Engage@Spears Summer 2018 by Spears School of Business

The official magazine of the Spears School of Business, Oklahoma State University

VOL. 7, NO. 1, SUMMER 2018

CONNECTING WITH STUDENTS

Academic advisers go above and beyond.

WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE OPEN FOR

BUSI N E S S but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not done building our students! The new business building is complete, but you can impact the lives of Spears Business students by supporting programs such as: Entrepreneurship Pre-Seed Fund Student Managed Investment Fund Eastin Center for Career Readiness Center for Advanced Global Leadership & Engagement

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N , P L E A S E C O N TA C T Diane Crane, Sr. Director of Development & Team Lead, Spears School of Business OSU Foundation | 405.385.5665 | dcrane@OSUgiving.com

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

TULSA BUSINESS FORUMS & EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT BRIEFINGS

PRESENTED BY THE SPEARS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND CORPORATE SPONSORS

Brand Identity and the Importance of Disruption Tulsa

Wednesday, November 7, 2018 | 8-9:30 a.m. Marriott Tulsa Southern Hills

Oklahoma City

Wednesday, November 7, 2018 | 12-1:30 p.m. Embassy Suites - Downtown

BOZOMA ST. JOHN

Chief Brand Officer, Uber

Catch Me If You Can Oklahoma City

Tuesday, April 9, 2019 | 4-5:30 p.m. Cox Convention Center

Tulsa

Wednesday, April 10, 2019 | 10-11:30 a.m. Tulsa Performing Arts Center

FRANK ABAGNALE

Renowned Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention Expert and Bestselling Author and Subject of Catch Me If You Can

Purchase tickets at cepd.okstate.edu | Information on 3rd speaker of the series coming soon! For sponsorship opportunities and more information, contact the Oklahoma State University Center for exeCutive and Professional develoPment | 405-744-5208 | cepd.okstate.edu

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VERIZON

Getting from There to Here OSU alumnus Brady Connor reflects on the winding path he’s taken from New Mexico to Manhattan — with a stop for an MBA in Stillwater.

On the Cover The Business Student Success Center

Open for Business

Orange Power

has expanded the task of academic

The new Business Building opened for the Spring 2018 semester and was formally dedicated in April.

advising in perhaps unexpected ways. 4 COVER PHOTO: LANCE SHAW

Donna Lamson, program director of Oklahoma State University’s Ph.D. in Business for Executives, puts an array of personal touches on the program.

SPEARS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS SCHOOL OF

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT SPEARS BUSINESS

SCHOOL OF

MARKETING and

OMG! The words we’d never thought we’d say: Professor Lee Manzer is retiring after 43 years with OSU. But chances are you’ll still see him around campus.

LETTER FROM THE DEAN GARY LAWSON

GREETINGS! I hope this letter finds you doing well. We have wrapped up another eventful and successful year here at the Spears School of Business, and it is our pleasure to highlight some of our activities in this edition of Engage@Spears.

OSU SPEARS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS DEAN Ken Eastman A S S O C I AT E D E A N S Carol Johnson and Marlys Mason V I C E D E A N , W AT S O N G R A D U AT E SCH OO L O F MANAG E M E NT Ramesh Sharda

We have a great group of students, and we are doing some new things to help them be more fully prepared for their futures and to be able to distinguish themselves from other students. You’ll read about the great job that Marissa McIntyre, director of the Chesapeake Energy Business Student Success Center, is doing with our students. We also introduce you to Abbey Davis, the new director of the Eastin Center for Career Readiness. She brings a wealth of practical experience to the position, and we are excited to see what she can accomplish.

SPEARS SCHOOL MARKETING A N D C O M M U N I C AT I O N S Terry Tush

Back in April, we had a wonderful event to dedicate our new building — the rain held off and the skies parted right as we “opened for business!” It was a lot of fun to see people experience the building for the first time, and everyone left impressed with our new facility. Inside you will see a number of photos from the event, so if you couldn’t attend, you’ll get a sense of the success of the dedication.

PHOTOGR APHY Phil Shockley, Gary Lawson, Jordan Benson, Blake Brasor, Lance Shaw and Kelly Kerr

No edition would be complete without stories about some of our students. We have a great group of kids, and you’ll learn more about some of them — they never cease to impress me and make me feel proud. We also feature Brady Connor, another of our outstanding alumni. Brady (in spite of being one of my former students!) has established a successful career and life for himself, and I know you’ll enjoy learning more of his story. In our faculty spotlight, we bring you Dr. Betty Simkins. Dr. Simkins is the head of our Department of Finance and she makes great use of both her professional and academic experience to lead the department. Finally, I mention something I thought I would never write — Dr. Lee Manzer is retiring. Dr. Manzer has been a friend and mentor to me for my entire career at OSU, and he is without a doubt a legendary figure here at Spears. It will be hard to imagine this place without him, but he has certainly earned his time off.

MAGA ZIN E E DITO R Dorothy L. Pugh ART DIRECTOR Paul V. Fleming CONTRIBUTING WRITERS John Helsley, Jim Mitchell and Mallory Thompson

SPEARS SCHOOL D E PA R T M E N T H E A D S Lee Adkins, Economics and Legal Studies in Business Bruce Barringer, School of Entrepreneurship Tom Brown, School of Marketing and International Business Audrey Gramling, School of Accounting Jim Pappas, Management Betty Simkins, Finance Rick L. Wilson, Management Science and Information Systems C O N TA C T Spears School of Business Oklahoma State University 370 Business Building Stillwater, OK 74078-4011 405-744-5064 ssb.news@okstate.edu spears.okstate.edu

Enjoy,

Ken Eastman Dean, Spears School of Business

Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, genetic information, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. The Director of Equal Opportunity, 408 Whitehurst, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078-1035; Phone 405-744-5371; email: eeo@okstate.edu has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies. Any person (student, faculty, or staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss his or her concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with OSU’s Title IX Coordinator 405-744-9154. This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the office of the Dean, Spears School of Business, was printed by Royle Printing at a cost of $8,036.98/7M June 2018. #7418

summer 2018 engage@spears

Mapping Success Academic advisement expands its boundaries with the evolution of the Business Student Success Center

STORY BY JOHN HEL SLE Y | PHOTOS BY L ANCE SHAW

Haley Walton, like so many freshmen, was fixed firmly on a future of certainty when she arrived at Oklahoma State University. “I was convinced I was going to be a doctor,” Walton said. She’d major in entrepreneurship, knocking out the prerequisites for med school on the way to a degree in the Spears School of Business. The plan was solid, approved by her academic adviser, Marissa McIntyre, in the Chesapeake Energy Business Student Success Center (BSSC). One lecture changed everything. “I sat through my first class of chemistry,” Walton said, “and I kid you not, I whipped out my phone and emailed Marissa. I said something along the lines of, ‘SOS! I don’t like this. I really don’t want to do this for the rest of my life. I need help!!!’ “She responded and said, ‘Come into my office, and we will get it all figured out.’”

Fast-forward three years, and Walton is preparing for her senior year, still in Spears Business, scheduled to graduate in the spring with a degree in management, concentrating on nonprofits, with a minor in finance. Still leaning on McIntyre and the BSSC, too. Welcome to the new age of academic advisement, built on relationships and trust and even friendships, featuring students who stop in regularly for guidance or just to say hello. Flipping a line from The Godfather, it is personal, and it’s business. “When we’re talking about academic advisement, I think there’s a stigma that it’s all enrollment-based, that all we do is guide class schedules and degree programs,” said McIntyre, director of student academic services in the BSSC. “That’s definitely a part of academic advising, but I think it’s a small part. We’re very much focused on holistic student success. continues

engage@spears summer 2018

“When we’re talking about academic advisement, I think there’s a stigma that it’s all enrollment-based, that all we do is guide class schedules and degree programs. … We’re very much focused on holistic student success.” — MARISSA MCINTYRE, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT ACADEMIC SERVICES

summer 2018 engage@spears

The Chesapeake Energy Business Student Success Center team includes (from left) Chantelle Quick, Vanessa Owens, Barbara Bremer, Samantha Lancaster, Austin Haytko, Shannon Ramsey, Marissa McIntyre, Amy Baldwin and Katie Norris.

“We’re seeing students come by on a more regular basis, just to check in or to chat with us. They know that we’re here to support them in whatever they need while they’re at OSU, and even after. We have students now that will email us a year after their graduation just to say, ‘Look at what I’m doing.’ “That’s part of our job, to help celebrate their successes.” Changing Face

Not all that long ago, academic advisement was just that — basic advice, recommending and plotting classes in order to keep students on the path to completing their degrees. “I remember a lot of times, I looked at a degree sheet, picked out classes for myself and registered for them,” said Vanessa Owens, an academic adviser in the BSSC. The face of academic advising is changing, drastically in some places, with setups like the BSSC leading the way on OSU’s campus. Yes, the primary objective is to keep students on course in their degree quests. But what if a student requires real advising assistance, to talk

engage@spears summer 2018

through and accommodate changes in majors or to navigate obstacles that may be impeding their way to achieving personal and professional goals? Young people face challenges inside and outside the classroom, and some can threaten an academic career. Offering real and meaningful help is good for both the student and school — fortifying the future of one, ensuring retention for the other. Hugo Ortiz, a senior majoring in marketing and management, knows firsthand how life’s trials can get in the way. As a freshman, he struggled with illnesses that kept him away from OSU for eight months, leading to a catastrophic withdrawal from school and leaving Ortiz unsure that he’d ever return. His parents suggested he might be better back home, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, at Northeastern State University. Shannon Ramsey, his academic adviser in the BSSC, shepherded him back to Stillwater. “After I got better, enough to communicate with my adviser again, Shannon helped me with the process of what I needed to

do,” Ortiz said. “She went out of her way, probably above and beyond what another adviser would have done. And whenever I started the process to come back to school, she helped me out with that. “She’s just been very helpful. I don’t think I’d be here at Oklahoma State if she didn’t help. I feel like she’s one of the people I owe a lot to when I graduate in December.” For Walton, the need for help was immediate and sudden, as her best-made plans were shattered in that first chemistry class. Fortunately, she had McIntyre to answer her distress signal. “I walked over to her office immediately after that class and we basically dissected why I wanted to be in the medical field,” said Walton, who is from Edmond, Oklahoma. “We came to the conclusion that I really liked the thought of helping people. In the business school, they have an option under the management major where you can study nonprofit management. We talked about it, Marissa told me the ins and outs of it. And I said, ‘Yep, that’s it.’”

“I definitely want to provide as much as I can for students, just being a personal cheerleader sometimes and letting them know they have potential and they’re going to do great things.”

— VAN E S SA OWE N S , AC AD E M I C ADVI S E R

‘Support and Serve’

McIntyre recalls her department’s oldschool days of advising. Eight to 10 years ago, with only six academic advisers in the second-largest school on campus, they did the best they could.

One team in the BSSC is dedicated to recruiting prospective students, and others are charged with ushering current Cowboys and Cowgirls along the way.

“We had very large advising loads, and we were very focused on the enrollment aspect of it,” she said. “Throughout time, and as all of education has grown, advising has also grown.”

They seek out student successes and hear their problems. They encourage students to go beyond the classroom and get involved in organizations, clubs and activities, enhancing their experiences and their ability to fit in and call OSU home.

The staff and the vision have expanded to what McIntyre now calls a mission to “support and serve.” And that could involve many things for a team that now numbers 19 when fully staffed.

“I definitely want to provide as much as I can for students,” Owens said, “just being a personal cheerleader sometimes and letting them know they have potential and they’re going to do great things.

“I definitely have to wear different hats. I think there’s so many things going on behind the scenes. You never know if there’s a death in the family, or a student is dealing with something that can impact school. So just having that conversation. “I often ask students what’s going on in their lives, because I am concerned and I do like to know if there’s anything I can help with. Or maybe if it’s outside what I do, such as counseling, I can walk them over and get help. “I think it really helps students to know that they have someone in their corner.” continues

summer 2018 engage@spears

Marissa McIntyre, director of student academic services, visits with business student Ben Stockton.

“One cool part of meeting students that early, they have a friendly face that they’ve already met with, talked about their goals, their intentions, what they’re wanting out of college, what they expect out of college, their parents as well.” — P R O S P E C T I V E S T U D E N T CO O R D I N ATO R A A R O N CO N K L I N G

engage@spears summer 2018

Getting Personal

The Spears motto — “The Power of Personal” — is alive and thriving in the Chesapeake Energy Business Student Success Center. The forging of relationships begins with prospective students, well before young men and women make the official move to campus. “It starts early,” said Aaron Conkling, the BSSC’s coordinator for prospective students. “We meet with 16-, 17-, 18-year olds in high school to explain what to expect, what to look forward to with our resources.” Conkling estimates he and the other advisers meet with 300 potential students every year to talk up OSU and lay the foundation for what the school has to offer. “One cool part of meeting students that early, they have a friendly face that they’ve already met with,” Conkling said, “talked about their goals, their intentions, what they’re wanting out of college, what they expect out of college, their parents as well. It could be two very different things. “But it is nice for them to come in for enrollment over the summer and have someone they already know.” From that initial meeting, the best relationships grow. Students are required to meet with their adviser at least once each semester. For the 2018 spring semester, the BSSC handled roughly 5,800 student appointments. Many students met more than once, as they are encouraged, and some check in weekly or bi-weekly. Some met the minimum. On an average day, the advising team sees anywhere from 120 to 150 students in the BSSC.

“I think with a lot of students, they feel that nobody’s asking how they truly are,” Ortiz said. “With Shannon, I think her just asking, ‘How are you doing today? Are you enjoying your classes? How’s your semester?’ Those things go a long way. “And after asking that, she implemented it into helping me with advice on class suggestions. That’s what kept me coming back.” That’s proof that the Power of Personal is more than just a motto. “The Chesapeake Energy BSSC is a great example of the Power of Personal,” said Ken Eastman, dean of Spears Business. “Our advisers do so much more than just help students with their class schedules. They are the main point of contact for many of our students and the advisers are a trusted source of advice and information. “We are proud of the work they do and how dedicated they are to our students.” Win-Win Situation

As Walton enters her final stages at OSU, she appreciates the guidance and the help advisers have provided and continue to offer. “I’ve got a team cheering for me in the BSSC,” she said. “They’re wearing my jersey, and I, too, am wearing theirs.” For the advisers, Conkling says, the relationships are real, too. “I think a winning day is when I go home and I’m mentally exhausted in a good way, because I’ve talked to so many people and I’ve seen those ‘ah-hah’ moments, or the ‘I didn’t know I could do that,’ or ‘That makes me feel better,’ those type of conversations,” he said.

“It’s not just helping one person – that is amazing – but to go home feeling fulfilled like that, knowing who I’ve helped.” Consider it a win-win situation. The help doesn’t end with the BSSC. As students near graduation and anticipate their next steps, the Eastin Center for Career Readiness, situated in the same space, aids in the transition to the professional world. The Eastin Center assists students with career planning, professional skill development, résumé and interview guidance, and the internship or job search. “Our space, on the ground floor in the new Business Building, has been something that allows us to refer students back and forth to each other and to make sure that we’re setting them up for success,” McIntyre said. Success can spread, too. It has for Walton, who acted on the prompts of advisers to engage in many activities and organizations, stretching her and turning her into a student advocate for the Power of Personal. “The BSSC has impacted me in pushing me to my full potential,” Walton said. “And I’m so thankful they did, because now I can return the favor and impact the people around me. One of the ways I really have seen the continuation of an impact from the BSSC is my involvement with the Business Student Ambassadors organization. I get the chance to talk to incoming students about what makes Spears Business spectacular. “And as cheesy as it sounds, it is the Power of Personal. It’s easy to be excited about something when it has had such an impact on you.” @

summer 2018 engage@spears

JORDAN BENSON

Abbey Davis works with an OSU student at the Eastin Center for Career Readiness.

OSU alumna leading Eastin Center for Career Readiness Abbey Davis speaks from experience when she talks about how the Eastin Center for Career Readiness can benefit college students. She enrolled at Oklahoma State University when her family moved to Stillwater from Morgantown, W.Va.

engage@spears summer 2018

“I’m not originally from Oklahoma or this part of the country, so coming to school here was a new experience for me in many ways,” she said. “I wish I would have been able to bounce back from setbacks quicker than I was able to at times. Resiliency is something I had to develop through the school of hard knocks. This is now a skill set I consider to be a strength of mine, but there could have been ways for me to develop it earlier in life.”

GARY LAWSON

“Our hope is to support students with their professional self-discovery goals and then help them identify skill gaps they need to focus on. There is an opportunity to understand a broader definition of soft skills. Many see this term and think of communication, professional image and networking. Those are all important skills that we will help students focus on, but we also want to help students develop the necessary skills that are a bit harder to define like self-awareness, resiliency and critical thinking,” said Davis, who is also an instructor of human resources management for Spears Business.

That’s why the OSU graduate was excited to join her alma mater in March as director of the Eastin Center in the Spears School of Business. The Eastin Center is focused on inspiring and developing students in professionalism, business etiquette and career readiness. Davis will provide leadership for the Eastin Center’s three main functions: career readiness, corporate engagement and career services. “Abbey brings with her a wealth of experience in corporate recruiting and a keen interest in helping students succeed. She will be a tremendous asset as we strive to enhance the career readiness of our students,” said Ken Eastman, dean of Spears Business. Davis has two degrees from OSU, earning her bachelor’s in management (2008) and an MBA (2011). She has been employed with ISNetworld, Chesapeake Energy Corp. and most recently as people development partner with The Charles Machine Works Inc., where she helped create, implement and support employee development initiatives and served as a coaching resource for leaders. Born in Pittsburgh and raised in Morgantown, W.Va., she is looking forward to working with Spears Business students in her new role overseeing the Eastin Center. “The students’ curiosity and desire to learn more about their passion and purpose in life is inspiring, and we’re excited to participate in their journey,” Davis said. “There are so many endless career possibilities, many that students have not been introduced to yet, and the Eastin Center is an opportunity to learn more about who they are personally, what they are interested in professionally and how we can prepare them to be successful in the competitive business environment.” Davis said it’s imperative that Spears Business graduates gain during their college careers the soft skills necessary for success upon graduating and finding employment. She cited a Wall Street

Davis has a vision for the Eastin Center and believes current and future students will be the beneficiaries.

“The students’ curiosity and desire to learn more about their passion and purpose in life is inspiring, and we’re excited to participate in their journey.” — AB B E Y DAVIS

Journal survey that states 92 percent of executives say that soft skills were as important or more important than technical skills and that 89 percent say they have a difficult time finding people with these attributes. “In my experience in the corporate environment, you rarely see a leader struggle with technical proficiency; any challenges or setbacks they face are almost always tied to the lack of necessary leadership qualities that are included in soft skills,” she said. “Talent management departments across the globe have been increasing the amount of competency and leadership-based trainings to help alleviate this skill gap but still find it difficult to play catch-up with their workforce.

“The Eastin Center was established to help provide our students with a competitive advantage in terms of personal and professional development,” she said. “Some of our short-term objectives will be to focus on how we can make the biggest impact with our resources and efforts. When it comes to interpersonal and professional skills, the best way to become proficient is through repeated practice with feedback. We want to provide a safe environment for our students to experiment with these new skills and receive real-time feedback to help them grow. “Another short-term goal will be to focus on increasing our employer network to offer more opportunities to our students. Whether a student is interested in pursuing a career in-state, regionally, nationally or globally, we want to help them make those connections. “Long term, we want our story to be shared. By our story, we mean the success stories of our students. We want to hear about how a former student was selected to lead a high-profile project due to their strong collaboration skills. We want employers to be asking us what we did different to give our students a competitive edge. Years down the road, we want to hear from alumni about how they helped develop their employees using the techniques they learned here.” @ summer 2018 engage@spears

OSU’s newest PHOTOS BY PHIL SHOCKLEY A N D K E L LY K E R R

The new Oklahoma State University Business Building is many things to many people. To business faculty, it ’s an opportunity to provide a better learning experience and better prepare students for the business world. To alumni, it ’s a place to show of f with pride when they return to campus. To the donors who gave to make it possible, the building is their way of impacting future generations of OSU students. continues

engage@spears summer 2018

“This building is first and foremost about you, and providing you an environment — a home — where you are welcomed and feel comfortable.” — DEAN KEN EASTMAN, SPEAKING TO STUDENTS

summer 2018 engage@spears

From left, Braxton Noble, Rand Elliott, OSU President Burns Hargis, Craig Abbott, Tom Occhipinti and Spears Business Dean Ken Eastman spoke at the dedication for the new Business Building.

But as Ken Eastman, dean of the Spears School of

“Students, this building was designed for you,”

Business, said at the dedication ceremony for the

Eastman said in front of a crowd of more than 600

building on April 13, the ones who will benefit the

people in the courtyard and on the second-floor

most are the students.

balcony. “ We want you to be in here, not just when you are attending classes, but also while studying, meeting with groups and socializing.

engage@spears summer 2018

“ This building is first and foremost about you, and

building will help persuade high school seniors to

providing you an environment — a home — where

take a chance on Oklahoma State and the Spears

you are welcomed and feel comfortable.”

School of Business. I know if I were in high school

Junior Braxton Noble, a finance major from Stillwater, says students are already taking great

and I saw that I got to go to class in a building like this, I would jump at the opportunity.”

pride in the new building following its opening for

OSU President Burns Hargis, Business Student

the spring semester.

Council President Tom Occhipinti, Manhattan

“I think I speak for every student when I say that I didn’t think this would ever be finished,” Noble said. “It has been an awesome experience to see the building come together. “It is said that if you build it , they will come, and I can say with pretty strong confidence that this

Construction’s Craig Abbott and Elliott + Associates principal Rand Elliott joined Eastman and Noble in speaking at the dedication ceremony. Af terward, many attendees took self- guided tours as student volunteers were stationed throughout the building to show visitors the spaces and answer questions. @

summer 2018 engage@spears

Taking His Shot With his mom’s support, Braxton Noble is building success

STORY BY JOHN HELSLEY | PHOTOS BY JORDAN BENSON

When Braxton Noble wanted to learn how to throw a football, the teaching fell to his mother, although somewhat hesitantly. “Braxton and I have been by ourselves since he was 4,” Gina Noble said. “He’s always been interested in sports and he really wanted to play football as a young boy, against my better judgment. But that’s what he wanted to do,” she trailed off. And because Braxton wanted it, well Gina ultimately wanted it, too, even if it meant getting out of her comfort zone. “I thought I better get out in the yard,” she said. Before she could teach her son to throw a football, Gina knew she had to learn to throw one herself. She got creative.

engage@spears summer 2018

“I YouTube’d it,” she said. “Practiced a little bit. It’s pretty easy when they’re young, because you don’t have to throw it very far.” Gina and Braxton kept on throwing to each other — balls, ideas, respect. And love, much love, in a relationship that continues to flourish for Braxton, an “I Am Building” student in the Spears School of Business, and Gina, associate director of undergraduate studies and clinical associate professor in OSU’s School of Media & Strategic Communications. continues

summer 2018 engage@spears

“My mom said, ‘You’re going to go visit Greek houses, just because it’s something you haven’t thought about,’” Braxton said. “Fortunately, it was Sigma Nu that was the only house giving tours that day. I was the first to go through, because my mom knew to go straight there. They gave me my tour; I walked out and said, ‘Mom, I want to be a Sigma Nu.’ “I tell my football coaches all the time that I thank them for almost giving me the opportunity to get hurt. Because if it wasn’t for that, there’s no telling where I might be. Coming to Oklahoma State was the best thing that ever happened for me.” Braxton continues to thrive at OSU, where he’s a finance major on schedule to graduate in 2019.

“Me and my mom are best friends,” Braxton said. “Some people might say that me and my mom are weirdly close, but it’s just normal for me. It’s me and her. I never really had a father figure in my household to look up to, so I’ve always looked up to my mom.” Braxton thrived amid his mom’s guidance and example. He starred while playing various sports growing up and showed off his throwing arm as the starting quarterback at Stillwater High School, prompting dreams of playing in college before injuries eventually ended his career. Braxton starred in the classroom, too, opening opportunities to attend various colleges, with his vision initially fixed on San Diego State University, for its sunny locale and the appeal of family in the southern California city. Hometown OSU got a look, too — a new kind of look. “I grew up around here, but never went on a campus tour or anything,” Braxton said. “I didn’t really see a reason to.” Still, Braxton attended Senior Day at OSU, and he discovered more than he’d always assumed. One of mom’s suggestions also resulted in a game-changer in OSU’s favor.

engage@spears summer 2018

A student leader in Spears Business, he was elected president of Business Student Council for his senior year, when he hopes to spark greater involvement and help bridge the gap between faculty and students. Braxton’s been chosen for a national role with Sigma Nu Fraternity as a Collegiate Grand Councilman. He works in the CAGLE office, offering a student perspective on study-abroad opportunities following his own trips to the United Kingdom and Mexico, and this summer Argentina and Chile. He was one of two students who spoke at the April dedication for the new Business Building. And he continues his ongoing role in the “I Am Building” project along with four other business students. The project charts their paths through school alongside the rise of the new Business Building by sharing their experiences through videos, magazine articles, social media and more. Braxton may eventually make it to school in sunny California, with his hopes of studying law at UCLA. But for now, he’s focused on finishing strong at OSU. Across campus, Gina has watched her son’s academic career with joy and pride. “It has been wonderful to watch him grow,” she said. “I knew when he told me he was going to go to Spears that he was in good hands. I told him he should look at many colleges. And he had many offers.

“When he told me he wanted to go to Spears, I knew it was the right choice for him, and for me. “Spears has probably enhanced his college experience more than any college ever could, because it’s given him opportunities. And thankfully, he’s excelled in those opportunities.” From his view, Braxton said he’s been equally inspired by his mom. Along with her significant role on campus, Gina recently served a stint as Stillwater’s mayor. “She’s done so many different things for me,” Braxton said. “Most recently, her stepping into a leadership role with the city of Stillwater. And in her college on campus, she has really shown me, don’t be afraid to be involved. It’s not a bad thing to be involved, and it can lead to a lot of different things. “That’s really helped shape me into the leader I am today, showing me it’s OK to take on different leadership roles.” Eventually, Gina had to give up the sports work with Braxton. “Starting about middle school, he threw too hard for me,” she said. Otherwise, they’ve been inseparable. Gina kept going to the games, whether football, baseball, basketball or soccer, and the car trips together offered opportunities to bond even more. So did the cross-country drives to visit family in San Diego or other vacations spent together. “Just to spend time with him, away from school, away from Stillwater, where we can really get to know each other has just been so beneficial for both of us,” Gina said. “There’s just something about when you’re alone, and you don’t have any distractions. It’s really cool.” Especially cool when it involves best friends. “My mom, I call her Supermom,” Braxton said. “She served as my mom and as my dad. We have a great relationship. It’s always been me and my mom.” @

“It has been wonderful to watch him grow. I knew when he told me he was going to go to Spears that he was in good hands. … When he told me he wanted to go to Spears, I knew it was the right choice for him, and for me.” — GINA NOBLE (ABOVE WITH SON BRAXTON)

summer 2018 engage@spears

COURTESY DARCY WORTH

Chatting with Spears Business’ Top Senior Darcy Worth reflects on winning 2018 Raymond D. Thomas Award Darcy Worth’s passion for the Spears School was honored with the 2018 Raymond D. Thomas Award.

BY MALLORY THOMPSON

arcy Worth, a marketing and management major at Oklahoma State University from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, who graduated in May, is the recipient of the 2018 Raymond D. Thomas Award, given annually to the top senior in the Spears School of Business. This award reflects high levels of achievement in scholarship and leadership. Each year, a Spears Business faculty committee determines the recipient of this award, which comes with a lifetime membership with the OSU Alumni Association.

engage@spears summer 2018

Worth carried the Spears Business flag in the opening ceremony to commencement and was the first business student to receive her diploma. After graduation, she will pursue a law degree from Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law. She has been involved with Business Student Council, President’s Leadership Council, a national sorority and as a Spears School of Business Ambassador. Ultimately, it was Worth’s expressive passion for Spears Business that led her to achieve this award. We talked with Worth about the Raymond D. Thomas Award and how Spears Business has impacted her life the last four years.

IN YOUR OWN WORDS, WHAT DOES THIS AWARD REPRESENT?

Thinking back to when I was a freshman and was seeing the individuals who won the award, they were people who were dedicated and put their heart and soul into the school and into what they were doing for the school. I think (the award) represents dedication spent in hopes to further the business school’s goals and to make the school better. It reminds me of what my mom would say: “Leave it better than you found it.” I think the award is meant for people who do that to the best of their ability. WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU HEARD YOUR NAME ANNOUNCED AS THE 2018 RAYMOND D. THOMAS AWARD RECIPIENT?

I was stunned, thrilled and excited. I was standing next to close friends because I’ve made some of my deepest relationships in the business school, and it was so cool to have such a strong group of individuals around me to cheer me on immediately after.

THINKING BACK TO WHEN YOU WERE A FRESHMAN, DID YOU PICTURE YOURSELF WHERE YOU ARE NOW, AS A RECIPIENT OF THIS AWARD AND A LEADER OF THE BUSINESS SCHOOL?

As a freshman, I looked at it as a reward for dedication and I really wanted this award. As a sophomore, I realized this idea was too encompassing of me and making me do things for the wrong reasons, like joining many clubs and organizations. I quit a bunch of things and only did what I was passionate about. So, this is really cool for me to receive because I started out going after this award for the wrong reasons, and I ended up still receiving it because I did the things I really cared about. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE SPEARS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS?

“The Power of Personal” is massive to me. I think anything you do is going to be done because you have a good relationship with people. This has been the best thing I’ve gotten to learn. There’s a relational aspect to everything. Spears’ “Power of Personal” (to me) is the relationships you can build and how they are going to affect you for the rest of your life.

HOW HAVE THE SPEARS PROFESSORS AND FACULTY IMPACTED YOU?

They’ve shown me what it can mean to do a good job, to go above and beyond for things. They do more than just their job. I asked a professor to critique my writing, and he spent an hour drafting a response on how I can improve. One of the sports marketing professors plays intramurals with his students. It’s the professors and advisers who stop on campus and talk to their students — they take the extra step. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR FUTURE BUSINESS STUDENTS?

I find this is pushed very well within the Spears School of Business but find what gives you friends and purpose outside of the classroom. Find something that gives you an effort to strive for. Have something to be passionate about. Find something that gives you heart and empathy for something else. The business school does a great job of pushing this idea, but ultimately, it’s up to the students to pursue it. My passion has been showing people what the business school can do for them. @

PHIL SHOCKLEY

“Spears’ Power of Personal (to me) is the relationships you can build and how they are going to affect you for the rest of your life.” — DARCY WORTH

summer 2018 engage@spears

Spears Business recognizes top seniors klahoma State University’s Spears School of Business honored its top seniors during the 65th Annual Honors and Awards Banquet at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. Among the award winners were the Spears Business Outstanding Seniors: Jonathan Anderson, Nathan Herrmann, Sabrina Leonardi, Alexis Miller, Gonzalo Morillas, Caitlin Oakleaf, Mackenzie Rychlik, Luke Sutton, Jessica Wiewel and Darcy Worth. “This is a talented group of seniors,” said Marlys Mason, associate dean. “They have been valuable citizens to the school, university and community. We are fortunate that these fine men and women have been part of the OSU community for the last four years.” Also, Gage Calhoon, Claudio Ferrer, Erin Hart, Hammons Hepner, Nathan Herrmann, Alexis Miller, Gonzalo Morillas and Darcy Worth were named OSU Seniors of Significance. Ferrer and Hepner were Spears Business picks for OSU Outstanding Senior Awards. The Outstanding Senior Award recognizes seniors who excel through academic achievement; campus and community activities; academic, athletic or extracurricular honors or awards; scholarships; and work ethic during their time at OSU.

Top Spears Business Seniors The Spears School of Business honors the top five seniors from each of the seven academic departments each year. These outstanding students were recognized during the 65th Annual Honors and Awards Banquet in March. ACCOUNTING

MANAGEMENT

James Blasko

Melea Barrick

Jackson Bowker

Nakoma Hazlett

Molly Dunn

Alexis Miller

Nathan Herrmann

Garrett Stevenson

Mackenzie Rychlik

Darcy Worth

ECONOMICS AND

MANAGEMENT SCIENCE

LEGAL STUDIES

AND INFORMATION

Carlie Culver

SYSTEMS

Grant Eisenmenger

Cameron Hastings

Claudio Ferrer

Megan Kibler

Monica Shiever

Alexis Miller

Luke Sutton

Elizabeth Shafer

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Timothy Sizemore

Ferrer, majoring in economics and finance, is from Enid, Oklahoma. Hepner, earning degrees in agricultural economics and finance, is from Freedom, Oklahoma.

Matthew Arrington

MARKETING AND

Shawndea Dunzy

INTERNATIONAL

Emily Gilley

BUSINESS

They are among 14 seniors chosen for the award by the OSU Alumni Association Student Awards and Selection Committee, which met with 47 Seniors of Significance selected in the fall of 2017 and reviewed their applications. @

Ashley Shannon

Kamber Crowe

Jessica Wiewe

Mayela Estrada

FINANCE Jonathan Anderson Gage Calhoon

Katlyn McCracken Malik Miller Cady Pendleton

Landon Hlad Sabrina Leonardi Vanessa Shippy

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING

engage@spears summer 2018

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Claudio Ferrer worked his way through a life of struggles to graduate with two bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degrees in May.

CHALLENGED TO ACHIEVE Claudio Ferrer stays on track to succeed at OSU despite a life of detours BY JOHN HELSLEY

engage@spears summer 2018

“It’s always great to encourage someone and see them succeed. I figure if you have knowledge, somebody shared it with you. Why not share it with somebody else?” — CLAUDIO FERRER

laudio Ferrer found easy motivation to rise early and get to school at Enid High School in northern Oklahoma. “If I could be honest, there were two free meals at school every day,” said Ferrer, a recent graduate of Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business. “So Monday through Friday, I ate well. “That was really a driving force to get up early in the morning.” Ferrer’s life involved such struggles as frequent moves, including a first uprooting away from his native Puerto Rico, periods spent homeless and a pressing need for him to enter the workforce at the age of 13. “I had a job at McDonald’s in high school, which at times was the major source of income in our family,” he said. Life remains complicated for Ferrer, although this time by choice. And he remains highly motivated to hit campus daily — only now his motive is to feed his intense appetite for learning and thriving in the classroom. There have been more awards and honors and regular spots on the dean’s and president’s honor rolls, along with various service projects, such as with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. “I am inspired by Claudio and his success, given all of his challenges,” said Betty Simkins, head of the Department of Finance. The challenges, while serious, never became barricades for Ferrer. Detours, yes, beginning when his parents divorced

T H E C L AU D I O F E R R E R S U CC E S S S TO RY

» »Outstanding Senior, OSU Alumni Association » »Graduated in May with two bachelor’s degrees — one in finance with a minor in

accounting and another in economics with a concentration in quantitative studies.

» »Senior of Significance , 2017–18. » »SHIELD Scholar . » »Economics Society Student of the Year , 2016–17. » »Economics Society president and treasurer, 2015–present. » »Member of Net Impact, Free Enterprise Society, Financial Management Association, Hispanic Student Association, Math Club, History Club and Business News Club.

» »On-campus jobs with the Office of Institutional Diversity and TRiO. » »Internships served with Phillips 66 in Houston and First United Bank in Durant, Oklahoma in Puerto Rico, prompting a move with his mother to the U.S. mainland. “There was a lot of moving in my childhood, a lot of different cities and houses,” Ferrer said. “Through economic toughness, I was homeless some of my childhood. I remember wearing the same shirt every day to school.” Still, he was going to school every day. And while there, he was listening. And learning. And developing. Ferrer ranked fifth in a graduating class of 400 at Enid High, yet his concept of college was at best lacking. “I did not have a real good grasp of what college was, or how you would afford it,” he said. So Ferrer kept his job at McDonald’s, where he’d worked for two years as a cashier and managing the front of the restaurant, until one day his mother suggested he look into possible opportunities at Enid’s branch of Northern Oklahoma

College. He enrolled in a rush, three weeks before school started. A year later, he had completed an associate degree and was named the school’s Accounting Student of the Year. But again, Ferrer didn’t know what was next. Until … “I had a little orange envelope at home,” Ferrer said of the recruitment letter from OSU that changed his course for the better. And Ferrer just keeps making it better, through excelling in classes and activities, and in giving back, especially through his work in the Office of Institutional Diversity. “That’s obviously very close to my heart,” Ferrer said. And he’s more than willing to share his story. “Not just share my story in general,” he said, “but if they’re going through continues summer 2018 engage@spears

something, whether it’s financial, social or just getting adjusted to a new environment, I share some specific instances and say, ‘I’ve been through this, too. I’m here at sort of the end of the journey and you’ll be able to get there as well.’ “It’s always great to encourage someone and see them succeed. I figure if you have knowledge, somebody shared it with you. Why not share it with somebody else?” There’s not much Ferrer can’t relate to, from his earliest days until now. While his current issues don’t rival the earlier struggles of his life such as two-mile walks to and from school on an often-hungry belly, he has faced trying times at OSU. When in doubt, Ferrer knows where to turn, and his mother, Nilka Ramirez, is always ready with support. “Somebody who’s been my anchor my

Not that Ferrer would ever abandon his journey, not with five younger brothers watching him back home in Enid. “Throughout my life, I haven’t always had role models to look up to or mentorship,” he said. “I always think everything I do, I make sure they see it in a good light and they think, ‘Man, I could do that, too. My brother did it. I’ll be able to do it.’ “I’m always pushing them. Whenever I give them gifts, they get algebra books or educational books, or books about the planets for my younger brothers. I always try to teach them that education can take them a long way.” And there’s no greater example than their big brother. For that, Ramirez is thankful. “I thank God for my Claudio Jonathan,” she said. “A young fighter, exceptional as a son and an example of discipline for his

The Seniors of Significance Award may very well be the highlight of Ferrer’s academic career. The award recognizes students who have excelled in scholarship, leadership and service to campus and community and have brought distinction to OSU. That good news came via a phone call, with Ferrer enjoying a break from classes. “I was alone in my apartment, so I had no shame in screaming and jumping with joy,” he said. “Not only the significance of it, but coming to the end of the journey, it means a lot to say, ‘OK, whatever my next step is, it’s good to know this institution is behind me, and this institution sort of believes in what I’m going to accomplish.’” Considering all that Ferrer has already accomplished, there’s plenty of reason to believe. He’s quick to thank all who have helped in guiding him at OSU and to

JORDAN BENSON

“Whatever my next step is, it’s good to know this institution is behind me.” — CLAUDIO FERRER Ferrer has achieved a considerable list of successes at OSU.

entire life, when there wasn’t much money or jobs or even a house to live in, my mom has always given me love,” he said. “And she always pushed me to get up and go to school and study. She tried to raise me to have a better life than what she was having. “So I’m really thankful for my mom, for everything she’s done in my life and putting that drive in me even more in really bad situations.”

Once professor Simkins learned Ferrer’s story, she happily wrote a letter of recommendation to the Seniors of Significance Award committee.

Sometimes still, Mom has to reinforce that drive.

“I never knew how hard he worked and what he had overcome,” Simkins said. “And he never mentioned these things. A very positive guy. He is so polished and professional, too. I am so proud of him.

“There’s been some tough nights at the library, pulling all-nighters studying,” Ferrer said, “I’d give her a call and she’s always told me, ‘Do what you’ve got to do, but don’t come back here.’

“I cannot say enough good words about him. His path was so much tougher than most students and he still landed at the top. This is my 21st year at OSU, and I do not see many students like Claudio.”

“I know she says it from a good place.”

brothers. A young man committed to succeed and who has been able to take every obstacle in his life as an opportunity to continue growing and maturing.”

engage@spears summer 2018

express his gratitude for the opportunities the school has provided. He’s not yet sure what’s next but he knows he has options — the kind of options that never seemed real just a few years ago. “Honestly, I didn’t really see the future,” Ferrer said. “If you would have asked me, ‘What are you going to do in five years?’ I would have thought, ‘The same thing I’m doing now.’ I didn’t see change as possible. I didn’t see the possibility to improve my life or to move forward in life. “Coming here, I’ve had two internships. I’ve been blessed. Every time I start a new course, I’m glad to be learning and to know all that exists out there. There are fields I can enjoy, things I didn’t know existed.” @

OSU’s Chakraborty leads SAS Global Forum 2018 SU marketing professor

skills they seek when hiring. Secondly,

Goutam Chakraborty

Chakraborty knows the importance

served as the chair of the

of getting published so he was instru-

SAS Global Forum 2018 in

mental in partnering with MASA (Model

Denver from April 8-11. The

Assisted Statistics and Applications) to

conference drew 5,400 SAS enthusiasts

have selected papers be published this fall.

from around the world, an audience of international users, executives and members of academia.

“As chair, one of his focuses was on students, and because of that we saw a 29 percent increase in the number of stu-

Chakraborty, who has been a Spears

dents attending the SAS Global Forum,”

School of Business faculty member for

said Ken Bland, principal events project

27 years, was selected as the conference

manager for SAS.

chair for his long-standing relationship with SAS, a trusted analytics company for organizations.

PHOTOS / CASSONDRA WILSON/SAS INSTITUTE

Chakraborty said, “I was humbled and honored to have the opportunity to chair the SAS Global Forum 2018 conference.

As the conference chair, Chakraborty

This was a big platform to promote OSU’s

established two new initiatives. One was to

analytics brand, and I am delighted that

expand academic offerings by providing

on the opening night of the conference

focused sessions for professors and stu-

I was able to share the spotlight with

dents while also introducing a talent con-

about 130 OSU students and alumni on

nection where 21 companies shared the

stage with me.” @

OSU marketing professor Goutam Chakraborty speaks to the crowd of more than 5,000 at the opening ceremony of the SAS Global Forum 2018 in Denver. Top photo: 130-plus OSU students and alumni join Chakraborty.

summer 2018 engage@spears

“Is your social media safe? It’s not, and why would you ever think that it was?” — JIM BURKMAN

engage@spears summer 2018

‘Our Stuff is Out There’ Burkman offers advice for safely navigating today’s cyberworld STORY BY MALLORY THOMPSON | PHOTOS BY JORDAN BENSON

ybersecurity refers to the techniques used to protect computers, computer systems and data from unauthorized access or exploitation. Today, we manage an increasing amount of our lives digitally, making cybersecurity a more prevalent issue now than ever before.

“What is privacy for you? We are living in a different world. Our stuff is out there,” said Jim Burkman, clinical associate professor and Management Science and Information Assurance graduate coordinator in the Spears School of Business. Burkman offers advice on how to best prepare against the common risks that lead to the need for cybersecurity. Following the rise of smartphones, apps offering convenient payment methods have been created. Venmo, CashApp and GooglePay are some examples. What are the safety concerns associated with using these mobile-pay apps? I actually don’t have any safety concerns. These apps are made to help you purchase things. It’s as safe as using your credit or debit card in the store. … It’s part of how we transact business. Thankfully, the bank and financial industries are really good at watching us and protecting us in our transactions. How concerned should people be about using Wi-Fi in public places like coffee shops, airports and hotels? What steps should people take to safeguard themselves from hackers? Let’s be honest about this: Wi-Fi is not safe to use. That’s the best mindset you can have. If you’re at Starbucks or a hotel, don’t do anything important on the Wi-Fi. Don’t access your bank, don’t access anything you wouldn’t stand up in a public place and say, “This is my name and password.” Never use Wi-Fi at a hotel. If you have a lifestyle that requires you to use public Wi-Fi a lot, you can use a VPN service. These are not expensive, maybe $5 per month. So, if you’re forced to use public Wi-Fi, use a VPN service; otherwise, don’t use the Wi-Fi for anything serious.

Online shopping is popular and could become more necessary in the future. What are the dangers for consumers when it comes to using credit and debit cards online? It’s an interesting question. There’s a generational effect. If you go back, in the generation from before me, no one is comfortable with that. My daughter, who is in high school, would buy anything anywhere online and not think twice about it. The best advice I can give you is to get a low limit credit card and tie that to your online shopping. There’s a lot of built-in insurances with credit cards. Don’t use your debit card for online shopping. Your bank probably has your back, but it is not legally required to. Why is PayPal a safer online payment method than credit cards? PayPal is a third-party intermediary between myself (as) the consumer and the business. It is actually more oriented toward the consumer than the businesses are. If I’m not happy or feel I’ve been ripped off, they will take my side almost immediately. If you have an Etsy account and I like this item you made, I use my PayPal account. You’re transacting with PayPal, and I’m transacting with PayPal. You’re not seeing my information. A lot of emails seem to come from fake companies or organizations. What are the things people can do to be certain that such emails are legitimate? Internet phishing is something that bad people do to try to convince you to participate. It’s the very old con man job. I’m trying to get you to believe I’m your student loan company, your bank or someone who you trust. My goal is to get you to click on a link. continues summer 2018 engage@spears

“Let’s be honest about this: Wi-Fi is not safe to use. That’s the best mindset you can have.” — JIM BURKMAN

The link may take you to a site that looks legit, but I can get your username and password. Be a little paranoid: If you get an email that translates in your brain as being too good to be true, it is. It’s equivalent to a stranger walking up to you and saying, “Take my hand, follow me.” Your response would be, “No!” Don’t click links you don’t know. If you get an email, have it in your mind, “What if someone said these words to me?” If it feels weird, then it’s weird. Social media networks contain users’ personal information. How can users know if the social media network they are using is safe? Is your social media safe? It’s not, and why would you ever think that it was? This is another generational shift. My teenage daughter shares way more information than my parents would have ever thought to. We need to increase our technological literacy. All of our data is out there. This isn’t going to change. Is it safe to store your personal data online? It’s a brilliant idea to store your data online. I am not a Dropbox user because Dropbox can see everything I give them. I use Sync. com because it encrypts everything as it leaves my device. The fact that Dropbox can see my stuff is probably not a huge concern, but I feel better knowing that my stuff is my stuff all the way through.

engage@spears summer 2018

What risks are associated with traveling? What should people be more aware of during times of travel? When you’re traveling, the smartest thing to do is to think about your phone as a 6-month-old puppy: Everything goes in their mouths. If you plug your phone from a cable into a USB port, that port can deliver data and take data off your phone. So, as you’re traveling, if you need to charge your phone, make sure you’re taking it from the cord to your phone, to your charger, to an electrical outlet. It’s known as thumb-sucking. It’s easy for me to walk up to any table in the airport and place a small device under it so you see only the USB port, but it will pull all the data off your mobile device. So, never plug your phone into a USB port, and always bring your own charger. What makes a strong and safe password? Passwords are the key to your life. First, your email account should have its own password that you don’t use for anything else. Have at least two passwords, one for your email and one for everything else. Second, you need a pretty good complex password. Pick a song, a phrase, whatever you will remember and take the first letter of each word and convert the words by using numbers. Think of what you could do with “Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.” Use “H2o” for water. If you relate your password to anything in your life and you have social media accounts where you talk about your life, you’re going to get hacked. @

SPEARS BUSINESS

“He was an absolutely incredible professor that was always willing to help and truly wanted the best for your success. My college experience wouldn’t be the way it has been if it were not for me being in his class.”

Herrmann loses battle with cancer on Herrmann, an accounting faculty member in the Spears School of Business since 2005, died May 8 after a 14-month battle with brain cancer. He was 54. He was the Arthur Andersen Professor of Accounting (2007-10), head of the School of Accounting (2010-11), Gellein/ Deloitte & Touche Professor since 2011 and recently had been promoted to full professor. “Don was a beloved teacher, colleague and mentor to those who were fortunate to know him,” said Ken Eastman, dean of Spears Business. “He leaves a lasting legacy of service, and we will miss him greatly.” Dr. Herrmann was recognized as the inaugural Professor of the Decade at the Spears School of Business 65th Annual Honors and Awards Banquet in March.

Jake Swanson, a member of Business Student Council, honored the School of Accounting professor at the awards banquet. “Our next award, the Professor of the Decade, is a new, highly prestigious award that has been introduced this year in order to recognize an ongoing dedication and passion to the success of our students,” he said. “In order to achieve this award, professors must possess a certain unquenchable fire that inspires their students to excel both inside and outside of the classroom.” Dr. Herrmann earned his bachelor’s degree from John Brown University (1985), his master’s from Kansas State University (1987) and his doctorate from OSU (1995), and he began his OSU teaching career in 2005. One of his students said about Dr. Herrmann: “At the time I took his Intermediate course, I didn’t even like accounting. However, each day I looked forward to going to class because I

enjoyed hearing from Dr. Don. Sometimes he would even stop in the middle of class to tell a story of his work experience that captured the class’s attention again. He’s easily one of my favorite teachers, both inside and outside the classroom. He has a certain spirit about him that is increasingly encouraging.” Another student offered the following: “He inspired me to become an accountant. He’ll always be the best professor at Oklahoma State University.” Finally, a recent graduate said, “He was an absolutely incredible professor that was always willing to help and truly wanted the best for your success. My college experience wouldn’t be the way it has been if it were not for me being in his class.” Dr. Herrmann is survived by his wife, Mary; children, David and Rachel Cox, David and Sarah Herrmann, Nathan Herrmann, and Micah Herrmann; brother, Doug Herrmann; and father, Richard Herrmann. @

summer 2018 engage@spears

Seven teams honored by accelerateOSU BY MALLORY THOMPSON

hat started with more than 50 Oklahoma State University student teams submitting 10-page business plans for the 2018 accelerateOSU Business Plan Competition was narrowed to 12 finalists and ended with seven honorees.

“The accelerateOSU Business Plan Competition was an amazing showcase of our student’s entrepreneurial dreams,” said Haley Keith, accelerateOSU coordinator. “To see them work so hard to write the business plan and deliver the pitch in front of judges who were all entrepreneurs, investors or bankers themselves was extremely rewarding. I am so proud of our program and thankful for all who participated, volunteered and made the event a success.”

The accelerateOSU competition is an annual business plan contest hosted by the OSU Riata Center for Entrepreneurship and the Institute of New Venture Creation to promote student entrepreneurship and small business development.

FIRST PLACE: Vertical (above), led

S E CO N D P L AC E : S TE A K (S a f e

THIRD PLACE: Bubble Calm, by Walter

by Miseal Hernandez. Vertical’s plan is

Temperature Estimator at A Klick), by

Bowser and Will Petty. Devised to pro-

a venture fund that specializes in sup-

Joyjit Saha and Imran Selim. Designed

vide a fast-acting anxiety-relieving gum

porting Latino firms that have trouble

as a service-providing company selling

that is easily accessible at a competi-

accessing sufficient capital at startup

software and app-based solutions that

tive price.

and growth stages.

could potentially save millions of dollars

The 12 finalists each presented their idea in a 10-minute Shark Tank-style presentation at downtown Stillwater’s Backstage on Feb. 16. The judging panel was composed of local professionals and entrepreneurs. Top prizes ranged from $2,000 to $8,000.

The 2018 competition had two tracks for students: Main Street Business and High Tech Business. @

WINNERS LANCE SHAW

Main Street

through its cooking validation studies by providing low-cost technology solutions.

engage@spears summer 2018

LANCE SHAW

High Tech FIRST PLACE: Multivate, headed by

SECOND PLACE: Indra, by ShawnDea

Momen Amer and Austin Beaver. The

Dunzy and Dilli Dikhal, focuses on light-

Lizzie J. LLC , created by Lizzie

Multivate plan is to create multi-chamber,

ning strike protection through light-

Johnson, to sell high-quality, fashionable

single-use bioreactors to help biophar-

weight, conductive, flexible films to be

pet apparel and matching accessories

maceutical drug manufacturers reduce

sold to primary and secondary structure

for pet owners online and at specialty

costs associated with purchasing and

manufacturers.

boutiques, with a portion of all profits

THIRD PLACE: EcoOxyHydroGen by

donated to support children in Haiti.

qualifying equipment, reducing factory footprint, simplifying the process and minimizing the risk of microbial contamination, resulting in saving millions of dollars each year.

CROWD FAVORITE: Main Street finalist

Leena Singh centers around developing low-cost technology to make renewable hydrogen using sunlight and water.

summer 2018 engage@spears

engage@spears summer 2018

The Benefit That is Betty Simkins Finance head constantly raises the bar for her students — and school

STORY BY JIM MITCHELL | PHOTOS BY PHIL SHOCKLEY

How accomplished is Betty Simkins? You get some idea when you find her curriculum vitae online — all 25 pages of it. Her work ethic comes through clearly when she describes co-writing and co-editing three 600-page textbooks as “social activities.” Ramesh Sharda, vice dean for graduate programs and research, has known Simkins since she was a graduate student at OSU. “I’m really proud of the fact that Betty, my one-time MBA student, is now leading the finance department and taking us to new heights. She was a superb student then, and continues to be an outstanding professor and colleague now,” Sharda said. But Simkins, who’s been the head of finance in the Spears School of Business since January 2017, doesn’t want this profile to be all about her. She’d rather you know that Janice Jadlow was the first female department head in the Spears School of Business and that, as honored as Simkins herself is to have the position, she

would have been just as honored to be the third or fourth woman to accept the role by the year 2017. “We need more women in leadership positions,” she stated. Simkins also offered some leadership in the development of this profile. “I would like to include something in this profile readers might really want to read, something that would offer them some real benefit,” she said. That’s a constant in all of Simkins’ academic works and accomplishments, to offer real benefit. She’s on a mission, OSU’s mission, to improve the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation and the world — starting with finance students. continues summer 2018 engage@spears

“I know how important it is to be prepared for the job market because, prior to being a professor, I worked for Conoco and the Williams Companies, as a chemical engineer and business professional, after getting an engineering degree (University of Arkansas) and an MBA,” said Simkins, who earned her doctorate at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. As if Simkins really needed another reason to care about her school’s success, consider that three of her four children have attended OSU. “While some classes I teach are quite large, my children serve as a constant reminder for me to see each of our students as individuals with their own talents, goals and personal challenges,” said Simkins, whose son Walt was a finance

get the best that the Spears School of Business has to offer and that the school continues to offer them more options. “I started teaching energy finance about 20 years ago at OSU and created the course from scratch, putting it together the way I wish it had been taught when I was an MBA student here,” Simkins said. That practical approach applies to virtually everything she develops. Each of her textbooks has included co-writers who are currently working in the energy industry. Her husband, Russell, a chemical engineer who has two engineering degrees from OSU, co-authored and co-edited her most recent textbook. The same goes for the many research and popular articles she’s published, the journals for which she currently serves as an associate editor (11), co-editor or executive editor. In 2015,

Under Simkins, finance is introducing OSU’s first-ever Student Investment Fund, to give students hands-on investment opportunities. It will start with a class of 25 students and $500,000 this fall semester to emphasize the real-world experience that makes a real difference after graduation. A Securities Industry Essentials exam course, which helps students land jobs by demonstrating their knowledge to industry professionals, is being launched this fall at OSU, guided by a faculty member with Wall Street experience. The Watson Trading Floor at Spears is sharing space with MBA classes and offering an energy business concentration. A concentration in energy finance has been initiated, and one in investment management is being planned.

PHIL SHOCKLEY

“My children serve as a constant reminder for me to see each of our students as individuals with their own talents, goals and personal challenges.” — BETTY SIMKINS

major. Elder daughter, Susan, also graduated from OSU, and youngest daughter, April, will be a junior in the fall. Her older son, Luke, graduated from the University of Oklahoma. Occasionally, Simkins likes to get the attention of her new students by telling them she’s an “ex-con.” After they’ve had a chance to wonder what kind of criminal they’re dealing with, Simkins explains she’s an ex-CONoco employee. The point is she constantly draws on her corporate background and her ongoing contacts to ensure finance students

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she joined counterparts in Germany and Norway to launch the Journal of Commodity Markets. Since Simkins took charge as department head, new online minors have been introduced and are gaining momentum. “Our online minor in finance was offered for the first time in the fall of 2017, along with an energy finance minor,” Simkins said. “Advisers tell me both have been popular; students really appreciate the flexibility of the online classes and the fact that they can watch a class as often as they want at any time of the day or night.”

“I think we’re off to a pretty good start, and I’ll do my best to ensure that there is no end in sight. We’re going to keep growing and keep offering students more options and more alternatives to better prepare for the working world,” Simkins said. In addition, the new department head and Williams Companies Chair has proven her excellence in every area of OSU service — teaching, research and outreach. Simkins has earned the Regents Distinguished Teaching Award, the Regents Distinguished Research Award and the Outreach Excellence Award. @

G A L I T A E T WITH SPEARS Catch up with Spears Business alumni, current students and friends of the school as we gather prior to a pair of Oklahoma State Cowboy football games this fall. Bring the family for food, fun, friends and some Spears Business swag.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 15 OSU VS. BOISE STATE

SATURDAY, OCT. 27 OSU VS. TEXAS

HOMECOMING | HOSTED BY SPEARS ALUMNI SOCIETY

Tailgates will begin approximately three hours prior to kickoff in the courtyard of the new Business Building.

GARY LAWSON

Eric Sisneros, assistant professor of professional practice in finance, will lead OSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Student Investment Fund (SIF) course.

Real-World Experience New course gives students a real role in investing

STORY BY JIM MITCHELL

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here’s nothing quite like accepting your first job and knowing that you have the real-world background to quickly contribute to the company’s success.

That advantage will become a reality for a select number of finance students in the Spears School of Business this fall with a class that offers them the opportunity to manage an actual $500,000 portfolio of financial assets. “They’ll essentially make the decisions on how the money will be invested,” said Eric Sisneros, assistant professor of professional practice in finance, who will be teaching the Student Investment Fund (SIF) course. “Our goal is to give students practical experience that they can take with them to the job market.” The students will learn the role of a financial analyst and conduct rigorous research on equity securities, which are stock shares that are designed to provide steady income as dividends or stock value growth for investors. Because the shares are subject to the ups and downs of the stock market, safeguards have been built into the process of managing the fund. “The $500,000 was obtained from donor gifts to the OSU Foundation,” Sisneros said. “The funds will remain with the foundation, and all the transactions the students decide to make will be executed by the foundation. The students’ investment recommendations will also have to clear the approval of an advisory board that consists of investment professionals, contributing donors, representatives of the OSU Foundation, members of the finance department, and the SIF faculty adviser — me.” Of course, without serious contributions from donors like OSU alums Matt and Kirsten Daniel, the SIF would never have become a reality. Daniel said he and his wife are happy to help make this happen for students. “Who among us wouldn’t have appreciated the opportunity to apply the fundamentals of our coursework to the real-world experience of investment decisions while still a student?” he said. “That’s the reason we decided to support this effort and look forward to how it will add to OSU’s competitive advantage when coupled with Spears’ beautiful new facility. We are thrilled to be able to contribute to the founding of this great program.” That reaction is echoed by a corporate donor who knows how important such experience can be. “BOK Financial is proud to be the lead donor for the new OSU Student Investment Fund as we know that handson experience is critical for students to develop the practical skills they need to excel in finance,” said Scott Grauer, executive vice president in wealth management

at BOK Financial. “Having the opportunity to apply techniques of investment analysis and portfolio management to actual companies and securities will significantly accelerate their career readiness.” At the end of the spring semester, finance students applied to be among the 25 students chosen for the first SIF course this fall. For those who are fortunate enough to be in the first class, as well as those who follow, Sisneros warns it will require a significant time commitment. “The undergraduate and graduate students, selected through this process, will be applying theories and models learned in class to the real world,” he said. “After researching and evaluating current portfolio holdings and prospective holdings, students will be expected to give presentations on their findings.” The course will be a mix of instructor and guest lectures, class discussions, and debate. In addition, students will utilize the latest software such as Bloomberg and Capital IQ. “This class will give students a new level of confidence that will be of benefit from the very start of their career,” said Betty Simkins, head of finance in Spears Business. “Dr. Sisneros is the ideal faculty member to ensure students cover all the bases both before and after the investment.” More than 300 colleges and universities worldwide have similar student-directed investment funds, and several have performed quite well over the years. Donor Steffany Sharpe-Leach, Class of ’84, invited others to join her in supporting the fund. “I am very excited OSU is offering the student investment fund practicum to students,” Sharpe-Leach said. “This program will provide them hands-on experience with investments and a greater understanding of how the investment world works.” @ For more information, contact Diane Crane at the OSU Foundation at dcrane@osugiving.com or 405-385-5665.

summer 2018 engage@spears

Worthy of Applause

Baham’s IT recovery project draws a standing ovation from those who understand it best

STORY BY JOHN HELSLEY | PHOTOS BY BLAKE BRASOR

Corey Baham stood before a room full of IT managers, not quite prepared for the outburst that would follow his presentation.

A standing ovation. Baham, an Oklahoma State University assistant professor of management science and information systems, delivered his report on a project he’d led for the company, a major health care provider, on rapid IT recovery in the wake of a disaster. That’s when the 30 or so top-level managers rose in applause, acknowledging Baham and the man who brought him in, the on-site disaster recovery specialist at the company (not identified for industry confidentiality). “We probably held back from doing a chest bump,” Baham said, “but that was validation if we ever needed it.” The success of the project was only the beginning. Baham’s research paper, “An Agile Methodology for the Disaster Recovery of Information Systems Under Catastrophic Scenarios,” earned publication in the Journal of Management Information Systems.

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“Corey’s work is an example of the practical yet groundbreaking research being done in the MSIS department,” commented Rick Wilson, head of the MSIS department. “We pride ourselves on our rigor and our relevance, and a publication in one of top journals in the field like JMIS is a great start for Dr. Baham’s career. We are very proud of his successes.” Baham’s work was special on multiple fronts. Disaster recovery and business continuity planning is one of the top concerns for IT executives. IT downtime can have a huge detrimental impact on a company, from potentially harming its reputation to limiting its ability to conduct business to even threatening its ability to survive. Companies of all kinds rely heavily on technology, which puts them at risk when systems go down. continues

“Corey’s work is an example of the practical yet groundbreaking research being done in the MSIS department.” — RICK WILSON, HEAD OF OSU ’S MSIS DEPARTMENT

Corey Baham devised a system for rapid IT recovery in the event of a disaster. His research project drew praise from the company it was designed for and led to an article in a major industry publication.

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“Unfortunately, we’ve seen companies that have had some breaks in (IT) service and how consequential it has been for those companies, even to the extent of going out of business.” — COREY BAHAM

Baham said. “Kanban allows the flexibility to be mobile and still stay engaged.”

“Unfortunately, we’ve seen companies that have had some breaks in (IT) service and how consequential it has been for those companies, even to the extent of going out of business,” Baham said. “So we see that it’s very, very

1 0

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important for companies to be running on all cylinders at all times. They need to have some solutions in place so if the worst scenario happens, they can still get back operating, at least at a minimal level, very quickly.” That’s why Baham was brought in, to help develop a plan for the worst of times. When systems go down amid disasters such as floods, hurricanes and tornadoes, they aren’t always easy to restore, with the resulting challenges often forcing technicians to work remotely. So companies frequently plan ahead to consider possible solutions in handling such disasters. In this case, Baham was sought out for the project for his familiarity with Agile Methodology, which reflects a team’s ability to adjust to conditions and challenges it incurs during a

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project, rather than follow rigid preset guidelines.

Unexpectedly, the plan Baham and his team devised was put to the test when the health care provider suffered an unplanned power outage with the team still immersed in the project.

“We wanted to see, what are some agile principles we could use that would marry well to the problems the disaster recovery specialist was having?” Baham said. “We tried to establish a parallel. What are the problems you are having and how can agile help solve those problems?”

With nothing to lose, the research team’s plan was thrown into action, successfully, as the system was restored with help from a Kanban video board vital to the recovery.

To address the challenges of technicians working remotely from potentially multiple locations, Baham adapted Kanban, a scheduling system developed by Toyota to improve manufacturing efficiency. Baham’s project utilized Kanban principles with a video board that allowed everyone involved to monitor the recovery progress and adjust as necessary. A live chat feature allowed even more connection with communication that could combat bottlenecks in the process and enhance the flexibility to move around occurring problems.

Another outage, this one planned, again proved successful, confirming the research and the method. It also provided validation for the company’s disaster recovery manager, as well as Baham, to the point of tempting a chest bump.

And all they needed to pull it off was one simple requirement: a good internet connection. “Disasters happen randomly, leaving some key people off-site, so it could be a coffee shop or home or any place with Wi-Fi,”

“We just turned it on and went for it,” Baham said. “And it went well.”

Today, the health care provider utilizes the Kanban-adapted plan, which — after initially being met with some hesitancy — received a strong endorsement from the company’s vice president of enterprise infrastructure. “I have been with this company for 25 years,” the man said during Baham’s presentation, “and I can say that this was the smoothest process we have ever had during an outage.” For Baham, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the project was both professional and personal. He’d experienced the

impact of hurricanes Katrina and Gustav, which brought flooding and massive damage to his home state. In Oklahoma, tornadoes and supercell thunderstorms pose significant threats that could result in emergencies. “So it was definitely a personal touch for this project, because being from Baton Rouge, it was something I knew could have very tangible results,” Baham said. “And the implementation of this is farreaching, because it affects a lot of people. “For this particular company, instead of not having access to some of their health care information for days, now if something like this happens, within the same day, they can trust they can call and have access to their records.” And he holds hope that the research can be shared and molded to provide an even greater impact on a grander scale. “Hopefully, having had this published, we can follow up with the model and expand it to handle larger DR (disaster recovery) events,” Baham said. “Right now, the model can handle a DR effort for a large company, but we’d like to develop one that can handle more of distributed effort, where teams are globally separated, geographically separated, across different sites and that sort of thing. “We want to see if we can take what we have and scale it to handle companies that may not even be in the same building or same region or same part of the world.” Already, the project is perceived as a resounding success. The company implemented the plan and encouraged its sister companies to do the same. Baham’s research was published, and in a highly respected journal. Among the items on his list of career goals, this ranks as quite an accomplishment. “I checked a really big box with this one,” Baham said, “because there’s nothing better than working hand in hand with a company, solving a problem that they are really wrestling with and have been wrestling with for years.” @

summer 2018 engage@spears

CONQUERING THE PLAYING FIELD Shippy takes challenges in stride as she sets herself up for success

“I think what’s cool is you have to dig into someone’s life and figure out what they need and how you can help them.” — VAN E S SA S H I PPY

S TO RY BY J O H N H E L S L E Y | P H OTO S BY B R U C E WAT E R F I E L D

anessa Shippy rarely finds herself with time to kill. After all, she’s a top Spears School of Business student chasing two degrees (plus a minor!) and putting in the work needed to maintain her status as one of the Big 12’s best softball players. Besides, down time makes her anxious.

“I love the challenge, actually,” she said. Responds to the challenge, too. Shippy charged toward the end of her academic and athletic careers with honors. She was named a Top 5 finance student at the Spears School of Business 65th Annual Honors and Awards Banquet. Inside the locker room at Cowgirl Stadium, she was revered as one of the team’s respected leaders, a

“Even when I have some free time, I’m like, ‘There’s some-

holder of several program records, named 2018 Big 12 Player

thing I should be doing right now,” Shippy said. “I’ve either

of the Year, a reigning member of the All-Big 12 first team

got some homework, some studying, some softball, I should

and a two-time Academic All-American.

be giving a lesson, something.’”

And there’s more, with Shippy attaining degrees in finance

It’s the busiest of times that bring out the best of times

and marketing, as well as a minor in accounting. Oh, and

in Shippy, a recent Oklahoma State graduate from Coeur

she’s already received her Series 65 license, passing that

d’Alene, Idaho.

test during the fall semester — on her first try — to officially become a financial adviser. continues

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BRUCE WATERFIELD

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Actually, Shippy just doesn’t allow herself to be fazed by the various demands of her life, preferring instead to stay ahead of the stress. For her, that meant never procrastinating and attacking classwork in the same way she attacks opposing pitchers, which is with focus and fury. It’s a strategy that kept her comfortably ahead, preventing the need for finishing

“I’ve always been one step ahead in my planning. I love the challenge, actually.” — VA N E S SA S H I PPY

homework on late-night bus rides back from road games. “I’ve always been one step ahead in my planning,” Shippy said. As a high school athlete, Shippy regularly traveled to California on weekends to face the best softball competition. “I knocked out my homework on the flights,” she said. “So high school was very good practice for me and what I was going to be facing here for four years. “It’s obviously a lot more crazy, but our academic staff and our coaching staff are great about making sure that’s important to us and making sure our work is done. And if our work’s not done, we’re not on the field. That’s enough motivation

“That’s an unusual accomplishment for

Army. Shippy also took part in several

a student,” said Betty Simkins, head of

Coaches vs. Cancer events at OSU and

the Department of Finance.

offered softball lessons to young players

And there’s still more: Shippy was one of 10 finalists for the 2018 Senior CLASS

“The business school, I’m very aware of

Award, recognizing the senior athlete

how hard that is over there,” said Cowgirls

nationally showing notable achievement

coach Kenny Gajewski. “There’s a lot of

with what the award classifies as the Four

pride over there. It’s amazing for a kid

Cs — community, classroom, character

like her to perform on the field like she

and competition. Away from the field, she

does, but also to perform off the field

collected and delivered clothing dona-

and in the classroom with the type of

tions to the Wings of Hope Family Crisis

majors that she has. It’s insane at times.

Services center; read stories to classes at Sangre Ridge Elementary; cleaned and fed kittens at Tiny Paws Kitten Rescue; collected food, clothing and money and put together Thanksgiving food boxes for families in need for the Salvation

and teams in the area.

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“And it’s never fazed her. That’s what’s nuts. She’s never shown me that she was fazed. She may go home and be fazed, but she’s never fazed here. That’s why her success in both is so good, because she just knows how to handle it all.”

for me to get my work done, because I want to be on the field.” Shippy didn’t just get the work done, either. She welcomed challenges, such as the Series 65 exam, and thrived in a way that made her professors take notice. Thus, the Top 5 nomination and award. “Vanessa Shippy is very talented academically and athletically,” Simkins said. “She is an exceptional student who was able to juggle her demanding academic studies and at the same time maintain her outstanding athletic performance. She excels in both areas. “Vanessa serves as an excellent role model for all student athletes. We are very proud of her.”

Shippy became a vital cog in the Cowgirls’

Among all the records and awards Shippy

recent rise to national prominence. A

has collected at OSU, the Top 5 Finance

four-year starter, she holds a dozen

award caught her by surprise. She wasn’t

school records.

even aware of the academic awards, yet

Beyond the games, Shippy said she carries a deep respect for what the opportunity to play has meant and enjoys sharing that with youngsters. “I love my role as a collegiate athlete,” she said. “There’s never going to be another time in my life where just stepping on a field with a certain piece of clothing on, my uniform, will have such an effect on kids as there is now. “I’ve really been taking that role seriously, reaching out to young girls and teams as I can to just help motivate

appreciated the honor just the same. And she enjoyed sharing the news. “I received that email and I shared it with my parents,” Shippy said. “That may actually be one of the awards that they’re most proud of. “Our finance program here at OSU is great. I’ve been lucky to make some great friends at school. It’s fun to get to know people and kind of build my business community. It’s very, very cool. I’m very appreciative.” @

them; not just on the softball field, but to be better people and to be great students. I like the influence I get to have on those kids. Who knows how long I’ll be able to have that much of an impact, so I’ve really stepped that up over the last four years.” Shippy does know what’s next for her professionally. With her degrees and the Series 65 certification — a securities license required by most states to work as an investment adviser — she’ll be well positioned for a career. And she plans to attack that with her signature zeal. “I think what’s cool is you have to dig into someone’s life and figure out what they need and how you can help them,” Shippy said. “That’s a long-term plan. It’s not just one thing they’re going to need; they’re going to have different needs throughout their whole life. So it’s kind of cool that you can be invested in someone and helping them while still using that finance base.”

“I love my role as a collegiate athlete.” — VAN E SSA S H IPPY

summer 2018 engage@spears

Speaking the Language Executive Ph.D. program director offers students a personal, purely orange touch

STORY BY JOHN HELSLEY | PHOTOS BY JORDAN BENSON

onna Lamson didn’t carry alumna status when she arrived to interview for the program director job with Oklahoma State University’s Ph.D. in Business for Executives. Still, she spoke the language. Fluently. “She was wearing orange and shared several OSU stories,” said Jose Sagarnaga, the former director of the Executive Ph.D. program and now director of the school’s Center for Advanced Global Leadership and Engagement (CAGLE). Lamson’s credentials were strong as a former longtime sales executive with Xerox. She showed clear personalcare skills. And she knew and adored Oklahoma State, indoctrinated into the Cowboy Way after marrying an OSU alumnus, husband Dan. “She was the perfect candidate for the position because of her previous experience with Xerox and also her love for OSU and the state of Oklahoma,” Sagarnaga said. Lamson shares this love in her position, pumping personal touches and care into a degree program that places extreme demands on its students over three rigorous years. As part of the program, the students — already full-time professionals 48

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who average some 50 years of age — spend 10 weekends of residency a year on campus, augmenting heavy online requirements. It’s this time that the students spend in Stillwater that brings out the best in Lamson. With the students fully immersed in course work, Lamson handles the details of arranging their lodging and meals, all the way down to the specifics of the daily menus. And that’s not all. She’s on top of birthday cards and cakes, provides items of the correct color for anyone who forgets Orange Fridays and schedules some fun for the rare spare-time opportunities, perhaps a Cowboys basketball game. She takes special requests when it comes to diets, making sure to offer vegetarian and vegan options, and even gluten-free pizza. She also preps those traveling in with logistics and the latest weather forecasts. “Donna adds a personal touch to a professional program,” said Bryan Edwards, an associate professor in OSU’s Department of Management. “She takes personal responsibility for everyone during residencies. She learns everything about everyone so she can anticipate their needs. For example, she has special meals made for our diabetics, knows who is

left-handed, remembers the names of children and what activities they are involved in. “Nothing falls through the cracks when she is in charge.” And Lamson does it all with the care that’s earned her the moniker of “house mom.” “It’s a three-year death march, and she brings a personal touch to the degree,” said Toby Joplin, director of the program. “She really brings a concierge level of service to the program. She has just a great eye for detail. And that’s so important.” It’s a level of service Lamson developed while fostering relationships with her customers at Xerox. “I think it’s just innate with me,” she said. “I was in sales, and you just take care of customers. I was very successful, and that comes with great customer service. Some of my customers I had for 10, 15 years. So they also became close personal friends. “I respect what they are having to pay to come to this program. So to me, they deserve top-of-the-line customer service.” And Lamson delivers. “Donna’s greatest assets are that she’s incredibly conscientious, service-oriented and optimistic,” said former Oklahoma State professor Tracy Suter, who worked continues

Donna Lamson, program director of Oklahoma State University’s Ph.D. in Business for Executives, sees her program’s students as her customers: “The satisfaction I get from seeing their emotions and their happiness, it’s just wonderful.”

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“Donna adds a personal touch to a professional program. … Nothing falls through the cracks when she is in charge.” — B R YA N E DWA R D S , A S S O C I AT E P R O F E S S O R , D E PA R T M E N T O F M A N AG E M E N T

in the program. “Also, in the context of this program, she understands that the rigor is high, the time commitment is extensive, and the balance for the executive Ph.D. student is intense. “Thus, she found her niche as being the breath of fresh air at the end of every long, tiring day. She gave these very accomplished students room to relax in the face of high personal and program expectations.” Oklahoma State’s Ph.D. in Business for Executives program is among few like it in the nation, offering the opportunity to earn a doctorate while continuing a fulltime executive career. A 60 credit-hour program, it requires a major commitment of time and money, costing $120,000 over the three years. Students from across the United States, as well as Canada, Mexico, Europe and South America have participated in the program. A limited number of students are admitted each August. Currently, two cohorts totaling 28 students are pressing toward Ph.D. degrees, while another eight students are working on dissertations. “The three years I was in this program, I did nothing — nothing except my day job and this Ph.D. program seven days a week for three years,” said Joplin, who was in the initial cohort. “I didn’t mow my yard; someone else did. I didn’t hang my own Christmas lights, which I always do. I didn’t go on vacation. I didn’t do anything.

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“That may be a little more discipline than most students, but it’s not far off the average.” Lamson, who lives in the Tulsa area and works on the OSU-Tulsa campus, relocates to Stillwater for the three days the students come together. It’s a working weekend, but a rewarding weekend. “The satisfaction I get from seeing their emotions and their happiness, it’s just wonderful,” Lamson said. “They are my customers. I’m here because of them. And they’re happy people. I love taking care of them.” Lamson declares her love for OSU, too, with an assist from Dan. “I grew up in Kansas, but I met my husband in 1979, and he’s an OSU graduate,” she said. “And God love him, he bleeds orange.” So did their son, a graduate who earned a master’s degree at OSU. The Lamsons enjoy boating on Skiatook Lake and relaxing by the fire on their back patio or under the fan on the front porch, depending on the season. Still, their schedules mostly revolve around the OSU athletic schedules, “who plays what and when,” Lamson said. Donna Lamson may not carry alumna status, but she speaks the language. Fluently. “This is my second career and I don’t have to work,” she said. “So you have a nice little different attitude. I have a fun job. And the reason I have a fun job is the people I work for and the people I work with, my students.” @

JORDAN BEN SON

Reuniting

Dessie Nash and Fred Cleveland were among 19 alumni joining faculty members, administrators and OSU President Burns Hargis at a reunion of the Ph.D. in Business for Executives program in May. The two were members of the first cohort when the doctoral program began in 2012. Since then, Nash and Cleveland are among the 41 people who have earned doctorates; seven more students are in the dissertation stage.

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VERIZON

WHAT A LONG,

STRANGE

TR I P IT’S BEEN

engage@spears summer 2018

STORY BY TERRY TUSH

OSU alumnus Brady Connor reflects on the ‘twists and turns’ that have taken him from New Mexico to Manhattan

“It’s an honor to be in charge of telling the Verizon story to the external community and representing Verizon on such a global scale.” — BRADY CONNOR

rady Connor stares out his Midtown Manhattan office, just blocks from Wall Street, and realizes he’s a long way from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He never would have dreamed that his path would lead to New York City and a leading executive position with one of the nation’s largest telecommunications companies. But that road at times has been bumpy, including nearly 15 years ago when he was one of the federal government’s star witnesses in what was at the time the largest accounting scandal in United States history. Connor was head of corporate finance at WorldCom when executives at the company inflated assets by as much as $11 billion from 1999 to 2001, costing 30,000 people their jobs, leading to $180 billion in losses for investors and forcing the company to file for bankruptcy. Although Connor knew nothing of the fraud and conspiracy, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York both sought his knowledge. A number of WorldCom executives were charged, found guilty and spent time in prison, including Chief Executive Officer Bernie Ebbers, who was charged with nine felonies. Connor’s testimony was one reason his former boss was found guilty of all charges in 2005, and Ebbers remains in federal prison today under a 25-year sentence.

“I didn’t know this, but I was the originator of one of two pieces of physical evidence that linked Bernie to the actual fraud,” said Connor, who earned his MBA in 1993 from Oklahoma State University. Connor remembers the week of the trial, which had the nation’s attention, as vividly as if it were yesterday. “I wouldn’t say I was scared but I was definitely nervous and anxious,” said Connor, who made frequent trips from his home in Atlanta to New York for interviews with the district attorney and FBI. “I was sitting in the holding pen, and I had the FBI agents with me,” he said. “I was visibly nervous, so they started asking me if they could help me calm down, and I said, ‘I still don’t really understand why you guys are interested in me. I still don’t understand why all of this is happening to me.’ They said, ‘You’re part of Team USA. You’re here to enter evidence into court, and you’re one of the good guys.’ “I’m sitting there thinking, ‘It would have been nice if you would have told me that six months ago.’” The WorldCom fraud was just one of several corporate accounting scandals that rocked the nation in the early 2000s, along with Enron, HealthSouth and Tyco. continues

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VERIZON

“Let’s put it this way: There’s not a lot that fazes me now, and I don’t get rattled very often.” — BRADY CONNOR

“Now when you look back on it 15 years later that was a unique part and time in the history of corporate America … and I was right at the epicenter of what was going on,” Connor said. “It wasn’t fun going through it but looking back it was one of those life experiences that you just can’t make up. Let’s put it this way: There’s not a lot that fazes me now, and I don’t get rattled very often.” 54

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The company re-emerged as MCI and quickly re-established itself as a major player in the telecommunications game, and Connor was there to experience it. He was among the MCI executives invited to participate in the ringing of the opening bell at the NASDAQ when MCI was listed as a public company after it emerged from bankruptcy following the scandal.

“The pride and joy I had of standing up there was fantastic,” he said. Within months, Verizon purchased MCI and the Connor family — wife Lynne and two daughters, Mary, 14, and Annie, 12 — was moving to New Jersey. He held various leadership positions with Verizon across finance and the operations of the business, before being promoted in 2013

to president and chief investment officer of Verizon Investment Management Corp (VIMCO) and head of Verizon Capital Group (VCG). In that role, he was overseeing a $50 billion portfolio of retirement assets. Last fall, Connor was promoted to senior vice president of investor relations, where he is the primary liaison within the investment community and Verizon’s shareholders. “The appeal of moving over to investor relations is it’s one of the most highly visible jobs within Verizon,” the 49-year-old Connor said. “It’s an honor to be in charge of telling the Verizon story to the external community and representing Verizon on such a global scale.” Or, as Connor says with a laugh, he’s gone from everyone being his friend to having few pals in his corner. “When you have a $50 billion checkbook everybody is your friend, and now that I’m trying to convince them to buy Verizon and I don’t have the $50 billion checkbook as a part of my repertoire, it’s a little tougher to make friends,” he said. In all seriousness, Connor says he would not be where he is today without his education. After earning a bachelor’s degree in finance from New Mexico State University, he became the 11th person in his family to earn an OSU degree when he received his MBA in 1993.

“I wanted to go to OSU for undergrad but wasn’t good enough to play for Coach (Mike) Holder, so I went to New Mexico State where I could play golf,” Connor said. “My dad suggested OSU, and I applied. OSU decided to take a chance on me, a candidate with no work experience. It worked out great for me, and I’m very thankful that OSU viewed me as a quality candidate when other schools were focused on a different cohort of applicants.” Connor became enamored with the financial market during an internship with OSU business alumnus Chuck Watson’s company Natural Gas Clearinghouse prior to his second year of graduate school. He credits the flexibility of the OSU MBA office and finance professor Tim Krehbiel for creating a special master’s thesis project focused on the use of options and futures contracts in hedging crop production for managing risk and producing optimal returns. Upon graduating from OSU, he took a job with AT&T, then moved on to MCI before it was purchased by WorldCom. Although he found his MBA useful, Connor’s financial market education was not being utilized to its fullest. “My interest in the financial markets was piqued in grad school, and I had to put it

on the shelf for 20 years, and then all of a sudden Verizon came to me one day and said, ‘Our chief investment officer is getting ready to retire. We need someone to run a $50 billion portfolio of assets. We have an idea that you might be a good candidate; would you be interested?’ My eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. It was because of the training and the exposure I had at Oklahoma State 20 years ago that I was able to step into that role and be successful,” Connor said. “My time at Oklahoma State will go down in history as an inflection point of how just doing something that was out of the scope of what was offered in traditional MBA programs at the time and having Dr. Krehbiel and the OSU staff tailor-make something for me, provided a platform that I ended up using 20 years later.” Connor is pleased with how his career has turned out, despite the unexpected detours. “I would have never guessed a guy from Albuquerque, New Mexico, via New Mexico State via Oklahoma State would end up with the job that I have, working with the most sophisticated people on Wall Street, leading Verizon and the external financial markets in the capacity that I do. I just would have never, ever guessed that,” he said. “The road to get here has had a lot of interesting twists and turns.” @

summer 2018 engage@spears

A Sporting Opportunity Students get a comprehensive look at sports management during a spring break trip STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOHN HELSLEY

shley Austin entered the conference room inside Chase Field, home of Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks, and immediately recognized her future. Highlighted within a glass case was the uniform jersey of the Kane County Cougars, the Class A minor-league af filiate of the Diamondbacks located in Geneva, Ill., where Austin, a recent Oklahoma State University management and marketing graduate, was set to spend the summer as an intern with the team.

“It was super cool to see the jersey hanging in the boardroom,” Austin said. “It showed me that they are proud of their affiliation and want people who walk in to know that all affiliates within the organization are equally important.” The moment surprised Austin, who wasn’t there to talk about her near future with the Cougars but her overall future, joining 19 other OSU students on a spring break study trip for sports management credit with Spears School of Business clinical assistant professor Bryan Finch. Over the course of five days in the Phoenix area, the group met with professionals in sports management, learned many

engage@spears summer 2018

avenues into the workforce, toured facilities and discovered a variety of potential jobs that fit under the sports management umbrella. The spring break trip wasn’t all business; each day offered seats in the stands at games involving teams from the NHL, NBA and MLB. “I think there was a great balance of fun and being serious on the trip,” said Zoe Randall, who is majoring in sports management and marketing at OSU. “During the meetings with the different directors and representatives of the sports team, everyone took it seriously and asked lots of questions to gain a better

understanding of what that person does and about working in sports in general. “Also, there were fun times at the sporting events we got to go to, and just getting to know everyone on the trip.” A full itinerary had the students on the go early every day, trekking across the Phoenix area in two large passenger vans bound for discoveries about the business of sports. A visit to golf giant Ping revealed the company’s modest beginning with founder Karsten Solheim — a major donor and supporter of OSU golf and the name behind Karsten Creek — through its growth into an industry leader. continues

“This advice really sits well with me because I already have a job where I interact with customers every day, and that will help me continually grow as a communicator and as a person.” — CORDELL JACKSON

Clinical assistant professor Bryan Finch and several students experience the view from the dugout at Chase Field.

summer 2018 engage@spears

The students toured Ping’s expansive facilities, as well as Gila River Arena (home to the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes), University of Phoenix Stadium (NFL’s Cardinals and the Fiesta Bowl) and Chase Field. They met with representatives along the way, adding conversations at the Tempe Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Fiesta Bowl headquarters in Scottsdale. “My biggest goal is to have the students gain a greater understanding of how diverse sports really are, from professional to collegiate to amateur to manufacturing,” Finch said. “I also want them to see how connected sports are inside the community — fans, youth clinics, volunteers for the Fiesta Bowl, running events through town, etc.” The message was delivered, and well received, with the students tuned in closely to all the advice and tips offered. Cordell Jackson, another sports management major on the trip, appreciated the insight of an executive with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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“He said just being able to talk to someone and carry on a meaningful conversation is the biggest attribute to have when looking for a job or when trying to climb the ladder,” Jackson said. “This advice really sits well with me because I already have a job (as a shift leader at Eskimo Joe’s) where I interact with customers every day, and that will help me continually grow as a communicator and as a person.” Randall valued a bit of advice from Scott Leightman, senior director of communications for the Fiesta Bowl. “He said to always be thinking about where you want to be two years from now, and to be doing things right now to impact the quality of that goal,” Randall said. The trip is part of a three credit-hour course led by Finch that requires a project presentation and a paper. It offers multiple benefits, ranging from the knowledge gained from an inside look at the profession and the networking to the class credit and the fun and games.

“I enjoy getting to know the students in a deeper way,” Finch said. “Being together outside of the classroom lets us share our personalities, stories and experiences in more depth. I also enjoy seeing the students get a behind-the-scenes view of how the sports business operates.”

Students with OSU’s Spring Break Sports Management trip to Phoenix engaged in learning various job paths, including opportunities with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes (left) and the Fiesta Bowl (right). The view from the stands (below left) before a Phoenix Suns game. Students found a photo op (below) inside “The Vault” at Ping headquarters.

Said Jackson, “My favorite part of the trip was meeting other students who are as passionate and interested in sports as I am, and being able to build those relationships in a very relaxed environment like Arizona. Because you never know where one of my fellow peers might end up. And having this network will allow me to further my career and maybe someday work with a close friend.”

For Austin, it was a chance to get a glimpse of the Diamondbacks organization she’ll be serving this summer, and an opportunity to hand deliver a résumé with an assertiveness professionals repeatedly stressed to the students. “I learned that you have to fight for what you want and be passionate about your job,” she said. @

summer 2018 engage@spears

UPCEA

than 25 academic honors and awards. In working with hundreds of companies and participants, Manzer provides valid, reliable material to business professionals in Oklahoma and across the nation. He believes that by better understanding an organization’s situation, he is able to provide effective and impactful information. Even with his long list of academic accomplishments and awards, the 77-year-old Manzer continued to show the same work ethic he has displayed since his first day on the job through his final days in the classroom. “I like being around the students. I liked coming to work,” he said. “It’s a lucky person who looks in the mirror and says, ‘I like to go to work.’ That’s been me.” Attendees call Manzer’s programs informative and thought-provoking.

Professor receives national teaching award ongtime Oklahoma State University professor Lee Manzer is the recipient of the 2018 University Professional Continuing Education Association Excellence in Teaching Award, which recognizes his outstanding teaching, course development, mentoring of students and service to continuing education. Manzer, a professor of marketing in the OSU Spears School of Business who is retiring in August, was the sole recipient of this year’s award. He received it at the national UPCEA conference in March in Baltimore. 60

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“His presentation skills, laced with the warmth and depth of his storytelling examples, made a deep and lasting impression on me and my colleagues,” said Marty Piel, Ditch Witch regional parts manager — training. “I consider Dr. Manzer a master educator, master storyteller and master friend. His compassion for those around him transcends his teaching and storytelling to the people he encounters daily.”

“During his 43-year tenure at Oklahoma State University, Dr. Manzer’s work exemplifies OSU’s outreach mission through the numerous corporate and public service programs he offers every year,” Spears School of Business Dean Ken Eastman said. “When visiting with alumni, he is the professor I get asked about the most, and the one they tell me who has had the biggest effect on their lives.”

He was invited to participate in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Executive Education Leadership Program as an instructor, and it was critical “that we have the highest quality programming with engaging and effective presentations,” said Michael Owens, assistant dean for graduate programs and executive education in the College of Business. “We were very fortunate to have Dr. Manzer as a founding presenter in this program. His session was rated as one of the highlights of the program.”

Manzer has reached an overwhelming number of people with his words and wisdom. Since 1975, he has presented more than 1,350 programs to over 150,000 people and has received more

While Manzer could very easily view this as just another award, he is honored to be the recipient: “It’s very surprising. I’m very appreciative of those who determined that I should be the one to receive it.” @

Manzer is taking his leave KELLY KERR/ORANGE HOUSE AGENCY

returning to Stillwater in 1975. He has

and visit, but they don’t come back and

taught marketing students for the last

visit. But I will come back to visit, and

43 years.

the reason for that is I’ll miss not just the

Born and raised in Hominy, Oklahoma,

faculty but the staff.

Manzer earned three degrees from OSU — bachelor’s in chemistry (’65), MBA (’66) and Ph.D. in marketing (’74). His wife of 54 years, Saundra, all three of their children (Britton, Bryndon and Brandye), and one of their five grandchildren are OSU graduates (and another is a current student). We chatted with him recently.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE STORY ABOUT A STUDENT, AN INTERACTION OR ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE FACULTY?

I recruited Julie Weathers to the MBA program in 1983, and I assigned her assistantship to Jim Hromas in the Business Extension office, and it turned out it was a perfect match. They were a perfect fit. Julie was just like him, and she took over when he moved across campus. She took

WHAT’S BEEN THE MOST REWARDING ASPECT OF TEACHING IN SPEARS BUSINESS?

I think the most rewarding thing has been the students and interacting with them. I don’t want to sound cheesy but trying to provide them with some incentive to try to be better in what they’re trying to

Lee Manzer will be retiring in August after 43 years at Oklahoma State University. The longtime marketing professor has taught more than 35,000 students over the years and is considered by many to be a living institution in the OSU Spears School of Business. “Dr. Manzer is timeless, and his students find him timeless,” said Rick Wilson, an OSU faculty member who has worked in the same building as Manzer for 28 years. “How many people would be able to do this for 43 years and still be relevant? To me, that’s an amazing thing. People want to attend his class because they learn something.”

do — better people, better marketers, better at anything and everything they do. WHAT HAS BEEN THE FAVORITE CLASS YOU’VE TAUGHT?

Basic Marketing. I’ve taught two classes every semester I’ve been here — 86 semesters, plus 43 summers. They are large classes in terms of number of students; many times, the section has about 100 to 150 students. I think marketing is relevant to whatever you’re going to do in life, and there was such a wide variety of students from different majors and a lot of them were from outside the School of Business. I still enjoy it to this day. WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT SPEARS BUSINESS?

I’ll miss the guys and the gals. I’ll miss

Manzer, 77, accepted his first teaching

my colleagues here, and I’ll miss the

position at OSU in January 1970, but

staff. When people leave, they all say

left for Memphis State University before

when they leave that they’ll come back

the outreach program and made it a big, gigantic deal. To see what she’s done in the Center for Executive and Professional Development is very satisfying to me. Julie is like a daughter to me. WHAT WOULD YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CAREER?

People ask me what my teaching philosophy is, and I’ve always said, most people believe that when somebody leaves your class, they should be better off for having been in it. I know that I have a fiduciary responsibility as a professor to do that, but I believe that I have a moral responsibility to do that. And that’s bigger than a fiduciary responsibility, and I would hope that people would think that I tried to do that from a standpoint that not just because I was getting paid, but I’d like to have made a positive difference in somebody’s life. I truly believe that. WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR RETIREMENT?

I’m still going to give seminars and talks for organizations with CEPD, and I’ll probably increase some of my volunteer work for the church. @

summer 2018 engage@spears

Ireland retires after 39 years of Management Science and Information

here for a year or two and left, went to

Systems and spent 15 years teaching in

Wyoming, came back and was here for

that discipline.

a few years, left and went to Utah, and

Ireland and his wife, Sandi, will continue to reside in Stillwater. Their children — son Craig and his wife, Meredith, and daughter Jill Bloyd and her husband, Greg — live in Edmond. They have four grandsons. We chatted with Ireland before his last day.

then was hired back a third time. There were a lot of good people that officed on the fourth floor of the old building, where the accounting offices were located. Don was coming back for a third time, and Orley Amos and I decided to have some fun. It was the summer that Jaws 3 came out, and they had this saying, “Just when you thought it was safe to

WHAT’S BEEN THE MOST REWARDING ASPECT OF TEACHING AT THE SPEARS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS?

get back in the water … the return of

I guess seeing people develop some of

read, “Just when you thought it was safe

these skills. People starting out a little unsure of what they can do, and then seeing them develop skills and confidence to handle quantitative things. Math really isn’t this big puzzle mystery.

Tim Ireland retired Sept. 1, 2017, after 39 years at Oklahoma State University.

ematics from Phillips University (1974), Ireland received both master’s (’76) and doctoral degrees (’78) in economics from OSU. His dissertation involved building

to take accounting again … the return of Don Hansen, Part 3!” That banner hung up there on the fourth floor for a quite a while, but finally some administrator took it down. WHAT WOULD YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CAREER?

I hope that I contributed a couple of

I don’t know if it’s very important but the

things. One was in terms of the econometric model development and business On the other hand, working with a lot of good students over the years and helping them to develop better quantitative and analytical skills.

research I did included working with a lot of people from a lot of different departments — economics, finance, accounting and management. I enjoyed those interactions with different departments and different departmental personnel. It was a learning experience for me, not staying in your own narrow area. That’s the nice

WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT TEACHING?

thing about an economics background I

was hired by the business school’s then-

The fellow faculty members and the col-

ence because it gives you a good back-

dean, Bob Sandmeyer.

legial relations that you had for years. The

ground to do a lot of things.

an econometric model for the state of Oklahoma. Upon earning his Ph.D., Ireland

Initially a faculty research associate in Business and Economics Research, Ireland was director of the econometric model. In 1981, he began splitting time between Business and Economics Research and the Department of Management before eventually becoming a full-time management faculty member in 1986. In 2002, he joined the newly formed Department

and hung it up on the fourth floor that

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO OSU?

economics research here in Oklahoma. After earning a bachelor’s degree in math-

Jaws!” We put together this big banner

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think; it’s referred to as the mother sci-

students, too. You get to come in contact with a lot of good students over time, and you’ll miss those relationships, too.

WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR RETIREMENT?

Sandi and I volunteer at Our Daily Bread DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE STORY ABOUT A STUDENT, AN INTERACTION OR ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE FACULTY?

one day a week, and I enjoy that. I’m

Don Hansen was an accounting pro-

looking forward to being able to go places

fessor who is now retired. Don was actually here three different times. He came

involved with activities at First Christian Church. Nothing too exciting, but I am when I want to go. @

29 years later, Krehbiel retires Tim Krehbiel is retiring, effective Aug. 1, after 29 years at Oklahoma State University. Krehbiel’s first teaching position was at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill., but the school did not offer doctorates, and he was hoping to work with graduate students. So, after Steve Thomas, a fishing partner, accepted a position to teach management classes at OSU, he called Krehbiel. “He told me there was an opening in the Department of Finance, and that the bass in Oklahoma tend to be bigger and dumber,” said Krehbiel, who earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Illinois State University (1981) and master’s and doctorate degrees in economics from Purdue University (1982 and 1987). He accepted the position at OSU in 1989, and has been on the business school faculty since. Krehbiel has served as director of the Master’s of Quantitative Financial Economics program since 2001.

We chatted with Krehbiel. WHAT’S BEEN THE MOST REWARDING ASPECT OF TEACHING AT THE SPEARS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS?

Watching the professional careers of former students unfold. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO OSU?

Not derailing the intellectual development of the truly outstanding students I have had the pleasure of working with. WHAT WAS THE FAVORITE CLASS YOU TAUGHT? WHY?

An ancient doctoral seminar taught in the early 2000s. Roger Collier, Larry Holland, Chris Brown, Joel Harper and I partnered to learn the highly technical material in Robert Merton’s Continuous Time Finance. WHAT WOULD YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CAREER?

I was blessed to be here working with wonderful colleagues and talented students. @

Krehbiel and his wife, Tami, will continue to reside in Stillwater with their grandson, Maddox.

summer 2018 engage@spears

Stress Relief Entrepreneurship’s Barringer stretches offerings to add yoga Business is stressful. S O I T I S I N T H E S P E A R S S C H O O L O F B U S I N E S S . S T R E S S F U L TO T E AC H . A N D TO L E A R N . A N D TO M OV E I D E A S F R O M VA RY I N G S TAG E S O F T H E O RY I N TO R E A L- L I F E S U CC E S S , L I K E T H E R I ATA C E N T E R FO R E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P D O E S .

A N D T H E R E ’ S A N E E D TO D E - S T R E S S .

T H E R E ’ S A WAY — YO G A . STORY BY JOHN HELSLEY | PHOTOS BY JORDAN BENSON

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he brainchild of Bruce Barringer, head of the School of Entrepreneurship, a free yoga class is now offered to students and faculty in the Riata Center. Barringer, borrowing from recent corporate wellness trends, brought the yoga class into play this spring and plans to offer it again in the fall. “In Entrepreneurship, you work in teams,” Barringer said. “And these are often stressful jobs. Yoga provides a stress reliever. It helps people focus and become calmer. “Yoga enhances a real connection of body and mind.” Nationally, more and more companies are recognizing the need for corporate wellness. Some are turning to yoga, a versatile

“I think the best ideas come when you’re a little bit relaxed and not ruminating over a problem. Your mind can just let something in.”

exercise that aids flexibility, strength, balance, concentration and breath capacity while reducing stress and anxiety. Corporate Wellness Magazine cited a study by the World Health Organization that reported depression as the “most disabling illness for the corporate sector, second only to cardiovascular diseases. Long hours, multitasking, stiff competition, rigorous commute, irregular eating habits, sedentary desk jobs and bad sitting postures all combine to create a highly stressed, inefficient and thus despairing workforce.” At OSU, instructor Carol Bender offers help through yoga. She leads classes across campus, including in the Riata Center. Bender, a retired professor of molecular biology at OSU, said yoga offers obvious benefits for the business world. “There are a lot of corporate programs right now,” said Bender, who served 25 years on the faculty at OSU. “And actually, a lot of business schools are introducing mindfulness and yoga, because I think as people relax, they can get into the creative side of their brain. It makes space, because we’re all going 24/7 all the time. “And I think the best ideas come when you’re a little bit relaxed and not ruminating over a problem. Your mind can just let something in.” Bender has been teaching yoga at OSU for 17 years, beginning when she was still on the faculty. She added the Riata Center class to one in the Student Union, as well as another large public class at the Botanic Garden. In the Riata Center, a group of 12 — 10 students and two faculty members — gather for yoga on Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8:40. All are welcome, and the class is free. Barringer arranged for free mats for the students and hopes the program grows going forward. “My big vision is to have 100 in the Keystone Commons (in the new Business Building),” Barringer said. @

— CAROL BENDER

JORDAN BENSON

summer 2018 engage@spears

SPEARS BUSINESS

Krull earns prestigious CPA award klahoma State University’s George Krull was honored with the Gold Medal Award of Distinction by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) at the Fall Council and annual members’ meeting in San Antonio. Krull served as interim head of the OSU School of Accounting during the 2017-18 school year.

George Krull

Since 1944, the AICPA has given the Gold Medal Award of Distinction to CPAs who have made outstanding contributions to the profession. “Dr. Krull is very deserving of this award as he has distinguished himself in all aspects of the accounting profession,” said Ken Eastman, dean of the Spears School of Business. “He has done so much to improve accounting in the academic and professional realms. We are very pleased he received this award and we are honored to have him back working with us.”

LANCE SHAW

Jack Finning, a member of the awards committee, presented Krull with the award. “Throughout his career, George Krull has helped define the future of the CPA profession through his passion for educating its next generation,” Finning said. A retired partner at Grant Thornton LLP, Krull served as a member of the Professional Standards Group, where he worked on the implementation of the firm’s automated audit and control software. He was also its chief learning officer and represented his firm on a wide range of volunteer educational committees. In

addition, Krull was a founding member of the Sponsoring Group of the Pathways Commission, the national commission on accounting education. He served on numerous AICPA committees and task forces, played an important role in the AICPA Foundation and the Accounting Doctoral Scholars program and was a founding member of the AICPA’s Diversity and Inclusion Commission. Krull was recruited to OSU by the late Wilton T. Anderson, head of the accounting program. He earned his master’s degree from the OSU business school in 1966, his bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and his doctorate from Michigan State University. Early in his academic career, Krull was a member of the OSU School of Accounting faculty, and he returned this summer as interim head of the department. He has been honored for his contributions by numerous organizations, including being inducted into the School of Accounting Hall of Fame at both Oklahoma State University and Ohio State University, and is an honorary alumnus of Northern Illinois University. In 2016, Krull received the Outstanding Service Award from the American Accounting Association. Krull was inducted into the OSU Spears School of Business Hall of Fame in November 2015 and was recognized in the “Spears School Tributes: 100 for 100” when the school celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014. @

“(Dr. Krull) has done so much to improve accounting in the academic and professional realms. We are very pleased he received this award.” — KEN EASTMAN, DEAN, SPEARS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

engage@spears summer 2018

Lisa Fain (center) received the University Service Award at the annual University Awards Convocation. With her were Kristin Henderson (left) and Mindy McCann.

GARY LAWSON

Spears Business shines at University Awards A number of Spears School of Business faculty, staff and administrators were honored at the annual University Awards Convocation ceremony Dec. 6 at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. • MITO Material Solutions, a successful OSU student startup, was one of three startups recognized with the President’s Cup for Creative Interdisciplinarity Award. MITO received $3,000 with its second-place award. • Griffin Pivateau, assistant professor of legal studies, received the Regents Distinguished Teaching Award, which carries a permanent $2,000 stipend. The award recognizes faculty who have shown unusually significant achievement in teaching for a number of years. • Ali Nejadmalayeri, ONEOK Chair and associate professor of finance, received the Merrick Foundation Teaching Award and a $2,500 stipend. The award recognizes a faculty member who offers students a better understanding and appreciation of the American economic system. • Lee Manzer, professor of marketing, received the Outreach Faculty Excellence Award, presented to fulltime faculty and active participants in University Outreach activities. It comes with a $1,000 stipend. • Austin Haytko, senior academic counselor in the Business Student Success Center, received the Advising Excellence Award. • Lisa Fain, director of operations, received the University Service Award, recognizing her service to the university.

In addition, the following Spears Business faculty were recognized for recent appointments to endowed chair and professorship positions: • Shu Yan, Greg Massey Professorship in Finance • Emma Wang, Jay Helm Professorship in Business at OSU-Tulsa • Dave Biros, Fleming Professorship in Management Technology • John Winters, Priority: Excellence CBA Associates Chair • Harounan Kazianga, Carson Priority Excellence Chair in Business Administration • Tom Stone, Carson Priority Excellence Chair in Business Administration • Marlys Mason, William S. Spears Chair in Business Administration • Ali Nejadmalayeri, ONEOK Foundation Chair in Finance • Goutam Chakraborty, SAS Professorship in Marketing Analytics @

summer 2018 engage@spears

COURTESY OF i2E

First-place finishers Contraire

OSU teams top Love’s Cup competition pair of graduate-level teams from Oklahoma State University made history in April as winners at the 2018 Love’s Entrepreneur’s Cup. For the first time in the history of the OSU entrepreneurship program, the teams took first and second place in the statewide competition. Contraire was awarded first place and $20,000, while Multivate placed second and received $10,000 in the High Growth Graduate competition. Each team also received an additional $2,000 for winning its respective interview categories and being selected as a finalist. “We’re extremely proud of all of the teams that participated in the Love’s Cup Competition,” said Bruce Barringer, head of the OSU School of Entrepreneurship. “We enjoy working

engage@spears summer 2018

with engineering students and are having increasing success matching engineering and business students to compose business plan teams. All of the teams that competed have tremendous future potential.” Contraire is a group of civil engineering students that converted a scientific process into a business idea. Multivate is a mixture of engineering and business students. Contraire, advised by David Thomison, clinical assistant professor and George Kaiser Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship, beat five other finalists in the High Growth Graduate division. The second-place team, Multivate, was advised by Richard Gajan, Don R. Brattain Assistant Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship.

Second-place finishers Multivate

The engineering students were introduced to the OSU entrepreneurship program through the School of Entrepreneurship’s National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corp program, and learned how to convert a scientific process into a business idea through the program, Barringer said. A third OSU team, Indra-Lightning Strike Mitigation, was one of the six finalists in the High Growth Graduate competition. In addition, all three OSU teams — Contraire, Multivate and Indra-Lightning Strike Mitigation — were among the top five winners in the High Growth Interview competition, in which teams were chosen based on the knowledge of their business and the competitive advantages, how well they articulated the business model, how the business makes money and the competency across the team. Each team was awarded $1,000.

Love’s Entrepreneur’s Cup The Love’s Entrepreneur ’s Cup is a statewide collegiate business plan competition that simulates the real-world process of researching a market , formulating financial projections , writing a business plan and pitching the oppor tunity to potential investors . In its 14 -year histor y, nearly 2 ,150 college students have taken the Love’s Cup challenge, producing over 600 innovative ideas from 36 campuses statewide and winning more than $1 . 8 million in cash , $125 ,000 in scholarships and $231 ,000 in fellowships .

Also, OSU students Rabecca Wiseman and Patrick Arney were named 2018 Paulsen Award Scholarship winners, and each will receive $5,000 from the Oklahoma Business Roundtable. @ summer 2018 engage@spears

WILTON T. ANDERSON HALL OF FAME

Chris Delk

Jeff Harjo

Sylvia Duncan

School of Accounting honors three Oklahoma State University’s School of Accounting honored three outstanding alumni during the 2018 Wilton T. Anderson Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. This year’s inductees into the Wilton T. Anderson Hall of Fame were: Chris Delk , who earned his bachelor ’s degree in accounting in 1991 and became a certified public accountant in 1993, vice president and general tax counsel for ConocoPhillips in Houston.

Jeff Harjo, a 1985 OSU graduate who earned his bachelor ’s degree in accounting, a partner with HoganTaylor in Tulsa.

Sylvia Duncan, who graduated from Oklahoma A&M in 1949 with a bachelor ’s degree in accounting and retired from her Stillwater-based CPA firm af ter serving the public for more than 60 years, received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award.

engage@spears summer 2018

Chris Delk

Jeff Harjo

Sylvia Duncan

Delk has 26 years of experience in

Harjo started his career in 1985 with

Duncan was chosen for Phi Kappa Phi and Mortar

the oil and gas industry. Since 2004,

KPMG’s assurance department in

Board while attending Oklahoma A&M, graduating

he has worked for ConocoPhillips

Tulsa, including rotations in the

with a bachelor’s degree at age 19. She began her

holding numerous positions in the

firm’s peer review and continuing

career as a staff accountant for G. Wilson Duncan

tax department, including corpo-

education practices. In 1999, he

Co. in Stillwater, and in 1954 established her own

rate tax counsel, IRS audit man-

joined AFN Communications, where

sole proprietorship.

ager, international tax manager,

he assisted a utility joint venture in

and vice president and general

monetizing a fiber optic network.

tax counsel.

She was active professionally in the Oklahoma Society of CPAs (OSCPA). Locally, she was continuing edu-

In 2004, Harjo joined BOK Financial

cation coordinator for the North Central Chapter of

Before joining ConocoPhillips, he

as chief auditor and ultimately

the OSCPA for many years and was honored with the

held several positions with Harvest

became the company’s first chief

chapter’s distinguished CPA award in 2000 and 2017.

Natural Resources, including

risk officer. He also managed

finance director of the Russian

internal audits, external audits,

business unit and controller of the

regulatory exams, loan review, com-

South American business unit. Over

pliance and risk management there.

the years, Delk has worked on com-

Following the 2007 recession, Harjo

plex oil and gas transactions and

teamed with the American Bankers

controversies in over 20 countries.

Association and Oklahoma Bankers

Delk is the OSU executive sponsor for ConocoPhillips and a member of OSU President Burns Hargis’ President’s Fellows. He is a member of the Tax Executive Institute and the American Petroleum Institute’s

Association to assist federal lawmakers and regulators as the DoddFrank Act rules were written. In 2013, Harjo joined HoganTaylor in Tulsa to lead its financial institution practice.

General Committee on Taxation.

Harjo has served on the boards of

Also, he is on the board of the

Junior Achievement and Palmer

International Tax and Investment

Continuum of Care. In 2014, he

Center.

helped form the HoganTaylor

In addition to his OSU accounting degree, Delk earned a juris doc-

Foundation, which provides grants to nonprofit organizations.

torate with honors from the

He and his wife, Shari, reside in

University of Tulsa in 1996 and is

Tulsa and are the parents of Allie

a member of the Oklahoma Bar

and Luke. Allie graduated with a

Association.

molecular biology degree from

Delk and his wife, Ingrid, have three children: Michael, 25, Erika, 22, and Nicholas, 5. They reside in Houston.

Princeton University and graduated from Duke University Medical School in 2018, after which she will be a resident at Children’s Hospital

She was appointed to the Oklahoma Board of Accountancy in 1975, ultimately becoming chairperson. Her affiliation with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy led to her serving as a director and national treasurer for the group. Later, she became the first female president of the OSCPA during the fiscal year 1987-88 and served on the AICPA Governing Council in 1988. The OSCPA inducted her into the Oklahoma Accounting Hall of Fame in 1984 and honored her with the 1994 Public Service Award for her active community involvement in Stillwater. She helped found Stillwater’s Sister Cities Council relationship with Kameoka, Japan, in 1985 and has served on the council since that time. She has been a lifelong active member of the Stillwater Church of Christ, especially in outreach to OSU international students and as a trustee and secretary of the church’s University Center Foundation. She has been married to Thomas Aaron Duncan, also a School of Accounting graduate, for 70 years. They have a daughter, Andrea; a son, Dan; and two grandsons, Robert and David, all OSU graduates. Dan, of Duncan and Onley PC, in Stillwater, and Robert, a CPA with Bank of Oklahoma, were accounting majors. In addition, she has three great-grandchildren, Max, Adlee and Ramey Duncan. @

of Pittsburgh. Luke graduated in 2018 with an accounting degree from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., where he will intern with EY before entering a master’s in accounting program in the fall.

summer 2018 engage@spears

JORDAN BENSON

The CEPD’s Marisa Dyess (from left), Sarah Williams, Lindsey Kirksey and Julie Weathers.

CEPD’s Chickasaw Leadership program wins honor he Center for Executive and Professional Development at Oklahoma State University won the Best Custom Program Award for its design and implementation of the Chickasaw Leadership Academy Platinum Level Executive Development program at the 40th Annual Conference on Management and Executive Development in December 2017. Organizations from 34 states and eight nations — the United States, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine — were represented at the conference, which was tailored for executives, directors, managers, deans and coordinators. Ken Eastman, dean of the OSU Spears School of Business, was a keynote speaker. “I congratulate the CEPD team for their excellent work in partnering with the Chickasaw Nation on this program,” Eastman said. “Our Spears School faculty and CEPD do a great job of providing professional development to organizations and businesses to the state and region, and we are proud of this accomplishment.” The Chickasaw Nation Executive Development program began in the spring of 2017. The extensive five-day program centers around five executive leadership competencies: business acumen, 72

engage@spears summer 2018

“The partnership with Oklahoma State University has been incredibly successful in bringing quality professional development to our employees.” — CAROL McCURDY

leading change, leading people, driven by results, and building coalitions and communication. This program is offered solely to Chickasaw Nation managers. As a new learning measurement tool and to help justify the financial investment, the Chickasaw Nation requested pre-assessments and post-assessments. This evaluation assesses prior knowledge and newly acquired knowledge through participating in the OSU program. “The partnership with Oklahoma State University has been incredibly successful in bringing quality professional development to our employees,” said Carol McCurdy, Executive Officer Training and Career Development, Chickasaw Nation. “The executive development program is our highest level, Platinum, of

four leadership levels in which employees can participate. We were particularly pleased to offer this program for employees who were already in leadership roles and for those who completed the previous three levels of leadership and were looking for the next level of development. “Employees of the Chickasaw Nation represent a wide range of careers that serve Chickasaw citizens. The curriculum that was delivered by OSU faculty was appropriate and, most importantly, applicable to all areas of leadership within the Chickasaw Nation. This was a fantastic addition to our Chickasaw Leadership Academy. We appreciate all of the time and effort of those involved from OSU.” “We are truly honored in regard to this prestigious award, which partners OSU Spears School faculty and staff in working with the Chickasaw Nation on management development,” said Julie Weathers, director of the OSU Center for Executive and Professional Development. “We are proud of our faculty and center team in taking the time to work with our friends at the Chickasaw Nation in making this a great joint program. We are thankful for the partnership and look forward to more ways we can continue to expand on our educational program offerings.” @

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SPEARS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS BUSINESS BUILDING, STILLWATER, OK 74078-4011 SCHOOL OF

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Pitching to Win AT SPEARS BUSINESS

Longtime Spears Business professor Lee Manzer was invited to throw the ceremonial opening pitch at an OSU baseball game earlier this year. Check out the latest on his honors and his retirement plans on Page 60.

From left: Carson Teel, Jonathan Heasley, Manzer, Joe Lienhard and Ryan Cash