The School of Business recently honored more than 50 students for academic excellence and leadership at the School’s Annual Scholarship and Awards Program.
“The School of Business is fortunate to have the support of individuals, corporations, and organizations that provide annual or endowed scholarships assisting deserving students,” said Judy Woodruff, director of development for the School.
“The Scholarship and Awards Program is a way to recognize outstanding students, to thank scholarship sponsors for their generosity, and to introduce them to the student receiving their scholarship.”
The keynote speaker for the event was Eric Levin, director of finance for the Integrated Logistics Division within the Global Services and Support area at The Boeing Company in St. Louis. Danielle Martin of Farmersville, who won the American Marketing Association Scholarship, made remarks from a student’s perspective.
Levin, who has been with Boeing since 1984 when it was the McDonnell Douglas Corp., pointed out that the real work environment does not offer regularly scheduled monitoring of work as it may be at a university. “In the work environment you’re evaluated every day,” he said, “and you don’t know when it’s coming. You’re only as good as your most recent success.”
“The good news is that you’re in a good place (SIUE) to prepare for the real world.”
Levin pointed out that Boeing and companies like it count on students of high caliber to take over for the members of the workforce who are leaving over the next 10 years. “Like a mechanic who depends on a good toolkit and the knowledge that comes with using that toolkit, so do you. You need to think about what tools you want in your toolkit. Look for classes that offer group activities. That is the way to real success in the workforce.
“Although your well-rounded ‘toolkit’ will get you in the door, it’s what you do with it that’s important.”
Martin, a senior studying marketing, has served as president of SIUE’s chapter of the AMA and is considered to have strong leadership skills. She echoed the sentiment of earlier remarks by School of Business Dean Gary Giamartino, who pointed out that the generosity of individuals and corporations that provide scholarships and grants to SIUE students is a crucial part to graduating the best and the brightest students.
“That generosity has made a world of difference in the lives of business students including my own,” Martin said. “The financial support I received from the Thomas DuHadway Memorial Award I received last year helped me to focus on my schoolwork and my involvement in the SIUE Marketing Association. More importantly, the emotional encouragement I felt, knowing that people believed in me, kept me motivated to do my best at all times.”
The SIUE School of Business has held the prestigious seal of approval from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) since 1975. The School is among an elite 15 percent of business schools worldwide that have earned this accreditation
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 | Above left, Campbell Award Winner. Above right, Boeing Scholarship Winners Left, student Danielle Martin expresses appreciation for the support from generous scholarship sponsors. |
Timothy Keenan, a 1985 graduate of the MBA program at SIUE and CEO of High Performance Technologies Inc. (HPTi) in Reston, Va., says there are five core values his business aspires to: Great Team, Mutual Respect, Career Focus, Client Commitment and Integrity.
Keenan talked about his successes and failures at the April 3 Power Breakfast, which is sponsored annually by the SIUE School of Business. Keenan was another featured alum who came to SIUE to impart some career knowledge to faculty and students.
The SIUE School of Business created the Power Breakfast program to connect prominent alumni from around the country back to their alma mater, while allowing students and faculty to interact with successful graduates from the School.
“We were pleased to have Tim, who is one of our first School of Business Alumni Hall of Fame award winners, serve as guest speaker,” said Judy Woodruff, development director for the School. “Our Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes and honors SIUE alumni who, through leadership, character and hard work, have made exceptional contributions in their chosen field, in their communities and at SIUE,” she said.
“Everyone attending the Power Breakfast enjoyed hearing Tim's life history, and the students related to the stories of Tim's challenges early in his career. His candor in relating the realities of life, and his advice to them in overcoming all obstacles, while maintaining a high degree of integrity, ignited enthusiasm and hope for our students.”
Keenan said he enjoyed meeting with students during his visit back to campus. “One of the students I talked with yesterday asked me: ‘What questions do I ask in interviews.’ I don’t ask those trite questions like: Where do you want to be in five years, where do you want to be in 10 years,” Keenan said. “Couldn’t care less. What I want to know is: Can you think? Have your teachers taught you how to be inquisitive? Have they taught you how to solve problems?
“Because, I don’t know what kind of problems will be in business tomorrow. I only know what the problems are today.”
Keenan said his company creates supercomputers, taking on the kind of jobs no other company wants to take on. “We like to chase those kinds of jobs,” he said. “This is where the ability to think comes in. I can’t hand you a book on how to do one of these projects. Some of these are jobs that many have failed at. I say, if they failed, why can’t we try?”
Keenan also pointed out the definition of an entrepreneur using an idea from the comedian Jeff Foxworthy: You might be an entrepreneur if:
• You’re competitive
• You’re inquisitive
• You’re creative
• You’re driven/stubborn
“The entrepreneur looks at barriers and then decides to find a way. Where other people stop at the risks, an entrepreneur thinks about what it would be like ‘if...’ The key is to build a team with people who have this attitude.”
He used Starbucks as an example. “They had a vision of what things could be like against the odds of that kind of business succeeding,” Keenan said. “While others are thinking about an idea, the entrepreneur is already coming up with ways to succeed no matter what odds.”
Keenan also relayed stories about three business ventures at which he failed before he became a success at HTPi. The three failures made him decide to start his own business and become a partner with another business man who he knew had integrity. He invited the students at the breakfast to follow his lead. “I decided, since I had had bad luck with CEOs at those other businesses, I would ‘create’ a CEO with whom I could work,” Keenan said.
He went into partnership with an acquaintance of his who shared Keenan’s desire to run a company with integrity. Later, Keenan’s partner was killed in a plane crash, a major blow to the company, but despite the hardship, the company took care of the family the best it could. Keenan said it couldn’t have been any other way—it was important for the company to keep its integrity.
“I don’t try to dance better than anyone else, just dance better than myself.”
HTPi first operated out of a home, building some of the first supercomputers for the government, but Keenan soon found out the hard way that the company’s operation was breaking local zoning laws. “So we had to stop,” Keenan said.
But all of those early setbacks seem to be behind him and his business has been doing well. “They say that the mid-size firms will drive the economy,” he said. “We are one of the top five fastest growing firms in America. We call ourselves gazelles—we’re nimble and quick. But, in order to survive, a gazelle must be faster than the others, but a lion only has to be faster than the slowest gazelle.
“But, the lions better watch their backs because we’re the gazelles and we’re hungry. We are not trying to build economies of scale, we are trying at HTPi to build economies of skill,” Keenan said. “I don’t need 3,000 people who are good; I need 300 who are great. And, that’s what I have—325 employees who are the best in the business.”
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(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Melissa Ford of Ozark, an accounting graduate student in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business, recently was honored with the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation Student Leader of the Semester Award. The Enterprise Foundation award recognizes SIUE business students who are nominated by student organizations for outstanding participation and responsibility.
Ford’s award recognizes her work as president of the SIUE chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, the national honor society for top accounting majors. The organization strives to foster relationships with fellow accounting majors as well as faculty and future employers. Ford was chosen for this award because of her hard work and dedication to the society. She has achieved numerous accomplishments so far this year including competing in the national Beta Alpha Psi case competition and participating in the Planning Committee for Relay for Life on behalf of Beta Alpha Psi.
In addition, Ford has organized two very significant events for the honor society: the inaugural Meet the Firms event, which allowed students to network with 12 potential employers, and the Accounting Fall Awards Banquet in which employers, faculty and students joined to celebrate the accomplishments of accounting students. “Melissa also has excelled in willingly leading the officers and members in a constant effort at improving organization and performance in her Beta Alpha Psi chapter,” said Allen Hunt, assistant professor of accounting and faculty advisor to the SIUE chapter. Adding to these accomplishments, Ford also has maintained a 4.0 in the School’s master’s accounting program.
The award carries with it a $100 stipend and certificate. In addition, Ford will be recognized at a reception in the spring that will honor all Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation Award recipients, while providing SIUE business students an opportunity to network with Enterprise executives.
The SIUE School of Business is among an elite 10 percent of business schools worldwide that have earned the prestigious seal of approval from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). The School has been AACSB International accredited since 1975. This assures that students receive the highest quality in strategic resource management, interaction with faculty and achievement of learning goals. In addition, the SIUE Accounting Program also is accredited through AACSB International. Less than 33 percent of AACSB-accredited business schools hold an accounting accreditation.
Shown here are Melissa Ford (at center holding award certificate) along with Lee E. Lewis Jr. (second from right), community relations manager for the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation. They are joined by (at far right) School of Business Dean Gary Giamartino, (at far left) Tina Diehl, Group Rental manager with Enterprise and (second from left) Tom Preusser, area manager with Enterprise. (SIUE Photo by Denise Macdonald)
(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Norman Wohlschlaeger of House Springs, Mo., a graduate student in the Accountancy program at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business, is among five winners of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)/ Accountemps scholarship.
The $2,500 scholarship is given nationally to accounting, finance or information systems majors with a minimum 3.0 grade point average who demonstrate leadership, academic excellence and future career interests in accounting and business. The AICPA administers the scholarship program and Accountemps funds it.
Wohlschlaeger, who graduated summa cum laude from Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis with a bachelor of science in accounting and psychology as well as minors in business administration and information systems, is a graduate assistant for the SIUE Department of Accounting and for the associate dean of the business division. In the future, he plans to earn a doctorate in accounting and teach at a university.
He is a member of the Missouri Society of CPAs, AICPA, the National Society of Accountants, the American Psychological Association, Beta Alpha Psi, and the Alpha Chi National Honor Society. His previous awards and honors include Eagle Scout, MSCPA LEAP Scholarship, NSA Scholarship, MBU Trustee (Full Scholarship), Papa John’s Scholarship and a Sam Walton Scholarship.
The other AICPA scholarship winners are at Auburn, the University of North Carolina Charlotte, the College of William and Mary and the University of Virginia. The application deadline for the 2009-2010 AICPA/Accountemps Student Scholarship program is April 1.
The AICPA (www.aicpa.org) is the national, professional association of CPAs, with more than 350,000 members in business and industry, public practice, government, education, student affiliates, and international associates. It sets ethical standards for the profession and U.S. auditing standards for audits of private companies, non-profit organizations, as well as federal, state and local governments. The AICPA also develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination.
The SIUE School of Business is among an elite 10 percent of business schools worldwide that have earned the prestigious seal of approval from the AACSB-I. Only 30 percent of business schools in the United States are accredited by the organization.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business students had an opportunity yesterday to speak one-on-one with the new president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
St. Louis Fed President James Bullard appeared at an invitation only event with SIUE School of Business students and faculty about how the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank can work with the School to enhance business education. Bullard is a former instructor for the School. The faculty took part in an informal discussion with Bullard about possible partnerships with the Federal Reserve in regard to graduate business education.
After a brief reception, Bullard spoke to students about the role the Federal Reserve System plays in the U.S. economy. Afterward, Bullard conducted a brief question and answer session with the students. “We are pleased and excited that Dr. Bullard returned to SIUE to share his insights and experience with our students,” said School of Business Dean Gary Giamartino.
The SIUE School of Business is among an elite 10 percent of business schools worldwide that have earned the prestigious seal of approval from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. Only 30 percent of business schools in the United States are accredited by the organization.
Photos from Dr. Bullard's visit are below.
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| (above, left to right) Walt Knepper of Rubin Brown and Chair of the School of Business Advisory Board; Rik Hafer, Chair, Dept. of Economics and Finance; and James Bullard, President of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank prior to Dr. Bullard’s presentation to students, faculty, and guests | (above) Dean Gary Giamartino and Dr. Rik Hafer, Chair of the Dept of Economics and Finance, welcome St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard to the SIUE School of Business for a briefing on current economic conditions. Guests included School of Business graduate students, faculty, and advisory board members. |
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 | (above and left) Dr. James Bullard, President of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, briefs School of Business students, faculty, and guests on current economic conditions at an event held on Tuesday, October 7, 2008. |
The SIUE School of Business International Program recently sponsored a Travel Study to Juarez, Mexico Jan. 5 through 12, 2008.
Those who participated were 20 college students and 3 professors, all embarking on a service learning mission, used to enhance their education of foreign language and business alike.
As a component of their coursework, the group was welcomed by University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) president, Dr. Diana Natalicio, a St. Louis native, for a series of lectures about the economic and business climate on the border. Speakers included two UTEP faculty members, Dr. Tom Fullerton of Economics and Dr. Kathy Staudt from Political Science, as well as two prominent El Paso technology entrepreneurs, Ron Munden and Bill Holmes.
In addition to their academic pursuits, students and professors got their hands dirty. “[Students] were challenged with the requirement of working as a team in building two cinder-block homes in a matter of just a few days,” reports Greg Gomez, Director of Recruitment.
Camaraderie between student and professor develops from working together under the strenuous conditions of building two homes in such a short amount of time. This is clearly a definitive aspect of the study’s overall appeal.
“In no other environment do the teacher and student come work with each other’s character as they do in helping the impoverished of Juarez Mexico,” emphasized trip leader, Dr. George Watson. “Living studying, and working with these energetic and enthusiastic college students on a 24/7 basis is absolutely the best educational experience I have ever had,” added Gomez.
The country and the people also played a major role in determining what students would take away from this experience.
“Juarez really makes you appreciate the things we have back at home,” remarked graduate student, Chris Toenjes, who participated in the program. “I thought I would want to leave by the end of the week, not having the necessities of home, but I got used to them and didn’t want to leave.”
A senior Spanish secondary-education major, Ben Flunker, remarked “Juarez is extremely rewarding and fulfilling, especially to know you are changing someone’s life and improving the world that we live in.”
Juarez, unique in its service learning initiative, sits on the opposite end of the learning spectrum from other programs offered. “You simply can’t get this [experience] in a classroom,” concluded Watson.
