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Spring Events 2008
 William A. Franke Receives Honorary Doctorate
Bill Franke received an honorary doctorate at the
FCB commencement May 9. His address to the graduates was a bit out
of the norm–and on target for the world awaiting them. As a global
businessman, Franke related stories from two of his trips to China,
one in 1978 and another in early May 2008, and his vision of what it
will take for today’s graduates to compete in this international
marketplace.
“We can remain number one if we take it head on and
manage the challenge. Use your leadership skills and educate
yourself about new world economies. Refresh your sixth-grade
geography skills. We rely on you to take our country into the 22nd
Century as number one.”
Following the speech, graduates said they found his words both
inspirational and pertinent.
The Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation Supports
Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship
The Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation recently
pledged $1,000,000 to support the Marley Foundation Program in
Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship. This unique program will allow
the college and the university to create interdisciplinary programs
that foster entrepreneurship across college boundaries. Students and
faculty from business, engineering, and science will collaborate
to turn intellectual property into businesses that drive rural
Arizona economic development.
The funds will be used to support:
1) The Marley Professorship of Business Excellence
will lead the effort of interdisciplinary teaching, research, and
service to the university and to rural business communities.
2) Programmatic Support will fund designing the
educational experience; supporting an Executive-in-Residence program
to bring top entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and angel investors
to campus to provide real world experiences for our student teams;
and providing funding for students to intern with top entrepreneurs.
3) Scholarship support will provide full tuition
scholarships for students interested in interdisciplinary
entrepreneurship, with a specific desire to build industry in rural
Arizona. Scholarships will be based on financial need, targeting
first generation college students from rural Arizona.
Mason Gerety, dean of the FCB, states, "The ability
of business, engineering, and science students to work together on
real world problems will mimic the experiences they will face in the
workplace, and provide distinctive value to their education. At the
same time, they will be helping the economic development of rural
Arizona. Without the generous support of the Marley Foundation, this
would not have been possible."
We are grateful for the Marley Foundation’s support and look
forward to implementing this program.
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Scholars & Donors Recognition Breakfast 2008 photo gallery
The 42nd annual Scholars & Donors Breakfast was held
April 25. One hundred and twenty five scholarships totaling more
than $342,000 were awarded, a record for the FCB and nearly $200,000
more than last year. The breakfast provides the opportunity for
benefactors to meet their scholarship recipients. We are grateful to
our alumni, friends, corporate and foundation scholarship
supporters.
New scholarships this year included:
Beach, Fleischman & Co. PC
Grant Thornton LLP Accounting Academic
W. A. Franke
Conny J. Frisch (sponsored by Michael Lainoff)
Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation
Joseph P. and Teresa C. Schneider
“Never has so much been given to so many so
quickly.”
–Mason Gerety, Dean
 In April, Sharon and Bob McCord hosted scholars from three state schools at their home in Phoenix.
Russ Crawford and Kathryn Patten are this year’s FCB McCord Scholars. Each is recipient of a $10,000 scholarship for the next academic year.
(l to r) Russ Crawford, Mason Gerety, Sharon McCord, Bob McCord, Kathryn Patten, and Betsy Putman.
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BizBlock Winners Take Their Plan to Kansas City
Choco’lade, the BizBlock Venture Capitalist
Competition winners for Fall 2007, were accepted to present at
the Kansas City–2008 Regnier Family Foundations New Venture
Challenge Competition in April.
The team delivered a two-minute "elevator
speech" and their poster board presentation for a two-hour
judges’ review.
Choco’lade team members, Kaila Anderson, Allison
Georgioff, and Krista Stepa came in fifth of 30 teams. The top
three teams were MBA-only students.
The judges commented that they were very
impressed with the business plan and the presentation,
especially considering that these were first semester juniors,
and that they were very polished and professional. Mary Bowers,
BizBlock faculty member, said of the team, "They were focused
and they were very mature.
I am so proud of them."
CEO Speaker Series Continues
 One of the many positive impacts of Bill
Franke’s involvement with FCB is his CEO Speaker Series,
guest lectures given by top executives he personally invites to
campus. David Bonderman spoke last fall. The series continued
this spring.
Steven Whisler ,
retired chairman and chief executive officer for Phelps Dodge,
Corp., addressed FCB students and faculty on March 24.
Whisler shared his observations and advice based
on his more than 25 years of experience in the business world.
He recently retired from Phelps Dodge having served as its chief
operating officer since January 2000, and as president of the
company from 1997 through 2003.
He has also been a director of America West
Holdings Corporation since 2001. Whisler’s prior experience
includes serving as the director of Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Corp., and as director of the Southern Peru Copper Corp.
Following the lecture, Whisler, along with Bill
Franke, met with small groups of students and faculty.
 Timothy T. Day ,
chairman and chief executive officer for Bar-S Foods, addressed
FCB students and faculty on March 31. Day is the principal
founder of BAR-S Foods Co., and has served as CEO of the company
since it began operations in August 1981.
Prior to founding BAR-S, Tim was executive VP of
General Host Corporation and president of its largest
subsidiary, Cudahy Company. He served 13 years with General Host
in various executive positions.
Day shared the company’s story and the many
challenges in becoming the 10th largest publicly held company in
Arizona and 100% management-owned. He shared his "personal
lessons learned."
Day, along with Bill Franke, followed the
presentation by meeting with small groups of students and
faculty.
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Seventh Annual Executive Job Shadowing Program
The FCB sent a record number of students on
Executive Job Shadowing assignments this year. Twenty students
spent two to three days shadowing top level executives across
the U.S. in various industries in the student’s area of
interest. Because such a large number of students were chosen,
half of the students participated during spring break in March,
and the other half participated in May.
The FCB is very grateful to this year’s Shadow
Executives.
 Spring Break Shadows and Students
Tami Shobert, corporate director of human
resources, Enchantment Resort and Miiamo Spa, Sedona, Ariz.,
with Wade Beal (MGT).
Lee Nelms (’75 FIN), CFO, Trendwood Inc,
Phoenix, with Shane Hendel (FIN).
Jamie Norman (’89 MKT), VP, Dallas Stars,
Frisco, Texas, with Samantha Hirai (FIN).
Traci Weber,
[photo, on right],
VP Brand Planning, Westcor,
Phoenix, with Kelli Kearney (MKT).
John Hurry (’90 FIN, ’92 MBA), CEO, Scottsdale
Capital Advisors, Scottsdale, with Phillip Lynch (CIS/FIN).
Lisa Nelson, director, NAU Office of Public
Affairs, Flagstaff, with Katie Patten (MKT).
Eric Baker (’86 SBS), director of Corporate
Council, Starbucks Coffee, New York City, with Sara Reese (MKT).
Andy LaDow (’82 MGT), senior broker, Grubb &
Ellis/BRE Commercial, San Diego, with Janelle Revak (MGT).
Richard Ziegner (’94 MBA), senior VP and
regional manager, Wells Fargo Bank, Phoenix, with Carrie Schwier
(ACC).
David Deseelhorst (’84 MGT), VP, Solitude
Mountain Resort, Brighton, Utah, with Daniel Smith (MGT).
John Bridger (’74 MGT), executive director,
Thunderbirds, Phoenix, with Georgina Toth (FIN/MKT).
Summer Shadows and Students
Steven Wirick (’80 BSBA), COO, Solid Gold Health
Products for Pets, El Cajon, Calif., with Michele Anderson
(MGT).
Shannon McCarthy, Deloitte & Touche, Phoenix,
with Jacob Boje (ACC) and Ryan Moore (ACC).
Jean Litzler (’71 ACC), CFO, Settlement Capital
Corporation, Addison, Texas, with Mark Drenka (ACC).
Lisa Autino (’86 ACC), CFO, Corbins Service
Electric, LLC, Phoenix, with Marissa Hauk (ACC/FIN).
Brad Meuli (’79 MKT), president and CEO, Denver
Rescue Mission, Denver, with Dustin Mast (ACC).
Richard Mullen (’84 MGT), VP, Bank of Tucson,
Tucson, with Patricia Slack (MGT).
Thom Gyder (’84 ACC), president, Wilhelm
Automotive, Peoria, Ariz., with Chauncey Woodworth (ACC/FIN).
Alan Dialon (’80 BSBA), property analyst, Carl
Warren & Company, Las Vegas, with Danielle Winder (FIN).
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NFL/SBDC Workshop
The FCB’s Center for Business Outreach was a
sponsor for the workshop, "Get in the Big Game: Creating,
Promoting and Protecting Your Online Brand," presented as part
of the NFL Community Impact Program’s Super Bowl XLII during
January. Approximately 300 current and prospective entrepreneurs
attended the workshop at 16 NAUNet locations throughout Arizona.
Learn more at
www.essentialet.com/SBDC/
MBA Fellows/USA Program
NAU’s MBA is part of the Peace Corps’
Fellows/USA program, one of 46 learning institutions in the U.S.
The program is open to any Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV)
who has satisfactorily completed service.
In the April issue of Peace Corps Hotline
article "Not ‘The Donald’s’ Business: MBA Degrees with a Heart,"
Michael Lainoff, director of the FCB’s Arizona Rural Policy
Institute, pointed out that the RPCV who works with him at the
institute, Jonathan Mackey, "has an approach and perspective not
commonly found among graduate students."
Bilby Speaker Series
The Bilby Speaker Series continued with two
presentations this Spring:
Professor James T. Moser, senior financial
economist for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission presented
a paper titled: "Bank Lending and Interest Rate Derivatives" on
Feb. 22.
Professor Phil Reckers of Arizona State
University presented a paper titled: "Media Image of the CEO and
the Impact on Auditors’ Perception of Financial Reporting
Reliability and Client Risk Assessments" on April 11.
Kenneth S. Lorek
The Ralph M. Bilby Professor
The W. A. Franke College of Business
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