Michigan Tech College of Business Newsblog

Business Students Get Grant to Study Eco-Tourism in the UP

Published December 13, 2016

Jonathan Leinonen has received a $2,500 grant to support a student research study of eco-tourism in the Upper Peninsula. The grant comes from the US Economic Development Administration-funded University Center for Regional Economic Innovation (REI) at the Michigan State University image31487-pers y Center for Community and Economic Development.

With Leinonen as faculty advisor, the Michigan Tech student team will collect data on eco-tourism resources and gaps in the UP, compare with successful eco-tourism regions and recommend a stronger business model.

The students are business management, engineering management and marketing majors in a spring semester class called Business Development Experiences.

– Jenn Donovan, Tech Today

Dean Johnson Named Dean of the SBE

Published December 1, 2016

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Faculty and Staff

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Dean L. Johnson, currently the James and Dolores Trethewey APMP professor and founding director of the Applied Portfolio Management Program, has been named Dean of the School of Business and Economics. The announcement was made by Jackie Huntoon provost and vice president of academic affairs.

Johnson has been serving as interim dean since January of this year. Huntoon said “I thank the search committee for their efforts in assembling an outstanding slate of candidates for on-campus interviews. Despite the quality of the other candidates, Dr. Johnson rose to the top and I look forward to working with him in the future.”

Johnson earned his PhD in finance from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He joined Michigan Tech in 1996, with an initial appointment at the rank of instructor. He was promoted to the rank of full professor in 2012 and served as assistant dean from 2014-2016. Johnson has also held a visiting faculty position at the University of Wisconsin for the past twenty years.

Huntoon says Johnson has a reputation for creating unique academic programs, offering engaging learning opportunities for students, partnering with key stakeholders and working with accreditors.

His research focuses on fictional asset pricing and has been recognized through awards for best paper. His teaching has earned him recognition as the 2012 Michigan Professor of the Year by the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan (now the Michigan Association of State Universities).

On his appointment, Johnson said, “It’s an exciting time to accept this position. Technology has become the driver of the global economy. Michigan Tech is an exceptional STEM university that provides the School with a unique ability to bridge business and technology. I am looking forward to working with the stakeholders of the University and the School of Business and Economics to fulfill this unique role.”

Faculty, academic staff, students and an alumnus comprised the search committee that made recommendations to the provost regarding selection of the new dean. Johnson succeeds Gene Klippel, who retired this year. Johnson will begin his duties immediately.

by Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Tech Today

Finance Club Visits Chicago

Published November 15, 2016

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Academics

On November 4, the Finance Club had the opportunity to visit Chicago to meet with finance professionals across the industry. First they visited Northern Trust, a financial services company. The club had the opportunity to speak with professionals who specialize in areas such as wealth management and private equity. The professionals at Northern Trust emphasized the importance of taking advantages of opportunities, such as internships and school programs like APMP. Students also learned that it is important to constantly challenge themselves to make a lifetime career, not just a job.

The club then had the opportunity to tour Chicago Board of Options Exchange (CBOE). There, the club learned how trading used to be conducted in the chaotic world of trading floors and see how much technology has impacted trading and investing.

Students were also able to tour the Chicago Federal Reserve where they learned about the role the Federal Reserve plays in the U.S. economy. The Federal Reserve is responsible for functions such as setting monetary policy and regulating the banking industry. It is also responsible for keeping the money supply at sustainable levels around the country. The club had roughly $3 billion of cash under their feet as they learned about the nation’s bank.

After a successful trip to Chicago, the Finance Club says they are ready to spread knowledge throughout campus through multiple financial literacy events. Stay tuned for more information!

Brown Bag Lunch Seminar

Published November 3, 2016

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The School of Business and Economics will host its third brown bag lunch research seminar of the semester on Thursday, November 10 at 12:00pm in Academic Office Building 101. Dr. Mark Rudnicki and Dr. Terry Sharik of the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science will present their recent study. Pizza and soda will be provided.

Title: Forest Bioeconomy and the Circular Bioeconomy

The forest bioeconomy refers to economic activities that use renewable bio-based resources from forest ecosystems, land or water, for production of services, products or energy. For the bio-economy to be efficient and effective and to remain viable, it must foster reuse, recycling and safe re-entry of by-products into the environment. This life cycle approach is referred to as a “(bio-based) circular economy” and is a foundation for sustainable development. Our challenge will be to help communities and industry design and develop a bio-based product portfolio consistent with their existing strengths and future possibilities by supporting education, research and business-based partnerships.

The bioeconomy presents significant benefits to all business and community stakeholders in the value chain. Central to a bioeconomy are resource protocols that, a) ensure sustainable management, b) optimize use of forest and mill residuals, c) capitalize on waste to use principles, d) engage community and business leaders in planning and development, e) create cross sector business relationships that stimulate investment, and f) advocate for policy that enables communities and accommodates business. The forest bioeconomy has the potential to dramatically advance and improve the social and economic well being of all those engaged, from land owners and operators to product distributors. You are part of the resource needed to realize that potential.

By implementing a circular bioeconomy, the forest industry can be more competitive by creating strong and expanding markets for wood fiber. Equally important is the opportunity to improve social license and increase opportunities to demonstrate the responsible and sustainable nature of the forestry sector.

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Elevator Pitch Competition Results

Published October 31, 2016

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On Thursday, October 6th the School of Business and Economics, Smart Zone, Michigan Economic Development Program and Michigan Tech Center for Social Innovation hosted the annual Bob Mark Elevator Pitch Competition. In addition to cash prizes, tickets to the Silicon Valley Experience were also awarded to ten of the participants. Congratulations to all of our winners:

1st Prize – Emmet Eurich, VaccuShot

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Emmet is a second year chemical engineer at Michigan Tech from Midland, Michigan.

Vacuu-Shot is a business whose sole purpose is to make the archery world a safer and better place for all of those who are and will be archers, without the risk of injury. Vacuu-Shot is based around his design, which replaces the high tension limbs and cables, as well as all of the complex moving parts found in compound bows that cause these injuries, with a vacuum piston system, lever-action limb system, and cast non-flexible frame. Vacuu-Shot plans on having their first bow line, called The Rochmaninoff, at the ATA Trade Show in Indianapolis by January of 2017.

2nd Prize – Tommy Stuart, Delving Deeply

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Tommy grew up in Rochester, Michigan before moving to New Jersey, Kentucky, Iowa and back to Michigan. He has had a variety of experiences before landing himself here as a part time student taking courses in information technology here at Michigan Tech.

Delving Deeply is a project Tommy is working on with his team in the Husky Game Development enterprise program. They are called Team 13, or “Pizza Lab” and are made up of Tommy, James Turkette, Trevor Hamilton, and Scott Murphy. Their game is a single player top down action adventure, similar to the older 2D Legend of Zelda games. By Decemeber they are hoping to have at least four eonnected dungeon rooms, and a puzzle or two for the player to solve while battling enemies and moving between rooms. Their full game will be significantly larger and hpoe to release it by May 2017.

3rd Prize & Audience Favorite – Parth Bhatt & Dhavan Sharma, The Indian Restaurant

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Parth and Dhavan are both graduate students at Michigan Tech from Gujarat State in India. Parth is studying applied ecology and geographic information sience and Dhavan is in the biomedical engineering program.

After moving to Michigan Tech in August 2016, the two discovered there was not an Indian Restaurant in the area. They found that Michigan Tech has a large community of Indian, Chinese, Nigerian and American students and professors who love Indian food but have no where to go to eat it. Both have experience working in the food industry in India and want to serve the Keewenaw community with tasty and healthy Indian cuisine.

Best Technology – Kyle Ludwig, Tru

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Kyle is a fourth year transfer student studying computer engineering from Traverse City, Michigan.

Tru was an idea he had to help empower people to adopt healthy lifestyles. Since last year, Tru has grown from just Kyle to a five member team in Computer Science and Computer Engineering working on design and evelopment. They are currently creating an automated nutrition plan for Android which adapts to personal goals and preferences over time, much like a Spotify playlist. It is as simple as a left or right swipe on each suggestion to plan your next meal. A weekly grocery list, recipe directions and scheduled times to prepare meals are also given. Their launch page will be up soon, likely under a new name for insider access and updates.

Best Social Innovation – Datta Sendesh, Teelax