2009-2010 annual report prepared for Alumni and Friends

MARTHA AND SPENCER LOVE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ELONBusiness

MARTHA AND SPENCER LOVE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 0 | A N N U A L R E P O R T

ELONBUSINESS

Elon University PresidentLeo M. Lambert

Dean of the Love School of BusinessMary Gowan, Ph.D.

Associate DeanCassandra DiRienzo, Ph.D.

Elon Business is published yearly for alumni and friends by the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business

EditorCallie Young

DesignerCarolyn Nelson

PhotographerKim Walker

Copy EditorKeren Rivas

ContributorEric Townsend

Published October 2010

Send inquiries to:Martha and Spencer Love School of BusinessElon UniversityKoury Business Center2075 Campus BoxElon, N.C. 27244-2020

lsbdean@elon.edu336-278-6000

On the Web:www.elon.edu/e-web/academics/business

Mission:

To provide exceptional learning

experiences that facilitate the

transformation of students into

knowledgeable, responsible business

professionals and leaders who

make a difference in their professions,

their organizations, and the

global economy.

Dear LSB Alumni and Friends,

The 2009-2010 academic year was a time of reflection and renewal for the faculty and staff in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. We finalized our five-year strategic plan and gained approval for a new B.S.B.A. degree with majors in entrepreneurship, finance, management, and marketing; added minors in professional sales and entrepreneurship; created the position of Director of Undergraduate Programs; and continued to refine the MBA and Executive Education programs. It was truly a good and productive year.

Perhaps our most important accomplishment was the completion of the five-year strategic plan. The plan positions us to become one of the top business programs in the nation. At its core is our vision of being a leader in transformative business education: transforming students into business professionals and leaders who make a difference in their professions, their organizations, and the world; transforming how business education is done; and transforming organizations into more successful enterprises through action learning and our graduate and executive education programs.

The world has changed and we believe our role as business educators is to prepare students to become lifelong learners able to navigate the unknowns they are certain to encounter. We also believe we have a responsibility to engage in scholarship and practice that will help organizations not only survive but flourish in a changing world. The words on the front cover of this magazine capture many of the core concepts addressed in our strategic plan. You will have the opportunity to read more about the plan beginning on page 6.

In 2011 The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business will celebrate its 25th anniversary. Join us this year for the Elon Homecoming and then mark your calendar to join us for our anniversary homecoming celebration. In the meantime, let us hear from you. We want to know where you are and what you are doing!

Mary A. Gowan, Ph.D.Dean, Martha and Spencer Love School of Business

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The Year in Review 2009-2010

Leadership Lessons: From Bus Driver to CEOKerrii Brown Anderson ’79 talks about her career and

leadership lessons as the LSB Legends of Business speaker

LSB Strategic Plan:

Becoming a Leader in Transformative Education:

The Love School of Business Strategic Plan 2009-2014

LSB Strategic Plan:

Providing a Transformative Academic Experience

LSB Strategic Plan:

Creating Local and Global Citizens

LSB Strategic Plan:

Securing the Future of the Love School of Business

LSB Faculty and Staff Awards 2010

Faculty News 2009-2010

Love School of Business Board of Advisors

Advisory Boards 2010-2011

Table of Contents

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SeptemberBeta Alpha Psi sponsored its 8th annual Meet and Greet. The networking event is an opportunity for accounting and finance students to interact with representatives from finance and accounting firms. Earlier in the month, the Elon chapter was recognized by the national organization as a Superior Chapter for excellence in academics, professionalism and leadership.

Twenty-three Business Fellows traveled to New York City to visit Wall Street firms and other companies. Visits were made possible by Elon alumni, parents and LSB advisory board members. Students also attended a networking reception hosted by Elon alumni. Dean Mary Gowan and faculty members Tom Tiemann, Wonhi Synn, Maggie Miller and Business Fellows advisor Carolina Gomez accompanied the students.

OctoberThe Fourth Annual Economic Summit: The State of the Economy, sponsored by the Alamance County Chamber of Commerce, featured Rick Kaglic, economist with the Charlotte office of the Federal Reserve Bank.

A networking panel held during Homecoming Weekend gave students a chance to hear recent alumni talk about their work and life experiences post-Elon. “Life After Elon” featured Ryan Quinn ’06, Kristin Smith ’07, Alllison Ellmers Lagstrom ’08 and Erika Lamanna ’09.

NovemberR. Casey Olson, executive vice president of Occidental Petroleum, spoke to students in LaRose Digital Theatre about the past, present and future of oil production and energy use in the U.S. and abroad. His presentation was part of International Education Week.

Sarah Doggett, Caitlin McGuire and Charles McKenna, all class of 2011, participated in the Great Northwoods Sales Warmup competition at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. The students were accompanied by their faculty coach, Michael Rodriguez. It was Elon’s first appearance in the regional sales competition.

FebruaryThe marketing and entrepreneurship department sponsored a Supply Chain Management Panel in LaRose Digital Theatre. Panelists included Greg Chabon of Womble, Carlisle, Sandridge & Rice; Kathy Chinnis of Procter and Gamble; Lowell Hoffman, former supply chain executive at Colgate Palmolive; and faculty member Coleman R. Rich.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2009-2010

Business Fellows at UBS

“Life Ater Elon” Panel Great Northwoods Sales Warmup

R. Casey Olson

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Bill Gradison, former chair of the Public Accounting Oversight Board and U.S. congressman, talked about the response of accountants and auditors to the recent financial crisis in a presentation sponsored by Beta Alpha Psi.

MarchDavid Childers, CEO of EthicsPoint, addressed the changing nature of ethics and corporate responsibility as the Business Ethics speaker. Beta Gamma Sigma and the LSB co-sponsored his presentation.

Former Citibank CFO Gary Crittendon and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young spoke to students in McCrary

Theatre about entrepreneurship and navigating challenging economic circumstances in a presentation sponsored by the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Student Entrepreneurial Development Enterprise (SEED).

AprilThe annual Love School of Business awards program recognized the achievements of students, faculty and staff. Thirty-four students received scholarships. Elon associate provost Nancy Midgette and LSB administrative assistant Kristin Barrier were honored for exemplary service. Read more about the award recipients on page 14.

Forty-two undergraduate and MBA students were inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma in a ceremony in LaRose Digital Theatre. Associate marketing professor Larry Garber was among the inductees. Honorary inductee Allen E. Gant, Jr., CEO of Glen Raven, Inc., addressed the new initiates.

MayThe Business Fellows Class of 2010 was recognized in a medallion ceremony on May 20. In giving the charge to students, Dean Gowan noted that the class of 2010 was the first to have studied in the Koury Business Center begining in their first year.

LSB Awards Program 2010

Steve Young and Gary Crittendon

2010 Business Fellows

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During her presentation, “Leadership Lessons: From Bus Driver to CEO,” Anderson shared how her early experiences working on her family’s tobacco farm, driving a school bus at age 16, and working during high school and college as a billing clerk at Carolina Biological Supply instilled in her the importance of lifelong learning.

After graduating from Elon in 1979 with a degree in business

administration, her boss at Carolina Biological Supply, John Powell, encouraged her to interview at KPMG. In sharing this experience, Anderson encouraged students to network and use their contacts: “Don’t be afraid to take opportunities from people who are opening doors for you.” Going to a large public accounting firm allowed her to develop business skills, get involved in the community

Leadership Lessons: From Bus Driver to CEOAlumni Profile: Kerrii Brown Anderson ’79

“You can ride the bus, or you can drive the bus,” Kerrii Anderson told the audience who came to hear her talk about her career and lessons in leadership as the Legends of Business speaker in March.

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and “approach the unknown with confidence,” she said.

After five years at KPMG, Anderson went to work for RJR Nabisco as an analyst for the company’s restaurant division and soon became the controller. She later joined homebuilder The Key Company in 1985 in that same capacity. While there, her former Elon roommate, Robin York, persuaded her to talk to Irving Schottenstein, founder of M/I Schottenstein Homes in Columbus, Ohio. The company ultimately offered her a position as chief financial officer. Revenue increased from $250 million to $1 billion while she was there.

After 14 years at M/I Schottenstein, Anderson was ready for a new challenge. In 2000, Wendy’s International asked her to come onboard as CFO. At the time the company had 350 restaurants outside North America. Working for an international company expanded her global perspective. “You can’t be myopic about what’s going on around you...

you’ve got to think way beyond your borders,” says Anderson.

In 2006, Wendy’s chief executive officer retired, and the board asked Anderson to step into the role of interim CEO. The company was in a time of transition, and activist shareholders were frustrated with the performance of the company. During her tenure as interim and then CEO, Anderson made some difficult decisions to right-size the organization

Igniting Young Alumni

In February 2010 Kerrii Anderson issued a challenge to all young alumni: Make a gift of $20 or more during the month and she would match it 5-to-1.

Alumni who made a gift during the challenge qualified for membership in IGNITE, Elon’s giving program for graduates of the last decade.

Anderson led the IGNITE Challenge to help increase the percentage of young alumni who make annual gifts to Elon. She focused on Elon’s youngest graduates

and engineer a turnaround in sales, including the spin-off of Tim Horton’s.

“Being a leader of a public company is about creating shareholder value. I think we did a good job,” she says of her time at Wendy’s. “I really felt I was the right leader at the right time.”

Anderson talked about her transition from role of CEO to professional board member and about the importance of giving back, whether it’s time or money, a lesson she learned while working with the Schottenstein family. She praised her Elon business education for preparing her for career challenges. “I had the same foundation that you have,” she said. “Elon gives you a great foundation, you should feel good about your education.”

Anderson ended her presentation by encouraging students to have a passion and a vision for what they do, to embrace change, and to always listen. She left the audience with this advice:

“If you can drive the bus, why ride it?”

because they represent the university’s future.

“It’s important to give back and to recognize the difference we can make in the lives of others,” she said. “To have the opportunity to change someone’s life is phenomenal.”

Sallie Hutton, director of Elon Alumni Relations, praised Anderson’s efforts in encouraging alumni giving. “Kerrii’s challenge visibly demonstrated the tremendous impact of many small gifts and rewarded young alumni do-nors for their commitment to Elon.”

“I had the same foundation you have. Elon

gives you a great foundation. You should feel good

about your education.”

IGNITE NITE in New York City, 2009

On December 6, 1985, the Martha and

Spencer Love Foundation made a

$1 million gift to Elon College to

endow its business program. The Elon

Board of Trustees voted to name the program The Martha

and Spencer Love School of Business in memory of the

Foundation’s benefactors. At the time, the gift was the

largest in the 97-year history of the college. In 2011, the

Love School (LSB) will celebrate its 25th anniversary.

The years following the naming gift have brought growth

in the number of faculty and students in the LSB as Elon

University has grown, as well as an increase in the quality of

the programs offered. The LSB gained initial accreditation by

the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

(AACSB) in the spring of 2004 and was reaccredited in

the spring of 2009. Less than 5 percent of business schools

worldwide are accredited by AACSB, the leading accreditor

of business schools in the world.

AACSB accreditation signals that we are focused on

continuous improvement. The accreditation standards

require us to demonstrate that we are guided by our

mission, and that the mission is appropriate for Elon’s

business school. It ensures that our curriculum is current

Becoming a Leader in Transformative Business Education

L O V e s C H O O L O F B u s i n e s s s T R A T e G i C P L A n 2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 4

and that our graduates meet specified learning goals. By

being accredited, we attract more highly qualified faculty.

They, in turn, must demonstrate that they meet established

standards on an ongoing basis and advance knowledge

in their teaching areas through scholarship and practice.

Accreditation standards also help ensure that we focus

on creating significant interaction between students and

faculty, an easy requirement to meet with Elon’s expertise

in engaged learning.

In the fall of 2008, the faculty, staff, students and the

School’s Board of Advisors embarked on the LSB’s first

comprehensive strategic planning process. The mission,

vision and values adopted in early fall 2008 served as the

backdrop for the development of the strategic plan, and

the LSB Strategic Planning Task Force guided the planning

process.

The three themes, the specific goals and objectives, and

the identified action items that emerged in this plan align

closely with the Elon Commitment, the Elon University

strategic plan for the next 10 years. In the following pages,

we share the core components of the plan and provide

examples of how we are working to achieve our vision of

becoming a leader in transformative business education.

VISION 2009-2010

MISSION 2009-2010

VALUES

Becoming a Leader in Transformative Business Education

L O V e s C H O O L O F B u s i n e s s s T R A T e G i C P L A n 2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 4

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To be a leader in transformative business education

To provide exceptional learning experiences that facilitate the transformation of students into knowledgeable, responsible business professionals and leaders who make a difference in their professions, their organizations, and the global economy

As a collaborative, inclusive community of students, faculty, and staff, we value:

n Engaged learning n Scholarship n Responsible behavior n Diversity n Courageous leadershipn Global awarenessn Innovative partnerships

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Elon MBA: #1 in the South, #6 in the Nation BusinessWeek magazine ranked Elon University #1 in the South

and #6 in the nation in their 2009 list of top part-time MBA programs. The rankings were announced during an online chat hosted by the magazine staff in November. The Elon MBA is among the top six programs in the nation on three

benchmarks: average class size, academic quality and student satisfaction. Elon is the only university in North Carolina to appear

in BusinessWeek’s top 30 for part-time programs.“We try very hard to make the entire Elon MBA experience

relevant, challenging, fresh, and exciting. The rankings reflect how well our students respond to and appreciate that challenge,” says Bill Burpitt, director of the Elon MBA and Executive Education programs.

The new MBA Student & Alumni Consulting Group under development is just one example of the uniqueness of the Elon MBA. The Consulting Group will be an ongoing feature of the MBA program, with active participation of current students and alumni. The group will provide a wide range of business-consulting services to nonprofits in the Triad and Triangle home communities of MBA students and alumni.

Mike McCarter, a ’10 MBA graduate who gave the commencement address in May, says of his Elon MBA experience: “At Elon, students are prepared to excel in the business world, and we pride ourselves on doing it the ‘Elon Way’ — a personal and collaborative environment. We cheer each other on and that spirit has yet to be replicated in any other business school in the country.”

LSB to Offer New Degrees and New MajorsThe LSB will offer a new degree program, four new majors, and two new minors, starting this fall. The new degree is a bachelor of science in business administration (B.S.B.A.). Students can major in finance, management, marketing and entrepreneurship. The new minors are in professional sales and entrepreneurship, and are open to students in

Elon University is nationally

known for providing a learning

environment in which all stu-

dents are active participants in the

learning process. As members of Elon’s Love

School of Business, we recognize the impor-

tance of engaging in continuous review and

renewal of what is taught and how it is taught.

We are committed to involving students in

action learning, service learning, research,

case competitions, leadership experiences, and

related activities that challenge them and us.

These experiences provide the framework and

opportunity for students to integrate concepts

and develop critical thinking, problem solving,

and decision making skills required for suc-

cess in complex business initiatives. Our indi-

vidual and collective efforts result in a learning

environment that is engaging, experiential,

and transformative for all our student groups–

undergraduates, graduate, and executive.

Further, as faculty and staff, we understand that

we can best provide such a learning environ-

ment when we are involved in scholarship and

professional activities that allow us to maintain

currency in our disciplines and that challenge

us to continuously learn and grow as teacher-

scholars-mentors.

Deliver an exceptional learning experience that prepares participants for success in a complex business environment

Enhance the culture of intellectual curiosity, focusing on creating and extending knowledge and improving management practice and organizational performance

GOAL 1

Providing a Transformative Academic Experience

GOAL 2

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Doherty Scholars Present at MIT Global Startup Workshop in IcelandKevin Swett ’10, Katie Pietrowski ’10, Alex Trevisan ’10 and Tim Porter ’11 facilitated a session on “University Entrepreneurial Ecosystems” during the MIT Global Startup Workshop held in Iceland in March. Gary Palin, executive director of the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, was a featured speaker at the workshop. The annual event brings together entrepreneurs, academics, government officials and top business leaders to foster entrepreneurship across regions and to share best practices.

Providing a Transformative Academic Experience

any undergraduate program. An international business program will be added to the curriculum in the upcoming academic year.

The new degree will provide students with greater depth and breadth in their areas of interest. Students in the B.S.B.A. will complete a series of core courses along with their major requirements. Core courses will emphasize business issues such as ethics, sustainability, the global economy and business communication skills.

LSB to Incorporate SAP Software into ClassesFaculty in the departments of management and accounting recently prepared to include SAP enterprise resource management software in their courses. SAP is the most widely used software of its type in the world. The software is used by 90,000 companies globally, and is used to integrate and manage workflow, supply chain, and sourcing processes.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ

Michael Rodriguez joined the marketing and entrepreneurship department in August 2009. In addition to teaching undergraduate sales and marketing courses, he is conducting research on the uses of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology.

Rodriguez graduated from The College of New Jersey with a degree in business administration, and earned an MBA from Fordham University. Prior to pursuing his Ph.D. at Stevens Institute of Technology, Rodriguez spent 14 years selling financial technology platforms to hedge funds, investment banks and money managers.

His career in the sales force fueled his academic research in sales management and CRM. “CRM is a means of managing a company’s interactions with customers, clients and sales prospects by using technology to

synchronize processes such as sales activities, marketing, and customer service,” Rodriguez explains. “One of the biggest challenges in the sales profession is the use of CRM,” he continues. “Many organizations implement it but don’t understand the full value.”

In addition to teaching and research, Rodriguez serves as a mentor and faculty advisor to students in the professional sales track, helping them prepare for collegiate sales competitions and coaching them on listening, negotiation and closing techniques. “My philosophy is that no matter what your occupation, everyone sells.”

For the New Jersey native, coming to Elon wasn’t a hard sell. “I like the dedication, commitment and support to see our students succeed,” says Rodriguez. “There is a true, collaborative environment that is very unique here at Elon.”

STUDENT PROFILE: STEPHANIE FRANZ

Stephanie Franz ’11 is an economics and international studies major with minors in mathematics and Asian studies. Her SURE (Summer Undergraduate Research Experience) project involved studying the effects of gas prices on the time use of teenagers. She presented the results during Elon’s SURE day in July. Franz and her faculty mentor, Steve DeLoach, plan to present her findings during the Eastern Economic Association Conference in early 2011.

Franz took on this project to expand her research experience. “The high expectations of my professors prepared me the most for undertaking a project of this magnitude,” says Franz. “They always try to motivate me to go above and beyond.”

LSB students at MIT Global Startup

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Elon Trustee Allen Gant receives Holt AwardAllen E. Gant Jr., CEO of Glen Raven, Inc., and past chair of the Elon Board of Trustees, received the Frank S. Holt, Jr. Business Leadership Award in March. The Holt Award is Elon’s highest honor for business leadership. In May, Gant served as guest speaker for the Beta Gamma Sigma induction ceremony, and was made an honorary inductee.

Gant has served on boards of advisors for the Alamance County United Way, Alamance Regional Medical Center, and national textile organizations. He also served on the Bush administration’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.

Elon Students Win Ethics CompetitionDaniel Bell ’10 and Charley Costa ’11 won top honors at the 2009 Eller Ethics Case Competition, a prestigious national contest hosted by the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona. The invitation-only competition requires students to make a

presentation on a hypothetical business ethics issue. Professor Christy Benson served as the faculty coach. Bell and Costa’s case study focused on automaker Tata’s Nano car. Other finalists were from Georgetown, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Southern California.

Elon Students Help Local Firms Win Business Ethics AwardsSeniors in Christy Benson’s business law and accounting class consulted with local firms nominated for the 2010 Piedmont Business Ethics Awards. The students helped the firms apply for

Creating Local andGlobal Citizens

GOAL 3GOAL 4

We are fully committed to

preparing students to be

professionals and leaders

who make a difference

in their local community and their larger world

community. To achieve this goal, we must op-

erate from a solid grounding in theoretical

and practical considerations related to diver-

sity, ethics, sustainability, and socially respon-

sible behavior. We acknowledge that we cannot

achieve this goal in isolation from the com-

munity beyond Elon’s perimeter. Therefore,

as faculty and staff, we are committed to our

own involvement in the local and world com-

munities. We will seek to identify for ourselves

and our students opportunities to expand our

knowledge and experiences as local and global

citizens. Further, we will seek ways to bring

the local and global community into the Elon

perimeter through expanding exchanges with

a diversity of individuals that may include vir-

tual, short-term, and longer-term involvement.

Our end goal is to ensure that our students en-

ter their future professions prepared to make

courageous, ethical, and morally reasoned de-

cisions that reflect their LSB and Elon heritage.

Strengthen the culture of diversity and ethical, moral, sustainable, and socially responsible decision making

Broaden and deepen global awareness, emphasizing the responsibilities of individuals and corporations in their roles as world citizens

Allen E. Gant, Jr.

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Creating Local andGlobal Citizensthe award. The process exposed students to how companies employ responsible business ethical practices. Elon student teams assisted winning companies Brady Trane, Pet Sitters International, Dynamic Quest and Mother Murphy’s Bakery.

Elon to Offer Dual Degree Program with Reutlingen UniversityThe LSB signed an agreement with the European Business School (EBS) at Reutlingen University in Germany to offer a dual degree program, starting in fall 2012. Students completing the program will earn degrees from both universities. As part of the program, Elon business students will attend Reutlingen for two years and will complete a six-month internship abroad. Students from EBS will come to Elon and complete courses in the Love School of Business and complete an internship in the United States.

MBA and Elon Law Students Study Abroad in Southeast AsiaNine Elon MBA and nine Elon Law students participated in a first-time international business course collaboration that culminated in a study abroad trip to Vietnam, China and Hong Kong in January. The experience provided an opportunity for students to explore the intersection of business and law through a case study and their company visits. Among the companies the group visited were The Gannon Group in Vietnam, Modern Terminals in Hong Kong, and Hybio Pharmaceutical in Shenzhen, China. The course was co-taught by LSB professor Kevin O’Mara and Elon Law professor John Englar.

LSB Students Study in Pacific Rim and Mexico for Winter TermLSB professors Neeraj Gupta and Christy Benson led students on a Winter Term Study Abroad course called Business in the Pacific Rim. Students toured Next Horizon in Guanzhou, China, a Ford vehicle assembly plant near Hanoi, and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Thirty first-year Business Fellows spent a week in the Yucatán

Jennifer Kirts ’11 is an active student leader-scholar in the Love School of Business. As president of Beta Alpha Psi, she is involved in planning the accounting and finance Meet and Greet and other chapter activities. She is also student vice president of Beta Gamma Sigma and a Business Fellow.

Jennifer, an accounting major, is a recipient of the 2010-2011 Love Award for Excellence in Business Leadership. Her research project for this award focuses on sustainability and profitability in the hospitality industry. She will travel to New Zealand for Winter Term study abroad and conduct part of her research on sustainable tourism in resorts in and around Queensland while there.

She cites her business education, including her professors, for encouraging her to take on leadership roles. “I’m so encouraged here,” says Kirts. “I take what I’ve learned and apply it in all I can.”

peninsula to explore sustainable business practices there. Students visited a printing plant and market in the urban center of Merida, then stayed with host families in Tinum and learned about crop production and the local business model of a milpa. Professors Brian Nienhaus and Steve DeLoach accompanied the Business Fellows.

LSB Alum Named Sustainability FellowThe Green Plus Institute for Sustainable Devel-opment named Jay Reno ’10 a Green Plus Sustainability Fellow. Reno, a business admin-istration major, will attend Harvard to pursue a master’s degree with a concentration in sustain-ability and environmental management. The LSB recently became an academic partner in the Green Plus Institute for Sustainable Development.

STUDENT PROFILE: JENNIFER KIRTS

Elon MBA and Elon Law students at Hybio

Elon Business Fellows visiting a farm in Mexico

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We recognize the im-

portance of being

good stewards of what

we have and what we

will receive. We recognize that our future suc-

cess depends on creating an awareness of the

quality of our transformative programs. As we

develop our LSB brand over the next five years,

we will seek counsel from our stakeholders to

ensure that we are communicating our goals

and the value proposition of an education in

Elon’s Love School of Business. We will seek

new funding sources so that we can ensure the

future of the programs we are developing. We

will provide an infrastructure that supports our

efforts and lays a foundation for the next stra-

tegic plan. Collectively, these efforts will result

in stronger programs for our students and an

attractive work environment for our current

and future faculty and staff.

Develop the LSB brand as a leader in transformative education focused on creating local and global business professionals and leaders

Build a sustainable resource base and infrastructure for LSB programs and activities

Securing theFuture of Elon’s Love School of Business

Join us in 2011 as the Love School of Business celebrates its 25th anniversary with a number of events and programs throughout the year, including a special homecoming celebration. Watch for more information at elon.edu/elonbusiness.

When it came time to identify a new chair for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Board of Advisors, Dean Mary Gowan knew just who she wanted for the position: LSB board member Bill Creekmuir, who together with wife Frances have been loyal supporters of Elon, including involvement in the Elon Parents’ Council and endowing a scholarship.

“Identifying the next chair for a board of advisors is one of the most important activities for the dean of a business school,” Gowan says. “Bill had experience as chair of the Business Advisory Council for the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University and that gives him important experience in this role.”

Creekmuir assumed the chairmanship at the Board’s spring 2010 meeting. He succeeds Peter Tourtellot, a partner at Anderson Bauman Tourtellot Vos in Greensboro, N.C., who led the Board for seven years through the initial AACSB accreditation, the first reaccreditation and the construction of the Koury Business Center.

Creekmuir has served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Atlanta-based Simmons Bedding Company since 2000. Prior to that role, he was executive vice president and chief financial officer of LADD Furniture, Inc., and was previously a partner with the international accounting firm KPMG. He is chair of the Statistics Committee of the International Sleep Products Association, and is a former president of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association Finance Division.

Two of Creekmuir’s daughters are recent Elon alumni. Elizabeth graduated in 2009 with a B.A. in human service studies and a minor in business administration; Lauren graduated in May 2010 with a B.S. in accounting and a minor in Spanish.

PROFILE: WILLIAM S. CREEKMUIRChair of the LsB Board of Advisors

GOAL 5GOAL 6

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Securing theFuture of Elon’s Love School of Business

“I give to the Love School of Business because I want current and future LSB students to be able to have some of the same opportunities and experiences that I had. My experiences in the LSB had a profound impact on my career path and even by giving a modest amount each month, I feel that I’m helping future generations of Elon students achieve their goals.”

— Erika Lamanna ’09 Graduate student at Vanderbilt University

“As an alumnus and member of the LSB Board of Advisors, I am thrilled at the growth and transformation of Elon and the Love School of Business. I encourage all alumni to support the LSB. By making a financial contribution, we’ll ensure that the LSB can continue to invest in students and programs that support engaged learning.”

— Sam Burke ’89PricewaterhouseCoopers and member of the

Love School of Business Board of Advisors

Consider being part of the LSB alumni and friends who are helping build the future for business and economics students in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.

100 gifts of $25 can provide funds to send a student team to a competition or professional leadership experience

50 gifts of $250 can support a retreat for sophomore students to explore future careers and prepare for successful internships

25 gifts of $2,500 can fund faculty summer scholarship activities to build our reputation as a top business school and maintain accreditation

Your gift can be given monthly or all at once. Whether you choose to make a gift of $25 a month, or an annual gift of $2,500 or more, you can be sure that we will steward your gift wisely. You will be changing lives and helping to create a transformative business education for our students. Visit elon.edu/makeagift to make your gift to the Love School of Business today.

An annual gift to the LSB of $1,500 or more will earn you membership in The Elon Society, the University’s premier annual giving group. For more information about additional Giving Circles, visit elon.edu/e-web/giving/elonsociety.

DiRienzo Appointed Associate Dean Associate professor of economics Casey DiRienzo was appointed Associate Dean of the Love School of Business in June 2009. She succeeds management professor Scott Buechler, who is serving as chair of the management department. As associate dean, DiRienzo will manage curriculum, assurance of learning, and duties associated with maintenance of the LSB’s AACSB accreditation.

DiRienzo’s research collaboration with LSB economics professor Tina Das on tourism competitiveness, global corruption and terrorism has been widely published. DiRienzo holds a B.A. in economics from The Ohio State University and a Ph.D. in economics from North Carolina State University. She joined the LSB faculty in 2002.

How can you transform business education?Mentor an LSB Student Students gain valuable first-hand information from successful professionals who share their time, knowledge and experiences with them. Students also achieve a better understanding of what is desired and expected of them when they enter the business world.

To find out how you can mentor one of the outstanding students in the Love School of Business, contact Richard Jordan, associate director of Career Services for LSB, at 336.278.6009 or rjordan3@elon.edu.

Building Our Future Together: The LsB Annual Fund

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Dean’s AwardsLSB faculty, staff and an Elon administrator were honored for their service during the annual awards ceremony in April.

Christina Benson, J.D., assistant professor of business law, received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Benson exemplifies the

Elon teacher-mentor model. Students regularly commend her for her deep knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the subjects she teaches. They also note her skill at relating her experiences as an attorney and consultant to the course material. Benson carries her mentor role outside the classroom by helping students develop research ideas and coaching the highly successful Elon business ethics team each year. Last year’s team won an invitation-only national championship.

Earl Honeycutt, Ph.D., professor of sales and marketing, and Casey DiRienzo, Ph.D., associate professor of economics and associate dean of the LSB, each received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship.

Dr. Honeycutt is a scholar who regularly publishes in top sales management and related journals and involves other LSB faculty in his research activities.

In making the presentation of this award to Honeycutt, Dean Mary Gowan noted the work he has done on creating the Chandler Family Professional Sales

Center. The Center demonstrates how one can leverage scholarship interests to enhance the educational opportunities for students and the outreach opportunities in the community.

Dr. DiRienzo is also a scholar who regularly publishes her work in leading journals in her field. Among her recent scholarship activities are five

articles published or in press in 2009 and an invited book chapter. Her work with professor Tina Das on global tourism and corruption is timely and important. One of her major contributions in the area of scholarship this year was the receipt of a $50,000 grant from a major financial services firm. She enlisted the assistance of other faculty and a student to conduct the work on this complex consulting project and received high praise from the firm for the work she led.

Nancy Midgette, Ph.D., associate provost and professor of history, received the Dean’s Award for Exemplary Service-External. This award is

given annually to someone outside the LSB who has provided assistance to help the LSB achieve its goals. In presenting the award, Dean Gowan noted that throughout the LSB’s curriculum revision process, Midgette provided service and guidance that was clearly above and beyond the expectations and requirements of her job. The approval of a new degree, new majors, and new

minors were largely due to her expertise and guidance. 

Scott Buechler, Ph.D., assistant professor of management and chair of the management department, received the Dean’s Award for

Exemplary Service-Faculty. Buechler has consistently provided strong leadership regardless of the hat worn at the moment. The Business Fellows program, MBA program, LSB assessment process, and management department are just some of the programs that have benefitted from his leadership. His willingness to take on new and often difficult assignments exemplifies servant leadership.

Kristin Barrier ’04 MBA ’07, administrative assistant to the LSB Office of the Dean, received the Dean’s Award for Exemplary Service-Staff. Barrier wears

many hats in her role in the dean’s office. She manages the hiring process for faculty, staff, and student workers. She ensures that faculty members have offices and are ready to go the first day of classes. Her management of the data collection process for the LSB AACSB accreditation process is done expertly, as is her management of the LSB Board of Advisors. She regularly takes initiative, is persistent, willing to learn, and creates a positive environment for the LSB that keeps the school running smoothly.

LSB AWARDS 2010

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Institute of Technology in New Jersey. His research focuses on sales management and customer relationship management.

Katy Rouse, assistant professor of economicsDr. Rouse received her Ph.D. in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Her research interests include health economics, labor economics and economics of education.

Vitaly Strohush, assistant professor of economicsDr. Strohush received his Ph.D. in economics from Boston College. A native of the Ukraine, he holds

an M.A. in economics from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine, and an M.A. in economics from the Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education and Economic Institute (CERGE-EI), Prague, Czech Republic. His areas of research are monetary economics and international finance.

Richard Jordan, Associate Director of Career Services for the LSBJordan has worked in corporate recruiting for British Airways, RTI International,

Ryder System, J.D. Edwards and Equifax. He serves on the Society for Human Resource Management’s Special Expertise Panel on Staffing Management. Prior to being named associate director, Jordan worked for Lee Hecht Harrison, a global talent management firm.

Teaching Recognition

Sharon Hodge, associate professor of marketing and chair of the marketing department, was a recent recipient of the 2010 Hormel

Meritorious Teaching Award. She was one of 10 professors nationwide to receive this award for teaching excellence.

Christina Benson, assistant professor of business law, was selected as a finalist in the Academy of Legal Studies in Business Master Teacher

Competition. Her proposal, “Sustainable Companies—Walking the Talk or Greenwashing?: Framework for Incorporating Business Sustainability Themes into a Legal Environment Course,” was among four selected in a double-blind peer-reviewed submission process to be presented at the summer annual meeting of the Academy.

Faculty Accomplishments

Mary Gowan, Dean of the Love School of Business, was elected vice chair for economic development for the Alamance County Area

Chamber of Commerce. She has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber since January 2008.

Additionally, she was appointed for a second term as a member of the Board of Directors for the Society for Human Resource Management Foundation.

Neeraj Gupta, assistant professor of finance, was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charter by the CFA Institute after

passing the final level exams in June 2009. He subsequently helped initiate a CFA Student Scholarship program, allowing the finance department to sponsor five LSB seniors to take the CFA Level 1 exams at a reduced cost.

New Faculty and Staff for the 2009-2010 Academic Year

Carolina Gomez, associate professor of management and director of the Business Fellows programDr. Gomez received her Ph.D. in orga-nizational behavior

from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining Elon, Dr. Gomez served as an associate professor at Florida International University, and an assistant professor at Towson University and at the University of Houston. Her research focuses mainly on cross-cultural organiza-tional behavior and multinational corpora-tion (MNC) management.

Michael Rodriguez, assistant professor of marketing and entrepreneurshipDr. Rodriguez received his Ph.D. in technology management from Stevens

FACULTY NEWS 2009-2010

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Board of Advisors 2009-2010

William S. Creekmuir, Executive Vice President and CFO

Simmons Bedding CompanyChair of the Board of Advisors

W. Thomas Amick ‘69, President and CEOAldagen, Inc.

Samuel L. Burke ’89, PartnerPricewaterhouseCoopers, Inc.

Britt W. Carter, Senior Vice President, Partner and General Manager

Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.

Charles R. Clohan ’98Dittmar Company

John G. Currin, Jr., PresidentAlamance Regional Medical Center

Donald A. Dibble, Senior Vice PresidentLincoln Financial Group

John S. Gaither, Chairman, President and CEO

Reichhold, Inc.

Donald S. Galante, Managing PartnerGala Capital Management

Michael T. Gannaway, Vice President Customer Management

VF Corporation

Charles D. Greene, Regional Director, Piedmont Triad Region

AT&T North Carolina

Captain Thomas J. Harper (Retired)

William B. Hayes, CFOLabCorp

Frank S. Holt, III, President, Chairman and CEO

Holt Sublimation Printing and Products Co.

Nicholas Igdalsky ’99, Senior Vice President

Mattco, Inc./Pocono Raceway

Robert R. Lane, CEOLane Leadership LLC

Jeffrey W. LeRose, CEO and PresidentResearch Triangle Software, Inc.

Thomas K. Manning

John R. Maynard, President and CEOTarheel Research, Ltd.

Judy C. Miller, President and OwnerRSVP Communications, Inc.

James A. Moncure, II, Worldwide Business Software & Channels Sales Executive

IBM

Igor Pavlov ’94Citadel Securities

Annabelle C. Powell, PresidentOmni Resources

Louis M. Riccio ’85, Senior Vice President and CFO

La-Z-Boy Incorporated

J. Karl Sherrill, Jr. G’08, Commercial Account Executive

Senn Dunn Insurance

John H. Slayton, President and CEOThe Trust Company of The South

Bernadette M. Spong ’78 G’07, Vice President of Finance and CFO

Rex Healthcare

Derek B. Steed, J.D., PartnerWishart Norris Henninger & Pittman

David A. Stevens ’81, Regional President, Piedmont Triad Region

SunTrust Bank

Philip D. Stuart, CPA, PartnerStout Stuart McGowen & King LLP

Peter L. Tourtellot, Managing Director and Executive Vice President

Anderson Bauman Tourtellot Vos

Linda T. Weavil, Professor EmeritusElon University

Mac Williams, PresidentAlamance County Area Chamber of

Commerce

Elmer D. Yost, President and CEOYost & Little Realty, Inc.

MARTHA AND SPENCER LOVE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Advisory Boards 2010-2011

Chandler Family Professional Sales Center

Traci ButlerLabCorp

Bob ChandlerChandler Concrete

Michael T. GannawayVF Corp.

Kevin KellyUBS

James McCarthyBritish Telecom

J. Karl Sherrill, Jr.Senn Dunn Insurance

Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

W. Thomas Amick, Advisory Board ChairAldagen, Inc.

Raj AnanthanpillaiInfoZen, Inc.

Greg ChabonWomble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC

Ed DohertyDoherty Enterprises, Inc.

Joan DohertyDoherty Enterprises, Inc.

Mitch JavidiNanoPhrades

John MaynardTarheel Research, Ltd.

Duffie McKeeCapital Bank

Joan Seifert RoseCouncil for Entrepreneurial Development

Department of Accounting

James Mitchell, IV, Advisory Board ChairSmith Leonard

Linda AldridgeStout Stuart McGowan & King

Michele CashBlue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina

Neil BoswellIBM

Ed DodsonLabCorp

Susan EzekielCobb Ezekiel Loy & Co. PA

David JohnsonApple Bell Johnson & Co PA

Jonathan KraftchickCherry, Bekaert & Holland, LLP

Karla D. MundenLincoln Financial Group

Phil PetrosPricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP

Hugh ReynoldsCrowe Chizek and Company LLC

Rhonda SkilesBernard Robinson & Co, LLP

Gary SmithGlen Raven Mills

C. Thomas Steele, Jr.Wishart Norris Henninger & Pittman P.A.

Ted SzottCogent Communications

Bill WilkinsonGilliam Coble & Moser

TURN Youself in online at

www.elon.edu/classnotes

Find LSB on Facebook. Connect with LSB alumni and friends and find out what students and faculty are doing.

Oct. 22–24, 2010 Homecoming Weekend

Love School of Business alumni are invited to return to Elon the weekend of October 22-24 for Homecoming. The Alumni Association and campus partners have planned a number of opportunities to reconnect you with classmates and faculty.

The LSB faculty, staff and students are excited to host returning alumni on Friday, Oct. 22 for the following events:

4:30 p.m.Martha and Spencer Love School

of Business Alumni PanelLaRose Digital Theatre, Koury

Business Center

5:30 p.m.LSB Alumni and Student

Networking ReceptionWallace L. Chandler Fountain

and Plaza (Rain location: Koury Business Center Atrium)

For a full schedule of events and to pre-register, visitwww.elon.edu/homecoming

nonprofit Org.u.s. Postage

PAIDelon, nCPermit 1

2075 Campus BoxElon UniversityElon, NC 27244-2010

336-278-6000www.elon.edu/e-web/academics/business/

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