Early Career MBA: News

• NewT (PACE Team 1) created a new venture plan for small hydro renewable energy. Their plan included a complete green solution, a superior product and profitability. The group is targeting China for their first venture because of topography and the need for clean, inexpensive electricity.
  
  
• Polaris Computer Group (PACE Team 2) created a plan to partner with universities to offer an on-campus computer repair service for students. The venture's promise is to provide timely, reasonably priced repairs that are fixed right the first time. One school is ready to start in the fall if the team is ready.
  
  
• Boom Adventures (PACE Team 3) created their new venture for guided travel industry with a focus on countries that may be difficult for individuals to visit on their own. Two team members have already booked flights to Romania to meet with interested tourism people.
  
  
• Running Excursions (PACE Team 4) developed a plan for hassle free running vacations at popular destinations such as the Oregon coast and the Columbia River Gorge. Team member plan to implement the program with a 3 day/3 night package of running routes, lodging, breakfast and luggage transport for the runners.

2007 PACE Results - Delivering Value to Society through Not-for-Profit Consulting
The 2007 PACE competition for adding value in a mission based organization was held at the Salem Convention Center on April 20th. For most first-year students this was their first experience with consulting and they achieved their assignment to add value to society. As stated by one first-year student - "this is the project I brag about when I call home." Projects included:

• AGS Consulting (PACE Team 1) completed a comprehensive marketing and financial feasibility study for Mercy Corps Northwest's expansion into Seattle.
  
  
• Polaris Consulting (PACE Team 2) created a plan for growing the "Job Connections" program for Goodwill Industries of the Columbia-Willamette. The plan included new marketing initiatives and new locations for the program.
  
  
• The Firm (PACE Team 3) completed a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) for the Salem Art Association to help the organization create a strategic development plan.
  
  
• Quadrigae Consulting (PACE Team 4) analyzed and increased revenue from the annual holiday Kettle Drive for the Salvation Army.
  

News About Finance Courses
The investments class for 2007-08 will have a $1,000 cash prize for the student who prepares the best company stock research report for the investment fund. In addition, the course "Financial Derivatives and Risk Management," scheduled for spring semester, will include the latest developments in financial engineering.

Students Participate in Business Strategy, Global Social Ventures and Ethics in Business Competitions
Teams of students traveled to compete and participate in MBA symposiums and competitions this semester:

• Three students presented their idea for an importing company of fair traded west African Fabric at the Global Social Venture Competition at the University of California in Berkeley.
  
  
• A group of six students presented their business plan for "Bob the Autographer" and won 2nd place for the plan write up at the International Policy and Business Simulation Strategy Competition in San Diego.
  
  
• The third group presented their legal, financial and ethical analysis of the topic of conflict diamonds being sold in the U.S. at the National Business Ethics Competition at Loyola Marymount College in Los Angeles.

Students Start Own Businesses in New Ventures to Market Elective Course
Did you ever dream of taking a course where your primary effort is focused on getting your own new venture up and running? We have that course for you - it is a year long course known as GSM 681: New Ventures to Market. In this course, you can stretch as far as you can - with the benefit of a safety net - the Atkinson School and Professor of Strategy, Rob Wiltbank. Here is an update on the business started during the 2006-07 academic year:

Idea: Patented foot peg suspension system for motocross.
Result: Wes applied for a patent and took a job in marketing with a motocross company in Portland while he is continuing his efforts with the patent.

Idea: Computer/home theater retail and installation.
Result: Aaron launched a project in cooperation with Kelly's Home Furnishing in Salem. He is continuing to grow his company as a full-time effort now.

Idea: Custom clothing for women.
Result: Ying tried to set up a supply chain and sales channel to sell custom professional clothing to women, but the plan did not work.

Idea: Online custom trivia gaming.
Result: Craig has this up and ready to run, and is working on related regulatory issues.

Idea: Security guard company.
Jarvez is running his 300 security guard company and will continue to run his business on the side while he works full-time.

Idea: Cell phone payment solution for India.
Result: Sudeep and Chris were unable to acquire the rights.

Idea: Hawaiian Food Cart.
Kaarina acquired a company that operates a food cart at events. She will continue to run the company while she works full-time.

Idea: Bob the Autographer T-Shirts.
James launched a funny t-shirt business for Bob the Autographer. He will continue to work on his business while he is employed full-time.

The two companies that resulted in the greatest revenue during the year were Bob the Autographer and Hawaiian Food Cart.

Research Assistants Make Important Contributions to Marketing Research Projects
Michael Robinson (07) and Jamie Timbrell (08) were special research assistants for Professor of Marketing, Debra Ringold. Jamie was invited to co-author a paper about consumer views of sales promotion and advertising. Michael performed secondary historic research involving the definition of marketing over time.

Human Resources Professional Activities Expand Student's Network
Leah, Simona, Erin and Heather were the major presenters on the topic "Corporate Social Responsibility" at a recent professional meeting of the Society for Human Resources. Leah also wrote an article that was published in Echoes, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) student newsletter. The article titled "Tone at the Top Key to Successful Learning Organization," was originally written for the student journal, Atkinson Management Today. Read it for yourself at http://www.willamette.edu/agsm/amt/2005/fall/05.htm

Brownwater 2007 - The Tradition Continues
What fun! The annual three day celebration of spring for the Willamette MBA community was great. This year's events included a trip to our Portland Center for a special Magician's Parlor Act, the annual golf tournament, wine tasting at Eola Hills Winery, Casino Night, the Choate 5K/10K run/walk, BBQ and the famous 32nd running of the famous Brownwater Mill Stream Float - where students ride inner tubes and other floating apparatus down the Mill Stream on our campus.

Dine Like a Diplomat - Business Etiquette Dinner
MBA students enjoyed a full course meal and practiced the art of business dining at this year's etiquette dinner. The menu of knowledge and skills included the "do's and don'ts" of being interviewed in a dining situation, how to make formal introductions and toasts, and fine dining table manners.

Alumni Give Advice to Incoming Students
Throughout the year many of our alumni return to campus to speak in courses, participate on panels, and judge major events like Accounting Apprentice and PACE. They represent the entire realm of careers -- from the founder of the newest charter school in Portland, to business development specialist; from senior accountant to a member of a world wide market forecasting team; from market research manager to a bank underwriter; from a principal of Deloitte and Touche to the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce; from a datamining specialist to a human resources director, and more. Here is some of what they had to say.

• General Advice to Incoming Students:
  "Jump in and take on a lot --- Grow"
  "Be consistent - study consistently and have fun consistently"
  "Take every opportunity to be involved in clubs and do all you can do"
  
  
• What They Liked Best About Atkinson
  "Atkinson was the best setting for me to test the theories of business and still have a safety net. Even though I did not have a background, I could take the risk"
  
  
• "The skills I use every day I got at Atkinson - personnel, fiscal management, operations, strategy, marketing etc."
  
  
• Best One Word "take-aways" from their MBA Experience
  Growth
  Resources
  Community
  Knowledge
  Networking skills
  Network
  Real-world experience
  Team skills

The Power Lunch Series
Power Lunches connected the WU MBA community to leaders in business, government and not-for-profit organizations for lunch-time discussions on current topics in an open format. Recent Power Lunch speakers included: Jerry Meyer, Former CEO of Tektronix, Inc., who discussed his experience with issues of management responsibility and board governance, and the turnaround of Tektronix in the mid-1990s, and Bob Ward, of Capybara Ventures, LLC, who discussed the basics of angel investing and investment analysis from a venture capital firm's perspective

Strategic Marketing and Strategic Finance Courses Offer an Integrative Perspective
The Strategic Finance and Strategic Marketing elective courses will study the same companies during the 2007-08 academic year. Professors Maltz and Dothan are designing this experience to will help students understand the real world integration of marketing and financial strategies in enhancing value creation.

Mentors - Why Do They Do It? For the Same Reasons Students Want a Mentor!
The 2006-07 mentorship program connected 30 first-year MBA students with 30 managers and executives from firms including Hewlett Packard Company, Intel Corporation, Wells Fargo, Deloitte and Touche, Bonneville Power Administration, KeyBank, Oregon Department of Transportation, Angel Vision , Saber Corporation, Planar Systems, IBM, Morgan Stanley and more. Why do mentors volunteer their time to work with students? For the same reasons students want a mentor …

• "The best part is being a resource for the student...listening to them...offering suggestions...introducing them to other resources and ideas to help them academically, professionally, and personally."
  
  
• "It gave me the opportunity to listen and understand the quality of our future leaders."
  
  
• "The best part of the program where those times we got to sit down one on one and discuss his goals and I was able to help him plan what he needed to do to get where he wanted."
  
  
• "Mutual learning and helping the mentee learn and understand things she did not have knowledge of."
  
  
• "He is a young man with a ton of potential and a great attitude. It is ALWAYS rewarding to work with people who have those traits."
  
  
• "The best part of the program is the willingness for the mentees to participate. Their enthusiasm is a cornerstone for the concept."

Atkinson Alumni Honored at Annual Awards
Two outstanding community leaders were honored at the 2007 Annual Atkinson School Honors and Awards presentation. Jim Bernau (MBA '82), CEO and Chairperson of Willamette Valley Vineyards, earned an honorary induction into Beta Gamma Sigma. Sue Wilson (MBA '77), Administrator for the Human Resources Division of the State of Oregon, earned an honorary induction into Phi Alpha Alpha.

One of Oregon's early winegrowers, Jim Bernau planted the vineyard in 1983. Stewardship of the land has been central to Willamette Valley Vineyard operations and in addition to producing great wine as the company's vineyards are certified sustainable. Willamette Valley Vineyards is Oregon's leading producer of Pinot Noir with distribution throughout the U.S. and in key international markets. Jim's wines have received some of the highest ratings and recognition of any produced in Oregon including the "Top 100 in the World" designation from Wine Spectator Magazine.

Sue Wilson's career has been focused exclusively on public administration, including the management of budgets, human resources, facilities, and information systems. Her work in the public sector began at the Oregon Legislature where she worked as a Policy Research Analyst and later Legislative Administrator. She has also served as the Administrator for the Department of Justice before her appointment by Governor Kulongoski to manage statewide Human Resource operations.

Download and Subscribe
Read and subscribe to Willamette MBA's online journal Atkinson Management Today. The journal provides relevant, timely information for mid-level managers, and is written and published by Willamette MBA students.

Want to know the best practices for keeping and motivating employees? Read this article by Professor of Global Human Resources, Lisbeth Claus. Employee Retention - Best Practices in Keeping and Motivating Employees

Interested in how growth leaders and entrepreneurs think? Read this article by Professor Strategy, Rob Wiltbank. How Growth Leaders Think Like Entrepreneurs

Download the Willamette MBA Screensaver - Living and Learning in Oregon.
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Read and download Willamette MBA Dean's Reports at http://www.willamette.edu/agsm/forum/downloads.htm.


Northwest MBA Career Day Features 25 Companies
The Willamette Full-Time MBA program hosted 25 companies at our annual MBA career fair in cooperation with the MBA programs at University of Washington, University of Oregon, Portland State University and Oregon State University. Two hundred MBA students from the host programs flocked to the World Trade Center in Portland to listen to panels of employers, talk one-on-one with recruiters, and learn about the hiring process of many of the Northwest's top companies. Companies included Adidas, Columbia Sportswear, Frito Lay, Intel, KeyBank, Knowledge Learning Corporation, KPMG, Mass Mutual, Nautilus, PCC Structurals, Real Networks, Regence Blue Cross, State of Oregon Internship program, US Bank, Oregon Secretary of State and more.

Willamette MBA Career Services Director, Beth Ursin, helped Willamette MBA students polish their skills by organizing the second annual pre-consortium mock recruiting event at a local Salem restaurant. More than 40 students attended and practiced their pitch (elevator speech) to alumni, mentors and second year students who played the role recruiters. The event included a group debrief session, helping students understand what works, what doesn't work and what to avoid saying in the career fair networking environment.

Professor Debra J. Ringold Named Interim Dean
Debra J. Ringold, Ph.D., was named interim dean of Willamette University's Atkinson Graduate School of Management. Debra is Professor of Marketing for the Willamette MBA programs and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the 38,000 member American Marketing Association - the nation's premier organization for marketing professionals. Debra has also been honored with awards for excellence in teaching, service and research, and was recently honored as Willamette University's administrator of the year.
Students, staff, faculty, alumni and other external stakeholders all look forward to working with Debra as she leads the Atkinson School.


American Marketing Association Selects Willamette MBA Professor as Chairperson
Debra Ringold, professor of marketing, was named the chairperson of the board of directors for the American Marketing Association. The 38,000-member association is the nation's premier organization for marketing professionals. "I am honored to serve the practitioners and academics that constitute the marketing profession," Ringold said. "I admire those marketers whose commitment to excellence benefits consumers. The American Marketing Association contributes to marketers -- marketers contribute to organizations -- and organizations serve society."

Debra teaches Willamette MBA courses in marketing research, marketing communications, marketing and public policy, and marketing in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Her research has appeared in numerous major marketing journals. This year, she begins a three-year term as associate editor of the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing.

Debra has received many awards for the quality of her teaching and research. Awards include: Willamette University's Administrator of the Year (2005); Thomas C. Kinnear Journal of Public Policy & Marketing award for outstanding research (2004); Willamette University Award for Exemplary Teaching and Community Service (2002), and a Willamette University award for Distinguished Teaching in 1997.

Students Present Investment Fund Report for Fall Semester 2006
Members of the Student Investment Fund elective course presented their fall semester report to the Fund's advisory board. The report was presented by 12 students and covered topics ranging from a summary of the investment strategy - to benchmarks - to fund performance - to successes and disappointments - to economic and investment outlooks for the year ahead. Presenters included students from the U.S., China, India, South Korea, France, Japan, and Canada.

The 2006-07 Investment Fund class is the largest of all MBA elective courses with 28 students enrolled. Each class member is experiencing investing in three ways: 1) as a member of the class that establishes a portfolio and invests as a class, 2) as a member of a team of 3 to 5 people with $5,000 to invest in any way their team decides, and 3) investing in a long-term portfolio with a three to five year term. The course is designed and taught by Professor Michael Dothan.

Fall 2006 results are as follows: In 3 months, the invested class portfolio showed a return of 6% (25% annual return). In just 2 months, 5 of the 6 small teams achieved 3% to 8% return (19% to 58% annual return) and one team lost 4% (-22% annual return). The long-term portfolio was established very recently and holds clean energy and nanotechnology exchange traded funds representing more than 20 different clean energy and nanotechnology companies. The long-term portfolio is showing an early return of 2%.


Professor Fred Thompson Serves on United Nations Blue Ribbon Commission
Willamette MBA Professor Fred Thompson is serving on the United Nations Development Program's Blue Ribbon Commission related to the Republic of Macedonia. Fred took the lead role in the Commission's recommendations on fiscal decentralization, the design of block grants and tax administration. He also worked on the sections of the report related to banking reform and public debt. The report aims to identify the economic reforms Macedonia needs to achieve sustainable growth and be eligible to join the European Union. The Commission delivered its report in Skopje, Macedonia. "It was an interesting process," Thompson said. "We pushed the local experts to think outside the box and they made us respect local conditions and capabilities, just as our discussions with political officials helped us take political feasibility into account in choosing between policy alternatives." More information on the Commission's report and findings is available at the UN Commission web site http://www.undp.org.mk/.


Speakers and Career Services Events Provide Learning and Networking
Here are a few of the variety of activities students participated in during fall semester:

• Eric Allenbaugh, Leadership Consultant, Executive Coach and author presented a seminar on Performance Coaching: Creating Giants of Others. Doctor Allenbaugh has written five books and publications including Deliberate Success: Realize Your Vision With Purpose, Passion & Performance.
  
  
• Panel discussions about careers in accounting, finance, operations and general management, human resources and MBA/JD (joint degree) featured Willamette MBA alumni and guest executives. A panel discussion about careers in marketing is scheduled for spring semester. Companies represented included Tektronix,, Columbia Sportswear, Salem Hospital, Nautilus, Golden Temple, Morgan Stanley, Bonneville Power Administration, Intel, Portland Venture Group, Jensen Investment Management, Saber Consulting, the Oregon Department of Transportation, RSM McGladrey, Moss Adams and Aldrich Kilbride Tatone.
  
  
• Dress for Success" was packed wall-to-wall with MBA students, faculty and staff who learned the secrets of dressing for success from local experts. The event was held at the Salem Center Nordstrom's store. Nordstrom generously gave away a new suit for two lucky students, one man and one woman. Each winner was allowed to choose a suit valued at about $700 and have it tailored to fit.
  
  
• Willamette MBA chapters of SHRM and the AMA sponsored a site visit to the National Headquarters of Nautilus. Students toured the facility and participated in an information session presented by key company leaders. Site visits to various companies occur throughout the year and help students get a feel of the culture of the organization and how the company is run.
  
  
• Art Bobrowitz, management trainer, consultant and founder of Compass Rose Consulting, Inc. attended a dinner with students and presented a seminar on Personal and Professional Productivity.
  
  
• Members of the student accounting association attended the Oregon CPA Showcase - the premier event in Oregon for people seeking careers in auditing, tax and risk advisory services with public accounting firms. The event featured a career faire with more than 20 national, regional and local firms. Students prepared for the event by mock interviews, updating their resumes and by having informational interviews with alumni.
  
  
• Students from the SHRM chapter recently attended the Northwest Human Resources Conference and member Jarvez Hall attended National Black MBA in Atlanta. Both events gave students an opportunity to network with recruiters and human resource professionals
  

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Visits the Willamette MBA
Sandy Baruah (MBA '95) visited and spoke to students, faculty and staff in October. Sandy, a 1995 graduate of the Willamette MBA program, leads and manages the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA). Prior to his involvement in the Commerce Department, Sandy spent seven years with Performance Consulting Group, an Oregon-based corporate management consulting firm.


Students Receive Advice from Punit Renjen, Principal of Deloitte Consulting
Students interested in public accounting and consulting gathered for a conference call with alum Punit Renjen (MBA'87) to learn about what it takes to succeed in the industry. Punit is a Principal at Deloitte Consulting and serves as the leader for Deloitte's merger integration practice and global leader of its strategy & operations practice. He offered great advice for job seekers. Here's a few nuggets that apply to everyone:
1. Your appearance means everything - resumes, cover letters and your personal appearance make or break your first impression with a company. Make sure they are all impeccable.
2. Context/Content - Know what your target company is looking for. Everything on your resume and in your interview answers should be completely honest, highlight the points they are looking for and be outcomes oriented.
3. Preparation. Make sure your value proposition for each and every company is clearly defined and unique. What is it that they are looking for that you uniquely can offer the company?

The Accounting Apprentice - Where Book Smarts Meets Experiential Learning
It takes a lot to be successful in business - courage, charisma, drive and a willingness to take risks. To test the skills of the first year class, Accounting for Managers Professor Ken Smith developed a special kind of final exam - an exam that tested not only accounting skills but the ability to understand, draw conclusions, communicate and impress judges. The best student would be named the Atkinson Accounting Apprentice and receive a cash award. In the words of Professor Smith, "This was no ordinary final exam - but then the Willamette University MBA is no ordinary MBA program."

First-year students poured over their Harvard case about Boeing (one of America's largest companies), then faced a panel of judges (comprised of business professionals, CPA's, alumni and second year students) to answer questions about implementing the 7E7 Dreamliner project. After a long day of presenting, they joined students, alumni, professionals, faculty and staff to see who would be the first Accounting Apprentice. The panels of judges named the 6 best presenters as finalists. Each finalist was given 5 minutes to prepare a presentation about their preferred costing method for implementing the 7E7 Dreamliner project, and then given 5 minutes to present their argument. Good old fashioned audience applause was used to judge the winner. A tie occurred and students Tidarat Thanapakpawin from Thailand and Shweta Singal from India were declared the first Atkinson Accounting Apprentices. Their reward - a cash prize and a job well done. A fun evening at Bentley's Grill followed.

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