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Category Archives: Spotlights

EMBA’s Have Big Impact on Boise

2013_Mar_EMBA-6

This month the first year EMBA participants hosted a poster forum with local business and education leaders.  In this session execs shared their ideas on how to make Boise a more competitive place to live and work.  Each study team created a poster and “pitched” their idea to the group.  Some of the ideas generated from the class have taken hold in the community and been cultivated into real projects benefiting more than just the EMBA participants but also the people of Boise and Idaho.

The sessions were part of the Creating Competitive Advantage (EMBA 513) course and were held in the Hales Family/Chris and Barbara Petersen Imagination Lab part of the new Micron Business and Economics Building on the Boise State University Campus.

Executive Panelists:
CeCe Gassner, Economic Development Director, City of Boise
Ben Quintana, Boise City Council Member, City of Boise
Melanie Rubocki, Partner, Perkins Coie
Dr. Don Coberly, Superintendent, Boise School District
Peter Wachtell, Entrepreneur, Multiple Businesses
Tommy Ahlquuist, COO, Gardner Company
Eileen Barber, Co-founder, Keynetics

“Buy it, Sell it, Join it” Module Starts at Sunrise

2013_Jan_EMBA-6Early January began the exciting final quarter of the Executive MBA (EMBA) program for the graduating class of 2013. The “Buy it, Sell it, Join it” module aka Acquisitions, Partnerships and Divestitures was co-taught by by senior Boise State professors: Nancy Napier, Kirk Smith and Harry White, along with a plethora of outstanding business leaders from their respective industries.

Guest experts included: Dave Cooper – Partner of Cooper Norman; Art Berry, Founder of Arthur Berry & Company; Mark Durkin, CEO of Micron; Todd Gill, COO of United Heritage; Brian Larsen, J.D. of Hawley Troxell; Nick Taylor, J.D. of Perkins Coie; and Jessica Flynn, CEO of Red Sky Public Relations, and her team of media trainers. Capstone projects were revealed to the EMBA study teams during Saturday afternoon’s lunch. The Capstone project is the highlight of the entire EMBA Program because EMBAs work on actual strategic problems from organizations for the last four months until Commencement. They enrich what they have learned while they continue to broaden their education while helping their assigned organizations.  Capstone organizations participating this year are: The Arc; H&W Computer Systems Inc.; Payette Brewing; and Syringa Wireless

Execs Kick-Off Program at Sun Valley

The new Executive MBA class of 2014 began the 2 year program with an intensive week-long residency at Sun Valley Resort.  The program purposely starts away from work/life distractions in order to build a strong learning community and study teams from day one.  Additionally topic sessions experienced during the week included Team Building; Negotiations; Strategic Design & Growth; Design Thinking; and Leading Change. Senior faculty  from Boise State University and industry experts included Dr.s Roy Glen and Kirk Smith; Dr.s Linda Clark-Santos and Keith Allred. Pictured is a team preparing a presentation on Steve Jobs biography ~ (left to right, Jason Morales; Heather Kunz; Shyam Ramalingam: and Mark Bathrick.)  The historic ambiance of Sun Valley is present classrooms with framed photos of celebrities adorning the walls.

 

Execs Complete Year 1 of the EMBA Program with a “WIN”

 

First year EMBA participants proudly display certificates designating them as “Fourth from Last”,  a special and highly coveted award,  given to the EMBA team that has the winning Innovation project at the end of the year.  The projects are the culmination of the two month long Fostering Innovation module.  Pictured holding the award are team members: Mike McLean (Sales VP, Young Living Essential Oils), Fred Webster (Physician Liaison, West Valley Medical Center), Nicole Brown (Chief Operating Officer, Medical Management), Scott Caringella (District Operations Manager, John Deere Green Tech), missing from picture is Linda Reeder (ATR Programs Document Management, Battelle Energy Alliance).  EMBA teams have the summer off to rest, relax and recharge before returning to campus in September for the start of their final year of the program.  We congratulate the EMBA 5 cohort for the completion of their first year of the program!

Executive MBA Class of 2012 Graduates

The fourth class of Executive MBA (EMBA) participants recieved their diplomas on Saturday, May 12, 2012, at the Boise State University Spring Commencement Ceremony.  This cohort graduated with all 30 participants who began the program in the fall of 2010. This is the largest EMBA class to graduate to date and the first class to finish with all members who started despite career moves to different states and serious personal challenges.  The College of Business and Economics and Boise State University wishes congratulations to this fine group of graduating EMBAs.

Pictured is Jarred McKenzie and his wife Karen.  Jarred is the Chief Operations Officer for Dykeman Electric, Inc. located in Boise.  Jarred was also recently named one of Boise’s 40 most accomplished under 40.  He joins the ranks of outstanding EMBA alumni with leadership positions in the Treasure Valley and throughout the Northwest.

Learn more about the EMBA program at our Informational Open House on Wednesday, June 6, and become a part of the next cohort that starts this fall.

Community Leaders Meet with Execs

An all-star group of community leaders from government, business and education joined the first year Executive MBA class in Nancy Napier’s Competitive Advantage module this month.  The class teams developed plans to make Boise a more competitive city, leveraging the univesity as part of the process.  The leaders evaluated and discussed the ideas in terms of feasibility.

Four study teams of Executive MBAs displayed posters of their ideas in a trade show-like format and explained their visions to the community leaders. Then, the visiting leaders shared their ideas about the plans with the participants.  Some panelists also expressed interest in working with the participants to implement several of the ideas.

The EMBA Program – faculty and staff, and especially the participants - greatly appreciate the time, interest and support of the panelists who made this such a remarkable event.

Executive Panelists from left to right:
CeCe Gassner, Economic Development Director, City of Boise
Ephriam Greenwall, Developer, Talcott Holdings
Jamie Cooper, CEO, Drake Cooper
Ben Quintana, Boise City Council Member, City of Boise
Johnny Hale, Managing Partner, KPMG, LLP
George Iliff, Managing Owner, Colliers International Boise
Mary Givens, Director, Office of Technology Transfer, Boise State University
Bernadette Madarieta, VP and Controller, Boise, Inc.
Anthony Lyons, Executive Director, Capital City Development Corporation

 

Views of Boise Inspire Execs

During February’s ‘Creating Competitive Cities’ module, EMBA participants were stimulated by Boise vistas to generate ideas for their upcoming projects.  March’s projects are based on “How to Make Boise and Idaho a Better/More Creative Place to Live.”  EMBAs will present their posters in a trade show format and give 3 minute explanations of their ideas during the opening 45 minutes of class on day one of their 3-day March module.  Guest panelists who will review the EMBA poster projects will include city government, business, and civic leaders.  Past EMBA classes have produced  concepts during this session that have been implemented within Boise and the State; examples are The Water Cooler, a business incubator, and The Idaho Business Council http://idahobusinesscouncil.org/.

Class was held in the 6th floor, Sky Line Room of the Stueckle Sky Center with panoramic views of Boise and the foothills.

Execs Travel to Vietnam

In October the 2nd year EMBA class members attended their International Residency Week in Hanoi, Vietnam.  The class learned about the rapidly emerging economy in Vietnam; met with various business organizations, industry representatives and the US Embassy; visited various cultural venues; and generally explored Hanoi and enjoyed immersing themselves in the culture. 

Pictured right during an industry visit (left to right) are Ryan Earl (EMBA); Brent Luloff (EMBA); Dr. Cuong, SME Sr. Consultant for Vietnam’s State Utility; Bonnie Hong (EMBA); Jenni Herberg (EMBA); Mrs. D T Ha, Principal, Online Management Consulting, Hanoi, VN, MBA from Boise State 1999. Mrs. Ha is instrumental in coordinating the BSU Executive MBA International Residency along with fellow alumni from BSU MBA in Hanoi. The 2nd year EMBA class will graduate this May 2012.

Exec’s Kick Off Program at Sun Valley Resort

The new class of 2013 began their 2 year program with an intensive residency at Sun Valley Resort last week.  The residency helped create the class’s learning community; develop study teams; and build the foundation for the two year MBA program.  Topics taught during the first week included Team Building; Negotiations; Strategic Design & Growth; Design Thinking; and Leading Change. Senior faculty  from Boise State University and industry experts included Dr.s Roy Glen and Kirk Smith; Dr.s Linda Clark-Santos and Keith Allred. (Pictured above a study group prepares to return to a condo with its groceries to cook “team cuisine.” ~ all part of Team Building.)

New EMBA Group Starts Program

New Executive MBA Participants, Returning Participants, Alumni and their families enjoyed the annual EMBA Orientation and Family BBQ this past Saturday.  The day began with an hour long meeting for new participants and their family members with advice and tips for success from program administrators and current EMBAs.  The event then moved outside where new class members mingled with current and past participants.  Great food, family fun, face painting, clowns, and sun were all on the menu this year; a great time was had by all.  This event is a great way for EMBA’s to get started, and for alums to reunite and stay connected to the Boise State EMBA family.

Executive MBA    |    emba@boisestate.edu    |    (208) 426-4034    |    Micron Business and Economics Building Room 4101