SUMMER 2019
CHOOSING ISU: THREE
IDAHO ENTREPRENEUR
STUDENTS IN
ALUMNI SHARE THE
CHALLENGE SUCCESS
SERVICE
IMPACT
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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.
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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