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U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges of 2005” just ranked our undergraduate International Business programs #9 in the nation.

U.S. News & World Report's "Best Graduate Schools 2005" lists our Chapman Graduate School in the top 25 in the nation for International Business.

The Wall Street Journal reports our School of Accounting is the largest in the U.S.

Paul Reynolds

   If there's one thing Professor Paul Reynolds said he's learned in 20 years of scrutinizing successful business start-ups, it's that there simply is no single "right" way.

   "Launching a business is no more orderly or natural than learning to swim," Reynolds said. "Once you jump in the shallow end of the pool, you may start by getting your head wet, or you may try floating, or exhaling underwater. You may learn to stay afloat in the deep end and actually get from one side to the other. Some never quite get the hang of it and climb out of the pool."

   Reynolds, the new director of the Entrepreneurship Research Institute in the College of Business Administration, said that today, about 20 million U.S. adults are in the shallow end of the start-up pool. His examination of this group, small business development, and related theories earned him Sweden's FSF-NUTEK Award this year, ranking him with scholars short-listed for Nobel Prizes in Economics.

   One of Reynolds' earlier studies looked at business-builders when they first embarked. Interviewers revisited them six to nine months later to learn which of the survey's 20 start-up activities they used and at what point they had implemented them.

   The second interview revealed that almost half (46%) stated their start-ups had transitioned into viable concerns. The most frequently-cited factors were saving money to invest, investing the money, and writing a business plan, mostly within the first three months. More than nine-tenths had invested their own money. That same number also developed a marketing campaign and purchased equipment and facilities.

   While almost all of the start-ups began as part-time efforts, roughly two-in-three remained that way as of the second interview and most involved teams of future owners. The successful launches demanded an average of 2,000 hours of work, basically a year of full-time effort crammed into a relatively brief period.

   Although in other studies Reynolds said he found some subjects working start-ups for 10 years without registering the first sale, he advised using the results of this survey as a guideline for evaluating success: If more than 2,000 hours have been invested in the enterprise, it's dragging into the second year, and there's not much monthly cash flow, it's probably time to reassess.

.: KICKOFF BREAKFAST IS SET FOR ALUMNI CIRCLE'S MENTORING PROGRAM.

   An Orientation Breakfast will be hosted October 14, 7:30 - 10:30 a.m., in the Graham Center West Ballroom to pair business students with FIU alumni and friends of the College, launching a new cycle in the Mentoring Program, designed by the Alumni Circle.

   The Program, expanded and re-structured, aims to help students gain valuable business advice and industry insights from working professionals. Originated last November, the Mentoring Program offers fresh perspectives for students and alumni alike.

   The Office of Alumni and Partner Relations is seeking interested alumni and friends of the College in the business community to participate. Applications are now available. For more information on the Mentoring Program, please contact Cristina Jaramillo.

.: SOUTH FLORIDA ANIMAL REHABILITATION CENTER.

   Lions, tigers, and panthers — oh my! Eighteen members of the Business Alumni Chapter and their friends met at the Ryder Business Building on August 21 and carpooled to the South Florida Animal Rehabilitation Center in Homestead.

   The center shelters exotic animals including tigers, peacocks, lions, snakes, Florida panthers, ostriches, and others that have been confiscated by the state or are no longer wanted by their owners. Throughout the four-hour service project, participants fed the animals and helped clean their habitats.

   The event is part of the Business Alumni Chapter's community service initiative. The Chapter holds monthly community service projects with a variety of charitable organizations, giving alumni an opportunity to become involved and give back to their community. To participate in this month's project, visit our web site at http://cbalumni.fiu.edu/.

.: B-SCHOOL ALUM HITS MAJOR BOOKSTORES WITH HOSPITALITY MARKETING TEXT.

   He coupled his degree from the College with more than 12 years experience in consumer products and travel marketing, then Ivo Raza (BBA '94) packaged it in his newly-released Heads in Beds: Hospitality and Tourism Marketing, published by Prentice Hall-Pearson and available at Amazon.com and other major book peddlers.

   Heads in Beds focuses on the practical aspects of product development, branding, co-op marketing and more, providing readers with meaningful insights into travel marketing. Throughout the 14 chapters, the author uses vivid, candid examples to pinpoint trends and actions essential to achieving higher occupancies, increased revenues, and better yields.

   "This book provides the reader with the essentials of marketing and getting results," Raza said. "I wanted to cover these important areas that just can't be found elsewhere."

   Richard Pachter from The Miami Herald wrote, "Raza crams a crash course in the theories and practices of marketing, advertising, public relations, branding and more into this book and does a very good job of it."

   Prior to forming his agency, Brandhaus, Raza headed marketing for Allegro Resorts and Occidental Hotels. He also developed marketing campaigns for such brands as Kraft Foods' Gevalia Coffee, Boston Beer's Samuel Adams, Schick, and Blue Diamond Almonds.

   Have exciting news to share? Need to update your alumni information?

   Complete this form on our web site at: http://cbalumni.fiu.edu/alumninotes/shareyournews.htm.