school of business reports

Employers recruiting new gradsgive the nod to interns, co-ops

For many School of Business students, preparation for a career starts not onlyin the classroom but also in the University’s Office of Career Services and Place-ment where students learn about internships and co-operative programs in theirfield. Others find internships or part-time work through personal networking orpick up valuable career tips from business leaders who serve as willing mentors.

From summer 2003 through spring 2004, more than 100 School of Businessstudents completed internships or co-operative programs with 55 employers.

These experiences give students anedge. They apply classroom knowledgeand find out what is in store for them inthe workplace once they receive a diplo-ma. In the profiles that follow, recentSchool of Business graduates tell howthey made the transition from student tointern/co-op student/part-time employeeto full-time employee in a desirable job.

See Jobs, page 4

VOL 23, SUMMER 2004

U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H E R N I N D I A N A

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS REPORTS

Part-timer stays the coursefor full-time opportunity

Nathan Willis ’04Applied computer science

An entry-level position as a studentwas the proverbial foot-in-the-door thatopened wider opportunities for NathanWillis, an applied computer sciencemajor.

As a freshman, Willis heard from an aunt about a temporary job with Tri-StateMedical Management, which was setting up a new group-practice managementsystem for Deaconess Hospital. Willis got the job, glad to be involved in a positionrelated to his major. He worked about 30 hours a week in data entry to help get thesystem going and then provided support once it was in place.

After a year-and-a-half, Willis and other employees with Tri-State MedicalManagement became associated directly with Deaconess. Willis worked about 20hours a week on the hospital’s help desk, coming to the aid of employees who need-ed assistance with computer functions. Because the hospital is a 24-7 operation,Willis often worked the third shift on weekends, which kept him alert from 7 p.m.Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday and again from Sunday night until Monday morning.

Now the freshly minted USI graduate is a system engineer at Deaconess. He hasturned over the part-time help-desk duties to another USI student in applied com-puter science, Adam Bertram, who applied for and got the job.

Nathan Willis ’04 is a system engineer forDeaconess Hospital in Evansville.

Leaders of local communityand campus organizations arewowed by the leadership skills ofstudents in USI’s Master of Busi-ness Administration program.Nancy Kovanic, assistant profes-sor of management and marketing,assigned students in an MBAcourse to complete service-learn-ing projects that would demon-strate their leadership skills andgive back to the community. “Iwanted it to be applied in nature,”she said.

Working in five groups, thestudents exceeded expectations.The assignment required studentsto identify a need, research andexecute the project, and prepare apaper and an oral presentation.They were required to spend atleast six out-of-class hours onservice learning. Instead, theyaveraged 15 hours.

One group collected food andsupplies for Archibald’s Food Clos-et, a campus program administeredby the Office of Student Wellnessfor students in need. Jeannie Kue-bler, administrative assistant inStudent Wellness, said, “It wasunreal the things they brought inhere — things we don’t usually getlike cases of spaghetti and Alfredosauce and paper products. We’vegot lots and it’s wonderful.”

The amount of food collectedexceeded available storage space.

Rakhi Agarwal, a full-timeMBA student, worked on the

MBA students impresscommunity groupswith leadership, service

See MBA students, page 6

Eliz

abet

h C

ourt

ney-

US

I

2 University of Southern Indiana School of Business

Dean’s letter

Year in review: fast start, successful finish

By Dr. R. Eugene Klippel

Faculty, students, advisors actively engaged;School to build on intern/co-op program

For information about the USI School of Business, the quarterly Business Outlook Survey, and the Evansville Factbook go to http://business.usi.edu/

It is difficult to believe that a yearhas passed since I assumed duties asdean of the School of Business. It hasbeen an exciting time and, I believe, a successful period in the life of theschool.

During the 2003-04 academic year,the school enjoyed a successful facultyrecruiting effort. In a very competitiveand difficult marketplace, the schoolhired three outstanding new facultymembers. They are Dr. Gary Black,assistant professor of production/opera-tions management; Dr. MargaretChen, assistant professor of finance;and Dr. Alan Hunt, assistant professorof accounting. They will be profiled inthe next School of Business Reports.

At a recent meeting of the Boardof Visitors, a motion was made tochange the name of the group to theBoard of Advisors. The feeling was“Board of Advisors” more accuratelyreflects the role of this group. Themotion passed unanimously. In addi-tion, seven business and civic leaderswere nominated and approved formembership to the board. This expan-sion broadens the board’s representa-tion of key constituencies and providesadditional perspectives useful to theschool. The listing and profile of thesenew members also will be provided inthe next issue of the School of BusinessReports.

Student groups and organizationshave been extremely active during thisacademic year. They, too, have enjoyedconsiderable external recognition fortheir efforts and, while this is impor-tant, the real success comes in seeing

our studentsactively engagein these organi-zations. Studentgroups partici-pating in com-petitions thisyear included the Accounting andProfessional Services Club, studentmembers of the Association of Infor-mation Technology Professionals(AITP), and the student chapter of theSociety for Human Resource Manage-ment. It also is important to recognizethose students who gave of their timeand talents by participating in theVolunteer Income Tax Assistance(VITA) program.

Other activities which continue toelicit positive feedback are the school’sExecutive-in-Residence and Alumni-in-Residence programs. The last issueof this newsletter highlighted the visitto campus by Charles Storms, chair-man, president, and CEO of Red SpotPaint and Varnish Co., Inc. Profiled inthis issue is Kelly Dillon, a 1992 gradu-ate of the School of Business, and amember of the management team atToyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana(TMMI). Both of these individualscontributed greatly to the educationalexperience received by our students.

As reflected by the focus of thisissue, the School of Business stronglysupports the University’s co-operativeand internship program. The schoolalso is fortunate to have the service ofJanet L. Johnson, career coordinator,USI Career Services and PlacementOffice. She works directly with the

school to manage and expand thisimportant program.

I can speak with some knowledgeabout the value of a co-operative/internship experience as part of theeducational process. As an undergradu-ate at the University of Cincinnati, Ispent four years as a co-op student withNCR, then known as The NationalCash Register Company. This was awonderful educational experience, andafter graduation I joined NCR on afull-time basis.

The co-operative/internship pro-gram is not a program where studentsare the only beneficiaries. True, stu-dents learn many lessons that cannotbe simulated in the classroom. How-ever, faculty benefit since they arepresented with students who can betterrelate to the materials being presented,as well as pursue lines of inquiry thatwere not possible before. Firms alsobenefit by having talented and capableindividuals as employees. This also canbe an effective screening and recruitingtool for the firm as many of their co-ops/interns are offered full-timeemployment after graduation.

Given the dynamics of the currentbusiness environment, the ability oftoday’s students to gain a co-operative/internship experience may be moreimportant than in decades past. Withthis in mind, I plan to allocate appro-priate resources to ensure the contin-ued success of this program.

Needless to say, we would welcomethe participation of additional firms inthis program. Please contact us if youknow of firms or not-for-profit organi-zations that may be interested in estab-lishing such a relationship.

In summary, I have enjoyed myfirst year as dean of the School of Busi-ness. I do believe we are off to a suc-cessful start and, with your continuedsupport, look forward to an excitingand productive 2004-05 academic year.

As always, we welcome yourthoughts and comments regarding theSchool of Business.

Klippel

Summer 2004 3

School of Business briefs

Faculty members recognized for excellence

Three promoted; One granted tenure

Three School of Businessfaculty members — Dr. Eva Jermakowicz, Dr. Leslie Nunn,and Dr. Jennifer Williams —have been promoted.

Jermakowicz, promoted toprofessor of accounting, earned adoctorate at Warsaw TechnicalUniversity in 1982 and joined USIin 1987. She was on leave during2003-04 to complete a Fulbrightfellowship. (See page 9.)

Nunn, promoted to associateprofessor of business law, has beenassociated with the School ofBusiness since 1983. He completeda Juris Doctorate at University ofDenver in 1967.

Williams was promoted toprofessor of computer informationsystems. She earned a doctorate inbusiness administration at South-ern Illinois University and joinedthe School of Business faculty in1992.

Promotions are effective inAugust 2004.

Dr. Marvin L. Albin, profes-sor of computer information sys-tems, was awarded tenure effectiveAugust 2005. He completed adoctorate in education at ArizonaState University and joined USIin 2000.

Nunn

Erin C. Ward, a 2004 graduatewith a double major in business admin-istration and Spanish, received theTrustees Distinguished Merit Award,the highest recognition bestowed on astudent during Honors Week.

Ward maintained a 4.0 grade-pointaverage. She is a Bristol-Myers SquibbPresidential Scholar, a President’sMedal finalist, and National Merit

finalist. She served as president of theStudent Ambassadors and president of

the USI HonorsProgram. She isconsidering pursu-ing a graduatedegree in studentaffairs.

Ward

The School of Business has recognized three faculty members for excellence during the2003-04 academic year. The award winners are Dr. Leslie E. Nunn, assistant professor ofbusiness law, excellence in teaching; Dr. Sudesh Mujumdar, assistant professor of eco-nomics, excellence in research; and Dr. Abbas Foroughi, professor of computer informa-tion systems, excellence in service. Recipients were honored at a reception in May. Lastyear’s winners — Dr. Mehmet Kocakulah, Dr. Craig Ehlen, and Dr. Brian McGuire —served on the selection committee. From left are Kocakulah; Ehlen; Nunn; Dr. EugeneKlippel, dean of the School of Business; Mujumdar; Foroughi; and McGuire.

Erin Ward honored with Trustees Merit AwardE

lizab

eth

Cou

rtne

y-U

SI

Jermakowicz

AlbinWilliams

Outstanding graduates in each major were recognized on School of Business Honors Daywith Academic Achievement Awards. Recipients, chosen by the faculty in each discipline,are (front row from left) Michelle Clausen, accounting and professional services; JamieWill, business administration; Trent Staggs, business education; Stephanie Lengacher,associate of science in business; Arin Gelhausen, applied computer science; and (back row from left) Kevin Wichman, accounting and professional services; Matt Oliver,

marketing; MichaelBoyle, economics;Gerald Papineau,entrepreneurship/small business; andAdam Schmidt,finance.

Student achievement recognized on Honors Day

Internship — two-way mirrorfor student, employer

Darren Verkamp ’02Business administration with marketing emphasis

Darren Verkamp looked througha big book of internship opportunitiesin the USI Office of Career Servicesand Placement,selecting RexamClosures and Con-tainers in Prince-ton, Ind., as aplace to interview.

“I needed ajob, and I knew Ineeded to go intothe field of my

Willis is settling in as a full-timeemployee with a regular workday from8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the telecommunica-tions job that gives him responsibilityfor communications between computerequipment, including the hospital’snew wireless networks. He was awardedthe job in February.

“It goes to show you that, if youcan get your foot in the door in anentry-level position, what you wantmay come before you know it,” he said.“You may not like some of the shifts ortasks, but they will eventually pay off.”

As soon as he heard about thetelecommunications job, Willisapplied. While his education in com-puter science and his experience atDeaconess gave him solid qualifica-tions, the mock interview and instruc-tion on writing a resume from businesscommunication classes at USI alsohelped in his quest for a professionalposition. “They teach you what toexpect and how to act,” he said.

Steve Niemeier of HumanResources Support Inc., conducted themock interview which helped Willisunderstand the kinds of questions thatmight pop up in a real situation.

Willis is from Newburgh, Ind.


GE selects USI co-op student for prestigious program

Jarod Morrison ’03Finance

Jarod Morrison has advice forstudents who would participate ininternships or co-op programs. “Oneimportant thing I was told is that

you’re there to getready for a job andyou want to makea great impres-sion,” he said, “sodon’t just do yourjob. Try to think ofat least one thingthat’s outside ofyour job that you

can accomplish. Employers look foryou to go above and beyond.”

The advice worked for Morrison.He co-oped as a junior and senior withGE Plastics in Mt. Vernon, Ind., alwayslooking for that extra project. One ofthe first he initiated was a challengerelated to inventory process issues.

Morrison worked with the opera-tions people on that project. “It was agood eye-opener for me because notonly was I working with finance peo-ple, but I would go over into the plantand help them learn what they neededto do to improve,” he said.

After graduation, Morrison wasselected in a competitive interviewprocess for GE’s financial managementprogram (FMP), a two-year trainingprogram with four rotational assign-ments led by senior GE professionalsand mentors. In its FMP recruitmentmaterials, the company says, “We arelooking for enthusiastic, energetic,intelligent, driven people with a highlevel of integrity, who enjoy workingtowards common goals in a team envi-ronment.”

Morrison flew to Pittsfield, Mass.,the location of the headquarters for GEAdvanced Materials, the combinedentity of GE’s former plastics, silicones,and quartz businesses, for the FMPinterview.

“My resume looked great because Ihad worked for three different man-agers in Mt. Vernon,” Morrison said. “Ihad five interviews with teams of two

JobsContinued from page 1

major because at graduation it’s hard toget a job in the field without experi-ence,” said Verkamp, recalling histhought process in January of his senioryear.

After a series of interviews,Verkamp began working three days aweek in a marketing internship pro-gram at Rexam while he also attendedclasses. His internship involved work-ing on direct mail projects, helping puttogether sales presentations, creating aprospective customer data base, inter-nal promotions, and communicationswith trade magazines.

“With no previous business experi-ence, I didn’t know what to expect. Itbrought me up to speed on how a busi-ness runs,” he said. Verkamp grew upon a farm in Celestine, Ind., in DuboisCounty.

After finishing requirements forthe bachelor’s degree, Verkamp inter-viewed with several companies butpreferred the opportunity that Rexamoffered. The company created a hybridposition in marketing and sales. In thefull-time job that he began in January2002, Verkamp handles the marketingresponsibilities he had as an internalong with new duties in inside sales.

Verkamp said the internship wasalmost like an “eight-month interview”that gave him a chance to learn thecompany and the company a chance toevaluate how he could contribute.

Another opportunity — a mentor-ing program provided by the Down-town Rotary Club — also helpedVerkamp prepare for the workplace.His Rotary mentor Darla Woodall ’77,Evansville postmaster, set up mockinterviews and a job shadowing experi-ence for him.

The job shadow with a MeadJohnson marketing manager gave himinsight into consumer packaging, asopposed to the business-to-businesscharacter of Rexam’s manufacturing. “I saw him set up incentive programsand got to sit in on meetings to seehow the work flowed,” Verkamp said.

Verkamp is continuing his formaleducation. He is about halfway throughUSI’s MBA program, enhancing hisskills and knowledge for the future.

Verkamp

Morrison

Summer 2004 5

— CFOs of specific businesses withinthe company. It went really smoothlybecause I was familiar with the thingsthey talked about and familiar with theculture of GE.”

Morrison is one of 29 FMP candi-dates in the United States and one of15 selected for the class that began theprogram in July 2003. He did his firstrotation in Pittsfield in global market-ing, working on the budget plan for2004. Other rotations could take himto locations of GE Advanced Materialsin North Carolina, Michigan, Con-necticut, Alabama, Pennsylvania, WestVirginia, New York, or Ohio or back toMt. Vernon. Sites abroad include theNetherlands and Shanghai.

Throughout the program FMPcandidates take classes that includetests and presentations. “I’m glad that I work in an environment that pushesme to continue learning,” Morrisonsaid.

Morrison is from Dale, Ind. TheFMP program has given him an oppor-tunity to travel. “I’ve seen the wholeeast coast and been to New York andBoston,” he said.

Marketing graduate findsthat networking works

Lisa Doddridge ’04Marketing Advertising (School of Liberal Arts)

After completing an internship,participating in a mentoring program,and securing a full-time job a semesterbefore graduation,Lisa Doddridgeappreciates theadvantages ofgetting to knowcontacts in herchosen field.

“At thebeginning ofschool as a fresh-man and sopho-more, faculty stressed networking, but Ibrushed it off initially,” she said. ”OnceI got into it, I realized it is important.”

In May, Doddridge completed aBachelor of Arts degree with a doublemajor in marketing and advertising.

She said, “Marketing is the businessside and advertising is more the cre-ative side.”

To learn more about jobs in herfield, Doddridge signed up at the sug-gestion of a School of Business facultymember for the Downtown RotaryClub’s mentoring program, whichturned out to be one of her first path-ways to making contacts with areamarketing and advertising profession-als. Her mentor was Gwen Seikman ofEvansville’s KFS and Associates.

“I job shadowed her for a day, wentto a few Rotary Club meetings, andstayed in touch. She introduced me toa lot of people,” Doddridge said. “Shewas involved with the AdvertisingClub of Evansville so I had her as acontact for that and was able to workon some joint projects with that cluband the USI Advertising Club.”

Doddridge completed an intern-ship with Kitch and Schreiber, anEvansville advertising agency.

“Since it is a small agency, I got todo a lot of different things,” she said. “I helped out with the creative depart-ment’s brainstorming and concepting. I worked with the account executive. I was involved with the creative side aswell as the sales side.”

Following the internship, Dod-dridge continued to work part time forthe agency, spending about a year-and-a-half there.

While working on a student adver-tising team preparing for a competi-tion, Doddridge met Joan French ofEvansville’s Keller Crescent Company.Keller Crescent gave the studentsaccess to computer research databasesfor their project.

Through her association withKeller Crescent, she learned of anopening for a media coordinator,applied, and got the job. She began inJanuary with Keller Crescent allowingher an extended lunch hour to com-plete the one French class that sheneeded to meet graduation require-ments.

Doddridge’s job involves sendingout orders to magazines, broadcaststations, or newspapers and makingsure that advertisements or commer-cials run as planned. “There are a lot ofnumbers and a lot of decision-making

and judgment calls in the job,” shesaid.

Doddridge is from Milltown, Ind.,about 30 miles west of Louisville, Ky.

Choice job —a big four in big city

Jeremy Gallion ’04Accounting

A job in a big city with a big-fouraccounting firm is the goal attained byJeremy Gallion, an accounting gradu-ate who complet-ed an internshipat Integra Bankand a co-op at GEPlastics whilestudying account-ing at USI.

“I thought itwould be in mybest interest to doan internship anda co-op to get as much experience as Icould,” said the staff accountant atErnst & Young in Indianapolis.

When Gallion finished his coursework in December 2003, he had fivejob offers ranging from industry toaccounting firms. He has been happywith his choice. “I do auditing so Ihave had a wide exposure to a varietyof industries – real estate, manufactur-ing, broadcasting, and health care. Thejob is always different. Every client hasa different issue.”

Ernst & Young is located in theBank One building on MonumentCircle in downtown Indianapolis. Gal-lion’s primary client, Emmis Communi-cations, also is located on the circle.The job involves some travel. In April,Gallion spent a week in Austin, Texas,for an audit of an Emmis property.

“I really like living and working inIndy,” Gallion said. “We have almostevery professional sport and a variety ofthings to do.”

In his summer 2002 internship atIntegra Bank, Gallion worked in thecredit department, becoming familiarwith balance sheet accounts, incomestatements, and tax returns. During co-op rotations at GE in fall 2002 and

Doddridge

Gallion

See Jobs, page 6


summer 2003, his main experience wasin inventory. He also participated inthe Downtown Rotary Club’s mentor-ing program, getting advice about hisresume and cover letter from JerryMoore of The DOMA Group.

Gallion said Ernst & Young pro-vides excellent training for its new staffmembers. When he began working forthe company, he joined other new hiresfor a week of training in Cincinnati.He will have an additional week ofcompany training in October. Trainingmagazine lists Ernst & Young as num-ber eight this year in its Top 100 rank-ing of companies.

Gallion is from Orleans, Ind.,north of Paoli.

JobsContinued from page 5

project for the food closet. “The smallproject kept getting bigger and betterbecause we wanted to do a very goodjob,” she said.

The six-member team contactedUSI students and 85 local businesses.They prepared table tents for studentdining areas to spread the word about thefood drive and sponsored a competitionamong Greek organizations. Team mem-bers employed their skills in areas such asadvertising, marketing, and logistics.

“We divided our work and coordi-nated it ourselves. We learned how towork in teams, delegate, and complete atask on time. We learned about puttingforth our best effort together to achieve atask,” she said. Agarwal earned an under-graduate degree in supply chain manage-ment at Michigan State University.

Another student MBA group raisedmoney to revitalize a play therapy roomat Evansville Psychiatric Children’s Cen-ter. At press time, they had raised almost$6,000. The first $3,500 will fulfill theneeds for the play therapy room. Addi-tional money will go toward revitaliza-tion of a related family room and diningarea, also a part of the therapeutic envi-ronment.

Tamra Klausmeier, quality improve-ment coordinator and community ser-vice director for the center, said the USI students were successful because they were“go-getters.”

“They know how to present the needs, and they do good follow-up,” she said.“They had a well thought-out plan and their contacts were in order.”

Ryan Brown ’02, a member of the six-member team that collected funds forthe Evansville Psychiatric Children’s Center, learned about the need from teammember Jeff Miller, whose wife is a therapist there.

“We met out there to get a feel for the facility,” Brown said. “We took photosto show when we solicited donations.”

The team prepared a fact sheet, wrote a letter addressing the needs and thecenter’s budget shortfall, and obtained a letter from a center official confirming thestudents’ relationship to the fund-raising. They developed a list of potential donorsfrom rosters of the Better Business Bureau and Chamber of Commerce.

“We realized that we were able to work together to solve a problem for aworthwhile cause. The best thing that came out of it is that we established a rela-tionship with people — telling them what function this organization serves,”Brown said. Risk manager for Raben Tire Company in Evansville, Brown earned anundergraduate degree in business administration from the USI School of Business.

Other teams in Kovanic’s class completed a landscaping project for the Vander-burgh Humane Society, collected socks and underwear for the Evansville RescueMission, and organized a donors’ luncheon for Habitat for Humanity.

MBA studentsContinued from page 1

MBA student Rakhi Agarwal collects foodfor Archibald’s Food Closet.

Accounting programs applyfor honor society charter

The School of Business accountingand professional services programs havepetitioned to charter a campus chapterof Beta Alpha Psi, an honor society foraccounting, finance, and informationsystems majors. A new chapter must bein its fourth semester to qualify for thecharter. USI chapter officers are TanyaScherle, president; Donovan Sexton,president elect; Kim Dosher, vicepresident, membership; April Williamsand Brad Holtz, vice presidents, activi-ties; Lindsey Jones, vice president,publicity; Jeff Straub, reporter; andSkii Robling, voting committee officer.Four officers attended a regional meet-ing in Columbus, Ohio.

Four attain Toastmasters honorFour members of the Speaking

Eagles student chapter of Toastmastersachieved the Competent Toastmaster(CTM) award during spring semester.They are Jennifer Cecil, Emily Camp-bell, Emily Gessner, and ArthurHelm. CTM is the first level ofachievement in the Toastmasters com-munication and leadership program. It requires completion of 10 speechesdeveloping various aspects of publicspeaking. The USI chapter of Toast-masters is supported by the AccountingCircle.

Summer 2004 7

The road connecting Jasper, Ind.,with the University of Southern Indi-ana campus is a familiar one to KenSendelweck ’76, a member of theSchool of Business Board of Advisors(formerly Board of Visitors) since 1993.He served as chairof the group for2003-04, complet-ing an eventfulterm that saw thesuccessful transi-tion to a newdean, the begin-ning of activitiesrelated to reaccred-itation by AACSB International, theformation of a faculty strategic plan-ning committee, and continuing devel-opment of curriculum.

Sendelweck is president/CEO ofGerman American Bank, headquar-tered in Jasper.

Members of the Board of Advisorsfor the School of Business commit toattend a full board meeting once eachsemester and, as officers or committeemembers, dedicate themselves to addi-tional meetings throughout the year.Sendelweck believes the group has“many opportunities to add value tothe ultimate progression of the Schoolof Business.”

As he passed the baton to incom-ing chair Allen Mounts, he listed anumber of areas where the Board ofAdvisors has made and can make adifference for the school:

• Reaccreditation —“Accredita-tion is the exclamation point that is atestament to the quality of the pro-grams in the School of Business,” hesaid.

Sendelweck complimented thenaming by Dr. Gene Klippel, dean ofthe school, of a faculty committee thatwill develop a strategic plan, asrequired by the accrediting bodyAACSB International (The Associa-tion to Advance Collegiate Schools ofBusiness). Sendelweck said the deanwould bring in the Board of Advisorsat the appropriate time to serve as asounding board for those putting

together a direction for the future.• Internships and Co-ops —

Sendelweck asked board members toserve as a conduit for internships andco-op programs for the students as wellas the faculty. “There’s a lot to begained by the faculty in spending sometime out in the business world,” hecommented.

• Curriculum expansion — “Theboard can provide food for thought,related to such programs as e-business,distance learning, and partnership withthe new USI engineering program,”Sendelweck said.

• Student recruitment — Sendel-weck called for the board to serve asregional ambassadors, hosting recep-tions and serving as spokespersons forthe School of Business. “In many cases,we’re alumni so we can speak from theheart,” he said. Sendelweck majored inaccounting at USI.

• Regional economic develop-ment — “We can help the school bybeing a resource for economic develop-ment,” he said. He cited the school’sCenter for Business and EconomicResearch and other opportunities for

networking and partnerships. Thelocation of a regional state office foreconomic development on campusgives USI an opportunity to participatemore closely in activities to benefit theregion.

• New building — Sendelweckasked board members to make theirstate legislators aware of the need for a

new building to house the School ofBusiness. University leaders will peti-tion the Indiana General Assembly inits next session for building funds.

While Sendelweck has an interestin giving back to the School of Busi-ness because of the education hereceived, he also wants to help theUniversity contribute to the overallquality of life in the region.

“It’s not just about the economicvitality of the region. It’s the sports, the arts, the humanities, the students’involvement in outreach, and what theUniversity means as a whole to thequality of life where we live,” he said.

In addition to his role as presi-dent/CEO of German American Bank,Sendelweck is secretary/treasurer ofGerman American Bancorp and chair-man/secretary of German AmericanFinancial Advisors and Trust Company.A $1 billion financial services compa-ny, German American Bancorp has 27retail banking offices in eight South-western Indiana counties and a busi-ness lending center in Evansville.

At USI, he also serves on the USIFoundation board and is a member ofthe Foundation’s investment commit-tee. For the School of Business, he wasa founding member of the AccountingCircle, a group of senior executives inpublic and private accounting whoserve as an advisory group to theaccounting programs. He received theDistinguished Alumni Award from theUSI Alumni Association in 1997 andserved as School of Business Alumnus-in-Residence in 2000.

Sendelweck

Mounts to chairBoard of Advisors

Allen R. Mounts ’74,M.B.A. ’91, will chair theSchool of Business Board of Advi-sors for 2004-05. Mounts is seniorvice president and director ofhuman resources for Old NationalBancorp in Evansville. He is acharter member of the Board ofAdvisors, which recently changedits name. Formerly called theBoard of Visitors, the group wasorganized in 1989.

“It’s not just about the economic vitality of the region.

It’s the sports, the arts, thehumanities, the students’

involvement in outreach, andwhat the University means as a

whole to the quality of life where we live.”

— Ken Sendelweck

As alumnus and business leader, Sendelweckbrings energy, expertise to Board of Advisors


Company we keep SpeakersThe following individuals wereamong speakers to business classes.

Howard AbramsDeJong's (Retired)

Nancy BizalUniversity of Southern Indiana

Don Breivogel ’83 American General Financial

Services

Tim BuecherUniversity of Southern Indiana

Steve ByelickBank of Evansville

Norm Campbell Energy Systems Group, LLC

Dan Carwile Integra Bank

Pat Coslett Pat Coslett’s Furniture Festival

Marilyn Doyle United Fidelity Bank

Steve Farrell ’73 Gaither Rutherford & Co.

Jeffery W. FoyeLynch and Associates

William T. Gavin Federal Reserve Bank

of St. Louis

Vernon P. GermanoMead Johnson Nutritionals

Donna Harris ’94, M.B.A. ’01 Community Methodist Hospital

Suzanne HilbertSt. Mary’s Medical Center

Pete HollenbachU.S. Department of the Treasury

J. Zachary HopkinsLynch and Associates

Mark Horswood Isaac Paul & Associates

Jennifer Kellams University of Southern Indiana

Jacqueline KerwinDeaconess Hospital

Karl Kissinger Fifth Third Bank

Mike Lamey American General Financial

Services

Michelle Land Harris Evansville Courier Company

Mike Libs ’73Mike Libs Candies

Dorrie LoBue Evansville Chamber

of Commerce

Harry Lukens Jesse F. Stock Insurance, Inc.

James D. LynchLynch and Associates

Ryan T. Lynch Lynch and Associates

Steven R. MalinFederal Reserve Bank

of New York

Phil Malone Kimball International

Cecile Martin BodyWorks School of Massage

Tim McGuire ’86 CMC

Lana MeyerNorthwestern Mutual Financial

Services

Jerry MooreDOMA Group

Steve MuddRiney Hancock and Co.

Greg Newman ’88 Kemper CPA Group

Jeanne OakesVectren Corporation

Dane PartridgeUniversity of Southern Indiana

Kenneth Preston Visteon

Gary Price Bowers and Harrison

Al Ritz CMC

Bob Smith Berry Plastics Corporation

Rick Stivers Deaconess Hospital

Charles Storms Red Spot Paint & Varnish

Co., Inc.

Terry Stumpf ’77 Toyota Motor Manufacturing

Indiana

Camilla Swain Needy Feet Ministries, Inc.

Rachel TylerU.S. Department of the Treasury

Kevin Vickorey Bank of Evansville

Carolyn Walters C.C. Boone Electric Company

Connie Wellmeyer ’84 Toyota Motor Manufacturing

Indiana

Jason Whann ’97 SpectraCare HealthCare, Inc.

Marvin Wright Wright Consultants

Demetrius Young KCARC

Mock interviewsThese individuals conducted mockemployment interviews for studentsin the career planning and profes-sional development classes.

Mendi Bartlett Mead Johnson Nutritionals/Kelly

Services

Julie Bennett ’96 Old National Bancorp

Brenda Bosecker Red Spot Paint & Varnish

Co., Inc.

Jason Braun Rexam Closures

Angie Brawdy ’93, M.B.A. ’99 University of Southern Indiana

Cindy Brinker University of Southern Indiana

Mark Chandler ’01 Old National Bank

Michelle Choate ’91 Red Spot Paint & Varnish

Co., Inc.

Cindy Cole Deaconess Hospital

Mandy Covington HR Solutions Inc.

Fred Cox Vectren Corporation

Chasity Coy ’99 Integra Bank

Jean Crowe Casino Aztar

Jennifer Cruz American General Financial

Services

Katie Dahmer CMC

Andy Ellerbrook ’98 Shoe Carnival

Nancy Epperson Integra Bancshares

Nancy Evans Old National Bank

Susan Everett ’81, M.B.A. ’99 Keller Crescent Co.

Chris Feagens Keller Crescent Co.

Darlene Fisher University of Southern Indiana

Jeff Fischer ’01 Silgan Closures

Debbie Fleck ‘91, M.B.A. ’00 American General Financial

Services

Cheryl Giesman Koch Air

Robert Gossman Bootz Manufacturing

Sarah Goulet Welborn Clinic

Kim Greenlee University of Southern Indiana

Christine Hachmeister Omnisource

John Halverson Human Resource Support, Inc.

Ashley Hamilton American General Financial

Services

Judy Hamilton ’84 Keller Schroeder & Associates

Donna Harris ’94, M.B.A. ’01 Methodist Hospital

Donna HasselbrinckShoe Carnival

Jamie Heeke ’00 Shoe Carnival

Danny HendersonCasino Aztar

Chris Herr Fifth Third Bank

Scott Herrell Rexam Closures

Suzanne HilbertSt. Mary’s Medical Center

Rachel Howard ’03 HR Solutions, Inc.

April Jones Cintas Corporation

Frank Kanowsky Ferro Corporation

Sheri Kennedy ’98, M.I.M. ’02 Rexam Closures

Amanda Klass St. Mary’s Medical Center

Michelle Land HarrisEvansville Courier Company

Sara Lipking ’89 Casino Aztar

Dick Lynch Vectren Corporation

Stuart Martin ’97Keller Crescent Co.

Susie Mattingly ’84 Keller Schroeder & Associates

Molly McConnell University of Southern Indiana

Cindy McGee Old National Bancorp

Carol McMichael CMC

Vickie Mehringer ’99 Old National Bank

LaKeisha Minor Integra Bank

Linda Minton Vectren Corporation

Thom Mominee ’72 Evansville Courier Company

Mike Murphy Shoe Carnival

Joe Neidig M.A.L.S. ’01 Red Spot Paint & Varnish

Co., Inc.

Steve Niemeier Human Resources Support, Inc.

Bryan Norman Berry Plastics Corporation

Barbara Oehmler Old National Bank

Janice Oliver Keller Crescent Co.

Vickie Oshodi University of Southern Indiana

Brad Platts Keller Crescent Co.

Stephanie Polen ’98CMC

Mary Reese Berry Plastics Corporation

Sam Rogers Deaconess Hospital

Bob Scheller Deaconess Hospital

Jennifer Sontz HR Outsource

Cris Stichler St. Mary’s Medical Center

Dr. Eva Jermakowicz ’87, associate pro-fessor of accounting, spent the academic yearlearning about the introduction of the mostsweeping changes in financial reporting inEurope in 30 years. She was a Fulbright schol-ar studying the topic “Convergence ofNational Accounting Practices with Interna-tional Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)in the European Union.” All European Unioncompanies must meet IFRS standards startingin January 2005.

Her host institution was the EuropeanInstitute of Advanced Studies in Managementin Brussels. As part of her research, she metpeople from the business community, theEuropean Commission, and academia.

“I interviewed several financial officers ofmultinational companies which are first-timeadopters of IFRS, investigating the impact ofthe conversion to IFRS on the company’sequity and profits,” she said.

She attended conferences on implement-ing IFRS in different countries and presented apaper during the 2004 Congress of the Euro-pean Accounting Association in Prague.

In March, she attended an eight-day con-ference with other European Fulbright recipi-ents. They spent two days in Luxembourg,learning about the European Court of Justiceas guests of the U.S. Embassy and the Luxem-bourg Ministry of Education and then went toBrussels to visit the Council of Ministers, theEuropean Parliament, and the European Com-mission.

In Belgium, they also visited NATOHeadquarters in Mons and were guests of theCollege of Europe in Brugge, where the world'sfirst stock exchange was established.

Also in March, she presented research at aFulbright conference in Berlin.

Jermakowicz is slated to return to theUnited States in July.

Summer 2004 9

Eva Jermakowicz visit-ed the home of theEuropean Parliament inBrussels. Membershipin the European Unionincreased from 15 to 25countries during thetime of her Fulbrightfellowship.

Jermakowicz studies accounting standards in Brussels

Lindsey Sutton ’01 HR Solutions Inc.

Robyn Taylor ’92Frontier-Kemper Constructors

Susie Traylor CMC

Tom Utley Koch Air

Emily VanWinkle ’99, M.B.A. ’04

Vectren Corporation

Brian Wallace American General Financial

Services

Gene Weisheit Central Tower Inc.

Jeff Whiteside Vectren Corporation

Joella Wilson Fifth Third Bank

Susan Wilson Old National Bank

Autumn Winterheimer St. Mary’s Medical Center

Scott Wunderlich ’98 Old National Bank

Career explorationThese individuals provided careerexploration or job shadowingexperiences for students in personalselling and marketing managementclasses.

Jody BarrettInterCall, Inc.

Stacee CampbellC & C Sports

Lanna DoyleGreenwell Chisholm Printing

Company

Ryan Fears ’03Sigecom

Denny GarnessFaultless Caster

Eric GobinFastenal Industrial &

Construction Supplies

Leslie Hires ’01 American Red Cross

Gene JarvisHobart Sales and Service

Chad JohnsonZimmer, Inc.

Larry McGregorFrench Implement

Justin NewtonThrifty Nickel

Eugene RadcliffKirby Vacuum

Nick RascheBankers Life and Casualty

Bob SchoenMcNeil Pharmaceuticals

Leslie Seibert ’99UPS

Terry SilverCentral Industries

Ryan Simmons ’02Cintas Corporation

Todd WhalenBuffalo Trace Council of the

Boy Scouts of America

Robert Whitten, Jr. ’86Whitten Sales, Inc.

Internships andcooperative programsMore than 100 School of Businessstudents were in internships andcooperative programs at thefollowing 55 employers duringsummer 2003, fall 2003, andspring 2004.

AccurideAtlas World GroupAxiom Marketing & AdvertisingBerry Plastic Corporation

BKDBuehler’s Buy LowCasino AztarCGM Computer ConsultingCity of EvansvilleClearwave CommunicationsComprehensive Accounting

ServicesDeaconess HospitalDisinger Kruger JewelersDowntown Evansville, Inc.Edward JonesEscalade SportsEvansville BluecatsEvansville Chamber of

CommerceEvansville Federal Credit UnionEvansville Housing AuthorityTucker Publishing GroupEvansville OttersGaither Rutherford & CompanyGE PlasticsGuardian AutomotiveHarding, Shymanski & Co.Hurst Mfg.IBMKimball InternationalKoch AirLittle Chapel ChurchMead Johnson NutritionalsMedia MixNorthwestern Mutual Financial

NetworkOld National BancorpOneStar CommunicationOneStar Long DistanceOperation City BeautifulRadisson Hotel at Star PlazaRaymond James Financial

ServicesReitz Home Museum Signature Energy Management

SolarbronSouthern Indiana Development

CorporationSt. Mary’s Medical CenterSt. Paul’s United Church

of ChristSuper BikeThe Realty GroupToyota Motor Manufacturing

IndianaUSA Defense Finance and

Accounting ServicesUniversity of Southern Indiana

Human ResourcesVanderburgh County

TreasurerVector MarketingVectren CorporationWalt Disney World

Service learningThese organizations providedservice-learning opportunities forstudents in the MBA leadershipclass.

USI’s Archibald Food ClosetEvansville Psychiatric Children’s

CenterVanderburgh Humane SocietyEvansville Rescue MissionHabitat for Humanity

Site visitationsCorporate DesignKinder Moving & StoragePhoenix ImagingSouthwind Maritime Center


Kelly Dillon ’92, assistant manag-er of public relations for Toyota MotorManufacturing Indiana, was on theplatform giving a presentation toSchool of Business faculty and studentsFebruary 23, but she reminded themthat it was not so long ago that she wasin their seats.

A business administration majorwith marketing/management emphases,Dillon said, “The things that you do oncampus end up being a lot of valuelater on.”

Dillon, who grew up on a familyfarm, made a series of presentations tofaculty and students on the theme“Tractors to Toyota” as Alumna-in-Residence for the School of Business.Her areas of responsibility at Toyotainclude community relations, govern-

Toyota official is Alumna-in-Residence

Jenn

y M

edcr

aft

Information technology professionalsto advise School of Business programs

A new group of Evansville-area senior professionals inthe information technology field has been formed to advisethe computer information systems (CIS) and applied com-puter science (ACS) programs. Dr. Marvin L. Albin, pro-fessor of computer information systems, is faculty liaison forthe IT (Information Technology) Alliance.

“It is our hope that the IT Alliance will result in moreopportunities for CIS and ACS students to gain exposureand experience to the IT working environment throughshadowing, internships, and cooperative education,” hesaid. “In addition, we look forward to the professionalsgiving us feedback and advice regarding our curricula.”

The group, which held an organizational meeting inApril, also may work to improve funding, especially forscholarships.

Members include Dick Arneson, vice president, infor-mation technology, Atlas World Group; Dan Bugher, vicepresident, information technology, Vectren Enterprises;James Derk, Six Sigma Black Belt, GE Plastics; SusanEverett ’81, M.B.A. ’99, vice president, information tech-nology, Keller Crescent Co.; Phil Lieberman, president,The Lieberman Group; Larry May, president, KellerSchroeder & Associates; Mike Neeley, CIO, DeaconessHospital; Jerry Peters ’85,vice president, Harding Shy-manski & Co.; and DaveSmith, senior director ofinformation technology,CMC.

AITP members win awardsat national conference

Students in the USI chapter of the Association ofInformation Technology Professionals (AITP) returnedfrom the Ninth Annual AITP National Collegiate Confer-ence in Omaha with awards for their performance in com-petition with students from other universities.

School of Business students won the following awards:USI chapter, second in the Banner Competition; JohnRussell ’04 and Jason Hopp, third of 28 teams in Webdesign; Lisa Mitsdarffer ’04, seventh of 26 participants inthe paper-writing competition for her entry on e-business;Ann Patterson ’04 and Lindsey Simpson ’04, honorablemention (top 10 finish) among 42 teams in the VisualBasic programming competition.

Mitsdarffer, an e-business major, said, “The conferenceis a great opportunity for students to gain exposure to real-life situations through the competitions. It also allowsstudents to network with professionals and other studentsfrom around the country.”

Ernest E. Nolan, assistant professor of computer infor-mation systems and AITP faculty advisor, accompanied thestudents. USI AITP members John Brock ’04 and ScottRuwe ’04 also attended the conference, which attractedmore than 600 students from 84 colleges and universities.

ment relations, volunteer activities,communications, and special events.

In her presentations, Dillonstressed the value of teamwork, urg-ing students to learn from groupactivities in their courses.

“At Toyota, all employees arecalled team members from the presi-dent on down,” she said. “It justworks better if you’re working as ateam. The result is better. It mightbe quicker or easier to do an assign-ment on your own, but try to con-tribute as a team member because itwill help you in your career.”

Dillon worked at Mead Johnsonwhile attending USI and was later aUSI admission counselor. Before join-ing Toyota she worked as a privateclient officer with Old National Bank

in Evansville. From 1996-2002, sheserved as vice president of membershipand marketing for the MetropolitanEvansville Chamber of Commerce andas its interim president and CEO forone year.

Kelly Dillon talks with students and Dr. EugeneKlippel, dean of the School of Business, duringAlumni-in-Residence presentations. From leftare Jill Harper, Dillon, Klippel, and TaraChaffin.

AITP members met to celebrate theirshowing in national competition. Fromleft are John Brock, president; ScottRuwe; Lisa Mitsdarffer; Ann Patter-son; Jason Hopp; and John Russell. Asecond-place award for the bannershown here was among chapter honors. E

lizab

eth

Cou

rtne

y-U

SI

Summer 2004 11

We welcome comments from our alumni and friends regarding accomplishments, career choices, and momentous personal events. Send toNancy F. Bizal, School of Business, University of Southern Indiana, 8600 University Boulevard, Evansville, IN 47712-3597 or [email protected].

Name________________________________________________ Your student record name___________________________________

Class of _____ Major________________ Telephone (home)_________________ (work)_________________ E-mail_____________________

HOME BUSINESS

Address______________________________________________ Your title/date effective_____________________________________

City, State, ZIP________________________________________ Company name___________________________________________

Check here if home address is new ❐ Address__________________________________________________Preferred mailing address ❐ Home ❐ Business

City, State, ZIP____________________________________________

Check here if business address is new ❐

News Item___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

❐ Please submit this information to the Alumni Today section of USI Magazine and online publications.❐ Please use this information only to maintain accurate alumni records.

Let us hear from you!

SHRM participates in Regional GamesDr. Gregory P. Valentine,

associate professor of businesseducation and director of theCenter for Economic Educationin Southwest Indiana, receivedthe Harrington Award from theIndiana Council for EconomicEducation (ICEE).

The award was presented inIndianapolis October 10 at ameeting honoring ICEE’s 50thanniversary.

The Harrington Award isgiven annually to center directorswho have shown excellence ineither research or teacher serviceswithin the region or state. Valen-tine received the award for teach-er services. In 2003, he gave pre-sentations and trained more than400 elementary, middle school, orhigh-school teachers on how toincorporate economics into theirclassroom teaching.

Valentine receivesHarrington Award

From left areDr. DanePartridge,associate pro-fessor of man-agement andSHRM advisor;Jill Harper;Kristin Ridg-way; and TaraChaffin.

Students from the USI student chapter of the Society for HumanResource Management (SHRM) had a chance to apply knowledge of theirfield in matches at the North Central Region Human Resources Gamesrecently in Ypsilanti, Mich. The USI team — Tara Chaffin, captain; JillHarper; and Kristin Ridgway — won its first two matches, defeating teamsfrom the University of Minnesota-Duluth and Eastern Michigan Universitybefore finishing with a 2-2 record.

Twenty-five teams participated in the competition, which includes cate-gories similar to those used in the Professional in Human Resources (PHR)certification exam. Next year's Regional Games will be held April 7-8 at theUniversity of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign.

School of BusinessUniversity of Southern Indiana8600 University BoulevardEvansville IN 47712-3597

1-10700

A publication of the School of BusinessUniversity of Southern Indiana

R. Eugene Klippel, DeanNancy F. Bizal, Editor812/464-1801Betty R. Vawter, News andInformation Services

Online financial services andemployer-provided health-care insur-ance are under study by faculty mem-bers who have been awarded summerresearch fellowships thanks to fundingfrom private gifts.

Dr. Stephen Callaway, assistantprofessor of management, received theR. Malcolm Koch Memorial ResearchAward. Dr. Anusuya Roy, assistantprofessor of economics, received theSchool of Business Research Award.Each award includes a stipend for 10weeks of summer research and a part-time student assistant.

Callaway will investigate theimpact of the Internet on the diversifi-cation of financial services firms. “TheInternet may provide a means for firmsto offer ‘one-stop shopping’ for cus-tomers, that is, diversify their productofferings. Moreover, the Internet, beinga global medium, also may encouragefirms to diversify internationally,” he said.

Two receive grants for summer research

University of Southern Indiana is anaffirmative action/equal employmentopportunity institution.

Roy is researching a topic of con-cern to millions of people in the United States — the fate of healthinsurance coverage during an economicdownturn.

She is using a national representa-tive sample to study how an economicrecession can affect the types of plansoffered by an employer and the servicescovered. Her research also will addresswhether increases in the unemploy-ment rate significantly affect the use ofcertain health-care facilities, such asemergency rooms.

RoyCallaway

Inside this issue

Ann Patterson ’04, computerinformation systems, wasamong members of the USIstudent chap-ter of theAssociation ofInformationTechnologyProfessionals(AITP) whoearned honorsin competitionat an AITPnational conference. Readabout the student competitionand the new IT Alliance onpage 10.

Eliz

abet

h C

ourt

ney-

US

I

school of business reports

Documents