University of Michigan - Flint

posted: Dec 23, 2008
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Chrysler Foundation sponsored a number of School of Management students’ attendance at the Detroit Economic Club Luncheon on October 13th, 2008. The students were undergraduate honors and graduate international business students. They were accompanied by Dr. Jacob Peng and Dr. Erin Cavusgil. The speaker was the former Michigan governor John Engler, and he spoke about the implications of the new leadership for America on the US manufacturing sector

posted: Oct 16, 2008
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On September 30, 2008, nine SOM MBA and BBA students attended the Detroit Economic Club luncheon featuring guest speaker Mr. Matt Ferguson, President and CEO of Careerbuilder.com. This trip was organized by Professor Jacob Peng and SOM Business Club. Business Club is a registered student organization with the purpose of enhancing business students’ readiness for their careers in business. Attending DEC luncheon is one of many activities organized by the club that are open to all SOM students.

Before the September 30 luncheon, Mr. Ferguson met privately with the SOM students at a student-only reception for about 30 minutes, and students were able to meet Mr. Ferguson and ask him questions about business careers. Students were very thankful for the opportunity to meet with a CEO in Detroit, interact with him at the reception and hear him deliver a great speech.

posted: Oct 6, 2008
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more information...

posted: Sept 29, 2008
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Tickets are still available for $75 per person or $590 for a Corporate Tables of 8. Please call 810-424-5583 for more information.

Honorees
CORPORATE LEADERSHIP AWARD

Guardian Industries
Earnest Thompson,Director of Corporate Marketing andBrand Management
William Davidson has spent more than 50 years as the president of Guardian, a company founded in 1932 in Detroit as a small windshield manufacturer. Over the past five decades, Mr. Davidson’s vision has grown the Auburn Hills-based Guardian into a diversified manufacturing company with 21,000 employees worldwide and distribution facilities in 21 countries. His extraordinary leadership also extends to his community. A noted hilanthropist, Mr. Davidson has supported a variety of organizations, including the University of Michigan, his alma mater, at which The William Davidson Institute was established at the Ross Business School. Visit www.guardian.com.


Palace Sports and Entertainment
Tom Wilson, President
Palace Sports & Entertainment originated in 1988, when the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association moved into their new home, The Palace of Auburn Hills. This privately financed, state-of-the-art facility immediately made other arenas obsolete due to its revolutionary design incorporating 180 private suites on three levels. The team's first two seasons in The Palace resulted in back-to-back NBA World Championships. The Pistons’ success is indicative of the organization's philosophy of doing things the right way – and first-class – as it grew beyond basketball to become one of the nation’s leading arena management and marketing companies, and is listed among the top concert promoters in the world. Tom Wilson, President and CEO for Palace Sports & Entertainment, will accept the Corporate Leadership Award on behalf of Guardian Industries Corp. and Palace Sports & Entertainment. He will also give the keynote address.


REGIONAL AWARD

Plante & Moran, PLLC
Mr. Chris McCoy, CPA
Managing Partner, Southfield
Mr. David Gibbons, CPA,
Managing Partner, Flint

The origins of Plante & Moran date to 1924, when Elorion Plante founded a small accounting firm in Detroit. In 1955, Frank Moran became managing partner of the firm, and his unique business philosophy sparked a period of tremendous growth. By the early 1960s, one-third of the company’s revenues came from services other than auditing and accounting. Today, Plante & Moran is the nation’s 12th largest certified public accounting and business advisory firm, providing clients with financial, human capital, operations, strategy, technology, and wealth management services. Plante & Moran Financial Advisors, the firm’s financial planning entity, has over $7 billion funds under management, and is the third largest independent investment advisory firm in the nation.


ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD

The Coffee Beanery
Ms. JoAnne Shaw, President
In the 1970s, coffee shops were not as prevalent as they are today. But in 1976, JoAnne and Julius Shaw decided to take a chance on a hunch – that quality, gourmet coffee would be the next “big thing.” With home equity loans and entrepreneurial spirit, the Fenton residents rolled up their sleeves and opened their first store in Dearborn. Over the next nine years, the Shaws opened eight new stores. The couple’s triumph is built on Ms. Shaw’s commitment to be successful no matter what it takes. Today, Coffee Beanery, which is headquartered in Flushing, is a multi-million dollar franchise with over 117 locations throughout the U.S., and 26 locations internationally. Coffee Beanery is recognized as an industry leader for its unique family business approach, corporate culture, and commitment to quality.


FAMILY BUSINESS AWARD

Koegel Meats, Inc.
Mr. John C. Koegel, President
Succession can be a problem for family-owned businesses, but it’s not one that has hampered the Koegel family and it’s well-established Flint-based meat company. The Koegel name has been a Flint trademark since the early 1900s and over three generations. President John Koegel attributes the company’s long-standing success to his grandfather’s founding principles. Today, Koegel Meats is proud to carry on the century-old traditions and recipes of Albert Koegel, Sr., placing emphasis on excellent and fair customer service and the highest standards of product quality.


DEAN’S AWARD

Mr. Larry R. Nichols, ‘86 MBA
President, Oakland Commerce Bank
Larry Nichols has provided extraordinary service to the School of Management as a trusted Chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Board and active volunteer while also leading a distinguished career in the banking industry. Larry has provided vision, leadership, service, and support as a long-time member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, and a frequent guest speaker for SOM classes. Larry is also the 1981 recipient of the SOM Business Club’s Outstanding Alumni Award. Larry’s banking career spans 30 years, including his current position as President and Chief Executive Officer of Oakland Commerce Bank in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Larry and his wife Janet, ’73, reside in Grand Blanc.


OUTSTANDING STUDENTS

Peter Manos, MBA
Elizabeth Refice, BBA

posted: Sept 15, 2008
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Seyed Mehdian, Professor of Finance, conducted a seminar on Entrepreneurial Finance at Iashington Conference in Alexander John Cuza University (Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza) Iasi, Romania. Iashington represents an international conference, organized by AIESEC Iasi (Romania), whose function is to bring 160 participants from different countries connecting them regarding the idea of multiculturalism and professional growth and development.

posted: Sept 11, 2008
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Beta Alpha Psi
Dr. Charlie Nelms Community Contribution for a Student Organization Award

Lielte Estifanos, BBA Student
Emerging Leader Award

Keith Moreland, PhD, Professor of Accounting
Distinguished Professor Award

posted: July 07, 2008
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A group of University of Michigan-Flint MBA students have a better understanding of the global economy after participating in an extraordinary trip to Russia. Because of previous visits to Russia and established relationships, the 13 School of Management students had an itinerary that included meetings with high level government and business leaders in both Moscow and Togliatti (Flint’s sister city). In a period of just 10 days, the SOM students met with: the U.S. Ambassador to Russia, President of GM Russia, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, President and Managing Director of Ford Motor Company Russia, and the Director of the Corporate Sector of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Russia. Tours included: the AutoVAZ facility in Togliatti, Russia’s largest automobile production facility, the AutoVAZ-GM joint venture facility also in Togliatti, Russia where the Chevy Niva is produced, various GM and Ford auto dealerships in Moscow, a commercial bank in Togliatti and universities in both Togliatti and Moscow.

At a visit to Russia’s largest GM dealership, the SOM students learned that 40 new vehicles are sold almost every day from that one Moscow location in the booming Russian car market.

“Some of the Cadillacs at the Moscow Chevy dealership are made in Lansing, Michigan, so that was quite interesting for our students to see Michigan vehicles being sold in Moscow - $100,000 for the Cadillac Escalade by the way,” said SOM Professor Mark Perry, who along with Dr. Greg Allar accompanied the students.

“Moscow has to be one of the most energetic and dynamic cities in the world right now,” observed Professor Perry, who added that “Moscow is now like New York City on steroids, because of the explosion of economic activity there, the significant growth of the consumer market, and the incredible construction boom.  The rise of the market economy in Russia, especially in Moscow, during the last several decades following the collapse of the Soviet Union is probably one of the most important and remarkable episodes of economic growth in human history, and for our students to be there and witness it first-hand is something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”

In Togliatti, the UM-Flint students met with the mayor’s staff, and during a meeting at the Togliatti City Hall Professor Perry (center of photo), and the President of the Togliatti Academy of Management Dr. Igor Bogdanov, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will lead to future student and faculty exchanges between the two institutions.

Perry brought back a personal letter from the Mayor of Togliatti, which is to be delivered personally to Flint Mayor Don Williamson. Overall, the trip was such a success that Professors Perry and Allar are already planning a return trip to Russia next year.


  Written by: Mel Serow View all articles by Mel Serow



posted: May 05, 2008
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Fenton Township Resident Creates CashOffersFast.com To Help Struggling Home Sales

Article in The Flint Journal!

posted: April 22, 2008
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By Professor Mark J. Perry and Madhukar Angur
Editorial in Investor's Business Daily!

posted: April 22, 2008
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The School of Management is extending its congratulations to Dr. Seyed Mehdian, Professor of Finance, on his election as Vice–President – Public Relations for the Midwest Finance Association. The MFA is one of the premier regional academic finance associations in the USA, with membership in the Midwest and throughout the country. Founded in 1951, this association is dedicated in developing and distributing information in the field of finance to its members and other interested individuals conducting professional meetings and sponsoring The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance. Dr. Mehdian holding office in such an association reflects the esteem that is held for him by his colleagues throughout the finance profession.

posted: April 10, 2008
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Oakland Community College (OCC) and the University of Michigan-Flint School of Management have entered into a new partnership that will benefit OCC students seeking a bachelor’s degree in business. A new articulation agreement, was signed Wednesday, April 2, by officials from both schools. It will ensure students who complete courses for an Associate in Business Administration Degree at OCC a smooth transition to the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree program at UM-Flint.

“Approximately half of our students intend to transfer to four-year schools and a large percentage major in business, our third largest credit program” said OCC Chancellor Timothy R. Meyer. “This new agreement with the University of Michigan-Flint gives our business graduates the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s degrees at an outstanding institution of higher education”.

“We are delighted to be signing the Bachelor of Business Administration articulation agreement with Oakland Community College today”, said UM-Flint Interim Chancellor Jack Kay. “This is a splendid opportunity for our two institutions to meet some of the higher educational needs of Automation Alley. We look forward to expanding and strengthening our collaborative efforts with Oakland Community College.

Under the agreement, any student may transfer any number of semester credit hours of general education and other relevant credit hours earned at OCC toward a BBA degree at the University of Michigan-Flint; however, students are required to complete at least 45 institutional hours at UM-Flint. A grade of “C” or better is required of courses for transfer. Oakland Community College and the University of Michigan-Flint will review this agreement every two years and make adjustments as deemed appropriate to maintain the integrity of each institution as well as for the improvement of the transfer process.

To commemorate the signing of the articulation agreement, the School of Management will create four $500 OCC business scholarships according to SOM Dean Jack Helmuth.
OCC is the largest community college in Michigan and the 26th largest in the nation. The college offers degrees and certificates in more than 130 fields including university transfer degrees in business, science and the liberal arts. Approximately 70,000 undergraduates attend OCC each year.
The University of Michigan-Flint is one of three campuses of the University of Michigan. The university offers bachelors and graduate degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences and in a number of pre-professional and professional fields. Students benefit from an association with the entire University of Michigan while they enjoy the many advantages of a smaller institution. In August of 2008, the university will open its first residence hall.

Written by: Mel Serow

posted: Arpil 8, 2008
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James R. (Bob) Hagerty, who is based in Pittsburgh, covers housing and economics for The Wall Street Journal. Over the past 30 years, he also has worked as a reporter, editor and bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal and the International Herald Tribune in Hong Kong, London, Brussels, Paris, Atlanta and New York. He holds a B.A. degree in economics from the University of North Dakota. He served as managing editor of The Asian Wall Street Journal (1994-98) an d London bureau chief of The WSJ (2000-03).

Mr. Hagerty joined The Journal in April 1978, working on the copydesk in New York. He moved to Hong Kong in August 1979 and worked for The Asian Wall Street Journal as a copy editor, deputy news editor and news editor, respectively. He joined the International Herald Tribune in 1982 and was an editor in Paris and a reporter in London.

In August 1986, Mr. Hagerty rejoined Dow Jones as a news editor for The Wall Street Journal Europe in Brussels and was also a reporter and deputy managing editor for the paper. In July 1993, he returned to the Asian Journal as page-one editor, and in July 1994, he was named managing editor of the paper. Returning to the U.S. in March 1998, he was deputy bureau chief in Atlanta until being named London bureau chief in February 2000. He moved to the New York bureau in May 2003.

Mr. Hagerty won the 2000 New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists Award in the business reporting category for his January 25, 1999 article, “Tough as Nails.”

posted: Mar 24, 2008
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In 2006, Professor Emeritus Walker E. Fesmire established the endowed Walker E. Fesmire Accounting Scholarship to support the education of SOM undergraduate students. Dr. Fesmire taught Accounting at SOM for 15 years before retiring in 1997. Dr. Fesmire was the founding force and longtime advisor for Beta Alpha Psi. He helped Accounting students establish the Volunteer Income Tax Assistant Program, allowing our students to assist in the preparation of tax returns for low-income citizens of Genesee County. To view the guidelines for this scholarship, please visit General Scholarship information..

posted: Mar 24, 2008
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IS A RECESSION LOOMING? No: Expanding global economy will keep economy going By Mark J. Perry January 3, 2008 http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080103/news_lz1e3perry.html

(Dr. Perry’s commentary is being nationally distributed through McClatchy-Tribune News Service. So far, at least 10 papers across the country have carried it.)

posted: Jan 23, 2008
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