InnoVision: Spring 2019

Spring 2019

Issue 8

ALEXANDRIA & DONTEZ See what the future has to offer to two graduating InnoVision student workers.

Page 10

KIM KILGUS Read about how Kim Kilgus’ patience and love inspired a faculty member nominate her for KU’s November Employee of the Month.

Page 12

ELC WEEK Catch a glimpse of a week full of workshops and panels that inspired action and innovation.

Page 14

SPRING 2019 | 1

“Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse.”

– Winston Churchill

At one point in time, tradition was innovative But then, one person took that and made it better That act unlocked innovation Professors give students free reign over projects The students take it in full stride That freedom sparks innovation Leaders hold meetings for the forerunners of the future They voice their opinions and ideas That respect supports innovation Alumni return with tips and tricks to stand out The audience sit and soak it all in That moment encourages innovation Officers gather a group of non-majors and merge them together as one They capture the moments for all to look back on That choice creates InnoVision Kutztown’s College of Business expresses that The world is big enough for innovation from everyone Make it yours. ­— Dontez Jolly & Grace Wein

CONTRIBUTORS

Cover Photo: Madison Mohor

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EDITORS Dontez Jolly ‘19 Grace Wein ‘20

ADVISORY BOARD Stacey Gambler Dr. Anne Carroll

DESIGNERS Alexandria Shope ‘19 Olivia Durr ‘20 Sydney Burgese ‘21

SPECIAL THANKS Donna DeLong Arian Hungaski

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Katelyn Melder ‘19 Taylor D’ambrosio ‘20

LETTER FROM

THE ASSISTANT DEAN As I reflect upon the Spring 2019 semester, I am honored to be a part of the College of Business. It is a partnership between education and experiences; the experiences of student success to the realm of classroom instruction and from there, alumni engagement. We strive to bring experiential learning to our students through our featured speaker series, Entrepreneurial Leadership Center and student organizations. Thank you to our students, faculty, staff and alumni for the continued support in providing a quality education that impacts each other and our community.

Sincerely,

Paige M. Brookins, Ph.D. Assistant Dean, College of Business

THE STUDENT WORKERS GRACE WEIN

SYDNEY BURGESE

OLIVIA DURR

TAYLOR D’AMBROSIO

ALEXANDRIA SHOPE

DONTEZ JOLLY

Professional Writing

Communication Design

Communication Design

Communication Design

Communications

Professional Writing

SPRING 2019 | 3

NOTES FROM THE CHAIRS

CONTENTS 8 11

ROGER HIBBS

CHAIR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION If you were to sell fish, you would tell buyers your fish are fresh. And we all have enough experience to know that this is often not true.

That’s what buyers want to hear, so that’s what sellers say. There’s a gap between the message and the reality. In the Department of Business Administration, we want to make sure we only sell fresh fish.

BETA GAMMA SIGMA

LIQUID INTERACTIVE

13

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION

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ELC WEEK

There is a lot happening in the Department of Business Administration, all of which is in response to our mission, vision and goals.

Moving forward, we will have a Human Resource major, an Entrepreneurship major and starting in the fall, a Supply Chain Management major. By creating these specialized majors, we feel that we are positioning our students to get better jobs in the workplace after they graduate.

Someday I would like to hear about our graduates in HR, Entrepreneurship and Supply Chain Management and how they got better jobs right out of KU and how their time here impacted their success. Come with us. We do sell fresh fish.

ELIZABETH ROGOL

CHAIR OF SPORT MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP STUDIES

20

DISCOVERING WHAT WORKS IN SOCIAL MEDIA

26

COB ABROAD

29

RETIRING FACULTY

FOLLOW US:

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If you stop into the Department of Sport Management & Leadership Studies, you will find a department that is always looking to the future and asking how it can improve the learning experience for its students.

We accomplish this through interactive and experiential exercises in the classroom, through modifying curriculum or through the scholarship and research of our faculty.

This academic year, we continue our tradition of bringing in speakers who are practicing professionals so students can gain perspective from those outside academia and have an opportunity to network. Speakers who are alumni are always well received by our students and we were thrilled to have two alumni come back this year. We organized field trips to give students an opportunity to talk with professionals and observe both facility and risk management. The faculty continue to present their research at national and international conferences, as well as publish. Our faculty engages students and works with them on research and opportunities to present their findings as well as participate in case competitions. We are proud of our students and their success is what drives us.

FEATURED SPEAKERS ANDREW RUBINSTEIN

DIRECTOR OF GROUP SALES

Andrew Rubinstein received his BBA in Finance and his BBS in Sport Management from Ohio University in 2011. He began his career as an Account Executive with the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football league. He then became a Group Sales Account Executive with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. Today, Andrew oversees all group events for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and the PPL Center. While speaking at KU, Andrew said, “Working hard is very important. You can’t be successful with just talent alone.”

JEFF DURR

FOUNDER & SENIOR PARTNER Jeff Durr started his career in the financial services industry in 1988. As an agent, he wanted to lead others in the profession. Jeff developed a process for agents to help build a comprehensive financial planning practice in the corporate and personal marketplace. He has helped family businesses and high net worth individuals with financial strategies that are instrumental to their success. As the founder and Senior Partner of RU Financial, Jeff is committed to providing insight and knowledge to students, alumni, faculty and staff members to various New Jersey university students.

SONDRA WYCKOFF ‘08

ALUMNI

WORDS OF

WISDOM

SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER

Sondra Wyckoff graduated from Kutztown in 2008 with a BSBA in marketing. Sondra began her career working for Wellshire Farms, an all-natural food company. Over the next six years, she started working for marketing agencies for brands such as Calvin Klein, Chase United and Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. She currently manages Direct to Consumer Marketing for Sallie Mae in the private student loans sector in Newark, Delaware.

CAMERON LIPNICKY ‘15

MANAGER OF REGIONAL SALES

Cameron Lipnicky, a 2015 alumnus, is a Manager of Regional Sales for Monumental Sports and Entertainment located in Washington D.C. Cameron is responsible for selling and servicing over 500 season ticket accounts while generating new business for the organization throughout the fiscal year. Cameron began his sports career as a Game Day intern with the Harrisburg Senators and then a Birthday Coordinator for the York Revolution baseball team. After that, he was a Senior Sales Associate with the Milwaukee Bucks. Cameron left students with, “Give your 100 percent into everything because failures can lead to other opportunities.”

SPRING 2019 | 5

EVENTS

Five finance recipients (Trevor Smith, Katelyn Wehr, Allison Kostaras, Nessa Cartagena and Gerald Lowe) along with Dr. Keshav Gupta (far right).

DEAN’S LIST RECEPTION

Students from both the Department of Business Administration and Sport Management and Leadership Studies gathered to be recognized for being named to the Fall 2018 Dean’s List. Each student received a certificate from Dr. Anne Carroll, Dean of the College of Business, for their achievement of maintaining a 3.6 GPA or higher for the semester. 195 students from the College of Business earned this honor for the Fall 2018 semester.

POCONO RACEWAY

Driver Justin Haley made his way to Kutztown University during his Pocono Raceway College Tour. For the previous two years, Justin has participated in the NASCAR Truck Series to work his way up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

“It’s cool for me to come out and interact with everyone as I promote Pocono Raceway,” Justin said. He and other representatives from Pocono Raceway talked with students about different opportunities the raceway offers to those in the Sport Management field. “It’s not all about driving cars fast,” said Justin.

The group wanted to keep the day laid-back and fun; they brought an inflatable Ninja Warrior obstacle course and corn hole set. Students were also given the chance to see how fast they could change a racecar tire.

Driver Justin Haley comes to KU during the Pocono Raceway Tour.

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NETWORKING EVENT

The Career Development Center, the College of Business and the Advisory Council hosted their annual Networking event. Juniors and seniors were given the opportunity to enhance their networking skills as they gained insight on how to market themselves as professionals.

Throughout the night, students mingled with peers and influential managers from around the area, making long lasting connections.

L to R: Ryan Atkinson, Zack Moore and Edward Suriel

PSCBC CASE COMPETITION

At the Pennsylvania Sports Business Conference, groups of students gathered at Indiana University of Pennsylvania to present new marketing strategies for the Delaware Blue Coats. Kutztown had two teams compete. Team one consisted of Brandon McDonnaugh, Laura Bisco and Ty Chronister. Team two included, Taylor Thames, Cole Single and Jake Chronister. Both teams tied for third place.

In addition to presenting at the conference, Brandon McDonnaugh submitted an undergraduate research presentation travel grant proposal with his partner, Deven Messner. Their proposal was titled, “Is a Controversial endorser effective?: Advertising perception and attitude.�

The proposal was awarded a cash prize by the Undergraduate Research Committee.

SPRING 2019 | 7

BETA GAMMA SIGMA

Dr. Anne Carroll, Dean of the College of Business, Dr. Roger Hibbs, Chair of Business Administration, and Dr. Rajeev Kumar stand with the newly inducted members of the Beta Gamma Sigma Society.

Beta Gamma Sigma is the International Business Honor Society, established in 1913. It has over 580 collegiate chapters on six continents.

The mission of Beta Gamma Sigma is to: • Encourage and honor academic achievement in the study of business • Cultivate and celebrate leadership and professional excellence • Advance the values of the Society • Serve its lifelong members Beta Gamma Sigma membership is invitation only and is extended to the top business students at universities accredited by AACSB International. Members are in the top ten percent of undergraduates, the top 20 percent of graduate students and doctoral candidates who have successfully defended their dissertation at an AACSB accredited university. This standard is what makes Beta Gamma Sigma the most prestigious recognition a student studying business can obtain anywhere in the world.

Kutztown held their Beta Gamma Sigma induction ceremony on March 29. Dr. Rajeev Kumar, Beta Gamma Sigma Faculty Advisor, gave the opening remarks at this special event.

Dr. Anne Carroll, Dean of the College of Business, presented Mr. Jason Barkley ‘91 ‘93 with the Chapter Honoree recognition. This recognition is awarded to an individual whom the committee believes fosters the distinguished qualities of the society.

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During the ceremony, 24 students were inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Society. With this accomplishment, the students can look forward to invitations to exclusive programs, connections and endless benefits worldwide. Also as members of Beta Gamma Sigma, students are part of a society that includes Nobel Prize winners, inventors and CEOs. Senior Alexis Barr, an inductee, was asked how she expected Beta Gamma Sigma to impact her future, she said, “Beta Gamma Sigma offers many benefits that are geared towards helping individuals expand their careers. With all the connections available to me, I expect to have an extra push in my future. Knowing that there is an entire society of people that share the same values as I do, lets me know that I have the support of others. The opportunities offered to me will help me grow as a person and a business woman. I am now a part of something bigger than myself and I intend to take full advantage of that.”

“This is an internationally recognized honor society, so when I bring my skills to the world I am not only representing myself but Beta Gamma Sigma.”

— Alexis Barr

EVENTS

CLUB MEETING

Dr. Anne Carroll, Dean of the College of Business, met with student officers of the business-focused clubs that are offered at Kutztown.

The group discussed improvements that have been made to the club between now and the previous semester. They brainstormed ways that the Dean’s Office could help promote and support the clubs moving forward.

GATHERING OF GRATITUDE LUNCHEON

Current students and alumni were honored at the annual Gathering of Gratitude hosted by the Kutztown University Foundation & Alumni Relations.

At the event, students were able to connect with alumni and thank them for the scholarships that they had received from their contributions.

SPRING 2019 | 9

EVENTS 76ER’S

Professor Kerri Cebula arranged for her Sport Law classes to take a trip to the Wells Fargo Center to do field research for their final projects in the course. Students were given the task to search for any threats of player or fan safety throughout the arena. Students were given an assignment to take pictures and think of rules or systems they would input to help the arena operate more efficiently.

In addition, the students were given the opportunity to watch the Sixers take on the Brooklyn Nets. The Sixers came out on top with a final score of 123-110.

ALEXANDRIA & DONTEZ

This upcoming Spring, two of our students workers, Alexandria Shope and Dontez Jolly, will be graduating.

Alexandria has been working for InnoVision as a graphic designer since her freshman year. She is a Communication Design major, concentrating in Graphics. This summer, Alexandria will be working as a branding intern for Neon, a FCB Health Network company in New York.

Dontez Jolly recently joined the crew in fall of 2018 as a writer for InnoVision. He is a Professional Writing major with a minor in Literature. Dontez has a lot of hopes and dreams. He is currently writing a movie script and aspires to be a screenwriter.

We thank Alexandria and Dontez for all their hard work and dedication. We will miss them and we wish them the best in all their future endeavors.

LIQUID INTERACTIVE

On April 19, Liquid Interactive representatives Emily Massaro and Alicia Hughart of Blue Ridge Communications judged the work of three contestants looking to become the winner of the third annual Liquid Interactive Digital Marketing Competition.

The contestants were seniors Jenn Loaiza, Mayra Rodriguez Ontiveros and sophomore Morgan Santee. Their proposals were selected out of 31 total submissions.

Dr. Roger Hibbs, Chair of the Department of Business Administration, made the opening remarks. He thanked both Liquid Interactive and Blue Ridge for giving students an opportunity that will open doors for them. He said, “This is exactly what we need for our students.”

(L to R): John Del Viscio, Mayra Rodriguez Ontiveros, Jenn Laoiza, Morgan Santee and Alicia Hughart.

Each contestant presented their suggestions on how Blue Ridge could use digital and social media to enhance brand awareness. The finalists spoke about a three-month campaign that would increase Blue Ridge’s total social media followers, social media engagement and website traffic. Each young woman focused on men and women between the ages of 25 and 34 in the Pocono and Central Pennsylvania area for their target audience. In each presentation, this age group was described to be made up of college graduates that are involved in both gaming and streaming.

Though the women had similar goals for their proposed three-month campaign, they all differentiated themselves. Jenn advised Blue Ridge to emphasize their services by including icons on Facebook and proposed that Blue Ridge institute a referral rewards program to get customers more involved.

Mayra expressed the importance of the use of Blue Ridge’s keywords, such as “fewer lags,” “blazing” and “change the way you game” on all social media platforms. She also mentioned the idea of Blue Ridge implementing a Customer Appreciation day which would give the company a chance to have a more personal connection with their customers.

Emily Massaro presenting the first place prize to Morgan Santee.

Morgan researched the streaming service Hulu. She argued that Blue Ridge advertise on this streaming service rather than TV because studies show that audience members remember ads from Hulu. She claimed that Blue Ridge should use Twitter to answer the questions and concerns of their customers.

After deliberation, Morgan was named the first place winner, Jenn placed second and Mayra placed third. Each winner was awarded a monetary prize.

(L to R): Dr. Eun Yeon Kang, Mayra Rodriguez Ontineros, Jenn Loaiza, Morgan Santee and Dr. Therese Maskulka.

EVENTS

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH: KIM KILGUS Kim Kilgus, the Academic Secretary for the Department of Business Administration, was named Kutztown University’s Employee of the Month for November 2018. She was nominated by Dr. Christine “CJ” Rhoads. For the nomination, Rhoads wrote, “Kim is one of the most intelligent, hardworking and dedicated people I have ever had the pleasure working with. Her daily interactions with students, faculty and everyone are always the same: helpful, pleasant and always going above and beyond.”

In her nomination, Rhoads lists some of the duties that Kilgus performs. “Kim counts votes, manages the curriculum process, and organizes and coordinates meetings,” she said. Rhoads went on to talk about how Kilgus is just one call away during the advisement period whenever esoteric information is needed.

Kilgus’ dedication to the University mission, vision and strategic plan doesn’t go unnoticed. She writes, “Kutztown University aspires to be a regional center of excellence by providing opportunities for advanced academic, cultural and public service experiences within a caring community, designed to promote success in a global society.” As the College of Business makes changes to its courses and curriculum to improve its status, Kilgus has been “instrumental” in organization and supporting the department. “Kim is right there on the front lines helping, supporting, reprinting and organizing,” Rhoads said.

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Rhoads mentions how she had experienced brain damage decades ago and raves about how supportive Kilgus is to her personally. Kilgus never complains when Rhoads needs to be reminded of things. She makes sure that Rhoads stays on track with everything that is going on.

Kilgus is also a big part of student success. Rhoads writes, “Kim is a strong element in the journey of the students as they prepare to meet lifelong intellectual, ethical, social and career challenges.”

To Rhoads, Kilgus deserved to be nominated because of her demonstration of professionalism and how she performs more duties than her job description requires. Her actions are out of the kindness of her heart and is more than worthy of recognition. Many departments of business administration faculty members supported this nomination.

Nominations are collected from students, faculty and staff, and the Employee of the Month is selected by the Human Resources Advisory Council. A winner is selected each month, and out of the 12 monthly winners one will be selected as Employee of the Year.

The Employee of the Month receives a plaque, reserved parking and a $100 monetary gift sponsored by President Hawkinson.

“She is not just a secretary; she is a mentor and a life support. She quickly and easily slays problems within the system on behalf of the students.”

CLUB FEATURE

Left to right: Zach McGowan, Jaylah Johnson-Pringley, Keith Torres, Wesley May, Justin Hayer, Dr. John Walker

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION The Financial Management Association (FMA) is a student-run organization intended for finance and business majors. The club focuses on hosting finance-related professionals so they can network and speak with students on how to stand out above the competition.

The Financial Management Association is run under the guidance of club advisors Dr. Keshav Gupta and Dr. John Walker.

Besides taking trips, the Finance club has several overarching goals: to increase undergraduate student involvement, to increase awareness of the vast opportunities post-graduation throughout the financial services industry and to create an environment that is both educational and professional.

Wesley believes that joining the FMA while an undergraduate will benefit a student in the post-graduation career hunt. “Students who join the FMA as members develop soft skills that are needed for employment. They also grow their network by connecting with alumni, which has proven to be helpful with employment,” said Wesley.

“The Finance Club has hosted speakers from a variety of established companies in the current school year such as, Barclays, SEI Investments and BlackRock,” Finance Club President, Wesley May, said.

Wesley is pleased to see juniors and seniors getting involved in the FMA, but he and the other executive board members hope for more undergraduate level student involvement.

The club hosts these speakers during a free hour. Generally, the club invites Kutztown University Alumni to speak to the club members about their current position, how Kutztown prepared them for their career, how to best distinguish themselves from their competitors and how to attain employment post-graduation.

He says, “Participating in the FMA throughout an undergraduate career shows employers the level of commitment one has to their specific field. It not only highlights the candidate’s ability to work within a team, but also showcases their leadership skills, which is highly relevant within the financial services industry.”

Both Dr. Gupta and Dr. Walker want each club member to work toward their future careers and try to get ahead of the game as much as possible.

For more information about the Financial Management Association, there is contact information and posted meetings on FMA flyers hanging up around the DeFrancesco building. You can also follow the FMA on Instagram at @ku_finance_club.

“Both advisors have consistently advocated to attend all internship and job fairs, to practice soft and technical skills for interviews related to the financial services industry and to expand our networks by reaching out to Kutztown University alumni in the hopes of attaining career placement.” Wesley said.

Right now, the board members see the club as being in a transitional stage. Taking club trips has become one of the main goals for the future of the club. “Currently, the finance club has not taken any trips, but with a growing budget, we hope to arrange club trips to finance-related industries like the Federal Reserve and company campuses,” said Wesley.

“Participating in the FMA throughout an undergraduate career shows employers the level of commitment one has to their specific field.”

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ELC WEEK

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: RUSS STARKE On March 26, KU alum Russ Starke ‘96 gave a motivational speech about the trials of entrepreneurship and the steps to achieve a successful business. Mr. Starke is the founder and CEO of Think Company, a service and digital experience design and development firm based in Philadelphia. Think Company was based on the idea that great customer/employee relations and products begin with careful research and evidence-based design. In his keynote speech, Mr. Starke discussed multiple rules that future entrepreneurs should consider when running a business.

With 20 years of professional designing under his belt, Mr. Starke has worked with corporate and non-profit clients as an award-winning digital strategist, experienced designer, information architect, instructional designer, business analyst and project manager. Getting to this point in his career was not easy. During his speech, Mr. Starke described his road to Think Company as his “Trail of Tears:” a term he used to describe the list of various companies he’s worked for since college. He talked about how jumping from one company to the next allowed him to take some business techniques from each company and build his own company based off what he acquired.

After talking about his work experience, Mr. Starke introduced the creation of Think Company and where it all started. He shared pictures of the small brownstone building the company used as headquarters in the beginning stages and compared it to pictures of the large, furnished creative space that the company uses as their 14 | INNOVISION MAGAZINE

headquarters today. While mentioning how people can build their company and clientele, he said, “It won’t be easy unless you just put yourself out there and start.”

To end his speech, Mr. Starke introduced multiple rules for entrepreneurs to consider when owning a company. These rules spanned from employee and clientele relations to creativity pointers to goals and virtues. Mr. Starke believed that following these rules and shifting your mindset will make you a better entrepreneur and create a stronger and more successful company.

WOMEN’S PANEL On March 27, the College of Business hosted the ELC Women’s Panel. Six successful women discussed the road to entrepreneurial excellence, focusing on the strategies and tools that lead to the creation of a thriving and vibrant business. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Lori Donofrio-Galley, the Executive Director of Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce. The panel included Janis Ferry (Licensed Life & Health Insurance Agent at USHEALTH Advisors), Kristi Gage-Linderman (COO of Gage Personnel), Abigail Mirarchi (Owner and President of Accelerated Instructional Media, Inc.), Denice Schaeffer (Multimedia Sales Manager at The Reading Eagle Company), Amy Sheller (Co-Owner of Abominable Productions) and Marcy Tocker (Founder of Grey Muzzle Manor).

After each panelist introduced herself and her business, they shared their approach to goal setting, how they got into their positions and the challenges they faced along the way.

In a separate discussion, the panel members discussed networking and how beneficial it is for their individual businesses and professional careers. All panelists agreed that even though it can be hard coming out of one’s shell, networking is something that needs to be learned and will be useful through the progression of your professional career.

At the end of the discussion, each panelist agreed that anyone can get better at presenting themselves and making connections.

Attendees were welcome to network with the panelists and each other at the luncheon following the event.

THE PANEL

Lori Donoforio-Galley

Executive Director Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce

Janis Ferry

Licenses Life & Health Insurance Agent USHEALTH Advisors

Kristi Gage-Linderman COO Gage Personnel

Abigail Mirarchi

Owner & President Accelerated Instructional Media, Inc.

Denice Schaeffer

Multimedia Sales Manager The Reading Eagle Company

Amy Sheller

Co-Owner Abominable Productions

Marcy Tocker

Founder Grey Muzzle Manor

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ELC WEEK

STUDENT PANEL: FROM PASSION TO PAYCHECK The Student Entrepreneurship Panel, held on March 28, was moderated by Stephen Walker, the Academic Coach for TRIO Student Support Services at Kutztown University and faculty advisor for the Entrepreneurship Club. The panel included Luis Bardales Jr., Anna Blanchette, Cody Cordwell and Gabe Webb. The student entrepreneurs discussed their drive, future goals, challenges they faced in starting their business and how owning a business has affected their lives. Through their struggles and achievements, these business owners learned what it takes to be an entrepreneur in their field.

Senior, Luis Bardales Jr. is the President of the Entrepreneurship Club and owner of LBJ Media, a creative agency that provides media solutions for both citizens and businesses in the Lehigh Valley. Mentorship and hard work helped build his company and helped him realize that his art can positively impact and support the community.

Anna Blanchette is a KU junior majoring in Psychology and she is the Vice President of the Entrepreneurship Club. She owns two businesses, one of which she began at the age of 15. Anna has taught chalkboard painting classes in her hometown and in the Kutztown area. She frequently teaches at Vynecrest Winery.

Cody Cordwell is a KU senior majoring in Finance. Cody established himself as a freelance graphic designer and pursued his passion of photography early on. He aims to develop a nonprofit organization that offers reduced price financial planning services. Today, Cody is the Operations/Lead Project Manager at The Plug, an elite sneaker marketplace in Reading.

Gabe Webb is a KU College of Business freshman and owner of WEBBINATOR Productions: a clothing line that broadcasts his photography. Gabe’s business slogan is “live life to the fullest,” which supports his business goal of helping people see beauty in all things, not just in what is already considered beautiful.

FAMILY BUSINESS WORKSHOP On March 27, the College of Business hosted the 2nd Annual Family Business Workshop. Four successful family business owners offered their advice and expertise on the challenges and triumphs that come with owning a family business. The panel was moderated by Dr. Anne Carroll, Dean of the College of Business. Dean Carroll asked questions about succession and family work dynamics. The panel included Nick Igdalsky, Jim Ludlow, Stephanie Stoudt and Susan Becker. Before the event, students and faculty mingled with the business owners.

NICK IGDALSKY

CEO at Pocono Raceway

JIM LUDLOW

President of Liquid Interactive

STEPHANIE STOUDT

Partner at Albright’s Mill & Wessner Trucking LLC.

SUSAN BECKER

Owner of Jersey Ink Custom Apparel

ALUMNI INTERVIEW in college, but I have learned even more now that I am working at OAA and am representing them when I am out in the community.

It is so important to be courteous, well-prepared, knowledgeable and professional when building relationships with local organizations and community members of the Lehigh Valley.

What led you into your field? What about it motivates and inspires you?

SANDRA GEE ‘18

Sandra Gee graduated from Kutztown University in December of 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management.

She is currently working as a Community Engagement Liaison at OAA Orthopaedic Specialists located in Allentown, PA.

What are some of your daily responsibilities?

I am responsible for coordinating and attending community events in the Lehigh Valley to build new relationships and increase OAA’s presence in the community. I also make one-on-one contact with potential referral sources throughout the Lehigh Valley, such as physician groups and I provide educational information and materials that promote OAA’s orthopaedic services. Another duty of mine is to collaborate with marketing specialists to identify marketing opportunities to encourage referrals and increase brand awareness.

What qualities do you think are most important to succeed at your position?

In order to succeed at this position, I believe it is important to have a positive attitude, stay organized and be a great communicator.

Teamwork is also very important for success.

What have you learned on the job that you necessarily didn’t in the classroom?

I have been learning and practicing public speaking and how to communicate with other professionals and potential clients in the community. We do learn about and work on communication skills 18 | INNOVISION MAGAZINE

I am passionate about sports and helping others. My goal was to work in community relations and/or marketing for a sports organization.

OAA Orthopaedic Specialists has a Sports Medicine Institute, which I was familiar with because I play basketball and have been treated there for various injuries. I am very interested in Sports Medicine and love learning about all of the various specialties that are offered at OAA. It is awesome to be part of the marketing department and to help promote our incredible doctors in the community who are making a difference in the lives of so many people in the Lehigh Valley. What motivates and inspires me is hearing from members of the community about their great experiences with our doctors and knowing that our doctors are working hard to help so many people.

Can you briefly describe your career path from being a student at KU up until now?

I graduated from Kutztown University in December 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management. I started my new job with OAA Orthopaedic Specialists in January 2019. While at Kutztown, I completed a Community Relations Internship with the Philadelphia Freedoms World Tennis Team in summer 2018. My experience at Kutztown and my internship experience helped to prepare me for the job I have now.

What do you look forward to the most when going to work each day?

I look forward to learning something new each day and being able to share this knowledge with other members of the community in order to promote OAA and help people to get the best care that they can.

What advice would you offer an undergraduate getting ready to enter the workforce?

My advice is to be open-minded when job searching and to not be afraid to reach out to an organization that might not necessarily have a job posting up. Showing interest and passion can lead to new opportunities and/or connections. When you do start your first job, don’t expect to be perfect or to know everything right away. I think we can find ourselves feeling overwhelmed when we start a new job because we want to do everything right to make a good impression.

When making a good impression, it is important that you have a positive attitude, ask questions and work hard. It will take time to become familiar with everything and everyone, so just take it one day at a time and do your best.

What have you learned on the job that you necessarily didn’t in the classroom?

I think your education is your foundation. It gives you the baseline to kickstart your career. Outside the classroom, I’ve learned so much about people and decision making. What motivates people differs. I’ve also learned so much about business relationships. I’ve had so many professional friendships develop in my career that have continued from job to job. I consider my network to be one of my most valuable assets.

I’ve also learned that career decision making is incredibly hard.

People are often at a crossroads with determining “what’s next.” I believe you must take the time to evaluate yourself, your strengths and weaknesses and what drives you in order to find your unique path. The job you are currently in may not be it. You have to focus on what brings you energy and fulfillment.

What do you look forward to the most when going to work each day?

LIZ DIULLO BROWN ‘97

Liz Diullo Brown graduated from KU in 1997 with a degree in Business Administration. She is currently the Senor Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Little League International located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

What are some of your daily responsibilities?

In my position at Little League, I am responsible for the management and oversight of the marketing and communication of the world’s largest youth sports organization. In the marketing function, I oversee the organization’s brand identity and the development of marketing campaigns to drive interest in participation among parents. In addition, I work with a team to manage partnerships with corporate sponsors, broadcast partners like ESPN, licensing relationships, strategic and professional agreements and the merchandise/e-commerce sales program, including the Little League gift shops during the Little League World Series. In the communication role, I manage the development of original content, including written articles and video, social and digital media initiatives, newsletters and email marketing campaigns.

What qualities do you think are most important to succeed at your position?

Every day is different. I particularly enjoy the time I spend with my teammates, especially when we have the opportunity to be creative and collaborative. I also enjoy the opportunity to cultivate relationships with businesses, organizations or other partners of Little League.

Many of these relationships have grown and developed over time into great friendships for the organization and for me personally.

Lastly, I enjoy the opportunity to see how the Little League program impacts individuals around the world whether it’s players in local leagues or parents and volunteers.

What advice would you offer an undergraduate getting ready to enter the workforce?

One of my favorite quotes is “work hard, stay humble.” As you develop in your career, it’s important to work hard, learn from others and be a team player. When you are just starting out, you don’t have to know all the answers. Listen to others, learn from others. Gather your thoughts and ask questions. People around you will help you and want to learn from you. Be open minded to new experiences and learn something from the “hard” work as much as the “easy” work.

“As you develop in your career, it’s important to work hard, learn from others and be a team player.”

Generally, I am a people person, so business relationship building is important to me. Moving beyond the business transaction, learning about people and finding what drives decision making is important in my current position. I also strive to be genuine in everything I do and care about the “work product.”

SPRING 2019 | 19

SBDC During the transition of being the new lead office, Kutztown’s SBDC has gained more responsibilities, but they haven’t lost sight of what’s most important: helping small business owners elevate their businesses.

In today’s society, digital and social media has made a big impact on the success of businesses.

For the past couple of years, the SBDC has given a survey to their clients to see what areas the business owners felt they needed the most assistance with. This year, most clients chose market research and how to obtain customers through digital and social media. KUSBDC has made it one of their goals to help businesses understand the functions and value of social media platforms when it comes to branding, networking and relevancy.

KUSBDC’s Digital and Social Media team help business owners learn about internet etiquette, how to market on social media and how to make posts engaging for audiences.

For more information visit their website: www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrativeoffices/wwww

Connect with KUSBDC on social media

Dr. Ernie Post discussed the first steps in starting a business during ELC Week.

HOW SBDC TAKES ON SOCIAL MEDIA During ELC week, the SBDC’s digital and social media team presented an audience with a project they titled, “Discovering What Works in Social Media.” The team included Autumn Crouse, Destiny Fisher, Carly Simon and Andrew Moyer. They wanted to help their audience determine if their small business was relevant in our social media driven world. They emphasized how social media gives small businesses the social outreach, networking and brand awareness opportunities that enable businesses to thrive.

To begin the presentation, they provided statistics for six different social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat and LinkedIn.) This helped the small business owners understand what channels their consumers were most likely using and how each platform worked.

The next section of the presentation was built around the SBDC’s 5-D Digital Marketing Media Model: Discovery, Develop, Design, Deploy and Data. During this time, the team walked the audience through the process of building a presence on social media. They gave advice to owners about staying relevant such as, when, where and how frequent to post.

Representative Destiny Fisher said, “Never focus on what they don’t like. Take what they do like and make it better.”

Following the event, team members touched upon resources and tools that small business owners could use and answered questions. They collected market research reports from owners to stay connected.

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SBDC Sonya Smith is now the Associate Director of Programs and Policy for the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center. She works closely with Kutztown’s branch, but this isn’t her first go around with KU. Sonya’s Kutztown chronicles began while she was an undergraduate attending Albright College and she was an intern for Kutztown’s Small Business Development Center (KUSBDC.) During her time as an intern, Sonya worked with entrepreneurs and financial projects.

Her experience with the SBDC went well. She accepted a graduate assistantship with KUSBDC during her time in grad school.

In May 2012, Sonya graduated from KU with her Master of Business Administration. That same month, she found herself once again with the KUSBDC as she filled the budget analysis position they needed.

Sonya began doing more: assessing the mission and goals of the SBDC and creating process strategies that met them. Now, as the Assistant Director, Sonya can effectively carry out the practices she helped develop.

SONYA SMITH ’12

Associate Director of Programs & Policy

Sonya said, “Overall, the main goal of the center is to continue to effectively serve our community of entrepreneurs.” That goal is something that Sonya wants to be a part of as she says her personal mission is, “Helping people achieve their dreams and connecting them to opportunities and resources.”

SBDC DAY

Small businesses from around the area gathered at the McFarland Student Union building to celebrate the third annual SBDC day: a nationally collective proclamation of the impact of America’s small businesses. Businesses had the opportunity to share success stories and how the SBDC makes an impact on small business communities around the country.

Nationally, this day is celebrated with social media campaigns, public relations initiatives and both online and in-person events.

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STUDENT INTERN good and bad, in warehousing. I observe and support other jobs like inbound, outbound, sequencing, goods receiving, planning and supervising.

What did you learn at KU that made you feel the most prepared for your internship?

Management courses like Principles of Logistics and Supply Chain Management made me feel prepared for my internship / Co-Op. I think these two courses helped me feel prepared because I was able to relate topics from the course back to what I was actually doing.

If I didn’t have those courses, it would have taken me longer to understand the concepts that are used weekly at Mack.

What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel in this role?

LAUREN GILLELAND ‘19

Lauren Gilleland is a senior Business Management major with a minor in Logistics.

She is currently interning at the Lehigh Valley Logistics Center for Mack Trucks.

How did you get your internship? Was it difficult?

I applied to Mack Trucks because I had a friend from KU that was already working there who was very passionate about the topic. I looked into his job title, and decided to apply myself. The application was not difficult. The process took ten minutes. My phone interview was about 15 minutes long with management and human resources and they took turns asking me questions about my education, previous experience in warehousing, hardships and successes I have experienced.

What were some challenges you faced when starting your internship?

In the beginning of my internship, being in such a different environment was intimidating. Mack Trucks has well over a thousand people working every day in one building. I have not experienced an internship that was with such a large company. With time, I became comfortable with the environment.

What do you do on a day-to-day basis interning at Mack Trucks?

I work at the Lehigh Valley Logistics Center for Mack Trucks. The logistics center receives materials that support the plant in creating trucks. Every day, the group I work with receives materials and places them in storage while other materials are sent to the plant to keep the production line working. I experience day-to-day situations, 22 | INNOVISION MAGAZINE

The most important qualities for someone to excel in this role would be confidence in your actions, understanding of basic logistics, willingness to learn and challenge yourself and be prepared to fail and learn from failure.

What is one thing you didn’t expect?

I did not expect to see so many other interns during orientation.

Orientation was three days of learning basic information about the company. I was with 18 other students from around the country.

I was with only three other people from PA. There were also interns that started a week before I did. In total, Mack Trucks was supporting over 20 interns during my time. I also did not expect all of the students to be in different stages of their educational careers.

What is something you learned on the job that you wouldn’t in the classroom?

At Kutztown, as a business major, classes on human resources and organizational behavior are mandatory for graduation. With such exposure, a student can feel very confident in the workplace. I felt confident going into meetings and understanding basic rules and definitions; however, reading and studying is very different than actually experiencing situations. Exposure to conflict is something that I would not have learned in a classroom. With this exposure, I think I am a little closer to building my career.

Who would you say this position is for?

This position is definitely for someone interested in logistics, project management, and monitoring people on the warehouse floor.

What are your future plans with Mack?

As of today, I was offered a permanent position as Mack Trucks and I took it with open arms. I’m excited to see where this opportunity will take me!

What did you learn at KU that made you feel the most prepared for your internship?

In the Sport Management Department, our classes consist of project after project. I learned a lot about teamwork and communication.

I think that is what prepared me most for my internship. It helped me strengthen my communication skills and my ability to speak in public.

What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel in this role?

Should they prepare to be open minded, self-motivated, or creative?

CASSANDRA FERREE ‘19

Cassandra Ferree is a senior Sport Management Major with a minor in Psychology. She is a Group Sales intern for the Reading Fightin’ Phils.

How did you find yourself at this position for your internship?

In my Intro to Sport Management class, I interviewed Mike Robinson, the Executive Director of Community Relations. He offered me an internship during Christmas at the Stadium from November to December 2017. This led to a game-day internship with the Fightin’ Phils in the summer. I learned how to do their 50/50 raffle, Toss-a-Ball and Kid’s Club booth. The required office hours taught me how to sell tickets, make cold calls and send out mass emails for Kid’s Club. I then had the opportunity to become a full-time group sales intern.

What are some of your duties as an intern?

Some of my duties are to cold call businesses for group outings or sponsor a town night. I follow up with group leaders from previous years to see their interest in doing similar events. I have to be able to understand and use Ticket Return/SCORE CRM. I also assist in the in-game script activities.

What were some of the challenges you faced when starting your internship?

A challenge that I faced was knowing who to call and what to say to them. Initially, I would write a script for what to say to businesses when I would call them. Now that I have been doing this for two months, I have gotten better. My internship site paid for us to do a group sales training, which helped me get more comfortable on the phone as well. Other challenges were remembering the different price points for groups and handling rejection.

You have to be self-motivated. Sometimes you’re required to make more than 50 calls a day and it is your responsibility to make the calls and to make the sales. You must ask questions. It is better to put someone on hold and ask a full-timer than to tell someone the wrong information, which could cost the company money or potentially deter a group from coming out.

Name a memorable moment that happened during your experience?

The most memorable moment of this internship so far was walking in the 4th of July parade last summer as a game-day intern wearing a German/Dutch inflatable suit that was not inflated. We forgot to bring the battery pack, so I marched in a 40-minute long parade wearing an un-inflated suit. I was sweating a ridiculous amount, but I embraced it.

What is something you didn’t expect from your experience at your internship?

When I initially started as a game-day intern, I would have never guessed that I would be the one volunteering to hop on top of the dugout to do the YMCA dance or offering to be in charge of the “Chuckle Challenge.”

I have never been an extrovert, but this internship has helped me break out of my shell and try new things.

Is this where you saw yourself as a freshman?

No. I enrolled as a Psychology major my freshman year. My goal was to graduate and get my Master’s and Doctorate in Counseling. I wanted to be a special victims counselor. It all changed my sophomore year when I realized I wasn’t enjoying what I was learning. I chose to switch my major that spring to Sport Management because I have always loved sports. Two and a half years later, I can say that I am so happy I switched.

“I marched in a 40-minute long parade wearing an un-inflated suit. I was sweating a ridiculous amount, but I embraced it.”

SPRING 2019 | 23

STUDENT FEATURE At KU, Kristopher is the Vice President of his fraternity Phi Sigma Pi in addition to being the Alumni Chair. Kristopher’s association with Phi Sigma Pi has been a great experience. “We teach other members of the fraternity how to do things that we’re good at,” he said. He has learned how to play tennis, crochet, sew letters onto a shirt and rock climb.

A fraternity wasn’t the only thing Kristopher joined. He is also the treasurer of the KU Health Ambassadors club. He is a member of SASPA (Student Alliance for Suicide Prevention Awareness) and was involved with the “Big Brothers Big Sisters” program. Kristopher did as much as he could to get involved on campus and help support others.

Today, Kristopher is the head coach of the Reading Youth Organization and runs his own wrestling club and weightlifting facility located in the garage behind his house. People drive more than three hours to receive training from Kristopher. Most of them are there to learn Kristopher’s forte, grecko (throwing people.)

KRISTOPHER GELSINGER ‘19 Kristopher Gelsinger is a senior Sport Management major with a minor in Fitness Administration. During his time at KU, he has been a part of many organizations while finding the time to develop his own.

People who know Sport Management senior, Kristopher Gelsinger wonder how many hours of sleep he gets, if any at all. Kristopher says, “I get eight or nine hours a night. I’m usually in my bed or in my chair falling asleep by nine o’clock. I wake up at 4 in the morning, do homework for an hour and a half. Sometimes, I have someone come over at six o’clock that I train. If not, I work out. I go to class, come home and do homework for a couple hours. After that, I either go to practice or my internship.” In a way, Kristopher seems to always be moving, involved and grappling to the next level of life, but his motor didn’t always run that way.

Kristopher graduated from Schuylkill Valley high school in 2000.

“I was an elite wrestler at that school. At that time, I had no care in academics. I was really smart, I just didn’t care,” he said. But he came to the conclusion that he wasn’t living up to his potential.

Choosing Kutztown is something that Kristopher will never regret.

Kristopher learned that KU was one in only 13 COSMA (Commission on Sport Management Accreditation) schools in the entire country. KU was only 15 minutes away from his father’s home which solidified Kristopher’s choice, and after he got more involved, the better Kutztown got.

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For 15 years, people would ask Kristopher why he wasn’t a personal trainer. His answer was simply, “I’m not certified to do it.” Kristopher finally became Personal Training certified and Group fitness instructor certified. He obtained his personal training certification through a class at KU. “It’s great that my major is Sport Management and getting that head official position assignment is basically connecting my hobby with my career at the same time. It’s going to be an experience where I can put my knowledge of the usage of facilities and planning to something that I love to do.”

Another hobby of Kristopher’s is to hunt and fish and tend to his massive garden for most of his food. Kristopher does all of his own butchering and processing as well. “It always tastes better when you make it yourself,” he said. He finds it to be healthier as well, enabling him to keep up with the young athletes while officiating matches.

“Strength and conditioning and wrestling is pretty much my life. I love being on the mat.” He wants to share that love with others by opening his own “Beat the Streets” program in Reading. He wants to help get youth off the streets and give them an opportunity to use their time constructively on the wrestling mat. He also has his heart set on opening an Olympic training facility. That’s when he isn’t officiating the Northeast Regional Tournament, Pan Am trials, or the U.S Open. But that’s Kristopher. Always moving. Always involved. Always grappling to get to a better place.

Here at KU, Zackery works as a social media/digital marketing intern for the Small business Development Center (SBDC.) Through the SBDC, Zackery has been able to work with clients and gain experience in the field of marketing. He really enjoys how the SBDC is able to mix the concept of branding with podcasts.

In his small business management class, Zackery and his classmates were tasked with creating a business idea and progressing that idea into a business plan. The idea that he submitted was called “Right Now,” an app designed for big college markets for people to see wait times and capacities for different eateries and bars around campus.

He didn’t stop there. His idea for an app would also include menus and drink lists for management to use to their advantage.

ZACKERY TIDMORE ‘19

Zackery Tidmore is a senior at Kutztown University majoring in Marketing.

Zackery Tidmore attended Lebanon Valley College (LVC) where he studied physical therapy. After two years, he realized that the program wasn’t the right fit for him. “It got to the point where I knew I had to make a move,” Zackery said. He wasn’t sure where he wanted to continue his education, but he would soon find out in an unusual manner.

After he left LVC, Zackery accompanied his sister to her acting program in New York. It was on that bus when Zackery first saw Kutztown. “I was taking a Bieber bus and it was funny because I drove through here and I thought it was a nice campus and said to myself, ‘Maybe I should transfer here,’” he said. After officially transferring, Zackery would find out that Kutztown had more to offer than just a beautiful campus.

Zackery and his team entered his idea into Kutztown’s Business Idea Competition where they placed second overall. After encouragement from Dr. Shawn Riley, Zackery and his team entered their plan into the PASSHE Business Plan competition. Their idea underwent a series of judging and made it all the way to the semifinals. Looking back on it all, Zackery said, “It was great to represent Kutztown and the whole competition. It was a pretty good experience taking something that we did in the classroom and then applying it to a bigger platform.”

Today, Zackery finds himself in a place where he can take different routes. After graduation, he plans to go out and test the job market.

He has been searching for marketing and sales positions that are being offered, but he recognizes how competitive the job market can be. Zackery has put thought into returning to KU’s MBA program and possibly applying to the graduate assistantship program. But with all of the options, Zackery knows one thing for certain, “I definitely want to get my Master’s in business,” he said.

When asked what he liked about KU, Zackery praised the size of the school, describing it as a “happy medium,” not too big and not too small. He went on to say, “I think the education here is great. There is a really good curriculum. The faculty overall are good. They are great people who are very knowledgeable.”

Zackery described all that the college of business had to offer as “gold.” He said, “It’s gold. And Kutztown’s gold.”

When deciding on what major to pursue, Zachery felt the need to choose something that he wouldn’t feel trapped in. He wanted a major that would help prepare him for more than one specific career. “I realized that at the end of the day, everything is business. Business is everywhere,” he said.

Zackery was thrilled to learn that Kutztown’s College of Business was accredited by AACSB. He also noticed the way Kutztown alumni thrive in the business world and how it created the opportunity for connections. Searching through LinkedIn, he noticed that there were many companies staffed by alumni from KU.

SPRING 2019 | 25

ABROAD Williams loves how informed the College of Business keeps their students. “They are always emailing and updating students about internship and job opportunities. That’s really cool,” he said.

He also tries to attend as many events like guest speakers and seminars to get more involved. Williams learns and is inspired by the stories of others at these events.

Williams is intrigued by how much of an impact a single person can have. He says, “It’s crazy how one person can control millions and millions of things.” In his Principles of Microeconomics class, Williams learned about how people in the United States invest in a lot of publicity. A spark of interest lit inside of him. In that moment, Williams became fascinated in learning how to control the market and in earning a big profit. Williams could see himself working to help promote organizations while he helps them with their financing and investments.

WILLIAMS BANGRE ‘22

Williams Bangre is a freshman Finance major from West Africa. He is learning to adapt to life not only at KU, but America as well.

Williams Bangre, a KU freshman, is learning how to transition to life as a college student while adapting to life in the United States.

Williams is originally from West Africa and coming to Kutztown was his first experience away from home.

Williams decided to search for schools around Pennsylvania because of its close proximity to New York, which his dad was familiar with.

This gave his father the opportunity to drive and visit. Together, they googled, “What are the best schools in Pennsylvania?” Williams learned that Kutztown was a good school for people interested in the field of business. After the two researched about life in PA and Kutztown, they decided that Kutztown would be a great fit. But Williams’ Kutztown experience wouldn’t start right after that.

In West Africa, Williams’ native language is French. Before attending KU, Williams was encouraged to take classes at Northampton Community College that would help him get used to learning in an English-speaking classroom. After the spring and summer semesters, Williams was ready to take on KU. At Kutztown, Williams found himself focusing on Finance from the encouragement of his father. Williams isn’t one hundred percent sure where he wants finance to take him, but with three years ahead of him, he believes that he will be able to figure out a specific area that he wants to pursue because of how informative Kutztown’s College of Business is.

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Williams expects to graduate from KU in four years by taking four classes per semester and summer classes as well. Like many students, he makes sure to give himself the opportunity to get away from the stress of school. “I like to have time to play basketball and other stuff. I’m a big fan of basketball,” said Williams. He is interested in joining Kutztown’s intramural basketball league next semester.

At first Williams experienced difficulty getting use to his new surroundings. But after a few months, he has made some key connections with different people; some being from Northampton and Africa, just like himself. The more people he meets and the more he gets involved the greater his Kutztown experience gets.

When asked how he’s feeling after his first semester, Williams said with a grin on his face, “It’s getting a lot better. A whole lot better.”

“It’s crazy how one person can control millions and millions of things.”

Keshia noticed things that happen in Greece that don’t occur in the U.S. There were times when Keshia would see people in the marketplace who didn’t have enough money, but still be able to shop because the owner would trust them to come back and pay at a later date. She noticed that cats would roam all areas of Greece. Even marketplaces.

Keshia attended the American College of Greece. She studied the history of Psychology, Psychology of Addiction, Philosophy, Coaching in Sports and even took a power Pilates course.

There was no language barrier for Keisha in the classroom as all of Keshia’s professors spoke very good English. But her Philosophy professor would always make sure to point out the Greek meaning of a few English words.

The program gave Keshia much more than an education.

Most weekends, Keshia would take trips with the University to the smaller Greek islands to be more involved in Greek culture. She also had the opportunity to participate in some meditation club activities such as dog walking.

KESHIA HAVELOW ‘20 Keshia Havelow is a junior Sport Management major with a minor in Psychology.

Junior Sport Management major, Keshia Havelow, spent her fall 2018 semester studying abroad in Greece. She was always interested in traveling and decided on Greece because of its peaceful appeal and her fascination with philosophy. This wasn’t her first time traveling outside of the U.S, as she has visited Canada. But it was her first time getting on a plane to fly across the ocean. This was a new experience for her and she was ready to take it.

When Keshia got off of the plane, she was really excited. “I just wanted to explore. I wanted to get out of the airport and go,” she said. That first night, Keshia enjoyed meeting all of the new people that she would be spending the entire semester with. “I met people from all over the country. My roommate was from New York. So many people were from California. There was a girl who went to school in Hawaii. I met my boyfriend, he’s from the Netherlands,” she said. To Keshia, connecting with different people from around the world was an exciting experience.

Keshia appreciated how easy Kutztown helped her take advantage of the opportunity. From the help of Financial Aid services and the resources from the study abroad office to the department of Sport Management, Keshia was able to make sure that her finances and paperwork were taken care of. And with the help of the department of Sport Management, Keshia had the feeling of security knowing that all of her classes in Greece would complement with what she was studying here at Kutztown.

On the plane ride home, Keshia brought back a new level of sensibility. When asked what she took away from her time in Greece, Keshia said, “I think the most that I’ve gained was a humbled world view about things in a cultural perspective. I think, if more people traveled, less problems would pop up.”

Keshia looks forward to getting more involved in yoga, meditation and wellness to learn how mind, body and sport interact with each other.

She would love an opportunity to coach others through their problems with sport and other physical activities.

While out traveling, Keshia picked up words such as, “please” and “thank-you.” Keshia noticed that the people of Greece were very friendly and cordial. Within a week, Keshia was already accustomed to the Greek-lifestyle. “Greek lifestyle is so laid-back. Going out to eat, it may take you two hours, but you might sit there for four.

Time is never pressured,” she said. The vibe of the Greek culture was to relax and take everything in around you as well as to focus on things that are really important.

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SABBATICAL

DR. MOSTAFA MAKSY DR. YONGJAE KIM What did you study/research while on sabbatical?

What did you study/research on sabbatical?

I wrote a book titled “Intermediate Accounting I: Outlines, Summaries and Illustrations,” which I am using now to teach ACC 321 (Intermediate Accounting I). The book is published by Wiley. It’s actually my 11th book. Most of them are small books that I use to teach my classes. I also performed research and published two articles with colleagues at other universities. I worked with Carlos Rodriguez of Central Connecticut State University for the Journal of Applied Business and Economics and with Sean Reid and Rasoul Rezvanian, both of Ithaca College for the Journal of Accounting and Finance. I enjoy working with other professors because they are all professional people and they take their parts of the project seriously and complete them on time. Both writing processes are elaborate and have a lot of phases, but I prefer research papers.

I did research on the role of virtual sport experiences in consumer learning. As a visiting scholar at German Sport University Cologne, I conducted research projects including eye tracking and facial expression analysis to examine sponsorship effectiveness during the 2018 World Cup. At the University of Akron in Ohio, I finished a project titled, “An Eye Movement Analysis of Sport Team Facebook Usability: A Comparison of Computer, Smartphone and Tablet as Presentation Modes.” The purpose was to analyze patterns of visual attention on a sports team’s social media and to see if these patterns were different across platforms.

Did you travel during this time?

I traveled to Chicago and worked on another research project titled, “Factors Associated with Student Performance in Cost Accounting II: An Empirical Study at a US Public University,” with Professor Muyng-Ho Yoon of Northeastern Illinois University. The paper has already been submitted for publication and we are waiting for feedback.

What was your favorite thing about your sabbatical? Least favorite part?

My favorite thing about my sabbatical is that it afforded me the time and opportunity to write one book and complete three research papers. My least favorite part is that I missed teaching because I really love teaching and helping my students.

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Did you travel during this time?

For two weeks, my sons and I had a chance to travel to several European countries including Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic and Austria. In a short time, we visited too many places to remember.

What do you plan to do with this new information?

As a scholar, a semester sabbatical leave provided time to further my study and mastery of new media effectiveness. The research projects only enhanced my theoretical and empirical expertise in the fields of new media communication, but also helped develop my reputation in national and international scholarship. In addition, the research projects provided the opportunity to augment my knowledge and credibility as an educator of sports management. My research experiences will also enable me to advise students more effectively.

RETIRING FACULTY DR. LORRI ENGSTROM

Spring 2019 will mark the last semester of Dr. Lorri Engstrom’s 24-year career at Kutztown University; she began working at KU in 1995. She has been with the department since it was a serviceoriented department in physical education and she has seen it grow into the major that it is today.

Dr. Engstrom’s legacy will live on through a number of things. One being the Leadership and Teambuilding course that she created to help students develop high performing teams and to be a team player in their careers. After creating the course, she decided to, “practice” what she preached and became the head of the department for six years. She says, “It was wonderful and I got to use a lot of what I taught to create a real team in the department.”

When reflecting on her time at KU, Dr. Engstrom says, “It has been the biggest blessing in my life to work here. I love my colleagues.

I have loved serving my students and influencing them. It’s very life giving for me to teach. That’s my passion and I will miss that.”

She plans to spend time with her grandchildren and travel with her husband. She also hopes her love for tennis will one day lead her to a match at the Australian Open.

Dr. Frederick Garman got his start at Kutztown University by responding to an ad for a one-semester, temporary hire in the Health and Physical Education department. This opportunity ended up stretching over the next 27 years. After all this time, Dr. Garman is ready to retire and move onto the next chapter of his life.

DR. FRED GARMAN

Dr. Garman’s interest in business and academic preparation roots from his love of exercise physiology. After his responsibilities as a clinician and administrator grew within various programs, he found himself applying to Kutztown University. Over the years, Dr. Garman has collected multiple memories and has been present at several of the department of Sport Management milestones. He says, “My most memorable experience has been working to get approval for a major in Sport Management and seeing it nationally accredited.”

Dr. Garman says the process took about four years and those four years will stay with him forever.

Dr. Garman said, “I will miss interacting with students and seeing their growth.” And as he moves on, he wants to leave the young faculty with the advice of, “Never stop learning and seeking opportunities to polish their craft.” Dr. Garman plans to travel the Western States of the U.S and Europe, specifically the Rhine River Valley in Germany, with his wife. Dr. Garman also looks forward to spending time with his five grandchildren.

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NEW STAFF

ARIAN HUNGASKI

GABRIELLA WILSON

CLERK TYPIST II

GRADUATE ASSISTANT

Where were you before accepting your position here at KU? And what were you doing?

What are some of your daily responsibilities for this position?

I started my own small business, Wanamakers General Store LLC, in 2008. Ten successful years later, I was ready to move on and sold it to my business partner in 2018. After spending a few months traveling and hanging out with my kids, I began to look for my next career move. I applied to KU and was hired to start on January 7th, 2019.

Why did you say yes to KU? I really believe in state institutions as an effective and vital part of educating our kids. I love the town of Kutztown and was ready for the regular hours and steady paycheck the university provides.

Additionally, the benefits cannot be beat!

What are some of your responsibilities?

I am responsible for directing the flow of visitors and requests that come into the Dean’s office. I also help organize and plan many of the events the College of Business and the Dean’s office host. I order office supplies and arrange travel plans. I’m also actively engaged in updating the content on the College of Business web pages, Mediazone and College of Business’ social media accounts. I manage the Assistant Dean’s calendar and help ensure that she is available to help students through the College of Business Student Success Program.

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I am a support to professors who have recently done research. I read and edit their papers. Some professors have me look up sources to help them. It really depends on the projects they are working on. I assist the Dean’s Office with the student success program and help facilitate follow-up meetings. I also help guide students to campus resources.

What qualities do you think are the most important to succeed at this position?

Obviously, time management is always important in any job. But I think it’s mostly about just learning as you go. I think it’s important to learn from every experience because you’re going to come across various topics when working that could be beneficial. When you are looking at different sources, you’re going to want to be able to pick apart which ones are important to send.

What have you learned on the job that you didn’t necessarily learn in the classroom?

Definitely the research. There were a lot things that I didn’t know that could help me get better sources. I had a couple of classes in my undergrad that focused very heavily on research; however, I didn’t learn some things until a couple of weeks ago, such as, the proper sites to go to when researching. You don’t have to use the sites to get the sources, but they can give you an idea on what to look for like certain keywords to use.

NEW FACULTY What is different about KU from where you were before?

The biggest difference is the size. The total on-campus student population at Keystone was just about 1,000 students. When you divide that among all the potential majors, the sport management program at Keystone was a small fraction of the size of the program here at Kutztown.

What are some words you would use to describe the students at KU? I would describe the students as engaged and lively. They are also not afraid to debate and defend their opinions.

How did your first day go?

BRAD CONGELIO

PROFESSOR OF SPORT MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP STUDIES

Where were you before accepting your position here at KU? What was your role there?

Prior to coming to Kutztown, I was an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Keystone College where I also served as the chair of both the undergraduate and graduate programs.

Why did you say yes to KU? There are multiple reasons why I said yes to Kutztown. First and foremost, coming to Kutztown was a “step up” for me in terms of academic setting and rigor. Knowing that the College of Business maintained AACSB accreditation and that the Sport Management department maintained COSMA accreditation was verification of that.

As well, the members of my search committee made it very difficult to say anything but yes. It was an incredibly welcoming department that acts as a whole to serve the students.

And for a more personal reason, my wife and I lived in Canada for four years while I earned my Ph.D., then in Scranton while I worked at Keystone. Accepting the job at Kutztown finally puts us right down the road from family which was important to both of us.

It consisted of a mix of excitement and nervousness – though, I’ve heard senior scholars with decades of experience say that feeling never really goes away. It helped me to consider that, perhaps, the students were just as curious about me as I was them. Approaching the first day with that mentality helped create some dialogue about my background and experiences which helped the students get to know me as somebody other than the “new faculty member.”

Tell me the story of how you got here.

After I graduated with my M.Ed. in Sport Management from Millersville University, I accepted a job as a Director of Athletic Communications for a NCAA DII school. I was not there long before deciding to pursue my Ph.D. I ended up moving to London, Ontario for four years after deciding I wanted to study under the tutelage of a specific faculty member at the University of Western Ontario. After that, I spent four years on the tenure track at Keystone College. Before I received my tenure and promotion decision from Keystone, I accepted the offer from Kutztown.

Could you summarize your first semester here at KU? Tell me about any significant events you participated in or attended.

I’ve been through the “first semester” twice – when I hired at both Keystone and Kutztown. They’re always the same: frantic and tiring.

My first semester at Kutztown was filled with what seemed like never-ending class prep and lecture writing. It was nice to culminate that crazy first semester by attending the December commencement ceremony. I have always found those invigorating – the pomp and circumstance and student pride always reminds me of the reasons why I decided to become a faculty member.

What do you like the most about KU? Is it cliché if I say the students? Regardless, that is the truth. Faculty members are expected to teach, serve, research and publish. I enjoy doing all of those. Students are the driving force behind what I do.

I enjoy walking into the classroom every day and interacting with my students. There are outstanding students here at Kutztown.

SPRING 2019 | 31

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