University of South Florida College of BusinessNovember/ December 2012
USF Alumnus and Raymond James COO Shares Advice with Students
Dennis Zank tells USF students how he got where he is today.

When Raymond James Chief Operating Officer Dennis Zank told his father that he wanted to go to college, the response wasn't one most young people would hope for.

 

"That's a good idea," his father said. "Good luck."

 

That response shaped Zank's entire life philosophy -- one he now shares with students of his alma mater, USF. Read More.  

 

Student Spotlight: Jillaina Menth
With USF's MBA, the cancer researcher feels she has the business background for success.

During her first few months in the MBA program, Jillaina Menth worried she didn't have the business knowledge to get by.

Then, she met a professor who changed her attitude about business. That led to last month, when Menth competed with three other USF MBA students as semifinalists in a nationwide competition put on by YUM! Brands (KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut). Read More.
Real Estate Professor Studies Florida's Market
Professor Greg Smersh says Florida appears to be beyond the Real Estate bubble that caused prices to spike in recent years.

USF Professor Greg Smersh knows the ins and outs of Florida's complex and high-profile real estate market.

 

In his research, he has uncovered ways that real estate affects the lives - and checkbooks - of Florida residents. Recently, he created a local house price index, which chronicles the median price of single-family detached housing in Hillsborough County from 1980 to 2012. Read More.  

 

Management Instructor Receives USF Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award
Rick Kelso translates his business experience into learning.
 
Students expect professors to help them understand the technical course material, but Rick Kelso says like customers in the business world, they also expect something beyond that: a personal connection. Read More.

Watch: USF MBA Students Present their Vision in National Sustainability Competition

YUM! Competition
Four MBA students were among a few semifinalists in the national YUM! Global Sustainability Challenge. They traveled to Louisville, Ky., to present their sustainability education plan.

Photos: FedEx CIO Speaks at ISDS Event

At the inaugural Breakfast with a CIO event, Rob Carter, who holds an MBA from USF, spoke to leaders from Tampa's IT community and USF students. Proceeds from the event, which was sponsored by Tech Data, FedEx, and Jagged Peak, will support the Information Systems Decision Sciences Department. You can see more photos from the event on the College of Business Facebook page.

Verizon Partners with Marketing Students 
Looking to a target market for fresh ideas, Verizon FiOS turned to USF undergraduates for inspiration.

Verizon gave 12 teams of marketing students $1,000 each to raise awareness of offers available to USF students and employees. Local Verizon executives judged the teams on the campaign results. Read More.

 

Student Investors Learn Under Pressure  
 
Like their peers, students in the University of South Florida's Applied Security Analysis class have homework, quizzes and lectures.  But what separates them from the average student are endless hours of research, making presentations in front of seasoned financial professionals, and handling more than $200,000 in real money.

No pressure, of course.  Listen to the WUSF radio story and read more here.

 

In This Issue
USF Alumnus and Raymond James COO Shares Advice with Students
Student Spotlight: Jillaina Menth
Quick Links

 Upcoming Events
December 15: College of Business Commencement, 1:30 p.m. (undergraduate) and 6 p.m. (graduate) Sun Dome
December 15: Alumni Association Graduation Open House, 10:30 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Champion's Choice.
January 4: Deadline to purchase a USF Alumni Association Life Membership and get $150 off the regular price plus a special new graduate gift package.
January 25: Accounting Career Fair, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Marshall Student Center
January 30: Spring 2013 Career Fair, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Marshall Student Center
May 16: USF Senior Trip to Europe.
C200 Reachout and Scholarships
The Committee of 200 is pleased to announce that it will offer scholarships of $10,000 to women pursuing an MBA at the University of South Florida in February 2013. That application is online here. Applications are due January 15.

The C200 Reachout will be held at USF February 26.


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Alumni Notes

 

Michael Manning (89, MBA) was appointed as chief financial officer of the AGC Composites & Aerostructures Group.

 

Lorna Kibbey

(93, MBA) of Kibbey Leadership Solutions accepted a position to serve on the National Advisors for Chapters of the American Society for Training & Development for a three-year term. The chapter is charged with providing strategic direction and leadership in the development and support of training and development chapters and members. Read More.  

   

Let us know about your new job or promotion by emailing us at [email protected].
Faculty and Staff Notes

 

Nathaniel Bell has been hired as a visiting instructor in accounting and will be teaching three courses on the Lakeland campus and one course on the Tampa campus.   

 

ISDS Professor Anol Bhattacherjee's free textbook on research methods has already reached about 5,000 downloads from USF Scholar Commons in its first year.