Latest News: March 2006

New Alumni Director Aims To Grow Alumni Involvement In Smeal

Anne Johnson has joined Penn State's Smeal College of Business as director of alumni relations, bringing with her some new and creative ways to engage alumni in the activities of the college.

Ray Joins Smeal Executive MBA Staff

Jake Ray has joined Penn State's Smeal College of Business as director of corporate relations for the Smeal Executive MBA Program. In this position, he will work directly with Executive MBA students, sponsors, and potential business partners to grow and develop the program.

Smeal's Business Building Wins Construction Partnering Award

The Business Building, home to Penn State's Smeal College of Business, won a major partnering award this month for the construction company that built it. At its annual national convention in Palm Springs, Calif., the Associated General Contractors of America presented Gilbane Building Co. with a 2006 Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering Special Recognition Award for the company's work on the Business Building.

Smeal And FTS To Host Global Trading Competition

Penn State's Smeal College of Business and Financial Trading System (FTS) welcome students from around the world to participate in this year's Global Trading Competition, held April 21 and 22 on the Internet.

Unique Academic Competition Requires Serious Study And Quick Thinking

On April 11 at the Penn Stater, months of preparation and research by 10 Smeal College of Business undergraduates will culminate as they take the stage to compete in the sixth annual Smeal Survivor competition, the college's one-of-a-kind academic contest.

Symposium To Explore Sports Business Careers

Penn State's director of athletics will join a representative from the PGA Tour and sporting-event sponsorship and marketing executives next week at Smeal to discuss with students how to leverage their business degrees in the world of athletics. The inaugural "Penn State Smeal College of Business Sports Symposium" will get underway at 10 a.m. on March 31 in the Business Building auditorium.

Conference To Address Business Initiatives In Diversity

The seventh annual S.T.A.R.T. conference, the Smeal College of Business' forum on diversity issues in business, will convene on March 24 on Penn State's University Park campus. This year's event will begin at noon at the Nittany Lion Inn.

Thomas Appointed Dean Of Smeal

James B. Thomas, dean of the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) at Penn State since its creation in 1999, will return to his roots at the University through his appointment as the next dean of the Smeal College of Business. Thomas will assume his new deanship on July 1.

Smeal Events In Philadelphia To Address Risk Management

Next month in Philadelphia the Smeal College of Business Board of Visitors will host two events featuring faculty and alumni sharing their expertise in risk management. "Managing Risk Across the Corporation" will begin at 1 p.m. on April 6 at the Westin Philadelphia.

MBA Guest Lecture To Be Simulcast At Dickinson

Samuel C. Thompson Jr., professor of law and director of the UCLA Law Center for the Study of Mergers and Acquisitions, will speak to Smeal College of Business MBA students on March 14 during a guest lecture that will be simulcast to students at the Dickinson School of Law.

Capital One EVP To Address HR Class

Smeal College of Business alumnus Matt Schuyler, executive vice president of human resources for Capital One, will be on the Penn State campus on March 28 as a guest lecturer in human resources management. Following the class, he will meet in a small-group setting with MBA students interested in pursuing a career in human resources management.

Gardner Joins Penn State Executive Programs

Patricia Gardner has joined the Smeal College of Business as director of Penn State Executive Programs. She was previously CEO of Maximum Sales, Inc. since 1999 and served as acting chief strategic officer for a financial institution in Baltimore. For more than 20 years, Gardner worked for Xerox Corp. in a variety of professional management positions both domestically and internationally.

MBAs Win Logistics Case Competition

A team of MBA students from Penn State's Smeal College of Business took first place in a prestigious supply chain case competition for the third time in four years. This year's case challenged participants with a logistical problem that was seemingly pulled straight from recent news headlines.

Exec Ed Program Addresses Manufacturing's Looming Talent Crisis

In a presentation before the Manufacturing Leaders Exchange sponsored by the Lancaster (Pa.) Chamber of Commerce, Pat Cataldo, associate dean for executive education at Penn State's Smeal College of Business, discussed the major trends affecting manufacturers in today's business climate. The presentation is part of Penn State Executive Programs' commitment to helping companies within Pennsylvania address pressing issues affecting their businesses.

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