Almost ten million Americans got hit by identity theft in 2004. Corporations sustained $48B in losses. Hapless victims paid $5B in out-of-pocket expenses to try to sort out the mess caused by their identity being stolen. Of the people who have been victimized, only about 1.2 million reported the crime; a staggering 8.8 million did not.

   These are just a few of the alarming statistics that Gerard Klonarides, lecturer in decision sciences and information systems in the College, cites when he talks about the impact of identity theft. Many more facts can be found on the web site of the Federal Trade Commission.

   Legislators are frantically passing bills to protect citizens. Companies are strengthening firewalls to keep sensitive account information secure. But can more be done?

   That is the question Klonarides is tackling as he pursues a Ph.D. in computer science with a specialization in identity theft.

   "My hypothesis is that we can educate consumers and reduce the incidence of identity theft," he said. "And if we can make people more aware of how they are attacked, it will save money on both the individual and the corporate fronts."

   He has been testing this notion when he speaks to groups, and he plans to conduct more formal, scientific research to obtain results in a lab environment. This more sophisticated process will produce data appropriate for inclusion in his doctoral dissertation.

   "My methodology has been to test the audience through a simple set of questions, deliver an awareness lecture, and then conduct a post-lecture test," he said. "I have found that only thirty percent of the participants score well in the pre-lecture survey. That figure jumps to ninety to one-hundred percent after my presentation."

   When he speaks, he uses drama to alert people to just how easy it is to become a victim.

   "At a presentation at the University, I 'stole' a woman's identity in thirty seconds just by asking her if I could see her insurance card and her driver's license," he said.

   To raise awareness, Klonarides explains a number of ruses that identity thieves use and how to foil them. He also touches on a great many specific-and often easy-to-implement-techniques that individuals can employ to safeguard their personal information.

   For example, he cautions people not to carry their social security number (SSN) with them. Unfortunately, the number appears many more places than we might realize.

   "Make a copy of any card that you regularly carry that has your SSN on it. White out the number, and carry that copy instead of the card itself," he said.

   "Through a combination of techniques-such as monitoring your accounts, getting a data encryption program, and signing up to get monthly credit reports-you can greatly reduce your vulnerability," he said.

FOCUS ON

.: Real Estate Alumni Affinity Group enjoys successful launch.

College Executive Dean Joyce Elam together with Real Estate Alumni Affinity Group advisors: Director of the Jerome Bain Real Estate Institute and Finance Professor John Zdanowicz, Professor and Ryder Eminent Scholar in Real Estate/Finance Randy I. Anderson, and Paul Jones (BBA'78), founder of the Real Estate Alumni Council, adjunct professor, and director, Pyramid Realty Capital Corporation.

   On Tuesday, May 24th, more than forty Florida International University alumni met at the Miami City Club for the official launch of the Real Estate Alumni Affinity Group. The group has existed for several years outside of the University alumni structure, led by several accomplished University real estate alumni including Paul Jones.

   Because of the success of the Real Estate Alumni Council in supporting the College's current real estate students and to unite alumni who are interested in professional development in this field, it was decided to bring the Real Estate Alumni Council under the umbrella of the College's Business Alumni Chapter as an Affinity Group. The Business Alumni Chapter is managed by a board of directors and the College's Office of Alumni and Partner Relations.

   During this launch event, the College began the process of creating a formal Steering Committee to design, manage, and implement the goals and activities of the Affinity Group. The College hopes to have the first meeting of the steering committee in late July. Details will be available soon.

   Anyone interested in joining the Real Estate Alumni Affinity Group should contact the College's office of Alumni and Partner Relations 305-348-4227/0397 or e-mail Monique Catoggio.

.: Alumni circle honors Executive Dean Joyce Elam.

From left, Alumni Circle members Josie Carreño (MBA '99), Rick Escudero (MA '93, BBA '92), Ozzie Dominguez (BBA '91), Lance Benson (MBA '03), Executive Dean Joyce Elam , Margaret Brisbane (BBA '80), and Director of Alumni and Partner Relations Monique Catoggio (MBA '03).

   Alumni Circle member Ozzie Dominguez, general manager of Simon Property Group, Inc., and Red Bicyclette held a reception in honor of Executive Dean Joyce Elam at Dadeland Mall on May 25th. Alumni enjoyed an evening of complimentary Red Bicyclette wines and hors d'ouevres while chatting with Executive Dean Elam and other alumni circle members.

.: College welcomes new Alumni Circle members.

Margaret Brisbane	Manuel Jose Becerra

   Joining the Circle recently are Margaret Brisbane (BBA '80), owner of Brisbane & Associates, and Manuel Jose Becerra (BBA '87), group senior vice president of Assurant Solutions. Special thanks to returning member Demian Bellumio (BBA '00).

   The Alumni Circle is a group of senior-level alumni who work closely with the College's administrators and deans to develop programs and initiatives to achieve the College's goals. For more information on the Alumni Circle, click here or call Monique Catoggio at 305-348-4227.

.: Alumni Spotlight.

Carlos F. Garcia	Lance Benson

   Carlos F. Garcia (MBA candidate) and Lance Benson (MBA '03), College of Business Administration Alumni Circle members, were featured in the April and May issues respectively of South Florida CEO. Garcia and Benson were highlighted in the NextGen section, an ongoing monthly column which profiles future South Florida leaders. Garcia is a partner at Goldstein Schechter Price Lucas Horwitz & Co. PA and Benson is a commercial real estate broker for Cushman & Wakefield.

.: Alumni Circle Highlight.

Alex Soria (BBA '89)
President of RBS Re.,
College of Business Administration Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Finalist

   Alex Soria is one of the founding members of RBS Re-a licensed reinsurance intermediary manager, commonly known in the insurance industry as a managing general underwriter. The company was founded in 1995 and has grown into a business with multi-million dollar sales and more than twenty employees.

   The College congratulates Alex once again for being a finalist in this year's Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, celebrated on May 12th at the Parrot Jungle.

.: Marketing students are shoe-in for success in retailing.

From left to right, Sophia Galvin, manager of diversity; Frina Chiodi; Melissa Sanchez; Adriana Acedo; Scott Skiar, and Jessica Pacheco.

   "Can we explode the shoe business by improving the shopping experience?"

   On May 2, 2005, members of the senior management team at Macy's-including N.K. Trip Tripathy, president and chief operating officer of Macy's Florida, Inc., and a member of the College's Dean's Council-got insights into that question from members of this spring's thirteen-member undergraduate marketing internship class. The internship is part of the Certificate in Retail Management program and follows a fall course in retail marketing.

   To answer the question posed by their client-the ladies' shoe department-the students conducted 250 surveys, 35 in-depth interviews, and thirteen hours of observation at Macy's, as well as conducting a number of employee interviews.

   "Our client team was so impressed with the students' work that they invited the students to present their findings to the senior management team," said Tim Dugan Birrittella, lecturer, department of marketing, who guides the internship.

   Even though the semester had ended, five students participated in this second round of presentations. Appearing before such an impressive panel could have been intimidating, but it was not.

   "The members of the management team were very nice," Birrittella said. "They made us feel at home, asked questions, and really sought the students' opinions."

   Due to this internship class, four FIU students already been hired by Macy's and more currently are being recruited, Birritella said.

.: Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame honors budding and successful entrepreneurs.

   On Thursday, May 12, the College paid tribute to alumni and local business entrepreneurs who have achieved distinction as founders and builders of new business enterprises at its annual Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon, held at Parrot Jungle Island .

   This year's Hall of Fame inductees were Larry Harris, proprietor of Mosaico and Salero restaurants and co-founder of Pollo Tropical, and Agustín "Tino" Herrán, owner and president, General Real Estate Corporation and Sedano's Supermarkets.

   Harris, who received a B.S. in Hospitality Management from the School of Hospitality in 1981, and Herrán, who received his Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and marketing from the College in 1991, were chosen by a panel of judges consisting of previous inductees, event sponsors, and faculty. Nine alumni have been inducted to date.

   Additionally, the College recognized outstanding entrepreneurs in the South Florida business community. Jorge and Carlos de Cespédes, founders of Pharmed Group Corporation, were named the 2005 South Florida Entrepreneurs of the Year, and Dr. Sanford Ziff, founder, chairman and CEO of Sunglass Hut, was awarded a special Lifetime Achievement Award.

   "Entrepreneurship is a core area of emphasis in the College and a vital component in everything we do-from our curriculum to faculty research to the school's annual international business plan competition," Joyce J. Elam, executive dean of the College, told the group of more than 500 people in attendance. "We strive to instill in our graduates the values of innovation and discovery, and this event allows us to honor those individuals who have put these values into practice with great success."

   Also recognized at the event were the winners of the Howard J. Leonhardt New Venture Challenge, an international student business plan competition. The undergraduate level runner-up was the Infinity Dance Project, a modern dance company that serves as a cultural ambassador for Miami and blends dance with other media to provide shows in untraditional places. The graduate level runner-up award went to Triunfex, a non-profit organization aimed at tending to social outcasts. Both teams received a cash prize of $2,500. A special $5,000 social entrepreneurship award also was given to and split between these two teams.

   The grand prize winner on the undergraduate level was Sala 440, a complex of seven rehearsal studios for amateur and professional bands. The graduate winner was Intelmath, a company that provides mathematics and computer tutoring for college students and preparatory virtual classes for college-level placement tests. Both teams received $10,000 in cash and $5,000 in in-kind contributions. For more information about the Challenge, visit its web site.

   The Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame was established in 1999, through a gift provided by SunTrust Bank, Miami, to recognize individuals for their success and significant contributions to the business community. This year's event again included media partnerships with South Florida CEO, NBC 6 and Telemundo 51. In addition to principal and founding sponsor SunTrust Bank, Miami, the ceremony was sponsored by Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra LLP, and Greenberg Traurig.

.: Chapman Graduate School partners with Macy's to open Downtown Center.

   The College's Chapman Graduate School of Business and Macy's have joined forces to bring the first AACSB-accredited programs to professionals who live or work in downtown Miami and a visible ad campaign will be launched this month in the area to generate awareness about this exciting new venture.

   "As part of Macy's desire to be supportive of local communities, we welcomed the opportunity to partner with Florida International University to launch a Downtown Graduate Business School Center. Both Macy's and the business school are entrenched in the South Florida community-so this was a natural partnership," said N.K. "Trip" Tripathy, president and COO of Macy's Florida, Inc. and a member of the College's Dean's Council. "We believe the partnership, which is a first for Macy's, will give students more than advanced degrees-it will provide them with immeasurable networking opportunities with other members of the downtown business community."

   Beginning in August 2005, the Downtown Center, which will be located on the sixth floor of Macy's Florida corporate offices (22 East Flagler Street), will be the site for a comprehensive new 18-month Master of Business Administration (MBA) and the Executive Master of Science in Taxation (EMST) program, both taught in the state-of-the-art facility by the College's nationally- and internationally-recognized faculty. Classes will be structured into eight-week sessions, each consisting of two courses meeting two evenings (MBA) or two mornings (EMST) per week, so students may continue to work while earning their degrees. The programs will include meal service for students, secured parking nearby, and textbooks as part of the total fee.

   "We're confident our programs will bring a new dimension to life in downtown Miami," said José de la Torre, dean of the Chapman Graduate School of Business. "It's thrilling to be part of the city's growth, and we plan to develop additional programs to expand the Downtown Center based on emerging business needs."

   Students will experience the downtown programs as a group, which will provide them with strong teambuilding skills and networking opportunities. Additionally, the business school offers assistance in securing internships and full-time positions for students upon graduation.

   "Many thriving downtown areas enjoy the presence of a major university," said Dana Nottingham, director of the Downtown Development Authority." Miami is growing at an astonishing pace. As more companies do business here and more residential opportunities become available in the downtown sector, the incorporation of South Florida's premier business school into our downtown lifestyle will only further Miami's image as a great metropolitan city."

   In addition to the Downtown MBA and the EMST, the College's graduate business school also will offer two programs beginning in January, 2006, at its new Downtown Center: a Master of Science in Finance (focused on international banking) and a Master of Science in International Real Estate (a new offering by the College).

   Applications currently are being accepted for all four programs. Anyone interested in learning more is invited to attend a special information session at the Intercontinental Hotel, in downtown Miami, anytime between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28. To sign-up for the information session, or for any additional inquiries, please call 305-CHAPMAN (305-242-7626), or send an e-mail to chapman@fiu.edu.

.: College's Dual Degree program adds new schools to its list of partners.

Dean José de la Torre and Anna Pietraszek.

   The College's Master of International Business (MIB) program is close to signing an agreement with INCAE, in Costa Rica, to join the growing list of schools partnering in its Dual Degree program. The first INCAE student is slated to begin the MIB program in August.

   "Chapman Graduate School of Business Dean José de la Torre and I traveled to Costa Rica and met with INCAE President Roberto Artavia Loria, Dean of the Graduate School Estéban Brenes, and Associate Dean Guillermo Selva, among others," said Program Manager Anna Pietraszek. "It was a very productive trip."

   De la Torre also discussed with INCAE's administrators the possibility of joint research and faculty exchange programs.

   Currently, the Dual Degree program's partners include:

• COPPEAD, Universidad Federal de Rio de Janeiro
• ORT Universidad, Montevideo, Uruguay
• IAE, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Chile
• Universidad Anáhuac, Mexico, D.F.
• Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
• Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia
• IESA, Caracas, Venezuela
• Universidad ESAN, Lima, Peru
• EGADE, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico
• Universidad de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
• ISCTE, Lisboa, Portugal
• EDHEC, Niza y Lille, Francia

   Fourteen students from these schools currently are in the MIB program.

   At the same time, Barry Shiflett, director of the Chapman School's Career Management Services office, has visited with representatives of IAE, Universidad del Norte, and IESA and given workshops to its current MBA students on different career-related topics.

   "I also met with employers to discuss the possibility of their recruiting students from the Chapman School and with the universities' personnel about offering career services to their students," Shiflett said. "In the fall, I will be putting together electronic resume books not only of our graduate business students but also, by country, of students from our partner schools."

   He said this move will enable employers from throughout the region to search for Chapman graduates as well as for those from our partner schools interested in returning to their home countries or in working in another country where they have work authorization.