, National Conference of State Legislators, and Women in Government.
Mays' service as state representative was the direct result of her desire to be active in her community. She has served on numerous boards and committees and is founder and director of the Community Resource and Health Fair held at Lafayette Square Mall. Mays is co-founder of the nationwide African American News and Information Consortium.
Since 1998, Mays has been a catalyst for change, redesign and growth of the Recorder. A refocused charge to highlight motivational and educational news has appealed to old and new readers of the paper, increasing its readership dramatically to nearly 100,000. The Recorder is now ranked among the top Black newspapers nationwide.
She also co-hosts a weekly television news segment, "Community Link", on central Indiana's CBS affiliate, WISH-TV Channel 8 which highlights news from the Indianapolis Recorder newspaper; and co-host of the "Recorder On Air Report Television Show" (ROAR) on central Indiana cable networks and WDNI-TV Channel 65.
Mays, who earned a bachelor of science degree in management from Indiana State in 1985, was featured by Indianapolis Monthly Magazine in August 2007 as one of "Indy's Most Powerful". In November 2007, she was honored by the Indianapolis Business Journal as one of "Indiana's Most Influential Women". She has also been honored in the Ben Davis High School Hall of Fame and as an ISU Distinguished Alumna. She was also listed by Roll Call, a Washington D.C. publication as a Rising Star in Indiana Politics.
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Business Major Prepares for Internship in South Africa
November 25, 2008
Bart Robertson is about to embark on a new journey as he looks toward a career in business. It is a journey that will take him far away from his hometown of Depauw, a small community nestled in southern Indiana's Harrison County.
A senior at Indiana State University, Robertson will spend the spring semester interning in Cape Town, South Africa. Robertson, a business administration and business management major with a minor in economics, will work with a business incubator in Cape Town that helps start-up companies find ways to best market their products.
"It will give me a foundation for later if I do want to own my own company," he said.
For the past two summers, Roberts has worked for Williams Randall Marketing Communications. He applied for the international internship to build on the business foundations he's been developing in the workplace and in the classroom.
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Britt Shares Professional Expertise as 2008 Leader in Action
November 20, 2008
Jim Britt, managing director of Marsh, was the 2008 Gongaware Center Leader in Action for the College of Business at Indiana State University. Britt recently spent a day on campus, meeting with students and sharing his knowledge about the insurance and risk management industry.
Britt met with ISU students in open forum, which featured a discussion on the current financial crisis from an insurance industry perspective.
Britt joined Marsh, the world's leading insurance broker and risk advisor, in 1987. He is now managing director and a member of the MidSouth Partnership Executive Team where he is responsible for business development of five offices in the Carolinas and Tennessee that form the partnership. He spent his early career in agency and underwriting management with a major retail insurance underwriter, followed by several years in the regional brokerage business. He is an active speaker and the author of the book "Building Leaders One on One."
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ISU Alumna Tapped as Vice President for Business
November 18, 2008
An Indiana State University alumna and long-time employee of the university's business office has been named vice president for business affairs and finance and university treasurer.
Diann McKee has served as interim vice president since July. During her more than 20-year tenure at Indiana State, she has held a variety of positions, including associate vice president, assistant vice president, budget officer and internal auditor.
As vice president, she will be the university's chief financial officer and will oversee fiscal policies and internal controls, institutional budget, financial accounting systems, facility planning and development, operations and maintenance of facilities, purchasing, payroll, and human resources.
McKee holds two degrees from Indiana State: a bachelor's degree in accounting and business and a master's of public administration degree. She was recognized with the university's Service Medallion in 2002 and received the Society of College and University Planners' Planning Institute certification in 2005.
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Jessica May, Marketing Graduate Named Orr Fellow
November 5, 2008
Indiana State University graduate Jessica May already received her diploma, but she hasn't stopped learning. A recipient of the Governor Bob Orr Entrepreneurial Fellowship, the marketing major has started her career ahead of the learning curve. A 2008 graduate of the ISU College of Business, May is spending two years working for Bloomington-based publishing company Author Solutions as an Orr Fellow. The fellowship program is designed for college students seeking their first full-time salaried position after graduation. It is named for the late Robert Orr, who served as Indiana's governor from 1981 to 1989. This year, 10 fellows were chosen from among thousands of applicants to join the 10 students chosen for the fellowship in the previous year.
While at ISU, May was among the first to graduate as a Networks Scholar. A program of Networks Financial Institute, the Networks Scholarship is a four-year program for qualified ISU students pursuing careers in the financial services industry. May was also a member of the professional business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi and Student Government Association, as well as a resident assistant and College Mentor.
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Distinguished Alumnus' Successful Family Business Inspires ISU Students
October 30, 2008
Bob Baesler has two simple rules when it comes to running the business that has been in his family since 1894.
"Rule number one is the customer is always right," Baesler said. "Rule number two is if the customer is ever wrong, refer back to rule number one."
Baesler owns and operates Baesler's Market on Poplar Street in Terre Haute. A 1972 graduate of Indiana State University, Baesler holds a degree in business administration. This year, the university honored him with a Distinguished Alumni Award.
"I was honored and surprised to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. I guess in a lot of respects I don't really feel deserving. ISU is a great school," he said.
Baesler recently hosted two groups of students from the Indiana State College of Business at his store to share his expertise on what it takes to succeed in the business world.
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Financial Expert Discusses Causes of Current Economic Crisis
October 15, 2008
According to one financial expert, the current economic crisis is a "complicated crime with a huge list of conspirators."
While no one entity is to blame for the financial turmoil affecting both U.S. and world markets, a lack of governmental oversight and supervision led to the crisis, said Edward J. Kane, the James F. Cleary Chair in Finance at the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. Kane presented his paper "Ethical Failures in Regulating and Supervising the Pursuit of Safety-Net Subsidies" to audience members during a recent presentation at the Indiana State University College of Business.
Kane focused his talk on how the current crisis came about, pointing to a failure on the part of regulators, supervisors, managers, and investors to perform due diligence. "Rules don't mean much if they're not enforced," Kane said.
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Indiana State Honors Four with Distinguished Alumni Awards
October 13, 2008
The Indiana State University Alumni Association has announced the recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Awards. The four alumni will be honored at a reception and banquet Friday, Oct. 24, in Dede I and II, Hulman Memorial Student Union. Among this year's recipients are:
Robert W. Baesler
A Terre Haute native, Baesler earned his degree in business administration from Indiana State in 1972. From there, he became a partner with his father at Baesler's Market, making him the fourth generation to operate the area's oldest local retail grocery store.
As a business owner, Baesler has encouraged numbers of young adults to pursue their education at Indiana State, offering them financial reimbursement for grades as well as adjusting their work schedules so they could meet classroom obligations.
Baesler has given back to his community by donating food to Harmony Haven, supporting the Spay-Neuter League, Terre Haute Boys/Girls Clubs, and the Boy Scouts of America. He has also supported his alma mater as a Sycamore Athletic Booster, a member of the Vigo County Alumni chapter and supporter of Indiana State's Alpha Tau Omega chapter.
Randall Minas
Minas took summer courses and graduated cum laude in 1975 with a degree in management and a minor in accounting at age 20.
Wanting to become a registered representative and work in the finance industry, he realized he could not take the certification exams until he was 21 years old. While waiting to take the exams, he took a position of assistant manager with Osco Drugs and married his high school sweetheart, Nancy.
In spring 1976, Minas passed his exams and took a position with a northwest Indiana brokerage firm. When Merrill Lynch opened an office in the area in 1979, he went to work for them as a financial consultant. Minas has been with the finance/brokerage firm for 28 years and is currently serving as senior vice president and a regular member of the firms Circle of Champions.
Through a $150,000 endowment in 2000, the Minas Foundation helped build a financial trading room, located in the College of Business. The area allows students to gain actual experience in trading. As part of that gift, the Minas' stipulated the University's student investment club be involved regarding the growth and administration of their endowment, providing valuable experiential learning opportunities for future students.
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Sycamore Showcase Panelists Discuss Wall Street Meltdown
October 9, 2008
As the headlines continue to be dominated by the financial crisis and its increasingly global impacts, Indiana State University educators and industry professionals met to make sense of the issues. "The Wall Street Meltdown" was the topic of Sycamore Showcase at Noon, held Wednesday at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Terre Haute.
John Conant, professor and chair of the economics department, explained that the economy is a complex system with a variety of contributing factors that have led to the current economic climate. Lakshmi Bala, a finance professor, agreed that the financial system was a "nexus of relationships and interactions." While the kind of interconnectivity can act as a catalyst for crisis, Bala asserted that things could turn around.
Tarek Zaher, professor and coordinator of the ISU finance program, encouraged audience members to stay calm and wait for change even in the midst of confusion. He said events like the showcase were a positive step toward reaching a greater understanding of underlying issues. "The biggest problem we face is a lack of patience," said Jack Tatom, research director of ISU's Networks Financial Institute. Tatom said that the current foreclosure crisis means that housing prices will continue to decline and stress on financial institutions will remain a concern.
Bob Guell, an economics professor, asserted that the issue was more than a crisis of confidence. "I believe we have a great deal more to fear than fear itself," Guell said, noting that while credit could always be made available people could not be forced to borrow. "We have a substantial crisis." Bill Minnis, president of Citizens National Bank, was on the panel and reported that local banks are fairing relatively well. "I don't think the environment here is a panic environment," he said.
Nathan Lloyd, a junior majoring in finance and insurance and risk management, said the variety of viewpoints expressed by the panelists reflected the complex nature of the problems facing investors, CEOs, lawmakers and consumers. "Wall Street and Main Street are connected. The more the market goes down, the more you lose," Lloyd, a native of Plymouth, said. "It's truly a scary thing."
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MBA Program Again Named Among Best in the Nation
October 8, 2008
For the third year in a row, Indiana State University's College of Business has been recognized as one of the nation's outstanding business schools by The Princeton Review.
"With fewer than 100 students in the MBA program, the school offers a friendly and caring environment in which to study. Students repeatedly report that the faculty is very knowledgeable, but also very friendly, always willing to help, and very supportive," according to the 2009 edition of "Best 296 Business Schools."
"The high quality of our Master of Business Administration program continues to be recognized by the Princeton Review and by our premier accreditation by the AACSB-International," said Nancy J. Merritt, dean of the ISU College of Business. "The ISU program attracts outstanding full-time and part-time students from Indiana, other U.S. states and many other countries. Our students bring unique businesses and cultural experiences that enhance the program, and our faculty and staff are dedicated to the students' learning and career success."
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Expert to Discuss Financial Institution Crisis
October 6, 2008
Edward J. Kane, the James F. Cleary Chair in Finance at the Carroll School of Management at Boston College, will discuss the financial institution crisis of 2007-2008 during a special presentation at Indiana State University.
Kane will present "Ethical Failures in Regulating and Supervising the Pursuit of Safety-Net Subsidies" at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14 at the College of Business 11th floor conference room on the ISU campus. A reception will take place at 4:30 p.m. and the presentation will be followed by a discussion.
The talk will explain the financial-institution crisis as a breakdown of the incentives of regulators, supervisors, managers and investors to perform adequate due diligence on securitized investments. As experience has shown repeatedly, government credit-allocation schemes generate incentive conflicts that undermine the quality of bank supervising and eventually lead to banking crisis.
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Wall Street Meltdown to be Discussed at Sycamore Showcase on October 8
October 2, 2008
Learn more about what the Wall Street meltdown means during Indiana State University's upcoming Sycamore Showcase at Noon on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at the Hilton Garden Inn, located at the corner of Seventh Street and Wabash Avenue.
Headlines bemoan the failure of commercial banks and the collapse of financial and insurance giants, while pundits play the blame game for the burst housing bubble, and debate an enormous government intervention to pull our financial system out of a death spiral - but do you understand how all of this happened, why it matters, or what it means for you' Did anyone see this coming' Do daily gyrations in the stock market indicate what's really happening to the economy' What does all of this mean for Main Street'
Beginning at noon, six panelists will discuss the causes of the Wall Street meltdown. They will explain how the situation unraveled, and discuss the effects of the financial crisis on the global and national economies, and what it means for your financial future.
Panelists from Indiana State include: Lakshmi Bala, assistant professor of finance; John Conant, professor and chair of the economics department; Bob Guell, associate professor of economics; Jack Tatom, director of ISU's Networks Financial Institute and Tarek Zaher, professor and finance program coordinator. They will be joined by Bill Minnis, president of Citizens National Bank in Paris, Ill.
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Outing Raises More Than $26,000 for Insurance and Risk Management Student Development
October 2, 2008
The insurance and risk management program at Indiana State University's College of Business hosted another successful golf outing to benefit students. The 11th annual Octoberfest Golf Outing took place Sept. 25 at the Country Club of Terre Haute and netted more than $26,000 in support of student professional development.
The golf scramble is the largest fundraiser for students in the insurance and risk management program and for Gamma Iota Sigma, the international risk management, insurance and actuarial science collegiate fraternity. Proceeds each year go to support several worthwhile, student-centered initiatives including attendance at local and regional industry events and travel to corporate tours, among many other opportunities.
"The event allowed nearly 90 insurance and risk management professionals the opportunity to network with the outstanding students in the insurance and risk management program, and other industry professionals," said Todd Byram, senior Gongaware Scholar, insurance and risk management major and co-industry relations manager for the outing.
This was the first year that five gold sponsors were secured for the event. Gold sponsors were Anthem, Aon, Enterprise, Indiana State University Foundation and Progressive. The silver sponsor was Lockton Companies.
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ISU Alumnus Named Golden Key Winner
October 1, 2008
Ben Lenderman, an alumnus of the Indiana State University College of Business, is a 2008 Golden Key Graduate Scholar Award recipient. He is one of 10 individuals nationally to receive the $10,000 award.
Lenderman is a 2003 graduate of ISU, where he earned bachelor's degrees in management, finance and business administration. He is currently pursuing master's degrees in business administration and education at Stanford University.
While at ISU, Lenderman maintained a 4.0 grade point average and was a member of the Sycamore football team. Most recently, he was honored by the university as a 2008 G.O.L.D. (Graduate of the Last Decade) Award recipient. The award is given by the ISU Alumni Foundation to honor alumni achievement.
Golden Key International Honour Society has more than 1.7 million students and alumni members around the world. Lenderman and the other award winners were chosen based on academic achievement, impact of Golden Key leadership and involvement in extracurricular activities.
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Sycamore Business Advisors Program Honored for Innovation
September 30, 2008
A program at Indiana State University's College of Business that pairs teams of undergraduate students seeking experience with companies seeking solutions has been recognized for its innovation.
Arthur Sherwood and David F. Robinson, professors of management at ISU, received second prize in the Innovation in Business Education Award competition for their entry, "Sycamore Business Advisors Capstone Program." The award was given by the Mid-Continent East chapter of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The program seeks to encourage innovation in business education by recognizing creative, unique strategies or programs which advance the quality of education and the management of resources.
Sycamore Business Advisors, a capstone class for business majors, offers strategic consulting to businesses and community service organizations from Terre Haute and surrounding areas. This semester's clients include a fast food chain, a county club, an organic farm supply company and a chapter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Started in 2002, the class has continued to evolve each semester. Students have assisted a variety of businesses and non-profit organizations over the years, from those just getting started to others looking to develop the next phase of their business plan.
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In Mao's Shadow: ISU Students Witness China's Evolution
September 29, 2008
SHENYANG, China - As Kelsey Powell stood under the towering, illuminated statue of Mao Zedong, she felt a little overwhelmed. It started when one young girl approached Powell and two other students asking if she could practice her English.
"Before we knew it, we were completely surrounded by little kids and their parents were pushing them saying, 'It's OK, go practice, go practice,'" said the Effingham, Ill. native.
Powell and two other students from Indiana State University had unknowingly wandered into the English corner of Zhongshan Park and found themselves surrounded by a group of more than 30 Chinese wanting to practice their or their children's English.
Kelsey Powell, sophomore marketing major; Andrew Schroeder, sophomore accounting major and Allison Myers, junior finance major.
The three students represented ISU's Networks Financial Institute and College of Business during a conference on Sino-United States economic relations at Liaoning University, as well as at Liaoning University's 60th anniversary celebration. Networks seeks to develop leadership potential of students in the financial services industry and is funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment.
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Insurance and Risk Management Program Recognized Among Nation's Best
September 19, 2008
The insurance and risk management program at Indiana State University's College of Business has been recognized as among the nation's best.
The program is one of eight profiled in the September issue of Risk Management Magazine, a national publication for corporate risk managers. Other top programs listed are at the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Georgia, Temple University in Philadelphia, St. John's University in New York City, among others.
"We are among very distinguished schools," said Nancy J. Merritt, dean of the ISU College of Business. "Our students, instructors, internships, job placement, and development put us right there with other national programs."
According to the article in Risk Management, ISU's insurance and risk management program ranks as a top school because of its support from the Gongaware Center, along with other industry sponsored scholarships and nearly 100 percent job placement.
The Gongaware Center was established in 1998 by an initial $5 million gift from Donald and Patricia Gongaware with the purpose of developing future leaders in the insurance and financial services industry. In addition to insurance and risk management, the center now encompasses all financial services sectors.
Gongaware Scholars participate in summer internships, work with industry leaders and have access to a variety of other opportunities to develop leadership skills. Most complete three internships during their undergraduate years. In the summer of 2008, 25 interns were placed at national companies including Indiana Farm Bureau; GEICO; All Risks, Ltd.; State Farm; Lockton, Inc.; Grain Dealers Mutual and Steak N' Shake.
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ISU Student Teaches in Rural China
September 3, 2008
When Indiana State University sophomore Erin Braun traveled to rural China to teach young children, she ended up learning a few things about herself in the process.
"What I gained internally was much more than what I had come to give," Braun said. "It was those moments of sharing with people a half a world away that opened my mind and brought me clarity about how I should live my life. If I can be half as selfless as the people I met, I will have done more in my life than I ever thought."
A double major in social work and business management with a minor in psychology, Braun spent two months in China with 16 other students from around the U.S. through the International Student Exchange Program. The first part of the program was dedicated to learning Chinese at Tsinghua University in Beijing. The latter half was spent teaching English to children in Liupanshui in Guizhou Province, an underdeveloped and relatively poor region in southwestern China.
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Indiana State Honors Four With G.O.L.D. Awards
August 26, 2008
The Indiana State University Alumni Association has announced this year's recipients of the G.O.L.D. (Graduate of the Last Decade) Award. The G.O.L.D. Award was created as a means of recognizing the achievements of recent alumni. The 2008 recipients will be honored at a reception and banquet on Friday, Sept. 5, beginning at 6 p.m. in Dede I, Hulman Memorial Student Union.
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Among the 2008 G.O.L.D. Award recipients are:
Benjamin A. Lenderman
Lenderman is heading back to the classroom this fall after a successful career at Eli Lilly & Co. He has earned accolades for his work as a pharmaceutical sales specialist, focusing in osteoporosis drugs Evista and Forteo during the past four years. His work led him to be named the National Specialty Top Performer, allowing him to be one of two delegates representing Eli Lilly at the International Society of Clinical Densitometry's National Medical Congress. He has also lead seminars in ethical promotional practices and improving teamwork.
Lenderman, a native of West Terre Haute, is heading to Stanford University to begin working on master's degrees in business administration and education. While at Indiana State, Lenderman was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key honor societies and was an inside linebacker on the ISU football team, earning various awards including the Gillum and Hitman awards as well as the Gateway Conference Presidents Academic Excellence Award. In addition, he was a two-time member of the Verizon Sycamore All-Academic Team. Lenderman, a 2003 graduate with a degree in business management, finance and business administration, was a recipient of the Rankin Outstanding Senior Award and Hines Medal for graduating seniors with a 4.0 grade point average in addition to being named the Outstanding Management Major.
Chris Sapp
After graduating from Indiana State with a degree in management information systems in 2002, Sapp worked for Eli Lilly & Co., serving as a systems analyst and neuroscience sales representative. He moved to Stryker Instruments, working first as a sales representative for the neuro/spine/ENT division before becoming national sales training manager in February 2008. As national sales training manager, he is responsible for providing continuing education and development to 260 sales representatives and 19 regional managers. He is currently facilitating product launches and sales training programs for Stryker affiliates in Europe and Australia.
While at Indiana State, Sapp was a presidential scholar, participated in Golden Key National Honor Society and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, served as a member of the University Faculty Athletic Committee, and was a recipient of the Hines Medal for graduating seniors with a 4.0 grade point average. A four-year letterman on the ISU football team, Sapp was named to the GTE All-Academic Team from 2000-2002, was a member of the first team Academic All-Conference team from 1999-2001 and was a Div. I-AA Athletic Director's Association Academic All-American.
The 2008 GOLD Awardees with Indiana State President Daniel Bradley
R-L: Benjamin L. Wagner, Michael P. Sheehan, M.D., Chris Sapp, and Benjamin A. Lenderman
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Disney Exec who is ISU Grad Shares Tools for Success
August 19, 2008
Disney Vacation Club President Jim Lewis doesn't really carry life's most important tools in his briefcase. What the 1984 Indiana State University College of Business graduate does carry in the worn tan leather case he received from his father when he was becoming a young professional are symbols of those tools.
During a new student convocation program Sunday at Indiana State, Lewis showed those symbols to an audience of 18-year-olds who may wonder what the future holds, and spoke briefly about why they are important.
A quick look at his resume suggests Lewis has known only success. Prior to taking his current position as president of the 100,000-member Disney Vacation Club in 1996, the Hammond native worked for PepsiCo for nine years. Before that, he was an accountant for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Indianapolis.
But before that - and before Indiana State - Lewis toiled at a car wash on Sibley Boulevard in his native Hammond and other places where work gloves - or wash mitts, in the case of the car wash - really did come in handy, including a Pullman-Standard rail car plant.
The rail car plant where Lewis worked as a teen-ager closed shortly after he entered Indiana State and he noted that more of today's jobs require a college education, making it even more important for those young people entering ISU this fall to complete their college educations.
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Sixth Class of Network Scholars Welcomed
August 19, 2008
Indiana State University's College of Business welcomes its sixth class of Networks Scholars.
Recipients of this prestigious award, presented in connection with Networks Financial Institute, will receive a four-year scholarship that covers tuition and fees and includes a professional development account and a new laptop computer.
Networks Scholars also enjoy the opportunity to participate in a paid internship, potential for international experience and a faculty mentor relationship.
Candidates are selected based on a number of criteria including: grade point average, SAT/ACT scores, class rank, written essays and a mandatory personal interview. Members of this year's Networks Scholars class of 2011 are:
Lindsey Maria Butorac of Bloomington, Ill. A graduate of University High School in Normal, Ill. and the daughter of Gus and Connie Butorac, she plans to major in business management.
Eden Elizabeth Dillman of Mitchell . The daughter of Tim and Trudie Dillman and a graduate of Mitchell High school, she plans to major in business Management at ISU.
Kristina Gayle Hutson of Casey, Ill. A graduate of Casey-Westfield Senior High School and the daughter of Tim and Cindy Hutson, she will major in accounting.
Matthew Ephraim Illingworth of Remington. The son of Calvin and Pam Illingworth and a graduate of Wolcott High School, he will major in financial services at ISU.
Paul Kendall McCleary of Terre Haute. The son of Daryl and Jean McCleary and a graduate of Terre Haute South Vigo High School, he will major in accounting at ISU.
Kelsie Marie Noble of Terre Haute. The daughter of Damon Noble and Shelly Fonner and a graduate of Terre Haute North Vigo High School, she plans to study marketing at ISU.
Laura Elizabeth Painter of Fort Thomas, Ky. The daughter of William and Kathleen Painter and a graduate of Highlands High School, she will study financial services at Indiana State.
Kourtney Renae Lynn Unger of Seymour. The daughter of Joey and Elizabeth Unger and a graduate of Seymour High School, she will major in Finance.
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28 Students Receive President's Academic Excellence Scholarships
July 15, 2008
Twenty-eight students have been awarded Indiana State University's President’s Academic Excellence Scholarships. The honor includes full in-state tuition, renewable for seven additional semesters.
Academic Excellence Scholars must be ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class or have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.7 on a 4.0 scale. Selection is highly competitive and based upon both academic and personal accomplishments, and an interview is required for all finalists. All incoming freshmen who are admitted to the University by Dec.1 are automatically considered for this scholarship. Among the recipients were:
Brittany Cuthbertson, of Terre Haute, is the daughter of Richard and Donna Cuthbertson and a graduate of Terre Haute North Vigo High School. She plans to major in accounting while at Indiana State. While in high school she was involved in volleyball, tennis, Interact, National Honor Society and played intramural basketball. She earned all county and academic all-state honors in volleyball and was a member of the North Tennis team that placed fourth in the state of Indiana.
Aubrey Hancock, daughter of Alan and Elaine Hancock of Vincennes, is a graduate of Lincoln High School. She plans to major in accounting while at Indiana State. While in high school she participated in Student Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, yearbook, youth group, V-Women, cross country, track and basketball. She was named an Athlete of Character, a three-time Rotary Club Athlete of the Year and received all-conference honors in cross country for three years.
Mitchell McAdams, son of Mitch and Suzanne McAdams of Seymour, is a graduate of Seymour High School. He plans on majoring in accounting while at Indiana State. While in high school he participated in National Honor Society, Business Professionals of America, Student Government, youth group and competed in varsity cross country, track, wrestling and swimming. He also mentored freshman and participated in three mission trips, traveling to volunteer with Hurricane Katrina recovery and working at an Appalachian Work Camp.
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15 Students Awarded University's Top Academic Honor
July 14, 2008
Fifteen students have been awarded Indiana State University's most prestigious scholarship - the President's Scholarship. The honor includes full tuition, room, board and books as well as a laptop computer for all four years of the student's college career.
President's Scholars must be ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class or have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.7 on a 4.0 scale. Selection is highly competitive and based upon both academic and personal accomplishments, and an interview is required for all finalists. Amoong the awardees were:
Jaycee Hackney, daughter of Kenny and Julie Hackney of Martinsville, Ill., is a graduate of Martinsville Jr./Sr. High School. She plans to major in accounting while at Indiana State, with hopes of becoming a Certified Public Accountant. During high school, Hackney participated in Student Council, National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters and was a member of the yearbook staff. She was elected class president for the past four years and played varsity basketball and volleyball. Her numerous honors and awards include various academic awards, being named an Illinois State Scholar and all-conference in basketball.
Kendra Lindsey, daughter of Brian and Lou Ann Lindsey of Bicknell, is a graduate of North Knox High School and plans to major in business administration and pre-law at Indiana State. During high school, Lindsey participated in academic teams, National Honor Society, Student Council, band, Knox County Youth in Philanthropy, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), serving as editor of the school newspaper, 4-H, peer tutoring and worked with the Knox County Teen Court. Her numerous honors and awards include receiving the DAR Outstanding Citizenship Award, an academic letter recipient, 4-H State Fair Fashion Review finalist and a workshop presenter at the Student Council State Convention.
Morgan Wendlandt, daughter of Tim and Doreen Wendlandt of Fort Atkinson, Wis., is a graduate of Fort Atkinson High School and plans to major in marketing at Indiana State. While in high school Wendlandt participated in the Fort Atkinson Varsity Athletic Club, Spanish Club, International Club, volunteered at a local food pantry, mentored elementary school students and volunteered with Meals on Wheels and Special Olympics. She lettered in four sports -- soccer, tennis, golf and basketball. She was named a Rotary Top Scholar her freshman and senior years and earned school and conference honors in four varsity sports.
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ISU Grad Heads to Graduate School at Stanford
July 10, 2008
Five years after graduating from Indiana State University's College of Business, Ben Lenderman wants more, and he's already proven he's up for a challenge.
But the West Terre Haute native thinks his true calling lies in teaching and has set his sights on a career as a college professor - maybe even eventually a university president.
Toward that end he applied earlier this year to graduate schools at Harvard and Stanford universities and was accepted at both. Opting for Stanford, Lenderman and his wife Jevy will leave Indiana - and a position with Eli Lilly & Co. as a successful pharmaceutical sales specialist. This fall he will begin working towards master's degrees in business administration and education.
Multiple degrees are nothing new for Lenderman. In 2003, he graduated from Indiana State with three bachelor's degrees -- in management, finance and business administration -- and had a 4.0 grade point average. He was also a member of the Sycamore football team.
Lenderman said there are many ways the ISU College of Business prepared him well for success in the business world and, now, in graduate school, including "good access to professors and the ability to make your degree exactly what you want it to be. You get a good education at ISU."
He lists Max Douglas, professor of management, and Aruna Chandra, associate professor of management, among his most influential professors while at Indiana State.
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Four Students Driving for Team Sycamore Racing in 2008
July 10, 2008
Four Indiana State University students are indulging in their love of motorsports and the need for speed by captaining the university’s super comp dragster.
The drivers, Derek Parkes, Bloomfield; Matt Williams, Avon; Brad Ada, Michigan City; and Nichole Stephenson, Williamsport; earned their Super Comp and E.T. licenses in April at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis. Parkes was named the primary Super Comp driver, with the others seeing action in E.T. events. In addition to O’Reilly Raceway Park, they have raced at venues in Norwalk, Ohio; Joliet, Ill. and Bowling Green, Ky. and will run a full schedule with the NHRA Super Comp Division 3 Lucas Oil Series.
Stephenson, a sophomore accounting major, has been racing since age 16 with her family's racing team in the Stock class. She holds three racing licenses - Stock, Superstock and Super Comp. Besides racing experience, Stephenson brings with her an understanding of the inner workings of a car and a team, having worked on engines at her family's restoration business and as crew chief for her family's team.
Drivers for Team Sycamore Racing must be in good academic standing with the university, be enrolled in the motorsport management minor and a member of Team Sycamore Racing. They must have a valid driver's license and either currently licensed by NHRA or be willing to obtain licensure and pass the physical.
Team Sycamore Racing Drivers (left to right): Matt Williams, Nichole Stephenson, Derek Parkes and Brad Ada
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Trip to China Helps ISU MBA Students Look to the Future
July 3, 2008
TERRE HAUTE - For four Master of Business Administration (MBA) students at Indiana State University, a study trip to China was a look to the future.
It also was the first student exchange trip between two universities with a long-standing partnership.
The students along with Wei He, ISU associate professor of management, spent 18 days interacting with students from Liaoning University's Sun Wha International Business School in Shenyang, China, visiting companies and attending the ninth National MBA Forum of China, as well as hitting tourist destinations such as the Great Wall.
For Tim Brunnemer of Elwood, his first trip abroad proved to be an enlightening one and included presenting at the forum, along with fellow ISU MBA student Angela Bonnell of Robinson, Ill., about the "American Perspective on Social Corporate Responsibility." Yun-Fang "Mandy" Chuo of Taipei, Taiwan, said she enjoyed visiting such companies as Coca-Cola in China and speaking with company officials. Yi-Chung Ou enjoyed the chance to visit companies in China. The students visited companies such as Shenyang Hongmei Group -- a state owned company -- and Shenyang Eastar Daily Articles Company, which is a privately owned company in China.
Wei He, ISU associate professor of management, along with four MBA students -- Yi-Chung Ou of Miaoli, Taiwan; Tim Brunnemer of Elwood; Yun-Fang Chuo of Taipei, Taiwan and Angela Bonnell of Robinson, Ill.-- spent 18 days in China visiting companies, attending a conference and classes as well as touring.
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Fulbright Scholar Award Helps Professor Study Business Incubators Overseas
June 13, 2008
Aruna Chandra, a faculty member in the Indiana State University College of Business, has been studying new business creation in the Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) economies since about the time the term was coined by Goldman Sachs in 2003. Her research took her to China in 2004, thanks to a grant from Lilly Endowment. In 2006, she traveled to Brazil and several other South American countries.
Now, that research is getting a boost in the form of a Fulbright Scholar Science and Technology grant from the U.S. State Department and the Brazilian government that will allow her to return to Brazil in 2009 to gather additional data focusing on business incubators.
As a Fulbright Scholar, Chandra will be based at the University of Sao Paulo, which houses the largest incubator in Latin America, with more than 100 businesses. That's much larger than the typical South American incubator, which is home to only about 15 to 20 businesses.
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Miss ISU to Compete for Miss Indiana
June 13, 2008
Erica Eisenhut is in it to win. As Miss Indiana State University, Eisenhut is among 29 young women hoping to become the next Miss Indiana. The Vincennes resident began competing in pageants while still in high school. She was crowned Miss ISU last September.
Aside from pageants, Eisenhut has volunteered at Special Olympics, the United Cerebral Palsy telethon and Clothe-a-Child.
A senior marketing major at Indiana State, Eisenhut, who graduates in May, hopes to work for a company such as Apple computers or Coca-Cola as a marketing advisor.
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New Director Named at Small Business Development Center
June 9, 2008
Heather Penney has been named director of the West-Central Indiana Small Business Development Center, which is housed in Indiana State University's College of Business.
The nationwide Small Business Development Center program provides entrepreneurial assessment, free one-on-one counseling, small business development products, and business planning workshops for persons interested in starting a business or who are in the initial start-up phase. The SBDC also lends assistance to existing small businesses.
A certified business counselor, Penney has assisted aspiring and current business owners as director of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn.
"Heather Penney is very well qualified, with three years of experience as director of another Small Business Development Center and an MBA degree. With her success in Tennessee, we are sure we will see continued progress in the West-Central Indiana SBDC," said Nancy Merritt, dean of the College of Business at Indiana State.
An Air Force veteran, Penney previously worked as a marketing consultant for Cumulus Broadcasting LLC and U.S. Broadcasting. She holds a bachelor's degree and Master of Business Administration from Mercer University in Macon. Ga. Penney began her new duties in Terre Haute on Monday (June 9).
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Visiting Thai Professors Leave Indiana State with more than Memories
June 4, 2008
When Siri-Orn Champatong joined nine other university faculty members from Thailand in traveling to Indiana State University for a three-week international business seminar, she was continuing a family tradition. Her father, Saiyut Champatong, completed a bachelor's degree in business from Indiana State in 1956 and a master's degree in 1961. Siri-Orn remembers the ISU T-shirts she would get from "Uncle Shipla," ISU professor Otto Shipla, who brought the shirts as gifts during frequent visits to Thailand from the 1960s through the 1980s.
While the T-shirts represent priceless memories, Siri-Orn Champatong now has something else of considerable value from Indiana State - first-hand knowledge of American business practices and American business school teaching methods.
“Their visit provided me with a first hand knowledge of many aspects of Thai culture and has perked my interest in visiting Thailand and SSRU in the near future to further discuss ways in which we could develop mutually beneficial relationships,” said Aruna Chandra, associate professor of management.
"College of Business faculty very much welcomed the opportunity to interact with our colleagues from Thailand,” said Herschel Chait, associate professor of management and chair of the College of Business’ organizational department. “These types of programs expand our college's international reach and, in the long run, these close personal connections will benefit our programs and our students.”
Thai delegation visit to Woodburn Graphics
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Business Professor to Take E-commerce Class to Harvard
June 3, 2008
At first, Jeff Harper wasn’t sure what to make of the phone call he received while grading spring semester final exams in Indiana State University’s College of Business.
“The individual identified himself from Harvard and said they found my course on the Internet and would like me to bring that course to Harvard this summer,” says Harper, who teaches a class in electronic commerce.
A glance at the Caller ID screen showed the call came from the Boston area code. The caller was Bruce Watson, coordinator of Harvard’s Summer School Economics and Business Program.
So Harper, an Alabama native who is a professor of management information systems at Indiana State, will be packing his bags and his laptop computer and heading to Cambridge, Mass.
For four weeks, starting June 23, he will be teaching a graduate-level course in the hallowed halls of Harvard University.
“I did some research into who has taught and published in the field of electronic commerce and Professor Harper’s name came up often,” Watson said. “I also saw that he had taught a course at Indiana State which was quite similar to the one that we offer in Harvard Summer School. So, he seemed like a good candidate. My telephone conversations with Jeff impressed me with his commitment to excellent teaching. We are truly delighted that Professor Harper will be joining us. I know that Jeff will be first-rate addition to our summer faculty.”
Harper says being selected to teach a class at Harvard is a reflection on the overall caliber of Indiana State’s College of Business.
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Business Student Chosen for Prestigious National Internship
May 20, 2008
Kelly Fortner, senior insurance and risk management major in Indiana State University's College of Business, has been awarded a prestigious summer internship by the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO).
The NAPSLO Internship Program awards paid internships to college students interested in an insurance career. Interns spend nine weeks with member firms learning all aspects of the surplus lines industry. They receive a competitive salary from their host firms and the association provides a stipend, covers travel, housing and various other expenses. Interns also compete for an additional internship in London in summer 2009.
Fortner will serve her internship with Markel Essex insurance, a more than 75-year-old surplus lines company in Glen Allen, Va., and Westrope in Kansas City, Mo., the seventh largest privately held commercial insurance brokerage firm in the U.S.
While at Indiana State, Kelly has worked as an academic peer advocate, helping freshmen with academic needs; served a safety internship with Indianapolis Power and Light and served as a night host in a university residence hall. A Networks Scholar, she is a member of the Insurance and Risk Management Honors Corps, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and has been active in the Networks Professional Development, Gamma Iota Sigma risk management society, and was active for two semesters in College Mentors for Kids.
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2008-09 Gongaware Scholars Named
May 20, 2008
The Gongaware Center in the Indiana State University College of Business announces the 2008-09 class of Gongaware Scholars.
Valued at $6,500 per year, the Gongaware Scholarship not only assists recipients with tuition, but it also provides professional development accounts and creates networking possibilities by placing them in paid internships and assigning them a faculty mentor during their college experience. Gongaware Scholars also receive a laptop computer.
Candidates for Gongaware Scholarships are evaluated based on competitive grade point average, high school class rank, ACT/SAT scores and their interest in studying insurance and risk management at ISU. Established in 1999, the scholarship is made possible with funds from Don and Patricia Gongaware. Don Gongaware is a retired senior executive at Conseco Inc.
This year's Gongaware Scholarship recipients are: Julie Alig, Ben Rice, and Ryan Teppen.
Julie Alig, Ben Rice, and Ryan Teppen
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2008-09 Promising Scholars Faculty Plan Meaningful Research
May 15, 2008
Seven up-and-coming faculty members have been named 2008-09 "Promising Scholars" in recognition of their commitment to meaningful research and student learning.
Promising Scholars receive research grants of up to $15,000 each in an effort by the university to attract and retain exceptionally qualified faculty. The program is part of "Fulfilling the Promise - The Path to Pre-eminence" a six-year plan to raise Indiana State to a high level of prominence in the state, Midwest region and nation. A four-year grant from the Lilly Endowment to recruit and retain intellectual capital for Indiana's higher education institutions is providing initial support to the Promising Scholars program.
Chosen via a competitive process, the seven new selections bring to 51 the total number of Promising Scholars recognized by the university since the program began with the 2005-06 academic year. Among them was...
Wei He, assistant professor, management, "Attracting Direct Investment from China to Indiana: Rationales, Approaches, and Prospects." China currently owns the largest foreign exchange reserves in the world and is encouraging its firms to actively invest abroad. Meanwhile, Indiana desperately needs both domestic and international investment to revitalize its economy and create new employments. This project intends to help match Indiana's demand of investment with China's supply of it by studying the rationales, approaches and prospects of soliciting direct investment from China to Indiana. It will benefit the state and local communities' economic development, ISU students' experiential learning of international business and the academic literature on foreign direct investment from emerging economies to developed countries.
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Students Serve as Business Advisors
May 14, 2008
Sixty consultants with training and experience in all aspects of business have spent the past several months working with new and existing companies and not-for-profit entities from throughout central- and south-central Indiana, but there’s a twist. These consultants are college seniors.
Putting into practice what they’ve learned in the classroom over the past four years, their firm - Sycamore Business Advisors - is a business of its own, but is also a class in Indiana State University’s College of Business.
As consultants, the students assisted clients ranging from a start-up venture in Bloomington that plans a community kitchen incubator to an existing Indianapolis business that is marketing a new medical product.
Launched in 2002, Sycamore Business Advisors serves as a capstone class for business majors and provides strategic consulting to small- and medium-sized entities.
One 10-member team of students created a business plan for the Bloomington kitchen incubator, which envisions a commercial kitchen - to be located in a former Coca-Cola warehouse - where entrepreneurs could produce value-added food products using unused fresh foods from community gardens and food banks.
Working with Arcadia, a $150 million company, is a new experience for Sycamore Business Advisors, said David Robinson, assistant professor of management. “Typically, we have focused on small businesses or not-for-profit agencies. Arcadia HealthCare (DailyMed) is much larger than what we have worked with in the past, but this is an area that we have wanted to get into. We would like to provide our consulting services to a wide range of companies because it gives our students a broader range of experience,” Robinson said.
In addition to the Bloomington kitchen incubator and Arcadia HealthCare/Daily Med, Sycamore Business Advisors' clients have included C.A.N.D.L.E.S. Holocaust Museum, Southern Indiana Bio-Diesel, Happiness Bag, Terre Haute Children's Museum, Asani's and Imperial Lanes.
Xavier Romero, a senior marketing major and a team leader for Sycamore Business Advisors
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Two Appointed to Insurance Advisory Council
May 14, 2008
Two insurance industry executives have been appointed to the Insurance Advisory Council of the Indiana State University College of Business.
Named to the council were Kevin Kelly of Zionsville, Ind., regional vice president of State Auto Insurance, and Mike Vaught of Venice, Fla., senior vice president of sales with Zurich North America Commercial, Schaumburg, Ill.
Kelly is a 23-year industry veteran, who is based at the Indianapolis regional office of Columbus, Ohio-based State Auto. He is responsible for the sales and profitability of property and casualty business in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Eastern Illinois University.
An Indiana State alumnus whose career in the insurance industry began in 1981, Vaught is responsible for leading existing strategic relationships and identifying additional opportunities to capitalize Zurich's product offerings with banks and emerging agency network affiliations.
Kevin Kelly and Mike Vaught
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Clients of ISU's Small Business Development Center Win State Awards
May 1, 2008
Dan Fehrenbach, president and CEO of Bank of Indiana, has won the 2008 Small Business Administration (SBA) Financial Services Champion of the Year award for Indiana and Mark and Angela Timm, founders of Cottage Garden Inc. have won the 2008 state SBA Small Business Persons of the Year award.
The Indiana SBA district recognized the accomplishments and contributions of these businesses at the Indiana Small Business Week 2008 Celebration Thursday (May 1) at the Ritz Charles in Carmel. Both businesses have utilized the services of the West-Central Indiana Small Business Development Center, housed in Indiana State University's College of Business.
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Honorary Degree, International Medals to be Presented at Commencement
April 28, 2008
An Indiana State University alumnus who is an internationally recognized banker and financier will be the recipient of an honorary degree and a medal recognizing his international service during the university’s spring commencement ceremony Saturday (May 3).
Paul Lo, chairman of Bank SinoPac in Taiwan, will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree from Indiana State President Lloyd W. Benjamin III, who also will present Lo with the university’s Presidential Medal for International Service.
Prior to founding Bank SinoPac, Lo held various positions with Citibank for 17 years in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Taipei. With the opening of Taiwan’s banking system to private banks in 1992, he formed Bank SinoPac by raising $400 million in capital. It has since grown rapidly and today has branches and a host of financial affiliates throughout Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, Vietnam, the United Kingdom and California.
A 1970 graduate of Indiana State with a master of business administration degree and a Distinguished Alumni of the university, Lo is a leading force and outspoken supporter of economic growth and international trade between China and the United States.
Lo has been featured in several international, Asian, and American financial magazines including Business Week, Euromoney, The Banker, Global Finance and The Asset. In 1999, he was selected as one of Business Week’s 50 Stars of Asia.
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Senior Insurance and Risk Management Major Sole Recipient of Statewide Scholarship
April 28, 2008
A graduating senior in Indiana State University’s College of Business has received the Gene Lundry Scholarship from the Indiana Risk and Insurance Management Society.
The $4,000 scholarship was awarded to Travis Walker of Terre Haute in recognition of his high grade-point average, excellent communications skills and professionalism. Four insurance and risk management students from throughout the state were nominated for the 2008 award. Walker was the sole recipient.
A 2004 graduate of Terre Haute North Vigo High School, Walker is the son of John and Deborah Siefert. While at Indiana State, he was active in the Student Investment Club and served as vice president of the ISU chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma, the student insurance, risk management and actuarial science society.
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Two Students Selected for National Insurance and Risk Management Conference
April 24, 2008
Two Indiana State University insurance and risk management majors are among a select group of students chosen to participate in the Risk and Insurance Management Society’s (RIMS) Anita Benedetti Student Involvement Program.
As a result of their selection, senior Brad Lemish of Albion and junior Gerald Smith of Avon will attend the society’s annual conference in San Diego April 27 - May 1. The society pays airfare, hotel expenses, registration and a small stipend for students chosen to participate.
Lemish will graduate from Indiana State in May with bachelor’s degrees in insurance and risk management and business administration as well as a minor in finance. While at ISU, he has been a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Insurance and Risk Management Honors Corps and has served as president and vice president of the Phi Kappa Psi social fraternity. A 2004 graduate of Churubusco High School, he is the son of Blake and Susan Lemish.
Smith, a 2005 graduate of Avon High School and the son of Robin and Billy Hill, serves as president of the Alpha Epsilon chapter of the Gamma Iota Sigma insurance and risk management fraternity at Indiana State. In 2007, he served a summer internship with Lockton Companies LLC in Kansas City, Mo. Lockton is the world’s largest, privately owned, independent insurance broker.
2008 marks the fourth year in a row that Indiana State has had two students chosen for the Benedetti program and the 15th year out of the past 16 that at least one student has been selected.
Brad Lemish and Gerald Smith
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ISU Foundation Announces Distinguished Philanthropy Awards
April 24, 2008
In a ceremony entitled "You Can Do Magic," Thomas and Deborah Bareford of Carmel, William J. Brett of Terre Haute, and the Indiana State University Federal Credit Union, were honored for their dedication and vision to enhance the growth and success of Indiana State University.
"The inspiration from how Tom and Debbie Bareford used their philanthropy to recognize their daughter Susan, the way Dr. Brett gives so much to include his years of teaching as well as his charitable gifts, and how the ISU Federal Credit Union has supported our students with their support is truly humbling," said Dr. Gene Crume, President of the ISU Foundation.
Michael Simmons, long-time supporter of Indiana State University and the 2005 Distinguished Service Award recipient was proud to present The Philanthropic Excellence Award to Thomas and Deborah Bareford. The Barefords have been giving back to their alma mater for 43 years in order to leave a legacy for future students to have the opportunities they had to grow and flourish with an outstanding education. Through a five-year commitment to March On! The Campaign for Indiana State University, they encouraged others to give at the leadership level through a matching gift opportunity. They were also instrumental in the creation and completion of the Michael Simmons Student Activity Center by making a charitable gift to have the classroom named for their daughter Susan, an ISU alumna who passed away from cancer in September 1992.
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Rudolphi Recognized for Academic Achievements
April 23, 2008
An Indiana State University student-athlete who received considerable recognition for her achievements on the basketball court is also racking up awards for her academic accomplishments.
Laura Rudolphi has been named the College of Business Dean's Honors Scholar for having the highest grade-point average in the college (3.98 on a 4.0 scale). She is a Distinguished Scholar in the college and has received the Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award, a collaborative effort between the Journal and participating colleges and universities to honor exceptional students. She was also named an honorary commissioner of insurance by the Indiana Department of Insurance.
Rudolphi is also one of four Indiana State students selected for the Alan C. Rankin Memorial Distinguished Senior Award. The Rankin Award named for the university's seventh president, who served from 1965 to 1975, recognizes graduating seniors who have contributed to the betterment of campus life and who have demonstrated dedicated membership and leadership ability in campus organizations and the community.
"I am particularly proud of the Rankin Award," said Rudolphi, who will graduate from Indiana State on May 3 with a bachelor's degree in insurance and risk management and a minor in operations management and analysis. "Knowing that only four graduating seniors receive the Rankin Award, it's one of the highest awards that I have been able to earn."
Rudolphi praised ISU business faculty members and her coaches, whom she said emphasized the importance of academics. "All of the professors I've worked with have been outstanding. Their knowledge is tops, particularly in the insurance program, which is one of the best in the country. Getting to work with Dr. (Mary Ann) Boose and all the other esteemed professors has been a great privilege," she said.
Rudolphi is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma business honorary society and is president of Indiana State's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as well as a member of The Valley's SAAC.
A 2004 graduate of Carlyle (Ill.) High School, she is the daughter of Charles and Janet Rudolphi. She plans to continue her education this fall in the MBA program at the University of Missouri at Columbia.
Laura Rudolphi (left) with Nancy Merritt, dean of Indiana State University's College of Business
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Eight Faculty Members Receive President's Medal
April 16, 2008
Eight Indiana State University educators received the university's highest award for faculty Wednesday (April 16) during a recognition banquet that saw a total of 16 individuals recognized for distinguished service and outstanding contributions to the university.
ISU President Lloyd W. Benjamin III presented the President's Medal to Mary Ann Boose, John Conant, Jeff Edwards, Al Finch, William Giffin, Betsy Hine, Michael Murphy and Diana Quatroche.
Mary Ann Boose, professor, insurance and risk management
An Indiana State faculty member since 1995, Boose was recognized for performing her duties as professor and program coordinator "with admirable enthusiasm and productivity," for being "a tireless fundraiser" for the nationally-recognized program and for going "far beyond the call" in providing students with opportunities for international study and travel. Under her leadership, the university applied for and was granted $5 million to establish the Gongaware Center in the College of Business and has raised nearly $2 million for student awards, scholarships and career development.
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Indiana State Professors in Spotlight at Faculty Recognition Banquet
April 16, 2008
Eight Indiana State University professors were recognized for distinguished, teaching, service, research and community-based learning Wednesday (April 16) during the university’s Faculty Recognition Banquet.
Faculty Distinguished Service Award
This award recognizes distinguished service outside the classroom. Excellence in, intensity of, long-term commitment to, and tangible evidence of the impact of service are the criteria considered in selecting recipients. This year's recipients are Darlene Hantzis, professor of communication and women's studies, and Steve Lamb, chair of the analytical department in the College of Business and professor of operations management and analysis.
Lamb came to Indiana State in 1970. He has served as chair of the Faculty Senate for a total of four years, as vice chair a total of three times, as a Faculty Senate member 14 times since 1990 and Executive Committee member 12 times since 1993. Lamb’s work on the Faculty Senate often dealt extensively with compensation issues, utilizing his experience in salary regression studies as a research outlet. Other service to the university has included membership on a variety of search committees, the Networks Financial Institute Advisory Board from 2002 to 2007 and the University Enrollment Task Force in 2005-06. Recognizing Lamb as “an ambassador for Indiana State and the College of Business,” the college in 2007 presented him with its Faculty Recognition Award for exemplary service.
“My philosophy has always been to try to advance the academic underpinnings of the University through the voice of the faculty, and to work diligently with the administration as well, using persuasion, and compromise, without sacrificing principle, to create a positive environment in order to advance the institution. I have always tried to work in a cooperative fashion with the administration, believing strongly that very little would be accomplished if faculty were to use a confrontational approach,” Lamb said.
“Wonderful friendships born from rigorous trails were established during the years served as chair of the Faculty Senate. It was noteworthy that our success was achieved through a collaborative university effort in order to achieve a common goal. I accept this award on behalf of all colleagues who sacrificed so much for the benefit of the university,” he said.
Theodore Dreiser Distinguished Research/Creativity Award - Named for the early 20th Century author who grew up in Terre Haute, this award recognizes full-time faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to their disciplines. The 2008 recipients are Robert Perrin, professor and chair of the department of English, and William Warfel, professor of insurance and risk management.
A faculty member in the ISU College of Business since 1990, Warfel has written numerous articles that have been published in professional journals and trade publications, many of which focus on insurance law and legal issues pertaining to the liability exposure. He has been retained as a testifying and consulting expert witness by insurance agents, insurance carriers and policyholders. Warfel was recently quoted in an Arizona Court of Appeals decision that has positive, far-reaching implications with the respect to the availability of affordable builder’s risk insurance for general contractors who undertake major commercial projects. Articles discussing this decision were recently published in The John Liner Review and Risk Management magazine.
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Rankin Awards Honor Outstanding Seniors and Juniors
April 15, 2008
Four seniors and 16 juniors have been recognized for their achievement and service to Indiana State University with Alan C. Rankin awards.
Named for ISU's seventh president, Alan C. Rankin, who served from 1965-1975, the Rankin Awards are sponsored by the Student Alumni Association and the Office of Alumni Affairs. The awards were established to recognize outstanding members of the junior and senior classes who have contributed to the betterment of campus life at ISU. Individuals selected to receive the awards must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.25 and have demonstrated dedicated membership and leadership ability in campus organizations, as well as in the community.
Seniors Hannah Steele, Kit Corps, Steffyn Kiefer and Laura Rudolphi will receive the Alan C. Rankin Memorial Distinguished Senior Awards during commencement exercises at 2 p.m. May 3 in Hulman Center.
Laura Rudolphi, an insurance and risk management major from Carlyle, Ill., is a member of the Insurance and Risk Management Honors Corps and the Beta Gamma business fraternity in addition to being a four-year member of the ISU women's basketball team. She has served on the Missouri Valley Conference Student Advisory Committee since May 2007.
Rudolphi was named the Missouri Valley Conference Prairie Farms Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2007 as well as being named to the conference's All-Conference Second Team. In 2007, she was named to ESPN the Magazine's All America Third Team. In 2008, she was named to the College Sports Information Directors of American Academic All-District Five Team and ESPN the Magazine's All-American first team.
Juniors from the college receiving the award were:
Blake Reed, a business administration and political science major from Terre Haute;
Erick Anderson, an insurance and risk management major from Crown Point;
Robin Smith, an accounting major from Petersburg;
Andrew Pyle, an accounting major from Vallonia, Ind.;
Casey Lock, an accounting major from Chrisman, Ill.
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Two Presented with President's Award for Civic and Community Leadership
April 11, 2008
Seniors Nicole Royer and Gloria Diaz are recipients of the 2008 President's Award for Civic and Community Leadership at Indiana State University.
Royer, a senior marketing major from Brazil, saw first-hand the difference of public service by working with the United Way of the Wabash Valley. She completed a three month internship with the organization for college credit, but stayed on as a volunteer because she enjoyed the experience and the people.
While serving as an intern with United Way of the Wabash Valley, she was involved in numerous events such as C.A.R.E. (Campaign Appreciation and Recognition Event), pilot campaign kickoff, Clabber Girl Brickyard BBQ, campaign kickoff, Days of Caring and was in charge of the silent auction at Abbondanza. In addition to events, she helped design operations manuals for the United Way.
In her involvement with the ISU chapter of the American Marketing Association, she participated in the chapter's annual Christmas party for low-income elementary school students. A pole vaulter and a four-year member of Indiana State’s track and field team, she organized a fundraising event to raise money for a trip to National Pole Vault Summit to meet and learn from elite pole vaulters across the nation.
Diaz, a senior interior design major and a native of Guatemala, has been active in the Hispanic Student Association and providing others insight into the Spanish culture.
Nicole Royer and Gloria Diaz
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Microsoft Official Delivers Ethics Conference Keynote
April 1, 2008
Drawing on his experience as a federal prosecutor and playing a video produced by one of the business world’s most infamous companies, Odell Guyton didn’t take long to drive home his point about the consequences of ethical lapses during a speech Tuesday (April 1) at Indiana State University.
“If you get it wrong … you may not be able to see your children graduate from high school; you may not be able to see your children get married because you might be wearing a jumpsuit in the crossbar inn,” Guyton said.
The warning to more than 200 students, faculty and businesspeople came barely one minute into Guyton’s keynote address during the Indiana State College of Business' third annual Ethics and Corporate Responsibility Conference.
“Do not lie - especially to men wearing gold badges and carrying guns,” Guyton, who is now compliance officer for Microsoft Corp., said in a presentation that also laid out plans for effective compliance with laws and ethical guidelines.
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Visiting the Money Bus: Students Learn About Handling Finances Through Lessons, Hands-on Practice
March 26, 2008
After receiving a $100 paycheck, Luke Metzger embarked upon the culmination of six weeks of finance lessons -- the Money Bus.
“I think it’s really fun because I really like math and I like money. When I handle money, I like to know that I can control myself and I don’t just let my parents do it,” said the DeVaney Elementary School fifth-grader about the financial lessons.
That was part of the plan that combined Indiana State University’s Student Mathematical After-School Thinking program (SMART program) at DeVaney with the Networks Financial Institute Kids Count on the Money Bus through the efforts of several people including Deborah Flurkey, ISU liaison for Money Bus/SMART program; Kathy Spelman, DeVaney school liaison for Money Bus/SMART and Paul Utterback, DeVaney school liaison for Money Bus.
Luke Metzger, 11, fills out his check to pay for his entry onto the Money Bus at DeVaney Elementary School.
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Finance Majors to Take Part in World's Largest Student Investment Conference
March 20, 2008
Indiana State University's College of Business will be well-represented at the world's largest student investment conference, March 27-29 in Dayton, Ohio. Eight ISU finance majors - all members of the university's Student Investment Club - will join more than 17,000 participants representing 218 colleges and universities from 58 countries at the eighth annual Redefining Investment Strategy Education Forum.
The three-day forum includes keynote speakers, workshops, specialized breakout sessions and career strategies forums. Keynote speakers will include presentations on the economy, markets, Federal Reserve perspective, corporate governance and responsibility, and leadership. Specialized breakout sessions will cover topics such as fixed income, hedge funds, international markets, and risk management.
Some members of Indiana State University's Student Investment Club pose with their faculty adviser, Tarek Zaher, in the College of Business' new Financial Trading Room. From left to right are: Jeremy Firster, Tony Askins, Bobbie Jackson, Mansour Alturki, Becky Milner,Hani Singer and Tarek Zaher, professor of finance.
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Analyst Tells ISU Audience Subprime Crisis Far From Over
March 20, 2008
Saying there has been “precious little discussion” of the reasons behind the subprime mortgage crisis, a former investment banker who is now a research analyst blames federal policies and a change in accounting practices.
Speaking at Indiana State University’s College of Business Wednesday (March 19), Christopher Whalen said the crisis has resulted in the liquidation of $3 trillion in assets and suggested ongoing interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve will not solve the problem.
Noting that housing is a lagging economic indicator, Whalen, co-founder and senior vice president of Institutional Risk Analytics, said “the bottom in the U.S. housing market probably lies in 2009. No amount of Fed interest rate ease can change the fact that reviving the housing market means affordability must be restored to home valuations; that is, prices must fall substantially in many markets.”
The bottom in the market likely will not be reached until mid 2009, Whalen suggested, predicting additional consolidation this year and next in the mortgage banking industry and the liquidation of hedge funds.
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Subprime Crisis to be Discussed at College of Business
March 14, 2008
The effect of the ongoing crisis in sub-prime mortgages and securities will be the topic of a presentation Wednesday (March 19) at Indiana State University’s College of Business.
As part of its mission of financial literacy education and research, Networks Financial Institute at Indiana State University will sponsor the presentation by Christopher Whalen entitled “The Subprime Crisis - Cause, Effect and Consequences.”
Whalen is co-founder, senior vice president and managing director of Institutional Risk Analytics, a Los Angeles based provider of risk management tools and consulting services for auditors, regulators and financial professionals.
He has served as an investment banker and research analyst for more than two decades. He is a regular contributor to publications such as Barron’s, The International Economy and the Washington Times. He is a member of the New York Steering Committee of Professional Risk Managers International Association and edits a blog on risk management and regulation.
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ISU Students Organize Annual Ethics and Corporate Responsibility Conference
March 5, 2008
Junior President’s, Networks and Gongaware Scholars at Indiana State University will host the third annual Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility Conference from 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. April 1 in Hulman Memorial Student Union.
Student organizers say the conference is scheduled to cover important and current topics in today’s business world. Topics were chosen from contemporary business magazine articles and from ISU business professors’ input on present ethical issues in today’s workforce. This year’s event will cover topics from workplace discrimination and outsourcing to corporate wellness and consumer privacy, as well as the business world’s recent topic of product recalls.
Co-directors and Networks Scholars Robin Smith, an accounting and financial services major from Petersburg, and Racheal Titus, an accounting major from Toledo, Ill. are organizing this year’s conference with their team of other junior scholars. Team members’ responsibilities include marketing, finance, sponsorship, logistics and programming. The conference is a capstone project for the Networks Professional Development program and is focused on the development of students from Indiana State University as well as other universities and business professionals.
Keynote speaker for this year’s event is Odell Guyton, director of compliance at Microsoft Corp. Guyton is a compliance and ethics professional who possesses many years of varied experience in corporate matters. His legal experience involves complex litigation matters and investigation in the areas of white collar criminal prosecution and defense, financial fraud and abuse, tax fraud, anti-corruption, anti-bribery and money laundering.
He is a graduate of Moravian College in Bethlehem, Penn. and holds a law degree from American University in Washington, D.C. Guyton participates in numerous professional conferences around the world and speaks on important issues impacting compliance and ethics professionals.
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Grand Re-opening for College of Business Career Experience Center
February 19, 2008
The Career Experience Center in Indiana State University’s College of Business will stage a grand re-opening Feb. 26-28 as the class of 2008 prepares for graduation. During the three-day event, business students can take part in presentations about the Sycamore CareerLink job database and MyPlan, a new online tool that includes self-assessment tests, information about salaries and required training for various careers, and a video library covering approximately 500 careers and industries.
Students will also have an opportunity to take part in a roundtable discussion with marketing professionals Sally Whitehurst of First Financial Bank, Charlie Williams of WilliamsRandall Marketing and Shelley Klingerman of SonyDADC.
Launched in 2004, thanks in part to a gift from the State Farm Companies Foundation, the Career Experience Center partners with ISU’s Career Center. Housed on the first floor of the College of Business, the center provides resources for business students to research career options and improve their interviewing and resume skills.
Kimberly LaGrange of Terre Haute is the Career Experience Center’s new coordinator. A business instructor at Indiana State, LaGrange holds a master of business administration degree from ISU and has more than 17 years of experience in human resources management.
Kim LaGrange
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Nationally Recognized Executive to Serve as Risk Manager in Residence
February 7, 2008
An executive who has been recognized among the tops in his field will visit Indiana State University’s College of Business as the 2008 Spencer Educational Foundation Risk Manager in Residence.
Raymond F. Sibley, director of risk management for the city and county of Denver, Colo., will speak to several ISU classes Tuesday (Feb. 12) and have dinner with members of the Alpha Epsilon chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma, the risk management, insurance and actuarial science fraternity.
Sibley will meet Wednesday (Feb. 13) with ISU faculty and administrators, including Nancy Merritt, dean of the College of Business as well as risk management officials with the university and the city of Terre Haute. A public forum with Sibley is scheduled for 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 11th floor conference room of the College of Business.
Sibley began his risk management career with Merced County, Calif. in 1977. He became the first risk manager for Washoe County, Nev. in 1985 and was hired by the city and county of Denver in 2001 to coordinate a new risk management office within the city's finance department.
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Business Students Learn Life's Lessons While Studying Abroad
January 30, 2008
Thirteen Indiana State University business students say they are happy to be home after spending a semester studying abroad thanks to the Networks Professional Development Program but say they are also proud of the knowledge gained from their international experience.
Mark Elliott, a sophomore accounting major from Terre Haute was among several students who studied in Australia. He said his most surprising lesson was in the economy down under. "Common things we buy here in the U.S. are much higher (priced) because their tax rate is almost double ours," he said. Elliott explained that he had to constantly budget his money while studying abroad until he had gotten used to the pricing.
Paige Williams, a sophomore from Terre Haute who is majoring in insurance and risk management, also studied in Australia. She said that discovering the differences in day-to-day living were enlightening. Tasks such as driving on the opposite side of the road proved to be a challenge, and she enjoyed learning the local dialect. Among other lessons learned, Williams said she was able to become more independent, improved her time-management skills and now feels better prepared for her career's future business travels.
Michael Peterlich of Charleston, Ill., a sophomore finance major who traveled to Dublin, Ireland, is thankful for the availability of resources and guidance he received while taking the trip of a lifetime. "I would just like to thank (the Professional Development Program) for allowing me to go on this special and very educational journey," Peterlich said.
Traci Rosenbaum, a sophomore accounting major from Danville, Ind., traveled to Finland during her studies abroad. Rosenbaum said she learned to appreciate the little things through her experience and enjoys the seminars students attend in order to become better businessmen and women. Other students in the program studied abroad last semester in Argentina, Czech Republic, England, France, Greece, Ireland and Italy.
Mark Elliott, Paige Williams, and Michael Peterlich
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Insurance/Risk Management Students Offer Tips for Ensuring Losses are Covered
January 29, 2008
No one likes to think about being affected by a fire or other disaster, but Sunday night's fire at an Indiana State University residence hall that impacted more than 400 students showed how unexpected life can be. Insurance and risk management majors at Indiana State want their fellow students - and their parents - at ISU and elsewhere to be ready when the unthinkable occurs.
Members of Gamma Iota Sigma, the insurance and risk management fraternity at Indiana State, are working to educate students and parents about dealing with an insured loss as well as the steps to take before something happens.
"Our goal is to help people understand that they need to be prepared if a fire, flood, or other disaster occurs. Students specifically need to make sure they are covered if they do incur a loss while living away from home," said junior Gerald Smith of Avon, president of Indiana State's Alpha Epsilon chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma.
Students' losses in college and university residence halls are generally covered under their parents' homeowners insurance policies, said Mary Ann Boose, professor and coordinator of the insurance and risk management program at Indiana State.
Gerald Smith and Mary Ann Boose
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Gongaware Center Announces Restructuring, New Staff
January 22, 2008
Indiana State University's Gongaware Center is restructuring to reflect recent curriculum changes in the university's College of Business.Beginning last fall, the college introduced a new financial services major and minor. Students electing for that course of study must take Introduction to Insurance and Risk Management, Introduction to Financial Services, Business and Society (Ethics), Investments and Financial Institutions as core classes. Each student pursuing the new major has the option to complete 12 credit hours in accounting, banking, insurance and risk management, or investments.
Maria Greninger of Terre Haute was hired in the fall as the director of external relations. She has worked at ISU for 17 years and moved to the Gongaware Center from her previous position as associate director of media relations. She works half-time for the Gongaware Center and serves in a similar external relations capacity half-time for College of Business Dean Nancy Merritt. One of her primary goals is to find ways to connect students and faculty with industry partners, particularly in connection with the Gongaware Center, College of Business advisory councils, the insurance and risk management program's Leaders In Action Series and executive-in-residence visits.
The center also hired Rebecca Shorter of Terre Haute as director of career development. Her duties include directing activities related to scholarship programs, student recruiting and mentoring, career development, internships and job placement. Shorter graduated in 2005 from ISU, where she was a Gongaware Scholar, with majors in insurance and risk management and finance. She later earned her MBA from ISU in 2007. She also served as a Networks Graduate Fellow while earning her MBA. She has been a licensed associate for Nationwide Insurance since 2004, mainly focusing on personal lines property and casualty insurance, and she was an instructor for the College of Business during the summer and fall of 2007.
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Economic Forecast Breakfast set for January 31
January 16, 2008
Indiana State University will host the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce Groundhog Day Economic Forecast Breakfast at 7 a.m. Jan. 31 in Hulman Memorial Student Union, Dede I.
Kim Paul Hamel, regional manager of CBL and Associates Management Inc., will be the featured speaker for the 12th annual breakfast. Hamel has direct responsibility for 10 million square feet of shopping centers in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan, including Terre Haute's Honey Creek Mall. Other speakers include Bart Colwell, president and chief executive officer of Terre Haute Savings Bank; Robert Guell, professor of economics at ISU; and ISU alumnus Gerry Dick, creator and host of Inside INdiana Business, Indiana's most watched local business television program. Nancy Merritt, dean of ISU's College of Business, will serve as moderator of the panel and also offer comments.
"The Groundhog Day Economic Forecast Breakfast has become a great event with a lot of pertinent knowledge, giving members of the chamber information they may not hear otherwise," chamber President Rod Henry said. "This event provides a real opportunity to hear from great economists and speakers that have a wealth of knowledge not only about our economy but a forecast into the future of our community and state."
Imge: Robert Guell, professor of economics at Indiana State University, a perennial panelist for the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce Groundhog Day Economic Forecast Breakfast.
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