Currency Magazine Spring 2022 by uoflbiz

CURRENCY THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS MAGAZINE SPRING 2022 Vol. 4 | No. 1

EMBRACING SECOND CHANCES Terrell Williams shares his inspiring story

(PG. 8)

SPRING 2022

IN THIS ISSUE CURRENCY SPRING 2022 | Vol. 4 | No. 1

PROMISING RESEARCH

BOARD OF ADVISORS Q&A

EMBRACING SECOND CHANCES

Sadek Showkat’s journey from COO to PhD candidate

The Whitakers discuss their commitment to the College

CONTRIBUTORS Donna Clark, Betty Coffman, Jocelyn Deamer, Kaela Dickerman, Sonja Faul, Erica Hulse, Sharon Handy, Elijah Humble, Amanda Lucas, Joe Neary, Ali Pfeiffer,

Accountancy senior Terrell Williams is a testimony to perseverance

EMPOWER IDENTITY

UNCODING TOMORROW

Lori Tang, Jim Warner, Jill Wegenast

ESTATE AND GIFT PLANNING

This magazine is a compilation of articles, notes, and interviews from the College of Business. To subscribe to the newsletter, please e-mail bizbrand@louisville.edu.

FAMILY BUSINESS CENTER SPOTLIGHT

FIRST COMES LOVE

CENTER FOR FREE ENTERPRISE

PROJECT ON POSITIVE LEADERSHIP

The University of Louisville is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate against persons because of race, age, religion, sex, handicap, color, or national origin.

GRADUATE BUSINESS ALUMNI COUNCIL

SPIRIT OF SHARING

SPIRIT OF HOSPITALITY

Kelly Watson puts the heart into hospitality

RESEARCH ROUNDUP

DEPARTMENT NOTES

CLASS NOTES

IN MEMORIAM

Currency is published by the University of Louisville College of Business Communications and Marketing Department.

Alum Brevin Woodford returns to UofL with the LGBT Center team

Porter Scholar Jayna Newcomer uses her CIS degrees at Dean Dorton

Giving beyond your lifetime

Patrick Murphy discusses the value of an FBC membership

Zack Flanagan & Sean Lara find success with Board & You

T.K. Coleman shares his story with the Cardinal Bridge Academy

Introducing the 2022 Rechter Fellows

Reigniting alumni engagement

Cardinal Spirit Award winner Erica Hulse empowers student success

Celebrating the College’s research contributions

News from inside the College

College of Business alumni share their news

Remembering our Cardinal community members who have passed

SPRING 2022

FROM THE DEAN As the Class of ’22 prepares to walk across the stage, it is timely to reflect on and celebrate these students and their wonderful accomplishments. These future leaders have persevered through another year of uncertainty, challenges, and change – as well as the academic rigor and challenges of a world-class academic curriculum. They should be very proud, and the world can be very optimistic. I am excited to think of all that they will go on to accomplish. I am proud that our College of Business had a part in shaping another class of leaders who will change the world. This issue of Currency offers a window into how the College and the University have shaped these wonderful stories. We celebrate the work of our students, from PhD candidate Sadek Showkat to BSBA candidate Terrell Williams, our future feels brighter seeing their talent and their character. We are proud of programs such as our graduate program in Entrepreneurship (the “IMBA”) and the Online MBA – both are nationally ranked among the top 50 in their fields (by The Princeton Review and US News and World Report, respectively). Such acclaim is the product of our faculty and staff’s expert, dedicated, and caring support for our students and their commitment to excellence. We are similarly excited about new initiatives and partnerships, such as our innovative YUM! Center for Global Franchise Excellence and its connections to diverse audiences as well as its partnership with Howard University. Deep connections with industry advance our commitment to providing all students with opportunities to apply classroom learning to real-world challenges and to connect with practitioners and accomplished leaders. As our school year draws to a close, our work continues. The campus may be a little quieter in the summer, but we will be here, preparing for the next wave of future Cardinals. We hope you will join us in this vital work.

Todd A. Mooradian, PhD | Dean, College of Business | University of Louisville

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CURRENCY Magazine

Sadek Showkat Entrepreneurship PhD Candidate

SADEK SHOWKAT

PROMISING RESEARCH by Jim Warner

Sadek Showkat understands risk/reward and

to pursuing his PhD in Entrepreneurship at UofL.

school. While there’s a lot of actual miles and life clocked here, his work is paying off. Sadek recently received the “Most Promising Junior Entrepreneurship Scholar Award” from the 2021 Virtual Summer Seminar in Entrepreneurship Research (VSSER).

He splits his time between Louisville and

IMPACTING POVERTY

betting on himself. In the past five years, Sadek has gone from his home in Bangladesh to work for a multinational corporation in China as a COO

Bloomington, Indiana—where his wife Shukufe is pursuing her PhD in science education and his daughter Sehrish is attending elementary

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

A desire to study the root causes of poverty and improve the quality of life in a sustainable way is at the heart of Sadek’s work. Moving from

REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR AND DISCOVERING WHAT KIND OF POLICIES AND HOW ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS HELPING THEM GROW—THAT LED ME [TO THIS FIELD OF RESEARCH]. MY FOCUS IS ON THE INTERSECTION OF POVERTY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. the research field into the practical inspired his initial transition from the corporate world. “As you go higher up the ladder, you do more on the personnel side—you learn more about people and less about skills,” says Sadek. Conversely, his innate drive as a lifelong learner (for which he credits the upbringing by his parents Showkat and Selina back in Bangladesh) meant discovering the way, according to Sadek, “to increase my bandwidth to help other people.”

taking a combination of virtual and in-person

This shift ultimately led him to a conversation with Professor James O. Fiet about the PhD program at UofL. “Reaching out to people who are poor and discovering what kind of policies and how entrepreneurship is helping them grow—that led me [to this field of research]. My focus is on the intersection of poverty and entrepreneurship.”

an award winner. “I was overwhelmed when

Meanwhile, Sadek has already started exploring the spaces that help inform economic policy. “For example,” says Sadek, “think about the adage ‘to teach a man to fish…’ If everyone knows how to fish and is fishing, the economic value of selling the fish is the same, and nobody is [prospering]. So what I’m trying to understand is how we can teach them how to find attractive opportunities instead of having the same opportunities—within the context of poverty.”

academic prospects.

AWARD WINNING CANDIDATE Sadek is in his second year of the PhD program and has taken advantage of academic seminars,

events. The VSSER program is a two-month seminar conducted by Dr. Vishal Gupta from the University of Alabama. There were 200 doctoral candidates in entrepreneurship from around the world participating in the symposium. While his initial motivation to attend VSSER was to keep himself motivated and focused on entrepreneurial research over the summer, he never imagined that he would be I found out…very proud,” Sadek pauses, as if still in disbelief. To him, the award has been a much-needed boost—as many graduate students in the throes of study will tell you, it’s often difficult to gauge progress while in pursuit of the advanced degree. If Sadek needed a sign, the VSSER award is as bold and bright as his

SUSTAINABLE RESEARCH As his second year continues, Sadek hopes to carry this momentum into his research. With conference presentations and publications on the horizon, he is also mindful of the larger goal—policy that can improve the lives in his native Bangladesh and beyond. “I have seen professors [in my field] who are doing meaningful and responsible research which can provide value for the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals…I want to meet real people and share their stories through my research.”

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CURRENCY Magazine

Q&A Odile and Bob Whitaker

H T IW E H T WHITAKERS by Ali Pfeiffer

Robert and Odile Whitaker are the creators of the Whitaker Endowed Scholarship Fund, a scholarship given to one or more College of Business students with preference for those in their third or fourth year with a GPA of 3.25 or higher. Robert, who goes by Bob, is a CoB alum and current member of the CoB’s Board of Advisors. Both he and Odile have formed a tight relationship with the College since his graduation, and sat down to share their insights on why they value being involved. UofL: Bob and Odile, why did you decide to establish the Whitaker Scholarship at the College of Business? Odile: Bob and I got married when we were very young, 22 and 21. Money was tight and we had to go to school and sometimes work two jobs to make it. We have fond memories of going to the grocery 6

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

store with our calculator! We worked very hard but occasionally it wasn’t enough. But we were also lucky once or twice to have the support of our families when times were very lean. Not everyone has this chance today. We want to help others where we can. We really wanted to give back. For us, not only has education been important in our lives, but we think it is something critical to support in our country. We set up our scholarship at the College of Business to both support education and give back to the school that gave Bob a great start to his career. Bob: Not only does the UofL College of Business have terrific and innovative academic programs, but it also works tirelessly to help the students and people of the city. From outreach programs to high school students in the Louisville area to helping new business owners and entrepreneurs, the College of Business is more than just a school; it is a support system for the whole community.

UofL: Bob, what was your experience like upon graduating? BW: I decided first to get an MBA. In many of my classes, we would reach a point in the topic, and the professor(s) would say, “We won’t go further, that’s for the MBA classes.” I found myself wanting to go further in my studies. And of course, having an MBA would ultimately lead to higher earning potential. So, upon graduating, I went to get my MBA. Carving out a career path is a unique experience for everyone. For me, it was a willingness to help out whenever a problem, issue, or project came up, and work hard. I also never had an issue being a team player, trying a new role or new challenges, and thinking outside the box. That enabled me to continually broaden my role which inevitably led to the next position. UofL: Bob, you joined DHL in 2004. What are you most proud of so far during your tenure with DHL?

BW: I started as a Senior Director of Treasury and now my title is Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance. The project I am most proud of is not the project with the largest impact for the company but really for our workers and more broadly, American workers. As you may not know, many of the union pension funds in the US were on the verge of collapse which would have resulted in more than a million people losing their pensions, thousands of companies going bankrupt, and tens of thousands of jobs lost. With the go-ahead from my company, I contacted competitors and the unions to strategize on how to save the pensions. I joined various coalitions, wrote to our employees urging them to contact Congress, and I went to Washington multiple times to meet with Congress on passing legislation to make structural changes that would allow the pensions to be saved. In early 2021 Congress passed the necessary legislation allowing the survival of pensions, companies, and jobs. The impact on our employees, and the country as a whole, was tremendous, and this is by far the accomplishment of which I am most proud. UofL: Bob and Odile, what legacy do you hope to leave with the College of Business? BW: A few years ago, I met Dean Mooradian who shared his vision for the school and asked if I could join his advisory board. I was passionate about the future of the College of Business and was excited to expand my connection to the school. While monetary contributions are essential, I think it is equally important to contribute with your time and experience. It has been a great privilege and pleasure to have been able to contribute to a firstclass institution and I really hope we can continue to support the College and University in any way possible.

Find out more about creating an endowed scholarship fund.

SPRING 2022

CURRENCY Magazine

TERRELL WILLIAMS

EMBRACING SECOND CHANCES

by Jim Warner

Terrell Williams understands the importance of a

A FATEFUL ENCOUNTER

second chance. The senior accountancy major is

“March 29th, 2017, I had just gotten off work, and was on my way to my brother’s house,” recalls Terrell. “I stopped at the convenience store—was in there for less than a minute. I wasn’t thinking too much about it, but I left my car running, and so I come back outside the store to an unexpected surprise.” Terrell discovered someone attempting to steal his car. Reflexively, he reached for his gun, but before he could react, shots rang out.

a handful of months away from starting graduate school at North Carolina State University. It’s the next phase, and Terrell is more than ready to embrace the challenge. He has a quiet charisma about him—the type of smile that radiates warmth and life. Terrell carries himself with purpose, a conviction that is equal parts humble and engaging. Like the best and brightest among us, Terrell Williams’ tomorrow is filled with hope and opportunity. “Five years ago, I never thought I would be in the situation I am in now,” says Terrell. This life leading him from his beloved Louisville looks a lot different than the one he led half a decade ago and serves as a reminder of how quickly things can change.

“I just felt something pierce my right side, and so what I never noticed was the guy who’s trying to steal my car. He had more people across the street looking out for him, and as soon as they saw my gun, they started shooting me.” Terrell was shot twice in the ensuing gunfire. “I could not get off the ground…kept trying to get up but felt like a fish on dry land, flopping back and forth. I started thinking, ‘Did I shoot my legs like, what’s going on?’ So I reached down, grabbed my thighs, and they just felt like bags of water.” The first bullet had hit Terrell in the chest and exited through the spine. He had been paralyzed from the waist down. A second shot struck him in the neck. “At that moment, I thought I was about to die…I started saying the same thing over and over, ‘God, please take care of me. God, please take care of me.’” HEALING THE BODY AND SOUL

Terrell Williams serving as an intern for Ventas, Inc.

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

Miraculously, Terrell Williams survived the shooting. It was a long road from rehab and therapy, but Terrell began the healing process with his family by his side. He credits UofL Hospital, the Frazier Rehabilitation Institute, and a pair of programs, Pivot to Peace, and the UofL Youth Violence Prevention Research Center, for helping him heal—body, mind, and spirit.

Terrell Williams Accountancy Senior

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CURRENCY Magazine

While he healed physically, Terrell reached back to his community. He began working with local organizations and began sharing his journey with students. “It’s just beneficial to us all if we try to help build better versions of ourselves.” Being active in his community through public speaking engagements ultimately put him on the path back to school.

and transforming it into a promising career in accountancy. A random inquiry with health care real estate company Ventas, Inc. became a successful internship, renewed twice over. He even began volunteering with Whitney/Strong—a nonprofit focused on responsible gun ownership and ending gun violence—utilizing his accounting skills to help balance their books.

“Growing up [in the California neighborhood], I’ve been a big UofL fan, and this city—I love the city. So if I was going to go to school, I knew UofL was really the only option in my eyes.” Another chance encounter proved pivotal in making this dream a reality. “I met [former president] Neeli Bendapudi at a trauma survivors event. She connected me with Jenny Sawyer in Admissions, who made the process super smooth for me.” Knowing that there were people at UofL reaching out to help was inspiring to Terrell. “If you care for your city, I know that you care for your students as well.”

This hard work has culminated into the Jenkins Master of Accountancy (MAC) Fellowship Program at NC State. The merit-based program splits the degree cost between the university and firm sponsorship. The accounting firm, RSM, has selected Terrell and will be sponsoring him at NC State, guaranteeing him a full-time position with the firm upon graduation.

MAKING THE MOST OF A SECOND CHANCE His undergraduate journey at UofL has been a personal discovery, taking his love of math

Business.Louisville.edu/CURRENCY

The fellowship is a life-changing opportunity, and while it means leaving the city he loves, Terrell Williams knows that he carries Louisville and UofL with him wherever he goes—inspiring others along the way. “My life felt like it was shattered into a million pieces, but you got to figure out how to put it back together. I had to learn that there are just different paths to take.”

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EMPOWER IDENTITY BREVIN WOODFORD

by Ali Pfeiffer

College of Business alum Brevin Woodford

LGBT Center’s social media accounts.

graduated in 2018 with an undergraduate degree

Lisa Gunterman, Director of the LGBT Center and Brevin’s supervisor, says, “We are beyond grateful to have Brevin onboard! His gifts, talents, skills, and student-centered approach make him an invaluable member of the LGBT Center team…Brevin is wellliked across campus and is dedicated to building a climate where all students feel welcome, included, and empowered to reach their full potential.”

focused on marketing. He returned to campus in early 2021 not as a student, but as an employee for his alma mater. Brevin works in the Cultural and Equity Center as a member of the LGBT Center team. The Center, which opened in the fall of 2021, aims to provide a welcoming space and necessary resources to a diverse array of students. In the year that Brevin has been here, he’s worked on multiple projects for the Center, including The Rustin Themed Housing Community, Welcome Week, and Cardinal OUTlook Day. He also contributes to the

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

We sat down with Brevin to learn more about his current role and what inspired his career. UofL: What drew you to the College of Business for your undergraduate degree? Brevin: [First] I am from Louisville and I have always been a Cardinal fan! So as college

approached, I was interested in going out of state, but I ultimately decided to stay in Louisville and still have a good college experience by staying on campus and getting involved. [Second], the year I began at UofL was the first year they admitted students into the College of Business as first-year students, meaning I didn’t have to apply after taking x-number of [general education] credits. The admittance was based on certain criteria: high school GPA, ACT scores, etc. So knowing I didn’t have to wait to start taking some major classes right out of the gate was very appealing!

Through all of these things, I am able to bring more students to our LGBT Center and hopefully make more students feel welcome [with] a sense of belonging on campus and in the Louisville community at large. UofL: As a recent alum, what positive change do you hope to create for future students? BW: I hope to continue to create spaces for students of color and queer students to feel seen, heard, and appreciated so that they not only feel like they belong… they THRIVE!

UofL: Why did you decide on a degree in marketing? BW: When it came to choosing a major, I knew I wanted to major in something within business, but I also wanted to do something that fit me…I felt like my energy and love of people would fit within marketing more. UofL: What is your current role with the University and what are your responsibilities? BW: I currently am the Program Coordinator, Sr. at the LGBT Center. In my position, I have three primary roles: • I advise the Bayard Rustin LGBTQ+ Social Justice Themed Community. I hold monthly meetings for my students and have 1:1 meetings to help with personal development, talk about things they have going on throughout campus, and more. • I advise our student group for LGBTQ+ students of color and their allies. The group looks to support students and provide a safe and affirming space for students and where their identities intersect. • [Lastly] I work to put on programs throughout the year for the campus community at large; share resources and give support to students, faculty, and staff; and any other things that the Center or campus partners may need at any given time.

Brevin Woodford Program Coordinator, Sr. LGBT Center

SPRING 2022

CURRENCY Magazine

PORTER SCHOLARSHIP

1984 FOUNDED

PORTER SCHOLARSHIP

RECIPIENTS

UNCODING TOMORROW JAYNA NEWCOMER

by Jim Warner

ALUMNIHIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS | |ALUMNI

Jayna Newcomer is a technology services

learned. “Knowing economics, marketing, and

specialist at Dean Dorton. The Woodford R. Porter

how to put technology into layman’s terms is

Scholar graduated Cum Laude with honors in May of 2020. A highly-motivated student, she earned degrees in the three Computer Information

invaluable to completing anything in my field beyond groundwork.” While the business component to Jayna’s education has served her well at Dean Dorton,

Systems tracks offered at UofL—data analytics,

her love of technology inspired her to pursue a

information security, and web development. While

degree in CIS. “I decided to attend the College

she entered the job market in the heart of the pandemic, this triple-threat skillset prepared her

of Business because I wanted to understand technology from a business perspective so that I could make a difference with the technology I interacted with and not just code or manage

for success.

systems. Being in technology himself, my father “During my final year at UofL, I was able to secure a job that utilized all my degree

inspired me to pursue a career in technology,” reflects Jayna. “He always filled the house with the newest gadgets and

paths and let me put my knowledge to the test,” says Jayna. She secured a job before graduating. That company was acquired by Dean Dorton a few months later. She currently serves as a technology services specialist for the company, a position that may not fully describe the scope and scale

took time to explain (at my

BEING IN TECHNOLOGY HIMSELF, MY FATHER INSPIRED ME TO PURSUE A CAREER IN TECHNOLOGY.

of Jayna’s role—serving customers across the US. “Under that job title, I am a system administrator, a consultant, a project manager, and a developer. I have the

level) what each piece of technology or software did and how it did it. Through years of talking with him about his work [in IT] and the world around us, I figured out that the biggest impact I could have on

-Jayna Newcomer

the world would be working in technology – it is the

thread that holds everything together in our modern world.”

knowledge to dive into these areas because

As her career with Dean Dorton may be at its

of how easy it was to triple major under

start, Jayna is already planning to dive deeper

the CIS program.”

into the cybersecurity field. The path ahead is wide open but she offers some timely advice for

That experience in the CIS program helped

undergrads in their final years. “Find someone

cultivate an understanding of both the business

in your place of work or career that can help

and the technology sides of her career path.

you along in the transition. It is not easy to go

Jayna explains, “It is not all coding and server

from a college kid to a full, proper employee at

rooms but a lot of paperwork, emails, and

any company. You will have a new life dynamic

negotiation. Working in consulting, I have to

to figure out and will need someone to support

present my knowledge in the form of a proposal

you at work. Also, invest in an underclassman

with much legal language thrown in, too.” These

and share the wisdom you learned in your years.

soft skills gained in her classes at the College

You never know how your experiences will help

have proven as essential as any data tools she

another student succeed.”

SPRING 2022

CURRENCY Magazine

ESTATE & GIFT PLANNING UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE OFFICE FOR

When you include the University of Louisville in your charitable giving plan, your generosity ensures continued excellence in education, research, and community engagement for generations to come. Whether you are revisiting your existing plan or creating your first plan, we are ready to partner with you. Thank you for being a vital part of UofL’s future.

GIVING BEYOND YOUR LIFETIME Beneficiary Designations Simple forms are available from financial institutions. Beneficiary designations may be made on: • IRAs and Retirement Plans • Brokerage Accounts • Bank Accounts • Life Insurance Policies • Commercial Annuities • Donor Advised Funds

TAX-EFFICIENT WAYS FOR GIVING NOW

uoflplannedgifts.org/beneficiary-designations

Appreciated Securities and Mutual Funds

Income Producing Gifts

Gifting publicly traded securities held for more than one year offers great tax advantages!

You can support the University of Louisville while still having dependable income in your retirement years. Contact Joe Neary for more information on these unique giving opportunities.

uoflplannedgifts.org/appreciated-securities

Donor-Advised Funds (DAF) Operating like a charitable savings account, DAFs give the flexibility to recommend how much and how often money is granted to qualified charities. uoflplannedgifts.org/donor-advised-funds

Qualified Charitable Distributions (IRA Charitable Rollovers) Those age 70 1/2 and older qualify for a special opportunity. You can give up to a maximum of $100,000 per year from your IRA directly to a qualified charity, without having to pay income taxes on the money. uoflplannedgifts.org/ira-charitable-rollover

ESTATE AND GIFT PLANNING

uoflplannedgifts.org/charitable-gift-annuities uoflplannedgifts.org/charitable-remainder-trusts

Bequests: Wills and Living Trusts Through the addition of a sentence, your attorney can update your will or living trust to include a specific or percentage designation to UofL: “I, [name], of [city, state ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to the UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE FOUNDATION [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for the following use and purpose: [i.e. ‘to fund the [Name of Fund] Endowed Scholarship Fund.’]” uoflplannedgifts.org/wills-and-living-trusts

Already included the University of Louisville in your estate plans? Thank you! By letting us know, we can ensure that we fulfill your gift exactly as you intended and welcome you into the Conn Legacy Society. Contact us today. FOR MORE INFORMATION Please contact: Joseph P. Neary, PhD UofL College of Business Louisville, Kentucky 40292 502.852.4784 joseph.neary@louisville.edu

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UofL FAMILY BUSINESS CENTER MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

PATRICK MURPHY by Jocelyn Deamer

Patrick D. Murphy is president and founder of Patrick D. Murphy Architects, a family-owned architecture firm specializing in roof consulting, exterior wall, and building envelope consulting since 1982. A registered architect, Patrick earned his degree at the University of Kentucky and has over thirty years of professional experience. WEBSITE: pdmarchitects.com UofLFBC: What does it mean for your family business to be a member of the University of Louisville Family Business Center (UofLFBC)? Patrick: Being a member of the FBC means that we get to participate with a large group of people who have similar and shared experiences in both the business world and family. We have forged friendships with FBC members who have a proven track record of successful business practice built around trust and honesty. UofLFBC: How do you feel the UofLFBC can benefit a fledgling family business? PM: The best benefit for a fledgling family business offered by the FBC is that regardless of size, history, product, or service…the FBC is a multifaceted resource. We must realize that, at some scale, we all have the same doubts, worries, and problems. However, we also experience the same joy, happiness, and success. The FBC is a safe harbor to share all the above in a mutually beneficial environment.

NextGen Roundtable. The participants in these FBC Roundtables have become friends and great resources by openly sharing their collective business experiences. UofLFBC: Tell us about a time when you were proud to be a family business. PM: Recently, a major competition came out from the Commonwealth of Kentucky for our field of architectural roof consulting. This competition was for the re-roofing of all the major state resort parks. It was the biggest allocation for re-roofing in the history of the Commonwealth. The competition was so big that the Department of Finance divided it into two sectors—the west sector of Kentucky and the east sector of Kentucky. We pulled our family team together and started the preparation work. It involved creating a package of qualifications for each project… When all the dust settled, our company was awarded both jobs. I was extremely proud of my nephew, Jean-Paul Grivas, AIA, our daughter Monica Mittel, MBA, and our son Sean Murphy. They all collaborated seamlessly to make this a successful venture.

UofLFBC: What do you know now that you didn’t know before becoming a member of the UofLFBC? PM: One of the most impactful aspects of new knowledge for our company is embracing participation in the CEO Roundtable & the

Become a member! Join the UofLFBC today. UofLFBC.com SPRING 2022

CURRENCY Magazine

FIRST COMES LOVE SEAN LARA & ZACK FLANAGAN

THEN COMES CHARCUTERIE

by Kaela Dickerman

Alumni Zack Flanagan ’18 and Sean Lara ’16, ’18

and fell in love. Then they created a booming

each came to the University of Louisville for their

dining and charcuterie business called

own reasons. For Zack, going to UofL was simply a trip across the river. A New Albany, Indiana native, he graduated in 2018 with a marketing degree. Sean, on the other hand, came to UofL all the way from San Diego, California to compete on the cheerleading team and cheered for UofL for all five years. While attending UofL, the two met

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

Board & You. Board & You began in April 2019 as a charcuterie business and has grown into a Bistro & Wine Bar located in New Albany. Since their opening date July 7, 2020, the brick-andmortar restaurant has reached the #1 spot for restaurants in Kentuckiana on OpenTable and averages 4.9 stars.

Placing the Bistro & Wine Bar in Zack’s hometown was a no-brainer. “My parents instilled that community is what thrives in a business,” Zack says. “Considering that the Bistro & Wine bar, being only a year and some change old, has been ranked the #1 restaurant in all of Kentuckiana, they were definitely right about that.” The inception of Board & You came out of a friendly competition. For Easter weekend, Sean’s coworkers decided to create a charcuterie competition that their boss would judge. “A couple days later I’m walking out of Trader Joe’s with $100 worth of items,” says Sean. “Then my coworker texted me saying she forgot about the competition, and she wouldn’t have time to make it.” Sean decided to trek on and see what he could make. He enlisted the help of Aaron Flanagan, brother of Zack and now executive chef at Bistro & Wine Bar. Together, they created something that would inspire Sean to build a charcuterie business. “Zack’s dad suggested I make a business out of it,” says Sean. “We

The two business owners got to see a third piece of their brand open in February 2022. Board & You Café, located in Norton Commons, is a combination of the two current branches of the business. “The café is very aesthetically pleasing, both from a culinary perspective and visually in the restaurant,” says Zack. “It’s a concept that merges the charcuterie piece and bistro piece, bright and bold and refined, respectively.” Board & You has accomplished many new heights, but for Zack, the business came full circle when it was contacted by GE, his first employer. “We were invited to go to the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Vegas with GE,” Zack says. “We were able to create grazing tables on their Monogram line, which is GE’s luxury appliance line. That was my first ‘we made it’ moment.” Both Zack and Sean can look back on their times at UofL and remember moments that helped build Board & You. Whether it was their own extracurricular activities, the time-management learned in college, or simply meeting each other, the years spent at UofL allowed the two to dream big and now own their own business.

decided to put it on Facebook and were getting orders that day.” During that time, Zack had begun his first career working at GE. It wasn’t long before Sean had convinced Zack to help make Board & You a full-time business, and the hustle and bustle of Derby season helped. “The first weekend of Derby, we had four huge orders, and that was when I realized it could be an actual business,” remembers Zack. Now, husbands Sean and Zack get to work with each other in a business they created from scratch. The two work well together and divide up the jobs, both fitting the style of the person. Zack puts his business degree to work while managing much of the logistics and operations. Sean continues to build on that first charcuterie board by focusing on the creative side of the business and branding.

SPRING 2022

CURRENCY Magazine

T.K. Coleman, speaking at the College of Business with Raymond Green

T.K. COLEMAN & THE CARDINAL BRIDGE ACADEMY

PATHWAYS TO POTENTIAL by Donna Zinser Clark

Entrepreneur T.K. Coleman has been described

things happen for yourself, as he presented

as a passionate voice for possibility. T.K. brought

“The Economics of Your Dreams.”

that passion to Louisville in February as a guest

But before he ever set foot on UofL’s campus, T.K. spoke to another group of students, this one at Louisville’s Valley High School in southwest Jefferson County. Collaborating with the College of Business’ Cardinal Bridge Academy, the Center for Free Enterprise introduced about 50 high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to T.K. Coleman’s positivity and insight. During the interactive session with students, T.K. used stories and personal anecdotes to relay his message of hard work, persistence, and creating your own positive outcomes.

speaker in the Center for Free Enterprise Menard Family Lecture Series. Dozens of UofL students, faculty, staff, and members of the community were treated to T.K.’s unique take on making

Support the UofL Center for Free Enterprise at the College of Business.

| CENTER FOR FREE ENTERPRISE

“What a fabulous opportunity for our students (and staff)—we all needed a lift and T.K.

T.K. Coleman with students at Valley High School

Coleman delivered,” said Valley teacher Marla Paschal. “There was a lot of talk about the event throughout the building yesterday, and for the remainder of the day. I hope the message he delivered sinks in and spreads like wildfire. We can’t get enough positive messages to our students.” The collaboration between the Center and the Cardinal Bridge Academy seemed like a natural one, given both group’s missions focus on improving people’s lives. “The Center for Free Enterprise was founded to illustrate the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in making lives better,” said Center director Steve Gohmann. “T.K. is a living, breathing example of that and the perfect spokesperson for young people who are just beginning their academic and career journeys.” To view T.K.’s talk at the College of Business, or any past Menard Family Lecture Series events, visit the Media Room at UofLFreeEnterprise.org. The Cardinal Bridge Academy offers high school juniors and seniors opportunities to sharpen their business, technology, and leadership skills, earn college credit hours through dual-credit classes, and establish early direct admission into the College of Business. Currently in place in three local high schools, the CBA is poised to grow to other schools and impact even more students’ lives. To partner with the CBA as a financial sponsor, mentor, guest speaker, or tutor, contact Erica McDaniel at CBAbiz@louisville.edu.

T.K. Coleman, speaking at Valley High School

CARDINAL BRIDGE ACADEMY

STUDENTS IN PROGRAM

PARTNER SCHOOLS

SPRING 2022

CURRENCY Magazine

RECHTER FELLOWS 2022 PROJECT ON POSITIVE LEADERSHIP

On December 1, 2021, the Project on Positive

Leadership announced the latest cohort of the

Sam and Bonnie Rechter Fellowships in Positive Leadership. Since 2020, Rechter Fellows have developed tools and conducted research that supports the advancement of virtue and excellence in leadership. The Rechter Family Trust generously funds the fellowships, bestowing up to $5,000 for each project. The 2022 recipients include:

INGA CARBONI, PhD

JASON CHEN, PhD

Inga Carboni, PhD (associate professor, Mason School of Business) and Jason Chen, PhD (associate professor of Educational Psychology), The College of William & Mary Project Description: DEI Strategies: Profiles in Leadership will identify leaders’ strategies to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through the qualitative analysis of a unique dataset. Data were gathered by asking 30 senior business school leaders to participate in three online avatarbased simulations. The simulations were designed to provide practice and feedback on having difficult conversations related to DEI. Voiced by live actors, the simulations offer a realistic experience in a lowrisk, confidential environment. Drs. Carboni and Chen will submit transcripts of the recorded simulations to a qualitative analysis to identify specific and concrete leadership action steps that promote DEI and those that do not. Through publication in selected outlets, the goal is to share the profiles of successful and 24

PROJECT ON POSITIVE LEADERSHIP

unsuccessful DEI strategies with other leaders to help them select the strategies that will work best for them in a given situation.

Kellie Cummings, MAPP (founder of Wellbeing Wisdom, adjunct faculty, Master of Arts in Communication program), Johns Hopkins University Project Description: An instructional tool called “Anchor Relationships” will be developed to enable leaders to KELLIE CUMMINGS, MAPP recognize and strengthen the virtuous relationships in their lives to help them stay true to themselves when navigating conflicts of interest. The research for developing this tool is based on a study completed in 2019 using the exemplar methodology to uncover behaviors of leaders who met a set of criteria to qualify as moral exemplars. The finding showed that when moral exemplars face a conflict of interest, they seek affirmation and clarity from key relationships in their lives. Special connections are referred to as anchor relationships because they remind people of who they are and how they want to behave. Aristotle claimed that eudaimonia, loosely translated as human flourishing, is experienced through virtuous friendships, which he distinguished from transactional or pleasure-seeking friendships. He also claimed that the desire to sustain these virtuous relationships is the chief reason why people act ethically. Ronit Kark, PhD (full professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology, Department of Psychology), Bar-Ilan University, Israel

RONIT KARK, PhD

Project Description: In recent years, both scholars and executives

have become more aware of the limitations of women-only approaches. Activists, executives, and scholars realized that men cannot be left out of the conversation: instead, men must be actively involved in effecting change and achieving gender equity in organizations. However, when men try to act as allies, they encounter barriers that prevent them from supporting gender equality. The need for leaders and managers to show positive leadership in order to promote gender equity as allies is a growing topic of organizational interest. In the current project, a working tool will be developed to enhance ‘Positive Leadership for Good Allyship to Promote Gender Equity.” The tool will enable exploration of barriers for men to join as allies, men’s motivations, emotions, and best practice behaviors as allies, and possible backlash and resistance they can encounter and how they can address it.

LOREN KUZUHARA, PhD

Loren Kuzuhara, PhD (founder and consultant, Trenton Performance Consulting, teaching professor, Department of Management and Human Resources, School of Business), University of Wisconsin

Project Description: A comprehensive instructional resource on positive leadership will be developed that will consist of a new, validated positive leadership measure specifically geared towards undergraduate students who may have less work and life experience. This measure will be developed from “ground up” and validated using empirical data to ensure that it possesses acceptable psychometric properties. This will enable students to conduct self-assessments of positive leadership and use this as a basis for developing a positive leadership development plan using a template that I will create. The Student Positive Leadership Assessment (SPLA) and positive leadership action plan will be supported by a set of experiential exercises that students will complete that involve service learning and engagement with the larger community. Primary research will be conducted through surveys and interviews with positive leaders and to use my findings to develop a set of new case studies on positive leadership being practiced by younger individual contributors in different types of organizations.

Katina Sawyer, PhD (assistant professor, Department of Management), George Washington University Project Description: The concept of inclusion has had broad appeal KATINA SAWYER, PhD across academic disciplines, including organizational sciences, as well as medicine, education, political science, sociology, and anthropology. Yet, how to enact more inclusive organizations remains elusive. This project aims to turn four dimensions of leader inclusivity, uncovered by Sawyer and colleagues (in progress), into a behavioral measure of leader inclusivity. In order to do so, measures will be validated by surveying a broad swath of employees, who will be able to rate their leaders’ behaviors. This survey will entail a largescale exploratory factor analysis study, a large-scale confirmatory factor analysis study, and a criterionrelated validity study in an organizational setting. This measure can be used to determine the level of leader inclusivity present in teams and organizations and determine the antecedents and outcomes associated with these leader behaviors. This project is important because not only does it provide a new measure of positive leadership to the literature, but organizations can also leverage the measure to drive meaningful change in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. It is anticipated that this scale could be used as a developmental instructional tool in classrooms, allowing students to understand their inclusive leadership and better understand how to improve their inclusivity moving forward.

RECHTER FELLOWSHIPS

13 SINCE 2020

TOTAL AMOUNT FUNDED TO DATE

$65,000 BY RECHTER FAMILY TRUST & OTHER DONORS

Learn more about the Rechter Fellows and their projects at: business.louisville.edu/project-on-positiveleadership-rechter-fellows

GBAC NETWORKING UofL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Charlie Todd and Ashwin Netto, both graduates from the Full-Time MBA (2020 cohort), are the

newest leaders of the Graduate Business Alumni Council (GBAC). They were inspired to serve by their cohort, says Ashwin, adding, “It seemed like a great way to stay close with all of the friends I have made in the MBA program.” “We have an awesome opportunity to help take the Graduate Business Programs to the next

Malcolm Burke II and Stephanie Dean

level by having a high-quality group of active alumni,” says Charlie. GBAC plans to build stronger professional connections within the city, as well as raise scholarship funds. In March of 2022, the GBAC held their first event of the year at Monnik Beer Co., where they hosted over 50 graduate business alumni and faculty. Ashwin and Charlie have many more events planned for the year and hope to expand GBAC membership. “As alumni, we have a chance to not only improve our group, but what it means to be an alum from a graduate business program at UofL,” says Charlie.

Ashwin Netto, Charlie Todd, Vernon Foster, and Holly Neeld

To learn how you can get involved with the Graduate Business Alumni Council, contact Holly Neeld at holly.neeld@louisville.edu.

Give to the T. Vernon Foster Endowed MBA Alumni Network Scholarship

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

Professor Jeff Guan with GBAC members at Monnik Beer Co.

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MANAGERIAL ANALYTICS CERTIFICATE Gain expertise in the business and science of data analytics

Learn to use data to drive strategy and eﬀective decision-making in a fast-changing marketplace through an online Certiﬁcate in Managerial Analytics from the UofL College of Business. Business.Louisville.edu/OnlineManagerialAnalytics

ERICA HULSE

by Jim Warner

SPIRIT OF SHARING

Erica Hulse is the person people go to to get things done—a reputation that has helped earn her the respect of her peers. She has helped shape the new Online MBA program (OMBA) as a student support coordinator—ensuring that our grad students have an advocate who cares about their successes in the classroom and as professionals. Erica’s passion for student success is what helped earn her a Cardinal Spirit Award. As one of her nominators offered, “[Erica] has an unending compassion for students and regularly goes above and beyond by calling students and supporting them through their struggles…She is friendly, supportive, and maintains a positive attitude for knocking

future graduate students. “I know that [OMBA

down barriers in the pursuit of doing what’s

Director Zac Goldman, PhD] has been working

right for students.”

with our students to streamline our courses

After working with online programs and graduate students for the last six years,

to make sure that content is innovative and inclusive for online learners.”

Erica joined the College last November and

Erica closes her first year at the College by

immediately impacted the fledgling program.

earning a Cardinal Spirit Award. “It’s a really

“I was fortunate to be given the opportunity

special award because it comes from the

to help build our support system for online

people that I work with every day; these are my

students and faculty from the ground up,”

colleagues and the people that make the College

reflects Erica. As a former online student,

of Business what it is,” says Erica. “And so for

Erica understands the specific challenges and

them to feel that I bring positivity and a sense of

concerns that come from online education.

optimism and growth to what we do in

BUILDING AN ONLINE COMMUNITY One of the most pressing challenges was the student experience and building a sense of community in the virtual setting. “It was a valuable learning experience to ask questions [of OMBA students] and really meet their needs,” says Erica. Having an open line of communication has helped the team implement solutions that will improve the experience for 28

STAFF HIGHLIGHTS

the College; that means more to me than the external reward.”

KELLY WATSON

SPIRIT OF HOSPITALITY

Her first year was an auspicious one, navigating the programmatic landscape in the heart of a pandemic. In what could have been a slow start to a new job, Kelly took advantage of the opportunity time provided her. “I truly had a couple of months in the beginning that I could dedicate to learning more about higher education and an institute, like the College of Business, so that I could do it justice for its events,” reflects Kelly. “And so I’ve just tried to spend this year cultivating relationships with everyone across the College.” As UofL began its pivot back to more in-person programming, creating safe and engaging events for the College community was at the forefront of every decision. Working to achieve a balance of safety and engagement has been a challenge for Kelly, but she was more than ready to tackle it. “I love to help make experiences better, and that’s been rewarding,” says Kelly. Those experiences range from traditional studentdriven events like orientation and graduation to small receptions with alumni and friends of the

by Jim Warner

College to faculty and staff fellowship lunches in the Frazier Hall atrium. Each event is given

“Working with Kelly is always a joy,” starts the

attention to detail and care, making them that

Cardinal Spirit nomination form for Kelly Watson,

much more special for those attending.

events manager at the College of Business. “She

While she may prefer to stay behind the

truly cares about our College and putting our

scenes, Kelly appreciates being recognized

best foot forward,” says Director of the YUM!

by her peers with the Cardinal Spirit Award. “I have seen the past winners, and they’re such

Center for Global Franchise Excellence, Dr.

great assets to the College,” says Kelly. “It makes

Kathleen Gosser. That desire to put our College

me feel proud that hopefully, what I’m doing is

first has earned Kelly a Cardinal Spirit award. In just under a year, Kelly has helped to ensure the events at the College have the polish and shine expected of a premier business school. She has brought twenty years of experience in the hospitality industry (including an eight-year tenure with the Muhammad Ali Center) to up the quality and consistency of events at the College. It’s an effort noticed by many, experienced by all.

making a difference.”

CARDINAL SPIRIT AWARD

SINCE ITS FOUNDING

YEAR FOUNDED

AWARD WINNERS

2018 15 SPRING 2022

CURRENCY Magazine

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

RESEARCH ROUNDUP As an R1 institution, creating new knowledge is at the core of what we do. The College of Business celebrates our faculty’s research contributions to their respective fields in this quarterly summary of publications and reports. For more information visit: business.louisville.edu/research-and-publications ACCOUNTANCY Derek Barr-Pulliam “Internal audit characteristics and managerial discretion in financial reporting.” Journal of Accounting, Ethics and Public Policy Hilda Carrillo, Pennington, R., & Zhang, Y. “Is an Emoji worth a thousand words? The effect of Emoji usage on nonprofessional investors’ perceptions.” Journal of Information Systems Benjamin Foster, Andrew Manikas, & Dianna Preece “Impact of religiosity on LGBTQ inclusiveness and corporate value.” Journal of Accounting, Ethics and Public Policy Ying (Julie) Huang “The association between audit office team diversity and audit quality.” Accounting Horizons ECONOMICS Jose Fernandez & Stephan Gohmann “Consumers’ perceptions of product quality and entrepreneurial survival: evidence from the craft brewery industry.” Small Business and Enterprise Development Per Fredriksson & Mohanty, A. “COVID-19 regulations, political institutions, and the environment.” Environmental & Resource Economics Per Fredriksson, Sharma, S., & Ang, J. “Religiosity and climate change policies.” Energy Economics Thomas Lambert “Kentucky and the thoroughbred industries: prospects and challenges as gambling stagnates.” International Journal of Sports Policy and Politics 30

INSPIRING RESEARCH

Conor Lennon & Shohfi, T. “Unbridled spirit: Illicit markets for bourbon whiskey.” Journal of Economic Behavior Conor Lennon “Did the affordable care act increase the availability of employer-sponsored health insurance?” Southern Economic Journal Elizabeth Munnich, Chen, A., Parente, S., Richards, M. “Do physicians warm up to higher Medicare prices? Evidence from Alaska.” Journal of Policy Analysis and Management FINANCE Dianna Preece, Baker, K., & Filbeck, G. “Crowdfunding – It’s here to stay.” The European Financial Review Chris Stivers, Connolly, R., & Sun, L. “Stock returns and inflation shocks in weaker economic times.” Financial Management INFORMATION SYSTEMS, ANALYTICS, & OPERATIONS Jeff Guan, Jozef Zurada, Alan Levitan, & Shi, D. “Predicting home sale prices: A review of existing methods and illustration of data stream methods for improved performance.” WIREs Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery Andrew Manikas, Benjamin Foster, Dianna Preece, & Kroes, J.R. “Resource efficiency in manufacturing: A case for board diversity.” Cost Management Jozef Zurada, Olszak, C., & Cetindamar, D. “Business intelligence & big data for innovative and sustainable development of organizations.” Information Systems Management MANAGEMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP Isabel Botero “Should we engage in philanthropy and/or impact investing? If so, how should we get started?” Enabling Next Generation Legacies: 35 questions that next generation members in enterprising families ask

Jose Fernandez, PhD

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

GOVERNMENT POLICIES EFFECT ON HEALTH OUTCOMES

Jose Fernandez, PhD, studies the effect of government policies on population health outcomes. Recently, he has studied the effect of medical marijuana policies on opioid related hospital admissions. Uncontrolled access to marijuana through home cultivation provisions or legal recreational marijuana is associated with an increase in opioid-related hospitalizations. However, no association is found for medical marijuana obtained through dispensaries. This research would suggest that communities who would like to increase access to medical marijuana should do so through the use of dispensaries, not home cultivation. Professor Fernandez is also working on two

projects about suicide. The first study examines the spillover effects of pill mill legislations, which limits access of pain medication, on the state suicide rate. The results show that pill mill legislation is associated with reductions of the suicide rate by 4%, the female suicide rate by 8.7%, the suicide rate among Whites by 4.2%, and drug-related suicide rate by 14%. The second study asks if coroners and medical examiners determine suicide differently. Medical examiners are trained professionals who are appointed. Coroners are not necessarily medically educated and are elected. When we compare the two types of examiners, coroners under-report the number of suicide deaths by 8.6 to 16%.

SPRING 2022

CURRENCY Magazine

DEPARTMENT NOTES

ECONOMICS Jose Fernandez has contributed a chapter, “Health and healthcare delivery in Puerto Rico before and after Hurricane Maria” in Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico: Disaster, Vulnerability & Resilience, edited by Havidán Rodríguez, Marie T. Mora, and Alberto Dávila. It’s published by Rowman & Littlefield.

ONLINE MBA In its first year of ranking eligibility, U.S. News & World Report has named the UofL Online MBA program among the best in the nation. It was ranked #42 in Best Online MBA Programs (tie), and #29 in Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans (tie). Further, our undergrad degree was listed #26 Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs (tie).

Elizabeth Munnich is a co-investigator on a project that was awarded a $1.2 million, 3-year R01 grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The study will examine whether ambulatory surgery centers provide high-quality care for pediatric dental surgical procedures that is less costly than the same procedures provided in hospitals. The project team includes researchers from the RAND Corporation, the University of Louisville, and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

INFORMATION SYSTEMS, ANALYTICS, & OPERATIONS

MANAGEMENT & ENTREPRENEURSHIP For the second year in a row, The Princeton Review has ranked the Innovation MBA and PhD in Entrepreneurship/Innovation as a top graduate program in entrepreneurship (#33).

DR. MANJU AHUJA NAMED A 2021 AIS FELLOW AWARD RECIPIENT

Being named a Fellow is one of the highest academic honors faculty members can receive, as it is recognition by their peers of extraordinary contributions to the discipline in research, teaching, and service. Manju was formally recognized on December 13 at AIS’s International Conference on Information Systems in Austin, Texas. We had an opportunity to talk with Dr. Ahuja about the AIS announcement. UofL: What does it mean to you to be named a 2021 AIS Fellow Award recipient? Dr. Ahuja: It feels wonderful and humbling to be recognized by my peers in this way. I have always been passionate about this profession and the related research and scholarship on their own merits, but when such recognition comes, it naturally feels good.

Robert Garrett, PhD, Brown and Williamson Professor of Entrepreneurship and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs 32

DEPARTMENT NOTES

But what makes this particularly special to me is that the Association for Information Systems (AIS) was established in 1994 at the initiative of one of the faculty members at the University of Pittsburgh when I was getting my doctorate. Not only that, the inaugural conference (AMCIS or the

Americas Conference on Information Systems) was held at our university in my final year, and I got to be a proceedings editor and gofer at this conference. So to be recognized by them 25 years later is really meaningful. UofL: The AIS Fellow Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to information systems in the areas of research, teaching, and service—which of these areas do you personally identify with the most and why? MA: In some ways, this is like having to choose among your children; but if I really had to choose, I would say research. That said, each has its own rewards. Research is personal to me because I have always chosen to work on issues that matter to me personally. For example, as a working mother, I deeply care about work-life balance challenges, and so it felt incredibly rewarding to conduct research on these issues. I also immensely enjoy serving and working with my professional community–many of these colleagues are like family to me. However, both of these bring distant rewards and delayed gratification. Teaching and interactions with students are sources of immediate satisfaction. This is where we truly make a difference in people’s lives. UofL: Beyond the field, whose insights and contributions did you look to fuel your work in research, teaching, and service? MA: Rosabeth Moss Kanter’s work on gender, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s work on flow, and Daniel Kahnman’s work on thinking fast and slow have strongly influenced my thinking and my research. In all these areas, and in life, I follow Tara Brach for her teaching on mindfulness, compassion, and sincerity. Her books such as Radical Acceptance and Trusting the Gold have been guiding lights for me. I go to bed with one of her meditations every night.

Manju Ahuja, PhD SPRING 2022

CURRENCY Magazine

CLASS NOTES SHARE YOUR LATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS from wedding and birth announcements to job promotions and career changes. Let us know so we can share your story with our Cardinal Business Community! Email us at: Currency@Louisville.edu Gibin George (’12/’15) was inducted into Marquis Who’s Who. Owner of D. Nalley’s Diner, he was also featured in America’s Best Restaurants (2021) and has received recognition from Mayor Greg Fischer for his contributions to Louisville.

Elshadai Smith-Mensah (’19) recently graduated with her MS in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship from The London School of Economics and Political Science. She began her new role as innovation strategist for Londonbased company The Upside in January. Lindsay Schultz (’10) saddled her first winner as a trainer. Capture the Glory, an 8-year-old Scat Daddy gelding, won a one-mile claiming race at Oaklawn Park in January.

BroadLoop, a paving intelligence platform developed by Nick McRae (’18) and Max Kommor (’18) was profiled by KY Inno in January. Jimi Porter (’22) (see below) was chosen to be part of the 2022 Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court. The Woodford R. Porter Scholar is a senior majoring in both Computer Information Systems and Marketing.

Hamilton Thiersch (’20) (pictured above) was recently elected to the Board of Directors for Bourbon Women. Jennifer Williams (‘11) and Adam Greene (‘11) have sold their company Cuddle Clones to Dianthus, an artificial intelligence (AI) e-commerce company. Cuddle Clones makes plush replicas of pets, among other pet products.

Photo by Marvin Young

CLASS NOTES

CORRECTION: In the Winter 2022 Class Notes, alumna Lynn Hampton was listed as CFO of Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority. She, in fact, retired as CEO.

UofL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

IN MEMORIAM

As we celebrate our accomplishments

Mr. Robert R. Jenkins

1960

a nd successes, it is important to reflect

Mr. Roy W. Maas

1973

o n members of our community who have

Mr. Charles S. Mackin

1971

Mr. William E. Masden, Jr.

1997

Mr. Braxton N. McGraw

1972

passed. The College carries their memory forward—their impact and emotional

Mr. Nicholas P. Muller

resonance never too far from our collective hearts.

1967, 1975

Mr. Robert W. Norcross

1964

Ms. Diane F. Ormerod

1983

Mr. R. Gregg Pollard Mr. Leslie D. Albro

1956

Mr. Michael Howard Pottinger, Sr.

Mr. Paul J. Bacher

1962

Mr. James P. Powell Mr. Leo N. Reidinger

Mrs. Carolyn W. Brown

1962, 1968 1981

Mr. Robert R. Richardson, Jr.

1949

1966, 1971

Mr. Donald G. Robinson

1972

1989, 1993, 2003

Mr. Joseph S. Rothstein

1955 1983

Col. M. Courtland Clayton, P.E.

1971

James W. Conway, J.D. Mrs. Teresa G. Crawford

1952

Mr. Timothy S. Fearneyhough

1975

Mr. Mark K. Saksefski

Ms. Delma J. Francis

1978

Ms. Patsy T. Schladand Mr. Davy L. Stallings

Mrs. Ramah L. Gardner Mr. Ronald E. Glaser

1963, 1976

Mr. James A. Golden, Sr.

1978

Ms. Eve G. Herzfeld Mr. John E. Herzfeld, Jr.

1950

ROBERT GREGG POLLARD August 12, 1946~November 21, 2021 Robert Gregg Pollard passed on to be with his family and friends who preceded him in death, his father William Pollard, his mother Juanita (Schickinger) Pollard, his sisters Pamela Neff and Karen Heinke. He is survived by his eldest brother Wayne Pollard (Sug), Dennis Pollard, Diana Redemann (Larry), Steve Pollard, Stella Easley, Danny Pollard (Carolyn), and youngest sister Sara Pires (Antonio). He had many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews that he loved dearly. He retired from the UofL College of Business and was an avid UofL sports and Nascar Racing fan.

Ms. Karen Ann Sutton

1963 1987, 1989

Mr. James H. Thornton Mr. Jerry D. Wethington

1985

Mrs. Valerie K. Wood

1989

PR, Marketing, & Communications University of Louisville College of Business Louisville, KY 40292

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