Predictive Modeling and Data Mining Trends Highlights EMBA Alumni Network Conference

• October 20th, 2016
• in EMBA Alumni Network

This year the Executive MBA Alumni Network held its Annual Conference in conjunction with the Culverhouse College of Commerce’s Business Analytics Symposium.  EMBA alumni and students joined over 200 attendees on October 13-14 at the Bryant Conference Center at The University of Alabama. Two keynote speakers and 10 sessions at the 2016 Executive MBA conference offered insights on exploring analytics in today’s corporate world as well as emerging trends in forecasting and predictive modeling and their implications for business. Sessions also covered operations research, data mining and statistics and their usage in fields including sports, healthcare, weather and finance.

Peter Keating, a senior writer at ESPN kicked off the symposium sharing stories from his “Numbers” column covering statistics which rate pro teams, NCAA tournament upsets and his pioneering work on concussions exposing how the National Football League deals with brain injuries.
Martha Hoover Crombie of The Crombie Group, a leading healthcare data consultant exposed the participants to RealTime Medicare Data where you are able to virtually walk with people as they progress from the doctor’s office to the emergency room, and from the operating table to the hospital bed.

Keynote speaker James Spann transported us back to the tragic Super Tornado Outbreak of April 27 in Alabama that claimed 64 lives including six University of Alabama students. Spann’s words were powerful as he cautioned to never forget that “there are people behind the numbers.”

The annual conference is an excellent way for our alumni to recommit themselves to their educational development and collegiate network. Seeing all the people, feeling the energy and learning about everyone’s success stories, as well as their challenges, can energize and motivate.

According to Pritha Powell (TEMBA 2016), Vice President, Corporate Marketing Strategist at Regions Financial Corporation, “The Business Analytics Symposium was an informative event that I would highly encourage others to attend. The sessions were led by forward-thinking and inspirational leaders from a wide-variety of industries. It was also a great opportunity to reconnect with classmates and meet other EMBA alumni and current students. I look forward to attending it again next year!”

In addition, there were tracks on data science and how to build a startup, analytics leadership, applications in banking, marketing and sales, and results from the Dow Challenge and MERCK National Student Competitions winners. The conference also featured the Executive MBA Alumni Network Dinner highlighting the “Year in Review” of alumni events held throughout 2016 by outgoing President Ben Paulk, and our 2017 Plans for the Future by incoming Board President Russell Shamburger.

The 2016 Board members were recognized as well as board members transitioning off this year: Beckie Crawford (TEMBA 2013), Vice President-Finance with Southern Medical Health Systems, who served as Secretary-Treasurer and Michael Ross (TEMBA 1989), Central Region President & Chief Commercial Officer for Renasant Corporation and Past President of EMBA Alumni Network Board.

The 2017 Board Members:
Russell Shamburger (TEMBA 2004), President
Ben Paulk (TEMBA 2012), Past President
Mike Brost (HEMBA 2015)
Russ Elrod (HEMBA 2013)
Jennifer Thomas (TEMBA 2014)

The EMBA Alumni Network’s annual conference is still a key event that our alumni find great value in attending. We continue to think strategically about the educational and networking events that we hold throughout the year. These programs are not something we take lightly because we understand it has potential implications and huge benefits for our members. So for those of you who attended this year’s conference, I hope you find a way to sustain the excitement, the vibrancy that you felt, and use it as motivation to make the 2017 conference an important event to attend and to encourage classmates to join us next year. For those of you who could not make the conference this year, we look forward to seeing you next year. Roll Tide UA EMBAs!

–Donna Blackburn, Director, Executive MBA Program

For more information on the UA EMBA Program and the EMBA Alumni Network, contact Cheryl Altemara at caltemara@cba.ua.edu or call 205.348.4501.

2017 UA EMBA International Trip Is Set For Vietnam and Singapore

• August 8th, 2016
• in International Trip

The University of Alabama Executive MBA revealed this weekend that the Class of 2017 will be visiting Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam and Singapore February 24-March 4. The trip is a requirement of the IBA 550 International Business course the EMBAs take in their final semester. In addition to students the trip is also open to EMBA alumni and spouses.

During the trip the students will visit a wide cross-section of industries, participate in case studies with companies, as well as conduct two consulting projects focusing on social enterprise in Ho Chi Minh. Participants will also take in the sights of Ho Chi Minh, explore the Mekong Delta to learn more about the locals’ way of life: their homes, transportation, work and traditions; and they will also tour Singapore’s colorful districts of Little India and Chinatown. It is a packed trip that will give maximum exposure to our students and their guests.

Our selection of Vietnam and Singapore allows us to compare/contrast between a developing and developed country. Vietnam is a powerful economic force in the region with vast agricultural exports and a high rate of foreign direct investment. The GDP for 2016 is $510.7B with a 6% GDP growth. Unemployment is 2.3% for a population of 90.6M and a median age of 25. Singapore’s successful free-market economy and urban development strategy boasts a GDP of $452.7B for 2016 and a 2.2% GDP growth in 2Q16. Unemployment is at 2.7% for a population of 5.5M.

Participants will also have an opportunity to do a post trip March 4-7, to Koh Samui, an island off the coast of Thailand. Travel+Leisure describes Koi Samui as “over-looked tropical treasure where you will discover small villages built entirely of bamboo; lush jungle interiors; turquoise-fringed beaches and a local culture giving you a taste of the region’s Asian traditions and a unique heritage preserved in hidden Buddhist temples with their iconic, gilded-red roofs, and resilient fishing villages on the Southern coast.”

International Study Programs (ISP) will once again serve as our travel agent and is working with the EMBA administration and faculty to design an outstanding international academic program. ISP has been providing premium, customized educational trips for business students for over 17 years. This year’s trip to Morocco and Spain was a rewarding cultural experience for our students with exceptional corporate visits. We hope to expand on our last trip to make the 2017 trip to Vietnam and Singapore a once in a lifetime experience.

Donna Blackburn, Director, EMBA Program
For more information on the UA EMBA International trip or in applying to the EMBA Program, contact Cheryl Altemara at caltemara@cba.ua.edu or call 205.348.4501.

Strickland Awarded the Sullivan Faculty Award Update

• April 12th, 2016
• in Behind the Scenes: Meet our Staff & Faculty, EMBA Elite Spotlight Series

Dr. Lonnie Strickland, John R. Miller Professor of Strategic Management, is the 2016 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Faculty Award honoree. Considered the highest honor The University of Alabama offers. Recipients of the award have demonstrated the highest standards of scholarship, leadership, and service. The Sullivan Faculty Award recognizes the practical application of noble ideals and is based on excellence of character and service to humanity.

Strickland currently teaches Strategy Formulation and Implementation in the Tuscaloosa and Huntsville EMBA Programs. He began teaching at Alabama in 1969 and is one of the founders of and has taught in every EMBA class at Alabama since its inception 31 years ago. He has won every major teaching award the University has to offer. He is also ranked first, second, or third when graduating Culverhouse students are asked a version of the following question, “Name one person who has had a significant influence on your life at Alabama.”

A rigorous, demanding and passionate professor as well as a skillful raconteur who is held in high esteem by his students.  According to Jimmy Mauldin (EMBA 2002), Economic Counselor, U.S. Embassy-Accra Ghana, “Lonnie Strickland’s classes on strategic management always come to mind … even 13 years later.”
The impact of Strickland’s teaching is evident in the stories our alumni continue to tell. “We grew market share of a key product in a growing segment from 15% to ultimately 100% ($200M annual run rate) over a seven-year period using principles of Michael Porter’s 5-forces model taught in Lonnie Strickland’s Strategy class,” according to Kevin Morgan (EMBA 1998), Director of Cloud and Services Marketing, ADTRAN, “and along the way we put competitors out of business.” Strong testament to the power of a course and a professor who strives to make a difference in a student’s life.

“To Lonnie, teaching is a vocation, not a job,” said long time peer and friend, Dr. Ron Dulek, John R. Miller Professor of Management, and EMBA Professor of Business Communications. “I can assure you, as one who sees him daily either before he goes or after he returns from class, he is as excited about and dedicated to teaching well today as he was in 1969 when he started teaching at Alabama.”

Strickland is co-author of the best-selling strategic management textbook, Crafting and Executing Strategy, which is currently used at 900 universities worldwide. Along the way he has served as National President of Phi Kappa Phi; served on various local, regional and national Boards of Directors, including two Fortune 1000 size companies: the Statesman Group and American Equity; co-founded a number of smaller companies and has been an advisor to countless students in their efforts to start small businesses or advance their corporate careers.

Dr. Strickland has been a tremendous supporter of the EMBA Program and continues to be an inspirational source for our students and alumni.  Congratulations Lonnie.

Donna Blackburn, Director, EMBA Program
For more information on The University of Alabama Executive MBA Program contact Cheryl Altemara at 205.348.4501, or caltemara@cba.ua.edu.

UA EMBAS JOURNEY TO MADRID

• April 5th, 2016
• in International Trip

This is part three of a four part series on The University of Alabama’s Executive MBA Class of 2016’s international trip to Morocco and Spain from February 27 to March 8, 2016.

It should come as no surprise that Alabama LOVES football. Can I get a Roll Tide! So if you are a University of Alabama Executive MBA Class of 2016 student on an International Trip in Madrid, Spain, where do you go first? You visit the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, stadium and home to Real Madrid or Real, as the team is commonly known, one of the most widely recognized and supported teams in the world. 2015 was a great year for Alabama and Real.

In 2015, Real was crowned Champions of Europe for the ninth time after beating Olympiacos in the Final Four, and Alabama took home the CFP National Championship after beating Clemson. In the world of football it’s important to pay your respects. So, we bought a ticket and drank a toast to Real and Madrid. After the stadium we had a quick tour through the city where sites were pointed out and notes taken of places to visit, we then headed to our hotel.

As we arrived we faced a sea of media, spotlights and cameras. Our hotel, as it turns out, was located directly across from the Congreso de los Diputados (Congress of Deputies or the lower house of Spain’s legislative branch). We had arrived on March 2, 2016 to our tour guides exclaiming, “Welcome to Spain, we have no government.” According to Reuters, during this week, “the leader of Spain’s Socialist Party (PSOE), Pedro Sanchez, was unsuccessful in winning enough parliamentary votes to become prime minister, resulting in a new round of talks or the possibility that Spaniards will have to return to the ballot box in June for new elections.” Everyone quickly and quietly rolled luggage over cables, smiled for cameras (we probably no doubt ended up on Madrid’s nightly news shows strolling through the backgrounds), checked into our hotel and promptly headed out to the nearest Tapas bar or for a cooking class.

There is no dish or drink more identifiable with Spain than paella and sangría. Some of the EMBA students and spouses put their culinary skills to work in recreating the Spanish rice dish rich with meats, seafood, vegetables and spices at Madrid’s Private cooking school the Cooking Point. They also unlocked the secrets to preparing sangría. As with all cooking classes a final tasting was in order for our newly minted Master Chefs.

On Thursday, we visited the Headquarters of BBVA, a multinational group providing financial services in over 35 countries and to 66 million customers throughout the world. During the presentation, Mr. Miguel Cardoso, Chief Economist BBVA Research reported that “1) the world economy will continue to grow but at a slower pace than in past with more risks, 2) Spain’s economy has started 2016 with positive signs pointing to continuation of trends set in 2015, and 3) due to uncertainties, internal and external, forecasting growth at 2.7% for this year.” BBVA also reported that they were investing for new ideas and ways of doing things rather than just for profitability as a long-term strategy.

In the afternoon the students visited Genomica, Spain’s leading molecular diagnostics company. The company’s mission is to improve the current approach to molecular diagnostics in the life sciences by providing reliable and automated diagnostic tools. Genomica’s CEO and General Manager Rosario Cospedal talked about Genomica’s development of diagnostic tests for human papillomavirus, viral respiratory diseases and providing analysis of DNA, legal and forensic medicine and technology transfer service and toured students through the laboratories.

On Friday, students visited Deimos Space and met with General Director Miguel Belló Mora. Deimos specializes in the design, engineering and development of solutions and systems integration in the aerospace, satellite systems, remote sensing, information systems and telecommunications network sectors. Students enjoyed interesting discussions regarding the Galileo Project, mining on the moon, Don Quixote Project (to deflect asteroids), tracking satellites along with Deimos’ work in energy, transport and tracking solutions and services.

The final company visit belonged to the Grey Group, one of the world’s top advertising and marketing organizations. Grey operates in 154 cities in 96 countries serving one fifth of the Fortune 500. CEO Javier Suso led the EMBA teams in a case study on the revitalization of the Grey Group.

As with all good things they must come to an end. Well, at least for some. We ended our official trip with a farewell dinner and (because it’s Spain) a Flamenco Show at the Corral de la Moreria Restaurante. And, yes there was paella and sangria, and dancing. Corral de la Moreria is quite famous. Not sure if they would post our pictures up on the walls with Ron Wood, Omar Sharif, James Cameron, Harrison Ford, Sarah Jessica Parker, Richard Gere and Justin Beber – but we did feel we deserved a spot. I mean, come on Roll Tide! The next morning half of the students, spouses and faculty returned home while the other half extended the stay with an optional trip to Barcelona. We were not ready to say goodbye just yet.

For more information on The University of Alabama Executive MBA Program contact Cheryl Altemara at 205.348.4501, or caltemara@cba.ua.edu.

To read more on the UA EMBA Class of 2016 international trip to Morocco and Spain

• Part I -UA EMBA Travels to Morocco and Spain – we begin in Marrakech
• Part II – Here’s Looking at You Kid – EMBAs in Casablanca
• Part IV – Barcelona Offers EMBAs Great Post Trip Experience

Roll Tide Welcome for Incoming TEMBA Class of 2017

• November 30th, 2015
• in EMBA Uncategorized, UA EMBA Latest News/Events

The Culverhouse College of Commerce welcomed the incoming Tuscaloosa Executive MBA Class of 2017 at orientation on The University of Alabama campus on November 19. The 30 students enjoyed a kickoff reception the night before at Hotel Capstone. Interim Dean Brian Gray welcomed them to campus where they will pursue an M.B.A. degree over the next 17 months.

The incoming TEMBA class has an average age of 35 and 13 years of work experience. Thirty-three percent of the class is female (the average for EMBA Programs worldwide is 27.6 percent, according to the EMBA Council). The class represents a diverse range of industries from finance, government and non-profit, healthcare, manufacturing, defense, consulting, energy, construction, media, services, engineering and technology. In addition, 20 percent are military, 73 percent managers, 10 percent professionals and 20 percent are vice president/c-level/owners.

During orientation the students are divided into the teams they will work in during the program. The EMBA forms teams based on several parameters including professional and academic background, skill sets, goals and personality testing. Students had sessions on values, building their team charters, University processes, career development and an introduction to statistics.

Teams also competed in a scavenger hunt later in the day where they sought out campus landmarks for photo ops. “It’s a fun way to get to know the campus and build relationships with their team and classmates,” said Linda Cox, Program Assistant for EMBA.

The orientation concluded with a dinner hosted by the Executive MBA Alumni Network. Network President Ben Paulk greeted the incoming class and congratulated them on their journey. “The EMBA Program is a life changing experience and if you embrace it, the opportunity is there to build a great professional network and to make lasting friendships,” said Paulk.

The students will return to campus December 1 for a week-long immersion to begin their first semester Statistics, Marketing, Accounting and Project Management courses.

Congratulations and Roll Tide TEMBA Class of 2017:

• Ruqayyah Abdullah, BBVA Compass
• Michael Adams, Randall-Reilly
• Katie Askew, The University of Alabama
• Brady Baird, Summerville United Methodist Church
• Brett BiaLowas, PPG Industries
• Jay Brooks II, Tag Grinding
• Stephen Buzzell, Grammer, Inc.
• Christie Davis, Northport Police Department
• Sierra Earle, USAmeriBank
• Monte Green, McLeod Software
• Matt Hartley, Chemetall
• Billy Helmandollar, DCH Health System
• Mary Scott Hunter, Intuitive Research
• Doug Lafont, TAMKO Building Products
• Walt Long, US Air Force, MAFB
• Anuraag Malaviya, Tata Consultancy Services
• Frazer McCurdy, ServisFirst Bank
• Hayley Ray McNeill, The University of Alabama
• Bridgette Montgomery, VA Medical Center
• Natasha Moore, Horne LLP
• Sean O’Brien, UPS
• Bryan Sanders, DaVita Kidney Care
• Jason Sellars, The University of Alabama
• Lilly Setiawan, The Dutch Group
• Dane Shaw, Arsenal Place Accelerator
• Ryan Stallings, First South Farm Credit
• Will Stroup, The  Brogdon Group
• Josh Vinson, Parallon Business Solutions
• Beth Webster, Small Business Development Center
• Rich Winstead, US Navy

For more information on the Executive MBA Program at The University of Alabama contact Cheryl Altemara at caltemara@cba.ua.edu or call 205-348-4501 or visit our website at www.emba.ua.edu.

University of Alabama Welcomes HEMBA 2017 Class

• August 21st, 2015
• in EMBA Program Information, EMBA Uncategorized, UA EMBA Latest News/Events

Fall on the University of Alabama campus is exciting as new and returning students arrive. There is cooler weather and talk of classes, faculty and football, and not necessarily in that order.  From Denny Chimes to the Bryant-Denny Stadium, from the President’s Mansion to the Ferguson Center (Ferg), from Coleman Coliseum to the Park at Manderson Landing along the Black Warrior River, The University of Alabama is welcoming its students.

On August 12, the Culverhouse College of Commerce greeted the new Huntsville EMBA Class of 2017 with its first orientation at UA. The HEMBA Program began in 2008. In the past, students would take classes on the UAHuntsville campus and only come to Tuscaloosa for graduation. We wanted to do something different this year and have them begin their 21-month, five-semester experience with the Capstone. For many it was their first time on campus.

Over the two-and-a-half day orientation, the students met with their first semester faculty, participated in team building, and met with the Executive MBA Alumni Board. They also spent time seeing some of the sites and meeting other alumni and students on campus while involved in a team challenge scavenger hunt. They also nailed down the “Rammer Jammer” and “Roll Tide” cheers and are looking forward to a tailgate this fall in T-Town.

The students represent companies such as PPG Industries, ADTRAN, Infosys, Nissan North America, Sikorsky Aircraft, Southern Telecom, Amerex Corporation, the US Army, Northrop Grumman, and the Missile Defense Agency. The defense and manufacturing agencies are hugely represented in this cohort, with 28% and 24% of the students working in them, respectively. Other industries include finance, technology, healthcare/pharmaceutical, retail, telecom, construction, real estate and services.

The class reflects more diversity in terms of educational backgrounds. 43% of the students who just joined the program graduated with undergraduate degrees in engineering, followed by 29% with liberal arts degrees, 19% with business degrees, and 10% with science/math degrees. The average age is 37 with an average of 15 years of work experience. We also have 38% of our students coming from a military background.

Incoming students have goals to develop and further their career, develop business skills, further their mentoring and leadership skills, pursue financial security, own a business, have an impact on their company, become a better manager and motivator, and travel and work abroad.

Please join us in welcoming our HEMBA Class of 2017:

Ryan Burch, Northrop Grumman Corporation

Felicia Craig, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Jason Deane, Nucor Steel

Chuck Freind, Amerex Corporation

Sonya Harner, Nissan North America

Jimmy Hassan, Dayton Superior Corporation

Rodney Hoover, DRS Technology

Shane Jackson, AMRDEC

Ray Morris, VentureSouth

Barry Navarre, Southern Telecom

Gaurav Negi, ADTRAN, Inc.

Phillip Patterson, Stutts Properties, Inc.

Nicole Reynolds, Zero Point Frontiers

Joshua Rountree, Nissan North America

Will Stinson, TotalPrint, DEX Company

Joe Taylor, PPG Industries

Bhuwan Thakur, Infosys Limited

Josh Vinson, Parallon Business Solutions

Dustin Whited, MDA/ECM

Nirvana Williams, ENDO Pharmaceuticals

Matt Zepp, Department of the Army

For more information on the Culverhouse Executive MBA Program, click on EMBA or contact Cheryl Altemara at caltemara@cba.ua.edu or call 205.348.4501.
 

Behind the Scenes: New Faculty Joining EMBA Program

• June 16th, 2015
• in Behind the Scenes: Meet our Staff & Faculty

At the Culverhouse College of Commerce Executive MBA Program we are always evolving, always looking for what is happening next in business and how to make our program more relevant and challenging for our executive students. The faculty members who teach in the EMBA Program at The University of Alabama are leaders in their fields. Joining the EMBA team this year are four new faculty who are leading the way in the fields of data mining, global business and leadership.

Dr. Uzma Raja will be teaching MIS 541 Business Analytic Support Systems beginning Fall 2015 in Huntsville. Raja, an Information Systems Statistics and Management Science associate professor, focuses her research on investigating information systems evolution and the organizational factors that impact the long-term success of these systems. She has specifically focused on investigating Open Source Software project evaluation and evolution. With expertise in data and text mining, her areas of research include software evolution, open source software and health information systems.

Raja is an active member of the IS research community and has presented research at various conferences and recently had a report published in the prestigious Institute of Industrial Engineers’ flagship journal, IIE Transactions. The report focused on fuel-switch decisions in the electric power industry is a testimony of the application of data-driven analysis in today’s business climate. She is also a member of the advisory council of the Business Intelligence Congress III, and a member of AIS, IEEE, INFORMS and ACM. Prior to academia, she had extensive experience in systems development and maintenance during her seven years at a global consulting company.

Changes are also being made to the IBA 550 International Business course. Two new faculty will be coming on board to teach the IBA 550 course in Huntsville and Tuscaloosa: Drs. Jack Clampit and Peter Magnusson. The IBA 550 course will have an expanded format and broader focus on cross culture with a more in-depth focus on the countries students will visit on their international trip.

Dr. Jack Clampit is assistant professor of marketing and global business. His research focuses on relationships between the institutional characteristics of markets that firms operate in and firm conduct/performance (e.g., market location choice and entry mode). This includes the study of distal links, such as institutional antecedents (e.g., the interaction of culture, historical path dependencies, and cognitive bias) and societal outcomes (e.g., poverty alleviation, sustainable development). Dr. Clampit has authored numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles (including publications in two of the world’s top three international business journals: Journal of World Business and Management International Review). He has also won numerous Best Paper and reviewer awards.

Dr. Peter Magnusson is joining the Culverhouse College of Commerce as an associate professor of International Marketing in the summer of 2015. Peter grew up in Sweden, earned his Ph.D. in Marketing and International Business from Saint Louis University and comes most recently from Florida International University. His research specializes in the areas of international marketing strategy and international consumer behavior, with a particular interest in the influence of culture and institutional factors on cross-cultural differences in consumer behavior and international marketing strategy. He has published his research in various academic journals and serves on several marketing and global boards. Dr. Magnusson has taught in Medellin, Colombia; Paris, France, and led multiple study-abroad programs throughout Europe.

We are also thrilled to have Dr. Filippo Passerini, former CIO and president, Global Business Services at P&G, to join our EMBA Program. Passerini will be teaching the final Leadership workshop component in the fifth semester in Huntsville. Dr. Passerini will be discussing the VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) problems faced by business. He will cover solutions and describe how P&G operates in a VUCA world through the use of business analytics for decision-making, in particular the visualization of big data with decision cockpits and Business Sphere environments. Passerini will also cover a variety of managerial topics including leadership characteristics for success, the five situational leadership styles that managers must employ for success, the importance of storytelling for business leaders, a framework for business models, and frugal innovation in developing markets. Filippo holds a Doctorate in Statistics and Operating Research from the University of Rome.

For more information on the EMBA Program, visit the Culverhouse EMBA website at www.emba.ua.edu or call 205.348.4501.

Celebrating EMBA Class of 2015 Graduates, Families and Veterans

• May 28th, 2015
• in EMBA Alumni Network, UA EMBA Latest News/Events

May is always a hectic month for our Executive MBA Program. May is graduation month, a time for celebrating the accomplishments of our most recent graduating class. After 17-21 months of academic coursework, team assignments, case discussions, projects, presentations, international travel and very little sleep, our students become graduates. On May 2, 2015, the Culverhouse College of Commerce Executive MBA Program recognized the graduates and families with an Awards Banquet at the North Zone of Bryant-Denny Stadium before the formal University of Alabama commencement at Coleman Coliseum.

This year 27 graduates received their M.B.A. degrees from the Huntsville and Tuscaloosa EMBA classes. We also marked a milestone with our 30th graduating class in Tuscaloosa. Awards were also given to recognize class leaders and MVPs, students earning a 4.0 GPA and outstanding faculty.  This year’s honorees included TEMBA President Justin Merritt and Vice President Ryan Aday, HEMBA President Randy Lewis, TEMBA MVP Neil DiChiara and HEMBA MVP Nate Drees.  Graduates receiving a 4.0 GPA: Mike Brost, Nate Drees, Ashley Erickson, Justin Havrilla, Justin Merrit, Philip Morrison, Ross Swenson, Amy Tucker and Liz Williford.

In addition, the Huntsville and Tuscaloosa classes awarded Dr. James F. Cashman Faculty Awards and EMBA Faculty Excellence Awards. The Dr. James F. Cashman Faculty Award honors the memory of the late EMBA strategy implementation professor whose high standards of integrity served as a pristine example for his students. The TEMBA class bestowed the Cashman Award to Dr. William Walsh, Economics Instructor; and HEMBA recognized Dr. Ron Dulek, the John R. Miller Professor of Management.  The Faculty Excellence Awards went to Dr. William Walsh (TEMBA) and Dr. Rich Houston (HEMBA), Director, Culverhouse School of Accountancy and Hilton Dean Professor of Accounting.

Attending the EMBA Awards Banquet and University Commencement were over 150 family members. It is always a highlight for EMBA faculty and staff to celebrate with the family this great achievement. “We often tell students that they will find doing the program difficult without company support but impossible without family support.

The family’s encouragement and assistance cannot be underestimated,” said Donna Blackburn, director of the Executive MBA Program.

It is also a highlight for our EMBA Program to recognize the many Veterans we have in our program. This year 22% of our EMBA graduating class were Veterans. “During Commencement Veterans were given red, white and blue cords to wear with our regalia,” said Clint Vance. “UA respects and takes care of Vets who wish to attend college. Most have had a rough time and (the EMBA Program and Veteran and Military Affairs office) make it easy, and I never had an issue that was not promptly addressed.” Clint is a U.S. Army Veteran, and is currently AMP Manager with ProEquities in Birmingham.

Thank you to the family, friends and companies that supported our graduates throughout the program. Check out more photos from graduation on our Facebook page. Once again, congratulations to the Executive MBA Class of 2015:

Nancy Acquavella, Yorktown Systems Group, Inc.
Ryan Aday, BBVA Compass Bank
Julia Bobick, U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center
Mike Brost, Modern Technology Solutions, Inc.
Zac Buchanan, Blue Line Rental
Kathleen Crawford, Department of the Army
Neal DiChiara, The University of Alabama
Nathan Drees, Universal Lighting Technologies
Ashley Erickson, AMRDEC
Justin Havrilla, AAR Integrated Technologies
Jeremy Howe, Columbia College
Matthew Legg, Sterne Agee
Randy Lewis, U.S. Army
Kelly Lindsey, The Golf Associates
Justin Merritt, KBR, Inc.
Philip Morrison, Chip Rewards
Vanessa Pettway, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Sam Price, Nucor Steel Birmingham, Inc.
Adam Ritch, JMJ Associates
Ross Swenson, Regions Financial Corporation
Garett Toflinski, Randall-Reilly
Amy Tucker, Sonoco
Clint Vance, ProEquities, Inc.
Katherine Wayne, SAIC/PFRMS
Lance Will, Honeywell Aerospace
Robb Williams, Lear Corporation
Liz Williford, Southern Nuclear
For more information about the Culverhouse EMBA Program at The University of Alabama, contact Cheryl at caltemara@cba.ua.edu, or call 205.348.4501.

The International Trip – An EMBA Highlight

• April 24th, 2015
• in International Trip

The 2015 Culverhouse College of Commerce Executive MBA study abroad tour took us from Panama City in the Republic of Panama and then to Bogota, Colombia, February 28-March 6. While waiting to depart with some of the EMBA Class of 2015 students, who were excited and looking forward to heading to Central America, it was hard not to reflect on the many trips we have taken over the years.

Turning 30 this year, one of the many highlights of the EMBA Program is our international trip, which is part of the International Business course in the final semester.  The international trips began in 2003, and since then we have visited 15 countries, 28 cities and 118 companies. Students’ description of the trip include: Awesome, A Trip of a Lifetime, Challenging, Valuable and A Learning Experience I Will Always Remember! Students meet with senior executives from companies and government officials, in addition to touring the local sites.

The EMBA Class of 2015’s Central America trip included business visits to Global Bank Corporation, Electric Transmission Company (ETESA), DHL Express Panama and the Panama Canal Authority in The Republic of Panama, and the Ministry of Defense, IBM, Alpina and the Coffee Federation in Bogota, Colombia. In addition, 38 students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests enjoyed city tours and a day on Contadora Island (part of the Pearl Islands) off the coast of Panama, and finally a closing dinner on Monserrate Hill in Bogota.

South America has been experiencing rapid growth.  Panama’s economy is service based, with GDP at $57.1B and 10.7% growth, and 16% of US-born trade passes through the Canal. Students were able to compare and contrast the economic and cultural differences between the two countries. Colombia, a member of the Pacific Alliance, is the third largest economy in Latin America, after Brazil and Mexico, with a 5% average annual GDP.

At Alpina, a manufacturer of consumer food products in Colombia, the EMBAs met with Diago Aparicio, Director of Talent Development. According to Aparicio, “Alpina was founded by two Swiss entrepreneurs in 1945 creating artisanal cheeses, and six decades later exports more than 500 consumer products to 20 countries.”  Colombia’s economic growth in the last five years has been steadily improving, even overtaking Peru as the region’s fastest-growing economy.

Speakers at IBM and the Ministry of Defense in Bogota spoke of Colombia as a success story with a lot of influence in the South America region. “We are seeing more investment, but still have a long way to go,” said Luz Stella Paez, Director of Business Management at the Defense Ministry.

EMBA alumni are welcome to join the students on their international trip. We will announce the e next trip at the end of July.

For more information on the Culverhouse College of Commerce Executive MBA Program and its international trip, contact the EMBA office at 205.348.4501, caltemara@cba.ua.edu.

Edited with BlogPad Pro

EMBA Elite Spotlight: Alumni Network President Mike Ross

• January 27th, 2015
• in EMBA Alumni Network, EMBA Elite Spotlight Series

Mike Ross, the Culverhouse College of Commerce Executive MBA Alumni Network President, also serves as Chief Commercial Officer and Eastern Region President of Renasant Bank. After earning his Bachelor of Science from the Culverhouse College of Commerce at The University of Alabama in 1986, he returned just a few years later to earn his Masters from our Executive MBA program in 1989. Mike believes that the program was critically important to his early advancement into senior and executive management. “The additional practice I gained through my course work gave me an early advantage over most of my peers in the industry from an early stage (I was a young 23 years old when I started the program!)” Mike said.

After his oldest son began his freshman year at The University of Alabama, Mike decided to run for UA EMBA Alumni Network President because he wanted to give more to his Alma Mater. As President, Mike plans to focus on enhancing participation and communication from his fellow alumni by hosting additional events for networking and reconnecting.

First up will be the kick off for the EMBA’s 30th Anniversary, a Rooftop Reception at the Renasant Bank in downtown Tuscaloosa on April 17.  “We are extremely excited to have Mr. Ross and Renasant Bank host our 30th Anniversary event at their new bank,” said Donna Blackburn, director of the EMBA Program.  “Showcasing our achievements since 1985, along with our alumni, students and corporate sponsors such as Renasant is an honor and we look forward to a grand evening.”

“To members of the Network,” Mike said, “please consider proactively reaching out to your classmates and encourage them to participate. We would welcome feedback from anyone as to how we can make the Alumni Network more attractive and beneficial to its members. Also, please send us any news as to major events, promotions, and/or career changes you have made. The success of our members in their lives and careers is the best indicator of the value of the program. The more we can help promote the success of our members, the more valuable all of our degrees become.”

“To prospective new students,” Mike continued, “the EMBA Program at the University of Alabama will change your life forever. The skills you will learn, the experiences you will encounter, and the work ethic that you will adopt will serve you and your families well for the rest of your life. If you have a desire to set yourself apart from your competition in the workplace, please consider submitting an application.”

For more information about the Executive MBA Program at The University of Alabama, contact Cheryl Altemara at 205.348.5401 or request information here.