To read the complete article in the Idaho Statesman go to: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/04/01/1588004/boisean-wins-top-nationalsmall.html

Eide Bailly student mentees

The Department of Accountancy recently started a mentoring program to help students develop, learn about accounting careers, and grow their network. Before the start of spring semester, 50 undergraduate accountancy students were assigned to mentors in twelve different local organizations. Students were assigned to companies based upon their interests after hearing the mentoring companies’ presentations.

The feedback from the students has been impressive. Alex Williamson, who will graduate in May with a bachelor of arts in Accounting/Finance, explains her interest in the program:

“I was excited to be a part of this new program because it sounded like a great opportunity to learn something new and to meet influential people in our community. So far this has been a rewarding experience. I was one of the lucky individuals to get paired with a mentor from Boise Inc. The first meeting exceeded my expectations. Everyone involved in the event was courteous and attentive. The highlight of the afternoon was being able to listen to the CEOs from Boise Inc. and Boise Cascade speak to us about their experiences and insights they’ve gained from their careers. I particularly appreciated what Mr. Rancourt said about the need to be flexible with our plans for life. His comments about finding success by working for something greater than you also impressed me. The other guest speakers and mentors also provided many insights and pieces of advice on how to be successful as a soon-to-be graduate. The whole afternoon was a positive experience and I look forward to future mentoring opportunities.”

John Wheeler, an accountancy student paired up with Cooper Norman, raves about the program, “This has been a great experience, to gain an inside view into a local firm, as well as to get “face time” and coaching from them. And I am even more interested in Public Accounting than I was before. I know Spring is a very busy time of year for them, so the fact that they have invested so much of their time in teaching and giving us a peek into what they do really speaks to their willingness to give back and to invest in the community.”

Denise English, Chair of the Department of Accountancy, also is impressed with the success of this new program. “I am very pleased with the level of participation from both the students and the mentoring companies. It will be exciting to see how this program grows and continues to add to the exceptional educational experience we strive to provide for all of our students.”

Mentoring organizations and the number of students participating include:

• Ada County – 3 students
• Boise Inc. – 11 students
• Cooper Norman – 3 students
• Deloitte & Touche LLP – 4 students
• Eide Bailly LLP – 6 students
• Harris & Co. PLLC – 2 students
• J.R. Simplot – 3 students
• KPMG – 6 students
• LeMaster Daniels – 3 students
• Little Morris LLP – 4 students
• Office of the Idaho State Controller – 3 students
• Syringa Networks – 2 students

Examples of planned activities at Boise Inc. include:

• Lunch with Boise Inc. mentors followed by brief meetings with key business leaders in Internal Audit, Tax, Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Financial Planning.
• Tour of the Boise, Inc Nampa Container Plant
• Boise IIA (Institute of Internal Auditors) monthly chapter luncheon. Mark Pearson, Director of Internal Audit Services and Security for Boise Inc., will discuss “The Audit Committee and the C-Suite: How to meet their expectations.”
• Listen in on the 4th Quarter Earnings Release for Boise Inc.

The College of Business and Economics (COBE) just completed two innovative new projects — a “design thinking” session and an international export program — aimed at forming a strong network among academic experts and business leaders and giving students valuable experiences.

Design thinking

The college received $70,000 in start-up funds from 2007 Fiesta Bowl proceeds for the design thinking project. Modeled after a program at Stanford, it matched teams of leaders from participating companies — Biomark, Intermountain Gas Company, Preco Electronics and St. Luke’s Health System — with business faculty members and a student. The teams met several times this semester to learn the design thinking process and tackle a looming but ill-defined problem within each company.

Unlike analytical thinking, design thinking is a creative process that encourages the building up of new ideas and out-of-the box thinking.

“Creative problem-solving and critical thinking about unstructured questions is ultimately what will make us competitive,” said Kirk Smith, director for executive education. “Our idea is to infuse innovation into local organizations and allow it to spread.”

St. Luke’s Health System came to the program looking to redesign its primary care clinics to become patient-centered medical homes, according to Matt Bell, vice president of strategic planning. “We all tend to think we know what’s best for our customers but we learned an outside perspective from the Boise State students and professors. There really is value in a divergence of thinking and a convergence of ideas for a solution.”

For Boise-based Biomark, the program was a great way to test the waters on a new product line — tag readers for fish identification.

“There are lots of options for where to take our products but we’re so busy dealing with the work coming through the door that we don’t have time to look 3 or 5 or 10 years down the road,” said company president Dean Park. “We needed a disciplined, repeatable process of thinking about how we move forward. This was motivating and engaging and will lead to a change in culture for our company.”

The program was led by emeritus faculty member and design thinking expert Roy Glen. Faculty participants included Kirk Smith, Nancy Napier, Patrick Delana, Tom Gattiker, Zeynep Hansen, Jason MacDonald, Christy Suciu and Courtney White. It also involved students Siddarth Dhanasekaran, Courtney Kirchner, Anne-Marie Kottenstette, Patrick Pulver, Eric Schuler and Carli Visser. Program manager was Stephanie Chism.

The faculty members are now trained in design thinking and the innovative principles are being implemented into a number of courses for students.

Export Excellence

Five international business students were key to the success of Idaho Export Excellence 2010, a partnership between TechHelp, the Idaho District Export Council and the U.S. Commercial Service. Interns were matched with five Idaho-based companies — Preco, Pure Light, Scentsy, PCS Edventures and Sloan Security — and worked alongside international business experts to help develop export plans for the companies’ products.

Senior international business major Paris Guadin worked with PCS Edventures to develop a plan for exporting its technologically advanced educational materials to Chile.

“I was surprised to learn how many local companies are exporting, internationally,” Gaudin said. “There is a wealth of practical applications for what we learned in class.”

According to PCS Edventures President Robert Grover, Gaudin’s work helped define obstacles to doing business in South America and a clear path forward.

“Exporting isn’t a decision that you make lightly and all of the research and planning that came from Paris and our team is very useful,” Grover said. “It will help us secure funding to expand and build the infrastructure we need to be successful in that market.”

Mentored by adjunct faculty member David Christensen, former administrator for the Division of International Business at the Idaho Department of Commerce and a member of the Idaho District Export Council (IDEC), Gaudin and fellow classmates Bruno Oliveira, Cecilia Jones, Austin Young and Snjezana Borak were able to play an integral role in Export Excellence.

A number of additional partnerships between COBE’s International Business program and Idaho companies are in the works.

“Having our students work on projects for companies gives them a chance to apply what they learn in the classroom, and contribute and be accountable to an organization,” said Meredith A. Taylor, newly appointed director for COBE’s International Business program and affiliated IDEC contributor who co-facilitated the intern component of the Export Excellence program. “At the same time, they gain a sense of accomplishment and prove their competence to firms — and themselves — before graduation. As an academic program, International Business is continuing to move in the direction of having experiences such as these become the norm, rather than the exception, for our majors.”

The event will kick off with a breakfast Tuesday morning featuring keynote speaker Bob Lokken, Whitecloud Analytics and a panel of industry experts that includes Mark Heil, Micron Technology; Valerie Dickerson, Synoptek; Ben Quintana, Boise Young Professionals; Shannon Stoeger, Bank of the Cascades; Joel Hickman, KeyBank; Debbie Westmoreland, Wells Fargo; and Clay Young, Inovus Solar. An hour of networking with students and employers will follow.

In-class sessions will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by workshops on Friday designed to offer students a competitive edge in career development. They focus on women in business, effective use of email, raising equity capital for high potential businesses, meal etiquette and more.

The events are co-sponsored by Wells Fargo (founding sponsor), Northwestern Mutual Financial Network (major sponsor), Boise Young Professionals, Cooper Norman, Eide Bailly, KeyBank, Moss Adams and URS.

For more information, contact Carlene Hansen at 426-1361 or carlenehansen@boisestate.edu, or visit http://cobe.boisestate.edu/lessonsfromalumni/

During the fall semester, these students performed evaluations at 39 locations representing 55 companies in Ada County. The average size of the facilities evaluated was 4,000 square feet with a range in size from 1,200 square feet to 35,000 square feet. The businesses evaluated had an average of 12 employees and used 35,000 kWh of electricity annually.

The Energy Efficiency Action Plans provided to the clients identified an average of $1,300 in energy cost savings per year. Common recommendations in the energy action plans included:

• Utilizing the power management functions on computers (79%)
• Upgrading their fluorescent lighting (60%)
• Installing occupancy sensors (46%), and
• Managing thermostat setting seasonally (37%).

All of these businesses will receive follow-up surveys at three-, six- and twelve-months after their evaluations to determine if they have implemented any of the recommendations and to quantify any resulting energy savings.

This spring semester an additional six students were trained and the service area was expanded to the entire Treasure Valley. Evaluations are ongoing, with 33 site visits planned by the end of the semester in May. Several of the buildings that will be evaluated contain multiple tenants so we expect to visit over 40 businesses this semester.

We confirmed what many other energy efficiency programs have discovered – that small business owners are very busy and it is hard to get their attention and focus on energy efficiency changes.

Discussions have begun with the University of Idaho to expand the training program to the University in the fall. At that time, evaluations will be offered to small businesses in Northern Idaho.

For more information please contact:

Joan M. Meitl
Environmental Assistance Coordinator
Idaho Small Business Development Center
Boise State University
1910 University Drive
Boise, Idaho 83725-1655
Phone: 208.426.1839
Fax: 208.426.3877
joanmeitl@boisestate.edu

The College of Business and Economics (COBE) at Boise State University is reaching out and touching the lives of more than 50,000 high school students and their teachers annually across the United States and in countries as diverse as Mexico and China. COBE is host to an innovative and rapidly expanding educational program called the “International Economic Summit”.

Sunny Nguyen, a Vietnamese student, said,

“This is the most interesting program I have experienced yet in my education. The International Economic Summit is full of excitement and challenge and I gained so much understanding of international economics. In today’s world, nations have become interdependent, supporting one another and sharing the benefits and risks of globalization.I have learned that anyone can make a difference in the world if they put their best out there.”

The purpose of the Summit Program is to help students prepare to live, work and prosper in our rapidly changing world. The world they will inherit has never had so many risks and opportunities as those they will see in their lifetime. The International Economic Summit program gives students the chance to learn, experiment, improve and practice the skills they are going to need to live, work and prosper in this new world.

The Summit Program begins with a rigorous training course for high school teachers of economics, geography and world affairs. After completing the training, the teachers implement a semester-long series of lessons and classroom activities designed to prepare their students to compete in a full day simulation of today’s world economy. At a typical Summit event, up to 500 students from multiple schools and regions will be divided into 100 country teams. Each team is charged with the task of improving its country’s standard of living within the simulated Summit economy. Through the day, the country teams compete and cooperate in activities including export – import trading, forming regional trade alliances, borrowing and repaying development loans, investing in infrastructure projects and increasing educational opportunities for their assigned country. By the end of their International Economic Summit experience, students will have learned BY DOING the key economic concepts of scarcity, productivity, supply, demand, markets and comparative advantage.

Karalynn Jensen, a student from the United States, wrote,

“Before the Summit, I had little knowledge of or interest in economics or globalization but this program has been a great experience for me, giving me knowledge that will benefit me for the rest of my life.”

Dilly Mamatov, a Russian student, explained,

“I expected this program to be boring but my perception changed completely. The Summit has changed how I view the world. This course was one of my favorites and one of the most interactive and interesting classes that I have ever taken.”

The Summit Program was developed and is managed by the Council on Economic Education, within Boise State’s College of Business and Economics. Other universities and organizations that have embraced and are currently promoting the program include, among many others, the Federal Reserve Banks of San Francisco and Boston, the University of Southern California, Northern Illinois University and the Mississippi Council on Economic Education. Additionally, Boise State has taken the Summit to Russia, Mexico and China. In 2010, teachers and students from Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea and other Asian countries will join in implementing this innovative and experiential program. — Leon Maynard

For more information please see links to articles on the International Economic Summit that took place in New England in conjunction with the Boston Federal Reserve and other sponsors.

http://www.bos.frb.org/education/partnerships/mcee/summit/2009-International-Summit.htm

http://www.wickedlocal.com/bedford/town_info/school_info/x1679098763/Students-excel-at-summit

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/high_school/x1444028087/Framingham-students-take-part-in-global-trade-simulation

For more information, see www.econsummit.org or call Leon Maynard at the Boise State College of Business and Economics, 208-426-1810.

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

[Gallery not found]

The program began last fall as part of a grant that the Idaho Small Business Development Center received to help small businesses reduce energy use. Twenty students completed 39 evaluations at small retail, service and wholesale companies in Ada County. The spring program has been expanded to offer energy efficiency evaluations to small businesses throughout the Treasure Valley.

The on-site review takes about three hours with teams of two students evaluating the lighting, building envelope, office equipment, heating/cooling system and occupant behavior. The business owners then receive Energy Efficiency Action Plans with recommendations on no-cost and low-cost ways to save energy. Students and Idaho SBDC staff are available to answer questions and staff members review the plan with business owners at three-, six- and twelve-month intervals.

“Adoption of energy efficiency measures by small businesses has been relatively limited,” said project coordinator Joan Meitl. “They are busy running operations and do not have time to learn about energy saving options or available incentives. The no-cost service hopefully will interest businesses that typically would not hire a professional auditor or do an energy evaluation on their own.”

Applications and additional information are available online at www.idahosbdc.org, by phone at 426-1511, or by sending an e-mail to energy@idahosbdc.org.

In addition to savings to business owners, students also receive valuable experience through the project, Meitl said. Students from the fall semester rated the experience very high. They had the opportunity to work with businesses that ranged in size from 1-90 employees, with building sizes from 2,400-24,000 square feet.

The Idaho SBDC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is a partnership among Idaho’s institutes of higher education and the private sector. No-cost consulting and low-cost training are provided to small businesses to help them start, grow and succeed.

Ready Financial has been a TECenter client since 2006. The company’s recent success was featured in an Idaho Statesman article online.

In addition, Ready Financial also made national headlines last week with the announcement of securing $7 million in funding. Read more about that story here.

The TECenter is readying space in the facility to continue to accelerate Ready Financial’s growth and employment, according to TECenter director John Glerum.

Interested companies and non-profit organizations should call (208) 426-4950. Assistance will be provided based upon fit, capabilities and order received.

“This is a remarkable win-win opportunity for Idaho’s business community and Boise State’s students and faculty,” said Brian Greber, new director for the Center for Business Research and Economic Development, the umbrella organization for all of COBE’s outreach efforts. “This program can provide a foundation for business success, create a more robust climate for hiring and hone students skills under the mentorship of faculty and business partners.”

In January 2009, the college announced its first economic turnaround initiative and engaged with nearly 600 businesses and organizations through student internships, faculty consulting, graduate assistantships, semester-long class projects, Executive MBA capstone projects and in-class live problem solving.

Businesses were helped on projects covering the waterfront of the disciplines within the college including: human resources (employee manuals, training, compensation plans, volunteer handbooks), marketing (market research, marketing plans, sales promotional plans, logistic solutions), economics (forecasts, structural analyses of industries), manufacturing and business systems (lean manufacturing, information system development), accounting (development of business start-up templates), finance (models for capital planning, analysis of project alternatives) and general business planning.

Participants included the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority, an agency that has helped provide housing options for low- and moderate-income residents in Ada County for 42 years. The agency needed a document imaging system to scan and convert paperwork to electronic images. A team of students completed a workflow analysis, shadowed employees to determine how to integrate the system into their daily work, contacted housing authorities throughout the country to see what systems worked best for them, completed a cost-benefit analysis, pre-screened vendors and drew up a request for proposals to get the purchase process under way.

“We didn’t have the manpower or the resources to even explore it,” said director Lisa Steele. “I was completely blown away by the quality of their work, their professionalism and the thoroughness of their research.”

Greber, who has a Ph.D. in resource economics and 18 years of private sector experience in manufacturing management, market and economic research, product development, sales, marketing and technology development, will coordinate this spring’s efforts.

The 24/7 schedule is as follows:

• Monday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m.
• Friday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 7, noon
• Sunday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m.

About 1,200 people attended Walker’s talk, titled “Day of Reckoning: America’s Fiscal Future.” He was on campus as this year’s Brandt Foundation Lecturer.

Walker has unique insight into government spending and has been an outspoken, nonpartisan advocate for addressing the country’s major fiscal challenges. The Wall Street Journal recently likened him to a modern-day Paul Revere.

Walker served as Comptroller General of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office from 1998 to 2008 — spanning both Democratic and Republican administrations. In 2007, he was elected a member of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee (IAAC) of the United Nations and is president and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.

He currently is the president and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation (pgpf.org). He has authored two books, is a regular commentator in national media outlets and was the subject of the critically acclaimed documentary “I.O.U.S.A.” that premiered in movie theaters around the country in August 2008.

The annual Brandt Foundation Lecture is presented by the College of Business and Economics, in conjunction with the John and Orah Brandt Foundation.

David M. Walker

The Boise State University College of Business and Economics, in conjunction with the John and Orah Brandt Foundation, will present former U.S. government chief auditor David M. Walker on Monday, Oct. 19, as the 2009-2010 Brandt Foundation Lecturer. His talk, titled “Day of Reckoning: America’s Fiscal Future,” will begin at 7 p.m. in the Jordan Ballroom of the Student Union Building at Boise State.

Walker’s talk is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6 p.m.; no tickets are required. Free designated parking will be provided near the Student Union Building in the parking garage at Lincoln Avenue and University Drive.

As comptroller general of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) from 1998 to 2008 – spanning both Democratic and Republican administrations - Walker served as the federal government’s chief auditor. Appointed by President Bill Clinton and confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate, he was an outspoken, nonpartisan advocate for addressing the major fiscal and sustainability challenges facing the country.

Now president and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Walker advocates for targeted solutions, works proactively with grantees and other partners to build strong coalitions, and encourages and engages in grassroots efforts to bring pressure on Washington to act. Although no longer the U.S. government’s chief auditor, Walker continues to serve as a global accountability expert as chairman of the United Nations independent audit advisory committee. He also serves on the boards of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and the Partnership for Public Service. He has authored two books, is a regular commentator for the media and is the subject of the critically acclaimed documentary I.O.U.S.A. that premiered in movie theaters around the country in August 2008.

Prior to his appointment to run the GAO, Walker served as a partner and global managing director of Arthur Andersen LLP and in several government leadership positions, including as a public trustee for Social Security and Medicare from 1990 to 1995 and as assistant secretary of labor for pension and welfare benefit programs during the Reagan administration.

In 2004, the Brandt Foundation pledged a generous annual contribution to Boise State’s College of Business and Economics that created a named professorship and secured funding for the lecture series. Previous speakers have included Nobel Prize-winning economist James Buchanan, ABC News correspondent John Stossel, Cato Institute chairman William Niskanen, Judge Andrew Napolitano and acclaimed economist Robert Higgs.

For more information, visit www.boisestate.edu/brandtfoundation or call (208) 426-1335.

Speaker: THE HONORABLE DAVID M. WALKER

Topic: “DAY OF RECKONING: AMERICA’S FISCAL FUTURE”

When: Monday, October 19, at 7 PM (doors open at 6 PM)

Where: Jordan Ballroom, Student Union Building

Parking: Free reserved parking will be provided near the Student Union Building in the new parking structure at Lincoln Ave. & University Drive

Cost: Free – no tickets required – open to the public.

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

“The Entrepreneur’s Challenge”: Clay Young, Boise State BA and MBA graduate

On Friday April 17th from 12 noon to 1:00 PM, Clay Young, co-founder and CEO of Inovus Solar, will talk about the challenges of starting and managing a high-tech company. Mr. Young has worked with Hewlett-Packard, Extended Systems, and co-founded ProClarity, which was acquired by Mircosoft.

All students and community members are welcome to attend and there is no charge for admission.

For more information contact Kent Neupert, kneupert@boisestate.edu, 426-2397 or visit BoiseStateEntrepreneurs.org

The training is particularly relevant for those who have been, or may be, dislocated from their jobs, and who might want to pursue an entrepreneurial venture. The sessions will address the skills needed and the resources available to plan and run a business. In addition to the training programs, the Idaho SBDC staff will provide experienced consulting services for entrepreneurs.

The training sessions and consulting services are free. For more information, call (208) 426-3875. The schedule is as follows:

Overview of Entrepreneurship and Local Resources – offered twice, 9-11 a.m. Monday April 6, Jordan D, Boise State Student Union Building; and from noon-2 p.m. Thursday, April 9, Grand A/C Ballroom, Boise State Student Union Building. This is an introductory class discussing the many free/low-cost resources available to small businesses/entrepreneurs in the area. This is a business startup preparation class, as well as a resource guide for existing businesses. Anyone who is considering starting a new business, needs help with their business, is buying into an existing business, or who simply wants to learn more about running a business, will find this session valuable. Instructor Rod Grzadzieleski, Small Business Administration.

Buying/Selling/Valuing a Business – offered twice, noon-3 p.m. Monday April 6, Jordan D in the Boise State Student Union Building; and 2-5 p.m. Friday, April 10, Grand B/D Ballroom in the Boise State Student Union Building. What is the process of buying/selling a business and how do you determine its fair value? The class will cover how to value the business, how to finance the transaction, how to reach agreement between buyer and seller, and how to prepare yourself for the work ahead if the deal is done. Idaho SBDC consultants will be available to assist class participants in one-on-one, no-cost consulting, by appointment, to further assist. Instructor Rick Vycital, regional director for the Idaho SBDC.

Where Do Ideas Originate? – offered twice, 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday, April 14, in the Hatch C, Boise State Student Union Building, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, April 16, Hatch C in the Boise State Student Union Building. This class will help potential entrepreneurs determine what kind of business to start and how to create and evaluate good ideas. A really good business is one in which the potential client hears about the product/service, and immediately wants to buy. Anything less than a great idea results in a much harder business to operate profitably. Taking the time to come up with a sound business idea is core to your success, and ease, in selling to the marketplace. Boise State faculty members will brainstorm with participants on how good ideas come about and methods you can take to discover new, exciting business concepts. Instructor Kent Neupert, Boise State College of Business and Economics.

NxLevel Business Planning Class – offered twice as a two-day course, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, April 20-21, or Thursday-Friday, April 23-24, at the TECenter, Nampa. This class will cover how to develop a business plan that will guide your business. A business plan is critical to obtaining bank financing and is a business outline that is developed to organize an idea, the operational considerations, the market research, the marketing processes, the pricing options and the financial strategies. The trainer will be available to consult one-on-one with class participants following the course to assist in developing a business plan. Instructors Rick Vycital, regional director for the Idaho SBDC.

Business Basics for Spanish-Speaking Entreprenuers – 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, in the Lookout Room, Boise State Student Union Building. In Spanish only, this is a business startup preparation class, as well as a resource guide for existing businesses. Anyone who is considering starting a new business, needs help with their business, buying into an existing business, or who simply wants to learn more about running a business, will find this session valuable. Instructor Enrique Camarillo, Idaho SBDC Hispanic consultant.

Click here to view in-depth article from the Idaho Statesmen.com

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

The Idaho Small Business Development Center, headquartered at Boise State University, has released its annual impact report for 2008 that measures the success of the Idaho SBDC in its efforts to assist the state’s small businesses.

The report shows that Idaho SBDC clients added jobs at 9.6 times the average rate for Idaho small businesses with a total of 1,175 jobs created or saved in 2008. Sales increased $107 million for Idaho SBDC clients, and those clients generated $7 million in additional state and federal tax revenues. Overall, for every $1 invested in the program there was a return of $7.38 to the state’s economy.

“The importance of Boise State’s focus on bolstering the Idaho economy becomes more important every day,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “These numbers show that the Small Business Development Center is creating real jobs and provides a significant return on the investment. We’re proud to be part of programs and partnerships like these that will help Idaho business lead our economy back to health.”

Idaho’s SBDC served 1,610 clients with one-on-one consulting and 2,864 individuals with focused, high-impact training in 2008.

“Solid business practices and smart decisions are keys to survival and success,” said Idaho SBDC state director Jim Hogge. “That’s where the Idaho SBDC adds value.”

About 97 percent of Idaho firms are considered small businesses — those with 500 or fewer employees. State and national statistics show that small businesses create 70 percent to 80 percent of all new jobs.

The Idaho SBDC is a statewide network with six offices located at Idaho’s state colleges and universities. The program provides no-cost confidential business consulting and affordable training and seminars to Idaho’s for-profit small businesses. Through a partnership with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, the Idaho SBDC also provides environmental regulatory assistance, and has recently added a bilingual consultant to assist the Hispanic business community. The center serves clients in all of Idaho’s 44 counties.

For more information on the annual report or Idaho SBDC services, call (208) 426-1640 or visit www.idahosbdc.org. 

The Idaho SBDC is housed within the College of Business and Economics (COBE) at Boise State. The college offers a wide variety of assistance to businesses. For more information about COBE initiatives, call (208) 426-4950 or visit http://cobe.boisestate.edu. 

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

Boise State University’s College of Business and Economics (COBE) has organized the Business Research and Economic Development Center, a one-stop-shop for the local business community to tap into the expertise of Boise State faculty members and other specialists.

The center will serve as a permanent coordinating entity for all COBE outreach efforts, including the Idaho Small Business Development Center, TechHelp, TECenter, Centre for Creativity and Innovation, Idaho Council on Economic Education, Center for Entrepreneurship, and The Economic Forecast Project. The center is a permanent incarnation of a COBE initiative announced in January to help 200 Treasure Valley businesses weather the down economy this spring. Businesses can call one number, (208) 426-4950, and be connected with the appropriate resources to address their needs.

“Boise State’s role as a resource and repository of expertise for the region is more vital than ever as we all work toward the recovery of the economy,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “We’re working very hard to ensure that businesses and organizations can benefit from the deep pool of knowledge our faculty can offer. This center is one of many ways Boise State is focusing on helping local business lead us out of this recession.”

The college plans to utilize internships, faculty consulting, graduate assistantships, semester-long class projects, Executive MBA capstone projects, in-class live problem solving, small business consulting, manufacturing consulting, high-tech business incubation, and more, to meet the needs of the local business community.

“The College of Business and Economics is a key driver of Idaho’s economic growth,” said COBE dean Pat Shannon. “With the creation of an umbrella center, the community will have a single contact within COBE to help find appropriate assistance on virtually any business issue. This center provides a clear entry point for civic leaders, businesses and economic development entities to access, utilize and gain from the college’s wealth of resources.”

Local businesses can turn to the college for assistance with employee manuals, marketing plans, business plans, economic forecasting, lean manufacturing expertise, employee training, information system development, compensation plans, training manuals, volunteer handbooks, CPA review and more.

Treasure Valley businesses or organizations interested in any form of economic development assistance are encouraged to contact the center now. Assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call (208) 426-4950, or visit http://cobe.boisestate.edu.

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

For the complete story see: Link to Idaho Statesman article

For related article see: previous article

Boise State University’s Executive MBA Program is collaborating with the Idaho Department of Commerce to provide insights on the current economy, perspectives for the future and strategies for tapping opportunities.

The two entities will present the Economic Outlook for the Boise Business Community workshop on Feb. 18 and will address the economic questions on the minds of business owners and public sector leaders, including:

•  Where are we? What is the current state of the economy and financial markets?
•  How did we get here? How does today’s situation compare with high-tech bubble of the    ’90s and how do we share the blame for the current situation?
•  How do we get out of crisis? What is the role of the financial industry bailouts and emerging fiscal policies?
•  What does the future look like for the U.S. economy? What is the short- and long-term outlook from a local, national and international perspective?
•  What are the international impacts of the financial crisis? What effects and opportunities are found for Idaho’s trade partners in Taiwan, China and Mexico?

Expert presenters include:

•  Don Holley, Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Economics at Boise State
•  Keith Harvey, Ph.D., associate professor of finance at Boise State
•  Eddie Yen, director, Idaho Department of Commerce Idaho-Asia Trade Office
•  Cao Guoli, manager, Idaho Department of Commerce Idaho-Shanghai Trade Office
•  Armando Orellana, director, Idaho Department of Commerce Idaho-Mexico Trade Office

The workshop will run from 7:30-11:30 a.m. Feb. 18 in the Simplot Micron Technology Center on the Boise State campus. The cost is $99 per person and includes breakfast. Workshop attendees are invited to continue the discussion during an informal, low-cost luncheon at the new Boise River Café in the Student Union Building immediately following the workshop.

For additional details and to register, call (208) 426-3861 or visit
http://cpd.boisestate.edu/courses/economic_outlook.html

Economic Outlook Flyer

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

Boise State’s Council on Economic Education set to announce winner

The Idaho Council on Economic Education at Boise State University has announced that a Bishop Kelly High School student has won first place in a national investment essay contest. He or she will only learn about this achievement at an award assembly scheduled for Feb. 6, 2009 at the Bishop Kelly Carley Center at 2:20 pm. Until then, the winner remains a mystery. 7,000 Idaho students competed with 740,000 students nationwide in the “Stock Market Game.” Many also wrote an essay in the national writing competition, “InvestWrite.”

Leon Maynard, President of the Idaho Council, said, “The Stock Market Game and the InvestWrite Essay contest have been an important part of financial literacy education in Idaho for many years. They are educationally challenging and fun at the same time. We welcome all 4th – 12th grade teachers and parents who are interested in getting their students involved.”

The Idaho Council on Economic Education, co-hosted by the College of Business & Economics and the College of Education, provides these and many other programs as part of its mission to increase economic and financial literacy statewide. Dr. Pat Shannon, Dean of COBE, explained, “The Idaho Council is one of our major community outreach programs. Through its activities, Boise State has helped train and provide materials to well over 500 Idaho teachers and we reach more than 12,000 elementary and secondary students every year with essential information on personal financial management and economics.” Dr. Diane Boothe, Dean of the College of Education, added, “This is a great example of how a partnership between two Boise State colleges can make a real difference in the lives of Idaho’s teachers and students. Our sister universities are involved as well through our Centers at Idaho State, University of Idaho and College of
Southern Idaho.”

Idaho State Finance Director, Gavin Gee said, “It has never been more important that our students in Idaho learn about economics and investing. With the challenges our country and world are facing, we must return to basics and teach our children and grandchildren to work, spend wisely, save for the future and manage their resources.” The Idaho Department of Finance and Wells Fargo Bank were co-sponsors of last semester’s competitions. The mystery student at Bishop Kelly, who will soon be named this year’s national champion, will receive a laptop computer and trip to New York City where he or she will visit the New York Stock Exchange and other sites. Marta Watson, a Boise State graduate and the Bishop Kelly economics teacher who has introduced and coached
hundreds of students in these contests for many years, will also win a new laptop and trip to New York City where she will participate in a financial literacy conference this summer.

And wait, there’s more….the entire student body of Bishop Kelly High School will receive a Pizza Party from the Idaho Council on Economic Education and
the SIFMA Foundation for Investor Education, which sponsors the Stock Market Game and InvestWrite nationally.

How to Register Students for the Stock Market Game
Teachers from public, private, home and virtual schools can register their students for the “Stock Market Game” by calling or emailing the Idaho Council on Economic Education. 208-426-2926. SMG@boisestate.edu