Issuu

A M AGA ZI N E FO R A LU M N I A N D FR I E N DS | FA LL 20 17

Women in Business Issue

From the Dean

his year, we celebrated another banner year in the CSU College of Business! In August, we welcomed the largest, most diverse, and most academically talented freshman class in our college’s 51-year history. More than 500 new undergraduate and nearly 400 new graduate students joined the College of Business this year, making our remarkable community of BizRams, who are destined to “make a difference” as global business and community leaders, nearly 5,000 strong. This spring, we received great news that our College of Business was reaccredited by the AACSB. The accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education, earned by less than 5 percent of the world’s business schools. To achieve the standards necessary to maintain AACSB accreditation, this prestigious recognition requires a tremendous amount of work and dedication, not only on the part of faculty, but program directors and administrative staff. This honor is shared by only the best of the best business schools worldwide. Our exceptional Online MBA program was ranked in the top 20 for best online MBA programs in the world by Financial Times. This was the first year our college was invited to participate in these rankings, and I am delighted to report that we were ranked 19th in the world and 12th in the nation. Additional high marks included the percentage of women faculty teaching in our program and the number of female students enrolled. Plus, our graduates enjoy an average salary increase of 23 percent. Of course, this program joins our other terrific programs, including our undergraduate program (No. 44 best among public business schools), our Master of Computer Information Systems (No. 30 best among online graduate programs), and our Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise MBA program (No. 3 best for social entrepreneurship) as among the most elite in the country. Finally, the College of Business celebrates diversity and inclusion, and joins the entire community at Colorado State University in its land-grant mission to provide an exceptional education to all students qualified to study at this great institution. Research finds that diverse leadership teams make better decisions. This issue of the The Difference magazine is dedicated to celebrating women in business, spotlighting their achievements in the workplace, and noting the ways they inspire our

young women to become confident leaders in their organizations. In the last decade, women in the U.S. have made tremendous progress. Today, 57 percent of all students enrolled in college are women. In addition, the number of women-owned businesses has increased by 59 percent. Despite these impressive strides, the number of women “at the top” of their organizations remains low. Only 27, or 5.4 percent, of CEOs in Fortune 500 companies are women, and fewer than 20 percent of corporate board seats are occupied by women (Zarya, V. (2016)). Female Fortune 500 CEOs are poised to break this record in 2017. (Fortune). On the following pages, we have taken special care to highlight stories of women in business and their progression as students, entrepreneurs, leaders, and researchers. The women featured represent how diversity can enrich organizations and lead to meaningful impact in communities around the globe. We often take for granted the significance of contributions made by women in business as they assume leadership roles in industries traditionally dominated by males. For instance, as Connie Dohn (’82, chief financial officer) did when she co-founded Dohn Construction; or as Laura Blackmer (’86, Sharp Electronics, senior vice president of Sales) did when she entered the tech world, making efforts to support working mothers wanting to re-enter the workforce; or as Cathy Morris (’80, Arrow, senior vice president and chief strategy officer) did when she helped spearhead Colorado legislation to require female membership on corporate boards in Colorado by 2020. However, their impact is tremendous. They are leading the way for others and ultimately building more inclusive, high-performing organizations. We take every opportunity to embrace all who make Colorado State University one of the greatest universities in the world. I want to show my gratitude for those who have made this year incredible and this magazine possible. Every step toward diversity and inclusivity is progress, and every accomplishment we share with Ram Pride!

Beth Walker Dean, College of Business

A M AGA ZI N E FOR A LU M N I A N D FRI EN DS | FA LL 2017 The Difference is a publication of the College of Business, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. MANAGING EDITORS Karen Klein, ’90 Griffin Moores WRITERS Jennifer Dimas Becky Jensen, ’93 Kellene Kimble Beth Lipscomb Griffin Moores CSU CREATIVE SERVICES Creative Director: Elias Martinez Coordinator: Doug Garcia Photographers: John Eisele, Joe Mendoza, Griffin Moores KEY CONTACTS Beth A. Walker, Dean (970) 491-2398 Beth.Walker@colostate.edu Sanjay Ramchander, Associate Dean (970) 491-6681 Sanjay.Ramchander@colostate.edu Kenneth Manning, ’86, Associate Dean (970) 491-4361 Ken.Manning@colostate.edu John Durkin, M.B.A., ’10, Executive Director of Development (970) 491-6383 John.Durkin@colostate.edu

SHATTERING THE MYTH OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE Laura Blackmer

BUILDING FOUNDATIONS Connie Dohn

MANUFACTURING AN END TO MATERNAL MORTALITY Zubaida Bai

LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE

BUSINESS RESEARCH INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE SUPPORT STUDENTS FOR CAREER SUCCESS The Women in Business Association BUSINESS RESEARCH STAND UP FOR CONSUMERS

12 14

PROTECTING POLLINATORS The Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise MBA

A NEW CHALLENGE The Executive MBA

THE NEXT STEPS Recent grads share stories of their time at CSU and hopes for the future

THE BEST AROUND University best teachers from the College of Business

EDUCATION ABROAD IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS

THE COMPANY WE KEEP Alumni and friends who have visited us recently

Like: @BizatColoradoState

Follow: @CSUCollegeofBiz Keep an eye out for the Women in Business logo highlighting our female graduates and alumnae throughout the magazine. Follow: @CSUCollegeofBusiness

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | THE DIFFERENCE

Shattering the myth of

work-life balance

Brin gi n g a paradigm shift to the te ch indu str y Working at a startup can be a challenge. Job responsibilities change at the drop of a hat, hours are long, and nothing is guaranteed. But that’s where Laura Blackmer found herself after returning home to Boston, Mass., to try and save up enough money for a second year at Colorado State University. “I was employee number four,” said Blackmer, who hadn’t had any prior experience with office life. “But I found I loved it … Here I was 18 years old, running their sales department.” Two years later, she decided to move on from her dreams of becoming a country veterinarian and returned to CSU to complete a business degree. After graduation came a job at National Cash Register, and soon after; she made her way to HP where she was offered the opportunity to join a pilot program to bring female employees into management positions. “I, of course, was like, ‘I’ll try that, sure. Throw me in.’” At HP, Blackmer gained management foundations, refined her skills as a sales rep, and grew as a marketer. “I got so many different paths that I was able to explore. It was such a big company,” she said. Then she made a decision that has become a turning point for countless professional women: She decided to have kids. Starting a family “You know, I took almost a year off when both of my children were born and people thought, ‘You’re derailing your career, you’re never going to recover from that.’” In short, they said she was making a work-

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life balance miscalculation, putting family too far above her professional journey to the detriment of her hard-earned career. Blackmer didn’t buy it. In the concept of a work-life balance, she saw a fatal flaw. “There is no scale,” she said. Life isn’t a zero-sum game, suggested Blackmer. Everything that you put into your personal life isn’t subtracted from your work. Lessons learned as a parent aren’t compartmentalized to home life, and work experience – and stress – doesn’t automatically disappear when you leave the office. Trying to frame work-life balance as, “I’ll put that in the box and I’ll never let it bleed over,” doesn’t work, said Blackmer. “It sets people up for failure.” What is possible is understanding the realities of forging a successful career, and finding ways to move work and family forward in unity. “I think if we can start debunking some of these myths, women will be a lot happier,” said Blackmer, urging her peers not to count the extra minutes they spend at home so they can later put that much more in at work, or vice versa. “Don't focus on the balance; just focus on what you're doing in the moment and just be there,” she said, emphasizing the value of investing quality time where women see fit. Molding management for millennials and mothers Now, in her role as senior vice president of sales for one of Sharp Electronics’ business products divisions, Blackmer is pushing to shift the company’s management paradigm and prepare leadership to handle an increasingly diverse workforce. When she first interviewed for the position, a mentor asked why she wanted the chal-

lenge of selling products that might not even be around in a few years. She was ready with a response: “Why not?” “What a cool experience that would be, to work abroad, which I had never done, and to help a company try to redefine itself,” said Blackmer. “The position was perfect. It was transformative. It was changing business. It was growing business. If someone would have said to me when I was 18 years old, ‘What do you want to do?’, it would not have to been sell copiers, and yet that's exactly what I do every day and I love it.” A lot of that love comes from Blackmer’s passion for helping others find their way into fulfilling careers, bringing young workers into the company, and embracing a counterintuitive approach to building employee loyalty: letting people leave. “Allow women to leave, allow millennials to leave when they need to leave; keep that door open. If there is an employee you want to keep, leave the door open and they'll come back,” said Blackmer, arguing the change could lead to employees returning with new skills that would be otherwise hard to teach. Especially frustrating for Blackmer is the difficulty many women face re-entering the workforce, oftentimes leading to employers viewing their skills as out of date. According to the Harvard Business Review, the biggest factor for women leaving the workforce is to spend more time with their families, leading to 44 percent of “off-ramps.” Men, on the other hand, most often leave their jobs to pivot into different careers, dropping out of the workforce for family time at roughly a quarter the rate of their female counterparts. “I think one of the biggest travesties is these women who decide to stay home and

“Don't focus on the balance; just focus on what you're doing in the moment and just be there.” –Laura Blackmer

Laura Blackmer ORGANIZATION: SHARP ELECTRONICS TITLE: SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, SALES DEGREE: ’86, B.S., BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

take care of the children then try to re-enter and find this just incredible iron wall,” Blackmer said. “The reality is, if they were good employees before they left, they're great employees when they come back, and all you need to do is a little bit of training. … You just have to provide an environment where women can feel valued and learn.” At Sharp, Blackmer has carved out a niche looking for new ways to invigorate the com-

pany, with a focus on how to bring talented women back into office life. It’s not about separating work life and personal life, Blackmer said, “but you allow the worlds to blend a little bit.” “I'll bring my staff in to meet my family, I want them to know this is who I am,” said Blackmer. “I'm the same person at work that I am at home. I don't have a suit that I put on that changes my personality; I'm exactly the same.”

Leading by example, and creating an environment where people are able to integrate their personal and professional lives, Blackmer is driving change for women in the tech industry. “For me, it really is about being a manager, being a leader, helping develop that next generation of people coming into the business. I get so much joy out of that.”

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | THE DIFFERENCE

Building foundations Em b ra cing cha lle ng es a n d u n ce r ta i n t y to crea te a co m pa ny When Connie Dohn graduated from the College of Business, her life was already beginning to transform. She had taken charge of her education and grown from a waitress unsure how to build job skills to an assistant general manager of a local restaurant, completing her course work along the way. Crossing the stage at graduation, she was poised to tackle a career in the business world. Dohn became a certified public accountant and went to work helping people across the business spectrum, getting a firsthand look into the ways successful companies operated. “My favorite client was that small entrepreneur,” said Dohn, who would help them understand their business expenses and make sure they knew what they were getting themselves into. “Owning your own business, people think you don’t have to work as hard, but you have to work a lot harder.”

Connie Dohn ORGANIZATION:

DOHN CONSTRUCTION TITLE: CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DEGREE: ’82, B.S., BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

A new direction Ten years after she left CSU, Dohn and her husband decided to take an entrepreneurial leap of their own. With three young daughters at the time – and a fourth to follow – the couple took stock of where they were in their careers and decided to make a change. “We were both at jobs where we didn’t have benefits, and we didn’t know how we were going to put our kids through college and save for retirement.” Her husband suggested they start their own contracting company, building off his construction experience and her business skills. “I was nervous; you go from two nice salaries to the potential of none.”

They decided to give it a shot, founding Dohn Construction in 1992. “It was just going to be this little thing, and I was going to keep my job,” said Dohn. “But it just grew way too quickly, so I had to quit and take a big risk.” The pair operated the company out of their house, with Dohn working from home to cut child care expenses. “I like to say I ran the business of the business, and my husband ran the construction side of it,” said Dohn. Starting early in the morning and working late at night to move the company forward meant long hours. It also afforded her the opportunity to spend time with her kids during the day, taking them to sports practice and being involved in school activities. “It gave me a lot of flexibility.” Changing her community Developing her skills since graduating from CSU, Dohn is now seeing the impact of her and her husband’s company all across Fort Collins. After a competitive bid process, Dohn Construction even did work at CSU, completing the Rockwell Hall expansion for the College of Business in 2010 and renovating several campus dorms. “One of the things that’s really cool is you get to see all these projects, and I can drive through town and say, ‘Oh, we built that and we built that,’” said Dohn. “That’s kind of unique. It’s fun being part of that whole process.” However, as a woman working in an industry that’s more than 90 percent male, Dohn was presented with some challenges. She’s faced derisive subcontractors and those who wrote her off as riding the coattails of her husband’s success. Sometimes Dohn would have to suppress the desire to share a snide rebuttal. Instead, she displayed her diploma proudly above her desk, secure in the role she played

as the company's co-founder, and let people know, “I’m not just the wife that does the books. I am a CPA.” “I actually have skill sets, and I always had to interject that into the conversation,” said Dohn. “You have to believe in yourself, and you have to have confidence to be able to stand up. … I’ve gained that respect through the years, and it took time to get there.” Because of her experiences, Dohn has worked to make her and her husband’s company a positive working environment for women wanting to chart their own careers in the construction industry. Women make up more than 20 percent of Dohn Construction’s staff – including leadership roles – more than double the national average of the construction industry. “One of our senior project managers is female, and she is one of our top producers,” said Dohn. “I think that women sort of bring a softer side to construction, but they have to stand firm or they’re not going to make it,” she said. “It’s a hard profession to be in.” She’s found the soft skills people bring into the company to be invaluable, with technical training being much easier to teach. “Knowing how to treat people right, and respecting people, that will take you further.”

“Owning your own business, people think you don’t have to work as hard, but you have to work a lot harder.” –Connie Dohn

Uncommon, Dohn Construction's recently completed 180,000square-foot, mixed-use apartment building in Old Town Fort Collins

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | THE DIFFERENCE

Manufacturing an end to

maternal mortality

Blen d in g engineering and b usiness to s a ve live s a nd b enef it co m m u n i t i e s

In the sprawling slums of urban India, many voices go unheard. Growing up in Chennai, India, in the 1980s, Zubaida Bai became acutely aware of the daily struggle so many in her community go through to survive. At a young age, she was exposed to the social and economic hardships faced by women in the rapidly growing city, where roughly one in five people live on less than $1.90 a day. “I saw women around me whose potential was not being recognized,” said Bai, which stoked a desire to give back to those she cared so deeply about. The first in her family to attend college, Bai worked to pay for her education as she went on to complete a bachelor’s degree, and then a master’s, both in mechanical engineering, finishing her course work in Sweden. Determined to bring what she learned back home, Bai returned to India and spent four years as an engineer developing appropriate technology solutions, emphasizing ideas that have the biggest impact — instead of just using the highest technology.

Enterprise M.B.A. program at Colorado State University. This program was a natural fit with her personal and career goals to solve social, economic, and environmental problems around the world. “I wanted to figure out how to sustainably bring appropriate technology to Zubaida Bai, third from the right, with ayzh employees market for significant and scalable impact,” she said. Her efforts focused on delivering muchFor her field research as a GSSE M.B.A. needed products to low-resource communistudent, Bai traveled to rural India to look for ties. As the work wore on, the realization set ways to empower the women living there. in that too many great innovations never got “I discovered that some midwives used a out of prototyping and into the hands of those sickle – a blade for cutting grass – to cut the who needed them most. umbilical cord of a newborn child. This was my She began exploring other outlets to help ‘aha’ moment that launched me into the world the women in her community and of maternal health,” said Bai. saw business as a path forward. She learned that unhygienic delivery methThis approach was not dependent ods contributed to one of the leading causes on charity, but driven by effecof maternal mortality: infection. tively serving those in need. “No woman should die or suffer from a “Business can innovate solupreventable cause, especially while giving life tions to reach underserved popuin childbirth,” said Bai. lations in new and more enduring She went in search of solutions and was ways,” said Bai. excited to find a clean-birth kit intended to help reduce infections. The kit included a sterA different kind of M.B.A. ile razor, soap, thread to tie the umbilical cord, Wanting to learn how to succeed and a delivery sheet. as an entrepreneur, she found However, since the product was based the Global Social and Sustainable on charity, its availability was sporadic. Also,

Zubaida Bai ORGANIZATION: AYZH TITLE: CEO AND CO-FOUNDER DEGREE: ’10, GLOBAL SOCIAL AND SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE M.B.A.

women who acquired the kit had an aversion to the using the blades – which were the same as their husbands used for shaving. The plastic delivery sheet smeared blood, leading women to say they’d prefer to give birth on the floor. A business to bring change Soon after completing her research and fieldwork, Bai founded a company, along with her husband and a fellow GSSE M.B.A. classmate, focused on developing a kit that would better fit mothers’ needs. They named the venture ayzh (pronounced eyes), recognizing that to create products that worked they would have to look at the world from their customers’ points of view. Working with mothers, as well as experts and medical health professionals, Bai went through multiple design interactions to launch the company’s first product, Janma, a $3 clean-birth kit tucked into a purse. “Even people living on less than $2 a day will pay for products that are affordable, alleviate real challenges, and make their life easier

“Maternal and child health are the foundation of health and well-being for society.” –Zubaida Bai

and better,” said Bai. “In a world where health systems are large and complex, simple, lowcost solutions often get overlooked while the real needs of women go unmet.” Janma included a blood-absorbing sheet for mothers to give birth on, a surgical scalpel, cord clamp, bar of soap, gloves, and a cloth to wipe the baby clean. Since 2010, ayzh has sold more than 325,000 kits that have been distributed across India and other countries, mostly to be used in heavily trafficked medical institutions that Bai describes as the health care equivalent of fast-food chains. “McDonald’s making burgers is how hospitals in these countries give births to babies, minus the efficiency and cleanliness. … In these low-resource settings, even the most skilled health care workers are stretched too thin, lacking the tools needed to do their jobs effectively.” In a developing country like India, Bai said many women are used to medical care that is sub-standard—such as giving birth in unsanitary delivery rooms and on dirt floors. Losing

babies and mothers during childbirth is just a part of life. When expectant mothers arrive at a hospital to give birth, the Janma kit aids doctors in ensuring a smooth and sanitary delivery. By protecting women from infection, Bai is bolstering communities in India and beyond. “Maternal and child wellness is the foundation of health and well-being for society,” said Bai. “After a woman gives birth, there is a ripple effect. A healthy woman contributes to a healthy family and a healthy community.” Wanting to expand the scope of the company’s impact, Bai further developed ayzh’s line of products to also address child, adolescent, and reproductive health. With women often managing resources needed to care for other members of their families, Bai sees empowering them as a vital step in improving health outcomes, household finances, and emotional well being of people across the globe. “I have always wanted to find ways to end that suffering,” said Bai. With her company’s products having reached more than a half-million women, children, and infants, she’s working to make that goal a reality. Visit CSUbiz.com/ayzh to watch Zubaida Bai's TED Talk.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | THE DIFFERENCE

LEARNING FRO M EXPERIENCE From Fortune 500 executives to recent grads, College of Business women have covered a lot of ground in the working world. To provide perspective into what they have done to succeed, and to inspire our current students who are starting to chart their own courses, we talked to a number of alumnae and gathered insights into how they have approached their careers. Thanks to everyone who shared their time and wisdom to support our female students and alumni alike. CATHY MORRIS, ’80 Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Arrow Electronics Englewood, Colo. What words of encouragement or advice would you want to share with young female graduates entering the workplace? Pick something you love, because you get the privilege of doing it for the rest of your life. ... If you don’t love it, it’s going to be more work than fun. Aim high, there’s no reason to not pursue an opportunity and try to go for something you think might be over your bandwidth. You would be surprised with how many times you aim high and someone gives you an opportunity, so don't hold yourself back. I think from a tactical point of view. Once you do those more ethereal things of what you love, and aiming high, you still need to have a plan and goals. If you want to excel quickly, you need to make sure that every experience is relevant to the end game. Seek out that person who you think you want to become, and you would be surprised at how willing they would be to help you. What value do you see diversity having in the workplace? Whether it's gender or race or functional responsibility, extraordinary decision-making happens when you have diversity of thought. Just because the main focus in the

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room is in one direction, you have to be confident that your diverse opinion matters. Highly effective teams are effective because of diversity of thought. How have the challenges you have faced shaped your career? There are all sorts of challenges, whether it be a bad boss or bad project or bad business results. Those challenges are when you are going to learn the most. I also believe if you don’t find yourself facing challenges, then you have not stretched yourself enough. Taking the safe route does not get you noticed. The people who take on hard problems and solve them are generally rewarded.

How have you built confidence in yourself and your abilities? With knowledge comes credibility, with credibility comes confidence. Whatever situation you are going into, you need to be prepared. Many people will just show up at a meeting and think they are there to listen. I have never gone to a meeting where I felt it was my job to listen; I was to be there to help solve a problem. How have you gained credibility in the work you do? It has everything to do with showing up, being prepared, and articulating your point of view. It has nothing to do with being right. Complex problems require complex solutions. It takes a very diverse thought pool to get to the answer to complex problems. Early on, you need to get over the need to be right. You need to go into situations to contribute. You will find you will contribute more every year you are in the job because your knowledge base gets higher. You always have to invest in yourself to get credibility and be prepared.

ANGELINA HOWARD, ’14 Product Manager Amazon.com Seattle, Wash. What words of encouragement or advice would you want to share with young female graduates entering the workplace? Moving into a workplace, where in most cases women are the minority, can feel intimidating. Do not let this intimidate you or negatively impact your confidence. You are where you are for a reason. Use your past experiences to navigate through the transition, and use the experiences you will gain on the job to propel you forward to what is next. What has helped you navigate challenges throughout your career? Whenever I am faced with challenges I always think of different solutions and talk them through with my manager and mentors. I look at all challenges, as lessons and experiences to better equip me in the long run. I also think about how some of the things I face can inspire others. I want my challenges to help others. How has your education from CSU and the College of Business empowered you to succeed after graduating? The College of Business provided me with cases that allowed me to work directly with companies throughout my academic career. Having case competitions with companies such as General Motors, Advanced Energy, and Noya Fibers, as well as a practicum with Forney, I was able to take what I learned in the classroom and apply it to real business problems. Having this tangible

experience helped me think through problems that I face in my career. As a product manager, developing strategies and finding solutions is a large part of my role, and my experience in college has helped me be successful. What do you think is important for female business professionals to know as they work toward developing a fulfilling career? If someone tells you that you can’t, do not let that stop you from pursuing what you know you can do. There will be people who will assume because you are a female you are not as qualified — I have experienced this myself. In some cases, you will have to work harder than your male counterparts, but do not let this discourage you. You are as qualified. You deserve to be in the room. You can achieve whatever you work toward. Lastly, do not be afraid to speak up; your speaking up can change the landscape for the women coming after you. What has been your greatest professional accomplishment, and what helped you achieve it? My greatest professional accomplishment was being selected as a keynote speaker for Colorado State University’s 2017 Business Day. As a first-generation student, being asked to return to my alma mater meant a lot to me. Starting at CSU, I did not know what I wanted to do and would have never imagined I would have received a job offer at a tech company before graduating. To be able to come back almost three years later was amazing. The mentors I had at CSU helped me get to where I am today. They encouraged me throughout my collegiate career and have continued to stay in touch with me post-graduation. They continue to encourage me as I navigate throughout my career. I owe a lot of my success to the faculty in the College of Business.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | THE DIFFERENCE

CHERYL ZIMLICH, ’86 Executive Director Bohemian Foundation Fort Collins, Colo. What words of encouragement or advice would you want to share with young female graduates entering the workplace? When you're new and have lots of new ideas, my best piece of advice – and what I tell folks when they start here – is listen first. Ask why they do the things the way they do, what brought them to that place. Ask a lot of questions, and then you are in a better position as you think of ways to improve. It is always OK to ask, “do you have any advice for me?” How to you mediate conflicts and facilitate understanding? Listen to the person as an another human first, and let them know relationships are all based upon listening and conversation. Keep asking questions to seek understanding if there is a difficult situation. The people on the other side of the table have valid reasons for what they believe. We are usually closer to an agreement than a disagreement when we work together to find the right approach.

What do you think is important for female business professionals to know as they work toward developing a fulfilling career? There is only one person to manage the integration of your career and life aspirations … that’s you! You have got to be clear about your priorities. You cannot go 110 miles per hour in your personal and professional life. You can have it all, but you can’t necessarily have it all at the same time. Give yourself permission to change your priorities as your life evolves, and do not forget to ask for help along the way.

Group Operating Officer Accenture Digital Denver, Colo.

Can you tell us about a time you had to balance a challenge professionally and personally? About four years ago, I took on a role as the global group operating officer at Accenture Digital. It’s definitely been the most challenging thing I’ve done, but also the most rewarding. This past fiscal year, we were a $9.5 billion business growing at 30 percent. When I first started, I remember thinking to myself, ‘how in the world am I going to do this? I’m going to be physically worn out flying around the world all the time.’ I decided I was not going to take 20 international trips, but instead I would pack up my family and go on a business trip to Europe for 54 days. I just made it work. I never asked anybody for approval, I just did it. I think a lot of times people take options off the table before trying to make it work. I was a little worried what people were going to think: “Is she just taking her family on a vacation?” The people I worked with in Europe actually loved it. I was there for 54 days, I had dinner with their families, and the work impact was huge. However, I could not have made that decision when I was two years with Accenture. I definitely think it takes a while to build that confidence and reputation.

What strategies do you use to deal with work stress? When I am in stressful situations, I find ways to relax. Everyone has different ways of relaxing; my favorites are to take a walk, find a few quiet moments to breathe, or find a way to inject some humor. My experience is the power of just being able to relax your brain and body often gives you a completely new perspective.

How do you handle disagreements at work? I try to listen first to make sure I understand the various perspectives, and then I like to tackle the issues head on and in a very transparent fashion. I find many people are afraid of this approach because it could involve some conflict or uncomfortable situations. I find people appreciate I’m able to do that, because we get to a real

How would you suggest graduates approach taking risks in their careers? Seize the moment. Opportunities present themselves all the time. Put yourself out there and take a little risk. Seize opportunities to meet other people, because you'll never know what connection you might make. What do you think is important for female business professionals to know as they work toward developing a fulfilling career? I have not had an experience where it's like, “if you do this, things will work out for you.” It is more about being who you are and being confident in yourself and your abilities. Trust in yourself, and the skills that earned you the job. You have every right to be there.

SHELLY SWANBACK, ’91

When my kids were young, I began coaching their youth sports. I would often leave the office stressed about a situation or problem and found after spending a couple hours outdoors with the kids, the solution to the problem was easier to find.

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solution and we can move on. Let's really understand the problem or challenge and let’s make a decision. People trust me because they know I’m all about solving the problem, not pushing a personal agenda.

mittee and now am stepping into being president of the Colorado Career Development Association. Meeting people in different locations, roles, and companies gives me new ideas and ways I can maximize efforts.

AMANDA WHITE, ’11

KARLI JULIAN, ’11

Career Counselor College of Business, Career Management Center Fort Collins, Colo.

Brand Manager E. & J. Gallo Winery Denver, Colo.

What’s one thing you have learned during your career you wish you would have known starting out? I wish I knew career paths are so much different than they used to be. Instead of a linear pathway, careers are ever-changing and there are many lateral movements available to help build skill sets for future opportunities. Be open to new projects, learning new areas of expertise, and meeting new people across organizations. You never know where they will take you! It’s OK to be goaloriented but sometimes, without experience, it’s hard to know how to grow or develop in a specific company or role. It has helped me to set goals around the next skill areas I want to develop or projects I want to be a part of, and opportunities continue to develop from there.

What is one thing you have learned during your career you wish you would have known starting out? Be patient. I wish I would have been more open to knowing I was not going to be the best at something right away. You go from being in your comfort zone for your entire college career to a brand-new environment with new challenges. Embrace the change! Soak up the experience and be excited to learn as much as you can. What words of encouragement or advice would you want to share with women who are graduating and entering the workplace? The best pieces of advice I can give is to manage up and to establish an uplifting relationship with your coworkers. Learn what your manager likes and dislikes, how they want certain tasks completed, and set that standard moving forward. Find co-workers – both male and female – who have similar passions for their careers. You spend more time with people you work with, more than anyone else, so you might as well create an environment where you can bounce ideas off one another and build each other up.

What has helped you navigate challenges throughout your career? Keep moving and find a network of people who support you – whether it’s taking the next step in your career, having difficult conversations, identifying opportunities, or general life planning. I am grateful to have people I can look up to, who believe in me, and push me even when I don’t think I can do it. Those are the people who have helped me the most. They know me better than I know myself and help me find opportunities that align with my strengths and where I want to be. I suggest you find those people, nourish them, and keep them as long as you can!

What do you think is important for female business professionals to know as they work toward developing a fulfilling career? It’s OK to live a balanced life and prioritize what is most important to you – that could be career advancement, building a family, or simply being healthy outside of work. It may change over time, but the key is figuring out what’s important and finding a career or company to fit your criteria.

What do you think is important for female business professionals to know as they work toward developing a fulfilling career? Don’t stop questioning! Recruitment efforts, policies and procedures, culture, etc., can have an effect on who is in and who is out. Creating more inclusive work environments is important to provide the most value to a diverse group of consumers. By questioning these aspects of a company, you draw attention to issues that may not have ever been discussed. What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why? Being involved outside of work in professional associations have has the greatest influence on how I approach my career. I started in a Chamber of Commerce com-

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | THE DIFFERENCE

Inclusion in the workplace What it means and why business should care Diversity in the workplace is increasing on a global scale, and studies show this can be good for business. When a company employs individuals from different backgrounds and with unique perspectives, it builds a team that reflects the diverse world in which we live. A diverse workforce is better equipped to understand the needs of a wider range of consumers, including women, older adults, people of color, the disabled, and those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Mounting evidence shows that diversity drives business innovation, cultural intelligence, and market share growth. What is not good for business, however, is when those diverse voices, historically marginalized in the workplace, are ignored, talked over, and passed up for promotions time and again. According to Lynn Shore, Ph.D. (’85), Department of Management chair and professor in the College of Business, diversity in the workplace – without inclusion – is missed opportunity.

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Throughout her career, Shore has been drawn to research diversity in the workplace. When she reviewed the existing literature in 2010, the term “inclusion” was often used but rarely defined consistently. “No one was clear about what it meant or how to make it happen,” said Shore, but it was clear there was room for improvement. “Data continues to point to social exclusion and economic inequality in the workplace,” she said, despite legislation enacted to protect marginalized groups from discrimination. As diversity advocate and activist Vern Myers explained it, “Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” According to research by Shore and her colleagues, the concept of inclusion is more than a simple two-step. It includes: 1) being heard and having an influence on decisionmaking; 2) feeling safe and comfortable at work; and, 3) being given an equal opportunity to move up in the organization. Shore’s research shows that marginalized groups, such as women and people of color, are highly sensitive and responsive to actions of both exclusion and inclusion. “Social exclusion in the workplace can have negative effects on psychological and physical health,” she said, whether it occurs as an overt form of discrimination or a more subtle micro-aggression, such as talking over someone or ignoring someone’s input. Shore’s research also reveals that inclusion can have very positive outcomes for

Feeling like you belong is important, but feeling unique, or the ability to express who you really are, is equally important to workplace satisfaction.” –Lynn Shore both the employee and the organization, but it has to come from the top. “In order for a leader to be inclusive, he or she needs to enhance experiences of being a valued insider by supporting all group members, ensuring justice and equity, and providing opportunities for shared decision-making.” When inclusion is authentic and systemic, organizations often see improved employee creativity, work engagement, performance, and retention. The organization that fails to be inclusive risks losing good employees. Overlooked women who experience an uneven playing field, for example, may abandon their unfulfilling career path at one organization to find another workplace that is more inclusive. More and more executives are seeing the value of inclusion and looking for ways to implement and measure inclusion strategies in organizations around the world. Quantifying diversity is a relatively easy head count, but measuring exclusion is far more subjective, so Shore created a theoretical model that measures inclusion in a consistent way. Her model has been tested in Asia, Europe, and North America, and the data tells a compelling story. “Feeling like you belong is important,” said Shore, “but feeling unique, or the ability to express who you really are, is equally important to workplace satisfaction.” “My goal is to help organizations understand what inclusion is,” said Shore, “and how to develop teams that honor, respect, and advance unique voices.”

Online MBA named

TOP 20 IN THE WORLD by Financial Times

Colorado State University’s Online Professional MBA is ranked among the top programs in the world, according to the Financial Times’ Online MBA Ranking 2017, released this past spring. CSU’s online MBA program ranks No. 19 in the world and No. 12 in the United States.

CSU’s online MBA program was the only program of its kind in Colorado ranked by the Financial Times. Factors propelling CSU’s program to the top 20 in the world include: career progress, online delivery, program diversity, idea generation, program value and average completion time. Average completion for students in the online MBA program is three years.

Innovator in distance and online education “For nearly 50 years, our MBA program has been a pioneer and innovator in distance and online education,” said CSU College of Business Dean Beth Walker. “Our online M.B.A. program is the largest in Colorado and among the largest in the country, and our students have long recognized the exceptional education and marketplace value of the program. The top 20 global ranking by one of the most prestigious ranking organizations in the world is a testament to not only the extraordinary quality of our program, but also its tremendous value as measured by the increase in salary and promotional opportunities that accrue to our graduates.”

Average salary increase of 23 percent The Financial Times ranked CSU’s program value at No. 8, with graduates of the program increasing their salaries by an average of 23 percent. CSU’s 100 percent online method contributed to the program’s No. 12 program delivery rank. Students from around the globe have flexibility and access to one of the world’s top MBA programs, accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Data was collected through two online surveys – the first completed by the schools and the second by 2013 alumni. One-third of the program’s faculty are women — No. 7 among top 20 programs – and that correlates to the number of female students as well – No. 9. Perfect example of flexibility When Kevin Hoyt became partially paralyzed after falling from his attic, he thought he was going to have to give up his dream of earning an M.B.A.. He was able to take his classes online, one at a time, using graduation as motivation for his physical recovery. When he walked across the stage at commencement in May, the crowd rose in a standing ovation. To learn more about Kevin’s story and watch him accept his diploma, visit: CSUbiz.com/Hoyt. The Financial Times ranking is just the latest recognition for CSU’s College of Business. CSU’s online MBA program also ranked among the nation’s top programs at No. 50 according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2016 graduate program rankings. The College of Business ranks among the top business schools for veterans by Military Times, and No. 29, the highest in Colorado, in the most recent Best for Vets: Business Schools 2016 ranking.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | THE DIFFERENCE

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T H E W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S A S S O C I AT I O N :

Supporting students for career success In 2016, the CSU College of Business launched a new program with the intent of supporting our female students as they pursue their educations and future careers in business. The Women in Business Association was a direct response to our goals of achieving and maintaining a roughly 50-50 enrollment between men and women – and ensuring female students have access to the unique tools they need as they work toward their goals. Susan Schell, director of the College’s Career Management Center, worked closely with Dean Beth Walker to get WIBA started, and she continues to serve as faculty sponsor for the group. “This isn’t about making women act like men,” she said. “We want to honor our students’ femininity – and discuss some of our common traits of being nurturing, high-touch, and focused on relationships. Then, we want to find ways to translate those traits into a successful business career. At the same time, we want to discuss the global economy, business in general, and job opportunities.” All programming is designed to help members discover and develop their personal strengths.

they might not get any other way,” Schell noted. “We’re hoping that there will be new opportunities for this through Zonta and other activities that are taking place this year.” Why WIBA is so important Amber Runyan was elected as the president of WIBA this year. As a business administration student concentrating on management, Runyan said that participating in the organization’s inaugural year was very meaningful for her – and she believes it will continue getting better and better with time. “When we have speakers with real-world experience, who are willing to answer any and every question we have,” she said, “this is the best part. We’re getting a look into what we will be entering into after graduation.” Runyan values the educational aspects of the program, as well as the networking opportunities. “I’ve made amazing connections that I would’ve never received without this opportunity,” she said. “As president, I’m also getting the experience of planning and executing events.” She said her hope is that all the students who participate in WIBA this year will discover ways to further their careers and begin making the valuable connections they’ll need when they complete their time at CSU.

What WIBA is doing in 2017-18 This academic year, Schell noted, the students have taken the reins in making the group their own. The group meets weekly, with some sessions designed to be fun and social, and others providing hard-hitting, no-nonsense business expertise. Activities and topics include: • How to dress to impress • How to prepare for career expos • Building a professional résumé • Women and health event to address both physical and mental health, including issues related to coping with depression and anxiety • Motivational and professional speaker engagements, offering insights into real-world work experiences In addition, Schell says a new affiliation with Zonta International means WIBA members will have opportunities to take part in philanthropic efforts and community service, while getting access to new scholarships as well. “Making these kinds of connections gives WIBA students the opportunity for professional mentorships that

Engaging with WIBA While the Women in Business Association is targeted primarily to female students, any business major is welcome to join. Many topics encompass general businessworld subject matter that is accessible and valuable to everyone. Business leaders and alumni are also invited to participate as mentors, networking participants, advisory board members, speakers, and more. Donations are greatly appreciated as well, providing necessary funds to cover speaker fees, conference fees, travel expenses, scholarships, and other activity costs. JOIN: E-mail wiba.csu@gmail.com Visit facebook.com/WIBA.CSU CONTACT: Susan Schell Susan.Schell@colostate.edu (970) 491-4834 DONATE: CSUbiz.com/WIBA

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COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

T H R E E S TA N D O U T R E S E A R C H E R S

Stand up for consumers It is difficult for an academic researcher to get published in a peer-reviewed journal these days. So difficult, in fact, according to CSU management Professor Daniel Ganster, the article rejection rate at top journals is a demoralizing 95 percent. To be one of the published few, the research topic has to be fresh, timely, and backed by multiple studies, quality measures, and sound methodology – often years in the making. We are shining a spotlight on three outstanding researchers from the College of Business who happen to be women, in three different stages of their academic careers. While their ages, experiences, and backgrounds may differ, they share the common thread of publishing their work in the most prestigious journals and studying important topics that advance consumer well-being and empower decision-making.

Marisabel Romero, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Marketing Years at CSU: 1 Marisabel Romero is fascinated by the way visual cues affect consumer choices and decision-making. It’s long been established that consumers prefer product packaging and brand logos that mimic the human form, and companies use this to their advantage. Romero’s new study, “Costly Curves: How Human-Like Shapes Can Increase Spending,” recently appeared in the Journal of Consumer Research and is her second published article. “When we see thin, human-like bottle shapes, we think of competence and selfcontrol,” said Romero. When overweight consumers are exposed to these thin shapes, the study shows they feel threatened by the self-control image and are more likely to make an indulgent purchase in response. Whereas thin consumers exposed to wide, human-like bottle shapes do not feel threatened, and

their spending is unaffected. The study is not about food consumption; it’s about spending habits in general – such as buying a big-ticket item on credit – and the likelihood of overspending after simply viewing a human-like form moments before you buy. Romero’s findings warn consumers that companies may use emotional body-image triggers to covertly influence spending behavior. What she loves about research “I like the fact that you start off with a question and it leads you in different directions – it evolves. It’s a quest for knowledge. You are kind of a pioneer to some degree, because you’re exploring the unknown.” Advice she would give her younger self “I would tell my younger self to be more fearless and take risks. I would see a career as a journey and explore as many avenues as possible to gain a broader and richer perspective on myself and the world around me.” What’s next? “I just started my career, but I’ve found a research area that I’m very passionate about, and I want to keep exploring this topic.” She added, “I’d also like to get more involved in the CSU community.”

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Kelly Martin, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Marketing Years at CSU: 10 Kelly Martin’s research involves marketing ethics with an emphasis on consumer data collection. “Big Data is such a hot topic right now,” said Martin. “Marketers are being told that the secret to understanding their customers is to collect and analyze their private information.” The problem, Martin discovered through her research, is that nobody ever asked the customer if they liked it, or how it made them feel, when their information was collected. According to Martin’s findings, customers don’t like it at all. Her study, “Data Privacy: Effects on Customer and Firm Performance,” recently published in the Journal of Marketing, reveals that customers feel vulnerable when asked for personal information. “In the past, this was seen as a simple privacy issue,” she said. “But we found that privacy wasn’t a focal point in the data; it was vulnerability.” The study shows that even if a company never experiences a security breach, customers will still feel vulnerable knowing their information is out there. Martin’s findings have the potential to improve data collection practices and strengthen relationships between companies and their customers. In addition to the Journal of Marketing, Martin’s work has appeared in Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, and Academy of Management Journal, among others. Martin is an associate editor for Business Ethics Quarterly and Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, and serves on the editorial board of Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. What she loves about research “I think it’s the puzzle-solving – having an interesting question, finding unique and multifaceted ways to test the question, and how the data tells you what’s really happening.”

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Advice she would give her younger self “Now that I work in a university environment and see all the amazing resources we have here, I would tell myself to get more involved as an undergrad student. Study abroad. Become more engaged in the University.” What’s next? “I’m looking at how companies can recover credibility with their customers after a big data breach. I’m also exploring how customers respond to a company’s lobbying and political behavior through boycotts and buycotts.”

Vickie Bajtelsmit, J.D., Ph.D. Professor Department of Finance and Real Estate Years at CSU: 26 Vickie Bajtelsmit’s research is focused on insurance and personal finance decision-making for individual households. Her research on longevity risk management in retirement, which was funded by the Society of Actuaries, was the recent focus of The New York Times article, “How to Make Your Money Last as Long as You Do.” In her research, Bajtelsmit analyzed Social Security Administration mortality data and found that a 65-year-old man and woman in average health have a 20 percent and 31 percent chance of living to 90, respectively. And for those 65-year-olds with better health, the odds of living to be nonagenarians jump to 30 percent of men and 42 percent of women. Her study estimates how much it will cost to maintain their standard of living in retirement, with an emphasis on those who live longer than most. Her paper also looks at strategies for mitigating various risks faced by retirees. “The biggest takeaways,” said Bajtelsmit, “are that people are living longer than they expect to, and middle-income households have not saved enough for retirement.” The sticker shock of long-term care, stock market fluctuations, and other surprise factors add to the risk

of running out of money in retirement. “We all know we should start earlier and save more,” said Bajtelsmit, “but this is especially true for people – particularly women – who come from a family with a history of longevity.” As the first female faculty member to join the Department of Finance and Real Estate in the College of Business, Bajtelsmit has taught a wide variety of courses and said, “Students are so creative and excited about learning – they keep me young.” Bajtelsmit has authored three personal finance textbooks, and has published more than 40 academic articles, which have appeared in the Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Journal of Risk and Insurance, Financial Review, Geneva Risk and Insurance Review, Financial Services Review, and other journals. “I’ve lost count,” she said matter-of-factly with no trace of ego. Bajtelsmit is the former president of the American Risk and Insurance Association (2010); the Risk Theory Society (2010); and the Academy of Financial Services (2004). What she loves about research “Collaboration creates something better than you can do on your own. I love the opportunity to work with interesting people on an interesting idea.” Advice she would give her younger self “Don’t major in French and Russian unless you have a career plan that requires a foreign language. Definitely get an internship at a law firm before you decide to go to law school.” She shares similar advice with business students at CSU. “I tell them to try different kinds of jobs, even job shadow for a few weeks, to see if they like it.” What’s next? “I just turned 60, and I come from a family of women who lived into their 90s, so I’ll keep teaching as long as it’s still fun.” Of course, she has a plan for managing her own longevity risk. Bajtelsmit is also working on another research study for the Society of Actuaries on the adequacy of retirement preparation by Americans.

Sebastian Africano MBA ’17 Executive Director Trees, Water & People

Your first step was Colorado State. It’s your next one, too. With its flexible classroom model and relevant course materials, our Online MBA delivers a broad foundation of business essentials to professionals looking for new possibilities. Paired with the best of your experience, you’ll be ready to take on whatever comes next. CSUbiz.com/difference

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STRENGTHENING ECOSYSTEMS One queen bee at a time G LO B A L S O C I A L & S U S TA I N A B L E E N T E R P R I S E M B A

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Zipping from flower to flower in the summer sun, wings beating more than 200 times per second, you hurtle toward the next petal to land on in search of nectar and pollen. If you were a foraging honeybee, this would be how you would spend most of your waking days, working to feed your hive and sustain your queen. In turn, the collective efforts of the 2.6 million commercial hives in the U.S. support many of the flowering crops humans have come to rely on – providing roughly $15 billion of annual economic benefit in the U.S. alone. In recent years, concerns have grown over how pesticides, pests, depleting habitat, and diminishing biodiversity are affecting bee populations and leaving the impactful insects vulnerable to population loss.

“So that’s where we started,” said Sam Doll, a biologist and Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise M.B.A. student at Colorado State University. Seeking solutions Doll is part of a team of M.B.A. students in the GSSE program – including Montana Williams, a horticulturalist; David Enden, an animal behaviorist; and Mohamad Haroon Abasy, an economist and entrepreneur – who are working together to develop solutions that benefit pollinators through their new business, StrHive. In the GSSE M.B.A. program, students are grouped into teams based on their interests and spend the summer semester founding a

sustainable business venture that will make a positive impact on the community. Learning about new cultures and how residents’ lives can be improved through ethical enterprise, many students travel abroad for their ventures, exploring foreign countries. However, StrHive decided to stay stateside for the summer and test ways to help some of their closest, and smallest, neighbors: bees. “It’s an issue here – it’s a huge issue here – so why not solve it in America?” said Williams, who worked as a park horticulturist for the city and county of Denver and saw firsthand the major role pollinators play. With diverse backgrounds, the students were brought together by shared frustrations with how they had seen people and organi-

Flowering crops that humans have come to rely on – provide roughly $15 billion of annual economic benefit in the U.S. alone.

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zations try to effect change without proper planning in place. They were innovative ideas that couldn’t be supported by a grant-funding model, products not driven by customer demand, and research that couldn’t make it to the market. “I felt like I could make a much greater impact as an informed and conscious leader in the business community,” said Doll. “The GSSE MBA program has really helped me learn the language of business and has helped me communicate more effectively.” After the team formed, the students began brainstorming business ideas to help the bees – from promoting honey use and increasing demand for the pollinators’ product to creating safer habitats throughout urban communities and farmland. “I think the issue is that we are losing pollinators at an unprecedented rate,” said Williams. “Nonprofits are great, and they’re doing a lot of work, but we think that we should really capitalize on the innovation and talent of business to help accelerate this.”

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Abasy, who grew up in Afghanistan and is attending CSU as a Fulbright Scholar, has seen how problems with aid organizations and nonprofits have played out in his home country. In cities torn by decades of war and civil conflicts, organizations looking to help those living in the destabilized region have been numerous. However, often their results have faded. “When the grant is finished, the project is gone,” said Abasy, who hopes that by learning how to establish an impact-oriented business he will be able to bring powerful lessons about self-sustaining, positive enterprise back home with him. Community embraces students For StrHive’s summer venture, the group tasked itself with building a buzz around backyard beekeeping and getting people more used to the idea of developing symbiotic relationships with the tiny insects. The students developed a business plan to create healthy, active hives of European

honeybees that they could then rent out to aspiring apiarists. Bees in the pre-populated hives could travel up to two miles foraging for pollen and nectar, which would then be brought back to feed their colony. This process would give a pollination boost to

Montana Williams

Mohamad Haroon Abasy

homeowners’ gardens and even provide a little honey on the side to sweeten the deal. The team interviewed around 15 homeowners throughout Fort Collins to get feedback on the idea, and nearly all the respondents expressed interest in owning a hive at some point. “I was surprised by how many people in the city are concerned about the future of pollinators and wanted to help do something about it,” said Doll. “My dream would be to make pollinator health a source of pride for Fort Collins.” The students found three homeowners who agreed to host the hives, and the group began turning its plan into reality. “People have this interest, and they want to do good,” said Williams. “That’s really important, but ultimately a lot of these people just don’t have time, so they’re searching for a business that would come to their house and do it for them.” Spending weeks researching how to nurture the bees, introduce the queen, and pro-

Sam Doll David Enden

vide adequate shelter and care, the students were finally ready to deliver the hives. Sustainable models The summer gave the team the opportunity to test the viability of its hive-loaning model, while also researching ways to increase pollinator diversity and promote biodiversity that can strengthen the ecosystem. “A lot of other organizations focus on education, which is absolutely just as important, but we’re giving people the tools to take matters into their own hands,” Enden said. “There are a lot of people out there interested in beekeeping, but there may not be enough resources to get them started.” The group has been using a variety of analytic tools, as well as customer interviews, to find entry points into the market and to see what people are saying about pollinators. Part of that journey has been the group’s research trip to California, where every year the Central Valley hosts the world’s largest controlled pollination as billions of commercial honeybees are trucked across the country for the state’s almond crop. “We’re talking with beekeepers, farmers, beekeeping associations, and conservation groups,” said Williams, as the team tries to

figure out what works and what doesn’t, and what could lead to people being more interested in having a hive of their own. But questions remain. “We still don’t know if it’s a sustainable business or not,” said Abasy. Students help bees However, the insights the team is gaining from the summer venture are helping to refine strategies that will promote the pollinators in the long run. “Personally, I hope our efforts will help,” said Williams. “I also want to make sure that we empower this community to become pollinator advocates themselves.” “Sustainability is an emotionally charged word with many meanings depending on who you ask, but for me, it’s simply finding ways to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations,” he added. He hopes the GSSE team’s efforts will encourage and empower people to seek out and adopt pollinator-friendly practices they can implement in their own yards. “This program, and all the inspiration and insight I’ve received from my peers, has empowered me to use sustainable enterprise in its truest form.”

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AFTER GETTING HER WINGS

A NEW CHALLENGE THE EXECUTIVE MBA It takes focus, commitment, and courage to become a Navy pilot, and Kristin Mabbutt was up for the test. During her eight and a half years serving in the U.S. Navy, she learned to fly aircraft from the P-3C Orion – a 77,000pound anti-submarine and maritime surveillance plane – to the more nimble C-12 twin-engine turboprop used for personnel transport and medical evacuations. On the day before earning her wings, having mastered skills as diverse as fixed-wing piloting, water survival, and weapons management, Mabbutt took on another challenge: She got married. She and her husband, Chris Mabbutt, met as classmates during flight school in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was manning the radio as she took off on her first solo flight, and after that the two fell in sync. Flying side-by-side, they moved through their military careers together. Seeking expertise When she was not in the air, Mabbutt rotated through a slew of ground jobs with responsibilities ranging from managing operations to complex scheduling and aviation maintenance. However, the skills she was acquiring left her with a desire to learn more. After leaving the Navy and entering civilian life, Mabbutt and her husband made their way to her hometown of Denver to be near family. They both found jobs in the health care industry. Mabbutt entered a production supervisor role at a medical supply company in Boulder, Colo., and Chris began working at Kaiser Permanente.

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The time she spent in the Navy equipped Mabbutt with strong leadership skills and a dedicated work ethic, but she knew that to keep moving forward she would have to hone her business skills. The flexibility of executive education After a promotion, Mabbutt began oversight of three teams made up of project managers and engineers, and she wanted to be an effective leader for them. She then realized the skills she would gain from a master’s degree would be essential to supporting her career. Her husband had graduated from the Executive MBA program at CSU and seeing his journey through the program, she decided to apply herself. “I always felt like I needed those skills, and this position was really challenging me,” she said. With her busy schedule full of travel, making the time to earn a degree didn’t seem practical. When the Executive MBA program changed its format to alternate between on-campus classes and online education, it opened the door for Mabbutt. “I can make this work; I can do every other Saturday,” she said. “I knew it was going to ad-

dress everything I felt I needed to be successful in this role. … The program is super-flexible and they are willing to work with you.” Growing through experience Now as a student roughly a quarter of the way into the degree, Mabbutt is already starting to see how it will benefit her career. After taking her first accounting class, she has become more confident in breaking down financial statements and understanding their practical implications. When Mabbutt's husband, Chris, was in the program, he accepted a job offer from one of his classmates, and since graduation has stayed in touch with a number of his fellow students both personally and professionally. “I saw those relationships and how much he enjoyed his time with those colleagues. That was a big decision point for me, because I expect the same thing,” she said.

Get to the top 3%. Taking a few online graduate business courses can change the way you work. Only 3 percent of adults have career- boosting professional certifications – you can be one of them. And you can earn a graduate business certificate quickly and affordably. You also have the option to transfer credits to a full MBA program. Challenge yourself to learn a little more. State of Confidence.

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Recent grads share stories of their time at CSU and hopes for the future As College of Business students get ready for life after graduation, they know they have earned an education that will support them throughout their careers. They leave CSU with a support network of friends and faculty who care about seeing them succeed. See how three recent graduates are charting their own paths in the business world. Elizabeth Bohannon-Pea B.S., Business Administration, ’17 As she wrapped up her final year in the College of Business, Elizabeth Bohannon-Pea kept the senioritis at bay by staying busy. Very busy. The Aurora, Colo., native’s double concentration in computer information systems and supply chain management was at times a challenge, but it provided a unique set of skills for her to put into practice throughout her time at CSU. “I get the best of both worlds,” said Bohannon-Pea, who went on to hold multiple internships at Arrow Electronics and OtterBox as a CSU student, even working remotely at Arrow while finishing her senior year. “For CIS in particular, I loved the concept you can use technology to run your business more efficiently. To me that was really cool: How can you manipulate programs to get everything done?” “I’ve never had experience with technology so, for me, it was all very new. It made my learning fun, because I had to learn it all from scratch,” she said. Coming into the University as a first-generation college student, she found building relationships with her professors provided extra support.

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“If I needed any help with anything, or advice, I could go to them,” said Bohannon-Pea. Soon, she was looking for ways to give back, and accepted a position assisting students in the Resources for Disabled Students office. Working with RDS “has made me humble,” BohannonPea said. Between classes, extracurriculars, and work, she would take notes for students, help proctor exams, and drive students with disabilities to their classes. “I have gotten to see that everyone is unique, and everyone’s success is different.” Now a graduate, Bohannon-Pea has returned to Arrow Electronics in a full-time position, where she is conducting software quality assurance and building on skills she learned through her education at CSU. “That’s what I like the most; it’s all practical and tangible,” she said. Yada Puranasutheemongkol Early Career M.B.A., ’17 When Yada “Karn” Puranasutheemongkol was planning her first visit to the U.S. from her home in Thailand at 20 years old, she decided to skip Times Square and the Golden Gate Bridge, and passed on the Grand Canyon.

Instead, her friend suggested they try to find somewhere with snow for the summer trip. “You want to see snow? OK, let’s go to Alaska, you will see snow every day,” she said, laughing as she recalled the story. She and two friends crossed the Pacific Ocean, flying more than 6,000 miles to join the roughly 1,600 foreign workers who travel to the state every summer. Working at a fish-processing plant in Seward, Alaska, Puranasutheemongkol received a different perspective on American culture and a strong connection to the U.S. “It’s my style; it’s super my style,” she said. After returning to Thailand and gaining her bachelor’s degree in medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry, Puranasutheemongkol found lab work did not fit with what she wanted, so she began exploring other options. Puranasutheemongkol began researching graduate degrees, trying to decide between an M.B.A. and a master’s degree in pharmaceutical engineering. At one point, a colleague asked her a simple question: Do you want to be the employee or the employer? “I want to be the employer. I want to run my business someday,” she said. “I want to help people more than I could as a pharmacist.” She felt the desire to come back to the U.S. and found her way to CSU – close to the snow and mountains she fell in love with in Alaska – and enrolled in the Early Career MBA program. At CSU, Puranasutheemongkol found she was able to pair her passion for helping people become healthier with real-world business skills. As part of her agile project management course, she developed an idea for a wearable health monitoring device that could rapidly deliver relevant information, such as blood pressure and other vital signs, to health care providers during a crisis and aid in preventive treatment. Since graduating, Puranasutheemongkol has been able to combine her background in health care with her M.B.A., and government experience interning at the Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C., to develop a broader understanding of the health care industry. “I wanted a bigger picture,” she said. Looking to the future, Puranasutheemongkol sees a generation of aging baby boomers who will be encountering health challenges, and she hopes to find ways to improve the care they will receive. Taylor Hill B.S., Business Administration, ’17 Inspiring. That’s the word that perfectly describes Taylor Hill. Her work ethic, passion, and kindness are remarkable and contagious, and she has definitely made a mark on CSU.

Originally from Aurora, Colo., Hill has traded in her leadership roles across CSU and the College of Business to move to Washington, D.C., for a job with Lockheed Martin as a program financial analyst. She also plans to pursue a degree in law, an ambition she has had since first grade. Supporting Hill throughout her journey were her two most ardent backers, her parents. “My mom played a pivotal role in my success,” she said. “She taught me how to be confident in my decisions and strong in my convictions.” “My dad always taught me that I could accomplish anything with hard work,” she said. “He worked three jobs when I was in high school to make sure that I had the opportunity to go to college.” At the end of her sophomore year, Hill nearly had to leave CSU because of difficulty affording tuition, but received a scholarship from FirstBank that let her stay. “I love this school and the College of Business, and the opportunities I’ve received have been amazing,” said Hill. Her dedication and drive to help fellow classmates was noticed quickly by teachers in the college. “Taylor is passionate, hardworking, caring, and strong, and will undoubtedly continue to be a credit to CSU for years to come,” said Troy Mumford, associate professor of management, who worked with Hill in her role as president of the College of Business Dean’s Student Leadership Council. “I saw firsthand that Taylor has an extraordinary commitment to serve others and put in many hours in making the DSLC’s activities successful. “Part of that comes from knowing the other students and faculty members would do the same for her,” said Mumford.

“There’s really a strong sense of community. … I just enjoy being a part of this campus.” Taylor Hill

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | THE DIFFERENCE

The best around University best teachers from the College of Business

Every year, the Colorado State University Alumni Association reaches out to CSU students and graduates to get their take on which educators have made an impact in their lives. This year, two College of Business faculty members topped the list for the Best Teacher Awards. Bill Shuster and Grace Hanley Wright exemplify qualities all teachers in the college carry forward: a deep commitment to their students, a passion for seeing graduates succeed, and the desire to make a difference through education.

Bill Shuster B.A., ’88; M.B.A., ’00 Department of Management Bill Shuster has taught at CSU for 16 years and is a clinical professor of organization and innovation management in the Department of Management. His primary role is teaching business capstone, supply chain practicum, and international business courses, while providing support for students in their career development. Shuster also works with many corporations to build bridges between the college and business world. This is where he developed his research interest of investigating the correlation of employee engagement and corporate strategy. Shuster maintains his control of a small management consulting firm that specializes in organizational integration. He serves on the boards of directors for multiple firms and has worked with employees from Facebook, Lockheed Martin, JP Morgan Chase, and Google. Shuster was named Professor of the Year by

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the Business College Council, is an honorary inductee for Golden Key Honor Society and Sigma Iota Epsilon, and is a CSU Honor Alumnus. Shuster has also received the Accenture Professor Excellence Award and Excellence in Education Award from CSU’s Department of Athletics. He was inspired to teach by both his parents, who were educators in small schools in Colorado. His philosophy on teaching? “Teach students how to think and not what to think.” His favorite quote he applies to his teaching is from Albert Einstein: “I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.”

Grace Hanley Wright, M.B.A., ’13 Department of Management For more than three years, Grace Hanley Wright has taught entrepreneurship and social and sustainable venturing in the College of Business. Hanley Wright studied political science at the University of Denver and received her M.B.A. from CSU’s Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise program. Prior to CSU, Hanley Wright worked for Free the Children and Whole Foods Market, two

businesses that showed her the positive impact of business and the power of young people to make a difference. As a result of the GSSE program, Hanley Wright co-founded a 501(c)(3), Ascent, which focuses on international women’s health. She recently founded Aptitech, which enables technology adoption among older generations. Hanley Wright works to equip her students with the knowledge that they can be powerful entrepreneurs and change-makers in business. In 2010, Hanley Wright was recognized as a Colorado Woman of Influence, and in 2016, as a Northern Colorado Superwoman by the Fort Collins Coloradoan. Making a positive impact is central to Hanley Wright. In elementary school, after learning about the horrifying situations surrounding child labor throughout the world, she raised enough money during her sixth- and seventh-grade years to build a school in India through Free the Children. In high school, she volunteered in a school in Kenya, and in college, she studied abroad in northern Brazil and worked with children who were trafficked in the sex industry. While at Whole Foods, she spent time in Guatemala working with microloans and volunteering in a school. Her philosophy on teaching? “It has been clear to me throughout my life that education is a tool that can be used to lift people up; education can be used to change the world.”

HOW WE RANK CSU’s Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise MBA ranks #3 in the world among social entrepreneurship, according to Net Impact

Military Times ranks the CSU College of Business #29 in its 2016 “Best for Vets” rankings – #1 in Colorado

For the fourth year, we’re ranked in the top 10 for “Best Administered,” by the 2016 Princeton Review rankings

U.S. News and World Report ranks CSU’s MCIS program #30 in the “Online Graduate Information Technology” category – the #1 program in Colorado

Our 2017 rankings for Best Online MBA program, by Financial Times

Our ranking among all public universities for the 2016 Bloomberg Businessweek “Best Undergraduate Business School Programs”

93,014 POUNDS OF FOOD were collected and donated to the Food Bank for Larimer County by the College of Business in 2017, making it the top contributor during the University’s annual food drive for 11 CONSECUTIVE YEARS!

BY THE NUMBERS Ninety percent of undergraduates obtain job offers or placements within 90 days of graduation

business-focused clubs and organizations

Average starting full-time salary for College of Business undergrads, one of the highest at CSU

25%

First-generation students in the College of Business

among students taking the Certified Supply Chain Analyst exam during 2016

Average percentage of undergraduate students who complete an internship before graduation

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | THE DIFFERENCE

EDUCATION ABROAD I S

G O O D

F O R

B U S I N E S S

1 IN 6

International education has the power to shape tomorrow’s business leaders in profound and lasting ways. Through our Global Opportunities program and the CSU Education Abroad Office, students in the College of Business study in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean, Oceania, and even at sea. Global Opportunities makes it possible for business students to travel abroad and grow through hands-on learning opportunities in more than 80 countries around the world. Business-minded counseling The College of Business values international learning – so much so, we are the only college at CSU with a dedicated global opportunities coordinator and academic adviser on staff. This key position manages program logistics with our college’s faculty, cultivates international partnerships, and meets oneon-one with business students to discuss curriculum mapping and strong-fit course work to reach academic goals. “Our college is in the business of transforming lives. Students come back from international experiences with new reference points, cultural competency, and problemsolving skills. They come back changed for the better,” said Natalie Cartwright, College of Business academic adviser and global opportunities coordinator. Faculty-led programs Rotating faculty members travel with students and teach for-credit classes to guarantee academic rigor, relevant service learning,

561

College of Business students have studied abroad in the past five years 30

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College of Business students study abroad

Jessie Trudell, Italy

and course continuity while overseas. The Ecuador Community and Cultural Engagement program is a faculty-led program that meets on campus during fall semester. Faculty and students travel to Ecuador over winter break, and return to campus spring semester to apply what was learned. Students develop selfand cultural awareness through business site visits, community engagement, and servicelearning projects in and around the city of Quito and the Antisana area of Ecuador. The curriculum integrates meaningful service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and better understand different cultures and local economies.

Jenna Gerstein, Thailand

Madison O'Brien, Ecuador

Countries visited by College of Business students in 2016-2017

Stephanie Stevens, Peru

Haley Shreves, Switzerland

Cole Lehman, Swaziland

Logan Lagesse, Croatia

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | THE DIFFERENCE

“You have to have a more global mindset – a global view of how these decisions we’re making as business people are going to impact our business across the globe. I think it’s invaluable to push your boundaries and go out and do it, live it, because that’s where you really get to experience and learn,” said Travis Maynard, associate professor in the Department of Management. International partnerships The College of Business continues to create more diverse learning opportunities and strengthen academic partnerships with highcaliber corporations and universities in a variety of countries. SRH University Heidelberg in Germany, for example, is a partner school that offers relevant course work, student exchanges, tours of BMW and Mercedes production facilities, and a dual degree MBA program. At SRH, BizRams learn critical aspects of conducting business in Europe, including appropriate business behavior and effective cross-cultural communication.

Partner Universities Universität Bamberg, Germany University of Exeter, England Kansai Gaidai University, Japan Keele University, England University of Leicester, England Lincoln University, New Zealand University of Limerick, Ireland Macquarie University, Australia Massey University, New Zealand Universität Münster, Germany University of Reading, England University of South Australia Swansea University, Wales SRH University, Germany University of Tasmania, Australia University of West Australia Yamagata University, Japan

Anders Booth, China

Competitive advantages Education abroad is a life-changing opportunity with enormous benefits. Students in the College of Business Global Opportunities program become adaptable problem-solvers, demonstrate international business savvy, embrace diversity and inclusion, and show a willingness to explore the unknown. The associated self-discovery process often leads to career-path clarity, improved self-confidence, and increased independence. These traits are distinct advantages that make Global Opportunities students more competitive and employable in the global marketplace. “Education abroad can really enhance a student’s experience and make them much more marketable and competitive in the job market,” said Andrea Karapas, career counseling manager.

Cole Rickard, Spain

CJ Collier, Cuba

BUSINESS STUDENTS SAIL WITH SEMESTER AT SEA Colorado State University became the accredited Semester at Sea partner institution in Fall 2016. Since then, several College of Business students have participated in this floating campus community that emphasizes academic rigor, global-mindedness, and cultural exploration. In addition to completing challenging course work, SAS business students go ashore to explore 12 countries and a variety of cultures during their three and a half months at sea. “After an experience like [Semester at Sea], there’s really no being closeminded anymore. It’s a life-changing experience, and there’s no going back after it – it’s so exciting,” said Bianca Lozoya, College of Business student.

“When you’re traveling, nothing ever goes 100 percent as

Fall 2016 Margarita Lenk, Associate Professor of Accounting Five business students sailed

scheduled, and that’s what it’s like in business, too – you need to be able to adapt to changing competitor decisions, to changing customer desires, to changing regulations. You always

Spring 2017 Travis Maynard, Associate Professor of Management One business student sailed

need to adapt as an individual employee, as an organization, and so I think there’s an adaptability component that comes from study abroad and travel in general, and I think that’s a competency that organizations are looking for.”

Fall 2017 John Olienyk, Academic Dean and Professor Emeritus of Finance 11 business students currently sailing

– Travis Maynard Associate Professor Department of Management

Associate Professor Margarita Lenk and her class tour the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, during the Fall 2016 Semester at Sea voyage.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | THE DIFFERENCE

THE COMPANY WE KEEP Our alumni and friends often share their time and talents. We value their experiences and expertise. Hereâ€™s who visited us recently: Accenture Kaitlin Phenix, Manager in Communications, Media, and Technology ADP Theresa Amatore, Director of Client Operations Aerotek Jed Hindes, Director of Business Operations Jeff Richmond, Account Recruiting Manager Mike Jones, Recruiter Lead Aimco Kyle Axner, Finance Manager of Transactions Ajilon Catherine Erickson, Executive Recruiter Amazon.com Angelina Howard, Project Manager-Make on Demand Ameriprise Financial Inc. Rob Timme, Practice Manager Arapahoe Sign Arts Paul Vanderspek, Chief Purchasing Officer

Apple Inc. Roby DeManche, Manager of Direct Procurement and Global Supply Chain Arrow Electronics Inc. Cathy Morris, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Ernie Keith, Senior Vice President of Operations and Services Tyler Moore, Global Strategy and Operations Executive Better World Organizations LLC Mary Zenzen, President and Founder Betzer Call Lausten & Schwartz Gary Schwartz, Partner Beverly Garb Emotional Coach BizWest Media Chris Wood, Manager BKD LLP Rob MaCoy, Director of Accounting and Auditing

Dick Monfort, Colorado Rockies

34â€ƒ

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Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network Ed Williams, CEO and COO Blue Ocean Enterprises Inc. Charisse Bowen, Director of Strategic Initiatives Curt Richardson, Co-Founder and Chairman Bohemian Foundation Marketa Jancar, Music Programs Project and Event Coordinator Bonfire Effect Ben Aaker, Account Director Boulder Valley School District Sean McDermid, Director of IT Applications and Digital/ Web Strategy Brason Investment Group LLC Guy Brazell, CEO/Co-Founder Brenna Tindall CPA Bring Law Firm LLC Karl Bring, Owner and Attorney Brinkman Partners LLC Josh Guernsey, Partner Brown, Ells & Company Bob Brown BWW Media Group Megan Keller, Account Director CBRE Group Dan Miller, Senior Director Matthew Henrichs, Senior Vice President Peter Kast, Senior Vice President Steve Stoecker, Associate Centennial Realty Advisors LLC Ken Gillis, President Change Point Consulting LLC Patrick Kelly, CEO Charles Schwab & Company Inc. Branko Banic, Team Member Brian Burke, Vice President

Mandy Berquist, HP

Daniel Monroe, Executive Sourcing Advisor Nick Griebenow, Senior Options Trader Zach Matlick, Team Manager City of Fort Collins Josh Birks, Economic Health Director SeonAh Kendall, Economic Health Director Travis Storin, Accounting Director Teresa Roche, CHRO ClearPath Accountants LLC Victor Amaya, Partner Colorado Business Bank Matt Beck, President Colorado Department of Local Affairs Elizabeth Garner, State Demographer Colorado Eagles Hockey Ben Peal, Senior Account Executive

Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association E. Michael Rosser, Co-Chair Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee Colorado PERA Kele Evans, Senior Portfolio Manager Colorado Rockies Dick Monfort, Owner and CEO Colorado State University Amanda White, Career Counselor-College of Business Career Management Center Lorie Humphrey, Career Counselor-College of Business Career Management Center Margarita Lenk, Department of Accounting, Associate Professor Megan Skeehan, Department of Accounting, Program Assistant

Sally Alexander, Institutional Risk Manager Amy Guy, CSU Employment Consultant Susan Schell, Director, Career Management Center Martin Shields, Professor Joe Parker, Athletics Director CSU Foundation Geneve Huxley, CFO Community Funded Inc Scott Fry, Director of Business Development Convergys Amy Hollingsworth, Engagement Director Cornerstone Home Lending Inc. Sabrina Nowling, Regional Vice President of Marketing CoStar Realty Information Inc. David Pierce, Market Analyst

Jeremy Vallerand, Rescue Freedom International

Robert Urwiler, Vail Resorts, Inc.

Nicole Staudinger, FirstBank

Allen Ginsborg, NewMark Merrill Companies

Cultivate Consulting Sari Kimbell, Founder Curry Company Jim Curry, Principal Daniels Fund Bill Fowler, Senior Vice President-Scholarship Program Deloitte Audrey Goldman, Tax Manager-International Tax Chris Taylor, Manager-Transfer Pricing Curtis Cho, Advisory Senior Consultant Hayley Steele, Staff Auditor Andy Stueven, Senior Accountant Helen Zell, Advisory Senior Consultant Hilary Stavrakas, Advisory Senior Consultant Jordan Javech, Audit Senior Tim McGraw, Audit Manager Tom Chamberlain, Senior Manager-International Tax DePaul Real Estate Investment Group Paul DeCrescentis, President Dr. Squatch Soap Co. AJ Fountain, Co-Owner E. & J. Gallo Winery Karli Julian, Field Brand Manager Ed Minnock & Associates Ed Minnock, Founder and CEO Eide Bailly LLP Denise Juliana, Partner Doug Cash, Manager Thomas Ahrens, Partner

EKS&H LLC Chris Otto, Audit Partner Josh Billiard, Audit Senior Manager John DeVore, Tax Senior Manager RJ McArthur, Principal Encite Marketing Adam O’Leary, Founder Encompass Technologies Barry Van Boord, Director of Account Managers Envirofit Andy Kumar, Product Manager EpiX Analytics Francisco Zagmutt, Managing Partner Everitt Companies David Everitt, President and CEO EY Allie Eret, Risk Advisory Staff Andy Cooper, Partner-Tax Services Carter Meneley, SeniorFinancial Accounting Advisory Services Chris Tenn, Senior-Financial Accounting Advisory Services Dana Mallon, CPA Karen Krebsbach, Advisory Services Senior Manager Lauren Criner, Campus Recruiter Madison Calzavara, Assurance Staff Natalie Onofrio, Tax Staff Ryan Page, Assurance Manager

Farm Credit Bureau Zachary Lund, Bank Examiner Fast Signs International Inc. George E. Hayes, President and CEO The Feet Inc. Larry Dolgin, President FirstBank Adam Hertzler, Operation Manager Joanna Larez, PMO Manager Nicole Staudinger, President, Northern Colorado Market Foster Valuation Company LLC Mitch Reynolds Frontier Airlines Blake Burnham, Manager of Customer Relations FTM Consulting LLC Frank Balog, Principal General Motors Jeff Hickmott, GM-North America, Supply Chain Manager Global Employment Solutions Lisa Smith, Director of Human Resources Goldman Sachs Bryant Krongard, Vice President Grant Thornton LLP Samantha Garin, Associate The Group Inc Kathy Albertz, Broker Associate/Partner Lane Everitt, Broker Associate/Partner Green Solution Scott Scilari, Human Resource Professional

JBS Daniel Dinakaran, Director of Development Services David Cox, Derivative Systems Developer, Market Data Analyst, and Risk Controller John Flynn, VP Sales Marco Sampaio, Risk Controller Jobzology Eric Leftwich, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer Knoll Inc Jenny West, Architecture and Design Manager KPMG LLP Brett Hanselman, Audit Partner Jennifer Hoppal, Workday Consultant Kraft General Foods and Grupo Bimbo John Lorenzen, Retired Kroger Company Joel Starbuck, Division Real Estate Manager Lacuna Diagnostics LLC Aaron Wallace, Founding Partner Nick Norton, Founding Partner Bikul Koirala, Founding Partner Conor Blanchet, Founding Partner Garrett Walz, Founding Partner Larimer County Small Business Development Center Jennifer Spencer, New Business Consultant

Hach Julie Dotson, Human Resource Manager Hanning Law Ltd. Brian Hanning, Associate Attorney Harmony Club Byron Collins, Owner and Developer Hartford Homes LLC Mike Davidson, Director of Sales and Marketing Hasler Fonfara & Goddard Tim Hasler, Real Estate Attorney Henry Fang Wall Street Veteran Hewlett-Packard A.J. Christon, Global Product Manager Josh Maranian, Strategic Procurement Manager Mandy Berquist, WW Marketing Campaign Manager Peter Boyle, Director of Human Resources HMS Protocol Marie Hornback, Owner IHS Markit Tim Markham, Vice President In Situ Inc. Jennifer Eyden, Marketing Communications Program Manager James Franklin CRO Impact B2B Sales Janice Lawrence Consultant J.B. Hunt Transport Inc. Gary Lofgren, Director of Intermodal Operations

Larimer County Workforce Center Adam Crowe, Business Development Manager Jacob Castillo, Economic Development Manager Mike Kohler, Business Training Coordinator LC Real Estate Group Nathan Klein, Partner/ Commercial Brokerage Manager Leprino Foods Company Brad Cunningham, Associate Director Corporate Transportation Kevin Davis, Associate Director Warehouse Operations Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie Joy Woller, Partner Lockheed Martin Corporation Jim Signorile, Lead Recruiter M&E Painting Melanie Hoobler, Director of Operations Madwire Samson Jagoras, Chief Business Development Officer McWhinney Chad McWhinney, CEO Valerie Bordelon, Developer Memorial Hospital-UC Health/Colo. Springs George E. Hayes, President and CEO Metrostudy John Covert, Director of Colorado New Mexico Region MG Stover & Company Carrie Heintz, Director-Private Equity and Venture Capital MONKII.CO David Hunt, Co-Founder and CEO Mountain States Employers Council Inc. Fran Lata, Attorney Wayne D’Antoni, Human Resource Consultant

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | THE DIFFERENCE

THE COMPANY WE KEEP The Moxie Exchange Maureen Boynton Boyt, Founder and CEO NASBA Center for the Public Trust Ryan Hirsch, Operations Director Natural Grocers Christie Zimmerman, Product Standards Manager New Belgium Brewing Company Brian Callahan, Director of Fun Heather Gleeson, Compliance Coordinator Justin Cross, Talent Acquisition Specialist Nate Turner, VP of Supply Chain Shauna Cobb, Human Resources Newmark Knight Frank Peter Staab, Senior Managing Director NewMark Merrill Companies Allen Ginsborg, Managing Director Newton Software Inc. Alan Kochis, Manager of Client Services New World Vistas Cynthia Banks, CEO/Founder Noodles & Company Glenn Douglas, VP of Supply Chain Northwestern Mutual Brian Campbell, Wealth Management Advisor NPR Samples LLC Ann Fulton, Owner Nuance Chocolate Company Toby Gaad, Co-Founder Odell Brewing Company Jason Harris, Controller Wynne Odell, Co-Founder Office of the Colorado Attorney General Kathy Price

Curt Richardson, Blue Ocean Enterprises, Inc.

Old Town Media Inc. Kerrie Luginbill, Creative Director/Partner OneNetwork Rob Choy, Executive OneSeven Advisors LLC Barbie Thelen Otter Products LLC Alan Cohen, COO Betsy Wheeler, Chief People Officer Carolyn Haack, OtterCares Ambassador Greg Goble, Director of Sustainability Kurt Hoeven, Former CFO PwC Ken O’Neal, Partner Prieto Battery Inc. Katie Hoffner, Senior VP of Strategy Progressive Casualty Insurance Company Darrell Suer, IT Systems Engineer Redman Disputes & Investigations Group Jeff Redman, Founder

COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

Rescue Freedom International Jeremy Vallerand, President RSM US LLP David Haller, ManagerNational Professional Standards Group Sam Cooper Design Company Sam Cooper, Owner Seagate Robert Jahncke, Global Logistics Service Systems Associates Abbie Coleman, Visual Merchandising Manager Shirazi Benefits Inc. Reed Miller, Benefits Advisor SM Energy Jeff Damm, Director of Corporate Accounting Pat Lytle, Financial Planning and Analysis Soukup, Bush & Associates, CPAs P.C. Falene Young, Tax and Audit Mark Soukup, President Scott Bush, Partner-Valuation Practice

Southwest Airlines Co. Julie Weber, Vice President of People Madison Dern, CoordinatorSWA Staffers Staples Inc. Ken Purdue, Sustainability Director Sterling-Rice Group Eliza Hammond, Insights Manager STOW IT Carmelo Mannino, Director of Growth Devin Eldridge, Co-Founder/ CEO The Strong Group Susan Strong, Senior Management Consultant and Principal Stuff’n Mallows James Schrack, Co-Founder/ CEO Paul Jenkins, Co-Founder/COO TIAA Rashmi Badwe, Senior Managing DirectorIndividual Client Solutions

Town of Windsor Sherilyn Gourley, Human Resources Director Travelport Rusty Searle, Reverse Transition Lead Triple Scoop Premium Market Research Ted Kendall Two Trees Consulting Ginger Graham, President and CEO U.S. General Services Administration Teresa Sprung, Organizational Development Practitioner UBS Financial Services Inc Scott Baker, Vice President UC Health/Medical Center of the Rockies Marilyn Schock, COO Vail Resorts Inc. Carolyn Larrivee, Retail Recruiter Robert Urwiler, EVP and Chief Information Officer

Vidi VR Brian Herrera, CEO Stan Sedberry, Co-Founder Washington State University Russ Johnson, Professor Water Valley Land Company Martin Lind, Owner and Developer Weatherwax & Associates P.C. Michael Weatherwax, President The Welsh Rabbit Dean Hines, Owner The WhiteWave Foods Company Joe Kaliher, Transportation Logistics Manager White Road Investments Gregg Bagni, Director Wolf Robotics LLC Maggie Hirko, Human Resources Manager National Center for Women and Information Technology Terry Morreale, Associate Director and CTO Woodman Storage Partners LLP Richard Graham Jr., General Partner Woodspear Properties John Woodward, General Partner Woodward Inc. Dan Provaznik, Finance James Ripsom, Corporate Finance Matt Cook, Corporate Vice President, Information Technology

LAST LOOK

CLASS of 2021 BY THE NUMBERS

25% 33% 44%

first generation from out of state female

RAM WELCOME

"As you begin your journey, I want you to think about how you might make a difference during your time at CSU. The opportunities here are endless. No dream is too big, no goal unattainable. ... While you may feel like you are here to learn from the faculty, we are inspired and learn from you. Leave your legacy in the College of Business at CSU. This college will be better because you are here." Beth A. Walker, Dean CSU College of Business

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