Loyola Executive Fall 2012

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Keeping their Eye on the Ball…

Scholar Athletes in the CoB

SCHOLARSHIPS IMPACT STUDENT’S LIFE • FACULTY MEMBER PROMOTES INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF KEEP THE COB ON TRACK • ALUMNUS GIVES BACK

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LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS Loyola University New Orleans President

The Rev. Kevin Wm. Wildes, S.J. College of Business Dean

William Locander Director, Portfolio & Internships

Kathy Barnett Associate Dean

Angie Hoffer Development Officer College of Business

Traci Wolff Lucas Director of Editorial Services

Ray Willhoft ’00 Loyola Executive Designer

Craig Bloodworth Photographer

Harold Baquet Photo Contributors

Kyle Encar Crystal Shelton Contributors

Kathy Barnett William Locander Nathan C. Martin

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COLLEGE OF BUSINESS MAGAZINE LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS Fall 2012 • VOL.5 • NO.2 • www.business.loyno.edu

COVER FOCUS 6 Keeping their Eye on the Ball...

Scholar Athletes in the CoB

FEATURES 10 Scholarships Offer Hope and Encouragement…One Young Man’s Story 13 MBA Success Update 16 The CoB’s Ambassador to China 18 It Was Always All About Stats, Spreadsheets, and Students 22 The Business of Giving Back 24 Seeing to it that the Trains Run on Time—All Day, Every Day On the Cover: Dr. Michael Giorlando (center), Director of Athletics and Wellness and Head Men’s Basketball Coach, with Cristiana Krtalic, Braden LaRuffa, Manuel “Roco” Gandara, William Maye, and Kaitlyn Broadbent Loyola Executive is published bi-annually for Loyola University New Orleans College of Business alumni and friends.

Please address correspondence to: Loyola Executive Office of the Dean 6363 St. Charles Avenue, Box 15 New Orleans, LA 70118 News and photographs for possible use in future issues may be submitted by readers.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Loyola Executive Loyola University New Orleans 7214 St. Charles Avenue, Box 909 New Orleans, LA 70118 Loyola University New Orleans has fully supported and fostered in its educational programs, admissions, employment practices, and in the activities it operates the policy of not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex/gender, or sexual orientation. This policy is in compliance with all applicable federal regulations and guidelines.

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An MBA Degree is easy to obtain.

An MBA Education is rare.

Loyola knows the difference.

See our products.

Jeff Ehlinger, M.B.A. ’03, Senior Vice President, First Bank and Trust

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Suzanne Sainato, M.B.A. ’12, Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, Symetra Life Insurance

Loyola MBA Program • (504) 864-7965 • mba@loyno.edu

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From the Dean As we start another year in the College of Business, there is much going on with our students, faculty, and staff—some of which are featured in this issue of the Executive. As dean, I am proud of our scholar athletes. CoB athletes have done the college proud by their hard work and dedication in sports and in the classroom.

If you ever doubted the power of a college scholarship, the feature article on Anthony Sedlak will erase those doubts and give you a renewed faith in a Jesuit/Catholic education.

Please read the talk he delivered at Loyola’s Scholarship Dinner last spring.

As usual, we feature our faculty, Drs. Wing Fok and Lee Mundell. Wing has been the CoB’s guide to the mysteries of China for years leading student groups and arranging for our exchange programs. Lee has retired after years of solving the mystery of statistics for our CoB students. Great job, Lee. Thanks for all your hard work.

There is no mystery as to why the trains run on time in the CoB—it is our dedicated staff who are always there to lend a helping hand to students and faculty. The article on alumnus Eric Eckholdt ’89 shows the power of giving back by blending personal values and business skills.

And last, I hope you join us on our social media sites including the new Loyola College of Business Facebook page and the College of Business LinkedIn group. Both will allow you to keep up-to-date on what the college is doing as well as reconnect with some of your favorite CoB professors and classmates.

William B. Locander, Ph.D. College of Business Dean

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Keeping their Eye on the Ball‌ Scholar Athletes in the CoB 6

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Gifted with both intellect and athletic ability, College of Business scholar athletes somehow manage to find the right balance among academics, sports, and fun. According to Dr. Michael Giorlando, director of Athletics and Wellness and Head Men’s Basketball Coach, “Their time at the university is about long hours spent at practice, school pride, team play, competition, and leadership—all in addition to maintaining exemplary grade point averages.” The five students we have selected to appear in our cover story all are examples of students who take the college experience to a different level.

Kaitlyn Broadbent, Accounting and Finance, Volleyball A Sacramento, Calif., native, Kaitlyn Broadbent started at Loyola in fall 2010 and has managed to be on the Dean’s List every semester since her arrival. No easy feat considering a schedule that includes daily three-hour practices and 30plus scheduled games. At times, that game schedule means being on the road and missing classes.

This future CPA says, “I am constantly working ahead in classes while travelling. If I get behind it is very difficult to catch up.”

Broadbent says the best thing about being a student athlete is the encouragement she gets from her coaches to be a better student and the encouragement she gets from her professors to be a better athlete.

“The professors are very helpful and work with us to make sure we are living up to our academic potential.”

Broadbent ventured away from volleyball this summer interning with the Sacramento River Cats TripleA baseball team. She enjoyed the opportunity to meet a lot of great people, including some of the players, while putting her academic skills to work. Following graduation, she plans to get her master’s degree in accounting and sit for the CPA. In the meantime, catch her in The Den on the courts.

Manuel “Roco” Gandara, Finance/International Business, Basketball Travelling all the way from his hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico, to study and play basketball at Loyola is an indication of Manuel “Roco” Gandara’s love for the sport and desire to earn an outstanding education. Having to miss time with family was made a bit easier last year when Loyola’s Men’s Basketball team won the SSAC Conference Championship. As Gandara put it, “That was the long awaited payoff that makes working so hard throughout the year worth it.”

The best thing for Gandara about his time on the court is the longstanding, unbreakable Fall 2012 www.business.loyno.edu

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relationships he has developed with his teammates and coaches. “I’ve met some of my best friends in this basketball program. On days when practice might seem too hard, my teammates are always there to encourage and challenge me. The struggle we all go through builds a bond much stronger than many others have with their friends.”

Gandara spent his time away from the court this summer interning at Northwestern Mutual learning more about the field of finance which fits nicely with his post-graduation plans to work in the financial services industry. A few years of work and then he plans to pursue an M.B.A. and perhaps even a doctorate. His hobbies include scuba diving and snorkeling and of course, making time to visit with family back home.

Cristiana Krtalic, Economics/International Business, Tennis Playing both singles and doubles tennis for the Wolf Pack keeps Cristiana Krtalic busy most days.

Classes, daily practice, and working as a writing tutor at Loyola’s Writing Across the Curriculum Lab can make time management a real challenge. Krtalic says, “As long as I plan in advance and schedule all my activities carefully, I have plenty of time for studying and some time for well…just goofing off occasionally.”

The team’s 17-game schedule keeps them travelling between Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Krtalic likes her active lifestyle and the outdoors, so tennis seems to be the perfect sport for her. As she commented, “Running around the tennis court five days a week at practice is a great way to stay active and enjoy the outdoors all at the same time; although, it does get a bit hot here in New Orleans.” Originally from New York, N.Y., she is a bit used to a colder climate. But none-the-less, she says she is playing better tennis than ever before and is excited about that.

As an economics/international business double major, it is not surprising to hear that Krtalic’s future plans include a career that will involve critical thinking and creative endeavors in some interesting locations. Until then, she is happy to be a part of Loyola’s CoB and tennis team.

Braden LaRuffa, Management/Marketing, Baseball Hailing from Smithtown, N.Y., Braden LaRuffa has played for Loyola’s baseball team since fall 2009.

An infielder, LaRuffa says the highlight of his career at Loyola was playing in his first game on the road.

“It was a good feeling to know that all that hard work and dedication paid off.”

As with most student athletes, LaRuffa cites finding that balance between school and team play as difficult. Members of the baseball team spend at least a two-week stretch on the road 4 out of 7 days, poten8

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tially missing almost two weeks of classes. To counter this stretch, LaRuffa makes sure that he uses class time productively and stays ahead of assignments whenever possible.

LaRuffa considers himself fortunate to be around the sport every day at the college level and constantly reminds himself of his good fortune. He is thinking about marrying his love of baseball with his academic accomplishments for his professional career. “I am considering going for my master’s degree in statistics and working as a graduate assistant for a college baseball program.” He got a taste of this over the summer when he worked as a Florida operations intern for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wherever he ends up, his time as part of the Wolf Pack will always stay with him.

William Maye, Economics, Track and Field William Maye discovered his love for running his senior year in high school and says the highlight for him has been making the Loyola team as a freshman walk-on. “I truly appreciate that Coach Canegitta gave me the opportunity to continue running and improve in this sport.”

From Andover, Mass., Maye maintained a busy schedule his freshman year at Loyola that consisted of classes and studying, team competition, work study, community service, and student government. Maye says he is always “balancing the time required to excel in academics, contribute to the team’s success, satisfy other commitments, and keep up with my friends. The expectations are much higher in both the classroom and on the track than in high school, so there is never enough time to do everything as well as I would like.”

As a sophomore, Maye is still early on in his academic studies but as of now is thinking about a career in public service and public policy with plans for graduate school and maybe even a college teaching career. Of course one never knows how things will turn out, as is true in Maye’s case. A varsity ice hockey player all through high school, he experienced multiple shoulder dislocations and surgery which convinced him that playing ice hockey in college was not the path for him. “I look at those tough times in ice hockey now as a blessing because if I had still been playing hockey I would not have chosen to come here for school and would have missed all the unique experiences Loyola has to offer.”

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A highlight of this year’s Scholarship Dinner was CoB accounting senior Anthony Sedlak’s speech on the impact of scholarship dollars on his life and academic career. His is a story of great adversity, yet enduring hope. We have included Sedlak’s speech here so that you may better understand the impact of giving to young scholars who often struggle against great odds.

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Good Evening. My name is Anthony Sedlak, and I am a senior at Loyola. Three years ago, before I transferred to Loyola, I was homeless, with 6 cents in my bank account and a $20 bill between my single mother and myself. The economic downturn had caused my already struggling family to eventually lose everything. My family had fallen apart due to divorce, my mother’s schizophrenia had raged out of control, and I lost everything I ever had. Thankfully, three months ago, I signed a contract with a worldwide accounting firm for a large starting salary when I graduate this May. Your financial donations to my college expenses made this fortunate turnaround possible. It is because of donations like yours that a boy with a dream could work his hardest to achieve what his circumstances told him were impossible. No matter how hard one works to achieve their dreams, sometimes it is only with the helping hand of donors such as yourselves that he can rise above and accomplish his goals.

Tonight, I would like to talk to you about three ways in which your donations help students like myself. First, before starting college, your donations give us hope. Hope, that if we strive hard enough in our studies, we can receive the means to attend and graduate college. Second, your donations give us encouragement to keep going while in college, mentally and financially. Third, your generosity extends beyond your investment into our lives and into the lives of future generations.

My first point deals with hope. When I was at the lowest of lows, with little-to-no possibility in sight to rise above my financial circumstances, the thing that kept me going was hope. Hope that I would be able to graduate college due to scholarships from my stellar academic performance. I worked three different near-minimum wage jobs

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during this time period, and the hope of scholarships such as yours was how I was able to survive the monotony and exhaustion of my work. The idea of scholarships also gave me an added desire to put my all into my studies at my community college, and it inspired me enough to transfer to Loyola with a perfect 4.0 GPA after two years of college. When speaking of the most important things in life, the Apostle Paul wrote in Corinthians that three things remained: “Faith, Hope, and Love.” He and I both understand the importance of hope, and your generosity has given me and many others the hope that we needed. It’s more than just financial hope, it’s the hope that someone will appreciate and reward our hard work.

This brings me to my second point, your philanthropy gives us not only the financial opportunity to continue our studies in college, but also the emotional strength to see it through.

Whenever I have been awarded scholarships, I have always felt an encouragement that extended far beyond financial means. Your donation is not just money, it is symbolic in that it demonstrates trust in us, that we will take what you have given us and turn it into something good for the world through our college education. The fact that someone who has never met us is willing to give us financial empowerment creates such a level of gratefulness in not only your gift, but the fact that you have seen our hard work and want us to succeed.

This empowerment to succeed brings me to my third point, which is that your donations extend far beyond our lives and indirectly bless the lives of those around us through our future successes.

Some of us will graduate and become doctors, lawyers, businesspeople, artists, musicians, and engineers. Perhaps the cure for cancer will be discovered by a Loyola grad. Our business students

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can help stimulate the economy and create jobs for our nation’s unemployed. Who knows? Maybe the next Tchaikovsky is one of our very own musicians.

None of this would be possible without your support. You have given us the potential to help the world. You have unlocked the future for us. Also, when we become as successful as you, we will be able to donate back to students like ourselves, thus creating the circle of philanthropy which passes from one generation to the other. Thank you for continuing this circle of generosity.

I believe my purpose in life is to help those in need through my personal finances by empowering people to lift themselves above their circumstances, just as you

have done for me. I truly am the poster child of what can be accomplished through capitalism and hard work.

I am the living definition of “rags to riches.” But none of this would be possible without your help.

One of the ideals of Jesuit education is to possess a “Special Concern for the Poor and Oppressed,” and Jesus once said that whatever you do to help those in need, you do unto Him. Thank you for your service to Christ.

Thank you for giving us hope, continual encouragement to work hard, and the ability to make the world a better place. We will be forever grateful for the opportunities you have provided us.

––Anthony Sedlak

“Anthony was a conscientious student, and always exhibited a positive attitude and a deep faith in Christ. I did not know of the hardships and challenges he endured and overcame to earn his accounting degree (with a 3.9 GPA) until a month before graduation. He never complained of his situation. Despite academic and personal demands, Anthony found the time and energy to give back to his community by serving as a senior counselor for the Crossroads Christian Youth Center and actively participating in several academic honor organizations. Anthony is not only an outstanding student, but an outstanding human being.

It was an honor, privilege, and immense joy to have worked with Anthony for the past two years.

Anthony has made Loyola proud, and I am confident that he will continue to make Loyola proud as he achieves even greater successes in his professional career and personal life.”

—Pat Lynch, Visiting Assistant Professor of Accounting

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MBA Success Update: Alumnus Promoted to President of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Hornets You might remember the maroon and gold ties of CoB alumnus Dennis Lauscha, M.B.A. ’93, executive vice president and chief financial officer for the New Orleans Saints, from the spring 2011 issue of Loyola Executive. Well, Lauscha has had to expand his wardrobe with new colors blue and purple thanks to his promotion to the newly created position of president of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Hornets by team owner Tom Benson, H’87.

A New Orleans native and graduate of Jesuit High School, Lauscha joined the Saints as treasurer in 1998 and has been steadily moving up through the organization ever since. As team president, he will maintain his role on the Saints’ Board of Directors and will continue to oversee the financial operations of the team. In addition, he will take on the responsibility of overseeing the club’s marketing, ticket operations, legal department, and community affairs.

According to a report by The Times-Picayune, Lauscha played a key role in acquiring the Hornets, as well as brokering the Saints’ recent long-term lease agreement with the state of Louisiana, which will keep the team in New Orleans through 2025. In addition to playing a key part in bringing Super Bowl XLVII to New Orleans next year, Lauscha was also responsible for expanding Benson’s media presence by purchasing WVUE-TV and Horizon Entertainment, a film production company.

“He was a youngster when he came here, and I had to watch him close,” Benson told The TimesPicayune. “He’s come a long way, I can tell you. He’s sure been a great asset to our company. And he’s involved with everything. One thing with Dennis, you never ask him to work on a project and he turns it down. He’s involved in everything, isn’t he?”

CoB Dean William Locander, Ph.D., says despite his busy schedule, Lauscha has still found time and energy to contribute back to Loyola.

“Dennis has been a loyal Loyola supporter for many years. He has done everything from hire our CoB students as interns and full-time employees to serving as chair of our visiting committee to teaching a course on the business of professional football at the inaugural Alumni College,” Locander says. “We are proud to have him as a graduate of our MBA program and a friend of the university and congratulate him on his success.”

Fall 2012 www.business.loyno.edu

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China

Travelling and Learning in Foreign Lands

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Once again, CoB students spent part of their summer traversing Europe and Asia while acquiring a true global business perspective. Trip participants met with foreign-based business leaders and soaked up local culture, all while getting course credit.

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Geneva, Switzerland Fall 2012

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Europe

Florence, Italy

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While not really an ambassador, one faculty member fulfills the role for faculty and students to enhance their understanding of Hong Kong and China. It is no accident that Loyola’s College of Business students have been able to take summer trips to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xi’an. Thanks to the efforts of Professor Wing Fok, Ph.D., our undergraduate and graduate students can experience in person the energy brought by the tremendous economic growth in China. While they were able to visit a number of Chinese companies competing in the global market and learn from Chinese faculty, they have also been exposed to the Great Wall of China, the Olympic Games site, the Terra Cotta Warriors, Chinese acrobats, as well as the giant pandas, the national treasure of China.

Fok has been on the College of Business faculty for 24 years but has always held Asia close to his heart.

He should, as he was born in Hong Kong, raised in government housing in his younger age, attended public high school, and received his college degree from Chinese University of Hong Kong before being granted his Ph.D. from Georgia State University. It is a story of determination that led Fok from what would be considered by today’s standards the worst of U.S. public housing to a position on Loyola’s faculty. As Fok said of his early childhood experience, “we were all in it together, surrounded by family and living in what used to be a British Crown Colony. We did not know we had it so rough. But, I cherish the education I received FAll 2012

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from the Catholic primary school that was across the street from my home. I feel privileged to be teaching at a Catholic university now; I have come full circle.”

Fok currently holds the Henry J. Engler, Jr., Distinguished Professorship in Management at Loyola.

He has won a number of college awards including an Outstanding Graduate Teaching award and also one for undergraduate teaching. His publications have also been recognized with an Outstanding Scholarship Research award.

Fok has a number of interesting hobbies in addition to being a world traveler. While at home, it’s a table tennis paddle, badminton racquet, or golf club in his hand. He is most accomplished at table tennis, often having evening neighborhood get-togethers. He is dead serious about his sports but even more so about seeing that U.S. students have the chance to see the wonders of China and that Chinese students are welcomed to our campus when they come to Loyola. As Fok puts it, “Chinese students have to adjust to the much more participative and challenging U.S. education style.”

Within the last few years, Dean Locander traveled with Fok to Hong Kong and China twice looking for a partner university. The thought of the dean and Fok seeing the sights in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong brings a smile to Fok’s face. You see, Dean Locander did not “enjoy” all of the foods in China. As Fok puts it, “Dean Locander dragged me from one McDonalds to another. Finally he ate some Peking Duck and loved it.

But, the Quarter Pounder and Diet Coke kept him alive during our first 10-day trip.”

Fok has played a number of roles in the College of Business but most recently has been working on Loyola opening an MBA program with a partner Catholic University in Hong Kong, Caritas Institute of Higher Education. With a little luck, Fok will be able to spend more time in his home town working with Loyola’s MBA students in Hong Kong. Of course, he will still be primarily in New Orleans to fulfill his role as the College of Business Asia Ambassador.

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It Was Always All About

Lee Mundell, Ph.D., (with wife Sandy) celebrates at his retirement reception.

Lee Mundell, Ph.D., recently retired from Loyola’s College of Business after 27 years of teaching, research, and serving the Loyola community. During his tenure at Loyola, he taught many students the finer points of navigating Excel software and spreadsheets—an important skill valued by many employers. Mundell’s academic career 18

includes a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina, with a B.S. and B.A. from the University of Florida.

Jerry Dauterive, Ph.D., former associate dean of the CoB, hired Mundell back when the CoB was the CBA and located in Stallings Hall. Dauterive remembers that one important aspect of Mundell’s Loyola Executive

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Stats, Spreadsheets, and Students contributions to the college was his early adoption modern computer lab setting that reminded him a of technology in the delivery of business lot of the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. “I education. “Lee, I believe, was one of the first, if always expected to hear ‘beam me up, Scotty’ at not the first, faculty member to offer his stats anytime during class.” Mundell has gotten a good bit of favorable feedback sections in a computer lab. He from former students realized the importance of who are now wielding making sure that our graduates computers, spreadsheets, were comfortable with the use and statistics as aides to of PCs in the workplace.” fun and profit at work.

Today, such skills are a given His course in business requirement of the workstatistics is often cited as place—but not so back in the the most helpful course day. Mundell had the foresight

by CoB interns who are to make sure CoB students suddenly faced with were ready. creating spreadsheets as Mundell’s teaching and part of internship duties. research centered on statistics Mundell says he has and quantitative methods. As he really enjoyed working likes to say, “To some that might Always a good sport, Mundell donned horns with Loyola students be a conversation stopper, but for our annual Halloween CoB picnic. please don’t let it be.” His most both in and out of class recent research with colleagues was in the and as advisees. “I have worked as faculty advisor to development of Microsoft Excel-based exercises for the MBA association, Delta Sigma Pi, Beta Gamma classroom use. The exercises involve putting Sigma, and to the Loyola Club Sculling Team.” students in problem-solving situations, with Excel His interest in students and their activities did used to readily change the problem scenarios and to not go unnoticed. Former Associate Dean Dauterive do any needed calculations. In most of the exercises, commented, “I was always impressed with Lee’s students first come up with a solution individually, dedication to Loyola and the College of Business, then in groups, and then the group results are and especially our students.” compared to expert opinion. “What I like about Mundell’s cheerful smile will be missed by his these types of exercises is that they take learning many colleagues in the CoB. Of course, retirement from the memorizing and problem-solving level to will leave him more time for some of his favorite fully grasping and applying the concepts to real-life pastimes with his wife, Sandy: attending Loyola situations. The exercises range from store and basketball and volleyball games, water aerobics webpage layout problems, to managing which tasks classes, and visiting son Bradley in Pennsylvania. to do as a store manager.”

Mundell was honored one last time, receiving Mundell’s statistics classes were taught in a emeritus status upon his retirement.

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And the Winners Are: Our students always make us proud, and this year was no exception.

CoB students received recognition for their accomplishments at the May 2012 CoB Annual Awards Ceremony.

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Society of LA CPA’s Education Foundation Scholarships; Greg Booth ’06 to Albert Clesi

Alumni Association Graduation Award: Traci Wolff Lucas to Bianca Paggi

Richard Drew Wilkie Memorial Scholarship: Sgt. Hasselback to Jay Mukherjee

Beta Gamma Sigma Scholarship: Assoc. Dean Angie Hoffer to Dwight Davison

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Delta Sigma Pi Outstanding Freshman Award: Alexandra Chatter to Stephanie Tilley

Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society Outstanding Junior: Nicole Walker to Dillon Warren

Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society Outstanding Non-Graduating Senior: Nicole Walker to Maria Solis-Zavala

MBA Association Teaching Award: Ife Bancole to Dr. Mehmet Dicle

Bank of Louisiana Award for Outstanding Economics Graduate: Tim O’Brian to Javier Portillo with Dr. John Levendis

Wegmann Award for the Outstanding Baccalaureate Graduate: Dean Locander to Jourdan McCullough

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The Business of Giving

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By Nathan C. Martin

College of Business Alumnus of the Year Eric Eckholdt ’89 may have imagined himself at the helm of a division of a major international finance corporation when he enrolled in Loyola University New Orleans. After all, the ideal trajectory in the business world is up, and most aspiring businesspeople want to reach the top. To do so, many work extremely hard and devise innovative methods to generate profit for their company and its shareholders—the more money one makes for the company, the more likely it becomes that he or she will climb to a position of influence. It’s simple business.

Today, Eckholdt holds sway over more than 5,000 employees of the Credit Suisse Group, a leading worldwide financial service company. They log more than 60,000 hours annually pursuing initiatives that he and his immediate team members develop. But Eckholdt’s position as director of the Credit Suisse Americas Foundation does not hinge on the amount of money these people bring to the company. In fact, in essence, Eckholdt guides them in giving their time and money away.

“I’ve always had an interest in causes and efforts that can advance the standard of living and opportunities of less-advantaged people, in order to propel society,” Eckholdt says. This sentiment, along with a substantial degree of business savvy, makes Eckholdt the perfect person for his position.

The Americas Foundation is part of Credit Suisse’s corporate responsibility commitment. Under Eckholdt’s direction, it oversees all volunteer and philanthropic activities for Credit Suisse in the United States and Latin America. The foundation organizes Credit Suisse employees to do volunteer work for such agencies as Habitat for Humanity and the New York Food Bank, coordinates employee giving campaigns that benefit a 22 22

variety of nonprofits, and provides microfinancing for worthy small businesses.

The combination of smart business and working toward the common good was something ingrained in Eckholdt early on from College of Business professors such as William Barnett, Ph.D., Chase Distinguished Professor of International Business.

Eckholdt credits Barnett with showing him how principles of the free market, which might seem to the untrained eye to be contradictory to Loyola’s Jesuit values, actually enforce them by helping to present opportunities to disenfranchised people and help raise their standard of living.

“Clearly, teachers can inspire you to understand what you need to know from a technical standpoint,” Eckholdt says, “but some, like Barnett, can also show you how those things align with larger sets of values, such as those held by an institution like Loyola.”

After Eckholdt graduated from Loyola with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in economics and finance, he worked for Credit Suisse for several years on the financial side. But his urge to serve the less fortunate compelled him to transfer to a different sector. He joined the New York-based nonprofit Prep for Prep, which helps prepare highperforming students of color in the New York area for future leadership roles. After six years in his position at Prep for Prep, Eckholdt saw the opportunity to combine his financial know-how and do-good spirit by returning to Credit Suisse, this time in his current position.

Eckholdt’s background in finance and nonprofits suited him perfectly for corporate philanthropy. There are lots of moving parts in a global financial firm, and it takes a certain eye to know how to assess opportunities in the field. Eckholdt moved into his position at Credit Suisse with gusto, leading its Americas Foundation Loyola Executive Loyola Executive

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through a strategic review that expanded its purview and placed an emphasis on education. Under his direction, Credit Suisse has partnered with his old employer Prep for Prep on a variety of initiatives, and has launched other projects with organizations such as the Relay Graduate School of Education, which offers an innovative master’s degree program designed to train highly effective teachers for low-income public schools.

Of course, Eckholdt has not forgotten where he first learned the values and business skills that have served him so well, and has worked to help ensure that Loyola’s College of Business can continue to educate students along the lines of his experience.

In fall 2011, Loyola announced the creation of the William Barnett Professorship in Free Enterprise Studies, an endowed professorship for which Eckholdt spearheaded the fundraising. The Barnett professorship will help the College of Business continue the work of educating students in the Jesuit tradition, and to teach them to leverage the traditional theories of classical liberal economics in a way that makes businesses work on behalf of others.

Fall 2012 www.business.loyno.edu Fall 2012 www.business.loyno.edu

Eric Eckholdt ’89 23

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Seeing to it that the TrainsRun

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on Time—All Day, Every Day As Dean Locander says of the CoB administrative staff, “Those four are the ones who keep the trains running on time around here. Without Amy, Mary Sue, Valerie, and Janet, we— faculty and students—would have a very rough time getting anything done.” That is to say that Amy Keeler ’93, Mary Sue Oehlke, Valerie Alombro, and Janet Yochim are truly the behind the scenes conductors of the CoB. They are the ones that make sure purchase requisitions are completed so folks get paid, that exams are typed and printed in time for class, that CoB picnics are a success, that the phones are answered and “customers” are happy, that lost items are found, and well, anything and everything else that keeps the CoB running.

Amy Keeler ’93 carries two titles, assistant to the dean and network administrator. As the dean’s assistant, Amy is involved in many aspects of the dean’s work including managing correspondence and calendars, faculty hires, and issuing contracts, to name just a few. Running a close second to her assistant duties are her duties as network administrator, managing the CoB’s computer network which includes an exchange server and four data servers. In her “spare” time, Amy manages the CoB computer lab and oversees the maintenance of the four multi-media classrooms in Miller Hall. All of this translates to “if anything breaks, call Amy.” And, oh, how we call!

Amy has worked at Loyola since 1988.

She started out in the Physical Plant office as secretary and then transferred to the Loyola Institute for Ministry (LIM), where she worked as the administrative assistant for graduate enrollment for nine years. It was in 1998 that Amy made the CoB home, hired by former Dean Pat Fall 2012

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O’Brien. He was impressed not only with her administrative track record but her undergraduate degree in computer information systems as well.

O’Brien knew Amy’s understanding of technology 25

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would fit in well with the launch of the CoB’s exchange server.

In addition to Amy’s busy work life, she has a busy home life—which she loves. “My husband, Mark, and I have been married for 18 years, and we stay busy with our three kids’ school activities and our church. We are always juggling homework with track meets, football games, dance recitals, birthday parties, and youth group activities for Justin (15), Andrew (13), and Elyssa (5). And we wouldn’t have it any other way.” Amy’s children all attended Loyola’s Whelan Children’s Center until the age of five, and she is looking forward to her kids returning to Loyola for their undergraduate degrees.

Mary Sue Oehlke has been with Loyola for 28 years, 26 of those in the CoB as administrative assistant for CoB faculty. She started working as a

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three-month part-time hire in the communications department. Well, as things go, that part-time position in communications turned into a full-time, two-year job and eventually led her to the CoB. After 28 years at Loyola, Mary Sue has connections to just about every department on campus, which means she is a great person to know if you need to get anything done around here. Mary Sue had a really great connection to Loyola’s Physical Plant for 28 years—her husband, Bob. But now that Bob has retired, she has to get her info. second hand.

And, she has to drive herself to and from work—no more being chauffeured.

In her position, Mary Sue works closely with more than 35 full-time and part-time faculty to ensure that book orders are processed, syllabi and exams are typed and printed, and any other clerical work that needs to be done is completed.

Mary Sue’s connections to Loyola go beyond her 28 years of service. Her aforementioned husband received an undergraduate and law degree from Loyola, and both her daughters attended Loyola. Oldest daughter Rebecca earned her M.B.A., and youngest daughter Rachel received a B.S. in political science from Loyola.

When asked what her favorite part is about working at Loyola, she doesn’t hesitate to answer: “the students.”

Mary Sue responded, “We see the students when they have first left the nest and then we help them to earn their wings and fly, tackling the world outside of college. We are proud to have been a small part of their lives and to see what they have accomplished.”

Mary Sue lives a busy life outside of work. She is involved in her church

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parish in Eucharistic ministry, the altar society, and parish council. She and her husband make the rounds at Corvette shows and entertain at their retirement homestead on the Lake at Hidea-Way. But her most important activity outside the CoB is being the best grandmother ever to her grandson, Caleb.

Valerie Alombro ,

also administrative assistant to faculty in the CoB, has many, many connections to Loyola. In addition to having attended Loyola and working on campus for 12 years in the

CoB, Valerie has three sons, Christopher, Nicholas, and Matthew, who all hold degrees from the college.

Step-daughter Amber and step-son Andrew are both currently pursuing business degrees at Loyola. In addition, Valerie has a sister, Lisa Gaul Adams, who graduated from and works at Loyola and several nieces

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and nephews who hold degrees. But most significantly, Valerie’s mom, Jean Arnoult Gaul, received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1955 and a master’s degree in education in 1992. Maroon and Gold runs deep in this family!

Before coming to Loyola, Valerie worked in the health care industry at Children’s Hospital. She says, “the best part of life is being a mom.” When her sons were students in the CoB, they would leave notes on her desk letting her know “she was the best!” And although her kids are grown, Valerie is still mom to her four-legged friend, Gracie, her rescue lab. She and her husband (and best friend), Lloyd, keep busy on various volunteer projects for her family. Valerie enjoys listening to music of the RedFish Blues Band in which Lloyd plays the bass.

She also enjoys gardening and is a devoted Saints fan!

Valerie says her favorite part of working at Loyola is that she gets to work with “so many wonderful and generous people. I thoroughly enjoy assisting people whether they are our CoB students, faculty, co-workers, or our Executive Mentors.” (Valerie served as assistant to the director of the Executive Mentor Program for five years). “I love watching our business students mature and grow during their four years here at Loyola.”

Valerie shares work duties with Mary Sue, making sure the faculty have what they need to hit the ground running from day one of the semester until the very last final exam is given. She mentioned that since she and Mary Sue have worked together in the same office, sitting across from one another for 12 years. “Quite often someone will ask a question and we will respond at the same time with the exact same words, or at the very least, be thinking the exact same thing.” And they both agree that

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some faculty members’ propensity to procrastinate drives them crazy—but no names were mentioned of course.

Janet Yochim has worked at Loyola for 12 ½ years—five of those years in the CoB as executive secretary to the dean and associate dean; the other

years were spent in Institutional Advancement at Loyola. Working in education in some form has been a big part of Janet’s work life as she was with the Orleans Parish School system for 32 years in the Vocational Education Department. Janet developed her strong background in clerical duties at Soul´ e College, earning a secretarial degree from

the business school. Soul´ e was the oldest business school in the south when it closed its doors in 1983 after 125 years of operation. It boasted many well-known business people in the community including almost every president of Whitney bank—and Janet.

The training Janet received at Soul´ e has been put to good use at Loyola. Among Janet’s many duties are providing clerical support to the dean and associate dean, typing up and mailing those pesky probation letters some students receive, making sure time sheets are turned in, and processing purchase orders and check requests so folks can get paid, and she is the first person you see when the elevator doors open on Miller’s third floor.

Not least among her duties is working on the annual student awards ceremony. Janet is instrumental in making that event happen every year, ensuring its success. From getting student groups together for nomination meetings, ordering trophies, programs, and invitations, Janet takes the lead.

Like other members of the administrative staff, Janet has various family members who have graduated from Loyola, including a sister who teaches piano in the College of Music and Fine Arts.

In addition to her degree from Soul´ e , Janet also has an associate’s degree in commercial art with a concentration in graphic arts, and she has an unofficial degree in the art of using proper grammar—she will be happy to correct yours for you!

When not working, Janet enjoys spending time with family and friends, gardening, traveling, and dropping the occasional quarter in the slot machine at one of her favorite casinos.

All of our administrative staff members work tirelessly on special events including the very popular CoB picnic. Interesting that when asked what their favorite part of working at Loyola and the CoB was, all commented that it was the people they work with, that the CoB and Loyola were like one big family. The CoB thanks Amy, Mary Sue, Valerie, and Janet for being an integral part of that family, and of course, for keeping the trains running on time. All aboard!

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2012 CoB Senior Reception

Graduate Bianca Paggi and family

Graduate Kayla Butler and her parents

Graduates Jesus Garcia, Jourdan McCullough, and Alex White

Dr. Daphne Main with a few of her favorite accounting graduates Fall 2012

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2012 CoB Senior Reception

Ryan Seiter with his parents

Outstanding Marketing Graduate Amanda Oldani with her dad

Graduate Alex White with parents and sister Emily (2013)

Jesus Garcia and his VERY large family who travelled to New Orleans for his big day 30

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A Sampling of our Graduates and Where They are Headed: Undergraduates:

Graduate Christine Alexis with family

MBA Michael Giusti with his family

Jiad Alqotob

Acc./Fin.

Nicole Marcel Javier Portillo

Acc. Acc./Econ.

Anthony Sedlak Alex Wolf Kayla Butler

Acc. Acc. Econ.

Stephen Coburn Joni Gremillion Arlene Imendia Dylan Kremer Jourdan McCullough Cameron Cates

Econ.

Econ./Fin. Econ.

Fin. I.B. Mgt.

“PK” Kim Alton Smith Matthew Elliott

Mgt. Mgt. Mgt.

Allison Rousseve

Mgt.

Ryan Sullivan

Mgt.

Christine Alexis

Mkt.

Edie Burns

Mkt.

John McCann

Mkt.

Oxford University Grad School Ernst and Young Florida State University Grad School Ernst and Young Bourgeois Bennett, L.L.C. Federal Reserve Bank Whitney Bank Capital One Goldman Sachs JP Morgan Shell Advantage Sales and Marketing Tulane Hospital GNO, Inc. Mediterranean Shipping Mediterranean Shipping Receivables Exchange Zehnder Communications John Hopkins Grad School E.R.O.S.

MBAs: Ife Bancole Suzanne Sainato

Graduating seniors celebrate Fall 2012

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Seth Sandor

General Motors, IT and Project Manager Symetra Life Insurance, VP and Chief Compliance Officer General Electric’s Information Technology Leadership Development Program

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LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS

PRESIDENTIAL CENTENNIAL GUEST SERIES

President of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California Nunemaker Auditorium

Roberts Cokie

Political commentator for ABC News, NPR contributor, and New Orleans native Roussel Hall

FEBRUARY 19

Heft, S.M. The Rev. James

MARCH 18

FEBRUARY 26

JANUARY 16

Join us as we celebrate Loyola University New Orleans’ centennial with a series of events featuring acclaimed guest speakers and authors. All events listed are complimentary, begin at 7 p.m., and take place on Loyola’s main campus.

Garanzini, S.J. The Rev. Michael

President of Loyola University Chicago and secretary of higher education for the Society of Jesus Nunemaker Auditorium

Martin, S.J. The Rev. James

New York Times bestselling author and culture editor of America magazine Nunemaker Auditorium

Carr

APRIL 17

Nicholas 2011 Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestselling author of The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains Roussel Hall

For more information, visit www.loyno.edu/2012, call (504) 861-5888, or e-mail publaff@loyno.edu