Nazareth College School of Management Newsletter: Spring 2011

RETHINK MANAGEMENT

SPRING 2011

The Social Media Wizards See “Service-Learning Project” on page 3.

IN THIS ISSUE NOTES FROM THE DEAN PAGE 2 NOTES FROM THE UG CHAIR PAGE 2 MANAGEMENT NEWS PAGE 3 FEATURES PAGE 4

I

t is no exaggeration to say that this has been the year of social media, from the highly publicized feature film The Social Network to the pivotal role that Facebook and Twitter played in the recent revolution in Egypt. Since graduating from Nazareth College, Mike Deichmiller ’06 and Gavin Thomas ’06 have immersed themselves in this wide-open new arena, ushering their employer, Butler/Till, a media planning and buying agency, down social media avenues that are laden with opportunity.

FACULTY PAGE 6 ALUMNI PAGE 7 UPCOMING EVENTS PAGE 8

Deichmiller and Thomas, who joined Butler/Till soon out of college, started out in the areas of print, radio, and digital—the more traditional sectors of the business. Nonetheless, they felt that something important was missing from the Butler/Till profile. “From the time we were freshmen at Nazareth, we made use of social media on a personal level and always saw its potential,” says Deichmiller. “We wanted Butler/Till to see that potential as well.” > READ MORE ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA ON PAGE 4

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RETHINK MANAGEMENT

Notes from Dean Gerard Zappia

Notes from UG Chair Joseph DaBoll-Lavoie

DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS, Traditional business models are breaking down, product life cycles are much shorter, competitive advantage is hard to sustain, and information (good and bad) flows quickly across national boundaries.

Because of this, business success may not last long unless a firm has the willingness and ability to adapt and make changes that align with the environment.

Inability to make the right moves in a timely manner turns into failure. For some examples, think Blockbuster and Borders Books and Music.

Adapt and change is now the rule. You figure it out and it will not be long before you must do it again. Think Netflix: a great example of an organization that is disrupting its own business model before a competitor or external force does it for them. And their management has the attitude that this is standard operating procedure.

The not-so-new reality is there is no permanent solution to any business challenge.

Never fall in love with your product or a particular way of doing business. Once that happens you lose the ability to be objective and you start making very bad decisions.

Business schools must also adapt and get away from the formulaic approach to teaching business. Historically, business schools have placed too much emphasis on the mechanics of business and little emphasis on creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Our task is to teach students to “learn how to learn” and to face the challenges of tomorrow with an open mind and a willingness to see things in many different ways.

That said, the SOM faculty and I embrace the challenge, and we promise to continue to make changes that provide students with the tools and attitude to succeed.

Sincerely, Gerard F. Zappia, Dean Nazareth School of Management > Visit Dean Zappia’s official blog at http://naz.typepad.com/zappia

DEAR FRIENDS, CUPSOM: Chair of Undergraduate Programs, School of Management is my official title. While it doesn’t quite have that flowing sound of NCIS to it, it’s growing on me. And hopefully I’m growing into it.

The undergraduate programs here are a rich and diverse group of offerings that can help students find their areas of interest and strength, while building their skills for a meaningful life.

This time of year I talk with many students as they try to figure out their path at college and after. Trying to decide across our different programs, they explore economics, IT, accounting, management, and human resource classes. How about a music business class or an internship? Study abroad, anyone? I really enjoy helping them match their interests to their programs and getting them networked into the many areas with which the SOM is connected. Oh… I have to go now, a student needs to see me about declaring a business major! YES! Sincerely, Jospeh DaBoll-Lavoie, Ph.D. Chair of Undergraduate Programs Nazareth College School of Management

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SPRING 2011 • RETHINK

MANAGEMENT NEWS SOM Supports Ethics Institute The Interdisciplinary Institute for Professional Ethics (IIPE) unites the expertise found in the School of Management with the Schools of Education, Health and Human Services, and the College of Arts and Science. It prepares students for a life of ethical service and leadership and to support area professionals in meeting the ethical challenges of daily work.

To date, the IIPE has held four events in collaboration with the SOM. Local business leaders have addressed challenging issues such as identifying the root causes of unethical behavior. The discussions have been newsworthy and have been

Eric Klingen ‘12 (second from left) and Colin Doran ‘12 (second from right) with RMM staff

summarized in weekly issues of the Rochester Business Journal.

The business community’s response and involvement has been excellent, and the

New Finance Course Offering This spring semester, the School of Management offered Investments II: Portfolio Management (ECO 332) for the first time. After teaching Investments I for Nazareth for a while now, Prof. Michael Amico developed a course that builds on students’ interest in finance, economics,

Econ Students Lead Effort to Help Rural & Migrant Ministry Service-Learning Project

participants express a sincere desire to

Last fall, students in Labor Economics (ECO

continue the conversations. Says SOM Dean

340) heard from Rev. Richard Witt, executive

Gerard Zappia, “We are fortunate to have

director of Rural & Migrant Ministry, about

direct participation and support from many

disenfranchised migrant farm workers and

important business leaders, such as retired

the status of New York State labor law for

Maj. Gen. John Batiste, president of Klein

migrants. The students volunteered to help

Steel, and Jim Nortz, director of compliance

clean and paint an older building in Lyons,

at Bausch and Lomb.”

NY, that Witt’s group had received as a donation, along with setting up for a Fiesta

and accounting to construct a portfolio and

Day for the migrants. Other members of

analyze it using multiple approaches.

the class helped Witt prepare information for small farmers to elicit their support for

Finance has been an area of increasing interest for many SOM students majoring

legislative changes. Still others assisted

in management, economics, or accounting.

with pre-event marketing and attended

Amico brings his vast experience in

the Rural Women’s Conference held in

investments and portfolio management to

Binghamton, NY. All the events provided

bear in his upper division class. Students

great opportunities for hands-on learning

may take these classes as part of a finance

connected to the class.

extension, along with an internship with area financial advising firms.

Bill Foster, president of Bioworks, and Rosa LaDelfa, senior vice president of Casco Security Systems.

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RETHINK MANAGEMENT

FEATURE

The Social Media Wizards Deichmiller and Thomas presented the idea of a social media initiative to Sue Butler and Tracy Till, the firm’s co-CEOs. “They went for it and gave us the support and leeway to do the necessary research,” Thomas recalls.

Deichmiller and Thomas are true believers in the power of social media. “From our standpoint, social media really expands the realm of what we do and ups the benefits of the traditional media channels we use. It opens up dialogues that never existed before,” says Deichmiller. Thomas points out, however, that social media shouldn’t live alone. “Just as we wouldn’t recommend using stand-alone print, we wouldn’t recommend using stand-alone social media. Social media is there to extend the media purchases that are already being made,” Thomas says.

Deichmiller and Thomas, both of whom received bachelor’s degrees in business administration at Nazareth, particularly appreciate the dynamic nature of social media. “There’s literally something new happening every day,” says Thomas. He and Deichmiller stay ahead of the curve by reading social media newsblogs, participating in countless webinars, and attending conferences across the country. In March, they made their yearly pilgrimage to South by Southwest (SXSW), the annual conference held in Austin, Texas, that brings together all that is new and exciting in original music, independent films, and emerging technologies.

“We’re really enjoying this unique role we’re playing,” says Deichmiller. “We’re bringing new ideas to our clients and working with people throughout our agency. We’re teaching account executives how to Twitter and correcting the

Gavin Thomas ‘06

Mike Deichmiller ‘06

misconception that you can’t really measure social media. In fact, it’s very quantifiable.” Thomas cautions, however, that there’s not just one social media answer. “When clients say

that they want a Facebook page, we ask them what their marketing objective is,” Thomas says. “Social media requires an investment, and we want to make sure it’s used well.”

Currently, Deichmiller and Thomas connect around social media with more than half of Butler/Till’s clients, and that figure is growing. “We’ve both invested a ton of time in this,” says Thomas, “but that’s okay. Social media is not going away. It’s here to stay.” > For more on this topic, visit: www.naz.edu

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SPRING 2011 • RETHINK

Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Proposal

N

azareth College is known for producing graduates who serve and contribute in a variety of fields. Many of the graduates enter their respective fields with an entrepreneurial gleam in their eye—even in the worst economic downturn since the

Great Depression.

These ambitious graduates often look to establish private practices, market new inventions, or introduce innovative new services. In doing so, they reflect a national interest in entrepreneurship that has remained strong in spite of our current economic downturn.

The Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity reports that the number of new businesses created during the 2007–2009 recession years has, in fact, increased steadily year-to-year, reaching a 14-year-high in 2009.

The School of Management wants to encourage and support the dreams of our aspiring students and alumni and has proposed the establishment of a Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL). The purpose of the CEL would be to provide encouragement, education, and support to the many Nazareth students and alumni with an interest in entrepreneurship, extending beyond the School of Management.

“This exciting initiative would promote business growth and leadership development by helping students and alumni develop the vision, business plans, and knowledge they need to create and sustain successful businesses,” says Gerard F. Zappia, dean of the School of Management. “The center would provide students from all academic disciplines with opportunities to pursue an entrepreneurial path while continuing their education in their chosen field of study. This will enable students to gain more control over their economic futures by developing the ability to create opportunities in the marketplace for themselves and others. Such control is increasingly important in today’s global economy.”

To ensure that the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership is viewed as a resource for the entire campus community, the proposal calls for the center to be incorporated into Career Services and operated in collaboration with the deans and faculty of Nazareth’s School of Management, School of Education, School of Health and Human Services, and the College of Arts and Sciences.

An entrepreneur-in-residence would direct the activities of the center, serving as an advisor to students and alumni from all disciplines that have an interest in starting a business. The

“This exciting initiative would promote business growth and leadership development by helping students and alumni develop the vision, business plans, and knowledge they need to create and sustain successful businesses.”

– Gerard F. Zappia Dean, School of Management

proposed CEL would offer entrepreneurship workshops for alumni and students as well as an incubator that provides space, mentoring, and administrative support after graduation for select students whose business plans have been chosen on a competitive basis. CEL would also establish an alumni lecture series, featuring alumni entrepreneurs from all disciplines.

The CEL is an ambitious initiative and is contingent on external funding. Zappia is currently seeking the financial support necessary to establish the center. For those interested in supporting this exciting new venture, please contact Dean Zappia directly at 585-389-2570 or at gzappia4@naz.edu.

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RETHINK MANAGEMENT

FACULTY

IN THE NEWS ONLINE COURSES AVAILABLE Several SOM faculty have started developing and offering online course options.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

According to Dean Gerard Zappia, “We know most of our current students prefer face-to-face, and we are very happy to accommodate their preference. However, there is a great deal of evidence that strongly suggest the student of the future will have

IT STUDENTS LEARN TO DEVELOP

a different view. The time to prepare for the

iPHONE APPS

future is now.”

Information technology majors Dan

The SOM faculty leading the online course initiative are Eileen Beiter (accounting),

Mowery, Josh Loucks, Elise Kanaley, and John DeMott are learning how to develop

Rose Hair (human resource management),

iPhone applications in an independent

ROCHELLE RUFFER, Ph.D., Associate

Lorraine Henderson (management), and

study course offered by Deborah LaBelle,

Professor of Economics

Deborah LaBelle (information technology).

Ph.D., associate professor and director of

Education: B.A. in Economics, Colgate

They are currently offering online and hybrid

Nazareth’s information technology program.

University; M.S. in Economics, University

versions of classes; more online courses are

of Wisconsin; Ph.D. in Economics with a

planned for the future.

concentration in Industrial Organization, University of Wisconsin.

Henderson has had a positive experience teaching E-Commerce (MGT 427) as an

“The ultimate goal of this independent study course is to give the students experience working with the iOS platform and to demystify the process of iPhone app

online course. Students come to class the

development,”

economics is boring, she won’t

first day to familiarize themselves with

LaBelle says. “IT

hesitate to set you straight. In fact,

navigation in Moodle; they come on the last

graduates may

finding ways to make economics

day to do their presentations to the class. “In

soon be expected

more interesting to her students is

between time,” says Henderson, “we do

to know how

what she loves most about teaching.

chats, dialogue through discussion forums,

to design and

Her classes include Microeconomics

complete mini-projects that they receive

develop for

(both principles and intermediate),

feedback on, and work toward a final project

mobile devices,

International Business Economics, and

that includes sharing a draft and providing

and this course

Development Economics.

feedback to each other.” Most students

will help students

were surprised by the degree of sharing and

gain experience

learning that was created by the format

in this emerging

of the course. “They suggested I got more

technology.”

If you dare to tell Dr. Ruffer that

Dr. Ruffer’s current research assesses innovative teaching strategies in the classroom and will be presented at the National Committee on Economic Education conference in June. She has been involved in a number of National Science Foundation-funded grants to

out of them because when they came to

At the start of

the classroom, they were fully prepared to

the semester the students brainstormed

concentrate and participate,” Henderson says.

ideas for apps. While they each have an

Hair is teaching Applications in Human

idea for an app that fits their personal need, they also want to create a Naz App for

implement teaching techniques into the

Resource Management (HRM 437) as a

classroom, help create a single, web-

blended delivery course, alternating meeting

current or prospective Nazareth students.

based resource related to undergraduate

as a class and interacting using discussion

They hope to have something ready for

economics instruction, and most

forums on Moodle. “This is the first time the

testing by the end of spring semester and

recently to introduce interesting and

course has been taught this way,” she says.

will continue the development process in

fun teaching techniques to community college Economics teachers.

“I am optimistic that the blended approach will be beneficial to the students and can be further developed in the years to come.”

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fall 2011. > Read more at www.naz.edu

SPRING 2011 • RETHINK

M.S. HRM Grad Profile Why do people return to college after many

It’s Not Just a Race to Tolley ’97

ALUMNI

years to seek a higher degree? Sometimes it’s to secure a better-paying position or to make a career change. In the case of Scott

to know that I’ve been part of something

Latshaw ’10G, who earned his master’s

that 13 million people are watching…well,

degree in human resource management

that’s pretty cool.”

from the School of Management, the

Tolley credits Nazareth with giving

motivation was disarmingly direct: he

him a love of lifelong learning. “The

wanted to learn more about his field.

sports industry is really a competitive

For the past 16 years, Latshaw has been

world, with lots of people coming up

with Paychex, the payroll and human

from sports management programs all

resource company that serves approximately

around the country,” he says. “And so

572,000 businesses in the U.S. As human resources technology manager, Latshaw

Ryan Tolley ’97 with American Idol’s Bo Bice at NASCAR pre-race

supervises information systems and educates employees in how to use technology.

Latshaw’s time at Nazareth has allowed

the way things are—values I was taught at Nazareth—have served me well.”

In the 13 years since Ryan Tolley ’97 earned his bachelor’s degree in business

him to integrate generalist human resources

administration from Nazareth College, he

knowledge into his daily activities, thereby

has established himself on the business end

boosting his decision-making capacity.

of auto racing.

“Nazareth was an exceptional experience,”

continual learning and never settling for

For the first six years after graduating,

says Latshaw. “My professors and fellow

Tolley worked at a number of different jobs

students were all very professional and

in telecommunications and software sales,

knowledgeable. I’ve maintained contact

but he always felt that something was

with the College and was even invited back

missing. “I played basketball in my first two

to participate in a management leadership

years at Nazareth, and I really was looking

seminar course. It was good to be able to

for something to which I could commit with

give back that way.”

the kind of passion I reserved for sports,” Tolley says.

Tolley found an outlet for that passion when he signed on with Watkins Glen International, eventually working his way up to director of sales and business

> Read more about what Naz almuni are doing at www.naz.edu

SEND US YOUR NEWS > Send us your stories and accomplishments! E-mail us at: management@naz.edu.

SUPPORT THE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT > Visit www.naz.edu/support to make a contribution online or contact Peggy Martin, director of development, at mmartin0@naz.edu or 585-389-2410. Thank you!

development. This February, Watkins Glen’s parent company, International Speedway Corporation (ISC), transferred Tolley to Florida, where he now serves as director of sales for Daytona International Speedway.

In that capacity, Tolley is responsible for all corporate deals at the racetrack, including sponsorships, hospitality, corporate displays, and suite sales.

“The thing that I love most about my job is that it’s a passion and a lifestyle,” says Tolley. “I work nonstop on race weeks, but the Daytona 500 is a bucket list event and WWW.NAZ.EDU/MANAGEMENT • 7

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT DEGREES OFFERED: > May 16-June 23: Summer Session I

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

MASTER OF SCIENCE

> May 25: Graduate Information Session, 6 p.m., Shults Center Forum

Accounting

Accounting

Business Administration

> June 3: Fourth Annual SOM Golf Tournament, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Shadow Pines Golf Club, Penfield, NY

Business and Marketing Education Initial certification Professional certification

Business and Marketing Education Initial certification Professional certification

> June 3-5: Nazareth College Reunion Weekend > June 27-August 4: Summer Session II

Economics

Human Resource Management Management

Information Technology International Business Marketing Music/Business

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