Michigan Tech College of Business Newsblog

Student Competition: iOMe Challenge

Published September 10, 2012

Calling all students!

Senior lecturer in economics, Emanuel Oliveira, is looking for students this fall to enter the iOMe Challenge. The challenge, started in 2009 discusses how local organizations might engage the so-called Y or Millennial generation to think about their own future, 40 years from now.

The iOMe challenge they designed consists of two components; an essay and a video.

Essay Contest (due October 31, 2012): Write a policy recommendation targeted for the U.S. congress of no more than 10,000 words that addresses the future financial challenges of the Millennial generation and specifically creates incentives and removes barriers associated with low levels of savings and the lack of planning for their retirement.

Video Contest (due November 21, 2012): Produce a short video (60 seconds or less in length) that compellingly illustrates the key elements of the Essay. You might think about the essay as the screenplay and the video as the movie.

Prizes

Winning team: $10,000 + presentation in D.C. to members of Congress (dependent on
availability). Honorable Mention(s): $2,000

Two years ago, students Coleman Segal (Economics major) and Adam Eidelsafy (Software Engineering major) were finalists in the competition. Last year, three of the four MTU teams made it to the final round of judging and one team has received an honorable mention in the competition. The team receiving the honorable mention was awarded $2,000 and was composed of Katie O’Connell (Economics major), Tianlu Shen (Environmental Engineering major), Adam Stigers (Economics major), Teddy Broe (Economics major), and Walker Derby (Finance major). Read the iOMe update from 2011.

Contact Dr. Oliveira (emolivei@mtu.edu) if you are interested in participating this year.

Savvy Entrepreneur Workshop: Find Your First Customer

Published September 7, 2012

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Learn how to close the deal with your first customer at this season’s kickoff of the Savvy Entrepreneur Series, which features interactive web conferencing. This event will start with social networking and refreshments at 5:30 p.m., and then a panel discussion from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 11, in the conference room of the ATDC.

KTM Industries and Jeff Smith, codirector of the New Economy Division for the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, will lead the discussion.

Learn simple steps and best practices to help gain market traction for your intellectual property or collaborative university intellectual property.

The goal is to share rapid commercialization ideas as entrepreneurs work with a university research partner and learn about research intellectual property and the great base of strategic customers in Michigan.

For more information, contact Assistant Director John Diebel (IIE) at 487-1082 or jfdiebel@mtu.edu .

The event is sponsored by Innovation and Industry Engagement, the School of Business and Economics, SmartZone and the Keweenaw Alliance For Economic Development.

Guest Speaker: Marie Cleveland

Published September 5, 2012

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The School of Business and Economics together with the Presidential Council of Alumnae welcome alumna Marie Cleveland to campus.

When: Thursday, September 13.

Where: Fisher Hall 329 at 4pm

Presentation titled, “How to deliver effective business presentations.”

This opportunity is open to everyone and will be beneficial for those currently studying business as well as individuals in other majors or areas on campus.

A reception with light refreshments following the lecture from 5 to 6pm in the Fisher 329. Hope to see you there!

More about Marie

Marie Cleveland ’82 loves her job. As a worldwide corporate account manager for Federal Express, she handles six major accounts and is responsible for bringing in $50 million in sales each year.

“We believe in helping clients in any way we can,” she says, “which often involves finding innovative solutions to improve their bottom lines.” This freedom to think and act outside the box is one of Cleveland’s favorite aspects of the position.

Though initially skeptical about working in sales, Cleveland found a talent and a passion for the high level of client interaction. She became a regional recruiter for Roadway Package Systems (RPS) in 1988 and went on to hold various positions with the company. When FedEx purchased RPS in 2000, Cleveland was named a corporate account executive.

There is no doubt that Cleveland has had a big impact at FedEx and is a highly valued employee. FedEx has recognized her contributions with numerous accolades over the years, including Rookie of the Year, Senior Account Representative of the Year, Corporate Account Executive of the Year, Ambassador’s Club Award, and the Largest Corporate Account Close Award. In 2010, she received the highest honor at FedEx, the President’s Club Award.

The key to professional satisfaction, according to Cleveland, is finding balance. “I love my job, but it is not my life,” she says. “One of the great things about FedEx is that they promote priorities; for me, it’s faith, family, and FedEx.” (Read more)

Did you miss the presentation? Download the slides: Marie Cleveland – presentations.

Lunch Research Presentation: Josh Filzen

Published September 5, 2012

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Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Josh Filzen presenting "Financial reporting complexity and the comovement of stock returns."

Please join the School of Business and Economics and Assistant Professor Josh Filzen for a brown bag lunch presentation on September 10 at Noon in Academic Office Building 101. His presentation is titled: “Financial reporting complexity and the comovement of stock returns.” Dr. Filzen added, “We study whether financial reporting complexity induces synchronicity in stock prices by way of the theory of complementarity. Preliminary results will be discussed.”

Upcoming Research Presentations

Liang Song – September 24, 1-2 pm, Do Islamic Banks Employ Less Earnings Management?
Andre LaPlume – October 8, 12-1 pm, Outstreaming for Ambidexterity

Paper Takes Top Honors at Global Innovation and Knowledge Academy

Published August 27, 2012

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Faculty Spotlight

(Left to right: Saurav Pathak, Emanuel Xavier de Oliveira, and Andre Laplume)

A paper that focuses on entrepreneurs in emerging economies was awarded “best paper” honors at the Second Global Innovation and Knowledge Academy in Spain. Its authors, Saurav Pathak, Andre Laplume and Emanuel Oliveira of the School of Business and Economics, were competing against 80 other papers at the academy, and eight received top honors.

In the paper, Pathak, Laplume and Oliveira argue that regimes that protect intellectual property rights, combined with high levels of foreign investment, negatively affect individuals’ entry into technological entrepreneurship.

“Neo-classical growth theory argues that technological progress is the main engine of economic growth, given that other factors have diminishing returns,” said Pathak. “Our key finding is that emerging economies with higher foreign investment per capita tend to have relatively lower techno-entrepreneurship rates.”

Saurav Pathak is the Rick and Jo Berquist assistant professor of entrepreneurship and innovation, Andre Laplume is an assistant professor of management, and Emanuel Xavier de Oliveira is a senior lecturer of economics.

Written by Dennis Walikainen, senior editor in University Marketing and Communications.