Samford's Brock School of Business
Brock School of Business News
Spring 2013
In This Issue
Brock School of Business Announces Campaign for a New Business Building
Happy City Soups Wins Open Division of the Fifth Annual Regions New Venture Challenge
End of Year Faculty Awards Announced
New Sports Marketing Program offered at the Brock School of Business
Samford Business Network Source Birmingham Meeting Commemorates 50th Anniversary of Dr. King's Letter from the Birmingham Jail
Distinguished Visitors on Campus
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Message from Dean Howard Finch
Dean Howard Finch thanks Gary Cooney for his pledge for the new building

Dear Alumni and Friends of the Brock School of Business

I can hardly believe that Spring Commencement is this Friday, May 17, for the Brock School of Business.  This academic year, and especially spring semester, seems to have flown by.  It has been an exciting one here at Samford, and I am pleased to have this opportunity to recap for you some of the many highlights.

First, I hope you have heard by now the thrilling news concerning the transformational gift by one of our own alumni, Gary Cooney, to help make the dream of a new Brock School of Business building a reality (see the story below, and be sure to watch the moving video).  Gary announced a $12.5 million pledge at our spring Samford Business Network meeting in Birmingham.  Our plan is to break ground after the first of next year, with a target of opening the new building by fall 2015.  We are building on the excitement and momentum generated by this gift by seeking room sponsorships within the building. If you would like to consider a naming opportunity for yourself, your family or firm, please go to our website at www.samford.edu/business and click on the building button on the right.  Then, click the architect's plans to see the layout and room sponsorships.  I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how you can become part of this perpetual legacy to excellence in Christian business education.

Three of our students who graduate this week were honored with University awards for excellence; Meredith Toering won the Gail Hyle Memorial Award as the woman in the graduating class who best exemplifies Christian character, leadership, school spirit and service. She also was a co-winner of the Service Award as a senior who best exemplifies the highest qualities of social service.  Cameron Collins received the John R. Mott Award as the man in the graduating class who best represents high character, scholarship and student public service. He also received a Rufus W. Shelton Award as this year's male student who has done the most for the betterment of life at Samford through sustained efforts, and the Omicron Delta Kappa Leader of the Year Award as the member of the leadership honor society who has given exemplary service to the circle and the Samford community.  And Lauren Bates won the Greek Woman of the Year Award.  At our recent Spring Scholarship Awards Day, we presented students with scholarships for tuition and in-kind assistance worth more than $120,000. 

Dr. Kay Guess, associate professor of accounting, received the "Most Outstanding Paper" at the Southeast Meeting of the American Accounting Association this spring.  Dr. Art Carden, assistant professor of economics, was honored with the Charles G. Koch Outstanding IHS Alum Award given by the Institute for Humane Studies.  And Dr. Betsy Holloway was promoted to Professor of Marketing and subsequently named to the new position of Chief Marketing Officer for Samford University. 

We continue to work to improve our curriculum so that it represents the most relevant and demanding aspects of modern business practice.  Please see the story below on our outstanding new concentration in Sports Marketing, led by Program Director Dr. Darin White.  We developed a new MBA Concentration in Finance, and an MBA "Toolkit" course that gives new graduate students a set of skills needed to maximize performance throughout the MBA curriculum.  We also are in the process of adding a much needed business writing course to our undergraduate pre-business core.

We continue to challenge our students by offering world class speakers and community networking events.  This spring, our speakers have included Mr. Tom Fanning, President and CEO of Southern Company, Mr. Rich Yamarone, Chief Economist for Bloomberg News, Ron Losby, President of Steinway & Sons, Americas and two excellent academic economists, Dr. Claudia Williamson of Mississippi State University and Dr. Andrew Young of West Virginia University.  I also was proud of our participation in a landmark historical event, as we held a Source Networking Breakfast at the Birmingham Public Library on the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's Letter from the Birmingham Jail.  Mayor William Bell joined us and read an excerpt from the letter to the standing room only crowd.

The future for the Brock School of Business is indeed bright.  We will continue to invest in outstanding faculty and staff, cutting-edge technologies and facilities, and most importantly our students to provide them with the most effective possible foundation for outstanding business and entrepreneurial success imbued by a Christian Spirit.  As I conclude my second year at Samford, it is a pleasure to serve with the leadership team of the Brock School of Business.  Thanks to each of you for your support for our students and programs.

Have a great summer, and God Bless!

Howard

J. Howard Finch, Dean

 

 
New Brock School of Business Building Announced
Architectural rendition of the new Brock School of Business

On April 26 the Brock School of Business announced its plans to build a new building on Samford's campus.  Advisory Board member and Samford Overseer, Gary Cooney pledged $12.5 million for the project.   Read details of the announcement here.

If you would like to donate to the project you can do so here.


Samford University Announces New Business School Building
Samford University Announces
New Business School Building

 
Happy City Soups and Clean Start Car Wash Win The Fifth Annual Regions New Venture Challenge Business Plan Competition

 

Open Division Winner - Happy City Soups

Samford's Brock School of Business and Regions awarded $20,000 in cash on Monday, April 29 to students who participated in the Fifth Annual Regions New Venture Challenge business plan competition.

Happy City Soups, a business that sells homemade soups with fresh ingredients purchased from local farmers and suppliers, was the winner of the Open Division and Clean Start Car Wash, a car wash service who would employ those who go through the Jimmy Hale Mission Job Training Program was the winner of the BUSA 100 Division.  

 

The six teams in the BUSA 100 and Open divisions competed in front of judges, Brook Balogh, Business and Community Banking Executive at Regions, Cindy Crawford, editor of the Birmingham Business Journal and Howard Finch, dean of the Brock School of Business, in the finals were held at Regions Bank Auditorium.  Each team had five minutes to give their elevator pitch and to convince the panel of judges why their business plan deserved to win the competition.

 

"The Regions New Venture Challenge has given our students the opportunity to develop a new business concept, create a business plan and present it to the judges as a viable business idea." said Howard Finch, dean of the Brock School of Business.  "We are grateful for this ongoing partnership with Regions over the last five years   because it shows their commitment to helping our students realize their dreams, as well as their commitment to the economic development of our area.  Many of the winners in the Open Division have launched their businesses here in Birmingham."

 

The Brock School of Business competition is unique in that it allows first-year business students to compete in the BUSA 100 division.  The Open Division is includes juniors, seniors, MBA students and recent graduates to participate.

 

"Because we offer our competition to first-year business students, our program is set apart from others in the country," said Franz Lohrke, chair, Department of Entrepreneurship.  "Our competition gives students a chance to develop skills early-on in their college careers and to really see what it takes to launch a business."  Read Full Story.  

  

 
Clean Start Car Wash wins the BUSA 100 Division
Brock School of Business Awards

Faculty L to R: Sara Helms, Darin White, Jim Reburn and Franz Lohrke.


The Brock School of Business awarded more than $120,000 in scholarships and awards at the 49th Annual Scholarship and Awards Ceremony.   Faculty awards were given to Sara Helms, Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award, Darin White, Distinguished Service Award, Jim Reburn, Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award and Franz Lohrke, Outstanding Scholarship Award.

New Sports Marketing Program offered at the Brock School of Business
Samford University's Brock School of Business is adding a sports marketing concentration and course offerings to its curriculum in the fall of 2013.   This concentration will offer students a chance to develop their skills for a career in the multi
-billion dollar global sports industry.  Darin White, professor of marketing has been named the coordinator of the newly-formed sports marketing program.  Read more
Samford Business Network Source Birmingham Meeting Commemorates 50th Anniversary of Dr. King's Letter from the Birmingham Jail
SBN Source Bham Meet at the Bham Public Library
SBN Source Birmingham Meeting at the Birmingham Public Library Commemorates 50th Anniversary of Dr. King's Letter from the Birmingham Jail


The Samford Business Network Source Networking Group held it's April meeting at the Birmingham Public Library on April 16, 2013 the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's letter from the Birmingham Jail.  Mayor William A. Bell, Sr., was on-hand to read an excerpt of Dr. King's letter.  The Birmingham Public Library's Archives and History Department had Dr. King's arrest record on display.   The video to the right was shot by Brock School of Business student and DSAC member, Kaleigh Warwick.
 

Distinguished Visitors on Campus 

Tom Fanning
Tom Fanning, President and CEO Southern Company


The Brock School of Business brings a number of distinguished guests on campus each semester to speak to students and community business leaders as part of our outreach to the community.  This semester's speakers for the Brock Entrepreneurship Series included: Tom Fanning, President and CEO of Southern Company, Ron Losby, President of Steinway & Sons, Americas and Rich Yamarone, Sr. Economist, Bloomberg. 




Rich Yamarone
Rich Yamarone speaks to business leaders and students