FA L L | W I N T E R 2 0 1 6
- 10 PG. 8
CPI PROGRAM
HORSE TRAINING &
A CENTRALIZED HUB FOR
RECOGNIZED
MANAGEMENT
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
PG. 5 - 6
PG. 12
PG. 15
contents FROM THE DEAN
T
his year, thanks to the unending support of our generous alumni and friends, the College of Business is excited to announce two new student areas in the
building. These spaces are a reflection of the innovative and real-world driven education we pride ourselves in here at the CoB and could not have been completed without the support of those
on programs and a career-focused culture. resulted in a growing Professional Development program, customizable learning opportunities in class projects and internships as well as these modern business atmosphere.
4
recognition of a great program
5
beta alpha psi travels to baltimore
7
enriching student learning
Tom
OTTAWAY, PH.D. college of business dean
Over the years, the College has developed a circle of partnerships between students, alumni
8
support from experience
10
value in real-world projects
11
a customized education
12
influencing city decision
13
iccu sponsors icbsc
and employers, many of whom have built successful careers for themselves and their these
professional development week
building a business community: dyer hall
new spaces designed to help support a
of the education our students receive.
from
3
In this issue, you will find how this support has
who have found value in their own lives as a result
employees
#cobopportunity: winning an ipad
relationships.
With this support, we have found
welcoming new accounting faculty
14
center for entrepreneurship &
15
economic development
ways to continue to build on improving potato storage & sales
this merit through hands-
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feature story
professional development
real-world classroom
faculty & staff
economic development
THE #COBOPPORTUNIT Y
winning an iPad
of Informatics, Bob Houghton also offered extra
“I loved this campaign, it was so exciting to see
credit to students in his World of Business class.
all of the events available and the photos other
“From a marketing stand point the campaign
students were posting.” Campbell said one of
was a great way to encourage current students
her favorite aspects of the campaign was having
to provide positive reviews and feedback about
the opportunity to meet so many new people and
the College on popular social media networks
developing new study groups. “I noticed that other
ver the fall semester, the College of
from their own perspectives,” said West. “These
students were taking advantage of the campaign
Business launched a unique social
reviews were then visible to hundreds of potential
in the same way by taking photos with people they
media
students online.”
would not have met otherwise,” said Campbell.
students to attend as many CoB-
Once selected, winners were interviewed in a
As part of her participation in the campaign,
related opportunities as possible. While attending
short video featured in the newsletter. “These
Campbell also joined the Marketing Club where
events, students were asked to take a photo and
videos have also built usable testimonials for our
she personally met several guest speakers from
post it to either Facebook, Instagram or Twitter
marketing and have given students a chance to
companies like Melaleuca.
using the hashtag #COBopportunity in addition
share their stories.”
“I love that the College of Business is so involved
to a caption describing the benefits of the
With 11 Weekly Winners, the campaign finished
in student life and learning,” said Campbell who
opportunity.
the semester with 10 student videos reaching over
recently found her way to business after starting
“The campaign’s purpose was to help encourage
1,700 views on the College’s YouTube channel
out in two other majors.
students
and more than 255 tagged social media posts.
Campbell currently manages the Mediterranean
Professional Development and club events we
With the semester at a close, the winner of the
Sun & LaDeDa Boutique, a local tanning salon
offer,” said Kelsey West, Director of Marketing
iPad was randomly selected from the pool of 11
and clothing store. “I love my work and I just
and Communication. To help incentivize students,
students. Junior, Hanna Campbell, a Pocatello
felt like the College of Business offered a more
a “Weekly Winner” was selected and entered to
native and marketing/management major was
versatile education and the skills I need to one
win an iPad at the end of the semester, Professor
the lucky winner of the grand prize.
day run the business as my own.”
get more
watch hanna’s video isu.edu/cob/bulletin
O to
challenge
participate
in
encouraging
the
numerous
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
feature story
real-world classroom
faculty & staff
economic development
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEEK
T
setting a record
his year’s fourth annual Professional
the Career Fair as well as help them find their
Development (PD) Week represented
way, we will put down a designated path or
one of the biggest events yet. Since the
‘Orange Brick Road’ from the lobby through the
program began in 2012, student and
hallway and into our newly remodeled Student
business participation in the Career Fair event
Community Center (pg. 8). This will help disperse
has grown steadily each year. But according to
traffic and make more room for the businesses in
John Ney, Director of Professional Development,
attendance,” said Ney.
the event has finally reached the tipping point.
“We think this will be a good way to give
“This year we had 19 businesses and around 250
participants the space and privacy they need
students cycling through the College of Business
while still keeping it in the readily-accessible and
for Fastenal (Fastenal.com), based out of Kansas.
lobby,” said Ney. “It’s been so fun to watch the
well-traveled halls of the business building.” Ney
Following the lesson in etiquette, ISU accounting
Career Fair grow and see businesses attend from
said he prefers to hold PD events in the business
alumnus Taylor Jensen (now a Moss Adams staff
all over the country.”
building because it is easier for students to attend
accountant) and his colleague Emily Gray gave
According to Ney, during the first Career Fair,
as they make their way to and from classes, Ney
a presentation to students called “Backpack to
students had a total of about nine businesses to
said this has really helped to increase participation
Briefcase” featuring their best tips for jumping
meet with in the lobby. However, after this year’s
throughout the years.
into the corporate world after life as a student.
successful attendance, Ney said it’s time to get
This year, the week of career preparation began
Additionally, accounting students enjoyed the
creative with the set up in order to accommodate
with a Resume Roundup where students polished
Meet the Firms event with another record turnout as
even
while
their resumes with the PD and ISU Career Center
well as another very successful Accounting Career
continuing to provide a high quality experience
teams prior to the major events of the week such as
Vision Symposium where, among great speakers
for all.
the Career Fair, Meet the Firms and the Accounting
and activities, students were able to participate in
“We have some fun ideas for next year’s event
Career Vision Symposium. After the Roundup,
round table discussions with accounting graduates
to help spread things out through the business
students learned about mealtime etiquette skills
and workforce professionals.
building,” said Ney. “To help remind students of
from Nathan Gibbar, the Director of Recruiting
more
businesses
and
students
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professional development
real-world classroom
faculty & staff
economic development
RECOGNITION OF A GREAT PROGRAM
cpi benefits students & a local service
reaching out to local university programs to create internships for students?’” Guernsey asked of her colleagues at a recent conference in Portland. She was referring specifically to the CPI program at Idaho State University in Pocatello where the local agency, Pocatello Regional Transit (PRT) was able to utilize student interns to address their own
WE FOUND A VENUE THROUGH THE CPI PROGRAM, THE CLASSROOM AND SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WOULD BRING OUR NEEDS TO FRUITION.
marketing challenges. Four years ago, Dave Hunt, PRT’s Public Transit
THE STUDENTS HELPED PROVIDE ACTIONABLE STEPS TO MOVE FORWARD.
Director found he had a good idea of the
ver the past five years, the Career
most of the country’s public transit agencies.
in their marketing. “[We also knew] we needed
Path
Internship
After hearing many stories about public transits’
to modernize our outreach tactics, but lacked the
has
provided
and
“experiences cultivating partnerships with local
skills and money to make it happen.”
departments outside and within the
businesses and law enforcement and how best to
Seeking help, Hunt approached Dave Doran, the
University with the opportunity to utilize student
encourage walking and biking by getting public
Project Manager for the Southeast Idaho Council
interns to build on an aspect of their industry. This
transit agencies involved,” Guernsey (the brand
of Governments (SICOG), a government agency
need for student help, for many companies, has
and media specialist for TransLoc) has found that
designed to help build a bridge between public
meant a deficiency within their business where a
these agencies all seemed to be facing one major
services and the community.
lack of budget and resources call for less than
challenge- “it’s the same [problem] as almost any
In his search for ways to assist Hunt, Doran
ideal strategies and staffing. In a recent article
public agency: marketing,” said Guernsey. Feeling
recalled ISU’s CPI program in which the University
posted by Nicole Guernsey of TransLoc, a public
discouraged by the issue, she recalled a particular
awards nearly $2 million each year to pay $9,
transportation technology firm based in North
instance where these discussed partnerships might
$10 and $13 per hour internship wages at 20
Carolina, this ‘deficiency’ is said to stretch across
have been falling short. “What is your experience
hours a week for undergraduate, graduate and
O
(CPI)
program
businesses
audience and the message PRT needed to convey
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professional development
real-world classroom
faculty & staff
economic development
was something you can never truly experience in [THROUGH MY INTERNSHIP, I GAINED HANDS-ON EXPERINECE AND SKILLS]
YOU CAN NEVER TRULY EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM.
class.” From Byers’ work, PRT has developed a library of videos and set up a YouTube account where they had the opportunity to capture metrics and
doctoral students.
intern for PRT whose job was to narrow down the
“I decided I wanted to pursue an intern within
students’ recommendations and move forward on
business because of the business niche I had
implementing the new strategies.
found in my own position,” said Doran. In taking
A major project implemented by the first intern,
his first steps to help PRT, Doran approached John
Tynan O’Neil, was a project called “Ads That
Ney, the Director of Professional Development and
Move.” In this venture, O’Neil put together an
Marketing Professor at the College of Business.
advertising pricing portfolio that would take
Ney said he is often approached by businesses
PRT’s current ad displays on their busses from
in the community, like PRT, who are in need of
small posters to full bus wraps, generating great
marketing help but lack the funding. “This is where
revenue and participation from local hospitals
starting out with our class projects can be very
and real estate agencies.
beneficial for both the students and businesses,”
PRT’s next intern was Ryan Byers, a videography
said Ney. So, PRT began their work with the CoB
graduate and MBA student. Byers’ major projects
doing just that- developing a marketing plan as a
included developing a library of videos to
class project.
advertise PRT’s services as well as answer any
“We were very impressed by the work and
questions potential riders had about the service.
research students put into the project,” said
Overall, Byers said he learned something new
Doran, who continues to use recommendations
in his experience with PRT: team communication.
from several of the class presentations and has
“Nothing is done by just one person,” said Byers.
implemented the strategies as part of PRT’s long-
“Planning a video involved many discussions
term plan. The class project also resulted in an
and coordination with the top PRT members. It
analyze the return on the intern’s work. For Doran, the internships have provided both the students and himself with a great opportunity to grow and learn. “I’ve been able to take advantage of the students’ minds and really capitalize on the assets of these young people who are so ambitious and passionate,” said Doran. Skyler Beebe, PRT’s Operations Manager said he is very grateful for the help from Doran, the ISU College of Business and its interns- Ryan Byers and Tynan O’Neil. “They have shared their talents and knowledge gained from the programs at ISU to help our department advance from the stone age to modern-day times,” said Beebe. “We’ve known for a long time that we needed to change our approach to get the word out about the importance of public transportation while juggling with financial restraints and ISU’s program and its interns made that possible.”
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professional development
BAP TRAVELS TO BALTIMORE
national conference & service project people,” said Konicek. “Some of the kids didn’t own any books because they were so poor. Some things, like books, we really take for granted. It is a gift to know how to read and to have the opportunity available to us.” Konicek said the Baltimore students were very impressionable and
faculty & staff
economic development
building a business community
dyer hall
T
he fall 2016 semester introduced the first residential college at ISU – the College of Business Residential Community at Dyer Hall. Director of University
Housing, Craig Thompson and Accounting Professor,
looked up to the visiting college students.
Michele O’Brien-Rose began planning renovations to the
In addition to visiting Barclay, the students
residence hall over a year ago. “In talking to students,
gained valuable insights from other members and professionals at the national BAP convention such
B
real-world classroom
as new ways of raising money for their chapter and recruiting new members.
we’ve found that the developments at Dyer Hall have enhanced the overall social and academic lives of the residents,” said Thompson. According to Thompson, statistics show that students living on campus generally maintain a higher grade point
eta Alpha Psi (BAP) students traveled to
“The students also learned the main reason why
average and are more likely to graduate.
Baltimore in early August for an annual
BAP exists,” said Konicek, adding that the event
Another advantage of the residential college is to provide
convention visit. Students Thomas Ryan,
was a major networking opportunity for the
an atmosphere where meaningful relationships can be
Jorge Garcia, Cameron Wells, Melinda
students.
built between students, faculty members and the ISU community. “Dyer Hall offers students the opportunity to
Perez, Jennifer Donaldson and Sheldon Anderson
Konicek said the students also gave a presentation
as well as advisors Dawn Konicek and Dave
on fundraising, covering how their chapter has,
Bagley, both Clinical Assistant Professors of
and continues to, raise funding.
Accounting, took three hours to visit first through
According to Konicek, the CoB’s BAP chapter
fifth grade students at Barclay Elementary School
attends the regional and national conventions
currently being used as an activity room and a conference
in an effort to encourage reading.
each year, with this year’s regionals scheduled to
roomwith plans for future renovations to be made in the
“[From the time we spent with the students, we
take place in Denver and Nationals scheduled for
other common areas. Thompson said he also hopes to
realized] we are more fortunate than most
Anaheim, Calif.
eventually add a faculty office or apartment in the hall.
appreciate and love Idaho State University through that sense of community,” said Thompson. Renovations to Dyer Hall have included new carpet and new furniture in two of the four common areas which are
of
the
institution.
Most
recently,
with
this
support, the College has put a strong focus on improving the student experience and providing a more modern, professional and welcoming space to help build upon the comradery culture found at the CoB and the real-world business atmosphere
T
Now hroughout
emphasized
nearing
in
completion,
the the
programs. Technology,
the
alumni and the CoB leadership to help continue
Teaching and Learning Center on the fifth floor of
years, the College
effective operations of the College. Today, the
the Business Administration building represents a
of
Business
Leadership Board is made up of eight to 10
significant upgrade that will allow students to work
graduated
College of Business grads, all leaders in their
more effectively utilizing modern technology. The
thousands of successful and
industries, all of whom are devoted to promoting,
space is set up with angular tables for easy laptop
professionally
advocating and assisting the College leadership
and group work and will also allow printing access.
individuals who are ready to
with
professional
According to the College of Business Dean, Dr.
take on their careers with a
backgrounds. These individuals have contributed
Tom Ottaway, a space like this has been a major
strong
business
countless hours and assets to growing upon the
goal for the College. “At the end of each semester
background and the desire to
educational traditions of the College of Business.
we hold a focus group for students in the capstone
succeed. Five years ago, the
Even beyond the Leadership Board, the College
classes,” said Ottaway. “During this survey, we
College of Business Leadership
of Business has been generously supported by
most often found that students felt there was a
Board was established as a
alumni, friends and businesses all seeking to help
lack of open space for studying and working in
partnership
cultivate and build upon the quality education
groups within the business building.”
has
prepared
educational
between
those
advice
from
their
own
The room, scheduled to be complete in spring
the 21st century.” Halstead added in order for
in ‘board room’ for our student organizations
of 2017, was established completely from
students to compete in this increasingly tech-savvy
to meet.” According to Ottaway, this room
contributions from donors like Idaho Central Credit
world, they must be exposed to the most modern
will also include oversized lockers for student
Union and accounting alumna, Tammy Halstead
ways of doing business within their education.
groups
who contributed to the unique server room within
“In order to continue to provide a quality
The opposite side of the space also has four
the space. “This glassed-in area will create a hands-
educational experience, the CoB must equip and
private study rooms for small group meetings,
on technology resource that will permeate all of the
maintain classrooms with modern technology
each seating between eight to 10 people.
business disciplines in the College,” said the Dean.
and amenities. Integrating technology helps
Fifteen years ago, Mike Ruettgers gifted the
“I believe that a college education matters,” said
students stay engaged, allows students to interact
College with a $5 million endowment, a
Halstead, a member of the Leadership Board
with classmates by encouraging collaboration
portion of which was redirected as funding for
and major College of Business supporter. “We
and makes learning more interesting and fun.”
the Student Community Center’s construction.
all know that education pays; the higher the
In addition to the new space on the fifth floor, due to
“These contributions are what make it possible for
level of education, the more earning power.
the support of alumni and friends, the CoB is in the
the College to adapt our curriculum, teaching style
But, even more important than future earnings-
process of also completing a Student Community
and overall atmosphere to fit an innovative and
college students have the opportunity to discover
Center on the second floor of the building. “This new
modern future for our students,” said the Senior
new passions, to learn about and open their
space will have a completely glassed in entrance,
Director of Development for the College, Mark
minds to things they have never been exposed
making it feel more open and approachable
Arstein. “No matter the size of the gift, we have
to before [and to] encounter new ideas. My
for students,” said Ottaway. The large space
been able to combine contributions into lucrative
hope is that by investing in ISU, I am helping to
will include group work tables, projectors and
sponsorships for projects and scholarships that will
develop broad-minded, global citizens with the
chairs set up in conversational arrangements.
make a difference for years to come.” According
knowledge and skills they need to compete in
“The back of the room will have a glassed-
to Arstein and Ottaway, in order to help build
to
store
equipment
and
materials.
enrollment of the College and provide students with a realistic representation of the challenges in technology, communication and problem solving they will face in the real world, it’s imperative that the facilities emulate that same real-world educational experience
the
College
strives
to
provide.
“Our curriculum is heavily based on real-world driven projects that truly give students
hands-
on experience in their fields,” said Ottaway. “With our Professional Development program and the projects and extra curricular activities
the professors align for students,
students will be fully prepared to utilize the
Ottaway. With four floors of classrooms, the
we are providing a business culture
technologies of their industry and experience
College hopes to start by modernizing classroom
for our students that follows the real
a true corporate setting in the classroom.
seating, workspaces and technology as well as
and modern business world. That
This support has made it possible to set the
expanding upon the established scholarship
atmosphere cannot grow and cannot
College on the path to constructing and upgrading
funding available to business students. “Right
be obvious to prospective students
student-centered areas and classrooms such as
now, we award over $100,000 to our students
if our facilities don’t support that
the 2013 Cooper Norman room remodel. “We
annually, which is an amazing contribution for
mission.” According to Ottaway, it is
have goals for where we want our building to
them,” said Arstein. “We hope to keep this amount
the contributions that provide the CoB
be in the next few years to help accommodate
growing and continue to make a big difference
with the ability to grow along with
the needs and desires of our students and to
in the financial aspects of an education as well.”
the business world and ensure that
keep up with our growing curriculum,” said
SUPPORT FROM EXPERIENCE
“A
non-traditional
1977, as a husband and father, he began taking courses on the Idaho Falls
student, I knew what a
campus. “By that time, I found I had matured and the courses really piqued my
challenge it was to stay
interest.” Around the same time, Lynn ran into a crossroads in his career. After
in school and try to raise
suffering in a snowmobiling accident, he was unable to continue his field work
a
Lynn
at the Idaho State Department of Lands. Forced to make a career change, Lynn
and
returned to ISU at 32, choosing to study in the College of Business full-time.
Organization graduate of the College
Upon graduating, he went to work in the steel distribution industry in
of Business. Several years ago, Lynn
Pocatello and then in Washington where he worked as branch manager
and his wife Judy set up an endowment
for Pacific Steel for 12 years. “Finally I felt like I was at an age where
scholarship meant to uniquely assist
I thought- ‘I can do this on my own.’” So, in 1997 he and his wife
non-traditional students in the College
Judy opened Eagle Cap Steel and Supply of La Grande, Oregon.
of Business as a way of giving back to
Shortly after starting their successful business, the Kidd’s decided to expand
those who had a similar tale to his own.
their regular contributions to the College and establish a scholarship fund. “The
As a Pocatello native, Lynn had attended ISU three times over the years, but
only restrictions we wanted to set on the fund would be to ensure that it went
was unsure of his ideal career path. “The first two times I didn’t have enough
to non-traditional students,” said Lynn. “We didn’t set the GPA requirements
interest in what I was doing to finish,” said Lynn. After attending the University
very high either, because I knew from experience how difficult it can be to
in 1965 and 1969, Lynn found he had still not discovered his calling. By
take care of a family and go to school at the same (Continues page: 16)
Kidd,
a
s
1981
a
family,”
said
Management
feature story
professional development
REAL-WORLD CLASSROOM
faculty & staff
economic development
VALUE IN REAL- WORLD PROJECT S
students write a history of isu
pre-order your copy
Maria Keller, Kirk Long, Kristine McCarty, Melissa
Collections department of the Eli M. Oboler
Myers and Jordan Withers had the amazing
Library where thousands of photos were available
experience of writing a book in under two months.
showing the history of ISU from its very beginning
The purpose of the class was not just to write a
as the Academy of Idaho in 1901.
this student written book features a huge array of fasinating photographs and history about the institution that has grown in pocatello from the academy of idaho in 1901 to the idaho state university we know today. order online at:
I
goo.gl/6GzA3D
book about the history of ISU from
Working in teams of two, we selected photos that
the students’ perspective - but to allow
would best tell the story of ISU for our particular
us to work on an intense, deadline-
topic. (My team wrote a chapter on academics
driven project while learning how to
and ISU post-1980; others wrote about student
work effectively as a team.
life, buildings and athletics.) The goal here
For inspiration, we began by reading
was not to write a comprehensive history of the
Ed Catmull’s “Creativity, Inc,” a book
University, but to give a snapshot of what it was
n the College of Business, students have many
about his experience at Pixar - a company widely
like to be a Bengal over the years.
opportunities to take innovative classes that
regarded as having the ins and outs of teamwork
For many of us, the most challenging part of
allow them to apply what they have learned
and creativity down to a science. Catmull’s book
the course was to write a book in less than one
and better improve their hard and soft skills. I
served as a foundation for approaching our team
semester, but of course, managing team dynamics
decided to take one such class fall 2016 - MGT
project: How would we make sure each individual
and expectations presented its own difficulties.
4499/5599: The ISU Book Project- where last
was heard? How would we ensure everyone
As students, ending the semester a published
year, Dr. Alex Bolinger, Associate Professor of
felt comfortable sharing ideas? How would we
author is great - but learning how to communicate
Management, led a group of students in writing
respond to and deliver constructive criticism? So,
openly and collaboratively, to be supportive and
the history of Garrett Freightlines. This year, the
the project began with group contracts that would
encouraging of one another and to set aside our
course was revived with a new book focusing on
set our expectations of one another and develop
own opinions and biases for the good of the
the history of Idaho State University.
an acceptable standard of communication and
project has been invaluable.
Throughout the semester, eight students including:
performance.
[ KRISTINE McCARTY, MBA Student & Director of
Kaitlyn Barkley, Kitanna Belnap, Jenna Hopkins,
Most of the semester was spent in the Special
Undergraduate Studies ]
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professional development
12 |
real-world classroom
faculty & staff
economic development
A CUSTOMIZED EDUC ATION
student applies horse training to managerial principles we take horses out of the wild, that instinct hasn’t been removed. So, when we work with horses we need to understand the principles that make a leader.” For Andrus, those principles are what made a deeper connection between the leadership concepts taught in the course and leadership when working with horses. As part of his business plan, Andrus hopes to analyze the connection between people’s reactions working with and leading horses as compared to human interaction in the workplace. “I want to know how easily these connections can be made and if they
I THINK THIS UNIQUE PROJECT IS A GREAT TESTAMENT TO HOW
CUSTOMIZABLE YOUR EDUCATION CAN BE AT IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY.
A
s part of a project in Management
explained.
Professor,
class,
For Master of Business Administration (MBA)
students were asked to exhibit their
student Kevin Andrus, the assignment presented
understanding of the managerial
a unique opportunity to relate the skills he had
concepts covered by producing a business idea
gained from the course with his life-long passion
and business plan.
for horses.
“The goal of the assignment was for students
“I’ve worked with horses my entire life,” explained
to apply the leadership skills they learned in
Andrus, a Lava Hot Springs native. “Horses survive
the course to real life, preferably in a way that
in herds where there is a leader that makes the
would advance their own career goals,” Burch
decisions for their safety,” said Andrus. “When
Tyler
Burch’s
will prove to be beneficial.” So, how would the connection work from horse to man? According to Andrus, a scenario might look something like having a subject try to move a horse forward without success. Here, Andrus would discuss why the horse was not moving and brainstorm what may have been the limiting factors. “This could be because the message was unclear, the horse didn’t trust the leader or the horse was distracted,” said Andrus. “We would then connect the leadership concepts taken with the horse’s reaction and correlate that to working with people. I think it would be beneficial to see
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professional development
13 |
real-world classroom
faculty & staff
economic development
these leadership techniques in that different light.
each experiment- so long as we can interpret the
If he is able to find a usable correlation, Andrus said
“Anytime people can get a different perspective
horse’s reactions.”
he hopes to use his findings to start a consulting
on management and leadership it helps them
In many cases, communication problems and
firm or workshop using these techniques.
understand what they might be doing right or
misunderstandings are the leading cause of
“I think this unique project is a great testament
wrong. Horses are also a great medium because
problems in the workplace. “If employees feel
to how customizable your education can be at
they allow people to gain perspective without
lost, a leader should know how to give proper
ISU,” said Professor Burch. “We are actually
the worry of hurting any feelings,” said Andrus
instruction to work around that. Horses are great
allowing students to craft their own education
adding that another benefit in working with horses
in this practice, because they are completely
in a direction that helps them uniquely and fits
is their inability to lie. “Horses are constantly
reliant on our instruction and leadership. This
with their interests. So, for the proactive student,
showing you how they are feeling and whether or
would help managers to look at their leadership
you can gain a private school experience with
not they trust you as a leader, which would really
techniques from the employee’s perspective and
the smaller class sizes that make these types of
help us to gain an accurate understanding with
make improvements,” said Andrus.
tailored projects possible.”
INFLUENCING CIT Y DECISION
the economic impact of a local river
O
ver the semester, students in Economics Professor, Tesa Stegner’s Environmental Economics course reviewed literature on developments similar to the proposed Portneuf River restoration projects. This 2015 vision study introduced a series of short and long term revitalization projects to the Portneuf River running through Pocatello and surrounding
areas. Stegner’s class evaluated potential benefits the river could provide to the local economy. “It’s not just an assignment, we get to look at real projects happening now in Pocatello,” said student Davis
idaho central credit union
sponsorship
T
hanks to support from Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU), CoB graduate students will continue to compete in the International
Collegiate Business Strategy Competition (ICBSC). Serving as the title sponsor, ICCU will provide $8,000 per year for the next three years to cover
Taylor. “It gives you a view of how you can use economic principles in a real world application.”
registration, transportation to California and lodging.
Students will have the opportunity to present their findings to key representatives from the City of
The program allows students to compete while
Pocatello and influence decision-making on the projects. “It’s nice to know that the work you do in class
running an intense simulated business with risks of
is going to matter,” said student Sebastian Edin. If implemented, the Portneuf River projects would be
financial and economic factors. Students compete
completed over the course of 20 to 30 years.
against other groups from around the world.
feature story
professional development
real-world classroom
economic development
FACULTY & STAFF
W E L C O M I N G new accounting faculty jason chen, ph.d.
jerry leffler
assistant professor of accounting
clinical assistant professor of accounting
Jason Chen graduated from BYU-Hawaii with honors and earned his Master of Accountancy/Taxation from UNLV. He worked for Arthur Andersen prior to earning his Ph.D. in accounting and taxation from the University of Central Florida. His research focuses on the impact of financial reporting and tax policies on social and environmental issues.
Born and raised in the area, Leffler graduated from ISU with a BBA and MBA in accounting. Upon graduating, he went to work for various companies including E&Y and Oracle & Rabobank. Additionally, Leffler was a small business owner before returning to ISU. “This University gave me all the tools I needed to succeed and now I would like to give back to others,” said Leffler.
ray rodriguez, ph.d.
justin wood, ph.d.
associate professor of accounting
assistant professor of accounting
Before joining academia, Rodriguez worked for 10 years as an accountant at four firms including Valero Energy Corporation. In 2008, he began teaching, most recently teaching taxation and cost accounting at Murray State University and Texas A&M University-Commerce. Previous to that, he taught at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Now, with six universities under his belt, Rodriguez continues to teach numerous taxation courses.
Wood graduated from BYU with an undergraduate degree in economics and an MBA. His Ph.D. (ABD) in accounting was earned from the University of Iowa. Previous to his graduate studies, Wood worked as a deal sourcing analyst for Sorenson Capital, a mid-market private equity firm. His teaching interests are in financial accounting.
faculty research
and highlights
teri peterson, ed.d.
“understanding the structural, human resource, political, and symbolic dimensions of implementing and sustaining interprofessional education” For her work with Tracy Farnsworth, Peterson received the J. Warren Perry Distinguished Author Award. Top papers are selected by reviewers from papers published in the Journal during the previous academic year. published: journal of allied health
“are
jason chen, ph.d.
more choices better? an experimental
investigation of the effects of multiple tax incentives”
The research experimentally found that multiple tax incentives have negative effects on taxpayers where they appear to suffer from choosing suboptimal incentives. published: the journal of the american taxation association
william northington, ph.d.
“making
inconsistent worlds: a conceptual
framework for co-competition in service dominant logic”
Found that co-competition arises when heterogeneous segments of consumers attempt different cocreation strategies with the firm. under review: journal of consumer marketing
feature story
professional development
real-world classroom
faculty & staff
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
improving potato storage and sales Solutions, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Eastern Idaho Development Corporation (EIDC) and TechHelp.
INNOVATOR... YOU CAN DO THIS
I
The mission of CEED is to promote, support and develop new business in Southeastern Idaho and to create a culture, or ‘ecosystem’ of
sbdc success
G
arry Isaacs invented and patented the “humigator”
nearly
a
decade
ago
for
industrial air cleaning but changed the model
when he realized the real value was in agriculture – particularly potato storage. In 2014, Blake Isaacs joined his father Gary and expanded the business. The humigator integrates into potato storage ventilation
n early 2016, President Vailas and Dean
entrepreneurship. The primary goal is to provide
Ottaway envisioned a university-based center
new businesses, particularly technology-based,
for business activity hosted by the College
with an environment that supports their start-up
of Business. From this vision, the Center for
phase and increases their likelihood of success.
cellar. Due to the system, the farmer loses fewer potatoes
Entrepreneurship and Economic Development,
A central activity of CEED will be to operate as
to disease, and since potatoes are sold by weight, the
or CEED, emerged. As part of the vision, CEED
a business accelerator that supports the start-up
improved humidity supports a higher sale price.
will foster working partnerships with the regional
phase and early growth needs of new businesses.
Blake came to the Small Business Development Center
business community, the College of Business and
The accelerator offers direct business assistance
the University at large. CEED will be a hub for
and guidance, mentoring, networking to capital
business activity and serve as a one-stop shop for
and other technical resources. A network of
students, university inventors, business startups
existing resources in the College of Business has
and the business community to take advantage
been co-located to support university technology
the funding opportunities, grant application support and
of all the programs the College of Business
transfer and other center client needs.
excellent referrals that have helped us grow this year.
offers in support of economic development and
For more information about CEED, visit:
I recommend working with the SBDC as they made a
entrepreneurship. These programs include Bengal
isu.edu/cob/ceed
significant difference in the success of our business.”
systems by taking in mold spores that cause rot and disease and draining them out in waste water. The machine then reintroduces clean, humid air into the
at the ISU College of Business in mid-2015. In July of 2016, Blake bought the business from his father, and with the help of the SBDC, recently secured Angel Funding to speed expansion and research. He commented, “Without the SBDC, we would not have had
ABA 005 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS 921 S. 8th Avenue, Stop 8020 Pocatello, ID 83209-8020 isu.edu/cob
(From page: 10) time.” The Lynn & Judy Kidd Endowment Fund now awards around $2,000 to one student per year, typically in
their
30’s
or
above,
with
a
family.
“We wanted to make it so anyone who had the desire to go to school could qualify for the scholarship,” Lynn explained. “Our plan is to continue to contribute every year until the
endowment
grows
enough
to
really
make a nice difference in a student’s ability to go to school.” Lynn said the couple recently
added
$30,000
to
the
fund.
“We usually receive a letter once a year from the recipient of the scholarship thanking us for the opportunity.” Lynn said it has been very rewarding to dedicate the fruits of his success as a College Mark Arstein, Senior Director of Development:
of Business graduate to helping those facing the
208.949.3859 | arstmark@isu.edu
same challenges he did nearly 40 years ago.