|
 |
Business Networks | January, 2009 | Volume 7, Issue 1 Shop till you drop no more: Retailers found holiday cheer hard to come by this year.
The 2008 holiday shopping season reflected both the economic woes and the reduced consumer confidence that abound in today’s retail markets. “Worries about their jobs, the difficulty in accessing credit, and the uncertainty about the economy caused many consumers to exercise restraint and to use cash for the purchases they did make,” said Deanne Butchey, instructor, Department of Finance and Real Estate and assistant dean, Assurance of Learning and Accreditation. Butchey points out that shoppers did their due diligence to save money on holiday gifts purchased—and that in some areas the shopping season was not a total disappointment. Read more. Blog this.
Fall Commencement ceremony brings all business school graduates together.
On December 16, 2008, approximately 1,274 individuals made the passage from student to alumna or alumnus at the Fall Commencement in the U.S. Century Bank Arena on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus. For the first time since the 2004 Spring Commencement, the business school’s entire student body—from the undergraduate, graduate, and School of Accounting programs—participated in the festivities on the same day. Approximately 770 students from the College of Business Administration’s R. Kirk Landon Undergraduate School and approximately 504, including fourteen doctoral students, from the Alvah H. Chapman, Jr. Graduate School, graduated. Joyce J. Elam, executive dean of the college and vice provost, FIU Online, spoke to the assembly, assuring the candidates for graduation that they “have demonstrated many of the qualities that will be invaluable to you in your future endeavors—ability, desire, determination, commitment, perseverance, and purpose. You have prepared yourself to face successfully the many challenges that lie ahead of you.” Read more. Blog this. Joint graduate degree doubles career opportunities.
Alexander Nottingham (MBA-JD ’08), operations consultant, Smile South Florida, believes that a law degree will open more doors for his career in business. Current graduate student Marlon Greenwood chose to pursue both a business and law degree because he was looking for a way to make his educational degree unique—and to help ensure that his résumé stands out in job application pools. Both offer insights into the value of pursuing a joint degree at Florida International University—in their case, the MBA-JD offered by the College of Business Administration in conjunction with the College of Law. Read more. Blog this. On-target case studies earn scholarships for retail marketing students.
A shopping trip to a Target retail store now takes on new meaning for students who participated in the Target Case Study program as part of the fall session of the College of Business Administration’s Retail Marketing undergraduate course. “The program presents students with the opportunity to solve real-world challenges for Target’s retail business,” said Tim Dugan Birrittella, lecturer, Department of Marketing. “As part of the process, the students gain a stronger understanding of the marketing complexities facing retailers today.” Read more. Blog this. CIBER conference deemed a success in any language.
Hola. Konichiwa. Ni hao. Olá! Hello. All appropriate greetings heard among the 92 educators participating in the First National K-12 Language for Business Conference held October 31 and November 1, 2008 at the Hotel Sofitel in Miami. The conference brought together teachers from across the United States interested in introducing language for business into their curricula. Conference tracks focused on four languages: Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, and Portuguese. The College of Business Administration’s Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) joined other CIBER organizations and the City of Miami Mayor’s International Council as co-sponsors of the event. Read more. Blog this.
BBA+ Weekend students team with AT&T to give back to the local community during the holiday season.
Think globally. Act locally. Certainly this altruistic concept rang true for BBA+ Weekend Group 26 as they chose their Business in Society service learning project: conducting a Thanksgiving food drive and a Christmas toy drive for needy South Florida families. To bring some cheer to those most in need during a holiday season made more difficult because of the economic downturn, the students joined forces with AT&T Telecom Pioneers South Florida Council. Telecom Pioneers is the largest industry-related volunteer organization in the world, with chapters located across the United States and Canada. “Working closely with Telecom Pioneers, we selected two holiday projects this semester—a Thanksgiving food drive anda Christmas toy drive,” said the project leader, Tammi Calarco, legal assistant, Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A. “To help others at Thanksgiving, we reached out to our employers and colleagues and collected cash, checks, and non-perishable Thanksgiving foods plus gift cards from Publix supermarkets to create personalized baskets for local families.” Read more. Blog this.
Alumnus Profile: Emilio Vazquez (BBA ’95)
For Emilio Vazquez (BBA ’95), who began his banking career as a teller and now serves as senior vice president and regional branch manager for Coconut Grove Bank’s five branches, job satisfaction focuses on people. “What’s most rewarding is working with clients and employees, helping our employees learn and reach their personal goals, and watching our customers grow and prosper,” he said. Read more. Blog this. Chapman alumni attend annual holiday party.
On December 11, 2008, more than 100 Chapman Graduate School alumni gathered during the opening week of the Patricia and Philip Frost Museum to meet, mingle, and make merry for the holidays. The 3rd annual holiday party brought together Chapman graduates from various graduating classes, faculty, staff, and program managers to reconnect and network. Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam spoke about the many accomplishments and impressive rankings the Chapman Graduate School has recently received. Read more. Blog this. Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame to celebrate its ten-year anniversary.
Fontainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach Business Alumni Chapter scheduled mixer at Miami Science Museum. Enjoy an entertaining evening of networking with the Business Alumni Chapter at the Miami Science Museum on January 29, 2009 from 6:00-10:00 p.m. The museum will feature Music Música, a combination of two exhibits that examine music from a cultural and a scientific perspective. American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music is the first major museum exhibition to tell the story of the profound influence and impact of Latinos on American popular music. Access All Areas includes historical recounts and imagery plus memorabilia from artists like Celia Cruz, Ritchie Valens, Santana, and more. It analyzes music—from its physics, its technology, its artists, and the audience. Plan to attend and enjoy cocktails, good music, and great networking. RSVP today! School of Accounting Alumni Affinity Council plans event. Presenting sponsor U.S. Century Bank and the School of Accounting Alumni Affinity Council invite you to network with the Cuban American CPA Association and the FICPA South Florida Chapters. The “pre-busy season” kickoff will be held on January 15, 2009 in the courtyard at the College of Business Administration. Light fare, beer, and wine will be served. RSVP today! Alumni Notes
Have you been promoted or changed jobs? Update your profile.
|
|
Mark your calendar for the ten-year celebration of Florida International University’s Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.
|
|
