The College of Management at UW-Stout • Winter 2013 Guiding retail giants Jon Westergreen’s initial foray into the world of retail management began right out of high school, launching a successful career with several well-known retailers and leading to his current prominent position with New York City-based clothier Brooks Brothers. Page 3
China’s world of work Eating lunch with Chinese factory employees and touring five of the country’s companies gave UW-Stout students a whole new perspective on international business and marketing during a trip to China. Page 5
Miss Minnesota Though Danielle Hooper didn’t expect it, she will be balancing additional responsibilities during her studies at UW-Stout because of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity she just can’t pass up. Page 8
MAGIC trade show Working in the world of retail management and merchandising requires confidence, an understanding of customers’ wants and needs, staying on top of current and future trends, and networking with vendors. Retail merchandising and management students get a firsthand glimpse of that world when they attend the MAGIC trade show. Page 11
Remington Hotels lab A state-of-the-art sales lab that opened in spring 2012 at UW-Stout is giving students hands-on experience in sales techniques used in the hospitality industry. Page 14
Pairing food and wine Hotel and tourism students paired fine wines with French cuisine during a global food and wine course they completed literally on-site in France. Page 15
COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT Inspiring Innovation • Learn more at www.uwstout.edu/com www.uwstout.edu.com | 1
DEAN’S MESSAGE
Education tied to world markets
Today’s business environments put a premium on leadership that blends experiential competence, conceptual capacity, interpersonal relationships, and ethical temperaments. An innovative business education that nurtures practical decision making and guides knowledge-intensive enterprise activities is key for such leadership. As a dean, I have had the opportunity to get a bird’s-eye view on how COM’s faculty members are preparing our students in addition to listening to success stories from our faculty and students. Our students’ enthusiasm to excel and our faculty and staff’s determination and ambition to continually give our students the best are reflected in some of the stories in this newsletter. As you read through the pages, you will learn that our retail merchandising and management program continues to translate curriculum relevancy to market relevancy by exposing our students to the largest trade show (MAGIC) in the industry. Globalizing our programs and students remains a strategic priority. Examples of our globalization efforts include a faculty-led study abroad program to China and hotel and tourism students’ trip to France for a course in pairing fine wines with French cuisine.
All COM programs and departments are fully committed to preparing leaders and employees who are ready on day one. Such commitments are reflective of the high standards that COM upholds as part of its hallmark. Recently, the business student sales team ranked very high while competing among students from
15 colleges in 10 states at the sixth annual Great Northwood’s Sales WarmUp at UW-Eau Claire. Additionally, the golf enterprise management program’s eight-member team won its first-ever WIAC Women’s Gold Abel Adekola Championships at Bull’s Eye Country Club in Wisconsin Rapids, with their coach, a COM faculty member, voted Coach of the Year for the third time.
We continue to expand our industry partnerships, as evidenced in the Remington Hotels lab article that showcases our engagement with Remington Hotels. The COM family continues to expand with a recent addition of two faculty members. Eric Brey, a hospitality and tourism (H&T) management scholar, joined us in October 2012 as a graduate program director and faculty member. He is developing a cutting-edge graduate program in H&T. A nationally renowned tourism educator, Lalia Rach from NYU, will begin her tenure in spring 2013 as an associate dean and director of the School of Hospitality Leadership. The future of COM has never been brighter, and I am really excited about what the future holds. Enjoy COM Connections. Abel Adekola Dean, College of Management
Our Mission and Values Mission: The College of Management promotes excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, and service through an approach to learning that combines theory, practice and experimentation to discover, disseminate and extend knowledge. Every student is afforded the opportunity to collaborate with faculty and industry to understand and apply innovative solutions to real-world problems. The college matriculates ethical leaders who are lifelong learners and contribute to the advancement of their professions. Values:
» Our students’ preparation for a challenging and dynamic place in society » The inclusion of diverse ideas » Teaching that is stimulating, current and engaging » Service and scholarly activities that advance and apply expertise in our disciplines
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Published by UW-Stout’s College of Management Writer: Pam Braun Editorial Board: Joy Evenson, David Johnson, Bernie Mullen, Nancy Murray collegeofmanagement@uwstout.edu Find this publication and provide feedback or story ideas online at www.uwstout.edu/admin/colleges/com/connection.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS Business Administration Golf Enterprise Management Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management Management Property Management Retail Merchandising and Management Supply Chain Management Sustainable Management
GRADUATE PROGRAMS Operations and Supply Management Risk Control Training and Human Resource Development Sustainable Management
SPECIALIZATIONS Golf Enterprise Management Training and Human Resource Development
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES Entrepreneurship and Innovation Event and Meeting Management Gaming Management Human Resource Management Quality Management Supply Chain Management Sustainable Management Finance
College of Management 280E Technology Wing – Jarvis Hall University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, Wisconsin 54751 Phone: 715-232-1111 Online: www.uwstout.edu/com/
ALUMNI FOCUS
Westergreen guides retail giants forward
Jon Westergreen’s initial foray into the world of retail management began right out of high school, launching a successful career with several well-known retailers and leading to his current prominent position with New York City-based clothier Brooks Brothers.
ness administration, Westergreen joined Target’s executive training program and was quickly promoted to senior merchandise analyst. He was responsible for meeting in-stock targets of men’s basics and furnishings while maximizing sales. He maintained a localized assortment based on consumer preference, increasing sales and boosting stocks.
“I knew early on that I wanted to be in the retail business, and I had aspirations of starting my own business one day,” Westergreen said. “Growing up, I was influenced by my father and grandfather, who had developed successful businesses. My mother also influenced me through her dedication and passion for teaching and the strong work ethic she gained while growing up on a farm in northern Minnesota.” Like many teens, Westergreen held retail jobs in the 1980s during high school in Bloomington, Minn., including a men’s specialty store at Southdale in Edina, Minn. After his graduation, company decision-makers took a risk despite his age and named him their youngest manager. It was a wise move.
In 1994, Westergreen moved to New York City and became a planner for Macy’s during a Chapter 11 reorganization period. The retailer was following a five-year plan to turn around the business. He was chosen to lend an outside perspective to its goal to create a planning discipline that linked stores and buying. Jon set up Coach and Louis Vuitton luxury-brand handbags on an automated replenishment program he created in Lotus 123. Jon Westergreen Director of Store Planning, Brooks Brothers
“I was ready to take on the additional responsibilities and viewed it as a challenge,” Westergreen remembered. “I was grateful for hands-on experience, but I quickly realized that in order to grow my career and continue to be challenged professionally, college was the next step.”
Moving on to Victoria’s Secret’s Limitedbrands division, Westergreen started as an associate control buyer and later held higher positions with escalating responsibilities.
In 2005, Westergreen was initially hired at Brooks Brothers as director of allocation, charged with leading its allocation and replenishment team and relocating that function to New York City. He hired and trained a new staff within six months. Now director of store planning, he is leading a new initiative to localize stores’ assortments and increase profits.
Westergreen’s knack for selling and passion for retail drove his decision to attend UW-Stout for a degree in retail merchandisHis advice for students who desire success in retail? ing and management. In addition to gaining practical experience during his education, he was a Stout Student Association “Credibility is everything – but in order to earn it (and keep it), senator; vice president of buying at the Niche, a practicum/ you need to be able to communicate well, develop and maininternship; a principle founder of Young Entrepreneurs of Stout; tain strong relationships, over-deliver on your promises, work treasurer of Retail Directions; and a participant in other clubs, harder than the next person, and consistently achieve great organizations, and events. results. Being innovative (AKA a great problem solver) will help you stand out and get noticed. You never want to stop satisfy“My professors were experts in the industry and were supporting and delighting your customers – internal and external.” ive, challenging, and inspirational. The course work was very applicable, helped me broaden my perspective, and gave me Beyond his Brooks Brothers duties, Westergreen pursues fishtechnical training.” ing, hiking, remodeling old homes, small business consulting and entrepreneurship. His latest venture is a small market and After graduating from UW-Stout in 1991 with a bachelor of arts café that features local organic food from neighboring farms. in retail merchandising and management and a minor in busiwww.uwstout.edu.com | 3
OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT
Passion for human resources runs high
Emmy VandenLangenberg’s intense interest in human resources drives her ambition to balance further education in the field with working, parenting, and volunteering at a horse rescue farm.
under its current name was absolutely perfect!” VandenLangenberg said.
The program bolstered her ability to effectively work within an organization.
When she was graduate assistant for the master of science in training and human resource development program at UW-Stout, VandenLangenberg helped recruit students into the program, helped develop marketing plans, managed social media and worked on applied research projects, all while she completed her own coursework. She is now finishing her master’s thesis and works at Cascades Tissue in Eau Claire with a UW-Stout alum, helping to develop virtual training programs. Completion of her masters will be an achieved milestone toward a goal that began five years ago, when she enrolled in Lakeshore Technical College’s human resource administration associate degree program. Holding a previous Bachelor of Arts, she sought a master’s program.
“I feel the applied research projects in our classes gave us invaluable experience. We worked with real people in real situations, and many of us were able to see what happened afterward.” One such project was for Refuge Farms, a horse rescue organization. Her student group redesigned the farm’s fundraising methods and the related training that volunteers would need.
Emmy VandenLangenberg Training Developer, Cascades Tissue
“UW-Stout’s master of science in training and development caught my attention and pulled my interests in education and human resources together. Being able to represent the program as the graduate assistant when it was relaunched
“Through this project, we became personally invested in the mission of Refuge Farms and what it will do,” said VandenLangenberg, who continues to volunteer at the farm with her family. “I thoroughly enjoy working with the horses and the other volunteers. We get dirty, we get stinky, but the love from the horses makes it all worth it!”
Her future goals include sitting for the SPHR certification exam, joining a professional Society for Human Resource Management chapter, and possibly pursuing a doctorate.
“I feel the applied research projects in our classes gave us invaluable experience. We worked with real people in real situations, and many of us were able to see what happened afterward.” Emmy VandenLangenberg
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OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT
Students glimpse China’s world of work Eating lunch with Chinese factory employees and touring five of the country’s companies gave UW-Stout students a whole new perspective on international business and marketing during a trip to China.
“I found it fascinating that in China it’s typical for workers to travel and work at companies for a few years to save up money,” said Garrett Rass, one of 13 global manufacturing tour course students who went on the summer 2012 trip. “Then they return home to start a family.” Because the Chinese often leave home temporarily for work, Students meet with Caterpillar General Manager Dan Herkelman and many companies provide housing for employees, Rass learned. Human Resources Director David Peterson in Hong Kong. Some even provide meals. The 10-day experience involved tours of five large factories and companies, including visits to Prent in Shanghai and Kohler in Foshan, two-Wisconsin based companies. UW-Stout graduate Joseph Pregont is Prent’s CEO and president. The company, which designs and makes custom plastic packaging, employs 200 in China and is building a new facility. At Kohler, which employs 400 in China, managers shared details with students about bathroom fixture production there. The class also toured Lee Kum Kee, a Chinese and Asian sauce manufacturer where students ate lunch with workers; an IBM facility; and the headquarters of heavy equipment-maker Caterpillar, which is based in China.
Julie Berndt, an online student who works at Johnson Coil in Antigo, said the trip “really changed my way of thinking in regards to a global market. Words cannot explain how actually seeing a different culture can expand your mind.” The trip was led by Wendy Dittmann, director of the UW-Stout undergraduate management program, and Xuedong “David” Ding, associate professor in operations and management. Ding, a native of China, is a former supply chain manager for Tropicana in Guangzhou. “We wanted students to see how these companies operate. The course provided a good overview of doing business in China,” Dittmann said.
Spring 2013 China Trip A group of 14 retail merchandising and management students will depart on February 18, 2013, for the program Experience China at Zhejiang International Studies University in Hangzhou, China, an hour-long train ride from Shanghai. They will take three courses on Chinese culture and language in the first few weeks, and then UW-Stout professor Nancy Murray will join the group in early March to teach three retail merchandising courses. The group wants to tour factories and fabric mills in the area and welcomes suggestions and hosting offers from UWStout alumni: Contact Murray at murrayn@uwstout.edu. For more information, visit Murray’s faculty Web page at www.uwstout.edu/faculty/murrayn/ or the program Web site at www.uwrf.edu/ ExperienceChina/. www.uwstout.edu.com | 5
OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT
Internship completed in unique SWAT team role
Spencer Olson’s completion of an internship with the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office was far from routine. He became the first ROTC student to be selected for Eau Claire County’s SWAT team, earning high praise for his job performance.
multi-agency team with members from area villages, cities, adjoining counties, and the Wisconsin State Patrol, placing a reserve deputy on the team required some adjustments. Stearns attributed the smooth transition to Olson’s training, experience, aptitude, and demeanor.
Olson’s responsibilities included preparing and presenting training to the SWAT team on explosive breaching, a new concept for the sheriff’s office. Lieutenant Rodney Stearns, Olson’s supervisor, witnessed his talent to lead such instruction in addition to having the needed education and certifications.
“SWAT teams are created with very close networks and exclusivity because they build a family within a family. Members have a high regard for fellow teammates. Spencer is not only an asset for his training and abilities, but for his fellowship or ‘esprit de corps’ that is permeated within his soul,” Stearns commented.
“Spencer conducted the training flawlessly,” Stearns noted in an evaluation letter about Olson’s performance. “The team was very accepting to his process and training, and they accepted him as a veteran team member… regardless of his recent appointment to the team.”
Spencer Olson
When Olson was selected as a reserve deputy with the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office, he was primarily selected as a SWAT team member, which had never been permitted in the history of the sheriff’s office. Because the SWAT team is a
Olson’s internship was among the requirements of a Specialization in Training and Human Resource Development, offered through the Operations and Management Department of the College of Management. Olson is also a graduate of UW-Stout’s Career Technical Education and Training program, which is housed in the School of Education. He was commissioned on August 24, 2012 as a Second Lieutenant in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, branched with the Corps of Engineers.
“Spencer conducted the training flawlessly. The team was very accepting to his process and training, and they accepted him as a veteran team member… regardless of his recent appointment to the team.” Lieutenant Rodney Stearns
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BUSINESS
Student exchange program to begin in 2013
UW-Stout faculty (at right) meet with staff at Wangcheng Campus of Guangxi Normal University in Guilin, China, during a trip there to sign a student exchange agreement that will begin in 2013.
In October 2012, UW-Stout faculty flew to China to lay additional groundwork for partnerships that will give business administration students the opportunity to attend Chinese universities while Chinese students study at UW-Stout. During the nine-day trip, UW-Stout Interim Provost Mary Hopkins-Best signed a 2+2 Agreement with Guangxi Normal University that will launch a student transfer program in 2013. Guangxi Normal students will be able to attend UW-Stout’s bachelor of science in business administration program after they complete the first two years of study at their home institution. The delegation also visited a Guangxi Normal-affiliated elementary school where UW-Stout students will have the opportunity to complete a summer internship. “The partnership gives UW-Stout students the opportunity to study abroad in China and to meet and learn from Chinese students who study here at UW-Stout,” said UW-Stout Associate Dean Kat Lui, who traveled to China with Hopkins-Best, Hong Rost, Mark Fenton, and Kathy Cochran.
The main gate of Guangxi Normal University, located in Guilin, Guangxi, China. The university enrolls more than 23,700 students.
Fenton and Lui gave presentations to Guangxi Normal University students on business models and culture. The delegation also visited Beijing University of Technology, where UW-Stout students can receive a full scholarship to study for one or two semesters and Wuhan Yangtze Business University. They met with administration about additional potential student and faculty study-abroad experiences, faculty exchanges, and faculty training.
www.uwstout.edu.com | 7
BUSINESS
Blue Devil prepares for Miss Minnesota reign
Though Danielle Hooper didn’t expect it, she will be balancing additional responsibilities during her studies at UW-Stout because of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity she just can’t pass up. On November 25, 2012, the 20-year-old junior majoring in retail merchandising and management was crowned Miss Minnesota USA. Hooper is “very excited” about her upcoming yearlong reign, even though she will have to attend classes part time for a semester. Her 2013 schedule will include appearances in the Twin Cities area and beyond, plus she will need to spend time preparing for the Miss USA pageant next summer. “I don’t want to give my schoolwork less than 100 percent, and I don’t want to give this title less than 100 percent,” she said. “I’m trying to figure out at this point what I can handle.” She has figured out her goals for her Miss Minnesota USA reign. While promoting the intelligence and accomplishments of women who compete for the title, Hooper also hopes to raise awareness about Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that builds homes for families in need. She personally helped build four homes in Florida. That experience came into play during the pageant interviews, when she answered a question on what charity she wanted to help if she won. Citing the national housing crisis and Hurricane Sandy, she shared her desire to continue working with Habitat. “I was really happy I got that question because the service part of the title is what’s really important to me,” Hooper said. Hooper has received the Chancellor Award each semester for a high grade-point average during her studies at UW-Stout. She entered Miss Minnesota USA last year and made the top 12 but wasn’t a top-five finalist. This year her goal was to reach the top five. Because of her interest in the retail industry and goal to someday own a bridal salon, choosing her dress for the evening gown competition was a highlight for her. Winning the Miss Minnesota title was a surprise. “I thought I was dreaming,” she said. “It still hasn’t hit me.”
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UW-Stout student Danielle Hooper is crowned Miss Minnesota USA on November 25, 2012, in Burnsville, Minn.
BUSINESS
Sales students rank high in competition UW-Stout business sales students made an impressive showing at the sixth annual Great Northwoods Sales Warm-Up at UW-Eau Claire, competing among 48 college students from 15 schools in 10 states for cash prizes and the Top Salesperson title.
Brittany Rinker received the School Champion trophy and $150 as the highest-scoring individual from UW-Stout. She also received fourth place overall in the competition. Cash awards of $750 to $1,500 were given to the top three finalists. Each UW-Stout student competitor ranked within the top third based on their combined score of two role-play scenarios in which they sold SuperValu and Hormel products to a buyer in 20 minutes. UW-Stout’s team scored second-highest among the 15 schools that competed based on the combined average scores of students on each team. UW-Stout’s sales team consisted of: Brittany Rinker, business administration major with an emphasis in professional sales and marketing; Cody Capra, business administration major with an emphasis in professional sales and marketing; Will Sawyer, business administration major with a financial services emphasis; Logan Woller, marketing and business education major with a minor in business administration, assistant coach; and Jessica Gardner, marketing and professional selling instructor, coach.
UW-Stout’s sale team at the 2012 Great Northwoods Sales Warm-Up consisted of (left to right) Jessica Gardner, Logan Woller, Cody Capra, Will Sawyer, and Brittany Rinker.
Prizes were also awarded for the top three overall individual scores based on two role-play scenarios that required competitors to sell the Super Valu Fruit and Vegetable program to a grocery chain and Hormel Always Tender Pork Loin to an upscale restaurant. UW-Stout Sales Team’s next major challenge will be the National Collegiate Sales Competition XV on March 1-4, 2013, at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia. Rinker and Sawyer will compete among 126 students from 63 schools.
Brittany Rinker (third from left) took fourth place overall in the Great Northwoods Sales Warm-Up.
www.uwstout.edu.com | 9
BUSINESS
Students practice the art of the interview High grades, well-rounded job experiences, community service, and membership in organizations all work together in students’ favor when applying for a job. But if they don’t ace the interview, they can end up with a rejection letter instead of a job offer.
Mastering the skillful art of the job interview takes practice, and insight from someone who’s been through them or even conducts them is a bonus. The student professional organization Stout Retail Association (SRA) gave its members an edge on interviewing skills during a mock interview event last fall. Ten retail merchandising and management alumni returned to campus to help the students hone their interview skills. Each student was interviewed twice and received alumni’s written feedback. Afterward, students and alumni mingled over appetizers while reconnecting and networking. Students found the experience extremely beneficial. “This event gave me the opportunity to gain an upper hand in the interviews I had this fall by discussing with alumni the things that employers do and don’t look for in an interview, as well as tips to really help set me apart. I later interviewed with multiple companies, and I believe the mock interview event played a role in me receiving multiple offers,” said Laura Pechtel, a senior who accepted an offer from Bon Ton Inc. to become an executive trainee after her May 2013 graduation. “The event was an amazing opportunity for professional development. The mock interviews helped alleviate nerves that I had about interviewing and gave me the confidence I needed to be successful when I began interviewing for a summer internship,” said junior Kayla Worm, who received an offer from Kohl’s Corporate for a merchandise analyst internship in summer 2013. SRA’s main objectives are: to advance the understanding of the varied aspects of the retail field; to gain insight within the business and retail industry, creating a greater knowledge of the retail field; and to help prepare its members for careers in retail. SRA is accomplishing this through a newly developed professional development series created by advisor Nancy Murray, retail merchandising and management professor. “Students need to learn about, develop, and practice their pro-
10 | The College of Management at UW-Stout
Jenna Huseboe, 2012 graduate, interviews junior status student Jess Smith (foreground) during the Stout Retail Association mock interview event. Behind them, 1997 graduate Angela LoChe interviews freshman status student Maria Krebs while farther back, 2002 graduate Erin (Reuter) Kochendorfer delivers questions to senior Erica Barthel.
fessional skills early in their college career so that when they enter the professional workforce, these skills will come naturally,” Murray explained. The series entails 11 components to foster students’ career preparation and effectiveness: † Developing a resume † Professional email † Networking † Conducting yourself at a professional event † Professional dining etiquette † Professional dress † Mentoring: Being an effective mentor and mentee † Interviewing † Leadership † Negotiating † Presentation skills and speaking on the spot SRA students who complete all of the seminars receive a certificate of completion. Kohl’s Department Stores generously helps to fund the Professional Development Series expenses for all SRA students.
BUSINESS
Students network with retail buyers and vendors
Students shadow the buyer of a large department store throughout the MAGIC trade show as he validates trends for his category of responsibility.
Working in the world of retail management and merchandising requires confidence, an understanding of customers’ wants and needs, staying on top of current and future trends, and networking with vendors. UW-Stout retail merchandising and management students get a firsthand glimpse of that world when they attend the MAGIC trade show, where tens of thousands of buyers and vendors from more than 80 countries converge in Las Vegas to view more than 5,000 emerging-to-established brands of apparel, footwear, and accessories and forge strategic connections for future retail relationships. MAGIC is among the largest fashion trade shows in the industry. The 12 UW-Stout students who went in August 2012 watched buyers and vendors conduct business, attended vendor meetings, shadowed buyers on the tradeshow floor, attended industry seminars, and met with industry executives from Kohl’s, Macy’s, Von Maur, and Finish Line. They also met with vendors Hybrid Tees, Michael Gerard Ltd., Rogue, Ocean Current, Chinese Laundry, and Sketchers. “While in the Sketchers booth, we had the privilege of watching a buyer for Finish Line negotiate with Sketchers reps. It was interesting to watch her narrow down her previous selections to the specific shoes that she was planning on buying for her stores,” student Jess Smith said.
Student Casie McDonough added, “The buyer also asked for our honest opinions on what she was buying. It was fun that she actually wanted to know what we thought!” Professor Nancy Murray organizes the experience and accompanies students to the tradeshow. Students are selected based on their grade point average and earned credits. After attending a seminar by Hybrid’s chief operating merchandiser, student Kaylee Malmstrom paraphrased his comments on the importance of being a good buyer: “To become a great buyer, you need to know what’s selling on your floor and also your competition’s floor.” Other industry experts stressed the importance of a collaboration relationship between vendors and buyers, as well as taking care not to “burn any bridges” in retail to maintain relationships that may prove vital later. Trend forecasting legend and expert David Wolfe’s advice on trends resonated with many students. Kari Holte remembered when Wolfe compared trend-spotting to tap dancing — “you either feel it or you don’t.” Other students took away Wolfe’s advice on developing a thick skin and having strong written and verbal communication skills to share great ideas. Student Sarah Thomas found the show to be a valuable way to network. “I personally grabbed a couple of business cards from connections I made while riding the limos between locations,” she said. www.uwstout.edu.com | 11
HOSPITALITY LEADERSHIP
Rach returns as associate dean, director of school
Former faculty member Lalia Rach, Ed.D, will return to UW-Stout in spring 2013 as associate dean of the College of Management and director of the School of Hospitality Leadership, after 25-plus years of preparing students for the rapidly-evolving global hospitality industry.
Hospitality Leadership,” Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen said. “This is one of the cornerstone undergraduate programs at UW-Stout, and I am convinced Lalia will transform an already solid program into one with even greater national and international acclaim.”
“The hospitality industry is in the midst of continuing change driven by technology, globalization and branding,” Rach said. “The framework for the past can no longer define our educational outlook for the future. The hospitality educational curricula established a decade ago already are antiquated. Social media, for example, was barely a concept at the turn of the century. Today it plays a leading role in the way our industry markets itself.” She will be responsible for creating and implementing a vision for UW-Stout’s program.
“Lalia brings to the School of Hospitality Leadership and to COM in general a wealth of experience and extensive industry connections,” said Abel Adekola, dean of the College of Management. “She also is very active in research and has delivered keynote speeches and seminars on a variety of consumer issues and perspectives.”
Lalia Rach Associate Dean, College of Management Director, School of Hospitality Leadership
A Wisconsin native, she began her university teaching career at UW-Stout, earning Outstanding Teacher of the Year honors. She went on to lead some of the world’s top hospitality and tourism programs at the university level. She was the divisional dean of the New York University Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management. In 15 years she transformed NYU’s programs in those areas, creating new undergraduate and graduate programs while leading a successful $30 million capital campaign. She is the former dean of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration at the University of New Haven (Conn.) and was director of the tourism graduate program at George Washington University, Washington, D.C. “The opportunity to return to my home state and lead a dynamic hospitality program for the 21st century, along with the faculty and alumni, is extraordinary,” Rach said. UW-Stout administrators eagerly anticipate her arrival. “Our ability to attract such a highly regarded educator speaks volumes about the potential she sees in our School of
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Rach grew up in the hospitality industry. Her grandmother owned and operated Eulalia’s, a highly popular and successful restaurant in her hometown of Spring Green. After college, she landed her first hospitality job as a night auditor at a hotel. While working full-time, she earned a master’s degree in management and information systems before leaving to teach full time at the collegiate level.
Rach has published extensively and is a highly soughtafter speaker. She is a current or former board member of a range of corporations and associations, including the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association, the Madison (Wis.) Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Mohegan Sun Hotel Board of Advisors, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Women Business Travelers Advisory Board, the Educational Institute (American Hotel & Lodging Association), NYC & Co., New York City Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Travel and Tourism Research Association and The Society of Travel and Tourism Educators. She is a member of the Association of Travel Marketing Executives, the Council of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Educators, the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International and Meeting Planners International. Rach maintains a hands-on role in the hospitality industry as a founder and partner of Rach Enterprises, a consulting firm that provides strategic guidance to hospitality businesses and public sector agencies in the areas of economic development, strategic planning, brand management and customer service.
HOSPITALITY LEADERSHIP
Women’s golf team savors the spotlight A UW-Stout sophomore who might someday become a golf course manager has been racking up honors for her golfing skills, sharing the spotlight with UWStout’s women’s golf team.
When the eight-member team won its first-ever WIAC Women’s Gold Championships in October at Bull’s Eye Country Club in Wisconsin Rapids, Brittany McNett-Emmerich also earned medalist honors (83-78-73 - 234), hitting the lowest round of the tournament and becoming the first UW-Stout women’s golf WIAC individual champion. Afterward she was named Stout Athlete of the Week for the second time that season. McNett-Emmerich, a sophomore in the golf enterprise management program, is interested in becoming a professional golf instructor or managing her own golf course.
UW-Stout women’s golf team members are (left to right) Becca Eggers, Maddy Paulson, Alex Westman, Anna Busch, Mariah Chesley , Brittany McNett-Emmerich, Hannah Lee, Meghan Whittaker, and Coach Howie Samb.
After her golfing success in high school, she decided to take her game to the college level. She chose to attend UW-Stout because of its strong golf management program and the welcome she received from the team and coach when visiting the campus. “They were great, and I think I made a pretty good choice.” Cold, windy conditions made the WIAC tournament challenging, and the team tried to keep their scores in perspective, McNettEmmerich said. It turned out the scores of team members Becca Eggers, Maddy Paulson, Alex Westman, Anna Busch, Mariah Chesley,
Hannah Lee, Meghan Whittaker, and McNett-Emmerich compared quite well with other teams’ scores, and the group became the second UW-Stout women’s athletic team to win a conference championship. “It’s special, and we knew we could do it,” McNett-Emmerich said. At the conclusion of the competition, Blue Devil Coach Howie Samb earned Coach of the Year honors for the third time. “He’s meant a lot to the team’s development,” McNett-Emmerich said, adding that team members know they can count on him. “If we’re doing something wrong, he’ll help us. It might be something he notices when watching us that we can’t totally notice just playing.”
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HOSPITALITY LEADERSHIP
Remington Hotels lab offers sales experience
recognition from the HSMAI student chapter. The sales coordinator receives a scholarship that covers the cost of three course credits and $1,000 cash. Remington Hotels covers sales coordinators’ expenses for additional training and sales meeting attendance.
A state-of-the-art sales lab that opened in spring 2012 at UW-Stout is giving students hands-on experience in sales techniques used in the hospitality industry.
Nestled in a hotel and tourism classroom on campus, the first-of-its-kind Remington Business Development Center Lab began as a partnership of Remington Hotels and the university’s Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International student chapter. Students are trained in applied sales technology for hotel sales research, client prospecting and database management. They must commit six to 15 hours per week to their assigned tasks. Training is open to students in all degrees of study.
The Remington Business Development Center Lab gives students hands-on training in hotel sales research, client prospecting and database management.
Students are chosen for the positions of research assistant and sales coordinator. Together they seek new business that may fit into Remington Hotels in the United States. The students are trained in Knowland Group-Insight and Readers, a contracted service that researches business at competing hotels; Delphi sales and catering software, which manages hotel room, meeting space, and large-block space reservations; Internet search engines and sites of interest to Remington Hotels; and prospecting and qualification skills to find new business for a hotel. After one week of technology training at the Minneapolis Hilton and then on campus, each student is assigned various tasks and market segments as part of their research for the semester. The primary goals are to understand sales development for hotels and locate revenue opportunities for Remington Hotels. Students complete hands-on industry-based experiences that might actually lead to contracted sales, plus learn software and techniques commonly found in hotels worldwide. The School of Hospitality Leadership maintains the eightstation, Apple-equipped research center. Students schedule time around their classes to complete required work in the lab. Research assistants assist the sales coordinators and receive
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Two sales coordinators graduated in December 2012 from the School of Hospitality Leadership. Remington Hotels hired them to fill open positions in the company based on their performance in the lab. Ryan Clark is heading to St. Petersburg, Fla., and Jacob Youngblood to Parsippany, N.J., to become sales account managers for Hilton. Students in the lab also join HSMAI to further their education in sales, digital marketing and revenue management and develop professional connections.
The lab’s beginnings coincided with the birth of UW-Stout’s HSMAI student chapter. During summer 2010, UW-Stout alumnus Garth Peterson, regional sales manager for IDEAS-SAS software and Minnesota President of the HSMAI state chapter, met with hotel and tourism students Nick Molitor and Whitney Merrick (2011 graduates). They spent the summer investigating the possibilities of starting a student HSMAI chapter at UW-Stout. By October 2010, the chapter became recognized as a national student chapter of HSMAI and by the end of the year was nominated and won the Best of the Best award for 2010 and then again in 2011. Shawn Anderson, sales director for the Hilton Airport MSP and HSMAI Minnesota Chapter, accompanied Peterson to UW-Stout for a student HSMAI meeting in October 2011. During a classroom tour, Anderson asked if an unused lab could be used for industry-university education. Shawn worked with the student chapter to design an education plan. Anderson and Jeff Patton, regional vice president of Remington Hotels, met with Dean Abel Adekola and Associate Dean Kat Lui in January 2012 to discuss the lab. It opened that spring.
HOSPITALITY LEADERSHIP
Course gives taste of food and wine pairing Hotel and tourism students paired fine wines with French cuisine during a global food and wine course they completed literally on-site in France.
organizing and planning. It took all of our personalities and work ethics to make our meal run smoothly,” Marquette said.
“Preparing the food for the guest was challenging, because not everything could be made ahead of time. We really wanted to impress our French guests.”
Rather than file into a UW-Stout lab or classroom, 10 students filed onto a plane in late spring of 2012 to take the 19-day, four-credit wine and food pairing in France course. The first part of the trip included tours of wineries, vineyards, and goat and foie gras factories in Paris, Bordeaux, and Auros. “The winemakers were so informative, friendly and excited to have us there. They were great about explaining the wine process at their vineyards,” said student and graduate assistant Autumn Marquette, who is pursuing a master of science in food and nutritional sciences. Classroom instruction covered wine principles, grape varieties, wine and food pairing, cooking methods with wine, and tricky ingredients and wine. The course culminated in the major assignment that gave students a taste of the pressure they will face in the hospitality industry: prepare a six-course lunch pairing French wines with French fare.
“It took a group effort to make our six-course meal a success. Some of us were better at cooking, and others were better at organizing and planning. It took all of our personalities and work ethics to make our meal run smoothly,”
The groups’ chosen fare included panseared scallops with caviar and beurre blanc sauce with sautéed chard, paired with 2010 Domaine Wiliam Fevre Chablis; grilled tenderloin with béarnaise sauce, frites, tomatoes and fennel, paired with 2008 Chateau Croix Figeac; and fresh strawberry-topped crème brulee paired with 2006 Chateau Coutet. The course is taught by Peter D’Souza, UW-Stout associate professor and guest lecturer at the University of Bordeaux, France. It offers an applied approach to matching wine and food from different parts of the world using flavors, textures, and components of food and wine to complement them.
Marquette noticed food culture differences between the U.S. and France. “In Autumn Marquette France, I learned the importance of relaxing, especially with wine. I rarely saw people rushing or skipping breaks.” Students were divided into two groups, each of which planned and cooked its own menu for French guests – a challenge that Overall, the trip was a high point for her. “The reason I went required teamwork. on this trip was because I regretted not studying abroad in my undergrad years, and I can honestly say that this France trip “It took a group effort to make our six-course meal a success. was one of the best experiences of my life.” Some of us were better at cooking, and others were better at
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IN MEMORIAM
Badenoch instilled confidence in students
Professor Stowe Neal “Tony” Badenoch will always be remembered for infusing a tough yet fun approach into his classes, encouraging students to meet high standards while remaining true to themselves.
Badenoch, 73, passed away on August 14, 2012, at his home in Hilo, Hawaii. He was an adjunct instructor at UWStout in the early 1980s and later was a professor in the fashion merchandising program, which later became retail merchandising and management, from 1988 until his retirement in 2003. Jill Johnson, a 1996 graduate, vividly recalls his impact on her education. “When I think about those people that truly have made an impact on my life, Dr. Badenoch is certainly in the ‘top’ for me. He taught me to be strong and confident Tony Badenoch in my schooling and career. He continued to mentor me long after I graduated from UW-Stout 16 years ago. He said, ‘Don’t let the company change who you are as a person, Jill. The only one that can make that change is you ... be true to you, and others will follow your leadership,” said Johnson, regional district manager for adidas, based in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. He is imprinted in the memories of students who attended UWStout as far back as the 1980s.
As 1992 graduate Jodi Gibbs puts it, “How can anyone forget Tony Badenoch! He was one of the toughest, most interesting and best professors that I had. He taught us all a lot!” Gibbs is senior marketing manager at JCP Corporate in Plano, Texas. Born in Appleton, Wis., Badenoch was a divisional manager in operations and merchandising at Sears, Dayton’s/Marshall Fields, and Eddie Bauer stores, an adjunct professor at Tuskegee University, an assistant professor at University of Minnesota, a high school teacher at Minneapolis Street Academy, a United States Marine Corps veteran, and an RSVP volunteer. Those experiences shaped his teaching.
Professor Murray became one of his UW-Stout colleagues 11 years after her graduation and a career in the retail industry. “That was after a very grueling interview with him! Tony was an inspiring mentor and coach, always challenging me to strive to be the best I could be. Even after his retirement, he still encouraged and inspired me. He is truly missed,” she said. Badenoch’s lasting influence might even prompt Johnson, one of his former students, to share her expertise with students herself someday.
“I had the privilege of being one of Tony’s students in the “I have considered strongly teaching, and have for years beclassroom, where his real-life examples helped instill what we cause of him. One day, when I’m in the classroom, I hope to were learning. Tony was one of the most feared professors in inspire as he has, in his tough, challenging Dr. Badenoch way.” the program but was also the most respected and valued, as students realized that Tony only had their best interest in mind,” said Nancy (Noesen) Murray, a 1988 graduate who now is a Scholarship Contributions UW-Stout professor. A scholarship has been established in Badenoch’s memory to benefit UW-Stout retail merchandising and management “I absolutely remember Tony Badenoch. He was one of my favorstudents. Donations in memory of Tony (Stowe) Badenoch ite professors. He did an excellent job of combining classroom can be mailed to the Stout University Foundation, 320 S. learning with real world experience. His classes were not only Broadway St. Menomonie, WI 54751 or made online at informative but interesting, and frankly his personality just made www.uwstout.edu/foundation/giving_ccardintro.cfm, restricted to the Tony it fun. I think the fact that I still remember some of the things he (Stowe) Badenoch Memorial Scholarship. Questions about taught me 23 years later says a lot,” said Paula (DeBaker) Post, the scholarship can be addressed to the Stout University a 1989 graduate who is group vice president of merchandise Foundation at 715-232-1151. optimization for Bon Ton Stores, Inc. in Milwaukee, Wis. 16 | The College of Management at UW-Stout
MILITARY SCIENCE
ROTC cadets rise to Ranger Challenge
A determined team of 11 ROTC cadets boarded a van for Fort McCoy in October for the Blackhawk Brigade Ranger Challenge 2012, ready to face a weekend of demanding exercises that test cadets’ skills and endurance. They had trained daily for this opportunity to earn points toward the Order of Merit List.
After reaching Fort McCoy, the cadets participated in an opening ceremony and prepared for the events that lie ahead, including M-16 disassembly/assembly, an Army physical fitness test, day and night orienteering, a written land navigation test, grenade assault course, basic rifle marksmanship, and an obstacle course.
Above: ROTC cadets participate in the opening ceremony. Below: Cadet Charles Beaton prepares to throw a grenade into a two-story building during the Blackhawk Brigade Ranger Challenge.
First Sgt. Charles Beaton was among them. “The challenge started Saturday at 6 a.m. with the physical fitness test, which consists of two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups, and a two-mile run – as fast as we could. We then headed out for an 18-hour day of events,” Beaton said. The day ended with night land navigation, which requires cadets to locate as many points as possible in 2½ hours using only a compass and map. Some points were up to 4 miles away. “We got back to the barracks around midnight and had to wake up the next day at 4:30 a.m. for the last event – a 10K team ruck march,” Beaton continued. All events were graded on a point system to determine individual event and overall winners. UW-Stout’s team took fourth place among eight teams.
Cadets participate in flag ceremony
ROTC cadets Charles Beaton, Jr., Kyle Anderson, Travis Blinkiewicz, and John Mans participated in the 2012 Flag Day ceremony at the Dunn County Veterans Memorial in Menomonie. Maj. Jacqueline Johnson (not pictured) UW-Stout ROTC official and instructor, spoke during the ceremony, which concluded with the pealing of the UW-Stout clock tower bells. www.uwstout.edu.com | 17
MILITARY SCIENCE
Student groups awarded for homecoming spirit UW-Stout’s student organizations turn up their school spirit during homecoming, enthusiastically taking part in competitions that reward them for ingenuity. Together ROTC and Gamma Sigma Sigma won UW-Stout’s 2012 Homecoming Spirit Award for the third consecutive year. Participating student groups received points in the soap box race, soap box derby design, banner competition, and couch-athon decoration for creativity and the penny wars competition for the amount of pennies collected. Two organizations could partner to compete as one group. ROTC and Gamma Sigma Sigma earned 324 points. Second place went to Fine Arts Association and third place to Delta Zeta and Phi Sigma Phi. In addition to the Spirit Award competition, students also could participate in a medallion hunt, royalty voting, beard competition, flannel fashion show, float showcase, and a new float showcase block party.
Isaac Miller and Kate Segala take their turn on the couch during the couch-a-thon in the Homecoming Spirit Award competition.
NoteWorthy Faculty and Staff David Ding and Jim Keyes, operations and management, presented papers at the West Lake International Conference on Small and Medium Business in Hangzhou, China. Keyes presented “Understanding the Need for Lean Training,” and Ding presented “Enhancing Total Quality Management Through ERP Systems.” While in China, the two were guest lecturers at Wuhan University of Technology. Wendy Dittmann, College of Management; Ted Bensen and Steve Schlough, both of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; and Urs Haltinner and Carol Mooney, both of the School of Education, served as panelists at the 2012 ACTE CareerTech Visions in Atlanta. They shared best practices and ideas for the Effective Use of Advisory Committees and External Stakeholders in Program Operations. Sally Dresdow and Leonard Pederson, both of operations and management, have the article “Significant Tasks in Training Job-Shop Supervisors” accepted for an upcoming issue of the Journal of Workplace Learning. Mark Fenton, business, had his manuscript “Why and How We Can Teach Social Entrepreneurship in a Capstone Course” accepted for publication in the Journal of College and Character, Vol. 13, No. 4, November 2012. Steven Hirsch, business, attended the Accounting and Auditing Student Conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center, during which he also co-chaired a meeting for the Minnesota Council of Accounting Educators. In fall 2012 he also attended the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants Legislative Committee meeting. In December he visited an accounting class and talked about accounting careers with students at Chaska High School in Chaska, Minn. 18 | The College of Management at UW-Stout
Anne Kelly Hoel, business, co-authored the article entitled “Sustainability and Education Methodologies: Various Ways to Green the Business Curriculum,” which has been accepted for publication in Volume 5, Issue 17, of the Review of Higher Education and Self-Learning – RHESL, Winter 2012. She also presented her research “Greening the Business Curriculum Outside the Classroom” at the Marketing Managers Association Fall Educators Conference in Bloomington, Minn. Jeanette Kersten, operations and management, was part of the panel presentation “Three Perspectives on Infusing Ethics into the UW-Stout Curriculum: A Philosopher, a Designer and a Manager” at the Society for Ethics Across the Curriculum conference in Grand Rapids, Mich., along with Julie Peterson, School of Art and Design, and Tim Shiell, English and philosophy. Nancy Murray, business, was named the Stout Student Association Leadership and Student Involvement Advisor of the Year. New active duty officers Capt. Jared Siverling, Capt. Jared Sunsdahl, and Master Sgt. Ivan Johnson were welcomed during a military science department hail-and-farewell ceremony. Best wishes were extended to retired Master Sgt. Carl Rubin and Maj. Jacqueline Johnson, who deployed to Korea. Elbert Sorrell, operations and management, has been accepted as a visiting scholar to the University of Michigan for September 2012-September 2013, sponsored by the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. He will conduct research related to construction safety curriculum integration and program evaluation.
Students and Alumni Hospitality and tourism students Richard (Scott) Albert, Taylor Ashworth, Camila Checa, and Cody Pitz received scholarships from the Upper Midwest Chapter of the Club Managers Association of America. Hospitality and tourism students Richard (Scott) Albert, Camila Checa, and Monica Lewandowski received scholarships from the Wisconsin Badger Chapter of the CMAA/Wisconsin Club Managers Foundation. Lt. Laura Miller, Military Intelligence, was commissioned on August 24, 2012, as a second lieutenant in the Northwoods Battalion. Business administration students Eric Edson, Sydney McGee, and Brittany Rinker attended the Microsoft competition, a worldwide competition for students developing innovative software applications, in Minneapolis. Students Brandon Ross, Taylor Sanborn, and instructor Kris Schoonover, golf enterprise management, attended Fore! Reservations’ National Users Conference, Connect the Dots in Oak Brook, Ill. The event is held at Hamburger University Conference Center, on the campus of McDonalds’ corporate headquarters. The GEM degree program trains and certifies in Fore! Reservations, the leading provider of golf course management and marketing software. The Stout Retail Association (SRA) received the Student Organization of the Year award from the Stout Student Association.