Fall 2013 Executive Magazine
Content
culverhouse is
on a mission
The bar is being raised.
Page 2
T H E
C U L V E R H O U S E
NCAA BRAcket
c o m m u n i t y o u t r e ac h
Professors offer scheduling advice.
Accounting students mix learning
with service.
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C O L L E G E
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O F
C O M M E R C E
E X ECUT I V E
M A G A Z I N E
fall 20 1 2 – win ter 2 0 1 3
Volume 17 • Issue 1
contents
fa l l 2012–wi nter 2013
Volume 17 • Issue 1
http://www.cba.ua.edu
http://www.facebook.com/uabusiness
http://www.twitter.com/culverhouse
D ean
J. Michael Hardin
Ed i tor
William R. “Bill” Gerdes
Gr aph i c D esi gn
2
Culverhouse is on a Mission
The bar is being raised.
10
A cc o u n t i n g S t an d ar d s
London class provides insight.
12
B u s i n e s s A na l y t i c s
Red Square Agency
+
Sam Lober
Office of Design and Production
The University of Alabama
Program marks 10 years of success.
Co n tr i b u ti ng Wr i ter s
Bill Gerdes
Amanda Sams
Kyle Fondren
Charlotte Voss
Contr i b u ti ng
Ph otogr aph er s
Jeff Hanson
Bryan Hester
Zack Riggins
O f f ice o f D evelopm ent, Alu m ni
a n d Co r por ate Rel ati ons
Charlie A dair, Lindsey Blumenthal,
Kathy deShazo, Kyle Fondren,
Bill Gerdes, Ashley Gorman,
Diane Harrison, Amy Henderson,
April Robinson
Culverhouse College of Commerce
Box 870223
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0223
Comments, suggestions,questions:
205-348-8318
[email protected]
The University of Alabama is an equal-opportunity
educational institution/employer.
MC8357
15
16
Alumni News
N C A A B rac k e t
Professors offer scheduling advice.
2 0 G o o d J o b
MBAA honored for tornado-relief efforts.
C o l l e g e Sa v i n g s T i p s
22
Gary Hoover offers insight.
F ar - R e ac h i n g
24
28
31
Culverhouse spins wide web of business-school leadership.
C o m m u n i t y O u t r e ac h
Accounting students mix learning with service.
A cr e
New advisory board member, officers announced.
3 2 H i g h - F i v e
UA prepares champions on and off the field.
B u s i n e s s Ha l l o f F a m e
36
4 0 Pr i v ac y On l i n e
42
Five are 39th class of inductees.
How much will consumers divulge?
F ac u l t y Ha l l o f F a m e
Sterling, Misiolek and Barron are new inductees.
4 4 In s u ranc e Da y 2 0 1 2
Motivational speaker headlines event.
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C U L V E R H O U S E
Culverhouse is on
a mission
t h e bar i s b e i n g ra i s e d , an d d e an H A R DI N ’ s
c u l v e r h o US e i s b e c o m i n g a f o r m i d ab l e f o r C e i n
2 1 s t c e n t u r y b u s i n e s s e d u ca t i o n
BY Kyle Fondren
or years, business schools have produced a workforce for the existing
landscape, but the mentality of “today” is no longer sufficient. Graduates
must be prepared to succeed in a world where business is moving faster than
ever before, and the foundation of relevance shifts forward every day.
To compete with other top-tier schools, Culverhouse must be in the business
of tomorrow.
When Dr. Michael Hardin was appointed dean at Culverhouse in August
2011, he found himself facing the same problem that CEOs all over the
world are dealing with: an aging, inefficient website structure; a dated
brand identity; and the advent of mobile devices as a powerful force in
brand discovery and Web standards.
“We found ourselves at a fork in the road that presented us with the
options of, for lack of a better term, duct taping new technologies
and branding on the old website or having the courage to start from
scratch and embrace the new Web and a new identity,” Hardin said.
“It takes a lot of courage to make that call.”
Hardin’s five-year goal for the College hinges on bringing
Culverhouse into the top 25 public business schools in the nation.
After an in-depth study by Dr. Bruce Barrett, professor of statistics
at Culverhouse, it was determined that the College’s weakest
areas in ranking criteria were in the more subjective areas of
recruiter perception, peer perception and visibility. To begin to
address the misconception, the College needed a new, bold way
of presenting to the world its culture of innovation, relevance and
rigor in its curriculum and programs.
“We needed an identity that mirrored our principles here at
Culverhouse. It must be true to our tradition, tasteful, elegant,
iconic and, at the same time, deliver that message in a way that
speaks to the 21st century,” Hardin said.
In early December, the College got in
touch with Red Square Agency, a Mobile,
Ala.-based creative and advertising firm
led by UA alumnus Rich Sullivan Jr., to begin
preliminary work on redesigning the College
website and branding.
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C U L V E R H O U S E
“We’ve worked with Culverhouse for
sort of rogue materials that don’t support
brevity in content, calls-to-action and
many years, so I’m familiar with the
our
smaller site footprints have been shown
College,” Sullivan said. “It’s world-
attended to the most minute details.”
strategy
and
guidelines.
We’ve
to increase the value a user receives
from an experience with just about
class, and I feel very fortunate to work
In order to define a digital-age brand,
with Dean Hardin. My first impression
Hardin, Red Square and the Culverhouse
is that he is very, very intelligent. He’s
media team had to make sure that the
The project allowed the Culverhouse
a rocket scientist, right? But what’s
new website reflected and championed
site map to shrink from over 1,600
unexpected is how approachable he is.
the new direction in design, function
individual pages to 52.
He’s easy and fun to speak with because
and structure. The first challenge was
he possesses an innate curiosity that
evaluating the information architecture
page
makes him interested and conversant
of the previous site and determining
launched a state-of-the-art mobile site
in just about anything. And he’s got
where to start cutting pages and making
that mimics an “app experience” for
a defined vision for the future of
navigation more efficient.
phone and tablet Web browsers. Users
Culverhouse.
any website.
In addition to the streamlined home
and
navigation,
the
College
The old website structure was built
on mobile devices will find an even
“Our initiative seeks first to clearly
in a very Web 1.0 manner, when the
further simplified site structure offering
articulate Dean Hardin’s vision, then
general consensus on Web design and
easy access to news, events and faculty
state a single-minded creative strategy
content management was to put every-
profiles with tap-to-call and tap-to-
based
email functionality.
Sullivan
thing out there and let the user have a
said. “The design and executions are
upon
this
vision,”
vast landscape to explore. But today,
governed such that we will avoid any
the Web is moving in a direction where
Focusing on the architecture of Bidgood,
a graphic interpretation of the building’s
facade becomes the cornerstone of the
brand. The typographic treatment conveys
sophistication by combining a classic serif
typeface with a contemporary sans serif.
The theme of simplicity is also at the
core of the overall branding strategy.
Hardin’s five-year goal for the college hinges
on bringing Culverhouse into the top 25 public
business schools in the nation.
1. If you truly want to be serious about the
future, you build an optimized version of
your website for mobile devices. And that’s
certainly the case here, with streamlined
access to Culverhouse information.
2. More and more, students and business
executives are getting their news through
mobile devices, so it was crucial that
this was featured on the Culverhouse
mobile site.
3. Faculty members are all about connecting, both to students and the business
world. There is no more effective and immediate method than through mobile; calling
and emailing are a single touch away.
In order to define a digital-age brand, Hardin, Red Square and the Culverhouse media team had to make sure that the new website reflected
and championed the new direction in design, function and structure.
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C U L V E R H O U S E
1
3
3
2
1
4
2
The Culverhouse website epitomizes what it means to be in the business of tomorrow — streamlined, fluid and intuitive with a
modern look. Call it a hub, a dashboard or a command center — the new home page gives users quick reads and simple access to
the core information on the site: (1) Recent news, (2) Upcoming events, (3) Department overviews.
Business news just evolved to an entirely new level. Users can collectively share articles right on the site, creating a potent news
source for everyone involved: (1) News categories, (2) Article archive, (3) News RSS feed, (4) Quick glance at articles.
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C U L V E R H O U S E
“Simplicity is the result of thoughtful
a visual navigation cue to academic
Rankings and image are important
reduction,” Sullivan said. “It is not easy
content and a reminder of what section
parts of Hardin’s strategy, but the
deciding what stays and what goes. My
of the site a user is in. On campus,
heart of the effort lies in providing the
biggest role in all of the design was
students can be seen donning T-shirts
best possible education and placement
pushing our teams to continually take
with their academic glyphs, and each
opportunities
away the unnecessary in the hopes of
professor’s
Alabama’s students.
arriving at design and architecture that
indicates their specialty.
door
nameplate
now
“The
for
branding
The
and
University
of
website
fit
is simple, beautiful and intuitive. For
The glyphs, in concert with the new
together as a system. Having these
example, on the logo itself, we started
logo, are designed to produce a powerful
new methods will help to improve our
with the old mark and its very literal icon
iconography that can be easily identified
rankings, attract new employers to
of Bidgood Hall. Our firm designed this
as Culverhouse.
begin relationships with us, and help
several years ago. We decided to stick
“The College has a solid foundation
our students get better jobs and be
with Bidgood as the icon for the logo, but
and a tremendous history. Now, with
more satisfied with their experiences
pared it way, way back. This left a mark
Dean Hardin guiding the school, I think
here. This feeds back into our rankings
that is equally modern and traditional.
we’re going to compete consistently at a
and attracts competitive students to
That’s thoughtful reduction.”
higher level. There exists a mission and
consider The University of Alabama.
Another example of the simple,
a sense of urgency about it. In five years,
It all works together to improve every
forward-thinking Web and branding
Culverhouse will be in the national
aspect of what we do,” Hardin said.
practices is the set of glyphs designed
conversation regularly, an established
The bar is being raised, and the
for academic departments to identify
educational thought leader and ranked
Culverhouse College of Commerce is
themselves within the brand style.
appropriately,” Sullivan said.
becoming a formidable force in 21st
On the website, the glyphs serve as
century business education.
Rankings and image are important parts of Hardin’s strategy, but the heart of the
effort lies in providing the best possible education and pl acement opportunities
for THE Universit y of Al abama’s students.
A system of hieroglyphics gives each degree program within Culverhouse
its own identity. The illustration style of these symbols is in keeping with
the overall design of the Culverhouse logo, and each one visually represents
aspects of its corresponding program.
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C U L V E R H O U S E
Accounting Standards
“London is the center of international
“The students were great,” Lopez
“As an accounting student it was
financial standards reporting activity,”
said. “They acted respectfully and took
interesting to actually discuss the GAAP
Lopez said. More than 120 nations
the trip and the coursework seriously.
versus IFRS topic with the head of the
and reporting jurisdictions require or
They were active and asked a lot of
IASB, as opposed to simply reading
allow the use of International Financial
questions. I was really pleased with the
through the textbook. Dr. Lopez kept us
Reporting Standards for preparation
way things turned out.” Eight of the 10
busy with sightseeing and class, and I
of financial statements. IFRS is a set
students were undergraduates and two
can honestly say I got more out of a week
The “Bi g Four” acco unt ing f irm s — Pric e wat e rho us e Co o p e r s,
of international accounting standards
were graduate students, including one
of class and class discussions than I
Deloi tt e & Touche, KPMG, a nd E rns t & Yo ung — can t rac e t he i r o r i g i n s
stating
Troy University graduate student.
expected,” Derzis said.
London class provides insight
back to London, a fact not lo s t o n Dr. T ho m as Lo p e z, p r o f e s s o r o f
acco u n t i n g , w h o r e c e n t ly l e d a 10- s t u d e n t g r o u p to Lo n d o n fo r
a n I n t e r n at i o n a l Acco u n t i n g P o l i c i e s a n d P r o c e d u r e s c l a s s .
how
particular
types
of
transactions and other events should be
The trip lasted 15 days, 10 of which
“Of course, touring the Guinness and
reported in financial statements. IFRS is
were spent on class or coursework. Five
Jamison factories had its benefits, as well,
issued by the International Accounting
days were spent in London where the
but examining differences in IFRS and
Standards Board.
students visited with KPMG executives
GAAP proved more interesting than I had
“The purpose of the trip was to familiarize
and visited the International Accounting
expected, and Dr. Lopez made it all the
accounting students with these topics so
Standards Board. They also attended
more worthwhile. I had a great time with
they are better prepared to participate in
classes at the University College Dublin
the group that came along and have made
a global business environment,” Lopez
to gain perspective on issues discussed
new friends with several future classmates.
said. The course included discussions of
in class and how those issues relate to
the complications that arise for investors,
accounting in the United States.
preparers, auditors and users of financial
statements
because
of
variations
accounting rules around the world.
in
Accounting student Will Derzis said
he enjoyed the trip for several reasons.
1 2
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C U L V E R H O U S E
Business Analy tics
Pr o g ra m m ar k s 1 0 y e ar s o f s u cc e s s
the largest independent vendor in the
spent one year in the graduate program
said, verifying reports of the number of
business-intelligence market. The SAS
learning specialized training to use
graduates hired by Birmingham banks.
global-academic
what I had been learning the previous
His teammate is also a UA graduate with
two years,” she said, “and I probably
SAS certification. An appreciation of his
doubled my earning potential.”
post-graduate experience is evident as
teaching,
B y C h ar l o t t e V o s s
program
learning
and
supports
research
in
higher education, making it the perfect
partner to help Culverhouse graduates
successfully compete in the job market
“There are not many universities offering simil ar
programs today and if they do, the curriculum and
facult y have not been in pl ace long.”
that covets students with advanced
analytical skills.
Hardin credits some of the College’s
success in business-analytics to Jerry
Oglesby, senior director of Global
Academic
P ro g r a m s
and
— Mike Rowell
Vice President of Corporate Development, Alfa Insurance Co.
Global
Certification at SAS. Hardin and Oglesby
worked together to develop a program
to provide colleges with software that
Business analysts, such as Lambert,
he talks about his education. “You can
SAS uses for corporate training. SAS
collect and analyze data and communicate
do a program anywhere, but it’s the
allowed Hardin and his staff to adapt the
the information to assist management in
people, not the program, that makes it
popular tool for academic use.
making educated business decisions that
great,” he said. “Those people are your
a
can give the organization a competitive
friends for life, and if you have a need,
master’s degree in applied economics
advantage. According to the U.S. Bureau
you go to them and they come to you;
in 2005. As Hardin predicted, graduates
of
you form a relationship.”
who
Erin
Green
have
Lambert
analytics
received
and
Labor
Statistics,
employment
of
business
business analysts is expected to grow 41
degrees are in high demand. Lambert
percent through 2020, much faster than
Corporate Development at Alfa Insurance
is proof: BBVA Compass agreed to
the average for all other occupations.
Co.,
hold a position for her while she
Job prospects are even better for those
analytics team within the organization.
completed a four-month internship in
with master’s degrees.
The team’s assignment was to transition
Mike
Rowell,
was
tasked
vice
with
president
building
of
an
Washington, D.C. Business analytics
After earning an engineering degree in
the organization to an analytics-based
was sort of an unknown at that time,
India, Biju Abraham worked in his native
business. He needed staff with specific
but the bank created a new department
country. When he started his search for
business
intelligence
for Lambert and another Culverhouse
a graduate program, he was looking for
training.
The
business-analytics graduate. Quickly,
one that met specific criteria.
intelligence program was a natural place
management realized the value of its
new staff.
“I was adamant about getting a good
financial assistantship and one that
and
University’s
analytics
business-
to look for new team members.
“The University has a niche program
retail-business owner needed to
analytics training and SAS certificates.
the workforce with business-analytical
“Everybody started coming to us for
gave me a solid working experience
with
increase sales, but he didn’t know
And the market is asking for more
skills. He also wanted graduates to be
everything because they realized we can
while I was in the program,” Abraham
analytics, a growing area in business
graduates with the same training.
leaders in the same arena.
how to attract more customers. A friend
b u s in e ss
in te l l ig e n ce
and
do anything they wanted,” Lambert said.
said. “That is how I selected Alabama;
today,” Rowell said. “There are not many
with a noncompeting, successful business
“That’s why I’m so proud of what
Having dealt with large data files,
“We’ve gone from being specialized
no other school offered that good of
universities offering similar programs
shared his secret: He hired a University of
we’re doing here,” said Dean J. Michael
Hardin was impressed with SAS, a
to being a one-stop shop for getting
an experience.” Graduating with an
today and if they do, the curriculum
Alabama business-school graduate who
Hardin. “We were the first business
worldwide
information on anything you need.”
MBA in business intelligence, Abraham
and faculty have not been in place long.
understood business analytics.
school to offer this kind of program, and
offers the ability and speed to process
Lambert knows the graduate program
is a senior analyst at Regions Bank, a
Having a business-intelligence program
we are meeting a worldwide demand.”
large amounts of data. He became
prepared her for immediate success. “I
company that he said has “done a great
for almost a decade and a strategic
job recruiting at the University.”
partnership with SAS is instrumental to
During the last decade, 247 graduates
software
company
that
have left the Culverhouse College of
When Hardin joined the UA faculty
the first SAS alliance partner in the
Commerce and Business Administration
in 2001, he saw the need for graduate
state of Alabama. SAS is a leader in
“During the Iron Bowl season, this
with
students who could immediately enter
business-analytics software and is now
building is filled with Alabama fans,” he
master’s
degrees,
business-
UA’s success.”
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C U L V E R H O U S E
Rowell hired Jason Thompson as the
director of analytics at Alfa. Thompson
is a UA graduate with an MBA/business
projects using graduate students in real-
airline traffic, car rentals and visitors
time business situations.
expected during the 2012 Olympics
The first corporate project occurred 10
in London. The students’ experience
was
years ago when an aluminum processing
is the result of the partnering of the
instrumental in hiring the additional
plant in Muscle Shoals, Ala., needed to
College/SAS Global Academic Program.
team members in the group. Thompson
improve quality control. Faculty and
McManus also taught SAS Enterprise
speaks from experience when he said
students studied the manufacturing
Guide at University College Dublin.
that he knows the value of graduating
process and data to develop a model
with an SAS certification. Of the five
that allowed the company to predict
Business
members on Alfa’s analytics team,
when the product may be defective.
brings corporate executives to campus
intelligence
concentration.
He
Gillespy named president
of Duke Energy’s South
Carolina Region
Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham,
general counsel for the Southern Co.
Ala.; a diploma in advanced international
operations and Southern Nuclear. She
legal studies from the McGeorge School of
was formerly vice president of charitable
Law in Salzburg, Austria; and a master’s
giving for Alabama Power and president
corporations
Clark Gillespy, a 1984 graduate of the
degree from European University in
of the Alabama Power Foundation.
represented at this symposium are
Culverhouse College of Commerce, has
Brussels, Belgium.
the most important players in the
been named president of Duke Energy’s
world in business analytics,” Hardin
South Carolina service region.
Each year, the institute sponsors the
Analytics
Symposium
that
three are graduates of UA’s business-
to discuss analytics and models in the
intelligence
business
or
applied-economics
programs. “Graduates of the program
come
in
with
SAS
and
predictive
modeling skills and are ready to work,”
Thompson said. “They are valuable from
day one.”
“Now everyone is jumping
on the business-analy tics
bandwagon. but UA has been
doing this for 10 years.”
Prior to joining the College faculty, Dr.
— Dr. Denise McManus
Denise McManus worked with Fortune
Director, Institute of Business Analytics
100 companies, including IBM, Boeing
and Motorola. Sharing her knowledge
of
telecommunications,
project
evaluation,
crisis
capitalrecovery
The experience gave the students
valuable experience before graduation.
world.
“The
Developers
Southern Co., including serving as an
Association, South Carolina Economic
attorney in the company’s Washington,
Utility
D.C., office. She has held leadership roles
Association,
in governmental affairs, environmental
Carolina
responsible
for
Economic
representing the company in its rate
Developers
and
Economic
of Homeland Security, AutoGov, PQC
managing state and local regulatory
and serves as a board member for New
affairs,
International, Alfa and State Farm.
and government relations, economic
Carolina and the North Carolina Military
development, generation, compliance,
The symposium also gives students an
development and community affairs.
Foundation. He is a member of the state
information technology and real estate.
opportunity to meet business leaders,
Previously, he served as vice president
bar associations of Alabama, Georgia
participate in job interviews and inquire
of
and the District of Columbia.
about internships.
development and territorial strategies
study a real problem and provide a real
McManus is proud of the College’s
academic career. Her experience helps
solution,” said Hardin, who participated
leadership role in business analytics.
her understand corporate executives’
in the project. “They could see how
“Now
complaints about the communication
the theory learned in the classroom
business-analytics
gap
technical
be
various positions at Alabama Power and
BBVA Compass, the U.S. Department
students was an easy transition to an
hard-core
will
During her career, Perry has held
Gillespy is a member of the North
included leaders from Sam’s Club, SAS,
“Our students had the opportunity to
between
Gillespy
said. The 2012 symposium speakers
and knowledge management with UA
employees and other staff. The business-
alumni news
regulatory
economic
initiatives
development,
and
for
business
for Duke Energy in North Carolina and
South Carolina.
Association
Development
and
Lufkin named managing
director at Morgan Joseph
TriArtisan
economic
and
community
Ginn named a partner at
Baker Tilly Virchow Krause
Kimberly Ginn has been named one of
the
In addition, Gillespy has been selected
bandwagon,”
to lead South Carolina when Duke
was applied in the real world and the
McManus said, “but UA has been doing
Energy merges with Progress Energy.
company benefited from the model.”
this for 10 years.”
In South Carolina, Duke Energy serves
Timothy B. Lufkin has been named
LLP. She is located in the Washington,
D.C., office.
everyone
is
jumping
on
12 new partners in the accounting and
advisory firm Baker Tilly Virchow Krause
took
From experience, Lambert sees major
more than 600,000 retail customers and
managing director in Morgan Joseph
College’s initiative of innovation, rigor
business-analytics students to Dublin,
growth in the demand for business
operates $3 billion in assets, including
TriArtisan LLC’s Industrials Investment
Ginn, a CPA, is a member of the Higher
and relevance to provide knowledge and
Ireland,
tools that help graduates communicate
Advanced
analytics
program
implements
the
In
summer
2012,
McManus
their
International
analytics. “It’s endless,” she said. “It
more than 6,818 megawatts of power
Banking Group. Lufkin, who has a 20-
Education and Research Institutions
Business
Analytics
will continue to grow. What I do is not
generation and distribution facilities. In
year career on Wall Street, was most
industry
data and models to other staff members.
course introduced them to analytics
industry-specific. Even though I work
addition, the company has about 6,000
recently a managing director in the
than 12 years of experience helping
McManus is director of the Institute
implemented by leading international
for a bank, I do stuff all day long I can
employees and contractors who live and
Industrials
Sponsors
organizations enhance their business
of Business Analytics. Led by a board of
companies. Students also researched
do anywhere. Graduates of the program
work in the upstate region.
Group at Cowen & Company. He earned
processes, reduce costs, design robust
directors made up of executives from the
complex
business
have
his UA degree in 1989
and
corporate world, the institute sponsors
solutions
used
an annual business-analytics symposium,
analytically
promotes the business-analytics program
history of the euro, British pound and
Charlotte Voss is a freelance writer who
site-selection
at conferences, and manages corporate
U.S. dollar; and analyzed data to predict
lives in Moundville, Ala.
practice of international law in both the
where
by
reviewed
problems
Guinness
the
and
Beer;
unlimited
potential
because
of that.”
five-year
Gillespy joined Duke Energy in 2004
and
Financial
practice.
compliant
has
more
infrastructures,
navigate
experience in economic development,
that affect higher education, research
and
the
United States and Europe.
Gillespy earned a bachelor’s degree
Perry named senior VP,
general counsel for Southern
Co., Southern Nuclear
federal
and
and has more than 25 years of combined
consulting
myriad
She
regulations
institutions and government contractors.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in
finance from The University of Alabama
(1995) and a bachelor’s degree in
in business administration from The
Leigh Davis Perry, a 1994 graduate of the
accounting
University
a
Culverhouse College of Commerce, has
Alabama at Birmingham. She is a
juris doctor from Samford University’s
been named senior vice president and
certified internal auditor.
of
Alabama.
He
holds
from
The
University
of
1 6
1 7
C U L V E R H O U S E
NCAA Bracket
Pr o f e s s o r s o ff e r s c h e d u l i n g a d v i c e
B y A m an d a Sa m s
rofessors Sharif Melouk and Burcu Keskin of the
reimbursing teams for travel expenses, the professors were
Culverhouse College of Commerce are admittedly big
motivated to design a mathematical model that optimizes
college basketball fans, cheering on their favorite teams —
team assignments by minimizing the distances teams must
Oklahoma State University and The University of Alabama,
travel to games and corresponding costs, according to a
respectively — each year, with hopes that they will get to
paper titled “Team assignments and scheduling for the NCAA
see them play and progress in the annual NCAA men’s
basketball tournament,” which they published in 2011.
basketball tournament.
“The goal is to increase tournament accessibility to fans
While March Madness is highly anticipated by countless
as well as lessen the financial impact to the NCAA while
fans each year, only a select few of these fans actually get to
maintaining the integrity of the tournament,” co-authors
see their teams play in the initial matchups of the tournament
Keskin and Melouk wrote in the paper’s introduction. “We
due to the high travel costs and hassle associated with
test our model against actual tournament assignments from
traveling, sometimes hundreds of miles from home, to watch
the past five years. Results show consistent and significant
the games. Also, the NCAA reimburses participating schools
cost savings and reductions in distance travelled without
for travel expenses to and from tournament game sites,
compromising the fairness and structure of the tournament.”
which may be unnecessarily far from a school’s hometown,
according to Melouk and Keskin.
Melouk said that this model presents a “win-win on
both fronts.”
After noticing declining fan attendance at tournament
“When teams play closer to home, there is a reduction in
games and an increasing financial burden on the NCAA in
costs, and more fans can go travel to see them play,” he said.
1 8
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C U L V E R H O U S E
weekend of the tournament, whereas
However, the authors explained that
research
attempted
“Results show that a top four-seeded
the NCAA keeps a very closed book,
previous
to
team would have reduced its travel
and that they are doubtful that the
develop assignments over the entire
distance, on average, by 301 miles (one-
selection committee is even aware of
tournament and took hours to run.
way) to its game site,” the professors
their model yet.
The accompanying graphic shows the
concluded. “The model, over the same
“They don’t necessarily use a formal
assignment of the top 16 teams in the
five-year period, would have produced
model to determine where teams go,”
2010 NCAA tournament in terms of
an average savings of 36,773 miles.”
Melouk said. “They do a pretty good
actual assignment by the NCAA and
job, but we think they could do better.
assignment through use of the model.
“Inspection of Table 6 reveals that
The idea is that we can still maintain
the integrity of the tournament and get
the
teams closer to their home sites.”
the assignment (in terms of distance
model
maintains
or
improves
Keskin and Melouk used the table
to demonstrate that both lower and
higher seeded teams can be placed
closer to home while still maintaining
tournament integrity.
In 2012, the model suggests that
travelled) for 12 of the top 16 teams,”
“Overall, this accomplishes the goals
about 35,000 miles, or about 30 percent
according to the paper. “More importantly,
of making the tournament more fan-
of round-trip miles, could be saved by
we observe that the top eight tournament
friendly and lessening the financial
moving a few teams from one bracket
teams (i.e. the top two seeds in each
burden of the NCAA,” they said.
to another, with a reduction in costs of
region) maintain or improve their actual
about 20 percent, according to an ESPN
game site assignment.”
article on Keskin and Melouk’s research
that was published in March.
When
designing
the
optimization
model, the professors said they wanted
to
fan
said. “For example, teams from the
savings of 2,000 miles whereas the fan
attendance but were not willing to do
reduce
costs
and
increase
same conference can’t play each other in
base model assigns Louisville to Nashville
so by compromising the “integrity of
early games, and rematches of previous
for a distance savings of more than 4,200
Seed Game sites
Distance
Team Actual Model Actual Model Difference
the tournament.” As Melouk said in an
years’ tournament games should be
miles. Having a larger fan base helps
interview, following this model will still
avoided in the second and third rounds.”
Louisville’s placement in the tournament.”
1
Duke
Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville, FL
480
480
0
While abiding by NCAA tournament
While previous research has been
1
Kansas
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City, OK
317
317
0
rules, Keskin and Melouk’s model has
performed in the past to attempt to
1
Kentucky
New Orleans, LA
Milwaukee, WI
744
468
276
1
Syracuse
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo, NY
150
150
0
create a fair tournament, just a different
fair tournament.
“The selection committee creates
proven to provide considerable savings in
reduce
a seed list (1-68) used to assess
distance travelled over the actual NCAA
attendance in March Madness, Keskin
Kansas State
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City, OK
316
316
0
travel
costs
and
maximize
teams
assignments in the 2010, 2011 and 2012
and Melouk’s model is unique in that the
2
across the four regions of this national
tournaments across all three models:
algorithm runs fast enough to produce
2
Ohio State
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee, WI
458
458
0
results in approximately one second.
2
Villanova
Providence, RI
Providence, RI
284
284
0
“It accounts for the uncertainty on
2
West Virginia
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo, NY
285
285
0
competitive
balance
of
top
championship,” according to Selection
a weighted model, which accounts for
101, an NCAA website that breaks down
NCAA
preferential
consideration
in
the complex bracketology. “The seed list
placing higher seed teams closer to
Selection Sunday of who will actually
reflects the order in which teams are
home; an unweighted model; and a
make it to the tournament,” Melouk said.
3
Baylor
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans, LA
531
531
0
Georgetown
Providence, RI
Jacksonville, FL
405
712
−307
placed in the bracket. The committee
weighted model that also takes projected
“Essentially you can have all of these
3
must achieve competitive balance in
fan base into consideration.
contingency plans and run them all with
3
New Mexico
San Jose, CA
San Jose, CA
1047
1047
0
the model, receiving results within a few
3
Pittsburgh
Milwaukee, WI
Spokane, WA
553
2247
−1695
each region of the bracket.”
Keskin
explains
that
“The fan base estimates impact the
this
would
assignments,”
the
professors
wrote.
remain unchanged when using their
“For instance, Louisville was assigned to
optimization model.
Portland in the actual [2012] tournament.
seconds. This is very important.”
Keskin explained that the results
can
process
faster
because
their
4
Maryland
Spokane, WA
Providence, RI
2485
400
2085
4
Purdue
Spokane, WA
San Jose, CA
1909
2262
−354
Vanderbilt
San Jose, CA
New Orleans, LA
2266
532
1734
Wisconsin
Jacksonville, FL
Spokane, WA
1215
1648
−432
“Some considerations are actually
The preferential seed model assigns
model
of
4
established by the tournament,” she
Louisville to Albuquerque for a distance
team placement during only the first
4
focuses
on
optimization
This table reveals that the
model maintains or improves
the assignment (in terms of
distance travelled) for 12 of
the top 16 teams.
2 0
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C U L V E R H O U S E
Good Job
M B A A h o n o r e d f o r t o rna d o - r e l i e f e ff o r t s
CVS also presented Project Blessings
have been in the workforce for five or
and I think this is a perfect example of
with a check for $3,000 from its
more years may not be as motivated to
what can happen when we put some of
B y A m an d a Sa m s
corporate office in Rhode Island. Money
go out and volunteer.”
those skills to use.”
came pouring in from other places as
“This
project
absolutely
exceeded
Additionally, Ganey said that her project-
Members of The University of Alabama
well to aid the relief efforts, LSU’s MBA
my expectations,” said Zach Tanner,
management
Master
of
Business
and
business-strategy
Administration
program hosted a car wash to help
community service coordinator for MBAA.
classes helped prepare her to manage and
Association student chapter mobilized
Tuscaloosa recover and sent Ganey a
“I remember near the end of the day
organize such a large group of volunteers.
to raise $7,000 for long-term-tornado
check for nearly $400 to donate to the
when we partnered with CVS, I stepped
“It just speaks to our character as
relief in the aftermath of the devastating
relief efforts. The UA MBAA members
back and looked around at the sheer
business students,” she said. “We put
storms that pummeled Tuscaloosa in
unanimously decided to donate $1,000,
number of people we had working on
into use everything they have taught us
2011 and won the Community Service
which they had previously allocated for
that house. There were MBA students,
about social responsibility, ethics and
Project of the Year award for their efforts.
a graduation party to be held the night
CVS employees and volunteers from
character building. It felt really good
that
after the tornado, to the American Red
the local service organization Project
to help out and know that we made an
MBAA donated to local charities was
Cross. Finally, MBAA donated $4,000, its
Blessings everywhere, all working on
impact on the community.”
The
grand
total
of
$7,000
a culmination of one major service
project and several smaller fundraising
efforts, all sponsored within six months
vice president, Thomas Ganey, was
“We put into use every thing they have taught us
about social responsibilit y, ethics and character
building. It felt really good to help out and know
that we made an impact on the communit y.”
interning at CVS Pharmacy in Rhode
— Elizabe th Gane y
of the time that the natural disaster
struck. The first project, which students
referred to as Teaming Together for a
Good Cause, was inspired while MBAA’s
Island during the summer of 2011.
“One day an executive at CVS asked
Thomas how they could help with the
entire profit from its annual charity golf
something different. It was amazing the
cleanup efforts,” said Elizabeth Ganey,
tournament, to Project Blessings for
transformation after just that one day
MBAA president. “They offered to give
tornado relief instead of funding student
of working on that house. New cabinets
us $3,000 to sponsor a cleanup project.
Georgia’s MBA program to clean up
student volunteers for an even bigger
scholarships. Ganey said it is incredible
were on the wall, the entire house and
Meanwhile, the University of Georgia’s
debris under Project TeamUp.
project: to remodel four different houses
that so many students came to help out
the shed outside had a fresh coat of paint,
across Tuscaloosa under Project Blessings.
just because they wanted to give back
and walls that had been destroyed had
and serve the community.
been patched and replaced. It was almost
MBA program reached out to me to see
“It wasn’t the most glamorous work
what they could do to help Tuscaloosa.
to be in the sun moving tree branches
“One family was present during some
Thomas and I put our heads together
to the side of the road, but we all felt so
of the remodeling, and the looks on their
“Our
program
along with our community services
accomplished when we looked back at the
faces was worth all the blood, sweat, and
students
can
coordinator, Zach Tanner, and started
end of the day into an empty field,” Ganey
tears we put in that day,” Ganey wrote on
undergrad, while many MBA programs
Ganey and Tanner said that their
planning a weekend full of volunteering
wrote on the project description form
the nomination form. “The family whose
require members to have at least five
education in the UA business school
and teamwork.”
used to nominate MBAA for the service
house we put the most work into is one
years of work experience to be eligible
prepared them well when undertaking
tor n ad oes
project award. “Houses will be rebuilt on
of only four houses left standing by
to join,” Ganey said. “I think this was an
these major service projects.
Tu s caloos a ,
those sites, and it felt so amazing to be a
what used to be Hobby Lobby. Knowing
advantage in the tornado-relief efforts.
part of someone’s dreams.”
Fo ur
mo nt hs
demo lis h e d
much
af ter
of
more than 110 MBA students from the
is
join
unique
straight
in
out
that
of
surreal to think that was the same house
we set to work on that same morning.”
“First of all, this wouldn’t have
what used to be there and knowing that
Many
Culverhouse College of Commerce and
CVS employees from local stores, as
we were again a part of something so
straight out of sororities and fraternities
reaching out to the management at
Business Administration joined forces
well as those from the distribution center
amazing was such a great experience
where they are used to volunteering all
CVS to get the ball rolling on this
with students from the University of
in Bessemer, Ala., joined more than 180
for all of us.”
of the time. They then look to get really
project,” Tanner said. “Our program
involved in MBAA, whereas people who
puts a lot of emphasis on networking,
of
our
students
are
coming
happened
without
Thomas
Ganey
2 2
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C U L V E R H O U S E
College Savings Tips
“A 529 pl an offers parents great
advantages in that they can be
used nationwide. In fact, you need not
be in the state you invest your funds in
and send your child to school at
an entirely different state.”
Gar y H o o v e r o ff e r s i n s i g h t
On e of the bi g personal financ e top i cs of t h e la st
y e a r h as be en the skyroc keting co st of h i gh e r
e d ucati on. It’s a big top ic beca use we’r e ta lk i ng
en o r m ou s s u ms of money. Student s a r e gr a duat i ng
w i t h an abs urd level of student loa n de bt, ve r y
l i ttle i n s av i ngs, and w ith the re ce nt fa i lur e of a
m otion to e xtend low c ost loans, co st s a r e p r ob a b ly
n ot c om i ng bac k dow n anytime soo n.
We reached out to some experts to
Q: Once a child gets accepted into
active
try to gain greater insight into these
college, the thought of paying for it
academic scholarships are available,
issues. We spoke with Dr. Gary Hoover,
can be frightening. What can parents
there is no reason that the decision
Professor of Economics and Assistant
do beforehand to help their chances at
of administrators should be an easy
Dean of Faculty and Graduate Student
getting financial assistance?
one.
Development, Ph.D. at The University
high
By
school
getting
student.
good
When
grades
and
being actively engaged in high school
of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of
A: Parents should be willing and able to
activities, students make themselves
Commerce. He’s the William White
wade through a mountain of paperwork.
more
McDonald Family Distinguished Faculty
In the end, it might not help but has
scholarships. If there are more students
Fellow and has published papers in
to
of
than money, good. Make administrators
Q: A g re e o r d i s a g re e : 5 2 9 c o l l e g e
a result, parents need to do their
Q : B a c h e l o r ’s d e g r e e s a r e q u i c k l y
the American Economic Review P&P,
funds are available until the source is
do their jobs. However, if grades are set
s a v i n g s p l a n s a re t h e w a y t o g o .
homework and investigate their plan.
becoming a baseline necessity and not
Southern
Public
extinguished. In which case, it is best
and no scholarships are coming, savings
Choice, Journal of Economic Literature,
to get all necessary forms in early.
habits (which will last a life-time) can be
A: I mostly agree but not entirely. A 529
Q: Are parents eligible for any college-
graduate education costs into their
International Tax and Public Finance,
These will definitely include income
set by contributing monies from after-
plan offers parents great advantages
savings tax deductions?
savings plan?
Applied Economics, and the European
statements. Making direct contact with
school or summer jobs.
in that they can be used nationwide. In
Journal
We
personnel in the financial aid office is
fact, you need not be in the state you
A: There actually are. The details are
A: No. Good performance in undergraduate
reached out to him to get a better idea
always a good idea. You cannot address
invest your funds in and send your child
complicated to explain but the tax
learning can help to defray costs of
of what parents can do to help their kids
an issue that you are not aware of and
benefits vary if the funds are kept in
advanced degrees. By helping to pay for
save for college.
who better to know the ins and outs of
“By getting good grades
to school at an entirely different state.
and being actively
Given that these plans are typically
certain Education Savings Bonds or
an undergraduate degree, parents have
either something like an IRA or 401k
the various state 529 plans. Special
allowed their children time to concentrate
engaged in high school
(which can go up or down in value) or a
attention should be paid to maximum
and hopefully receive grades that will
activities, students
prepaid plan, I would probably think the
contribution limits which allow initial
allow them to receive advanced degrees at
make themselves more
latter is a better option than the former.
contributions to be larger. In addition,
reduced or no costs.
However, my hesitancy to fully endorse
parents should be aware that funds for
attractive for partial or
these plans is because all plans are not
only “qualified” education expenses can
Article printed from Bargaineering :
full schol arships.”
created equally. Some are well managed
be withdrawn without paying taxes but
http://www.bargaineering.com/articles
while others are facing difficulty. As
that varies also.
Economic
of
Political
Journal,
Economy.
be
attempted.
Certain
types
financial aid better than people working
in the area?
Q: How best can a prospective student
contribute to their college savings plan?
A: The best thing that a student can
do to help with college costs is to get
good grades and be an engaged and
attractive
for
partial
or
full
a perk; should parents include post-
Culverhouse spins wide web
of business-school leadership
By Amanda Sams
endowed chair holder and then as an
Howard had the skill set to make a huge
administrator during his time there. At
difference in the development of the
Culverhouse provides a strong foundation
FGCU, Finch also served as a department
college of business at FGCU,” Weeks said
for business academics.
head, an associate dean and an acting
of his decision to recruit Finch to join the
“Without question, I feel that I received
dean and also helped in all aspects of
FGCU faculty. “We needed someone who
an outstanding foundational knowledge
the design, construction and funding of a
could mentor junior faculty, do a great
base in finance and economics at UA,”
new business-school building.
job in the classroom, be a productive
he said. “The faculty stressed a clear
Fin ch
a g re e d
with
We e ks
th a t
Th e Cu lv e rhouse Co llege of Co mm e r ce
“First of all, (former) Dean Barry Mason provided a
“His leaving was a huge loss for FGCU
scholar and build relationships in the
understanding of the seminal thought
a n d Bu s i ne ss Administration has lo ng
wonderful example of how to provide servant leadership. He
and we miss him, but I think he will be
business community. All of these things
pieces
always put the University, Culverhouse College and all of its
a great dean for Samford and the Brock
are second nature to Howard.”
when I graduated, I was grounded in the
stakeholders ahead of himself, and that is something I try to
School,” said H. Shelton Weeks, chair
Weeks has known Finch since 1988,
theories which form the basis for asset
b ee n
a
m a jor
provider
of
qua li t y
b us i n e ss e ducation as evidenc e d b y
in
financial
economics,
and
remember each day,” said Finch, who earned his doctorate in
of the department of economics and
when they studied together in The
pricing, modern portfolio theory, capital-
i t s lon g li s t of notable and hi gh ly
finance in 1992. “Additionally, the Alabama business tradition
finance at FGCU.
University of Alabama business school.
structure theory, agency problems and
s u c ce ss fu l alumni.
taught me that the institution is greater than any single
Weeks said Finch’s biggest contribution
“Our training at the Capstone was
individual. Thus, my role is to lead and manage in such a
to the field of business is the impact
outstanding,” said Weeks, who earned
The UA business program is structured
signaling, and option-pricing theory.”
In fact, as incoming freshmen come to Culverhouse this
way that when my time here is complete, the Brock School is
he has on students, which ranges from
his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral
to cover a variety of topics, and Finch
fall, a number of their predecessors have gone on from The
a better place for the next generation of business students,
teaching and giving career advice to
degrees from UA. “Perhaps the greatest
said he attempts to structure the
University of Alabama to acquire high-profile positions as
faculty and staff.”
developing
deans of other business schools.
and
value comes from the foundation in
Samford business program in much the
Before becoming dean at Samford in 2011, Finch spent
building relationships with the business
academic
programs
economics that underlies everything
same way.
Howard Finch, a UA alumnus who now serves as dean of the
nine years on the faculty at the University of Tennessee at
community that enhances the students’
we do. We were fortunate to have some
“My experience and subsequent
Brock School of Business at Samford in Birmingham, said he
Chattanooga, rising through the rankings and learning to be a
educational experiences.
excellent faculty who cared a great deal
impressions since graduation is that
attributes much of his success to his outstanding business-
successful university teacher and researcher. He then spent
“In addition to being a great friend
about the program and the quality of the
the Culverhouse College of Commerce
school education.
11 years at Florida Gulf Coast University, serving first as an
that I enjoyed working with, I knew that
education that they were delivering.”
and Business Administration provides
2 6
2 7
C U L V E R H O U S E
in Tuscaloosa had some influence on her
have to be a self-starter and a very
returning to do graduate work here.”
motivated person.”
Robicheaux said her dad, a former
Robicheaux said that the UA faculty
and students enriched her experience
s i g n i f i c a n t ly i n d e v e l o p i n g m y
as a doctoral student, as well.
u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f m a n a g e m e n t
dean because she was one of the best
a n d h e l p i n g m e t o a p p r e c i at e
teachers and researchers in the business
the practice of management
program,” he said. “Sara is also greatly
to serving as a faculty leader.
“I found UA’s business school to be
“He is very level-headed and good at
a very friendly environment,” she said.
mitigating conflicts,” Robicheaux said.
“It was not a cut-throat competitive
“He never has a personal agenda and is
environment like you find in some PhD
respected by his peers and students. He
programs. All of the PhD students
is also very calm under pressure.”
wanted everyone else to succeed, and
She has met many graduate students
we all worked together. Still today, many
t h r o u g h o u t m y c a r e e r .”
— Dr. Byron Che w
dean who hired him at FGCU; and John
at conferences who introduce themselves
of the PhD students stay in contact with
greatly
that
breadth,
Fulmer, Finch’s first department head
and share a story about a time when they
each other, co-author papers together
Culverhouse
teaching technical skills together with
and later the associate dean at the
needed help and her dad helped them
and help with job placement.”
managerial insights and perspective,”
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga,
out, years after the fact.
Finch said. “That is a model we want to
who also earned his doctorate from The
emulate at the Brock School of Business
University of Alabama.
depth
and
at Samford, and I believe we are doing
so very effectively.”
“The relationship my dad has with the
graduate students in his department is
Monaghan Professor of Management.
“ S h e wa s a g o o d ca n d id a te fo r
loved by multiple groups of stakeholders.
Students think she is wonderful. She
has all the bases covered, and she is a
natural leader and representative of the
Now as a dean herself, Robicheaux
students with a business education
both
at Birmingham-Southern College and
A l a b a m a e d u c at i o n h e l p e d
professor of marketing at UA, is
definitely her role model when it comes
has
explained Dr. Byron Chew, former dean
“My University of
admires
aspects
business
business program.”
of
the
program
such
graduated from the UA business school,
In
addition
to
Robicheaux,
Chew
as the women’s mentoring program,
proof that the Culverhouse network
She said her favorite professors at
which was developed for undergraduate
extends far and wide, encompassing
Culverhouse were Dr. James Ligon, her
students, and the way that the college
current and former business leaders.
dissertation chair, and Schlesinger.
maintains contact with alumni. Just as
He graduated in 1971 with a doctorate
At Culverhouse in particular, Finch
one I try to emulate with all the students at
“Both are outstanding teachers, and
faculty at Culverhouse go above and
in business administration and held
said he was fortunate to study under a
Birmingham-Southern,” Robicheaux said.
I gained a lot of knowledge in every one
beyond to help their students, Robicheaux
various positions in teaching and
Kathy, Finch’s wife of nearly 30 years,
number of outstanding faculty members.
said she believes that her husband is
“Patricia Rudolph was my dissertation
effective as a dean not only because of
his knowledge and business expertise
She
was
of
of their classes,” Robicheaux said. “Dr.
said she constantly strives to enhance the
leadership at Birmingham-Southern
Birmingham-
Schlesinger taught my all-time favorite
educational experience of all students at
College, serving as a dean partner in
adviser, and I learned the value of discipline
Southern College in 2011. Previously,
class, microeconomics. It was that
Birmingham-Southern College.
the business program from 1996 to 2002
and perseverance in research from her,”
Robicheaux
associate
class that convinced me that I wanted to
“To be effective at this job, you cannot
but also because he has a compassionate
Finch said. “Robert Brooks taught my
professor of finance and economics at
become a college professor and stay at
be worried about losing it,” Robicheaux
“My University of Alabama education
heart and is a good listener.
investments seminars, and he defined rigor
Birmingham-Southern and as a visiting
Alabama to get my Ph.D.
said. “If all your decisions are based on
helped significantly in developing my
business
appointed
programs
at
served
the
as
dean
before his retirement.
“Howard is one of those people who never
and depth of theoretical understanding
assistant professor of finance at the
“Dr. Ligon would read my dissertation
what will make you popular and well-
understanding
meets a stranger,” she said. “He is friendly
behind the models and numbers. Carolyn
University of North Carolina Kenan-
drafts and have detailed feedback to me in
liked, then you are not doing your job. It
helping me to appreciate the practice
and always has an encouraging attitude.”
Carroll taught me empathy in dealing with
Flagler Business School.
But, she said her husband’s greatest
accomplishment is their family.
students and colleagues.”
In addition to these, Finch listed other
of
management
and
less than 48 hours. He was amazing. Even
is certainly important to hear all sides
of management throughout my career,”
Robicheaux said she loves her current
after graduating, Dr. Ligon continued to
and opinions, but when it comes down to
Chew said.
position as dean of business programs
work with me on publishing articles and
it, to be a college administrator you have
“We have two very successful children,
professors who played key roles and
at
remained as responsive to my questions
to make business decisions.”
Ashley, a graduate of the Culverhouse
influenced him, including Dr. James
attributes some of her professional
However, in spite of the fact that
early commitment to the importance of
School of Accountancy, and Austin, a
Cover, Dr. Robert McLeod, Dr. H.K. Wu, Dr.
success to her experience as a UA
Robicheaux sometimes has to make
internationalization and inculcated this
National Merit finalist who will be attending
Harris Schlesinger and Dr. Billy Helms.
business student.
unpopular decisions, Helms said his
to students in the 1970s when then Dean
daughter always tries to treat people fairly.
Paul Garner made the UA business
The University of Alabama this fall.”
Helms,
head
of
the
Birmingham-Southern,
and
she
economics,
“While I do not believe the education
as when I was a student in his class.”
He remembers and admires that the
UA business school demonstrated an
She said her husband has the gift of
finance and legal studies department at
in and of itself prepared me for my
“She listens to other people,” he said.
program known worldwide. Chew also
teaching and leadership, which he uses
UA, also greatly influenced his daughter
role as a dean, I think the personal
“She’s modest about her own ideas and is
said the faculty members were very
in all of his roles as father, professor
Sara Helms Robicheaux in her pursuit of
relationships
willing to consider other peoples’ input.”
talented, and he fondly remembers his
and dean.
business. She earned her doctorate in
faculty members who taught me and
Finch
c re d i t s
his
I
developed
with
the
Robicheaux
can
easily
make
mentor, Dr. William Bennett.
p ro fe ss i o n a l
finance from Alabama in 2000 and now
served on my dissertation committee
connections outside of the business
“The University does a great job of serving
success to his opportunity to work
serves as the dean of business programs
helped me to mature and prepared me
program because she was a student
the citizenry in the state of Alabama,” Chew
with great people. He said he owes a
at Birmingham-Southern College.
for interactions with future colleagues,”
and professor at Birmingham-Southern
said. “It has a three-pronged mission,
debt of gratitude to two mentors who
“I have been at UA for 39 years,”
she said. “The dissertation process is
College
the
standing for teaching, research and service,
were instrumental in preparing him to
Helms said. “I am sure that growing up
also a very independent project, and I
culture of the institution, which allows
and it has always fulfilled its mission in
find to be good at administration, you
her to be empathetic when issues arise,
each of these areas.”
become a dean: Richard Pegnetter, the
first
and
understands
2 8
2 9
C U L V E R H O U S E
Communit y Outreach
A cc o u n t i n g s t u d e n t s
m i x l e arn i n g w i t h s e r v i c e
B y A m an d a Sa m s
This past spring, accounting instructor
The
40
students
in
McKinney’s
Lisa McKinney’s goal was to teach
accounting class in the Culverhouse
the students in her service-learning-
College of Commerce and Business
accounting course about tax software and
Administration each donated more than
the basics of tax returns, while helping
40 hours of their time, McKinney said.
the community at the same time. The
“Students were trained to use tax-
honors class was a component of the
preparation
SaveFirst Tax Preparation Initiative, which
simple tax returns at SaveFirst sites
is sponsored by UA’s Center for Ethics
located directly in communities of need
and
Social
Responsibility.
software
to
complete
SaveFirst
and then traveled to these communities
uses volunteers to provide income-tax
to provide the service,” McKinney said.
assistance. It is the largest campus-based
“This was a very significant course to
initiative of its kind, according to Stephen
most of them. They all describe how
Black, director of CESR.
much they got out of it and how they
“During our sixth season, 137 UA
were really changed by it.”
undergraduate and law students worked
McKinney evaluated the students’
at free tax preparation sites across the
performances throughout the semester,
state to prepare over 3,200 returns for
which culminated in a final paper
working families — helping them to
detailing their volunteer experiences
secure $5.8 million in tax refunds and
with SaveFirst.
saving them $960,000 in commercial
“My experience with the SaveFirst
tax preparation fees,” Black wrote in
program was very rewarding,” Rebecca
an email about the program as the
Jones wrote in her final paper for the
semester came to a close. “Statewide,
course. “At first, I chose this program
UA students collaborated with more
because I thought that it would be
than 300 additional students from more
the best choice for my grade in Mrs.
than twelve campuses to assist 5,157
McKinney’s
low-to-middle-income families. In total,
did I know that the experience would
our volunteers helped these Alabamians
substantially increase my knowledge
to claim approximately $9.2 million in
about
refunds and to simultaneously save an
my
estimated $1.5 million in commercial
population. It was refreshing to get off
tax preparation fees.”
campus, away from the classroom, and
tax
accounting
filing
perspective
and
on
the
class.
also
Little
change
low-income
Lisa McKinney
3 0
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C U L V E R H O U S E
help those who need it most. From this
We had some difficulty determining
stereotypically a boring subject into
program I will take away new skills,
her filing status because she had told
one that is intriguing, humorous and
knowledge, and understanding about
us that the three of them pooled their
thought-provoking.”
the government process of tax returns.
incomes together for expenses. Her
I will also take away the experience
situation was heartbreaking.
McKinney said she agreed to teach
this service-learning course because
that I had interacting with low-income
“She had a low four-figure income and
taxpayers and getting them the refund
only received about $50 back from her
Black’s
that they deserve.”
taxes,” Jones recalled. “When I told her
she knew would be “meaningful and
she wanted to be a part of Stephen
SaveFirst
initiative,
which
Acre
N e w a d v i s o r y b o ar d m e m b e r ,
o ff i c e r s ann o u nc e d
successful.” This was her second time
to teach the course, and she said she
“In total, our volunteers helped these Al abamians
to cl aim approximately $9.2 million in refunds and
to simultaneously save an estimated $1.5 million
in commercial tax preparation fees.”
wants to teach it as many times as
—Stephen Black
were very touching. All feedback was
“Our advisory board of trustees is a vital part of ACRE,”
very, very positive. Clients were vocally
said Grayson Glaze, executive director of the Alabama
thankful, some leaving in tears.”
Center for Real Estate.
CESR Director
possible in the future.
ynn Corder, a founding partner in The Builders Group of
“The satisfaction for me came from the
West Alabama, a firm that specializes in residential home
enormously significant experience each
building, has been named to the advisory board of trustees
student had in the program,” she said.
of the Alabama Center for Real Estate at The University of
“Their papers explaining their experience
Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce.
Jones said McKinney is by far one of
the amount, I thought that she was going
Hill said the class not only taught
“The board members represent a vast wealth of knowledge
the best teachers she has had in the
to be upset. However, she was actually
him more about tax accounting but also
of all facets of the real-estate industry, and we are grateful that
business school, and her guidance was
quite happy about it. Her situation really
helped develop his character and social
they are willing to share it with us and all of our constituents.”
a big factor in Jones’ decision to change
opened my eyes to how I take everything
skills by pushing him out of his comfort
her major to accounting.
that I have for granted. It set the tone for
zone to work with people he otherwise
homebuilders’ associations. He served as president of
the rest of my time there.”
would not have met. Hill estimates that
the local chapter, and he chairs the Regulatory Affairs
he personally helped 10 clients over the
Committee and sits on the executive board at the state level.
course of the semester.
At the national level, Corder is a member of the Production
“She was very engaging with her
lectures and made the material very
Jones said the course made her grateful
easy to understand,” said Jones, a junior
for her opportunity to pursue higher
who is now majoring in accounting.
education at The University of Alabama.
“SaveFirst taught me the true value
Corder
is
active
in
the
local,
state
and
national
Builders Committee.
“Her sense of humor kept it interesting.
Francis “Tre” Nisi, another student,
of an education,” Hill said. “It also was
He is a member of the Tuscaloosa Electrical Examining
She is also quite helpful outside of the
said he also enjoyed the service-learning
a key factor in convincing me to change
Board. He holds a real-estate-broker’s license, a residential
Chambers, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., is vice president of
classroom and truly has a desire to see
portion of the course because it gave
my major from finance to accounting.
homebuilder’s license and a general contractor’s license.
Westervelt Communities, a division of the Westervelt Co.
her students excel in their futures.”
him valuable experience in filing tax
It is a program that I will continue to
He sits on the boards of the Home Builders Association of
Prior to joining Westervelt Communities, Chambers owned
returns and provided the opportunity to
be involved in each year while at The
Tuscaloosa, First National Bank of Central Alabama, West
a construction-management business. He is responsible
help different people in the community.
University of Alabama.”
Alabama Hospice and the DCH Construction Board.
for developing and maintaining business relationships in
Jones
explained
that
while
the
material was challenging, McKinney
had a way of putting it into context
“I would most definitely recommend
that students can understand. Jones
this class to a friend or anyone for that
also said that the service-learning
matter due to the superb teaching and
experience with SaveFirst opened her
variety of lab options,” Nisi said. “She
eyes to a lot of issues, such as poverty
(McKinney) definitely lived up to her stellar
Tillman is a 1980 graduate of The University of Alabama
in the community.
“I
distinctly
taxpayer
that
I
Glaze also said Hal Tillman Jr. was elected the 2012 chair
of ACRE, and Tom Chambers was elected vice chair.
Tillman, of Birmingham, Ala., is president of Tillman Realty LLC.
He was recognized as the 2009 Alabama Realtor of the Year.
residential and commercial real estate.
Chambers is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the
Home Builders Association of Tuscaloosa and the National
Association of Realtors.
ACRE,
housed
within
UA’s
Culverhouse
College
of
reputation. She is an amazing teacher.”
with a degree in finance. He is a real-estate broker, property
Commerce, collects, maintains and analyzes the state’s real-
remember
the
first
Davis Hill, a junior double majoring
developer and chairman and qualifying broker of Tillman
estate statistics. It is a resource for Alabama real-estate
helped
during
the
in accounting and Spanish, also said
Real Estate. Tillman has received Certified Property Manager
research, education and outreach that includes hosting its
SaveFirst program,” Jones said. “She
McKinney has been his favorite teacher
of the Year, Birmingham Realtor of the Year and Alabama
annual Alabama Commercial Real Estate Conference and
was a sweet elderly lady whose only
in the business school.
Realtor of the Year awards. He is a former president of the
Expo. The center, established in 1996, acts as an industry
Birmingham Association of Realtors and a former member
liaison for business-school students pursuing a career in
of the National Association of Realtors board of directors.
real estate by providing interaction with real-estate alumni.
source of income was a substitute
“Her teaching techniques are the
teaching job. She lived in government-
best I have seen,” he said. “She relates
paid housing with her two adult children.
to her students and makes what is
3 2
3 3
C U L V E R H O U S E
High-Five
U A p r e p ar e s c h a m p i o n s
o n an d o ff t h e f i e l d
B y A m an d a Sa m s
here are 24 students walking
that I’ve learned in the classroom that
a ro u n d
I have been able to relate to football.”
the
C u lv e r h o u s e
College of Commerce with national
championships under their belts.
Tinker learned what it truly means to
be a member of the Culverhouse family
Tinker said Ellinger and Dr. Ron Dulek,
professor of management, are his favorite
teachers because of their passion, energy
and enthusiasm in the classroom.
The Culverhouse College of Commerce
after a tornado tore through Tuscaloosa
“Dulek along with Ellinger and, I’d say,
and Business Administration at The
on April 27, 2011, killing his longtime
the majority of our professors genuinely
University of Alabama generates more
girlfriend, Ashley Harrison, and landing
care about our students — not only their
than just research and statistics. Year
him in the hospital with serious injuries.
education but their futures,” Tinker said.
after year; it also produces champion
student-athletes.
Eighteen
football
players,
one gymnast and two softball players
are majoring in some area of business,
all
are
members
of
Tinker said that his biggest motivation
for success, both in academics and
three
members of the women’s golf team,
and
“Dr. Alex Ellinger came and saw me
every day while I was in the hospital,”
national
championship programs. They are part
of 111 student-athletes enrolled in the
Eighteen football pl ayers, three members of the
women’s golf team, one gymnast and t wo softball
pl ayers are majoring in some area of business, and all
are members of national championship programs.
business school.
And some of them attribute part of
their success to their education at the
Tinker said of the management and
Culverhouse College of Commerce, from
marketing
the professors who helped them juggle
his wife with him on some occasions,
sports and academics to the lessons
and she brought me brownies. That
learned from classmates with varied
obviously meant a lot to me. Dr. Ellinger
and diverse backgrounds and even to
has so much devotion and affection for
the challenging course materials.
his students and the business school.
professor.
“He
brought
“Football and business go hand and
“I feel like this is what make this
hand with each other,” said Carson
school great. Ellinger would have gone
Tinker, the football team’s long snapper,
to see any of his students. He went
who received his bachelor’s degree in
around and worked in the community as
marketing in May 2012 and plans to
well, as I’m sure a lot of our teachers
start his master’s degree in marketing
did. And no one ever hears about this
in August. “Things like competition,
kind of stuff. They didn’t do it for the
strategy,
attention; they did it because it was the
leadership,
competitive
advantage and culture are all things
right thing to do.”
Carson Tinker
3 4
3 5
C U L V E R H O U S E
in football, comes from a piece of
Tinker has a lot of “dream jobs,” but
advice from head football coach Nick
he currently aspires to be a marketing
Alabama is something that I dreamed
Saban. “You’re either hungry or you’re
consultant after completing his
about as a kid and fortunately those
satisfied. You can’t be both,” the three-
master’s degree.
dreams came true,” Ogilvie said. “Also,
“Obviously
playing
football
for
me that would not have been open
Patterson, daughter of gymnastics
otherwise,” he said.
Another
coach Sarah Patterson, said she chose
academic
and
athletic
UA because it is in her blood.
champion, Brooke Pancake, graduated
time National Coach of the Year told
from
degree
here my whole life, so I grew up around
his team, according to Tinker. And the
in marketing in May after winning
this University,” Patterson said. “I used
numerous awards and leading the UA
to go to all of the softball games, and
women’s golf team to its first national
I remember wanting so badly to be
championship. Now a professional golfer,
like those girls. When I got older and
Pancake said she is extremely grateful
started thinking seriously about college
for everything that The University of
and academics, I realized how great of
Alabama and the Culverhouse College of
a business school UA has. This school
that I have written down and I want to
“I felt like I was able to better cope with
situations on and off the field because of the
analy tical skills I learned in the business school.”
see all of those goals through. I’ve made
—Morgan Ogilvie
athlete took this advice to heart.
“I’m hungry; I’m hungry to do everything
I want to do,” Tinker said. “I have goals
those goals for myself, in my handwriting;
Tinker’s teammate Morgan Ogilvie,
with
a
Commerce provided. She said she would
had everything I wanted, so when Coach
I knew that I wanted to pursue a career
not have made it to the position she is
Murphy (head softball coach) called and
I’m not going to let myself down.”
In addition to football and school,
Culverhouse
“My parents have coached gymnastics
who
in business, and since Alabama has a
in without the support and motivation
asked me to join the team there was not
Executive Business Council and is the
graduated with his bachelor’s degree in
reputable business school, I thought that
of the business-school family, including
one thing to think about. This is where
assistant to the executive vice president
August 2011 and is currently pursuing
Alabama would be a good fit for me.”
her favorite professors: Ellinger, and
I’ve always wanted to be.”
for the Student Government Association.
his master’s degree in finance, has
Tinker said he is willing to do whatever
spent five years as a business student
Ogilvie achieved recognition on the
and has played on the last two national
President’s List for his grades, won
“Now that I am at the end of my
Tinker
serves
as
president
of
the
it takes in order to achieve his goals.
a
Crimson
Tide
quarterback
As
an
undergraduate
student,
Drs. Louis Marino and Glenn Richey Jr.,
Patterson said she has been blessed
both professors of marketing.
Brooke Pancake
with the opportunity to receive a great
education while playing the sport she
“Everyone has the same amount of
championship teams. He agrees that
the Business Executive Award and
amateur career and pursuing my career
me to be appreciative of hard work and
loves. “Softball has taught me that
time in the day,” he said. “It’s all about
it’s all about time management and
joined the Business Honor Society
further as a professional, the marketing
made me proud to be a part of something
winning comes to those who chase it with
time management. You have to be able
has mastered the art of balancing
and
honor
school has taught me how to network and
bigger than myself,” Pancake said. “We
every fiber of their being,” Patterson said.
to sacrifice some of the things you would
school and sports.
society Omicron Delta Kappa. He also
put myself in a good position since being
had to push through and fight till the
“You can’t just go through the motions
frequently participated in the Christian
a professional consists of a lot more than
end and never give up.”
and expect greatness. You have to fight for
organization Campus Crusades.
just playing the game,” she said.
like to do, like sleep, in order to get your
school work done.”
“Being on the football team teaches
you discipline, and that always helped
prestigious
senior
Academically,
Pancake
said
Softball player Jordan Patterson, a
it and fight hard. School is no different. I
me when working on something for
“My biggest motivation in sports and
that
junior double majoring in accounting
can’t just go to class and expect to make
school,” Ogilvie said. “Also, I think
football was to glorify Jesus,” he said.
she learned the most from her GBA
and marketing, helped her team bring
A’s. I have to put the work in.”
that being on the football team helped
“Also, I wanted to do well and be happy.”
490 course, which challenged her and
home a national championship, as well.
motivate me to want to do well in all
To achieve these goals, including the
encouraged her to embrace everything
“I think that this past season and
success that has followed his collegiate
she had learned during her four years in
winning
He said he learned that hard work
football career, Ogilvie often relied on
the business school.
has taught me a lot of life lessons,”
offers the best opportunity for success
lessons he learned from business courses.
She said she also learned a great
Patterson said. “It sounds cheesy, but
through football and winning national
“I felt like I was able to better cope
deal from extracurricular pursuits
hard work really does pay off. Even if it’s
championships, although it does not
with situations on and off the field
outside of golf, including membership
not in the way you imagined, it always
necessarily guarantee it.
because of the analytical skills I learned
in
pays off in some fashion.”
areas of my life.”
the
Fellowship
of
Christian
the
national
championship
“I knew that at the end of the day, as
in the business school,” Ogilvie said.
Athletes, the senior women’s honor
Patterson did just that these past two
long as I knew that I gave my best effort,
“My ability to analyze either a problem
society and Emerging Tide Leaders,
years and has been on the President’s
that I would be content and happy,”
or situation improved.”
Ogilvie said.
and as the Southeastern Conference
List with a 4.0 every year. She is also a
He said that his favorite professor
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
member of Phi Eta Sigma honor society.
But playing for Coach Saban was not the
was Dr. Robert Brooks, professor of
representative for the golf program.
She explained that the work ethic
only deciding factor for Ogilvie when he
finance, because Brooks challenges his
And of course, Pancake took away
she developed through softball has
chose to attend UA. The business school
students. Post graduation, Ogilvie plans
many
transferred to her academics, and she
attracts a number of talented athletes
to get a job in investment banking.
championship this year.
who want to gain a quality education as
Morgan Ogilvie
the
well as pursue their sport of choice.
lessons
from
the
team’s
“Both my undergrad and graduate
“Winning the national championship
degrees will help open doors for
and being a part of a team has taught
plans to eventually attend law school.
Jordan Patterson
3 6
3 7
C U L V E R H O U S E
Business Hall of Fame
financial stress, and he led the company
Five are 39th class of inductees
Construction
is
a
major
player in domestic and international
dramatic restructuring and a successful
markets,
spinoff of Total Systems Services, its
facilities, federal courthouses, high-
credit-card-processing subsidiary.
tech research and development centers,
Civic
Five distinguished business leaders will be
inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of
Fame on Nov. 1 in Birmingham, Ala., at the Cahaba
Grand Conference Center. The reception will
begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the induction
ceremony and dinner at 7 p.m.
Caddell
through two major capital raises, a
affiliations
have
included
prisons,
including
hospitals,
U.S.
diplomatic
airports,
hotels,
being president of the Birmingham
power plants, manufacturing facilities,
Kiwanis Club; captain of the Monday
military barracks and an even longer list
Morning Quarterback Club; a member
of unique specialty projects.
of Leadership Birmingham; a member
He earned a bachelor’s degree in
of Leadership Alabama; a member of
building construction from the Georgia
The University of Alabama President’s
Institute of Technology and attended
Cabinet; a member of the Culverhouse
Ha r va rd
College of Commerce and Business
program, the University of Virginia’s
Richard E. Anthony was chairman
Administration’s board of visitors; and
advanced management program, and
and
Financial
director of the Economic Development
the Top Management Briefing Course
The five will be the 39th class of inductees.
Corp., a regional banking company
Partnership of Alabama. He also led the
provided by the American Management
“Each of these business leaders has certainly left
headquartered in Columbus, Ga., with
United Way Campaign in Columbus and
Association. He also attended Officer
their mark on their community, their state, in fact the
banking offices in Georgia, Alabama,
was chairman of the Columbus Chamber
Engineer
world,” said J. Michael Hardin, dean of The University of
South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee.
of Commerce.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio,
Richard E. Anthony
Retired Chairman of the
B o a r d a n d C EO o f S y n o v u s
Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business
CEO
of
S y n ov u s
He received his bachelor’s degree
Anthony served on the board of directors
Administration. The College Board of Visitors founded the
in
of
of the American Bankers Association, the
Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 1973.
finance
from
The
University
B u s in e ss
Technical
S ch o o l’s
School,
AMP
USAF
and served two years in the United
States Air Force.
Alabama and his master’s in business
Financial Services Roundtable and Total
“Each inductee has demonstrated hard work and vision in
administration from the University of
Systems Services Inc.
their chosen fields, from banking to finance and insurance to
Virginia. His banking career began at
in 1952. He was promoted to vice
construction and engineering.”
AmSouth Bank, where he served as
president of Blount in 1963 and assumed
Caddell began his construction career
as an estimator with Blount Construction
The hall honors the names and accomplishments of more
executive vice president. As a co-founder
duties of president and CEO from 1969
than 130 men and women who are some of the state’s most
of First Commercial Bancshares in 1985,
to 1983. Under Caddell’s leadership,
distinguished business leaders.
he helped lead the company’s expansion
Blount was responsible for some of the
“The history of the Business Hall of Fame reaches back to
into the Alabama cities of Birmingham,
largest and most challenging projects
1973 and honors the names and accomplishments of some of
Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and Huntsville,
in the world and attained a position of
the state’s most distinguished business leaders, people such as
using its Jasper community banking
international prominence.
George Washington Carver, William Albert Bellingrath, the late
presence as a foundation.
Mildred Westervelt Warner and William H. Blount,” Hardin said.
For ticket information to the Alabama Business Hall of
Anthony
was
president
He established Caddell Construction
of
First
Co. Inc. in 1983, which has since
To be eligible for selection, a person must by his or her
Fame or to purchase tables, contact Diane Harrison, director
Commercial Bancshares when it merged
emerged as one of the most respected
business accomplishments brought fame and honor to the
of alumni and corporate initiatives at the Culverhouse College
with Synovus in 1992. He became vice
general
state of Alabama. He or she should have made a significant
of Commerce, [email protected], 205-348-2930.
chairman of Synovus in 1996, overseeing
contractors
in
the
nation.
Caddell Construction has completed
impact on the development of community and state by
The 2012 inductees are Richard Anthony, of Birmingham,
S y n o v u s’ b a n k i n g o p e r a t i o n s . I n
John A. Caddell
promoting the free enterprise system and entrepreneurship,
chairman of the board of Synovus; John A. Caddell, of
2003 he became president and chief
and by demonstrating civic leadership, philanthropy and
Montgomery, Ala., former president and CEO of Blount
operating officer, then assumed CEO
Chairman of the Board of
Caddell Construction
humanitarianism toward their fellow citizens.
more than $7 billion in public and
private projects and received multiple
national
honors
from
construction
Construction; T. Michael Goodrich, of Birmingham, former
responsibilities in 2005. In 2006 he was
Nominees must be retired for three years or more or be at
chairman and CEO of BE&K; James S. Holbrook Jr., of
named chairman and CEO. His service
J o h n A . C a d d e l l , o f M o n t g o m e r y,
premier contractor for U.S. embassies
least 65. A continuing list of nominees is maintained, and each
Birmingham, chairman and CEO of Sterne Agee Group Inc.;
at Synovus concluded in April 2012,
was
Blount
and consulates worldwide, including the
year new names are added for consideration. Nominations
and Grace E. Pilot, of Mobile, Ala., chairwoman of the board
when he retired as a board member.
Construction and later founded Caddell
U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and is among
from anyone are welcome.
of Pilot Catastrophe Services Inc.
Construction, where he currently serves
a handful of U.S. general contractors
as chairman of the board.
with
Following are brief biographies of the 2012 inductees.
His
leadership
responsibilities
at
Synovus covered a tumultuous period of
industry peers. Caddell has become a
president
and
CEO
at
the
sophisticated
management
3 8
3 9
C U L V E R H O U S E
and technical systems to effectively
He is a longtime supporter of the
remained at the helm of the investment
of Alabama that serves business programs
Alabama
direct this type of especially challenging
Boy Scouts of America, has served
bank for 22 years since the consolidation
accredited by AACSB International.
and the American Society of Women
project.
on its national board since 2001 and
of Sterne, Agee & Leach Inc., its
and
Accountants. She is a recipient of the
was chairman of the Greater Alabama
securities firm, with First Birmingham
development of the business community,
Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award
Securities Corp., the company Holbrook
Holbrook currently serves on the board
given to members who show exemplary
operated from 1970 to 1990.
of directors and the executive committee
leadership in the United Way and the
Caddell
Construction
was
recently
To
encourage
the
growth
Baptist
Children’s
Home
ranked by the Engineering News-Record
Council
as the 88th largest U.S. general contractor,
president of the Associated Builders
the 28th largest U.S. design and build
and Contractors and a member of the
Holbrook has kept the company’s
for the Birmingham Business Alliance
community. In 2005 Pilot was honored
prime contractor, and among the top 30
National Academy of Construction. He
headquarters in Birmingham, providing
and in 2008 served on the board of
by Beta Sigma Phi as the first lady of
“Green” contractors nationwide.
is a member of Leadership Birmingham
economic sustainability and employing
trustees for the Birmingham Regional
Mobile for her ideas and commitment
and Leadership Alabama.
more than 400 residents of the city and
Chamber of Commerce. He is also a
to others through her daily acts of love,
friendship and generosity.
Caddell served as president and board
member of the Montgomery chapter
of the Associated General Contractors
and was a member of the Montgomery
T. Michael Goodrich
F o r m e r C h a i r m a n a n d C EO
of BE&K
AmSouth Bank board of directors. He
in
2000.
He
is
a
former
He has been active with the Birmingham
suburbs and more than 500 statewide.
member of the Alabama Council of
Civil Rights and Eisenhower Fellows. He
The company employs 1,300 people and
Economic Education board and serves
The E. Grace Pilot Private Foundation
is a member of the President’s Cabinet
operates across the United States.
on the Robert E. Reed Gastrointestinal
supports her efforts to create a positive
Oncology
change in the communities in which
at The University of Alabama and the
Holbrook began his affinity for the
is a lifetime board member and past
T. Michael Goodrich, of Birmingham,
President’s Council at The University of
investment world after receiving his
president of the YMCA and a member
was chairman and CEO of BE&K, a top
Alabama at Birmingham.
bachelor’s
of the Montgomery Area Committee of
engineering and construction company
100. He has also served as a member
headquartered
The
of the board of the Alabama Baptist
company is now part of Houston-based
72, and is a member of the Alabama
Foundation, the board of the Montgomery
construction giant KBR. BE&K provided
Academy of Honor and the Alabama
area United Way, the advisory board at
engineering and construction services to
Engineering Hall of Fame.
Auburn University at Montgomery, the
large, complex industrial and commercial
advisory board for the Georgia Institute
projects throughout the world.
of Technology and the board of trustees
in
Birmingham.
During Goodrich’s tenure as CEO, the
degree
she lives and to contribute to causes of
corporate board.
He has been a longtime member
eternal value. The foundation provides
Goodrich served as a captain in the
finance from The University of Alabama.
of the Newcomen Society, Alabama
financial support primarily in the areas
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1971–
His first role was in the Public Finance
chapter, and the Tocqueville Society of
of education, community needs and
Group at R.W. Knight & Co. in 1966.
the United Way.
Christian ministry.
his
business
Fo u n d a t i o n
and
Throughout
in
R e s e a rc h
career,
he
has
She has served as special adviser
served on the board of governors for
to the president of Howard Payne
Goodrich is a member of South
the National Association of Securities
University in Brownwood, Texas, and
Highland Presbyterian Church where he
Dealers (now FINRA), and he was vice
has been a generous benefactor to
has served as an elder and a deacon.
chairman of the National Business
that university. In 1994 Howard Payne
company had major offices in Wilmington,
Conduct Committee. During that time
University honored her with the highest
In 1998 he received the Distinguished
Del.; Birmingham; Raleigh, N.C.; Houston,
Holbrook also served on the Corporate
honor given by a university with an
Alumni Center Achievement Award from
Texas; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg,
Finance
Sanctions
honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.
the Georgia Institute of Technology
Russia; and Kwidzyn, Poland.
Guidelines Committee, the Statutory
In 2010 Grace Chapel on the campus of
Disqualifications Committee and the
Howard Payne University was named in
Executive Committee.
her honor.
at Samford University.
College of Architecture. He was selected
Goodrich
graduated
Tulane
Contractors as the 2004 recipient of
degree in 1968 and received his law
At one point, he served as chairman
Pilot and her late husband, Walter D.
the Cornerstone Award for outstanding
degree from The University of Alabama
of the District No. 5 Business Conduct
contributions
in 1971.
Committee. Holbrook is also a member
E. Grace Pilot
Pilot Sr., founded the Pilot companies —
of the SIFMA Regional Firms Committee
Co-founder of Pilot
Catastrophe Services Inc.
construction
civil
from
University
the
a
engineering
the
by the Alabama Associated Builders and
to
with
Committee,
industry and elected to the Associated
He serves on the board of directors
General Contractors of Alabama Hall of
of First Commercial Bank, Synovus
Fame in 2005. In 2010 he received the
Financial Corp. and Energen Corp.
Frank Plummer Memorial Arts Award for
Following his service at BE&K, Goodrich
outstanding support and contributions
started Goodrich Management Co., an
to the fine arts from the Montgomery
investment management company.
Business Committee for Fine Arts.
Goodrich received the NOVA award
and Management Roundtable.
working from their home the first years
Holbrook’s civic involvement includes
James S. Holbrook Jr.
C h a i r m a n, P r e s i d e n t a n d
CEO of Sterne Agee Group Inc.
of business — which now has grown
into the nation’s largest catastropheadjusting firm. Today, Pilot Catastrophe
being a member of The University of
E. Grace Pilot, of Mobile, is the co-
Services Inc. employs thousands of
Alabama President’s Cabinet, a member
founder of Pilot Catastrophe Services
employees in and outside of Alabama,
the Alabama Business Hall of Fame board
Inc. and also serves as the secretary
with the corporate office located in
of directors, a past chairman of the board
and treasurer. She has been active with
Mobile and additional offices located
throughout the country.
of visitors of the Culverhouse College of
the company in various capacities since
and the Excellence in Construction
James S. Holbrook Jr., of Birmingham,
Commerce and Business Administration
its inception in 1983.
Cornerstone Award from the Associated
is currently chairman, president and
and
Commerce
Pilot was born in Choctaw County, Ala.,
Builders and Contractors.
CEO of Sterne Agee Group Inc. He has
Executives Society. In 1999 Holbrook was
and is the third eldest of 10 children.
grandchild. She is a current member of
made honorary member of Beta Gamma
She is an active and past member of
Luke 4:18 Fellowship Church.
Sigma, the honor society at The University
many
from the Construction Innovation Forum
a
member
of
the
organizations,
Pilot is the mother of five children,
including
the
16
grandchildren
and
one
great-
4 0
4 1
C U L V E R H O U S E
rofessors at The University of
Alabama,
Troy
University
and
With identity fraud and the increasingly open
Internet growing, consumers seem less likely to
provide personal information online. For e-commerce
and online marketers, this is a roadblock to the
and, in theory, easier to achieve,” said
consumers’
provide
Katherine Lemon, Accenture Professor
Loyola Marymount recently published a
sensitive information, firms should be
at Boston College and editor of the
reluctance
to
paper in the Journal of Service Research
vigilant in obtaining the least amount of
Journal of Service Research . “More firms
that examined the factors that affect a
sensitive information possible, while still
can follow Google’s lead to redesign their
consumer’s willingness to reveal basic
effectively marketing to their customers.
websites and privacy polices so they
and sensitive personal information online.
“They also should note the importance
can encourage customers to willingly
The researchers found four basic
of building trust in their firm, as well as
factors that individually or in combination
providing consumers control to the use
affect the likelihood that consumers
of the information, before attempting to
disclosure
divulge personal information.
obtain this information,” she said.
overcoming
disclose additional information.”
In
recognizing
the
and
the
of
difficulty
of
consumer
concerns,
Some firms are already changing
firms should consider matching their
divulge and therefore less likely to
their websites to conform to what the
information requests to the specific
be disclosed.
research has found. Google recently
needs at hand.
2. Giving consumers control over how
changed its privacy policy to emphasize
their information will be used by
a consumer’s control over the personal
to
the firm can increase disclosure,
information they share as well as the
app ro p r ia te , ”
Mo th e rs b a u g h
particularly if that information is
perceived benefits of Google using
“Firms
consider
sensitive in nature.
such information. Privacy tools give
information
consumers
“A
one-size-fits-all
in fo r ma tio n
must
strategy
g a th e r in g
needs
and
is
both
the
not
s a id .
their
privacy
to
concerns of their various consumer
provide enhanced Web benefits can
protect privacy” through features like
segments and request the least sensitive
increase disclosure, particularly if
encrypted searches, incognito mode
information
the firm also enhances consumer
in
marketing to each of those segments.”
control and lowers consumer-privacy
and general personalization opt outs,
concerns specific to their website.
according to Google.
Chrome,
“meaningful
choices
off-the-record
chatting,
possible
Additionally,
for
firms
customer-privacy
effectively
can
concerns
mitigate
if
they
4. Web strategies that lower privacy
“Our new policy simply makes it clear
improve perceptions of their website
concerns can increase disclosure,
that we use data to refine and improve
through factors that increase consumer
particularly when the requested
your experience by getting consumers
trust, such as obtaining privacy seals
information is sensitive.
better search results, ads and other
and strengthening corporate reputation,
content,” Google’s website states.
according to the journal article. By
“While the acquisition of sensitive
information is often the goal of online
marketers,
our
research
suggests
This is, or should be, the goal of
any website.
tweaking websites to increase consumer
trust and control, and by making the
that control, customization and trust-
“New privacy policies and features to
customer service and market research on which
building activities to reduce privacy
help users control personal information
marketers
they thrive. So what makes consumers more willing
concerns are critical to convincing
will help make such goals transparent
essential consumer data.
to provide their personal information?
burdens
1. Sensitive information is riskier to
3. Customizing the Web experience to
How much will
consumers divulge?
at Culverhouse, stresses that given
benefits of customization salient, online
can
more
easily
gather
consumers that it is in their best interest
to divulge such information,” said David
Mothersbaugh, one of the authors of the
study and a professor of marketing at
the Culverhouse College of Commerce
A copy of the article “Disclosure Antecedents in an Online Service Context: The Role of
and Business Administration at The
Sensitivity of Information” by Mothersbaugh, Foxx, Beatty and Wang can be viewed at the
University of Alabama.
Sharon Beatty, another author of the
paper and a professor of marketing
Journal of Service Research website: http://jsr.sagepub.com/content/early/recent. Author
contact: David L. Mothersbaugh, PhD, Cassell Faculty Fellow in Marketing, The University
of Alabama, [email protected] or 205-394-2871.
4 2
C U L V E R H O U S E
4 3
Faculty
Hall of Fame
of the Future.
Sterling, Misiolek and Barron
are new inductees
hree retired faculty members were
Sterling received a bachelor’s degree
studies coordinator for economics and
recently inducted into the Culverhouse
from DePauw University and a doctorate
finance and as an area coordinator for
College of Commerce and Business
from Michigan State University. He is a
economics. As senior associate dean,
Administration Faculty Hall of Fame.
certified public accountant and served
Misiolek was responsible for academic
The new members are Dr. Jay U.
on the board of directors of Mark VII
programs, financial affairs and day-
Sterling, professor of marketing; Dr.
Inc., one of the nation’s largest, third-
to-day operation of the Culverhouse
Walter Misiolek, professor of economics
party-logistics-service companies, until
College, faculty-development programs
and former senior associate dean;
its sale to EXEL in 1999. Sterling taught
and strategic planning.
and Dr. F. Hutton Barron, professor of
logistics,
management,
Barron earned his bachelor’s degree
management science.
financial dimensions of marketing and
from Davidson College, his master’s
marketing-management
for
degree in mathematics from Brown
hall of fame are excellent examples of the
20 years at both the undergraduate
University and his doctorate from the
type faculty we have at the Culverhouse
and
was
University of Pennsylvania in 1970. He
College of Commerce,” said Dr. J. Michael
responsible for developing the overall
served as head of the department of
Hardin, dean. “Each has an excellent
marketing plan and framework for the
management
record as a scholar, as a researcher and as
University’s Tide Pride football-priority-
from 1983 to 1998. Before arriving at The
a dedicated public servant. I congratulate
seating program, plus its Skybox and
University of Alabama, Barron taught
them on their selection.”
Zone Club levels.
management
“These three inductees into the faculty
supply-chain
graduate
levels.
courses
Sterling
science
science
and
and
at the University of Kansas’ business
person must have served at least 10 years
chemistry from Miami University in Ohio
school. He is well-known for his work
as a member of the Culverhouse College
in 1968. From 1968 to 1971, he worked at
in the field of decision analysis and has
of Commerce faculty, been on retired
Copperweld Steel Co. in his hometown
had articles published in a number of
status for at least three years before
of Warren, Ohio, where he served as a
research and scientific journals, including
being elected, and served the College in
quality-control chemist and as claims
Decision Sciences Journal, Operations
such a way as to better the faculty, staff
metallurgist. He completed his master’s
Research and Management Science.
and students. The College’s Faculty Hall
degree
of Fame Committee maintains a list of
University in 1972 and his doctorate in
eligible retirees and seeks nominations
economics from Cornell University in
each year from that list.
1976. At UA, he served as a graduate-
from
To learn how a donor-advised fund at The University of Alabama
can fulfill your ongoing commitment to philanthropy, call
888-875-4438 or visit us online at http://daf.ua.edu.
statistics
Misiolek earned a bachelor’s degree in
economics
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statistics
To be eligible for the hall of fame, the
in
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someone became a teacher who turned at-risk students
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The Donor-Advised Fund
4 4
4 5
C U L V E R H O U S E
Insurance Day 2012
M o t i v a t i o na l s p e a k e r
headlines event
labama I-Day 2012 on Oct. 10 is
shaping up to be another major event
insight into today’s hot topics, along with
Elko: “I’ve been there when he delivers
other featured events,” Rabel said.
one of his famous talks and he really
for the insurance program at The
R. Ray Pate Jr., chairman of Alabama
University of Alabama’s Culverhouse
Insurance Day 2012 and president and
College of Commerce.
CEO of Assure Management Group, said
In addition, the Hon. Drayton Nabers
fires everyone up. I’ll never let anyone
else speak to my team.”
“This is always a great time for
one of the featured speakers will be Dr.
will reprise his presentation on ethics
members of the insurance community
Kevin Elko, one of the nation’s most
that drew rave reviews at I-Day three
to get together to re-establish contact
requested motivational speakers.
years ago. Nabers is a shareholder at
with old friends, gain new and useful
information
and
earn
“Dr. Elko’s inspirational addresses are
Maynard Cooper & Gale and has had
essential
sought after by Fortune 500 companies
a distinguished career. He has served
continuing education credits,” said Dr.
and major sports teams, including the
as chairman, president and CEO of
William Rabel, professor of finance and
Pittsburgh Steelers and The University
Protective Life; state finance director;
head of the insurance program.
of Alabama Crimson Tide,” Pate said.
and chief justice of Alabama.
“This year’s program is already shaping
Pate said UA head football coach Nick
up to be the best yet. Several leading
Saban has called Elko “the real deal.”
Donna
speakers have signed on to provide
He also said Saban has been attributed
[email protected].
with saying the following quote about
For registration information, contact
Keene
at
205-348-6513
or
Culverhouse College of Commerce
Box 870223
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0223
Change service requested.
nonprofit
u.s. postage paid
THE UNIVERSITY
OF ALABAMA
on a mission
The bar is being raised.
Page 2
T H E
C U L V E R H O U S E
NCAA BRAcket
c o m m u n i t y o u t r e ac h
Professors offer scheduling advice.
Accounting students mix learning
with service.
Page 16
C O L L E G E
Page 28
O F
C O M M E R C E
E X ECUT I V E
M A G A Z I N E
fall 20 1 2 – win ter 2 0 1 3
Volume 17 • Issue 1
contents
fa l l 2012–wi nter 2013
Volume 17 • Issue 1
http://www.cba.ua.edu
http://www.facebook.com/uabusiness
http://www.twitter.com/culverhouse
D ean
J. Michael Hardin
Ed i tor
William R. “Bill” Gerdes
Gr aph i c D esi gn
2
Culverhouse is on a Mission
The bar is being raised.
10
A cc o u n t i n g S t an d ar d s
London class provides insight.
12
B u s i n e s s A na l y t i c s
Red Square Agency
+
Sam Lober
Office of Design and Production
The University of Alabama
Program marks 10 years of success.
Co n tr i b u ti ng Wr i ter s
Bill Gerdes
Amanda Sams
Kyle Fondren
Charlotte Voss
Contr i b u ti ng
Ph otogr aph er s
Jeff Hanson
Bryan Hester
Zack Riggins
O f f ice o f D evelopm ent, Alu m ni
a n d Co r por ate Rel ati ons
Charlie A dair, Lindsey Blumenthal,
Kathy deShazo, Kyle Fondren,
Bill Gerdes, Ashley Gorman,
Diane Harrison, Amy Henderson,
April Robinson
Culverhouse College of Commerce
Box 870223
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0223
Comments, suggestions,questions:
205-348-8318
[email protected]
The University of Alabama is an equal-opportunity
educational institution/employer.
MC8357
15
16
Alumni News
N C A A B rac k e t
Professors offer scheduling advice.
2 0 G o o d J o b
MBAA honored for tornado-relief efforts.
C o l l e g e Sa v i n g s T i p s
22
Gary Hoover offers insight.
F ar - R e ac h i n g
24
28
31
Culverhouse spins wide web of business-school leadership.
C o m m u n i t y O u t r e ac h
Accounting students mix learning with service.
A cr e
New advisory board member, officers announced.
3 2 H i g h - F i v e
UA prepares champions on and off the field.
B u s i n e s s Ha l l o f F a m e
36
4 0 Pr i v ac y On l i n e
42
Five are 39th class of inductees.
How much will consumers divulge?
F ac u l t y Ha l l o f F a m e
Sterling, Misiolek and Barron are new inductees.
4 4 In s u ranc e Da y 2 0 1 2
Motivational speaker headlines event.
2
3
C U L V E R H O U S E
Culverhouse is on
a mission
t h e bar i s b e i n g ra i s e d , an d d e an H A R DI N ’ s
c u l v e r h o US e i s b e c o m i n g a f o r m i d ab l e f o r C e i n
2 1 s t c e n t u r y b u s i n e s s e d u ca t i o n
BY Kyle Fondren
or years, business schools have produced a workforce for the existing
landscape, but the mentality of “today” is no longer sufficient. Graduates
must be prepared to succeed in a world where business is moving faster than
ever before, and the foundation of relevance shifts forward every day.
To compete with other top-tier schools, Culverhouse must be in the business
of tomorrow.
When Dr. Michael Hardin was appointed dean at Culverhouse in August
2011, he found himself facing the same problem that CEOs all over the
world are dealing with: an aging, inefficient website structure; a dated
brand identity; and the advent of mobile devices as a powerful force in
brand discovery and Web standards.
“We found ourselves at a fork in the road that presented us with the
options of, for lack of a better term, duct taping new technologies
and branding on the old website or having the courage to start from
scratch and embrace the new Web and a new identity,” Hardin said.
“It takes a lot of courage to make that call.”
Hardin’s five-year goal for the College hinges on bringing
Culverhouse into the top 25 public business schools in the nation.
After an in-depth study by Dr. Bruce Barrett, professor of statistics
at Culverhouse, it was determined that the College’s weakest
areas in ranking criteria were in the more subjective areas of
recruiter perception, peer perception and visibility. To begin to
address the misconception, the College needed a new, bold way
of presenting to the world its culture of innovation, relevance and
rigor in its curriculum and programs.
“We needed an identity that mirrored our principles here at
Culverhouse. It must be true to our tradition, tasteful, elegant,
iconic and, at the same time, deliver that message in a way that
speaks to the 21st century,” Hardin said.
In early December, the College got in
touch with Red Square Agency, a Mobile,
Ala.-based creative and advertising firm
led by UA alumnus Rich Sullivan Jr., to begin
preliminary work on redesigning the College
website and branding.
4
C U L V E R H O U S E
“We’ve worked with Culverhouse for
sort of rogue materials that don’t support
brevity in content, calls-to-action and
many years, so I’m familiar with the
our
smaller site footprints have been shown
College,” Sullivan said. “It’s world-
attended to the most minute details.”
strategy
and
guidelines.
We’ve
to increase the value a user receives
from an experience with just about
class, and I feel very fortunate to work
In order to define a digital-age brand,
with Dean Hardin. My first impression
Hardin, Red Square and the Culverhouse
is that he is very, very intelligent. He’s
media team had to make sure that the
The project allowed the Culverhouse
a rocket scientist, right? But what’s
new website reflected and championed
site map to shrink from over 1,600
unexpected is how approachable he is.
the new direction in design, function
individual pages to 52.
He’s easy and fun to speak with because
and structure. The first challenge was
he possesses an innate curiosity that
evaluating the information architecture
page
makes him interested and conversant
of the previous site and determining
launched a state-of-the-art mobile site
in just about anything. And he’s got
where to start cutting pages and making
that mimics an “app experience” for
a defined vision for the future of
navigation more efficient.
phone and tablet Web browsers. Users
Culverhouse.
any website.
In addition to the streamlined home
and
navigation,
the
College
The old website structure was built
on mobile devices will find an even
“Our initiative seeks first to clearly
in a very Web 1.0 manner, when the
further simplified site structure offering
articulate Dean Hardin’s vision, then
general consensus on Web design and
easy access to news, events and faculty
state a single-minded creative strategy
content management was to put every-
profiles with tap-to-call and tap-to-
based
email functionality.
Sullivan
thing out there and let the user have a
said. “The design and executions are
upon
this
vision,”
vast landscape to explore. But today,
governed such that we will avoid any
the Web is moving in a direction where
Focusing on the architecture of Bidgood,
a graphic interpretation of the building’s
facade becomes the cornerstone of the
brand. The typographic treatment conveys
sophistication by combining a classic serif
typeface with a contemporary sans serif.
The theme of simplicity is also at the
core of the overall branding strategy.
Hardin’s five-year goal for the college hinges
on bringing Culverhouse into the top 25 public
business schools in the nation.
1. If you truly want to be serious about the
future, you build an optimized version of
your website for mobile devices. And that’s
certainly the case here, with streamlined
access to Culverhouse information.
2. More and more, students and business
executives are getting their news through
mobile devices, so it was crucial that
this was featured on the Culverhouse
mobile site.
3. Faculty members are all about connecting, both to students and the business
world. There is no more effective and immediate method than through mobile; calling
and emailing are a single touch away.
In order to define a digital-age brand, Hardin, Red Square and the Culverhouse media team had to make sure that the new website reflected
and championed the new direction in design, function and structure.
6
7
C U L V E R H O U S E
1
3
3
2
1
4
2
The Culverhouse website epitomizes what it means to be in the business of tomorrow — streamlined, fluid and intuitive with a
modern look. Call it a hub, a dashboard or a command center — the new home page gives users quick reads and simple access to
the core information on the site: (1) Recent news, (2) Upcoming events, (3) Department overviews.
Business news just evolved to an entirely new level. Users can collectively share articles right on the site, creating a potent news
source for everyone involved: (1) News categories, (2) Article archive, (3) News RSS feed, (4) Quick glance at articles.
8
9
C U L V E R H O U S E
“Simplicity is the result of thoughtful
a visual navigation cue to academic
Rankings and image are important
reduction,” Sullivan said. “It is not easy
content and a reminder of what section
parts of Hardin’s strategy, but the
deciding what stays and what goes. My
of the site a user is in. On campus,
heart of the effort lies in providing the
biggest role in all of the design was
students can be seen donning T-shirts
best possible education and placement
pushing our teams to continually take
with their academic glyphs, and each
opportunities
away the unnecessary in the hopes of
professor’s
Alabama’s students.
arriving at design and architecture that
indicates their specialty.
door
nameplate
now
“The
for
branding
The
and
University
of
website
fit
is simple, beautiful and intuitive. For
The glyphs, in concert with the new
together as a system. Having these
example, on the logo itself, we started
logo, are designed to produce a powerful
new methods will help to improve our
with the old mark and its very literal icon
iconography that can be easily identified
rankings, attract new employers to
of Bidgood Hall. Our firm designed this
as Culverhouse.
begin relationships with us, and help
several years ago. We decided to stick
“The College has a solid foundation
our students get better jobs and be
with Bidgood as the icon for the logo, but
and a tremendous history. Now, with
more satisfied with their experiences
pared it way, way back. This left a mark
Dean Hardin guiding the school, I think
here. This feeds back into our rankings
that is equally modern and traditional.
we’re going to compete consistently at a
and attracts competitive students to
That’s thoughtful reduction.”
higher level. There exists a mission and
consider The University of Alabama.
Another example of the simple,
a sense of urgency about it. In five years,
It all works together to improve every
forward-thinking Web and branding
Culverhouse will be in the national
aspect of what we do,” Hardin said.
practices is the set of glyphs designed
conversation regularly, an established
The bar is being raised, and the
for academic departments to identify
educational thought leader and ranked
Culverhouse College of Commerce is
themselves within the brand style.
appropriately,” Sullivan said.
becoming a formidable force in 21st
On the website, the glyphs serve as
century business education.
Rankings and image are important parts of Hardin’s strategy, but the heart of the
effort lies in providing the best possible education and pl acement opportunities
for THE Universit y of Al abama’s students.
A system of hieroglyphics gives each degree program within Culverhouse
its own identity. The illustration style of these symbols is in keeping with
the overall design of the Culverhouse logo, and each one visually represents
aspects of its corresponding program.
1 0
1 1
C U L V E R H O U S E
Accounting Standards
“London is the center of international
“The students were great,” Lopez
“As an accounting student it was
financial standards reporting activity,”
said. “They acted respectfully and took
interesting to actually discuss the GAAP
Lopez said. More than 120 nations
the trip and the coursework seriously.
versus IFRS topic with the head of the
and reporting jurisdictions require or
They were active and asked a lot of
IASB, as opposed to simply reading
allow the use of International Financial
questions. I was really pleased with the
through the textbook. Dr. Lopez kept us
Reporting Standards for preparation
way things turned out.” Eight of the 10
busy with sightseeing and class, and I
of financial statements. IFRS is a set
students were undergraduates and two
can honestly say I got more out of a week
The “Bi g Four” acco unt ing f irm s — Pric e wat e rho us e Co o p e r s,
of international accounting standards
were graduate students, including one
of class and class discussions than I
Deloi tt e & Touche, KPMG, a nd E rns t & Yo ung — can t rac e t he i r o r i g i n s
stating
Troy University graduate student.
expected,” Derzis said.
London class provides insight
back to London, a fact not lo s t o n Dr. T ho m as Lo p e z, p r o f e s s o r o f
acco u n t i n g , w h o r e c e n t ly l e d a 10- s t u d e n t g r o u p to Lo n d o n fo r
a n I n t e r n at i o n a l Acco u n t i n g P o l i c i e s a n d P r o c e d u r e s c l a s s .
how
particular
types
of
transactions and other events should be
The trip lasted 15 days, 10 of which
“Of course, touring the Guinness and
reported in financial statements. IFRS is
were spent on class or coursework. Five
Jamison factories had its benefits, as well,
issued by the International Accounting
days were spent in London where the
but examining differences in IFRS and
Standards Board.
students visited with KPMG executives
GAAP proved more interesting than I had
“The purpose of the trip was to familiarize
and visited the International Accounting
expected, and Dr. Lopez made it all the
accounting students with these topics so
Standards Board. They also attended
more worthwhile. I had a great time with
they are better prepared to participate in
classes at the University College Dublin
the group that came along and have made
a global business environment,” Lopez
to gain perspective on issues discussed
new friends with several future classmates.
said. The course included discussions of
in class and how those issues relate to
the complications that arise for investors,
accounting in the United States.
preparers, auditors and users of financial
statements
because
of
variations
accounting rules around the world.
in
Accounting student Will Derzis said
he enjoyed the trip for several reasons.
1 2
1 3
C U L V E R H O U S E
Business Analy tics
Pr o g ra m m ar k s 1 0 y e ar s o f s u cc e s s
the largest independent vendor in the
spent one year in the graduate program
said, verifying reports of the number of
business-intelligence market. The SAS
learning specialized training to use
graduates hired by Birmingham banks.
global-academic
what I had been learning the previous
His teammate is also a UA graduate with
two years,” she said, “and I probably
SAS certification. An appreciation of his
doubled my earning potential.”
post-graduate experience is evident as
teaching,
B y C h ar l o t t e V o s s
program
learning
and
supports
research
in
higher education, making it the perfect
partner to help Culverhouse graduates
successfully compete in the job market
“There are not many universities offering simil ar
programs today and if they do, the curriculum and
facult y have not been in pl ace long.”
that covets students with advanced
analytical skills.
Hardin credits some of the College’s
success in business-analytics to Jerry
Oglesby, senior director of Global
Academic
P ro g r a m s
and
— Mike Rowell
Vice President of Corporate Development, Alfa Insurance Co.
Global
Certification at SAS. Hardin and Oglesby
worked together to develop a program
to provide colleges with software that
Business analysts, such as Lambert,
he talks about his education. “You can
SAS uses for corporate training. SAS
collect and analyze data and communicate
do a program anywhere, but it’s the
allowed Hardin and his staff to adapt the
the information to assist management in
people, not the program, that makes it
popular tool for academic use.
making educated business decisions that
great,” he said. “Those people are your
a
can give the organization a competitive
friends for life, and if you have a need,
master’s degree in applied economics
advantage. According to the U.S. Bureau
you go to them and they come to you;
in 2005. As Hardin predicted, graduates
of
you form a relationship.”
who
Erin
Green
have
Lambert
analytics
received
and
Labor
Statistics,
employment
of
business
business analysts is expected to grow 41
degrees are in high demand. Lambert
percent through 2020, much faster than
Corporate Development at Alfa Insurance
is proof: BBVA Compass agreed to
the average for all other occupations.
Co.,
hold a position for her while she
Job prospects are even better for those
analytics team within the organization.
completed a four-month internship in
with master’s degrees.
The team’s assignment was to transition
Mike
Rowell,
was
tasked
vice
with
president
building
of
an
Washington, D.C. Business analytics
After earning an engineering degree in
the organization to an analytics-based
was sort of an unknown at that time,
India, Biju Abraham worked in his native
business. He needed staff with specific
but the bank created a new department
country. When he started his search for
business
intelligence
for Lambert and another Culverhouse
a graduate program, he was looking for
training.
The
business-analytics graduate. Quickly,
one that met specific criteria.
intelligence program was a natural place
management realized the value of its
new staff.
“I was adamant about getting a good
financial assistantship and one that
and
University’s
analytics
business-
to look for new team members.
“The University has a niche program
retail-business owner needed to
analytics training and SAS certificates.
the workforce with business-analytical
“Everybody started coming to us for
gave me a solid working experience
with
increase sales, but he didn’t know
And the market is asking for more
skills. He also wanted graduates to be
everything because they realized we can
while I was in the program,” Abraham
analytics, a growing area in business
graduates with the same training.
leaders in the same arena.
how to attract more customers. A friend
b u s in e ss
in te l l ig e n ce
and
do anything they wanted,” Lambert said.
said. “That is how I selected Alabama;
today,” Rowell said. “There are not many
with a noncompeting, successful business
“That’s why I’m so proud of what
Having dealt with large data files,
“We’ve gone from being specialized
no other school offered that good of
universities offering similar programs
shared his secret: He hired a University of
we’re doing here,” said Dean J. Michael
Hardin was impressed with SAS, a
to being a one-stop shop for getting
an experience.” Graduating with an
today and if they do, the curriculum
Alabama business-school graduate who
Hardin. “We were the first business
worldwide
information on anything you need.”
MBA in business intelligence, Abraham
and faculty have not been in place long.
understood business analytics.
school to offer this kind of program, and
offers the ability and speed to process
Lambert knows the graduate program
is a senior analyst at Regions Bank, a
Having a business-intelligence program
we are meeting a worldwide demand.”
large amounts of data. He became
prepared her for immediate success. “I
company that he said has “done a great
for almost a decade and a strategic
job recruiting at the University.”
partnership with SAS is instrumental to
During the last decade, 247 graduates
software
company
that
have left the Culverhouse College of
When Hardin joined the UA faculty
the first SAS alliance partner in the
Commerce and Business Administration
in 2001, he saw the need for graduate
state of Alabama. SAS is a leader in
“During the Iron Bowl season, this
with
students who could immediately enter
business-analytics software and is now
building is filled with Alabama fans,” he
master’s
degrees,
business-
UA’s success.”
1 4
1 5
C U L V E R H O U S E
Rowell hired Jason Thompson as the
director of analytics at Alfa. Thompson
is a UA graduate with an MBA/business
projects using graduate students in real-
airline traffic, car rentals and visitors
time business situations.
expected during the 2012 Olympics
The first corporate project occurred 10
in London. The students’ experience
was
years ago when an aluminum processing
is the result of the partnering of the
instrumental in hiring the additional
plant in Muscle Shoals, Ala., needed to
College/SAS Global Academic Program.
team members in the group. Thompson
improve quality control. Faculty and
McManus also taught SAS Enterprise
speaks from experience when he said
students studied the manufacturing
Guide at University College Dublin.
that he knows the value of graduating
process and data to develop a model
with an SAS certification. Of the five
that allowed the company to predict
Business
members on Alfa’s analytics team,
when the product may be defective.
brings corporate executives to campus
intelligence
concentration.
He
Gillespy named president
of Duke Energy’s South
Carolina Region
Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham,
general counsel for the Southern Co.
Ala.; a diploma in advanced international
operations and Southern Nuclear. She
legal studies from the McGeorge School of
was formerly vice president of charitable
Law in Salzburg, Austria; and a master’s
giving for Alabama Power and president
corporations
Clark Gillespy, a 1984 graduate of the
degree from European University in
of the Alabama Power Foundation.
represented at this symposium are
Culverhouse College of Commerce, has
Brussels, Belgium.
the most important players in the
been named president of Duke Energy’s
world in business analytics,” Hardin
South Carolina service region.
Each year, the institute sponsors the
Analytics
Symposium
that
three are graduates of UA’s business-
to discuss analytics and models in the
intelligence
business
or
applied-economics
programs. “Graduates of the program
come
in
with
SAS
and
predictive
modeling skills and are ready to work,”
Thompson said. “They are valuable from
day one.”
“Now everyone is jumping
on the business-analy tics
bandwagon. but UA has been
doing this for 10 years.”
Prior to joining the College faculty, Dr.
— Dr. Denise McManus
Denise McManus worked with Fortune
Director, Institute of Business Analytics
100 companies, including IBM, Boeing
and Motorola. Sharing her knowledge
of
telecommunications,
project
evaluation,
crisis
capitalrecovery
The experience gave the students
valuable experience before graduation.
world.
“The
Developers
Southern Co., including serving as an
Association, South Carolina Economic
attorney in the company’s Washington,
Utility
D.C., office. She has held leadership roles
Association,
in governmental affairs, environmental
Carolina
responsible
for
Economic
representing the company in its rate
Developers
and
Economic
of Homeland Security, AutoGov, PQC
managing state and local regulatory
and serves as a board member for New
affairs,
International, Alfa and State Farm.
and government relations, economic
Carolina and the North Carolina Military
development, generation, compliance,
The symposium also gives students an
development and community affairs.
Foundation. He is a member of the state
information technology and real estate.
opportunity to meet business leaders,
Previously, he served as vice president
bar associations of Alabama, Georgia
participate in job interviews and inquire
of
and the District of Columbia.
about internships.
development and territorial strategies
study a real problem and provide a real
McManus is proud of the College’s
academic career. Her experience helps
solution,” said Hardin, who participated
leadership role in business analytics.
her understand corporate executives’
in the project. “They could see how
“Now
complaints about the communication
the theory learned in the classroom
business-analytics
gap
technical
be
various positions at Alabama Power and
BBVA Compass, the U.S. Department
students was an easy transition to an
hard-core
will
During her career, Perry has held
Gillespy is a member of the North
included leaders from Sam’s Club, SAS,
“Our students had the opportunity to
between
Gillespy
said. The 2012 symposium speakers
and knowledge management with UA
employees and other staff. The business-
alumni news
regulatory
economic
initiatives
development,
and
for
business
for Duke Energy in North Carolina and
South Carolina.
Association
Development
and
Lufkin named managing
director at Morgan Joseph
TriArtisan
economic
and
community
Ginn named a partner at
Baker Tilly Virchow Krause
Kimberly Ginn has been named one of
the
In addition, Gillespy has been selected
bandwagon,”
to lead South Carolina when Duke
was applied in the real world and the
McManus said, “but UA has been doing
Energy merges with Progress Energy.
company benefited from the model.”
this for 10 years.”
In South Carolina, Duke Energy serves
Timothy B. Lufkin has been named
LLP. She is located in the Washington,
D.C., office.
everyone
is
jumping
on
12 new partners in the accounting and
advisory firm Baker Tilly Virchow Krause
took
From experience, Lambert sees major
more than 600,000 retail customers and
managing director in Morgan Joseph
College’s initiative of innovation, rigor
business-analytics students to Dublin,
growth in the demand for business
operates $3 billion in assets, including
TriArtisan LLC’s Industrials Investment
Ginn, a CPA, is a member of the Higher
and relevance to provide knowledge and
Ireland,
tools that help graduates communicate
Advanced
analytics
program
implements
the
In
summer
2012,
McManus
their
International
analytics. “It’s endless,” she said. “It
more than 6,818 megawatts of power
Banking Group. Lufkin, who has a 20-
Education and Research Institutions
Business
Analytics
will continue to grow. What I do is not
generation and distribution facilities. In
year career on Wall Street, was most
industry
data and models to other staff members.
course introduced them to analytics
industry-specific. Even though I work
addition, the company has about 6,000
recently a managing director in the
than 12 years of experience helping
McManus is director of the Institute
implemented by leading international
for a bank, I do stuff all day long I can
employees and contractors who live and
Industrials
Sponsors
organizations enhance their business
of Business Analytics. Led by a board of
companies. Students also researched
do anywhere. Graduates of the program
work in the upstate region.
Group at Cowen & Company. He earned
processes, reduce costs, design robust
directors made up of executives from the
complex
business
have
his UA degree in 1989
and
corporate world, the institute sponsors
solutions
used
an annual business-analytics symposium,
analytically
promotes the business-analytics program
history of the euro, British pound and
Charlotte Voss is a freelance writer who
site-selection
at conferences, and manages corporate
U.S. dollar; and analyzed data to predict
lives in Moundville, Ala.
practice of international law in both the
where
by
reviewed
problems
Guinness
the
and
Beer;
unlimited
potential
because
of that.”
five-year
Gillespy joined Duke Energy in 2004
and
Financial
practice.
compliant
has
more
infrastructures,
navigate
experience in economic development,
that affect higher education, research
and
the
United States and Europe.
Gillespy earned a bachelor’s degree
Perry named senior VP,
general counsel for Southern
Co., Southern Nuclear
federal
and
and has more than 25 years of combined
consulting
myriad
She
regulations
institutions and government contractors.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in
finance from The University of Alabama
(1995) and a bachelor’s degree in
in business administration from The
Leigh Davis Perry, a 1994 graduate of the
accounting
University
a
Culverhouse College of Commerce, has
Alabama at Birmingham. She is a
juris doctor from Samford University’s
been named senior vice president and
certified internal auditor.
of
Alabama.
He
holds
from
The
University
of
1 6
1 7
C U L V E R H O U S E
NCAA Bracket
Pr o f e s s o r s o ff e r s c h e d u l i n g a d v i c e
B y A m an d a Sa m s
rofessors Sharif Melouk and Burcu Keskin of the
reimbursing teams for travel expenses, the professors were
Culverhouse College of Commerce are admittedly big
motivated to design a mathematical model that optimizes
college basketball fans, cheering on their favorite teams —
team assignments by minimizing the distances teams must
Oklahoma State University and The University of Alabama,
travel to games and corresponding costs, according to a
respectively — each year, with hopes that they will get to
paper titled “Team assignments and scheduling for the NCAA
see them play and progress in the annual NCAA men’s
basketball tournament,” which they published in 2011.
basketball tournament.
“The goal is to increase tournament accessibility to fans
While March Madness is highly anticipated by countless
as well as lessen the financial impact to the NCAA while
fans each year, only a select few of these fans actually get to
maintaining the integrity of the tournament,” co-authors
see their teams play in the initial matchups of the tournament
Keskin and Melouk wrote in the paper’s introduction. “We
due to the high travel costs and hassle associated with
test our model against actual tournament assignments from
traveling, sometimes hundreds of miles from home, to watch
the past five years. Results show consistent and significant
the games. Also, the NCAA reimburses participating schools
cost savings and reductions in distance travelled without
for travel expenses to and from tournament game sites,
compromising the fairness and structure of the tournament.”
which may be unnecessarily far from a school’s hometown,
according to Melouk and Keskin.
Melouk said that this model presents a “win-win on
both fronts.”
After noticing declining fan attendance at tournament
“When teams play closer to home, there is a reduction in
games and an increasing financial burden on the NCAA in
costs, and more fans can go travel to see them play,” he said.
1 8
1 9
C U L V E R H O U S E
weekend of the tournament, whereas
However, the authors explained that
research
attempted
“Results show that a top four-seeded
the NCAA keeps a very closed book,
previous
to
team would have reduced its travel
and that they are doubtful that the
develop assignments over the entire
distance, on average, by 301 miles (one-
selection committee is even aware of
tournament and took hours to run.
way) to its game site,” the professors
their model yet.
The accompanying graphic shows the
concluded. “The model, over the same
“They don’t necessarily use a formal
assignment of the top 16 teams in the
five-year period, would have produced
model to determine where teams go,”
2010 NCAA tournament in terms of
an average savings of 36,773 miles.”
Melouk said. “They do a pretty good
actual assignment by the NCAA and
job, but we think they could do better.
assignment through use of the model.
“Inspection of Table 6 reveals that
The idea is that we can still maintain
the integrity of the tournament and get
the
teams closer to their home sites.”
the assignment (in terms of distance
model
maintains
or
improves
Keskin and Melouk used the table
to demonstrate that both lower and
higher seeded teams can be placed
closer to home while still maintaining
tournament integrity.
In 2012, the model suggests that
travelled) for 12 of the top 16 teams,”
“Overall, this accomplishes the goals
about 35,000 miles, or about 30 percent
according to the paper. “More importantly,
of making the tournament more fan-
of round-trip miles, could be saved by
we observe that the top eight tournament
friendly and lessening the financial
moving a few teams from one bracket
teams (i.e. the top two seeds in each
burden of the NCAA,” they said.
to another, with a reduction in costs of
region) maintain or improve their actual
about 20 percent, according to an ESPN
game site assignment.”
article on Keskin and Melouk’s research
that was published in March.
When
designing
the
optimization
model, the professors said they wanted
to
fan
said. “For example, teams from the
savings of 2,000 miles whereas the fan
attendance but were not willing to do
reduce
costs
and
increase
same conference can’t play each other in
base model assigns Louisville to Nashville
so by compromising the “integrity of
early games, and rematches of previous
for a distance savings of more than 4,200
Seed Game sites
Distance
Team Actual Model Actual Model Difference
the tournament.” As Melouk said in an
years’ tournament games should be
miles. Having a larger fan base helps
interview, following this model will still
avoided in the second and third rounds.”
Louisville’s placement in the tournament.”
1
Duke
Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville, FL
480
480
0
While abiding by NCAA tournament
While previous research has been
1
Kansas
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City, OK
317
317
0
rules, Keskin and Melouk’s model has
performed in the past to attempt to
1
Kentucky
New Orleans, LA
Milwaukee, WI
744
468
276
1
Syracuse
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo, NY
150
150
0
create a fair tournament, just a different
fair tournament.
“The selection committee creates
proven to provide considerable savings in
reduce
a seed list (1-68) used to assess
distance travelled over the actual NCAA
attendance in March Madness, Keskin
Kansas State
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City, OK
316
316
0
travel
costs
and
maximize
teams
assignments in the 2010, 2011 and 2012
and Melouk’s model is unique in that the
2
across the four regions of this national
tournaments across all three models:
algorithm runs fast enough to produce
2
Ohio State
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee, WI
458
458
0
results in approximately one second.
2
Villanova
Providence, RI
Providence, RI
284
284
0
“It accounts for the uncertainty on
2
West Virginia
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo, NY
285
285
0
competitive
balance
of
top
championship,” according to Selection
a weighted model, which accounts for
101, an NCAA website that breaks down
NCAA
preferential
consideration
in
the complex bracketology. “The seed list
placing higher seed teams closer to
Selection Sunday of who will actually
reflects the order in which teams are
home; an unweighted model; and a
make it to the tournament,” Melouk said.
3
Baylor
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans, LA
531
531
0
Georgetown
Providence, RI
Jacksonville, FL
405
712
−307
placed in the bracket. The committee
weighted model that also takes projected
“Essentially you can have all of these
3
must achieve competitive balance in
fan base into consideration.
contingency plans and run them all with
3
New Mexico
San Jose, CA
San Jose, CA
1047
1047
0
the model, receiving results within a few
3
Pittsburgh
Milwaukee, WI
Spokane, WA
553
2247
−1695
each region of the bracket.”
Keskin
explains
that
“The fan base estimates impact the
this
would
assignments,”
the
professors
wrote.
remain unchanged when using their
“For instance, Louisville was assigned to
optimization model.
Portland in the actual [2012] tournament.
seconds. This is very important.”
Keskin explained that the results
can
process
faster
because
their
4
Maryland
Spokane, WA
Providence, RI
2485
400
2085
4
Purdue
Spokane, WA
San Jose, CA
1909
2262
−354
Vanderbilt
San Jose, CA
New Orleans, LA
2266
532
1734
Wisconsin
Jacksonville, FL
Spokane, WA
1215
1648
−432
“Some considerations are actually
The preferential seed model assigns
model
of
4
established by the tournament,” she
Louisville to Albuquerque for a distance
team placement during only the first
4
focuses
on
optimization
This table reveals that the
model maintains or improves
the assignment (in terms of
distance travelled) for 12 of
the top 16 teams.
2 0
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C U L V E R H O U S E
Good Job
M B A A h o n o r e d f o r t o rna d o - r e l i e f e ff o r t s
CVS also presented Project Blessings
have been in the workforce for five or
and I think this is a perfect example of
with a check for $3,000 from its
more years may not be as motivated to
what can happen when we put some of
B y A m an d a Sa m s
corporate office in Rhode Island. Money
go out and volunteer.”
those skills to use.”
came pouring in from other places as
“This
project
absolutely
exceeded
Additionally, Ganey said that her project-
Members of The University of Alabama
well to aid the relief efforts, LSU’s MBA
my expectations,” said Zach Tanner,
management
Master
of
Business
and
business-strategy
Administration
program hosted a car wash to help
community service coordinator for MBAA.
classes helped prepare her to manage and
Association student chapter mobilized
Tuscaloosa recover and sent Ganey a
“I remember near the end of the day
organize such a large group of volunteers.
to raise $7,000 for long-term-tornado
check for nearly $400 to donate to the
when we partnered with CVS, I stepped
“It just speaks to our character as
relief in the aftermath of the devastating
relief efforts. The UA MBAA members
back and looked around at the sheer
business students,” she said. “We put
storms that pummeled Tuscaloosa in
unanimously decided to donate $1,000,
number of people we had working on
into use everything they have taught us
2011 and won the Community Service
which they had previously allocated for
that house. There were MBA students,
about social responsibility, ethics and
Project of the Year award for their efforts.
a graduation party to be held the night
CVS employees and volunteers from
character building. It felt really good
that
after the tornado, to the American Red
the local service organization Project
to help out and know that we made an
MBAA donated to local charities was
Cross. Finally, MBAA donated $4,000, its
Blessings everywhere, all working on
impact on the community.”
The
grand
total
of
$7,000
a culmination of one major service
project and several smaller fundraising
efforts, all sponsored within six months
vice president, Thomas Ganey, was
“We put into use every thing they have taught us
about social responsibilit y, ethics and character
building. It felt really good to help out and know
that we made an impact on the communit y.”
interning at CVS Pharmacy in Rhode
— Elizabe th Gane y
of the time that the natural disaster
struck. The first project, which students
referred to as Teaming Together for a
Good Cause, was inspired while MBAA’s
Island during the summer of 2011.
“One day an executive at CVS asked
Thomas how they could help with the
entire profit from its annual charity golf
something different. It was amazing the
cleanup efforts,” said Elizabeth Ganey,
tournament, to Project Blessings for
transformation after just that one day
MBAA president. “They offered to give
tornado relief instead of funding student
of working on that house. New cabinets
us $3,000 to sponsor a cleanup project.
Georgia’s MBA program to clean up
student volunteers for an even bigger
scholarships. Ganey said it is incredible
were on the wall, the entire house and
Meanwhile, the University of Georgia’s
debris under Project TeamUp.
project: to remodel four different houses
that so many students came to help out
the shed outside had a fresh coat of paint,
across Tuscaloosa under Project Blessings.
just because they wanted to give back
and walls that had been destroyed had
and serve the community.
been patched and replaced. It was almost
MBA program reached out to me to see
“It wasn’t the most glamorous work
what they could do to help Tuscaloosa.
to be in the sun moving tree branches
“One family was present during some
Thomas and I put our heads together
to the side of the road, but we all felt so
of the remodeling, and the looks on their
“Our
program
along with our community services
accomplished when we looked back at the
faces was worth all the blood, sweat, and
students
can
coordinator, Zach Tanner, and started
end of the day into an empty field,” Ganey
tears we put in that day,” Ganey wrote on
undergrad, while many MBA programs
Ganey and Tanner said that their
planning a weekend full of volunteering
wrote on the project description form
the nomination form. “The family whose
require members to have at least five
education in the UA business school
and teamwork.”
used to nominate MBAA for the service
house we put the most work into is one
years of work experience to be eligible
prepared them well when undertaking
tor n ad oes
project award. “Houses will be rebuilt on
of only four houses left standing by
to join,” Ganey said. “I think this was an
these major service projects.
Tu s caloos a ,
those sites, and it felt so amazing to be a
what used to be Hobby Lobby. Knowing
advantage in the tornado-relief efforts.
part of someone’s dreams.”
Fo ur
mo nt hs
demo lis h e d
much
af ter
of
more than 110 MBA students from the
is
join
unique
straight
in
out
that
of
surreal to think that was the same house
we set to work on that same morning.”
“First of all, this wouldn’t have
what used to be there and knowing that
Many
Culverhouse College of Commerce and
CVS employees from local stores, as
we were again a part of something so
straight out of sororities and fraternities
reaching out to the management at
Business Administration joined forces
well as those from the distribution center
amazing was such a great experience
where they are used to volunteering all
CVS to get the ball rolling on this
with students from the University of
in Bessemer, Ala., joined more than 180
for all of us.”
of the time. They then look to get really
project,” Tanner said. “Our program
involved in MBAA, whereas people who
puts a lot of emphasis on networking,
of
our
students
are
coming
happened
without
Thomas
Ganey
2 2
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C U L V E R H O U S E
College Savings Tips
“A 529 pl an offers parents great
advantages in that they can be
used nationwide. In fact, you need not
be in the state you invest your funds in
and send your child to school at
an entirely different state.”
Gar y H o o v e r o ff e r s i n s i g h t
On e of the bi g personal financ e top i cs of t h e la st
y e a r h as be en the skyroc keting co st of h i gh e r
e d ucati on. It’s a big top ic beca use we’r e ta lk i ng
en o r m ou s s u ms of money. Student s a r e gr a duat i ng
w i t h an abs urd level of student loa n de bt, ve r y
l i ttle i n s av i ngs, and w ith the re ce nt fa i lur e of a
m otion to e xtend low c ost loans, co st s a r e p r ob a b ly
n ot c om i ng bac k dow n anytime soo n.
We reached out to some experts to
Q: Once a child gets accepted into
active
try to gain greater insight into these
college, the thought of paying for it
academic scholarships are available,
issues. We spoke with Dr. Gary Hoover,
can be frightening. What can parents
there is no reason that the decision
Professor of Economics and Assistant
do beforehand to help their chances at
of administrators should be an easy
Dean of Faculty and Graduate Student
getting financial assistance?
one.
Development, Ph.D. at The University
high
By
school
getting
student.
good
When
grades
and
being actively engaged in high school
of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of
A: Parents should be willing and able to
activities, students make themselves
Commerce. He’s the William White
wade through a mountain of paperwork.
more
McDonald Family Distinguished Faculty
In the end, it might not help but has
scholarships. If there are more students
Fellow and has published papers in
to
of
than money, good. Make administrators
Q: A g re e o r d i s a g re e : 5 2 9 c o l l e g e
a result, parents need to do their
Q : B a c h e l o r ’s d e g r e e s a r e q u i c k l y
the American Economic Review P&P,
funds are available until the source is
do their jobs. However, if grades are set
s a v i n g s p l a n s a re t h e w a y t o g o .
homework and investigate their plan.
becoming a baseline necessity and not
Southern
Public
extinguished. In which case, it is best
and no scholarships are coming, savings
Choice, Journal of Economic Literature,
to get all necessary forms in early.
habits (which will last a life-time) can be
A: I mostly agree but not entirely. A 529
Q: Are parents eligible for any college-
graduate education costs into their
International Tax and Public Finance,
These will definitely include income
set by contributing monies from after-
plan offers parents great advantages
savings tax deductions?
savings plan?
Applied Economics, and the European
statements. Making direct contact with
school or summer jobs.
in that they can be used nationwide. In
Journal
We
personnel in the financial aid office is
fact, you need not be in the state you
A: There actually are. The details are
A: No. Good performance in undergraduate
reached out to him to get a better idea
always a good idea. You cannot address
invest your funds in and send your child
complicated to explain but the tax
learning can help to defray costs of
of what parents can do to help their kids
an issue that you are not aware of and
benefits vary if the funds are kept in
advanced degrees. By helping to pay for
save for college.
who better to know the ins and outs of
“By getting good grades
to school at an entirely different state.
and being actively
Given that these plans are typically
certain Education Savings Bonds or
an undergraduate degree, parents have
either something like an IRA or 401k
the various state 529 plans. Special
allowed their children time to concentrate
engaged in high school
(which can go up or down in value) or a
attention should be paid to maximum
and hopefully receive grades that will
activities, students
prepaid plan, I would probably think the
contribution limits which allow initial
allow them to receive advanced degrees at
make themselves more
latter is a better option than the former.
contributions to be larger. In addition,
reduced or no costs.
However, my hesitancy to fully endorse
parents should be aware that funds for
attractive for partial or
these plans is because all plans are not
only “qualified” education expenses can
Article printed from Bargaineering :
full schol arships.”
created equally. Some are well managed
be withdrawn without paying taxes but
http://www.bargaineering.com/articles
while others are facing difficulty. As
that varies also.
Economic
of
Political
Journal,
Economy.
be
attempted.
Certain
types
financial aid better than people working
in the area?
Q: How best can a prospective student
contribute to their college savings plan?
A: The best thing that a student can
do to help with college costs is to get
good grades and be an engaged and
attractive
for
partial
or
full
a perk; should parents include post-
Culverhouse spins wide web
of business-school leadership
By Amanda Sams
endowed chair holder and then as an
Howard had the skill set to make a huge
administrator during his time there. At
difference in the development of the
Culverhouse provides a strong foundation
FGCU, Finch also served as a department
college of business at FGCU,” Weeks said
for business academics.
head, an associate dean and an acting
of his decision to recruit Finch to join the
“Without question, I feel that I received
dean and also helped in all aspects of
FGCU faculty. “We needed someone who
an outstanding foundational knowledge
the design, construction and funding of a
could mentor junior faculty, do a great
base in finance and economics at UA,”
new business-school building.
job in the classroom, be a productive
he said. “The faculty stressed a clear
Fin ch
a g re e d
with
We e ks
th a t
Th e Cu lv e rhouse Co llege of Co mm e r ce
“First of all, (former) Dean Barry Mason provided a
“His leaving was a huge loss for FGCU
scholar and build relationships in the
understanding of the seminal thought
a n d Bu s i ne ss Administration has lo ng
wonderful example of how to provide servant leadership. He
and we miss him, but I think he will be
business community. All of these things
pieces
always put the University, Culverhouse College and all of its
a great dean for Samford and the Brock
are second nature to Howard.”
when I graduated, I was grounded in the
stakeholders ahead of himself, and that is something I try to
School,” said H. Shelton Weeks, chair
Weeks has known Finch since 1988,
theories which form the basis for asset
b ee n
a
m a jor
provider
of
qua li t y
b us i n e ss e ducation as evidenc e d b y
in
financial
economics,
and
remember each day,” said Finch, who earned his doctorate in
of the department of economics and
when they studied together in The
pricing, modern portfolio theory, capital-
i t s lon g li s t of notable and hi gh ly
finance in 1992. “Additionally, the Alabama business tradition
finance at FGCU.
University of Alabama business school.
structure theory, agency problems and
s u c ce ss fu l alumni.
taught me that the institution is greater than any single
Weeks said Finch’s biggest contribution
“Our training at the Capstone was
individual. Thus, my role is to lead and manage in such a
to the field of business is the impact
outstanding,” said Weeks, who earned
The UA business program is structured
signaling, and option-pricing theory.”
In fact, as incoming freshmen come to Culverhouse this
way that when my time here is complete, the Brock School is
he has on students, which ranges from
his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral
to cover a variety of topics, and Finch
fall, a number of their predecessors have gone on from The
a better place for the next generation of business students,
teaching and giving career advice to
degrees from UA. “Perhaps the greatest
said he attempts to structure the
University of Alabama to acquire high-profile positions as
faculty and staff.”
developing
deans of other business schools.
and
value comes from the foundation in
Samford business program in much the
Before becoming dean at Samford in 2011, Finch spent
building relationships with the business
academic
programs
economics that underlies everything
same way.
Howard Finch, a UA alumnus who now serves as dean of the
nine years on the faculty at the University of Tennessee at
community that enhances the students’
we do. We were fortunate to have some
“My experience and subsequent
Brock School of Business at Samford in Birmingham, said he
Chattanooga, rising through the rankings and learning to be a
educational experiences.
excellent faculty who cared a great deal
impressions since graduation is that
attributes much of his success to his outstanding business-
successful university teacher and researcher. He then spent
“In addition to being a great friend
about the program and the quality of the
the Culverhouse College of Commerce
school education.
11 years at Florida Gulf Coast University, serving first as an
that I enjoyed working with, I knew that
education that they were delivering.”
and Business Administration provides
2 6
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C U L V E R H O U S E
in Tuscaloosa had some influence on her
have to be a self-starter and a very
returning to do graduate work here.”
motivated person.”
Robicheaux said her dad, a former
Robicheaux said that the UA faculty
and students enriched her experience
s i g n i f i c a n t ly i n d e v e l o p i n g m y
as a doctoral student, as well.
u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f m a n a g e m e n t
dean because she was one of the best
a n d h e l p i n g m e t o a p p r e c i at e
teachers and researchers in the business
the practice of management
program,” he said. “Sara is also greatly
to serving as a faculty leader.
“I found UA’s business school to be
“He is very level-headed and good at
a very friendly environment,” she said.
mitigating conflicts,” Robicheaux said.
“It was not a cut-throat competitive
“He never has a personal agenda and is
environment like you find in some PhD
respected by his peers and students. He
programs. All of the PhD students
is also very calm under pressure.”
wanted everyone else to succeed, and
She has met many graduate students
we all worked together. Still today, many
t h r o u g h o u t m y c a r e e r .”
— Dr. Byron Che w
dean who hired him at FGCU; and John
at conferences who introduce themselves
of the PhD students stay in contact with
greatly
that
breadth,
Fulmer, Finch’s first department head
and share a story about a time when they
each other, co-author papers together
Culverhouse
teaching technical skills together with
and later the associate dean at the
needed help and her dad helped them
and help with job placement.”
managerial insights and perspective,”
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga,
out, years after the fact.
Finch said. “That is a model we want to
who also earned his doctorate from The
emulate at the Brock School of Business
University of Alabama.
depth
and
at Samford, and I believe we are doing
so very effectively.”
“The relationship my dad has with the
graduate students in his department is
Monaghan Professor of Management.
“ S h e wa s a g o o d ca n d id a te fo r
loved by multiple groups of stakeholders.
Students think she is wonderful. She
has all the bases covered, and she is a
natural leader and representative of the
Now as a dean herself, Robicheaux
students with a business education
both
at Birmingham-Southern College and
A l a b a m a e d u c at i o n h e l p e d
professor of marketing at UA, is
definitely her role model when it comes
has
explained Dr. Byron Chew, former dean
“My University of
admires
aspects
business
business program.”
of
the
program
such
graduated from the UA business school,
In
addition
to
Robicheaux,
Chew
as the women’s mentoring program,
proof that the Culverhouse network
She said her favorite professors at
which was developed for undergraduate
extends far and wide, encompassing
Culverhouse were Dr. James Ligon, her
students, and the way that the college
current and former business leaders.
dissertation chair, and Schlesinger.
maintains contact with alumni. Just as
He graduated in 1971 with a doctorate
At Culverhouse in particular, Finch
one I try to emulate with all the students at
“Both are outstanding teachers, and
faculty at Culverhouse go above and
in business administration and held
said he was fortunate to study under a
Birmingham-Southern,” Robicheaux said.
I gained a lot of knowledge in every one
beyond to help their students, Robicheaux
various positions in teaching and
Kathy, Finch’s wife of nearly 30 years,
number of outstanding faculty members.
said she believes that her husband is
“Patricia Rudolph was my dissertation
effective as a dean not only because of
his knowledge and business expertise
She
was
of
of their classes,” Robicheaux said. “Dr.
said she constantly strives to enhance the
leadership at Birmingham-Southern
Birmingham-
Schlesinger taught my all-time favorite
educational experience of all students at
College, serving as a dean partner in
adviser, and I learned the value of discipline
Southern College in 2011. Previously,
class, microeconomics. It was that
Birmingham-Southern College.
the business program from 1996 to 2002
and perseverance in research from her,”
Robicheaux
associate
class that convinced me that I wanted to
“To be effective at this job, you cannot
but also because he has a compassionate
Finch said. “Robert Brooks taught my
professor of finance and economics at
become a college professor and stay at
be worried about losing it,” Robicheaux
“My University of Alabama education
heart and is a good listener.
investments seminars, and he defined rigor
Birmingham-Southern and as a visiting
Alabama to get my Ph.D.
said. “If all your decisions are based on
helped significantly in developing my
business
appointed
programs
at
served
the
as
dean
before his retirement.
“Howard is one of those people who never
and depth of theoretical understanding
assistant professor of finance at the
“Dr. Ligon would read my dissertation
what will make you popular and well-
understanding
meets a stranger,” she said. “He is friendly
behind the models and numbers. Carolyn
University of North Carolina Kenan-
drafts and have detailed feedback to me in
liked, then you are not doing your job. It
helping me to appreciate the practice
and always has an encouraging attitude.”
Carroll taught me empathy in dealing with
Flagler Business School.
But, she said her husband’s greatest
accomplishment is their family.
students and colleagues.”
In addition to these, Finch listed other
of
management
and
less than 48 hours. He was amazing. Even
is certainly important to hear all sides
of management throughout my career,”
Robicheaux said she loves her current
after graduating, Dr. Ligon continued to
and opinions, but when it comes down to
Chew said.
position as dean of business programs
work with me on publishing articles and
it, to be a college administrator you have
“We have two very successful children,
professors who played key roles and
at
remained as responsive to my questions
to make business decisions.”
Ashley, a graduate of the Culverhouse
influenced him, including Dr. James
attributes some of her professional
However, in spite of the fact that
early commitment to the importance of
School of Accountancy, and Austin, a
Cover, Dr. Robert McLeod, Dr. H.K. Wu, Dr.
success to her experience as a UA
Robicheaux sometimes has to make
internationalization and inculcated this
National Merit finalist who will be attending
Harris Schlesinger and Dr. Billy Helms.
business student.
unpopular decisions, Helms said his
to students in the 1970s when then Dean
daughter always tries to treat people fairly.
Paul Garner made the UA business
The University of Alabama this fall.”
Helms,
head
of
the
Birmingham-Southern,
and
she
economics,
“While I do not believe the education
as when I was a student in his class.”
He remembers and admires that the
UA business school demonstrated an
She said her husband has the gift of
finance and legal studies department at
in and of itself prepared me for my
“She listens to other people,” he said.
program known worldwide. Chew also
teaching and leadership, which he uses
UA, also greatly influenced his daughter
role as a dean, I think the personal
“She’s modest about her own ideas and is
said the faculty members were very
in all of his roles as father, professor
Sara Helms Robicheaux in her pursuit of
relationships
willing to consider other peoples’ input.”
talented, and he fondly remembers his
and dean.
business. She earned her doctorate in
faculty members who taught me and
Finch
c re d i t s
his
I
developed
with
the
Robicheaux
can
easily
make
mentor, Dr. William Bennett.
p ro fe ss i o n a l
finance from Alabama in 2000 and now
served on my dissertation committee
connections outside of the business
“The University does a great job of serving
success to his opportunity to work
serves as the dean of business programs
helped me to mature and prepared me
program because she was a student
the citizenry in the state of Alabama,” Chew
with great people. He said he owes a
at Birmingham-Southern College.
for interactions with future colleagues,”
and professor at Birmingham-Southern
said. “It has a three-pronged mission,
debt of gratitude to two mentors who
“I have been at UA for 39 years,”
she said. “The dissertation process is
College
the
standing for teaching, research and service,
were instrumental in preparing him to
Helms said. “I am sure that growing up
also a very independent project, and I
culture of the institution, which allows
and it has always fulfilled its mission in
find to be good at administration, you
her to be empathetic when issues arise,
each of these areas.”
become a dean: Richard Pegnetter, the
first
and
understands
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C U L V E R H O U S E
Communit y Outreach
A cc o u n t i n g s t u d e n t s
m i x l e arn i n g w i t h s e r v i c e
B y A m an d a Sa m s
This past spring, accounting instructor
The
40
students
in
McKinney’s
Lisa McKinney’s goal was to teach
accounting class in the Culverhouse
the students in her service-learning-
College of Commerce and Business
accounting course about tax software and
Administration each donated more than
the basics of tax returns, while helping
40 hours of their time, McKinney said.
the community at the same time. The
“Students were trained to use tax-
honors class was a component of the
preparation
SaveFirst Tax Preparation Initiative, which
simple tax returns at SaveFirst sites
is sponsored by UA’s Center for Ethics
located directly in communities of need
and
Social
Responsibility.
software
to
complete
SaveFirst
and then traveled to these communities
uses volunteers to provide income-tax
to provide the service,” McKinney said.
assistance. It is the largest campus-based
“This was a very significant course to
initiative of its kind, according to Stephen
most of them. They all describe how
Black, director of CESR.
much they got out of it and how they
“During our sixth season, 137 UA
were really changed by it.”
undergraduate and law students worked
McKinney evaluated the students’
at free tax preparation sites across the
performances throughout the semester,
state to prepare over 3,200 returns for
which culminated in a final paper
working families — helping them to
detailing their volunteer experiences
secure $5.8 million in tax refunds and
with SaveFirst.
saving them $960,000 in commercial
“My experience with the SaveFirst
tax preparation fees,” Black wrote in
program was very rewarding,” Rebecca
an email about the program as the
Jones wrote in her final paper for the
semester came to a close. “Statewide,
course. “At first, I chose this program
UA students collaborated with more
because I thought that it would be
than 300 additional students from more
the best choice for my grade in Mrs.
than twelve campuses to assist 5,157
McKinney’s
low-to-middle-income families. In total,
did I know that the experience would
our volunteers helped these Alabamians
substantially increase my knowledge
to claim approximately $9.2 million in
about
refunds and to simultaneously save an
my
estimated $1.5 million in commercial
population. It was refreshing to get off
tax preparation fees.”
campus, away from the classroom, and
tax
accounting
filing
perspective
and
on
the
class.
also
Little
change
low-income
Lisa McKinney
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C U L V E R H O U S E
help those who need it most. From this
We had some difficulty determining
stereotypically a boring subject into
program I will take away new skills,
her filing status because she had told
one that is intriguing, humorous and
knowledge, and understanding about
us that the three of them pooled their
thought-provoking.”
the government process of tax returns.
incomes together for expenses. Her
I will also take away the experience
situation was heartbreaking.
McKinney said she agreed to teach
this service-learning course because
that I had interacting with low-income
“She had a low four-figure income and
taxpayers and getting them the refund
only received about $50 back from her
Black’s
that they deserve.”
taxes,” Jones recalled. “When I told her
she knew would be “meaningful and
she wanted to be a part of Stephen
SaveFirst
initiative,
which
Acre
N e w a d v i s o r y b o ar d m e m b e r ,
o ff i c e r s ann o u nc e d
successful.” This was her second time
to teach the course, and she said she
“In total, our volunteers helped these Al abamians
to cl aim approximately $9.2 million in refunds and
to simultaneously save an estimated $1.5 million
in commercial tax preparation fees.”
wants to teach it as many times as
—Stephen Black
were very touching. All feedback was
“Our advisory board of trustees is a vital part of ACRE,”
very, very positive. Clients were vocally
said Grayson Glaze, executive director of the Alabama
thankful, some leaving in tears.”
Center for Real Estate.
CESR Director
possible in the future.
ynn Corder, a founding partner in The Builders Group of
“The satisfaction for me came from the
West Alabama, a firm that specializes in residential home
enormously significant experience each
building, has been named to the advisory board of trustees
student had in the program,” she said.
of the Alabama Center for Real Estate at The University of
“Their papers explaining their experience
Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce.
Jones said McKinney is by far one of
the amount, I thought that she was going
Hill said the class not only taught
“The board members represent a vast wealth of knowledge
the best teachers she has had in the
to be upset. However, she was actually
him more about tax accounting but also
of all facets of the real-estate industry, and we are grateful that
business school, and her guidance was
quite happy about it. Her situation really
helped develop his character and social
they are willing to share it with us and all of our constituents.”
a big factor in Jones’ decision to change
opened my eyes to how I take everything
skills by pushing him out of his comfort
her major to accounting.
that I have for granted. It set the tone for
zone to work with people he otherwise
homebuilders’ associations. He served as president of
the rest of my time there.”
would not have met. Hill estimates that
the local chapter, and he chairs the Regulatory Affairs
he personally helped 10 clients over the
Committee and sits on the executive board at the state level.
course of the semester.
At the national level, Corder is a member of the Production
“She was very engaging with her
lectures and made the material very
Jones said the course made her grateful
easy to understand,” said Jones, a junior
for her opportunity to pursue higher
who is now majoring in accounting.
education at The University of Alabama.
“SaveFirst taught me the true value
Corder
is
active
in
the
local,
state
and
national
Builders Committee.
“Her sense of humor kept it interesting.
Francis “Tre” Nisi, another student,
of an education,” Hill said. “It also was
He is a member of the Tuscaloosa Electrical Examining
She is also quite helpful outside of the
said he also enjoyed the service-learning
a key factor in convincing me to change
Board. He holds a real-estate-broker’s license, a residential
Chambers, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., is vice president of
classroom and truly has a desire to see
portion of the course because it gave
my major from finance to accounting.
homebuilder’s license and a general contractor’s license.
Westervelt Communities, a division of the Westervelt Co.
her students excel in their futures.”
him valuable experience in filing tax
It is a program that I will continue to
He sits on the boards of the Home Builders Association of
Prior to joining Westervelt Communities, Chambers owned
returns and provided the opportunity to
be involved in each year while at The
Tuscaloosa, First National Bank of Central Alabama, West
a construction-management business. He is responsible
help different people in the community.
University of Alabama.”
Alabama Hospice and the DCH Construction Board.
for developing and maintaining business relationships in
Jones
explained
that
while
the
material was challenging, McKinney
had a way of putting it into context
“I would most definitely recommend
that students can understand. Jones
this class to a friend or anyone for that
also said that the service-learning
matter due to the superb teaching and
experience with SaveFirst opened her
variety of lab options,” Nisi said. “She
eyes to a lot of issues, such as poverty
(McKinney) definitely lived up to her stellar
Tillman is a 1980 graduate of The University of Alabama
in the community.
“I
distinctly
taxpayer
that
I
Glaze also said Hal Tillman Jr. was elected the 2012 chair
of ACRE, and Tom Chambers was elected vice chair.
Tillman, of Birmingham, Ala., is president of Tillman Realty LLC.
He was recognized as the 2009 Alabama Realtor of the Year.
residential and commercial real estate.
Chambers is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the
Home Builders Association of Tuscaloosa and the National
Association of Realtors.
ACRE,
housed
within
UA’s
Culverhouse
College
of
reputation. She is an amazing teacher.”
with a degree in finance. He is a real-estate broker, property
Commerce, collects, maintains and analyzes the state’s real-
remember
the
first
Davis Hill, a junior double majoring
developer and chairman and qualifying broker of Tillman
estate statistics. It is a resource for Alabama real-estate
helped
during
the
in accounting and Spanish, also said
Real Estate. Tillman has received Certified Property Manager
research, education and outreach that includes hosting its
SaveFirst program,” Jones said. “She
McKinney has been his favorite teacher
of the Year, Birmingham Realtor of the Year and Alabama
annual Alabama Commercial Real Estate Conference and
was a sweet elderly lady whose only
in the business school.
Realtor of the Year awards. He is a former president of the
Expo. The center, established in 1996, acts as an industry
Birmingham Association of Realtors and a former member
liaison for business-school students pursuing a career in
of the National Association of Realtors board of directors.
real estate by providing interaction with real-estate alumni.
source of income was a substitute
“Her teaching techniques are the
teaching job. She lived in government-
best I have seen,” he said. “She relates
paid housing with her two adult children.
to her students and makes what is
3 2
3 3
C U L V E R H O U S E
High-Five
U A p r e p ar e s c h a m p i o n s
o n an d o ff t h e f i e l d
B y A m an d a Sa m s
here are 24 students walking
that I’ve learned in the classroom that
a ro u n d
I have been able to relate to football.”
the
C u lv e r h o u s e
College of Commerce with national
championships under their belts.
Tinker learned what it truly means to
be a member of the Culverhouse family
Tinker said Ellinger and Dr. Ron Dulek,
professor of management, are his favorite
teachers because of their passion, energy
and enthusiasm in the classroom.
The Culverhouse College of Commerce
after a tornado tore through Tuscaloosa
“Dulek along with Ellinger and, I’d say,
and Business Administration at The
on April 27, 2011, killing his longtime
the majority of our professors genuinely
University of Alabama generates more
girlfriend, Ashley Harrison, and landing
care about our students — not only their
than just research and statistics. Year
him in the hospital with serious injuries.
education but their futures,” Tinker said.
after year; it also produces champion
student-athletes.
Eighteen
football
players,
one gymnast and two softball players
are majoring in some area of business,
all
are
members
of
Tinker said that his biggest motivation
for success, both in academics and
three
members of the women’s golf team,
and
“Dr. Alex Ellinger came and saw me
every day while I was in the hospital,”
national
championship programs. They are part
of 111 student-athletes enrolled in the
Eighteen football pl ayers, three members of the
women’s golf team, one gymnast and t wo softball
pl ayers are majoring in some area of business, and all
are members of national championship programs.
business school.
And some of them attribute part of
their success to their education at the
Tinker said of the management and
Culverhouse College of Commerce, from
marketing
the professors who helped them juggle
his wife with him on some occasions,
sports and academics to the lessons
and she brought me brownies. That
learned from classmates with varied
obviously meant a lot to me. Dr. Ellinger
and diverse backgrounds and even to
has so much devotion and affection for
the challenging course materials.
his students and the business school.
professor.
“He
brought
“Football and business go hand and
“I feel like this is what make this
hand with each other,” said Carson
school great. Ellinger would have gone
Tinker, the football team’s long snapper,
to see any of his students. He went
who received his bachelor’s degree in
around and worked in the community as
marketing in May 2012 and plans to
well, as I’m sure a lot of our teachers
start his master’s degree in marketing
did. And no one ever hears about this
in August. “Things like competition,
kind of stuff. They didn’t do it for the
strategy,
attention; they did it because it was the
leadership,
competitive
advantage and culture are all things
right thing to do.”
Carson Tinker
3 4
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C U L V E R H O U S E
in football, comes from a piece of
Tinker has a lot of “dream jobs,” but
advice from head football coach Nick
he currently aspires to be a marketing
Alabama is something that I dreamed
Saban. “You’re either hungry or you’re
consultant after completing his
about as a kid and fortunately those
satisfied. You can’t be both,” the three-
master’s degree.
dreams came true,” Ogilvie said. “Also,
“Obviously
playing
football
for
me that would not have been open
Patterson, daughter of gymnastics
otherwise,” he said.
Another
coach Sarah Patterson, said she chose
academic
and
athletic
UA because it is in her blood.
champion, Brooke Pancake, graduated
time National Coach of the Year told
from
degree
here my whole life, so I grew up around
his team, according to Tinker. And the
in marketing in May after winning
this University,” Patterson said. “I used
numerous awards and leading the UA
to go to all of the softball games, and
women’s golf team to its first national
I remember wanting so badly to be
championship. Now a professional golfer,
like those girls. When I got older and
Pancake said she is extremely grateful
started thinking seriously about college
for everything that The University of
and academics, I realized how great of
Alabama and the Culverhouse College of
a business school UA has. This school
that I have written down and I want to
“I felt like I was able to better cope with
situations on and off the field because of the
analy tical skills I learned in the business school.”
see all of those goals through. I’ve made
—Morgan Ogilvie
athlete took this advice to heart.
“I’m hungry; I’m hungry to do everything
I want to do,” Tinker said. “I have goals
those goals for myself, in my handwriting;
Tinker’s teammate Morgan Ogilvie,
with
a
Commerce provided. She said she would
had everything I wanted, so when Coach
I knew that I wanted to pursue a career
not have made it to the position she is
Murphy (head softball coach) called and
I’m not going to let myself down.”
In addition to football and school,
Culverhouse
“My parents have coached gymnastics
who
in business, and since Alabama has a
in without the support and motivation
asked me to join the team there was not
Executive Business Council and is the
graduated with his bachelor’s degree in
reputable business school, I thought that
of the business-school family, including
one thing to think about. This is where
assistant to the executive vice president
August 2011 and is currently pursuing
Alabama would be a good fit for me.”
her favorite professors: Ellinger, and
I’ve always wanted to be.”
for the Student Government Association.
his master’s degree in finance, has
Tinker said he is willing to do whatever
spent five years as a business student
Ogilvie achieved recognition on the
and has played on the last two national
President’s List for his grades, won
“Now that I am at the end of my
Tinker
serves
as
president
of
the
it takes in order to achieve his goals.
a
Crimson
Tide
quarterback
As
an
undergraduate
student,
Drs. Louis Marino and Glenn Richey Jr.,
Patterson said she has been blessed
both professors of marketing.
Brooke Pancake
with the opportunity to receive a great
education while playing the sport she
“Everyone has the same amount of
championship teams. He agrees that
the Business Executive Award and
amateur career and pursuing my career
me to be appreciative of hard work and
loves. “Softball has taught me that
time in the day,” he said. “It’s all about
it’s all about time management and
joined the Business Honor Society
further as a professional, the marketing
made me proud to be a part of something
winning comes to those who chase it with
time management. You have to be able
has mastered the art of balancing
and
honor
school has taught me how to network and
bigger than myself,” Pancake said. “We
every fiber of their being,” Patterson said.
to sacrifice some of the things you would
school and sports.
society Omicron Delta Kappa. He also
put myself in a good position since being
had to push through and fight till the
“You can’t just go through the motions
frequently participated in the Christian
a professional consists of a lot more than
end and never give up.”
and expect greatness. You have to fight for
organization Campus Crusades.
just playing the game,” she said.
like to do, like sleep, in order to get your
school work done.”
“Being on the football team teaches
you discipline, and that always helped
prestigious
senior
Academically,
Pancake
said
Softball player Jordan Patterson, a
it and fight hard. School is no different. I
me when working on something for
“My biggest motivation in sports and
that
junior double majoring in accounting
can’t just go to class and expect to make
school,” Ogilvie said. “Also, I think
football was to glorify Jesus,” he said.
she learned the most from her GBA
and marketing, helped her team bring
A’s. I have to put the work in.”
that being on the football team helped
“Also, I wanted to do well and be happy.”
490 course, which challenged her and
home a national championship, as well.
motivate me to want to do well in all
To achieve these goals, including the
encouraged her to embrace everything
“I think that this past season and
success that has followed his collegiate
she had learned during her four years in
winning
He said he learned that hard work
football career, Ogilvie often relied on
the business school.
has taught me a lot of life lessons,”
offers the best opportunity for success
lessons he learned from business courses.
She said she also learned a great
Patterson said. “It sounds cheesy, but
through football and winning national
“I felt like I was able to better cope
deal from extracurricular pursuits
hard work really does pay off. Even if it’s
championships, although it does not
with situations on and off the field
outside of golf, including membership
not in the way you imagined, it always
necessarily guarantee it.
because of the analytical skills I learned
in
pays off in some fashion.”
areas of my life.”
the
Fellowship
of
Christian
the
national
championship
“I knew that at the end of the day, as
in the business school,” Ogilvie said.
Athletes, the senior women’s honor
Patterson did just that these past two
long as I knew that I gave my best effort,
“My ability to analyze either a problem
society and Emerging Tide Leaders,
years and has been on the President’s
that I would be content and happy,”
or situation improved.”
Ogilvie said.
and as the Southeastern Conference
List with a 4.0 every year. She is also a
He said that his favorite professor
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
member of Phi Eta Sigma honor society.
But playing for Coach Saban was not the
was Dr. Robert Brooks, professor of
representative for the golf program.
She explained that the work ethic
only deciding factor for Ogilvie when he
finance, because Brooks challenges his
And of course, Pancake took away
she developed through softball has
chose to attend UA. The business school
students. Post graduation, Ogilvie plans
many
transferred to her academics, and she
attracts a number of talented athletes
to get a job in investment banking.
championship this year.
who want to gain a quality education as
Morgan Ogilvie
the
well as pursue their sport of choice.
lessons
from
the
team’s
“Both my undergrad and graduate
“Winning the national championship
degrees will help open doors for
and being a part of a team has taught
plans to eventually attend law school.
Jordan Patterson
3 6
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C U L V E R H O U S E
Business Hall of Fame
financial stress, and he led the company
Five are 39th class of inductees
Construction
is
a
major
player in domestic and international
dramatic restructuring and a successful
markets,
spinoff of Total Systems Services, its
facilities, federal courthouses, high-
credit-card-processing subsidiary.
tech research and development centers,
Civic
Five distinguished business leaders will be
inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of
Fame on Nov. 1 in Birmingham, Ala., at the Cahaba
Grand Conference Center. The reception will
begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the induction
ceremony and dinner at 7 p.m.
Caddell
through two major capital raises, a
affiliations
have
included
prisons,
including
hospitals,
U.S.
diplomatic
airports,
hotels,
being president of the Birmingham
power plants, manufacturing facilities,
Kiwanis Club; captain of the Monday
military barracks and an even longer list
Morning Quarterback Club; a member
of unique specialty projects.
of Leadership Birmingham; a member
He earned a bachelor’s degree in
of Leadership Alabama; a member of
building construction from the Georgia
The University of Alabama President’s
Institute of Technology and attended
Cabinet; a member of the Culverhouse
Ha r va rd
College of Commerce and Business
program, the University of Virginia’s
Richard E. Anthony was chairman
Administration’s board of visitors; and
advanced management program, and
and
Financial
director of the Economic Development
the Top Management Briefing Course
The five will be the 39th class of inductees.
Corp., a regional banking company
Partnership of Alabama. He also led the
provided by the American Management
“Each of these business leaders has certainly left
headquartered in Columbus, Ga., with
United Way Campaign in Columbus and
Association. He also attended Officer
their mark on their community, their state, in fact the
banking offices in Georgia, Alabama,
was chairman of the Columbus Chamber
Engineer
world,” said J. Michael Hardin, dean of The University of
South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee.
of Commerce.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio,
Richard E. Anthony
Retired Chairman of the
B o a r d a n d C EO o f S y n o v u s
Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business
CEO
of
S y n ov u s
He received his bachelor’s degree
Anthony served on the board of directors
Administration. The College Board of Visitors founded the
in
of
of the American Bankers Association, the
Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 1973.
finance
from
The
University
B u s in e ss
Technical
S ch o o l’s
School,
AMP
USAF
and served two years in the United
States Air Force.
Alabama and his master’s in business
Financial Services Roundtable and Total
“Each inductee has demonstrated hard work and vision in
administration from the University of
Systems Services Inc.
their chosen fields, from banking to finance and insurance to
Virginia. His banking career began at
in 1952. He was promoted to vice
construction and engineering.”
AmSouth Bank, where he served as
president of Blount in 1963 and assumed
Caddell began his construction career
as an estimator with Blount Construction
The hall honors the names and accomplishments of more
executive vice president. As a co-founder
duties of president and CEO from 1969
than 130 men and women who are some of the state’s most
of First Commercial Bancshares in 1985,
to 1983. Under Caddell’s leadership,
distinguished business leaders.
he helped lead the company’s expansion
Blount was responsible for some of the
“The history of the Business Hall of Fame reaches back to
into the Alabama cities of Birmingham,
largest and most challenging projects
1973 and honors the names and accomplishments of some of
Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and Huntsville,
in the world and attained a position of
the state’s most distinguished business leaders, people such as
using its Jasper community banking
international prominence.
George Washington Carver, William Albert Bellingrath, the late
presence as a foundation.
Mildred Westervelt Warner and William H. Blount,” Hardin said.
For ticket information to the Alabama Business Hall of
Anthony
was
president
He established Caddell Construction
of
First
Co. Inc. in 1983, which has since
To be eligible for selection, a person must by his or her
Fame or to purchase tables, contact Diane Harrison, director
Commercial Bancshares when it merged
emerged as one of the most respected
business accomplishments brought fame and honor to the
of alumni and corporate initiatives at the Culverhouse College
with Synovus in 1992. He became vice
general
state of Alabama. He or she should have made a significant
of Commerce, [email protected], 205-348-2930.
chairman of Synovus in 1996, overseeing
contractors
in
the
nation.
Caddell Construction has completed
impact on the development of community and state by
The 2012 inductees are Richard Anthony, of Birmingham,
S y n o v u s’ b a n k i n g o p e r a t i o n s . I n
John A. Caddell
promoting the free enterprise system and entrepreneurship,
chairman of the board of Synovus; John A. Caddell, of
2003 he became president and chief
and by demonstrating civic leadership, philanthropy and
Montgomery, Ala., former president and CEO of Blount
operating officer, then assumed CEO
Chairman of the Board of
Caddell Construction
humanitarianism toward their fellow citizens.
more than $7 billion in public and
private projects and received multiple
national
honors
from
construction
Construction; T. Michael Goodrich, of Birmingham, former
responsibilities in 2005. In 2006 he was
Nominees must be retired for three years or more or be at
chairman and CEO of BE&K; James S. Holbrook Jr., of
named chairman and CEO. His service
J o h n A . C a d d e l l , o f M o n t g o m e r y,
premier contractor for U.S. embassies
least 65. A continuing list of nominees is maintained, and each
Birmingham, chairman and CEO of Sterne Agee Group Inc.;
at Synovus concluded in April 2012,
was
Blount
and consulates worldwide, including the
year new names are added for consideration. Nominations
and Grace E. Pilot, of Mobile, Ala., chairwoman of the board
when he retired as a board member.
Construction and later founded Caddell
U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and is among
from anyone are welcome.
of Pilot Catastrophe Services Inc.
Construction, where he currently serves
a handful of U.S. general contractors
as chairman of the board.
with
Following are brief biographies of the 2012 inductees.
His
leadership
responsibilities
at
Synovus covered a tumultuous period of
industry peers. Caddell has become a
president
and
CEO
at
the
sophisticated
management
3 8
3 9
C U L V E R H O U S E
and technical systems to effectively
He is a longtime supporter of the
remained at the helm of the investment
of Alabama that serves business programs
Alabama
direct this type of especially challenging
Boy Scouts of America, has served
bank for 22 years since the consolidation
accredited by AACSB International.
and the American Society of Women
project.
on its national board since 2001 and
of Sterne, Agee & Leach Inc., its
and
Accountants. She is a recipient of the
was chairman of the Greater Alabama
securities firm, with First Birmingham
development of the business community,
Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award
Securities Corp., the company Holbrook
Holbrook currently serves on the board
given to members who show exemplary
operated from 1970 to 1990.
of directors and the executive committee
leadership in the United Way and the
Caddell
Construction
was
recently
To
encourage
the
growth
Baptist
Children’s
Home
ranked by the Engineering News-Record
Council
as the 88th largest U.S. general contractor,
president of the Associated Builders
the 28th largest U.S. design and build
and Contractors and a member of the
Holbrook has kept the company’s
for the Birmingham Business Alliance
community. In 2005 Pilot was honored
prime contractor, and among the top 30
National Academy of Construction. He
headquarters in Birmingham, providing
and in 2008 served on the board of
by Beta Sigma Phi as the first lady of
“Green” contractors nationwide.
is a member of Leadership Birmingham
economic sustainability and employing
trustees for the Birmingham Regional
Mobile for her ideas and commitment
and Leadership Alabama.
more than 400 residents of the city and
Chamber of Commerce. He is also a
to others through her daily acts of love,
friendship and generosity.
Caddell served as president and board
member of the Montgomery chapter
of the Associated General Contractors
and was a member of the Montgomery
T. Michael Goodrich
F o r m e r C h a i r m a n a n d C EO
of BE&K
AmSouth Bank board of directors. He
in
2000.
He
is
a
former
He has been active with the Birmingham
suburbs and more than 500 statewide.
member of the Alabama Council of
Civil Rights and Eisenhower Fellows. He
The company employs 1,300 people and
Economic Education board and serves
The E. Grace Pilot Private Foundation
is a member of the President’s Cabinet
operates across the United States.
on the Robert E. Reed Gastrointestinal
supports her efforts to create a positive
Oncology
change in the communities in which
at The University of Alabama and the
Holbrook began his affinity for the
is a lifetime board member and past
T. Michael Goodrich, of Birmingham,
President’s Council at The University of
investment world after receiving his
president of the YMCA and a member
was chairman and CEO of BE&K, a top
Alabama at Birmingham.
bachelor’s
of the Montgomery Area Committee of
engineering and construction company
100. He has also served as a member
headquartered
The
of the board of the Alabama Baptist
company is now part of Houston-based
72, and is a member of the Alabama
Foundation, the board of the Montgomery
construction giant KBR. BE&K provided
Academy of Honor and the Alabama
area United Way, the advisory board at
engineering and construction services to
Engineering Hall of Fame.
Auburn University at Montgomery, the
large, complex industrial and commercial
advisory board for the Georgia Institute
projects throughout the world.
of Technology and the board of trustees
in
Birmingham.
During Goodrich’s tenure as CEO, the
degree
she lives and to contribute to causes of
corporate board.
He has been a longtime member
eternal value. The foundation provides
Goodrich served as a captain in the
finance from The University of Alabama.
of the Newcomen Society, Alabama
financial support primarily in the areas
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1971–
His first role was in the Public Finance
chapter, and the Tocqueville Society of
of education, community needs and
Group at R.W. Knight & Co. in 1966.
the United Way.
Christian ministry.
his
business
Fo u n d a t i o n
and
Throughout
in
R e s e a rc h
career,
he
has
She has served as special adviser
served on the board of governors for
to the president of Howard Payne
Goodrich is a member of South
the National Association of Securities
University in Brownwood, Texas, and
Highland Presbyterian Church where he
Dealers (now FINRA), and he was vice
has been a generous benefactor to
has served as an elder and a deacon.
chairman of the National Business
that university. In 1994 Howard Payne
company had major offices in Wilmington,
Conduct Committee. During that time
University honored her with the highest
In 1998 he received the Distinguished
Del.; Birmingham; Raleigh, N.C.; Houston,
Holbrook also served on the Corporate
honor given by a university with an
Alumni Center Achievement Award from
Texas; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg,
Finance
Sanctions
honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.
the Georgia Institute of Technology
Russia; and Kwidzyn, Poland.
Guidelines Committee, the Statutory
In 2010 Grace Chapel on the campus of
Disqualifications Committee and the
Howard Payne University was named in
Executive Committee.
her honor.
at Samford University.
College of Architecture. He was selected
Goodrich
graduated
Tulane
Contractors as the 2004 recipient of
degree in 1968 and received his law
At one point, he served as chairman
Pilot and her late husband, Walter D.
the Cornerstone Award for outstanding
degree from The University of Alabama
of the District No. 5 Business Conduct
contributions
in 1971.
Committee. Holbrook is also a member
E. Grace Pilot
Pilot Sr., founded the Pilot companies —
of the SIFMA Regional Firms Committee
Co-founder of Pilot
Catastrophe Services Inc.
construction
civil
from
University
the
a
engineering
the
by the Alabama Associated Builders and
to
with
Committee,
industry and elected to the Associated
He serves on the board of directors
General Contractors of Alabama Hall of
of First Commercial Bank, Synovus
Fame in 2005. In 2010 he received the
Financial Corp. and Energen Corp.
Frank Plummer Memorial Arts Award for
Following his service at BE&K, Goodrich
outstanding support and contributions
started Goodrich Management Co., an
to the fine arts from the Montgomery
investment management company.
Business Committee for Fine Arts.
Goodrich received the NOVA award
and Management Roundtable.
working from their home the first years
Holbrook’s civic involvement includes
James S. Holbrook Jr.
C h a i r m a n, P r e s i d e n t a n d
CEO of Sterne Agee Group Inc.
of business — which now has grown
into the nation’s largest catastropheadjusting firm. Today, Pilot Catastrophe
being a member of The University of
E. Grace Pilot, of Mobile, is the co-
Services Inc. employs thousands of
Alabama President’s Cabinet, a member
founder of Pilot Catastrophe Services
employees in and outside of Alabama,
the Alabama Business Hall of Fame board
Inc. and also serves as the secretary
with the corporate office located in
of directors, a past chairman of the board
and treasurer. She has been active with
Mobile and additional offices located
throughout the country.
of visitors of the Culverhouse College of
the company in various capacities since
and the Excellence in Construction
James S. Holbrook Jr., of Birmingham,
Commerce and Business Administration
its inception in 1983.
Cornerstone Award from the Associated
is currently chairman, president and
and
Commerce
Pilot was born in Choctaw County, Ala.,
Builders and Contractors.
CEO of Sterne Agee Group Inc. He has
Executives Society. In 1999 Holbrook was
and is the third eldest of 10 children.
grandchild. She is a current member of
made honorary member of Beta Gamma
She is an active and past member of
Luke 4:18 Fellowship Church.
Sigma, the honor society at The University
many
from the Construction Innovation Forum
a
member
of
the
organizations,
Pilot is the mother of five children,
including
the
16
grandchildren
and
one
great-
4 0
4 1
C U L V E R H O U S E
rofessors at The University of
Alabama,
Troy
University
and
With identity fraud and the increasingly open
Internet growing, consumers seem less likely to
provide personal information online. For e-commerce
and online marketers, this is a roadblock to the
and, in theory, easier to achieve,” said
consumers’
provide
Katherine Lemon, Accenture Professor
Loyola Marymount recently published a
sensitive information, firms should be
at Boston College and editor of the
reluctance
to
paper in the Journal of Service Research
vigilant in obtaining the least amount of
Journal of Service Research . “More firms
that examined the factors that affect a
sensitive information possible, while still
can follow Google’s lead to redesign their
consumer’s willingness to reveal basic
effectively marketing to their customers.
websites and privacy polices so they
and sensitive personal information online.
“They also should note the importance
can encourage customers to willingly
The researchers found four basic
of building trust in their firm, as well as
factors that individually or in combination
providing consumers control to the use
affect the likelihood that consumers
of the information, before attempting to
disclosure
divulge personal information.
obtain this information,” she said.
overcoming
disclose additional information.”
In
recognizing
the
and
the
of
difficulty
of
consumer
concerns,
Some firms are already changing
firms should consider matching their
divulge and therefore less likely to
their websites to conform to what the
information requests to the specific
be disclosed.
research has found. Google recently
needs at hand.
2. Giving consumers control over how
changed its privacy policy to emphasize
their information will be used by
a consumer’s control over the personal
to
the firm can increase disclosure,
information they share as well as the
app ro p r ia te , ”
Mo th e rs b a u g h
particularly if that information is
perceived benefits of Google using
“Firms
consider
sensitive in nature.
such information. Privacy tools give
information
consumers
“A
one-size-fits-all
in fo r ma tio n
must
strategy
g a th e r in g
needs
and
is
both
the
not
s a id .
their
privacy
to
concerns of their various consumer
provide enhanced Web benefits can
protect privacy” through features like
segments and request the least sensitive
increase disclosure, particularly if
encrypted searches, incognito mode
information
the firm also enhances consumer
in
marketing to each of those segments.”
control and lowers consumer-privacy
and general personalization opt outs,
concerns specific to their website.
according to Google.
Chrome,
“meaningful
choices
off-the-record
chatting,
possible
Additionally,
for
firms
customer-privacy
effectively
can
concerns
mitigate
if
they
4. Web strategies that lower privacy
“Our new policy simply makes it clear
improve perceptions of their website
concerns can increase disclosure,
that we use data to refine and improve
through factors that increase consumer
particularly when the requested
your experience by getting consumers
trust, such as obtaining privacy seals
information is sensitive.
better search results, ads and other
and strengthening corporate reputation,
content,” Google’s website states.
according to the journal article. By
“While the acquisition of sensitive
information is often the goal of online
marketers,
our
research
suggests
This is, or should be, the goal of
any website.
tweaking websites to increase consumer
trust and control, and by making the
that control, customization and trust-
“New privacy policies and features to
customer service and market research on which
building activities to reduce privacy
help users control personal information
marketers
they thrive. So what makes consumers more willing
concerns are critical to convincing
will help make such goals transparent
essential consumer data.
to provide their personal information?
burdens
1. Sensitive information is riskier to
3. Customizing the Web experience to
How much will
consumers divulge?
at Culverhouse, stresses that given
benefits of customization salient, online
can
more
easily
gather
consumers that it is in their best interest
to divulge such information,” said David
Mothersbaugh, one of the authors of the
study and a professor of marketing at
the Culverhouse College of Commerce
A copy of the article “Disclosure Antecedents in an Online Service Context: The Role of
and Business Administration at The
Sensitivity of Information” by Mothersbaugh, Foxx, Beatty and Wang can be viewed at the
University of Alabama.
Sharon Beatty, another author of the
paper and a professor of marketing
Journal of Service Research website: http://jsr.sagepub.com/content/early/recent. Author
contact: David L. Mothersbaugh, PhD, Cassell Faculty Fellow in Marketing, The University
of Alabama, [email protected] or 205-394-2871.
4 2
C U L V E R H O U S E
4 3
Faculty
Hall of Fame
of the Future.
Sterling, Misiolek and Barron
are new inductees
hree retired faculty members were
Sterling received a bachelor’s degree
studies coordinator for economics and
recently inducted into the Culverhouse
from DePauw University and a doctorate
finance and as an area coordinator for
College of Commerce and Business
from Michigan State University. He is a
economics. As senior associate dean,
Administration Faculty Hall of Fame.
certified public accountant and served
Misiolek was responsible for academic
The new members are Dr. Jay U.
on the board of directors of Mark VII
programs, financial affairs and day-
Sterling, professor of marketing; Dr.
Inc., one of the nation’s largest, third-
to-day operation of the Culverhouse
Walter Misiolek, professor of economics
party-logistics-service companies, until
College, faculty-development programs
and former senior associate dean;
its sale to EXEL in 1999. Sterling taught
and strategic planning.
and Dr. F. Hutton Barron, professor of
logistics,
management,
Barron earned his bachelor’s degree
management science.
financial dimensions of marketing and
from Davidson College, his master’s
marketing-management
for
degree in mathematics from Brown
hall of fame are excellent examples of the
20 years at both the undergraduate
University and his doctorate from the
type faculty we have at the Culverhouse
and
was
University of Pennsylvania in 1970. He
College of Commerce,” said Dr. J. Michael
responsible for developing the overall
served as head of the department of
Hardin, dean. “Each has an excellent
marketing plan and framework for the
management
record as a scholar, as a researcher and as
University’s Tide Pride football-priority-
from 1983 to 1998. Before arriving at The
a dedicated public servant. I congratulate
seating program, plus its Skybox and
University of Alabama, Barron taught
them on their selection.”
Zone Club levels.
management
“These three inductees into the faculty
supply-chain
graduate
levels.
courses
Sterling
science
science
and
and
at the University of Kansas’ business
person must have served at least 10 years
chemistry from Miami University in Ohio
school. He is well-known for his work
as a member of the Culverhouse College
in 1968. From 1968 to 1971, he worked at
in the field of decision analysis and has
of Commerce faculty, been on retired
Copperweld Steel Co. in his hometown
had articles published in a number of
status for at least three years before
of Warren, Ohio, where he served as a
research and scientific journals, including
being elected, and served the College in
quality-control chemist and as claims
Decision Sciences Journal, Operations
such a way as to better the faculty, staff
metallurgist. He completed his master’s
Research and Management Science.
and students. The College’s Faculty Hall
degree
of Fame Committee maintains a list of
University in 1972 and his doctorate in
eligible retirees and seeks nominations
economics from Cornell University in
each year from that list.
1976. At UA, he served as a graduate-
from
To learn how a donor-advised fund at The University of Alabama
can fulfill your ongoing commitment to philanthropy, call
888-875-4438 or visit us online at http://daf.ua.edu.
statistics
Misiolek earned a bachelor’s degree in
economics
How can you make this happen? Establish a donor-advised
fund at The University of Alabama. You recommend
grants to support public charities dear to your heart. Like
those active in the arts, education, health care and human
services. The fund is similar to a charitable foundation,
minus the administrative burdens. You receive an
immediate tax deduction and investment alternatives that
provide choices on how your fund can grow.
statistics
To be eligible for the hall of fame, the
in
Imagine that you changed the future. That with your help,
someone became a teacher who turned at-risk students
into high achievers. Or a professor who discovered a
medical breakthrough.
Miami
The Donor-Advised Fund
4 4
4 5
C U L V E R H O U S E
Insurance Day 2012
M o t i v a t i o na l s p e a k e r
headlines event
labama I-Day 2012 on Oct. 10 is
shaping up to be another major event
insight into today’s hot topics, along with
Elko: “I’ve been there when he delivers
other featured events,” Rabel said.
one of his famous talks and he really
for the insurance program at The
R. Ray Pate Jr., chairman of Alabama
University of Alabama’s Culverhouse
Insurance Day 2012 and president and
College of Commerce.
CEO of Assure Management Group, said
In addition, the Hon. Drayton Nabers
fires everyone up. I’ll never let anyone
else speak to my team.”
“This is always a great time for
one of the featured speakers will be Dr.
will reprise his presentation on ethics
members of the insurance community
Kevin Elko, one of the nation’s most
that drew rave reviews at I-Day three
to get together to re-establish contact
requested motivational speakers.
years ago. Nabers is a shareholder at
with old friends, gain new and useful
information
and
earn
“Dr. Elko’s inspirational addresses are
Maynard Cooper & Gale and has had
essential
sought after by Fortune 500 companies
a distinguished career. He has served
continuing education credits,” said Dr.
and major sports teams, including the
as chairman, president and CEO of
William Rabel, professor of finance and
Pittsburgh Steelers and The University
Protective Life; state finance director;
head of the insurance program.
of Alabama Crimson Tide,” Pate said.
and chief justice of Alabama.
“This year’s program is already shaping
Pate said UA head football coach Nick
up to be the best yet. Several leading
Saban has called Elko “the real deal.”
Donna
speakers have signed on to provide
He also said Saban has been attributed
[email protected].
with saying the following quote about
For registration information, contact
Keene
at
205-348-6513
or
Culverhouse College of Commerce
Box 870223
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0223
Change service requested.
nonprofit
u.s. postage paid
THE UNIVERSITY
OF ALABAMA
