About 20 chief financial officers from Boise area companies will be on campus this month to share how their career paths developed and network with current students. The College of Business and Economics will present CFOs Exposed from 3-5 p.m. Monday, April 18, in the Student Union Simplot Ballroom.

The first hour will be devoted to a panel discussion and audience questions about careers within business organizations. The second hour will focus on networking, with Elina DiCostanzo from Cooper Norman making a short presentation on speed networking, followed by time devoted to a mixer among students and CFOs.

Attendance is limited to the first 100 students who register. For more information, call Carlene Hansen at 426-1361 or visit http://cobe.boisestate.edu.

Participating CFO’s are members of the Treasure Valley CFO forum. They include: Andy Beitia, Washington Trust Bank; Bruce MacMahon, IdaCorp Financial; Debbie Broughton, City of Boise; Jeff Selander, H B Strategy Group; Darin Holderness, Woodgrain Millwork; John Jozwik, Summerwind Garden Centers; Larry Lipschultz, Oppenheimer Companies; Mark Heil, Micron Technology Inc.; Paul Fritz, Alliance Title; Rachelle Brower, Keynetics; Mike McGrath, Action Couriers; Rich Beath, Petroglyph Energy; Stacy Pearson, Boise State; Todd Gill, United Heritage; Bill Frengen, Pinnacle Sports Grill; Mark Pearson, Boise Inc.; Bachchi Oumar, Syringa Networks; and Scott Kreiling, Regents Blue Shield of Idaho.

To register go to: http://cobe.boisestate.edu/cfos/

The College of Business and Economics hosted the Leadership and Development Day for upper-division and graduate business students on Tuesday, March 2. Looking to gain a competitive edge in the current tough job market over 300 students participated in the career development workshops.

The workshops, led by 29 local business and community leaders, ranged in topics from “Resume Rebuilding” and “Interviewing Techniques” to “Building a Business”. Many students reported that the event was one of the most helpful workshops that they have attended. The session facilitators felt that the smaller group settings allowed them to work more closely with students and were able to provide more in-depth answers to specific questions.

In addition to the career development workshops, a networking Kick-Off Breakfast was held for graduate students and business leaders allowing students to gain information on potential career opportunities within the community. A networking luncheon was also attended by over 70 students and recruiters.

Event sponsors included: Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Wells Fargo Bank, Cooper Norman, Synoptek and Boise Young Professionals.

The 35 career development sessions were held in COBE classrooms and in the Student Union building with the following sessions recorded and available to view online (more coming soon):

The World of Accounting

• Rich Media: (The sound starts 45 sec. into the recording)
  http://atecho1.boisestate.edu:8080/ess/echo/presentation/2f3949e5-154c-41d4-b47d-683c917c7803
• Vodcast:
  http://atecho1.boisestate.edu:8080/ess/echo/presentation/2f3949e5-154c-41d4-b47d-683c917c7803/media.m4v
• Enhanced Podcast:
  http://atecho1.boisestate.edu:8080/ess/echo/presentation/2f3949e5-154c-41d4-b47d-683c917c7803/media.m4b
• Podcast:
  http://atecho1.boisestate.edu:8080/ess/echo/presentation/2f3949e5-154c-41d4-b47d-683c917c7803/media.mp3

Different Paths in Accounting

• Rich Media:
  http://atecho1.boisestate.edu:8080/ess/echo/presentation/828f442e-c30d-4ab8-a798-6f7bb0d692d5
• Vodcast:
  http://atecho1.boisestate.edu:8080/ess/echo/presentation/828f442e-c30d-4ab8-a798-6f7bb0d692d5/media.m4v
• Enhanced Podcast:
  http://atecho1.boisestate.edu:8080/ess/echo/presentation/828f442e-c30d-4ab8-a798-6f7bb0d692d5/media.m4b
• Podcast:
  http://atecho1.boisestate.edu:8080/ess/echo/presentation/828f442e-c30d-4ab8-a798-6f7bb0d692d5/media.mp3

Entering the World of Technology

• Rich Media:
  http://atecho1.boisestate.edu:8080/ess/echo/presentation/56cd75d1-137a-4240-8420-17f6e956a873
• Vodcast:
  http://atecho1.boisestate.edu:8080/ess/echo/presentation/56cd75d1-137a-4240-8420-17f6e956a873/media.m4v
• Enhanced Podcast:
  http://atecho1.boisestate.edu:8080/ess/echo/presentation/56cd75d1-137a-4240-8420-17f6e956a873/media.m4b
• Podcast:
  http://atecho1.boisestate.edu:8080/ess/echo/presentation/56cd75d1-137a-4240-8420-17f6e956a873/media.mp3

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Elevator Pitch Competition

Undergraduate Winners:

• First Place: Trevor Shepard for  Green Light Scheduling
• Second Place: Tyler Casperson and Tim Smith for Mouth Brush
• Third Place: Mariel Donoso, Kent Ownings, Lupe Gonzales, and Dustin Atkins for Instint

Graduate Winners:

• First Place: David Rush for WAW Green Ammonia
• Second Place: Kristin Bierle for Alzar School
• Third Place: Siddarth Dhanasekaran for Palmistry

Business Plan Competition

Undergraduate Winners:

• First Place: Shawn Phillips, Brittany Reed, Steven Schrader, and Alisher Siddikov for MyRoadTrip.com
• Second Place: Rachael Garner, Tyler Casperson, Ryan Underdahl, Timothy Smith, and Paul Greenfield for The Ledge
• Third Place: Jennifer Orr, Matt Jost, and Chase Lowther for BBL Built-in Bike Light

Graduate Winners:

• First Place: Michelle Sabick, Lisa Laajala, Mike Mercil, and Sara Gomez for Innovative Cardiology
• Second Place: Tim Perry, Jane Reed, Elizabeth Pearson, and Igor Zagorskiy for Accumulus
• Third Place: Andrew Smyth, Dean Hahn, Ellie Reese, and Thomas Shoeck for Scratch X

The Competitions and prizes were made possible through the generous sponsorship of Key Bank and United Heritage Insurance.

COBE Dean Pat Shannon addresses an audience of more than 200 business and community leaders and students at the Lessons from Alumni kick-off event. Photo by Carrie Quinney.

Forty-seven Boise State alumni shared their career stories with students over the three-day event and answered students’ career development questions.

“Students said it was the chance to learn first-hand from company officers and business leaders who made an incredible impression on them in developing their own career stories,” said event coordinator Carlene Hansen.

I am glad to be starting a new semester at Boise State University and so far it has been challenging and fun! It is my desire and goal that you are having a similar experience. My name is Josue Gomez and I currently have the privilege of representing the College of Business and Economics as a senator in Boise State’s student government (Associated Students of Boise State University). I ran my campaign focusing on five issues I wanted to address as your student representative: Fighting Tuition Hikes, Increase Collaboration between ASBSU and the Administration, Help COBE Students with Specific Needs, Transparency and Accountability, and Improve Awareness of Resources Available to COBE Students. I explain in more detail my thoughts about each of these issues on Facebook on the group called Josue Gomez: COBE’s Senator. You can explore that page to see updates on issues, my schedule if you need to talk to me, as well as write on the wall about your experience here at Boise State. I also will write a monthly message that will be presenting to everyone in our college much like this one. I am eager to continue my work for the students. My goal is to make sure everyone here has a successful college year. I am available for any question anyone might have and if I don’t know the answer, I will definitely find out, or guide you to the person who will best answer it. So let’s gear up and look forward to an awesome 2009-2010 year! GO BRONCOS!

Sincerely,

Josue Gomez

The College of Business and Economics Advisory Committee is providing two scholarships for single working parents and for veterans of military service. Each scholarship is worth $2,432. Applicants should be:

• Either a single (unmarried) parent with a dependent child(ren) or a veteran of any military service (active duty or retired).
• A Sophomore, Junior, or Senior full-time student with at least two remaining semesters.
• Working 20 hours per week.
• Business Majors with 3.0 GPA or better.

Applications are due at 5pm Wednesday September 23, 2009. Submit materials electronically to trishastevenslamb@boisestate.edu, or drop off printed materials in the COBE Dean’s Office, B307.

Applicant Materials:

Single Parent Requirements [PDF] [DOC]
Single Parent Application [PDF] [DOC]

Military Service Veteran Requirements [PDF] [DOC]
Military Service Veteran Application [PDF] [DOC]

Governor Butch Otter will be the keynote speaker the induction ceremony to be held Wednesday, April 29 fro 6:00 – 7:00 p.m in the Grand B ballroom at the Student Union Building.

2009 Beta Gamma Sigma Program and list of inductees

Beta Gamma Sigma Background

Beta Gamma Sigma was established in 1913 and is the business equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa. Membership is the highest honor bestowed upon graduate and undergraduate business students.

Beta Gamma Sigma has inducted more than 605,000 outstanding students into membership since its founding in 1913. These 605,000 members have served in corporate, government, non-profit, educational, and other management positions at every level of responsibility. Members currently reside in all 50 U.S. states and more than 160 countries around the world.

The Society maintains an active database with more than 480,000 members’ mailing addresses and other information. In 2007-08, the Society inducted about 22,000 new members.

Beta Gamma Sigma has established 481 collegiate chapters in all 50 U.S. states and 18 countries and territories at schools accredited by AACSB International. Additionally, 20 alumni chapters serve the needs of alumni members in major metropolitan areas, including Hong Kong.

The eight student team consisted of: David Andrews, Sara Byrne, Jamie Chaffin, Lisa Frazier, Sarah Gridley, Kamile Ishiyama, Evan Nolevanko, and Jennifer Stemple.

The National Student Advertising Competition is the premier college advertising competition. It provides more than 3,000 college students with real-world experience by requiring a strategic advertising/marketing/media campaign for a corporate sponsor. Schools receiving first place from each district competition are selected to present their campaigns to a panel of industry executives at the American Advertising Federation National Conference.

This year’s corporate sponsor was, The Century Counsel, a group of distillers fighting drunk driving and underage drinking. This year’s mission was to create a campaign targeted towards college students to help combat the binge drinking problem that is so prevalent on college campuses today. Boise State accomplished this with the “Retool Your Reality” Campaign, which communicates a disconnect between student perceptions and reality.

Judges, who were advertising executives from around the west, were thoroughly impressed with the “Retool Your Reality” Campaign, and the difference between 1st and 2nd place (Portland State and Boise State) was within a point. Congratulations to the team and their astounding performance!

Contact Information: For more information, please contact the College of Business and Economics Marketing Department at 426-5384.

Boise State Center for Entrepreneurship held the first annual Elevator Pitch Competition and the results were impressive. The ideas generated by Boise State graduate and undergraduate students impressed the panel of judges with both their innovation and viability. Over $3,500 was awarded for graduate and undergraduate categories in best technology, most green, most viable and best presentation.  Before the event, entrepreneur and Boise State alumnus Clay Young, co-founder of Inovus Solar and ProClarity, discussed challenges for entrepreneurs.

For the complete Elevator Pitch Competition results click on: Boise State Elevator Pitch Competition 2009 Results

To view the Idaho Statesman article on the Elevator Pitch Competition click here.

Photo Gallery

This year’s honorees are:

Boise – Denise Buske, Human Resource Management; Amanda Clausen, Accountancy Taxation; Jon Daley, Masters of Business Administration; Maria Shimel, Management; Daniel Simenc, Management; Erin Taylor, Information Technology; Steve Wargo, Accountancy; Mark Woychick, Masters of Business Administration

Bonners Ferry – Johanna Farrell, International Business

Meridian – Melissa Warwick, Finance

Idaho Falls – Jake Davis, Entrepreneurship; and Jason Davis, Supply Chain Management

Payette – Jennifer Stemple, Marketing

Twin Falls – Jeff Woods, Masters of Science in Accountancy

For more information about Boise State’s College of Business and Economics and its programs, call (208) 426-4950 or visit http://cobe.boisestate.edu.

Contact: Sherry Squires, University Communications, (208) 426-1563, ssquires@boisestate.edu