College of Business - Page 29 of 32 - The place for creative, adventurous students who want the tools to succeed

November 12, 2012November 25, 2013

Portland SIM scholarships help Oregon State BIS students

Daniel Changkuon is a problem solver.

As the president of the Oregon State University Students in Information Management (SIM) Club, Changkuon is helping work on a project to extract quiz scores from a SharePoint site automatically, so professors don’t have to manually.

“For professors it’s time consuming looking through those reports, so I help the professor get only the results of what the student has done in SharePoint,” he said. “That reduces for the professor something that took hours to a couple of minutes.”

It’s those skills that made Daniel an Oregon State recipient of a scholarship from the Portland Chapter of the Society for Information Management.

This year the OSU College of Business received $17,500 in scholarships from Portland SIM, one of a number of gifts the group makes every year to information technology programs in the state to support students such as Daniel.

This summer Daniel interned at Nike and plans to graduate this year. He hopes to get a job working with IT security.

A native of Ecuador, Daniel said the scholarship has been a great help to his family and helped allow time for him to take part in experiential learning opportunities such as SIM Club.

“It helps me a lot, “ Daniel said. “Especially being an international student, my tuition is almost three times higher than a resident from Oregon, which makes it harder for me and harder for my family. Having a scholarship is a big help for me. Sometimes I have to work a bit more hours to pay all my things, so I’m always grateful.”

The funds came from corporate sponsorships of the Portland SIM 11^th Annual Golf Tournament. Overall the events have raised more than $250,000 for SIM scholarships throughout the state.

In addition to financial support, scholarship winners receive more training and networking opportunities with the organization.

Olga Matysina, now an IT consultant with the Oregon State College of Business, received a scholarship her final term at OSU.

Matysina said almost more important than the financial assistance was the opportunities and connections the scholarship opened up with SIM Club events and trips.

“I thought the introduction to professionals in my field was the biggest benefit,” Matysina said. “They gave us advice on how they progressed in their career.”

November 9, 2012November 9, 2012

A job interview without (as much) pressure at Mock Interviews

A job interview can be one of the most nerve-racking events for a recent college graduate, especially for one who hasn’t been through the process before.

To provide a place to practice and sharpen interviewing skills, Alpha Kappi Psi sponsored mock interviews Friday in the MU Ballroom, an opportunity for juniors and seniors enrolled in BA 353 Professional Development class to find out what the experience will actually be like when they enter the job market.

Real employers from the around the area took time to put Oregon State University College of Business students through the same interview questions they give to their employees and then also provide feedback. The event happens once a term, allowing students gain comfort with the process.

November 2, 2012

Dean’s Circle of Excellence welcomes five new members

The Oregon State University College of Business wouldn’t be where it is today without the talents and support of its alumni.

Every year a special group of former Beavers returns to help assist the college and provide feedback and guidance as part of the Dean’s Circle of Excellence.

The Dean’s Circle of Excellence provides an opportunity for alumni and friends to become engaged with the College of Business, to use their influence and affluence to further the college’s goals, and to participate in ensuring future success.

The group meets for the first time this school year Friday Nov. 2, welcoming six new distinguished alumni to the Circle:

John Gilleland

Gilleland serves as President and Chairman of the Campbell Group in Portland, a preeminent provider of timberland investments.

He earned a BS in business and finance from Oregon State University and is a certified public accountant. Gilleland is a board member of Gatlin Gabel School, the Oregon Symphony, Friends of the Children, and Youth Resources, Inc.

Rich Jansen

Jansen is the CFO of Jubitz Corporation in Portland, a multi-dimensional transportation services company offering commercial fueling and travel services to fleets, the professional driver, and local and traveling public.

He previously served as CFO of Johnstone Supply, a $1.1 billion distributor of HVAC products. Jansen was also president of Sunrise Express Trucking and Kalt Manufacturing before selling each business.

Jansen is also involved with the Financial Executives Institute and a board member of Life Span Labs and Ace Business Incubator.

Mark J. Kralj

Kralj is Principal in Ferguson Wellman Capital Management in Portland.

He’s a member and past president of the Chartered Financial Analysts Society of Portland, a past chair and trustee of the OSU Foundation, an Ambassador’s Board Members for OSU’s Austin Family Business Program and trustee for the Providence Child Center Foundation.

Thomas E. Leaptrott

Leaptrott is the President of Quantum Leap LLC in Vancouver, Wash., a Vancouver, Wash., supplier of packing materials and plastic bags used in the recycling industry.

Tom is one of the leading forces behind ORPET, Oregon’s first PET recycling facility, which was honored by the White House for creating rural U.S. jobs.

He graduated from OSU with a BS in business administration in 1985.

Carol Potts

Potts is the Vice President and General Manager of the Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Group in Illinois.

She’s served as a board member with the Economic Club of Chicago, Mayor’s Technology Council (Chicago), DuPage Technology Park Member Executives Club (Chicago) and Hinsdale Junior Women’s Club.

Potts was also recognized in Fortune Magazine’s “Who’s Who in Chicago Business” in 2006.

David R. Williams

Williams is the Vice President of Utility Services at NW Natural in Portland.

Williams currently serves as Chair of the Oregon Workforce Investment Board, and is a member of the Central City and Downtown Clean and Safe Board of the Portland Business Alliance; the Multnomah County Homeless Youth Oversight Committee and the Portland Police Activities League.

He graduated from Oregon State University with majors in business and social science.

November 1, 2012November 1, 2012

Video: Panda Express co-CEO Peggy Cherng on creating the Panda culture

Earlier we posted some photos from last month’s Dean’s Distinguished Lecture with Oregon State alumna and Panda Express co-CEO Peggy Cherng.

The video from the night is now available (split into the lecture and Q&A session following), so if you missed the event or just want another look you have another chance to learn how Cherng helped create the Panda culture.

October 31, 2012November 1, 2012

Good work by School of Design and Human Environment getting noticed

This summer the School of Design and Human Environment became the newest school of the Oregon State University College of Business.

While the process has involved a lot of change, as we pass the halfway mark of fall term SDHE students and faculty are settling in to their new home, and gaining a lot of attention for the great work they’re doing.

Earlier this month the Portland Business Journal looked at how the 104-year-old school is using the shift to its advantage.

Writer Erik Siemers further investigated the idea in a blog post detailing his reporting on SDHE:

More than just an inter-campus shuffling of the deck, Associate Dean Leslie Burns said the shift will give the school more resources, better opportunities to commercialize its research and better link the program with Oregon’s robust footwear apparel industry.

SDHE students were attracting attention before the school year even started.

Back in August we wrote in this space about DAMChic, a student fashion magazine which grew out of an SDHE summer class.

DAMChic was featured on the front page of the Corvallis Gazette-Times earlier this month, highlighting the talent and ingenuity of the students in putting together the magazine.

“With a zero-dollar budget, we pretty much used all of our own things,” Echols said.

With a class full of apparel and merchandising majors, however, insufficient clothing rarely is a problem.

“We have pretty big closets to pull from,” Echols said.

We look forward to seeing all the great things in store in the coming terms and years as the partnership continues to grow, evolve and improve.

October 29, 2012November 1, 2012

Professional Development Workshops help students prepare for job market

Leaving with not only a degree but also a solid understanding of the professional world is a key to a successful college experience, something the College of Business Career Success Center understands.

In addition to their other services for students, fall term the CSC is offering a series of Professional Development Workshops to give students an opportunity to learn from experts outside the college who know what employers are looking for.

The first workshops explored resume and personal brand development, with sessions on social media in the job search, professional dress and leadership development still to come.

The most recent session on Oct. 17 featured Kathrine Giacchino and Pinky Gonzales discussing how students could work to build their own brand before even venturing out into the job market.

Giacchino works with Rubicon International, a boutique technology consulting firm headquartered in Portland, while Gonzales is the Founder and Chief Strategist of Portland-based Upriver Solutions.

The next workshop takes place Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. in Bexell 415, with talent development professional Lea McLeod discussing how social media can be used to help secure a job.

October 19, 2012

Panda Express co-CEO discusses how to create a culture

Peggy Cherng speaking at the Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series — Peggy Cherng speaking at the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series

Panda Express co-CEO and Oregon State alumna Peggy Cherng let the crowd at the Oregon State College of Business Dean’s Distinguished Lecture in on a little secret Wednesday.

“I happen to be good in math, good in engineering, but I don’t really know how to cook,” Cherng said.

Cherng discussed how the Panda Restaurant group, which operates the popular Panda Express chain, focuses on creating an atmosphere where associates can grow and better serve guests.

“We don’t call them employees but associates, because they’re our partners,” Cherng explained. “We want to build an organization where people are inspired to better their lives.”

Panda focuses on fostering a culture that creates happy associates, which becomes happy guests.

“The judges out there are you, and we will work very hard to be loved by you,” Cherng said. “But first we have to work on ourselves and love ourselves.”

The chain has more than 1,500 locations, opening 100 new stores this past year. With such a wide network, the company encourages decentralized learning, where associates take initiative to learn on their own with resources from Panda.

After her talk, Cherng sat down for a question and answer session with OSU associate professor of management Pauline Schilpzand and then took questions from the audience.

Schilpzand asked why those of us in Oregon haven’t seen many Panda Express television commercials.

Cherng explained Oregon is still an emerging market for Panda, and the company focuses larger ad buys in their core markets, such as California.

“We do do advertising in the core market because we can leverage the cost more effectively,” she said. “But in the emerging market the cost prohibits TV.”

Schilpzand also asked Cherng about what she’s used from her academic background in her career. Cherng earned a B.S. in applied mathematics from OSU and an M.S. in Computer Science and doctoral degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri.

Cherng mentioned that while she never learned much about food herself — husband Andrew Cherng started the original Panda Inn with his father and now serves as co-CEO with his wife — she has a passion for systems, honed by her training as an engineer.

“You first have to find out your passion,” she said. “If you have passion you’re really able to make a difference.”

She stressed that passion is a key for all entrepreneurs, no matter what industry one may be entering.

“If you just want to make money, if a hard time comes you’re not able to pull yourself up,” Cherng said. “But if you have passion you can overcome.”

September 27, 2012

College of Business welcomes six new faculty members

This school year the College of Business is welcoming six new tenure-track faculty, another sign of the growth of the college over the past few years, all leading into the planned opening of Austin Hall in 2014.

Bret Scott, Assistant Professor, Accounting, Fall

Bret Scott comes to Oregon State after completing his Doctor of Philosophy in Accounting from Texas A&M University. Scott also has a Master of Accounting from the USC Leventhal School of Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Western Washington University.

Scott’s a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Beta Alpha Psi, Golden Key, Phi Eta Sigma, and Phi Kappa Phi. He’s also a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner.

Kuan-Chen (KC) Lin, Assistant Professor, Accounting, Fall

KC Lin has a PhD in Accounting from the Arizona State University WP Carey School of Business. He’s also studied at UCLA, the National Taiwan University College of Management (MBA Finance) and the National Cheng-Chi University College of Commerce (BS in Accounting).

His research interests include Equity and debt pricing of accounting information and earnings quality, and quality and informativeness of financial analyst forecasts and management earnings guidance.

Inara Scott, Assistant Professor, Business Law, Fall

Inara Scott joins OSU with a distinguished and diverse background.

Not only is Scott a legal professional with more than 10 years experience in environmental, regulatory, energy, and business law, but she’s a published fiction author with a number of novels to her credit.

Huichi Huang, Assistant Professor, Accounting. Fall

Huang has a PhD in Accounting from Syracuse , an MBA from Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan and a BA in Accounting from National Chengchi University in Taiwan.

At Syracuse she taught Introduction to Financial Accounting and previously taught Managerial Accounting at Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan.

Marina Puzakova, Assistant Professor, Marketing, Fall

Marina Puzakova comes to Corvallis from Drexel University after completing work on a PhD in marketing. She also has a degree in Business Economics and Management from Voronezh State Technical University in Russia.

Puzakova also has some fascinating research interests, including brand inference and anthropomorphization, or the ways in which consumers see brands as people.

Chris Akroyd, Assistant Professor, Accounting, Winter

Chris Akroyd will start his Oregon State career winter term. He has a diverse educational background, earning degrees in three different countries, all outside the United States.

Most recently he received a PhD from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He also has an MBA from Kobe University in Japan and two degrees in Australia, from the University of New South Wales and Southern Cross University.

September 25, 2012September 25, 2012

Business student groups start meeting this week

With school starting up this week a number of College of Business student clubs and organizations are also getting back in action.

These are just a few organizations with introductory meetings in the next few weeks, while others are planning fall term schedules. (Did we miss your group? Add it in the comments and we’ll attach it to the post). Check out our list of all College of Business student organizations to see if there’s a group you may be interested in and find out how to contact them.

Marketing Club: First meeting Tuesday Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. in Bexell 320

Beta Alpha Psi: This national scholastic and professional accounting organization meets Wednesday Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. in Bexell 207.

Alpha Kappa Psi: This Professional Business Fraternity will hold an informational session Tuesday Oct. 2 in Bexell 321 at 7 p.m. They’ll also have a booth at Bexell from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 25-27 and Oct. 1-4.

Finance Club: Meets in Bexell 415 on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. starting in week 2.

Students of Information Management (SIM) Club: Meets Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in Bexell 328 (Moss Adams Classroom) starting in week 2.

Management Club: First meeting Thursday Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. in Bexell 102.

September 19, 2012

College of Business faculty honored at University Day

University Day at the LaSalle Stewart Center.

With students moving in, the Oregon State University Marching Band waiting outside and activity picking up all around campus, three College of Business Faculty members were honored as part of University Day Tuesday.

Ping-Hung Hsieh, Associate Professor and Director of Global Business Analysis, and Brenda Sallee, Head Academic Advisor for the college, were each honored with OSU Faculty and Staff awards.

Ping received the International Service Award, which recognizes exemplary, on-going contributions of OSU faculty and staff to the internationalization of the university by enhancing student, faculty, and staff awareness and participation in international education, research, and related activities.

Sallee was given the OSU Academic Advising Award, recognizing undergraduate academic advising by professional faculty rank as well as fixed-term academic rank faculty whose primary role is advising and acknowledges advising as a profession making a pivotal contribution to the OSU community.

Later in the event, Don Neubaum, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty, took part in the keynote panel on inspiring campus conversation around innovation.

Also participating were Associate Provost for Academic Success and Engagement Susie Brubaker-Cole and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts Susana Rivera-Mills. James Cassidy, senior instructor for crop and soil science, moderated the panel.

Neubaum spoke about the College of Business’ culture, and how the college has focused on hiring faculty who fit where that culture is heading.

“We hire great scholars, faculty who are passionate about undergraduate education,” Neubaum said. “If you hire the right people, the rest can take care of itself.”