Home > Gazette > April 2007

April 1, 2007

Graaskamp Center for Real Estate Dedicated This Month

Alumni and friends of the real estate program will be in Madison April 25 and 26 for the dedication of the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate. Nearly 600 alumni and friends raised more than $10 million in donations to make the naming possible.
The late professor James A. Graaskamp was a legendary figure in real estate education.

Among the special events planned is the inaugural presentation of the E.J. Plesko Distinguished Speaker Series in Real Estate Development. The talk will be given by Stu Ackerberg, CEO of The Ackerberg Group.

The event will close with a performance by "The Contractions,” featuring the center’s own Professor Morris Davis on bass and guitar. The group will perform at the King Club, 114 King Street; Thursday, April 26 at 9:30 p.m. The event is open to the public.

View a complete agenda for the two-day event.

Wisconsin MBAs Take 2nd Place in International Business Competition

A team of Wisconsin MBA students took second place in the MBA International Business Case Competition held March 2-3 at Kansas University.

The case for the competition was provided by Cessna and concerned development of a market for private aviation in China. Other teams competing represented the University of Connecticut, Ohio State University, University of Washington and Kansas University.

Second- year students Andrei Cervoneascii, John Boldt, Eugene Yang and Tom Godfrey represented the Wisconsin MBA. The team was advised by Mark Matosian, director of student services. The Wisconsin team also earned honors for Best Presentation.

The competition was an initiative of Centers for International Business Education and Research (CIBERs). The Wisconsin CIBER is part of a distinct network of universities nationwide known for the strength of their international programs.

Wisconsin MBAs took first place in the 2006 MBA International Business Case competition, beating teams from Europe, Asia and the United States.

Partners in Giving Donations Increase

School of Business faculty and staff raised $27,360 this year, compared to $26,546 raised last year in the Partners in Giving charitable campaign. The number of people contributing also increased, from 59 donors last year to 63 donors this year. The 2006 Partners in Giving campaign raised money for more than 450 local, regional, national and international charities.

Throughout campus, more than 9,600 employees contributed $2,877,195 to the campaign, a new record. Since its establishment in 1973 as the State Employees Combined Campaign, the annual effort has collected more than $47.5 million for charitable causes. For more on campus results, go to http://www.news.wisc.edu/13395.html

Human Resources Expert Named Distinguished Business Alum

The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business presented its Distinguished Business Alumnus Award to human resources expert Bruce R. Ellig on March 30 at the New York Athletic Club in New York City.

Ellig has earned a reputation as a creative innovator in the field of human resources, particularly in executive compensation. A popular speaker, he is widely quoted on human capital matters and interviewed on national radio and television. He is also a prolific writer in the field of human resources.

A native of Manitowoc, Wis., Ellig graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma with a BBA and MBA in Management and Human Resources from the School of Business. He rose through the ranks from personnel assistant at Pfizer Inc in 1960, to become the firm’s corporate vice president in charge of worldwide human resources in 1984, a position he held until his retirement from the firm at the end of 1996.

Ellig is known for leadership in his profession, particularly for his involvement with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), including serving as chair of the national board of directors. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the coveted WorldatWork Keystone Award, SHRM’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the HR Executive of the Year Award from Human Resource Executive Magazine and was one of the first inductees to the National Academy of Human Resources.

In 2004, Ellig established the Bruce R. Ellig Chair in Pay and Organizational Effectiveness at the School of Business and he has been a member of the school’s Dean’s Advisory Board since 2004.

Business School Staffer Nominated for Local Music Awards

In Grainger Hall, Barb Peterson is known as the program coordinator for the Applied Corporate Finance (ACFIN) program. Outside Grainger Hall, she has another identity, Barb Cheron, long-time area guitarist. In her musician role, she is nominated for six Madison Area Music Awards (MAMA): two blues awards, three jazz awards and one instrumental award. Several of her nominations were for performing her own original songs.

Awards winners will be announced at the 2007 MAMA awards show held Saturday, May 12 at the Barrymore Theatre. Anyone interested in learning more about MAMA or who would like to register to vote online for their favorite nominee should go to: http://www.themamas.org/home. To see (and hear) Barb Cheron, go to her website,
http://www.myspace.com/barbcheron.

Wisconsin’s SIFE Team Makes Finals

Eighteen members of the UW-Madison Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team competed in regional competition in Chicago and were named one of the SIFE Regional Champions, based on the quality of the service learning projects they completed this year and the effectiveness of their presentation about the projects to a panel of corporate judges. The team is preparing for the SIFE national competition to be held in Dallas, Texas, May 6-8.

Undergraduate Business Program Ranked by BusinessWeek

In March, BusinessWeek magazine ranked the undergraduate business program of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business 28th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten. Last year, Wisconsin was ranked 27th nationally and fifth in the Big Ten.

Wisconsin’s undergraduate business program received high marks for value. The magazine ranked Wisconsin 6th in the nation in terms of return on investment, based on tuition costs and median salaries.

The rankings were based on a satisfaction survey of graduating seniors; a poll of corporate recruiters on quality of graduates, curricula and career services; and other measures, such as starting salaries. An additional 30 business schools were included in the ranking this year, making it increasingly competitive.

Wisconsin is ranked 13th in the other major media ranking of undergraduate business programs conducted by U.S. News and World Report, based on a national survey of business school faculty and administrators.

An Evening of Arts

The creative sides of MBA students, faculty and staff will be on display Thursday, April 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Capitol Conference room (5120.) Those who attend will be able to view artwork, listen to live music and watch performances created and performed by colleagues in the School of Business. Any faculty or staff interested in submitting a piece of visual art for the show, or performing at the event should contact Bridget Marquis. Refreshments will be served. The primary sponsor of the event is the Artful Business Collective, a graduate student organization that works to promote awareness of the Arts Administration program and the field of Arts Administration to students, student organizations and faculty.

FACULTY-STAFF NEWS

Senior Lecturer Joseph W. Boucher has received several accolades recently. Boucher, who teaches business law, is a partner with the Madison law firm, Neider & Boucher, S. C. He was named a Wisconsin Super Lawyer for 2006; and one of 144 “Best Lawyers in Madison” by Madison Magazine 2007. (Boucher was one of only four business lawyers cited by the magazine. Senior Lecturer Bruce Harms, also was among the four cited.) Boucher’s recent activities include speaking at MATC for business formation classes, serving as a panelist for Foley & Lardner's National Directors Institute in March and co-authoring and revising the Wisconsin Limited Liability Company and LLP Handbook, this spring.

Pat Seaman, executive director of Marketing and Communications for the School of Business, is leaving the school this month to accept a position with the Denver-based National Endowment for Financial Education. She joins Ted Beck, who was associate dean of Executive Education until fall of 2005, when he joined the national foundation as president and CEO.

Carol Aspinwall, assistant director of the Erdman Center for Operations and Technology Management, has left the School of Business and is now working for the College of Engineering.

Betsy Liotus, a development director for the School of Business with the UW Foundation, is now a director of development for the International Studies Program. She had been a member of the business school’s development team for more than four years.

Sandra Stark has accepted the position of senior lecturer in MBA Communications, providing one-on-one counseling to MBA students on presentation skills.

Marjorie Pfeifer is working in the Undergraduate Programs Office as a
Student Services Coordinator on a temporary basis to cover vacancies.

Sara Dutenhoefer, University Services Program Associate A in the Evening MBA program, has resigned from the School of Business.

IN THE NEWS

People and programs of the School of Business in the news in March.

National

The Wall Street Journal featured an article titled “Entrepreneurship 101” in its March 19 edition, noting the variety of ways business schools across the country are trying to improve students’ entrepreneurial skills. The new undergraduate entrepreneurship major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was cited.

Brand and Product Management student Marjani Coffey contributed another article to BusinessWeek.com titled “A marathon day of marketing myself,” in which she offers tips on how to survive the interview process.

Regional

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin Week, Wisbusiness.com and the Wisconsin State Journal mentioned the School of Business’ 28th place ranking of undergraduate business schools in BusinessWeek. The articles also mention the undergraduate business program was placed fourth among Big Ten schools.

Dean Michael Knetter was quoted on the Wisconsin Technology Network in “Innovation drives productivity in post 24x7 world.” The article which ran on Feb. 28, recapped discussions during the Fusion 2007 CEO-CIO Symposium.

Dean Michael Knetter was quoted in The Green Bay Press Gazette “Knowledge economy vital to state’s future” on March 21. The article outlined Knetter’s opinions on the state of the economy and how Wisconsin can achieve more economic success in the future.

The Wisconsin Technology Network quoted Dean Michael Knetter in “Study affirms information technology-productivity link.” Knetter noted benefits and pitfalls in the productivity benefits IT has offered.

Assistant Professor in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics Morris Davis was quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in “Foreclosure fallout to spread,” which discusses the potential loss to homeowners, lenders and investors due to the subprime implosion.

UW-Madison’s proposed undergraduate differential tuition for business and engineering majors was mentioned in “UW-Madison proposes major tuition hike for engineering majors” in the GazetteXtra.

Local

Real Estate Professor Stephen Malpezzi was quoted in the Wisconsin State Journal in a March 8 article on how a rise in mortgage rates may affect the Madison housing market.

Senior lecturer Joe Boucher was quoted in the March. 1 article in the Badger Herald, “UW celebrates its “Wiscontrepreneurs.” Boucher offered prospective entrepreneurs encouragement to follow a passion but also warned of the time and work needed to make a business successful.

The Students in Free Enterprise organization was mentioned in the Wisconsin State Journal for their sponsorship of seminars for prospective home buyers.

Madison Commons ran an article titled “Entrepreneurial opportunities boom on campus” outlining the new options available to students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The new entrepreneurship option in the Management and Human Resources program at the School of Business was highlighted.

The Wisconsin State Journal, wisbusiness.com and The Badger Herald covered the Economic Outlook Conference held at the Fluno Center.

The Small Business Development Center’s “Perspectives for Success” breakfast series was featured in the Badger Herald.

The Wisconsin State Journal noted the Students in Free Enterprise and their win at the League 3 regional championship in Chicago.

Associate Professor in Operations and Information Management Rafael Lazimy was quoted in the March 24 edition of the Wisconsin State Journal in “The State’s expensive IT mess.”

School of Business Career Center Director Steve Schroeder was quoted in The Badger Herald on diversity issues among recruiters at Wisconsin and elsewhere.

CNBC’s Charles Gasparino to Speak in Classes This Month

Charles Gasparino, on-air editor for CNBC and former senior writer at Newsweek and reporter for the Wall Street Journal, will be on campus the week of April 16-20 as the spring semester’s Business Writer in Residence. Gasparino is scheduled to speak in several business and journalism classes and will be the keynote speaker for an Accenture Leadership Center (ALC) event.

In his role as CNBC's On-Air editor, Gasparino provides up-to-the-minute reports throughout the day as the trading unfolds on Wall Street. Before joining CNBC, Gasparino covered Wall Street, pension funds, mutual funds, regulatory issues, and breaking news on some of the biggest financial scandals of recent times at Newsweek and at the Wall Street Journal.

The Business Writer in Residence program is a joint effort by the School of Business, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications and University Communications to bring in nationally known business writers to interact with business and journalism students. The Business Writer in Residence program is funded by a grant from the UW Foundation.

About the Gazette

The School of Business Gazette is published the first of the month by the Office of Marketing and Communications for faculty and staff of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business. Send submissions or other feedback to Editor Lari Fanlund, lfanlund@bus.wisc.edu. The deadline for submitting items for the May 1 issue is April 25.