Yearly Archives: 2015

University of Michigan-Flint Receives ‘Monumental’ Donation

The University of Michigan-Flint (UM-Flint) is receiving one of the largest donations in its history: a 16-story building featuring academic space, student housing and a conference center.

Uptown Reinvestment Corporation (URC) is donating the 340,000-square-foot Riverfront Residence Hall & Banquet Center to UM-Flint — a move approved Thursday by the University of Michigan Board of Regents. The donation is contingent upon completion of due diligence on the property.

Click HERE for the full article.

Hagerman Student Scholars Selected

(From left to right: Jennifer Wenzlick, Justin Adsitt-Weiner, and Chloe’ Kas-Mikha)

(From left to right: Jennifer Wenzlick, Justin Adsitt-Weiner, and Chloe’ Kas-Mikha)

University of Michigan-Flint students Justin Adsitt-Weiner, Chloe’ Kas-Mikha, and Jennifer Wenzlick were selected as  the School of Management’s Hagerman Student Scholars.

Through this opportunity, Adsitt-Weiner, Kas-Mikha, and Wenzlick committed to being ambassadors for the new Hagerman Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and will get firsthand experience in working with the School of Management and its professors in order to build a network of professionals in the community.

The Hagerman Student Scholars program was made possible by a gift by Phil and Jocelyn Hagerman to establish the  Hagerman Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (HCEI).

Justin Adsitt-Weiner, a sophomore majoring in international business, a former Business Plan Competition participant, cites the competition as motivation to apply for the Hagerman Student Scholar program.

“Prior to the competition I had had limited exposure to what entrepreneurship looked like in practice, and it was the skills that I began developing for and through the competition along with the influence of faculty members such as Dr. Laurence and Dr. Witt that kindled my now burning excitement to incorporate an entrepreneurial mindset into whatever path I may take,” said Adsitt-Weiner.

With the experience he gained through the Business Plan Competition and with the opportunities he was offered through the Hagerman Scholarship, Adsitt-Weiner understands the significant impact this can have on future recipients.

“By directly providing students with the support that is needed, they will have both more time and opportunity to take part in additional collegiate activities. With the addition of the Hagerman Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, these opportunities are boundless in their potential to help students achieve whatever goals they may have,” said Adsitt-Weiner.

Senior double majoring in health sciences and business marketing Chloe’ Kas-Mikha cites campus organizations such as Student Government, The Michigan Times, and Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority as giving her the skills to be an ambassador for the Hagerman Center. Her involvement with the community has strengthened after receiving the Hagerman Scholarship.

“I am thankful to the Hagerman’s for allowing the opportunity to apply for the scholarship and being a recipient of it. The Hagerman’s generosity has inspired me to continue to help others and give back to the community,” said Kas-Mikha.

Kas-Mikha cites the Hagerman’s involvement as inspiration to continue her education and educating others.“ The Hagermans have aided in fostering education and growth at the University of Michigan-Flint and throughout the Flint community. I am happy to be a part of that change and legacy to teach and aid others,” said Kas-Mikha.

Senior human resources major Jennifer Wenzlick hopes the Hagerman Scholarship will benefit the next round of recipients the same way it helped her.

“It is inspiring and motivating to do more in community and to be more involved. I hope it gives them the same passion and drive that it has given me. I hope that it will follow through with the next recipients,” said Wenzlick.

Wenzlick’s involvement with the community and School of Management events has increased since receiving the scholarship. Along with attending the Business Plan Competition last year, she is excited for what is to come in this year’s Business Plan Competition event.

“I watched the final rounds last year and thought the Business Plan Competition was pretty cool. I am really excited to hear about the new ideas from inspiring entrepreneurs in our community. I still follow the companies from last year’s Business Plan Competition to see how they grow,” said Wenzlick.

The Well Workplace

Greg Laurence, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Management, focuses his research around employee health and well-being, with interests such as workspace personalization, workaholism, and work-family conflict and how these phenomena intersect with the experience of stress at work.

Recently appearing in Real Simple magazine, The Well Workplace is an article that focuses on tips for making your job and workspace healthier.  Click HERE to see the article.

School of Management Awards $28,000 in Scholarships

Throughout the course of the University’s history, the School of Management has forged partnerships with a number of community colleges across the state of Michigan to provide an easier transition for their students when transferring to the University of Michigan-Flint in pursuit of a BBA degree.

The School of Management is proud to provide financial support to the highest achieving students from our partner schools. We are pleased to announce that 14 top transfer students from eight community colleges around the state of Michigan were awarded BBA Transfer Scholarships worth $28,000 for the 2015-2016 academic year.

The School of Management proudly welcomes these outstanding undergraduate students who bring an average GPA of 3.63 and average accumulated credits of 47.

New Major in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management

The University of Michigan-Flint School of Management (SOM) is unveiling a new major this fall as part of its burgeoning entrepreneurship and innovation offerings.

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management major blends the expertise of the school’s marketing and management faculty, and covers an array of issues, such as product design, business start-ups, technological innovation, marketing research, project management, and negotiation skills.

Read full article HERE.

UM-Flint Student Writing His Future with Handcrafted Pens

By ROBERT GOLD On August 10, 2015 5:48 pm

It started off as a hobby.

Greg Hooper, who grew up learning how to woodwork from his dad, received a lathe late last year.

And shortly after getting this gift, a visitor stopped into his uncle’s lumber yard in Holly, where Hooper works.

“A gentleman came into the lumber yard with a wooden pen,” said Hooper,  who is studying entrepreneurial management through the School of Management (SOM). “I asked him how he made it, where he got the wood, and got the parts.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Business Plan Competition Winner Moves into Innovation Incubator

By Robert Gold On June 9, 2015 6:07 pm

University of Michigan-Flint student Ashley Knific will move her venture, Jobs 4 Moms, into the university’s Innovation Incubator later this month.

At the core of her organization’s concept is finding balance between raising a family and succeeding professionally. Knific aims to connect employers and employees, which will allow people to work from home and help employers find qualified staff.

 

Read the full article HERE.

Ashley Knific, SOM Business Plan Competition Winner

ASHLEY KNIFIC
WINNER OF THE 2015 SOM
BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION

Sponsored by Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy

After months of hard work, research, and tough competition, University of Michigan-Flint student and aspiring educator, Ashley Knific, was named the winner of the Annual School of Management Business Plan Competition.

According to the research of Sheryl Sandberg, author and Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, 43% of highly qualified women risk their careers when deciding to take leaves of absence to raise their children.

Ashley’s proposed multi-level nonprofit, Jobs 4 Moms, aims to eliminate the tough decision that mothers often face between fostering their children and pursuing career goals, by implementing emerging technologies and proprietary software to pair mothers with businesses willing to employ skilled workers in flexible positions.

Jobs 4 Moms plans to use the $5,000 first place prize provided by event sponsor, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, to fund the development of a minimally viable website launch. This major first step will allow the nonprofit to fine tune the online platform to best suit both the employers’ and mothers’ needs, prior to full implementation and launch later this year when job placement is projected to begin.

Ashley worked closely with University Outreach’s Innovation Incubator to develop her business plan and refine the final presentation. As the most recent qualifying not-for-profit tenant business, she will also begin receiving free office space in the Northbank Center this summer.

 

Hagerman’s Make $2 Million Gift to Foster Innovation

By UM-Flint News On January 16, 2015 7:28 pm

The School of Management is proud to announce a leadership gift of $2 million from the Hagerman Foundation on behalf of the Philip and Jocelyn Hagerman. The gift is the largest single donation to the School of Management, and will create the Hagerman Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation…

Read the full article HERE.