To Top It All Off

Over the past two weeks, the construction workers started building the roof support structure. It is always exciting to see the next level to go on top of the building – and then the next – and the next. But this is the beginning of the end. Pretty soon, there won’t be any new levels to celebrate. I’m OK with that. I’d rather just get the building finished.

Photo of construction workers welding together the roof support structure

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, due to staging, the contractor is building the building as three separate parts. The part of the building that is furthest along, and where the roof structure is being built, is appropriately referred to as Area 1 or Area A (depending on the person). It is the northwest part of the new building. This is the area where the roof support structure is being erected now (see photo).

I am looking forward to the topping it all off!

Ken Snyder

Go Global: Eastern Europe 2014

Melanie Barlow

Eastern Europe 2014

I am a senior enrolled in the Huntsman School of Business, but unlike most students, I have been happily married for 17 years and have four beautiful children. Recently, I took the opportunity to travel to Eastern Europe with Go Global. You may ask why I would want to leave my family behind? My answer is for the amazing experience and opportunities provided to me and, in turn, my family. My passion for success stems from the love of my family. While in the process of earning an economics degree, my appreciation and appetite for knowledge led me to the conclusion that the world is much larger than Utah and the United States. I wanted to immerse myself in the economic views and concerns of people around the world.

Engagement with the world of international business has opened my eyes. I was able to speak with

Huntsman Students at the Istanbul Stock Exchange

professionals and discuss their views of business, receive advice on how the US can improve internationally, and spoke with employees about the likes and dislikes of the companies they work for. I had the chance to have lunch with a top executive, bonding over the joys of our children. He commented that many new employees directly out of college are unethical. I was proud to represent USU and tell him about SAEL (Society for the Advancement of Ethical Leadership) which teaches the importance of an ethical workplace. Being so deeply immersed has solidified my plans to work internationally, strengthened my ability to work with others while staying focused and alert in meeting even though feeling jet-lagged, learning to find food while in an exotic city, and developing the ability to quickly calculate exchange rates.

The best way to learn about the Go Global program is to go for yourself. I highly recommend that everyone take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Take the time to set goals and monitor results through a detailed journal. You will be amazed at what you learn and how you will personally grow on your own journey.

HMA Medical Sales Blitz

Last week the Huntsman Marketing Association went through a medical sales blitz where students had the opportunity to interview with Ray Fujikawa the Senior Vice President of Commercial Strategy at Orthofix, a Global medical device company. The following are perspectives from the couple of students who were lucky enough to interview with him using the new FJ Management Center.

Bree Arnold
I had the opportunity to attend a lecture and interview with Ray Fujikawa. I feel proud to say I was the second student to ever interview in the new FJ Management Center in the Huntsman Business School. Mr. Fujikawa's lecture was very good. He talked about becoming a Student of the Game (SOTG). The point of SOTG is a way for sales professionals to become the best that they can be. It is important to learn as much information from a client before we try to "fix" problems they have. He gave a few different examples of things good and bad sales people have done. He is a very engaging and dynamic person. I also appreciated the opportunity to interview with him. This put him on a "real" level. It was nice to interact with him one on one. He is a very accomplished individual and he gave me great advice for my future career.

Ray Fujikawa teaches the HMA club

 Lendel Jeppesen

The Huntsman School of Business is moving to new heights and I am glad to be a part of it.
 

Last week I was able to attend the medical sales blitz where I interviewed with Ray Fujikawa. He comes every spring and fall looking for Aggies to interview and potentially hire into a very competitive and lucrative industry. It is very difficult for one to get his or her foot in the door and even harder to land a job; he comes for talent. The FJ Management Center is a great asset, as it allows companies to come right to campus and interview us in an environment we love and are comfortable with. Professionals like Ray come to hire us to be the solution to the challenges they face in their respective industries. They come to the Huntsman School because we have been trained sufficiently to meet the demands of companies today. Interviewing with Ray was an important event in my career here at USU and taught me so much about what the job market seeks in its new hires. I learned about what I have to offer that is valuable and where I lack and need to grow. I suspect that as I look back on my collegiate experience, interviewing with Ray will be one of my coolest moments. I invite anyone interested in accelerating their career to take the opportunity and learn from it - capitalize on it. Take advantage of all the resources that the Huntsman School has to offer. I decided to give it a try and will not pass on another opportunity as long as I am here.

Experiencing Business in a Whole New World

Trevor Andersen (South America 2014)

My Go Global experience was something I'll never forget, and quite honestly, it has been all I could talk about coming back to school. To visit top-tier businesses in other countries, visit a country’s most sacred ruin, and finish it all up with a mini internship as a micro-finance consultant, was one of the best experiences of my life. There really is no other program that can give a cultural exposure, open up your eyes to global business, and help you see what value you can add to this world than the Go Global Program.

I originally decided to apply for Go Global because it went to South America, and I have always wanted to learn about that culture. Once I started my BUS 2000 class during spring semester I knew that the trip was going to help me decide what I wanted to do with my degree. Probably the most valuable business lesson I learned is that the culture of a society effects its economic conditions greatly, so in order to successfully run or work for a business, you must first strive to understand what aspects of society effect your realm of business. On a more personal level, I learned that I want a career that can directly impact peoples' personal lives. If I could do this program all over again, I would in a heartbeat. I even tried to convince the professors that led the trip that I would be a great travel assistant for next year’s trip.

For business and for any other major, this really is the best way to prepare yourself for what lies beyond college. Having the chance to experience the global business world before you even graduate is an opportunity that shouldn't be overlooked.

Trevor Andersen

FJ Management Center for Student Success

Classroom BUS 317 pre-rennovation

Classrooms 317 and 319 post-rennovation

Over the past few years, the most frequent question I am asked about the new building is, “Why do you need a new building?” My usual reply is something along the lines of, “We need space to do all of the terrific things that will help our students succeed.” Most people don’t understand this vague answer. It isn’t until I get into specifics – things such as the advantages of the new classrooms, the 21 new student meeting rooms, etc. – that the inquirer starts to understand.

Last Thursday we had a terrific example of how a new space can open up opportunities to help our students succeed. We celebrated the opening of the FJ Management Center for Student Success. We decided to place this center in the existing Eccles building because we wanted to build on the nice advising center space that was renovated a few years ago. As reported earlier (see my blog from September 10, 2012), we converted some existing, awful, classrooms to beautiful new space for this center. We are grateful to Crystal and Chuck Maggelet, and all of the others at FJ Management who made this terrific new center possible.

This is a wonderful example of how having the right space can help fulfill the desired purpose!

You can read more about the new FJ Management Center in our press release, or from the center website.

Link to the press release:

http://huntsman.usu.edu/news/htm/news/articleID=26058

Link to the center website:

http://huntsman.usu.edu/fjmcenter/

Fall 2014 New Business Student Orientation Recap

This year’s new Huntsman student orientation began with Associate Dean, Dave Patel, giving his five words for success: initiative, excellence, integrity, investment and ownership. He asked the students to always be able to answer the question, “What do you want?”

Director of Undergraduate Programs, Ruth Harrison, then began with her analogy of someone being asked to build a house, unbeknownst to them that one day they would live in it. She compared this to the students’ education. She directed students to the new Huntsman School Road Map to Graduation. Many students noticed that this new outline looked less like a checklist and more of a tool box of suggestions for success.

This year’s business senator, Scott Laneri, concluded by telling the students to do at least three things this year. He challenged them to first go on a Career Exploration Trip. He explained that whether the students choose a local or national trip, this experience would help them find the passion they are looking for in business. He then challenged to meet a professor. And finally, he challenged them to join a club. With so many clubs and organizations offered by the Huntsman School, getting involved will only propel one’s career forward.

Best of luck new Huntsman Students. We know you’ll make us proud.

The Six Must-Haves of a New Business Building

In the current edition of BizEd Magazine, the main trade journal for business schools, there is an article entitled What to Build When You’re Building. In this article, the magazine identifies six must-have elements of new business school buildings. I thought I might report on how well we do with those six must-haves:

Technology Lab

1) A variety of (classroom) floor plans. Check! We have both flat and tiered classrooms, with two different sizes of tiered classrooms, and three different sizes of flat classrooms.

2) Room to experiment. Check! With a Finance Lab, two additional computer technology labs, a research-focused Behavior Lab, and an Innovation Lab in our new Clark Center for Entrepreneurship, we have labs.

3) Spaces large and small. Check! We have the wonderful event space as our largest, new space. We have 21 new student project team rooms, and five new conference rooms, for small space. In between, we have three student lounge areas, the courtyard, the terrace, the cafeteria, and other great spaces to meet and work.

4) Top-tier technology. Check! Our architects put together a wonderful rendering of our technology lab which shows what our lab should look like. Plus, all of our classrooms will be outfitted with the latest and greatest proven technologies. No, we are not on the bleeding edge, but, yes, we are on the leading edge.

5) Green grandeur. Check! This is all about LEED. Frankly, we have to be – it’s state law. And we’re building a state-owned building.

Aeriel view of the courtyard

6) Tailor-made features. Check! Each region, campus and building space might have special characteristics which can be expressed through a high-quality business building. As I read this section, two things came to mind: (1) The wonderful views we will have of the south end of Cache Valley from the new event space. This will be high-value, “beach-front” property. And, (2) I thought of our courtyard. By fire code, we have to have 24 feet of separation between the two buildings. We are turning 24 feet of separation into a great asset. Tailor-made!

All in all, based on the BizEd criteria, we’ve nailed it.

Ken Snyder

Go Global: Asia 2014

Sarah at the Great Wall of China

 By Sarah Keating

Participating in the Go Global: Asia 2014 trip was one of the smartest decisions I have made during my collegiate career. Originally I wanted to go to Asia to learn more about big economic powers like China and South Korea, as well as developing economic nations like Vietnam. However, once I left Asia I had not only learned international economics but I also had experienced Asian culture and learned so much about myself as a student and as a person. This international experience helped me improve as a businesswoman, as a traveler and as a productive citizen as a whole.

While traveling I learned that having a global perspective is such an important principle when working with different countries. I had the opportunity to attend a private business dinner with three other students, and I was astounded by the courtesy and genuine friendship displayed by our Chinese host. I realized the power of adventure and the benefits of escaping the tourist mentality while traveling. With the help of our wonderful professors, I was encouraged to get out of my comfort zone and have conversations with dozens of people from countless backgrounds, allowing me to get a well-rounded vision of Asia. Most importantly I realized the importance of utilizing every moment and seizing every opportunity. Since returning from Asia, I’ve been more proactive about making every hour of every day a learning and growing experience. I would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone looking for a challenging, enlightening experience in international studies.