Letter from the Dean
I am very excited to share with you our latest edition of the Business Bulletin, where we highlight another incredible and recordbreaking semester in the ISU College of Business. From unprecedented student opportunities and success, to outstanding faculty and staff achievements, to new endowments and program growth that will forever positively impact the College of Business, I am so proud to be part of one the best Business schools in the world. I’m so excited for the extraordinarily bright future our College has ahead.
This welcome is a little different, as it will be my final one at Idaho State University. I am honored to be selected to serve as the next
President of Cameron University in Lawton, OK. As a first generation college graduate who grew up in that state, I can speak first hand about the transformative power of public higher education in Oklahoma. Cameron University is filled with incredible faculty and staff, and I am so excited for the positive impact we are going to make together on the future of our students and community.
I am thrilled to share that my friend, colleague and ICCU Endowed Professor of Management Dr. Alex Bolinger will be serving as the Interim Dean of the College of Business. Alex represents the very best of what it means to be a professor and leader. ISU and our community are incredibly fortunate to have him serve in this role.
While we will be leaving Idaho, I am forever thankful for the privilege to serve as Dean of the College of Business and Michael C. Ruettgers Professor of Marketing at Idaho State University. I have never worked with a more caring, genuine and student-focused group of colleagues, or a more inspiring group of students, than what I have been blessed with in the College of Business. Idaho State University and the Pocatello community will always have a special place in my heart, and I will be forever proud that our son is an ISU graduate. Thank you to everyone who has made our five years here so special. Go Bengals!
SHANE HUNT, PH.D. Dean, College of Business
Michael
C. Ruettgers Professor of Marketing
Shane’s Send-off: a farewell party
In April, community members from across Pocatello and ISU gathered at the Stephens Performing Arts Center for College of Business Dean and Michael C. Ruettgers Professor of Marketing Dr. Shane Hunt’s going away party. Invited to send “vest wishes” to Shane and his family, attendees were encouraged to wear sweater vests as a nod to Hunt’s iconic outfit of choice - a sweater vest and khakis. A video
played interviews with community members and College of Business students, donors and alumni highlighting cherished memories with Hunt and their words of thanks. The video ended with the announcement a surprise scholarship in Hunt and his wife Jenifer’s name. The scholarship will be awarded to a first generation college student beginning in Fall 2026.
Introducing
The College would like to thank the following contributors who made this scholarship possible: Don and Wendy Burdick, Michael and Maureen Ruettgers, Kelly and Kimberly Hirning, and many other alumni and College of Business Leadership Board members. Those interested in contributing to the scholarship may contact Kristine McCarty at 208-2824608 or kristinemccarty@isu.edu.
interim dean dr. Alex Bolinger
Dr. Bolinger earned his PhD in Management at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. His research and teaching interests focus on group dynamics and decision-making, leadership, entrepreneurship, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Students in his classes have learned about teamwork and business strategy through collaboratively writing seven books, devising student-led fundraisers, and bringing over 20 trophies to ISU in a decade of appearances at the International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition.
“I am very grateful to be appointed to this role,” said Dr. Bolinger. “ISU’s College of Business has an extraordinary culture that has been cultivated and sustained over six decades to serve the educational needs of our region. In fact, I have experienced this culture first-hand for parts of three decades, dating back to my days as an undergraduate Management major in the late 1990s. I am looking forward to learning much and doing everything that I can to continue to support the great work that is accomplished every day by our College of Business community.”
Every semester, Idaho State University College of Business faculty and students alike participate in and put on a variety of events for those both inside and outside of the College. Not only does this allow them to share their knowledge and Bengal pride with the community and across the state, it also offers many opportunities for learning outside of the classroom.
“The positive impact of the ISU College of Business extends far beyond our building,” said College of Business Dean and Michael C. Ruettgers Professor of Marketing, Dr. Shane Hunt. “I am so proud of the countless ways our students, faculty and staff are making our community and the state of Idaho better each day.”
Mindy Benedetti, CEO of Health West, has been recognized as the 65th Idaho Business Leader of the Year (IBLOY). The award annually recognizes an Idaho business leader who has demonstrated outstanding business and professional ethics while contributing significant support to community, civic, and educational activities.
Awarded by Idaho State University Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Development Fraternity since 1959, previous honorees have included a congressman, former governors, entrepreneurs, and leaders of some of Idaho’s largest companies. The recognition program is the longest-standing one of its kind in Idaho.
In her role, Benedetti oversees a team of dedicated professionals, including medical providers, behavioral health experts, and administrative staff, all working together to provide essential care to under-served communities. Through collaborations forged by Benedetti with institutions like Idaho State University and the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, Health West hosts a variety of different students including those from medical, nursing, and healthcare management programs.
Benedetti has also been instrumental in expanding Health West’s behavioral health services, particularly through a growing partnership with School District 25. Health West now provides inschool behavioral health services to students across Pocatello and Chubbuck, offering critical support to students dealing with challenges such as bullying, depression, and family trauma.
Under Benedetti’s leadership, Health West continues to operate with a commitment to providing accessible, affordable healthcare to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay. Health West’s growth, combined with Benedetti’s unwavering focus on improving patient care and expanding services, has solidified the organization as a leader in the healthcare sector.
January brought industry leaders, business owners, students and community members to campus for the second annual Idaho Economic Outlook Symposium. The event covered the economic outlook of the state’s key industries, including topics like housing, labor and growth opportunities. Keynote speaker Robert Spendlove, Senior Economist from Zions Bank, presented “Idaho’s Economic Frontier: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead”. New this year was an economic student scholarship, made possible by event sponsors The Mai Team of RE/MAX Country Real Estate and Bannock Development Corporation, as well as event attendees.
students across campus about finances in everyday life. Events included a panel discussion with local finance experts, trivia night, movie night and a variety of speakers. This year’s keynote speaker was Todd Howe, Chief Credit Officer at Citizens Community Bank, who presented “Your Credit Score: Why it Matters”. Over $3,500 was given away to attendees throughout the week, made possible by Financial Literacy Week sponsors ICCU and State Farm Agent Aaron Moore.
The College of Business Executive in Residence program invites successful alumni to visit campus and present to a variety of classes and groups, meet one-on-one with students and network with students and faculty. The events are opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students to gain valuable connections with high-level leaders in a variety of business fields and learn about their rise to success. This semester’s Executive in Residence was Todd Cooper, President and Head of Community Banking at Idaho First Bank and graduate of both the finance and Master of Business Administration programs at the College.
Continuing their longstanding tradition, College of Business students and faculty offered students and community members in need the opportunity to get their taxes filed for free through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). From late January to mid-March, the team filed over 400 returns.
Each spring semester, College of Business undergraduate and graduate students in club leadership roles head to the Idaho location of their choice for opportunities to expand their networks and professional skills. This year’s retreat, which included a service project and visiting a variety of industry professionals, took place in Idaho Falls.
Idaho economic outlook symposium
Financial Literacy Week
Executive in Residence
Volunteer income tax assistance
Leadership retreat
Is there a limit to what a Bengal can do? Be? Achieve?
Somewhere along their journey, students may be tempted to believe they’re only capable of so much. That their limits have been reached.
The Idaho State University College of Business is here to help students realize something amazing: they can achieve anything. The College of Business is full of students, professors and alumni going beyond the limits of what they thought their college experience, career or life would be. These limits weren’t broken by chance, though. These Bengals took opportunities given to them, always tried their hardest, and strove to create brighter futures not only for themselves, but for others.
Through scholarships, travel opportunities, competitions and real-world learning, the College of Business strives to set students up to become limitless. Made possible by donors, opportunities like these are truly where growth comes from. They allow students to redraw and push beyond the line of “I can’t” every time.
So, what’s the limit? Well, if you ask us...
Aim higher, roar louder, and you’ll never find out.
Largest Program Support Endowment in College History
A planned gift of $3,000,000 from an anonymous donor will support the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program in the College of Business and is the largest program support endowment in the history of the College. Program support endowments offer funding that can be used for scholarship support, student research, faculty research, program development, events, and more.
“With program support endowments, we can support student professional development events, celebrate our graduates, offer emergency scholarships to students as they navigate life challenges, and develop additional program opportunities to support student growth,” said Tara Smith, Director of Advising and Student Services.
“As an MBA alumna and former program director, I can say with certainty that these funds will absolutely transform our ability to recruit and retain students, support our MBA students on their academic and career journey, and provide opportunities for them to grow during their time here,” said Kristine McCarty, Director of Development for the College of Business. “This generosity will change so many lives for the better, and we are eternally grateful to this donor for considering us as part of their estate plans.”
The MBA program at ISU began in 1973 and was the first in the state to receive AACSB accreditation. Graduates from the MBA have gone on to incredible careers in finance, banking, marketing, cybersecurity, sales, and more.
“This incredible gift will forever enhance the ISU MBA program by providing unprecedented support and opportunities for generations of students, increasing our ability to make an even larger positive impact on the economic future of our state and region,” said College of Business Dean and Michael C. Ruettgers Professor of Marketing, Dr. Shane Hunt.
Brad Allen Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Brad Allen Endowed Scholarship Fund, established by ISU alumnus Brad Allen, was established to help students from rural communities, similar to Allen. Allen’s family had been farmers and ranchers for generations; he was one of the first in his family to attend and graduate from college.
Allen graduated with an accounting degree in 2005 and passed the CPA exam in the first testing window after graduation. He has worked in public accounting since then, and in 2012, he was the co-founder of the Davies Allen group of companies which provide tax, consulting and assurance services across the western region with headquarters in Utah.
“I’ve long had a goal to be able to give back,” said Allen. “I was a generational farm kid from rural Idaho venturing into an unknown realm of college and the accounting industry. My time at Idaho State was instrumental in helping me learn, grow, gain experience and understand where I wanted to take my career in the accounting industry. I personally benefited from scholarships while at ISU, and it’s my pleasure to now pay it forward. Counting people first is probably the most important thing any member of the accounting profession can do!”
Clyde E. Brinegar Endowed Scholarship Fund
Clyde E. Brinegar, a Burley native, graduated from Idaho State University with a degree in Finance in 1981. He had many life-defining moments at ISU, including meeting the love of his life and future wife, Kathleen, who he married at St. John’s Chapel on the ISU campus. He was a hall director and RA for the 7th floor in Garrison Hall and has many fond memories of time spent on campus, as well as Buddy’s, Blimpies, Scout Mountain.
Brinegar worked for several years in banking, but later took over managing the family business in property development and real estate, Brinegar Investments. He is passionate about education and knows the value ISU brought to his life and to the lives of so many in his family. Because of this, and in addition to his desire to help the next generation of Bengals achieve their dreams, Brinegar’s family, including nephew Shane Ostermeier and wife Kathleen, have established this scholarship in his honor.
“We’re proud to establish this scholarship to honor my uncle’s past service at ISU, and to honor his passion for business and its future leaders,” said Ostermeier.
Jerry & Susan Robinson Endowed Scholarship Fund
Jerry “Jer” and Susan Robinson are true Bengals. Their paths crossed when Key Bank, preparing to open a new branch in Pocatello, contacted Jerry to participate in a photo shoot for their promotional brochures. The bank asked if he could bring along another student to pose with him. Jerry immediately thought of Susan, a familiar face from his Biology 101 class and someone he’d often seen around campus. He reached out to her, and to his delight, she happily agreed to join him for the shoot. Their first date was in the summer of 1971 at Bimbo’s Pizza. That photo shoot helped spark a lifetime of love and friendship.
Susan and Jerry celebrated 50 years of marriage before Jerry passed away unexpectedly in 2023. Susan and Jerry appreciated their time at ISU and the opportunities their education gave them. Susan established the Jerry and Susan Robinson Endowed Scholarship Fund to honor Jerry’s memory and to support future Bengals, particularly non-traditional students like Jerry who had significant life demands outside of school but managed to succeed and thrive in spite of those.
“ISU was very important to us,” said Susan. “We wouldn’t have had the same careers without it, and most importantly, we wouldn’t have met without it.”
Founders Circle support Endowment
Spring marked the second semester of the Founders Circle - a mentorship program and the first of its kind at ISU. Undergraduate and graduate students were paired with College of Business alumni based on interests, geographic location and academic background. The current alumni mentors have extensive experience in fields like accounting, cybersecurity, sales, technology, marketing, healthcare, finance, and more. Students participating in the program receive advice on internships, jobs, resumes, interviewing, entering an industry or specific organization and more. Thanks to an anonymous donor, the program is now supported with an endowment, meaning mentorship meetups, full group events and more can continue in perpetuity.
“I’m deeply grateful for my experience with the Founder’s Circle, which offered me the invaluable opportunity to connect with an inspiring leader and female role model in an industry where women CEOs remain rare,” said Master of Healthcare Administration student, Bentley Weldon. “Beyond professional growth, this experience has given me a meaningful mentorship and a connection I hope to carry with me well into the future.”
All-time best performance at international Collegiate business strategy competition
In an all-time best performance, Idaho State University’s International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition (ICBSC) teams won a combined five trophies. The graduate team won Best Overall Performance, Best Written Documents and Best Presentation. The undergraduate team won Best Overall Performance and Best Written Documents. This brings ISU’s trophy count to 24 in ten years of competing.
ICBSC is a rigorous competition challenging top-level students from around the world to complete 12 quarters (three years) of simulated business decisions expedited over the course of a semester, in addition to submitting a formal business plan and annual report. Students then
travel to Anaheim, California, for an intense 72hour competition against their peers, followed by a formal presentation to executive-level judges from companies throughout the western United States.
“I can’t say enough great things about the students on our ICBSC teams this year, and I’m not alone,” said ICBSC Advisor and ICCU
Endowed Professor of Management Dr. Alex Bolinger. “One of the ICBSC judges, who has had a long career in executive-level leadership in industry, told me that he has rarely seen a team that was as cohesive, connected, and capable under pressure as our undergraduate team. Another judge, a C-suite executive who has judged the ICBSC for over three decades,
told me that our graduate team had about as perfect a competition as she has ever seen. I was told more than once that ISU is ‘building a dynasty’ in this competition. That is a tribute to the remarkable students, both past and present, that we have in the College of Business.”
“Participating in ICBSC brought together everything I’ve been learning in my classes, allowing me to connect concepts from marketing to finance in a real-world setting,” said undergraduate participant and accounting and finance major Gracie Funk. “I’ve never had to make such intense business decisions before, and it was an incredible learning experience. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to be part of it.”
“The teams and I would like to thank the College of Business faculty and staff that offered advice and continued encouragement throughout this process,” said Bolinger. “We would also like to extend a special thanks to Brenda Worrell and the executive team at ICCU (pictured left) for their commitment to this program. Without their generous support, including feedback and insights on the students’ presentations before heading to California, this incredible learning opportunity would not be possible.”
Travel opportunities elevate ISU sales competition
In addition to the College of Business’ Sales Competition that invites students from across campus to gain invaluable experience diving into the principles of sales to win big cash prizes, the College of Business also took students to several external competitions this semester. These events took place in Boise, ID, Corvallis, OR and Kennesaw, GA. Both student participants and coaches agreed that the external competitions helped them grow and be even more prepared for the ISU competition.
“Going to out-of-town sales competitions was such a fun and eye-opening experience,” said College of Business team member Amenze Erhunmwunse, who took fifth place at the Boise competition. “I got to meet students from other schools, learn from real professionals, and push myself in ways I hadn’t before. It really helped boost my confidence
and made me realize how much I’ve grown since starting the program.”
“A a coach, it’s so rewarding to watch our students grow and represent ISU so professionally,” said Executive Director of the Walter Brown Center for Sales Excellence, John Ney. “Not only are they learning teamwork and communication skills, companies are actively recruiting our students at these events.”
Business women and students set their sights skyward at annual symposium
Held for the twelfth year, the Women’s Business Symposium, hosted by the Pocatello (Region 5) Idaho Small Business Development Center (SBDC), invited women from across the state to learn, network and grow together. Attendees spent the day in workshops based on their interests and career type. There was also a strong networking aspect, with plenty of time to brainstorm and connect with other women, as well as learn about the no-cost small business consulting offered by the SBDC.
This year’s theme was Shoot for the Moon, inviting attendees to go for their dreams and believe in themselves. “We were able to welcome our largest crowd ever [to this year’s event] - over 250 women,” said Ann Swanson, Southeast Idaho SBDC Director. “Our keynote speaker, Megan Bentdzen, who is also an SBDC client, delivered an excellent presentation on the power of fun and got people up on the stage dancing! Next year, our production team at the Southeast Idaho SBDC will be moving the event to ISU and adding more workshops on small business management.”
Back for the third year, young women pitched their business ideas for cash prizes during the symposium’s Pitch-off Competition.
“This Pitch-off Competition is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our best all-female entrepreneurship teams of the year,” said Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Director Dr. Jeff Street. “Six teams rise to the top of our Shark Tank
Competition and U.S. Bank Pitch-off, both held in the fall semester. The best competitors are invited to present their business ideas at this symposium.”
This year’s first place winner was Hannah Rasmussen, who pitched her idea of 1050 Technologies - lightweight, reflective, easily deployed emergency signage for law enforcement.
“Competing in this event was so empowering,” said Rasmussen. “I had the opportunity to meet of successful women across so many
different industries. I think we learned a lot from each other.”
Rasmussen has had a long line of success participating in pitchoff competitions offered by the ISU College of Business. She estimates she’s earned a total of $12,500 across her years of competing as an undergraduate. Now graduated, Rasmussen plans to take a couple of her business ventures, including 1050 Technologies, full-time.
“It’s a daunting task to stand on a stage in front of that many people, pitch your business idea in fours minutes and answer questions from the audience,” said Street. “But, our students are well prepared and courageous as they proudly present their dreams.”
Ceeds of success
The Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) fosters entrepreneurship and economic development in Southeastern Idaho through partnerships across the business and University community. One of the benefits of CEED is the opportunity for students to make real-world connections and enhance the traditional university classroom experience through community links, mentoring, and coaching. Below are three of the many students who found success through CEED involvement.
Hannah Rasmussen
Participating in pitch-off competitions since her freshmen year, Hannah Rasmussen has taken full advantage of the entrepreneurial opportunities offered to College of Business students. After winning first place in the Shark Tank Competition in 2021, she knew business was what she wanted to do long-term.
“Dr. Jeff Street [with CEED] has been my mentor ever since my first business competition with ISU. He helped me find the confidence to pursue my entrepreneurial ventures and was there every step of the way throughout my competitions,” said Rasmussen.
Kyle Collins
Kyle Collins participated in several CEED activities, but his favorite was a class that allowed him to work with a start-up company through the Idaho Small Business Development Center. In this class, Collin’s was able to do a demographic study and financial research.
“When in came to real-world application, this was my most important class,” said Collins. “I know I made a real impact on the client and community. I’m really proud of the work my group and I did. It was a great way to finish college.”
Camie Parsons
Camie Parsons participated in her first pitch-off competition in 2017, where she not only placed second, she was also introduced to several investors. These investors included a judge at the competition who was also a member of Harvard Innovation Labs. Since then, her product IUVENI, a process designed to repair damaged hair due to environmental and chemical processes, is selling across the United States with international markets in sight.
“A lot has happened since that first pitch-off, but CEED is where I got my start,” said Parsons.
Integrating knowledge, serving communities: Students publish book on leading remote work
What if you could take a class offering cuttingedge insights on one of the hottest topics in the business world today - leading individuals who are working remotely? Then, what if you could take the knowledge learned in that class and co-author a book with your classmates? What if the knowledge in that book could be used to benefit managers and small business owners who have been thrust (often unexpectedly) into remote work?
These were the opportunities provided to students in ICCU Endowed Professor of Management Dr. Alex Bolinger’s elective course, Leadership from a Distance
“Over the past couple of years, I had the opportunity to speak to leaders from organizations across the state,” said Bolinger. “Whenever I interact with them, I ask what kinds of characteristics and skills they are looking for in our students. Over and over, industry leaders told me that they are seeking new hires who can effectively collaborate with and manage direct reports who are working remotely. That led me to create this class.
The participants in the class engaged with case studies, role-played manager-employee interactions, and had opportunities to hear from a variety of guest speakers. These speakers
included ISU alumna and College of Business Leadership Board member Tamela Gates May, who shared her experiences and advice from her career as a pioneer of remote work going back decades, ISU MBA students Alicia Pino and Rae Karanjia, who presented their research on how leaders can seek feedback from employees when they can’t interact face-to-face and Dr. Sarah Wright, one of the world’s foremost authorities on loneliness in the workplace, who joined the class live via Zoom from New Zealand.
One of the greatest challenges of the class, however, was finding a textbook. “As I was preparing the materials for this class, I discovered that there were relatively few resources for guiding leaders in remote work environments,” Bolinger explained. “So, we wrote our own book as a class project.”
Students worked individually or in small groups, with each chapter of the book covering a different topic related to leading remote work. The book, entitled Leading Remote Work, is in publication with Kindle Direct
Publishing and will be available for sale on Amazon.com soon. Royalties from the book will be used to support student programs in the College of Business.
The book is accompanied by a class YouTube channel, where students created short “explainer videos” to vividly and concisely summarize the content of the chapter that they wrote, accessible at www.youtube. com/@isucob_leading_remote_work.
Perhaps the most unique outcome of the class, however, was a connection with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Greater Los Angeles. When the semester started in January 2025, Los Angeles County was experiencing wildfires that leveled entire neighborhoods. The fires also forced many employees to work remotely and, in turn, their managers were suddenly
and without preparation thrust into leading remote work.
With a connection facilitated by Ann Swanson, the Director of the SBDC in Southeast Idaho, Dr. Bolinger reached out to Los Angeles’s SBDC to inquire about providing access to copies of the book. That conversation led to an invitation for students from the class to contribute to a workshop, sometime in the summer of 2025 via Zoom, for small business owners throughout Southern California.
“I have been floored by how many students have reached out to describe how uniquely impactful this class, and the book project in particular, has been in their educational
journey,” said Bolinger. “Our students are not just consumers of knowledge - with this project, they were also producers and disseminators of this much-needed, cutting-edge information.”
“I am continually amazed by the remarkable students that we have here at ISU,” Bolinger reflected. “It is not easy to write an entire book in one semester. But, our students embraced this unique opportunity that integrated everything they learned to provide an invaluable service to other leaders, many of whom they will never meet. I am really proud of how the book turned out and am looking forward to sharing it with the public.”
graduate students host summit focused on AI in business
Members of the College of Business are encouraged to pursue their passions and interests outside of the classroom. Students and professors alike are encouraged to bring their ideas to College leadership to pitch their concepts for funding support; a great example of all of this coming together was the first ever College of Business Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit. This event was spearheaded by College of Business MBA student Rae Karanjia and members of the Graduate Association of Business Students (GABS), and was made possible with a donor gift. The half day event included several national speakers covering a variety of AI topics, including how AI is shaping industries and careers and how to craft successful AI prompts.
“I want to congratulate Rae Karanjia and all of the other members of GABS for organizing this first-ever AI
Symposium,” said ICCU Endowed Professor of Management Dr. Alex Bolinger. “They took the initiative to craft a very thoughtful and insightful program. They reached out to a variety of regional and national guest speakers who are at the vanguard of what is happening in industry. AI is emerging quickly, and our students are doing good work in pushing us to engage with recent developments in the field in order to prepare them for the workforce that they will be entering.”
Circle of Excellence honors high achieving students, faculty and staff
Held for the fourth year, Circle of Excellence honors and celebrates top-tier students, faculty and staff in the College of Business. Students were chosen based on grade point average, faculty nominations and club leadership. In addition to each student receiving individual recognition, three faculty members and one staff member were recognized for their exemplary work.
New this year was the addition of program awards. Named after emeritus faculty who contributed greatly during their time at the ISU, each discipline recognized one student that was truly outstanding in their program. The inaugural winners included:
• Jayce Packer - Dr. Pete Frischmann
Outstanding Accounting Student
• Kylee Dimick - Dr. Kenneth Khang
Outstanding Finance Student
• Anne Miller - Dr. Robert Tokle
Outstanding Economics Student
• Griffin Daw - Dr. Tracy Farnsworth
Outstanding Healthcare Administration Student
• Derek Adams - Dr. Jim Jolly
Outstanding Management Student
• Carter Christiansen - Dr. Sandra Smith
Outstanding Marketing Student
Tim AndersonOutstanding Service
Tim Anderson, Clinical Associate Professor of Accounting, took over the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program in 2024 and has been instrumental in its continued growth and success. Through Anderson’s leadership, the program mentors students in assisting hundreds of low-income community members with their taxes.
Paul ObermannOutstanding Researcher
Paul Obermann, Assistant Professor of Finance, has in incredibly productive and impressive research stream, including an A+ publication covering his research on the role of connections in division manager careers in the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis.
Julie FrischmannOutstanding Teacher
Julie Frischmann, Clinical Associate Professor of Management , not only teaches critical statistical and quantitative skills to students, she does it in a way that student who were nervous about the subjects not only leave with understanding, they leave with confidence in the skills they learned.
Presley ArrowoodStaff Excellence
The extraordinary marketing efforts of Presley Arrowood, Director of Marketing and Communications for the College of Business, have been key drivers in the College’s increased enrollment and fundraising. Her narrative of the College of Business story has grown and strengthened the College’s brand identity across campus and the state.
Going above and Beyond
The College of Business is full of alumni and faculty making significant impacts both at ISU and in their communities. A few recent recognitions include alumna Sandee Gehrke and professors Steve Byers and Ruiling Guo. “Thank you to these and all Bengals who go above and beyond to support our students. They make the future brighter for all of us because of their exceptional efforts,” said College of Business Dean and Michael C. Ruettgers Professor of Marketing, Dr. Shane Hunt.
Professional Achievement Award - Sandee Gehrke
Idaho State University’s annual Professional Achievement Awards recognize some of the most influential alumni for their valuable and distinguished contributions to Idaho State, their profession and their community. This year’s winner from the College of Business was healthcare administration alumna, Sandee Gehrke. Gehrke is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of St. Luke’s Health System, overseeing eight hospitals, 300+ ambulatory care sites and a network of 4,000+ providers.
Impactful Teaching AwardSteve Byers
A new recognition at ISU, the Impactful Teaching Award aims to recognize faculty across campus who are making going above and beyond for their students. The first recipient of this award for the University was Dr. Steve Byers, the Gary D. and Susan G. Campbell Dr. Bill Phillips Endowed Professor of Finance at the College of Business. In a testimonial from alumna Melissa Lowry, “[Byers[ had a profound impact on me while at ISU. He was always available to answer my questions [...] and help me navigate the path ahead. With his support and encouragement, I took a giant leap from Pocatello to New York City for my first job. I’m deeply grateful to have had him as a professor.”
Fulbright Specialist Program Award - Ruiling Guo
Recipients of the Fulbright Specialist Program Award are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, demonstrated leadership in their field, and their potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the U.S. and abroad.
College of Business Healthcare
Administration Professor Dr. Ruiling Guo will be visiting the University of Malta over the summer to embark on a collaborative research project with renowned professors there.
Incredible impact: creating a legacy through planned giving
In the College of Business, we are so grateful for the generosity and foresight of alumni and friends who help shape the future of the College through thoughtful giving. While there are many meaningful ways to support ISU’s mission, one often overlooked option is through planned and estate giving. This issue has highlighted several such incredible gifts that will help our future Bengals learn and grow here in the College of Business, including an endowment to support MBA students at levels previously unimagined and the first ever endowed lectureship that supports our professional development program.
There are a number of giving options that allow you to create a legacy while achieving
your personal financial goals. Revocable gift arrangements - such as bequests in a will or trust, retirement account beneficiary designations, and life insurance - offer flexibility and peace of mind. For those seeking immediate impact or potential tax benefits, gifts such as charitable remainder trusts (CRTs), retained life estates, charitable lead trusts (CLTs), and life insurance policies can be powerful tools for philanthropy.
No matter the method, planned giving provides an opportunity to ensure your legacy lives on to support the students, the programs, and the future of Idaho State University. Ben Stahmann, Director of Planned and Estate Giving with University Advancement, shared, “Gift planning helps
Bengals who want to give more, give more than they think they can.”
Generous alumni and friends of Idaho State University have been able to leverage planned giving options to have a really incredible impact. John Ney, Assistant Marketing Professor, Executive Director of the Walter Brown Center for Sales Excellence, and Director of Professional Development, said, “Even though I hope to have many years remaining, I’ve always believed that legacy isn’t about age - it’s about impact. Including the College of Business in my estate plans is my way of giving back to a place that I believe in and supporting future generations of students. It’s a small step now that I hope will have a lasting effect long after I’m gone.”
Bequests: A bequest is a gift made through your will or trust. It is one of the most popular and flexible ways that you can support ISU. A bequest can be made in several ways: gift of a specific dollar amount or asset, gift of a percentage of your estate, gift from the balance or residue of your estate, or you can make a beneficiary designation of certain assets.
IRA Charitable Rollover: An IRA rollover allows people age 70½ and older to reduce their taxable income by making a gift directly from their IRA.
Charitable Gift Annuity: You transfer your cash or appreciated property to Idaho State University Foundation in exchange for our promise to pay you fixed payments (with rates based on your age) for the rest of your life.
Join the Legacy Society
We are deeply grateful to our incredible alumni and generous donors for their continued support of ISU - your commitment makes an impact each and every day and allows us to accomplish our mission of providing great educational opportunities to our business students. To our students, faculty, and staff: thank you for a fantastic year filled with incredible accomplishments.
Congratulations to Dr. Hunt on his appointment as president of Cameron
University. We will truly miss his leadership, but we wish him all the best in this exciting new chapter. We are also thrilled to welcome our colleague and friend, Dr. Alex Bolinger, as interim dean of the College of Business.
Go Bengals!
KRISTINE MCCARTY
College of Business Director of Development kristinemccarty@isu.edu • (208) 282-4608
College of Business Professor establishes lectureship in professional development
John Ney, Assistant Marketing Professor, Executive Director of the Walter Brown Center for Sales Excellence, and Director of Professional Development, has established a lectureship for Professional Development. An example of the impact that can be made through estate planning, Ney intends to start this endowment to ensure that whoever steps into his shoes one day will have the financial support necessary to continue growing the professional development program at the College of Business.
Prior to ISU, Ney served as the Senior
Manager of Customer Operations and Marketing for the start-up cell phone company Syringa Wireless LLC, from 2007 – 2012. Syringa Wireless grew to approximately 15,000 customers and 22 retail stores during that time. Ney has extensive experience in marketing and management, having been Vice President of Customer Operations at Project Mutual Telephone (PMT) in Rupert, Burley and Twin Falls, ID. Prior to that, he worked for GTE/Verizon for eight years in Everett WA, Dallas TX, and St. Louis MO, where he held progressive positions of responsibility and finished
with Verizon as the Manager of Customer Quality in the Customer Contact Division. At ISU, his work in professional development has been transformational and provides students with truly unique opportunities.
“I see the value this program has brought to students,” said Ney. “It helps them not only find internships and jobs, it also helps them become more confident in themselves.”
College of Business
921 South 8th Ave., Stop 8020
Pocatello, ID 83209-8020 ABA005
Less than 200 schools in the world hold accreditation in both accounting & business. We’re one of them.
Help Bengals find their ROAR. Your contribution will allow students to elevate their careers, embrace the future and do more than they ever thought they could. Contact Director of Development Kristine McCarty at (208) 282-4608 for more information.
bustin’ a move and Raising the roar for ISU
Held annually in March, Bengal Giving Day is an opportunity for friends and alumni of ISU to give to the areas they are most passionate about. Thanks to the kindness of our donors, and with the help of some fun social media dance content and a strong student ambassador team, the College of Business received nearly 200 unique donations during the event, the most of any College or program on campus. A special thanks to alumni Bob and Diane Johnson, who helped increase engagement and funding through a matching gift to the College’s Entrepreneur Fund. bengalgivingday.com
