HEMBA Team Working to Bring Baseball Back to Huntsville

• January 25th, 2017
• in UA EMBA Latest News/Events

During last fall’s Project Management course, one of The University of Alabama Executive MBA teams struck on the idea to “Bring Baseball Back to Huntsville.” The “5 Guys” team, aka Colton Campbell, Daryl Evans, Eric Janssen, John Meshensky and Carl Vasilko, reached out to the Huntsville Mayor’s office for some insight and to gather additional information for their course project.

“We wanted to understand if the city was targeting any particular sites for a new ballpark as well as gauge their current level of interest,” said Daryl Evans, Vice President of Operations for TotalPrint and HEMBA 2018 Class President.

With the success of the Birmingham Barons and Regions Field, the team was excited about the possibility of having another franchise team back in Huntsville. The Mayor’s office was helpful and “they asked us to share with them what other information we were able to gather when we finished our project,” said Evans.

On December 21, the team met with Mayor Tommy Battle, District 2 Councilman Mark Russell and City Administrator John Hamilton.  During the meeting the HEMBA team walked them through their presentation and shared their assessment of the necessary details.  It was a great meeting.  “Currently there is not a real plan on the table to bring baseball back,” said Evans, “but I think we did our best to express the value we believe that a downtown entertainment/baseball complex could bring to the city of Huntsville.”

The MIS 511 Project Management course, taught by Jim Brown, requires each team in the class to present a work-related or community-based improvement project. They begin by presenting their project, the needs and the possible outcomes to the class. They work on their goals during the entire semester, finishing with a final presentation. Finally they request funding approval from the selection committee, who are their fellow classmates. In addition to bringing baseball back to Huntsville, other projects have included post-tornado rebuilding, community development, work process improvements, and new marketing initiatives.

For more information on The University of Alabama Executive MBA Program click on emba.ua.edu or contact Cheryl Altemara at (205) 348-4501 or caltemara@cba.ua.edu.

Incoming TEMBA Class Celebrates Orientation with Disney Magic

• November 29th, 2016
• in UA EMBA Latest News/Events

You kind of expect that there will be Big Al sightings and shouts of Roll Tide! and Go Bama! when the new EMBAs hit orientation on the campus of The University of Alabama, but this year the students were also greeted by the Disney Institute and some famous Disney characters.  The 33rd Tuscaloosa Executive MBA Class joined their fellow classmates, the Huntsville EMBA 2018 class, on the second day of orientation for Disney’s Approach to Leadership Excellence.

“Disney is one of the premier companies in the world for leadership and customer service,” said Dr. Brian Gray, Associate Dean of Manderson Graduate School, “and this is a great opportunity for our students to get an inside look on what makes them so successful and how they can apply what they do at their companies.”

Students were exposed to firsthand principles that are at the core of Disney’s organizational strength: effective communication, successful organizational structures, sustaining momentum to achieve goals, day-to-day behaviors that make long-lasting impact on others and developing action steps to influence and develop individual leadership behaviors. Also, during the November 18 Disney Workshop everyone celebrated the birthday of Mickey Mouse, who turned 88 years old.

The day before the Disney Workshop, the TEMBA class enjoyed the traditional orientation activities. Twenty-six students began their 17-month journey to obtain their M.B.A. degree.  In addition to preparing the new students on how to navigate University logistics, orientation focuses on getting the students to know their classmates and teammates through various team building exercises including the EMBA Scavenger Hunt which has become a tradition. Another tradition is the welcome from the EMBA Alumni Network President Russell Shamburger (TEMBA 2004) at the orientation dinner.

This year’s Tuscaloosa class has an average age of 37, with 14 years of work experience and 8 years of management. Industries represented in this year’s cohort include automotive, finance, consulting, energy, manufacturing, construction, distribution,  retail, service, government, healthcare, food & beverage and technology.  Sixteen percent represent VP/C-level and professional positions and 23% has military experience (current active duty or retired service members).

The 2018 T-EMBA class members are:

• Carolyn Berry, GE/Roper Corporation
• Molly Louise Bray, AmerisourceBergen
• Maren Cross, Daimler Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.
• Joseph Culbert, GE Appliances
• Chris Derksen, Vulcan Materials Company
• Christina Gordon, Druid City Hospital Health System
• Matt Groves
• Ben Johnson, Cahaba Government Benefit Administrators LLC
• Dejarvas Kelly, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.
• Mitchell Loper, Raymond James
• Jake Mankin, The University of Alabama
• Jason McConnell, RSM US LLP
• Felicia McKinney, The University of Alabama Supply Store
• Chris Overstreet, Doster Construction Company, Inc.
• Christian Patel, Alabama Power Company
• Frank Pete, Horne LLP
• Derrica Poole, FIS Global
• Kevin Porter, TIAA
• Bethany Roberts, Books-A-Million
• Drew Rollins, Star Asset Security
• Jenna Roney, Mississippi Power Company
• Jason Sellars, The University of Alabama Office of Veteran Affairs
• Jeff Stewart, Barings Capital Management
• Justin Walker, Georgia-Pacific
• Jermaine West, Dean Foods
• Nora Woods, New Life Interfaith Ministries, Inc.

Congratulations and Roll Tide! to the Tuscaloosa EMBA Class of 2018.

Check out more photos from the TEMBA orientation at the UAEMBA Facebook page.For more information and to apply to the EMBA Program go to www.emba.ua.edu or contact Cheryl Altemara at caltemara@cba.ua.edu or call 205-348-4501.

Incoming EMBA Alumni Network President Challenges Alumni to Participate and Grow EMBA

• November 10th, 2016
• in EMBA Alumni Network, EMBA Uncategorized

Greetings fellow EMBA alumni and current EMBA students. It is an honor to represent so many of you and continue to build on all the work that has been done since the Executive MBA Alumni Network Board was formed in 2013.  My first year on the board as Vice President was a great experience and I honestly don’t know where the time went. A special thanks to outgoing President Ben Paulk, Past President Mike Ross and Secretary-Treasurer Beckie Crawford for all the great work they did while serving on the board this past year.

The 2016-2017 Alumni Network Board will focus on three primary goals. The first is a challenge to our alumni to step up their participation in the EMBA Alumni Survey. In 2015 we had a response rate of 24%. In 2017 our goal is to double the response rate to at least 48%. The survey will be finalized in mid-2017 and more communication will follow.

Our second goal is to increase the reach of our alumni database. Staying well informed on all the activities that are going on with our program is very easy thanks to social media. The Executive MBA staff goes to great lengths to make this program a success. Let’s do our part by encouraging our classmates to maintain their contact information with the program. I will be reaching out to the class presidents and vice presidents in the very near future to help us reconnect with our alumni.

The last goal is one that we hope carries over into 2019, which coincides with the 100th Anniversary of the Culverhouse College of Commerce. With our graduating EMBA classes in 2016, the program has a total of 853 EMBA alums. If the program graduates an average of approximately 50 students over the next 3 years, we will reach the milestone of having 1000 alumni graduates. To make this a reality we need to encourage the best and brightest in our industries to pursue their continued education and development as a professional in the EMBA Program. Any alum referring someone who enrolls in the program will receive a special gift.

Paulk Reflects on Honor to Serve as President of the EMBA Alumni Network

• November 8th, 2016
• in EMBA Alumni Network

As is often the case, whenever we stop to reflect on the past year, it seems to have gone by so fast. We rarely notice time as it is passing with all of the things going on in our busy lives. And so it is as the Culverhouse College of Commerce Executive MBA Alumni Network at The University of Alabama turns the page on another year.

Looking back, your board accomplished a lot. We held events, like the tailgate, lunches, and family day, where people got to network while having a great time. We contributed to continuing education by hosting our annual conference and participating in various activities with the University, including the Business Analytics Symposium. We have supported the development of the Executive MBA Program by recruiting exceptional prospective students and promoting a new endowed scholarship. We also welcomed our newest class of alumni in the spring.
It was an honor to serve as President of our EMBA Alumni Network, but it was a greater honor to work with your Board of Directors. Each person put forth a great effort to further the mission of the EMBA Alumni Network.

I want to especially thank Mike Ross (TEMBA 1989) our former president and Beckie Crawford (TEMBA 2013), our former secretary-treasurer. Their service and leadership has helped us make great strides over the past few years.

While we have accomplished a lot, I feel that our network is only just beginning to fulfill its potential. I would urge everyone in the EMBA Alumni Network to get involved in any way that you can, whether it’s attending an event, contributing to the endowment, or just promoting the EMBA program to your colleagues.

We have many opportunities in the years ahead and you have elected some wonderful individuals who will carry on this important work. I look forward to working with the current Board as we build on the momentum we have created.
Roll Tide!

Benjamin Paulk (TEMBA 2012) served as President of the EMBA Alumni Network Board for 2016 and is currently serving as 2017 Past President on the board.

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

EMBA’s First Endowed Scholarship

• August 23rd, 2016
• in UA EMBA Latest News/Events

Brian Rankin, EMBA 2004, has generously donated and established the very first endowed scholarship for The University of Alabama Executive MBA Program. The Brian A. Rankin Executive MBA Endowed Scholarship will be used to assist students with necessary supplemental funds to aid them in funding their tuition and obtaining their degree.

Rankin is the Vice President, Deputy General Counsel of Comcast Corporation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has been in this position for almost 11 years, but has been in the telecommunications industry since 1989. He graduated from Illinois State University in 1983 with a degree in Political Science and History, before attending DePaul University College of Law. Rankin graduated from The University of Alabama Executive MBA Program in 2004 where he graduated with honors.

He is a veteran of the US Army and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.Rankin works for a number of community organizations, including as a pro bono volunteer for Philadelphia Law Works. He also works as pro bono legal counsel for Sojourners, which is a national anti-poverty organization; and serves on the Vestry of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia. He and his wife, Soozung Sa Rankin, are a host family for Curtis Institute of Music international students.

The scholarship will be given priority to students who are unconditionally accepted into the Executive MBA Program.
“We would like to thank Brian Rankin for his generous donation and are profoundly honored by his choice to support the Executive MBA Program,” said Donna Blackburn, Director of EMBA.

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

EMBA Program Welcomes Ninth Huntsville Class

• August 19th, 2016
• in EMBA Program Information, EMBA Uncategorized

With summer winding down and fall just around the corner, many students are getting ready to go back to school. The EMBA Program is no exception and has begun another academic year by welcoming the ninth Huntsville cohort at the UA campus in Tuscaloosa for orientation and their first day of classes.

On Wednesday, August 10, the new class got to know their classmates and teammates better, were instructed on university logistics and participated in a campus-wide team-building scavenger hunt. The full day was capped off with a dinner at the Hotel Capstone where the class mingled with professors, staff and alumni. Benjamin Paulk (TEMBA 2012) and Russell Shamburger (TEMBA 2004) represented the EMBA Alumni Network Board.

Following orientation, the students began their first semester classes on Thursday and Friday with Accounting, Statistics, Marketing and Project Management.

This year’s Huntsville class is composed of seasoned professionals from a variety of industries, including defense, healthcare, and manufacturing. Some other industries represented in this year’s cohort are services, telecom and construction. The average age for the Huntsville class is 41, and the average work experience is 19 years, with 12 years being management experience. Sixty-seven percent of the class are managers in their jobs and 20% are C-level/VP/Owners. Twenty-seven percent of the class has military experience, ranging from current active duty to retired service members.

“Although students take classes one weekend a month in Huntsville for twenty-one months beginning in September, it is great to get them on the UA campus to meet faculty and alumni at orientation,” said Director Donna Blackburn. Some HEMBA students in the past haven’t been able to visit the campus, so this is an excellent way to help them fully acquaint themselves with The University of Alabama.

Everyone is excited and ready to get started. The alumni were especially eager to welcome this new class into the program and see them thrive over the next twenty-one months.

The 2018 H-EMBA class are:

Colton Campbell, Otis Elevator Company

Chemeka Dabney, LP Building Products

Daryl Evans, TotalPrint

Lacey Hyche, Oral Arts Dental Laboratories

Eric Janssen, SportMed

Pete Kerr, ADTRAN, Inc

Nancy Laster, Piedmont Healthcare

Brian Lee, Sentry Insulation

Andy Maguire, Tennessee National Guard

Mario McKinnon, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

John Meshensky, ManTech International

Rachel Smith, WOW! Business

Carl Vasilko, PAE

Tory Wiles, SAIC

Tyler Williams, Parker Hannifin Corporation

For more information on the UA EMBA Program, 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.

Former EMBA Alumni Network President Named to Top 50 Over 50 in Birmingham

• July 18th, 2016
• in EMBA Uncategorized

Mike Ross (EMBA 1989) was named to Positive Maturity’s Top 50 Over 50 List.  According to the Birmingham Business Journal, this honor recognizes individuals who are exhibiting a high level of success in their careers, civic engagement or personal lives, as well as making a measurable impact on their communities through their work. “I am honored and humbled to be recognized by an organization such as Positive Maturity,” said Ross, “It’s support of our aging population is a model for us all in terms of the importance of giving back to our fellow man in need.”

The list also includes several high profile civic and business leaders in the Birmingham metro area and celebrities such as the Crimson Tide Radio Network’s own, Eli Gold.  In addition to Ross, other Culverhouse College of Commerce alumni named to the list were retired Community Activist Joel Rotenstreich, and Jeffrey Bayer, President and CEO of Bayer Industries and Culverhouse College of Commerce Board of Visitor member.

“We are thrilled to have Mike recognized for his many contributions,” said Donna Blackburn, Director of UA EMBA Program, “he has always and continues to support and assist our program, students and alumni whenever and wherever needed.” Ross currently serves as the Central Region President and Chief Commercial Officer at Renasant Corporation. Ross was also a finalist for the Birmingham Business Journal’s 2015 CEO of the Year and was named to BHMBIZ Magazine’s list of 205 Influential Executives. He has also been very active with our EMBA Alumni Network, serving on the board as President in 2015 and Past President this year.

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

UA EMBA Heads To Ballpark for Family Day

• July 12th, 2016
• in EMBA Alumni Network

To the sounds of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” The University of Alabama Executive MBA alumni, students, staff and their families celebrated the 2016 Family Day.  Hosted by the EMBA Alumni Network everyone gathered at Regions Field on Sunday July, 10 to watch a Birmingham Barons game. This year’s event brought out 96 attendees, representing nine different EMBA classes.

As Birmingham’s minor league baseball team bested the Jacksonville Suns 7-4, alumni reconnected, and everyone mingled, forged new friendships and had a great time on the Party Deck in the stadium.

Hot dogs, hamburgers, potato chips, ice cream and Bud’s Best cookies were on the menu along with the traditional peanuts and Cracker Jack®. Babe Ruff, the popular Barons mascot, stopped by to pose for pictures and entertain children.

“This was a great networking event. It always helps when you have a fun reason to get together and at such an amazing venue,” proclaimed Ben Paulk, President of the EMBA Alumni Network.

Regions Field opened in 2012 and is credited with revitalizing downtown Birmingham.

The history of the Birmingham Barons traces back to 1885, when the Barons were originally called the Coal Barons. Regions Field also has the honor of being named at the 2015 Southern League All-Star Game Ballpark Digest’s Best of the Ballparks: Double-A.
The UA Culverhouse College of Commerce Executive MBA Alumni Network hosts several events throughout the year for alumni as well as current and incoming students.

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

BARCELONA OFFERS EMBAS GREAT POST TRIP EXPERIENCE

• April 8th, 2016
• in International Trip

This is the final story 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.

Executive MBA Programs throughout the world have provided international trips to their students to further global business, political, historical and cultural understanding. For The University of Alabama Executive MBA, like most EMBA programs, the trip is a required part of an international business course. However, over the last couple of years, UA EMBA has offered an optional extension at the end of the required trip. The optional trip offers the students an opportunity to extend their cultural and historical understanding of a country as well as fulfill a dream to visit a bucket list location. In the past we have made visits to Valipariso, Chile, Machu Picchu, Peru, Izmir and Ephesus, Turkey and this year to Barcelona, Spain.

Thirty-three of the sixty EMBA students, alumni, staff and spouses journeyed to the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region on March 5. Defined by quirky art and architecture, imaginative food and a vibrant street life. We arrived by high-speed train from Madrid to Barcelona. The trip took two-and-a-half hours and afforded us a beautiful view of the countryside. Upon arrival we took in a breathtaking view atop the city looking over the Marina, then we explored the Raval, a large boulevard crowded with pedestrians and a fountain that locals swear that if you drink from you will return again one day to Barcelona.
After checking in at our hotel we made our way to La Sagrada Família. This beautiful and haunting site was the obsession of famed architect Antoni Gaudí. Gaudí’s influence touches all of Barcelona, but none is more amazing than this magnificent temple.

The first stone was set in 1882, and in 1883, Gaudí joined the project and transformed it, adding his personal touch of Gothic and Art Nouveau forms. He devoted the last years of his life to the building, but died at the age of 76, before he had the chance to finish his masterpiece. At the time of his death, less than 25% of the building was finished. Today 65% has been completed with an anticipated completion date of 2026.

In the afternoon, we separated to shop, visit Gaudí’s La Pedrera (a family residence designed by the architect with a rooftop that conjured up scenes from Dr. Seuss) or Pauk Güell, stroll the Raval, or have a drink in the local cafes. For many of us, it was still hard to adjust to having dinner so late. Restaurants do not open until 8:00 p.m., and most locals do not dine until 10:00 p.m. Although by now, we were getting accustomed to mid afternoon tapas, Sangria or hot chocolate to tied us over until dinner.

On Sunday we spent the day touring Caves Montau de Sadurni, a small winery, founded in 1530, located outside the city. No visit is complete without a sampling of the winery’s white and red wines and a country lunch of salad, olives, sliced meats and sausages, tomatoes, rice and for dessert flan.

The next day we spent in Tarragona, the capital of Hispania Citerior during the Roman Empire (its origins date back to around 218 BC). We strolled along the old Amphitheater, Placa de la Font, Cathedral of Santa Maria, and the Central Market. The afternoon was spent at the impressive Cistercian Monastery, El Poblet, founded in 1150, it is found hidden in the mountains. Although we did not see any monks we found solace and beautiful vistas to photograph, as well as icons to take home of Saint George, the patron saint of Catalina, who according to legend slew a dragon.

We returned to Barcelona for a group dinner above the city at Restaurante Mirabé. The beautiful views of the city lit below brought us full circle from the site overlooking the Marina the day we arrived. We recounted our journey and the many lovely people we had met and the memories made. One last toast to Morocco and Spain and to more journeys ahead.

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 III – UA EMBAs Journey to Madrid