Michigan Tech College of Business Newsblog

Category: News

Jaxon Verhoff and Samantha Ludwik of Dow to Present Sales and Marketing Talk

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Jaxon Verhoff ’22 and Samantha Ludwick ’24, both with Dow, will present a sales and marketing talk, “Navigating the B2B Landscape: Dow’s Approach to Sales and Marketing,” on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 2 pm via Zoom online meeting. All College of Business students are invited to attend.

The lecture is presented as part of a Sales and Sales Technology class (MKT 4100) instructed by Junhong Min, Associate Professor of Marketing and the Richard and Joyce Ten Haken Faculty Fellow in Business.

Join the Zoom meeting.

Jaxon Verhoff, a senior marketing specialist, started at Dow two years ago as an intern on the digital experience team, where he focused on digital marketing and search engine optimization. In summer 2023, he joined the marketing function at Dow through the Marketing Development Program (MDP). During the first eight months in the MDP, Verhoff focused on aircraft deicing fluid, building a market guidance dashboard in Power BI for Dow Industrial Solutions (DIS), piloting the digital improvement team for Dow’s Crop Solver tool, and leading the market segmentation effort within our sustainability decarbonization team.

Verhoff is now a senior marketing specialist at Dow with market management responsibilities within oil and gas in North America with various global responsibilities. He graduated from Michigan Tech in December 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the College of Business. During his time at Tech, Verhoff enjoyed exploring the Keweenaw, participating in the American Marketing Association (AMA) club and competitions, and spending time tossing around a football on Walker Lawn.

Samantha Ludwick

Samantha Ludwick graduated from Michigan Tech in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Upon graduation, she joined Dow with the Commercial Development Program (CDP) as a sales specialist. Through the CDP program, Ludwick is gaining state of the art sales training and the networking and project management experience required to become a successful sales professional.

Ludwick’s background is largely technical. At Michigan Tech, she worked with the Tanasova Research Lab conducting undergraduate research in novel organic compounds, specifically with novel anti-tumor drug candidates. In the Department of Chemistry, she coached students in general, organic, and physical chemistry in the Chemistry Learning Center. Ludwick gained professional experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing through internships at Pfizer.
She is passionate about giving back to the Husky community and is excited to provide insight into sales at Dow, a leading innovator in material science.

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Alumni Jon Dowling Retires from City of Jackson After 31 Years

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Jon Dowling poses for a photo in his office on Sept. 3, 2024 in Jackson, Michigan. After more than 30 years serving as city engineer, Dowling is set to retire on Sept. 6. (Mitchell Kukulka | MLive.com) Mitchell Kukulka | Mkukulka@mlive.com

Michigan Tech alumnus Jon Dowling ’80 BS in Civil Engineering and ’82 Master of Business Administration, has retired from the city of Jackson, Michigan, after a more than 31-year career with the city, and as city engineer since 1999. During his service to the city, Dowling managed numerous significant construction and infrastructure improvement projects.

Retiring city engineer has spent 3 decades designing Jackson’s future

From mLive; by By Mitchell Kukulka; published September 3, 2024

JACKSON, MI – Jon H. Dowling is set to end his career with the city of Jackson on Friday, Sept. 6, after more than 31 years of service reshaping the city and its future.

Dowling, 66, was born and raised in Jackson, initially working for the city as a civil engineer beginning in December 1981. He worked in this position for about six years before leaving to work in the private sector, also serving a stint as assistant city engineer for the city of Lansing.

Dowling returned to Jackson in 1999 to take over as city engineer, and has had the title for the last 25 years. Now a few short months shy of turning 67, Dowling said the time is right to move on to the next phase of his life. “I’m old enough – it’s time to hang it up,” Dowling said, with a
laugh.

Across his three decades of service to the city, Dowling has managed numerous significant construction and infrastructure improvement projects, Mayor Daniel Mahoney said during the August Jackson City Council meeting.

“The city has benefitted greatly from Mr. Dowling’s service here with his expansive knowledge of the workings of this city’s government,” Mahoney said. “Whether in his area of engineering expertise, in budgeting and fiscal knowledge or his unmatched knowledge of City Hall and Jackson community historical information, (Dowling) will be sorely missed.”

Among the major projects spearheaded by Dowling were renovations to Jackson City Hall; implementing two-way conversions on several city streets; further development of city trail, sewer and water systems; several multi-million dollar contracts with the Michigan Department of Transportation. Mahoney joked that Dowling’s middle initial “H” stood for
“Helping this city.”

In addition to overseeing several projects that have improved traffic and parking availability in Jackson, Dowling lists the removal of the Grand River cap in 2000 – which got rid of a box culvert along the Grand River blamed for several drowning deaths and the expansion of Consumers Energy’s downtown campus among his proudest accomplishments.

Dowling attended Jackson Public Schools before earning an associate’s degree from Jackson College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a later a master’s degree in business administration from Michigan Technological University. Troy White, current assistant city engineer, will take over Dowling’s role in September. White, a graduate of Jackson High School and Michigan Tech, has worked for Jackson’s engineering department since 2005.

“(White) understands both sides of dealing with businesses, and how design works for both small and large projects,” Dowling said. “He’s going to fit in real well.”

Dowling said he plans to spend a “fair amount” of his postretirement travelling. A lifelong lover of nature, Dowling is looking forward to visiting as many of the country’s national parks as he can.

During the first week of his retirement, Dowling said he’s leaving on a long vacation with his wife to see the sights of the Pacific Northwest.

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Free Subscription to The Wall Street Journal

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Michigan Tech’s Van Pelt and Opie Library, the College of Business, and The Wall Street Journal have partnered to provide a school-sponsored WSJ subscription to all Michigan Technological University students, faculty and staff.

Through the partnership, subscribers will have full digital access to WSJ’s award-winning journalism via WSJ.com and the app, as well as a wide variety of curated content, from podcasts and newsletters to career insights and personal finance advice.

How to activate your complimentary Wall Street Journal subscription:

Students, faculty and staff at Michigan Technological University can activate their complimentary subscription by visiting WSJ.com/MTU. Those who currently pay for an existing WSJ subscription may call 1-800-JOURNAL and mention they are switching to their school-sponsored subscription. Partial refunds will be made.

Why The Wall Street Journal is right for Michigan Technological University students:

The Wall Street Journal offers students unrivaled coverage of business, finance, politics and world news, including focused insight into career development, technology, health, arts and culture.

WSJ Subscription Benefits

As the economic, political and social landscapes continue to shift, having access to diverse,
well-sourced information is more important than ever. Michigan Tech’s Van Pelt and Opie Library and College of Business have partnered with The Wall Street Journal to provide all Michigan Technological University, faculty and staff with WSJ’s full suite of digital products and resources. You can use your school-sponsored WSJ subscription to:

  • Get unlimited access to WSJ.com, WSJ mobile apps, curated newsletters and podcasts
  • Advance your career prospects with our Work & Life section, which provides job prep insights, personal finance tips, expert career and workplace advice.
  • Have the opportunity to be published on WSJ.com through WSJ Opinion’s Future View Series

About The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal is a global news organization that provides leading news, information, commentary and analysis. Published by Dow Jones, The Wall Street Jouhttp://wsj.com/mturnal engages readers across print, digital, mobile, social and video. It holds 38 Pulitzer Prizes for outstanding journalism.

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Van Pelt and Opie Library and College of Business Announce Wall Street Journal Access

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The Van Pelt and Opie Library and the College of Business are pleased to announce their newest partnership to provide the campus with access to high quality business resources. The Wall Street Journal is a major U.S. newspaper with a focus on business, economic, and market related content. Upon setting up an account, you will gain access to current articles, newsletters, videos, podcasts, and more. An account will also allow you to access content directly through the WSJ app, downloadable through whichever platform your device uses (e.g., Google Play, Apple Store, etc.). Instructors can also use the WSJ Instructor Suite to curate classroom content.

The VPOL and COB also partner to supply campus with access to the Bloomberg Terminal, which provides coverage on financial markets, industries, companies, securities, and countries. Rapid access to news, data, third party and proprietary research and analytics, and trading tools are available through a dedicated, on-site terminal located on the second floor of the library in the Business and Entrepreneurial Space.

Please reach out to library@mtu.edu for more information.

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Michigan Tech College of Business Earns Accreditation Renewal, Continues 20-Year Tradition of Quality

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The Michigan Technological University College of Business (COB) has been approved for an accreditation extension to 2026 by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). 

AACSB is the longest-serving global association dedicated to advancing management education. The association is synonymous with the highest standards in business education and its accreditation has been earned by only 5% of the world’s schools offering business degrees at the bachelor’s level or higher. 

Dean Johnson, dean of the Michigan Tech College of Business, says the renewal is an affirmation of the job the College is doing.

“It’s a reflection of our ability to fulfill AACSB’s mission with our uniquely tech-focused curriculum and premiere faculty research and teaching ability,” he said.

To maintain accreditation, a school is put through a rigorous review every five years, demonstrating quality standards relating to faculty qualifications, strategic use of resources, faculty and student interaction and a commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning goals in degree programs. 

Why Accreditation Matters

Johnson explains why AACSB accreditation is vital. “The AACSB has strict standards for curriculum development and faculty qualifications, research and teaching. Accreditation also documents that our program innovatively responds to the ever-changing demands of the business world. The output of this excellence is seen in our students.”

Measured against peers, Michigan Tech accounting students earn the second-highest CPA pass rates in the nation and achieve the highest average score. AACSB is an internationally recognized seal employers know and trust. “Our students land paid internships after their very first semester. Top firms and corporations need our skilled thinkers who are highly adaptable and ready for any challenge,” Johnson added. 

Advancing the Future of Business

In their peer review, AACSB’s Continuous Improvement Review Committee commended COB’s Husky Investment Tournament designed for high school business classrooms. The stock-trading simulation takes pre-college students through a semester-long hands-on stock trading experience while infusing principles of the business world and introducing students to the people and opportunities in business at Michigan Tech. The outreach program provides high school business educators with easily implementable tools and resources, including video modules created by MTU students and faculty. 

In return for their participation, high school students receive a scholarship to Michigan Tech. Since its inception, the Husky Investment Tournament has reached more than 1,000 students from nine states and two countries. 

Additionally in their report, COB was lauded for its demonstrated commitment to developing curriculum centered on technology and analytics. At the undergraduate level, new offerings include a concentration in data analytics in accounting, a minor in business and the state’s first minor in financial technology (FinTech). At the graduate level, updates include a master’s degree in engineering management and graduate certificates in accounting analytics and forensic accounting. 

About the College of Business
The Michigan Tech College of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing, as well as a general business option. Graduate degrees include the TechMBA®, a Master of  Engineering Management, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Science in Applied Natural Resource Economics.

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