VOL 1 • juLy/august 2007

PHOTO FINISHPHOTO FINISHRecent Happenings around the C. T. Bauer College of Business

Photo Finish is published by the Communications Department in the Office of the Dean. For more information, please call 713-743-4609.C. T. Bauer College of Business334 Melcher HallHouston, TX 77204-6021bauer.uh.edu

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21st Century Leadership Course by Professors Adams and Phillips Packed with Bold Leaders Is leadership a learned behavior, or something people are born with? The recently

concluded summer leadership class at Bauer College, “Leadership for the 21st Century,” took the question out of the theoretical realm and brought it into sharp focus as top leaders, often with University of Houston connections, brought their insights into the classroom. An advanced elective for undergraduates, the class is co-taught by Management Professor and Department Chair James Phillips, and Decision &

Information Sciences Professor and Department Chair Dennis Adams. In most of the classes, Adams engaged leaders in conversation, followed by a question and answer session with students.

The classes have been popular with students, and also faculty and staff who frequently sit in. “They get to see that these leaders are human beings who have extremely difficult jobs,” said Adams, who with Phillips recruits the leaders from a variety of kinds of organizations – business, academic, military, religious and political.

The class returned for its second season. It comes at a time when many lament a “leadership void,” and typically attracts students who already have a desire to lead, “this little fire within them,” Adams says. The class aims to

Moderator Adams led engaging conversations with diverse array of leaders.

Bauer College’s National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Chapter took first place at the NABA National Case Study Competition sponsored by KPMG on

June 23. The competition was part of NABA’s Annual Convention in Philadelphia. The winning Bauer NABA Chapter team received a cash award of $2,500 and

an invitation to the 2008 NABA National KPMG Case Study Competition in Atlanta, Georgia. Bauer’s team included five undergraduate students participating in Bauer’s Professional Program in Accounting (PPA) toward earning a Bachelor in Business Administration degree: Chrystal Osborne, NABA President; Jerrica Lewis; Ayodeji Ebunlomo; Brittany Washington; and Brittney Webb. Professor George Gamble, Director of Bauer’s Institute for Diversity and Cross-Cultural Management, serves as the NABA Chapter Faculty Advisor.

Bauer’s NABA Chapter topped student teams from six other universities: Howard, North Carolina A&T, Chicago State, DePaul, Temple, and Florida A&M, the 2006 competition winner.

“NABA has given me the opportunity to lead an organization that truly ‘lifts as we climb,’ said Bauer NABA Chapter President Chrystal Osborne. “The National Case

Bauer’s National Association Of Black Accountants Wins National Competition

Competition Coach Professor Gamble continued to page �

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help students develop and nurture that leadership potential, Adams said.

“It seems that some organizations elevate people to leadership roles with almost no training or preparation,” Adams said. “These people end up wreaking havoc on the companies and the lives of their employees. Not only does that impact the bottom line of the company, it is also the wrong thing to do. Hopefully, as educators, we can help with this.”

As the leaders who came to speak shared how they have handled challenging situations, or shared insights into what has motivated them throughout their career, Bauer students have paid close attention.

Management senior Vania Garzon attended the class this summer and said she hopes to apply much of what she’s heard from speakers in her own life. “Hearing what decisions they’ve had to make may help prepare me if I’m possibly facing the same type of decision some day,” she said.

Ben Hunter, also a management senior, said he was struck by the humility that characterized each leader who spoke to the class. Despite the impact they’ve made in their spheres of influence, “The common theme,” he said, “is that they are all really humble.”

Students also heard from University of Houston Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Donald J. Foss; Reverend William Lawson of Wheeler Baptist Church; and Earl Cummings (‘91), CEO of BTS Team. Joellyn Townsend, (’98) Vice President for Leadership & Management Devel-opment at Metropolitan Life, described how the company engineered a corporate culture turnaround that has result-ed in increased earnings. Aylwin Lewis, (’76, MBA ’90), CEO of Sears Holdings Corp., concluded the series with his thoughts on servant leadership. The Chicago-based execu-tive considers Houston home, making his appearance even more special.

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Earl CummingsManagement Department Chair Jim Phillips greets Col. Barrye Price (’85), inaugural speaker in his and Decision and Information Sciences Chair Dennis Adams’ 2�st Century Leadership summer course.

Donald J. Foss

Rev. William Lawson

ShowCaSing LeaderShip at Bauer

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WiSdOM FrOM the tOP, LeAderS ON LeAdiNg Aylwin Lewis(’76, MBA ’90), CEO of Sears Holdings Corp.

ON THE NEED TO BE AUTHENTIC AND TrANSPArENT WHEN IT COMES TO yOUr VALUE SySTEM:

“By going public with your values, it forces you to stand up to them to have credibility.” “Pick a company that allows you to bring your whole self.” “You want to be in an environment where you don’t compromise your personal values.”

ON THE WISDOM OF TAKING ON TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS: “It forces you to do your best work.”

ON THE FIrST TIME HE rEALIzED HE COULD BE A LEADEr: His high school football coach warned him not to goof off, saying, “People follow you, so I need you to behave.”

ON “SErVANT LEADErSHIP”:“It’s never about you. It’s about the task.” “Leadership is a real privilege. No one forces you to be a leader. There’s a two-way relationship between the leader and the people you are trying to lead.” “Use your platform to do the most good.”

ON THE rESPONSIBILITIES OF LEADErSHIP: “When you mess up at the top, you mess up a lot of lives.”

The Rev. William Lawsonpastor emeritus of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church

ON MOTIVATION FOr LEADErS: “You have chosen to go to the university and take business courses that will allow you to succeed materially. My hope is you have more than that in mind, that you will participate in making a business that will be more just, more fair, not just merely profitable.”

ON BAUEr STUDENTS’ UNIqUELy GLOBAL PErSPECTIVE: “This room is a picture of the future… I don’t see us dealing with race relations, but with social problems that transcend ethnicity or religion.”

ON HIS LOWEST POINT as a leader:When Lawson became self-satisfied (and a bit conceited) after a successful building campaign, he said, an elderly woman in the church congregation set him straight. “Yes, she knocked me down and bruised my face, but it helped me to see that nothing you do has been done alone.”

Col. Barrye Price

John McNabb

Aylwin Lewis

ShOWCASiNg LeAderShiP At BAuer

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endowed Professor Kaye Newberry is Only u.S. grantee for Worldwide Accounting Standards research

The International Association for Accounting Education and research (IAAEr), in collaboration with KPMG, has

awarded $25,000 to Bauer College of Business Accounting Professor Kaye Newberry and her research team, the only U.S. team to receive this prestigious grant.

The award was one of only five given worldwide as part of IAAEr’s research on Defining, recognizing and Measuring Liabilities grant program and the only award given to an American research team. The IAAEr grants support research that helps the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) make informed decisions on identifying liabilities and how to measure them.

Dr. Newberry’s team included doctoral student Cathy Zishang Lu of the University of Houston and Professors C.S. Agnes Cheng and Kenneth J. Reichelt of Louisiana State University. The subject of their winning research is “Leverage and Cost of Equity Capital—An Empirical Test of Various Definitions of Liability and Fair Value Measurement.”

Bauer College Accountancy & Taxation Department Chair Gerald Lobo praised Newberry’s work. “This award is a first for Bauer College, giving us the opportunity to assume a pivotal role in developing worldwide standards for effective and ethical accounting practices and to help resolve a pressing issue for IASB. It is an excellent example of how the Bauer accounting faculty is on the cutting edge of research for the real world of business, and Kaye deserves this prestigious honor.”

Newberry and her team will present their research at three upcoming conferences, including one in London in September, 2007, and two 2008 meetings in the United States.

IAAER grant recipient and Professor Kaye Newberry.

John McNabb founder and CEO of Growth Capital Partners, LP, and chair of the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board

ON HIS DEFINITION OF LEADErSHIP:“Leadership for me is someone who cares enough to do more than their fair share…I care enough to be of help.”

Joellyn Townsend, (’98)Vice President for Leadership & Management Development at MetLife, Inc. ON EDUCATION:

“I loved my UH education and I brag about it all the time – even when I go to Harvard.”

Colonel Barrye Price, (’85)Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia ON HONOrING OUr MENTOrS Or TEACHErS (Price also holds an MA and Ph.D. from Texas A&M):

“Greatest compliment is to call your professor ‘teacher’. Every time I meet with students I am blown away.”

ON TED BAUEr:“He wasn’t focused on his success…he gave back to create opportunities.”

FAVOrITE qUOTE FrOM JACKIE rOBINSON:“Your life is not important except for the impact it has on another life.”

Dr. Donald J. FossUniversity of Houston Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost

ON WHAT MAKES A GOOD LEADEr:“Understand the mission and goals of the unit and how to marshal the resources in helping to meet those goals. I find that leadership is both a social and intellectual action.”

ON WHErE DO WE FIND GOOD LEADErS:“People who have in their character structure a social service drive and want to be helpful. These are people who have no interest in themselves and the reward structure.”

KEy SKILLS FOr A GOOD LEADEr:“Resilience and ability to believe in what you are up to and good communication.”

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Study first place award proves that Bauer College is a place of excel-lence and distinction, and that our first-class faculty and motivated stu-dents are a winning combination.”

“Finishing first at the NABA Case Study Competition says to the world of traditional powerhouse historically black schools that Bauer has arrived,” said Gamble. “Our accomplishment validates that Bauer should be at the top of the list for all ethnic minority students wanting to succeed in today’s complex global economy.” In turn, the team credited their success to Dr. Gamble’s tireless coaching and preparation.

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Bauer’s Cougar Investment Fund, L.L.C. (the Cougar Fund) has closed for new investment in 2007 with a record $1.7

million in new contributions bringing the total fund assets to over $9 million.

The Cougar Fund is a private investment fund managed by graduate students. The Fund’s purpose is to give students the opportunity to gain experience in the management of an investment portfolio while providing a diversified investment vehicle for its investors. The Cougar Fund started in February, 2002, as a tool for teaching masters level finance students how to become professional investment fund managers. The

initial investment offering of $1.9 million from 19 investors has regularly outperformed its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index.

Out of approximately 6,000 university based student run investment funds in the United States, the Bauer College Cou-gar Fund is one of only three that doesn’t rely on university endowment funds. Students of all backgrounds compete for limited manager slots — between 16 and 24 are available each year — and commit to participating for 12 to 16 months. Bauer Finance Professor and Cougar Fund Managing Direc-tor Ronald F. Singer explains that, “The Cougar Fund is a

student run private investment company, with real investors and real money that delivers a real return to its investors.”

Bauer Finance Department Chair Professor Praveen Kumar praised the educational value of this highly selective program. “The diverse background of Cougar Fund managers makes this experience a tremendous training ground for the real world of business,” observed Kumar.

Earlier this year, a team of three finance ma-jors and fund managers — Jeff Detwiler, Mi-chael Sergi, and Jason Wangler — competed in the Texas Investment Portfolio Symposium (TIPS) representing the Cougar Fund. The Bauer team was the only public school chosen among five finalists and ultimately placed second in the regional competition.

COugAr FuNd SetS reCOrd FOr NeW iNVeStOrS

Finance majors Jason Wangler, Jeff Detwiler, Michael Sergi and Professor Ron Singer are part of the Cougar Fund team.

NABA Chapter Team (from left): Deaunsey Alexander (KPMG Advisor), Brittany Webb, Jerrica Lewis, Ayodeji Ebunlomo, Chrystal Osborne, and Brittany Washington.

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Bauer Alumni Association Annual Meeting Hits Celebratory Notes

ore than 250 Bauer College alumni turned out for the Bauer Alumni Association’s Annual Gathering of Members on August 8.

Oscar Gutierrez (’79, EMBA ’9�), Linda Price (MBA ’9�) and Clyde E. Sloan (’68).

Attendees enjoyed a catered reception.

Tomas Paez (MBA ’0�), Allison Branan (’0�) and Tao Tong (MSACCY ’06).

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Looking up and ahead. Dean Warga presents Bauer’s strong performance.

Attendees enjoyed reception festivities and got a glimpse of architectural drawings of the future Calhoun Lofts graduate residence and Michael J. Cemo Hall, a new building lecture hall and academic center soon to break ground at Bauer.

The Meeting Commencement was filled with celebratory news. Current president Trey Wilkinson (’92, MBA ’02) touted BAA’s Frontier Fiesta and Golf Tournament successes. He later passed the gavel to incoming president Craig Rickard (’00). Dean Arthur Warga gave a dynamic presentation of Bauer’s strong performance in enrollment, graduation rates and SAT averages, as well as the College’s growing MBA program partnership with China’s two largest energy companies. Dean Warga then illustrated Bauer’s crucial infrastructure needs for classroom and operational space.

Current alumni president Trey Wilkinson (’9�, MBA ’0�).

John O’Dell (’70) presents Clinical Assistant Professor Jim Stinson (MSACCY ’86, Ph.D. ’00) with the Faculty Impact Award.

Incoming alumni president Craig Rickard (’00).

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University of HoustonC. T. Bauer College of Business334 Melcher HallHouston, TX 77204-6021

www.bauer.uh.edu

NoNprofitorgaNizatioNU.S. poStage

PAIDHoUStoN, texaSpermit No. 5910The University of Houston is an EEO/AA institution.

To that end, Dean Warga called UH regent Michael J. Cemo “an angel” who inspired the late Ted Bauer to transform Bauer into a premiere business school with one of the most substantial gifts ever made. regent Cemo (’68) discussed the importance of the University of Houston’s strategic plan along with his pride about the Cougar Fund’s success. regent Cemo challenged alumni to financially give back to their alma mater and help boost UH’s stature as the city’s flagship university.

Prior to the addresses by Dean Warga and regent Cemo, John O’Dell, Director of Alumni Development (’70) and Bob Casey, Associate Dean of External relations, recognized several alumni and a faculty member with awards.

The rising Star Award presented to Sara Florida Blank (’98, ’04); Unsung Hero Award presented to Terri Fiandt (EMBA ’97) and Oscar Gutierrez (’79, EMBA ’94); Volunteer of the year Award to W. Carl Glaw (’77); and Faculty Impact Award to Jim Stinson (MSACCy ’86, Ph.D.’00).

UHS Regent Michael J. Cemo gets an appreciation hug and standing ovation.

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