Business Bulletin: Fall | Winter 2016

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-

supportisu.org/campaigns/cob

get weekly college of business updates:

find the magazine production team online:

sign up for the college of business newsletter

want

events • news • business

resources • blog

sign up at: isu.edu/cob/contact.shtml

to

magazine’s

us?

check

production

team

contact

isu.edu/cob/bulletin

out

the

online.

16

3|

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

feature story

5|

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

6|

feature story

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.”

feature story

7|

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 ]

feature story

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

feature story

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.