Michigan Tech College of Business Newsblog

Vote for SBE in the iOme Challenge!

Published April 16, 2014

Competitions

For the 3rd consecutive year, Michigan Tech’s School of Business and Economics has been picked as one of 6 finalists in iOme Challenge‘s #moneysmartweek video competition. Students in SBE’s Macroeconomics and Banking & Financial Institutions courses did the hard work by putting this stellar video together. But they need YOUR help to win a $250 prize! Tech is currently in last place, but we can easily pull ahead with your help! Voting is simple:

Step 1: Like iOme Challenge on Facebook

Step 2: Scroll through their page and find Michigan Tech’s video. Make sure you like it to cast your vote!

Step 3: Share the video on your own Facebook page so that all of your friends can help us win.

It’s that easy!! The poll closes on Friday, April 18 at 11:59 pm CST, so cast your vote NOW! GO HUSKIES!

Business Insider: Overachieving Tech Is Most Underrated College in Michigan

Published April 11, 2014

By

In the News

Business Insider Chooses the Most Underrated College in Every State

Michigan Tech has earned itself another title: The Most Underrated College in Michigan. In a national review, Business Insider recently chose the 50 most underrated colleges in the United States. They toted Michigan Tech as the champ for Michigan, stating of the winners:

Oftentimes, these schools’ strong academic programs are overshadowed by the popular perception that a college is better if it’s tough to get into. These colleges challenge that myth, and are smart – and potentially safe – options for student applicants.

Several factors helped decide which schools made the top of the list for each state, including academic rankings, in-state population, and acceptance rates.

It’s true: we have an acceptance rate close to 75%. Also true: on average, our incoming students have a 3.66 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and an ACT composite score of 26.7. Our students are crazy smart, and we were recently recognized as #11 in the nation for public schools with the smartest students.

Are you a Tech alum, current student, or future student? Let me know in the comments below what your most favorite underrated thing is about Michigan Tech! Mine’s the starting salary of graduates from the School of Business and Economics: they make $53,000 on average!

For the full list of the 50 most underrated institutions nationwide, check out the picture below.

Mari Buche voted 2014 Teacher of the Year

Published April 9, 2014

By

SBE Undergrads voted Mari Buche 2014 Teacher of the Year.

Each year the student body within the School of Business and Economics elects one faculty member as Teacher of the Year. Mari Buche has been selected as the 2013 recipient of the coveted award. When asked what this award means, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems said, “I am deeply humbled by this award. It is terrific to know that the students appreciate my dedication and commitment to teaching and learning. This recognition is validation that the time I invest in my courses is well spent!”

During her time at Michigan Tech, Buche has proven to be a great asset to the School of Business and Economics. This is the third teaching award that she has received since joining the faculty at Michigan Tech in Fall 2003. “It never gets old” Buche said playfully before adding “each award is sincerely appreciated.” It is obvious that Buche enjoys sharing her passion for continuous learning, especially in the areas of technology and innovation.

Spearheaded by Buche, the Management Information Systems faculty have purposefully integrated experiential learning projects into the curriculum to ensure that graduates have a taste of the entire “soup to nuts” process of IT project development. Recruiters are routinely impressed by graduates of Michigan Tech, citing their ability to add value to projects from Day One! It’s all about the skills and talent our students bring to the workplace from their time working on real world systems projects as undergraduates.

The School of Business and Economics continues to innovate- through our curriculum and industry partnerships, we align our degree programs with the ever-changing business environment. “In particular, I try to be a role model for women considering STEM fields. MIS combines the fascination of computing and information systems with business acumen and interpersonal communication,” Buche said. The powerful combination of technical and soft skills cannot be overstated.

Michigan Tech has recently announced the roll out of new graduate programs including a Masters in Accountancy and a Master of Data Sciences. These degree programs will create additional opportunities for our students while making them highly marketable and cutting edge. Successful graduates will realize lucrative careers, and many will achieve their dream jobs. The School of Business and Economics perpetually strives for excellence and superior quality, ensuring both rigor and relevance as we incorporate new technologies enriching academia.

Thanks Mari for all you do for our School of Business and Economics and your students!

APMP Scores Big… Twice!

Published April 4, 2014

By

Student Organizations

The Applied Portfolio Management Program is one of the most unique student organizations on campus. Every year, two teams each comprised of six students are selected to create stock market portfolios using $1.3 million of real money. These students have the opportunity to use one of two Bloomberg Terminals in the Upper Peninsula, right in their very own LSGI Trading Lab.

Senior APMP team member, Mason McGrew, utilizes the Bloomberg Terminal in the School of Business and Economics

APMP has always been considered successful, but 2013 was a banner year for the team. Director Dean Johnson described a return of 29.66%, with a standard deviation (aka risk) of around 1.7%. Senior Brett Ludwig reminisced about the teams’ investments in 2013, stating, “It was really cool to watch the stocks go up, and tough at times not to sell others.” With a portfolio that grew in one year from $397,000 to $515,000, the Gold Team recently participated in two global investment competitions. It may come as no surprise that they walked away with not one, but two victories.

After APMP member Heath Johnson appeared on the Market Site display in Times Square and closed the NASDAQ on Wednesday, March 19, it was announced that the team had won the 2014 Quinnipiac G.A.M.E. IV Forum investment competition in the value category. This achievement was particularly impressive considering that there were over 1,000 participants from 118 colleges and universities!

Most recently at the 14th Annual Redefining Investment Strategy Education (RISE) competition on March 28 at the University of Dayton in Ohio, team members Ludwig, Nathan Sturos, and Judy Isaacson were on hand to snag the first place title of Gold Portfolio in the Value Investment Style category.

Competing at RISE in Dayton was the icing on the cake after APMP’s successful year. Their dedication won them the ultimate Gold Portfolio, and Sturos remarked, “It was a humbling experience to be recognized at such a distinguished conference.” Isaacson was proud of her team and grateful for the “great opportunity to see many different perspectives on the world of finance… and it was a fun experience!”

Are you a current student interested in joining a future APMP team? The APMP application is available online! Interested in becoming a student in the School of Business and Economics? Apply for free today!

The 2014 Outstanding Man & Woman in Business

Published April 3, 2014

By

Every year, the School of Business and Economics’ scholarship selection committee has the difficult task of choosing one male and one female student to be the Sam Tidwell Outstanding Man and Woman in Business. For 2014, it came down to Judy Isaacson as the Outstanding Woman in Business, and Cole Smith as the Outstanding Man in Business.

Judy Isaacson and Cole Smith proudly display their plaques with Dean Eugene Klippel

The Sam Tidwell Outstanding Man and Woman in Business awards are given annually to two current students who embody the mission of the School of Business and Economics. Selection for these titles is never easy, and 2014 proved to be particularly difficult. The selection committee, comprised of professors Anne Warrington, Mari Buche, Paul Nelson, and Michele Loughead, along with Academic Advisor Carly Harrington and student Nathan Sturos (2013 Outstanding Man in Business), received numerous high-quality applications. The application process itself was very rigorous, with required essays and interviews. Choosing the recipients is the scholarship committee’s way of recognizing these students for their dedication to academics, their leadership and extracurricular involvement within the Michigan Tech community, and their tireless commitment to the world of business. Dean Eugene Klippel praised the decision of the scholarship committee, stating, “While both [Cole and Judy] have excellent academic records, distinction lies in their willingness to assume leadership roles on campus, as well as engage in the experiential opportunities provided by the School’s many programs.”

Judy Isaacson, 2014 Outstanding Woman in Business, poses with Dean Eugene Klippel

Judy Isaacson, the 2014 Outstanding Woman in Business, hails from here in Houghton. As an Accounting major with a minor in Global Business, she plans to graduate in December 2014. Judy stays busy on campus through her active role in the Applied Portfolio Management Program and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. After studying abroad in Spring 2013 and working as a teaching assistant over the summer, Judy currently interns at the Superior National Bank and Trust in Hancock. These collective experiences will undoubtedly give her an edge toward her future career goals, which includes becoming an internal auditor focusing on the field of fraud. Grateful for the opportunities she has been afforded, Judy remarks, “The School of Business and Economics has shaped me into a professional businesswoman, prepared me for leadership roles and has given me confidence in my abilities.”

Cole Smith accepts his award from Dean Eugene Klippel for 2014 Outstanding Man in Business

Cole Smith, the 2014 Outstanding Man in Business, also plans to graduate in December 2014 with his Bachelor of Science degree in Management, and has been on the Dean’s List for the majority of his academic career. He has exemplified a strong involvement within the Kappa Sigma Iota Accounting Club, where he holds the office of Vice President of Operations. Building his resume is very important to Cole, and he has held employment with DTE Energy, Hanley Excavating, Bob’s Custom Carpentry, Specialty Granules, Inc., and KC Docks. Cole, originally from Iron Mountain, Michigan, is appreciative of the fact that he was able to be so involved within Tech’s SBE. He stated, “It’s truly rewarding to have received this award. The faculty has been very supportive in and outside of class, which put me in a viable position to be a candidate for this award. It’s an honor and a great compliment to be recognized from the School of Business and Economics.”

Everyone within the School of Business and Economics could not be more proud of our 2014 Sam Tidwell Outstanding Man and Woman in Business. Congratulations, Cole and Judy!