Greetings from the School of Business at Emporia State. We are approaching what will be a full year of adapting with the changes from COVID. It was announced last March that students not return after spring break and would finish the spring semester remotely. With hard work and determination, we have held as many face-to-face classes as possible for the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. In lieu of spring break, ESU has two, three-day weekends planned for students, March 5 and April 16.

To celebrate 2020’s graduates (which included spring, summer, and winter), our Graduate Coordinator, Carissa McAfee, created a special video celebrating our graduates. We are excited that this spring’s commencement will be outside face-to-face with two separate ceremonies on May 14 and May 15.

We sure do miss the interaction and the opportunities to visit face-to-face with you, and we look forward to the time when we can do that again. As the vaccine continues to roll out, we are hopeful for a normal fall 2021. As always, please keep us updated on your professional achievements. And if you are ever near campus, please stop by for a visit: Social distancing will be adhered to.

Stay Healthy, and Go Hornets!

New Major for Fall 2021: Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship

In a society where self-employment is becoming more desirable, students are looking for the opportunity to turn their greatest interests into life-long pursuits. These pursuits must support their lifestyle while allowing them to contribute in meaningful ways and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Entrepreneurs are quickly becoming a critical intervention for struggling economies and provide necessary opportunities for individuals with entrepreneurial propensity who find themselves unemployed during difficult economic times.

Interdisciplinary entrepreneurship will allow students to connect their interests and passions with the needed entrepreneurial mindset and necessary business skills to launch and manage a successful business, whether their interest lies in art, music, photography, communication, sports, science, or business. The possibilities are endless.

ESU’s B.A. in Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship will educate the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Students will acquire a comprehensive set of skills that will prepare them to establish their own start-up or assist larger corporations to be more innovative. During their four years at ESU, students will have an opportunity to develop an idea for a start-up and launch that start-up during their time in Emporia. The coursework is designed to allow them to work and develop their business from ideation to launch. Upon graduation, these students will be prepared to manage and grow their businesses full time.

 

Preston Family Student Complex Expands

Demolition started January 11 on our final phase of the Preston Family Student Complex, which will extend our 24/7 student commons and add space for our student organizations. We are so grateful and could not do this amazing transformation without the funding from the William and Aloha Preston Family Trust. They both loved ESU and its students.

 

Growth Seen in Online Graduate Programs

Our Accelerated Online Graduate Programs continue to see increased enrollment. Currently, we offer a Master of Accountancy and Master of Business Administration with three different concentrations (accounting, information systems, and marketing). These programs can be completed in as little as one year and have attracted a wide demographic of students—from full-time employees needing a raise to entrepreneurs wishing to expand their small businesses—in addition to new undergraduates moving directly to a master’s program. From Spring 2020 to Spring 2021 (20th day numbers), our MBA enrollment grew by 56%, with a total increase of 223% since 2019. The MACC has also seen a growth—114% since 2019. The School of Business looks forward to expanding the program and continuing the success we have seen from such dedicated and accomplished students. The Master of Science in Information Technology (currently an on-campus program) will also be offered fully online starting Fall 2021.

 

Emporia Entrepreneurship Challenge Moves to Second Stage

The virtual Emporia Entrepreneur Challenge (EEC) kicked off with the Elevator Challenge on Feb. 11. The following winners each received $100:

• Best Idea: Payton Marshall, freshman undecided major, with “Mask-lace,” an adjustable lightweight facemask that can convert into either a fashionable necklace, bracelet, or even a hair tie.
• Best Pitch: Kendra Kratzberg, senior Business Administration major, with “Show Up,” an app designed to help care givers in a foster child’s life to effectively collaborate and communicate the child’s needs by easily tracking the child’s behaviors, triggers, and progress while in care.
• Judge's Choice: Hana Risley (pictured), senior Communication major, with “Bake & Take,” a mobile dessert food truck/trailer for the community and special events all around Emporia.

Fifteen teams have been chosen to advance to the next stage in the EEC based on their Executive Summary submissions. These teams or individuals have submitted an oral pitch via YouTube and judging is currently underway. First, second, and third places will be announced on March 18 with cash prizes of $2,500, $1,500, and $500 being award, respectively. The top two teams will advance to the state virtual competition hosted by Kansas State University on April 28. Good luck to these 15 teams!

A big thank you to these judges who donated their time; without them we couldn’t have this challenge:

• Elevator Challenge: Lisa Brumbaugh, Kansas Small Business Development Center at ESU; and Carissa McAfee, ESU School of Business Graduate Advisor.
• Executive Summary Graders: Dr. Marian Riedy and Dr. Will Senn, School of Business; and Lori Moore, Business Technology Instructor, Flint Hills Technical College.
• Oral Pitches: Eddie Garcia; Shane Garrison (BSB 2017-Economics, Accounting); Larry Eisenhauer (BSE 1968-Social Sciences); Cindy Eisenhauer (BSE 1970-English); Susann Eisenhauer; Greg Miller; Chris Omni; and Stephen Witherspoon.

 

New Excel Subject Guide Created

Last semester, based on feedback and comments, a group of School of Business faculty collaborated with the ESU Library on a project to develop an Excel Subject Guide that could be provided to students struggling with Excel and the functionality surfaced through Excel. The new Excel Subject Guide provides information about Excel, has links to short videos on topics ranging from Getting Started to Pivot Tables and V-Lookups, and provides other relevant online resources. Thank you to Art Gutierrez at the ESU Library and School of Business Faculty Drs. Will Senn, Jeff Muldoon, and Doug Smith, for closing the loop on a problem that needed to be fixed.

 

Koch Center for Leadership & Ethics

The Koch Center for Leadership & Ethics was recently awarded a $20,000 general support grant from the Apgar Foundation for this academic year.

In February, the Koch Center hosted its annual “Humanomics Colloquium” virtually. There were 13 students from seven schools in five states, and they had to turn applicants away due to the high demand. One participant noted, “This was the best Zoom event I have been to since the pandemic started and one of the most remarkable extracurricular events I have been to in college.”

The Koch Center also hosted a Live Q & A event with Dr. Robert Lawson in February and plans to host two more during this semester. The Center is also running two book clubs this term (virtually). One group is reading How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life and the other is reading Skin in the Game.

 

Capital Research Summit Contestants

Undergraduate marketing student Kolton Hall's research project was selected to represent ESU for the Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol in March. He showcased his project along with students from other KBOR 4-year public universities. Dr. Joyce Zhou was his mentor. Kolton describes his research as “Artificial Intelligence (AI) has different subcategories, one being Limited Memory AI, which will be highlighted in this presentation. Limited Memory AI is used in autonomous vehicles, and this presentation will cover whether or not it’s feasible for top tier shipping companies (FedEx, UPS) to implement this technology in their fleets of vehicles. A wider understanding pertaining to the history of artificial intelligence, limited memory AI as well as its use in autonomous vehicles, along with overall feasibility and annual forecast will be covered in the presentation.”

Graduate student Wenli Cui's research project was also selected to be presented at the Capitol Graduate Research Summit. Dr. Joyce Zhou was her mentor.

 

Career Announcements:

Jad Alnouri (BSB 16-Accounting), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, started a new position as financial manager at Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE).

Jodi M. Bachelor (BSB 04-Accounting, BA 04-Foreign Language), Lawrence, was promoted to senior insurance staff manager with GE Capital.

Michael J. Burbach (BSB 96-Accounting), Overland Park, has been hired as the new senior counsel - financial services, insurance, and asset management for GE Capital.

Dalton R. Carley (BSB 19-Information Systems), Wamego, has been hired as an application support analyst by Koch Engineered Solutions, a Koch Industries company.

Mariah E. (Catlett) Cline (BS 04-Economics), Bentonville, AR, is the new GTP-BPO for Walmart Global Tech.

Brian W. Cochran (BSB 16-Accounting), Overland Park, recently became an accounting manager for Executive Hills Management, Inc.

Amanda R. "Mandi" (Hulme) Dilling (BSB 07-Marketing), Omaha, NE, recently became the learning and development director for Home Instead Senior Care.

Layne M. Downing (BSB 19-Management), Dodge City, is the new owner of Variety Vending Company in Cimarron, KS.

Scott S. Dumm (BSB 04-Business Administration), Olathe, began a new job as a regional sales manager with Doolittle Distributing.

Caleb G. Edelman (MBA 17-Business Administration), Wichita, recently became the new assistant controller at Electromech Technologies.

Shane F. Garrison (BSB 17-Economics), Lawrence, has been hired as a senior internal auditor with Seaboard Corporation.

Kelsey R. (Bernhart) Garton (BSB 17-Marketing), Niceville, FA, was recently promoted to sales account manager with ParTech, Inc.

Claudia Gomez-Beltran (BSB 12-International Business, BA 12-Spanish Culture, MBA 14-Business Administration), Olathe, has been promoted to senior project manager - Garmin Health at Garmin.

Tatum E. Graves (BSB 19-Accounting), Shawnee, is a new audit & assurance assistant at Deloitte.

Sierra J. (Taylor) Heins (BSB 14-Accounting, MBA 16-Business Administration), Lawrence, is a new corporate accountant for HME, Inc.

Tyson W. Hirt (BSB 99-Finance), Wichita, has been hired as chief financial officer for Dondlinger & Sons Construction Company, Inc.

Jacob A. Jackson (BSB 19-Business Administration, MBA 20-Business Administration), Shawnee, has recently been hired as a brokerage operations specialist II with DST Systems.

Molham Kayali (BS 15-Computer Science), Fullerton, CA, has been promoted to engineering project manager with Southern California Edison (SCE) and is the chief executive officer of Infinite Green Energy Source, LLC.

Ziyad M. Mubaraki (BSB 14-Information Systems), Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, has recently become the relationship manager for Emirates NBD.

Greg E. Purkeypile (BSB 77-Business Administration), Derby, has become a credit risk analyst, vice president for Community National Bank & Trust.

Gavin L. Reeves (BSB 19-Information Systems), Valley Center, is a new data analyst with Cerner Corporation.

Olivia Saillet (MBA 16-Business Administration), France, was promoted to team lead at Guidepoint in London, England.

Kate A. Scott (BSB 20-Marketing), Marysville, has been hired as a digital strategist for the Lincoln Journal Star.

Michael D. Stephens (BSB 10-Business Administration, BSB 17-Information Systems), Emporia, has been hired as a research analyst for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (Allied Global Services).

Steve J. Stone (BSB 17-Information Systems), Olathe, is the new director of information technology for Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Henry Teaford-Boldridge (BSB 15-Information Systems), Raytown, MO, has been hired as a support engineer for Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Jesse C. Tuel (BSB 01-Business Administration, MA 08-English), Christiansburg, VA, has been promoted to senior director of University Relations and executive editor at Virginia Tech.

Virginia M. Volzke-Bray (BSB 09-International Business), Overland Park, was recently hired as an assistant vice president for SitusAMC.

Fabian Wank (BSB 18-Management), Vienna, Austria, has been hired as a recruitment specialist with Computer Futures.

Ginger A. Wilcox (MBA 00-Business Administration), Bella Vista, AR, has started a new job as a national account manager at MGA Entertainment.

Ryan P. Williams (BSB 13-Business Administration), Madison, has been hired as a new commercial and ag lender for ESB Financial.

Kevin Wu (BSB 17-Marketing), Kansas City, MO, started a new position as connections manager, organic search at VMLY&R.

 

Awards:  

Ron Frierson (BS 96-Social Sciences), Los Angeles, CA, was selected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

Allison L. Hall (BSB 03-Management), Emporia, was named the 2020 Volunteer of the Year by the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce.

Scott H. Hogan (BSB 08-Marketing, MBA 09-Business Administration), Palm City, FL, was recently featured in “Stuart Magazine's 40 Under 40: Rising Stars of the Treasure Coast” edition for founding SaltWrap, a sports nutrition and exercise instruction company.

Sarah E. (White) Kennedy (BSB 06-Marketing), Holton, was named a recipient of the 2021 Kansas Horizon Award. The Horizon Award program is a regional competition that recognizes outstanding teachers who have completed their first year in education.

Steve L. Sauder (BSB 68-Business Administration), Emporia, received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for 2020 by the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce during their 124th annual meeting.

Scott L. Truelove (MS 07-Business Education), LaOtto, IN, was elected as a Board Member of the East Noble School Corporation's Board of Education in Kendallville, IN. 

Ron E. Whitney (BSB 68-Business Administration), Emporia, was one of 20 people named to U.S. Senator Jerry Moran's 2020 Service Academy Selection Board.

 

Retirements: 

Retired U.S. Army Col. Guy C. Beougher (BS 80-Business Administration), McLean, VA, completed over 40 years of federal service both in uniform and with the Defense Logistics Agency and will now be joining the Cypress International Team as vice president for logistics.

 

  

Announcements

Congrats to Dr. Jeff Muldoon for receiving the Distinguished Reviewer Award for the Journal of Small Business Management. To quote from the Journal’s editor, “This honor is given to only three reviewers each year, chosen from a pool of over 600, to recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond to provide detailed, effective, and developmental reviews to our submitting authors.”

 

The School of Business is excited to welcome PhD candidate, Rong Jin, Computer Science Instructor to Emporia State. Rong earned her Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Dallas and is a PhD candidate in Computer Science, also from the University of Texas at Dallas. Her research areas include Online Social Networks and Cybersecurity and Data-Driven Computation.

 

Dr. Derek Yonai, Director of the Koch Center for Leadership and Ethics, presented “Business, Relationships, and Flourishing” to the Rotary Club of Metropolitan Honolulu, HI, virtually this month.

 

As part of the SWDSI (Southwest Decision Sciences Institute) Spring 2021 Webinar Series, Dr. Will Senn discussed using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) to perform a guided systematic literature review.