Walker College of Business Leaders Magazine

Walker College ofBusiness Leaders MAGAZINE 2011

Walker College in BrazilCollaborating on renewable

energy initiatives, students tour a wind turbine project along with Brazilian business people during a 2011 visit

to Brazil’s Beberibe wind farm.

An annual publication of the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University • www.business.appstate.edu

2 Walker College of Business

TAKE YOUR APPALACHIAN PRIDE TO A NEW LEVEL

Become a part of the Dean’s Club.

Our students need your help.

Call us or visit our website to learn more about becoming a Dean’s Club member.

www.business.appstate.edu/give/deansclub.php828.262.6231ASU Box 32037Appalachian State UniversityBoone, North Carolina 28608

WALKER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

DEAN’S CLUB

The Walker College Dean’s Club is an annual giving society designed to benefit our students and faculty while enhancing our academic programs. Contributions from Dean’s Club members provide unrestricted support each year for critical needs in the College such as: student scholarships, travel funds for faculty and students to attend course-related conferences and/or to visit corporations, seed money for new programs or opportunities within the College, and resources to bring guest lecturers, such as leaders in business and government, to the classroom.

How Your Dean’s Club Funding Impacts Students• $500 funds travel to a corporate visit for a

student group of 15.• $1,000 provides a scholarship for a

deserving student toward his or her annual in-state tuition and fees.

• $1,500 funds travel, lodging and registration fees for a faculty member to attend a professional conference.

• $2,500 provides funds for travel and lodging for a student’s week-long study abroad trip.

• $5,000 provides seed money to develop a new international study program.

• $12,500 provides yearly tuition, fees and subsis-tence for an in-state student.

• $25,000 provides yearly tuition, fees and subsis-tence for an out-of-state student.

Appalachian State University 3

10 A Fire Ignited Walker College Alumna Brandy

Hopkins’ Story Is One of Perseverance and Determination

13 Who’s In Your Network? Assistant Professor of Manage-

ment Rick Cotton Explores the Role of Developmental Networks in Achieving Success

22 TheBusinessConnection Three Walker College Friends

Receive Alumni Awards

4 Message from the Dean

5 Advisory Council Comments

6 Student Spotlight 12 Faculty Focus

16 Around Raley

20 Alumni & Friends

10

9

2011Features

InEveryIssue

Cov

erP

hoto

Students recently traveled to Brazil to learn sustainable management practices from indigenous tribes, universities and local communities.

by U

nive

rsity

Pho

togr

aphe

r Mar

ie Fr

eem

an

Follow the Walker College of Business on:


Walker College of Business Business Leaders Magazineis published annually by the

Dean’s Office for alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the

Walker College of Business.

DeanRandy Edwards

Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs

Heather Norris

Assistant Dean, Graduate ProgramsJoseph Cazier

Assistant Dean, InternationalProgramsandAssessment

Marty Meznar

Director of DevelopmentRob Hudspeth

Career Services Center DirectorMichelle Boisclair

Student Success Center DirectorMeg Spivey

EditorHaley Childers

ContributingWritersJane NicholsonRob Robertson

ContributingPhotographersMarie FreemanMike Rominger

Troy Tuttle

Appalachian State University is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students or em-

ployees on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disabling condition or sexual

orientation. Appalachian also actively promotes diversity among students and employees.

A World of Opportunities for Walker College of Business Students

Randy Edwards Dean

Welcome to the latest issue of Busi-ness Leaders magazine. In this issue, you will read how a donor-sup-ported Dean’s Club scholarship

made international travel feasible for one young mother, who is a first-generation college student. You’ll also read about a new international partnership with Duy Tan University in Vietnam. Appalachian State University recently adopted “global learning” as a key initiative for the next five years. The Walker College of Busi-ness is leading the way. All Walker College students are now required to meet an international require-ment and many students do so by participating in study abroad trips.

A very special opportunity for students is the Holland Fellows exchange program with Fudan University in Shanghai, China. Many of the Walker College students who participate in the Holland Fellows program in the spring remain in China for summer internships. Again, the Walker College is leading the way.

The Walker College is large enough to provide students with many opportunities but small enough so that students are able to interact with faculty members. We offer 22 clubs and organizations

for students. Our new Student Success Center (www.business.appstate.edu/studentsuccess) was established to provide students with professional development, leader-ship development and mentoring opportunities. Students are able to meet with the CEOs of major com-panies through the Harlan Boyles Distinguished CEO Lecture Series. You’ll read in this magazine the advice that these national leaders offered our students while they were on our campus.

Although our programs are strong, and getting stronger, we face trying financial circumstances. State budget cuts place a great strain on operating funds. The Dean’s Club was formed to assist with funding for critical needs and to provide scholarship sup-port for our students. Please join the Dean’s Club today and make an impact on tomorrow’s business leaders - Walker College students. Also, our graduates face a very difficult job market. You can help by “Hiring Appalachian.” Con-tact our Career Services Center by calling (828) 262-7579 to establish a recruiting relationship and hire outstanding business graduates.

I consider it a great privilege to be able to provide opportunities and experiences for students in the Walker College of Business. Thank you for your continued involvement and support.

Dean’sMessage

Randy Edwards ’77, ’78


Walker College of Business Advisory Council Members

Richard G. Sparks ’76, ’78, Chair President & CEO, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System

Marshall A. Croom ’86, Vice Chair Senior VP – Merchandising and Store Support, Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

J. Cantey Alexander III ’86 President - Triad Region, BB&T Corporation

Roger L. Beahm CEO & Chairman, Beahm & Associates, LLC

W.WinfieldBeroth’65 President, Beroth Oil/4 Brothers Stores

Ryan Bolick ’01 Business Improvement Lead, Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc.

H. Edward Boyles, Jr. Managing Director, Wells Fargo Securities

Robin H. Gagnon ’82, ’95 Partner, We Sell Restaurants

Ben Hamrick CEO, Johnson, Price & Sprinkle, PA

William R. Holland Chairman, EnPro Industries, Inc.

HelenHollifield’87 Tax Partner, Deloitte & Touche

Thomas H. Hudspeth, Jr. ’82, ’83, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Doug Johnson ’77 CEO, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corp.

ScottLampe’94 CFO, Hendrick Motorsports

Lynn Minges Executive Director, Tourism, Film and Sports Development, NC Department of Commerce

Charles V. Murray ’87 CEO, Murray Supply Company

Phillip Ostwalt ’83 Partner, KPMG, LLP

Kim Price ’77 President & CEO, Citizens South Bank

Kenneth G. Reece ’73 Sr. VP - Private Banking, First Tennessee Bank

Antonio J. Romero President & CEO, Privacy Data Systems

John Roos ’84 Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, BCBS of North Carolina

John E. Silvia Chief Economist, Wells Fargo Securities

Allan Singer Manager, McNair Law Firm, PA

Frank H. Skidmore, Jr. Retired Managing Principal, IBM Global Services

Gerry Smith ’70 Retired First VP Investments, Smith Barney

Hayes Smith ’82 Managing Partner, Second Creek Development Co.

Richard Stroupe Founder and Managing Principal, Crimson Holdings

David Thompson Retired CFO, Wedge Capital Management, LLP

Carmen Thorpe Director, North America Transition & Transformation Svcs.

IBM Global Services

MarkE.Trivette’83 Partner, Transaction Advisory Svcs., Ernst & Young LLP

Brad Wall ’99 Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Operations, Krispy Kreme

MembersEmeriti William S. Creekmuir Jamie Harris ’84 Robert G. Darst Jeffrey A. Shepard William G. Ervin Mike Steinback Joseph F. Freeman, Jr. G.A. Sywassink ’94

It’s a ques-tion long hover-ing over the US economy - why does job growth continue to lag while consump-tion grows? John Silvia, chief economist with Wells Fargo and member of the Walker Col-

lege Business Advisory Council, offers an answer in his April 2011 column “Character of Recovery” on Production and Jobs.

Silvia says the manufacturing sector continues to make prog-ress, specifically in investments in equipment and other capital goods. Yet, as that demand for product rises, the supply of labor to meet that demand remains static - specifically, high-skilled labor. The U.S. has an “oversup-ply of low-skilled and semi-skilled workers and a shortage of high-tech scientists and engineers.”

In the past, Silvia writes, “in-creases in U.S. production were met with increased demand for workers of all types.” Today, that demand for workers is not being found domestically, but overseas.

“In the 21st century, we deal with the realities of a global trade and production model. In this case, increases in U.S. domestic demand are not met by an equal increase in domestic supply;

instead, demand is satisfied by increased imports. Therefore, domestic job growth lags. Yet, on the supply side, many workers are unable to respond quickly to changes in the demand for spe-cialized skills as the development of human capital often takes more time than the market desires.”

“Therefore, many of the un-employed are unemployed longer because of a mismatch of skills - not just due to weakness in final demand. This problem has per-sisted in this cycle far longer than usual,” Silvia said.

Silvia is one of the more than two dozen members of the Walker College’s Business Advisory Council. The Council meets twice a year to advise Walker College administrators on matters relating to the needs of the business com-munity and the Walker College. The businesses represented by the members are diverse and include major accounting, financial, man-ufacturing, banking, real estate, law, advertising, retail, manage-ment consulting and healthcare firms. Members of the Council interact with select student groups and often serve as mentors to business students participating in executive mentoring programs within the College.

On the Economy: Rising Production and Stagnant Employment

Business Advisory Council Member John Silvia, Economist for Wells Fargo Securities

CouncilComments


Stud

entS

potl

ight

A Good Year for A Great Student:PA Rowe Receives Leadership Award

PA Rowe had a good senior year. The Finance and Banking major was president of the Appalachian State Student Govern-ment Association and member of the uni-versity’s Board of Trustees. During the April 2011 Walker College Honors Convocation, he was named the Top Overall Student for his academic achievement and outstanding leadership in the Walker College.

Earlier that same day, Rowe was hon-ored as one of two students to receive the Appalachian Distinguished Leadership Award. Recipients are considered exem-plary leaders on campus. Rowe’s nominator said, “Over the last two years, PA has con-tinued to build a legacy that will be difficult to forget. His commitment to academic excellence is a testament to how well he bal-ances his life, course load and co-curricular involvement. PA is a true scholar, leader and student advocate who has managed to par-ticipate in countless university committees.”

Rowe also served as a Plemmons Leader Fellow, a Walker Fellow, Beta Gamma Sigma Vice President, a member of the

inaugural group of Walker College Success Center Mentoring Program, and he spoke at the May 2011 commencement ceremony.

Rowe came to Appalachian because family members had attended, but also because it offered the opportunities of a large university while keeping the feeling of a smaller school.

Rowe, right, with Fellow Distinguished Leadership Award Winner Brittany Burdine

Rowe, standing, fifth from right, with members of the inaugural group of Walker College’s Student Success Center Executive Mentoring Program


Walker College AITP Named National Chapter of the Year

Walker College AITP members (from left), Daniel Dunn, Sergio Garcia, Faculty Advisor Scott Hunsinger, Chad Johnson, Haley Werth, John Middleton, Susie Fransen, Katharine Edwards, Alex Upchurch, Christopher Taylor, Jacob Bridges and Grayson Denny

The Walker College chapter of the Association of Informa-tion Technology Professionals was named the AITP Outstanding Chapter of the Year during the organization’s 2011 National Col-legiate Conference in Orlando, FL. The chapter competed against more than 300 other AITP stu-dent chapters across 45 states. The honor was based upon the chap-ter’s performance in five areas: education, membership, public relations, meetings and Associa-tion participation. Eleven Appa-lachian students attended the national conference, along with faculty advisor Dr. Scott Hunsing-er. Walker College’s chapter also won: Region Outstanding Chapter of the Year; Christopher Taylor - Graduate Papers Competition, first place; Alex Upchurch - Best

Tech/Geek Video Contest, second place; Katharine Edwards, Best Tech/Geek Video Contest, honor-able mention; Chad Johnson also earned the Microsoft Technology Associate networking certification at the conference.

The Elbert V. Bowden Student Managed Investment Fund was established in January 2000 to provide students with an oppor-tunity to obtain hands-on invest-ment experience and to provide funds to benefit the students and faculty in the Finance, Banking and Insurance Department.

The Bowden Investment Group (BIG) did so - and more - for the 12 members participating in the 2010-2011 academic year.

The students out-performed the benchmark S&P 500 Index for the academic year and had significant performance for 2011 (11.4% return versus 9.1% for the index).

“The Bowden Investment Group has been the most reward-ing experience of my college career,” said BIG President David Emery.

Investment Group Out-performs Bench-mark, S&P 500 Index

Bowden Investment Group Students (from left) Bryan Lazenby, John Devine, Jacob Haas, PA Rowe, Svetlana Signyeyeva, David Emery, Jesse Whitaker, Chris Wexler and Joseph McWilliams


StudentSpotlight

Appalachian students pitch their best business ideas to a panel of judges during the Carole Moore McLeod Entrepreneur Summit, held each fall and organized by the Center for Entrepreneurship. Called “Pitch Your Idea in 90 Seconds,” the contest encourages students of all majors to submit concepts for a new business venture. A group of finalists are then invited to personally pitch their ideas to entrepreneurs during the summit. All business plans are promised confidentiality.

The most recent winners were Katie Cavert who placed first, Steven Sciara who placed second and Summer Gavaghan who placed third. Cavert received a $1,000 grand prize for her winning pitch ti-tled “SOLUD! Bee Healthy.” Cavert is a graduate student in appropriate technology. Sciara, also a graduate student in appropriate technology, presented a business plan called

“Secure Touch Lock.” He received a $500 prize. Gavaghan is an interior design major. She received $250 for her winning idea “App Quest.” Cavert received an additional $250 award for having the best presenta-tion at the event. The best presenta-tion award was donated by Center for Entrepreneurship advisory board member Dale Tweedy.

The awards were provided by 3tailer, a niche online retailer founded by Jon West ‘06 and Chad Ledford ‘06. They won an award in the 2005 contest and used that money to start their company, which now grosses more than $10 million a year in revenues.

More than 700 students en-rolled in entrepreneurship classes in 2010-11. The Walker College offers a minor in entrepreneurship and a management major with a concen-tration in entrepreneurship.

Best Business Ideas for 2010-11

Steven Sciara, left, Summer Gavaghan and Katie Cavert were winners of the 2010 “Pitch Your Idea in 90 Seconds” competition during the McLeod Summit.

Winning Tradition in Insurance Competition

For the second consecutive year, a Walker College student has won a national insurance award. Lisa Blair, who is pursuing a triple major in Risk Management and Insurance, Accounting and Finance and Bank-ing, submitted one of two winning entries in the Second Annual Call for White Papers, overseen by the American Association of Managing General Agents (AAMGA).

The contest solicits papers centered on property and casualty industry-related topics. This year the focus was on “issues and dilem-mas faced by organizations and in-dividuals in the Wholesale or Excess and Surplus and/or Surplus Lines industry, and specifically where the industry is headed in the future.”

Blair’s paper, “The Insurance Industry: Past, Present, and Fu-ture,” details the issue of federal versus state regulation, and the appropriate scope of insurance companies. For her winning efforts, she received $1,000, had her paper published online and received an invitation to be recognized at the AAMGA national conference in Orlando.

Last year, Ben Robbins won the first AAMGA Call for White Papers competition.

Lisa Blair, third from right, with Fellow Risk Management and Insurance Students

Service, Learning and Sustainability in BrazilSustainability has long been

promoted as a basis for business management models. Concepts such as the “triple bottom line” (looking at firm performance in terms of profits, people, and planet) are not new and appear to be gaining increased acceptance. Sustainability cuts across business functions and manifests itself in areas such as environmental eco-nomics, social entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility and environmental accounting, among many others.

The Walker College of Busi-ness intentionally seeks to educate its students in sustainable manage-ment practices, and the recent short term study abroad trips to Brazil illustrate this effort. Given the cross-disciplinary nature of the sustainability construct, the College trips to Brazil have also included participants from other areas of Appalachian. The lat-est trip, for example, included participants from the Biology Department, Energy Center, and Appropriate Technology as well as MBA and undergraduate busi-ness students. On visits to indig-enous communities along the Rio Negro (“Black River”), the group discussed deforestation issues, planted trees and helped clear plots for sustainable gardening – along with engaging in impromptu soccer games, fishing for piranhas and swimming with freshwater dolphins. The group also exam-ined Brazilian renewable energy efforts by visiting a wind farm

along Brazil’s northeastern coast and a landfill where ASU’s Energy Center is collaborating with the local government on the recovery of methane gas and its conversion to electricity. Appalachian students also spent time with students at the University of Fortaleza working on a project to train corporate social responsibility agents in local firms.

Brazil serves as an excellent lo-cation for collaborating on sustain-

ability initiatives. It is the steward of much of the world’s rainforest and has pledged a commitment to sustainable development. Walker College’s partnership with Brazil-ian colleagues allows for a mutu-ally beneficial exchange of ideas and resources. Brazil’s economic growth suggests it will also be an important consideration in the future careers of our business graduates.

Above, MBA Student Joe Gill visits the Tractebel Energia’s Beberibe Wind Farm in the state of Ceara, Brazil. Below, the group stands in front of the Universidade de Fortaleza, where they collaborated with Brazilian students.



StudentSpotlight

“I’d like to say, in 1985, a fire was born.” That’s how Brandy Hopkins describes her birth. It’s an apt metaphor. That fire has proven persistent and fierce. It lasted through a childhood in a single-parent household, becom-ing a mother of a son at age 16, having a daughter at 20, working through a difficult marriage which ended in divorce and eventually earning an MBA degree at Appalachian State University.

“‘It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.’ Charles Dickens said it best,” says Hopkins, in discussing her triumphs as a stu-dent. “However, Dickens himself could not possibly understand the dynamic of being the sole provider of a family of three while working multiple jobs and maintaining an A average as a full-time, sleep-de-prived mother and student.”

“Through my experiences, I have learned to use my strength and skills to provide my 9-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter with the role model they deserve.”

Hopkins is a graduate of which the Walker College is proud. Few would have expected Hopkins to achieve so much in such a difficult time.

Born in California, she was pri-marily raised by a single father who worked long hours on construc-tion sites. She became pregnant at 15. She enrolled in an alternative

high school which allowed her to graduate with a high school degree in an accelerated program. She married her son’s father, believing that to be for the best, but ended up persevering in an unhealthy relationship. She continued her studies and, at the age of 18, earned an associate of science de-gree in business management.

The couple, seeking to im-prove their marriage, moved in 2004 from their childhood Cali-fornia homes to North Carolina. One year later, Brandy had her second child, a daughter. In 2008, Brandy’s husband was arrested on criminal charges. At that exact moment, she was in the hospital getting her bladder removed. Their relationship had continued to deteriorate greatly, and Hop-kins realized she had an opportu-nity to separate from him.

“Looking back, I know he’d never have let me go without a fight, so I’m so thankful,” she said. She then became the sole provider for two young children, Joey and Cloey. (It’s a family tradi-tion. Brandy’s brothers are named Randy and Andy).

Education is Not the Filling of a Pail, but the Lighting of a Fire – William Butler Yeats

Above Photos: Brandy during Her Recent Trip to Brazil with the Walker College


Throughout the daily grinds and unfortunate circumstances, Hopkins never stopped pursu-ing knowledge. She was a first generation college student. After she enrolled at the Walker Col-lege of Business, she became the first in her family to travel abroad. In 2008, she was sponsored by Walker College supporters to travel with the Risk Management Insurance Society to London, and two years later she received scholarship money from the Walker College Dean’s Club to travel to China. In the Spring of 2011, Brandy traveled to Brazil with other Appalachain students to collaborate on sustainability initiatives. She describes her time abroad as “life changing.”

In 2009, Brandy received an undergraduate degree with a dou-ble major in Finance & Banking and Risk Management & Insur-ance. She immediately applied, and was accepted, into the Walker College MBA program. She re-

ceived her MBA degree with an international business concentra-tion in 2011.

“I have become tied to ASU with such a strong bond, not only because of my incredible experi-ences but because of the meaning-ful personal relationships with the faculty, the staff and the commu-nity,” she said.

She explains that on several occasions the Walker College has presented necessary scholarship money to her, or faculty members have helped her with a specific need (like when her son’s bed began falling apart, a faculty member donated his son’s old bed to Hopkins). “These things are what made my success possible and ultimately will enable me to help others in similar ways in the future.”

Armed with two Appalachian degrees and a GMAT score in the 95th percentile, she was recently accepted into the Ph.D. program in Finance at the University of

Brandy Visiting the Confucius Temple in Nanjing during Her Time in China

Brandy with her father, Jim Schene, and her two children, Joey and Chloey, after her MBA commencement ceremony.

I have become tied to ASU with such a strong bond, not only because of my incredible experiences, but because of the meaningful personal relationships with the faculty, the staff and the community. ”“ Tennessee.

“The most important aspect of my future career is that I am helping others. I believe complet-ing the Ph.D. uses my strengths most appropriately to help others in multiple ways,” she said. “I am very passionate about learning, and I often say I’m a professional student addicted to education.”

Hopkins quotes William But-ler Yates to sum up her feelings, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

“This fire has definitely been ignited within me,” said Hopkins. “Not only will I get to teach and hopefully inspire future profes-sionals, but to achieve this level of success while overcoming so many obstacles will encourage others to chase their dreams as well.”

Hopkins promises she will soon return to Appalachian - as a professor.

“In the future, you’ll see me here again,” she said. “But you’ll be calling me doctor then.”


Walker Col-lege Accounting Associate Profes-sor Ken Brackney was selected as the recipient of the Outstanding Edu-cator Award by the North Caro-lina Association of Certified Public Accountants for his “contributions to the field of accounting education and the NC Association of CPAs.” Brackney received the award at a Recognition Dinner in Greensboro on May 4, 2011.

Brackney Receives Outstanding Educator Award

Dr. Ken Brackney

2011 Sywassink Day of Excellence Faculty Award Winners (standing left-right) Mike McKee, Research Award; Scott Hunsinger, Teaching Award; (seated left-right) Stella Anderson, Service Award; Kevin Eller, Non-Tenure Track Award

2011 Sywassink Faculty Excellence Awards

Four Appalachian State University faculty members in the Walker College of Business have received the College’s 2011 Sywassink Awards for Excellence. Dr. Mike McKee was honored for his re-search contributions. Dr. Scott Hunsinger received the College’s award for teach-ing. The award for excellence in service was presented to Dr. Stella Anderson. Mr. Kevin Eller was honored as the outstand-ing non-tenure track faculty member.

The awards are presented annu-ally during the Sywassink Day of Excel-lence. The announcement of winners is not made public until the event; the 2011 event was held April 27 at the Kidd Brewer Stadium Club Level Facility.

Facu

ltyF

ocus


Who’s in your network? Not the online networks like Facebook or LinkedIn but the network of people you turn to for career advice and support?

People who are part of this particular kind of net-work, called a developmental network - whether it’s family, friends, coworkers or mentors - can play a vital role in a

person’s career success. Walker College Assistant Professor of

Management Rick Cotton studies extraordinary career success, developmental networks and men-toring. He’s always been fascinated with the idea of how human capital and social capital intersect in the form of a network to help people to be successful.

“Perhaps the biggest dilemma in networks re-search is whether you should have a small network of very deep relationships or a very broad network of relationships that provide different, more specialized kinds of support,” he said.

While a doctoral student at Boston College, Cotton and two colleagues analyzed acceptance speeches made by 62 Baseball Hall of Fame induct-ees and identified their network of supporters. “I was fascinated to see the variety of relationships they acknowledged and the kinds of support they cited in their speeches,” Cotton said. “We didn’t expect there would be so much emphasis in the speeches on friendship, emotional support and inspiration. In fact, psychological and social support made up 63 percent of the support cited.” These are interest-ing results for the ultra-competitive field of Major

League Baseball where very tactical skills like pitch-ing, hitting, fielding and running might lead one to believe that coaching and sponsorship would be more important.

“On Becoming Extraordinary: The Content and Structure of the Developmental Networks of Major League Baseball Hall of Famers,” co-authored with University of Victoria Professor Yan Shen and Bos-ton College PhD candidate Reut-Livne-Tarandach, was recently published in the Academy of Management Journal.

Cotton further explored the role of network relationships and career success for his doctoral dis-sertation. He analyzed acceptance speeches made by football, inventor, teacher, business, consumer electronics and automotive hall of fame inductees. “I wanted to go beyond baseball and identify key developmental roles that their mentors played,” Cot-ton said. “The top seven, what I call the super seven, were the most highly cited developmental roles across all the speeches. They were a parent, a spouse, a personal friend, a CEO or president of the per-son’s work organization, a manager, a work colleague and an unmet hero or idol.”

Cotton concludes that the best networks are those that provide deep levels of psychosocial sup-port – networks that provide overlapping support from family, friends and a partner or spouse as well as from others at work. When it comes to career sup-port, Cotton said, “The idea is to have career support from individuals who help you develop in different, complementary ways. Understanding the different kinds of support provided by different individuals can be helpful when people think about where their network is lacking and what their goals are.”

Exploring the Role of Support Networks

Dr. Rick Cotton

Who’s In Your Network?


FacultyFocusTax Compliance Rates

A study pub-lished by the Journal of Eco-nomic Psychology entitled, “Tax-payer Assistance Information Services and Tax Compli-ance Behavior” investigated the effects of tax-payer services, and the impact of uncertainty in the honest reporting of tax

liabilities. Among the four authors are Walker Col-lege Economics Professors Todd Cherry and Mike McKee. The report suggests better information leads to better compliance. From the study’s conclusion:

...individuals report less tax when their liability is uncertain, but that this lower reporting is more than offset when the tax agency provides informa-tion at low cost to the taxpayer. This suggests that recent IRS policy actions to increase taxpayer services may be a useful tool to combat tax evasion. Simi-larly, we also find that tax uncertainty reduces filing but that information provision again offsets the uncertainty effect on filing; this latter result is of particular interest because non-filing is difficult to detect and punish in the field. Future work will expand this research in several directions, includ-ing consideration of additional levels of informational uncertainty and extra assistance in completing tax forms.

Dr. Todd Cherry

Dr. Mike McKee

InformationIsPower“Informa-

tion is power,” is a familiar saying. Yet, having power is not the same as knowing how to use it. Is infor-mation simply

a service, or is it an instrument to be used to create a competitive advantage? Computer Informa-tion Systems Assistant Professor Sandra Vannoy, along with UNC Greensboro professor A.F. Salam, co-authored “Managerial Inter-pretations of the Role of Infor-mation Systems in Competitive Actions and Firm Performance: A Grounded Theory Investigation.” It was published in the September 2010 edition of Information Systems Research. The authors looked at how an unnamed company’s in-formation systems were used with regard to competitive advantage in the marketplace. According to the paper’s abstract:

Findings suggest that when man-agers envision information systems as a resource that provides opportunities for competitive actions rather than viewing information systems in a ser-vice role, competitive advantages will evolve. Furthermore, practitioners will be better able to leverage information systems investments if they recognize the embedded role of information sys-tems within the competitive actions or responses a firm undertakes to main-tain or improve relative performance.

Black Friday Is Just a FridayThe day

after Thanksgiv-ing is consid-ered the start of the Christ-mas shopping season. Gener-ally referred

to as “Black Friday,” huge crowds of shoppers flood malls and stores. With the advent of the internet, hype has grown tremendously. Retailers and websites post deals in advance. Shoppers plan their attack. The Asheville Citizen-Times analyzed the phenomenon last holiday season. Among the sources quoted is Walker College Assistant Professor of Marketing Neel Das. He argues that Black Friday sales are similar to normal sales. Das said Black Friday sales are “nothing but a very typical promotion used by retail-ers throughout the year.” Retailers lure shoppers to stores with a few “loss leader” items, often available in limited numbers, and hope people will make other purchases while they are in the store, he said. If the sale item that brings a shop-per out has already been snatched up, “Now that you’re up at 5 in the morning … do you think you’re going to walk back home and not buy anything?” Das said. Some consumer writers advise shoppers to check out deals via the Internet or by comparing prices in stores or advertising circulars. Sometimes a sale represents a big reduction and sometimes not, they say.

Dr. Sandra Vannoy Dr. Neel Das


Walker College banking professor Harry Davis has long supported higher gas

prices. He argues it’s the only proven method to force the country to both reduce dependence on oil and spur investment in alter-native forms of energy. Which isn’t to say he’s agreeable to the current spike at the pump. “Way too fast,” he says.

The national average for a gallon of gasoline was around $2.70 in July 2010, according to AAA. One year later, the price approached $4. Davis, econo-mist for the North Carolina Bankers Association, said that translates to an estimated $120 billion increase in how much consumers are paying for gas compared to 2010. This is severely impacting the econo-my, he said, since that’s $120 billion consumers can’t spend elsewhere for other needs. But eventually prices should go up, he says, according to a recent news article.

“We need to use less gas,” he said. “We need to become more energy independent. The best way

to do that is through price.” Davis said by raising the national gas tax, gas would be more expensive and “therefore, people would use less of it.”

He recognizes price hikes aren’t easy. “It would certainly be dif-ficult on people with less income,” he said. “So, what I recommend is doing it very gradually over a long period of time.” By raising gas prices 2 cents a month for several years, everyone would see the price hike coming, he said. “That would affect their behavior,” he said. “They would start trying to figure out ways to use less of it,” ways like purchasing more energy efficient cars, driving less and pushing for alternative energy initiatives.

Davis spoke on this topic as luncheon speaker during the Fall 2010 Harlan Boyles CEO Lecture Series. He discussed natural gas as a primary re-placement.

You say, “Are you crazy? This is a crazy idea. Why would we do this?” Do we support the price of products in this country? Do we drive their prices up? How about corn? How about wheat? How about sugar? How about milk? We support the prices of all those commodities. We keep them as high as we can to keep the producers in business. So if we did it for oil, what’s the difference?

Davis: In Support of Higher Gas PricesMarketingtoDemographicsAn entre-

preneur often identifies a po-tential customer base, then recognizing its demands, sets out to meet a

need. Walker College Management Associ-ate Professor Rachel Shinnar, along with Michael Aguilera of the University of Oregon and Thomas Lyons of Baruch College, recently co-authored a paper that focused on measurable success of entrepreneurial ventures. The paper, “Co-ethnic Markets: Fi-nancial Penalty or Opportunity?” explored minority entrepreneurs and their reliance on co-ethnic or monolithic markets. The researchers acknowledged that the subjects are able to offer services or goods in a culturally-sensitive way, which is not easily imitated by entrepreneurs from different minority groups. The re-searchers then explored whether the performance of these busi-nesses was limited or enhanced by focusing on co-ethnic markets versus diverse markets. Their find-ings suggest that having a higher proportion of co-ethnic clients was negatively related to financial performance.

Dr. Rachel Shinnar Dr. Harry Davis

TheWalkerCollegeisaccreditedbyAACSBInternational–TheAssociationtoAdvanceCollegiateSchoolsofBusiness.AACSBaccreditationrepresentsthehigheststandardofachievementforbusinessschoolsworldwide. Less than one-third of U.S. business school programs and only 10% of business school programs worldwidemeettheserigorousstandards.TheWalkerCollegeisoneof620accreditedmemberinstitutionsand has been accredited since 1976.


Aro

undR

aley

The Appalachian Regional Commis-sion (ARC) recently released a 42-page report detailing what it called “Green Schools and Sustainability in Appala-chia.” It’s a preliminary report intended to highlight “best practices in colleges that are both environmentally sustainable themselves, and that foster education-community partnerships to support local economic growth.” Appalachian State was one of the six universities highlighted.

The report points out that “Since the mid-1970s, ASU has been training its students on ways to build homes more efficiently and develop new ways to har-ness the power of the wind and sun.” Among the programs the report cites is the Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis (CERPA), which is led by Walker College Economics Professor Todd Cherry.

The report also includes details on a new development in the Walker College MBA program. The Walker College now offers the sustainable business concentra-tion for its MBA program, providing an example of how sustainability is being embedded in the campus.

Appalachian Called Green School; MBA Program Noted

Dr. Larry Ellis

Dr. Lyle Schoenfeldt

Ellis, Schoenfeldt Receive Emeriti Status

Larry El-lis and Lyle Schoenfeldt, longtime profes-sors within the Economics and Management Departments, respectively, were recently granted profes-sor emeritus status by the Appalachian State University Board of Trust-ees. Ellis served at Appalachian for 32 years and retired as professor in

December 2010. He began his career at Appalachian in 1977 as an assistant professor in the Department of Eco-nomics. During his tenure, Ellis served as the chair of the Economics Depart-ment for five years, interim chair for one year and director of the Center for the Study of Private Enterprise for five years. Schoenfeldt began as professor and chairperson of the Department of Management in 1996. He also served as acting dean of the Walker College of Business for two years. Schoenfeldt was a long-time faculty leader for the Hol-land Fellows China Study Program.

Student Entrepreneur Sammy Kluttz

In March 2011, the Association of Student Entrepreneurs opened a student-operated store in the university’s bookstore. Named the E-Store, the shop is a showcase for a variety of items cre-ated by student entrepreneurs. Pictured at left is Senior Sammy Kluttz with his t-shirt line.


The Richard S. Brantley Risk and Insurance Center, housed in the Walker College, was included on Risk Management magazine’s September 2010 list of “The 10 Largest Risk and Insurance Schools.” The program, based in the Department of Finance, Bank-ing and Insurance, is No. 4 on the list for the number of students it graduated in 2009-10, a total of 55. The University of Georgia had the biggest program with 129 graduates.

Appalachian’s program began in the late 1970s and has grown steadily since then. “Though a relative newcomer compared to the top three (programs), App State is a powerhouse,” the maga-zine stated. “The school’s RMI Society (Risk Management and Insurance) invites professionals to speak to students each month and schedules philanthropic events such as working with Habitat for Humanity.” The magazine also wrote that, “When it comes to teaching risk management, big-ger is not always better. But the largest programs are respected for both their size and the future risk managers they teach.”

“The national recognition of our risk management and insur-ance program is very rewarding,” said David C. Marlett, chair of the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance. “Our program has grown thanks to the significant ex-ternal support from the insurance industry and strong support from Dean Randy Edwards.”

Walker College Helps Build Appalachian’s Relationship with Vietnam

Appalachian has a thriving international program, including many study abroad opportunities within the Walker College of Busi-ness. A new international relation-ship was recently established when Walker College students began studying in Vietnam in Summer 2011.

Appalachian State University has signed a formal agreement with Duy Tan University (DTU) in Vietnam, paving the way for more student and faculty exchanges at both institutions. The agreement was signed November 19 by Dr. Lorin Baumhover, provost and interim executive vice chancellor at Appalachian, and Professor Bao Le Nguyen, vice provost and direc-tor of academic affairs at DTU.

“There are many reasons why it is important for Appalachian to have a presence in Vietnam,” said

Dr. Jesse Lutabingwa, associate vice chancellor for international education and development. “Many experts have noted that Vietnam is the new economic hot spot with the same potential for economic growth and develop-ment that China has had.” Viet-nam has a population of more than 86 million, making it the 13th most populous country in the world. At its current growth rate, it may soon reach a top 10 spot. Moreover, the U.S. is Viet-nam’s second-largest trade partner overall, after China. According to the Open Doors 2010 Report recently issued by the Institute of International Education, Vietnam is among the top 10 countries in the world that send degree-seek-ing students to the U.S.” Walker College is leading the way in building the relationship.

Risk Management and Insurance “Powerhouse”

Walker College Assistant Dean of International Programs Marty Meznar, Associate Vice Chancellor for International Education and Development Jesse Lutabingwa, Dean Randy Edwards, Corporate Controller for Pace Communica-tions Ann Milam, Duy Tan Vice Provost and Director of Academic Affairs Bao Le Nguyen, and Provost and Interim Executive Vice Chancellor Lorin Baumhover.


AroundRaley

He doesn’t recall where he heard the statistic, nor has he been able to verify it, but Gene Cochrane, president of The Duke Endowment, remembers once learning that the Internal Revenue Ser-vice approves a not-for-profit about every three minutes.

“The good side of that is that it’s giv-en us capacity to meet need. The down-side is that there’s a lot of fragmentation and often, in some of our large commu-nities, an awful lot of competition...for limited resources,” Cochrane said.

Cochrane discussed some of the dif-ferences between for-profits and not-for-profits during his speech at the March 2011 Harlan Boyles Distinguished CEO Lecture Series. He also spoke about his career, the mission of the Duke Endow-ment and the challenges of non-profits, including questions like, “is bigger really better?” and the difference between “innovation and impact.”

In contrasting for-profits with not-for-profits, Cochrane discussed the challeng-es the latter encounters when it comes

time for a change in leader-ship. He also discussed help-ing non-profits better meet their goals and grow vertically (not horizontally).

“In a corporate environ-ment, often we will judge suc-cess by the ability to replicate yourself. Can you satellite a new organization here? Can you franchise your idea?

The difference we often see in a service provider -

since you are working with the human condition more times than not - is that the scaling horizontally is more problem-atic than we would like. What we try to encourage not-for-profits to do is think about scaling vertically,” he said.

“For example, if you’re really good at delivering a service, and you can prove that you’re good at that service, maybe you’re better off just doing more of that service on the same site or with the staff that you have,” he said. If you’re doing 100 of whatever the service is, let’s try to grow to 200 or 300 rather than moving horizontally to other communities. That is a different mindset than we see often in other places.”

While noting the differences, Cochrane stressed the goal of meld-ing the skills of the for-profit business world with that of not-for-profits. He said Walker College has a role.

“I believe that we have a wonderful opportunity to bring the skills of business minds - the skills that you’re learning at Walker and the experience you gain from the alumni and friends of this school and other schools like this - and marry them with a sensitivity and the understanding of the community that not-for-profits have. I think that we would be much better served if we could find ways that we can get those two worlds closer together and in far more harmony with each other. I think in doing so, we will both be stronger, and we’ll have stronger communities, stronger businesses and stronger people.”

I believe that we have a wonderful opportunity to bring the skills of business minds, the skills that you’re learning at Walker, the experience you have... and marry them with a sensitivity and the understand-ing of the community that not-for-profits have.

“

”

Harlan Boyles Lecture: President of The Duke Endowment Offers Advice

The Duke Endowment President Gene Cochrane

Customers want electricity that’s affordable. In-dustrialists want a reliable, year-round power source. Environmentalists want electricity produced from clean, renewable resources. James Rogers, CEO of Duke Energy, says all three are his priorities. Rogers spoke at the Fall 2010 Harlan Boyles Distinguished CEO Lecture Series.

“Job one for me is providing affordable, reli-able, clean electricity, 24/7, 365 days a year. It’s that simple,” he said. “But what is difficult is that I have to make trade-offs with every decision about what type of power plant I build and what kind of invest-ment I make. Our mission for the 21st century is to build a company predicated on the principles of sus-tainability. That is central as we go forward and make choices about the types of energy generation that we build in the future,” he said.

Duke Energy is constructing an 825-megawatt coal burning plant in Rutherford County that will replace a thousand megawatts of aging plants that produce significant sulfur dioxide and other pollut-ants and will reduce the company’s environmental foot print, Rogers said. Two natural gas burning plants are planned in North Carolina, and Duke proposes building a nuclear power plant in South Carolina. “Nuclear technology is the only technology that provides energy around the clock and with zero greenhouse gas emissions,” Rogers said.

The company has invested $1.5 billion in wind energy, including wind farms in Wyoming and eastern Colorado. Investments also have been made

in solar power, such as installing solar panels on the roofs and grounds of office buildings, shopping malls and industrial plants at various sites in North Carolina. The company also will purchase power from a photovoltaic solar farm in Davidson County. Even though alternative energy is part of Duke’s power mix, Rogers said wind and solar each have drawbacks. Both are expensive and neither produce around the clock reliability.

Rogers believes that energy efficiency is key to the nation’s use of and attitudes about energy. A pi-lot project conducted by Duke Energy in a Charlotte neighborhood reduced electricity use by 20 percent. “Energy efficiency is where we can change the para-digm. It is something that will be transformative,” he said. “The best way we can increase the standard of living for future generations and address future battles over scarce resources is to make our commu-nities as energy efficient as possible.”

John Sykes

CEO of Duke Energy Discusses Carolina’s Energy Future

Save the Date for Fall 2011 CEO Lecture:Tuesday, November 8, 2011 • Farthing Auditorium

John H. Sykes, founder of Sykes Enterprises, will serve as the Fall 2011 Harlan Boyles Distinguished CEO Lecturer. The lecture is scheduled for November 8, 2011 in Farthing Auditorium at 2:00p.m. Sykes has more than 33 years of business and community leadership. Sykes is the Chairman of the Board of JHS Capital Holdings, Inc., as well as the founder and Chairman Emeritus of Sykes Enterprises, Inc., a global leader in the business process outsourcing arena. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., the company is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange (SYKE) and has more than 54,000 employees in 23 countries. Sykes retired as CEO in 2004.

(left-right) Blue Ridge Electric CEO Doug Johnson, Duke Energy CEO James Rogers, Chancellor Peacock and Dean Edwards at the Fall 2010 Boyles Lecture.



Alu

mni

&Fr

iend

sWilliam “Bill” Durham ‘89 ECON,

‘92 MS ACC was recently installed as president of the Appalachian Alumni Council, which represents all alumni of Appalachian State. He will serve a one-year term.

Durham is a senior manager with the public accounting firm Thomas, Judy & Tucker P.A. A certified public accountant, Durham has more than 17 years of experience in public account-ing. He began his career with a national CPA firm in Raleigh and spent 16 years serving not-for-profit and middle mar-ket clients located primarily in North Carolina and Virginia. Durham is as-sistant treasurer and a member of the executive committee of the Friends of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

James “J.K” Reaves ’93 FIN was recently awarded the Bill Franklin Volunteer of the Year Award, given by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). It was pre-sented February 22, 2011 at the organiza-tion’s annual meeting held in New Orleans.

Reaves is a senior vice president and manager with BB&T and past president of the Yosef Club at Appalachian. In 2010, he was honored with the Appalachian Alumni Association’s Young Alumnus Award. Reaves is also featured in the recent pro-motional video focused on Walker College, which can be viewed online: www.business.appstate.edu/pride

“J.K. Reaves has truly exemplified the very best of an alumnus who has given back to his university – selflessly, consis-tently, graciously and enthusiastically,” wrote alumni director Patrick Setzer in nominating Reaves for the honor. “J.K.’s influence and participation in our campus life is far reaching, engaging, and valuable beyond many measures.”

Reaves also established the J.K. Reaves Financial Planning Annual Scholarship, the first scholarship to be offered for deserving students pursuing a degree in the financial planning program in the Walker College.

Active in his community, Reaves volun-teers as a youth coach for the YMCA, assists with fundraising efforts for the M.S. Soci-ety and the United Way, contributes as a benefactor and volunteer for Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, and established the Reaves Family Scholarship for Student-Athletes at Hillside High School in Durham.

Attention North Carolina High School Juniors!

Martha Guy Summer Institute for Future Business Leaders at Appalachian State University

MGSI offers a unique opportunity for rising high school seniors to gain an immeasurable amount of business knowledge and experience. Twenty-four students participate in each summer program that includes classroom

instruction, an entrepreneurial project, cultural events, outdoor courses and travel to Washington, D.C., and New York City. Students are

selected by application and interview; contact us today!

Three weeks of summer... lifelong impact.

877-APP-MGSI (277-6474) | [email protected] | www.business.appstate.edu/marthaguy

Durham Takes Over Alumni Council

Tournament Tradition: Beroth Generosity

Volunteer of the Year

James “J..K.” Reaves

The Appalachian State Scholarship Golf Classic, also known as the Beroth Tournament, is held each September at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons. The event, sponsored by 4 Brothers Food Stores and Beroth Oil Company Inc., raises thousands of dollars annually for the students and programs of Walker College. The 2011 tournament will be held on Wednesday, September 14. For information or to register for an upcom-ing tournament, visit www.business.ap-pstate.edu/beroth

Please update your contact information: www.alumni.appstate.edu

Attention North Carolina High School Juniors!

Martha Guy Summer Institute for Future Business Leaders at Appalachian State University

MGSI offers a unique opportunity for rising high school seniors to gain an immeasurable amount of business knowledge and experience. Twenty-four students participate in each summer program that includes classroom

instruction, an entrepreneurial project, cultural events, outdoor courses and travel to Washington, D.C., and New York City. Students are

selected by application and interview; contact us today!

Three weeks of summer... lifelong impact.

877-APP-MGSI (277-6474) | [email protected] | www.business.appstate.edu/marthaguy

Michelle Boisclair has recently moved from associate director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center, where she was responsible for career development pro-grams within the Brantley Center, to director of Walker College’s Career Services Center. Previously, Boisclair served as assistant director to the Appalachian GEAR UP program. Walker College Career Services offers assistance to business students in the areas of career planning, internships and job search strategies. Boisclair replaces Heidi Ragan. Boisclair can be reached by calling (828) 262-7579, or by e-mailing [email protected].

Heather Dixon-Fowler has been named director of the Center for Entrepreneur-ship. Dixon-Fowler is also an assistant professor of management. She has taught entrepreneurship courses, including social entrepreneurship and international study abroad courses in entrepreneurship. She has prior experience as an entrepreneur in owning and managing her own business. Dixon-Fowler replaces Bryan Toney, the founding director of the Center who accepted a similar position at the University of North Carolina - Greensboro. She will work closely with Julia Rowland, who remains as assistant director for the center. The Center, housed in the Walker College, was established in 2006 and works to provide opportunities for students and others throughout the region to learn about entrepreneurship. For more informa-tion on the Center for Entrepreneurship and its programs, please visit www.entrepreneurship.appstate.edu or call (828) 262-6196.

Meg Spivey ’96 has been named founding director of the new Student Success Center in the Walker College. Spivey began her role on March 28, 2011. Under Spivey’s guidance, the Center will provide professional and leadership development opportunities, as well as executive and peer mentoring programs for Appalachian business students. Spivey brings significant professional experience from the account-ing and financial services industries, having served as a public accountant for five years and as a vice president for Wachovia Bank for ten years. Her background also includes entrepreneurial business consulting and investment. Spivey earned bach-elor degrees in business education and business administration from Lenoir-Rhyne University and an MBA from Appalachian in 1996. Spivey can be reached by calling (828) 262-2069, or by e-mailing [email protected].

New Staff Faces in the Walker College

Michelle Boisclair

Heather Dixon-Fowler

Meg Spivey


Alumni&FriendsThe Business Connection: Three Friends of the College Honored with Alumni Awards

Words of Wisdom for New Graduates

Richard Sparks ’76 MGT ’78 MBA, president of Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, spoke at the May 2011 Commencement Ceremony for the Walker College. Sparks, Chair of the Walker College Business Advisory Council, was also awarded the Out-standing Service Award by the Appala-chian Alumni Association in 2010.

He advised 2011 graduates: “Over the coming years, countless opportuni-ties will come your way. Some of them you will seek, while other opportunities will find you,” he said. “Be prepared for each and be bold on the occasions as they present themselves.”

Sparks told graduates they had acquired the skills they needed to face challenges in their careers while at Ap-palachian. “Knowing right from wrong is not that difficult. Doing the right thing often requires something greater on your part,” he said. “I believe that is what integrity is all about – to have the courage to go beyond knowing what is right and actually doing what is right.”

Martha Guy, Doug Johnson ‘77 and Brad Sparks ‘97 ‘98 were honored at the 2011 Appalachian Alumni Awards Gala at the George M. Holmes Convocation Center on June 11, 2011.

The Alumni Council presented the Honorary Alumni Award to Martha Guy for her service and generosity to the University community. Guy is well-known as a banking icon and pioneer for women in the banking industry. With a banking career that spanned more than 60 years, Guy is a member of the North Carolina Bankers Hall of Fame. Guy has been instrumental in the Walker College as the benefactor and advisor to the Martha Guy Summer Institute - a three-week program that enables rising high school seniors to explore the world of business on Appala-chian’s campus.

Doug Johnson received the Outstand-ing Service Award. Johnson is the CEO of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corpora-tion, which serves approximately 73,700 consumers in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany counties, along with parts of Wilkes, Alexander and Avery counties. Johnson received his bachelor’s degree from Appalachian in 1977 and is a mem-ber of the Walker College Business Advi-sory Council.

Brad Sparks was honored as recipi-ent of the Young Alumni Award. Sparks is the Director of KPMG International’s

Global Green Initiative, the firm’s global climate change strat-egy. Sparks received his bachelor’s degree and Masters in Ac-counting from Appalachian. While an undergraduate at Appa-lachian, Sparks served as a student ambassador and was among the first group of student scholars to participate in the William R. Holland Fellows Program for Business Study in Asia.

Martha Guy

Doug Johnson

Brad Sparks

2011 Commencement Speaker Richard Sparks

G.A. Sywassink and Michael Steinback, two members emeriti of the Walker College Business Advisory Council, have been appointed to leadership positions on the Appalachian State Board of Trustees. Sywassink is now the chairman and Steinback is vice chair. Both were appointed as trustees in 2007.

In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees, Sywassink is a member of the Appalachian State University Foundation Board of Directors. He also funds the College’s Sywassink Day of Excellence for Faculty and Staff. His philosophy of service is simple. “I have been very fortunate in my business life and have had some lucky breaks. I think it’s important to give back to other organizations,” he said.

Sywassink is chairman and retired CEO of Standard Holding Corporation, whose business enterprises include transportation-related companies and real estate holdings.

Michael Steinback chairs the Board of Trustees’ appeals and business affairs committees and is a member of the board’s audit and university advancement committees. He also serves on the trustees’ endowment fund board.

He is a partner in Stonebridge Partners, a private equity firm in Asheville focused on acquiring and successfully growing middle-market manufacturing businesses. He was previously president and CEO of CII Technologies, Inc., a leading diversified manufacturer of advanced control electronic components.

Like many people who become part of the Appalachian family, Steinback became affiliated with the university through his children. “When my first son came to school here, I was introduced to Ken Peacock, who was dean of the Walker College of Business at the time,” Steinback said. “We hit it off. He asked me to serve on the

College’s Business Advisory Council and, when he became chancellor some years later, he asked me to be a trustee.”

Beryl L. Walker, the widow of John A. Walker, died February 7, 2011. She was 88. The Walker College of Business at Appalachian State is named in recognition of her husband. He was a founding executive of Lowe’s Companies Inc. and a philanthropist. Mrs. Walker moved to Florida following the death of her husband of 38 years in 1984, and continued to provide financial support to the institutions and causes that had been important to the family, including the Beryl Walker Coronary Care Unit at Wilkes General Hospital in North Wilkesboro.

Remembering a Great Friend: Beryl L. Walker

Former COB Advisory Board Members Named as Leaders of Appalachian Trustees

Beryl Walker

G.A. Sywassink

Michael Steinback


For information about Walker College of Business news, programs or events, please visit us online.Walker College of Business | Appalachian State University | Boone, NC | 828-262-2057 | www.business.appstate.edu

Office of the DeanAppalachian State University Box 32037

Boone, NC 28608

��

At the Walker College of Business, we realize that you are looking for new talent, creative minds and motivated people to help your company reach its goals.

We invite you to consider our graduates in your planning. If your hiring needs focus on business majors, discuss a recruiting relationship with Career Services Director

Michelle Boisclair: (828) 262-7579, [email protected]

HIRING? THINK APPALACHIAN STUDENTS

NONPROFIT-ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE

PAIDBOONE, NC

PERMIT NO. 36

Walker College of Business Leaders Magazine

Documents

Transcript of Walker College of Business Leaders Magazine