The event held an impressive 87 students, 12 accounting faculty and administration members, and 45 professionals from 19 different companies.

At the dinner, SAA was officially presented its chapter membership for the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), a worldwide association for accountants and financial professionals working in business. With over 65,000 members, IMA is a prestigious association that works to better member’s professional skills, organization management, and career paths for its members.

The primary speaker of the event was Tracey Lusk, a 1988 IUP Accounting graduate and vice president and senior trader of Federated Investors. She spoke about her career path and gave beneficial advice to students about job hunting and careers.

Additionally, the PICPA award was presented to IUP alumnus Dan Broadbent, who graduated in December 2012.

“The dinner provided a great opportunity for students to learn more about the accounting field,” said Megan Morris, president of SAA.

Student attendees exhibited impressive discussions and professional manners throughout the event, which was deemed a success by everyone in attendance. 

—By Katlyn Glaser and Megan Morris

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology 

Students were awarded a certificate and a Beta Gamma Sigma lapel pin. A reception followed in the Terry Serafini Atrium with family and friends.

Dr. Pankaj, Management Information Systems and Decision Sciences chairman, was a faculty honoree.

“As a member of Phi Kappa Phi, another honor society, I wanted to take on the responsibilities of being an advisor for Beta Gamma Sigma,” Pankaj said.

The mission of Beta Gamma Sigma is to encourage and honor academic achievement in the study of business, to foster personal and professional excellence, to advance the values of the society, and to serve its lifelong members.

“Being inducted into a society like Beta Gamma Sigma shows me that my persistence and dedication to my academics is worthwhile,” junior Management student Jamie Czech said. “The recognition reminds me why I am here and gives me the bit of inspiration I need to finish my academic career the way I started it.”

Juniors, seniors, and master’s in Business Administration students who had at least a 3.75 grade point average were eligible to join. Juniors had to be in their second semester and be in the top 10 percent of their class. Seniors also had to be in the top 10 percent, and MBA students had to be halfway through the program and be in in the top 20 percent to qualify.

—Abbey Zelko

WEDnetPA is the Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania. It was created to help make companies across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania more competitive by updating and improving the skills of their employees to meet specific company needs.

Three breakout sessions that participants could choose between were included in the program Wednesday and Thursday.

Tom Venditti, WEDnetPA statewide director, presented “An Epic Voyage,” providing an understanding of the origins and history of WEDnetPA and the role the organization plays in the universe of workforce development.

WEDnetPA partners Heather Baldwin (Penn College), Wendy Kopczyk (IUP), and C.J. Ezell (Shippensburg University) presented “Messages from the Gods.” This interactive session offered suggestions on how one can improve everything from funding decisions to customer service to invoicing.

Mandy Book, an economic development consultant at Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and KayLynn Hamilton, workforce development liaison at the Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy at Penn State University, presented “How Can I Help You?” In this session, participants learned about a wide array of state economic and workforce development incentives that can help their companies grow and succeed.

Participants toured the IUP campus Thursday afternoon, followed by a presentation by Edward Legge, division chief of the Center for Workforce Information and Analysis of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

“We were very happy to host individuals from across the state who have made economic development and employee training a priority,” Eberly assistant dean Cyndy Strittmatter said. “We look forward to continued collaboration in workforce development efforts.”

A dinner at Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex concluded Thursday’s session of the conference. Rich Hudic, executive deputy secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, was the keynote speaker.

—Abbey Zelko

The goal of the Hall of Distinction is to recognize the professional success and good citizenship of graduates of the college and others associated with its advancement. Currently, Eberly has 29 Hall of Distinction members.

“The Eberly College is extremely proud to have inducted five new members into its Eberly College Hall of Distinction,” Robert Camp, dean of the college, said. “We sincerely appreciate their commitment to professional excellence, their status as role models within the business community and to the broader society, and their long-term support of the university.”

R. Michael Carlson ’73

R. Michael Carlson, retired president of Wayne, a GE Energy business, has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from IUP and a master’s in business administration from St. Bonaventure University. He spent 32 years with Dresser Natural Gas Solutions in roles covering operations, product management, sales management, and, ultimately, president. He led acquisition efforts of companies that produced electronic flow correctors, pressure regulators, gas control valves, and a systems integration business. Wayne was voted “One of the Top Ten Places to Work” in Austin in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010.

James Leda ’95

James Leda, managing director of the Debt Restructuring Group of PPM America, Inc., has bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance from IUP and a master’s in business administration from the University of Chicago with a concentration in analytic finance. PPM America manages more than $100 billion as the North American investment division of Prudential plc. Leda joined PPM in 2009 from Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., where he was vice president and senior high yield automotive analyst. He formulated the firm’s investment recommendations and preferred trading strategies in the high yield/distressed automotive sector. Leda represented his firm in a number of high-profile corporate restructurings, including Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual, General Motors, and Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. Leda was also IUP Student Trustee during his undergraduate career.

Malisa Sommers ’87

Malisa Sommers, managing director of transportation at the United States Steel Corporation and president of Transtar, Inc., a subsidiary of U.S. Steel, earned her bachelor’s degree in management from IUP and her master’s in business administration from Franciscan University. She worked for Wheeling-Nisshin, Inc., a steel-coating facility in West Virginia, for 13 years. In 2001, Sommers joined U.S. Steel at Straightline, the company’s former steel distribution subsidiary. After working in procurement, capital expenditure, and materials management, she was named general manager of global materials management and procurement operations with responsibility for parts and materials inventory management and procurement support activities at every U.S. Steel facility in North America and Central Europe. Her current position involves transportation and logistics. She oversees 700 employees in the operations of a long list of railroad and barge companies.

Tom Wallace ’80

Tom Wallace, chief executive officer of VectorLearning, Inc., earned his bachelor’s in finance from IUP. VectorLearning is a leading provider of online education and workforce training solutions. It is headquartered in Tampa, Fla., with offices in Chicago and Dallas with more than 165 employees. Sales are projected to exceed $30 million. Wallace has been a technology entrepreneur since age 23. He has successfully built and sold two start-ups. The first one had revenues of more than $20 million. Wallace’s second company, the Waldec Group, grew to more than 300 employees and $85 million in annual sales before being sold to a Fortune 500 company. He was cofounder and former president of Tampa Bay Technology Forum and believes life is all about the journey, not the destination.

Mauro Wolfe ’90

Mauro Wolfe, a partner of Duane Morris, LLP, earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from IUP in 1990 and his juris doctorate degree from Temple University School of Law in 1996. Duane Morris is an international law firm with 24 offices worldwide. Wolfe practices in the area of litigation, with a focus on white-collar criminal defense; securities enforcement, including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations; complex civil commercial and administrative litigation; and internal corporate investigations worldwide. In 2009, he was elected to the highly selective and prestigious New York Council of Defense Lawyers. Mauro has been sourced, quoted, and pictured in various news media, including the New York Times, National Law Journal, Bloomberg, Associated Press, Barron’s Philadelphia Daily News, Star-Ledger, etc. Wolfe also provides strategic advice to late-stage startups and middle-market companies looking to grow exponentially. He currently serves as a board member of LatinoJustice in New York.

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

FBLA is a student organization created to foster the development of business leadership skills. More than 4,000 high school students from all over Pennsylvania attended this conference that tested their skills in business ethics, public speaking, interviewing, and technology.

“The event was a great opportunity for high school students to have some real world application for all of the things they’ve been learning throughout the year and to compete against other students across the state,” said Scott Mehall, IUP representative.

IUP students Matt Greene, Lora Roxby, Garrett Tanner, and Scott Mehall worked a table at the event providing FBLA students with information about IUP and especially the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology. These students served as excellent representatives of the university and role models for high school students seeking college information.

In addition, these IUP students assisted conference coordinators with the events’ judging and monitoring.

“For us, it was a chance to develop our professional skills and volunteer our time to helping students in our field,” said Mehall.

IUP is a strong supporter of FBLA, offering a scholarship to incoming freshman who are current members. Obtaining the business skills showcased in this conference is essential for success in college, internships, and future employment.

—By Katlyn Glaser

The Charles B. Stevenson Memorial Business Day, held April 17, 2013, in Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex, began with morning departmental discussions from 8:30–9:30 a.m. and then five separate presentations from 9:30–10:45 a.m.

Presenters for Accounting, Finance and Legal Studies, Marketing, Management, and Management Information Systems and Decision Sciences students respectively included: Alice J. Maxin, author and president of the Write Turn; Jim Leda ’95, managing director in the Debt Restructuring Group at PPM America, Inc.; David Mastovich, president of MASSolutions, a strategic marketing and change management firm; Malisa Sommers ’87, managing director of transportation at United States Steel Corporation and president of Transtar, Inc., a subsidiary of U.S. Steel; and George Appley, senior vice president and chief information officer of Concurrent Technologies Corporation.

“Business Day is an excellent event to attend as it allows business students to network with real-world business leaders,” Janelle Stayt, junior Marketing major, said.

A networking event with 50 business leaders/advisory council members and students followed in Ed Fry Arena.

“The Business Advisory Council members and other business guests who attended were very helpful in giving us advice for our future endeavors,” Laci McAdams, senior Human Resource Management major, said.

Business Day concluded with a Hall of Distinction Luncheon program which recognized five Eberly alumni.

—Abbey Zelko

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

Krutarth Patel of Harrisburg will receive $10,000 to assist in the startup of his business plan, Dorm Discount (.com). Patel’s plan was designed to help small businesses effectively market their promotions to college students.

The service would provide a unique self-service coupon creator and management system that business owners would use to generate, monitor, and modify promotions easily and conveniently. Its goal would be to maximize savings to college students while boosting revenues for small business owners.

“Dorm Discount (.com) is now well positioned to expand and continue to help college students and the small businesses that serve them connect like never before,” Patel said.

More than 200 students competed in this year’s competition, designed to provide student entrepreneurs a real-world opportunity to pitch their original business plans. Three of the 21 semifinalists were IUP students.

“We are sincerely thankful for all of the support we have received from faculty members at Eberly and the Small Business Development Center for going above and beyond to help us along the way,” Patel said. “Without their support, our business may not be where it is today.”

—Abbey Zelko

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology 

Each year, MA students look forward to this fun, interactive trip that allows them to network with successful business professionals and see new, groundbreaking initiatives in process at Sheetz.

The tour was led by Earl Springer, Sheetz manager of employee programs, who is known as the “father of made-to-order (MTO) food.” Springer was the employee who suggested the popular MTO concept.

MA students were “wow-ed” when they toured the distribution center, where Sheetz packages most of its MTO food. There, they had the opportunity to see the inner working of the center.

Students were also able to tour the “Shwellness Center,” a new on-site center that promotes healthy living to Sheetz employees and families. They were able to meet and speak with Stan Sheetz, one of the Sheetz brothers who heads the company.

“MA’s Sheetz trip is always a highlight of the semester,” said Jessica Shaw, secretary of MA. “Sheetz treats everyone with respect and a smile, that’s what keeps customers coming back to stores, employees coming back to work, and IUP coming back to learn more!”

This experience provided MA with cutting-edge business skills involving all aspects of running a business that they will be able to apply to their future careers.

—By Katlyn Glaser 

Members of ENACTUS (Entrepreneurs in Action) raised $415.20 and collected more than 200 pounds of food for the Indiana County Community Action Program (ICCAP) food pantry.

The drive was part of the Campbell’s "Let’s Can Hunger" food drive initiative.

Over the past few months, students collected the funds and food items through a series of campus food drives, collecting outside of the local Giant Eagle store and a three-on-three basketball tournament. On April 15, 2013 they presented ICCAP with the donations.

In the photo: Jess Miller (ICCAP food bank), Labrecca Abraham (accounting), Douglas Risk (management), Anthony Flowers, (international business/finance), Kyle Hurlbrink (management information systems), and Aimee Kemp (ICCAP food bank).

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

RISE is the largest student investment conference in the world. It conducts an annual, three-day event featuring top business professionals from Wall Street, corporate America, and the financial media.

On the first day of the trip, students listened in on a keynote panel discussion between prestigious professionals, including Charles L. Evans, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; Dennis P. Lockhart, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; David Asman, anchor of FOX Business Network; Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments, and many more.

The professionals separated into interactive panels discussing the economy, markets, and the future of the industry while responding to student questions in the audience.

During the remaining time, students attended their selection of breakout sessions and workshops on topics like private equity, fixed income portfolio management, modern portfolio management strategies, and many more.

“Hearing from two Federal Reserve Bank presidents, participating in investment workshops with industry experts, and interacting with like-minded students from across the globe all combined to form a uniquely amazing experience,” said Cory Ireland, president of SMIP. 

Attending the RISE conference provided students with valuable information beyond what they learn in a classroom. They were able to gain an insider’s view on what working in the modern industry is like as well as skills needed to become successful after graduation.

—By Katlyn Glaser

During the tour, students were directed by the lead receptionist, Amanda Camut, who showed them both facilities in Pittsburgh called “Hot Metal 77” and “Hot Metal 19.” Camut explained what the departments in each facility do to keep the company running efficiently.

The students also learned that Robert Hanson, the new CEO of American Eagle Outfitters, has a “customer first” policy that helped bring about positive changes and atmosphere within the company.

After the tour, students had a Q&A session with Jenn McNutt, manager of the planning and allocations recruiting team; Brennon Cole, HR director; Jaime Simoni, associate marketing manager; and Jackie Daniel, associate buyer. 

The professionals described their day to day responsibilities and how they worked their way through different positions.

“They all spoke of team work and how being proactive in school helped to benefit them after school,” said Shelly Raines, president of SHRM.

Students in SHRM benefitted from this opportunity that gave them an inside look on how a successful business operates and how to further themselves in their careers. 

“Overall, the tour was great. We look forward to working with them again,” Raines said.

—By Katlyn Glaser

“Find something you love, not someone, and do it,” Joanna Kortik, owner of Joanna International, said multiple times throughout the presentation.

Kortik is passionate about women living a healthy lifestyle and setting and attaining their goals in order to realize their dreams.

Students said they appreciated the opportunity to connect with other female business student leaders and learn to be confident in challenges they might face as females in the business world.

“Joanna Kortik did a great job addressing the challenges that females entering the business world sometimes face,” said senior Marketing major and event coordinator Catelin Shontz. “She offered us the advice of being confident in all that we do, from the way we enter a room to the way we present ourselves during an interview."

The Women in Business Leadership luncheon is one of many professional development opportunities that Eberly offers to its students throughout the year, according to Cyndy Strittmatter, assistant dean for Administration.

“It’s our goal for the program to become an annual event,” she said.

Kortik has spoken to staffers at the U.S. House of Representatives, companies, universities, organizations, and events in Europe and the United States.

She graduated from Texas A&M University in Commerce with a bachelor’s degree in health promotion. She also has her master’s degree in higher education teaching and learning and has completed doctoral coursework.

Currently, Kortik lives in Czech Republic and also has a house in Romania. She travels frequently to the United States to speak.

—Abbey Zelko

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology 

AlphaLab is a state-funded program that accepts 12 local start-up companies each year to mentor, supply office space, and provide $25,000 in capital in exchange for 5 percent common stock. 

The Open Coffee Club event was started to allow local entrepreneurs, developers, and investors to network with each other and share ideas in short demos. Students were able to relax while talking with the start-up owners and watching their 30-second demos.

“Our trip to AlphaLab was a very exciting opportunity for our members to learn about groundbreaking new startup companies in Pittsburgh. Every entrepreneur we met had an incredible story to tell,” said Krutarth Patel, president of STA. 

AlphaLab has helped mentor local companies like Resumator, NoWait, Shoefitr, Black Locus, AutoRef, FutureDerm, ActivAided Orthotics, and Insurance Zebra.

The trip allowed students to gain insight on what it takes to start a business while simultaneously networking with optimistic professionals who wished to help them succeed in the business industry. 

—By Katlyn Glaser

Mark Edward Whitacre, the highest-level corporate executive in U.S. history to become an FBI whistle-blower, spoke about the ultimate real-life lesson in personal and business ethics, the value of accountability, always doing the right thing, and the need to think long-term in all personal and business decisions.

More than 200 students attended the public program, cosponsored by the Christian Business Men’s Connection and the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology.

Whitacre, who is now the chief operating officer and president of operations at Cypress Systems in California, came to public attention in 1995 as president of the Bio Products Division at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM).

From 1992–1995, Whitacre acted as an informant for the FBI, which was investigating ADM for price fixing. He became the inspiration for the major motion picture The Informant, starring Matt Damon as Whitacre.

In retaliation, ADM investigated Whitacre’s activities, and upon discovering suspicious activity, requested the FBI investigate Whitacre for embezzlement. As a result of various frauds, Whitacre lost his whistle-blower’s immunity and consequently spent eight-and-a-half years in federal prison while the perpetrators of the multibillion dollar fraud at the companies received only a three-year sentence.

Whitacre’s story helped students to understand the importance of ethics in business.

“The role of ethics in business has gained great importance in recent years,” Eberly Marketing Department chair Parimal Bhagat said. “Whitacre’s topic provided a personal perspective on the topic.”

Stephanie Vascavish, a Business Administration master's student, said the speech inspired her.

“Mr. Whitacre gave a very inspirational speech highlighting his unique situation during a very challenging time in his life,” she said. “This made me aware of the types of ethical dilemmas that I might face in my future career, the importance of considering the consequences, and the value of doing the right thing.”

—Abbey Zelko

The presenters, Kayla Mantini and Brandon Andrews, gave a PowerPoint presentation that taught about FAFSA and the importance of updating it each year. Even students who don't think they qualify for financial aid should fill one out, they emphasized.

Mantini and Andrews familiarized the group with the website where they can complete the FAFSA form, and the documents needed, and cautioned students to be careful to always use the “.gov” website to fill out their FAFSA.

Andrews and Mantini also discussed making a budget and how to wisely use refund checks. They encouraged attendees to sign up for FIN 143, Financial Wellness, to increase their knowledge of these areas.

“What made this program particularly successful was its applicability to all students,” said Mantini. “We were just reminding students to fill out the form and directing them where to turn if they had questions regarding the FAFSA filing process.”

To receive the maximum amount of aid, this year’s deadline is April 15, 2013. Any students interested in receiving financial aid should click here to fill out the form.

--By Katlyn Glaser

To start off the meeting, employees of Alpern Rosenthal Heath Winsheimer gave an overview of the firm and answered questions about the hiring process and the day-to-day happenings of the firm.

Ronald Miller, manager of the tax department at Alpern Rosenthal, then spoke and answered questions about working in the tax department and preparing for the CPA exam.

Finally, Kristin Welk, who graduated from IUP in May 2012 and now works as a staff accountant in the audit and assurance department at Alpern Rosenthal, answered questions about what it is like when you start a job at a firm. She also gave useful tips on what students should focus on before graduating.

The students enthusiastically asked questions of the three alumni and were able to learn from their success stories.

“The presentation was helpful for students because it gave three different career perspectives and increased knowledge and awareness about Alpern Rosenthal,” said Megan Morris, president of SAA.

Networking opportunities like this allow students to gain knowledge of their future career fields by interacting with professionals, and SAA will host future events to continue in this goal.

—By Katlyn Glaser

Sommers, a native of Burgettstown, earned her bachelor’s degree in Industrial Management from IUP in 1988 and her master’s degree in Business Administration from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1994.

She currently resides in the Pittsburgh area.

Sommers presented at 10 sessions in Eberly for Marketing, Management, and Business Technology Support students. She talked about the challenges of succeeding as a female in a male-dominated industry.

She told students not to be afraid of failure. Even if they don’t think they have the experience necessary for a position, they should go for it anyway, she said. She also explained U.S. Steel corporate strategies and outlined the logistics and inventory aspects of Transtar.

“A significant number of regional and national business leaders have served as Executives in Residence in the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology,” Robert Camp, dean of the Eberly College, said. “The Executive in Residence program provides an opportunity for Eberly College students to learn first-hand from individuals about career paths, industry challenges and accomplishments, and company operations.

“Several hundred students participated in the sessions presented by Malisa Sommers during her visit. We were honored to have her return to campus to spend time with our students.”

“I was honored to return to my alma mater to participate in this important real-world teaching opportunity,” said Sommers. “The students I had the pleasure of speaking to were energetic and eager to learn more about the skills and qualities employers need in the workplace and the ways their IUP education will prepare them to take advantage of the opportunities available in today’s business world.”

Prior to joining U.S. Steel in 2001, Sommers worked for Wheeling-Nisshin, Inc., a steel coating facility in Follansbee, W.Va., for 13 years. She spent her first three years with U.S. Steel at Straightline, the company’s former steel distribution subsidiary, serving two years as manager of demand fulfillment and one year as manager of customer care.

In 2004, Sommers moved to U.S. Steel’s corporate headquarters after being named manager of purchasing information technology. One year later, she advanced to manager of CAPEX procurement, where she managed procurement activities related to capital expenditure projects around the company.

In 2007, Sommers was named manager of materials management, and in 2009 she advanced to general manager of global materials management and procurement operations with responsibility for parts and materials inventory management and procurement support activities at every U.S. Steel facility in North America and Central Europe.

She assumed her current position in February 2011 and is responsible for various aspects of transportation and logistics, including the logistics services group that serves U.S. Steel facilities throughout North America.

She also oversees operations at the railroad and barge companies that comprise Transtar, Inc.: Delray Connecting Railroad Company, Fairfield Southern Company, Gary Railway Company, Lake Terminal Railroad Company, Lorain Northern Company, Texas & Northern Railway Company, Union Railroad Company, and Warrior & Gulf Navigation LLC.

Sommers serves on the board of directors of Family House.

The students listened to presentations given by employees of AIReS as well as the CEO, Bryan Putt. They learned about international compensation and data collection, cultural and language training, and relocation program management and policy review. 

AIReS is a company dedicated to providing relocation solutions for domestic and international clients. It has been in business for over 30 years and is run by Putt, an IUP alumnus, which allowed IBA students to relate to the information even more.

"We went in expecting a very formal presentation, but received a warm, friendly invitation into the mechanisms of the company, along with professional advice which I know the other IBA members have profoundly taken to heart," said Julie Perri, president of IBA.

An open Q&A session was given at the end of the presentations, allowing the students the opportunity to ask employees any questions about the business world. 

The company also provided bags with professional resources to each visiting student at the end of the day. These included books guiding how to be a successful in the business industry such as Great by Choice by Jim Collins and Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands by Terri Morrison.

Overall, the students received important information in this networking opportunity which prepared them for a future in the business world.

—By Katlyn Glaser

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology 

Eberly’s first Career Week consisted of 14 different sessions geared toward helping students in career preparation areas, including networking, interviews, and job searching. These sessions were developed and offered by Eberly faculty and by staff from the Career Development Center and the Center for Family Business.

Business partners also helped with the event. BNY Mellon human resource specialist Amy Bardol conducted mock interviews, and PLS Logistics Services talent acquisition specialist Jessica Sanders coordinated a shadowing event for business students on site. S&T Bank executive vice president and director of human resources and employee communications Becky Stapleton assisted with the interviewing tips and techniques presentation.

Cyndy Strittmatter, assistant dean for Administration at IUP, appreciated their assistance.

“We are working to give our students an edge and to provide them with the tools they need to be better prepared and competitive,” Strittmatter said. “We are fortunate to have faculty, staff, and business partners who were willing to work with our students on this activity.”

Sessions Monday included Mock Interviews, How to Use College Central for Internships and Job Opportunities, International Student Job Search, Interviewing Tips and Techniques, and Effective Networking.

The Effective Networking session, led by Technology Support and Training professor Kara Romance, taught students techniques such as how to create a business card and an elevator speech. Romance even covered the basics of effective handshaking. The informal environment of the session allowed students to make comments and ask questions. Students said they appreciated the opportunity.

“It was helpful because I didn’t know how to make a business card, and now I have to start making my elevator speech,” Amma Oppong, a senior Human Resources Management major, said. “These days it helps to know people. What’s on your resume is not enough.”

The workshop continued Tuesday with sessions called Obtaining Letters of Recommendation, Looking for Jobs on the Internet, and Thinking about Graduate School.

John Skrabut, a senior International Business major, attended the Looking for Jobs on the Internet session.

“I learned about different resources that we can use for the application process,” he said. “I didn’t know about specific websites like Monster that give you specific jobs you would be looking for.”

On Wednesday, a Resume and Cover Letter workshop and Social Media and Job Search, Interviewing Tips and Techniques, and Dress for Success sessions were offered.

Sarah Lynn, a junior International Business and Economics major, said the Resume and Cover Letter workshop was helpful.

“I already had a resume, but I learned how I can improve it by including more specific information about my accomplishments and experiences,” she said.

The Resume and Cover Letter workshop was offered again Thursday along with First Impressions and Verbal Communication and What You Can Do Now to Get the Job That You Want After College sessions.

The workshop series concluded Friday with a PLS Logistics Job Shadow Day, where nine students toured the company and spent time with employee officials learning about their respective duties.

—Abbey Zelko

The IUP team, consisting of Brian Foster-Pegg, Cory Ireland, Sean Shapiro, and Nathan Rosenberg, was charged with the task of evaluating Consol Energy Inc. and writing an analyst report with a buy, sell, and hold rating.

The team then presented the report to a panel of CFA charter holders. The presenters were judged against the other participating universities: the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, West Virginia University, and Penn State Berhend.

Regarding the challenge, Ireland stated, “The CFA Institute Research Challenge was the ultimate simulation of what to expect throughout our professional lives. We put textbook theory to real-life application, and have never felt more accomplished for doing so.”

While the University of Pittsburgh took first place in the competition, the placing of IUP is still pending.

—By Katlyn Glaser

The fair, which took place February 6–7, 2013, in the Eberly atrium, exhibited different groups within Eberly, including Phi Gamma Nu, the Society for Human Resource Management, the Management Association, Student Marketing Association, the Association of Management Information Systems, and the Student Finance Association.

“The main goal of it is to let students, mainly freshman, know what organizations Eberly has to offer,” said Rebecca Soder, president of COBSAC.

Veteran members from each group volunteered to exhibit their organization, allowing students to gain knowledge of the variety Eberly has to offer. Sign-up sheets as well as visuals were presented to spectators who wished to know more about a specific association.

By joining an organization, students can help build their resume, become more involved with their major, and interact with peers who have similar interests. It is a way to make a difference while gaining experience that sets oneself up for future career success.

“It’s a good way to get our organizations out there and make new friends,” said senior Erin Puko.

Any students who are still interested in joining an organization within Eberly should contact the organizations’ president or faculty advisor.

—By Katlyn Glaser

Students (in History 106 and BTST 105) worked diligently from the beginning of the semester to create engaging group presentations that properly exhibited a certain business from its according era. The presentation served as the students’ final for the linked courses which make up Eberly Connections.

The businesses chosen came in wide varieties, from a toga business in ancient Greece to a Camel Cigarette business during the 1920s. Students dressed in era-appropriate attire and gave a persuasive speech in an effort to get the judges to invest in their chosen product. The showcases were judged by professors and university administration from Housing, Student Affairs, and academics.

The students also developed a 10-page paper about their business, researching everything from the era, including economics, inventions and technology, communications, stakeholders, politics, religion, sexuality, living standards, and more.

William McPherson and Werner Lippert created this Eberly Connections project to allow the undeclared business students to get a dual lesson in history and what it takes to run a business, while also hoping it would aid them in making a decision in regards to their major.

“I am thankful for this project because it made me realize that I want to go into the marketing field,” freshman Dylan Carlson said.

Along with a great educational opportunity, this project allowed students to work with their peers and gain a feel for what working with others in a business is like.

“I really enjoyed the teamwork aspect and how our project ended up coming together,” freshman Jack Kelley said. Each member had to pull together equally to create an astonishing final product.

With impressive presentations from each group, the project was a success. This Eberly Connections final event will continue to be applied to these classes to benefit students in an innovative manner.

—By Katlyn Glaser

Four Eberly students won prizes between $200 and $500 for their exceptional essays about the reader, That Used to be Us, by Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum.

Coming in first place were Megan Morris and Luc Lawson, receiving prizes of $500 each.

Morris is a junior Accounting and Business major from Lockport, New York. She is a member of the Eberly Business Honors Program and the Robert E. Cook Honors College. Morris is additionally the president of the Student Accounting Association and a member of the IUP swim club.

Lawson is an Accounting major from Collegeville, Pa. He is the treasurer of the resident hall council in Stephenson Hall. “It was a great feeling just to be a finalist in the contest, but winning it was even better. The prize will definitely be useful for my textbooks next semester,” Lawson said.

Second-place awards went to Nicole Borstorff and Kristy McLaughlin, who received prizes of $200 each.

Borstorff is a Finance major from West Springfield, Pa. She is involved in the Eberly College of Business and Technology Business Honors program and is the president of the IUP Mock Trial Club.

McLaughlin is a Human Resource Management major from Landenberg, Pa., and a member of the freshmen Business Honors Program. “Hearing my professor call my name to come see if I won was a great way to end my last day before break,” Mclaughlin said.

The essay contest has been going on all semester, with three rounds of elimination allowing these students to become finalists.

The Eberly Reader and related contest was implemented when the university ceased the universitywide common reader program. The Eberly College of Business believes exposure to current business-related literature is critical to student development. A search for a new book for the 2013–2014 reader program is currently being conducted.

—By Katlyn Glaser

The food drive took place during the hockey game featuring IUP vs. Pitt. SMA accepted donations of canned and nonperishable items, giving each donor entering the game a ticket to get in for free and submitting them in a raffle.

“We sold almost all our raffle tickets. The turnout was great, and IUP won 2-0 against Pitt,” said Bryndan Violette, president of SMA.

The members of SMA plan to host more events in the Spring 2013 semester that allow them to get involved with the community and help those in need.

—By Katlyn Glaser

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology 

Members of the junior and senior Business Honors cohort within the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology spent the trip attending numerous events and exploring the city.

Students were invited to the President’s IUP Alumni Reception at the famed Waldorf Astoria hotel, where they met and networked with alumni, learning about internships, potential jobs, and the job hunting and career paths of the alumni in attendance. Prior to the reception, the students attended a panel discussion consisting of recent IUP graduates who now work and live in the New York City area.

“The reception was very enjoyable, because it allowed current students to build relationships with those in the professional world while providing alumni with the chance to learn about what is happening at IUP right now,” said Grey Berrier, member of the Business Honors cohort.

Students were also able to visit charity: water, a nonprofit organization that raises money to fund the drilling and building of wells to provide clean, readily accessible water in low-income areas around the world. The students were given a tour of the company headquarters by William Bell, IUP graduate and current controller and treasurer of the company.

“I personally really enjoyed going to tour the company and learn about it. It was especially interesting to learn about a nonprofit company and how the corporate culture differs from profit companies,” said Catelin Shontz, member of the senior cohort.

Students attended an event titled “Wall Street: Financial Crisis Tour.” This tour combined Wall Street’s history with exciting first-hand accounts of the 2008 financial crisis tour by a Wall Street insider.

The tour included visits to the current and former sites of the New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall, AIG, House of Morgan, Trump Tower, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Merchant Exchange, Federal Reserve, Charging Bull, Trinity Church, and more.

“There were so many memories made on the trip that we will always remember,” said Kevin Brodeur, member of the senior cohort.

Members of the cohort experienced an unforgettable trip that allowed them to gain intelligence and experience that cannot be obtained by simply reading a textbook.

—By Katlyn Glaser

Elected as president is senior Rebecca Soder. Soder is an Accounting major with a remarkable triple minor in Finance, Economics, and Pre-Law. Outside of COBSAC, Soder is a committee chair in both the Student Accounting Association and Phi Gamma Nu.

“I am currently working during the school year as a remote co-op for General Electric doing cost effectiveness and budget analysis work. In my free time, I love to travel and see new places. I hope to one day travel around the world,” Soder said to describe herself.

Elected as senior vice president is sophomore Megan Moulden. Moulden is a Human Resource Management major and is currently treasurer for the Society of Human Resource Management.

“I’m an extremely organized and hard-working person, but for fun I love to ski and spend time with family and friends,” Moulden said to describe herself.

Elected as vice president of Publicity is junior Anthony Flowers. Flowers is an International Business major and is currently vice president of the International Business Association. Additionally, Flowers is treasurer and project leader of Enactus as well as member, chapter editor, and fundraiser chair of Sigma Chi.

“I am an aspiring entrepreneur and ambitious student. I enjoy meeting new people and going to different countries,” Flowers said to describe himself.

Elected as secretary/treasurer is sophomore Nathan Rosenburg. Rosenburg is a Finance major who is involved with the Student Finance Association and the Student Managed Investment Portfolio.

“I’m a 19-year-old from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, working towards a job in investment banking,” Rosenburg said to describe himself.

COBSAC uniquely works as a group to bring all other groups within the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology together as one. These hard-working students are sure to be an asset to this goal, and the Eberly community welcomes them into their new roles.

—By Katlyn Glaser

Daniel Mormak, talent acquisition supervisor for PLS Logistics Services, Cranberry, Pa., talked with several dozen students about building their resume by joining clubs as well as the importance of choosing a major soon.

In addition to Mormak, Management professor Mike Kosicek and assistant dean Dorothy Gracey, and Eberly students shared their insights. Each club within College of Business Student Advisory Council was represented by an officer. Representatives included Matt Wilking, Cory Ireland, Julie Perri, Erin Puko, Kyle Heckelman, Sarah Stone, Rich Widdowson, Anthony Flowers, Marlee Clevenger, Megan Moulden, and Jessica Shaw.

"The event not only was an informal way to talk about majors, but it was great to hear stories about uncertainty in college that many people can relate to," said Puko, COBSAC president.

"As a student graduating in May, I not only felt like we helped at least one person pick a major, but I also learned a lot about my peers," Puko said. Puko and her peers made great strides during the event to help undecided students with their futures.

SHRM plans to hold another event similar to this in the future, continuously providing students with opportunities to expand their knowledge of careers and get involved at IUP.

--By Katlyn Glaser

The students were chosen from a group of about 200 who competed in a preliminary round of Biz Wiz in October. 

The finalists, competing in teams of two, were Liu Liu and Gordon Tanson, general management MBA; Mike Williamson and Grey David Berrier, finance seniors; Chioma Umunnakwe and Ang Shun Thai, human resource management senior and marketing junior, respectively; Andrew Hedman and Nathan Donsen, finance MBA; and Spoorthi Nadiger and Shreyas Jayaram, finance MBA.

They covered 18 rounds of questions on business and economic current events, business terminology, and other business topics; the Eberly Common ReaderThat Used to Be Us; and, in honor of Election Day, the history of the Presidential office.

Mike Williamson and Grey Berrier came in first place, with Andrew Hedman and Nathan Donsen coming in second. Two of the teams, Nadiger/Jayaram and Liu/Tanson, shared the third prize.

All the winners received plaques and shared a scholarship amount of $1,200.

Dean’s associate Prashanth Bharadwaj conceived and hosted the event. Assistant dean for technology Raj Murthy and his team provided the technology, and Divyashree Ravishankar, program manager of the IUP–India MBA program, provided the creative support. Bill McPherson, faculty advisor for the Eberly Honors Program, and Cyndy Strittimatter, assistant dean for Administration and Finance, provided the promotional and administrative support for the event.

Biz Wiz attracted nearly 500 students, faculty, and staff.

—By Alycia King

A resume workshop hosted by Phi Gamma Nu (PGN) took place on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at 8:30 p.m. to help its members learn valuable resume building skills that are necessary for entering the workforce.

Career Development advocates Zak Meuschke and Michael Regan ran the workshop, enthusiastically talking with PGN’s pledges and members of the Career Development Center about resumes, cover letters, internships, jobs, and networking.

“This information was highly valued by everyone in attendance and will greatly apply to each and everyone’s success,” said Brice Boyd, president of PGN.

PGN continuously supplies their members with supplementary skills that are not always learned in a classroom. The resume workshop helped students gain knowledge that will be beneficial in their futures.

—By Katlyn Glaser

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology 

SHRM is putting together an Undeclared Majors Event to be held Wednesday, November 28, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. in the Eberly auditorium. During this event, representatives from a variety of majors within the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology will be available to students seeking help with their career paths.

The beginning of the event will feature a speech from one of the members of SHRM, followed by a guest speaker. Each club within the College of Business Student Advisory Council will present a two-minute speech to students regarding their major and how their club has benefitted them. The representatives wish to encourage undecided students to get involved at IUP and find their niche.

An open question-and-answer segment will take place following the speeches and presentations. Students will be able to walk around and ask questions of the presenters.

For any student who is still undecided about their future, the Undeclared Majors Event is a great opportunity to explore a variety of options.

—By Katlyn Glaser

SHRM sponsored this tour to allow students in the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology to network with UPMC employees at the U.S. Steel Building in Pittsburgh. Students were encouraged to bring resumes and dress formally to present themselves as professionals toward these employees.

Students were allowed a once-in-a-lifetime chance to participate in an extensive tour of the 60th floor of the landmark U.S. Steel building in Pittsburgh and the UPMC Center for Connected Medicine.

On the first part of the tour, an IUP alumnus led the students through a tour given in the same fashion as it would be delivered to a large corporate account. He told a story about a young child and her journey through UPMC's system. This story gave the students insight to the advances of technology that UPMC implements to provide high-quality care to their patients.

On the second part of the tour, the students met with Ryan Hudson, IUP alumnus and director of Recruiting. Hudson explained his journey at IUP and how he received his position at UPMC. He gave students tips for getting hired after college, and personally spoke with each student to give in-depth advice.

“I think the tour is quite a testament to not only SHRM and its leaders, but to the Eberly College of Business at large,” said SHRM member Matt Pearce. “That UPMC actively recruits students from IUP says a lot for what we are accomplishing as a university and the impact our graduates continue to have in the workplace.”

By networking with professionals, students have the chance to score internships and even future careers. Students enjoyed this real-world opportunity to gain insight from these professionals that allowed them to think about their futures after college.

—By Katlyn Glaser, Jessica Shaw, and Matt Pearce

Other participants included faculty, business professionals, and policy makers who came from other countries, including India, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

The theme of the conference, held October 25–27, 2012, in Crystal City, Va., was “Economic Dynamism and the New Global Business Paradigm.”

Eberly students attended a luncheon program and session focused on Leadership for Competitive Advantage. The luncheon included a talk on Global Competitiveness from the Perspective of a Small/Mid-sized Business by ASC award winner Bryan Putt (IUP, 1986), chief executive officer of American International Relocation Solutions.

Other featured sessions at the conference included Child Labor in an Age of Outsourcing and Impact of Freedom on International Competitiveness of Nations.

Keynote speakers this year addressed timely topics such as:

1. Can America Get Its Mojo Back?—Bill Hackney, Senior Partner, Atlanta Capital Management Company
2. Two Paths Forward: Romney and Obama—Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform
3. Geopolitics of the Dark Side: Oligarchs, Cartels, and Corruption!—Rear Admiral Chris Parry, Defense and Security Specialist with World Check, U.K.
4. Federal Financial Management: Sources of Efficiency and Inefficiencies in Budgeting and Auditing—David Norquist, A.T. Kearney

Over the years, ASC has awarded individuals who have been responsible for boosting competitiveness at the firm, industry, and national/regional levels. Putt, Hackney, Parry, and David Norquist were recipients of ASC awards this year.

Members of Eberly faculty involved in ASC include Prashanth Bharadwaj, ASC Conference Academic Program chairman; Abbas Ali and Robert Camp, founding members of ASC; and Susan Brant, ASC treasurer.

In addition to the annual conferences, ASC has three publications—Competitiveness Review, Advances in Competitiveness Research, and Competition Forum.

Official website of ASC 

—By Abbey Zelko

Freshman Marc Anthony Colón first became involved with NHI during his freshman year of high school. He and his team placed second in a competition where groups were asked to use an organization’s existing assets and resources to expand on the current growth capacities of the organization. The groups were then challenged to make their project operational within 12 months and self-sustaining within a year.

The groups participating in the competition were asked to adhere to NHI operating beliefs, practices, and methods of influencing change in Latino community life. They included social good, social venture, and a business model.

According to the NHI website, the institute provides Latino young people with the structures and settings to envision themselves as future community leaders as well as practice skills in leading and working with others and engaging in critical discussions. NHI’s values are dedication to personal excellence, a strong belief in family and culture, and service to others.

—By Alycia King

Brian Walker, a 1994 IUP accounting graduate, won the 2008 Pittsburgh Business Times CFO of the Year award. The certified public accountant serves as the chief financial officer and vice president of finance of Millcraft Industries.

During his visit to IUP, Walker spoke to students about his career, opportunities, and challenges in the business world.

In his professional career, the Natrona Heights native finds himself overseeing, managing, and developing Millcraft’s financial and treasury functions, directing strategic planning and business valuation, and developing and monitoring project budgets.

Walker’s previous work history includes being a partner at a Pittsburgh CPA firm. In addition to working, he serves as chairman of the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce and the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber Enterprise Foundation. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.

Walker has a wife, Jill, and two children and spends his free time coaching youth sports.

—By Alycia King

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology 

Bryan Moore, a December 2007 Finance Department graduate, works as a senior private equity officer for the South Carolina Retirement System Investment Commission. His responsibilities include sourcing and analyzing new investment opportunities for the private equity and hedge fund portfolios, instituting practices to improve oversight and governance, and participating in strategic investment allocation discussions.

“The selection by ECOBIT [Eberly College of Business and Information Technology] to receive the Young Alumni Achievement Award is truly a great honor,” Moore said. “My success to date is a product of the level of education that I received at IUP, and it makes me proud to tell people about my alma mater.”

The Indiana, Pa., native and son of technology support and training professor Wayne Moore spoke to two groups of students, a finance class, and the Student Finance Association and SMIP team.

During the finance class, Moore told the students having a broad understanding of business is important because it makes them a valuable employee. He used examples of when he used the management, marketing, legal studies, accounting, and information technology skills he learned during his time at IUP.

While speaking to the Finance Association and SMIP, he spoke about his career, the current macroeconomic environment, and investment opportunities. He also gave the students career advice and job-search techniques that helped him land his first job out of school.

Moore encourages students to get involved on campus, and not just be putting your name on a sign-up list.

“Not only do you need to sign up for student organizations, but you need to be an active participant,” he said. “The job market is competitive, and when you can point to an active leadership role, you can differentiate yourself from the pack.”

Since graduating, Moore has remained active with his alma mater. He has participated in three Business Day events and serves on the ECOBIT Business Advisory Council.

—By Alycia King

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology 

David Mastovich, president of strategic marketing and change management firm MASSolutions, graduated from IUP in 1987 with a bachelor’s in Marketing and with an MBA in 1992. During his presentation, Mastovich used real-world examples of problem-solving cases MASSolutions had handled.

“Mastovich’s presentation not only gave technical insights into current practices in marketing consulting, but also demonstrated how IUP graduates can compete and achieve better results than Ivy League grads,” said Marketing professor Krish Krishnan.

Before working as president for MASSolutions, Mastovich held senior management positions with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Duquesne University, and Monongahela Valley Hospital. He also has led the strategic turnaround of organizations in numerous industries.

Mastovich has also served as a strategic planning, marketing, and public relations instructor for St. Francis University and Mount Aloysius College. He is also author of Get Where You Want To Go, which is about how to achieve both personal and professional growth through marketing, selling, and storytelling.
—By Alycia King

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology 

Upon entering the plant, the groups discovered that the power plant is more than the smokestacks that first meet the eye. Not only does the power plant produce the electricity for the university, but it also produces stream and hot water which run the university’s heating and cooling systems.

During the tour, plant employee Mark Labant showed the group the operations of the facility as well as the trading aspect of the plant. The plant is available to be up and running 24/7, and, with only seven employees, that is pretty remarkable. Labant mentioned that the plant has evolved over the many years from being a coal burning plant to becoming a natural gas burning plant. This makes this power plant very clean and eco-friendly.

“Touring the power plant here at the IUP campus was a great experience as a student. It was very informative and interesting. The tour included a tour of the facility, understanding how the buying and selling of energy works, and how IUP benefits from the power plant,” said sophomore Megan Moulden.

The group realized that the S.W. Jack Cogeneration Plant is an extremely important aspect necessary to keep IUP up and running.

—By Katlyn Glaser and Jessica Shaw

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology 

A total of 23 students in the Business Honors program embarked on the trip to learn valuable leadership skills while exploring the nation’s capital.

On the first day of the trip, students toured the World Bank and Arlington National Cemetery. At the World Bank, students were able to speak with prominent representatives who taught them about what the World Bank does and what makes for an outstanding job candidate.

The next day, students toured the Pentagon. Students also had the opportunity to go to the American Society for Competitiveness Conference, a conference that brings together leaders from business, government, and academia to discuss approaches and experiences in business. Professors from all over the world attended the conference to share their ideas. Students learned valuable information about the business world from these leaders.

The last day of the trip was designated free time for students, allowing them to experience sites in D.C. not included on the trip’s schedule.

“It was very enjoyable for all of the students, and we are all very grateful for getting the chance to interact with business world leaders. We got a lot out of this trip, including knowledge and memories,” said Jamie Czech, a Business Honors student who attended the trip.

The trip to D.C. served as a means to allow students to gain information through real world experience, and they all relished in this learning opportunity with a positive attitude.

A similar leadership trip to New York City is scheduled for December 6–8, 2012.

—By Katlyn Glaser

This resource room is a great addition to the Office of Housing, Residential Living, and Dining’s Living-Learning Community, allowing business students to utilize it for a wide variety of academic purposes.

The resource room was able to become a reality thanks to donations totaling $10,000 from the IUP Ambassadors and the Eberly College of Business. The University Museum provided art installations on loan as an additional means to make the room attractive.

“IUP and the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology sincerely thank the IUP Ambassadors for their generous gift that made the furnishing of the Resource Room in Stephenson Hall a reality. It is truly gratifying to work with a group of students who so fully understand the impact that charitable giving can make,” said Development officer Susan Stake.

The room includes resources such as a desk, a bookcase with numerous business periodicals and textbooks, an interactive television screen, a large conference table, and six armchairs. With a window view overlooking Eberly, the location of the Business Resource room is well integrated with the College of Business.

“This space will definitely enhance the experience of the business students living and studying in Stephenson Hall,” Stake said.

The space has been used for a variety of different purposes in the first month of its existence. The Office of Housing, Residential Living, and Dining meets in the room bi-weekly, community assistant and academic support mentor programs have been held there, and students have used the room approximately 70 times for individual and group studying.

The Business Resource room has been a beneficial asset to Stephenson Hall, creating a comfortable and productive space for organizations and students to work in.

—By Katlyn Glaser

Working together, the Strategic Planning Business Literacy Subcommittee and the junior Business Honors cohort began planning the Eberly Common Reader in Fall 2011 to enhance learning experience and increase interaction within the Eberly community.

After compiling lists of books and performing two rounds of elimination, That Used to Be Us by Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum was chosen as the Eberly Common Reader for Fall 2012. The novel provides statistics, analyses, and quotes to explain why the United States is on the brink of tragedy.

That Used to Be Us has been incorporated into Introduction to Business classes and the Business Honors program. A study guide about the book as well as complete chapter summaries have been provided to students by the Business Honors cohort.

“It is our hope that students are able to connect the Common Reader with their coursework, thus broadening their knowledge of the current business environment. This knowledge should help them once they graduate and enter the job market,” said Sarah Finn, a member of the Business Honors cohort.

Students have had the opportunity to enter an essay contest about the book, with participants separated into two categories: upperclassmen and first-year students. The top two essays in each category will be awarded with scholarships up to $500. Essay contest chairs consist of members of the Senior Business Honors Cohort, including Corey Hay, Katelyn Krissinger, and Stephanie Phillips. Essays are due by 6:00 p.m. on October 23, 2012.

That Used to Be Us trivia questions will be included in the second round of Biz Wiz 2012, an educational quiz event that awards $1,200 in scholarships to the winning team. Consisting of both undergraduate and graduate students, the top five teams of two will participate in the grand finale event, to be held November 6, 2012, in the Eberly Auditorium.

The incorporation of the Business Reader in several areas of the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology is expected to allow students to learn the material in an adequate and rewarding manner.

“If students can take what they have learned and apply it to the real-world problems, we can make the world a better place, and that is the true reward and most important duty of being an educated individual,” said Kevin Brodeur, a member of the Business Honors cohort.

The Eberly Common Reader program is hoped to be embraced by the Eberly College of Business and thrive within its community for years to come.

—By Katlyn Glaser

The discussion, “How to Rock a Career Fair,” took place October 1, 2012, in the Ohio Room at the HUB.

Provided by the IUP Career Development Center and sponsored by the Society of Human Resource Management Undergraduate Chapter (Undergrad SHRM), “How to Rock a Career Fair” supplied information to students in recruitment opportunities regarding resumes, dress code, business cards, and overall attitude. Panelists of professionals such as IT account executive Jared Just, human resource manager Heidi Milne, campus relations specialist Jeff Peters, and human resources specialist Kacie Carl joined together to offer their advice to students.

“The knowledge gained from this experience was very valuable and helpful in present and future career encounters,” said Kristen Carey, a senior undergraduate student who attended the series. “What I found interesting was to know that some companies have mentoring programs with students. They like to stay abreast on what students are into and what they are looking for after college. I was happy to know that many of the answers the panel was saying overlapped with the teachings of IUP professors. This will make me more prepared for the near and exciting future.”

The number of people who attended the event was pleasantly greater than originally expected. The Ohio Room was filled with students and faculty alike who wished to listen in on the panel’s advice.

By sponsoring this event, Undergrad SHRM afforded students the opportunity to interact with human resource professionals on the panel. The group plans to sponsor additional events in order to continuously allow both parties to collaborate together.

—By Katlyn Glaser and Jessica Shaw

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

The parade began at 10:00 a.m. on Philadelphia Street. Numerous organizations from IUP and the Indiana County community participated in the parade for a crowd of spectators.

The Eberly College of Business float featured a truck flatbed, supplied by Hot Shot Huey Transport Company. Representatives of the college included Eberly’s Crimson Court representative, Sarah Stone; officers of Eberly’s Student Advisory Council, Erin Puko and Rebecca Soder; and student organization representatives Matthew Wilking and Jessica Shaw. Assistant Dean Dorothy Gracey attended for Dean Robert Camp. Although the weather was dimsal and rainy, all representatives relished the chance to ride on the float.

“I was very honored to be an IUP Homecoming representative for the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology. Being a part of something so great has truly impacted me to become who I am and who I aspire to be,” said Stone.

With this year’s success, the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology hopes to continue participation in IUP’s annual Homecoming Parade.

Phi Gamma Nu and the Management Association helped with registration and setting up banners and tables for the event. More than 30 students involved in organizations within the College of Business Student Advisory Council participated in the walk and made donations.

Eberly has been involved in this event for the past three years.

“We like to get involved in this event each year in the fall because it is a great volunteer opportunity that gets members together outside of campus for a good cause,” Phi Gamma Nu president Brice Boyd said. “The American Heart Association is a great organization to get involved with, and it is always a fun time.”

The Heart Walk raised $17,781 through donations for the American Heart Association and is still accepting donations.

— By Abbey Zelko

“The student-run organizations of Eberly found the fair to be very useful,” said COBSAC President Erin Puko. “Groups that put a heavy emphasis on recruiting new members saw increases of 10 to 30 new members.”

The fair, held in the Eberly Atrium, included displays by the organizations that had pictures and information about what each organization stands for and why joining is beneficial.

COBSAC organizational fairs are held once during the Fall semester and once in the Spring. Students interested in joining an organization should contact that organization’s president or faculty advisor.

Student organizations in Eberly include:

• Association for MIS
• Finance Association
• Graduate Business Student Association
• International Business Association
• Management Association/Delta Epsilon Chi
• Phi Beta Lambda
• Phi Gamma Nu
• Pi Omega Pi
• Society for Human Resources Management
• Student Accounting Association
• Student Managed Investment Portfolio
• Student Marketing Association
• Student Technology Association
• Students in Free Enterprise

—By Alycia King

Knupp has worked as the business college’s bibliographer, the librarian responsible for helping the college, for more than 20 years. But, this is this first time that Eberly will host a librarian in the building to assist students and faculty with research and accessing the library’s resources.

“It’s trying to get librarians out to where the users are,” Knupp said. “We’re not tied to the physical books like we used to be. Librarians can now work with users just by having a laptop handy.”

His primary jobs in the college are to assist with research and help students navigate the library’s databases.

“Mostly I’ve been working with faculty so far,” he said. “But, I’m assuming as the semester goes on and students are getting into research, I’ll be getting students coming in as well.”

Knupp will be available in Eberly 202 on Tuesdays from 2:00 to 5:30 p.m. and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to noon. He can also be found at the Stapleton Library reference desk and by appointment.

—By Alycia King

The retreat, held at Blue Spruce Park, featured two speakers from the IUP Management Department, Joette Wisnieski and Jennifer Jones. They spoke about the management of limited resources and where experiences will lead in the future, as well as the sharing of resources and thoughtfulness in the business world. The event is designed to develop professional leadership skills through activities.

“The COBSAC retreat enabled me to connect with the leaders of Eberly’s other student organizations, as well as learn more effectual leadership techniques,” said student Grey Berrier. “I had a great time being able to learn from others and determine better ways to lead.”

About 25 students attended the retreat and participated in leadership activities such as the human knot game.

—By Alycia King

Topics included “Other People’s Money,” “IRS Efforts in Identity Theft Prevention and Detection,” “An Overview of IRS Criminal Investigation Division,” “Is Your GPS Up-to-Date?” and “Due Diligence on Mutual Funds, Insurance, and Annuities.” Each participant received eight CPE credits: Two hours A&A, three hours Tax, and three hours Other.

Presenters for the seminar included former IUP Accounting faculty member Duane Ponko, C.P.A., C.F.E.; IUP alumnus Rick Ubinger, C.P.A., Ubinger CFO Services, LLC (also co-owner/CFO Plastikoil of Pennsylvania); IUP alumnus Vic Conrad, C.F.P., Ch.F.C., A.I.F.; and Robert Kickbush and Philip Yamalis from the IRS.

Additional CPE seminars are being planned for the fall, with the next being on Thursday, September 27, at Kovalchick Complex. This forensic seminar is titled “Continuing Professional Education Seminar – Focus on Corporate Fraud and Ethics.” Participants will receive five hours A&A and three hours Ethics. Duane Ponko will be the presenter. For more information or to register for this seminar, visit the Eberly News or Eberly Events pages.

Eighty-eight college alumni and friends formed 22 foursomes and enjoyed a grilled luncheon, a day of golf, and a reception.

S&T Bank served as corporate sponsor for the event, and Aramark served as the gold sponsor. Silver sponsors included the Nadav Baum Group, BPU Investment Management, Inc. (alumni Nadav Baum ’85), iPipeline (alumni Tim Wallace ’75), Terry A.Serafini ’61, Red Vector – Care 2 Learn (alumni Tom Wallace ’80), and S&T Wealth Management and Stewart Capital Advisors LLC (Malcolm Polley). There were a number of foursome sponsors, a driving range sponsor, tee sponsors, and prize sponsors.

University Council of Trustee members Susan Delaney and Gealy Wallwork were presented awards from the IUP Business Golf Classic Committee for “Enduring Leadership and Service.” Both Susan and Gealy have participated in the golf event over the years and were recognized for their long-term commitment to the university, their impact on the business community, and their support of the Eberly College of Business.

Two golf scholarship recipients, Patrick Rossiter and Kayla Griffith, spoke at the reception. Both expressed their appreciation to the group and indicated how important the scholarship funding has been in their ability to afford their education.

Event cochair Nadav Baum ’85 was one of the founders of the event and indicated that “he really appreciated the fact that many individuals and companies stepped up to participate and to support the scholarship program.” Nadav encouraged sponsors and other participants to continue their support each year, and he hopes that other alumni and friends join the event.

Cyndy Strittmatter ’83, M’87, assistant dean for the Eberly College of Business and IT, is the Eberly coordinator for the Golf Classic and said that “the skies were blue, the course was beautiful, and the participants seemed to really enjoy the event.” She indicated that the scholarships fundraising event will be held again next summer at the Longue Vue Club. “Save the Date” notices will be issued.

Details and pictures can be found on the IUP Business Golf Classic homepage.

The first article, “Small Businesses, Big Results,” introduces four successful, local businesses who received start-up counseling from the SBDC. Learn about their businesses and future plans.

The second article is “Getting a Good Start.” Tony Palamone, SBDC director, talks about the resources available through the SBDC to current and prospective business owners to help their businesses survive and grow.

Dan Broadbent has been chosen to receive a scholarship from the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Dan grew up in Indiana County and is a graduate of Marion Center High School. Previously, he earned an education degree from IUP and taught social studies and mathematics for several years, most recently at Highlands Middle School. In the summer of 2011 he returned to IUP to earn a second bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Currently, he serves as president of the Student Accounting Association. During his time as president of the SAA, membership and activity has increased dramatically, averaging over 80 students at meetings. The group has hosted a number of speakers, a resume workshop, two charity functions, and their annual Recognition Dinner, which most recently had 110 people in attendance, including 25 employers, 65 students, and 20 IUP faculty and administration.

Dan currently lives in Indiana, Pa., with his six-year-old daughter, Paige, and his mother, Erika Hennig. In his spare time, he enjoys running and playing recreation league baseball. He plans to graduate in December 2012.

Each year, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) grants multiyear scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $15,000. Many can be renewed annually until the completion of a recipient's degree, provided each student pursues a full-time accounting degree, maintains a 3.0 or above GPA, and satisfies any other renewal requirements established by the PICPA. Applicants are required to be currently enrolled full-time at a Pennsylvania college or university and must have completed a minimum of 36 credit hours. Awards are given on a competitive basis to candidates that best satisfy the requirements of high intellectual capacity, leadership potential, financial need, and intent to pursue a career in accounting.

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

Bill Richardson, a 1983 IUP graduate who works as a tax partner with Sisterson & Co. in Pittsburgh, served as the keynote speaker. Following Richardson’s speech, Kim Anderson, a faculty member of the IUP Accounting Department, presented Brandon Valasek with a PICPA Award.

“It was wonderful to see so many students, faculty, and employers at the Student Accounting Association Recognition Dinner,” said SAA President Daniel Broadbent. “I feel very fortunate to have a very dedicated, hard-working, and affable group of students to work with in the SAA. Our recognition dinner chair, Becky Soder, and the recognition dinner committee did a great job organizing the event. This dinner provides us with the opportunity to thank employers that support IUP and the Accounting Department. It also provides students with a unique opportunity to network with employers on a more personal level.”

Students were recognized for their contribution to the organization and professionals for their support of the Eberly College and the Accounting students. Sixty-five students attended the event, along with 10 faculty and administrators and 35 accounting professionals.

The firms and companies who attended are listed as follows:

Alpern Rosenthal, Becker CPA Review, Boyer & Ritter, CPA’s and Consultants, Clay & Gascoine LLC, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, First Commonwealth Bank, KPMG, Maher Duessel, Malin Bergquist, ParenteBeard, PICPA, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Schneider Downs & Co., Inc., Sisterson & Co., LLP, and Smith, Lewis, Chess & Co.

—By Alycia King

Thirty-five female business students attended a networking breakfast program in the Terry A. Serafini Atrium and then participated in a panel session in which four alumni shared information about their career paths, balancing work and family, key challenges they faced during their careers, international experiences, and the value of their educational experience at IUP.

“As an IUP student, we have great resources and connections with our alumni, but this event allowed us, the female student leaders within Eberly, a chance to ask questions to the inspirational female leaders in business from IUP,” said Sarah Stone, a junior Operations Management major. “Events like this make me thankful to be a part of IUP’s student body, and I hope that we all have the opportunity ourselves to serve on a panel at some point in our futures. It is nice to know that we have alumni that are so willing to give back to their IUP community, because it is so beneficial to students.”

“As a woman attending the Women in Business Leadership Conference, I gained an insight into the professional business world as a female,” said Kelly Welde, a senior Marketing major. “Today, there are so many opportunities that await us, and it was wonderful to see how the four alumni embraced those opportunities and have become successful.”

This was the first time that the Eberly College held this program, and it hopes to hold events like this on an annual basis.

“The four women who spoke with our students at this event have had very interesting and varied career paths,” said Cyndy Strittmatter, Eberly assistant dean for Administration. “I am confident that the information and advice that they provided during the event will greatly benefit our young women as they graduate and enter the workforce.”

Alumni Panel Members Included:

Nancy (Vetakis) Keene ’72

Earned her Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, English, in 1972 from IUP

Nancy Keene is founder of the Perfect Fit, a blog and corporate leadership consultancy featuring the Changeometer TM, a framework for strategic decision making. She provides an unparalleled perspective—combining 10 years in the talent selection process with a career foundation launching new companies, products, and branding initiatives. Most recently, she was a director in the Dallas office of Stanton Chase International, a top-ranked, retained executive search firm—handling search assignments in the energy, manufacturing, and technology sectors as well as finance and corporate development searches across all industries.

Nancy knows what companies seek in top, early-career talent, as well as C-level/boardroom roles. She built a specialty search practice focused on NextGen CEOs—high-pedigree up-and-comers for strategic bench strength and succession planning assignments. She has been among an elite group of recruiters who determine annual rankings for the Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive survey on top business schools. She serves on the board of advisors for Texas Women Ventures—investing millions in women-led businesses.

Audrey Madia ’70

Earned a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics in 1970 from IUP

Audrey DeLaquil Madia founded Classic Homes in 1984, an interior design company which she continues to run on a part-time basis since she and her husband “semi-retired” in 2008. She previously served on the board of directors of the Children’s Development Center in Richland, Washington, and continues to be involved with the organization’s annual fundraiser, as well as maintaining the Center’s family waiting area, named in honor of the Madia family.

She and her husband have hosted several IUP alumni events at their home in order to enable area alumni to get together, share stories, and strengthen the connection with each other and IUP.

Florence J. Mauchant M’85

Earned her MBA in 1985 from IUP

Florence Mauchant spent her entire professional career in the field of finance, working for and with some of the top international companies. Currently, Ms. Mauchant is a partner in the middle market investment bank HT Capital Advisors, LLC, where she heads up the firm’s asset management activity and has overall responsibility for all cross-border new business activity.

Before joining HT Capital Advisors in 1999, Ms. Mauchant worked for Schroders, a U.K.-based merchant bank, as a vice president in their Structured Investments group. There, she was responsible for developing a global clientele of portfolio managers and corporations needing equity and credit derivatives. Her role also entailed the purchase of distressed financial assets from European-based institutions. Prior to joining Schroders, Ms. Mauchant spent seven years with Generale Bank, the largest Belgian bank, now part of the Fortis group. Leading one of three teams, she was responsible for marketing the services of the bank to U.S.-based multinational corporations. Transactions included acquisition financing, leveraged buyouts, asset-based financing, and general corporate needs. Her responsibilities also included the analysis and valuation of companies and projects. Prior to her joining Generale Bank, Ms. Mauchant was working for Banque Nationale de Paris, a French bank, as a credit analyst covering European companies.

In addition to her responsibilities at HT Capital, Ms. Mauchant maintains an active role in various not-for-profit and civic groups. She currently volunteers and serves as a trustee at the Lycee Francais de New York, a leading French-American K-12 school in the United States, and was chairperson for the school’s investment committee. In addition, Ms. Mauchant is a member of the IUP Alumni Association board of directors. Ms. Mauchant received her graduate degree from the Institut Commercial de Nancy (France) and holds a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She also is a chartered financial analyst. She is a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts and the Financial Woman’s Association.

Marla Sabo ’79

Earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education and French in 1979 from IUP

Marla Sabo has worked extensively internationally from the world of luxury retail to private equity advisory and finance. She currently serves as partner in Fireman Capital Partners, a private equity firm specializing in middle-market consumer product deals. She heads the Investment Committee and is engaged in all aspects of the deal process from sourcing, through due diligence and development of business strategies for the portfolio companies. Her most recent and current board memberships include Hudson Clothing, Serena and Lily, and Pilla Eyewear. Since 2006, she is also the founder and CEO of Sabo Strategic Partners, a firm providing advisory work both pre- and post-transaction in the private equity industry.

Ms. Sabo brings a wealth of operating experience to her career in finance, having served as president of Christian Dior Americas from 2001–2006. She was responsible for the strategic growth and brand development during that period, a time where the business quintupled in revenue and became firmly placed as one of the top luxury brands in the world today.

Prior to her role at Christian Dior, she held various senior executive positions in the industry, coming from the senior vice president position at Hermes Americas, and vice president and chief merchant for all of the European and American designer areas at Saks Fifth Avenue. Her New York City career began at Bergdorf-Goodman.

Ms. Sabo completed a Bachelor of Science in French/Secondary Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1979 and has also completed continuing studies at the Universite de Paris-Sorbonne in Paris, France.

Ms. Sabo is active in several not-for-profit organizations. She is a founding board member of the Luxury Education Foundation, which supports interdisciplinary work between Columbia University and Parsons School of Design, and sponsors scholarships at each; she is secretary of the board of the New York Landmarks Conservancy; she has served on the board of the Foundation for IUP; and also raises funding for nationwide research in women’s health issues and cancer.

The Eberly College of Business and Information Technology Chapter congratulates the students who have earned invitations in 2012. They join an expanding worldwide network of more than 625,000 outstanding business professionals who have earned recognition through lifetime membership in Beta Gamma Sigma. Students ranking in the top 10 percent of the baccalaureate and top 20 percent of graduate programs at schools accredited by AACSB International—Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business—are eligible for this invitation.

Beta Gamma Sigma lifetime membership is truly an international honor. With the expansion of accreditation by AACSB International, membership is no longer limited to those who have studied in the U.S. or Canada. Beta Gamma Sigma has installed collegiate chapters and inducted students on six continents. The most outstanding IUP students are eligible for the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive in an undergraduate or master’s program at a school accredited by AACSB International.

The following students and faculty were inducted into the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology Chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma at the Spring 2012 ceremony held on Sunday, April 29, in the Eberly Auditorium:

Juniors:

Jesse Erich, Lindsay Kosuth, Justin Maney, Megan McCreery, Scott Mehall, Matt Pearce, and Johnathan Reiner

Seniors

Tabitha Barrick, Grey Berrier, Julian Chimelewski, Brian Foster-Pegg, Huan Jiang, Ruoling Li, John Littlejohn, Megan Morris, Christopher Potter, Erin Puko, Ethan Robinson, Walter Smith, and Barbara Yockey

Master’s

Sarina Aryal, Anjan Bangalore, Jennifer Baxter, Cynthia Cavero Avalos, Fredrick DuBrock, Mary Hall, Huang Huang, Aditya Jaiswal, Shivani Meher, Loic Amin Rahmouni, Sean Ryan, Shruthi Shivashankar, Sam Swarna, and Adam Weis

Faculty Inductee

Micki Hyde

Beta Gamma Sigma was founded as a national organization on February 19, 1913. The first national honor society in business was a merger of three separate societies established to honor academic achievement in business at the University of Wisconsin, University of Illinois, and the University of California.

With collegiate chapters on five continents, Beta Gamma Sigma today is truly an international society that remains dedicated to recognizing the most outstanding students of business and management. The society serves business schools accredited by AACSB International in the 21st century knowing that its membership of more than 625,000 comprises the brightest and best of the world’s business leaders.

Quote from Stephen W. Gilman, one of three professors who founded Beta Gamma Sigma at the University of Wisconsin: “Success is not to be measured by income, but by influence; not by power, but by personality; not by capital, but by character.”

Photo, from left: Ellen Ruddock, director of the IUP Center for Family Business; Doug Lockard, Larry Lockard, Bernie Lockard Sr.; Bernie Lockard Jr.; Robert Camp, dean, IUP Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

During the event, family members Bernie Lockard Sr., Bernie Lockard Jr., Doug Lockard, and Larry Lockard discussed their family business history, shared challenges and strategies, and provided advice to the student attendees who are currently enrolled in the Introduction to Entrepreneurship class.

Panel discussion members, from left: Doug Lockard, Larry Lockard, Bernie Lockard Sr., and Bernie Lockard Jr.

In addition to receiving a plaque, the honored family business is recognized with a tree planted along the walkway of the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology that is dedicated to recipients of the annual award. The walkway is a part of the Allegheny Arboretum at IUP.

Created in 1997, the IUP Center for Family Business is a member of the Eberly College Management Services Group and focuses on the recognition, support, and development of family business. It serves business owners, their families, and key employees through educational programs and networking opportunities.

The Lockard family businesses’ roots can be traced back to 1948, the year in which Wayne S. Lockard became a consigned delivery agent for the Atlantic Refining Company (later ARCO). At that time, he purchased a fuel delivery vehicle and was paid a commission based on gallons of heating oil, diesel fuel, and gasoline delivered to Atlantic customers. Within a few years, he signed an agency agreement with Gulf Oil, which built a bulk plant on Route 422 in Indiana. His sons, Bernard and Larry, joined the business in the late 1950s, and the three ran the company until Wayne Lockard’s death in 1961.

After their father’s death, Bernard and Larry continued to grow the business. Bernard concentrated on the petroleum end of the business, taking the company from an agent to a jobber by the late 1960s. Larry developed a heating and air conditioning business for the company, at first to service heating oil customers of the company, but later expanding into commercial sales as well. The brothers purchased their first gas station in the late 1960s, branched into non-petroleum-related real estate development, and, in 1971, teamed with Alan Lee from Dallas, Texas, to become a Pizza Hut franchisee in western Pennsylvania. By the mid 1970s, the brothers joined with the Edwards family of Indiana to become a Mister Donut franchisee.

The Pizza Hut and Mr. Donut businesses thrived through the 1970s, with the company further expanding by developing an in-house all-trades construction crew to complement the HVAC business. The Pizza Hut Company ultimately grew to 24 units, and the Mister Donut business grew to 12 units. By 1985, the various companies employed nearly 2,500 people.

In 1980, Bernard’s son, Bernard Jr., joined the business, followed by Larry’s son, Douglas, in 1984. At that time, the oil company became an Exxon branded wholesaler, and the focus of the company became the development of the Exxon brand in western Pennsylvania.

By 1987, the development of the Pizza Hut and Mister Donut businesses had come to an end, and, over the next few years, those businesses were sold and Larry and Bernard made a decision to separate their business interests. This resulted in Larry and Doug starting two new companies: LMC Enterprises, Inc., to pursue real estate investments and developments, and LGL Pizza Hut, Inc., a Pizza Hut restaurant franchise formed with business partner Eric Jones. Bernard and Bernard Jr. continued the development of the wholesale petroleum business as the Lockard Company.

The late 1980s through the 1990s was a time of growth in the convenience store business for the Lockard Company. Capitalizing on the Exxon brand, a chain of 12 Northern Express convenience stores was developed. As underground storage tank regulations increased, the oil company further diversified by developing a chain of Pacific Pride unmanned commercial fueling stations. Through an agreement with Union Oil of California, the company developed the expertise in the commercial lubricants business and became a major supplier of underground mining fluids in Western Pennsylvania.

In 1998, the company sold its original bulk plant, lubricant and heating oil business in order to concentrate on convenience stores and Pacific Pride. In 2001, the company sold the Northern Express chain, and has since concentrated on the Pacific Pride card lock business and management of company real estate. Today, the company is the 12th largest franchisee of Pacific Pride in the U.S. and Canada.

During the late 1980s and 1990s, LMC Enterprises successfully developed Fairfax Estates, Goose Creek Estates, and Heritage Oaks, all single-family residential subdivisions, as well as SouthTowne Plaza and Summit Ridge Plaza, both Wal-Mart anchored shopping centers.

Since the late 1990s, Larry and Doug continue to manage, expand, and diversify their business and real estate holdings. LGL Pizza Hut added a second location in White Township, then, in the early 2000s, built new Pizza Hut/KFC combination stores in Blairsville and downtown Indiana.

In 1998, Larry and Doug joined with Chuck Leyh (an IUP graduate) to create, raise capital, and charter Enterprise Bank, a niche bank specializing in the lending and financial services needs of small businesses. Since that time, Enterprise Bank has grown into Enterprise Financial Services Group, a $200-million dollar financial services company, with four subsidiaries focused on serving small business, including Enterprise Bank, Enterprise Insurance Services, Enterprise Business Consultants, and Kuzneski & Lockard, Inc., a full-service real estate brokerage company.

Five schools, including IUP, participated in the challenge in Pittsburgh on April 13–15, 2012. For the Quick Fire Paired Challenge, IUP student Su Xian Chow was paired with Dana Churchill from Appalachian State University. Chow would go on to win an individual award for excellence for achieving first place in the paired event.

“It was a really great experience to be able to meet up with different participants from different states,” Chow said. “I thought (the competition) would be an eye-opener. So I took it as a practice to test how much I know about project management.”

IUP students who participated were Aaron Corso, Adam Mathe, Anthony Tordella, Chad Moyer, Colton Podvorec, Corey Marcheck, Martin Blashock, Mantrel Nuble, Neil Kuzilla, Kristina Kowalski, and Su Xian Chow.

The keynote presentation for the event featured speakers discussing the Westinghouse Electric Company Global Headquarters in Cranberry, Pa., and the construction of the facility.

—By Alycia King

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

The April 13–14, 2012, trip was taken by 23 SMA members and included a tour of the Uproar Youth Marketing firm, which handles promotions and commercials for children’s toys, candy, and games. SMA toured the facility and prepared a marketing program using clips from the company.

“With the hard work and participation of all our members and Eberly’s assistance,” said Kelly Welde,” SMA had a trip of a lifetime with marketing insights and memories that will last forever.”

The second day of the trip featured a tour of the September 11 Memorial. During their tour, they listened to their tour guide speak on marketing memorials. Following the tour, the group went sightseeing and shopped.

—By Alycia King

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

IUP has had a long-standing partnership with PES, Bangalore in South India. IUP’s MBA program has been offered on PES’ campus since 2005. More than 400 students have graduated from this program, and nearly 300 of them have spent a semester in the U.S. More than 30 faculty members from IUP have traveled to Bangalore and taught in this program.

“Throughout my indescribable time in India with the Eberly College of Business and IT and the partnership with PES Institutions, I gained more worldly knowledge than any of my previous overseas experiences combined,” said Ashley Shumar, an International Business major. “It was the chance of a lifetime.”

This is the fourth group of students to visit India in the last four years; however, this is the first group that had the opportunity to visit the Taj Mahal. The students started their trip with a two-day stop-over in Northern India. They visited some of the historical sites in Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra.

Subsequently, they spent six days in Bangalore. They toured the facilities of three multinational companies and met with the executives of those organizations—Toyota’s manufacturing facility, the Indian software giant WIPRO’s training facilities, and the Swedish-Swiss conglomerate ABB’s assembly plant for heavy electrical equipment.

The students attended a symposium that featured speakers on various topics, including connecting rural India to the Western world, changing demographics and human resource practices in India, comparison of manufacturing environments in India, China, and the U.S., and Indian culture.

The students were treated to a cultural evening featuring performances by several dance troupes. There, they had the opportunity to wear Indian attire and experience Indian dance with the group. The visiting students also had the opportunity to participate in the graduation ceremony for Cohort 6 of the IUP India MBA program. The students had the opportunity to spend time with Indian students, including traveling with them to the historic city of Mysore, located close to Bangalore. All the students stayed on the PES campus during the event.

“For the first time in my life I was the VIP, riding the back of an elephant in the front gate of a royal fort,” said Megan Coffey, a business honors student. “That was the first adventure after landing in India, and 10 days and several experiences later I was dressing, dancing, and eating like a traditional Indian girl. What an unforgettable experience.”

The following IUP students were part of the group: Akshay Bajpai, International Business; Megan Coffey, International Business; Kaylyn Gauna, Accounting and Economics; Courtney Herrmann, Management and Marketing; Seonho Kang, International Business; Boon Kai Lee, Marketing and MIS; Brett Levy, Marketing; Lisa McCann, Management; Erin Puko, Accounting and Management; Ashley Shumar, International Business; Matthew Wilking, Finance and Accounting; and Boo Yu Yong, Finance. The trip was coordinated by Program Coordinator Prashanth Bharadwaj in partnership with Divyashree Ravishankar, the program manager for the PES-IUP Management Programs in India.

—By Prashanth Bharadwaj

Through Serafini’s $1 million gift, the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology renovated and expanded its atrium.

“The atrium is the focal point for a wide range of activities,” said Robert Camp, dean of Eberly. “The expansion of this space not only provides additional study and networking space, but also a new location to showcase the IUP alumni featured in the Business Hall of Distinction.”

The gift also provided funds for the establishment of the Serafini Outstanding Scholars Program, which provides much-needed scholarship support for both Business and Mathematics majors. During the dedication, scholarship recipients Ashleigh Craig, Neil Kownacki, Michael Myers, and Sarah Wagner expressed their appreciation for Serafini’s generosity and support of their education.

“The Serafini Outstanding Scholars Program is a true reflection of Serafini’s career and will supply qualified professionals to business and the information technology industry for generations,” said Bill Speidel, associate vice president for Development. “Scholarships are vital in our mission to provide students with the best possible educational opportunities. We find his foresight and generosity to be an inspiration.”

Serafini, a 1961 graduate of Indiana State College, served in the Army following his degree. In 1964, he worked as a computer systems marketing representative at IBM. Six years later, he became a partner and co-owner of ComputerPeople, Inc. In the past 27 years, the company has grown to 1,300 computer professionals in office from Pittsburgh to Portland, Ore. It provides systems expertise to major corporations throughout the United States. Serafini also cofounded Compucom, Inc., a Pittsburgh-based digital imaging and microfilm solutions company and served on its board.

“We are extremely grateful for Mr. Serafini’s generosity in providing funds for facility expansion and for student scholarships,” said Camp. “Both the Terry A. Serafini Atrium and the Serafini Outstanding Scholars Program establish a long-term legacy. Most important, they reflect Terry’s longstanding commitment to the welfare and development of current and future students.”

Serafini and his wife, Janet, have residences in Pittsburgh and Jensen Beach, Fla. Their family includes sons Terry and Greg, daughter-in-law Anne, and grandchildren Erika, Nicole, Jeremy, and Dylan.

The April 5, 2012, event included a morning and afternoon session, where more than 800 students, business leaders, faculty, administrators, and staff participated in professional development and networking events.

As part of the morning session, Skillpath Training Co., presented a workshop on interviewing, social networking, and dressing for success. Also, during the morning session, a panel presentation on the Eberly common reader That Used to be Us, by Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum, was held, including panel members from the Business Honors Junior Cohort, Eberly faculty, and business advisory council members. The book was selected by the junior cohort as part of their common reader project.

“I thought that the panel discussion was a great way to introduce the business students to the common reader that will be used in the fall,” said student Catelin Shontz. “I also felt that the networking session was great as there were so many business professionals there that were willing to talk to students and give them advice.”

The afternoon session featured a networking session with approximately 60 business leaders. Following the networking session, a luncheon was held and featured Erica Wright, manager of public affairs of Kennamental, as keynote speaker.

Business Day also included the induction of IUP alumni to the Business Hall of Distinction as follows:

Phil Carrai ’83, president of Kratos Technology and Training Division; Ric Clark ’80, chief executive officer of Brookfield Office Properties and senior managing partner and chief executive officer of Global Real Estate, Brookfield Asset Management; Marla A. Sabo ’79, partner, Fireman Capital Partners; Suzy Teele ’82, chief marketing officer of SnapRetail; Patrick Wallace ’85, president and lead financial advisor of Covington Investment Advisors, Inc.; Theodore Young ’89, Midwest region tax leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

—By Alycia L. King

During their visit on March 23, 2012, the students heard a presentation on the reserve’s history and its roles in the United States. They also visited the gold vault and learned about the bank’s educational program.

“The visit proved to be a great opportunity to better understand the role of an institution that has played a critical part in trying to resolve the financial crisis and help the country’s economic recovery,” said Herizo Andrianiaina Ranaivosoa, GBSA vice president.

The Federal Reserve is the central banking system of the United States and conducts the nation’s monetary policy, supervises and regulates banking institutions, maintains the financial systems, and provides financial services to depository institutions, the U.S. government and foreign official institutions.

—By Alycia L. King

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

The focus of the challenge was EQT Corp., a natural gas producer. The teams were responsible for looking into the natural gas industry, the company’s competitors, and how they manage the challenges of the market.

IUP’s team consisted of Matt Wilking, who handled the majority of the financial analysis; team leader Nate Wygonik, who handled the report; and Michael Williamson, who handled the issues pertaining to the gas industry and Marcellus Shale.

The students spent from October 2011 to February 2012 researching the topics and preparing a presentation to be judged against other universities by CFA judges.

“The Challenge was a tremendous learning experience, really forcing the three of us to pull together elements from across curricula and apply them to an in-depth case study,” said Wygonik. “Certainly, competing in the Challenge changed our perspectives on coursework, altered how we approach our work with the Student Managed Investment Portfolio, molded career goals, and influenced our individual philosophies on personal investing."

The other schools IUP competed against were California University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Penn State Berhend, University of Pittsburgh, and Washington and Jefferson.

—By Alycia King

An e-waste project put on by the IUP Association for Management and Information Systems (AMIS Club) won an international award for Outstanding Community Service.

The Association for Information Systems (AIS) formally recognized the winners of the student chapters’ excellence awards at the 2011 International Conference on Information Systems awards luncheon in Shanghai on December 6, 2011. IUP’s became a founding chapter in 2009 when AIS began its initiative to include student chapters. There are now more than 70 student AIS chapters worldwide.

“I was very proud that they were able to compete and win this,” said Micki Hyde, AMIS Club faculty advisor.

The IUP AMIS chapter’s e-waste project took place in Spring 2011 in coordination with the Recycling Center of Indiana County. Members of the community were provided a place to bring their old electronics and filled up two semi-trucks with electronics for safe recycling. The AMIS Club also initiated other service projects such as a food drive, which were considered in their service for the year.

—By Alycia King

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

John Kaye, partner at Sisterson & Co. LLP., discussed his career as a forensic accountant at an event organized by the Student Accounting Association on February 16 in the Eberly College of Business.

Kaye discussed with nearly 100 students his experiences conducting fraud investigations and testifying in court during criminal investigations and his work as a consultant for businesses looking to improve their internal control.

A certified public accountant, valuation analyst, and fraud examiner, Kaye has been involved in providing litigation and forensic accounting services for 19 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and business and his MBA in accounting and finance from the University of Pittsburgh.

Kaye also stressed to the students the importance of being able to write well and work well with others in an office setting. Following his presentation students were invited to ask questions about Kaye’s experience and the possibilities for careers in forensic accounting.

“For me, this presentation was very insightful because I was able to gain a better understanding of how accountants can help contribute to fraud investigation and in criminal investigation,“ said SAA president Daniel Broadbent. “This is a field of accounting that is really new to me, and it was really interesting to learn more about it as I explore career options.”

—Alycia King

The meeting, facilitated by Mike Kosicek, assistant professor, IUP Management Department and attended by 22 ICASHRM members, is for regional human resource managers to interact with Eberly faculty and discuss current issues affecting the field of human resources. For the past nine years, Eberly has hosted one ICASHRM meeting each year.

The February meeting covered the following agenda items:

1. "Eberly Corporate Relations and Internship Programs," including discussion of Business Day, scheduled for April 5, to which all ICASHRM members are invited to attend and interact with Eberly students.
   Speaker: Steve Osborne, professor, IUP Management Department
2. "Taming the Two-Headed Beast: The Worlds of IT and Physical Security are Colliding." An overview of the dynamics of technology and its impact on information security and employee privacy.
   Guest speaker: Dennis Giever, professor, IUP Criminology Department 
3. "Employee Privacy Issues." ICASHRM participants discussed their experiences regarding information security and employee privacy.
   Discussant: Fred Slack, associate professor, IUP Management Department

The meeting concluded with a Q&A, demonstrating the importance of the topic of information security as it pertains to ICASHRM member organizations.

A trip to Washington, D.C., by 20 Phi Gamma Nu members on December 1–4, 2011, provided an opportunity to tour various landmarks.

“The trip was a great learning experience for all of the members of Phi Gamma Nu that attended,” said PGN president Craig Fisher. “It really gave new members the opportunity to get to know everyone better, and it brought a lot of friendships closer. We got to tour places that many of us had never seen before, such as the Capitol Building, the Pentagon and the Holocaust Museum. It was overall an enjoyable weekend, and we hope to take another trip in the future.”

Other locations the students visited include the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the White House.

—By Alycia King

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

The second annual leadership retreat for the College of Business Student Advisory Council (COBSAC) was held on February 4, 2012, at the IUP Co-Op Park Ski Hut. The retreat featured speakers and included activities to build leadership attributes.

Speakers were Betsy Sarneso and graduate assistant Allison Shumar, Prashanth Bharadwaj, and David Piper.

Sarneso and Shumar presented on discovering leadership style and how to use leadership qualities to an organization’s best advantage.

Bharadwaj spoke on the leadership concepts from Senge, Covey, and others and had the students do an activity to tie in what he said.

Piper’s presentation included an activity on different conflict-resolution personality and styles. Student feedback from the event was positive according to COBSAC.

—By Alycia King

Ramesh Soni, chairperson of the Management Department, was invited by the Orient Institute of Management (University of Mumbai) to make a presentation to the faculty of the institute.

His presentation was a part of their ongoing faculty development seminar series. Soni’s talk mainly centered around the impact of the then-recent reversal of the Indian government’s ruling on foreign direct investment in the retail sector. The ruling possibly caused a further flight of foreign capital from India, resulting in an immediate significant devaluation of the Indian rupee. He also addressed questions on curriculum and pedagogy-related issues. The presentation was made on December 20, 2011.

The director general of the Institute, M. G. Shirahatti, hosted a luncheon in the honor of Soni, which was attended by 15 to 20 faculty members and a dozen invited alumni and current students.

An industry expert came to IUP on December 6, 2011, to speak to Eberly students about the evolution of technical support. The event was sponsored by the Student Technology Association.

Richard Joslin, HDI executive director of certification and training, spoke with the students in Eberly 121. A 1999 winner of the Service 25 Award, Joslin is a certified Knowledge-Centered Support (KCS) instructor and a certified instructor for the HDI certification courses.

Joslin has authored the HDI Focus Book on Knowledge Management, HDI Focus Book on the Knowledge Management Maturity Model, and he has also contributed the chapter on knowledge management in the HDI Service and Support Handbook.

“Rick Joslin did an astounding job relating HDI service information to students in a manner fitting of their current interests,” said Joe Rosendale, STA faculty advisor. “His delivery, pitch, examples, and overall enthusiasm bring to life what otherwise may be construed as a dry and boring subject area. It's also great to know that Rick is an IUP alum, and that speaks highly to his abilities and rapid rise as one of the most highly sought after IT service consultants in the nation.”

Joslin, who serves on the Eberly College of Business Advisory Council, discussed some of the key performance indicators used to manage service management and why he is promoting two newer metrics – LZS and LOS.

By – Alycia King

IUP Management Services Group celebrated its 20th anniversary on November 17, 2011, at the College Lodge in Indiana.

The group provides business services through seven units: Center for Family Business, Excellence in Entrepreneurial Leadership Center, Government Contracting Assistance Program, Small Business Development Center, Small Business Incubator, Small Business Institute, and WEDnetPA GFT Grant Program.

The celebration included presentations by Robert Camp, dean of the Eberly College of Business; Ellen Ruddock, director of the Center for Family Business; Elizabeth Gregg, CEO and president of Environment Services Laboratories, Inc.; Samantha Crissman of Walnut Hill Winery; and Karen Leonardo of Leonardo Lampworks. There were also displays by Leonardo Lampworks Jewelry, Mim’s Kitchen, Johnny B’s Backyard Salsa, and Dave Walko of Fish Hands Free. Approximately fifty members of the regional business community attended the event.

—By Alycia King

The College of Business Student Advisory Council (COBSAC) has raised money for Pennsylvania flood victims.

Sarah Wagner, COBSAC president, was personally affected by the flooding and suggested the idea of raising money for the victims in Bloomsburg, Pa.

“Last year, we raised money for Japan earthquake relief by selling paper hearts and hanging them up on the [Eberly] atrium windows,” Wagner said. “This year, we are still selling hearts, but we're putting the hearts up on a second floor bulletin board in an outline of Pennsylvania. The idea is that we want to ‘flood Pennsylvania with hearts.’”

The hearts will remain on sale for $1 each during the academic year, and can be purchased from Dr. Dorothy Gracey’s office at 208 Eberly.

—By Alycia King

The IUP Graduate Business Student Association (GBSA) took a trip on November 11, 2011, to visit CME Group in Chicago.

The students’ trip included access to the viewing gallery that overlooks the trading floors of the group, something that is normally closed to the public. They also learned about the history of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade, and the New York Mercantile Exchange—now merged to form CME Group.

“This was the first visit from GBSA to CME Group, and hopefully it will not be the last,” said GBSA President Cynthia Avalos. “We are planning to go to the Federal Reserve in Chicago for next semester.”

CME Group offers futures and options to customers around the world based on agricultural commodities, equity indexes, energy, foreign exchange, interest rates, metals, and alternative investment products—weather and real estate. The group also brings buyers and sellers together through its CME Globex electronic trading platform and trading facilities in New York and Chicago.

—By Alycia King

A 1984 Management graduate, Leland Hardy returned to IUP November 8 and 9, 2011, for three open sessions held over two days.

Hardy, a global marketing advisor for Hennesse Group, earned master’s degrees from Wharton School of Business and Joseph H. Lauder Institute, both at the University of Pennsylvania.

At right: Leland Hardy ’84 with Dean Robert Camp and Eberly students

During his career, Hardy served as family business advisory to Venus and Serena Williams and their family, and he created the Business Institute for Continuing Education in Professional Sports (B.I.C.E.P.S.) that is taught during NFL off-seasons at Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School. Hardy also served as Muhammad Ali’s Chinese interpreter on business and goodwill trips.

Hardy, who speaks Chinese, stressed the importance of learning at least one foreign language due to the changing world, and noted that being fluent in another language gives students a competitive edge. He encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunities offered at IUP and to connect with international students. He also stressed that learning about the world, its cultures, and its geography is important in the business world.

“I thought he’s a very knowledgeable guy, he knows a lot about the world, and he is very smart,” said freshman Marketing major William Wilt. Wilt said the drive to be successful is one thing he will take away from Hardy’s talk.

Hardy spoke to eight classes as part of his visit to IUP.

“It was great to see all of the progress that IUP has made since I left in 1984,” Hardy said. “I am convinced that IUP’s even better days lie ahead. I am pleased to learn about the international programs that the school has with Asia, Europe, and other regions. I am going to work hard to encourage the students to take full advantage of the international education opportunities that they have right at their fingertips. In addition, I believe that students need to take advantage of the many business resources that are available on campus.”

In addition to speaking to classes, Hardy spent time with IUP golf team members.

“In terms of sports, my attentions were focused on boxing while I was a student at IUP, leading to my winning the Pennsylvania Heavyweight Championship in 1983,” Hardy said. “I got into the game of golf later in life, and I've since been bitten by the proverbial golf bug. One of the highlights of my Entrepreneur-in-Residence experience was playing a round of golf with the IUP golf team at the Indiana Country Club. I thought I was doing something big by making a par on the par 5 first, only to have Crimson Hawks Derek Baker drop an eagle on me and Sean Sweithelm and Brad Boyle further ruin my day by dropping birdies on me. I look forward to following them in the upcoming 2012–2013 season and to seeing each of them and their teammates on the big-boy tour some day. All of them are excellent representatives of the university and will no doubt do us proud on the links and otherwise.”

—By Alycia King

A BNY Mellon representative, hosted by COBSAC, came to IUP on October 13, 2011, to speak with students about creating their own personal brand.

Ruth Perkins offered tips in creating a personal brand as well as interviewing and resume advice. She provided a comprehensive overview of BNY Mellon—listing detailed opportunities for students looking for internships and full-time employment. Ms. Perkins stated that the BNY Mellon Pittsburgh office has been designated as a "growth center" for the company. Last year, the Pittsburgh location had ninety of the 325 internship openings in the company worldwide. A large portion of positions in the company require an accounting or finance background, but Ms. Perkins stressed that there are opportunities for students in management information systems, business technology support, management, and marketing as well.

Students can create a candidate profile on the BNY company website and receive notifications of future job opportunities. Additional information is available to students with their departmental internship coordinators.

“The presentation by Ms. Perkins was extremely valuable to the students,” said Dr. Dorothy Gracey. “Hearing what is needed to get and keep a job from a young professional in HR gives a new perspective to our students.” (Click here to view the Personal Brand PowerPoint Presentation made by Ms. Perkins.)

—By Alycia King

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

The company designs, makes, and markets medical devices mainly in the respiratory health area. The students were from the Honors junior block of courses (marketing, operations, and finance) and the supply chain management courses.

An excellent panel discussion was arranged at Respironics that included four executives of the company. Thomas Wagner, a senior executive at Respironics and an Eberly Business Advisory Council member, moderated the panel discussion based on the questions supplied by the faculty members teaching the honors courses. The panel participants were Eric Kulikowski, director of Operations; Dave Myers (IUP alumnus), Marketing manager; and John Yarowenko, VP of Finance.

Following the panel discussion and Q&A by faculty and students, the group got a tour of the new manufacturing facilities of Respironics. The plant is less than two years old and practices several aspects of lean manufacturing and total quality management.

"Overall, the experience at Philips Respironics was enriching as it enabled me as student to relate to the topics discussed in class much better,” said Shivani Meher, a student in the MBA–India Program.  "It gave me a thorough understanding of how lean management is put into practice."

Drs. Bhagat, Bharadwaj, Chaudhry, Soni, and Taiani accompanied the students.

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology 

This DC, built in 1993, is a larger one among the more than 130 Walmart DCs in the country. This DC services 102 stores. It has won the Walmart warehouse of the year award several times. It is about 1.3 million square feet in area and ships about $10 million worth of goods a day.

After an excellent presentation and discussion about many supply chain aspects of Walmart with the company’s managers, the team got a tour of the mammoth DC. The students had an opportunity to see technology such as automated storage and retrieval systems, radio frequency identification, etc., and also witness logistics innovations, such as cross-docking.

“Before this visit, I did not see Wal-Mart the way I do now. My entire concept of the company has changed now that I can really appreciate the supply chain they work with,” said Rich Widdowson, Managment Association president. "Many students were impressed by the distribution center’s operation. When I go to a nearby Wal-Mart, I know why the shelves are never empty, which is something I had not given much thought to before. The trip was a great experience, and I would recommend any future business student to attend.”

Drs. Bharadwaj, Pankaj, Sandbothe, Soni, and Wang accompanied the students.

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology 

Two MBA students from Eurasia study at IUP thanks to a program that aids students in academic opportunities.

Anastasia Vylegzhanina and Natalya Vodopyanova, from Siberia and Kazakhstan respectively, are MBA students studying at IUP through the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program. The program is a vision of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. Approximately sixty-six master’s-level fellowships are chosen each year to study in the United States, according to the Muskie program website.

This year marks Anastasia’s second year of study on campus, and she says the program has allowed her access to many different opportunities.

“I get to see the American mentality, get some new friends and professional connections,” she said. “I just see general opportunities to connect with business people and participate in conferences and just to get new knowledge.”

Natalya arrived in early August and says the up-to-date knowledge and skills and the impressions of how business is done in America are important to her development. She also says studying in a different country can be a tough transition.

“All people are alike, the cultures are very different,” she said. “It’s sometimes difficult to be here without all the people you know and you love back home.”

Vylegzhanina and Vodopyanova appreciate the opportunity to study in America and gain new skills and knowledge that otherwise would not be available to them, all because of the Muskie Program.

—By Alycia King

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology 

A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania returned to speak with Eberly College students about success and jobs.

Nadav Baum, a Finance and Economics graduate, is executive vice president of BPU Investment Management Inc., and has been recognized by print media and financial publications for outstanding customer service and in-depth planning services. His group, the Nadav Baum Group, uses a team approach to help clients through the wealth-management cycle in accumulation, distribution, and transfer.

During his visit to IUP, Baum held an open session with students on October 12, 2011, in the Eberly Auditorium and spoke to two classes on October 13.

Baum, a frequent CNBC.com contributor, is a Pittsburgh native and lives in Fox Chapel with his wife and three children. He is very active with organizations throughout Pittsburgh and serves as an active advisor for the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association of western Pennsylvania.

—By Alycia King

Fourteen student organizations participated in the contest that was judged by the college secretaries. The Student Marketing Association won the contest and a pizza party funded by COBSAC.

The bulletin boards are maintained by members in the prospective organizations to inform current members, recruit new members, and showcase events the organization has done. Pictures of the officers, meeting times, mission statements, and events are also included in the display.

—By Alycia King

MBA students Loic-Amin Rahmouni and Cynthia Cavero Avalos spent seven weeks studying in India at IUP’s partner institution Peoples Education Society. The partnership between PES and IUP is in its seventh year.

Avalos, a native of Peru, said she was excited to visit India because it has a different culture, though she admits to being worried about the language before her trip.

“I didn’t know most Indians speak good English,” she said. “I thought I would have a problem with the language, but I didn’t.”

Rahmouni, a native of France, has visited nine countries, including India, and said it was a new experience because it is a new culture.

“It’s really, really fun,” he said. “It was more than I expected. India is not like a country where everything’s the same. Each state has its own language. Each state has its own traditions.”

Both students said they wanted to stay longer so they could take in more of the country.

“We booked a tour and we drove by bus around,” he said. “We saw temples, the Taj Mahal, we learned a lot. In seven weeks you cannot know everything about India.”

Avalos and Rahmouni highly recommend students take the opportunity to study in Bangalore. The PES-IUP partnership also offers an opportunity for Indian MBA students to come to IUP and study after completing their first year in Bangalore. Students who are interested in studying in India should contact Dr. Prashanth Bharadwaj.

“More than 250 students have come to IUP from India as part of this program, and about fifty students from the U.S. have visited India,” Bharadwaj said. “Three dozen faculty members and administrators from IUP have also visited India. A number of lifelong friendships across continents, as well as research collaborations among faculty have resulted from this program. Overall, it is a win-win partnership for all stakeholders.”

—By Alycia King

The morning portion of the career fair brought students from Accounting, Finance, Marketing, MIS, and MBA majors to the complex. In the afternoon, students from California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, Gannon, Juniata, Mercyhurst, Penn State, St. Francis, St. Vincent, Seton Hill, Slippery Rock, University of Pittsburgh Johnstown, and Washington & Jefferson visited the fair. The fair drew more than 280 students.

Businesses represented included BNY Mellon, Boyer & Ritter, CPA’s and Consultants, Carbis Walker LLP, Distributed Information Technologies, Elliot Group, Enterprise Holdings, First Commonwealth Financial Corp., Foot Locker, Horizons Hospice, KFMR Katz Ferraro McMurtry PC, Maher Duessel CPAs, Malin Berguist, Naval Audit Service, PA State Civil Service, Punxsutawney Area Hospital, S&T Bank, Schneider Downs & Co., Sisterson & Co., Waddell & Reed, PICPA, and Becker CPA Review.

The event is a collaborative effort of the IUP Student Accounting Association, Accounting Department and the Career Development Center.

By Alycia King

The September 24 Heart Walk raised $40,508 for heart disease and stroke. The students helped the day of the event and with the set-up the night before. Three students dressed up as heart-healthy fruit.

Richard Widdowson of the Management Association and Graig Fisher of PGN coordinated the Eberly College effort.

“The Heart Walk was a wonderful experience for both of our organizations,” Widdowson said. “We were glad to be a part of such a great cause. It was a perfect opportunity for our organizations to give back to the community and get involved. In the future, we hope that both of our organizations can continue to work together with the American Heart Association.”

The donations are used to fund research for the American Heart Association including pediatric heart and stroke research.

—Alycia King

Fifteen student organizations set up tri-fold boards to attract new members on September 14 and 15, 2011, in the Eberly Atrium.

Ashley Frohnert, president of the Student Marketing Association (SMA), joined the club as a freshman.

“Freshman year, I thought it would be a good way to get involved with my major,” she said. “I took a class in high school, but I wasn’t really sure how college marketing would be. I actually learned a whole lot about it, and that’s why I chose to be an officer and run for president.”

Frohnert encourages students to join organizations for the networking opportunities and the chance to receive advice from professionals. “I think it’s important to talk with people who have more experience. You get more comfortable as you go along.”

Eberly Student Organizations:

• Association for MIS
• College of Business Student Advisory Council
• Graduate Business Student Association
• International Business Association
• Management Association/Delta Epsilon Chi
• Phi Beta Lambda
• Phi Gamma Nu
• Pi Omega Pi
• Society for Human Resources Management
• Student Accounting Association
• Student Finance Association
• Student Internship and Career Association
• Student Managed Investment Portfolio
• Student Marketing Association
• Student Operations Management Association
• Student Technology Association

Seventy-five golfers took to the green on July 11, 2011, for the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology’s twenty-first annual Golf Classic.

At right, the K&L Gates Foursome: Steve Agnoli ’86, Christopher Wilson ’86, Glenn Graner ’79, James Lamm ’80.

The classic, held at the Valley Brook Country Club in McMurray, Pa., raised funds for the Eberly College student scholarships and provided networking opportunities for administration, alumni, business guests, and faculty. The event also included a luncheon grill and reception.

Aramark was the Gold Sponsor for the classic. Silver sponsors included Nadav Baum ’85, the Nadav Baum Group, BPU Investment Management, Inc.; Terry A. Serafini ’61; and Tom Wallace ‘80, RedVector/Care2Learn. Tim Wallace ‘79, iPipeline, and Terry Dunlap ‘81, ATI Allegheny Ludlum, served as sponsors for the event.

See more pictures from the event.

Members of the Graduate Business Student Association at the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology visited Chicago on April 7–9, 2011, to see firsthand how businesses operate.

They visited the Sears Holdings Corp., where they toured the facility and were shown the different services offered in the Sears building, including laundromats, dry cleaners, health-care services, food stations, spas, and grocery stores.

“It was a great experience,” said Seth Mazary. “The building itself is like a small town or campus. It had just about everything that anyone could ever want inside.”

The students also spoke with past Sears’ interns, who introduced them to the BUILD program, an internship-to-hire program developed by Sears.

After Sears, the students spent time experiencing the city by shopping and sightseeing.

MSG and the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce co-hosted the event in conjunction with Business after Hours, the chamber’s networking program for Indiana professionals.

MSG was established in 1991 and is an umbrella organization for seven separate outreach programs housed in the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology (ECOBIT).

The event, intended to raise awareness about MSG’s work in the region, attracted about 150 guests, according to Ellen Ruddock, director of the Center for Family Business, a component of the MSG.

“The celebration was a great way of kicking off the goal of building awareness for the business community,” she said.

During the event, IUP President David Werner and Eberly College Dean Robert Camp recognized the accomplishments of MSG and its importance to the economic vitality of the region.

The following MSG personnel were recognized at the event: Dr. Prashanth Bharadwaj, ECOBIT dean’s associate and Small Business Institute faculty member; Dr. Robert Boldin, director of the Small Business Incubator and codirector of MSG; Dr. Thomas Falcone, former codirector of MSG; Richard Hoover, a Small Business Development Center consultant; Ronald Moreau, director of the Government Contracting Assistance Program; Dr. Stephen Osborne, codirector of SBI; Anthony Palamone, director of the SBDC; Eric Palmer, codirector of the Excellence in Entrepreneurial Leadership Center; Ruddock; Cathy Smith, secretary for MSG; and Dr. Joette Wisnieski, assistant director of SBI and codirector of ExcEL.

Also honored at the event was the Homer-Center girls’ basketball team for its advancement to the PIAA Class A playoffs during the 2010–2011 season.

Photo, from left: Business Hall of Distinction 2011 inductees Donna J. DeFilippi, Eugene J. O’Sullivan, Florence J. Mauchant, and Joseph C. Manzinger

Business Day, in its thirty-third year, is the college’s premier event, bringing together more than seven hundred students with business leaders for networking and business career programming.

Hall of Distinction honorees for 2011 are Donna J. DeFilippi, tax partner, Sisterson & Co. LLP, Pittsburgh; Joseph C. Manzinger, president and CEO, the Hillman Company, Pittsburgh; Florence J. Mauchant, CFA, Partner HT Capital Advisors, LLC, New York; and Eugene J. O’Sullivan, CFO, Elliott Co., Pittsburgh.

The goal of the Hall of Distinction is to recognize the professional success and good citizenship of graduates of the college and others associated with its advancement.

“The Eberly College is extremely proud to be inducting four new members into its Hall of Distinction,” said Dr. Robert Camp, ECOBIT dean. “They are being honored for their commitment to professional excellence, their status as role models within the business community and to the broader society, and their long-term support of the university.”

Donna J. DeFilippi

DeFilippi, ’78, Accounting, of Center Township, Beaver County, is Sisterson’s first woman partner since its founding in 1926. She is the firm’s partner-in-charge of tax services to individuals, and also directs the firm’s personal financial planning practice.

DeFilippi is involved with Sisterson’s recruitment, performance management, alternative work arrangement, and professional development initiatives that promote expertise and talent retention throughout the firm. Sisterson has been named as one of the Best Accounting Firms in the nation to work for in 2009 and 2010 by Accounting Today.

She is a certified public accountant, a certified specialist in estate planning, a personal financial specialist, and a general securities representative with securities and state insurance licenses.

In 1999, DeFilippi was named one of Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. She was also honored with the 1999–2000 Outstanding Accounting Alumni award by IUP’s Accounting department.

She served as a board member and treasurer for various organizations, including the Girl Scouts Trillium Council, Executive Women’s Council, and Pittsburgh Disabilities Employment Project for Freedom. She has also maintained strong ties with IUP through her involvement with the Business Advisory Council, with her dedication to the annual recruitment of accounting students from IUP for entry-level positions with the firm, and with presentations to the Student Accounting Association membership. Eight members of Sisterson’s professional staff–including DeFilippi—are IUP graduates.

Joseph C. Manzinger

Manzinger, ’81, Accounting, of Baden, Pa., began his professional career at the Pittsburgh office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as a member of the auditing staff. After graduating from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, in 1986 he joined Parker/Hunter Inc., a regional investment bank in Pittsburgh.

Manzinger joined McKinsey & Co. in 1988. During his two years at McKinsey, he worked on several client engagements focused primarily on value creation through strategic acquisitions. Although based in Pittsburgh, he spent considerable time in McKinsey offices in New York, London, and Paris.

In 1990, Manzinger joined the Hillman Co. in Pittsburgh. He was elected to the board of directors in 2000 and appointed president and CEO in 2004. He has served on several boards of public and private companies in the past.

Manzinger served one term on the board of directors of the Foundation for IUP. In 2006, he completed ten years of service and retired as chairman of the board of Pittsburgh Vision Services, a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive services for the blind. Manzinger is currently on the board of trustees for Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation. He has also served two terms on the board of directors of the Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh.

Florence J. Mauchant

Mauchant, MBA ’85, of New York, has spent her professional career in the field of finance. In her current position, she heads the firm’s asset management activity and has overall responsibility for all cross-border new business activity.

Before joining HT Capital Advisors in 1999, Mauchant worked for Banque Nationale de Paris, a French Bank, as a credit analyst covering European companies; Generale Bank, a Belgian Bank, now part of the Fortis Group; and Schroders, a U.K.-based merchant bank, as a vice president in their Structured Investments Group.

She is active in various nonprofit and civic groups. She volunteers and serves as a trustee at the Lycée Français de New York, a leading French-American K-12 school in the United States, and was chairperson for the school’s investment committee.

Mauchant earned a graduate degree from the Institut Commercial de Nancy (France). She is a chartered financial analyst. She is a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts and the Financial Woman’s Association.

Eugene J. O’Sullivan

O’Sullivan, ’71 Accounting and Economics, of Pittsburgh, got his first job in public accounting with Schneider Downs & Co., a regional firm based in Pittsburgh. O’Sullivan earned his CPA certificate while there.

O’Sullivan later moved to Joy Manufacturing in a corporate tax position. Over seventeen years, he was promoted to positions of tax director, general auditor, treasurer, and CFO. After he was elected treasurer in 1986, Joy received a hostile tender offer, culminating in a leveraged buyout of the company, and O’Sullivan was given the opportunity to join the LBO group.

O’Sullivan then left Joy to join the Conair Group, a closely-held manufacturer of equipment for the plastics industries. Following eleven years at Conair, O’Sullivan joined Elliott Co. in Jeannette as CFO, a position he has held for the past eight years.

O’Sullivan is president of the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre and serves on the Council of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. He spent six years as a member of the board of the Foundation for IUP, chairing the investment committee for five years, and was actively involved in Phase I of IUP’s Residential Revival. He is a member of the ECOBIT Business Advisory Council.

The Eberly College of Business and Information Technology has been recognized for seven consecutive years in the Princeton Review’s Best Business Colleges guidebook. In March 2010, the college was selected as one of the top fifteen graduate business programs in the nation by the Princeton Review’s second annual Student Opinion Honors for Business Schools.

The college was recently notified of its continued business accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International following a peer review, in which the college demonstrated that it continues to meet the association’s accreditation standards.

The college first achieved accreditation of its bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business administration from AACSB in May 2001.

A 1966 Eberly College of Business and Information Technology graduate received the IUP Distinguished Alumni Award for Service on Saturday, April 2, 2011, at a black-tie gala.

Ellen Ruddock has worked as the director of IUP’s Center for Family Business for three years. The center was created in 1997 and works with small business owners on succession planning, leadership development, financial strategies, personal productivity, and motivational management, according to the center’s website.

“It was very humbling to receive the award,” Ruddock said. “The whole weekend was a delight for me and my family.”

Ruddock has thirty years of experience, and started owning a business in 1975. She hopes the award will enhance her credibility with business owners, she said.

The award recognizes alumni who have achieved distinction through performance in their field or have provided service to IUP.

“I think the award was very meaningful to the center in that is shows that my commitment to IUP is very strong,” she said.

by Alycia King

Business Honors program students at the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology attended a networking event Thursday, March 31, 2011, in New York City.

Members of the progam’s junior and senior cohorts met with IUP alumni during the event, hosted by Andrew Sandberg ’05 (Accounting), a senior associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC).

Sandberg, Ric Clark ’80 (Business Administration), CEO of Brookfield Financial Properties LP, and Felipe Ucrós ’05 (Finance and Accounting), an analyst at BTG Pactual, presented career and job searching advice at the event, followed by a networking session.

“It was valuable to hear from these alumni regarding their experience at IUP and their successful career paths,” said Lauren Young, a senior Marketing major.

Alex Pfeffer, a senior Accounting major, and Ethan Robinson, a junior International Business and Economics major, have obtained job and internship opportunities through the event.

“I was amazed at how quickly a networking event resulted in a legitimate job lead,” Pfeffer said.

Pfeffer met a partner at PwC during the event and has since interviewed with the company for a job. Robinson has also secured a summer internship with a real estate firm in New York City.

In addition, the students toured the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building (photo above), Ellis Island, Wall Street, and the United Nations during their stay.

The director of Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s (IUP) Small Business Development Center (SBDC) received the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology’s 2011 outstanding researcher award.

Anthony Palamone (at right), director of the IUP Small Business Development Center, has consulted with more than five hundred businesses, and has generated both state and federal funding to support SBDC operations.

“I’m pleased to have received the award,” he said. “It represents recognition for me and for the university’s ability to sustain the longevity of the SBDC.”

The SBDC, part of the Management Services Group, started around 1979 nationally and works directly with clients from the community to develop business concepts and to expand or save existing businesses.

The SBDC takes a client’s concept for a business and turns it into a reality, and works with that process from the vision to the execution, said Palamone, who started with the center in 1997.

“We act as an ally, a counselor, and a sounding board throughout the process,” he said.

by Alycia King

Members of SMA enjoying New York City

Planet Hollywood’s director of marketing for Broadway shows led the marketing workshop for the club.

“Our presenter from Broadway gave us a great perspective about numbers,” said Abbie Tyler, a senior Marketing major and SMA president. “Broadway has potential to reach out to the millions of tourists each month. Finalizing that ticket sale to each and every one of them is the goal. A creative, motivated, and intelligent marketer will succeed in reaching this goal."

SMA students attended two different networking events during their stay. The first was a PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) networking event with remarks from IUP alumni Ric Clark, CEO of Brookfield Financial Properties LP, and Andrew Sandberg, a senior associate at PwC.

The second was at the club Angels and Kings, in which SMA students networked with IUP alumni, including Florence Mauchant, managing director at HT Capital Advisors, LLC, and recent inductee into the Business Hall of Distinction.

“It was a great opportunity to see how many IUP alumni are willing to help the current students in their future endeavors. It was also interesting to see that many alumni live in New York City,” said Kelly Welde, a junior Marketing major and SMA secretary.

The trip helped the students experience New York City with a marketer’s perspective and exposed them to the lifestyle and competition companies face in a large city, Tyler said.

The students also toured Battery Park, China Town, the Empire State Building, Wall Street, and the World Trade Center Memorial during the trip, she said.

by Rose Catlos and Abbie Tyler

Members of the Student Managed Investment Portfolio in Eberly's Financial Trading Room

Eberly 104/109 features forty-four computer stations, an instructor computer, two large pull-down screens, and a projector, as well as a financial ticker that tracks the market. The individual stations can be linked to the instructor computer, meaning that the students and the instructor can view the same material simultaneously, and the screens and projector allow instructors to project PowerPoint files, images, or websites for students.

“It’s an excellent addition to the College of Business instruction and classroom capability,” said Dr. Robert Boldin, chair of the Department of Finance and Legal Studies.

Professors often use online tools such as Moodle to aid in their teaching, and the capabilities in the room allow students to complete activities on this platform during class.

“Students can have hands-on, real-world application to what they learn in theory,” said Dr. Ibrahim Affaneh, a Finance and Legal Studies Department professor. Affaneh teaches Fundamentals of Finance and Financial Institutions and Markets in the room.

“We take advantage of all the prices on the ticker and show them the components of the Dow Jones,” he said.

The Student Managed Investment Portfolio (SMIP), a student organization that manages its own stock portfolio and is funded by the Foundation for IUP, utilizes this room on a regular basis. SMIP takes advantage of the technology, including multiple computer screens, to monitor the market.

“I feel that the primary benefit of using the trading room is multitasking,” said John Benischeck, a SMIP team manager. “Having three monitors is paramount when analyzing a company. I can have one window displaying a chart from say, morningstar.com, and another displaying the company's 10-K. I couldn't imagine trying to do what we do anywhere else on campus.”

by Rose Catlos

The Six Sigma training participants

Megan Burns, the founder and managing director of Operations Strategy Consulting, LLC in Pittsburgh, lead the sessions on Saturdays in Eberly 211/218. The final session was held Saturday, April 9, 2011.

The training was intended to prepare students for the job market by helping them earn a certification in Six Sigma, a system that businesses use to attain near-perfect processes, said Jamie Fisher, a senior Management major, who coordinated the program for ECOBIT students through PGN.

Fisher chose to coordinate the Six Sigma training course for the students because certification is increasingly becoming mandatory in certain industries, she said.

“It instills you with the knowledge to perform tasks in the most efficient way possible, which, in the end, makes the company more profitable,” she said. “Many of the jobs I have been looking at require it.”

Similar to martial arts practitioners, Six Sigma trainees can earn a range of certifications, or “belts,” including green, black, and master black belts, and the highest certification, “Champion,” according to Six Sigma online. Burns is a Six Sigma-certified master black belt, the second-highest certification level in the program, which is usually achieved only by instructors, Fisher said.

Bill Smith of Motorola created the program in 1986 to improve product quality for businesses. “Six Sigma” refers to a statistics field called “process capability,” according to the website.

by Rose Catlos

Students, faculty, alumni, and business professionals gather in the lobby at the Kovalchick Complex during the annual Business Day.

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology (ECOBIT) hosted the networking and informational event memorializing the late Lt. Col. Charles B. Stevenson, a former IUP professor in both the Military Science and Management departments. Stevenson established IUP Business Day during his career at IUP.

Business professionals led six panel sessions during the event, and more than seven hundred students signed up for the sessions. Executives and alumni represented the following business departments on the panels: Accounting, Finance and Legal Studies, Management, Marketing, Management Information Systems and Decision Sciences, and Technology Support and Training.

“I think Business Day provides many benefits to ECOBIT’s students,” said José Diaz-DeJesus, a senior International Business and Sport Management major. “For instance, it allows students to develop their social and etiquette skills. These are skills that students are not able to develop in a classroom setting.”

ECOBIT students at Business Day

After the panel sessions, ECOBIT hosted a networking event in the Ed Fry Arena, followed by a luncheon program, which included a welcome by Interim President David Werner and remarks by Dr. Robert Camp, ECOBIT dean.

“Business Day is unique because it gives students the chance to have an open, honest, and relevant discussion with the business people in their profession,” said Elizabeth Bonelli, a senior MIS major. “The networking portion of Business Day made it easy to approach representatives from many different companies without pressure.”

During Business Day, ECOBIT inducted the following four business professionals into its Business Hall of Distinction: Donna DeFilippi, CPA, ’78, tax partner at Sisterson & Co. LLP; Joseph Manzinger, CPA, ’81, president and CEO at the Hillman Group; Florence Mauchant, CFA, ’85, partner at HT Capital Advisors, LLC; and Eugene O’Sullivan, CPA, ’71, CEO at Elliott Co.

ECOBIT students at Business Day

ECOBIT also recognized College of Business Student Advisory Council (COBSAC) officers Sarah Wagner, president; José Diaz-DeJesus, senior vice president; Erin Puko, senior vice president; Ashley Frohnert, vice president of publicity; and Derek Yates, treasurer.

“Being honored for my services to COBSAC was a great and humbling experience,” Diaz-De Jesus said. “I am thankful to the business college for giving students the opportunity to be actively involved and contribute to the college's success.”

by Rose Catlos

Robert Burley, of Burley Consulting in Pittsburgh, conducts a session on conflict managment in Eberly, Room 120, during the workshop.

The IUP Department of Technology Support and Training and the IUP Center for Career and Technical Personnel Preparation, along with the Pennsylvania Business Education Association, hosted the IUP Business, Computer, and Information Technology (BCIT) Professional Development Workshop.

Approximately sixty business teachers from elementary, middle, and high schools in Western Pennsylvania participated in the daylong workshop, which included five sessions on topics such as state standards, classroom management, and K-12 certification, among others.

“The purpose of the event is to provide a professional development opportunity for business education teachers in western PA,” said Paula Andrei, the professional development coordinator at the center and event cocoordinator.

The workshop also enabled business educators to network and to discuss issues central to the business education community.

Kathie Knouse, a BCIT instructor at Burgettstown Area Elementary Center, and Kris Miller, a BCIT instructor at Burgettstown Middle/High School, copresented a session about K-12 certification in business education. Elementary-age children in the Burgettstown area begin learning computer keyboarding starting in third grade, Knouse said.

Knouse and Miller's session emphasized their mission of providing students with early computer literacy.

“With the abundance of technology in our world,” she said, “keyboarding skills will be imperative for just about everyone.”

ECOBIT and the IUP Center for Career and Technical Personnel Preparation plan to offer the workshop again next year, Andrei said.

By Rose Catlos

High school students working together during the Junior Achievement Titan Business Challenge.

Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania held the tournament-style competition, in which nearly one hundred students from eight school districts competed by using JA Titan, an online business simulation, in two of the computer labs at Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s business college.

The districts represented were Berlin Brothersvalley, Blairsville, Connellsville, Indiana, Marion Center, Richland, Shade, and Somerset.

Eric Palmer, an instructor in IUP’s Management Department and co-director of the Excellence in Entrepreneurial Leadership Center (Excel) at IUP, coordinated the competition. Palmer is also the vice chairperson of JA of Indiana County.

“JA has worked closely with the Excel Center to give regional high school students exposure to entrepreneurial opportunities and learning experiences,” Palmer said.

Teams of two to three students, aided by business consultants, competed in two main rounds, with each round representing a business quarter. The quarters were divided into shorter five-to-ten-minute quarters, during which students acted as CEOs of real companies and collaborated to make business decisions based on real market factors, said Kelli Ruiz, director of education at Junior Achievement.

The business consultants included Jan Brocious of Indiana Junior High School, JoAlyce Kopinski and Shirley Stuby of Somerset Trust Co., Rick Pavic of CBM Business Machines, Greg Petyak of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and Barbara Zuchelli of Allegheny College of Maryland-Somerset County Campus.

Competition winners Zachary Thompson (left) and Nathan Blose of Indiana

“Using the JA Titan program, three students are teamed with a business consultant and taught in an entertaining and engaging way about the nuances of running a global business,” Ruiz said. “The success or failure of the company depends on how well the students manage key decisions.”

The software teaches students skills such as applying business decisions, free-enterprise competition, and utilizing balance sheets, industry reports, market conditions, and profit and loss statements, as well as teamwork and leadership skills, Ruiz said.

“The purpose of this competition is to unleash student creativity, test leadership skills, and demonstrate the competitive nature of the free enterprise system,” she said.

Indiana Area Senior High School’s team of Zachary Thompson and Nathan Blose won the competition with a total of 736 points. Richland High School placed second with 676.5, and Shade Junior/Senior High School placed third with 559.

by Rose Catlos

Abbie Tyler, Rich Widdowson and Noelle Kramer (left to right), ECOBIT students, participate in a team-building exercise at the COBSAC leadership retreat.

ECOBIT deans Dr. Robert Camp, Dr. Dorothy Gracey, and Cynthia Strittmatter hosted the retreat to aid in the professional development of the leaders of the College of Business Student Advisory Council (COBSAC), which represents ECOBITS’s fourteen student organizations.

“The student leaders of Eberly contribute significantly to the operations of the college and to the advancement of their individual student organizations,” said Strittmatter, ECOBIT assistant dean. “This leadership workshop was held to help them in developing skills to assist them in their respective roles and to provide an opportunity for the leaders to network with officers of other organizations.”

Betsy Sarneso, assistant director of the Center for Student Life, Terry Appolonia, dean of students and associate vice president for student development, and Kelly Ogiba, a graduate assistant at the center, led informational sessions about professional communication, success, and time management. The ECOBIT deans also led an accreditation discussion and mission statement exercise.

The retreat has also proved to be a beneficial experience for the organizations and helped the leaders to form better relationships with one another and with administration, said Sarah Wagner, COBSAC president.

“The retreat also allowed us to take time to learn more about our own leadership techniques and those of others,” Wagner said. “We’ve already started implementing what we’ve learned into our individual organizations.”

Min-Ju Tsai, Lauren Young, Qian Fang and Yi-Ying Cheng (left to right), IUP students, at the Chinese New Year celebration.

The South Western University of Finance and Economics Exchange Students Program (SWUFE-ESA) at ECOBIT, the Chinese Student Association, and the Malaysian Student Association cosponsored the event, held in the Hadley Union Building Ohio Room at IUP to celebrate the 2011 Chinese New Year.

More than 250 IUP students and faculty joined the Chinese students to play games, watch videos, eat Chinese food, and watch dances performed by some of IUP’s Chinese student population.

The New Year is China’s most important holiday and is celebrated throughout Asian countries. People traditionally mark the fifteen-day-long festival by spending time with family and giving good luck gifts, said Mengge Pu, a junior Finance major and SWUFE-ESA president. The celebration at IUP allows Chinese exchange students to celebrate together while they are away from home.

“As most of our Chinese students who study abroad cannot celebrate this holiday with their parents and relatives,” Pu said, “our board members think it is necessary to hold such an event where our students can gather and celebrate it like a big family.”

Attending international event on campus like this one also allows IUP students to discover foreign cultures, said Lauren Young, a senior Marketing major.

“This year I participated in Chinese New Year with my Taiwanese conversation club partner, which allowed me to better understand a significant part of her culture on a much more personal level," Young said.

The 2011 Chinese New Year, the year of the rabbit, officially began February 2 and will continue through February 17, according to Chinatravel.com. The festival is determined by the Chinese lunar calendar, beginning with the first new moon of the year and ending with the full moon on the fifteenth day, according to TheHolidaySpot.com.

Dr. Sergio Perussi, professor of business administration at University Center Central Paulista (UNICEP) in Sao Carlos, Brazil, delivered a lecture to IUP MBA students titled “Current Business Trends in Brazil,” said Dr. Krish Krishnan, ECOBIT graduate coordinator.

From left: Richard Hoover, business consultant at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC); Dr. Sergio Perussi, business administration professor at University Center Central Paulista; Dr. Robert Camp, ECOBIT dean; Dr. Krish Krishnan ECOBIT graduate coordinator; and Anthony Palamone, director of the SBDC

Perussi discussed new enhancements to exchange program activities between IUP and UNICEP, Krishnan said. He also presented to the IUP International Business Student Association and attended meetings and discussions relative to innovation and technology transfer, including a visit to the electro-optics lab at IUP’s Northpointe campus, coordinated by Anthony Palamone, director of the ECOBIT Small Business Development Center.

In addition to being a professor, Perussi has served as coordinator of innovation for the National Institute of Optics and Photonics and co-authored a book on Optics, titled Optica & Fotonica, Da Cienca e Inovacao a Evolucao e as Perspectivas no polo Technologico de Sao Carlos.

Dr. Parimal Bhagat, chairperson of the Marketing Department, accepted the Leadership Award on behalf of IUP at the 2011 Winter Global Conference for Business and Finance Research.

Bhagat also served as a session chair and presented a scholarly paper on sustainability in the global context at the conference, he said. More than three hundred universities, institutions, and firms from nearly sixty different countries attended the conference. IBFR selected IUP and fifteen other academic institutions for the award.

“The institute chose IUP for its support for professional development of its faculty in the Eberly College,” Bhagat said.

Institutes receive the award “in recognition of an ongoing commitment to faculty development and in appreciation of research support provided to the academic communities,” according to a description in the conference program.

Dr. Robert Camp, dean of the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology, left, and Dr. Parimal Bhagat, chairperson of the ECOBIT Marketing Department, display the Leadership Award given to IUP at the 2011 Winter Global Conference for Business and Finance Research in Las Vegas.

The students listened to presentations by Carlos Vazquez, global manager in charge of supplier relationships at the company, and Chris Martin, senior manager of global strategic sourcing at the company during a tour of the company’s campus, co-sponsored by ECOBIT and IBA.

At right: Carlos Vazquez, Coca-Cola Co. global manager/supplier relationships (left) and Jose Diaz-De Jesus, International Business Association president (right), at the company's headquarters in Atlanta on December 3.

Vazquez and Martin discussed the company’s history, supply chain and brand portfolio during the presentations, said José Diaz-De Jesus, a senior international business and sport administration dual major and IBA president.

The students also learned about the company’s social efforts and its environmental preservation strategy, he said. One such strategy is called “water stewardship” in which the company hopes to become “water neutral” by 2020. The program’s purpose is to “replenish to nature and communities an amount of water equivalent to what is used in our finished beverages,” according to the company’s website.

“There is no doubt that if the company succeeds in this program, it will change the way to do business worldwide,” Diaz-De Jesus said.

Dr. Rajender K. Garg cochaired the fourth annual International Conference on Management of Services and Technology, held at the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE) in China. Garg is president of the Global Digital Business Society (GDBS), the event’s sponsor. Xiao Ma, vice president of SWUFE, also cochaired the event.

Dean Robert Camp (third from right) and Dr. Rajender K. Garg (third from left) of the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology join distinguished guests at the Global Digital Business Society's 2010 Conference in China.

The conference’s theme was e-commerce and e-government, terms describing the conducting of business and government via the Internet. The majority of Garg’s work is in this area, he said, and participating in the conference enhanced his and the other attendees’ knowledge of the subjects.

“When I see so many different types of projects going on,” he said, “it enhances my own research.”

Keynote speakers included Dr. Robert Camp, ECOBIT dean, and Dr. Chandan Chowdhury, former president and CEO of Industrial and Financial Systems and member of GDBS. Several other ECOBIT faculty members and students attended. GDBS combined with another e-commerce conference happening simultaneously at the same venue, Garg said, for a total of approximately two hundred people.

The conference included an essay competition focused on economic problems specific to China and other “transitional economies,” according to the GDBS website. Competition winners then had the opportunity to present their papers at the conference and to have their papers published in the Journal of Digital Business, GDBS’s biannual publication, which Garg edits.

GDBS was founded in 2005, Garg said. The society’s mission is “to bring the people from all over the world together in order to bridge the gap between development and use of digital technologies,” according to the society’s website.

The IUP Alumni Association sponsored the fifth annual event, held at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Forty-six IUP students, including thirty-six ECOBIT students, attended. Dr. David Werner, IUP’s interim president, Kay Werner, and Dr. Robert Camp, dean of ECOBIT, hosted the alumni reception and culminating dinner, during which the students networked with approximately seventy alumni and friends.

IUP students enjoy the fiifth annual IUP President's Holiday Reception in New York City

“The NYC networking event was one of the best experiences that I have had as a student here at IUP,” said Chelsey Anderson, a senior Marketing major.

Anderson appreciated the fact that all the alumni were from IUP, and she said that she would attend the event again if she could.

The event also provided networking opportunities for Soon Hooi Ee, a December graduate in Management.

“Being an international student, it was great having met three of the other alumni who are also of a foreign background—Carlos Salcedo, Sassan Safay, and Florent Mauchant,” Ee said. “I have been making attempts to keep up with them, and they have given me invaluable advice into how to start off my career.”

Dr. David Werner, IUP interim president, with an IUP student and an IUP alumnus at the event.

In addition to enjoying time spent with alumni and friends in the landmark hotel, students had the opportunity to enjoy New York City’s holiday displays.

The event aims to connect IUP alumni in New York City with IUP students to help them build a network in New York City and to update alumni about their alma mater, according to a description on the IUP Alumni Relations website.

New sessions will begin in February 2011 for the Mini MBA and Marketing certificate programs, both offered by IUP’s Eberly College of Business and Information Technology.

• The noncredit Marketing Certificate Program is designed for individuals who have or anticipate having sales, advertising, marketing, promotion, public relations, and e-commerce responsibilities within an organization.
  
  Two Marketing Certificate programs will begin soon: on February 3 at the IUP main campus and on March 24 at the IUP at Northpointe regional campus. Both programs consist of six five-hour classes held in consecutive weeks (except March 10). Learn more about the Marketing Certificate program.
• The Mini MBA Certificate Program will provide you with cutting-edge theories and strategies, as well as the latest terminology that will help you become a more effective manager.
  
  Beginning February 16, ten six-hour classes will be held on Wednesdays in consecutive weeks (except for March 9) at the IUP at Monroeville Center. Learn more about the Mini MBA Certificate Program.

Dr. Ashok Dhar, president and chief executive officer of ExpenseAnywhere in Monroeville, spoke to MBA students and ECOBIT faculty about his career path and the business model of his spending-management company.

Dr. Ashok Dhar at his office in Monroeville. Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“Dhar’s presentation provided a lesson in entrepreneurship and the possibility of changing career paths,” said Matthew Gaskins, an MBA student, who helped organize the event. “It gave us first-hand access to a CEO, of how a company is run, and of vision for his company.”

Dhar also discussed internships and positions available within the expanding company, mainly in the marketing department.

Prior to developing the company, Dhar was a professor at McGill University in Montreal and served as a researcher and consultant in the nuclear physics field, according to an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

ExpenseAnywhere is a business expense tracking company, according to the article. Companies can monitor spending both in the office and on the move by uploading expenses to the Web. The automated system reduces the need for keeping paper receipts and expedites the reimbursement process.

Tejash Patel, an MBA student and graduate assistant in the Finance and Legal Studies Department, uses the Bloomberg Terminal.

What is Bloomberg Professional? 

Eberly offers the Bloomberg Professional service, an industry-grade comprehensive data-monitoring and analytical tool used to study real-time movements in global markets.

Terminal users can create and manage stock portfolios, observe markets, and see exchange rates, among other functions, for just about any market in the world, said Tejash Patel, an MBA student and graduate assistant in the Finance and Legal Studies Department, who manages the Bloomberg Professional software terminal in the lab in 322C Eberly.

Who Uses Bloomberg Professional?

The Student Managed Investment Portfolio (SMIP) uses the Bloomberg terminal to analyze various securities, Patel said. The Foundation for IUP originally provided $200,000 to begin the SMIP, according to Dr. Robert Boldin. The portfolio’s value now exceeds that amount, he said, but varies according to the market’s fluctuations. Boldin and fellow Finance professors Dr. Ibrahim Affaneh and Dr. Alan Gart act as advisers to the portfolio team members, who ultimately make the investment decisions.

Advantages 

Software programs similar to Bloomberg Professional exist on the market, said Patel, but only Bloomberg updates its financial statistics in real time. The numbers are updated on four computer monitors with live feeds from multiple financial sources. Translation: What is on the screen reflects what is happening in the market right now.

A major advantage of studying real-time data is that professional investment bankers and professional investment firms like Goldman Sachs use the technology to make daily financial decisions, Patel said. Meanwhile, newspapers publish what happened in the market yesterday. The software also integrates news stories about companies’ activities, which users summon with the click of a mouse.

“You don’t need this anymore,” Patel said, holding up the latest copy of a financial daily.

Additionally, both undergraduate and graduate students can gain an advantage in the job marketplace because they have the opportunity to work with the same data as industry professionals, he said.

“It really helps with the hiring process,” he said. “By the time students graduate, they know how the market works and perform better in interviews.”

The program is also interactive with Microsoft Excel, and can feed relevant, up-to-date data to a spreadsheet, which users can include in presentations or papers.

Becoming Bloomberg Certified

Students are able to become “Bloomberg certifed” through the Bloomberg Essentials Online Training Program, and can add that notation under the “skills” category on their résumés. While training and testing are free, the process can be a challenge.

Prospective users must go to 322C Eberly to complete five to six hours of online training, Patel said. One must watch a series of four core videos and complete a thirty-five-question, multiple-choice test with a score of 75 percent or higher. He or she has only one option to retake the test.

Students can also communicate with other users through Instant Bloomberg, the service’s instant messaging system, according to the product’s website. Users can create chat rooms to share market information, including charts and news stories, which can be placed directly into the chat rooms.

While becoming a certified Bloomberg Professional user is not easy, it can result in immense benefits for students and faculty alike in today’s rapidly changing financial world.

More than 125 faculty, students, business professionals, and policy makers attended, including twenty-four students from Eberly College of Business and Technology (ECOBIT) at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Ebverly students, faculty, and keynote speaker David C. Chavern (fourth from left), executive vice president and chief operating officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, at the ASC Conference

The conference’s theme was “The New Economic Paradigm: Collaborative Competition.” Keynote speakers included David C. Chavern, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Daniel J. Mitchell, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute in Washington D.C.

In addition, Dr. Mark Doms, the chief economist of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and William R. Hackney III, a managing partner at Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC, led a practitioner session on the status of the U.S. economy.

ASC’s board of directors also presented academic awards, sponsored by Emerald Group Publishing Limited, in the categories of best empirical research and best conceptual paper.

Eberly students, faculty, and keynote speaker David C. Chavern (third from right), executive vice president and chief operating officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, at the ASC Conference

ECOBIT has a strong relationship with ASC. Dr. Abbas Ali is the executive director, Dean Robert Camp is a founding board member, Dr. Prashanth Bharadwaj is the academic program chairperson, and Susan Brant is the treasurer.

“ASC has had a rich history of attracting prominent keynote speakers from business, academe, and industry, said Bharadwaj, ECOBIT dean’s associate.

The conference also “had a strong international flavor with participants from several countries,” he said.

In addition to the annual conferences, ASC has three publications: Competitiveness Review, Advances in Competitiveness Research, and Competition Forum.

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology (ECOBIT) sent five of the club’s members to tour the building, which also houses the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Tour leader Joseph Furmanski, UPMC’s technical project director, shows students the integrated control room at UPMC’s Data Center. Analysts use the room to monitor data center activity. Photo: S. Wainwright

Tour leader Joseph Furmanski, UPMC’s technical project director, discussed the medical center’s history and the importance of information technology within the healthcare industry, said Steven Wainwright, a senior Business Technology Support and Training major. The students also had a “crash course” in data center infrastructure, he said.

“We learn all that information in classes, but it gave me a different perspective to see it put to use,” he said.

The ECOBIT students in attendance were Aaron Corso, a junior Management Information Systems major; Nweaze Onyemaobim, a junior MIS and Management major; Michael Walters, a junior MIS major; Wainwright; and Justin Vrana, a senior Business Technology Support and Training major.

“UPMC is an $8-billion integrated global health enterprise headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and one of the leading nonprofit health systems in the United States,” according to UPMC’s website.

Eberly Assistant Dean Cynthia Strittmatter with India Day emcees Tushar Jha (far left) and Varsha Raj (far right). Photo: C. Strittmatter

MBA students from Eberly College of Business and Technology’s (ECOBIT) partnership with Peoples Education Society (PES) in Bangalore, India, and other business students were integral to organizing the event, held in celebration of the Indian festival of Diwali or “the festival of lights.”

“Diwali signifies the importance of vanquishing evil by good and dispelling the darkness of ignorance by the light of knowledge,” said Dr. Prashanth Bharadwaj, ECOBIT dean's associate.

More than 250 IUP students and Indiana community members attended. Participants enjoyed authentic Indian cuisine, watched various dance and singing performances, and watched a stand-up comedy act performed in different Indian languages.

At right:  MBA students from the PES, Bangalore-IUP program perform an Indian contemporary dance. Photo: P. Bharadwaj

The event’s theme was “unity in diversity,” which signifies both the multicultural and multilingual nature of Indian society and the recent increase of Indian students at ECOBIT. The business college’s Indian student population has nearly quadrupled since 2006, Bharadwaj said, which he attributes to the relationship between ECOBIT and PES, Bangalore. The college offers its MBA at PES, Bangalore, and students can opt to study at IUP in their second year, he said.

Bharadwaj also recognized twelve undergraduate students who recently returned from PES, Bangalore, on their first-ever trip to India. IUP's team won second place overall in an international business competition, wherein students competed against more than 500 students from thirty Indian business schools during the three-day event.

The winners of the MANage International Business Competition, held in Bangalore, India, display their awards.

Peoples Educational Society (PES) in Bangalore hosted the three-day competition, called MANage, from October 13 to 15, 2010, in which Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s (IUP) business college students competed against more than five hundred students from thirty Indian business schools.

ECOBIT’S team won second place overall, and International Business School (IBS), Bangalore, won first place overall based on total points accrued.

The competition included four preliminary rounds, leading to a final event in each category. The competitors took tests, analyzed cases, created presentations and videos, participated in interviews, and engaged in mock financial trading during the competition.

The following students, all seniors, participated in five teams of two students each: Laura Leach and Lauren Young, both Marketing; Brittany Johns, Finance, and Laura Liprando, Accounting (Finance); Elizabeth Bonelli, Management Information Systems, and Steven Wainwright, Technology Support and Training (Information Systems); Stephanie Shimmel, Human Resource Management, and Mark Sestini, Finance (Human Resources); Raymond Edwards Jr., Management, and Alex Pfeffer, Accounting (Business Quiz). Soon Hooi Ee, Management, and Megan McFarling, Finance, participated independently in the Best Manager category.

Each of the IUP teams reached the finals in their respective categories. The Marketing and Finance teams placed first in their areas, and the Systems team placed second. McFarling placed first in the Best Manager category, and won a laptop and prizes totaling $2,500.

However, the trip was not all work and no play. During their stay, the students also toured Mind Tree, a leading software company in India, where they also interacted with the company’s executives and founder; visited the historic city of Mysore, a palace, and a temple; and attended an on-campus concert featuring a New Delhi rock group.

The IUP students also appreciated the experience of meeting and competing against students from another culture.

"Interacting with the other students in India was, in one word—intriguing,” said Ee, a management major. “India is this unique environment where Eastern culture and values meet the West, and it shows in the way the people interact.”

PES, Bangalore, a prominent partner of ECOBIT, has been conducting MANage for several years. The event includes competitions in six business categories and in various non-business categories such as contemporary dance and painting.

IUP students Joshua Hughes, Jamie Czech, Megan Morris and Ryan Egan (L to R) pose with "Nickel and Dimed" author Barbara Ehrenreich Monday, October 18.

Students in the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology (ECOBIT) swept all five categories of IUP’s Fall 2010 Common Freshman Reader Essay Contest.

The two first-place winners escorted and introduced Ehrenreich at the Six O’Clock Series on Monday, October 18, at Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Fisher Auditorium as part of their reward.

Essays for the campuswide contest were based on the book Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich, which documents the author's failure to provide for herself as she takes on various minimum wage jobs across the country, according to the author's website.

Jamie Czech, a freshman undeclared Business major from Butler, Pa., won first place in the freshman category for an essay titled “The Unproclaimed Heroes.” Joshua M. Hughes, a senior finance major from Lancaster, Pa., won first place in the upperclassmen category for “A Greater Hope.” Both students are also members of ECOBIT'S business honors program, and both agreed that the experience was worthwhile.

“It was a lot of fun to introduce Ms. Ehrenreich,” Hughes said. “She may be an activist, but she has a very down-to-earth personality, and it was a pleasure interacting with her prior to her presentation.”

“I hope that more students get involved with the contest and realize how rewarding their participation will be,” Czech said.

Second-place winners include Ryan Egan of Robesonia, Pa., freshman, Management; and Megan E. Morris of Lockport, N.Y., sophomore, Accounting.

Meritorious Mentions for freshman submissions include Ashley Creighton of Pittsburgh, Accounting; Casey Hood of Shrewsbury, Pa., Marketing; Janelle Stayt of Shnecksville, Pa., Marketing; and Kurt Stridinger of Valencia, Pa., Marketing. The Meritorious Mention for upperclassmen submissions is Grey Berrier III of Pulaski, Pa., sophomore, Finance.

The event was open to all Indiana University of Pennsylvania students through the Career Development Center. The students interacted with forty full-time BNY Mellon employees who are also IUP alumni. They also listened to presentations by event hostess Barb Speidel, a managing director at the bank, and IUP Interim President David J. Werner and participated in a question-and-answer session led by Speidel.

“We learned more about how to apply for internships and jobs,” said Erin Puko, a junior Accounting and Management major. “I also gained practice communicating with people other than my peers.”

Speidel, who has been working for BNY Mellon’s Internal Audit function for fourteen years, indicated that BNY Mellon is hiring in the Pittsburgh area and described some entry-level jobs available, said event coordinator Erin Lockhart, a senior Human Resource Management major.

The corporation has identified Pittsburgh as its “North American growth center” since the completion of the merger between the Bank of New York and Mellon Financial in 2007, according to a 2009 report published by the corporation, and is recruiting employees from area colleges and universities.

Linda Musthaler, cofounder and a principal analyst with Essential Solutions Corp., addressed students in both the Management Information Systems and the Technology Support and Training departments. She also met with departmental faculty and administration and met several students for lunch. Her husband, Brian, also a 1980 IUP graduate, joined her via teleconference.

Musthaler presented information about her career path and work experiences in the following classes: Analysis and Logical Design and Business Systems Technology, Enterprise Architecture Hardware Support Solutions, and Informations Systems: Theory and Practice.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics from IUP in 1980. She has been working in Information Technology since 1981. Prior to cofounding Essential Solutions Corp., Linda served as vice president of Currid & Co. for more than fourteen years. She is also a contributing columnist for Network World magazine and writes Network World Technology Executive, a weekly e-newsletter, according to the corporation’s website.

Brian, a principal consultant with the corporation, earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from IUP in 1980. He has been working in IT and business operations since 1981, according to the site.

The Eberly Executive/Entrepreneur-in-Residence seeks to bring executives and entrepreneurs to the business college to provide insight, support, and advice to students.

The student organizations are Association for MIS, Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Finance Association, Graduate Business Student Association, International Business Association, Management Association/Delta Epsilon Chi, Phi Beta Lambda, Phi Gamma Nu, Pi Omega Pi, Society for Human Resources Management, Student Accounting Association, Student Managed Investment Portfolio, Student Marketing Association, and Student Technology Association.

COBSAC looked to expand its organizations’ membership at the fair, said COBSAC president D. Ross Saunders (senior, Finance and Economics). “Many organizations had a lot of interest,” he said. “I hope to see this turn into more membership for each organization. Students who may have missed the fair can still join later in the semester.”

Joining an organization is both an opportunity to make friends and to build an attractive résumé for future employers, said Kristy Stewart, a junior Operations Management major. She is both a transfer student and a nontraditional student, and knows from experience that student organizations can be a powerful résumé builder. “I’ve been out in the business world,” she said. “So I know this is valuable to employers.”

“It shows that you can do more than study,” said Bryan Wolst, a senior Management major and member of Phi Gamma Nu (PGN). Belonging to an organization or two may also give students an edge in the interview process, he said. “I think employers are going to favor someone that has a lower GPA but is involved, over someone who has a high GPA and is not.”

Steffi Susan Mathew, an MBA student, signed up for the Student Internship and Career Association. She wants to do a Spring marketing internship, she said, but is unsure how to choose one. She thinks that guidance from the organization will help her gain the job experience she lacks. “When you have an internship, you have work experience,” she said. “Companies look at that. They won’t take people who don’t have experience.”

COBSAC hoped to reach business college students, especially freshmen, who want to meet people and build their resumes, said Steve Wainwright, the organization’s vice president. Wainwright, a senior BTST major, was fortunate to have made a few connections before college. Now he wants to help others make those same connections. “Networking is a key part of success at college,” he said.

The business consultant provides consulting and related services to small business clients in southwestern Pennsylvania. Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred. Travel required.

View full job announcement, including how to apply, at Employment at IUP.

Review of applications will begin November 1, 2010. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

IUP is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is an equal opportunity employer M/F H/V.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) sent thirty student volunteers from Eberly College of Business and Information Technology’s student organizations to help. Students helped to set up, hang signs, register participants, distribute refreshments, issue raffle tickets, and tear down after the event.

“It means so much to have such dedicated and well-organized individuals to have to work with to put this event together,” said Kelly Mullen, the association’s division director.

The college’s student volunteers also donated more than $100 to the organization. “The donations from the student leaders of IUP will be put to good use on research and education,” Mullen said.

The students represented the college and supported the community, noted International Business Association president and student event coordinator José Diaz-De Jesus. “I am very proud of the support and effort all the student volunteers put into the Heart Walk,” said Diaz-De Jesus, a double major in International Business and Sport Administration. “They provide a great example of what teamwork is all about. I am also very thankful for the opportunity the College of Business and Information Technology provided me to be able to give back to our community.”

Ross Saunders, president of the College of Business Student Advisory Council, indicated that this was a collaborate service project between the fourteen student organizations in Eberly. Beyond achieving academic goals of the various student organizations, members work to contribute to the community through civic engagement activities such as the Heart
Walk.

The meet and greet was held in the new plaza between the Crimson Suites and Eberly. Over one hundred students and approximately fifteen faculty members and administrators attended the event. This informal occasion provided an opportunity for IUP Business students to converse and network with faculty members and administrative representatives of the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology.

For additional information or suggestions for upcoming Business living-learning community events, feel free to contact Adam Jones (adam.jones@iup.edu) or Victoria Rowlands (v.r.rowlands@iup.edu).

Joining the Indiana University of Pennsylvania community is Ms. Anastasia Vylegzhanina from Russia, as part of the U.S. State Department-funded Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program.

Established by the U.S. Congress in 1992 to encourage economic and democratic growth and leadership in the now independent twelve countries of the former Soviet Union, the Muskie program supports graduate scholars for intensive academic study and professional training in selected graduate programs in the United States.

Eberly’s MBA program has been selected as a host institution by the Muskie Program since the program’s inception. Eberly also has over a dozen fellows in the MBA program. In addition to their academic programs, Muskie achievers gain exposure to American values through a community service experience, and develop professional skills through an internship in their field of study.

Pictured above is Dr. Krish Krishnan, MBA Graduate Coordinator, and Ms. Anastasia Vylegzhanina

Several students from the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology’s Phi Beta Lambda participated in the annual Institute for Leaders (IFL) and National Leadership Conference (NLC) in Nashville, Tenn., July 8–12, 2010.

Seven students from IUP’s Phi Beta Lambda attended the IFL. Each student followed a specific track over the competition, ranging from Finance to Communications. Thirteen students attended the NLC, and each attended workshops and participated in various NLC competitions.

The awards IUP PBL students won were as follows:

• Pennsylvania Who’s Who in PBL — Sonya Chilenski
• Financial Concepts, tenth place — Shane Slagle
• Financial Services, tenth place — Shane Slagle and Amanda Raup
• Impromptu Speaking, tenth place — Graham Smith
• Marketing Analysis and Decision Making, ninth place — Shane Johnson and Mike Field
• Project Management, sixth place — Sonya Chilenski
• Sales Presentation, seventh place — Stef Cywinski
• Website Development, sixth place — Sonya Chilenski, Megan Chamberlain, Sean Rosenbaum
• Gold Seal Chapter Award of Merit
• Most CMAP (Career and Membership Achievement Program) Participants in Eastern Region (eleven participants)
• Largest Local Chapter Professional Division Membership, second place
• Pennsylvania Advisor of the Year Award — Dr. Lucinda Willis
  

This program outlines a unique perspective for family business owners to develop creative solutions to everyday problems that will transform their business from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Following dinner at 5:00 p.m. and a video presentation, a panel of co-facilitators will lead a discussion on the nine key principles outlined in the program. The cost is $20 per person, and seating is limited to thirty.

For more information and to register, please visit IUP Marketplace.

The program will provide you with cutting-edge theories and strategies, as well as the latest terminology that will help you become a more effective manager.

Faculty experts from the college will provide a comprehensive overview of ten disciplines offered in our MBA program.

If your academic training was outside the field of business or if your business training was in the distant past, this program can provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary in today’s business environment. Please see the flier for additional program information. To register, please see the registration form. For further information, please contact Jane Gardner.     

All money raised will be used for scholarship awards for students in the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology.

Thank you to all of our donors and sponsors for your generous support.

We hope you will join us next year for our twenty-first annual IUP Business Golf Classic!

The summer camp was held at Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Eberly College of Business and Information Technology and was sponsored by Junior Achievement. Fourteen high school students from the greater Indiana area were chosen to participate. Working in teams of two, these energetic teenagers worked to make their fictional companies grow, prosper, and succeed. 

By utilizing Junior Achievement’s high school simulation program, JA Titan, the Titan Business Challenge put high school students to the test as they managed and operated their own virtual businesses. Set in the year 2035, all the students’ companies manufacture a fictional product known as a Holo-Generator, a hand-held, lightweight device about the size of a portable CD player that is capable of generating 3-D images in the palm of your hand. Students competed against one another during practice rounds each day, and the top three teams were all awarded prizes, including an iPod shuffle, a digital camera, and iTunes gift cards.

The camp was kicked off by Ben Custer, an IUP ROTC representative. He led the students in a number of memorable team-building activities. In addition to utilizing the computer program and its corresponding lessons, students also heard from a wide array of guest speakers, Mike Remple, John Petina, and Andrew Kuzenski. Susan Nicholson and Joette Wisnieski both taught lessons. These speakers covered important business topics, such as marketing and financing, that the students applied to their virtual business decisions. Diamond Pharmacy Services was also kind enough to give the students a behind-the-scenes tour of their company. Many of the students remarked that it was their favorite aspect of the camp, and it gave them a different view of the small business world.

The final day consisted of a competition between the seven teams. They played the Junior Achievement Titan Challenge, making all six possible decisions including manufacturing, marketing, and giving to charity. While all of the teams were dedicated, three stood out as the winners. Anthony Kopczyk and Aaron Jones took first place, winning a Netbook computer and $125. In second place was Caleb Jobe and Rena Deitman; they both went home with portable DVD players as well as $75. Third place was taken by Kelly Risch and Rozh Ali. They won $50 and a $100 gift certificate to Best Buy.

By participating in the Entrepreneur-in-Training Camp, the students became well-equipped with the skills they will need to make headway in the corporate world. The Junior Achievement Titan Competition gave these high school students the rare opportunity to experience firsthand the reality of growing a business.

A description of each item and how and when to bid can be seen in detail at IUP Business Golf Classic: Silent Auction. The site will be updated on a daily basis as new items come in and details are confirmed.

There are incredible savings on pro sports memorabilia, golfing, family activities, IUP functions, and tickets to sporting and cultural events (including the Pittsburgh Symphony, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Carnegie Museums, etc.) that are designed to fit anyone’s budget.

Feel free to forward this ews item o any of your friends.

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

The training program concentrated on mastering the five process groups, nine knowledge areas, and forty-two processes which form the core of project management education. The program was based mainly on the Project Management Body of Knowlege, fourth edition, prescribed by the Project Management Institute, which has nearly 400,000 professional members worldwide.

All students received a certificate of completion from the training organization, Leavant Technologies.

Entrepreneur-in-Training Camp Information

• Who: Ambitious high school students in the area
• Where: Eberly College of Business and Information Technology
• When: June 21 to June 25, 2010 (9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
• Why: To strengthen resumes and college applications, build connections, and learn about the business world
• How Much: Free 

This five-day commuter camp is being offered to incoming high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. From 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Entrepreneur-in-Training Camp will expose aspiring future business leaders to a variety of business concepts such as leadership, business planning, and financial management, while also teaching them to “think outside the box.” Students who participate in the Entrepreneur-in-Training Camp will have the opportunity to hear from successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and other business professionals while competing for $1,500 in various prizes, including cash!

Please recommend this camp to any high school student that you believe would benefit from this experience. It is a great opportunity for any student who is interested in learning about business, making new friends, and furthering their future career. Read the flyer and application (PDF) for more information, or contact Eric Palmer, director, IUP ExcEL Center, at 724-357-3871.

The silent auction will commence after dinner at the event. However, those not attending the event will be able to participate in our auction. Auction items and instructions on “how to bid” will be posted on our website in late June.

Donations to the silent auction will be greatly appreciated. Some examples of auction items donated in the past through our alumni and the IUP community include:

• Sports memorabilia
• Tickets to sporting events and the arts
• Golf threesomes/foursomes and pro shop pieces
• Paintings

Those individuals/companies donating auction items will be acknowledged on the IUP Business Golf Classic website, on the actual bid sheets at the event, and in our program booklet.

All money raised from the IUP Business Golf Classic (including proceeds from the silent auction) will be used to recruit high-ability students into the IUP Eberly College of Business and Information Technology through scholarship awards.

If you are able to donate an auction item, please contact:

Julie Moreland, Assistant Dean
Student and Alumni Services
724-357-3215
julie.moreland@iup.edu

The students had the opportunity to participate in a Tandberg teleconference conducted between Bayer’s Pittsburgh location, their site in New Jersey, and their main headquarters in Leverkusen, Germany. Students also attended a presentation about social media rising in the IT field.

The students were treated to lunch by Bayer and, during the luncheon, heard from three interns who signed on with Bayer and the College New Hire program. They also met with a manager responsible for the College New Hire program who reviewed various hiring procedures. The final presentation included an overall logistics PowerPoint of the server building.

Finally, all students were given a tour of the Bayer Server Room, which contains 1,297 servers of various makes and models. The tour included a presentation regarding procedures regarding catastrophic events and accidents.

Eberly College sponsored its third annual IUP Alumni Reception, attended by over fifty business teachers representing school districts throughout Pennsylvania. Wayne Moore and Linda Szul acted as hosts for this reception. Our alumni who are teaching and advising FBLA chapters constantly recruit and provide a steady stream of high-quality IUP business students.

The 3,500 high school students participated in business and leadership competitions in over thirty areas, including accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, business ethics, website development, business plan, and digital video production.

• First-place winners include: Shane Slagle (Financial Concepts), Meghan McCarthy and Michael Field (Marketing Analysis and Decision Making), Stef Cywinski (Sales Presentation), Sonya Chilenski (Project Management), and Megan Chamberlain, Sean Rosembaum, and Sonya Chilenski (Website Development).
• Second-place winners include: Sean Rosenbaum (Database Design and Application), Amanda Raup and Meghan McCarthy (Emerging Business Issue), Amanda Raup and Shane Slagle (Financial Services), and Graham Smith (Impromptu Speaking).
• Third-place winners include: Sarah LaSalvia (Business Communications) and Michael Field (Future Business Executive).

Special recognition goes out to Sonya Chilenski (first place) and Charles DeCarlo (runner-up) as Pennsylvania’s Who’s Who in PBL. IUP was also awarded as this year’s Outstanding Chapter, winning the Gold Seal Chapter Award of Merit.

Dr. Lucinda Willis was named Pennsylvania PBL Advisor of the Year. She was nominated by the officers and members of the IUP PBL chapter.

IUP PBL was also recognized for their strong participation with Habitat for Humanity, as well as with the Pittsburgh Ronald McDonald House.

The last award was in recognition of Janet Buggey, owner of the One Hour Downtown Dry Cleaners on Philadelphia Street in Indiana for PA PBL Business Person of the Year for her continuous support for IUP PBL’s Professional Yard Sale.

PBL members are preparing for the National Leadership Conference upcoming in July, 2010, in Nashville, Tenn.

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

The blood drive was held in the Crimson Event Center in partnership with the American Red Cross. The drive brought in seventy donors who, in total, donated fifty-five pints of blood.

In preparing for the blood drive, COBSAC reached out to local Indiana businesses. In support of the event, donations were received from McDonalds, Eat’n Park, and Ponderosa.

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

Students in the picture are Kimberly Hanley, Ryan Coyle, and Lindsay Kallas.

The students had the opportunity to attend keynote sessions, hands-on technology workshops, and teacher practitioner presentations. A highlight of the convention was the recognition by the National Business Education Honor Society, Pi Omega Pi, for honoring the IUP Chapter (Kappa) with a first-place award as outstanding chapter in the nation. The award was based on an annual report submitted by the IUP business education chapter members describing local, community, and national projects in business education. The award was presented at a Pi Omega Pi breakfast and then announced at the closing session with more than 1,500 business teachers in attendance.

The Eberly College of Business and Information Technology celebrated Business Day on Tuesday, April 6, 2010. This annual event was renamed as the Lt. Col. Charles B. Stevenson Memorial Business Day in honor of the event founder.

Nearly eight hundred students selected among five different panel sessions in which business guests talked with them about career paths, challenges, and the job market. Following the departmental sessions, students attended a networking session, in which they had an opportunity to talk directly with more than fifty business executives.

During a luncheon session, Dean Robert Camp made a presentation regarding leadership in the twenty-first century. He also recognized five distinguished business alumni by inducting them into the IUP Eberly College of Business and Information Technology Hall of Distinction. Included among the inductees were

• Thomas E. Costello ’88
  Founder and CEO, UpStreme, Inc.
• Walter L. Lewis ’70
  Cofounder
  Smith, Lewis, Chess & Co, LLP
• Timothy M. Pulte ’85
  Chief Operating Officer
  Delaware River Port Authority
• Brien Wall ’70
  Certified Family Business Specialist
  Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
• Dean S. C. Williams ’64
  Retired Chairman
  Travelers Insurance, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware

Senior Business honors students, College of Business Student Advisory Council members, and student organization leaders were all recognized during the event.

See detailed information about the Hall of Distinction inductees.

Two representatives from First Commonwealth Bank presented a seminar to the MGMT 275 Introduction to Entrepreneurship class.

“Your Guide to Financial Health” focused on personal finances, especially personal credit history, along with the connection between someone's personal credit history and obtaining a small business loan.

Presenters from First Commonwealth were Norma Groover and Aaron Kznaric. Anna Coates and Cindy Reiking were also in attendance from First Commonwealth.

Eberly College of Business and Information Technology

During the day, Mr. Baum spoke with students in Marketing, Finance, and Management classes focusing on preparing students for the job market and for success after they acquire a job.

Mr. Baum, a frequent CNBC.com contributor, concentrates in a holistic approach to wealth management and has been advising high net-worth individuals and their families since 1987. His group, the Nadav Baum Group, uses a team approach to help clients through all aspects and stages of the wealth management cycle in accumulation, distribution, and transfer. Mr. Baum has also been recognized by various newspapers, magazines, and other financial publications for outstanding customer service and in-depth planning services. These include individual portfolio management and asset/liability management.

A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Baum credits his dual-major of Finance and Economics as being a key catalyst to his success.

Mr. Baum is a Pittsburgh native. He now resides in Fox Chapel with his wife, Nancy, and their three children, Saxon, Danika, and Keaton. Mr. Baum also serves on various boards and organizations throughout the city and is currently devoting most of his charitable time to ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Association of Western Pennsylvania, where he serves as an active advisor.

Treasurer McCord held a lengthy question and answer session with students addressing Commonwealth public finance issues such as taxation, lottery revenue, slot machine revenue, property tax revenue, and economic development issues.

A respected business leader and entrepreneur, Rob McCord took office as the forty-fifth treasurer of Pennsylvania on January 20, 2009. Today, as chief executive of the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, Treasurer McCord helps invest more than $80 billion per year and oversees a broad variety of operations designed to improve the economic security of Pennsylvanians.

Treasurer McCord has brought unusual financial acumen to his elected office and works innovatively to provide strong financial returns for all Pennsylvanians. He has helped generate billions of dollars in improved returns for Pennsylvania’s pension funds and 529 college savings program.

Throughout his career, Treasurer McCord has fought for productive investments and public policies. Prior to his election as treasurer, his work as a venture capitalist helped generate more than 2,000 jobs. From 1994 and 2007, Treasurer McCord worked as a senior executive at Safeguard Scientifics, and he founded the Eastern Technology Fund and served as cofounder and managing director of Pennsylvania Early Stage Partners. In addition, from 1996 through 2007, he led the Eastern Technology Council, a trade association that served hundreds of fast-growing companies.

Before joining the private sector, Treasurer McCord worked on Capitol Hill, where he specialized in budget and technology issues. He also served as the CEO of the bipartisan think tank Congressional Institute for the Future.

Treasurer McCord earned his undergraduate degree in economics and history at Harvard University, and he earned his MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. He lives in Montgomery County with his wife and two sons.

Competing for the title of “Titans of Business,” the groups practiced and strategized within their teams prior to the competition. They then took that preparation and applied it to their virtual business. This unique competition offered high school students the opportunity to experience the ups and downs of running a business. Utilizing Junior Achievement’s own business simulation program, JA Titan, the teams were asked to manufacture and promote a futuristic, fictional product known as a Holo-Generator, a device about the size of a portable CD player that is capable of generating 3-D images in the palm of your hand.

As CEOs for the day, these budding entrepreneurs had to handle key decisions on pricing, production, marketing, research and development, and even charitable giving. Working in groups of three, the decisions they made determined how well their company did within its industry. By running industry reports throughout the competition, students were able to check their Performance Index (PI), and gauge themselves against the other teams.

Junior Achievement, which emphasizes an engaging and hands-on approach to learning, matched students with business consultants—corporate volunteers—whose job was to reinforce the concepts and strategies the students had learned before the competition. Business consultants were challenged to use their working knowledge and skills if “consulted” by the student CEOs they were matched with during the competition. Among the consultants were IUP’s own Dr. Joette Wisnieski, a professor in the Management Department, and Jane Gardner, the director of Business Development and Training Services.

The competition was an overwhelming success. The students were engaged, and with the help of the business consultants, three teams won.

Representing Greater Johnstown High School were Jordan Ruiz, Andrew Wilcox, and Nelson Gosnell. They took first place, the title of Titans of Business, and each received a netbook computer.

In second place was a team from Richland High School, with students Keith Morgart, Josh Roberson, and Jordan Polasko. Each of the second-place students received an iPod touch.

Third place, with a prize of an mp3 player and a gift card to Subway, was won by M.J. Knapp, Kenny Gibbons, and Emily Gibbons of Shade High School.

By participating in the JA Competition, the students became well equipped with the skills they will need to make headway in the corporate world.

All money raised will be used to recruit high-ability students into the IUP Eberly College of Business and Information Technology through scholarship awards. Additional information will be coming by mail and is available on the IUP Business Golf Classic website.

We look forward to your participation.

The first-ever Junior Achievement Titan Business Challenge is a business strategy tournament utilizing the JA Titan program—an on-line business simulation.

Utilizing teamwork, a zest for knowledge, and the drive to win cash, students will compete in the challenge. Traveling to IUP’s Eberly College, these students will receive a taste of what working in corporate America is like.

By using JA’s own high school simulation program, JA Titan, the Titan Business Challenge will put high school students to the test as they manage and operate their own virtual businesses. Set in the year 2035, all the students’ companies manufacture a fictional product known as a Holo-Generator, a hand-held, lightweight device about the size of a portable CD player that is capable of generating 3-D images in the palm of your hand.

As CEOs for the day, these budding entrepreneurs will to handle key decisions on pricing, production, marketing, research and development, and even charitable giving. Working in groups of three, the decisions they make will determine how well their company will do within its industry. By running industry reports throughout the competition, students are able to check their Performance Index and gauge themselves against the other teams.

Competing for the title of Titans of Business, the groups will both practice and strategize within their teams during the competition. They will then take that preparation and apply it to their virtual business. Since Junior Achievement emphasizes an engaging and hands-on approach to learning, the student teams will be matched with business consultants—corporate volunteers—whose job will be to reinforce the concepts and strategies the students had learned before the competition. Business consultants will also be challenged to use their working knowledge and skills if consulted by the student CEOs they were matched with during the competition.

Junior Achievement will present cash prizes of up to $300 to each student on the winning team. Additionally, the top three teams will advance to the Grand Championship Event, held in May 2010 in Pittsburgh. These teams will compete against the top teams from other Titan Business Challenge events.

By participating in the JA Competition, students will become well-equipped with the skills they will need to make headway in the corporate world. This event was structured to inspire, educate, and develop the young minds in Cambria, Indiana, and Somerset counties. The Junior Achievement Titan Business Challenge provides an experience that a traditional classroom cannot duplicate.

For more information choose from the options below:

How to become a JA Titan Competition Sponsor — JA Titan Business Sponsorship Information (PDF)

How to register a high school team from Indiana, Somerset, or Cambria county — JA Titan High School Team Registration (PDF)

To talk with someone on how you can get involved in this one-of-a-kind event, please contact Junior Achievement at 814-266-2125, ext. 197.

Students from the fourteen student organizations in Eberly held events both in the Suites on Pratt and in the Eberly Atrium to encourage business/other students to get involved!

For anyone interested in joining one of our great organizations, please contact our Student Advisory Council President, Ross Saunders, at D.R.Saunders@iup.edu.

Eberly student organizations include:

American Society for Quality (ASQ)
Association for MIS (AMIS)
Finance Association
Graduate Business Student Association (GBSA)
International Business Association (IBA)
Management Association
Phi Beta Lambda (PBL)
Phi Gamma Nu (PGN)
Pi Omega Pi (POP)
Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)
Student Accounting Association (SAA)
Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE)
Student Marketing Association (SMA)
Student Technology Association (STA) 

About the Pennsylvania Business Central Top 100 People List

Pennsylvania Business Central’s annual list is designed to capture the breadth of experience and wealth of entrepreneurial spirit found in our sixteen-county region. In compiling the list, they sought to include people who stood out in 2009. Some are familiar names. Others are sole proprietors that operate small companies. Some were recognized for their business acumen, while they chose to honor others for their contributions to their communities. Pennsylvania Business Central sought a diversity of people across the entire spectrum of business and industry, from large corporations to one-person operations to nonprofit institutions.

They received more nominations from the business and economic development communities than ever before. They also reviewed the year’s top news stories published in Pennsylvania Business Central, and selected those individuals who made a real difference in 2009.

“Creating the Top 100 People list is never easy, but it is always interesting and revealing. If nothing else, it demonstrates that central Pennsylvania is home to a host of world-class business leaders and scrappy entrepreneurs.”

This monthly meeting was to discuss the final details of the State Leadership Conference, which will be coming up April 9–11 in Harrisburg.

Some of the participants of the PBL State Executive Council meeting pose for a photo. Pictured from left: Barbra Gehan, Bob Kollar, Lisa Beers, Sonya Chilenski, Chuck DeCarlo, Holly Schoch, Sean Rosenbaum, and Lucinda Willis.

In the meeting, the state officers (Lisa Beers, Bloomsburg University, state president; Holly Schoch, Bucknell University, state vice president; and Charles DeCarlo, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, state treasurer) presented the layout for the conference. This consisted of the budget, workshops, speakers, meals, complimentary gifts, sponsors, awards, and much more. The state advisors (Barb Gehan and Bob Kollar of Duquesne University and Lucinda Willis of IUP) supported the plans and helped in determining decisions made by the SEC.

To bridge communications between the state and local levels, representatives from IUP’s local PBL chapter were present to give feedback and observe the SEC meeting. This opportunity enabled the SEC to understand what is happening at the local level and incorporate ideas from local chapters in Pennsylvania into the State Leadership Conference planning.

Lisa Beers, Pennsylvania Phi Beta Lambda president, appreciated the event, saying “Thank you for having us. We appreciate everything your chapter and school have provided, and we look forward to holding future meetings at the Eberly College of Business. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the Eberly College for their support in helping with the arrangements along with providing breakfast and lunch.”

Over the past seven years, the Eberly College has hosted one of these meetings each year. The purpose of the meeting is for regional human resource managers to interact with Eberly faculty members and discuss current issues impacting the field of human resources.

The topics of the February meeting pertained to:

1. Review of recent success of Eberly students in the MANage International Competition held in Bangalore, India, in which IUP finished in second place overall in a competition of more than fifty international schools of business
2. Discussion of Business Day, scheduled for Tuesday, April 6, in which all ICASHRM members are invited to attend and interact with Eberly students
3. HR Training and Development: Utilizing New Technologies, in which computer hardware and software packages were demonstrated. ICASHRM participants had an opportunity to discuss how the application of new technologies can provide them with the capability to develop state-of-the-art training programs for their organizations.

The meeting was facilitated by Dr. Krish Krishnan, Dr. P. Michael Kosicek, Dr. Robert Boldin, Dr. Prashanth Bharadwaj, and Dr. Fred Slack.

ICASHRM participants commented favorably that the meeting was very productive, providing them with hands-on appreciation for training delivery potential within their organizations.

Reference USA is an IUP-sponsored research tool that can assist with a variety of topics, including business and marketing plans, economic forecasting, entrepreneurship, and career searches. This powerful tool is accessible campuswide, with remote access for students. It can also be used after graduation for our students.

Ms. O'Brien met with Business Honors students in the morning sessions and presented to faculty/staff and College of Business Student Advisory Council members in an afternoon session.

From the IUP server, students and faculty can search ReferenceUSA.com. Anyone wishing more information on this very powerful and accessible tool should feel free to contact Cat at infoUSA.

Catherine O’Brien
Consultant
infoUSA
Government Division
Toll Fee (800) 555-5211
catherino@InfoUSA.com

The 2010 Edition of Who’s Who in America provides information on over 95,000 of the nation’s most noteworthy people in a single, comprehensive resource.

Jane Gardner, director of Business Development and Training Services in the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology, has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the WEDnetPA Guaranteed Free Training program.

The Executive Committee handles policy and funding issues along with serving an important role in helping to direct the future of WEDnetPA. The committee consists of five voting members—two from state system schools, two from community colleges, and two other partners. There are also three nonvoting members, including the statewide director, the fiscal agent, and a representative from DCED.

The WEDnetPA grant program provides employers with the opportunity to train new and existing employees with free training dollars through the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Ms. Bender is a current memeber of the Indiana County SHRM organization. She is also the acting human resource manager for the Indiana Regional Medical Center. Her presentation focused on a variety of current human resource issues and their impact on the future of the American workplace.

Over 260 students from the following school districts participated: Blairsville High School, Derry Area High School, Homer Center High School, Indiana Area High School, Marion Center High School, Penns Manor High School, Purchase Line High School, and United High School.

The students had the opportunity to compete in events such as accounting, job interview, future business executive, finance, marketing, and extemporaneous speaking—there were over thirty competitive events for the students to select from. The top three students in each event will now have the opportunity to participate at the State Leadership Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

All of the written events were completed in an on-line format. The college has over two hundred computers, which made the on-line testing feasible. Area businesspersons were used to judge the performance events. Ten business teachers attended the event along with their students. The Technology Support and Training Department is proud to say that nine of the ten teachers are alumni from the business education program.

The Technology Support and Training Department offers programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level to prepare individuals to be business teachers in the k-12 setting as well as in a post-secondary environment.

Dr. Micki Hyde, MIS and Decision Sciences Department, was instrumental in having IUP included as one of the founding student chapter institutions.

When AIS started fifteen years ago, its goal was to become the premier association for the information systems discipline. By adding students directly to the community, AIS was embarking on a new era of growth and opportunity.

Founding schools, including IUP, will be able to participate in the first of many upcoming benefits for belonging to the association. The first major benefit is the 2010 AIS Student Chapter Awards. These awards will recognize the accomplishments of our students and provide awards to schools with the best student chapters.

Founding Student Chapter Institutions

• Temple University
• University of Georgia
• University of Nebraska at Omaha
• San Jose State University
• University of North Texas
• Georgia State University
• Wright State University
• University of Memphis
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
• University of Illinois-Springfield
• City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
• University of Michigan-Dearborn
• Clemson University
• Florida State University
• Kennesaw State University
• Helsinki School of Economics, Finland
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• University of Delaware
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• University of Alabama in Huntsville
• Carnegie Mellon University-Qatar
• Northern Kentucky University
• University of Technology, Jamaica

While at MOITI, the students learned how the office attracts foreign investments and business to Massachusetts. As part of their strategy, MOITI provides all the support investors and businesses need in order to be able to operate independently. It also provides a comparison of the State of Massachusetts against the country from where those investors and/or businesses are coming in order to show the benefits that will be obtained from the relocation, expansion, or investment toward Massachusetts.

Moreover, MOITI also provides a comparison of the United States against other countries in terms of attracting foreign investments and/or business. Consequently, the students learned that many countries, such as Canada, Germany, and France, are ahead of the United States in this particular area. MOITI explained that this is because, until recently, the United States business methods of operations were centered internally. Meanwhile, these other countries have been developing and establishing policies and legislations that make them very attractive for foreign investments and businesses.

Additionally, during IBA’s visit to MOITI, the students discovered the importance of networking and building relationships. These concepts are very useful tools that provide great competitive advantages to individuals and organizations. For instances, they facilitate the introduction process to new business owners and investors through referrals. They also facilitate the recompilation of relevant information beneficial during the negotiation process.

On Thursday, November 5, 2009, twenty-one graduate MBA students departed from the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology for a weekend tour of Chicago and its Federal Reserve Bank. This opportunity proved to be a first for many, as a large international base was represented.

On Friday at 3:00 p.m., the group walked to the Federal Reserve Bank to begin the tour. The bank represents the Seventh Federal Reserve District, which comprises Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and most of Illinois with a main focus on economic, banking, and historical information. Students were screened through security, having to show proper identification, and escorted into a board room where a gentleman displayed a brief video about the bank’s operations and provided some staggering statistics.

For example, before the recent recession, Americans were spending $1.09 for every one dollar they earned. Since the recession, the federal banks are tracking the highest personal savings rate since the 1940s—about 6 percent.

After the discussion, students toured the bank’s museum. This area contained counterfeit bills printed by Kim Jong Il and the Ayatollah, some of the earliest currency used in the country, and various interactive displays. The students found the opportunity very rewarding because of the transparency and description of the U.S. monetary system.

Because of Chicago’s deep history, the students had the opportunity to explore many other parts of the city. Groups climbed to the top of the Sears Tower for the magnificent views; toured the cultural districts of Chinatown, the Greek Village, and the Indian neighborhood; and even indulged in some classic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, a true delight!

the twenty-seven students had the opportunity to view the White House and then participate in an interactive program titled American Free Enterprise—Dream Big at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The students were briefed on the Dream Big initiative, which then opened up an informal discussion on some of the most important issues being faced today: jobs, job creation, innovation, and the free enterprise system. The morning program started off with breakfast, followed by roundtable discussions, moderated group discussions, and finally remarks by former secretary of education Margaret Spellings. The students also had a chance to take part in a potential advertising video commercial for the Dream Big initiative.

Honors students then visited the Heritage Foundation, where Nicola Moore, an assistant director in the Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, spoke on President Obama’s Pledge for Entitlement Reform.

Friday afternoon also included a visit to the Pentagon Memorial and a personalized one-hour tour of the Pentagon.

On Saturday, students were free to visit museums, monuments, and other historical places according to their interests. Feedback from the trip has been highly positive, and plans are to sponsor a leadership trip each year for Business Honors students.

Business student participants included: Akshay Bajpai, Tabitha Barrick, Robin Beisel, Martin Blaschok, Elizabeth Bonelli, Daniel Burnett, Raymond Edward, Maria Flecher, Jesse Frailey, Joshua Frankenfield, Jess Hull, Brittany Johns, Casey Kowchuck, Laura Leach, James Naunas, Alex Pfeffer, Erin Puko, Sara Rice, Stephanie Shimmel, Mark Sestini, Matthew Swackhammer, Sandra Tobin, Travis Walker, Andrew Welch, Christopher Wenrich, Matthew Wilking, and Lauren Young.

Fourteen students joined faculty and administrators from the Eberly College to participate in numerous conference sessions and two keynote addresses at the conference, including: Muhammad Amin (MBA), Brendan Bash (MBA), Jose Diaz (Sport Administration and International Business), Josh Frankenfield (International Business), Tracy Inzinga (Undeclared Business), Amandine Miodek (MBA), Doris P. Quispe (Management), Nicole Ramberger (Finance), Raven Sams (International Business), Brandon Shaw (Human Resource Management), Bhishma Solanki (MBA), Teddi Valeski (Social Studies Education), and Sarah Wagner (Business Education). Students Anastasia Arikidis (International Business) and Faustina E Shedlock (MBA) assisted with conference registrations. Bhishma Solanki also provided support in preparing the agenda and audio-visual preparation.

IUP students had the opportunity to meet keynote speakers Dr. Mark Doms, chief economist of the U.S. Department of Commerce, who spoke about “The Current State of the U.S. Economy, the Importance of Innovation and Trade, and the Important Role of the U.S. Department of Commerce,” and Robert Davis, University of Virginia, who spoke on “Beyond Oil, Coal, and Gas.”

From left to right: Robert L. Lattimer—American Society for Competitiveness chairman, Teddi Valeski , Josh Frankenfield, Raven Sams, Anastasia Arikidis, Dr. Mark Doms—Department of Commerce chief economist, Tracy Inzinga, Faustina Shedlock, Brandon Shaw, Bhishma Solanki, Brendan Bash, Dr. Abbas Ali, Dr. Prashanth Bharadwaj

The number of total conference participants exceeded 125 and included faculty members, students, business people, and policy makers. The conference had international participants from several countries, including Canada, India, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Taiwan. Academic awards were awarded, sponsored by the publishing house Emerald in the categories of a) best case study, b) best empirical research and c) best conceptual paper.

ASC has had a rich history of attracting prominent keynote speakers from business, academe, and industry. There were thirty different conference sessions held over a three-day period for our students and conference participants to chose among, such as “Market Trust and Corporate Image,” “National Competitiveness and Social Development,” “Corporate Governance and Competitive Advantage,” “Industrial Renewal: Promises and Challenges,” and “Public Policy and Public Goods.”

In addition to the annual conferences, ASC has three publications—Competitiveness Review, Advances in Competitiveness Research, and Competition Forum. Dr. Abbas Ali is the executive director of the ASC, Dr. Robert Camp is a founding board member of the ASC, Dr. Prashanth Bharadwaj is the academic program chairperson of ASC Conferences, and Ms. Susan Brant is the treasurer of the society.

The students were given a tour of the company’s cleanroom facilities where MEDRAD manufactures many of its high-volume medical devices. Students were exposed to several lean manufacturing and quality management practices in action. Following the tour, the students had an opportunity to interact with managers in the company’s manufacturing, purchasing, warehousing, industrial engineering, and human resource functions. The students discussed topics such as 5-S, Kaizen, supplier selection, preventative maintenance, incentive systems, and corporate culture (as being a subsidiary of the Bayer Corporation). The human resources manager provided the students, including international students, a short overview of the hiring process at MEDRAD.

MEDRAD is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacturing of high-tech medical devices. MEDRAD was awarded the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2003.

Keith Young, a human resources executive at MEDRAD, serves on the Eberly College Business Advisory Council.

PES, a prominent partner of IUP’s business school, has been conducting a highly successful annual competition for business students for several years. The event, known as MANage, includes competitions in six business categories and in various cultural categories, such as Indian contemporary dance, face painting, etc.

The students that participated included: Courtney Monn and Greg Petrun (Marketing), Faith Mutanga and Emily Shubra (Finance), Allison Abey and Nick Parrish (Human Resources), Brendan Bash and Brad Roach (Information Systems), Alyssa Shubra and Joe Pelland (Business Quiz), and Mike Rivera (Best Manager).

The competition included four preliminary rounds over three days that led to a final event in each category. Among other assignments, the students took tests, created presentations, created videos, participated in interviews, and participated in mock financial trading. Many teams worked late into the night to complete assignments for the next morning. Each of the six IUP teams reached the third round and four teams reached the finals in their respective categories. The Marketing team (Courtney Monn and Greg Petrun) won the second place overall, and Mike Rivera finished second overall in the Best Manager category. Based on total points accrued by each business school, Eberly’s team won second place overall. St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore, won the first place.

During their trip to India, the students also visited Infosys, the leading software company in India, where they were given a tour and interacted with the company’s executives. They also visited the historic city of Mysore, a palace, and a temple. They attended a concert on campus that featured a rock group from New Delhi and were treated to a special dinner that featured students and cuisine from Thailand, Sri Lanka, and South Korea. Students stayed on the PES campus during the event.

Each of the students acknowledged that this was a unique, enjoyable, and insightful experience for them.

If you would like to preview the program, visit TalkShoe.com, Episode 36.

Mr. Bem has more than twenty years experience as a management consultant and investment advisor to senior executives. His expertise is primarily in crafting and implementing winning strategies for corporations using sound customer analysis combined with innovation portfolio valuation. Eugene is also researching green corporate strategies.

He will be making presentations regarding innovation, product development, and green strategies to students in Entrepreneurship, Small Business Management, Quality Management, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, and Graduate Marketing Management classes. He will also be meeting with several faculty members and administrators in Eberly.

Nineteen individuals representing thirteen small businesses are currently participating in a noncredit MBA Certificate Program offered by the Department of Business Development and Training Services.

The program, customized to the needs of small businesses, consists of ten six-hour sessions. The classes are taught by IUP faculty members who deliver a similar curriculum in the MBA credit program.

Individuals from the following businesses are participating in the program: Romeo’s Pizza, Indiana Total Therapy, Heritage House Suites, Environmental Land Surveying & Solutions, Diamond Pharmacy Services, Tracey’s Upscale Resale, Product Strategy Network, Downtown Indiana, Indiana County Commissioners, COSM, IUP Center for Family Business, Bridges to the Future, and Remedy Repack, Inc.

For more information on the MBA Certificate Program, please visit Business Development and Training Services or contact Jane Gardner.

The program will run from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and include a lunch.

The focus of the program is on developing processes to foster and nurture innovation within manufacturing firms. The target audience for this program is small manufacturers and IUP personnel who are interested in this subject.

At this workshop, participants will:

• Learn how to develop better, new product faster from veterans who have done it
• Gain critical insights into how to be sure you are solving the right problem
• See how looking (observation) at potential customers can produce more insights than talking to them
• Learn from pros who have done it many times

Please review the forum flyer. After reviewing the material we hope you will decide to join us on October 16. Register now to participate and engage in this timely issue and challenge.

See the Center for Family Business website for information and registration.

The event will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Eberly atrium. If you are able to join us, please contact Maureen Bash at mbash@iup.edu.

The Eberly Outstanding Business Professional award is presented to an IUP graduate who demonstrates success in leading an organization to new levels of achievement and who serves as an executive in a publicly held corporation, privately owned business, or chartered nonprofit entity. Selections for the award are made each year by the Eberly College Alumni Awards Committee. Leyh was recognized during the nineteenth annual IUP Business Golf Classic, benefiting a scholarship endowment fund for IUP students, on July 13 at Longue Vue Club in Verona.

Leyh is one of the founders of Enterprise Bank, a commercial niche bank that assists small to midsized businesses and specializes in helping startups and distressed companies. In addition to serving as chairman of the board and president, Leyh serves on the bank’s Senior Loan and Finance committees.

Leyh is a certified public accountant and partner in the public accounting firm of Kinol, Sharie, Leyh & Associates. At the firm, Leyh’s focus is on small to midsized businesses, with an emphasis on tax accounting, business analysis, and valuations. He has more than thirty years of experience in public accounting.

Leyh also is active in professional organizations. He is the treasurer of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers and holds memberships in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Tax Division of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He previously served as a board member of the Atlantic Central Bankers Bank and as chairman of the Audit Committee.

He is a board member and serves as chairman of the Finance Committee and treasurer of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.

In addition to his IUP degree, Leyh earned a Master of Science in taxation from Robert Morris University in 1988.

Malin Bergquist—listed by Pittsburgh Business Times as one of the top twenty certified public accountant firms—has offices in Pittsburgh, Erie, and Greensburg.

The Eberly Outstanding Entrepreneur award is presented to an IUP graduate who demonstrates success in creating and leading an entrepreneurial venture to a high level of achievement. Selections for the award are made each year by the Eberly College Alumni Awards Committee. Bluemling was recognized during the nineteenth annual IUP Business Golf Classic, benefiting a scholarship endowment fund for IUP students, on July 13 at Longue Vue Club in Verona.

In 2004, Bluemling was recognized by Pittsburgh Business Times as a “Fast Tracker,” one of fifty Pittsburgh area professionals under the age of forty-five who have made significant contributions in business and the community. He was the only CPA firm managing partner selected for the honor that year. He has also been recognized by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and is an annual presenter at the Pittsburgh Business Times’ 100 Fastest Growing Companies event.

Since 2001, he has presided over three Malin Bergquist mergers, quadrupling the firm’s size. He also helped to develop the firm’s first strategic plan to leverage its differentiating strengths.

Bluemling is a board director of CPAmerica International, the world’s sixth largest association of independent CPA firms. He was responsible for bringing the organization’s annual accounting and auditing conference to Pittsburgh in 2008 in celebration of the city’s 250th birthday.

He also is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Pittsburgh.

He is immediate past chair of the Baierl Family YMCA program and is a board member of YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee/Spencer, which raises more than $100,000 for programs for the disabled.

He and his wife Sheila are the parents of three sons.

As you can see, our chapter has definitely made a name for themselves with the national organization, and the students are gearing up now for a trip to compete against forty-eight other states in June in Anaheim, California!

Category: Graduate Specialized

Client Name: Indiana Printing and Publishing

Faculty Advisors: Stephen Osborne, Eric Palmer, and Ramesh Soni

Students’ Names: Gregory Clay, Elizabeth Griffith, and Marko Mitrov

This year’s book is called the Best 296 Best Schools. The Princeton Review’s guidebooks program accepts no advertising dollars and uses independent surveys from current students, recent graduates, and college officials to determine which colleges and universities merit inclusion. The 2009 edition is a reflection of interviews with more than 18,000 business students from across the nation. There are approximately 1,600 schools or colleges of business throughout the United States.

The Eberly College offers seven hundred work stations, nine computing labs, and high-tech classrooms throughout the building. A forty-four-station financial trading room provides students with the ability to create hypothetical portfolios and track all purchase and sale transactions in order to gauge performance and document trading strategies. Students use a database and related software to conduct financial analyses and learn valuation techniques, arbitrage techniques, and portfolio risk management strategies. Both faculty and students can conduct research using real-time data from markets all over the world. Guidebook editors also recognized Eberly’s numerous partnerships with overseas schools.

The Eberly College achieved accreditation of its bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business administration from AACSB International in May 2001. AACSB International is one of higher education’s most rigorous accrediting bodies. Fewer than one-third of the business schools in the United States and a limited number of schools internationally have earned AACSB International accreditation.

IUP has been selected for the Princeton Review’s Best Universities guidebooks as an overall university for the past eight years and has been included in all of the Princeton Review’s Best in the Mid-Atlantic guidebooks.

In 2007, IUP was ranked fourth in the nation by Consumers Digest as a best value in public education and fortieth in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine’s 2007 Top 100 Best Values in Public Education.

The next part of the trip was to visit the headquarters of two professional associations—Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA-PBL) and the National Business Education Association (NBEA). Both FBLA-PBL and NBEA executives spoke with the students about continual involvement in the professional world and becoming a leader in the field. The group also had the opportunity to tour Washington, D.C., and spent time visiting the Holocaust Museum and the beautiful memorials throughout our nation’s capitol.

For more information, contact Dr. Bill McPherson (mcpherso@iup.edu) or any Eberly College honor student.

Spring is here and that means golf!

Participate in the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology 2008 Annual IUP Business Golf Classic to be held at the Longue Vue Golf Club in Verona, PA, on Monday, July 21.

This is not only a great way to catch up with your colleagues and to meet new ones, but it is your opportunity to contribute to the most important fundraiser of the year for the Eberly College. The money we raise goes into a special endowment that is being used solely for student scholarships in an effort to recruit high-ability students into our college.

We offer both a competitive event and scramble format.

If you are not a golfer, you may want to attend dinner, bid on or donate something for the silent auction, make a monetary donation, etc. There are a number of sponsorship opportunities.