InReview 2013

BIGEXPERIENCESSUPPORTOPPORTUNITIES2012/2013 in review

Conversations with

Glen Taylor

2012 - 2013 In revIew // 32 // mInnesota state unIversIty, mankato // colleGe of BusIness

Welcome to the second edition of the College of Business InReview

magazine! It is an exciting publication to share with you because it highlights the many ways the College of Business is working hard to provide students with big opportunities. A cornerstone to being able to provide significant opportunities is the connection, partnership and engagement with alumni, businesses, communities, and friends. One of my roles as dean is to facilitate those connections and help create those opportunities. It is a role I welcome and truly enjoy! Not a day goes by where I am not humbled and impressed by the great people that make up this Minnesota State Mankato community.

During the past year, the College hosted and created some truly memorable and life-changing experiences. Some experiences happened in Minnesota and some happened in faraway places like New York City and Belize. Some of them happened in the classroom-- for example see the story on page 22 about the Executive Seminar course in the MBA program-- and some of them happen out of the classroom like the Janavaras International Business Conference.

Hosting Minnesota State Mankato alumnus Mr. Glen Taylor as this year’s Morgan Thomas Executive Speaker was memorable for many reasons, including that almost 300 people attended despite some significant snowfall that morning and that many members of his executive leadership team attended, filling the front row of Ostrander Auditorium. We are fortunate to have an organization like Taylor Corporation right in our backyard and are embarking on a new and innovative partnership project with them.

The possibilities abound when we are able to be a partner of choice. Stories within about partnerships with firms like United Prairie Bank and Abdo Eick & Meyers, LLP are examples of how we are able to have triple wins for students, companies and communities. It is through these partnerships that we are able to do our work better, faster and on a scale that reflects the needs of society.

Finally, the College of Business Global Solutions capital campaign continues to gain momentum. The story on pages 8-9 celebrates the vision and all those who have been early supporters of that vision. This partnership and innovation facility will provide our entire community with the space to connect, partner and create. This facility is important to the future of the College of Business and its ability to be a solution for the many talent, innovation and leadership imperatives.

Every day I am grateful for this amazing community we called Minnesota State Mankato. Our students are impressive, our faculty and staff are committed, and our partners are generous. The opportunities to make a difference are endless, varied and fulfilling. These are exciting times and I encourage you to join us!

Dr. Brenda L. FlanneryDean, College of BusinessMinnesota State University, Mankato

2011-2012 In revIew // 3

20 Fielding a FutureStudent-athletes are finding that the College of Business offers them a path to utilize their unique skill sets

12 An International LegacyJanavaras International Business Conference & Retirement Celebration

12 Conversations with Glen TaylorFounder and CEO of Taylor Corporation creates opportunities for students, employees, and the community

contents 2 Dean’s Message

4 College News & Events

5 AACSB Re-Accreditation

6 Fielding a Future

8 The Global Solutions Capital Campaign

9 Abdo, Eick & Meyers Makes Lead Gift

10 Integrated Business Experience Update

11 College News & Events

12 Conversations with Glen Taylor

15 Big Ideas Speaker Series

16 Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Steve Wilcox

17 Faculty News

18 My Internship at McGladrey

19 Launching the Master of Accounting Program (MAcc)

20 An International Legacy

22 Networking for College Credit

23 MBA Alum Recognized in 40 Under 40 List

DEAN, COLLEGE OF BUSINESSBrenda Flannery

EDITOR Elizabeth R. Johnson

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSWayne CarlsonElizabeth R. JohnsonDustin PattLeah PockrandtDorothy SchwartzkopfJoe Tougas

GRAPHIC DESIGNERTerri Poburka

PRINTERMinnesota State University, Mankato Printing Services

PRINT COORDINATORDoug Fenske...............................................................................................

The mission of In Review is to inform and to connect the reader to the College of Business community. In Review welcomes story ideas supporting this mission.

In Review is copyrighted in its entirety. This volume and all articles, images and photographs within may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the editor.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS120 Morris Hall, Mankato, MN 56001

507.389.5420 | cob.mnsu.edu

Dean’sMessage

20

06

4 // mInnesota state unIversIty, mankato // colleGe of BusIness

Collaboration Between Colleges Creates New MinorThis fall Minnesota State University, Mankato will begin offering an Actuarial Science minor for the first time ever. The College of Business and the College of Science, Engineering and Technol-ogy teamed up to create the new minor, which combines courses in finance, economics, statistics, and math. The pro-cess for creating the new minor began in fall 2012 and final approval was given in the spring. The program is designed to prepare students for the beginning of the actuarial science career path. Actuarial science has many levels that can take up to decade of preparation and the program helps students with the first few levels of exams.

Actuaries are the professionals that find ways to manage risk. It takes a combina-tion of strong analytical and quantitative skills, business and financial knowledge, and people skills. Actuaries can work in a number of industries including insurance companies, banks, investment firms, and colleges and universities. Employment outlook and job security is strong for those who decide to become actuaries. “[The minor] provides our students with more choices,” says Interim Associate Dean Joseph Reising. “It provides more opportunities to succeed, and one more opportunity to find a great job.”

Students Take on the Big AppleLast January, 35 students and two faculty members from the College of Business took on the Big Apple. The Study Tour of New York City had not been offered for several years after the organizing faculty members retired, but this year Dr. Gloria Meng (Marketing) and Dr. Robert Zelin (Finance) picked up the torch and got to work. Students were able to earn college credit and enjoy the adventures of studying away from cam-pus for a week between semesters. Their uniquely New York activities included Broadway shows, a walking tour of Wall Street, visiting the Federal Reserve Bank and the United Nations. But it wasn’t all play; students also attended lectures, and small classes in finance, marketing, and social media, and were required to take quizzes and complete homework during the course of the trip. “New York City was our live and vibrant classroom,” says Dr. Zelin. “The trip was such a great experience for the students and faculty members that the trip will be offered again in January 2014.”

Professor Kaliski’s Business Simulation Goes GlobalJohn Kaliski, Associate Professor of Management, is a member of a team that owns and operates Oak Tree Simulations, a company that creates business simula-tion software. According to their website, “Oak Tree Simulations produces a family of business simulation games intended for teaching undergraduate, graduate and corporate learners effective business skills.” The simulations provide a fun and challenging way for students to experi-ence the kinds of issues that are involved in managing an international business.

There are three simulations offered: Micromatic is the original simulation and also the largest and most complex. It’s usually used in higher level courses and offers students the chance to operate a small manufacturing business that sells their product internationally. Mogul is a basic, entry-level simulation that allows students to operate a small manufactur-ing company that creates two products. Maven is a marketing simulation that is targeted at entry-level principles.

The software is used internationally in Australia, Europe, and Asia. The largest account is in Malaysia where last year over 4000 freshman-level Malaysian students used the Mogul simulation. In Malaysia, entrepreneurship is taught across the curriculum, regardless of major. Oak Tree Simulations is in the process of expanding to North Africa and the Middle East.

More information can be found at www.oaktreesim.com

NEwS & EvENTS

annual coB alumnI nIGht at canterBury Park Last year’s Alumni Night broke records with over 800 alumni and friends of the College of Business in attendance! Join us this August at the 14th annual Alumni Night at Canterbury Park for horse races, a free picnic dinner, and good times with alumni and friends. Update your contact information at www.mnsu.edu/alumni/update and visit our Facebook page for event details and photographs from past years!

2012 - 2013 In revIew // 5

NEwS & EvENTS

celeBratInG 5 more years of accredItatIon

By Dustin Patt

This spring, the College of Business went under the microscope as a

team of deans from other colleges of business and representatives from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Businss (AACSB) made a campus visit to evaluate our entire program. Every five years, all schools and colleges of business that have been accredited by AACSB must undergo a review process to renew their accreditation for another five years.

Accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental process that includes a review of a school’s ability to provide quality programs, but just because it’s voluntary doesn’t necessarily make it optional. AACSB accreditation keeps the College of Business competitive among the other universities that offer business degrees, ensuring continued relevance and success.

Accreditation helps to ensure that students are learning relevant material and allows a school access to funding. Once a school receives initial accreditation, it must be maintained on a five year cycle, in a process known as Maintenance of Accreditation.

“The accreditation process is one of the most important things that happen in the College of Business,” says Dr. Marilyn Fox, MBA Director and Director of Maintenance of Accreditation. “It’s vital to students, potential employers, and alumni. It keeps the College of Business going as we know it.”

This process begins with the submission of an application to the AASCB two years prior to the formal review and concludes with a peer review visit from a team that includes members of the AACSB and Deans from other business schools. The team reviews and evaluates the school’s strategic plan, mission, financial strategies, faculty qualifications, faculty intellectual contributions, and data pertaining to students, curricula, learning, and innovative practices.

The faculty and staff began preparing for this visit over a year ago and put in a tremendous amount

of effort and work. “Countless hours go into the preparation,” says Dr. Fox. “Ten months of work gathering information and writing the reports. Lots of people spent a lot of time on this.”

The peer review team visited the College of Business this year from February 3-5. The

visiting team first met with the leadership of the college and then scheduled meetings with the

administration, faculty, staff, and student representatives from undergraduate and graduate programs. The team then gathered additional information from staff outside the College of Business, including the career services staff, the advising center, and the IT department.

The review team has three options. 1) They can extend accreditation for an additional five years, 2) if there are standards violations, they can schedule another visit one year later to see if violations have been fixed, or 3) they can revoke accreditation.

The countless hours of work paid off when the College was granted its re-accreditation for another five years. This is no small feat considering less than five percent of the world’s 13,000 business programs receive accreditations from the AASCB. Not only did the College of Business receive the re-accreditation, the review team indicated that their visit was a pleasure and the easiest re-accreditation decision they had ever made. They were impressed with the students, the knowledge and involvement of the faculty, the planning and assessment processes, and the systems in place to ensure students receive the highest quality education. The success of the visit and the impression left on the visiting review team is a testament to the dedication and passion of the staff, faculty, and students. n

COllEgE NEwS


FIEldINg aFUTUREMinnesota State Mankato student-athletes are finding that the College of Business offers them a path to utilize their unique skill setsBy Wayne Carlson

102 College of Business Student

athletes Participate in:Baseball

Basketball Cross Country

Footballgolf

Hockey Soccer

SoftballSwimmingTennisTrack & Fieldvolleyballwrestling

If you were to pick a conference room inside a Fortune 500

company and eavesdrop on the conversations happening inside it, you wouldn’t have to listen long before you heard an inference related to team athletics. The business world loves sports analogies. There’s a reason for that.

It’s also likely that some of the people you’re listening to will be former athletes themselves. There’s a reason for that too.

“In sports, you get knocked down, and you get up and get right back at it,” says Robert Hoffman, Minnesota State Mankato Vice President of business, education and regional partnerships. “That’s so important in a business environment as well, where, like in sports, if you lose, you have to work to get better. Athletes learn that you must work hard to become a winner. That’s why you hire athletes — they’re used to making it happen and know the value of hard work and dedication.”

The Minnesota State University, Mankato College of Business is a popular choice among Maverick student-athletes. And they graduate into a hiring climate that makes them quite popular among potential employers as well.

That’s because of transferable traits, says Hoffman, who spent more than 18 years with Taylor Corporation in a variety of executive roles and developed key relationships within the executive level of major companies. He hired many former athletes during his time in management, due to the intangibles that come ingrained in a competitor.

“Take a quarterback, for example,” Hoffman said. “A quarterback normally has that edge to him. He’s good and he knows it. If he manages it well, and has that edge, I want him on my team. I want him on my sales team especially. Because you won’t beat him. He’s going to beat you, because he’ll figure it out analytically, by reading the defense and making it happen. The same attributes that made him successful on the football field can make him successful in business as well.”

Of course, finding success in the business world means first finding success

in the classroom, which can be a difficult task when juggling the responsibilities and time requirements that come with being a student and an athlete at the same time.

There are three College of Business scholarships available for student athletes, a sign of the long-storied relationship between the accredited program and the athletes of Minnesota State.

The Henry Okleshen Finance Hockey Scholarship was established by Dr. Henry Okleshen, a former finance professor who was a fan of Maverick hockey. The scholarship, which is given to hockey players who major in Finance at the College of Business, was received by goaltender Evan Karambelas in 2012. Karambelas went on to claim WCHA All-Academic honors this year.

The Morgan I. & Marjorie J. Thomas College of Business Student Athlete Endowed Scholarship honors Dr. Morgan Thomas’ legacy of providing quality business education and supporting student athletes. Morgan joined the faculty in the College of Business in 1953 and served as Dean of the College from 1960 until his retirement in 1982. Women’s soccer player Lauren Somers received the scholarship in 2012 and the same year claimed Academic All-NSIC honors as well as being named First Team All-NSIC and was the first player in program history to be named NSIC Defensive Player of the Year.

Colleagues, community members and former players of the legendary Minnesota State Mankato baseball coach established the Dean Bowyer College of Business Baseball Scholarship. Bowyer started as the baseball coach at Minnesota State Mankato in 1976 and during his tenure as a coach and instructor, he established strong, lasting relationships with most everyone that had contact with the program. Mike Eckhart received the honor in 2013 and was named All-Academic NSIC this season.

“The rap against athletes is that they’re only at the university to play sports,” says Hoffman. “But when they’re connected in the classroom, they’ll give you that same intensity and that same spirit. And that effort produces results both in the classroom and in the business world.” n

Evan Karambelas

Lauren Somers

Mike Eckhart

“ Personal recognition was clearly not the

driving force behind our dad’s generosity; instead, we feel, it was his belief in the importance of education. It is a gift that can never be taken away from an individual once given.”

— Dick and Jay Thomas Sons of Morgan Thomas

8 // mInnesota state unIversIty, mankato // colleGe of BusIness 2012 - 2013 In revIew // 9

the GloBal

solutIons caPItal

camPaIGn“Minnesota state Mankato is setting the PaCe…”— Al Lenzmeier,

former COO of Best Buy

Abdo, Eick & Meyers Makes Lead Gift for Executive Suite | By Joe tougas

Its founder made history as the first person in the country to pass his CPA exam before graduating from college. Fifty years later, the

firm bearing his name is making news by providing a better future for business students at Minnesota State Mankato.

In its 50 years, Abdo Eick & Meyers LLP has been active in supplying funds, insight and expertise to the College of Business at Minnesota State Mankato. It has contributed at least $25,000 in gifts and scholarships and recently announced that it will provide another $25,000 for the Advisory Council Executive Suite in the planned Global Solutions Center.

The Global Solutions Center will not only be the home of the College of Business, but also a high-tech hub for all disciplines at the University to come together to address local, national and global problems.

The third-floor executive suite will be used by faculty, students, business partners, industry leaders and guests. Such a room was identified as a need by the College of Business Advisory Council, on which four members of Abdo, Eick & Meyers have served over the past 20 years. The Council agreed to raise $200,000 for the suite, and Abdo, Eick & Meyers’ $25,000 is the lead gift to the project.

Don Kreye, the firm’s business development manager and current member of the advisory council, said the gift is a logical extension of Abdo, Eick & Meyers’ longtime association with University business students, a tradition dating back to founder Joe Abdo, a well-known University alumnus. Before founding the company in 1963, Abdo made news as being the first known college student to pass the CPA exam before graduating college.

From there the firm and the University have been in close contact. In addition to funding scholarships, company leaders such as Kreye, Jay Abdo, Tom Olinger and Scott Danger have served as curriculum advisors. The firm has always been keen on hiring University talent—an estimated half of their 110 employees are Minnesota State Mankato graduates.

Steve McDonald, the firm’s managing partner, stated the reasons for hiring so heavily from the University are similar to why the company feels compelled to fund the Global Solutions Center: It helps students and the business community, as well as Abdo, Eick & Meyers.

“The College of Business is making a significant impact in the current and future success of our firm and business community,” McDonald says. In pledging money to the suite, he adds, “we are contributing to that future success and the success of all the students and business leaders who will utilize the room.” n

Donors to the College of Business Global Solutions Center are investing in true transformation at Minnesota State University,

Mankato. The Center will redefine the way scholars and leaders collaborate and innovate as they create and implement solutions for real-world needs, ranging from southern Minnesota to the world.

Community spaces will be key to collaboration, where faculty, staff, students and business leaders learn and work together. This state-of-the-art facility will feature an interactive 250-seat lecture hall, a third-floor conference center, specialty research labs, student team breakout rooms, collaborative technologies, a business library and a café. The naturally lit atrium will provide a space for community events and student interaction. Combine these spaces with cutting-edge, globally wired classrooms, and you’ll see transformation blossom.

Join us in creating the future of the College of Business.

glOBal SOlUTIONS CENTER

hear What our visionary suPPorters have to say…

“We think it’s iMPortant to give BaCk anD suPPort the area.”— Scott Bradley,

CEO of United Prairie BankAl and Kathy Lenzmeier

“We Deserve to have a BuilDing that We Can Call hoMe.”— Norb Harrington, former

Regional President of Greater Minnesota, Wells Fargo and College of Business Advisory Board Chair

Norb and Diane Harrington

“During unDergraD i Was aCtively involveD as a stuDent leaDer anD knoW the iMPortanCe of having those sPaCes for stuDents to CollaBorate anD look to the future.” — Tim Huebsch, Integration

Manager, Digital Marketing, General Mills


Daren Cotter has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion

for technology. Daren attended Minnesota State Mankato as the recipient of an academic scholarship and graduated in 2004. During his freshman year, Daren created InboxDollars®, an Internet marketing company that rewards consumers for their online activities. Today, the company has paid consumers more than $20 million and has expanded globally. Both Daren and his wife, fellow alum Sarah, credit their education at Minnesota State Mankato as a key ingredient to their success. They now sponsor the Daren & Sarah Cotter Entrepreneurial Scholarship, which is the single largest College of Business scholarship and was awarded to Finance major Matthew Lindquist, and the Daren & Sarah Cotter Integrated Business Experience Student Advisor Scholarship, which is awarded to a former IBE student who now serves as a company advisor for the subsequent class and was awarded to Henock Yohannes and Kaitlyn Feind. n

hands on,name on.By Joe tougas

Not long ago, a small line of type on the bottom of the

Integrated Business Experience’s web page read: “The IBE program would like to thank United Prairie Bank for their support.” It was accompanied by a tiny image of the bank’s logo.

In the summer of 2013, however, United Prairie Bank and Minnesota State Mankato’s College of Business took steps to expand its collaboration on the program, which resulted in naming the program The United Prairie Bank Integrated Business Experience.

United Prairie, which was founded by alum James G. Sneer in 1973 and now serves 11 southern Minnesota communities, had been a financial sponsor of the IBE for the past two years. The bank’s CEO, Scott Bradley, said that during that time he and his associates at United Prairie liked what they saw taking place in this new venture and wanted to see more.

The two-year-old IBE program provides students with an opportunity to start real-world businesses as entrepreneurs would. They create business plans, secure financing, analyze the marketplace and deliver products. It’s a 12-credit, four-course

program that combines business finance, marketing principles and management principles with a practicum in which students form a business. Any profits are given to a local charity, and past classes have been able to donate thousands of dollars to local non-profits including Kids Against Hunger and Junior Achievement.

“We really thought that there was more here,” Bradley says, “more value for us to get involved with, and we really felt we wanted to do that. That’s how it got started. I contacted [College of Business Dean] Brenda [Flannery] and said ‘Let’s talk a little bit more about our involvement.’”

What emerged was the first time an academic program at the University was attached to a benefactor’s name. In exchange, the program will receive an annual $25,000 gift from United Prairie that will go toward scholarship dollars and instructor salaries.

The attraction for United Prairie? Bradley said it’s having a hand in transitioning students out of the theory-based and into the reality-based. The IBE provides the kind of education and experi-ence that can come only from doing, not by discussing, he said.

“It’s the real-world experience,” Bradley said. “Education is wonderful and it’s important but real-world integration is really where the rubber meets the road.”

“It’s a big deal for us,” he said. “We’re excited.” n

To learn more about the IBE program

Study Abroad in BelizeThis spring, Dr. Kristin Scott piloted “Fair Trade Study Abroad in Belize,” a short-term study abroad class that takes students out of the classroom, and the country, to study fair trade, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. The first half of the semester is spent on campus, building a foundation of knowledge that would prepare them for their real-world experience. During spring break, Dr. Scott traveled with her students down to Punta Gorda, Belize where they worked with fair trade businesses, including Maya Bags, Sustainable Harvest International, and Cotton Tree Chocolate. They also spent time in San Pedro where they volunteered at Holy Cross Anglican School and stayed at the Blue Tang Inn, co-owned by Minnesota State Mankato alum Curt Fisher. When their work was done, students were able to go snorkeling, cave diving, visit Mayan ruins and take a nighttime hike. For the second half of the semester the students worked on projects that helped the fair trade businesses they worked with in Belize. To learn more about this fantastic short-term study abroad course, visit http://tbs-cob.mnsu.edu/initiatives/study-abroad-in-belize/.

NEwS & EvENTS

COllEgE NEwS

new mentorInG ProGram kIck-offA new College of Business Mentoring Program kicked-off its pilot this past spring, with 19 students and 18 mentors, alumni and business professionals from the community, participating. The new program works to connect students with the real-world of business. Students were able to take advantage of new learning opportunities as they attended business panels, shadowed their mentors in the field, and underclassmen even received guidance on choosing a major.

The pilot was created by Heather Ludwig, an alumna and partner of the college. She believes the students gained confidence in asking questions, networking, and seeking out resources. “Having a mentor who works in the area the student considers for their major offers them a great way to learn what’s expected and to confirm that the work is really what they want to do for their career.” Ludwig hopes to, at a minimum, double participation in the program for the next year.

Any alumni or business professionals interested in becoming a mentor should contact Heather Ludwig at [email protected] or 952-221-0035.

SCHOlaRSHIP dOllaRS awaRdEd:

$127,150......................SCHOlaRSHIPS awaRdEd:

70

SCHOlaRSHIPSscholarshIPs reward entrePreneurIal sPIrIt

Pictured left to right: Henock Yohannes, Sarah and Daren Cotter, Kaitlyn Feind, Matthew Lindquist

INTEgRaTEd BUSINESS EXPERIENCE


conversatIons wIth Glen taylorthe morGan thomas executIve lecture serIes

It’s not every day an undergraduate student gets to sit in on a conversation between the

College of Business dean and the chief executive officer of a major corporation, but on March 5, 2013, that’s exactly what happened. Well, that student and nearly 300 other members of the audience.

The 2013 Morgan Thomas Executive Lecture featured CEO of Taylor Corporation, Glen Taylor. The significance of Taylor’s presence on campus was celebrated with an exclusive reception, an interview from the local news station, and an address from University president, Richard Davenport. And despite one of Minnesota’s snowstorms, the front row of the auditorium was filled with Taylor’s executive team, and behind them, a large and captive audience.

This wasn’t the first time Taylor visited campus, far from it in fact. Taylor has a long history of giving back to the University and the Mankato community. That story began back when he was a math major at Minnesota State Mankato. Alongside his studies, Taylor took a job working part-time for a wedding invitation business in North Mankato. When his boss retired, he purchased the business, and from that grew Taylor Corporation. Today, Taylor Corporation has more than 80 operating divisions in almost 20 states, as well as multiple Canadian provinces, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, the Netherlands, Sweden and Mexico. His world has grown much larger since his days as a student, but he continues to come back to his alma mater, and give back with great generosity.

The Morgan Thomas Executive Lecture series was

created 31 years ago, in honor of the first College of Business dean, Morgan Thomas. Thomas’ son, Dick Thomas, accepted the microphone before Taylor took the stage, and shared his father’s legacy of connecting the college with the business community. It was a timely message, as that very night marked the official kick-off of a new kind of partnership between Minnesota State Mankato’s College of Business and Taylor Corporation. Traditionally the Morgan Thomas Lecture is a formal event, but one week before his arrival, Dean Brenda Flannery suggested a more casual option. How about a conversation? Taylor agreed.

The formality of the event may have been toned down, but the anticipation of the audience rose at the opportunity to meet the man who founded Taylor Corporation, is the majority owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Minnesota Lynx, and has an athletic facility, Taylor Center, named after him right here on campus.

When Flannery asked how it felt to be responsible for more than 80 companies and 15,000 employees, Taylor said leading people came naturally to him. “Leading people, you can’t pretend that you’re better or more important. You have to build a foundation of trust. I think a lot of people think that trust means you’re greater or something like that, but it isn’t that at all,” he says. “You have to be honest. If you do something wrong, instead of trying to hide it from your employees, you tell them, ‘I thought this was what we were going to do. I thought about it, I studied it. It’s wrong. Now, we’re going to do this.’ I found out people like that integrity. They want you to be human.”

Founder and CEO of Taylor Corporation Creates Opportunities for Students, Employees, and the Community By elizaBeth Johnson

— continued on page 14


The Big Ideas Speaker Series was established in the Col-

lege of Business in the spring of 2011 as a way to bring people with big ideas to our community. The hope was to inspire the creation and pursuit of our own big ideas. And then, without warning, the 2012-2013 academic year events became their own big idea and were notably different than those in the past.

In September 2012 the Big Ideas Speaker Series featured former Minne-sota State Mankato student Matt Ames, founder and president of MN Pro Paint-ball. His paintball park in Lakeville is the largest in Minnesota, with 10 individually themed fields, including Sherwood Forest, Concrete Valley, and Artillery Hill. He also

owns two paintball retail stores located in Minnetonka and Burnsville. His annual charity big game, Challenge for Children’s, is a massive themed paintball game that raises money for the Children’s Hospitals of Minnesota cardiac unit. Since that first big game, he’s raised more than $100,000. Did I mention that he’s not even 30 years old?

Ames took the stage in the Centennial Student Union on September 26, 2012, and delivered a lecture about his journey from owning a business in high school, to getting kicked out of Fleet Farm for guerilla marketing, to being named Min-nesota’s 2012 Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Small Business Association

and having a net worth of $1 million. He delivered everything the College

requested. And then came the Q&A por-tion of the event and everything changed. Anyone who has met Ames will tell you that he’s charming and passionate and full of a contagious energy, which didn’t ex-actly come across during the lecture. But the moment he stepped away from the podium and his notes, there it was, and the audience recognized it immediately. The whole room came to life, catching his energy. As the distance fell away, Ames became less of the CEO in a dress shirt and more of the young entrepreneur who is crazy about paintball, challenging him-self, and giving back. It turns out, that’s exactly who the audience wanted to meet.

By the springtime event the podium was gone all together. The stage was trans-formed from a large open space with a solitary podium, to a cozy den, complete with arm chairs and a fireplace (electric, of course). Gone was the standing, the lec-turing, the distance. Now everyone was invited and warmly

welcomed to a fireside conversation between social innovator Nate Garvis and Dean Brenda Flannery.

Dean Flannery and Garvis had worked together before at Studio/E, an entrepreneur-ship workshop for top tier leaders that Garvis co-founded, and their familiarity allowed a safe space for the new format to take a test drive. The result was an organic conversa-tion, only occasion-

ally structured with a question from Dean Flannery. They started with a discussion of Garvis’ book, Naked Civics, which promotes the idea of Civic Design. As you can read on Garvis’ website, nakedciv-ics.com, “Civic Design is a practice that focuses on the common good outcomes of our communities by pulling upon all of the institutional tools in our communi-ties, beyond our traditional sole focus on government alone.” But the conversation didn’t stop there. Dean Flannery asked questions ranging from “Who do you admire?” to “What kind of music do you listen to when you want to be inspired?” and “How do you support a big idea?” The organic nature of the event removed the formality and limits of a lecture and dissolved them, and allowed for an exchange of ideas without the pressure of performing in front of an auditorium full of people.

Big ideas are not perfect ideas. They’re hopes and stretches of the imagination, they’re flawed and risky and exciting. They take time and more energy than can ever be planned. The Big Ideas Speaker Series is shifting out of the stasis and security of formal, pre-planned lectures and into a space where risks are taken and questions and answers happen in real time. It’s a space for honesty and stories that aren’t rehearsed, and that’s a place where we all can learn. It’s what the Big Ideas Speaker Series was meant to be. n

Taylor Corporation’s mission statement reads: We exist to create opportunity and security for employees. Taylor surprised everyone when he said he came up with it in the summer of 1963, before he even owned his first company. He thought about what it was he wanted from his work, and it was opportunity and security. As he gained more leadership he realized he couldn’t provide opportunity and security for the other employees unless he was in charge. It was the mission statement that actually pushed him to seek ownership of the wedding invitation business. It was the mission statement that birthed a corporation.

Taylor Corporation is not in the business of telling its employees what opportunities it can provide. “They have to tell me what their opportunity is,” says Taylor. A student’s opportunity might be the internship that helps them complete their degree. A parent’s opportunity might be the ability to support their family or take their children on vacation. But it goes beyond that as well. “If you’re gifted in technology, we want to open the door to new technology that makes you feel good about what you’re doing. We want to give you pride in the results.”

As the world changes and technology advances at an ever-increasing rate, Taylor Corporation works hard and adapts itself to meet and exceed its clients’ evolving needs. Taylor says leading people and running the corporation isn’t about doing all the work or having all the answers. His role is often to recognize the need for change and take the next steps. “It’s in my interest to find people, as technology evolves, who can meet [the new] standards or stay ahead of those standards.”

The new partnership between Taylor Corporation and the College of Business will be a resource that can serve that purpose. Taylor Corporation will be able to play a more active role in partnering to help prepare students to become more skilled and innovative employees. “If we want to have leaders out of [Minnesota State Mankato] who are going to be helpful to us,” explains Taylor Corporation executive, Deb Taylor. “We have to be able to help mold what some of those programs will look like.” In turn, the partnership will enable the College of Business to provide more internships, real-world experiences, and networking opportunities for its students and faculty.

Before he left the stage, Taylor offered some parting advice for students: don’t limit your own opportunities. “When you go into your career, make sure it’s something that you like,” he says. “Life is going to go very fast. Do something that you like; you’ll be way better at it.” A university degree teaches you how to think more than it teaches you how to do a job, just ask the math major who became an internationally respected businessman.

He also advised the audience to associate themselves with people they admire, but who are not the same as them. “Take my executive team. I don’t see myself in any of these people. I see them all adding to me.” The new partnership between the College of Business and Taylor Corporation will work in the same way on an organizational level. Working together both partners will be able to learn more, gain more, and above all, create more opportunities for students, employees, and the community. n

THE BIg IdEa SPEakER SERIES

To hear Garvis’ answers, and learn more about Naked Civics,

visit www.youtube.com/COBMankato

BIG Ideas = BIG chanGes Matt Ames and Nate Garvis Shake Things UpBy elizaBeth Johnson


MBA Coordinator: Christine Brown MahoneyDr. Christine Brown Mahoney joined the College of Business as an Associate Professor of Management and MBA coordinator for the Edina campus at 7700 France in the fall of 2012. She teaches MBA Leadership and Organizational Development classes and this fall she will teach undergraduate Organizational Design, Development, and Change. In addition to teaching, Dr. Mahoney’s presence will bring focus to MBA student recruitment, including advertising strategy, market analysis, and building relationships with companies who want employees to obtain additional education.

Her areas of interest in research involve the labor force of healthcare profes-sionals, particularly nurses and general practitioner MDs which includes supply, demand, educational pipeline issues, job turnover, career leaving, and migration. Another area of interest is costs and outcomes in providing healthcare in the United States.

Dr. Mahoney received her PhD in Hu-man Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota and has previously worked at the University of California-Berkley, the University of Minnesota, and internationally at Wis-senschaftliches Institut in Germany.

Dr. Mahoney also owns and operates the Moondance Inn bed and breakfast in Red Wing, Minn. with her husband. They established the B&B in 1999, and did a historically accurate renovation of the 1874 stone house.

Faculty PromotionsDr. sung kim, Management Department, promoted to Professor andDr. Byron Pike, Accounting Department, promoted to Associate Professor

Welcome New Faculty!The Accounting and Business Law department welcomed two new faculty members this past year.

Jim kroger received his Juris Doctorate and MBA from the University of South Dakota. He currently teaches Business Law and Income Tax Accounting at the undergraduate level.

ferdinand siagian received his Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of Oregon and his MBA in Finance from Indiana University and teaches Financial Accounting and Management Accounting at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

Research Grant AwardFinance professor Dr. hyuna Park recently received a research grant that she will use during her upcoming teaching sabbatical during the 2013-2014 academic year. Dr. Park used the grant to purchase a subscription to the TASS hedge fund database that will allow her to analyze the risk and return of hedge funds. “My main interest is analyzing the risk profile of young hedge funds using the longer history of older funds for benchmark indexes,” says Dr. Park. “Analyzing the risk of funds is important because it helps investors make better decisions.”

In order to receive the research grant, Dr. Park had to write a research proposal for the Instructional Review Board. In addition to the proposal, Dr. Park will also have to submit a final report when her research is complete.

Teaching Fellowship AwardCollege of Business Management Professor Claudia Pragman was awarded a Presidential Teaching Scholar Fellowship for summer 2013. According to the university, “the purpose of these Fellowships is to provide support for faculty in their commitments to teaching and learning at Minnesota State University, Mankato.” The Presidential Teaching Scholar Fellowships are awarded by President Davenport on a University-wide, competitive basis. Applicants submit their proposals in the fall of the academic year. Those proposals are reviewed by the University Faculty Association’s Faculty Development Committee and recommendations for awarding the fellowships are made to the Provost and then the President. Fellows must be engaged in a teaching and learning project that is unique, innovative and enhances both the Fellow’s teaching and their students’ learning.

During her fellowship Dr. Pragman will create video tutorials for her MGMT 346 course, Productions and Operations Management, that demonstrate the use of analytics to solve business problems which, Dr. Pragman says, “will better prepare [students] for their post-graduate careers.” She will use Camtasia Relay to produce instructional videos and SoftChalk Cloud to create modules and assessments for D2L. Dr. Pragman has been teaching at Minnesota State Mankato since 1991 and currently teaches MGMT 346: Production and Operations Management and MBA 612: Data Analysis and Statistics for Managers.

dr. steve wIlcox comes full cIrcleCollege of Business Student Becomes Prominent ProfessorBy Dustin Patt

Dr. Steve Wilcox is a prominent member of the College of Business; he is well-known and

respected within the university and he has a national reputation. Throughout his career he has made a number of contributions in the field of finance in the form of research, pub-lications, and serving within professional organizations.

“He’s among the strongest researchers in the college,” says Dr. Joseph Reising, Interim Associate Dean of the College of Business. “He has a national reputation for his work in research and publish-ing, and he’s worked on the profes-sional side [of the finance indus-try] as well.” Wilcox’s articles have appeared in many well-known journals and top publications. His most recent contributions are included in Journal of Investing, American Association of Individual Investors (AAII), and Financial

Analysts Journal. Dr. Wilcox also works as a consultant for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute where his main responsibility is the creation of curriculum materials for the CFA exams and preparing professionals for their certification. He has recently co-authored two chapters on equity valuation and one on fixed income securities that appear in CFA Institute-published investment series textbooks and are required readings for the CFA exams.

Aside from his research, publications and professional work, Dr. Wilcox is also a passionate educator. “He brings his expertise and experience into the classroom and enhances the education of the students,” says Dr. Reising. “He’s a very popular professor and always gets very positive feedback from his students.”

Dr. Wilcox says, “I enjoy the lifestyle of a college professor and have never given serious thought to any other full-time job. I have also always enjoyed being around the students. They ‘keep you young’ as the saying goes and I like their sense of humor.”

In addition to working in the finance department, Dr. Wilcox is a member of the Board of Directors for the Blue Line Club,

which is the official booster club of Maverick hockey. He fre-quently meets with recruits for the men’s hockey team when they visit campus.

Before he was a prominent member of the faculty and com-munity, Wilcox began his academic career as one of the many undergraduates who have walked the halls at Minnesota State Mankato (then known as Mankato State College). As an under-graduate he became interested in finance. “There are just so many things that can affect the value of stocks, bonds, real estate, and other assets,” says Dr. Wilcox. “And the result, for me personally, is that finance is never dull or boring.”

Dr. Wilcox was encouraged to pursue graduate studies by a former professor. “I was fortunate to meet Dr. Henry Okleshen who was a Finance Professor at Minnesota State Mankato and, at the time, Department Chair. I was a student in several of his classes and that was when I first became enthused about finance. My decision to attend graduate school reflected both my desire to learn more about Finance and the fact that I found a career in academia appealing.”

During his time as an undergraduate, Dr. Wilcox was a student athlete and member of the swim team where he excelled at the distance freestyle events, specifically the 1000 freestyle and 500 freestyle. He became a team co-captain and the teams he swam on regularly finished at or near the top in competitions. “I enjoyed the competition and camaraderie with my teammates. I believe the values derived from athletic competition as a youth are something that serves you well your entire adult life.”

After earning his Bachelor of Science in Finance from Mankato, Dr. Wilcox went on to earn his MBA at Indiana University and his PhD from the University of Nebraska. But Dr. Wilcox didn’t stay away from Mankato for long, eventually be-coming a member of the faculty at the same college from which he earned his undergraduate degree. “I really like Mankato and have felt that way since I began living here as a college student. I have wandered away a couple of times due to jobs or continu-ing my education, but always returned and have now lived here continuously since 1991. People are friendly here and I like living in a small university town that is fairly close to the Twin Cities. I view it as a ‘best of both worlds’ situation: small-town living with easy access to big-city amenities.”

These days, when his days aren’t filled with teaching and research, Wilcox enjoys watching competitive sports (he can be found at most home Maverick hockey games with family and friends), playing fantasy football, traveling with his wife and spending time with his grandson. n

FaCUlTy SPOTlIgHT

“His presence helps us recruit other high-level faculty. They see him and they know that they

can come here and be successful.” – Dr. Joseph Reising, Interim Associate Dean

FaCUlTy NEwS


launchInG the master of accountInG ProGramBy elizaBeth Johnson

The beginning of fall semester marks the official launch of the new Master of Accounting program (MAcc). As of June, 20 students have been accepted into the program and will take classes on both the Mankato and Edina campuses.

The MAcc was first conceived to be a “snap on” program for undergraduate accounting students, allowing them to graduate with a bachelors degree and a masters degree in five short years, and have enough credits to take the Certi-fied Public Accountant exam, a certification that would open doors for career advancement and make our students better candidates overall. But the program isn’t limited to current undergraduate accounting majors; current professionals seeking a masters degree or a new career path are encouraged to apply to the twelve-month program. The MAcc incorporates both theory and technical ex-pertise, as well as the professional skills employers are looking for, as the program pulls courses from the MBA program in writing, negotiation, leadership, man-agement, and an executive seminar (see page 22). The program is also structured to correlate to each of the four parts of the CPA exam: financial accounting and reporting, auditing and attestation, business environment and concepts, and regulations.

The MAcc program excels in its connection to industry. Two years ago, when the long-desired program started to come together, an advisory board was created bringing together representatives from ten different accounting firms. As the program started to take shape the advisory board was consulted on a regular basis, and this trend will continue as the program grows. Last year one of the discussion topics was the value of online courses in an accounting program. The College of Business was surprised at the resounding “No” from the advisory board, and they took it seriously, eliminating online courses from the curricu-lum. Discussion topics marked for the coming year include internship programs and career paths for accounting students. A trend Dr. William Brown, director of the MAcc program, has noticed is recruitment of the “best and the brightest” accounting students for short term projects. “The students complete the projects and then are out of work, not sure what to do next.” Fortunately, the number of full time job offers for accounting majors at the undergraduate level has increased, and Dr. Brown wants to make sure that trend continues and hopes the advisory board can assist the college in making that happen.

A Sampling ofWhere Our Students Interned

• Abdo, Eick & MEyErs

• boEckErMAnn GrAfstroM & MAyEr

• boulAy, HEutMAkEr, ZibEll & co.

• cArlson Advisors

• cliftonlArsonAllEn

• EidE bAilly

• HutcHinson technoloGy

• kErn dEwEntEr viErE (kdv)

• kPMG

• McGlAdrEy

• olsEn tHiElEn & co.

I remember being asked by friends and family if I planned on becoming a CPA when I first

began my college career at Minnesota State Mankato in 2009. Back then, I didn’t even know what a CPA was.

I’ve come a long way since then. This past May I graduated from Minnesota State Mankato with 150 credits and will be studying for my CPA exam this summer. As I reflect back on my college experiences there’s one in particular that stands out to me: My internship with McGladrey in the spring of 2013.

The Minnesota State Mankato Accounting Club played a major role in finding an internship. I was a regular attendee at meetings during my sophomore and junior years, and it was there that I was able to connect with firms and get a much better idea of the realities of a career in accounting.

The summer before my senior year I was involved in summer programs at a number of CPA firms: Deloitte, McGladrey, CliftonLarsonAllen and Boulay. They provided an opportunity for students to get an in-depth look at what it was like to work in public accounting. It was through these programs that I obtained an interview, and ultimately an internship, with McGladrey. McGladrey LLP is the largest provider of assurance, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market in the United States, and I was able to work in the Minneapolis office.

There is nothing more valuable to an accounting student than an internship. I always thought of it as a trial run; I could make sure that I wanted to go into accounting, and I could get a huge amount of real world experience in a single semester. It ended up being the most meaningful experience of my college career. Working at McGladrey I finally understood how everything I learned in the classroom fit together in the real world. There were several days when a supervisor would explain a new task to me and I would have a “light bulb” moment where I remembered learning the exact same thing in school.

I was a part of the Financial Institutions auditing team. I worked at a different bank in the Twin Cities area almost every week completing an audit with the McGladrey team. Because I was an intern I primarily focused on less risky

areas of an audit such as cash, long-term debt, fixed assets and investments. And believe me, they call it the busy season for a reason. Typically each week I would put in 50-60 hours. Working long hours wasn’t as tough as I thought it was going to be. It gave me the opportunity to get to know the people I was working with better and taught me better time management skills.

By the end of my internship I knew I had grown as a person. I gained confidence in myself and in my work ability. I remember feeling that all my hard work throughout school had paid off. I had the ability to be an auditor, I had worked as an auditor, I was an auditor.

I am pleased to say that I will be starting full time at McGladrey this January. With my education from the College of Business, my internship, and hopefully my CPA exam behind me, I know I will have what it takes to succeed. n

PROgRam SPOTlIgHT

my InternshIP at

mcGladreyBy Dorothy sChWartzkoPf

For more information on internship opportunities visit www.mnsu.edu/cdc/

2012 - 2013 In revIew // 21

and students attended the international business panels. The speakers, all College of Business alumni, discussed the state of international business today, the changes that have occurred in recent years, and their thoughts on the future. They were a valuable resource of experience and advice for current students interested in pursuing careers in international business.

Janavaras’ absence after 40 years of teaching will be greatly noticed this fall and for many years to come, but his legacy will continue on through the Janavaras International Business Conference. Even most importantly, his legacy will influence the world through his students.

If you would like to contribute to the newly established Basil Janavaras International Business Scholarship Fund, please contact Sr. Director of Development Jeff Halbur at 507-389-2578. n

“ I am most proud of my life-long commitment to international

business education and training in an attempt to create an environment and provide opportunities for both students and practitioners to think globally and act locally.”

– Dr. Basil Janavaras


Not many College of Business events start with a faculty roast and bottles of Greek

wine, but sometimes the occasion is just right (and the guest of honor has a wine import business). In celebration of Professor Basil Janavaras’ legacy with the college, a dual-purpose event was created: the Janavaras International Business Conference.

Night one of the conference was a retirement celebration hosted at the Courtyard by Marriott in Mankato. The crowd of approximately 100 people was lively. A large contribution to the energy level were the many alumni who returned to town to celebrate one of their favorite professors, many who credit Janavaras’ classes as the beginning of their international careers.

As the crowd found their seats and dinner was served, a photo slideshow played on the presentation screens. Small

bursts of noise could be heard scattered around the ballroom as photos brought back memories. A photo of Janavaras with students on a study abroad trip, Janavaras with colleagues at holiday gatherings, and a crowd favorite, a handsome young Basil at the beginning of his career.

The roast was planned—it was on the invitation. The idea was to have—maybe five—people speak to the crowd after dinner and share their memories of Professor Janavaras. With such a passionate and unique man as the subject, a few good stories were expected. What followed, however, was overwhelming. The roast went on for 5 people, then 10, and 15, and more. It was an outpouring of memories, appreciation and affection, with lots of laughter mixed in.

The second day of the conference was more subdued, but no less successful. More than 75 business professionals

an InternatIonal leGacyAlumni and friends gather to celebrate Professor Basil Janavaras (Opa!) By elizaBeth Johnson


It’s not easy to get the atten-tion of a successful executive.

They’re busy people. They have companies to run, meetings to attend, problems to solve, people to help. But if you’re an MBA student in Minnesota State Mankato’s Executive Seminar, executives are going to learn your name, shake your hand, and tell you their personal stories. But the semi-nar is not just an amazing opportunity, in the MBA program, it’s a requirement.

MBA Director Dr. Marilyn Fox says that creating the Executive Seminar was a deliberate choice. “I

wanted something unique; I wanted networking.” And who did she bring in to take the lead? Mike Nolan, Director of the Southern Minnesota Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

The SBDC offers services for start-up businesses as well as existing businesses, training workshops and seminars, and professional consulting for the community. The center is now located on the Minnesota State Mankato campus, and under Nolan’s leadership, was named the Minnesota and Upper Midwest Region SBDC Center of Excellence by the U.S. Small

Business Administration in the spring of 2013.

Early in the semester Nolan brings in Heather Ludwig, Minnesota State Mankato alumna and founder of Key to Renew (www.keytorenew.com), to educate the students on self-branding and personal marketing. Each student creates or recreates their profile for the networking site LinkedIn. The students then “connect” with each other, with past Executive Seminar students, and as the semester progresses they connect with some of the executive lecturers as well.

2012 - 2013 In revIew // 23

mBa alumna recoGnIzed In 40 under 40 lIst

Sara Dziuk was a member of the inaugural MBA class back in 2004 and it’s safe to say she’s done the program proud.

Dziuk ran the Greater Mankato Convention & Visitors Bureau when she started her MBA classes at the Mankato campus. The eight-week courses and the evening hours worked well with her schedule as she built her knowledge to serve her position at the time and her future career.

As of today, she has spent 10 years in leadership positions in non-profit organizations. She currently serves as the Executive Director of St. Paul-

based College Possible, a non-profit organization that makes college admission and success possible for low-income students. The organization as a whole, with bases in four cities, has a 98 percent success rate for college acceptance. The St. Paul base supports students at 21 high schools in the Twin Cities and their students are enrolled at 150 universities nationwide. As for Dziuk’s future with the organization, she says, “We have 20 additional high schools in the Twin Cities alone with students that need our services, and I’m excited to grow our reach in the Twin Cities, and nationally.”

Giving back to her community has been an important part of Dziuk’s life since she graduated from Gustavus Adolphus with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. In Mankato she was deeply engaged in the community and held leadership roles with the Mankato Rotary, Junior Achievement, and March of Dimes. At Minnesota State Mankato she served on the MBA Advisory Council and the Minnesota State Mankato Athletics Advisory Council. In the Twin Cities she has remained a Junior Achievement volunteer, as well as taking on a mentee through the College Possible Idealistic Mentors program, and serving on the Gustavus Economics and Management National Advisory Board.

Between her work with College Possible, her commitment to giving back, and her young family (she has an 18 month-old daughter with her husband, Mark), it is no wonder Dziuk was recognized as one of Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s “Forty Under Forty” this spring. This honor recognizes 40 leaders under the age of 40 who have already accomplished much in their careers and continue to give back to their communities. Well deserved indeed. n

40 under 40 mBa PROgRam

networkInG:for colleGe credItMBA Executive Seminar Brings Executives and Students TogetherBy elizaBeth Johnson

And as we all know, networking, like learning, isn’t confined to a classroom. Instead of always bringing the guest lecturers to campus, Nolan takes his students out into the world. Meeting executives on their company’s home turf gives the experience “a different flavor,” says Nolan. They get tours of the facilities and get to see the executives in their own environment. Instead of delivering a presentation, the executives are able to share an experience.

MBA student Amanda Mackie says, “I seem to take one or two ‘sound bites’ away from each speaker. They each have an uncanny knack for putting a simple phrase to a complicated concept.”

In the students’ response papers, it seems that Mackie wasn’t the only one to take away a central concept from the executives. When Bruce Paradis, retired CEO of GMAC RFC, spoke to the class, nearly every student mentioned Paradis’ phrase “clear measurements,” in reference to avoiding office politics. Mackie writes, “With clear measurements, employees better understand expectations, are evaluated more honestly, and management is able to define the successes and failures of the organization.” Paradis, now “retired,” owns the Blue Tang Inn in Belize where some of our marketing undergraduates stayed during their short-term study abroad class.

Angie Bastian of Angie’s Artisan Treats spoke with the class this spring and was, “delightfully valuable.” MBA student Matthew Seavey writes, “She offers great insight into the entrepreneurial process, from the beginning ‘garage’ stages to a very successful company.” The sound bite that turned up in nearly every response paper: “Limitations are illusions.”

The Executive Seminar helps remove some of those limitations, and closes the distance between top-level executives and students at Minnesota State Mankato.

For more information about the SBDC, visit http://www.myminnesotabusiness.com/

Interested in the MBA program? Visit http://cob.mnsu.edu/mba/

A Sampling of Guest Lecturers: Bonnie Baskin, Founder & CEO, viromed; Founder & CEO, apptecDan & Angie Bastian, Owners, angie’s artisan TreatsRichard Davis, CEO, US Bank CorpMike Derheim, CEO, The NerderyTom Douty, marketing vice President, Target CorporationTom Johnson, CFO, Taylor Corporation

REal lIFE RESUlTS OF NETwORkINg IN THE mBa EXECUTIvE SEmINaR

Kurt Meyer, mBa alum,

CFO minnesota Elevator

suggests his CEO, Rick Lowenberg as a guest lecturer for the Executive

Seminar

Rick is impressed by mBa student Ashley Roelike

in class

Rick Hires Ashley as minnesota

Elevator Comptroller.

Patrick Joyce, Sr. director, IT & global Security, medtronic, Inc.Dan Levinson, Sr. vice President, Best Buy, geek SquadTodd Loosbrock, market President, US BankBrad Peters, President, Bremer BankEllen Steck, President, Chicago PneumaticRichard Todd, vice President, Federal Reserve Bank, minneapolisScott Wine, CEO, Polaris Industries

SavE THE daTES CalENdaR➤ alumni Night at Canterbury Park: aUgUST 22

➤ Homecoming: SEPTEmBER 23-28

➤ accounting & Business law Scholarship Banquet: OCTOBER 3

➤ College of Business Scholarship Reception: OCTOBER 4

➤ Fall graduation: dECEmBER 14

➤ Spring graduation: may 10, 2014

➤ accounting golf Event: may 16, 2014

wayS TO CONNECT:Facebook: www.facebook.com/mSUmankatoCOB

linkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/ minnesota-State-University-mankato-College-124122

College website: cob.mnsu.edu

To make a donation to the College of Business or to learn more about how to get involved, please contact Sr. director of development Jeff Halbur at 507-389-2578 or [email protected]

{one color logo

A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System and an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University. This document is available in alternative format to individuals with disabilities by calling the

College of Business at 507-389-5420 (V), 800-627-3529 or 711 (MRS/TTY).BUSC131NE_8/13

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InReview 2013