Latest News: October 2009

U. S. Steel CEO to Speak at Smeal

John Surma, chairman and chief executive officer of United States Steel Corporation, is scheduled to speak at Penn State's Smeal College of Business on Nov. 6 as part of the college's executive speaker series, Leadership in Focus: Executive Insights.Surma, a 1976 Smeal alumnus and member of the college's Board of Visitors, will join Smeal Dean James B. Thomas for an interactive, on-stage conversation at 11:15 a.m., in the Business Building's Struthers Auditorium.

Smeal Professor Testifies Before Senate Committee on Pensions

Ron Gebhardtsbauer, faculty-in-charge of Smeal's Actuarial Science Program, testified on Oct. 29 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP). Gebhardtsbauer suggested ways to fix the funding issues being experienced by defined benefit retirement plans and offered long-term solutions to make U.S. pension programs viable for years to come.

Farrell Center in Planning Stages to Host 2010 Global Entrepreneurship Conference

The Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Penn State's Smeal College of Business has been selected to host the 2010 international conference for the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers. The conference is scheduled for Oct. 21-24, 2010 on Penn State's University Park campus. Although it's still a year away, an international team of students and faculty is already hard at work planning the agenda.

Smeal Alum and IdeaPitch Contestant Wins Funding for Startup Venture

AM Analytics, a social media and marketing intelligence startup founded by Smeal College of Business alumnus Alex Mann, has been accepted into the business incubator program of Berkeley Ventures, a California-based business accelerator.

Farrell Center Director Pens Book, Book Chapter

Anthony Warren, director of the Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship, has just had published the third edition of his textbook Patterns of Entrepreneurship Management, and has a book chapter about to published in three-volume set on business technology.

Boomers Face Critical Career, Life Choices

"The largest single generation in the work force, better known as the baby boomers, is finally reaching retirement age," writes Patrick Cataldo, associate dean for executive education. "At 77 million strong, it's a group that will continue to have a major impact on business and society for at least another decade or two."

Smeal to Host Business Ethics Discussion in New York City

Penn State's Smeal College of Business will host a panel discussion on business ethics on Oct. 27 in New York City for the college's 2009 Wall Street Initiative. The program, "Leadership Perspectives on Ethics in Today's Complex World," will begin at 6:45 p.m. at The Princeton Club at 15 West 43rd Street. Doors open at 6 p.m. and refreshments will be served during a networking reception, which will follow the panel discussion at 7:30 p.m. The event is open to all alumni and friends of Penn State.

Indian Official to Discuss Country's Role in Global Economy

Penn State's Smeal College of Business will host a talk on Wednesday by Daggubati Purandeswari, Indian Minister of State for Human Resource Development (Higher Education) for the government of India. Purandeswari will discuss the growing role and importance of India in the global economy at 1:15 p.m. in room 126 of Smeal's Business Building. The talk is free and open to the public.

Smeal to Host Sustainability Conference in Washington

The Center for Global Business Studies at Penn State's Smeal College of Business, together with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), is hosting a forum to address the role of business in energy and water sustainability. "The Business Challenges and Opportunities of Energy and Water Sustainability" is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 13 at CSIS in Washington, D.C.

Smeal Supply Chain Program Ranked Among Best in North America

A recent survey of supply chain academics and practitioners published in Supply Chain Management Review has ranked the supply chain program at Penn State's Smeal College of Business among the top two such programs in North America.

IdeaPitch Contest for Student Entrepreneurs Accepting Applications

The third annual IdeaPitch competition, hosted by the Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Penn State's Smeal College of Business, is now accepting applications from Penn State students who have an idea for a viable business venture. For the first time, this year's winning team will go on to compete against teams from other Big Ten universities in April in Chicago.

Princeton Review: Smeal Among Top Ten for Facilities, Faculty

In the 2010 edition of its annual Best Business Schools guidebook, The Princeton Review ranks the Smeal College of Business MBA Program No. 5 on its list of "Best Campus Facilities" and No. 9 on its "Best Professors" list.

Smeal Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Events, Films, and Cuisine

Penn State's Smeal College of Business is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month with events and special programs beginning today.The festivities include showings of Hispanic-themed films, a business networking session in Spanish, a Latin dance workshop, and special meal themes in the Business Building's Blue Chip Bistro.

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