Business Bulletin: Summer 2019

SUMMER 2019

CHOOSING ISU: THREE

IDAHO ENTREPRENEUR

STUDENTS IN

ALUMNI SHARE THE

CHALLENGE SUCCESS

SERVICE

IMPACT

Page 11

Page 12

Page 5

SUMMER 2019

WELCOMING A NEW

Director of Development

“W

you?”

led to difficulties in maintaining a steady job.

the

“As the youngest child in the family, I saw

framed scholarship award

the struggle that each of my older siblings

sitting on the podium in

faced when it was our turn to go to college.

front of her, “This,” she said. As the youngest of

My parents weren’t able to provide financial

seven growing up in Clifton, Idaho, Catherine

support, but what they did provide us was

Rider always knew she wanted to attend

an intense love of learning and a clear

college like her mother, grandmother and

understanding that higher education could

sisters. “But, due to my family circumstances,

provide a more stable life for each of us.” So,

4 Outstanding Student

I knew I would need to earn a scholarship to

Rider worked hard to excel academically,

5

achieve that goal.” Throughout her childhood

earning the Laura Moore Cunningham

and teenage years, Rider’s family lived well

Foundation Scholarship through Idaho State

below the poverty line. “My father had served

University for $13,500. The scholarship was

three tours in Vietnam after graduating

awarded over four years- a contribution that

Students in Service

from high school, and suffered from severe

would end up paying for three quarters of

13 VITA | Federal Reserve

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that went

her tuition. “That scholarship is what made

undiagnosed and untreated until after I had

it possible for me to achieve my goal of

graduated from high school.” Rider said that

earning a college degree, and my decision

although her father was a skilled tradesman

to come to ISU changed my life in ways I

and an extremely intelligent man, his illness

could never have imagined,” said Rider. In

3 TedxIdahoStateUniversity Journey to the Summit

11 IEC Update | CFA Challenge 12 Orange You Creative

14 ICBSC Update 15 Faculty & Staff News

hat

motivates

Catherine

grabbed

Continued on back cover...

TEDxIDAHO STATE UNIVERSIT Y

Presenting New Ideas

A

n Idaho State University international student has taken a

last October. “That day, I was able to understand the wide diversity of

lead role in organizing a local TEDx forum, during which

what our world is headed toward,” Yadav said. “It amazed me how a

local speakers will share their visions for improving the

small talk of 10 minutes can give you such an amazing idea of what the

community. TED Conferences LLC, which stands for

world is like and what we have.” TEDx rules will limit the audience to

Technology, Entertainment and Design, posts talks online for free

100 spectators in the first year, and organizers expect tickets to sell out.

distribution using the slogan “ideas worth spreading.” TEDx is an offshoot

The event will include a dinner in the rotunda of the Stephens Center,

program, with independently organized talks that receive a free license

where spectators can mingle with presenters.

under TED. ISU’s TEDx is scheduled for Oct. 26 in the Black Box Theater

By John O’Connell, Idaho State Journal

of the Stephens Performing Arts Center. The topic will be “2030, Where Are We Headed?”. The student organizers hope to make TEDx talks an annual campus event. Ritesh Yadav, an ISU undergraduate from Nepal studying business informatics in the College of Business, applied for a license to host the event and got it approved in December. He said TED is a global name, and many of his professors have used recorded TEDx presentations to explain concepts relevant to their curriculum. Ritesh’s co-organizer on the project is Katie Wright, an ISU undergraduate who was raised in Pocatello. “When I interact with professors, they are always excited about the new ideas of where the world is headed, about new creations and about new research,” Yadav said, explaining the forward-looking theme of the planned event. Yadav was inspired to organize an ISU event after attending TEDx at Boise State University

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feature

OUTSTANDING STUDENT

Logan Schmidt

T

he Outstanding Student Achievement Awards recognizes graduating students who have demonstrated outstanding service to their respective college, to Idaho State University and to the community and who also have exceptional scholastic achievement. Logan Schmidt is one such student. Schmidt has used his university experience to serve the students of ISU. In addition to working as an Ambassador (giving campus tours to prospective students), he has been active in student government, serving as finance officer

and ultimately the president of the Associated Students of ISU (ASISU). During his time as the ASISU president, Schmidt assisted in budget allocation, fiscal planning, policy analysis, and is the key liaison for students with faculty, staff, and the administration. This experience led to unique opportunities, such as speaking in front of the Idaho Legislature. One of Schmidt’s treasured opportunities from his time spent at Idaho State University is the satisfaction of seeing new Bengals on campus after recruiting them a year earlier. Schmidt is a member of Kappa Sigma and Beta Alpha Psi. He received career-related experience through an accounting internship with Jordan & Company Chartered and three and a half years working in ISU’s Marketing and Communications Office. He is the recipient of multiple scholarships, including the Rodney L. Lind Scholarship and the Association of Governmental Accountants Scholarship.

Not every student begins their path in life with the intention of going to college. For some students, a college education may not seem necessary, life gets in the way, or maybe their original career goals don’t involve attending a four-year university. But, for these three College of Business alumni, their journeys eventually led them to college at Idaho State. And that education changed their lives. Each of them was able to reach higher peaks than they had imagined, and it was that journey, that climb through their education and the people they became in that experience that led them to their summits. These are their stories.

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journey to the summit

Jack Ogami PAYROLL MANAGER | OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

journey to the summit

J

7 |

ack Ogami was born and raised in

agreed to pay for his tuition. But soon after

CPA firms at the time. He was hired by Ernst

Weiser, Idaho where he worked

starting, Ogami was awarded the Presidential

& Young in Boise and after a short time, he

at his family’s business, the Idaho

Scholarship which covered his room and

moved to Honolulu, Hawaii and was hired on

Bag Company. “I always assumed

board. As a college student, Ogami began to

by AFMAC, where he traveled as an internal

I would graduate from high school and work

excel, earning straight A’s for the first time.

auditor. Soon after, Ogami met and married his

full-time in the family business. I didn’t see

“The 3.0 requirement [for the scholarship]

wife, Melody. After several years of working in

the value of attending college,” said Ogami

scared me because I was a 3.0 student in high

the world of high finance, he made the move

in regards to his indecisiveness to continue

school. This didn’t leave much margin for

to Salem, Oregon - shifting his focus to his

“I always assumed I would graduate from high school and work full-time... I didn’t see the value of attending college.”

children. “My greatest accomplishment was

his education. However, a family friend who worked for the Idaho State University High School Relations Department put together a trip for him to tour the University. After spending a couple of nights and participating in some activities. Ogami decided that he

coaching the high school freshmen summer baseball team,” said Ogami. Eventually, he joined the State of Oregon as a manager and after eight years, is now working as the payroll manager for Oregon’s Department of

really liked the campus. His ISU connection

error,” said Ogami “So my plan was to study

Corrections. “Attending ISU led to professional

helped him fill out the college application and

like crazy, and it worked.”

opportunities [which then resulted in] more

made sure he indicated that he wanted to

He eventually graduated with a degree in

time to be a hover parent, coach family sports

be considered for scholarships and financial

accounting, passed all of the Certified Public

and make more frequent visits back home.”

aid. A couple months later, he received an

Accountant (CPA) exams on his first try and

acceptance letter from ISU and his parents

received offers from seven of the eight largest

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journey to the summit

Chuck Hendrix SENIOR MANAGER | TOYOTA

journey to the summit

O

9 |

riginally from Columbus, Ohio,

was going. But, because of his football skills,

back to Ohio where he began a job at Honda

(Wearing

Hendrix gained the attention of Dirk Koetter,

working in their purchasing department. After

the black baseball cap in the

ISU’s head football coach at the time. Koetter

seven years, Hendrix was recruited by Toyota

bottom left photo) initial plan

was able to secure a football scholarship for

in Kentucky which he almost didn’t accept

after high school was to earn a technical

Hendrix and his career at ISU began. During

because the timing wasn’t right for him as a

degree to become a travel agent.

his first tour, Hendrix said he fell in love with

single parent. But after they made an offer that

“I have always been fascinated with the airlines

the mini-dome and “meeting the business

was too good to refuse, Hendrix accepted

and travel so I thought it was a great option for

school personnel [helped me to] envision

the job and has been employed by Toyota for

Chuck

Hendrix’s

me to learn the industry and maybe go places I had only dreamed of,” said Hendrix. However, he began to reconsider the choice when his best friend came home for Christmas from the community college he was attending in

“Meeting the business school personnel [helped me to] envision myself attending ISU.”

California. “It wasn’t until [he] showed me

the last 23 years. He currently works as the senior manager of Supplier Diversity for all of Toyota’s North American operations.

“Without my degree, I don’t think I would be as successful,” said Hendrix. “Learning diversity and how to adapt to change have

a championship ring he had earned that

myself attending ISU. Additionally, Pocatello

been extremely beneficial to my career and

changed my mind and really made me rethink

appeared to be a nice and accepting town

my personal life.”

the many advantages I could obtain by having

and I would fit in nicely.”

a college degree.” Hendrix decided to attend

Hendrix graduated from ISU with a bachelor’s

the same community college where his friend

degree in business management and moved

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journey to the summit

Debbie Eskelson

OWNER | PARTNER STEEL CO.

B

orn and raised in Pocatello,

“in-house travel agent,” managing travel

Debbie Eskelson (far left) began

arrangements for other employees. Eskelson

attending

college

right

after

said she had originally only planned to take a

graduating

high

school,

but

one-year hiatus from school but that quickly

left without completing her degree a few

turned into seven, during which time she had

years later. “I left my studies because I had

a baby. After those seven years, Eskelson hit the pay ceiling and came to a point where

“I wanted to pursue a different path... but needed a bachelor’s degree to make it happen.”

she could no longer progress in her career without a college degree. “I wanted to pursue a different path in the company, but needed a bachelor’s degree to make it happen.” So,

advance in her career, becoming a business

she decided to return to ISU. With just 15

analyst, handling $100 million in annual sales.

a secure, well-paying and full-time job at

credits left, Eskelson graduated quickly with

After retiring, Eskelson and her husband

a company called AMI, now known as ON

her bachelor’s in marketing in 1997. With her

became the owners of Partner Steel Co. in

Semiconductor.” She worked for ON as their

new degree, she was able to earn more and

Pocatello.

real-world classroom

IDAHO ENTREPRENEUR CHALLENGE SUCCESS

Prize Winning Ideas

I

n January, four student teams from throughout the university traveled to Boise to compete in the Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge. Of the four ISU teams that made it to the finals, three placed, taking home a portion of the competition’s $100,000 in prize money. Division of Health

Sciences student Donald Young and healthcare administration student, Kaylie Johnson won overall runner-up for their idea “MaxVac”. MaxVac is a unique plastic device that would store and dispose syringes for safer

CFA CHALLENGE

use in hospitals and medical settings. College of Business students, Kastil

This year, the 2019 Chartered Financial Analyst

Gregory and Samantha Jimenez-Castro won best minority-led company for

Research Challenge Team went to Boise

their idea “Mezclilla Jeans”. This line of jeans is targeted at curvy Hispanic

State University to present their analysis of

and Latina women. And winning best marketing and trade show was

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. to a panel of

College of Business students, Matazie Hobbs and Alexis Christiansen. This

judges from the CFA Society of Idaho. The

duo’s idea, “Sani-Station,” included a prototype which would automatically

team members were (left to right) Kunsang

spray disinfectant inside a diaper changing station when no longer in use.

According to the teams’ mentor and director of the College’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED), Jeff Street, the

Lama, Victor Dominguez, Alexander Eckman, Petrus Van Rooyen, and Mingma Sherpa.

The CFA Institute sponsors the Research Challenge,

an

international

competition

IEC had over 200 applicant teams this year. After the competition, at least

where university-sponsored teams perform

two of these winning teams have already begun working with the Small

equity analysis on a company. Participation

Business Development Center (SBDC) to work on taking their products

in the Challenge provides team members

to market. “Our students gave their all in representing ISU,” said Street.

with hands-on experience as equity analysts.

11 |

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real-world classroom

ORANGE YOU CREATIVE Building the Bengal Nation

L

ast semester, students in management professor, Jeff Street’s honors program course, “Orange You Creative” raised $15,000 toward bringing the Idaho State University

STUDENTS IN SERVICE Raising Money for Sick Kids

I

n

April,

Alex

Bolinger’s

Individual

and

Organizational Behavior class held a MakeA-Wish fundraiser in order to raise money for terminally ill children in Southeast Idaho. It

brand to Old Town Pocatello. A collaboration of

was a great learning experience for the students,

generous sponsors, including Citizens Community

(pictured below, left to right) Burke Khapp, Rebecca

Bank, ISU Credit Union and Idaho State University, all

Steed, Nicole Milford, and Victoria Steckline. For the

pledged the primary funding for adding branded signage to

event, students developed the idea for a pop-up thrift shop,

the historic area of the city. Signage will include: 130 lamp post

which was held in ISU’s Pocatello campus Student Union

pennants, 15 – “IS” logo neon signs for business windows and

building. The students placed donation boxes in the residence

a 20-foot by 40-foot painted “ghost” sign featuring the newly

halls on campus and received an overwhelming amount of

branded ISU Bengal head. Based on the class’s cost

donated clothing and shoes. After the event was

assessment, the project will require an additional

over, they took the remaining clothing to the Idaho

$4,000 in funds to complete the $19,000 project.

Youth Ranch. The event raised $400, which Jessica

“With the onset of the University’s rebranding

Budzianowski, Director of Development of Make-A-

campaign, I felt like a project like this would give

Wish Idaho, says, “Is enough to provide a child a fun

students, faculty and businesses the opportunity

and great experience.” The Boise State University

to come together and spread the Bengal pride

College of Business and Economics will be using

throughout our community,” said Street. With very

Bolinger’s class as a model for developing a similar

little funds to go, the students are very excited to

course in their own college in the coming semesters.

see their project come to life. (Pictured in top photo)

(Pictured in bottom photo)

real-world classroom

VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE

Helping the Community

O

n March 28, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program finished the tax season having completed 495 returns and 20 amended returns surpassing last year’s record of 431 returns filed. According to the program’s advisor and

clinical accounting professor, Dawn Konicek, word-of-mouth has been the program’s strongest advocate for growth. As noted in previous years, the ISU VITA program consistently files more returns on average per student than larger competing schools. Konicek noted that this year’s program was so busy that, for the first time ever, they actually had to turn a few people away

FEDERAL RESERVE Not many get the opportunity to visit the

on the last day. “We were already so swamped. I felt really bad about that.”

Federal Reserve Bank, but 15 students this year

Not only has this service been wildly popular and helpful for the local

were able to make the trip. For Kellie Gilmore,

community, but the students volunteering in the program have benefited

the former president of the Economics Club,

tremendously from the hands-on experience. “They tell me they learn more

this trip was her third. “We decided to take the

from VITA than in the classroom,” Konicek observed. “They interact with

trip because it is one of the only places where

clients, which they do not get in the classroom. They experience the tax rush, which they do not get in the classroom.” Konicek also said that this year’s rush helped prepare the students to “be more efficient, to ask the right questions and to take initiative to answer their own questions before coming to me, since I was so very busy each day.”

we could explore an environment that shows Macroeconomics and monetary policy at work,” she says. Gilmore says that she hopes “the club’s new leadership takes over the tradition of the tour,” as Gilmore graduated this past spring.

13 |

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real-world classroom

INTERNATIONAL COLLEGIATE BUSINESS STRATEGY COMPETITION

An Award Winning Strategy

C

ollege of Business graduate students competing in the 55th annual International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition (ICBSC) returned from Anaheim, CA with trophies for first place in Overall Performance and Best Written Documents. As part of the challenge, student teams worked to develop their own product, complete with a comprehensive business plan. This year’s team consisted of students with a diverse age range, first-generation college students and ISU’s first online student participant. The students included,

(pictured left to right, front to back), Elisa Bringhurst-VanOrden, Guy Patterson, Quinton Cheney, Laurel Palmblad, James Cooper and Vanesa Fontes Nava. The team was guided by co-advisors Dawn Konicek, an accounting professor, and management professor Alex Bolinger.

“[The group’s] success is a

tribute to the potential, if sometimes elusive, benefits of leveraging diverse perspectives in teams,” said Bolinger.

Outside of the opportunity to share multiple perspectives in their decision-making processes, the team benefitted against their competition due to sticking with their original mission and vision. The team was also able to regulate high employee retention levels in their business. Overall, this year’s competition proved to be one of the most successful yet. The ICBSC represents another unique real-world opportunity for College of Business graduate students in which ISU is the only university in the surrounding states of Idaho, Utah, Montana and Wyoming that participates in the competition, thanks to generous support from Idaho Central Credit Union.

faculty

&

staff

15 |

C OLLEGE OF BU SINE S S

Faculty & Staff News NEW HIRES

SCHOU RETIRES Sue Schou knew she wanted to teach when she was just eight years old, but she never thought she would teach statistics. “My professors would all be

FACULTY AWARDS Sue Schou, Ph.D. | Management 30+ Years of Service

amazed at where I ended up, as I had no hesitation

Julie Frischmann Management Professor

expressing my dislike for probability as an undergrad,”

Teri Peterson, Ed.D. | Management

said Schou, noting that her favorite courses to teach

Outstanding Teacher

were actually trigonometry and applied calculus.

“Teaching statistics grows on you and I have enjoyed a far richer experience, as it changes constantly.”

Alex Bolinger, Ph.D. | Management

Schou began her career at ISU in 1986, eventually

Outstanding Researcher

teaching for 30 years. “The most influential experience on my teaching stats was participating in grading the AP stats free response statistics exams. This helped

Tyler Burch, Ph.D. | Management Outstanding Researcher

both my design and assessments and my evaluation of student responses,” said Schou.

After teaching her last course in the spring of 2019,

Neil Tocher, Ph.D. | Management

Schou has labeled her retirement a “rebirth of

Outstanding Service

Catherine Rider

opportunities.” In this time, she plans to continue

Director of Development

travelling, reading, learning new things, visiting her family and giving back to her community.

ABA 003 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS 921 S. 8th Avenue, Stop 8020 Pocatello, ID 83209-8020 isu.edu/cob

Continued from pg. 2... 2013, Rider completed her undergraduate degree in health education and in 2015 she completed her Masters of Physical Education in Athletic Administration, both from ISU. “These were some of the most challenging and rewarding years of my life as I worked two jobs while I was

MAKE AN IMPACT

a graduate student. ”After graduating college, Rider worked for Idaho Central Credit Union before being invited to apply for a job as Director of Development at ISU’s College of Education. In the summer of 2016, she accepted the job. “I knew my life had been changed for the better by my decision to attend ISU, and that my scholarship is what made it all possible. So, I was excited by the prospect of having a job where I could help make a difference for students like me.”

When the position for Director of Development at the College of Business opened up in spring 2019,

A college education truly changes your life.

Rider was excited for the chance to apply. “The work of development is very personal to me because

Scholarships, innovative facilities and opportunities

I experienced the impact of philanthropy firsthand,” she explained. “Being in a position where I can help facilitate those gifts for donors and getting to see the amazing generosity and impact that philanthropy has on our students and our University is an incredible opportunity.” For Rider, she sees her role as a relationship builder, a facilitator and a trusted advisor to alumni and donors. “My role is to identify how a donor’s interests align with the needs and initiatives of our University. I feel

are

what

makes

that

impact

possible.

Your

contribution will go a long way in making a difference in our students’ lives.

TWO WAYS YOU CAN

help...

honored to play a role in our donors’ philanthropic journeys.” Rider began working with College of Business alumni in mid-summer 2019. “I love ISU and I am proud to serve the University in a role that

1) Visit isu.edu/cob/give

holds such a special meaning for me personally.”

2) Contact Catherine Rider | ridecat2@isu.edu

To get in touch with our new Director of Development, email ridecat2@isu.edu.

(208)-282-4608