EMBA Elite Spotlight: Matt Bogue

• April 28th, 2014
• in EMBA Elite Spotlight Series

Last Friday, March 25, 2014, was a day of celebration and remembrance for the Dutch Pharmacies’ grand opening in Tuscaloosa.  Matt Bogue, EMBA Class of 2014, and Vice President of Dutch Medical Clinics for The Dutch Group and his wife, Amy, welcomed the Tuscaloosa community and the University of Alabama EMBA family (classmates, faculty and staff) to the opening of their 83rd store.  This is the first super store venture in Alabama for The Dutch Group, founded in 1972.

The company, founded by Matt’s grandfather-in-law, Joe Gillis, grew up not far from the new pharmacy located next door to Sprint Mart at 445 15th Street, East in Tuscaloosa.  “In the aftermath of the tragic tornado that struck Tuscaloosa on April 27, 2011, my grandfather wanted to do something for the community, to give back to a place that has meant so much to him,” said Amy Bogue.

For over 40 years, The Dutch Group has introduced innovative business concepts from the design of commercial buildings to the operation of convenience stores with fuel, travel centers, fast food operations, pharmacies, and commercial shopping centers.  They pioneered many other new marketing concepts, such as starting a pharmacy business within a traditional convenience store in 1990, maintaining competitive prices and delivering personal touch. “Being part of the local community is key for The Dutch Group,” said Matt, “our pharmacies are independently operated to provide a true hometown service.”

In addition to celebrating the grand opening, Matt is also looking forward to graduating from the Culverhouse College of Commerce Executive MBA Program at UA, on Saturday, May 3.  Matt will become the second in his family to graduate from the EMBA program.  His father-in-law, Rex Gillis, President of The Dutch Group, graduated in 1991. Roll Tide!

Manderson EMBA Alumni Celebrate A-Day 2014

• April 23rd, 2014
• in EMBA Alumni Network

There is nothing that Alabama fans like more than football, except maybe lots of food with football.  We suffer some withdrawal pains if we don’t see some crimson and Houndstooth, spot Big Al somewhere, hear the Million Dollar band, or yell “Roll Tide” at someone.  It’s more than just a game at Alabama. It’s a way of life.

Last Saturday, April 19, Culverhouse College of Commerce EMBA and MBA graduates, arrived in Tuscaloosa to attend the Manderson Graduate School breakfast before the A-Day game.  Alumni and their families received t-shirts, buttons and shakers to cheer on the Alabama Crimson Tide.  Our youngest fan arrived in a stroller and our most senior graduate, Frank Chandler, was from the MBA Class of 1970.

EMBA graduates from the Tuscaloosa and Huntsville programs from 2004-2012, showed up to reminisce and show their team spirit.  Tim Smalley, EMBA Class of 2009, arrived with his son, Drew, who will be graduating from Alabama with an M.B.A. in 2015.  The 2012 class had the most members to attend: Ben Paulk, Michelle Wooten and Allyson Welch.

Check out more pictures from A-Day on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UAEMBA.

Prospects try EMBA Sample Class at UA

• April 10th, 2014
• in EMBA Uncategorized

For those considering graduate school there can be some trepidation in returning to the classroom. And, when the class is statistics stress levels start to rise. To counteract the anxiety the EMBA Program at The University of Alabama began offering Sample Classes for Prospects.

Kicking off the first EMBA Sample Class in Huntsville on April 10, was a Statistic Introduction by Dr. Brian Gray, Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Business at UA.
Different from Open Classroom Days, where prospects attend a current class, the sample class is specifically designed for prospects to walk them through what will be covered in a course, answer questions regarding technology and cases used, and how the content is beneficial to the student and their company.

According to Dr. Gray, “Informed decisions require intelligent interpretation of statistical data and statistical analysis.” The students also were introduced to MiniTab and discussed a use of statistics in a law suit.

Onisa Allen who works at Verizon and attended the session found the Statistics Sample Class to be helpful in calming her fears. “In a brief period of time we learned the importance of how data can be pulled together that can impact major decisions in a corporation,” said Allen.

For more information on UA EMBA, and to RSVP for a future Sample Class contact Cheryl Altemara at caltemara@cba.ua.edu or call 205.348.4501.

Regions CCO Barb Godin Speaks at Women’s Leadership Luncheon

• March 28th, 2014
• in UA EMBA Latest News/Events

Barb Godin, Chief Credit Officer for Regions Financial Corporation, addressed the Women’s Leadership Luncheon on March 19, at the Summit Club in Birmingham. Godin was recently named among the 25 Most Powerful Women to Watch in Banking and Finance by American Banker. Speaking on “Knowing Your Customer’s Customer – A Paradigm Shift,” Godin brings over 40 years of experience in the banking industry. As CCO, Godin oversees credit policy, credit administration and problem asset management.

Godin spoke about Regions focus on building relationships with their customers. She shared with the audience her guiding values: curiosity, adaptability and passion which has guided her career. “Success demands curiosity,” said Godin, “Never stop evolving and improving your processes.”

The Women’s Leadership Luncheon is an annual event established by The University of Alabama Executive MBA Program. “The WLL started in 2011, to bring professional women together to network and discuss business and leadership issues,” said Donna Blackburn, Director of EMBA Programs in the Culverhouse College of Business. “We were also fortunate to partner with the Women’s Exchange for our annual event. The WE is a great forum for businesswomen to connect, build relationships, and share information while showcasing the success and contributions of women. It was a perfect fit for what we were trying to achieve with the Women’s Leadership Luncheons,” said Blackburn.

The WLL is open to Culverhouse College of Commerce graduate students, alumni, members of the Women’s Exchange, and to any woman who would like to join our discussion of issues that support and promote women leaders in business.

CEO John Ferriola of Nucor Corporation Speaks to UA EMBA Class

• March 18th, 2014
• in UA EMBA Latest News/Events

On Saturday, March 15, John Ferriola, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nucor Corporation, flew in from the company’s corporate headquarters in Charlotte to meet with the Tuscaloosa Executive MBA Class of 2014. The EMBA class has been studying Nucor both through case analyses and through examination of data presented in the IBISWorld Industry Report 33111: Iron & Steel Manufacturing in the US.  Nucor and affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operating facilities primarily in the U.S. and Canada. It is the most diversified steel products producer and North America’s largest recycler.

“It was an honor having Mr. Ferriola answer questions and discuss the company in depth with our class,” said Christopher Jones, TEMBA Class 2014 President. “It gave us great insight into the critical decision making process, issues and strategies from the CEO point of view.”
“I was especially pleased,” added Dr. A.J. “Lonnie” Strickland, the John R. Miller Professor of Strategy, “that Mr. Ferriola went beyond the domain of talking about Nucor and its strategic initiatives. He also offered excellent career advice and shared amazing insights about how to succeed as a professional and as a person.”

Mr. Ferriola joined Nucor Corporation in 1991 as Manager of Maintenance and Engineering, progressing up the corporate ranks to become CEO and President January 1, 2013. He also currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) and is on the Board of Directors of the American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI). He has also been active for more than 20 years in the Association for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST) and has served on its board of directors as well as on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).
“It was a great honor to have John so willingly accept an invitation to a visit with our class,” added Janet North, a Nucor employee and member of the TEMBA Class of 2014. “Early in my career with Nucor, as an intern out of Charlotte, I recognized what a special place Nucor is. And I quickly realized what a special role John plays in maintaining that valuable culture. His passion for Nucor, the steel industry, and for each and every employee is amazing.”

Mike Hardin, Dean of the Culverhouse College of Commerce, attended John’s presentation as well. “It was a thrill to witness John’s perceptive insights regarding the role of the CEO, the importance of communication and the strategic alignment of teams,” Dean Hardin observed. “Mr. Ferriola’s words obviously reflect the beliefs that have made Nucor a prized, valuable and innovative leader in the steel industry. To have him interact with our students so personally made it a wonderful experience for everyone present.”

Differences, Similarities, Opportunities

• March 6th, 2014
• in International Trip

As each of us prepared and anticipated our moments in South America, both from an educational perspective and a personal perspective, we were encouraged and challenged to keep an open mind: to identify differences, similarities, and even opportunities. Many of these moments came at different times and often revealed themselves in different aspects based on the classmate and/or staff member. This was to be expected, since some of us had traveled internationally, some of us had not; some had been to South America, even Chile and/or Peru, some had not; some knew little Spanish, some knew only English; some worked in international companies, some did not.

As we began our travels as early as Birmingham, I often noticed the nervous and anxious faces and body language of not only my peers, but also myself. Along our journey, each of us was finding within ourselves at least one question, but often many more, of what to expect throughout the experience. Questions moved in our minds about travel (flight/bus/taxi/walking), food, language, commerce, and even the welcome of the people. In early discussions, many of us were prepared for more differences than similarities. However, the more we experienced and witnessed, the more comfortable we became with travel, food, the foreign language. At this point we began to see more of the similarities: similarities not only of the countries we visited, but to the cities and lives of those of our own towns.

While in another part of the world, people lived their lives just as we do in the United States. Farms are grown and harvested, mines are dug, oil and gas is pumped, food is prepared and served, customer service is given, smiles are shared on the streets and families and friends are meeting at restaurants, cinemas, and shopping malls. All of this occurs while various business leaders in various industries manage the growth of the economy and find opportunities for their businesses, people and countries.

As challenged early in the process, we witnessed and experienced differences, similarities and opportunities. As we venture back to the United States, I believe each of us will be carrying new memories, new friendships, and most importantly a new perspective and open mind to the world we live in, both locally and internationally.

The (city, state, country, world) we live in…so big, yet so small; so advanced, yet still so far behind; so good, yet sometimes bad; so health conscious, yet still so limited; so accepting, yet so cautious; so developed, yet still so pure…the (city, state, country, world) we live in: so big, yet so small.

Janet North
TEMBA Class of 2014

Team: The Rising Tide
Janet North, Jeff LeRoy, Nagaraja Padur, Patrick Ellinger, Sunil Singh

Latin America — An Alumni’s Perspective

• February 28th, 2014
• in International Trip

When it was announced that alumni could attend the EMBA International trip, I immediately signed up. Several alumni showed interest; however, only three of us ultimately made the trek to Chile and Peru. In my opinion, attending the international trip as an alumni offered several unique learning opportunities. First, I was able to attend the company visits, which offered surprising insights into the local culture. Second, I had the flexibility to vary my schedule apart from the group at any time. Third, I was able to focus on other cultural learning opportunities instead of worrying about the team project (…which thankfully alumni aren’t required to do!)  With my newfound freedom as an alum, I maximized this opportunity by learning a foreign language. In this case, Latin American Spanish.

I began studying Spanish eight months prior to our departure. I used a combination of methods, including Rosetta Stone, Pimsluer audio courses, and the book “Dummies Guide to Spanish”. I was very excited about the opportunity to improve my Spanish skills through a full-emersion experience in Latin America. However, upon our arrival in Santiago, Chile, I quickly realized their speech patterns were greatly different than what I studied. Their style of speech involved partially enunciated words, dropped syllables and a lot of slang. Although the Chileans understood me, I had difficulty understanding them. For the first few days, my most frequently used phrase was “Escribilo, por favor” (Write it down, please).

Where ever we went, I practiced my Spanish by talking with the locals. I talked with anybody and everybody. Although my Spanish was far from fluent, I was able to communicate well enough to:

• Ask directions from subway workers and taxi drivers
• Haggle with local vendors
• Order meals at desayunar, almorzar, y cenar  (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
• Negotiate a private tour of the Bolsa de Valores de Lima (Lima Stock Exchange).
• Arrange bus transport through Lima, Peru, which can be very crowded and confusing.

Ultimately, I never would have attempted to learn a foreign language were it not for the EMBA International Trip. I highly encourage all alumni to take advantage of this learning opportunity and see the world with your UA friends, old and new.

– Russ Elrod, Huntsville EMBA Class of 2013

Experiencing Peru

• February 28th, 2014
• in International Trip

A famous American author once said “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” (James Albert Michener) It’s easy to say we are glad we didn’t stay home. We had the unique opportunity to see Peru not as tourists, but through the eyes of the people who work, live and love their country. With the lens of business leaders, our snapshot of Peru led us to believe they have great hope for the future. From people offering their artwork for a fee, to businessmen who are creating jobs, we had the opportunity to be exposed to the next generation of capitalism.
Peru is a beautiful country with an outward love of God, Christ and each other. It’s shown in the monuments of crosses that offer light to the city skyline at night. It’s seen in the gorgeous catholic churches’ set-ups for worship and smaller displays even in the hospital. Although we spoke muy poco español, the people were willing to decipher through our accents and our English to be of service to our needs.

It’s interesting how a place so far from home can instantly feel like Anywhere, USA. The constant honking and terrible traffic invoke the feeling of New York City. The cool, almost cold, calm nights feel like San Diego in the summer time. And the hot humid days feel like a game day in Tuscaloosa. (Roll Tide!) And what’s great is that it’s all in one place — Lima, Peru.

The greatest take away from this trip is gratefulness. Grateful, that with all of our problems, we still live and work in one of the greatest countries in the world. Hopefully what we’ve learned about business and culture will make us better American citizens and willing to change the world by upholding our perception of greatness not in judgment, but in cooperation.

Team: Crimson Cares
Kathi Dawn, Mrinal Dhar, Ashley Jackson, Dana Briley Runager, Krystal Swann and Tamaria Penick Yarbrough

Culture Shock

• February 28th, 2014
• in International Trip

 

Banco de Centro del Peru: Today we had a very interesting presentation from Renzo Rossini, manager of the Central Bank of Perú, the equivalent of our Federal Reserve Chairman. Mr. Rossini explained the very aggressive changes in fiscal policy that have turned their economy around. In 1990, inflation was near 400 percent. However, during the peak of the global economic crisis of 2008, in spite of three consecutive quarters of negative GDP, the country was able to maintain a annualized average GDP of 1 percent growth! This very quick recovery is just one of the highlights that demonstrates the strengths of Peru’s economic policies.

Santiago’s Scenery

• February 28th, 2014
• in International Trip

Flying into Chile was an awesome experience for our team.  The Andes mountain range enveloped Chile in a way that seemed to protect the country like a giant looking over it.  Upon entering Santiago, what we found interesting was the separation from the “haves” and the “have-nots,” not unlike big cities in the United States, just more noticeable due to proximity to the major highway.  The area before entering the tunnel was a poverty stricken shantytown, much like one would imagine in a third world country.  The water source for that part of the city was a river that flowed from the ice caps high on the tallest mountaintop in Chile.  Though it was the main water source, the river was littered with debris, as if the residence in this part of the city had no pride in the appearance of their city.

Immediately upon exiting the tunnel and entering Santiago, it seemed as if we entered another world.   The ramshackle hovels were replaced with beautiful high-rise buildings, designed by the best architects.    The streets of this part of the city were very clean, and the waterway was pristine.  Yet one item caught our eye—graffiti painted on the walls of every building.  It provided a sad continuity to the previous sentiment—that some residents did not take pride in their city.  In discussions with our hosts, we learned that there is no penalty for defacing property—even historical monuments.  Apparently most of the offenders are 8-9 year old kids from broken families, and the public sentiment is that prosecution of their crimes would serve no purpose.

On Sunday, we were able to visit the Andes Mountains.  Some individuals hiked the mountains, while others took in the scenery via horseback.  The view of the mountains was absolutely amazing.  The drive to the mountains was a bit scary, as the roads were winding with very deep drop offs.  However, this did not detract from the experience.  The trip to the mountains made us appreciate what a beautiful world God has given to us.

On Monday, we started the day with a trip to the Proctor and Gamble plant.  Being from America, we expected to see a plant that needed a lot of work to get up to the American standards.  We were pleasantly surprised to find an extremely clean and well-organized plant that met the highest standards of cleanliness and organization.  It was evident that they used many of the techniques we discussed in Operations Management.  The plant received its operating standards from the global corporation, which provided standardization and continuity across its worldwide operations.
We all agreed that our time in Chile was well worth the trip.  The country is absolutely beautiful, the local cuisine was great and the people were extremely nice and grateful to host us.   Our team is extremely grateful to the University of Alabama for giving us this opportunity to see such a beautiful part of the world, and to blend into a different culture.

Team: Crimson Express
Brad Wood, Ray Chowdhury, Brandon Cole, Emmett Garrett and Robert Justice