executive magazine spring 2009 edition

inside this issuestudents take aim at future in tarGet case studies competition

Spring 09Summer 09

Culverhouse College of CommerCe

executive >>Magazine

2 c u l v e r h o u s e c o l l e g e o f c o m m e r c e s p r i n g 0 9 s u m m e r 0 9 c b a . u a . e d u 3

The Donor Advised Fund


SPRiNG 09 SuMMeR 09V o l u m e 1 4 I s s u e 1

The Executive is published twice annually, in the spring and fall, for alumni and friends of the university of Alabamas Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration.

DeaN:J. Barry mason

eDitoR:William r. Bill gerdes

GRaPhic DeSiGN:travis gibbsoffice of design and Productionthe university of Alabama

coNtRibutiNG WRiteRS:Carmen shea Browntiffany fountainBill gerdesmartha W. Whitson

coNtRibutiNG PhotoGRaPheRS:Zack riggins, laura shill, samantha hernandez

office of DeveloPMeNt, aluMNi aND coRPoRate RelatioNS:Charlie Adair, lindsey Blumenthal, Kathy deshazo, diane harrison, Amy henderson, laura rector

Culverhouse College of CommerCe and Business administrationBox 870223tuscaloosa, Al 35487-0223

Comments, suggestions, questions: [email protected]

The University of Alabama is an equal-opportunity educational institution/employer. MC7884

E x E c u t i v E c o n t E n t S>>

our students. Y o u r F u t u r e .

When ryAn BrooKs sAys

Roll Tide, he meAns it in more WAys thAn one.

ryan Brooks graduated from the university of Alabama in december 2005 with a bachelors degree in finance, 62 years after Procter & gamble created tide detergent. three years later tide was introduced to the American public and outsold every other brand within weeks.

After working for Wells fargo financial and at regions Bank, Brooks earned a masters degree in business administration at the Capstone, and now hes headed to Cincinnati to work for Procter & gamble as a financial manager in the global internal Audit division.

Brooks said he signed on with P&g because of its stability, its practice of promoting from within and its willingness to let employees pick their own career paths. And, he said, because P&g likes people in finance roles from Alabama.

in a search for perfection, Procter & gamble has made numerous improvements to tide over the years. now the company has hired ryan Brooks.

Roll Tide Roll.

For more information about our graduates and how they can contribute to your success, contact Linda Johnson, director of em-ployer development and relations, Culverhouse College of Commerce, at 205-348-3455 or by e-mail at [email protected].

2 Deans Message

4 Helping Communities ReboundMIS creates entrepreneurial capacity across rural

Alabama

6 Overseas Call for AssistanceInterpol intrigued by UA professorss terror study

8 Collaborative Effort College and RobMax analyze automated

production

9 Minority RecruitmentErnst & Young hosts tax event and roundtable

discussion

10 Strategy for TourismUCED works with others on project to help four

rural counties

12 Dr. Benton Gup, Professor of FinanceRecipient of Midwest Finance Associations

Lifetime Achievement Award is the rare

Renaissance man

14 Target PracticeStudents apply classroom learning to real

business

18 A Lot of Bang for the BucksProfessor wins third place in competition with

his idea for teaching students how to start a

business with $10

20 Hes Done It AgainUAS Adam Harbison wins George J. Mitchell

Scholarship to go with his 2008 Truman

Scholarship

22 Raising AwarenessEmeritus Committee focuses on international

issues

24 Summits and ConferencesC&BA helps lead efforts to cope with economic

crisis

26 Going the Extra MileCulverhouses Career Center Satellite Office helps

students stand out in tough economic times

30 Faculty and Staff NewsRead about awards and other items of interest

32 In the News

C&BA faculty provide insight on various issues

36 Donors ListJanuary 1December 31, 2008

46 Alumni Notes

14o n t h e C o v e r

Students apply classroom learning to real business

Culverhouse College of CommerCe

executive >>Magazine

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About a year ago, the signs of serious trouble in the worlds economy began appearing on many different fronts: financial, housing, automotive, and now layoffs and plant closings. Most informed observers say the collapse will continue, perhaps for a long while. Thankfully, the strong leadership of Dr. Robert E. Witt has kept us from imposing budget reductions thus far, with the result that we will emerge from this crisis stronger than ever. While others are slashing budgets and freezing positions, we are recruiting more quality students to the University and to the Culverhouse College of Commerce. Finding innovative ways to manage rising enrollments will make us more efficient while working within our monetary constraints. The financial crisis has provided the College with another opportunity for us to join hands with other members of our community to find ways to protect what we have and work through the challenges we all face. It has brought about increased communication and a period of intense engagement with external constituencies that have enhanced the profile of the College and once again underlined our facilitation skills, our research capabilities and our ability to react quickly to crisis. Our state economic summit in Birmingham in October attracted more than 500 concerned business people, and the statewide economic outlook conference in Montgomery in January drew another 160 attendees. That was followed by a West Alabama summit attended by 400-plus, then the commercial real estate conference that drew an additional 150. The global economic crisis has also been a factor in raising the global profile of the College. For example, management professor Dr. James Cashman appeared

on Aljazeera English television to discuss the automobile crisis, and finance professor Dr. Benton Gup was deployed by the State Department to Vienna and Athens to discuss the economic crisis with economic leaders and the media. Participation in our capital campaign has remained robust, and we have raised nearly $80 million toward our goal of $86 million. We need a strong commitment from our alumni and friends to ensure that we conclude the campaign on June 30 in excess of our goal. We continue to seek support for entrepreneurial scholarships and related needs, the Womens Leadership Initiative and the student-managed investment fund. And there is a continuing need for student scholarships to offset increasing tuition and for assistance to support, attract and retain high-quality faculty members. Of course, we continue to press ahead in other areas. We have established a new professional sales lab used to teach our students the fine art of selling both products and themselves. We have a new actuarial science concentration to supplement our insurance curriculum, and we have teamed with the College of Arts and Sciences to develop a minor in natural resources management. We are collaborating with the College of Engineering in its construction management program. Will the current recession have an impact on your college? Of course it will. But we provide a recession-resistant product a quality business education. A Chinese adage supposedly says, When strong winds blow, some hide behind walls and others build windmills. At Culverhouse, we are building windmills.

At Culverhouse, we are building windmills.

Dear Friends of the College : D E a n S M E S S a g E>>

J. baRRy MaSoNdean and thomas d. russell Professor of Business Administration

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>> c o l l E g E F E a t u r E

Helping Communities ReboundMIS creates entrepreneurial capacity across rural Alabama

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The areas in Alabama that experience high unemployment in the best of economic times are suffering even more in todays uncertain economic climate. For example, two textile businesses in the Fort Payne area are laying off a combined 800 people. In the middle of the state, three auto-related plants are giving layoff and shutdown notices to almost 2,000 workers. Elsewhere in the state, makers of wood products, metal buildings and plastics are shutting down. This has triggered the state of Alabama, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Management Information Systems (MIS) program at The University of Alabamas Culverhouse College of Commerce to join forces to help rural Alabama communities rebound and build a new future through self-employment. The LEARN Program, or Launching Entrepreneurs Across Rural Networks, helps workers who have been subject to mass layoffs or plant closings in rural Alabama gain the business skills and the individual counseling and technical assistance they need to start

their own businesses. The program originated in and was funded through the U.S. Department of Labors Employment and Training Administration with additional support from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). Dr. David Hale, director of MIS and chairman of Alabamas Black Belt Action Commissions Communication Committee, is the principal investigator on the project. The LEARN Program is an example of how students in the MIS program design coordination processes that bring state and community service resources to those that can use them the most and deliver them at the time they can be used the most effectively, he said. The LEARN Program promotes economic sustainment and development in Alabama by providing business-skills assessment, training and individual counseling to newly dislocated workers in rural areas. With the goal of increasing service-provider capacity, the UA MIS team has

broughttogetherADECA,thegovernorsOfficeof Workforce Development (rapid response team and 42 one-stop career centers), the Alabama Small Business Development Consortium (13 small business development centers), and the Montgomery Institute (a nonprofit civic engagement organization that operates in East Mississippi and West Alabama)

createdoutreachmaterialsintheformofawarenessposters, informational brochures, and participant and service-provider orientation materials

designedthepoliciesandproceduresthatgovernthe programs operation, including agency-specific packages for each step in the participant process and a central office staff manual

enteredintoagreementswithserviceproviderstoprovide the necessary skills assessment, training and counseling, primarily with the states small business development centers

designed,builtanddeployedanonlineparticipanttracking, reporting and feedback application, which keeps participants on schedule, allows for service providers to monitor their clients progress and enables LEARN office staff to collect feedback and fulfill reporting requirements

begundevelopingvirtualentrepreneurialtrainingin an innovative partnership with MyBiz and the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund by creating an online version of the Core Four business-skills curriculum, with the goal of providing easier and more flexible participant access

Shane Givens, clinical MIS faculty member and LEARN project director, said, The students on the LEARN team, like other teams working with clients such as Procter & Gamble, Lowes, and Wal-Mart, have done a great job developing processes and systems that deliver real value, in this case to citizens of Alabama who need it most. Alabama is the only state implementing a program of this kind on a statewide basis that involves multiple state agencies. The dislocated-worker orientation, training and counseling efforts are coordinated on a site-by-site basis whenever dislocation events occur. The state of Alabama has indicated an interest in continuing the program after the three-year $1 million grant period expires, adding entrepreneurial training to its group of services provided to the states workforce. The project started in July 2008 when the Aging Infrastructure Systems Center of Excellence was awarded a grant to demonstrate the efficacy of an entrepreneurship-training model. The current grant runs through 2011. UA MIS team members on the project include Kelli Allred, operations manager; Jacob Bell; Zac Bragg; Blake Burden; Sonya Fowler Brasfield; Frank Burford; Cody Clark, project manager; Tyler Clark; Anna Giles; John Holm, project manager; Ashley Holmes; John Paul Lovoy; Blake Nolen; Fiona Nguyen; Danielle OGwin; Nathan Parker; Troy Robinson; Will Saxon; Jeremy Threatt; Satin Watson; and Matt Wehner, project manager) E

s p r i n g 0 9 s u m m e r 0 9 c b a . u a . e d u 76 c u l v e r h o u s e c o l l e g e o f c o m m e r c e

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>> F a c u l t y F E a t u r E

Overseas Call for AssistanceInterpol intrigued by UA professorss terror study(rEpr intED FroM thE tuScalooSa nEwS )

>>

The worlds largest international police organization has called on a University of Alabama economics professor to study how anti-terrorism dollars should best be spent. Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, contacted Dr. Walter Enders, professor of economics and Lee Bidgood Chair of Economics and Finance, after reading a March article in The Economist magazine about a study he conducted which examined the costs and benefits of counterterrorism investments. We found that intelligence is the most cost-effective way to reduce terrorism, Enders said. Thats what they were really interested in. Enders and two other professors found that the return on investment to secure airports, embassies and ports is just nine cents for every dollar. The return on money spent on intelligence, however, was 900 percent,

meaning that nations are underfunding intelligence efforts and overfunding security, Enders said. If a government spends more money to make airports secure, terrorists could hit trains instead, for example, meaning that spending those dollars didnt prevent an attack. You cant defend everything. Look at Mumbai, Enders said, referring to the attacks in Indias financial capital between Nov. 2629 at hotels, a cafe, a movie theater, a hospital, train station and a Jewish outreach center. At least 188 people were killed and nearly 300 were injured. We could be more proactive and stop them. Then, the rate of return is hundreds of times more, he said. Enders and his University of Texas at Dallas colleagues, Todd Sandler and Dann Arce, determined the economic impact of well-known attacks including Sept. 11, suicide bombings in London in

2005 and train bombings in Madrid, Spain, in 2004. The professors visited Interpol officials in Lyon, France, in October. The agency will soon supply the economists with information about thwarted attacks that will better help their analysis. We can compare the nature of the plots that theyre best able to foil, he said, and determine where countries should best spend their resources. Enders research was funded by the Copenhagen Consensus, a group formed to improve prioritization and investments in connection with 10 of the worlds biggest problems. In May 2008, a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, was held to discuss results of studies by the worlds top economists, including five Nobel laureates, and find solutions to those problems.

Dr . waltEr EnDErS


Collaborative Effort College and RobMax analyze automated production

>>

RobMax, a Tuscaloosa-based leading robotics software developer, is partnering with the nationally ranked operations management program at the College to support research and education in the analysis of automated production. Dr. Charles Sox, University Chair of Manufacturing Management, said the new partnership will be a valuable resource for students, given the new climate of industrial progress in the state. Sox is also the director of the operations management program in the department of information systems, statistics and management science. As manufacturing and business processes become increasingly more automated, it is critical for companies to accurately assess the productivity of their automated equipment as well as their human resources, Sox said. Companies that fail to understand their automated productivity risk losing a valuable opportunity for competitive advantage. The

new generation of auto manufacturing facilities in the Southeast has invested heavily in robotic automation that has helped them become highly productive and successful. The partnership will focus on student-industry cooperative projects, cutting-edge research and industry education to show students and businesses how to maximize the efficiency of automated systems, as well as take advantage of opportunities to continuously improve automated manufacturing and business processes. With the high-tech industry and automotive manufacturings promising future in the Southeast, the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration and its partnership with industry leaders like RobMax will continue to be a factor in attracting businesses to the area, said J. Barry Mason, dean of the College. E

As technology takes an increasingly important role in industry, the Culverhouse College of Commerce is taking a leading role in the research and analysis of automated production.

E

>> F E a t u r E S t o r y>>

Students from more than 50 top universities, including The University of Alabamas Culverhouse School of Accountancy, met in New York City earlier this year to attend the third annual Ernst & Young Discover Tax event designed to expose minority students to the advantages of pursuing a career in tax. Ernst & Young held this event early in the year because it is so important to them, said Dr. Mary Stone, director of the Culverhouse School of Accountancy at UA. The three-day event included panel discussions, networking events and opportunities to speak one-on-one with firm leaders. Seventy-five percent of students who attended last years event received job offers from Ernst & Young, with a 95 percent acceptance rate. Through Discover Tax, we want to break some of the stereotypes associated with boring accounting and tax services by letting these highly talented minority students have a chance to hear directly from our people about what a career in tax is really like, said Chris Yamamoto, Ernst & Youngs Americas Tax People Leader. In addition to the Discover Tax event, Ernst & Young hosted a Campus Diversity and Inclusiveness Roundtable with business school faculty and administrators to discuss and share information. We talked at length about best practices in recruiting and retaining minority students and how to make minority students feel a part of the institution, Stone said. Stone said a highlight of the event for her was a presentation by Anthony K. Anderson, vice chair and managing partner for the Midwest area. Mr. Anderson pointed out that many businesses want to make sure that they are working with a diverse professional team because their clientele is diverse, she said. Stone said there is increasing research that shows diversity is beneficial to both employees and employers and, in many cases, increases productivity, flexibility and creativity in the workplace. Anderson is scheduled to visit the UA campus later this year to talk with administrators, faculty, staff and

students about the importance of diversity. In advance of the roundtable, Ernst & Young surveyed more than two dozen business school faculty participants. Highlights of the results include the following: Diversityandinclusivenessareimportanttoall

constituents within a University community. Survey participants understood diversity and inclusiveness to be very or critically important to employers (75 percent), university administrators (70 percent) and business school administrators (65 percent).

Attractingdiversefacultywasviewedasoneofthe greatest challenges in creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive environment; 60 percent of survey respondents reported that attracting diverse faculty was very or extremely challenging; 47 percent reported tenure for diverse faculty was very or extremely challenging.

About40percentfeltattractingandgraduatingdiverse students to the business school were very or extremely challenging.

A cross section of 24 faculty members from accounting department chairs to diversity administrators attended the roundtable, which included discussions on topics such as institutional commitment and accountability to diversity and inclusion, student recruitment and development, and best practices in faculty recruitment and development. Faculty representatives from the following schools attended the Campus Diversity and Inclusiveness Roundtable: Boston College, California State University-Northridge, Cornell University, DePaul University, Fordham University, Indiana University, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Pace University, Penn State University, SUNYBinghamton, Syracuse University, The University of Alabama, University of Georgia, University of Illinois, University of Maryland, University of Texas at Austin, University of Washington, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest University and York University.

Minority RecruitmentErnst & Young hosts tax event and roundtable discussion

1 0 c u l v e r h o u s e c o l l e g e o f c o m m e r c e s p r i n g 0 9 s u m m e r 0 9 c b a . u a . e d u 1 11 0 c u l v e r h o u s e c o l l e g e o f c o m m e r c e

The University of Alabamas Center for Economic Development (UCED) is in the second phase of a three-year project aimed at bringing eco-tourism and outdoor recreation to four rural counties in the west-central part of the state. The goal is to develop a strategy for nature and heritage tourism, enabling the creation of economic opportunities for jobs and business through eco-tourism and heritage-based outdoor recreation, said Nisa Miranda, director of the University Center for

Cahaba is currently being created that will include neighboring hospitality outlets such as restaurants, historical sites, and other points of interest for tourists. Interpretive signage and information have been developed for each of the gateway sites, which is the entry point into an area. These sites include Moundville Archaeological Park; Old Cahaba Historic site; the Cahaba River; and the Talladega National Forest, Oakmulgee District. A cell-phone-guided tour has been installed at the Moundville Archaeological Park and in Marion, Ala., in Perry County. William Wente, the VISTA staff assigned to Hale County said, After the initial test of the cell-phone-guided tour, I was so impressed with the publics participation that I suggested we implement the cell phone tours in the other counties as well. Plans are now underway to use the cell phone system to connect each of the four counties along the proposed tourism driving trails. This will allow the project organizers to collect and maintain visitor data for the counties, which will help the organizers develop eco-tourism and outdoor recreation for the area. Data has been compiled, and brochures are being developed depicting the top things to do and see in the four-county area. The information will include maps and driving trails to the various attractions.

Martha Whitson is a retired UA employee.

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Strategy for TourismUCED works with others on project to help four rural countiesBy Martha w. whitSon

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Economic Development. AmeriCorps VISTA; the USDA Forest Service, Oakmulgee District; the Bibb County Commission; the Alabama Historical Commission; the Perry County Chamber of Commerce; and the Moundville Archaeological Park are partners in the venture. Miranda said the project coincides with the Alabama Tourism Departments focus of supporting and organizing the Black Belt counties to achieve the National Heritage Area status. The National Heritage

Area program is administered by the National Park Service and makes the area eligible for substantial funding in federal and private grants. The University Center for Economic Development provides overall management of the project and works with several organizations in west-central Alabama in areas that have high poverty rates and little financial assets but are rich in historical and natural resources. The four Alabama counties targeted are Bibb, Hale, Dallas and Perry; all are rural, underdeveloped and poor. However, they each hold astounding natural features such as the Cahaba River, the Black Warrior River, national forests, state lands and a multitude of historic sites, Miranda said. Five members of AmeriCorps VISTA, the national service designed specifically to fight poverty, were selected to work on the project based on their specialized talents and strong aspiration to help others. The VISTA members were assigned to counties to work on specific objectives. Over the past year, the VISTA staff and sponsors from the four counties have worked together to provide technical assistance in determining the recreational tourism opportunities available in the project area. Katie Hoggle, the VISTA staff assigned to Perry County, said, I have seen a dramatic increase in home tours in the county since the project began, but I have been able to use volunteers to meet the demand. A key factor for the project has been to create sustainability by making sure there is a broad social and political coalition across the four-county area, Miranda said. We have focused on generating awareness and constructing the leadership base, not only with elected officials but with dedicated citizens throughout the counties, including teachers, students and local volunteers that represent an extensive variety of organizations, she said. The project organizers have developed theme-based driving trails such as civil rights history trails, historic home trails, Native American trails and birding trails. In addition, informational needs have been identified. Signage for locations throughout the counties have been developed using the Alabama Department of Transportation regulations. Brochures have been developed, and a Web site focusing on the lower

1 2 c u l v e r h o u s e c o l l e g e o f c o m m e r c e s p r i n g 0 9 s u m m e r 0 9 c b a . u a . e d u 1 3

then worked as an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland before heading to Tulsa. Gup is a news junkie who watches CNN, reads the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the Times of London to get the global perspective on the world of finance. He writes and edits early in the morning but said he works 247. What I enjoy is working on new things all the time new problems, new issues. I dont do the same thing over and over again. About the nations current financial problems, Gup said, I think the toughest part of the financial crisis has been resolved, and it now has become an economic crisis. Gup said he was a mediocre high school student who encountered a few problems his first try at higher education. I started out in industrial engineering and wound up in economics. Gup has been a licensed pilot since 1970 and now flies a Cessna 182. His wife is also a pilot, and both are active in the Civil Air Patrol. He describes himself as inquisitive, opinioned, outspoken and caring and would like to be remembered as a scholar, someone who helped students advance, to learn; someone who opened doors for these people to grow. He said J. Barry Mason, dean of the Culverhouse College of Commerce, is the best dean I have ever worked for, and Billy Helms is the best department head I have ever worked for. Both have been supportive and let you do research. Benton is a triple threat, Mason said. He has published at least one book a year for the past 25 or so years. He is an excellent classroom instructor, and he is sought out by governments and private sector organizations around the world for his expertise on banking and financial systems. I never know when I try to reach him whether he will be in Peru, Australia, Austria or testifying in Washington on such arcane issues as the Basel Accords. Truly, he is the rare Renaissance man. He has been the go-to person in the state for many years by the private sector on corporate banking issues. His energy, enthusiasm and goodwill are infectious.

Bill Gerdes is editor of The Executive.

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Dr. Benton Gup, Professor of FinanceRecipient of Midwest Finance Associations Lifetime Achievement Award is the rare Renaissance manBy B ill gErDES

>>

Benton Gup had just returned from four days in Vienna, Austria, and Athens, Greece, where he discussed the United States financial crisis with Austrian economists and finance experts, did a 40-minute PowerPoint presentation for more than 80 guests, did an interview with English language radio station FM4 and talked with the local newspaper, Die Presse, all at the behest of the U.S. State Department. So, how was the trip, Dr. Gup? Great, he said. I loved it. Gup is no stranger to such visits. Over the course of his career as a financial expert, lecturer, teacher and writer, Gup has visited about 30 foreign countries. For his work, writing and research, Gup, professor of finance and holder of the Robert Hunt Cochran/Alabama Bankers Chair of Banking at The University of Alabama, has been named the third recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Midwest Finance Association, which he received in March. I am very humbled by that, Gup said. He holds a doctorate in economics from the University of Cincinnati, as well as a masters degree in business administration and a bachelors degree with honors. Gup joined the faculty at the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration in 1983, following 13 years at the University of Tulsa. He has also served as an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Gup has been a visiting professor or research scholar at universities around the world and at the

U.S. Comptroller of the Currency. He has been called on numerous times by the U.S. Department of State to share his expertise with foreign governments. He is a member of eight professional financial associations and is a prolific author and editor. One of his more recent books, Too Big to Fail: Policies and Practices in Government Bailouts, is much in demand. He has published or edited 28 books, with two forthcoming, and has contributed to dozens of others. In addition, he has published or contributed to articles in most major financial journals and is frequently called on to make presentations at professional meetings around the world. Dr. Billy Helms, head of the economics, finance and legal studies department at the Culverhouse College of Commerce, said Gup has been at the forefront of the teaching of modern finance since he has been at The University of Alabama. He always kept his focus on issues that had a material effect on the current business environment, Helms said. His numerous books have been concerned with topics that captured the attention of the policymakers who were struggling with issues that had both national and international significance. Everyone respects him for his energy and his persistence in writing about issues in finance. Gups first job was as a stockbroker in a Cincinnati firm, where he worked in options and took care of the firms error accounts. After three years, he returned to the University of Cincinnati to earn his doctorate and Dr . BEnton gup


Target PracticeStudents apply classroom learning to real businessBy carMEn Brown

>>

They havent yet left the Capstone, but seniors in Dr. Rob Morgans strategic marketing class at the Culverhouse College of Commerce have already learned to develop cutting-edge, progressive business strategies by participating in Targets Case Studies competition. Now in its second year, Targets Case Studies give college students the chance to apply what they learn in the classroom to a Target business opportunity. The case studies presented show students who are looking to be future business professionals the problems that corporations such as Target must deal with in a competitive market. The program also encourages students to implement a semesters worth of material

into developing new marketing, business and public relations strategies. We brainstormed some ideas about how we could give back to the students, and we came up with the Target Case Study, Target Group campus recruiter Liz Poppe said. This is a real-world business challenge where students will get a better understanding of the retail industry and the complexities within that industry. Linda Johnson, director of employer development and employer relations for the College, arranged the case studies competition for Morgans class. The competition kicked off with students viewing the exclusive Target Brand DVD, which presented

>> c o v E r S t o r y

l E F t t o r i g h t: c r y S ta l l E E , c a S S y M at h i S , l a u r E n g i v h a n a n D c h r i S t i n a M a r t i n

( c o n t i n u E D o n p a g E 1 6 )


can be incorporated into a business, its supply chain, facility and product, Mathis said. As far as the strategic marketing class, we each had previously already completed three other individual group-case analyses, so we already had a good idea of what we were looking for and what type of recommendations should be made. These recommendations included free samples and in-store displays as ways to sell eco-friendly products in the personal-care area. Team members also suggested a green cause promotion. For instance, for every $1 a customer spends, 10 cents would be donated to a chosen green company. The Sustainability group came up with recommendations that included products, campaigns and a green rating system. First, the group conceptualized Target Green products. Similar to the Publix Greenwise brand, Target Green products would be placed throughout the store to get the most recognition. To go along with Target Green, the group

also suggested brands made from recycled paper.

The group also recommended that Target implement a Green Rating System to show the green qualities of the products they offer. This rating system would be based on three things: ingredients (whether they are natural, organic or environmentally friendly); whether the packaging is recyclable;

and whether the vendors supply chain adheres to

environmental regulations. The group suggested a small

graphic, such as a leaf, to symbolize each attribute of the

rating system accomplished. This would be placed on the price display

on the shelf. The group also developed an Aim for Green campaign. As part of

the campaign, a green target symbol could be placed on the price sign to alert customers to

green products, with the overall result of saving time for the consumer. The group won over Target executives because the ideas were easy to implement and would benefit Targets business. One thing we looked for is whether it is something we can put into effect now, Burts said. Thats what stood out about the Sustainability group. Carly Rogoff, a senior majoring in marketing, was a member of the runner-up group, Technology and the Grocery Guest. The team presented innovations to help make Target the one stop shop for consumers. We researched all over the Internet to see what competitors were doing to differentiate themselves. In addition, we looked at all types of technology and which ones would be most beneficial to Targets goal, Rogoff said. The group focused on LPDA technology, a device that uses specially designed radio systems to allow

information on Targets corporate culture, merchandising, marketing and leadership tactics. Target also presented Morgan with 15 white papers on the various topics his students could analyze. Target executives later visited The University of Alabama to conduct one-hour question-and-answer sessions with each of the 11 groups in Morgans class. We do case studies a lot in our upper division classes because it gives students a chance to apply what they learn to real-world problems, Morgan said. This was better because the reps actually came here in person to talk to each group about the issues surrounding the topics they chose. After watching all 11 group presentations in November, Morgan said he had the overwhelming task of choosing the top five groups to make presentations to Target representatives at the end of the semester. The top five groups he chose were Technology and the Grocery Shopper, Sustainability, How to Reach the Urban Consumer, Changing Demographics and Reaching the Hispanic Consumer. Six regional Target executives came from New Orleans and Birmingham in November to judge the presentations, including Poppe and Tommia Burts, Group recruiter specialist. Target executives judged each group based on written presentation, oral presentation, and creativity and originality. After a close battle between Sustainability and Technology and the Grocery Shopper, the executives awarded first place to Sustainability. The Sustainability group consisted of marketing students Lauren Givhan, Crystal Lee, Christina Martin and Cassy Mathis. The group had the responsibility for showing Target executives how the company can fulfill the guests desire to support environmental sustainability through its product offerings. The group also showed Target creative ways to communicate its commitment to sustainability to their guests. Sustainability team members visited the local Target store to take pictures and become more familiar with the sustainable product offerings that Target already carries. After researching what they called the sustainable guest, team members suggested ways to use labeling to designate sustainable products from traditional ones. I was in charge of researching how sustainability

Target employees to search for products throughout the store. The group presented ways the technology could be used by Target guests. We wanted to implement a kiosk in which guests would be able to search for products they cannot find on their own, Rogoff said. For instance, guests would type in black olives, and the system would pull up everything about the product, including location, quantity, nutrition facts, price, different brands and promotions. The group also discussed the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on products to help determine consumer-purchasing activity, solve inventory inaccuracies and reduce labor costs. It also helps manufacturers track exactly what products have sold through the supply chain at fully discounted prices. Each tag will probably cost about $11, even its only on a 60-cent drink, Morgan said. But many companies think that it would be worth the money to determine what consumers are buying and their preferences. What was intriguing about this group was they really did research into technological trends and how we can use them, Poppe said. Its feasible that we could implement some of this in the next five years. Each member of the winning Sustainability group received a $1,000 scholarship from Target, but students agreed the overall experience was invaluable. Mathis said the class project was different from any other case analysis because she realized her potential to make a difference in a business environment. Target presented us with a chance to bring about rational, strategic thinking in order to cultivate actionable recommendations to benefit Target as a business, Mathis said. I came away from this whole experience with a profound amount of respect for the business school at Alabama and all of the professors that have helped prepare us for this last course. E

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A Lot of Bang for the BucksProfessor wins third place in competition with his idea for teaching students how to start a business with $10

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Ten bucks wont get you much in this day and age, but it got Craig Armstrong a third-place finish in the prestigious 3E Learning Innovative Entrepreneurial Ideas Competition in Anaheim, Calif., earlier this year. The competition is an opportunity for educators to share their most innovative ideas for teaching students about entrepreneurship, small-business management, new venture creation and their related skills. Armstrong is an assistant professor of entrepreneurship in the department of management and marketing at the Culverhouse College of Commerce. His research includes exploring entrepreneurial decision making, small-firm strategies and entrepreneurial education. He is also the faculty-in-residence at the Universitys Friedman Hall, an experiential dormitory that emphasizes innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship The idea that placed third was the $10 business. Students in Alabamas entrepreneurship program are challenged to start a business in their first entrepreneurship course, MGT 386 Foundations of Entrepreneurship. Armstrong improved on this idea and challenged his students by limiting their startup capital to only $10. Some students chose to fund the businesses themselves, while others took a $10 loan from the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute Micro Loan Fund to found their businesses. Even with such a limited budget, the ideas for businesses ranged from the traditional to the highly unusual. The most profitable business in Armstrongs class earned more than $2,200 making framed displays and magnets out of used wine corks. However, most every student turned a profit, and the average profit for a business was $200.

Professor Armstrong is one of our best teachers, said Dr. Lou Marino, the entrepreneurship program coordinator. Students were very excited by the project. Many had never started a business or even had a job prior to this project. They enjoyed the opportunity to put the knowledge they gained in the classroom to the test in the real world. Armstrong received his doctorate in strategic management from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a masters degree in business administration, with a concentration in finance and entrepreneurship, from the University of Maryland. He also holds three other masters degrees: mineral resource ecology, Colorado School of Mines; public health, Tulane University; and health services administration, Central Michigan University. He has a bachelors degree in chemistry from Kent State University. Before coming to UA, Armstrong was a visiting instructor at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. Armstrong worked for 17 years in private industry and also worked with the U.S. Army and Department of Energy. Armstrong presented his idea to a standing-room-only crowd when the finalists of the 3E Learning Innovative Entrepreneurial Ideas Competition gathered to present their ideas to educators from across the United States. Schools from Washington, D.C. to California were represented. The ideas presented included an in-class networking event to develop future entrepreneurs skills at assessing potential investors and a series of team projects with teams competing to show they are the best at some entrepreneurial task. In second place was the Entrepreneur Fast-Pitch by Dr. Richard Sudek from Claremont Graduate University. In this activity, students read the transcripts of 60-second pitches by real-life entrepreneurs and evaluate which they found the best. They then watch the pitches given by the entrepreneurs, rating them again. The similarities and discrepancies create the foundational basis for in-class discussion about communication and passions for a business idea. The grand prizewinner of the 3E Learning Competition was Dr. Steven Gedeon of Ryerson University with an approach to negotiations in which students are given a list of negotiation goals for either selling a company or setting a CEO compensation package. The students receive an overview of negotiation prior to being thrust into their discussions. Gedeon noted that many of his students find the exercise reveals areas of weakness in their negotiation skills, no matter how strong they are upon entering the class.


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with the people of Appalachia to promote economic development, develop infrastructure and manage health care projects. One of Harbisons passions is addressing the health needs of the rural poor, and one of his responsibilities with the ARC involves improving oral health in West Virginia. Harbison initiated a $500,000 oral health care program for the rural poor that linked children in the area to dentists and dental hygienists. The U.S.-Ireland Alliance noted Harbisons work in West Virginia in announcing his selection. Health care runs in the Harbison family. His mother is a nurse. Health care is something I have always been around, and I thought about going into the medical field, Harbison said. But I decided that I could have the biggest impact on the administrative and policy side. While an undergraduate at UA, Harbison served as founder and president of UAs College Against Cancer chapter and created the Tobacco Kit, a tool designed to assist campuses in the adoption and enforcement of smoke-free policies. He was subsequently appointed national advocacy chair for the organization, overseeing the work of more than 350 chapters. Harbison served as an intern with Alabama State Treasurer Kay Ivey in 2005 and got a taste of public service, including acting as liaison to the Alabama Black Belt Action Commission health committee. He was a member of the Advanced Business Honors Program and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma business honorary. At the 2007 Honors Day, he was tapped into all four senior honoraries including the Anderson Society, Mortar Board, Blue Key and ODK. He received the UA National Alumni Associations Outstanding Senior Award and was named to the 2008 USA Today All-USA Today College Academic Team. He said the education he has received at The University of Alabama and at the Culverhouse College of Commerce has been top-notch. The University and the College has prepared me not only academically but for real-life situations, he said, noting that Dr. Marilyn Whitman, director of the business schools health care management program, and Dr. Robert Halli, founding dean of the Honors College, have been particularly helpful. Harbison said he plans to return to Alabama following his time in Ireland to apply what he has learned in the rural areas of his home state.

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Hes Done It AgainUAS Adam Harbison wins George J. Mitchell Scholarship to go with his 2008 Truman Scholarship

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A total of 12 Mitchell Scholars between the ages of 18 and 30 are chosen annually for one year of postgraduate study in any discipline offered by institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Applicants are judged on three criteria: academic excellence, leadership and a sustained commitment to service and community. The Mitchell Scholarship provides tuition, housing, a living-expenses stipend and an international travel stipend. The Mitchell scholars were selected after a rigorous application process that drew 300 applications from more than 150 colleges and universities across the country. The process culminated in a final interview before a selection committee composed of eminent leaders from many fields. Harbison will leave for the Emerald Isle in September 2009 and will spend a year working in the countrys rural areas while studying at Queens University Belfast. I am really excited about this opportunity, Harbison said. Ireland is really progressive in this area. The country does a lot for its rural communities. They look across borders and look at everything holistically. They look at everything together. I am really looking forward to learning about it all. Harbison is a Truman-Albright Fellow working in Washington, D.C., with the Appalachian Regional Commission, a federal-state partnership that works E

Chalk up another prestigious scholarship for The University of Alabamas Adam Harbison. Harbison, a 2008 UA graduate from Crane Hill who majored in health care management (4.0 GPA) and earned a minor in political science (3.983 GPA), has won one of 12 George J. Mitchell Scholarships offered for study in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Harbison last year was named the only Truman Scholar from Alabama, one of only 65 nationally. The George J. Mitchell Scholarship is a national competitive fellowship sponsored by the U.S.-Ireland Alliance. The Mitchell Scholarship, named to honor the former U.S. senators pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process, is designed to introduce and connect generations of future American leaders to the island of Ireland, while recognizing and fostering intellectual achievement, leadership and a commitment to public service and community.

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Raising AwarenessEmeritus Committee focuses on international issuesBy t i FFany Founta in

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A couple of octogenarians and a septuagenarian are raising campus awareness about international issues of critical importance to Alabama and the nation. They are known as The Emeritus Committee on International Strategic Studies, and they are retired University of Alabama professors, two of them from the Culverhouse College of Commerce. The members of the committee are Eric Baklanoff, 83, Board of Visitors Research Professor of Economics; Enrique Ruiz-Fornells, 83, emeritus research professor of Spanish; and Trevor Bain, 77, emeritus economics professor. A few months ago, the chairman of the committee, Dr. John Bickley, professor of finance and a world famous traveler and figure in the insurance industry, passed away, leaving the committee with three members. Along with Bickley, Baklanoff and Ruiz-Fornells, an additional founding member of the

committee was Edward Moseley, who died in 2005. Bain stepped in as the new member after Moseley died. The committee has practical implications for what I teach, said Bain, who still teaches a class in economics at the University. The committee functions as a catalyst, organizer and sponsor of symposia, conferences, grant proposals and small discussion sessions, while serving under the supervision of the provost and vice president of academic affairs. They also have the support of the University and J. Barry Mason, dean of the Culverhouse College of Commerce. Each has decades of teaching experience under his belt, and while they have all retired, they have not stopped working. While the committee was established to benefit the University, it is evident in talking to members of the group that the work benefits them as well. It is

rewarding to run into former students whether on Saturdays at a football game or in other countries, said Bain. In March 2007, with the Andes Mountains as a backdrop, the Emeritus Committee led a joint symposium at the Universidad Tecnolgica Metropolitana (UTEM) in Santiago, Chile. The Chilean symposium, titled Converging Development: Exploring Economic and Academic ties between Chile and the USA, was organized by The University of Alabama and UTEM, and was sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Santiago through the Economic Commission for Latin America. The Emeritus Committee lined up faculty from the UA business school to lecture at the symposium, including Dr. Billy Helms, head of the department of finance; Dr. James Cover, professor of economics; Dr. Benton Gup, professor of finance; and Dr. Chad Hilton, associate professor of managerial communication and director of international business programs. Chile and the United States are alike in many ways. Although Chiles economy is significantly smaller than the economy of the United States, it is ranked first among Latin American countries in economic freedom. Chile also emphasizes voting rights, free speech and transparent elections. But the tie that binds the two universities and made last years symposium important is that both countries aim for improved lives for their citizens, sustained growth and poverty reduction through trade. Hilton and Baklanoff were integral in the orchestration of the Chilean conference. Hilton and Jane Stanfield, associate provost for international business education and global outreach, have connected The University of Alabama and the Universidad Tecnolgica Metropolitana through a virtual global classroom. In 2004, the Culverhouse College of Commerce began pairing with other universities in real time by video connection. The virtual classroom was created with a Department of Education grant secured by Stanfield. The global classroom has allowed students to connect with colleges in England, Africa and Chile. Stanfield also started an English language program within the virtual global course. Hilton said the program has now developed into a true face-to-face exchange of knowledge and ideas. While the global class in Britain has faded, Chiles has remained strong. Chile was an extremely enthusiastic partner on the project, and they have stayed with it for the last four years, Hilton said. Students at The University of Alabama can take an exploratory class with lectures by Chilean scholars and politicians, and in return, Chilean students receive content lectures on business from UA professors. Some of the professors who have participated are Dr.

Diane Johnson, professor of management; Dr. James Cashman, professor of management; and Hilton. In Chile, participating professors have included Patricio Olivares, Jorge Valenzuela and Roberto Pasten. The relationship between UTEM and UA is the latest effort by the Emeritus Committee. The committee arranged two prior symposia. The first, Competing for Latin American Markets: A Business Perspective on the Spanish-American War Centennial, was held in 1998. The Culverhouse College of Commerce hosted the session, which featured the Spanish Ambassador to the United States, the honorable Antonio Oyarzabal, delivering the keynote address. Two years later, the Emeritus Committee held its second symposium, this one on The Trilateral Relationship: Spain, Latin America and the United States. The second conference was held on the campus of the University of Alcal. Founded in 1499, Alcal is one of the oldest and best-known institutions in Spain and is recognized by the United Nations as a World Heritage University. Since 1994, a summer program for UA students has been conducted at Alcal, evidence of the close relationship the two universities have shared for years. At a point in their lives when leisure could be the only pressing concern of the day, the three committee members continue to champion issues and topics important to Culverhouse College of Commerce and the University as a whole, and they show no signs of stopping. How else would we spend our time? I enjoy remaining involved, Baklanoff said. E

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Summits and ConferencesC&BA helps lead efforts to cope with economic crisis

It has been the season of summits and conferences as business professionals from around Alabama ponder the future of the economy and what steps to take to mitigate the financial damage. The Culverhouse College of Commerce, underscoring its role as a leader in the regional, national and global economies, has been and is at the forefront of the efforts. First, Culverhouse teamed with the Business Council of Alabama to present the 2008

Economic Summit for Alabama Leaders in October at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel. The half-day event, which closed with a luncheon program featuring Gov. Bob Riley, included presentations from a number of economic experts, including Michael J. Chriszt, assistant vice president for research with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; Neal Wade, director of the Alabama Development Office; John D. Harrison, superintendent of

the Alabama Banking Department; Sherry Dinges, president of the Alabama Association of Realtors; and William J. Canary, president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama. Economic summits have been shown to be valuable tools for bringing into focus key economic indicators and trends, and how our resources can be used to develop opportunities for sustained, long-term growth, said J. Barry Mason, dean of the Culverhouse College of Commerce. Our mission stresses cooperation, collaboration and partnerships, and this summit supported each of those concepts. Three more major conferences and summits followed in January. The first was the 2009 Economic Outlook Conference, presented annually by the Center for Business and Economic Research. More than 150 business leaders from around the state heard economists predict that Alabamas economy may fare better than the national economy, but the picture was hardly rosy.

Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist for IHS Global Insight, said that his firm projects the U.S. economy will shrink by 2.5 percent in 2009. He projected that employment nationwide would fall 2.6 percent in 2009, followed by no change in 2010. While its now a known fact that the nation is experiencing the worst recession since the Great Depression, it might not end until much of the banking system is in the hands of the federal government, Gault said. Other speakers at the conference, held at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel in Montgomery, were Samuel N. Addy, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at The University of Alabama, and Jorge Sicilia, chief economist of BBVA Bancomer. Neal Wade, the director of the Alabama Development Office, was the keynote speaker. Addy, who gave a somewhat brighter outlook of Alabamas economy, said the states jobless rate will likely bottom out in the first quarter of 2009. There

will still be job losses, but they will be much lower, he said. Less than a week after the conference in Montgomery, nearly 500 business people gathered at the Bryant Conference Center on The University of Alabama campus to attend the 2009 West Alabama Economic Summit presented by the Culverhouse College of Commerce and the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce. The Birmingham summit was a history-making event, Mason said. It was our feeling that as the premier business school in the state and a major economic engine,

especially for West Alabama, it was our duty to team with the chamber of West Alabama to bring West Alabama business leaders together to provide insight on where this area is positioned in these dangerous economic times. West Alabama may be in better financial shape than many other areas, but we have to be vigilant. Gov. Bob Riley, the keynote speaker, urged West Alabama officials to work together to bring new industry to the area. If you work together, you will be more effective when you come to Montgomery seeking assistance, he said. When you have a delegation

with two, three, four counties with the mayors, county commissioners and legislative delegation all on board, it is hard to ignore. You will have more respect and more authority. Two days after the West Alabama summit, the Alabama Center for Real Estate held its Alabama Commercial Real Estate Conference at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. More than 400 real estate professionals attended the event. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. David Bronner, head of the Retirement Systems of Alabama. He advised postponing any major

commercial real estate decisions for a few months to allow time to fully assess the recession and determine how the Obama administration plans to handle it. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, said the Birmingham commercial real estate market has not been hit as hard as markets in other cities, and that it will probably be the third quarter of 2009 and into 2010 before things turn around. Yun said he thinks gross domestic product, the consumer price index and unemployment would continue to increase into 2010.

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Going the Extra MileCulverhouses Career Center Satellite Office helps students stand out in tough economic times

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Business students at the Capstone who are nearing graduation know they must go the extra mile to stand out in their fields. But in todays rough economic times, students entering the business world have to go a few extra miles, sometimes thousands, to truly stand out. For these students the journey begins at home, with a step into the Career Center Satellite Office for the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, located in 250 Bidgood Hall. They have their rsums critiqued, receive assistance with job searches and land internships to put them at the forefront of their fields upon graduation. Susan Cowles, senior career consultant and manager of the Career Center Satellite Office for the business school, said many students and alumni have a misconception that they wont be able to find successful employment due to the increase in downsizing and layoffs. She said that staff members work with students to make sure they are prepared for what awaits them in an often tough, cutthroat environment. The jobs are still there. Its just a lot more competitive, Cowles said. Were here to help students and alumni market themselves by providing internships in addition to helping them with things like interviewing and business etiquette to make sure they have that competitive edge.

Career Center Satellite Office staff members often speak to classes and student organizations about job searches, planning for graduate school and encouraging students to pay a visit. Cowles said the strong point of the College of Commerce Career Center Satellite Office is the relationship of staff members with faculty who are able to stress the importance of the services to their students. Cowles said many students come in after their professors have given them an assignment to have their rsums critiqued or after a staff member has visited a class to encourage them to visit. Diana Andrews said she never thought a simple class assignment, which prompted her to visit the Career Center Satellite Office, would lead to the opportunity of a lifetime. Dr. James Cashman, professor of management, gave students in his Management 300 class an extra credit opportunity, which required them to compose their rsums, create an account with CrimsonCareers and have their rsums, critiqued by career center staff. As a result of her assignment, Andrews was eventually offered an internship with Eli Lilly as a summer sales representative intern, an experience she described as unbelievable. Andrews learned firsthand about the value of networking when, while working on her extra-credit assignment, she attended a dinner hosted by the business schools Career Center Satellite Office. The ( c o n t i n u E D o n p a g E 2 8 )

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event featured Tony Murphy, vice president of human resources for Eli Lilly and Co., as guest speaker. It gave me the chance to speak with others in a more business setting, and it made me intrigued with this company, Andrews said. While reading about its history as a company, the reasons why they develop the drugs they develop, I became interested in the company and felt the values this company held true in what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a part of the companys history. Andrews learned the Career Center Satellite Office was helping Eli Lilly and Co. recruit students for its

Linda Johnson, director of employer development and relations for the Culverhouse College of Commerce, said business students can also be proactive in their job search by using CrimsonCareers, the Universitys online system that helps both students and employers access recruiting services available with the career center. Through this system, students can search for jobs and internships, manage rsums and job applications, sign up for interviews and RSVP for career center events. Johnson said her role is to help employers get connected to the College in order to recruit students interested in internships and employment with a particular firm. Just a few of the leading companies she works with include Coach, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Coca-Cola. We offer so many good opportunities for students to find out about different companies and organizations, through career fairs or just having someone from the company come speak to a class or organization, Johnson said. Theyre really looking for good students and want to connect with them. CareerBeam, Interview Stream and Optimal Resume are three recent online additions to career center services that use innovative technology to help students make sure they are ready to shine in a competitive environment. Tiffany Goodin, career consultant at the Career Center Satellite Office, said CareerBeam began in 2003 and was marketed by word of mouth until 2006, when the UA Career Center got on board. CareerBeam offers students and alumni the opportunity to conduct research on industries and organizations. Goodin described it as a virtual career success center, meaning it offers assistance on many aspects of the career-

planning process, from assessing interests, skills and values to learning job-search techniques and researching employers. The employer-researching tool is one of the main interest areas to our office because we think it is so valuable, Goodin said. According to CareerBeams Web site, the office provides access to research 15 million organizations, 20 million industry contacts, in-depth industry profiles, detailed occupational intelligence, and companies in over 70 different countries. It also has a job-search database, powered by CareerBuilder. Another wonderful attribute of CareerBeam is that because it is virtual, students and alumni do not even need to be on campus to utilize some of our services, Goodin said. We want students to come to our office, but we realize office hours are not convenient to everyone, particularly people who live or study out of state. InterviewStream is a new virtual interviewing system that helps students record practice interviews and use them as a tool for critiquing their own interviewing skills. InterviewStream also offers videos with tips on interviewing from experts. Students can participate in a general interview or customize it by choosing specific questions. Mary Loyd Lowrey, assistant director of career education and development for the UA Career Center, said the office began offering InterviewStream a few years ago when it was under the name RezFusion, and the office began Optimal Resume, an online rsum-building system, almost two years ago. Lowrey said both services have grown significantly due to word of mouth. Students appear to be more interested in using a rsum builder than a virtual mock interview system, Lowrey said. However, our numbers show that they are also more likely to schedule a rsum critique than a mock interview. Johnson and Cowles both agreed that more alumni have been contacting them recently because of the economic trends. Alumni utilize our services if theyre in the middle of a job change and they need assistance from us, Cowles said. For instance, Optimal Resume is a good resource if theyve been out in the work world and want to keep track of their experiences. For students and alumni who may be facing an uncertain future, Johnson offered some advice based on her many years of working in human resources. Be focused and be persistent, Johnson said. You cant expect to apply for two jobs and get one of the two. Keep your options open to the many opportunities that are out there for you. E

A total of 3,328 students and alumni have visited the Culverhouse Career Center Satellite Office since fall 2005.

Typically, 500600 students and alumni visit the Culverhouse Career Center Satellite each semester.

Of the total number of students participating in on-campus interviews, 58 percent were business students in fall 2008.

At the 200708 career fairs, the Culverhouse students made up 72 percent of attendees for the general interest fair and 30 percent for the technical and engineering fair.

There currently are 2,330 business students registered on CrimsonCareers.

In 200607 there were 898 graduates and 701 on-campus interviews from Culverhouse.

In 200708 there were 972 graduates and 874 on-campus interviews from Culverhouse.


summer internship program. But before applying for the interview, Andrews made an appointment with the Career Center Satellite Office to have her rsum critiqued and to ask general questions about the interviewing process. I was amazed and impressed with the professional and welcoming atmosphere in this office, Andrews said. Every person I met in the office embraced me with a smile on their face and a desire to truly help me succeed. If it wasnt for the career center and one of my business professors, I would have never known about this spectacular opportunity.

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Faculty and Staff NewsRead about awards and other items of interest

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UA Grads Dissertation Named 2009 Dissertation of the Year at AAA MeetingA doctoral dissertation written by Culverhouse School of Accountancy graduate Jonathan D. Stanley has been named the 2009 Dissertation of the Year at the American Accounting Association Auditing Section Midyear Conference in St. Petersburg, Fla. Stanley, of Greenville, Ala., received his bachelors degree in accounting in 1999 from The University of Alabama, his masters in 2000 in tax accounting and his doctorate in 2007. He received the J.L. Bedsole Memorial Endowed Scholarship at the University and previously worked with Ernst & Young as an auditor and a tax consultant. He is an assistant professor in the School of Accountancy and Legal Studies at Clemson University. He received the 2009 Outstanding Auditing Dissertation Award for his dissertation, An Examination of Unexpected Audit Fees as an Indicator of Distressed Clients Business Risk. Dr. Todd DeZoort, professor of accounting and Accounting Advisory Board Fellow, chaired the dissertation. Stanleys theory is that because auditors do not publically disclose the results of their audits, an examination of the audit fees may give stockholders insight into the health of the client company. Client firms exposed to higher business risks are at greater risk of lacking the resources necessary for preparing reliable reports and face pressure to intentionally bias the reports to conceal declining performance, Stanley writes. Therefore the increased risk of misstatements motivates the auditor to conduct more costly procedures to achieve an acceptable level of audit risk and to charge a premium if the additional audit investment is insufficient to cover residual costs.

Professors Publish BookDr. Charles Leathers and Dr. Patrick Raines, professor of economics and dean of the College of Business Administration at Belmont University, recently published Debt, Innovations, and Deflation. The book deals with economic theories of how debt and innovations create situations of deflation. We thought we were doing a historical analysis of what happened in 200103 when the Federal Reserve was worried about deflation. Turns out that the current financial and economic crisis made it even more relevant to what is happening now, Leathers said. Leathers and Raines have been frequent collaborators. Raines earned his bachelors degree, masters degree, and doctorate in economics from The University of Alabama, where he also played center on the football teams coached by Paul Bryant. Leathers is a professor of economics. He earned his bachelors degree in economics at Central State University and his masters degree and doctorate from the University of Oklahoma.

Professors Article RecognizedDr. Alexander E. Ellinger, associate professor of marketing and supply chain management, and Dr. George P. Franke, professor and J. Reese Phifer Jr. Fellow of Marketing, received the Best Paper Award for Antecedents and Consequences of Frontline Service Employees: Commitment to Service Quality. The article appeared in the Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice. Dr. Ayse Banu Elmadag of the department of operations management at Istanbul Technical University, who earned his doctorate in marketing from the Manderson Graduate School of Business, also contributed to the paper.

Houston New Co-editor of Current Issues in AuditingDr. Richard Houston, associate professor of accounting, is the new co-editor of Current Issues in Auditing. Current Issues in Auditing is published twice a year by the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association. Houston will work with Scott Showalter of KPMG LLP, who has agreed to continue as co-editor. Current Issues in Accounting is devoted to advancing the dialog between academics and practitioners on current issues facing the auditing practice community. The journal is published online. Houston earned his bachelors degree from Washington and Lee University and his masters degree in business administration and doctorate from Indiana University.

Glaze Awarded CCIM DesignationGrayson Glaze, executive director of the Alabama Center for Real Estate at The University of Alabama, has been awarded the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation by the CCIM Institute, one of the leading commercial real estate associations in the world. Glaze was among the group of commercial real estate professionals who earned the designation by passing the institutes comprehensive examination, the final element in the designation process. The CCIM designation is awarded to commercial real estate professionals upon successful completion of a graduate-level education curriculum and presentation of a portfolio of qualifying industry experience. The curriculum addresses financial analysis, market analysis, user-decision analysis and investment analysis. CCIMs are recognized experts in commercial real estate brokerage, leasing, asset management, valuation and investment analysis. The CCIM business network encompasses 1,000 markets throughout North America, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. Of the estimated 150,000 commercial real estate practitioners in North America, more than 9,500 currently hold the CCIM designation. CCIM designees include professionals who work in brokerage, investment and development, the corporate

environment, property management, appraisal and related segments of commercial real estate. An additional 9,500 professionals are pursuing the designation as institute candidates. The Chicago-based CCIM Institute is an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors and is the governing body of the largest commercial real estate network in the world.

West Named Chair of the Board of Trustees for Executive MBA CouncilSusan Carver West, assistant dean and head of The University of Alabamas Manderson Graduate School of Business, has been named chair of the board of trustees for the Executive MBA Council. This recognition is a strong testament to the quality of Susan Wests leadership, said J. Barry Mason, dean of the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration. It also is indicative of the high regard in which she is held by her colleagues and enhances the national profile of the program. The Executive MBA Council, started in 1943 and headquartered in Orange, Calif., has more than 200 colleges and universities as members and was organized to promote excellence and innovation in Executive MBA programs worldwide. The Executive MBA Council also sponsors several research initiatives. The data helps schools understand student preferences and benchmark their practices. Return on investment research helps show what the degree really means to students and their organizations. West spent 12 years in industry that included the commercial insurance industry and the textile industry. Her roles included business development, e-commerce, strategic planning, and mergers and acquisitions. She serves as an executive board member of UAs Tuscaloosa County Alumni Association, is on the leadership team at Capstone Church, is a member of Young Leaders Council, is a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, and is a committee chair for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, marketing, front-end e-commerce, and Web design. E


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Bailout of Auto Industry Would Affect All SectorsTheres not a single sector of the economy that would not be impacted (if the Big Three automakers ceased operating), J. Barry Mason, dean of the College, said. (The Tuscaloosa News, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008) Its not just Tuscaloosa; its all across the state. Dr. James Cashman, professor of management and a long-time observer of the auto industry, said the Big Threes troubles could actually be good news for Alabama, with its foreign-based auto factories and related suppliers. In some twisted way, it reduces the competition for the vehicles that are produced here, Cashman said. Those purchases not going for autos produced by the Big Three will have to go somewhere and that somewhere is here. It will have a net positive effect on suppliers. Cashman was quoted in another issue on the relationship between automakers and the dealers. (The Tuscaloosa News, Jan. 20, 2009) Cashman said he expects more dealerships will end their franchises as the Big Three automakers push for fewer dealers. Ford is forcing a lot of Lincoln-Mercury dealers to go out of business, Cashman said.

In the NewsC&BA faculty provide insight on various issuesMembers of the faculty at the Culverhouse College of Commerce have always been a frequent source of information for the media, but the current economic crisis has brought about an even greater demand. See what some of our faculty have said.

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In the Birmingham News, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008, Cashman said that when it comes to suppliers, the states auto sector clearly shares interdependencies with Detroit. We cant just whistle while all of these other problems take place, Cashman said.But he added that the states supplier base has strong ties to Alabamas foreign automakers. Those automakers have a long track record of relying heavily on elements from their own cultures, he said, citing South Koreas Hyundai as an example. Many Korean suppliers followed when the automaker built an assembly plant in Montgomery, setting up their own state operations in the area. And for good measure, Cashman was also featured in a video aired on Al-Jazeera English television about the state of the American auto industry.

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Dr . jaMES caShMan


Banks Affected by Crisis Finance professor Dr. Benton Gup, author of several books about banking, has been interviewed about the economic crisis by numerous media outlets, among them a Vienna radio station, Wisconsin Public Radio, Bloomberg Radio, CNET News and The Los Angeles Times.

Retailers Might Change Expansion PlansDr. Kristy Reynolds, Bruno associate professor of retailing, told the Montgomery Advertiser ( Jan. 4, 2009) that national chain retailers, the so-called big-box stores, may have to rethink their formula for deciding how many stores to put in a mar ket if the economy remains soft. It is possible, she said, for a retailer to reach market saturation in a specific area. When that happens, the stores start to take custom ers from other stores in the same chain, not just from competitors. The stores themselves generally treat strategic plans as proprietary inform ation. Each chain has its own formula for determin ing what population and demographics are needed to support an outlet, but those formulas are closely guard ed secrets, Reynolds said. Most retailers use those kinds of models, she said. The recently declared recession is likely to change the models for at least some retailers, she added. Reynolds was also featured in a Tuscaloosa News article (Feb. 1) about using the commercials aired during the Super Bowl to teach her marketing students lessons they might use in future careers. You will see a lot of advertising campaign kickoffs from companies like General Electric, Coca-Cola, Dennys and Anheuser-Busch, Reynolds said. Time is money when it comes to Super Bowl commercials. Advertisers will pay $100,000 per second to air their commercials on NBC during the game, Reynolds said.

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Spec Home Market Risky

Dr. Leonard Zumpano, real estate professor, said builders take huge risks in the spec home market today. (Montgomery Advertiser, Nov. 12, 2008) The inventory of homes, both new and existing, is so large, he said. It is a very soft market. Financing was key in getting the industry into the problem and will be essential in solving it, Zumpano said. He said as long as foreclosure numbers remain high, home prices will be unsteady and builders will have no incentive to put up new properties. Zumpano said the biggest hope right now is a combination of the banking bailout plan and promises by more banks to work with at-risk borrowers to mitigate bad loans. I think you will start to see foreclosures come down sometime in early 2009, he said. Zumpano agreed the subdivisions likely will rebound once the industry comes back. Those places will fill up in time, he said, noting most have pre-construction infrastructure in place. They just arent making any more land. A diverse economy helped boost Birminghams housing market while much of the country suffered in turmoil. In 2006 and 2007, the largest city in Alabama experienced its best home sales periods ever, but its hard to maintain such momentum. Sales are down significantly in 2008 because Birmingham is not immune from todays economic challenges, said Grayson Glaze, executive director of the Alabama Center for Real Estate. (USA Today) As the states largest metro area, Birmingham has a greater share of distressed properties that continue to apply downward pricing pressures, Glaze said. Birmingham real estate will continue to reflect a period of correction as fragile consumer demand and an overabundance of housing supply struggle toward greater balance, Glaze said.

States 12 Most Influential People Share TraitsDr. Lonnie Strickland, professor of strategic management at The University of Alabama graduate school of business, said a powerful leader is one who has a deep-seated commitment, a wish to achieve and a vision. (Sunday, Jan. 25, Florence Times Daily) They focus all of their energy on their unique strategies, Strickland said. They dont do it like everyone else, and theyre willing to take large risks.


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Bidgood Executives Club

Membership in the Bidgood Executives Club is open to all alumni and friends of C&BA. Membership will be accorded to all those individuals and corporations who fulfill one or more of the following conditions:

contribute a minimum of $10,000 annually to the College or any of its academic programsdeclare by appropriate means the intention to provide $100,000 or more to the College by bequest, whole-life insurance program, life-income agreement or other deferred-giving instrument

The names of members whose contributions were wholly or partly directed to the Commerce Executives Society, the annual fund for the College of Commerce, appear italicized.

Mr. Charles Edward and Mrs. Virginia Barker Adair

Alabama Power Foundation Inc.AlagascoAlfa FoundationAltria Group Inc.The Anderson FoundationMr. Charles C. AndersonMr. Clyde B. AndersonMr. Harold M. AndersonMr. Joel AndersonMr. Richard E. Anthony and

Mrs.Virginia F. AnthonyArgus Software Inc.Mrs. Joann BashinskyMr. E. David Bates IIIMr. Walter P. Batson Jr. and

Mrs. Margaret C. BatsonDr. Sharon E. BeattyMr. Harold B. Blach Jr. and

Mrs. Nancy BlachBlue Cross and Blue Shield of AlabamaMr. Archie C. BoboMr. David A. Boutwell

Mr. Frank H. Bromberg Jr.Mr. William Wade Brooke and

Mrs. Margaret W. BrookeMr. Ronald G. BrunoMr. John Manuel Carvalho Jr.CGI Technologies and Solutions Inc.Mr. Sam Emmett ChristopherMr. Melford T. Cleveland Mr. J. Weldon Cole and

Mrs. Delores D. ColeMr. Stephen R. CollinsMrs. Cynthia F. CooperMr. Alan Thomas CraftonMr. Gene CraftonDaxko LLCMr. G. Hilton Dean and

Mrs. Sallie DeanMr. Sam I. Diamond Jr.Mr. Samuel A. DiPiazza Jr.Mrs. Harriet E. DowningMs. Melissa Durbin Mrs. Mary Lou G. EasterlingEBSCO Industries Inc.Mr. Steven J. Ellis

Energen Corp.Mr. Griggs EspyMr. N. David EubankMr. R. Glenn Eubanks and

Pamela Giddens EubanksMr. William E. Ezell IIIMr. James B. FlemmingMr. Joseph E. GibbsMr. Morris David GoodfriendMr. Ronald Wayne Gray and

Mrs. Cynthia Cason GrayJames I. Harrison Family FoundationHealthSouth Corp.Mr. Ronald C. Helveston and

Mrs. Melinda Housh HelvestonHewlett Packard Co.Mrs. Marillyn A. HewsonMr. David Hamilton HittMr. James S. Holbrook Jr.Mrs. Emily Jones HornsbyMs. Kathryn HornsbyMr. G. Thomas HoughMr. William C. HulseyMr. Burell C. Johnson

Mr. D. Paul Jones Jr.Mr. James R. JonesMr. Donald R. JordanMr. Carter Stallworth KennedyMr. Barry R. Kraselsky and

Mrs. Dona P. KraselskyMr. Donald Nickerson Lathem Sr.Mr. James C. Lee IIIMrs. Karole LloydMr. Lewis M. Manderson Jr. and

Mrs. Faye T. MandersonDr. Kellie L. MaskeMr. John Beatty Maxwell Jr. and

Mrs. Alice Davis MaxwellMr. P. Douglas McCrawMr. Daniel Lee McKinneyMr. Roddy Lee McKinneyMr. Charles E. McN

executive magazine spring 2009 edition

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