The University of Michigan School of Management (SOM) is one of the nation’s most outstanding business schools, according to the education services company, The Princeton Review.
SOM Prof. Mark Perry’s Editorial on Persian Gulf Oil Dependence
Mark Perry, SOM professor of economics and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, provides perspective about global dependence on Persian Gulf Oil for Investors.com. Click here to read the full article.
SOM Faculty, Sy Banerjee, to Present at MobiU2013 Summit in Chicago
Over the past seven years, Sy Banerjee, Assistant Professor, Mobile Interactive Marketing, has been researching exact details on how the location freedom of mobile is affecting consumer behavior – and what that means for marketers. This is not theoretical discussions that ad agency execs have on a conference panel. This is what is really happening. He has been analyzing little known public data and been using it to create insights into the behaviors of the mobile population. The downside is that it will inform you on just how woefully behind your marketing plan is behind your consumer. Read the complete Heartland Mobile Council article and see the conference details.
New Dean of UM-Flint’s School of Management Has Broad Agenda
The new dean of the University of Michigan-Flint School of Management (SOM) has already established a long list of goals that includes, among other items, gaining more input from community members and building the SOM brand.
To read the rest of the article, click here.
UM-Flint to Host Event to Increase Impact of Internships in Michigan
Employers and educators are invited to attend an August 6 event focusing on growing internship opportunities and advancing the impact they have for students, businesses, and communities throughout Michigan.
“Intern Advantage: creating a talent pipeline through community partnerships and resources” will be hosted by the University of Michigan-Flint at the Riverfront Center. It will feature workshops designed to launch, expand, and engage new stakeholders in internship programs. UM-Flint School of Management Dean Scott Johnson will be a speaker at the event.
The Michigan Career Educator & Employer Alliance (MCEEA), a statewide collaboration aimed at creating relationships and leveraging resources for the advancement of career and internship opportunities across the state, is coordinating the event. The Prima Civitas Foundation (PCF), Michigan State University (MSU), UM-Flint, and Davenport University are among the MCEEA partners.
“Many employers are looking for ways to attract and retain talent, but aren’t sure where to begin,” notes Amanda Dumond-Avila, Prima Civitas Foundation’s director of talent initiatives and co-creator of the Michigan Internship Initiative. “By the end of the event, attendees will have resources and information to immediately develop an internship program.”
Internships are increasingly becoming important hiring tools for employers. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers‘ 2013 Internship & Co-op Survey Report (download PDF), 48.8 percent of interns were later hired as employees with the companies they interned for, and 88.9 percent of those hires remained after a year. With nearly 40 percent of recent graduates moving out of the state, internships remain an important talent retention method.
In addition to workshops focusing on “traditional” internships, the event also features a presentation on working with international student interns. Speakers will include Athena Trentin from Global Talent Retention Initiative (GTRI) and Malin Clark from UM-Flint’s International Center.
“Many employers could benefit from working with international students, but haven’t taken that next step,” said Dumond-Avila. “Our focus on international internships will demystify the process and highlight the benefits of connecting with international students.”
Attendees will receive an Employer Internship Toolkit, advice on developing job descriptions from HR professionals, information about Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) talent programs, contact information for local colleges and universities, and other resources.
The cost is free but seating is limited. Registration and event information are available at EventBrite.com.
SOM Alumna Michelle Goff Named CFO of the Year
The School of Management congratulates alumna Michelle Goff, BBA ’83, the CFO and senior vice president of R.L. Polk & Co., for being awarded CFO of the Year – large private company by Crain’s Detroit Business.
Goff received her BBA from UM-Flint in 1983 before continuing her education on the Ann Arbor campus. Since receiving her MBA in 1986, she has held a number of senior finance positions for large companies.
In her role as CFO and senior vice president of R.L. Polk & Co., Michelle Goff oversees more than 70 employees and a $19 million dollar budget. Her team is responsible for mapping out the future of the company’s financial operations, including risk-management, securities, real estate, insurance, taxes, accounting, assets, banking, credit, and treasury activities.
The Crain’s Detroit Business decision to award Goff the CFO of the Year recognition stems largely from insights she provided Polk in 2009, and the leadership role she flourished in when actions were taken based on those same insights.
In 2007, R.L. Polk & Co. invested an undisclosed sum to acquire a substantial stake in RoadToData, a Swiss automotive price and specifications data supplier with operations in 10 countries. Soon after the acquisition, Polk found itself dumping cash into RoadToData when the auto industry nearly collapsed during the economic recession. With profitability projections sliding into the distant future, Goff and other senior executives called for divestiture and a refocus on Polk’s core operations.
Although there were a variety of viewpoints amongst Polk leadership team on which direction was the best option for the future, the difficult decision was made, and Goff was called on to conduct the financial and legal aspects of the RoadToData closure in 2009. “It was a great decision in hindsight,” said Goff, as Polk’s profitability from core operations increased 31 percent between 2009 and 2013, and projects to perform even higher in 2014.
R.L. Polk & Co. assembles comprehensive automotive sales and forecasting data. The company also provides vehicle recall services for auto manufacturers, presents annual awards and has a diversity marketing services arm. In 2012, Polk generated $401 million in revenue.
Professor Mehdian lectures at Romanian American University
Two years ago, the University of Michigan-Flint and the Romanian American University (RAU) of Bucharest signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together in sharing faculty expertise to increase the quality of education for the students of both Universities.
During the Fall ’12 semester, Professor Seyed Mehdian, Professor of Finance for the School of Management, became the first SOM faculty member to participate in teaching at RAU in Romania. During his visit, Professor Mehdian delivered several iterations of his lecture titled “Financial Management Issues” to RAU students and faculty.
Professor Mehdian is seen in the image above with Dr. Ovidiu Folcut, the Rector of Rau, Mrs. Despina Barbieru of the Office of International Relations (RAU), and students who attended Dr. Mehdian’s lectures.
SOM Student, Amanda Nielsen, Interns At New Landaal Packaging
Written By Shaun Byron of MLive.com | [email protected] | See the original M-Live article here
FLINT, MI — Amanda Nielsen had her sights set on Chicago for an internship.
That was before the Grand Blanc resident and University of Michigan-Flint student met with Burton-based Landaal Packaging Systems about an opportunity.
While the Windy City is still on the minds of Nielsen’s friends, she said Vehicle City is looking like the better choice.
“A lot of people want Chicago, I wanted Chicago at first, but I like it more here now,” she said.
Nielsen will be part of the staff moved Jan. 2 to Landaal Packaging’s new offices at 540 Saginaw St. in Flint.
SOM Students Win Oakland University International Case Competition
Congratulations to UM-Flint School of Management students, Todd Ackerman, Alex Benda, George Joubran, and Logan McGrady, for winning the first ever Oakland University International Case Competition!
In February, the Oakland University School of Business invited teams of top undergraduate students from more than 200 highly respected international academic institutions to take part in their International Case Competition (OUICC). Aimed at building and practicing teamwork and leadership skills, the competition consisted of three elimination rounds of judged case presentations, with prizes and awards going to the three finalists.
In the initial round, all participating teams were required to submit a video presentation and case summary to the OUICC judging panel by email. From all the first round submissions, only 12 teams were selected to advance to the next stage of competition. In round two, the teams delivered their presentations via interactive live feeds, and were required to defend their strategies and arguments during Q&A sessions with the OUICC panel of judges.
Then with only twelve hours between rounds two and three to make improvements based on Q&A feedback, the top three teams made their best case in the third round. In the end, the School of Management student team’s presentation won the day and took home the first place award.
Congratulations again to our outstanding students – Todd Ackerman, Alex Benda, George Joubran, and Logan McGrady!
UM-Flint Opens New Transfer Advising Office at MCC
The University of Michigan-Flint will have a new presence at the Mott Community College (MCC) University Center (located in the Mott Memorial Building), where MCC students can get in-person information and advice about UM-Flint.
UM-Flint will staff the new space Monday through Friday during normal business hours. On occasion, special events may extend past normal hours. Staff from UM-Flint’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions and School of Management will handle the operations of the new office.
Mott students who seek to transfer to UM-Flint upon completion of their associate degree can receive advising service. Advising will also be provided to students in the newly established Mott2UM-Flint Concurrent Enrollment program.
The presence of UM-Flint admissions advisers at MCC University Center facilitates a much smoother transfer process for Mott students who wish to transfer to the University of Michigan-Flint. It enables these students to seek quality advising about UM-Flint academic programs and their degree requirements.
“We are extremely grateful to President Dick Shaink and Vice President Amy Fugate for their support, particularly in allowing UM-Flint to have a presence at the University Center where Mott students will have more convenient access to UM-Flint staff,” said Vahid Lotfi, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of Graduate Programs.