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Around the CBA
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“The chance of a lifetime,” is how 41 students from NAU described
their meeting with tycoon Warren Buffett.
CBA students spent two hours in a question-and-answer session along
with lunch and photo opportunities with the world’s second richest
person, Warren Buffet. They also toured his Nebraska Furniture Mart
and Borshiem’s Jewelry companies in Omaha.
- The fact that he was so normal left me speechless. –Wade
Beal
The meeting with Buffett would not have been possible without a
little business savvy from the Valley.
Scott Coor (’76 MKT), vice president of marketing and sales for
Phoenix-based Trendwood Inc., spent two years working with Buffett’s
staff to make the meeting a reality. Coor has a close association
with Buffett’s Nebraska Furniture Mart.
 “Buffett owns 40 businesses, including many we have here in
Arizona–Dairy Queen, Shaw Carpets, See’s Candy, Geico Insurance and
Benjamin Moore Paint. He has a lot of experience to share with our
future business leaders,” Coor said.
Buffett hosts 30 meetings and addresses approximately 2,000 college
students each year, but NAU’s visit was the first for an Arizona
university. Trip costs were partially funded by NAU Business College
alum Keith Newlon (’79 FIN), president of Sierra Vista-based Pioneer
Title Co.
Students said Buffett was down-to-earth, straightforward, profound
and humorous.
Buffett, 76, is worth $42 billion, according to Forbes magazine’s
2006 list of the world’s richest people. He recently pledged most of
his fortune to the philanthropic foundation of his friends Bill and
Melinda Gates. His money was amassed through investments, including
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., his Omaha-based, $82 billion conglomerate.
- The modesty and humbleness of this man
was so intriguing. –Alyssa
Goerdt
“It was an incredible opportunity for our students and a great
reflection on the College of Business Administration and NAU,” said
Mason Gerety, dean.
Many of the students are longtime admirers of Buffett, and prepared
for the meeting and Q&A session by reading articles and watching
interviews,” he said.
Gerety later stated, “Our students’ questions were not about how to
be successful financially, but how to be successful in life. They
made us proud.”
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NAU Alumni
Association Recognizes Scott Coor
Scott Coor (’76 MKT)
Jeff Ferris (’36) Volunteer of the Year Award
The key to Scott Coor’s achievements as a volunteer for NAU
is his phenomenal sense of initiative. When Scott decided to
support the CBA in its ambitious Building on Excellence
campaign, not only did he and wife Debbie make a significant
personal gift, but he also stepped forward as campaign
co-chair. He then organized twelve of his fellow alumni into
a gift-giving juggernaut that resulted in more than $50,000
to sponsor a classroom in the new CBA building. With his
wonderful instinct for stewardship, Scott followed up by
reuniting the entire group at Homecoming 2005. For many of
these graduates it was their first NAU contribution, and
certainly not their last.
Scott has never lost sight of NAU’s influence on his own
career path. This year, in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,
he has arranged “the ultimate field trip” for 41 CBA
students and two faculty: a visit to Berkshire Hathaway,
Inc., and a meeting with the company’s renowned CEO, Warren
Buffett.
The NAU Alumni Association congratulates Scott for
transforming the valuable dynamisn of his own successful
career into a measurable momentum for the future of the
university. |
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CBA Homecoming Week 2006
New Inductees to
Alumni & Faculty Hall of Fame
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To recognize the achievements of outstanding alumni, NAU-CBA’s National Advisory Board established the CBA
Alumni Hall of Fame in 2003. At the suggestion of the National Advisory Board, the CBA
Faculty Hall of Fame was instituted in 2004. The Hall of Fame’s
fourth class was inducted October 20 at the Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff.
Full story...
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Distinguished Alumni Speakers Series
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Several CBA alumni joined us for Homecoming week as guest lecturers. Their valuable real-world insight is just one more way to give back and why CBA alumni matter to us. This year’s presenters:
Larry Barman (’65 Bus. Admin.) addressed Jack Dustman’s MGT 310 -
Human Resources.
Pam DiGiovanni (Bus. Ed.) and Charlie Sanders (’79 MGT) in
David Albritton’s MGT 300-Managing, Organizing & Leading on career paths toward success.
Curtis Fox (’87 CIS) in two sections of David Albritton’s MGT490C -
Strategic Management on corporate reputation and Eric Yordy’s ACC 305 -
Business Law.
Phil Kafarakis (’82 MGT), vice president of McCormick Foods, in
Russell Crook’s MGT 405 - International Management and MGT 300 -
Managing, Organizing & Leading on “Strategic Planning For Thyself” by means of a SWOT analysis.
Jim Ribelin (’87 FIN) and Paul Thomas (’83 FIN) in BizBlock on creating a business and then selling it as well as saving businesses started by others.
Brad Surkamer (’81 MBA), president of ClosedLoop Marketing in
Joe Anderson’s MGT 652 - Managing People and three sections of
Neil Jacobs’ MGT 490 - Strategic Management spoke on “Lessons for Success.”
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Homecoming Tailgate
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On October 21, the CBA hosted another incredible
homecoming tailgate experience. In the warm autumn sun, 400 plates
were served to CBA alumni, faculty, staff, and friends as old
friends caught up with each other and new friends were made. |
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This year’s tailgate crew (l to r): Jane Thompson
and David Downes, Russell Crook, Joe Anderson, Jeremy Sierra, Susan
Williams, Chris, Diane and Melanie Scherpereel, David Allen, Joe
Walka, Kay Pinto, Cindy and Jim Thompson, Marc Chopin, & Jenny
Staskey. Antoinette and Felix Reutimann, not shown, were on-hand to
help with the set up as well. |
Betsy Putman (l) greets Peggy Murray. |
30th Annual Economic Outlook
Conference
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Generously sponsored this year by Chase,
now part of JPMorgan Chase, the Economic Outlook
Conference is a highly anticipated event. Local, state, and
national experts presented on topics including the housing market;
oil prices; interest rates; inflation; the stock market; growth,
both local and national; and possible effects of the coming
election.
Ronald Gunderson, professor of economics, addressed regional
economies. He predicts a moderate slowing in the Flagstaff housing
market due to a backing away from its “irrational exuberance,” a
high-level of consumer debt, and the fact that wages are not keeping
up with home prices, but primarily the slowdown is due to higher
interest rates over the past two years. Housing aside, he feels the
outlook for Flagstaff is still positive.
Dennis Foster, senior lecturer in economics, predicted that
interest rates will continue to rise, but quite slowly. Economic
growth will follow the current trend of 3.5%. Inflation will likely
stabilize at 3 to 3.5%; the unemployment rate may bump down a tenth
or two; and the stock market will continue to do well.
Elliott Pollack, president of Elliott D. Pollack and
Company in Scottsdale, gave a dynamic presentation about Arizona
and the Phoenix metropolitan area. He agreed that the rise in
housing prices was due to irrational exuberance, but more to the
point, demand exceeded supply. The market will continue to correct
over the next year and affordability should improve.
Anthony Chan, managing director & chief economist for
JPMorgan Private Client Services, delivered an outstanding
keynote address. Investment opportunities remain in high-quality
income-based real estate. Oil inventories are high, but prices will
rise due to limited production capacity and geopolitical risks.
Growth will slow to an average of 2%. For business, he advises “the
best days are behind us for profit growth…look for high single digit
profits in 2006, but don’t ignore balance sheet strength.” Despite
the decline in the dollar, trade deficit continues to worsen, which
is primarily a sign of under-consumption abroad rather than
over-consumption in the U.S. He warned that the Federal Reserve will
opt to restrain inflation even if it takes a toll on growth.
CBA’s Center for Business Outreach is proud to coordinate
this event each year. |
CIS Advisory Council
On Sept. 15, the CIS Advisory Council met.
Council members in attendance were: Brad Roberts, for Brad
Barnes, Boeing; Amy Burright and Erika Skeen
from Weyerhaeuser; Fred Estrella of NAU;
Paul Finch, Jr. from Early Warning Services; Peter
Wilbur (’84 CSE) from Perot Systems; Paul Woods
from Hewlett-Packard; and Aimee Buck and Vickie
Smith from Goodrich Aerostructures. The advisory council
reviewed and recommended approval of the CIS curriculum changes.
They also reviewed a draft of the CIS area marketing brochure and
suggested changes.
After the meeting,
several of the members participated in a Pathways panel discussion
on internships and the employment outlook for CIS graduates. |
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