ELITE News
ELITE Communicator
Interview with Dean Tim Schnoecker, School of Business
- Interview with:Dean Timothy Schnoecker
- Intereviewed by: Kris Mitchell
As the new Dean, what goals would you like to achieve for the School of Business?
My primary goal is to improve the education that we offer to our undergraduate and graduate business students. Our faculty has developed a plan to enhance our undergraduate curriculum and we are currently working on a plan to revise our MBA curriculum. The primary challenge that we face in implementing these plans is financial. We are now receiving fewer dollars from state government than we did earlier this decade and that makes it tough to fund all of the enhancements that we'd like to make.
What was the biggest obstacle you faced during your college years?
I'd have to say it was financing my education. I paid my own way through college. I did receive limited scholarship support, but I had little money while I was an undergraduate. I didn't own a car until after I graduated and had accepted an offer to work for McDonnell-Douglas.
What do you think is the biggest problem many students face today?
I think time management is the biggest challenge facing my students today. When I was an undergraduate, I totally focused on school and athletics. I never considered working during the school year because that would take time away from studying and track practice. I always worked during the summer. Too many students today try to balance a heavy class load with a heavy work load and that causes their learning to suffer. In the long run, I don't think that it pays off to work that much during the academic year, unless it is a structured internship or co-op position.
Where did you attend school and what did you study?
As an undergraduate, I attended the University of Missouri-Rolla and majored in Engineering Management. My Ph.D. is in Strategic Management from Purdue University.
Could you share a fun fact about yourself?
I grew up within a few miles of two of our former business school deans (Dr. Werner, who eventually became chancellor, and Dr. Carver). Dr. Carver and I actually attended the same high school in south St. Louis.
What advice could you give to motivate our fellow SIUE students in the School of Business?
In the long run, your hard work in the School of Business will pay off for you, both professionally and financially. Many of our graduates eventually move into positions with great responsibility. You can do it!
Interview with Dr. Douglas
- Interview with: Dr. Thomas J. Douglas, Assistant Professor of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship
- Work experience: 25 years with SBC Communications (Southwestern Bell Telephone)
- Interviewed by: Josh Smucker
Please tell us a little about your background – degrees, careers, etc.
SBC Communications (Southwestern Bell Telephone) – started in 1967 as a statistical analyst and took an early retirement in 1993 from my final position there as the Director of Marketing Research. I also completed an MBA from SIUE in 1977 by taking night classes. My B.S. degree in Mathematics was earned from St. Louis University in 1968.
I studied at the University of Tennessee from 1993 – 1997 and received a Ph.D. in strategic management. I was on the faculty at the University of Evansville from 1997 – 2000. I moved to Clemson University in 2000 and left there in 2005 to come to SIUE. At each university I have taught Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
What sort of projects were you involved in during previous careers?
During my time at SBC, we utilized a mockup home, which contained leading-edge technology, to bring in active focus groups for assessing consumer needs in the home. We worked on identifying what’s important to the consumer, their problems, and then developing products and solutions to make things easier.
What are the most valuable concepts you reasoned from the time spent in your careers?
- An understanding of how important it is to find the strengths within each person in the organization.
- Not to spend too much time stereotyping
- Consider the value of people and their hidden strengths, and the need to be observant to do so.
Please share what you view is important for students to get out of their time spent at a university, and why that’s so.
Current business students need to actively acquire a set of capabilities and competencies that allow them to gain an advantage over their competitors in the marketplace. They need to identify what skills and knowledge are needed to excel in their desired field and then plan their education and experience to acquire those capabilities. It would also be desirable to spend some of their education abroad, either through semester long study abroad programs or by participating in single course travel study programs. I feel that students who return from these experiences demonstrate a broader perspective and can make better use of their skills after graduation. After graduation students should continue to work their plan by engaging in ongoing educational opportunities and by gaining experience in a variety of positions. Given the rate of change in our society, individuals that don’t continually enhance their skills will fall behind.
Do you have any advice to pass along to students that may help them after graduation?
All new business graduates face a very competitive environment, both with respect to the job market and with respect to the competition that their new firms’ face. Given our flat world (see Thomas Friedman’s book on that topic), our graduates may be competing with similarly skilled individuals from anywhere in the world. In addition, the rate of change in the global marketplace is growing at an exponential rate. Our graduates will need to complete their schooling with the highest level of skills that they can achieve.
One additional thing that has really struck me about the students at SIUE is that they are extremely busy. Many are working fulltime while taking a full course load. In addition, many of them are also supporting the community by volunteering time and expertise. Given their tight schedules some of the students are hampered by an over commitment of their personal resources. One concern that I have is that this will hamper their ability to build the skills and knowledge that I think they will need in our competitive, global environment.
Steven F. McCann Visits University
On March 31, 2006, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville welcomed Steven F. McCann, Executive Vice President/ Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Longs Drugs to campus to speak about leadership, social responsibility, and his personal endeavors that led him to success in the ever-changing business world. Longs Drugs is a chain of successful drug stores concentrated along the West Coast.
This “Power Breakfast Series” was particularly special as Mr. McCann is a 1979 SIUE alumnus with a bachelors degree in Accountancy. He was able to connect with the School of Business students, faculty, staff, and alumni who were in attendance. He provided a great opportunity for members of the School of Business to hear him narrative his business experiences and how his motivation, personal dedication, and education from SIUE allowed him to achieve his goals. Several SIUE administrators and Chancellor Vandergrift were also in attendance. Mr. McCann also met with different individuals and groups throughout the day and seemed excited to be back at the SIUE campus, where he was once a student. This “Power Breakfast Series” event was held in the University Restaurant in the Morris University Center.
ELITE meets with Steve Forbes
picture by SIUE Photo Services
Steve Forbes visited SIUE on January 10th to speak with the community and discuss economic and business issues facing us today. Before addressing the community in the Meridian Ballroom, Forbes took time to meet with ELITE members and join us in a small roundtable discussion. We had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss many issues, including the U.S. and World economies, Forbes’ idea of a flat tax rate, and what students should pay attention to in the work world and their careers.
"The Steve Forbes event was an exciting opportunity for both SIUE students and the metro east community. The opportunity to network with SIUE alum and members of the area business community was remarkable. The small student session with Steve Forbes was something I will remember for the rest of my life. It was definitely a highlight of my undergraduate career. Whether you like or dislike Forbes, agree or disagree with him, he is a prominent character in both the business and governmental arenas. The presentation by Steve Forbes highlights the changes that SIUE is going through. We are well on our way to becoming what Chancellor Vandegrift calls a 'premiere metropolitan university.'" - Amy Donaldson, Accountancy Major.
MAVERICK Technologies CEO Speaks to Students
photos by
Brad Smith
Paul Galeski, the CEO of MAVERICK Technologies, gave a fantastic talk about entrepreneurship, leadership and motivation to several students and faculty Tuesday the 28th of February, at an event co-hosted by AITP & CEO. Those who attended were treated to an hour of great insight into what it takes to be successful as an entrepreneur.
"Mr. Galeski's presentation painted a wonderful picture of how drive, vision, culture, and determination can lead to success" - Josh Smucker, ELITE President
Galeski, who is from Columbia, IL, graduated from SIUE with an Electrical Engineering Degree and then went on to form his first company, Magnum Technologies. This company was bought by General Electric, who Galeski worked for after the take over. As Galeski said "You've got to have fun in what you do", and when he found that doing the work no longer was, he broke away and started a new company, MAVERICK. Galeski then returned to GE and bought the division he once ran.
"Paul Galeski from MAVERICK Technology was real, approachable, and offered a real-life insight into the life of a CEO. I've attended various presentations like this, but never have I gone away as enthused and encouraged as I did after listening to his words and anecdotes." - Timothy Curran, President CEO.
Galeski also talked about how failure is part of the risk you take as an entrepreneur and that you will fail but as long as you can say you had fun, it was all worth it. Galeski gave great insight with this quote, "Everybody falls, just make sure you fall forward".
President of Bank of America, Missouri visits School of Business
photos by SIUE
Photo Services
“It is extremely empowering for me as a female business student to see a woman at the top of her field who graduated from SIUE,” said Leslie Jones, Marketing major. Jones is talking about Patricia Mercurio, president of Bank of America – Missouri.
Mercurio visited Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on January 26, as a part of the Chancellor’s Residence Program. This program is designed to bring successful SIUE alumni to campus to interact with faculty and students.
Mercurio, who graduated from SIUE with a degree in Philosophy, met with students from the SIUE School of Business and Dean Gary Giamartino. She discussed the road that she took to get to her current position as well as how she broke through the “glass ceiling” that many businesswomen encounter.
In addition, Mercurio answered questions from students about her career path. All of the students gave Mercurio rave reviews. Kate Vogel, Accountancy major, explained, “She has character and unlimited energy, motivation, and determination.”
