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Pair of College of Business faculty honored at University Day

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Each year as the start of school approaches, the faculty and staff of Oregon State University take a moment to celebrate and honor the achievements of the past year at University Day.

Dr. Ed Ray, Oregon State University president, told a record turnout at the LaSells Stewart Center that while the Oregon State community has begun to reach many goals — including the coming completion of the Campaign for OSU — there is still much to do to continue pushing OSU forward.

“Today marks the promise this new year holds,” Ray said.

This year two College of Business faculty members — both associate professors of finance — were honored at the event for their work over the past year.

John Becker-Blease earned the OSU Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, honoring unusually significant and meritorious achievement in teaching and scholarship which enhances effective instruction. The award recognizes those who combine the ability to impact students in the classroom as well as produce original and nationally-recognized research. In 2011 Becker-Blease was the first professor in Oregon named the Aspen Institute Faculty Pioneer in the Rising Star category.

Dave Berger received the Promising Scholar Award, recognizing the scholarship of junior faculty. The award highlights faculty members who have achieved a high level of accomplishment in a relatively short time at Oregon State. Since joining Oregon State Berger has been published in Applied Financial Economics, the Global Finance Journal and the Journal of Financial Economics among others.

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SDHE alumna gets VIP invite to Portland Fashion Week

Growing up, Aleigha Larrondo was always the one family and friends turned to when in need of fashion advice.

It’s something the 2006 Oregon State Fashion Merchandising graduate still loves to do, just now for a few thousand more friends.

In 2011 Larrondo decided to see if she could help others create their own personal style and started MyFashionistaStyle.com. Two years and nearly 8,000 YouTube subscribers later, Larrondo’s made a name for herself as someone with a key eye for style and knowledge of the industry.

http://youtu.be/m8aTOe7adso

Now that social media success has helped her earn a spot on the Portland Fashion Week Style Collective, a group of Portland fashion industry influencers invited to cover the event and given VIP access to shows and the designers themselves.

“Helping women, and providing support and inspiration to those lost in the fashion madness, are why I do what I do,” Larrondo said. “Oregon State’s degree really helped me gain such an understanding of the fashion world and how things are directed and made.”

That understanding helped her make one of her favorite videos, “Size is Just a Number.”

Larrondo used her knowledge of the fashion industry and the manufacturing and marketing of garments to explain the sizing system in women’s fashion. She explained how women could use that information to buy clothes that fit and looked better.

She’ll bring that perspective to her time at Portland Fashion week, which runs Sept. 12-14 at the Portland Convention Center, with events around the city Sept. 15-20.

Larrondo wrote she “just about hit the floor” when told of her selection for the collective, in part because of a new feature of the event.

This year’s Portland Fashion Week will be the first to have plus-sized and “Sample Sized” models walking the same runways and not in separate shows.

“This means it won’t be specific shows for Plus Size, then regular — it’s going to be mixed,” Larrondo said. “I think diversity is what makes life beautiful — in all capacities and genres.  So this is an industry first, and I will be witnessing it from the front row!”

Larrondo will also be partnering with plus-size clothing line Lane Bryant during the event, including a meet-and-greet at the Cascade Station Lane Bryant Sept. 18.

You can follow all of Larrondo’s Portland Fashion Week experiences at MyFashionistaStyle.com, her inspiration blog, YouTube channel, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.

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Three student ideas selected for Oregon State Venture Accelerator

Lyndsay Toll (right) explains her website BuyBott at the 2013 Oregon State CEO Summit.
Lyndsay Toll (right) explains her website BuyBott at the 2013 Oregon State CEO Summit.

The life of an entrepreneur isn’t always easy, but it never lacks for excitement.

Lyndsay Toll was reminded of that recently as she waited to hear whether her startup, BuyBott, would be one of the first picked to join the Oregon State University Venture Accelerator.

Toll graduated from the College of Business in June. She and co-founder Darren Marshall started BuyBott, a website that simplifies online shopping and enhances social interaction, while the pair were students at Oregon State.

They applied to the Venture Accelerator hoping to take the business to the next level.

“Thoughts were running through my head,” Toll remembered about the wait. “If we don’t get in, how are we going to carry this forward? Will we still have the same momentum? What are our next steps without the Venture Accelerator?”

The Venture Accelerator announced the first business to join August 6. BuyBott was one of three ideas developed by College of Business students to be accepted.

“I remember being able to finally breath deep again,” Toll said. “It was a moment of giddy excitement and relief. I remember spamming friends, family and fans. It was a great moment and definitely a high point in our history.”

Joining BuyBott from the College of Business are Multicopter Northwest and PlayPulse.

Multicopter Northwest, started by incoming Oregon State junior Michael Williams, builds small helicopters capable of producing aerial photography up to 400 feet in the air.

OSU students Ryan Connolly, Andy Miller, Zack Anderson and Hannah Vincent developed PlayPulse. The startup measures engagement of video game players by using biometric sensors. Both Connolly and Vincent are from the College of Business, with Connolly also an intern with the Venture Accelerator before graduating from OSU this June.

It’s the type of student buy-in John Turner, an instructor at the College of Business and co-director of the Venture Accelerator, loves to see.

Launched earlier this year, the Venture Accelerator — part of the Oregon State Advantage initiative — is designed to provide support and guidance to businesses and technologies at Oregon State. The program brings together the resources and talents gathered across campus, with partners in the business community and Oregon State’s alumni network.

Ideas were solicited from four student-based entrepreneurship programs at Oregon State — the Austin Entrepreneurship Program’s Weatherford Garage, Startup Weekend, UPTIC and the Entrepreneurship Academy at the College of Pharmacy.

Turner said he was excited about the potential all the three projects, and is already encouraged by their development.

“They span a broad range of ideas and reflect the creativity, initiative and commitment of COB students,” Turner said. “Less than two months into the program we have seen good progress already in the development of their businesses.”

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Photos: Austin Hall team celebrates building “top out”

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(from left) Construction Manager Cory Destefano and College of Business Dean Ilene Kleinsorge stand in Austin Hall.

Work has been moving quickly at the Austin Hall construction site.

The first preliminary work started in February. The official construction launch was two months later with a ceremony April 19. Then on Friday, August 2, the crew from Andersen Construction reached “top out,” finishing the roof of the four-floor building.

The milestone was also a chance for everyone involved to take a moment and appreciate all the hard work that’s gone into the building, with a barbecue for crew members held inside the structure of the new building on Monday.

“We celebrate; it’s a huge undertaking to get to this point,” said Construction Manager Cory Destefano on reaching top out. “The building is complete now. You’re up at the highest elevation you’re going to go.”

Around 200 were treated to a lunch from Pig Out BBQ, including some College of Business faculty and staff involved in the design process.

College of Business Dean Ilene Kleinsorge spoke to the crowd, letting everyone know how much the Oregon State and College of Business communities appreciated their hard work to keep the project on schedule.

“I want you to know your work is watched all over the world by our alumni, and they are astounded how quickly your work has come together,” Kleinsorge said.

Check out some photos from the event, including a look inside the new building from a tour COB faculty and staff received after the barbecue.

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Some College of Business photos you may have missed

Each school year the Oregon State College of Business takes a lot of photos, and not all of them get used in publications, posted on the blog or put into galleries on Facebook. We try, really, but like we said, we take a lot of photos.

Summer gives us a chance to look back a bit, so we wanted to share some of our favorite photos that may have slipped under the radar a bit. Thanks to all the great students, staff and alumni pictured and who helped make the moments we captured so special.

Students prepare to use the photo booth at the Undergraduate Celebration in June.
Students prepare to use the photo booth at the Undergraduate Celebration in June.
A guest looks through student work at the Graphic Design Senior Show in June.
A guest looks through student work at the Graphic Design Senior Show in June.
College of Business Dean Ilene Kleinsorge takes part in Dancing with the OSU Stars.
College of Business Dean Ilene Kleinsorge takes part in Dancing with the OSU Stars.
School of Design and Human Environment students network during the annual SDHE Career Symposium in February.
School of Design and Human Environment students network during the annual SDHE Career Symposium in February.
Jon DeVann, corporate vice president of Windows Development for Microsoft, Speaks during his Dean's Distinguished Lecture in January.
Jon DeVaan, corporate vice president of Windows Development for Microsoft, Speaks during his Dean’s Distinguished Lecture in January.
Assistant Professor Bret Scott jokes with students at Convocation in January.
Assistant Professor Bret Scott jokes with students at Convocation in January.
Former Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts holds up her Weatherford Award in February.
Former Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts holds up her Weatherford Award in February.
Panda Express co-CEO Peggy Chern high-fives Panda Express employees at the Dean's Distinguished Lecture in October.
Panda Express co-CEO Peggy Cherng high-fives Panda Express employees at the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture in October.
OSU Outspoken sings at a reception for CH2M Hill CEO Lee McIntire after his Dean's Distinguished Lecture in April.
OSU Outspoken sings at a reception for CH2M Hill CEO Lee McIntire after his Dean’s Distinguished Lecture in April.
(right) Student Michael Williams explains his Multicopter Northwest business at the CEO Summit in Portland in May.
(right) Student Michael Williams explains his Multicopter Northwest business at the CEO Summit in Portland in May.
MBA candidate Jonathan Truong gets creative during the annual MBA Business Plan Compeition Elevator Pitch.
MBA candidate Jonathan Truong gets creative during the annual MBA Business Plan Competition Elevator Pitch.
Benny shows the way at the Austin Hall Construction launch in April.
Benny shows the way at the Austin Hall Construction launch in April.
A backhoe moves on the future site of Austin Hall with Weatherford Hall in the background.
A backhoe moves on the future site of Austin Hall with Weatherford Hall in the background.
Brian Holmes, center, reacts as a problem is fixed while Microsoft Developer Evangelist Bret Stateham (standing) and JB can Hecke (left) look on.
Brian Holmes, center, reacts as a problem is fixed while Microsoft Developer Evangelist Bret Stateham (standing) and JB can Hecke (left) look on.
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Students get first taste of Oregon State at START

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Each year College of Business Advisor Jayne Andersen tries to give incoming students a little something more than the basics of degree requirements and where the advising office is.

This year her presentation to incoming students includes a photo of Daniel Changkuon, a recent COB graduate, with a list of his accomplishments at Oregon State; president of multiple clubs, scholarship winner, Nike intern and much more.

“If we had you up here in four years, what would you want it to say about you?” Andersen asked a crowd of incoming freshmen and their parents Monday.

The presentation is part of Oregon State’s annual START orientation, advising and registration program for new students.

START gives students an introduction to life at OSU, leading them through their first advising appointments, signing up for their first classes and sharing the information they’ll need to succeed in September.

“It makes college more real,” Andersen said. “We plant the seeds for opportunities but also expectations.”

While the College of Business presentation lays out import things such as Professional School requirements and how to use the college Career Success Center, advisors also touch on clubs, study abroad and other opportunities.

“We’re always trying not to tell them too much info,” Andersen said. “We want to start to build that connection and community.”

Each session (advisors in the college will run around 15 START sessions in the summer for a total of around 500 freshmen and transfer students) includes a several tips to help students through their first year.

Andersen always reminds students to treat college like they would a job, including checking their ONID email every day.

She counsels students to think about what they want to get out of college and start making a plan now to make it a reality.

As part of that, students should also make sure and schedule an advising appointment each term. She suggests using Halloween as a good marker in the fall.

While students get a ton of information in these first few days at Oregon State, Andersen has seen it pay off once they officially become Beavers.

“My favorite thing is when they come in and say ‘I’m here for my Halloween appointment,’” she said.

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College of Business recognizes outstanding faculty, staff

Friday June 7 the College of Business gathered at the Philomath Scout Lodge to take a night to reflect on the past academic year and recognize the great work being done at the college’s annual Celebration of Achievement.

Dean Ilene Kleinsorge noted some of the major success of the past year — welcoming the School of Design and Human Environment into the college, the construction launch of Austin Hall and growth in both the number of undergraduate and MBA programs — but also that “We could make a list of achievements and be here all night.”

“What I marvel at when I look at where we have been and where we are going is how resilient we are,” Kleinsorge added.

2012-2013 College of Business Award Winners

Betty and Forrest Simmons Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award

John Becker-Blease

Byron L. Newton Award for Excellence in Teaching

Aaron Lewis

Excellence in Scholarship Award

Keith Leavitt

Outstanding Professional Faculty and Staff Service Award

Carol Hahn

Experiential Learning Award

Sandy Burnett

College Service Award

Mary McKillop

College Service Outreach Award

Raymond Brooks

Newcomb Fellows

Amy Bourne

Tara DiSante

Dave Berger

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First Accountancy MBA class sets standard for new program

The first class of the Oregon State Accountancy MBA at the Annual Business PLan Competition in April.
The first class of the Oregon State Accountancy MBA at the Annual Business Plan Competition in April. Photo courtesy Jun Yang.

When the 2013 class of MBA candidates take the stage for the Oregon State MBA Graduation Ceremony Thursday, 10 students will represent a brand new component of the program.

This year the first class of OSU Accountancy MBA (A-MBA) students graduate, showing off an innovative new program that allows students with an undergraduate accounting degree to earn an MBA in one year.

“The idea behind this was that to become a CPA in Oregon and most states you need three things; to pass the CPA exam, experience working in an accounting firm and five years of college,” said OSU Professor Roger Graham, who headed up the new A-MBA. “This allows students to get that fifth year and have a masters when they leave.”

Victoria Uong received her undergraduate degree last year, and felt an MBA would better prepare her for her career than simply a masters of accounting or other options.

“I feel like although a masters of accounting is valuable, understanding the entirety of the business process is important,” said Uong, who will join Portland accounting firm Perkins & Co. after graduation.

Jun Yang said he enjoyed learning the principles of accounting and then being able to practice those in his MBA work.

“In the case studies there’s no black and white, no right and wrong answers,” Yang said. “You need to consider the substance of the transaction.”

In addition to their graduate coursework, the A-MBA students worked with OSU MBA students participating in the Integrated Business Project.

In the IBP, teams of four to five MBA students work to create a business plan for real products and technologies from OSU and outside companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Intel and others.

“It was a course in consulting,” Graham said. “For accounting students mostly focused on learning accounting procures, to explain to other people was fun for them to do.”

For Yang, the experience was another great way to put the skills he’d learned in the classroom into practice with real businesses plans.

“It’s really great because the IBP teams are like startup companies,” Yang said. “It’s learning how to deal with potential clients and explain it to clients without an accounting background.”

Uong said she also enjoyed working in a specialized program within the large Oregon State MBA program. That environment made it easier for her to get answers to questions and also form strong professional connections

“The A-MBA program is special because it’s small,” Uong said. “It’s interesting to go through that together. We’re definitely linked together though this program.”

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Graphic Design students show off work at Senior Show

Kelcie Annas din’t really know what to expect as she was preparing to show her work at the Oregon State Graphic Design Senior Show on Wednesday June 5.

Her table included a set of athletic-themed motivational shots, jars with vintage labels and a t-shirt with a hand-embroidered message. Still, Annas had spent so much time starring at her own work, she said it was hard to know what others might think.

“I was really nervous at first,” Annas said. “But people have been really nice and given some really good feedback.”

The event, held at the Memorial Union Ballroom, showed off the best of the full range of skills of the seniors in the OSU graphic design program, from small print pieces to posters, sculptures and full interactive displays.

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College of Business shines in Dancing with the OSU Stars

Thursday night the College of Business showed it could hang with the top movers and shakers at Oregon State, with three participants in the third annual Dancing with the OSU Stars.

The COB connections included MBA candidate Wenmin Wang, School of Design and Human Environment student and President of Kappa Kappa Gamma Lauren Greenlees and College of Business Dean Ilene Kleinsorge. The event was also organized by a College of Business project management class.

Congratulations to everyone involved, it was a great night for Oregon State and the College of Business.