The Executive Presence – Volume 2, Issue 2
We are delighted to publish our second issue from “The Executive Presence”. This annual newsletter was distributed at the MBAE-11 Graduation Ceremony, February 27, 2010.
The Executive Presence – Volume 2, Issue 1
Letter from the Director – 10th anniversary
What a milestone! Graduation for the tenth MBAE class! The MBAE program continues to be one of the University’s spotlight programs because of the high quality of students, the new innovative curriculum, and the commitment of our alumni.
We are continually seeking ways to improve the program and offer more value to students, alumni, and other stakeholders. In this newsletter you’ll read about many of the exciting things that are happening including a new positioning statement, a new curriculum, and our first international travel trip as well as the successes of a few of our outstanding alumni.
Please keep in touch with us and let us know about your successes. Watch your mail and email for news and events from the program. We are moving toward more electronic communication, so please make sure that we have a current email address for you.
As always, don’t hesitate to let us know if you have a great idea to improve the program!
With Peregrine Pride,
Lori
New MBAE theme: “Moving On, Moving Up”
“Plan. Achieve. Elevate” has been our brand mantra since the beginning of the MBAE program in 1998. This brand positioning worked very well with our student prospects in the past. However, changes in the market place, new trends, and new customers’ insights, led us to refresh our MBAE brand.
Research with our stakeholders helped us to understand students’ motivations to choose the MBAE program. According to these surveys, 61 percent of our students felt the need to enhance their skill set to move up in their careers; 14 percent was looking for a senior position at their company that required a master’s degree; and 13 percent pursued this degree as part of their personal goals. Interestingly, the name of the school was one of the key factors in choosing the Purdue University Calumet MBAE over other programs.
We worked with our advertising agency to develop a new concept that reflects the program and our students and prospects motivations. ”Move On. Move Up” emerged as central to what drives MBAE students. Our refreshed positioning expresses the continual desire of our MBAEs to move forward in their professional development, to achieve new professional and personal goals, and to lead new challenges and opportunities in their market place.
News: MBAE Program takes first international trip
In December 2008 Professors Pat Obi and Lori Feldman took 15 MBAE students, one spouse, and one alumnus to Beijing and Shanghai for our first ever study abroad trip. The trip was an unqualified success. We learned so much – intellectually, culturally, and personally! We are now planning a second trip and would love for you to join us. Please be on the lookout for news about this exciting program. Learn more about our trip by visiting our China Trip blog at http://mbaechina2008.blogspot.com
News: “We are Moving Forward: New Executive Coaching Sessions”
Executives, managers and professionals join MBA programs with the expectation of not only gaining additional knowledge but also changing their leadership behavior in their professional career. They look at the MBA programs as a “chance for self-renewal”, “preparation for a new role” or even a “new work identity”. Participants expect to be able to start doing something new at work or to change the way they exercise their management functions.
Understanding this need and the need of many companies for qualified high-performing leaders, we incorporated “Executive Coaching” sessions in our curriculum through our partner Lore International Institute, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Korn/Ferry International.
These individual sessions will allow our participants to discover new ways of accelerating opportunities in their career. Using the validated 360° Survey of Influence Effectiveness as a benchmarking tool, our MBAE participants will receive two hours of personal coaching:
- Guidance in their career assessment
- Help creating a development plan for their professional advancement
- Identification of their leadership skills ,strengths and also areas for improvement.
Dr. Gary Myszkowski, one of our Executive Coaches, brings more than 20 years of experience working with senior and top-performing executives in variety of industries. His academic background would allow him to seamlessly blend with Purdue’s. He earned his Ph.D and M.A. at the University of Chicago.
News: “Moving Up: New Executive Curricula”
A graduate degree for managers, executives and professionals is an important growing activity at business schools. As the number and diversity of programs has increased, so too has the demand for courses that enhance the executive candidates skills and have more explicit connections to practical applications and company problems than a general understanding of business.
Thus, being sensitive to the need of providing a focused business understanding and knowledge to the candidates, strengthening and broadening their educational experience and improving their job performance, our MBAE program proudly announced its “New Executive Curricula” beginning last September with the MBAEXI (September 2008-February 2010).
The proposed changes maintain Purdue’s traditional quantitative strength, while adding other important topics such as International Business, Ethics/Corporate Governance, Diversity Management, Leadership, Supply Chain Management, Decision Analytics, Negotiations, and Risk Management.
We couldn’t have done improved our curricula without the participation of our stakeholder groups, alumni and faculty. Thank you for “moving forward” with us.
LinkedIn – “Moving Forward : Are you finally LinkedIn with us?”
Do you want to keep in touch with your MBAE friends? Would you like to network with MBAE alumni from other years? Now you can! We’ve created an MBAE alumni group for you on “LinkedIn”.
The desire to reconnect and to network with other MBAE classmates became the hot topic during at our recent open houses. Alan Heinz (MBAE3) brought us the terrific suggestion to create an MBAE alumni group through LinkedIn. Are you taking advantage of it?
What is LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site mainly used for professional networking. The goal of the MBAE alumni group is to help members reach each others, accelerate their careers/business through referrals from MBAE Alumni Group members, and to be able to view rich professional profiles from fellow MBAE Alumni Group members. In addition, you can post the latest news about your field and invite our alumni members to share their thoughts and insights.
So far, 121MBAE alumni leaders have joined the LinkedIn MBAE Alumni group. We would LOVE to have 100% participation in this group from our alumni. You can join by following the steps below. It should take no more than 5-10 minutes of your time.
Step 1: Find our MBAE Alumni group invitation link by typing the following address or by searching GROUPS on LinkedIn for MBAE alumni:
http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/52093/7A503C2B64BE
Step 2: Sign in and join us by clicking in any of the two options, as a new or old LinkedIn user.
Step 3: Begin building your profile (name, education, employment, e-mail and other personal data). When you add information about your Purdue University Calumet MBA degree, be sure to put your class number (such as MBAE10) in the section where “You can provide additional notes on your experience at this school”. This will help other MBAE alumni identify you.
Step 4: Submit your profile. Your membership will be “pending” and will be approved within a few days of your request.
We look forward to seeing you in the group!
MBAE Ambassadors: “Thank you to our MBAE AMBASSADORS”
Our “Open Houses” are one of the most effective ways to recruit new MBAE students. One of the key experiences for those curious about the program is the opportunity to hear, firsthand, about the experience of our alumni – both in the classroom, with their MBAE peers during study sessions, and after the program ended. Applicants are always very eager to hear what impact the MBA degree has had on our alumni. These contacts with our alumni are often influential in a
prospect’s decision to apply and enroll in the program.
We are very grateful for the voluntary participation of our 2009 MBAE AMBASSADORS:
John Nason (Group 4); Cindy Leahy and John Killion (MBAE 9); Macario Gallegos, Willie Smith, Shontrai Irving and Jennifer Benson (Group 10), Alan Heinz (Group 3), and Kathy Sink (Group 7).
We would love for you to participate as an MBAE AMBASSADOR in one or more of our upcoming open houses. If you have some time and would like to inspire other students, please contact us to become part of the team.
Alumni Referral: “Participate in our Alumni Referral Campaign: Do it your way!”
Do you know an up and coming professional who would be a GREAT fit for the MBAE program? Do you have a colleague or a direct report who wants to take their career to the next level? As alumni you are an excellent position to know what it takes to be successful in the program and who would be a good “value-added” classmate. We value your participation in growing and improving the MBAE program. You can help us by:
- Referring a candidate to us – You can refer to us one of your colleagues or friends.
- Referring us to your organization – You can help us take our “Open Houses” (information sessions) to your company. We will prepare and customize our presentation to the needs of your organization.
Alumni Events: “First Alumni Professional Event”
We are excited about the opportunity of connecting with you not only through our MBAE Alumni LinkedIn group buts also through other alumni outreach and educational activities.
On November 13th of 2008 we presented our first Professional Event for the MBAE alumni. The event, “Globalization and the Financial Situation”, was lead by Dr. Paul McGrath, graduate faculty and department head of Finance and Economics in the School of Management. This event was not only a good opportunity to have a closer understanding of our current financial situation but also a time to reconnect with our alumni and build our network.
This year we are planning a few social and professional activities – such as webinars and career services coaching- to reach and build our MBAE Alumni network together. Tell us about your preference. We want to hear from you!
MBAE Website: “Stay connected, check our MBAE website”
We are excited about the development and re-design of our MBAE website. This new design include MBAE student and alumni profiles, an invitation to our MBAE ALUMNI LINKEDIN group, our new online newsletter, successful stories, events, new releases and a place to update your information . Check us out at www.calumet.purdue.edu/mbae and send us your current e-mail address to continue to receive MBAE news.
Help us find your MBAE friends: “Are they lost? Have you seen them?”
We want to connect with every MBAE Alumni. Our invitations to this event have been mailed
and e-mailed but several were returned as “address not found”. If you know any of these alumni, please let us know how to contact them:
Davina Sparks, Heath Gehrke, Rich Myer, Steve McCovoy, Shane Stillman, Gary Hays, James Bullock, Travis Tindle, Eric Holtan, Jereme Knauff, Sheila Domiter, Michael Hermanek, Albert Peters, Kristin Erdelac, Virgil Ramirez, Daniel Inman, Ronald Kessel, Annette Skafgaard, Janet Seabrook, and Pete Routsolias)
Update your information with us.
We want to stay in touch with you! Please take a few moments to fill out the ALUMNI CONTACT FORM and drop it off to us tonight. You can also visit our website to update your information or send us an email to mbae@calumet.purdue.edu.
Spotlight on MBAE Successes: MBAE alumni making great strides
Shontrai Irving : “Is not about me, but is up to me”
Shontrai is one of our graduating MBAEs and a lawyer with a higher purpose. He was recently featured in the “Res Gestae”. He was featured in a Indiana State Bar Association’s magazine column devoted to highlighting outstanding contributions of lawyers outside of the law for his commitment to children. Shontrai has worked in the Lake County Prosecutors Office and also for State Farm. On top of a demanding legal career Shontrai has given generously of himself as a foster parent to FIVE children. He provides these lucky children with a home, a solid role model, and perhaps most importantly “that one person who believes in them”.
Angie Luckey Success: “From Manager to Director after 4-months of graduation”
As Director of Retention from Comcast Cable, Angie, MBAE 9, manages the Tinley Park Retention team, which includes more than 200 Comcasters and a newly created team located in Oak Brook
Prior to her promotion, she served as Customer Repair Manager, focusing on operations management, training and development for her team, and improving the customer experience. Angie began her career in 1990 with TCI and held several positions throughout her career including: Customer Service Agent, Dispatcher, Accounts Payable Specialist, Payment Center Manager, Customer Care Manager and Customer Sales and Retention Manager.
Cindy Leahy: “I am an IT Director”
Cindy Leahy, MBAE 9, has accepted a position as IT Director for NiSource effective June 16th, 2008. A key part of her new position will be to participate in the IT strategic planning and operating review sessions for NiSource’s Indiana Business Segment. Cindy credits the topics covered in Purdue’s MBAE strategy module in helping her prepare for the interviews and this new position.
Bud Labitan: “From a student to an author”
Bud, MBAE 7, has published his first book “The four filters inventions of Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger”. You can send your reviews through amazon.com
Phil Pena: A CIO and a CFO
Phil, MBAE 4, was named Interim CFO for Morton College, this is an addition to his CIO position. The comments from the Board Trustees and President of the College were of his high degree of business professionalism, strong analytical skills, and the ability to apply them to substantially benefit the College. They were impressed by the project management, financial expertise, and business acumen he brought to the IT department, they felt with my strong skill set there was absolutely no concern that I had not risen from the accounting or finance ranks and would be able to effectively manage the Business Office. All of the financial skills and much of the analytical skills were learned, raised to a high level, and honed because of the PUC Executive MBA program.
We are so proud of our alumni! Please share your achievements or recent awards (professional and personal) with us and your fellow MBAE alumni. You can email us mbae@calumet.purdue.edu or call us at 219-989-3150. We will share your news with your fellow alumni in future issues of this newsletter.
Keep in touch with the MBAE Program
E-Mail: MBAE@calumet.purdue.edu
Mail: MBAE Program
Purdue University Calumet
2200 169th Street Hammond, IN 46323
Phone: 219-989-3150
Fax: 219-989-3158
Website: www.calumet.purdue.edu/mbae
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/e/gis/52093/7A503C2B64BE
