Dean’s Advisory Board
AUGUST
Upcoming Events
Mon. Aug. 17: Fall Classes Begin
Joe Brown Sue Culpepper
Fri. Aug. 28: College of Business Scholarship Lunch
Mark Degler
Scholarship recipients and their families are invited to join scholarship donors for a luncheon in the new UTC Library ‘s Grand Reading Room.
Carla Donina
SEPTEMBER Sat. Sept. 5: COB Alumni and Friends Tailgate The College of Business kicks off the new academic year and the start of football season with the annual COB Tailgate. Join College of Business staff, faculty and other alumni for food and fun before the game.
OCTOBER Mon. Oct. 12: Round 2 of the UTC CEO Club’s Elevator Pitch Get a sneak peek at the city’s next great business ideas. Join us as UTC students pitch their best business ideas to a panel of judges.
Fri. Oct. 30 Alumni Golf Tournament, Kick off your Homecoming celebration with the UTC Alumni Golf Tournament on Friday. College of Business alumni have the opportunity to play together and all COB alumni will receive a special gift.
Sat. Oct. 31 COB Homecoming Tailgate This year’s Homecoming game pits UTC against Western Carolina.
NOVEMBER Tues. Nov. 12: Entrepreneurial Forum The Clarence E. Harris Entrepreneurial Forum promotes dialogue and interaction by bringing entrepreneurs from the community to campus to engage with students. Join us from 8 a.m. until noon in the UTC University Center’s Tennessee Room.
Sat. Nov. 14 VEP/Military Appreciation Day with the Mocs The College of Business Veterans Entrepreneurship Program sponsors Military Appreciation Day with the Mocs. Join us for the last game of the season as UTC faces off against The Citadel. For more information about COB events, visit http://www.utc.edu/ college-business/news-events/calendar-of-events.php
Tom Eddy Bob Farnsworth John Foy Steve Frost Brenda Lawson Scott LeRoy Warren McEwen Ben Miller Dana Perry Roger Smith Blake Strickland Miller Welborn Jenny Whitener Merri Mai Williamson
In this issue Finley Chair Created
4
A gift from the family of Max Finley continues a legacy of support.
College of Business 6 Faculty Honored
Message from the Dean
Professors honored for excellence in teaching and research.
New Hall of Fame Inductees 8 The College of Business honors David Parker and Carl Austin Watson.
Student Awards
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John C. Stophel Scholars receive recognition.
Editor
Katrina Craven katrina-craven@utc.edu (423) 425-4710 College of Business
www.utc.edu/business (423) 425-4710 UTC is an EEO/AA/Titles VI & IX/Section 504/ ADA/ADEA institution.E04XXXX-XXX-15
The undergraduate and graduate programs at UTC’s College of Business, in both business and accounting, are accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
The beginning of a new academic year is just a few weeks away. When classes start on Aug. 17, our students will find many changes taking place in Fletcher Hall. Construction is now underway on the new Joseph F. Decosimo Success Center on the 2nd Floor. When the project is completed this winter, the space will provide our students with improved technology and world-class facilities for academic advising, career services, new team and interview rooms and a new student lounge. Throughout the summer we’ve updated computer labs and will soon renovate several classrooms as well. The changes within the College of Business aren’t just physical. Following the completion of a university-wide strategic planning process, members of the College of Business faculty, staff and advisory board recently embarked on a strategic planning process. The new strategic plan is nearly complete and will serve as our guide as we continue to serve students and the Chattanooga community. The COB is also rolling out new programs, classes and community partnerships to ensure that our students continue to be academically prepared and business-world ready. Our faculty continue to be recognized for their excellence in teaching and in research. You can read more about faculty awards, new programs and other exciting changes in this issue of Venture. In closing, I want to thank our alumni, donors, community partners and other supporters for helping us make the UTC College of Business a great resource for the Chattanooga region.
Robert Dooley, Ph.D. Dean
Members of the Finley family celebrate the establishment of the W. Max Finley Chair for Excellence in Business Education.
Finley Chair in American Business Established $1.1 Million Gift Establishes Chair and Continues A Legacy of Support Continuing a legacy of support for UTC, a $1.1 million gift from the Finley family has created the W. Max Finley Chair for Excellence in American Business to honor the entrepreneurial energy and career of the late W. Max Finley, former Chairman of the RockTenn Corporation.
The W. Max Finley Chair will employ or retain a distinguished faculty member for the UTC College of Business who will focus on instruction and research in the areas of capitalism, capital formation and change, the use of data analytics in business decision making and critical support to entrepreneurship and family-owned businesses.
“Outstanding faculty are key to providing a high quality education and attracting the finest students,” said UTC Chancellor Steven Angle. “The W. Max Finley Endowed Chair will allow us to recruit and retain a world-class thought leader in an emerging area of business.” The late W. Max Finley, former
Chairman of the RockTenn Corporation, dedicated his life to public service. He was an active supporter of the University of Tennessee system and a 1931 graduate of the University of Chattanooga.
limited and he funded a professorship and a variety of scholarships. He received both the University of Chattanooga Distinguished Alumni Award and the Outstanding Service Award of the UTC Max Finley in the 1930 Moccasin, the University of Chattanooga yearbook. The family’s Alumni Council and was business, Tennessee Paper inducted into Mill, was founded in 1917 by the University’s Hall of Fame. Finley’s grandfather and othFinley Stadium, home of ers. Finley joined Tennessee the UTC football team, Paper Mill in 1930 as a bookkeeper and became executive is located on the site of vice president in 1950. In the former RockTenn 1973, the compa- “Max Finley was a man plant and is named ny merged with of few words, who in Finley’s Rock City Box avoided the limelight honor. Company, creatyet he game back to ing RockTenn. Chattanooga because “Max FinFinley served as Chairman of the he always said it ley was a Board for Rock- helped his business be man of few Tenn. words, who successful.” avoided Finley was a —Cynthia Anderson, the limedaughter of Max Finley light yet he staunch backer of both academgave back ics and athletics to Chattaat UTC. His generosity alnooga because he always lowed the athletics program said it helped his business to survive when budgets were be successful,” Cynthia
Anderson, Finley’s daughter, said. “His belief in the benefits of capitalism and his love of UTC make this chair so appropriate.” “This endowment will provide the College of Business the resources needed to achieve excellence in teaching, service and research,” said Dr. Robert Dooley, Dean of the UTC College of Business. “Not only will this strengthen our academic reputation, but it will enrich the academic environment for our students and help provide them with the real-world skills needed to be successful in their careers.”
College of Business Faculty Honored Four professors recognized for excellence in teaching and research Dr. Mohammad “Mo� Ahmadi was named Professor of the Year in the 2015 Coca-Cola Scrappy Awards at the Tivoli Theater in downtown Chattanooga. The Scrappy Awards celebrate the accomplishments of UTC student athletes. The Professor of the Year award is based on votes by student athletes.
Business Outstanding Professor Award. Three members of the College of Business faculty were also honored at the 2015 UTC Faculty Awards Dinner hosted at Stratton Hall. Dr. Gail Dawson and Dr. Parthasarati Dileepan were presented with the Outstanding Teaching Award in the College of Business. Dr. Lisa BurkeSmalley was presented with the Outstanding
Dr. Mohammad Ahmadi Dr. Mohammad Ahmadi
The mission of the UTC College of Business emphasizes our focus on and commitment to providing excellent instruction and quality research. Four COB faculty members were recently recognized for their outstanding efforts in teaching and research.
Ahmadi is the Guerry Professor of Management in the UTC College of Business. A 36-year veteran of the UTC faculty, he has influenced student athletes for more than three decades. Ahmadi has received the SGA Outstanding Professor Award on multiple occasions, as well as the College of Dr. Lisa Burke-Smalley
Dr. Gail Dawson Dawson is an Associate Professor of Management in the College of Business. She received her Ph.D. from The University of South Florida. Her research focuses on human resources and diversity issues.
Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 37 – 48, 2008, by Emerald Literati Network, Awards for Excellence. To learn more about the UTC College of Business faculty, visit our web site at http:// www.utc.edu/college-business/ profiles/index.php.
She has been awarded the Horace J. Traylor Minority Leadership Award and the Dean’s Merit Award.
Dr. Parthasarati Dileepan Dr. Gail Dawson Research Award.
Dr. Lisa Burke-Smalley Burke-Smalley holds a Ph.D. in human resources/organizational behavior from Indiana University Kelley School of Business. She is a UC Foundation Professor and 2007 recipient of the UTC Professor of the Year award. She has published numerous academic journal articles and book chapters and edited her own book on management training, “High Impact Training Solutions.”
Dileepan is the Henry Hart Professor of Management. He received his Ph.D. from The University of Houston-University Park. His research areas include operations/production management as well as scheduling and materials management. Dileepan has received a highly commended article award for the article, “ An exponential smoothing model for predicting traffic in the library and at the reference desk,” The Dr. Parthasarati Dileepan
Two Inducted into the UTC College of Business Annual Event Honors Inductees David Parker and Carl Austin Watson In April, Parker and Watson were honored at a dinner where more than 200 community leaders, members of UTC faculty and students celebrated their accomplishments.
2015 Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame inductee Carl Austin Watson
Two Chattanoogans were inducted into the UTC College of Business Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame on Thursday, April 16. David Parker and the late Carl Austin Watson become part of a group of individuals who represent both the entrepreneurial history of and the innovators in the Chattanooga region.
The annual Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame event is a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit in the Chattanooga region honoring local innovators and showcasing their success stories.
In addition to the 2015 Hall of Fame inductees, the event also honored the winner of the Collegiate Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award, given to a promising entrepreneurship student. This year’s student winner was Mark Kidwell. “Each year, we honor individuals who have made a lasting impact in and around Chattanooga,” said Dr. Robert Dooley, Dean of the UTC College of Business. “This year, we honor two gentlemen who and provide great examples of busi-
ness leadership and we honor a student entrepreneur.” David Parker, Covenant Transportation Group Parker has been in the trucking business since he was a teenager. At age 17, he was working full time for his father’s trucking company, Southwest Motor Freight. In 1985, Parker and his wife, Jacqueline, founded Covenant Transport. David made a “Covenant” with God that he would always operate the business with quality and integrity—principles that are infused into the organization to this day. In 1986, Covenant Transport began hauling freight with 25 trucks and 50 trailers. Nearly 30 years later, Covenant Transportation Group is a $750 million enterprise with six subsidiaries and a network of more than 2,700 trucks and 6,700 trailers. Covenant Transport became a publicly-traded company in 1994, and in 1997 the company moved to its present headquarters in Lookout Valley. Parker’s faith has guided him in all aspects of his life. He serves as a Deacon with City
Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Church of Chattanooga where he conducts Bible studies and ministers to children and families. David and Jacqueline are philanthropic at heart, and many have benefitted from their generosity. Parker is a member of the Trade and Transportation Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, was elected to the Board of Directors of the Truckload Carriers Association and serves on the Board of Directors of the American Trucking Association. Carl Austin Watson, Mountain View Ford, Incorporated Carl Austin Watson was a successful, self-made businessman, who began his career in the automotive industry as a sales associate and finished in the top of his field. He was born on Aug. 10, 1926 in Cleveland, Tennessee and graduated from Bradley High School. In 1944, Austin joined the Navy at the height of WWII and served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters. In 1945, Austin married his longtime sweetheart, Billie Jo Wiley, and eventually returned
to Cleveland. He went into business for himself, opening Austin’s Food Market. After a solid career in the grocery business, he began selling cars at Furlow Cate Ford in Chattanooga. In 1981 he purchased the Ford dealership from the Cate family. As President and Dealer Principal of the newly formed Mtn. View Ford Inc., Austin brought in his sons, Don and David, and his nephew, Andy David Parker, 2015 Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Watson, to help him inductee with daily operations. of the Order of the Eastern In 1989, Austin and sons Star, a Shriner, a member of opened Mtn. View Nissan. the American Legion and commander of the local VFW. Austin held numerous leadThe legacy of Carl Austin Watership positions within the son endures. The dealerships automotive industry. He was of Mtn. View Auto Group President of the Chattanooga Automobile Trades Association remain Watson Family Dealerships today. and served as Chairman of the Atlanta Region Ford Dealer To learn more about UTC’s Advertising Fund Board. He Entrepreneurship Hall of was a member of the board Fame, and to see a full list of of the Tennessee Automotive inductees, visit http://www. Association and later served as utc.edu/college-business/newsthe President. He also found events/annual-events/hall-oftime to serve his community as a 3rd Degree Mason, a member fame/index.php.
UTC & Moi University Sign Memorandum of Understanding In March, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Moi University signed a memorandum of understanding to explore opportunities for collaboration. Moi is a multi-campus university with its main campus in Eldoret, Kenya.
are so much richer when students and faculty can visit in both directions and learn from one another.”
country to bring education closer to where people are,” Mibey said. “One of goals is to solve the problems unique to those specific areas.”
UTC has been involved with Moi for two years by bringing small groups of Moi and Kenyan faculty to the Chattanooga campus for a week.
Moi is a relatively young university, explained Moi Vice Chancellor Richard K. Mibey. Moi University was established in 1984 by an Act of Parliament as the second public university in Kenya. It is located in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, which is 320 kilometers Northwest of the City of Nairobi. The university started with 83 students in the faculty of forestry and since then it has expanded into several colleges, campuses and schools with a student population of more than 50,000. To date it has produced more than 150,000 graduates.
“We are delighted to have you here to explore a partnership and determine ways that we can work together,” said UTC Chancellor Steven Angle. “These types of relationships
“The university currently operates several satellite campuses in several parts of the Chancellor Angle (far right) and Dean Dooley (far left) visited
The relationship with Moi began with Dr. Robert Dooley, Dean of the UTC College of Business. Dooley began working with Moi University in 2008, when he held the position of Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research in the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University and brought that relationship with him to UTC.
Kenya in May.
Mibey, along with Moi University faculty Dr. Thomas Cheruiyot, Dr. Charles Lagat and Dr. Paul Chepkuto spent a few days touring UTC and Chattanooga before the signing ceremony. In May, Angle and Dooley traveled to Kenya to visit various Moi University campuses and to meet with university officials and business leaders.
John C. Stophel Distinguished Students 2014-15 The John C. Stophel Distinguished Student Award is presented annually to high potential business students who have made significant and meaningful civic contributions to UTC and the College of Business while maintaining a strong academic record. The students were recognized at a reception hosted by Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel and at the College of Business spring awards ceremony.
Brooke Beal
Kori Botting
Brooke Beal graduated Summa Cum Laude from UTC with a degree in Marketing and is now working as an account executive at The Johnson Group in downtown Chattanooga. Kori Botting graduated with a degree in Accounting and Finance and hopes to obtain a position a public accounting firm.
Alexander Davis
Larissa Hofstra
MacKenzie Miller
Andrew Clark graduated with a degree in Accounting and works as an internal audit intern at Astec Andrew Clark Industries. He hopes to attend graduate school and obtain a Masters in Economics to pursue a career in Economics. Megan Russom
Alexander Davis received a degree in Entrepreneurship and Marketing in May and plans to attend Southern Baptist Theological Seminary to earn his Masters of Divinity. Larissa Hofstra received a degree in Accounting and Spanish in May. While at UTC, she was involved in ministries to the homeless and started several outreach projects including clothing and food drives. MacKenzie Miller received her degree in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. She has served as a volunteer for a variety of events including CoLab’s “Will This Float?” and MainX24. She hopes to use her degree to find a position in event marketing. Megan Russom graduated with a degree in Marketing and served in three key leadership positions with the Omega Phi Alpha sorority and volunteered
with a variety of Chattanooga organizations including Ronald McDonald House, Signal Centers and the Creative Discover Museum. Kaleb Tilton graduated with a degree in Accounting and a minor in Economics. He currently works at Earlanger Health Systems as a Senior Accountant where he is involved in statistical reporting and analysis. He plans to pursue a Masters of Accounting. Kaleb Tilton
Aaron DeLaughter
Madhuri Siddulagari
Graduate Students Aaron DeLaughter is a 2008 Marketing undergraduate and a 2014 MBA graduate from UTC. He currently works at McKee Foods Corporation as a Consumer InsightsProject Manager/Analyst. Madhuri Siddulagari is a Master of Business Administration student from India. She works as a Research Associate for Data Analytics Center in the UTC College of Business.
Learn more about the Stophel Scholars by visiting www.utc.edu/ college-business/resources/stophelawards/
In Memoriam:
Betty Quintrell Chadwick First Female Graduate of the College of Business Accounting Dept.
Betty Quintrell Chadwick Betty Quintrell (Betty Q.) Chadwick was the first woman to graduate from the University of Chattanooga with a degree in accounting. Chadwick, who graduated from UC in 1952, died peacefully in her home with family at her side on June 25, 2015. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, Phil Chadwick (Debbie), Quin Chadwick and Star Howell (Joe). She was blessed with six grandchildren: Steve Chadwick, Evan Howell, Ashley Ivey, Pete Howell, Chad Chadwick , Jodie Manning and one step grandson Travis Schievelhud; six great grandchildren: Ayden and Kendall Ivey, Nathan and Jack Howell, Knox Chadwick, Lily Manning and two step great grandchildren Jonathan and Isabella Schievelhud. Betty Q., as she was known, led an extraordinary life and has been described as a trail blazer. In addition to being the first female graduate in accounting,
she also became the first female Certified Public Accountant in the State of Tennessee in 1969. She went on to became a partner in an accounting firm, and later started her own successful business—the accounting firm of Betty Q. Chadwick, CPA.
was an active participant in the People to People Citizen Ambassador Program and traveled with this program to China, Russia, South Africa and Japan where she collaborated with accountants in these countries to improve upon the accounting profession.
Chadwick continued to show an entrepreneurial side. She, along with husband Pete Chadwick and son Phil Chadwick, started C & C Oxygen Company in 1975 with one truck and a small office on Rossville Blvd. The company has since grown to become a very successful business that is still in operation today.
Chadwick also contributed to her community. She was a founding member of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church of Ooltewah, Tennessee. She served as Treasurer and member of the Vestry from 1991 to 2008. The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee adopted her accounting system as the model for new parishes as they formed.
Chadwick was very active in her profession. She became a member of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants in 1969 and held many offices within this society including president of the Chattanooga chapter (1981-1982). Because of her achievements in the society, she received the President’s Award in 1994 and was made a life time member.
She was very active in the Chattanooga Pilot Club, a national organization that raises funds for entities that support individuals with neurological related injuries and disorders. She was Treasurer of the Chattanooga chapter for many years and served a term as the President of the Tennessee District Pilot Club.
In her leisure time she was an avid traveler, touring many foreign Betty Quintrell Chadwick’s countries. Chadwick photo from the University of was an extraordinary She was voted into Chattanooga’s 1952 Moccasin lady with multiple membership in the American Women’s accomplishments, on yearbook. both her professional Society of Certified Public Accountants and personal level. She in 1970. During her career as a CPA enriched the lives of those she came she had the honor of being invited to in contact with and she will be truly join the American Institute of Certified missed. Public Accountants in 1969. Throughout her accounting career she
UTC Chancellor Steven Angle speaks at the partnership press event on July 22.
UTC and Chattanooga State Small Business Development Center Enter Partnership The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Chattanooga State Community College recently announced a new higher education partnership funded jointly by the Chattanooga Area Chamber and the Small Business Administration. The partnership will allow both UTC and Chattanooga State to provide real-world experiences for students while providing needed resources for businesses in the region through a variety of research projects. The partnership agreement includes the creation of a Research Internship Program designed to expose students to practice-oriented experience in entrepreneurship. UTC and Chattanooga State SBDC will jointly develop research internship opportunities to actively involve students in research and outreach services. Research interns will receive credit hours and will be paid by the internship employer or sponsors.
Planning is underway to create and pilot the Research Internship Program and then expand and offer research internship opportunities to students across the UTC and Chattanooga State campuses. “The Research Internship Program will provide students with quality, real-world research experiences that will build upon and enhance the knowledge they gain in the classroom,” said Dr. Robert Dooley, Dean of the UTC College of Business. “This program will also benefit new and expanding businesses by providing quality research.” In addition to the Research Internship Program, the partnership will also provide practical experience through a General Internship Program managed by various departments at UTC and the Chattanooga State Division of Business and Information Technologies. “This partnership allows UTC to connect our students with our community. Our students will benefit from access to intern-
ships and work experiences that allow them to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings,” said Dr. Steve Angle, UTC Chancellor. “The partnerships with Chattanooga State, the Small Business Association, and the companies that create these internships strengthen our relationships within our region and allow us to meet the needs of our business community while providing our students with excellent learning opportunities.” Dr. Flora Tydings, president of Chattanooga State, adds, “Research has shown that early and active involvement in undergraduate research that provides an opportunity to solve real world problems strengthens students’ analytic thinking abilities and engagement in their studies. This is exactly the kind of partnership that proves our community leaders and educators are committed to student success inside the classroom and after graduation.”