It is hard to imagine that another summer is coming to a close, and fall semester is about to begin. The College has been very busy teaching our students, conducting our research and providing significant service to our community. We graduated another 315 undergraduates and 81 graduate students during the summer commencement. We were especially pleased that Gene Taylor, former vice chairman of Bank of America and '69 finance graduate, gave the summer commencement speech. His words of wisdom to our graduates remind us about the importance of a college education and the power of having a big dream.
We are constantly reviewing new platforms that will allow us to better serve all of you. Therefore, we are reading the book Wikinomics, and are engaged in a major initiative to create a total Web presence. The College of Business recently launched a page on Facebook. If you are a member of Facebook, just search for "Florida State University - The College of Business." We are located under Pages. The College of Business can also be found on LinkedIn by searching under Groups. We hope you will take advantage of these tools to connect with the College and with other College alumni. Below you will find a not-so-short update on current College initiatives.
PRIVATE GIFTS
Jan Moran, JM Family Enterprises, Inc. and The Jim Moran Foundation, Inc. have made a generous commitment to provide significant ongoing funding to the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship. This $1.8 million in additional funding will allow us to hire more faculty and staff to support our entrepreneurship program and to create one of the premier entrepreneurship programs in the country. We will completely revamp our entrepreneurship curriculum and increase our outreach presence in the South Florida area. In particular, with the funding from The Jim Moran Foundation, we will provide direct assistance to entrepreneurs in at-risk and economically disadvantaged communities.
Harold and Barbara Chastain provided financial support to create the J. Harold and Barbara M. Chastain Eminent Scholar Chair in Real Estate. After a national search, we are very pleased to announce that Dr. C.F. Sirmans will be the inaugural chairholder. Sirmans is widely regarded as one of the nation's leading real estate economists and his range of scholarship is unparalleled. His addition to FSU's real estate faculty raises our overall research rankings to top-five status among the nation's universities. Sirmans begins his work at FSU in January. He will continue to produce research, teach undergraduate and MBA students, bolster the work of the real estate center and strengthen the relationships of the College across other disciplines, including economics, law and urban planning.
Estate Gifts
Private support for the College is essential as we move toward preeminence. One excellent way to make a
difference is to make a gift through your estate plans. This ensures future generations of college students benefit
from this generosity. Special thanks to Richard Gray and Robert Mang who have made substantial estate gifts
to support the mission of the College.
CURRENT FUNDING INITIATIVES
As I have stated many times before, the generosity of our donors is what really makes a difference in the lives of our students. Below are three of the many funding initiatives we have in the College. Please check with Spence Sealy, sfsealy@cob.fsu.edu, or Jill Ashton, jcashton@cob.fsu.edu, to learn more or visit our giving page, http://www.cob.fsu.edu/alumni/support.cfm.
Student-Run Investment Fund
The Department of Finance is in the process of establishing a student-run investment fund with the goal of
running one of the largest and most successful funds in the country. It will employ our best graduate and
undergraduate students, who will engage in active portfolio management by implementing a variety of investment strategies. We think this is an exciting opportunity that will allow our students to gain real-world and
practical experience and make them tremendously desirable to future employers. We are seeking a major donor,
but this is an open-ended venture. We plan to have companies/individuals continuously give to the fund. Our
ultimate goal is to build this project to $10 million, which will put us on the map as the top student-run investment
fund in the nation. Policy has been written for the project, 12 student managers have been identified, and we are
ready to launch it once funding has been secured.
Warren Buffet Meeting
There aren't many times in your life when you get to meet a living legend. On Oct. 17, twenty-seven COB students
and one faculty member will travel to Omaha, Neb. for the unbelievable opportunity of meeting Warren Buffett,
the world's second richest man and arguably its best investor ever. Students will hear a presentation by Warren
Buffet and spend half a day with him. They will then have a Q & A session and tour two Berkshire Hathaway
subsidiaries, Borsheims and the Nebraska Furniture Mart. A total of $30,000 is needed for this unique opportunity,
and sponsors are currently being sought.
Bill Hillison Professorship
The Department of Accounting has created the Bill Hillison Professorship to honor and build a legacy to
acknowledge the accomplishments of Hillison who is retiring after more than 30 years at FSU. With a minimum
endowment amount of $250,000, a goal has been set to raise $168,000 from private sources. Our hope is that the
state matching program will continue and that we receive the additional $84,000 to fully endow the professorship.
UPCOMING COLLEGE EVENTS
FSU vs. Colorado Tailgate Party
The College of Business is hosting a tailgate party for COB alumni and friends at the FSU vs. Colorado football
game on Saturday, Sept. 27 in Jacksonville. The tailgate party starts two hours prior to kickoff at the Jacksonville
Municipal Stadium Sky Lounge. Tickets are $5 each and include admission to the tailgate party, food and nonalcoholic
beverages. A cash bar will also be available. There are a limited number of tickets available, and we
expect to sell out. To purchase your tickets, visit our registration link.
14th Annual Real Estate Trends & Networking Conference
The 14th Annual Real Estate Trends & Networking Conference is Nov. 6-7.
Registration materials are set to mail in September. This event has sold out every year so sign up early to guarantee
your spot. The conference promises to be another smashing success. A few of the featured speakers and their
topics are listed below:
Thursday Evening Opening, Nov. 6 – P.J. O'Rourke, political satirist and best-selling author – With America in the midst of charting a new course, O'Rourke will give us the political lay of the land as it appears in the days immediately following the presidential election.
Friday Morning: 2009 Outlook, Nov. 7 – Mark Vitner, Director and Senior Economist, Wachovia – Vitner is responsible for tracking U.S. and regional economic trends. Vitner's work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, USA Today and many other publications. He is a frequent guest on CNBC, CNN, NPR and "The NewsHour" with Jim Lehrer.
CEO Session: Core and Emerging Opportunities Beyond Tomorrow, Nov. 7 – Jim Seneff, Chairman and CEO, CNL Financial Group, Inc – Seneff founded and built CNL into one of the nation's largest private real estate investment and development companies. For more than three decades, CNL has specialized in identifying emerging opportunities before its competitors. He'll offer his insights into the emerging opportunities of today.
Friday Lunch, Nov. 7 – Bob Basham, Co-founder, Outback Steakhouse and Vice Chairman, OSI Restaurant Partners, LLC – Since opening Outback Steakhouse in 1988 and founding OSI Restaurant Partners, LLC., Basham and his partners Chris Sullivan and Tim Gannon have opened nearly 1,500 restaurants in over 20 countries, including Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Roy's, Lee Roy Selmon's and others. Basham will discuss his company's phenomenal growth and strategies for the future.
ALUMNI EVENTS
Receptions on the Road
The College of Business held several alumni networking receptions this summer. First, we visited Hilton Head, South Carolina, where College Board of Governors' member Bob Mang hosted a reception on May 8 at his home. We then traveled to Washington, DC for a reception on June 17 at Sam & Harry's Restaurant. Finally, the College headed out west for receptions in Park City, Utah on July 29 and in Seattle, Washington on July 31. All receptions were well-attended and great connections were made!
SPECIAL COLLEGE PROGRAMS
FSU-Macau University Hospitality Management Program
The Dedman School of Hospitality offered a special program this summer for college students majoring in hospitality
from Macau, China. Partnering with the FSU International Center and Walt Disney World, the Dedman School has forged a new and unique program that includes a six-month internship at WDW and a one-week short course on hospitality leadership at FSU. The Dedman School also is in discussions to establish an exchange program with the hospitality program in Macau for FSU DSH students to have an opportunity to study in China.
FACULTY NEWS
Randy Blass (MAN) arranged, organized and funded the very successful and first annual Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) in the College on June 8-16. The College graduated 15 deserving veterans who spent the entire week on campus. FSU President T.K. Wetherell and Sen. Bill Nelson were on hand to join the festivities. The College is currently seeking funds for the 2009 EBV Program.
Cassandra Cole (RMI) and Kathleen McCullough (RMI) had their article, "A Reexamination of the Corporate Demand for Reinsurance," which was in the Journal of Risk and Insurance, listed in Wiley-Blackwell's publisher report on its Top 10 list of downloaded articles for 2007.
Jim Combs (MAN) has been named a Jim Moran Professor of Management. Combs is a full professor in strategic management and has been at FSU since 2001. He also was recently appointed as the new Executive Director of the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship. Combs is recognized as one of the leading scholars in entrepreneurship, particularly in the area of franchising. As the new director of the Jim Moran Institute, he is leading a major growth initiative in the FSU College of Business entrepreneurship curriculum and programs.
Joe Cronin (MAR), John R. Kerr Research Chair in Marketing, was invited to serve on the editorial review board of the Journal of Retailing. The journal is one of the most prestigious marketing journals, and the most recent ratings from the SSCI indicate that it has the third highest impact of all marketing journals.
Bud Fennema (ACG) was elected President-Elect of the APLG (Accounting Program Leadership Group) section of the American Accounting Association. The group consists of accounting programs chairs throughout the country. Fennema is the President-Elect for 2008-2009 and President in 2009-2010.
Dean Gatzlaff (RMI) was appointed to the advisory board of the Real Estate Research Institute located in Hartford, CT.
Tim Holcomb (MAN) has been appointed by the leadership of the Business Policy and Strategy Division, the largest division of the Academy of Management, to serve as the BPS Division secretary and newsletter editor. This position serves as the institutional memory of the division and has been continuously occupied by a faculty member from Florida State since 1997.
Mark Martinko (MAN) has been elected as the Division Chair-Elect of the Managerial and Organizational Cognition Division (MOC) of the Academy of Management. The Academy of Management, the oldest and largest scholarly management association with over 13,000 members from 90 countries, is dedicated to creating and disseminating knowledge about management and organizations. Martinko's research in the areas of attribution theory and leadership are widely cited and recognized throughout the Academy.
Kathleen McCullough (RMI) received the President's Award at the American Risk and Insurance Association (ARIA) conference. The ARIA President gives the award each year to recognize outstanding service and commitment to the association.
Annette Ranft (MAN) has been elected by the membership to serve on the Executive Committee of the Business Policy and Strategy Division, the largest division of the Academy of Management. Ranft is only the second person from FSU to ever serve on this committee.
Molly Wasko (MIS) has received this year's Joan Raley Award. This award honors a faculty member who exhibits extraordinary service to students and comes with a $1,000 honorarium.
The College is welcoming eight new faculty members to the College of Business this fall:
Tammy Atwood (ACG) – Associate Professor
Frederick Bonney (MAR) – Assistant Professor
Patricia Born (RMI) – Associate Professor
James Dever (MAN) – Assistant in Management
Debbie Peterson (FIN) – Assistant in Finance
Christopher Plouffe (MAR) – Assistant Professor
Doug Smith (FIN) – Assistant in Finance
Jimmy Woodward (ACG) – Assistant in Accounting
Promotion to Research Associate:
Ronald Pierno (ACG)
Steve Payne (MIS)
John Larsen (MAR)
Stephen Bailey (RMI)
Bill Woodyard (RMI)
Promotion to Associate In:
Betty Presnell (MAN)
Pat Pallentino (MAR)
ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES
Joan Gabel (RMI) assumed the chair position of the Department of Risk Management/Insurance, Real Estate and Business Law on Aug. 1. She is replacing Dean Gatzlaff (RMI), who has served as department chair since 2001. Gatzlaff will continue in his position as director of The Center for Real Estate Education & Research. Gabel also has been named Advisory Editor-in-Chief for the American Business Law Journal, the business law discipline's premier journal. Gabel previously served as the journal's Editor-in-Chief from 2004 to 2006.
Jane Ohlin (HOS) assumed the position of Director of the Dedman School of Hospitality on Aug. 1, replacing Bob Brymer (HOS) who has served as the director for the past two years. Ohlin brings enthusiasm and passion for hospitality to the position. Prior to joining the hospitality faculty in 1989, she worked as a business consultant for Laventhol and Horwath, CPA. As a member of the Florida Bar, she focuses her legal research on the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act on the hospitality industry. Ohlin enjoys teaching undergraduate and MBA classes as well as teaching FSU students in Switzerland as part of International Programs.
STUDENTS
Three COB students have been awarded a University Fellowship, which is the highest award given to a graduate student. The following students are the recipients of the 2008-09 University Fellowships:
Kevin Krieger (FIN)
Thomas Smith (ACG)
Adrian Valencia (ACG)
Four doctoral students recently won a College of Business Doctoral Teaching Award:
Kelly Cowart (MAR)
Bruce Davidson (ACG)
Mike Giebelhausen (MAR)
James Worrell (MIS)
Three doctoral students were awarded scholarships for minority students.
Tina Thompson (MAN) - McKnight Fellowship
Billy Bradford (RMI) – Wilson/Auzenne Assistantship
Ronald (Jared) DeLisle (FIN) – Wilson/Auzenne Assistantship
The following doctoral students have completed their Ph.D. at FSU and have begun faculty positions:
Melinda Andrews (MAR) – University of Southern Mississippi
Ray Benedicktus (MAR) – California State University, Fullerton
Alisa Brink (ACG) – Virginia Commonwealth University
Naman Desai (ACG) – University of Central Florida
Dean Diavatopoulos (FIN) – Villanova University
Andy Fodor (FIN) – Ohio University
Chris Furner (MIS) – West Texas A&M University
Mary Dana Laird (MAN) - University of Tulsa
Sean Lux (MAN) - University of South Florida
Jim Meurs (MAN) - University of Mississippi
Alexa Perryman (MAN) - Texas Christian University
Renee Pratt (MIS) – University of William & Mary
Cindi Smatt (MIS) – Texas A&M University
John Upson (MAN) - West Georgia University
James Worrell (MIS) – University of Alabama at Birmingham
Buster Posey (FIN), FSU baseball player and junior in the College of Business, has won several distinguished athletic
awards including the 2008 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award (awarded to the nation's premier amateur baseball
player); 2008 Johnny Bench Award (awarded to the best catcher in college baseball); the 2008 Dick Howser
Trophy; best player in the 2008 NCAA Division 1 Tallahassee Regional; 2008 Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year
and 1st team All-American leading the NCAA in batting average (.472), on-base percentage (.572) and slugging
percentage (.908). Posey is also a 2008 Academic All-American recipient. Considered the best catcher in the 2008
Major League Baseball Draft, Posey was drafted by the San Francisco Giants as the fifth overall pick.
ALUMNI
Alumnus Art Smith (DSH) was featured on the "Making a Difference" segment of the "NBC Nightly News" with Brian Williams on Aug. 1. Smith's work with children through his non-profit organization, Common Threads, was highlighted. Filming locations included his home, the Common Threads Summer Camp and his Chicago restaurant Table 52. Smith's summer camp also was highlighted in a 4-page spread in the July issue of Southern Living magazine. Additionally, Access Hollywood aired a story about a dinner Smith did with Santa Margarita Wine in New York, and he was a guest judge on Episode 8 of this season's "Top Chef" reality show.
On another note, Smith will receive an honorary MBA in Hospitality from Florida State University in a formal ceremony to be held on Friday, Oct. 24 in conjunction with the Society of Hosts Alumni Reunion Dinner. Smith is a restaurateur, best-selling author, TV personality and former personal chef for Oprah Winfrey.
Kenley Collins (MAR), a 2005 graduate, is one of 16 contestants on the Bravo Channel's award-winning creative competition reality series, "Project Runway." The show that airs on Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. (EST) is hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum and a panel of industry luminaries, including top women's and menswear designer Michael Kors, and fashion expert Nina Garcia. Each week the contestants take on fashion challenges until the final three are left who will then show their own line in front of an audience of fashion industry movers and shakers at New York Fashion Week. The winner's prize package includes a cash prize of $100,000, an editorial feature in an issue of ELLE Magazine, an opportunity to sell a fashion line on Bluefly.com and a 2009 Saturn VUE Hybrid.
CONCLUSION
I think you can see that even during the summer months, the College never stops and continues to strive for preeminence. As our calendar reflects, fall will continue our frantic pace with events for everyone. I hope to see you at our events in Tallahassee or on the road.
Caryn
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Calendar of Events: |
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| August | ||
| 25 | Fall Classes Begin | |
| September | ||
| 6 | Western Carolina @ FSU | |
| 13 | UT-Chattanooga @ FSU | |
| 20 | Wake Forest @ FSU | |
| 24 | Women's Symposium (DSH) | |
| 25 | Meet the Firms (MIS) | |
| 25 | Corporate Networking Night (MBAs and other graduate students) | |
| 26 | FSU Seminole Futures Career Exposition | |
| 27 | FSU vs. Colorado Alumni Tailgate (JAX) | |
| October | ||
| 3 | Women in Business Conference (Student Leadership Council) | |
| 4 | FSU @ Miami | |
| 16 | FSU @ NC State – Raleigh (Thursday) | |
| 23 | Bruning Distinguished Speaker Series – Bobby Jones, Partner, Bluff Point Associates | |
| 24 | Florida Catastrophic Storm Risk Management Center's Fall Speaker Series | |
| 24 | Professional Advisory Board Meeting (ACG) | |
| 24-25 | Society of Hosts Alumni Weekend (DSH) | |
| 25 | Virginia Tech @ FSU | |
| November | ||
| 1 | FSU @ Georgia Tech | |
| 6-7 | Real Estate Trends & Networking Conference (RMI) | |
| 8 | Clemson @ FSU | |
| 13 | Leadership & Scholarship Awards Dinner (for students, faculty and alumni) | |
| 14 | Board of Governors Fall Meeting | |
| 15 | COB Alumni Homecoming Tailgate (Boston College @ FSU) | |
| 22 | FSU @ Maryland | |
| 29 | Florida @ FSU | |
| December | ||
| 8-12 | Final Exam Week | |
| 13 | Fall Graduation Ceremony | |