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2007

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• He's a magic man: Business major puts his entrepreneurial talent to work
• Accounting Program Adding Quantity and Quality
• USI accounting students volunteer for Indiana CPA Day of Service
• "Green" idea for lawn care is best of Business Idea Competition
• Accounting Day helps program grow
• Entrepreneurship and innovation expert offered two public programs at USI
• Generations at work -- (EBJ article)
• USI accounting team wins statewide competition fourth straight year
• USI accounting team is finalist in statewide competition
• Business Living Learning Class played softball with faculty
• Fisher Successfully Retains His Cup
• Darryl Spurlock named 2007 USI Distinguished Accountant
• Accounting student groups have an excellent start
• USI Beta Alpha Psi Chapter recognized as a "Superior Chapter"
• Julie Mehringer is the winner of the Athena Scholarship
• Medicine in the future: Opportunities for Evansville businesses? -- (EBJ article)
• USI accounting professor awarded Fulbright grant
• Mujumdar was visiting scholar at Reserve Bank of India
• IT Alliance making a difference
• Small business failure rates: don't believe everything you're told -- (EBJ article)
• O'Daniel Atrium will welcome students, alumni, faculty, and guests in new business building
• Mastroianni named GLVC Player of the Year
• USI Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi Served as Co-host for the 2007 Midwest Regional Conference
• 2007 Faculty awards recognize dedicated professionals in research, service, and teaching
• Accounting Team in "Final Four" of the IMA National Video Case Competition
• College of Business students presenting at the 2007 RISC Showcase
• Winners of Marketing Club logo design contest
• Service Marketing Class Experiences Service Learning
  Creates marketing strategies for Kirby's Private Dining
• Business faculty commit to program needs of new building
• Focus on business: Marketing real estate to Hispanic clientele -- (EBJ article)
• Economics and Finance Club attends student investment forum
• Indiana CPA Campus Presentation
• How the Colts Do Business
• USI student takes top prize statewide for new business idea
• USI Beta Alpha Psi team places first in regional competition
• Human Resource Team finishes second in state HR Games competition
• Winners of Business Idea Competition announced
• Goldsby: It's OK to start small
• Students learn about social entrepreneurship
• Quadrangle landscaping project to complement view from proposed new College of Business building
• Would you, should you use information from social networking Web sites to screen applicants? -- (EBJ article)
• Lilly Endowment Summer 2007 Research Fellowships
• Students perfect sales skills in the Coslett Sales Lab

He's a magic man: Business major puts his entrepreneurial talent to work

Daniel Cullen, a junior business administration major, transferred to USI from the Savannah College of Art and Design during his freshman year. The son of Dr. Stephen and Sharon Cullen of Washington, Indiana, Cullen went to Savannah to study architecture, but soon realized that he didn't want to be an architect.

"When I got there I found out architecture was just an interest," he said.

Magic was his passion.

Cullen has performed magic since he was four years old. He's been working professionally for the last six years, since he was asked to perform at a graduation party during his sophomore year in high school.

"I did a walk-around show at a graduation party, and from there went on to stage performances for crowds of hundreds. I never once got nervous. The first time I stepped out on a stage I felt this comfort. My mom gets nervous for me."

He started out with slight-of-hand magic and has since found his focus to be mentalism. "It's the mind-reading style of magic," he said. "You can make predictions, appear to read someone's mind, and cause objects to move without touching them. You appear to be a psychic."

Psychics, he said, use simple magic tricks. "Magicians see psychics as the con artists of our community, giving people false hopes. Mentalists admit it's for entertainment purposes."

Most of Cullen's performances are private corporate affairs for groups of 150 to 800 people. He promotes himself through word of mouth, Youtube videos, MySpace and Facebook profiles (including a Facebook group, "The Magic and Mentalism of Daniel Cullen," with videos and pictures), and business cards.

"I've never had to put too much money into advertising myself," he said. "You don't have to if you know how to put your self out there."

He majored in business administration in order to learn how to market his business. "I want to focus on marketing and entrepreneurship, and I think that will help me to run my business, because I need to market myself."

His business communications class was particularly beneficial. "You have to be professional in your communications," he said. "Business communications taught me how to write proper letters and emails that have helped me get shows and interviews."

He already has a good idea of what will make his act stand out from the crowd. "You've got to be different. I never want someone to say to me, 'You remind me of David Copperfield or David Blaine.'"

Though he deeply admires magic's luminaries, his heroes include gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, quirky filmmaker Wes Anderson, and the idiosyncratic team of actor Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton. He even took an acting class at USI to polish his performance skills. "I enjoyed it, and it helped my shows out a lot," he said.

Cullen is a member of the Society of American Magicians and attends its annual convention each year. In addition to performing solo, he writes scripts for other magic professionals and is developing an act with his friend and fellow magician Nick Sinnamon.

He also consulted with Angela Funovits, a finalist on the magic-themed reality television show, "Phenomenon."

Accounting Program Adding Quantity and Quality

USI's Accounting program has grown by over 20 percent in the last three years, due in part to events like USI's Accounting High School Day, which was held on Friday, November 16, 2007. This year's Accounting Day was conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Carter Hall in the University Center. Lunch was provided and campus tours were available at the completion of the program.

John Campbell, the Office of Admission's liaison to the College of Business, said the event attracts many students to the USI campus. Prior to this event, which was first held in 2004, the University sent a representative off-campus to meet with top students from local schools. Over one hundred people have attended each year over the last two years.

Students interested in a degree in accounting met with USI's award-winning accounting team, accounting faculty, and members of USI's Accounting Circle, an advisory board comprised of senior executives in public and corporate accounting. In addition, the students heard about accounting internships and co-ops, and they played a game of "Accounting Jeopardy." Parents and high school counselors were also invited to attend the event and participate in the lunch and campus tours.

Dr. Brian McGuire, professor of accounting and chair of the Department of Accounting and Business Law, said, "We've gone from 330 majors including the post-baccalaureate certificate program to approximately 400 majors from 2004 to 2007, which is about the time we started scheduling the Accounting High School Days and the annual 'Accounting Extravaganza' for college students in October."

USI Accounting students have won first place in the annual Indiana CPA Society Case Study Competition for the last four years against IU-Bloomington, IUPUI-Kelley School of Business, University of Notre Dame, Valparaiso University, Purdue University, and Butler University. Last year, the accounting student team was featured in the Journal of Accountancy for having won the competition three years in a row.

In addition, USI accounting student teams participated in the national finals of the Video Case Competition, which is sponsored by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), where they finished in the "Final Four" for the past two years. Furthermore, a USI accounting student team won the Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) Midwest Regional competition in 2007 and competed in the national BAP competition in August.

"We're improving in both quality and quantity," McGuire said. "More students from greater distances are hearing about the accounting program, and we are now getting inquiries in multiple states. It used to be most inquires were from the Tri-State, but now it seems that the inquiries are coming from greater geographic distances, which again speaks to the quality of our program."

USI Accounting Day is sponsored by the Department of Accounting, the USI Accounting Circle, the College of Business, and the Office of Admission.

USI Accounting Students Volunteer for Indiana CPA Day of Service

On October 5, 2007, twenty-three USI accounting students volunteered at the Evansville Tri-State Food Bank for the 5th Annual Indiana CPA Day of Service. The accounting students, who are all members of USI's Beta Alpha Psi Chapter and USI's Accounting and Professional Services Club, volunteered over seventy-five cumulative hours to help the local organization.

USI's accounting students have volunteered to work at the Evansville Tri-State Food Bank during the Indiana CPA Day of Service for the last few years. The students selected the Tri-State Food Bank, which was established in 1982, because it provides safe food to hundreds of charities and sites serving thousands of local men, women and children in the tri-state area. During the current year's "Day of Service," the USI students spent the day boxing and labeling usable donated food. The food was subsequently disbursed to non-profit feeding organizations in a 33-county service area of the tri-state.

According to the Indiana CPA Society, the Indiana CPA Day of Service was developed in 2002 to recognize the charitable work of Indiana CPAs. In addition, the Indiana CPA Day of Service has provided accounting students a good opportunity to network with CPAs in their community. During the current year, hundreds of Indiana CPAs and accounting students from around the state performed community service and helped worthwhile organizations. The participants assisted in completing various important projects and gained an understanding of the critical life-changing work being done in Indiana.

"Green" idea for lawn care is best of the 2007 Business Idea Competition

From left are Drew Heckert; Bryce Taylor, winner; Sarah Longenecker; Nicole Johnson, tied for second; Faith Wells, tied for second; David Swartz; and Jeff Ausenbaugh.  (Amy Meadow is not pictured.)

Accounting Day helps program grow

USI’s Accounting program has grown by 25 percent in the last five years, due in part to events like USI Accounting Day, to be held Friday, November 16.

John Campbell, the Office of Admission's liaison to the College of Business, said the event attracts many students to the USI campus. Previously, the University sent a representative off-campus to meet with top students from local schools. "Then we decided to do something on our campus, and it has exploded," Campbell said. In 2006, 190 people attended.

This year's Accounting Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Carter Hall in the University Center. Lunch is provided and campus tours will be available.

Students interested in a degree in accounting will meet with USI’s award-winning accounting team, accounting faculty, and members of US'’s Accounting Circle, an advisory board comprised of senior executives in public and corporate accounting; learn about accounting internships and co-ops; and play a game of accounting "Jeopardy." Parents and high school counselors are also invited.

Dr. Brian McGuire, professor of accounting and chair of the Department of Accounting and Business Law, said, "We've gone from 320 majors including the post-baccalaureate certificate program to 400 majors from 2002 to 2007, which is about the time we started scheduling the high school days and the Accounting Extravaganza for college students in October."

USI Accounting students have won first place in the annual Indiana CPA Society Case Study Competition the last four years against IU-Bloomington, IUPUI-Kelley School of Business, University of Notre Dame, Valparaiso University, Purdue University, and Butler University. Last year, the team was featured in the Journal of Accountancy for having won the competition three years in a row.

Accounting students participated in the national finals of the Video Case Competition sponsored by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) where they finished in the final four the past two years. USI won the Alpha Kappa Psi regional competition in 2006.

"We're improving in quality and quantity," McGuire said. "And more students from greater distances are hearing about the accounting program. We're now getting inquiries in multiple states. It used to be most inquires were from the Tri-State, but now it seems that the inquiries are coming from greater geographic distances, which again speaks to the quality of our program."

USI Accounting Day is sponsored by the Department of Accounting, the USI Accounting Circle, the College of Business, and the Office of Admission.

Entrepreneurship and innovation expert offered two public programs at USI

From left is Dr. Gregory Murphy, Dr. Jeffery Stamp, Ms. Victoria Reed, and Dr. Leslie Nunn

Dr. Jeffrey A. Stamp, chair of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the University of North Dakota's College of Business and Public Administration, gave two free public presentations on Monday, November 19, 2007, at the University of Southern Indiana.

He presenedt "The Art and Science of Bold Thinking: Creating a Culture of Opportunity" at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. in Mitchell Auditorium in the Health Professions Center.

Dr. Greg Murphy, associate dean of the USI College of Business, said, "Jeff Stamp's focus is on creativity and opportunity recognition. Evansville is developing significant community resources to support entrepreneurs. What we need, however, are more entrepreneurs. Improving creative thinking and opportunity recognition skills should result in more, inspired entrepreneurs with great ideas. For this reason we offered this program to the public."

Stamp was the inventor, creator, and brand manager of "Baked Lays" for PepsiCo's snack division Frito-Lay, which achieved $230 million in first-year sales and was named by Ernst and Young as the top brand introduction for the food sector.

After his corporate life, he built his own successful business as a master brand innovator in both consumer goods and technology arenas. After selling his first venture, he served for six years as the "chief trained brain" and vice president of technology for Richard Saunders International's Eureka! Ranch, a top new product and service creativity think tank. In recognition of their original R & D efforts, Stamp and his team were awarded the "George Land World-Class Innovator Award" from the Innovation Network and Fast Company magazine. Products created by Stamp appear in markets worldwide.

He received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and is sought after as a speaker, giving an average of 45 keynotes nationwide each year. In 2003, he and Doug Hall published their third book, Meaningful Marketing.

Generations at work

By Dr. Dane Partridge
taken from Evansville Business Journal,
November 2007

"Generations at work" is an article in the Evansville Business Journal, November 2007 by Dr. Dane Partridge, associate professor of management, for the College of Business.  Read the entire article...  (Go to EBJ.biz)

USI accounting team wins statewide competition fourth straight year

From left, Angela King, Jacob Cottingham, Amy Oglesby, Brad Greene, and Jeanette Maier-Lytle

A four-member team of accounting students from the University of Southern Indiana College of Business has won first place for the fourth consecutive year in the annual Indiana CPA Society (INCPAS) Case Study Competition.

The team made an oral presentation in Indianapolis November 2 and was recognized that evening as the winner of the competition at the organization's CPA Celebration at Historic Union Station. As first-place winners, each of the USI team members received a $1,000 award from INCPAS.

The team from Valparaiso University finished in second place; the team from Saint Mary's College finished in third place.

The 2007 USI team included Jacob Cottingham, senior, of South Bend, Indiana; Brad Greene, junior, of Georgetown, Indiana; Angela King, junior, of Santa Claus, Indiana; and Amy Oglesby, senior, of Galatia, Illinois. Oglesby also was a member of USI's winning team in 2006. Upon graduation in December 2008, she has accepted a position to become a staff accountant in the General Services Department of Harding, Shymanski & Company in Evansville.

Jeanette Maier-Lytle, USI instructor in accounting, was faculty coach of the accounting team for the fourth year.

The USI team qualified as one of six finalists to give an oral presentation after preparing a written case study. Other teams in the finals represented Butler University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, and Manchester College. Teams from Anderson University, Ball State University, Indiana University-Bloomington, Purdue University-Calumet, and University of Notre Dame also entered the competition.

The case study for this year's competition was on the topic of succession planning and business valuations. According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, recent research indicates that a wave of baby-boomer CPAS retiring in the next 20 years, coupled with a shortage of management staff to take their places, could result in a buyers' market for firms. These conditions make it critical that current practitioners begin succession planning to secure their firm's future. In the coming years, many of today's college accounting students will be faced with deciding whether to build or buy a practice.

In the competition, students discussed the advantages and possible pitfalls of buying an existing practice, the roles and responsibilities of the retired partners, and factors to consider in determining a value for the firm.

The INCPAS case study competition is designed to challenge students with a practical project requiring them to use their knowledge, skills, and judgment. It provides the kind of practical experience they might use as CPAs in today's business world.

USI accounting team is finalist in statewide competition

A team of accounting students from the University of Southern Indiana College of Business has been selected as one of six teams from Indiana universities that will give oral presentations November 2 in Indianapolis as finalists in the Indiana CPA Society Case Study Competition.

The USI team has won the statewide competition the past three years.
USI has competed for seven years, placing among the final six teams in six of the seven years.

This year's team includes Jacob Cottingham, senior, of South Bend, Indiana; Brad Greene, junior, of Georgetown, Indiana; Angela King, junior, of Santa Claus, Indiana; and Amy Oglesby, senior, of Galatia, Illinois. Jeanette Maier-Lytle, USI instructor in accounting, is faculty coach for the team. Oglesby was a member of last year's winning team.

Adam Knepp and May Flores of US's 2006 team also advised this year's team.

Other teams in the finals represent Butler University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Manchester College, Saint Mary's College, and Valparaiso University.

Teams from Anderson University, Ball State University, Indiana University-Bloomington, Purdue University-Calumet, and University of Notre Dame also entered the competition.

Each team had 10 days to prepare a written case study relating to succession planning and business valuations. The finalists were selected after evaluation of the written cases. Each team in the finals will give a 15-20 minute oral presentation to a panel of four judges. A brief question and answer session will follow.

Awards will be presented following the competition at the CPA Celebration at Historic Union Station in Indianapolis.

According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, recent research indicates that a wave of baby-boomer CPAS retiring in the next 20 years, coupled with a shortage of management staff to take their places, could result in a buyers' market for firms. These conditions make it critical that current practitioners begin succession planning to secure their firm's future. In the coming years, many of today's college accounting students will be faced with deciding whether to build or buy a practice.

The INCPAS case study competition is designed to challenge students with a practical project requiring them to use their knowledge, skills, and judgment.

Business Living Learning Class played softball with faculty

The UNIV 101 - Business Living/Learning Community held an inter-squad softball game at the Intramural fields on Broadway on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007. Drs. McKnight and Valentine represented the College of Business faculty. Only McKnight did the College of Business proud by not "striking out" and "falling on his" face trying to run the base path, he also placed very well in the Home-Run Derby Contest -- thank goodness Dr. Valentine can cook!

In the picture:  Front row on the left is Dr. Mark McKnight, Cory Halliday, Logan Harper, and Alex Fulk. Back row on the left is Tony Rahman, Christina Warren, Darryl Spellmeyer, Aimee Parsons, Bobby Angle, Jeff McMillen, Katie Jean, Jessica Schwarz, and Jeff Davis.  

Fisher Successfully Retains His Cup

Phil Fisher, dean emeritus of the College of Business, returned to compete with the USI faculty for the fourth annual golf contest for the Fisher Cup, held October 20, 2007.  Having won the cup last year, Phil successfully retained it for another year.

Darryl Spurlock named 2007 USI Distinguished Accountant

Darryl Spurlock, managing partner of Umbach and Associates in Evansville, has been awarded the University of Southern Indiana Distinguished Accountant Award for 2007.

The award recognizes professional achievement, service to the region and/or the University, and service to the accounting profession. It was presented October 15 during the Accounting Extravaganza, an annual event for accounting students, faculty, and the USI Accounting Circle. The award is presented by the USI College of Business accounting program and the Accounting Circle, an advisory board.

Spurlock has been a strong supporter of the USI accounting program, including the Speaking Eagles Toastmasters chapter and the student case competition teams. He has attended Toastmasters meetings and provided feedback for accounting team members practicing their presentations for statewide competition.

A member and past chair of the USI Accounting Circle, Spurlock was instrumental in developing the "Accountants in the Classroom" program, has helped secure internships for accounting faculty, and has spoken often to the Accounting and Professional Services Club.

He was associated for more than 25 years with Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) in Dayton, Ohio, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Indiana and Ohio CPA societies, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Spurlock first developed an interest in accounting when, as a senior in high school in Rockport, Indiana, he worked in bookkeeping and taxes for a public accountant. He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting at Indiana University.

In Evansville, Spurlock is past president of the board of the Metro Small Business Assistance Corporation. He chaired a $5.5 million building program at Holiday Redeemer Catholic Church and serves on the church's finance commission and tuition committee.

Spurlock is a past board president of the Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and a past board member for Junior Achievement, both in Tulsa. He is a past president of the Greater Dayton Jaycees.

Spurlock is the first non-alumnus of the University of Southern Indiana to receive the Distinguished Accountant Award. Past recipients are Ken Sendelweck '76, Steve Farrell '73, and Robert Swan '72.

Accounting Student Groups Have an Excellent Start

The USI Accounting and Professional Services (APS) Club and the USI Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) Chapter had an excellent start to the new academic year, with over sixty people attending the September 6 joint meeting of the two student organizations. The topic of the meeting, "The Value of the CPA," was presented by representatives of the Indiana CPA Society.

The primary presenter, Angie Zirkelbach, is with Blue & Co., LLC in Indianapolis. She is a member of the Indiana CPA Society's Leadership Cabinet/Emerging Leaders Alliance. Jenifer Groth, Public Communications Manager of the Indiana CPA Society, also made a brief presentation to the student groups. The Indiana CPA Society, which is a professional association representing certified public accountants throughout Indiana, has approximately 7,500 members statewide.

Joint meetings of the two student organizations are held at 4:30 p.m. every other Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. Future Meetings during the Fall 2007 Semester are scheduled for September 20, October 4, October 18, November 1, November 15, and November 29, with a different speaker scheduled for each meeting.

The Accounting and Professional Services Club is a professional organization composed of accounting majors and others interested in accounting as a profession, and it is a student chapter of the Institute Management Accountants (IMA). The USI Beta Alpha Psi Chapter is a student chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an honorary organization for Financial Information students and professionals.

USI Beta Alpha Psi Chapter Recognized as a "Superior Chapter"

USI's Lambda Mu Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi was recently recognized as a "Superior Chapter" at the 2007 National Beta Alpha Psi Conference in Chicago. In addition to the recognition, superior chapters receive a financial award contributed by the KPMG Foundation and a recognition plaque.

In order to be recognized as a "Superior Chapter," Beta Alpha Psi chapters must meet certain requirements that include submission of reports, periodic initiations, national/regional activities, professional activities and service activities. Since part of the mission of Beta Alpha Psi is to foster enthusiasm for service, chapters are encouraged to participate in service activities that benefit the campus and the community of the chapter.

Beta Alpha Psi is an honorary organization for Financial Information students. The primary objective of Beta Alpha Psi is to encourage and give recognition to scholastic and professional excellence in the business information field. Beta Alpha Psi promotes the study and practice of accounting, finance and information systems; provides opportunities for self-development, service and association among members and practicing professionals, and encourages a sense of ethical, social, and public responsibility.

Officers for the USI Beta Alpha Psi Chapter during the current year include: Dan Berry, President; Bridgitte Cheesman, President Elect; Jamie Hempfling, Reporter; Kathy Fuller, Treasurer; Amy Oglesby, VP of Publicity; John Hayden, VP of Membership; Alberto Favela, VP of Activities; Brian Marchino, VP of Technology; and Adam Knepp and Alberto Favela, VPs of Fundraising. Faculty Advisors are Dr. Mehmet Kocakulah, Professor of Accounting, and Dr. Brian McGuire, Chair of the Department of Accounting and Business Law.

For more information...

Julie Mehringer is the winner of the Athena Scholarship

Julie Mehringer is the 2007 $1,000 Athena Scholarship Award winner. The Athena Scholarship has been established by the Evansville Athena Awards Committee to recognize an outstanding female student who demonstrates excellence, creativity, and initiative in both academics while fulfilling responsibilities in student associations and clubs. The student must also actively support other female students and provide valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the school and community.

Mehringer is a 4th year marketing and advertising double major. She is the president of USI Habitat for Humanity and is active in Toastmasters International through USI's Speaking Eagles and the USI Marketing Club.

Medicine in the future: Opportunities for Evansville businesses?

By Dr. Les Nunn and Dr. Brian L. McGuire
taken from Evansville Business Journal, August 2007

"Medicine in the future: Opportunities for Evansville businesses?" is an article in the Evansville Business Journal, August 2007 by Dr. Les Nunn, associate professor of business law, and Dr. Brian L. McGuire, chair of the Department of Accounting and Business Law and professor of accounting, for the College of Business. Read the entire article...  (Go to EBJ.biz)

USI accounting professor awarded Fulbright grant

Dr. Mehmet Kocakulah, professor of accounting at the University of Southern Indiana, has been awarded a grant through the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board to teach and conduct research in Turkey during the fall semester.

As a Fulbright scholar, he will teach graduate classes and complete cost/management accounting research at Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. His appointment will begin September 1 and conclude in mid-January.

In announcing the award, officials of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB) said the principal purpose of the Fulbright Program is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of the more than 150 participating countries. The FSB is a 12-member body appointed by the president of the United States to establish policies for the program and select recipients.

Dr. Mohammed Khayum, dean of the College of Business, said, "To receive a Fulbright grant is a significant accomplishment. Dr. Kocakulah's participation in this program will augment his teaching and research experiences and undoubtedly advance his professional development."

Kocakulah is a native of Turkey. He holds a doctorate from Istanbul University, a master's degree from University of Louisville, and an undergraduate degree from Ege University in Izmir, Turkey.

At USI he teaches undergraduate and graduate-level accounting courses and is a faculty advisor to the College of Business chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an international honor society available only to students enrolled in business schools accredited by AACSB International -- the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. A member of the USI faculty since 1987, he previously taught at Indiana State University and University of Louisville.

Kocakulah has written a number of articles for professional journals. He holds membership in the American Accounting Association, the Institute of Management Accountants, and other professional organizations. He is a longtime member of Rotary International in Evansville.

Mujumdar was visiting scholar at Reserve Bank of India

Dr. Sudesh Mujumdar, assistant professor of economics at the University of Southern Indiana, has completed a two-month appointment as visiting scholar at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the country's central bank.

As visiting scholar, he was affiliated with the Department of Economic Analysis and Policy and the Department of Monetary Policy to conduct a research project entitled, "Hands Off or Not? Property Markets and Central Bank Policy."

"The project seeks to develop a practical guide to the appropriate monetary policy response of a central bank to rapidly rising property prices in the context of developing countries," Mujumdar said prior to the trip.

The office of the governor of the RBI entertains proposals throughout the year and bases the selection of visiting scholars on the currency and practical implications of the proposed research.

Mujumdar said the project relates to his teaching interests. One aspect of the course he teaches in development economics is helping students understand how examining a country's economic policies can help a person recognize investment opportunities in that country.

The RBI headquarters is located in Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay). Mujumdar returned to his native country in May to conduct the research project. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Bombay and a second master's and a doctorate from the University of Cincinnati.

The University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees recently approved tenure and promotion for Mujumdar. Tenure will be effective August 18, 2008. His promotion to associate professor will be effective August 20, 2007. Mujumdar joined the College of Business in 2001.  For more information...

IT Alliance making a difference

The IT Alliance, a group of regional Information Technology leaders who advise the College of Business' CIS and CS programs, held its annual meeting in May 2007.  During the meeting the first recipients of the IT scholarships established by the IT Alliance were introduced: Hunter Nance received the Keller-Schroeder Technology Scholarship and Georgina Hostettler received the IT Alliance Scholarship. Derek Faughn, '80, is the 2007-2008 chair of the Alliance.

Outgoing IT Alliance president, Jim Derk, is presented with a plaque as a token of appreciation for his leadership by Dr. Abbas Foroughi, Chair of the Department of Management, Management Information Systems, and Computer Science.

Two CIS seniors, Brian Rickey and Chad Shaner, presented a synopsis of their senior project where they developed an efficient, robust help desk for a local company.  The four other hands-on senior projects from Dr. Marvin Albin's class were announced.

Small business failure rates: don't believe everything you're told

By Dr. Gregory B. Murphy
taken from Evansville Business Journal, June 2007

"Small business failure rates: don't believe everything you're told" is an article in the Evansville Business Journal, June 2007 by Dr. Gregory Murphy, associate dean and director of the MBA program for the College of Business. Read the entire article...  (Go to EBJ.biz)

O'Daniel Atrium will welcome students, alumni, faculty, and guests in new business building

A prominent space in the new College of Business and General Classroom Building at the University of Southern Indiana will be called the O'Daniel Atrium.

D. Patrick and Rosemary O'Daniel have committed $500,000 to the Campaign for the College of Business and General Classroom Building. The campaign is funding programmatic needs of the new building which will be located south and east of the Liberal Arts Center and adjacent to Reflection Lake. Bonding authorization for the $29.9 million building was approved by the 2007 Indiana General Assembly and groundbreaking for the facility could take place in the next academic year.

The O'Daniel gift will help provide state-of-the-art technology and instructional needs allowing USI to produce graduates who can enter the workforce with vital knowledge and skills. Facilities of the new building will also allow University professors to engage more fully in applied research for the region.

USI President H. Ray Hoops said, "The entire USI family is grateful to Pat and Rosemary O'Daniel both for this generous gift and for the leadership they have shown over many years on campus and throughout the Evansville area. The College of Business/General Classroom Building will benefit students for generations to come and the O'Daniel Atrium will serve as a lasting reminder of the positive impact the O'Daniel Family has made at USI and in this community."

The O'Daniels give two reasons for contributing to the campaign. Pat said, "We are supporting this campaign because I think the University of Southern Indiana is the most effective educational institution for developing the economy of Southwestern Indiana. I have five children and 13 grandchildren who live here, and I have a vested interest in the economy.

"Our second reason is to honor my father and mother, Joseph and Marie O'Daniel. USI was his proudest accomplishment. The O'Daniel Leadership Academy carries his name as do student housing units, but I think it is fitting to have his name on the business building as a long-living representation of his devotion for USI."

Joseph O'Daniel was instrumental in the development of USI, the USI Foundation, and Southern Indiana Higher Education, Inc. (SIHE), the non-profit foundation which purchased 1,400 acres and gave 300 of them for development of the present campus. He served on the Board of Incorporators and was appointed to the original USI Board of Trustees and served for 10 years, three of them as chair.

Pat and Rosemary O'Daniel have continued his father's commitment to the University. He is an advisory board member of the USI Foundation and through the USI Foundation they support Presidential Scholarships, Varsity Club, USI Annual Fund, and other programs. This year they both received honorary doctoral degrees during Commencement for their leadership in community and campus development.

The O'Daniel gift brings the campaign to over 64 percent of the $2 million goal. The campaign is administered by the USI Foundation.

Mastroianni named GLVC Player of the Year

Darin Mastroianni, a business administration major and USI junior second baseman, was named the GLVC Player of the Year in a vote of the conference head coaches.  Mastroianni, who also was named the first team All-GLVC second baseman, was joined on the first team by senior outfielder Hunter Slade, a business major.

The USI duo also was named to the first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V by the College Sports Information Directors of America. The District V award covers student athletes with at least a 3.2 grade point average from NCAA Division II, III, and NAIA in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario, and Manitoba.

In leading a resurgence of the USI baseball team this season, Mastroianni leads the team and the GLVC with a .397 batting average and 49 stolen bases (a USI single season record). The two-time GLVC Player of the Week also ranks second nationally in stolen bases and ranks in the top five of GLVC in 16 offensive and defensive categories.

Slade, who also has been named GLVC Player of the Week twice this year, is second on the team with a .344 batting average and ranks first on the team and in the GLVC with 55 RBIs. The 55 RBIs are nine short of the USI single-season record of 64 set by Jason Krack in 1994.

Slade also ranks in the top five of four GLVC offensive categories.

USI Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi Served as Co-host for the 2007 Midwest Regional Conference

The USI Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) recently co-hosted the 2007 Beta Alpha Psi Midwest Regional Conference in Indianapolis, along with Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame.  USI's Lambda Mu Chapter, which is a new chapter of BAP, was chartered in the Spring of 2006.  According to the national officers of Beta Alpha Psi, it is very unusual for a chapter to co-host a conference within the first twelve months of receiving its charter.

However, the USI Chapter was ready for the challenge.  Fourteen participants attended the conference from USI, which included twelve students and two faculty advisors.   This delegation gave USI its largest number of participants to ever attend a BAP regional conference, and it provided numerous workers to help the conference operate in an efficient manner.

Beta Alpha Psi is an honor society available only to students enrolled in business schools accredited by AACSB International — the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The organization recognizes the outstanding achievement of students enrolled in accounting, finance, and computer information systems programs.

2007 Faculty awards recognize dedicated professionals in research, service, and teaching

From left are Dr. Gary Black, assistant professor of production/operations management; Dr. Sudesh Mujumdar, assistant professor of economics; Dr. Mohammed Khayum, dean of the College of Business; and Dr. Joy Peluchette, professor of management.

Three College of Business faculty members were honored May 2, 2007, for outstanding achievement during the academic year.  Receiving awards were Dr. Sudesh Mujumdar, assistant professor of economics, Excellence in Service; Dr. Joy Peluchette, professor of management, Excellence in Research; and Dr. Gary Black, assistant professor of production/operations management, Excellence in Teaching. 

Accounting Team in "Final Four" of the IMA National Video Case Competition

Congratulations to the USI Accounting Team, Andrew Eddmenson, May Flores, Kathleen Fuller and Amy Oglesby, and their faculty advisors Jeanette Maier-Lytle and Brian McGuire for earning the status of "Final Four" in the Institute of Management Accountant's (IMA) National Video Case Competition.  The USI student team will compete live at the IMA Annual Conference & Exposition in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday, June 17, 2007.  The winning team, plus the other three "finalist" teams, will be formally recognized at IMA's Annual Award Luncheon on Tuesday, June 19, 2007.

Teams of students from colleges and universities all over the United States responded to a published case by preparing and submitting a videotaped presentation to judges selected from IMA members.  Each of the videotaped presentations was then evaluated by independent judges on the basis of "Technical Content" and "Presentation Skills." 

According to IMA, "This very exciting competition presents students with real life challenges and the opportunity to analyze a case, develop a solution, present it to an international audience of accounting professionals, and receive recognition for their efforts."  For more information...

College of Business students presented at the 2007 RISC Showcase

The Research, Innovation, Scholarship, Creativity (RISC) Program supports additional learning opportunities for undergraduate students.  Students from all disciplines across the university pursue innovative scholarly and creative endeavors through the RISC Research Grant Program and the RISC Showcase.

The RISC Research Grant Program is a competitive program that provides funding to initiate or continue qualifying student research projects.  All students are eligible to submit proposals for RISC Research Grants. 

The RISC Showcase is a symposium that provides an arena for undergraduates of all disciplines to present, demonstrate, or display their academic works to fellow students, faculty members, and the public.  The Showcase takes place each spring on the campus of USI.

Oral presentations of College of Business students given on April 23, 2007, at the RISC Showcase were:

May C. Flores, Andrew I. Eddmenson, Amy L. Oglesby and Kathy V. Fuller, Accounting & Professional Services, 2007 Institute of Management Accountants National Case Study Competition: "Alternative Costing Methods - Precision Paint", sponsored by Ms. Jeanette Maier-Lytle, Dr. Brian McGuire and Dr. Mohammed Khayum.

Mallory D. Minor, Marketing, "Italian Marketing Plan for Hiking Gear", sponsored by Dr. Sang T. Choe.

Jacey N. Riggs, Marketing, "Global Marketing Plan for Brazil", sponsored by Dr. Sang T. Choe.

Andrew R. Schenk, Marketing, "Marketing Hydroelectric Power and Grid System in Bangladesh", sponsored by Dr. Sang T. Choe.

Megan M. Tas, International Business Administration, "Marketing toward Turkey", sponsored by Dr. Sang T. Choe.

Earl B. Townsend, Business Administration, The Ethical Dilemma at North Lake", sponsored by Dr. Khaled Elkhal.

Winners of Marketing Club logo design contest

The USI Marketing Club conducted a logo design contest, which was open to all USI students during the 2007 spring semester.

The goal of the contest was to provide students an opportunity to showcase and be recognized for their creative talents.  The members of the Marketing Club felt that having a student-designed logo for the club would help drive awareness of the many benefits of joining and being active in on-campus student organizations.  The winning logo will be used to brand Marketing Club communications in the coming years.

Andrew Eddmenson placed first with the winning logo and was awarded $300 for his innovative design.  Andrea Wallace placed second and was awarded $50. Kim Hoppenjans won the third place honor and was awarded $25.

Eddmenson explained the conceptual framework for the logo:

Winning Logo

The concept revolves around three items - a target, banner, and globe.  The target is supposed to represent the target goals, results, and audience that marketers are trying to reach. The banner represents one of many marketing techniques used to reach people. Finally, the globe indicates that marketing is used all around the world to reach people all around the world; in other words, marketing is global.

Dr. Beth Mott-Stenerson, the club's co-advisor with Dr. Mark McKnight, concluded that, "This logo contest is the kind of club activity that needs to be encouraged and facilitated at all levels of the university.  It provides a means for students to round out their professional experience before graduation while serving the needs of the membership of the club.  In short, the logo contest hosted by the USI Marketing Club provided a win-win situation for all of the students involved."

Service Marketing Class Experiences Service Learning
Creates marketing strategies for Kirby's Private Dining

From left, Lisa Wiltsie, adjunct professor; Pete Sabella and Ann Moore, members of SBDC and the ECC; students Michael Feller, Traci Perkins, Brad Niehaus, Cindy Hughes, Zach Gricer, and Sarah Rush; and Scott Schymik and Kathryn Schymik of Kirby's.

Students in Lisa Wiltsie's Services Marketing class developed and presented marketing strategies for a real service-oriented company, Kirby's Private Dining.

Students were divided into six teams of eight and worked over a two and one-half month period to develop marketing plans for the business.  On April 11, 2007, the teams presented their strategies to owner and head chef Scott Schymik, board member Kathyrn Schymik, Pete Sabella and Ann Moore of Southwestern Indiana Small Business Center (SBDC) and the Evansville Chamber of Commerce (ECC), and representatives from the College of Business.

The marketing strategies ranged from updating the website design, developing innovative event sponsorship, advertising locally, partnering with complementary business, and networking creatively in the community.

Both students and businesses can benefit from this kind of service learning exercise; students gain real-world experience and businesses gain the advantage of many fresh ideas.

This project was the result of a request by Schymik  and the SBDC  to USI's College of Business.

Business faculty commit to program needs of new building

College of Business faculty have demonstrated their commitment to the University  and support of the new College of Business and General Classroom Building by exceeding in less than a month a $25,000 fundraising goal (including matching gift)  they set for themselves.

Timothy B. Mahoney, instructor in economics, learned of the planned campaign for the new building in December. The fund-raising effort was to begin in 2007. Realizing that dollars given through December 2006 would be eligible for the Lilly Endowment matching funds, Mahoney thought College of Business faculty would want to participate immediately. And he was right. An e-mail announcement followed by an information session at a December faculty meeting and a personal letter from Mahoney generated a big response.

"Faculty were curious and very interested," he said.

The business faculty raised $11,624 for a total of $26,154 with the match. The College of Business Faculty Enhancement Endowment will generate an annual distribution for programmatic support.

Mahoney believes that "a lot of good things happen at the University" and hopes that business leaders in the community will recognize that faculty were the first to step up to support the college's programs when they consider financial support for the new building.

Mahoney is using the building project as a real-life lesson in capital spending in economics classes he teaches this semester.

Focus on business: Marketing real estate to Hispanic clientele

By Dr. Lisa Wiltsie
taken from Evansville Business Journal, April 2007

"Focus on business: Marketing real estate to Hispanic clientele" is an article in the Evansville Business Journal, April 2007 by Lisa Wiltsie, instructor of marketing, management, and business communications courses for the University of Southern Indiana College of Business and advisor for OPTIONS, a joint program of USI and Ivy Tech Community College. Read the entire article...  (Go to EBJ.biz)

Economics and Finance Club attends the Seventh Annual R.I.S.E. Global Student Investment Forum

Members of the USI Economics and Finance Club attended the Seventh Annual R.I.S.E. Global Student Investment Forum at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio from March 29 - March 31, 2007.  They included Dr. Manfen Chen, advisor; Michael Patzer, president; Sam Bennett, vice-president; Jason Dilger, treasurer; and members, Aphrodite Hudson and Megan Martin.

Many prominent speakers spoke about the economy, the markets, public policy, the Federal Reserve, and corporate governance. Breakout sessions and workshops about different investment strategies including value Investing, real estate investment, etc., provided even more information.  Sessions about different career paths such as equity investment, portfolio management, and the CFA certification were available.  Additionally, many colleges showcased their student-managed investment portfolios. About 1,700 students were in attendance from all 50 states and many countries around the world.

Indiana CPA Campus Presentation

From the left, Dr. Craig Ehlen, Professor of Accounting and Co-Advisor of the Accounting and Professional Services Club; Bridgitte Cheesman, President-Elect of the USI Beta Alpha Psi Chapter; Dan Berry, President of the USI Beta Alpha Psi Chapter; Jenifer Groth, Public Communications Manager of the Indiana CPA Society; Lisa Fleck, a member of the Indiana CPA Society and its Emerging Leaders Alliance; and Dr. Brian McGuire, Professor of Accounting, Chair of the Department of Accounting and Business Law, and Co-Advisor of the USI Beta Alpha Psi Chapter.

Over forty students attended a joint meeting of the Accounting and Professional Services Club and the USI Beta Alpha Psi Chapter on Thursday, March 29, 2007. The speakers were Jenifer Groth, Public Communications Manager of the Indiana CPA Society in Indianapolis, and Lisa Fleck of Kimball International in Jasper, also a member of the Indiana CPA Society and its Emerging Leaders Alliance. The Indiana CPA Society is a professional association representing certified public accountants in Indiana. The Society has approximately 7,500 members statewide whose occupations range from strategic business advisors to financial consultants to professors to members of corporate management and public accountants.

The Accounting and Professional Services Club is a professional organization composed of accounting majors and others interested in accounting as a profession. The club is an student affiliate member of the Institute Management Accountants (IMA), a national organization of professionals in accounting and financial management.

Beta Alpha Psi is an honorary organization for Financial Information students. The primary objective of Beta Alpha Psi is to encourage and give recognition to scholastic and professional excellence in the business information field. Beta Alpha Psi's promotes the study and practice of accounting, finance and information systems; provides opportunities for self-development, service and association among members and practicing professionals, and encourages a sense of ethical, social, and public responsibility.

How the Colts Do Business

Kurt Humphrey, vice president of finance, for the Indianapolis Colts, speaks to students in an Economics of Sports course.

Kurt Humphrey, vice president of finance, for the Indianapolis Colts spoke to the students March 27, 2007,  on "How the Colts Do Business" which encompassed ideas for best utilizing one's education and knowledge in future careers. Students learned about how the Super Bowl winning Colts manage their day-to-day operations; information that could help students as they explore careers.

Mr. Humphrey also presented and took questions in two classes: Economics of Sports and Principles of Marketing.  Between his class presentations he toured the campus and mingled with students and faculty.

Mr. Humphrey has been with the Colts 22 years.  For the last seven years he has been VP of finance overseeing daily financial operations for the Colts.

This event was organized by the College of Business Living Learning Community.

USI student takes top prize statewide for new business idea

Sheri Risner, a University of Southern Indiana accounting major, won first place for an innovative business idea called Pantry Partner in competition with more than 400 students from 21 universities throughout the state.

See a video of Bruce Kidd of Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Gerry Dick talking about the bootcamp and the USI winner at:
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/player-new.asp?ID=5608

Risner took the top prize of $500 in the Bootcamp Elevator Pitch Competition at The Indiana Collegiate Entrepreneur Bootcamp held March 22, 2007 in Indianapolis.

She and USI student Mark Kurvach, also an accounting major, were among 10 finalists chosen to present their entrepreneurial ideas to a judging panel of four venture capitalists. Bootcamp participants and almost 50 of the state's top entrepreneurs and investors also heard their pitches.

Risner received encouragement from the judges to start a business with her idea. Her Pantry Partner would be a wall-mounted device to scan groceries as they come into the home and again as they are used. The in-home bar code reader would help people maintain household inventory, prepare grocery lists, plan meals, and save money.

A nontraditional student, Risner lives in Newburgh, Indiana. She and her husband have four children.

Kurvach presented a suggestion for an insect bite kit with products to prevent insect bites or relieve discomfort after a bite. Kurvach is a graduate of Castle High School in Newburgh.

Presentations were judged on the basis of product/innovation, market, funding and profitability, and quality of the pitch (including believability and clarity of concept).

Dr. Mohammed Khayum, dean of the USI College of Business, said, "Entrepreneurs find innovative ways to make our lives easier. The Indiana Collegiate Entrepreneur Bootcamp provided opportunities for college students to share their innovative business ideas and learn from successful entrepreneurs. Our students have shown that they possess key attributes for entrepreneurial success. Their participation and performance in the Bootcamp point to their ability to identify opportunities and to take advantage of them."

Other USI students who participated in the Bootcamp were Kyle Gilbert, Katie McCallister, and Joshua Sackett. The event, which also included a number of workshops conducted by successful entrepreneurs, was sponsored by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Indiana Venture Center.

Risner, Kurvach, Gilbert, and Sackett also were participants recently when the College of Business sponsored its first Business Idea Competition during Entrepreneurship Week USA. Risner won third-place in that competition, and Sackett took first for his idea involving Internet radio broadcasts in vehicles. The 16 students who participated will have an opportunity to engage in a feasibility analysis with support from the College of Business.

In addition to the Business Idea Competition, Khayum said the college has adopted a number of initiatives to promote entrepreneurism. A recent national study shows that innovation and entrepreneurship are significant influences on regional economic development.

The college is exploring the development of a minor in entrepreneurship and plans to develop programs to foster entrepreneurial networks in the region and build an enabling infrastructure to support innovation.

For more information...

USI Beta Alpha Psi team places first in regional competition

Members of the team from the left are John Hayden, May Flores, and Andrew Eddmenson.

A team of accounting students representing the University of Southern Indiana College of Business placed first in the "Involvement in Professional Organizations" category of "Best Practices" competition held during the Beta Alpha Psi Midwest Regional Meeting in Indianapolis.

The USI team included accounting majors Andrew Eddmenson of Madisonville, Kentucky; John Hayden of Evansville; and May Flores of Newburgh, Indiana. They are members of the USI chapter of Beta Alpha Psi which was chartered in spring 2006. Faculty advisors were Dr. Brian McGuire, professor of accounting and chair of the Department of Accounting and Business Law, and Dr. Mehmet Kocakulah, professor of accounting.

As winners of the regional competition, the USI chapter of Beta Alpha Psi received a $500 award to support future chapter activities. The team will compete August 2-4, 2007, at the national level at the 2007 Beta Alpha Psi Annual Meeting in Chicago.

The USI accounting students made a presentation on the topic of "Creating a Toastmasters' Chapter," using USI's Speaking Eagles chapter of Toastmasters as the basis of their presentation. Organized in 1998, the USI chapter of Toastmasters gives students an opportunity to practice and enhance public speaking skills.

In the finals the USI team bested teams representing Ball State University, Bradley University, Grand Valley State University,  Kent State University, and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities. Teams qualified for the finals based on abstracts submitted prior to the regional conference.

At the conference each team of finalists made a presentation to a three-member panel of professional accountants. The teams were required to present a plan to increase awareness and participation in professional organizations and discuss the impact made by the organization and its members or alumni.

The USI chapter of Beta Alpha Psi co-hosted the March 2-3, 2007, regional meeting along with Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame.  

Beta Alpha Psi is an honor society available only to students enrolled in business schools accredited by AACSB International — the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The organization recognizes the outstanding achievement of students enrolled in accounting, finance, and computer information systems programs. 

Human Resource Team finishes second in state HR Games competition

Members of the 2007 Human Resource Team from the left are Lexi Lake, Holly VanGorp, and Alyssa Christian.

The USI chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) team finished in second place in the first-ever Indiana state HR Games competition.  The team members were Alyssa Christian, Lexi Lake, and Holly VanGorp.

The HR Games are a competition sponsored by the SHRM, the leading professional association for human resource management.  The HR Games use a ‘Jeopardy-style' format to test students' knowledge of HR concepts and to prepare students for the HR certification exam. USI teams have previously participated in the North Central Regional HR Games, and will do so again this April.

Dr. Dane Partridge, team advisor, said, "the USI team prepared for the competition by reviewing HR concepts from their HR courses."

The USI team advanced to the finals based on their performance in the preliminary rounds, which included a victory in a match against Indiana University.  The USI team lost in the finals to Indiana Tech.  Other schools participating were Oakland City and a combined team from Indiana State University and Saint Mary of-the-Woods College.

Winners of Business Idea Competition announced

Students with entrepreneurial ideas for Internet radio broadcasts in cars, better tracking of a personal exercise program, and a system for controlling household pantry inventory are winners in the first Business Idea Competition sponsored by the USI College of Business.
 
The student competition was held as part of the college's celebration of Entrepreneurship Week USA February 24- March 3. Sixteen students entered the competition.
 
Winning ideas included the following:
 
First place ($250) -- Joshua Sackett proposed using WinAMP (a software program that allows computer users to play audio files in many popular digital audio formats) combined with the Internet signal available from cell phone towers to make it possible for people in cars to listen to any radio station that is broadcast over the Internet. Sackett said the concept would allow car riders to listen to stations nationwide, not just local stations, and could be used in case of a national emergency to convey information to people on the road. A nontraditional student, Sackett is a sophomore majoring in computer information systems. He lives in Evansville.
 
Second place ($200) -- Michael Patzer suggested a comprehensive system to track progress in a personal exercise program by using radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. Patzer said that most people do not succeed in a weight loss or exercise program because they do not set specific goals, or they may consciously or unconsciously enter unreliable data into software to track their progress. Through its automatic identification capability, the RFID tag would allow accurate information from a workout (such as distance run on a treadmill) to be transferred to a computer with software to report progress toward the individual's goals. "It's a way to quantitatively measure your progress — your real progress and not your fudged results," said Patzer, a sophomore with a double major in finance and economics. His hometown is Evansville.
 
Third place ($150) -- Sheri Risner came up with an idea that solves a problem she faces every day. "I never seem to have what I need in my pantry," she said, "Someone removes the last can of tomato sauce, broth, or vegetables, and suddenly the meal I had planned to prepare requires a trip to the grocery store. Her Pantry Partner would be a wall-mounted device to scan groceries as they come into the home and again as they are used. She said the in-home bar code reader would help people maintain household inventory, prepare grocery lists, plan meals, and save money. A nontraditional student, Risner is majoring in accounting.
 
Other students who entered the competition received a thumb drive as an award for participating.
 
Dr. Greg Murphy, associate dean of the College of Business, said the college's vision stresses the development of an "entrepreneurial mindset."
 
"This competition is an early step in a larger effort to promote that mindset by encouraging students to think about and consider business opportunities," he said.
 
Judges were Ron Dame, retired president of Faultless Caster Corporation; Jack Buttrum, former president and owner of Swanson Nunn Electric Company; and Tom Koetting, retired vice president of sales and marketing for Peabody Coal Sales Company.
 
A group of College of Business faculty and students will continue to pursue their interest in entrepreneurship by attending Indiana Collegiate Entrepreneur Bootcamp on March 22 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis. The program is sponsored by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Indiana Venture Center.

Goldsby: It's OK to start small

By TOM RAITHEL
Courier & Press staff writer 464-7595 or raithelt@courierpress.com
Tuesday, February 27, 2007

As a young man out of college, he and his uncle used to kill time by hitting golf balls out into a cow pasture near his home in Lawrence County, Ind.One day, he and his uncle put up some markers in the cow pasture to represent holes and made the pasture a primitive golf course.Friends came over to hit balls with them, and they wondered whether they might have a business opportunity.They found that there was only one other golf course in the two-county area and began developing the pasture into a real course.Tiger Woods arrived on the national golf scene, and the sport took off all over the country. Today there are nine golf courses in the two-county area and the one Goldsby and his uncle built remains a successful family-owned business.Goldsby, the Stoops Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at Ball State University, spoke to students at the University of Southern Indiana Monday as part of Entrepreneurship Month activities.Goldsby told the students this is a good time for entrepreneurship in Indiana and in the Evansville area. Such things as the development of Interstate 69, business expansion in Indianapolis, the operation of several important automobile plants and the activities of the state's many universities are helping to foster entrepreneurship here, he said.Goldsby defined entrepreneurship as applying creativity to the economic domain. People shouldn't confuse creativity with eccentricity, he said. Creativity is "finding new... ideas that can be accepted."But to make entrepreneurship work in the Midwest, entrepreneurs should not follow the Silicon Valley model, Goldsby said. Instead, he offered the "Field of Dreams" model, based on a movie about a farmer who built a baseball field in a cornfield with the idea of "Build it and they will come."Midwestern entrepreneurs should "act small and think big," Goldsby added. "When you're small, you can afford to make mistakes." Businesses can be successful with only a few and even one customer, Goldsby said."High tech is OK, but big tech may be kind of hard," Goldsby said.Would-be entrepreneurs need to involve others who can help them in their enterprises, he said. "If you keep it to yourself, it won't go anywhere."He said entrepreneurs need to find something they feel passionate about and are willing to take a risk for.

They need also to "find something people care about." People will pay for a benefit, he said.

Students learn about social entrepreneurship

Dr. Mohammed Khayum, dean of the College of Business; Mark Kurvach, majoring in Accounting and Professional Services; and Dr. Marie Bussing-Burks, instructor of economics, are standing behind a table full of kit ideas the students developed in their microeconomics class for possible use by ARC Industries.

In partnership with Evansville ARC, students in Dr. Marie Bussing-Burks' fall 2006 microeconomics class completed a project to learn about the special challenges of operating a nonprofit organization.  The project included a tour of ARC Industries and the organization's Child Life Center and Adult Day Care.  Evansville ARC provides services to children and adults with disabilities.

Deidra Conner '87, president, and Andy Cosgrove, vice president of operations, made a classroom presentation.  "We told the students more about what we do and what some of our challenges are," Conner said. "Our budget coming from state and other public sources continues to shrink. We are serving more people with more significant disabilities with less budget.  We felt this was a great opportunity to educate this group of young citizens about the value of people with disabilities and how important it is to give individuals with disabilities opportunities to be successful."

After learning about Evansville ARC, students completed a paper on social entrepreneurship.  One option for their topic was to recommend proprietary products, similar to the Diaper 911 one-time changing kit, that ARC Industries could market.

Mark Kurvach developed a suggestion for a kit with products to prevent insect bites or relieve discomfort after a bite.

"Due to the growing concern in the United States about the West Nile Virus, the kit has the potential to be a great success, especially among Americans camping or traveling to parts of the world where malaria is a clear and present threat to their health," he said.

This project was in partnership with USI's Center for Applied Research and Development (CARED) which is directed by Dr. Susan J. Ellspermann.

Quadrangle landscaping project to complement view from proposed new College of Business building

Click on graphic for enlargement

Work has begun on a major landscaping project that will create a new focal point for the USI campus – a quadrangle between the University Center, Rice Library, Technology Center, the proposed new College of Business and General Classroom Building, and Liberal Arts Center.

The quadrangle will include many new areas of landscaping and seating, while leaving open a lawn area for games of Frisbee and lounging in the sun.

"There will be many trees and extensive vegetation carefully calculated to be blooming at all times of year," said Mark Rozewski, vice president for Business Affairs. "It's an extensive, and very intentional, design with a deep knowledge of horticulture."

A fountain will replace the circular landscaped area between the University Center and Rice Library and will overflow into a stream, which will pool in front of the Liberal Arts Center.

An inverted natural amphitheatre will provide seating in front of Rice Library, with stairs leading up to the terrace. Trees planted on either side of the seating area will frame the entrance to the library.

A paved labyrinth modeled after New Harmony's Cathedral Labyrinth will be constructed in front of the Liberal Arts Center. "The concept was that we wanted a living reference on campus to our relationship with New Harmony," Rozewski said.

Rozewski said the quadrangle project is part of the University's overall goal of building community. "We want to create a campus that is much more than a place you take a class, but a place you love to be, and this is another part of that effort."

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Would you, should you use information from social networking Web sites to screen applicants?

By Dr. Joy V. Peluchette and Dr. Katherine Karl
taken from Evansville Business Journal, February 2007

"Would you, should you use information from social networking Web sites to screen applicants?" is an article in the Evansville Business Journal, February 2007 by Dr. Joy V. Peluchette, a professor of management in College of Business at the University of Southern Indiana, and Dr. Katherine Karl, a professor of management at Marshall University. Read the entire article...  (Go to EBJ.biz)

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Lilly Endowment Summer 2007 Research Fellowships

The recipients of the Lilly Endowment Summer 2007 Research Fellowships were announced at the Spring 2007 Faculty and Administrative Staff Meeting.  Those recipients from the College of Business are Dr. Katherine Sauer, assistant professor of economics, and Dr. Khaled Elkhal, assistant professor of finance.

 

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Students perfect sales skills in the Coslett Sales Lab

Dr. Beth Mott-Stenerson, right, assistant professor of marketing, tells June and Joe Coslett how students use the new Joe Coslett Family Sales Management Development Laboratory.

Students interested in careers in sales prepared video portfolios during fall semester using state-of-the-art technology in the new Joe Coslett Family Sales Management Development Laboratory. The portfolios will introduce students to potential employers and showcase their sales skills.

Lab technology enables students to hone their professional skills as they video-tape and play back presentations and demonstrations.

Completed in the Orr Center summer 2006, the lab was made possible by a generous gift from retired Evansville businessman Joe Coslett, whose innovative career in sales spanned more than 40 years. When Coslett toured the lab in September, faculty and students video-taped a conversation with him about his  distinguished career. He recalled that he began taping commercials as spokesman for his furniture business in 1973.

Coslett was impressed with the technological capabilities of the lab, saying that experience and practice in the facility would provide the equivalent of several years of sales experience and be a serious advantage for USI students.

Lab equipment includes three digital video cameras, wireless and wired microphones including a boom microphone, a professional-quality studio lighting system, a high-quality video and audio switching system, an intercom system for communication between the control room and studio, DVD recording equipment, three multimedia computers that act as non-linear video editing systems, and advanced editing software that allows students to create professionally crafted video projects.

Students can create video recordings that can be stored on DVDs, videotapes, or video clips that can be streamed over the Internet. These recordings may include graphics and video effects comparable to those used on network television. Installation of three multimedia computers allows two students to polish, edit, and refine their creations while another records new material. This design minimizes downtime and still creates an atmosphere where students are encouraged and able to do their best work. The video and audio can be piped into the adjacent lecture space so a classroom of students may observe and provide critical feedback to students working in the studio.