summer/fall 2014 idaho state university college of business

S U M M E R / FA L L 2 0 1 4 I D A H O S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y C O L L E G E O F B U S I N E S S

Business Bulletin 2014

Andrea Vicic

DEAN’S LETTER Economic development is a significant part of the College of Business mission. In addition to providing rigorous, experience-based education for students from Idaho and around the world, we provide Idaho businesses with an array of specialized services. From manufacturing and business plans to funding and consulting, the College of Business’s economic development services have something to offer your organization. Our service providers often collaborate on projects to leverage expertise, and we incorporate

COB outstanding student 2014 our best students into many projects. Our faculty and staff provide hours of direct service and mentorship to student teams as they tackle operational improvements, feasibility studies and business plans. I encourage your business to engage some or all of our services. Many are free or charge a nominal fee. We are dedicating this issue to introducing all of our economic development services as well as highlighting our complementary research and celebrating our Idaho Business Leader of the Year. If you have questions or comments about our services, I welcome your call at (280)282-2601. Thomas Ottaway, Ph.D. Dean, College of Business

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Andrea Vicic: College of Business Outstanding Student 2014

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The College of Business Welcomes New Faculty

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The Creative Accountant: Alumnus Carl Stoddard

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"Loudmouths!" Alex Bolinger, Ph.D. Research

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Make-a-Wish for Emory

"MD & A" Dongkuk Lim, Ph.D. Research

Bengal Den Business Plan Competition

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Scott McClure 2014 Idaho Business Leader of the Year

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College of Business Economic Outreach

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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance New Site Coordinator

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"Luck, Skill or Labor Markets?" Jeff Brookman, Ph.D. Research The Bengal Network

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Bill Drake Wells Fargo Speaker Series

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ompete. Study. Lead. Work. Travel. Volunteer. Andrea Vicic, a management senior, has done it all during her college career. A strong grade point average could be the highlight of many student careers, but for Andrea that is only the beginning. Her 3.81 G.P.A. is the backdrop for many athletic and service achievements. She has been named to the dean’s list every semester and she has been the recipient of the All-American Academic award in both crosscountry and track from the Big Sky Conference. She is a championship-caliber heptathlete. “Being a member of the ISU Track and Field Team has been a highlight because of my fantastic teammates and dedicated coaches,” said Vicic. Vicic has spent the past two summers working at the Royal Bank of Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she worked with financial advisors and their clients. Closer to home, she worked as a student consultant for a restaurant in Soda Springs, ID and earned high praise for her initiative and willingness to see the difficult project through. “Andrea stuck with a demanding project and produced great results,” said Ann Swanson, project advisor. Andrea is a natural leader. Alex Bolinger, Ph.D., assistant professor of management, worked with her on the Make-A-Wish Challenge. “Andrea took a lead role organizing an ‘Open Mic’ talent show which earned more than $600 for a local child. It remains one of the single most successful

student-organized fundraisers in the history of the ISU Make-A-Wish Challenge," said Bolinger. Her heart for service extends from the local community to global concerns. In addition to coaching at volleyball camps near her hometown and volunteering at food banks in Montana, Vicic has participated in a mission trip to build a house for Habitat for Humanity and a two-week service trip to Peru in conjunction with World Vision. Andrea Vicic

Vicic values outreach and COB Outstanding Student 2014 diversity and appreciates that ISU reflects these values. “ISU creates a climate of diversity by accepting students from every corner of the nation and country in the world. I am grateful for ISU’s attitude because I have gained connections that extend over state lines, national borders, and whole oceans.” “I am so honored to receive this award, but it is less of a testimony to my efforts and more of a reflection of the amazing people that I have been blessed to be surrounded by here at ISU and the College of Business," Vicic said.

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make-a-wish for emory

e v i t a e r c t n a t n u acco the

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arl Stoddard, '95, was living in Arizona when he took a creativity class as part of his M.B.A. curriculum. The professor assigned students to do something “out of the norm” in order to catalyze the creative process. Stoddard was short on time as he had a family and worked full time during his studies, so he decided to eat ants. That’s right. He got his kids together, wet his finger, reached down to the ground and swallowed a few tiny insects. His son said, “Dad, I can’t believe you ate those fine ants!” Fine ants. Finance. This unusual act sparked an idea and several years later, Stoddard created the cartoon series “Fine-Ants” for accountants and finance professionals. The main characters are, of course, ants. Stoddard now adds cartoonist to his diverse career. After graduating from the COB in 1995, he worked for DMS Systems in Pocatello. He helped develop a proprietary accounting system for car dealerships. Stoddard describes it as “a green-screen, text based system.” In 1997 he worked for Easy Way Dental Systems in Grace, ID, a similar proprietary accounting system for doctors and dentists. He then moved to the Phoenix area to work for E-ASG software

Photo (left to right): Ryan Clark; Jessica Lindgren; RAGAN champion; Megan Moore; Emory Champion; and Mikel Lozano

in 1998 and traveled nationally. When he left in 2002, he was the national sales director. Next, he worked in operations accounting at SCF Arizona, an insurance company specializing in workers compensation, and in 2006 he moved back to Pocatello. He took a job in corporate finance with what is now ON Semiconductor and in 2008 transitioned to the business unit finance. He presently oversees nearly $200 million in revenues. Stoddard is also the creative director and writer for Fine-Ants, and he works with illustrator Dave Allred to complete the panels. “Too often, people assume accountants are boring, one-dimensional people,” said Stoddard. “We do have a sense of humor, and that is what I enjoy about FineAnts.” To keep up with the Fine-Ants, visit: fine-ants.com/blogs.

bengal den

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oney can be a motivator, but research shows that many individuals are equally interested in seeing how their work can make a positive impact on the lives of others.” - Alex Bolinger, Ph.D.

mitochondrial metabolic disease, a disorder that affects muscles as well as motor and verbal development. Like many girls her age, Emory’s wish was to go to Disney World to meet the princesses.

This is the third semester that Bolinger has run the Make-A-Wish Challenge as part of his strategic management class.

Students from Bolinger’s class raked leaves, partnered with local establishments, sold raffle tickets and organized a silent auction. The class raised over $4,300 to send Emory and her family to Disney World in April.

In Fall 2013, the beneficiary was Emory, a sixyear-old girl from Idaho Falls suffering from

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ike McCardle, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing, teaches the freshman Introduction to Business course. The class gives students an introduction to the business world and encourages students to think entrepreneurially. The entrepreneurial lessons come from a business competition McCardle builds into the curriculum. Dubbed the Bengal Den business plan competition, a total of 32 teams entered the multi-round competition with the top 15 teams advancing to the semi-finals. Top MBA students judged the semi-finals, and these MBA students then served as mentors for each of the five finalists. The winner of the inaugural Bengal Den business plan competition was Team Tsunami, comprised of Hye Joon Lee, Jacob Hall, Mariah Wood, Michael Hull, and Cynthia Russell. Tsunami presented a new sound technology product. Kolton Woodbury served as the MBA mentor for the winning team. Amy Rhoads, SVP & Branch Administrator, Citizens Community Bank, Kevin Randolph, Executive Director of Innovation, Idaho State University, and Andy Pennington, Publisher, Idaho State Journal selected the winner. The COB donated prize money, and team Tsunami won $1,000 to share among themselves.

Photo (left to right): KOLTON WOODBURY; HYE JOON LEE; JACOB HALL; MARIAH WOOD; MICHAEL HULL; CYNTHIA RUSSELL

6 Business Bulletin 2014

Business Bulletin 2014 2013

Scott McClure

2014 Idaho Business Leader of the Year

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cott McClure, an ISU engineering graduate, is the 2014 Idaho Business Leader of the Year.

McClure has a history of leadership. Beginning in 1970, he was the ASISU president. He also served on the ISU College of Engineering advisory board for nine years (1992-2001) and chaired the board from 1995-1998. The College of Business welcomed him back to campus for classroom visits and the award ceremony. McClure spoke to several engineering and business classes as well as addressing the crowd at the Stephens Performing Arts Center. He encouraged young people to invest in political

awareness and engage in civic discussion. “Be part of the decision-making process. Political engagement is important,” he encouraged the students. He emphasized the importance of sharing opinions and his respect for well-thought positions. He also expressed his concern about the status of education funding. “When I was a student in 1970, the state paid 80 percent and the student paid 20. Now that balance has been reversed,” he said. McClure feels strongly that wise investment in education is important for a strong Idaho future. “It is important to be part of that process.” He started McClure Engineering, Inc. in 1978 in Twin Falls, ID. McClure Engineering provides professional mechanical, industrial and structural engineering solutions to clients in 15 states. Under McClure’s leadership, they have worked on significant Idaho projects such as The Boise State University Recreation and Student Center renovation, Minidoka Memorial Hospital and the Twin Falls School District Multi-Purpose Rooms.

McClure is not only dedicated to his company but to his community as well. He serves on the Twin Falls Advisory Board Council, advising the city on building codes. His service history includes President of the Idaho Society of Professional Engineers, the Twin Falls YMCA Board of Directors, Chairman of the Twin Falls Urban Renewal Agency, and the Idaho State Board of Education committee for engineering education.

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Photo (from left to right): 1. SCOTT MCCLURE, Idaho Business Leader of the Year, NICKY MCCLURE, HELEN MCCLURE, BOB and MEGAN MCCLURE.

McClure awards scholarships and internships to local high school students pursuing an education in science and engineering fields and is a mentor for the Twin Falls High School Idaho Green Schools Challenge. He shares his knowledge and expertise with local high school students who are interested in science, engineering and multimedia careers. He is an example of lifelong learning as he maintains his certifications and memberships in professional engineering societies. McClure continuously supports local youth organizations. Each year McClure Engineering buys an animal from one of the 4-H members and donates it back to the member. McClure supports the Robotics Explorer Post 411 Club. He believes that supporting clubs helps youth explore their world through innovation and education. With his help, the Post 411 Club was able to compete in the 2013 FIRST Championship in St. Louis, MO. In addition to the 2014 IBLOY award, McClure’s commitment to his company, community service and education garnered him the Professional Achievement Award from Idaho State University in 1985 and the Idaho Excellence in Engineering Award from the Idaho Society of Professional Engineers in 2010.

Photo (from left to right): 2. ERIKA COOK, SOMELINA OBIECHINA

Photo (from left to right): 3. ABEL NUNEZ, KELLY KEMMERER, JEFF NEWBOLD, TISHA NEWBOLD

The Idaho Business Leader of the Year award annually recognizes an Idaho business leader who has demonstrated outstanding business and professional ethics while contributing significant support to worthwhile community, civic and education activities. Awarded by ISU College of Business students since 1959, previous honorees have included a congressman, former governors, entrepreneurs and leaders of some of Idaho’s largest companies. The recognition program is the longest-standing such program in Idaho. Photo (from left to right): 4. BARRETT MCCLURE, SHARI MCCLURE-FAULKNER, PAUL MURDOCK, JESSICA FAULKNER AND SHEILA MCCLURE

E x pa n s i o n s, Op e r at i o n s, b us i n ess p l a n s, m a r k e t a n a lys i s

David Noack Small Business Development Center Director Region 6 Office: 2300 N. Yellowstone Idaho Falls Phone: (208) 523-1087 Email: noacdavi@isu.edu

B U S INE S S P LA NS

David O'Connell TechHelp Manufacturing Specialist Office: ISU BA 329, Pocatello Phone: (208) 589-5567 Email: ocondavi@isu.edu

John Hart, the director of region 5 (Pocatello), emphasizes that SBDC services are excellent for businesses that are already running. "We help existing businesses plan expansions, update operations and improve customer service," said Hart. Services such as secret shoppers and marketing audits give businesses a fresh perspective. About 60 percent of SBDC clients are existing businesses.

John Hart Small Business Development Center Director Region 5 Office: ISU BA 510, Pocatello Phone: (208) 244-8521 Email: hartjoh4@isu.edu

MAN UF ACTU RI N G

"Dave helped us improve our efficiency 20 percent and reduce our overtime by 75 percent in the first year." Clinton Arnold, General Manager, Agritech / Logan Farm Equipment

This ultimately makes companies self-sufficient and often leads to improvement in people's attitudes toward their work. When he asks employees how the new processes have affected them, he hears things such as "my job is less stressful, my work is easier," and "I like my job better because I feel like part of the process."

"The SBDC helped me get organized and set goals. It was very helpful to have their guidance." Claudio Avila, Owner, Cornerstone Hard Surface Cleaning, LLC

SBDC consultants offer helpful perspectives to start-ups as well. "We help people create useful business plans that clarify risk and opportunity," said Hart. When SBDC clients have extended projects such as market analyses, patent research or complex operations issues, student teams take on semester-long projects. SBDC consultants teach and mentor the students, and clients are always impressed with the student's work.

I NTE RNS H IP S

TechHelp manufacturing specialists provide information and technical / professional assistance that helps Idaho manufacturers, processors and inventors. TechHelp accelerates business growth through continuous product and process innovation. Growth and Innovation, E3 (Economy - Energy - Environment) and Food and Dairy are the three primary areas TechHelp serves.

Dave O'Connell, director of TechHelp, spoke with the Bulletin about his experiences working with Idaho manufacturers. "As we coach companies in the principles of LEAN manufacturing, we teach them how - we don’t just walk in, assess and file reports. We help the client find the best answers to their own problems," he said.

The Idaho Small Business Development Center (Idaho SBDC) offers confidential, no-cost business consulting and low-cost training to help small businesses and entrepreneurs start and grow. John Hart and David Noack direct SBDC services in Pocatello and Idaho Falls respectively. They provide no-cost coaching on growing and sustaining a small business (250 employees or fewer). Idaho SBDC clients consistently outperform their peers.

CON SU LTI NG

Product Design, Prototyping, Manufacturing

TechHelp's goals are to increase efficiency, revenues and job retention. In order to accomplish these goals, TechHelp focuses on teaching and coaching companies in the principles of LEAN manufacturing.

M . B. A . MAcc

he College of Business plays an important role in Idaho's economic development and hosts specialized services for local businesses. From manufacturing and business plans to funding and consulting, the COB's economic development services have something to offer your Idaho Business. The service providers often collaborate on projects to leverage expertise and incorporate the best students into many projects.



wrote, "I'm a consultant now, and I'm only successful because of Bengal Solutions."

M.B.a. A dv i so rs

Bengal Solutions leverages the expertise of the best M.B.A. students. The Bengal Solutions team, under the guidance of faculty and staff advisors, takes on in-depth consulting projects. Bengal Solutions has completed projects for ON Semiconductor, Premier Technology and the Idaho National Lab, among many others.

"The team delivered great work. I felt 100 percent comfortable taking its research to the company president." Melinda Hamilton, Director of Education Programs, Idaho National Laboratory Bengal Solutions student consultants work 20 hours per week in exchange for a competitive scholarship and stipend. This allows the team to take on projects from large companies that may not fit into the scope of other COB business services. Bengal Solutions has a two-fold mission: 1) help students develop analytical, interpersonal and leadership skills that will be of value in their careers, and 2) provide beneficial project deliverables that will add value to local companies. Companies pay a consulting fee and as Bengal Solutions director Kolton Woodbury explains, "If a company is not happy with some aspect of our work, we will correct or redo the project." Student consultants speak very highly of their experience. One former student consultant

Kolton Woodbury, M.B.A. Bengal Solutions Director Office: ISU BA 510 Pocatello Phone: (208) 282-2817 Email: woodkolt@isu.edu

networking and resume building. He also brings in guest speakers, organizes networking events, and facilitates workshops on etiquette, grooming, presentation skills and job searching. John Ney, M.A. Director of Professional Development Office: ISU BA 510 Pocatello Phone: (208)282-3637 Email: neyjohn@isu.edu

work, "I like to help. It is very gratifying to see so many businesses in southeast Idaho we have helped grow." Samantha Damron Eastern Idaho Development Corporation Office: 1651 Alvin Ricken Dr. Pocatello Phone: (208)232-4921 damrsama@isu.edu

Professional Development G ra d u ate P ro g ra ms I n t e r n s h i ps a n d j o b p l ac e m e n t ISU believes so strongly in student internships that it has committed over one million dollars annually to fund student internships on campus and in the business community. If your company has interest in giving a business student the opportunity to learn as they work; or, if you have a call for candidates with strong business skills, the College of Business can help.

“We have had great success partnering with the ISU COB for interns and job candidates.” Ben Davidson, Vice President Human Resources, Idaho Central Credit Union Experiential learning and internships are a critical component of business education. The Professional Development program takes on the important task of preparing students for successful experiences outside the classroom. John Ney directs the program and explained, "Grade point average is important, but businesses hire people with good soft skills." Ney teaches freshman and sophomore classes in leadership,

co n t i n u e yo u r e d u cat i o n Sm a l l b us i n ess a d m i n i st r at i o n (SBA) Loa n s The SBA 504 Loan program is a powerful economic development loan program that offers small businesses another avenue for business financing, while promoting business growth and job creation. This program is a proven success and win-win-win for the small business, the community and participating lenders.

"The EIDC has been very instrumental in helping me grow. From a small loan my first year in business to helping me purchase a building." Teresa Nelson, Owner Home Helpers The EIDC works in partnership with local lenders to help clients secure loans for commercial land, buildings and equipment. Program director Samantha Damron says of her

The College of Business welcomes MBA and Master of Accountancy applicants from around the state and around the globe. We offer the MBA program to holders of business and nonbusiness bachelor's degrees. Many MBA classes are online.

"My ISU M.B.A. has afforded me new career opportunities. I feel I am a major contributor to my company's success." Shane Myers, Class of 2013, Cost Analyst, Clinical Innovations Heidi Wadsworth, M.B.A. Director of Graduate Studies Office: ISU BA 510 Pocatello Phone: (208)282-2966 Email: wadsheid@isu.edu

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new site coordinator volunteer income tax assistance

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he Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) welcomed new leadership this year. Accounting professor Dawn Konicek inherited Pete Frischmann’s role as the VITA site coordinator and instructor.

As the new coordinator, Konicek was in charge of filing all federal forms with the IRS, arranging the program’s location and advertising VITA’s services on and off campus. Konicek was also responsible for providing DAWN KONICEK, VITA Instructor students with the necessary new student volunteers, Konicek said they resources to prepare tax returns and make sure quadrupled last year's number of returnsthe team met all VITA requirements. preparing 221- and identifying more than $330,000 in refunds. Despite her new responsibilities this year, Konicek is no stranger to the role; in fact she “They learn to adjust fast to the environment, has been working with VITA for four years the tax program and taxes in general. The and previously ran the VITA site at a technical students also obtain confidence throughout college in Wisconsin. “VITA operated as an this entire process. Most of them are nervous actual class, so I treated the site as if it were a in the beginning, but by the end they feel professional office [where] students had to dress accomplished,” said Konicek. This critical professionally,” said Konicek. thinking and feeling of accomplishment is something the clients love to be part of and Although the COB’s VITA program does not is also one of Konicek's favorite parts of run as a class, it is a valuable learning experience volunteering with VITA. for the students. This year, the program doubled the number of volunteers over last year with For Konicek, VITA is also a great opportunity more than 20 students. According to Konicek, to help the individuals in the community who this year’s VITA team had a few returning and cannot afford the same services elsewhere. “These experienced students but mostly consisted of individuals are extremely appreciative. The new faces to the program. Because of a location appreciation makes it all worth my time and change to the Rendezvous building and many effort,” added Konicek.

WELCOME NEW FACULTY Anna Brown, Ph.D. Anna Brown is a new assistant professor of accounting. She earned her Ph.D. in accounting at the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College. She also earned an M.B.A. from Baruch College and a BA from Wesleyan University. Her research focuses on international accounting standards and debt contracting. She recently moved to Pocatello with her husband, Greg, and their dog, Phoebe. In her spare time, she enjoys playing her guitar, singing and hiking.

Jose "Jay" Vega, Ph.D. Jay “Jose” Vega received his Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Texas, San Antonio. He holds an undergraduate degree in statistics with a minor in accounting. He has published several articles in peer reviewed journals such as Accounting & Finance, the Journal of Accounting and Finance and the International Journal of Economics and Finance. Vega received the best Ph.D. student paper award at the 2013 Southeast American Accounting Association Conference. His research interests include risk, auditing and earnings management.

Jan Smolarski, Ph.D. Jan Smolarski is the newly-appointed chair of the College of Business accounting department. Prior to joining ISU, he was the chair of the Department of Accounting and Business Law, the director of the MACC/ MSA Programs and professor of accounting in the University of Texas system. He also held the first endowed chair in accounting at Tennessee State University, and the Italian government has appointed Dr. Smolarski an Eminent Scholar. He previously held positions at Stockholm University and the IE Business School. Prior to returning to academia, he was the Chief Executive Officer at Trema Treasury Management, a global risk management software firm.

Robert F. Houghton, Ph.D. Robert Houghton has a dual appointment as an assistant professor of informatics and as the system administrator for the College of Business. He earned his doctorate from Utah State University. His research focuses on human interaction with network security design. At Utah State University he was the systems administrator for the Caine College of the Arts and most recently a network security analyst. He and his wife both share a passion for music, as both were undergraduate music majors and met in the marching band.



luck, skill or labor markets?

" LOUDMOUTHS!" ALEX bolinger, PH.D. RESEARCH PUBLISHED IN wall street journal

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he Wall Street Journal recently featured research by Alex Bolinger, Ph.D. and Bryan Bonner, Ph.D. at the David Eccles School of Business from the University of Utah. The study, published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, explores how quieter members in groups who may have greater knowledge or expertise to solve a particular problem are often systematically overlooked in

Jeff Brookman,PH.D. research PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF CORPORATE FINANCE

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favor of more outgoing "loudmouth" group members. Bonner and Bolinger suggest that, instead of launching directly into discussion, managers should treat group meetings as opportunities to gather facts and create space for everyone in the group to contribute their ideas.

he Journal of Corporate Finance recently published Jeff Brookman, Ph.D. and P.D. Thistle, Ph.D.'s research about the roles luck, skill and labor markets play in determining manager compensation.

Luck is the idea that managers’ earnings increase because of improvement in the stock market, not necessarily as a result of firm performance. Skill is defined as the specific abilities and traits the manager brings to the position. Labor market opportunities is the idea that CEOs' outside employment opportunities depend on the supply and demand of managerial talent. If CEO talent is scarce, compensation increases. Brookman and Thistle concluded that managerial skill is the most important determinant. Skill determines 39 percent of compensation, labor market opportunities explain about 5 percent and luck is not an important determinant.

the bengal network

Dongkuk Lim, PH.D. RESEARCH PUBLISHED IN MANAGEMENT SCIENCE

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he prestigious journal Management Science, recently accepted a paper from accounting professor Dongkuk Lim, Ph.D. Using SEC required periodic reports 10-K (i.e. annual reports), Lim and his co-authors investigated the informational properties of forward-looking disclosures in “Management Discussion” and “Analysis” sections (MD&A). Their evidence showed that firms make more

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forward-looking MD&A disclosures when their stock prices have lower informational efficiency, i.e. when their stock prices poorly reflect future earnings information. The greater levels of forward-looking MD&A disclosures help improve - but are unable to completely mitigate the lower informational efficiency of stock prices for such firms. Lim started the project in 2006 with his coauthors Volkan Muslu, University of Houston, Suresh Radhakrishnan, University of Texas, Dallas, and K.R. Subramanyam, University of Southern California.

Photos (from left to right): 1. Ryan Mathews, Partner in Charge, Cooper Norman; KIMBERLEE JEPPSON LYSTRUP 2. SARAH BRYAN; DAN SWANTEK; JOHN NEY

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he Marketing Association began a new tradition this year: The Bengal Network. The mission of the network is to strengthen Bengal pride and connect College of Business alumni with current students, faculty and staff. The Association members launched the first Bengal Network in November and partnered with Mountain West Research, Outer Limits Fun Zone, the College of Business and ISU. The Marketing Association asked Cooper Norman to partner with them for the second event in

February. Cooper Norman graciously hosted the event in their new Pocatello offices. The association plans to continue offering a networking event every semester and invites all College of Business alumni to join the Bengal Network. If you would like to partner with the Marketing Association for a future networking event, please contact Sandra Speck, Ph.D. at specsand@isu.edu.

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bill drake wells fargo speaker series

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he Wells Fargo series brings successful business leaders to the College of Business to engage students, faculty, alumni and community. Speakers share what helped them build a successful career and how ISU has influenced their professional lives.

BILL DRAKE

After receiving an undergraduate degree from ISU in the sixties, Bill Drake began a successful career in public relations and advertising. In 1978 he opened what is now Drake Cooper Advertising (www.drakecooper.com) in Boise and currently serves as its chairman. Outside Magazine recently listed Drake Cooper as one of its 2013 best places to work in the nation. Drake’s December visit to the College of Business

CONTRIBUTOR:

included meeting with students in small groups and sharing his thoughts with a larger audience about directing a career and competing in a global job market. He suggested students answer the following questions to help them clarify their career choices: 1) choose an activity for which they have passion, 2) decide where they want to live, and 3) decide how important money is going to be. “There are no wrong answers,” said Drake, “but these questions can help guide the decisions you make.” As many jobs are now competitive at a global level, Drake spoke about the importance of differentiating oneself. “First, be on time,” Drake said. “I have ended interviews before they begin because a candidate isn’t on time.” He went on to emphasize the value of a strong vocabulary, quantitative skills, and foreign language fluency. The College of Business students, staff and faculty appreciated Drake’s openness and willingness to spend extra time with individual students and faculty to discuss marketing projects.

Kelsey Wright EDITOR: Ann Swanson LAYOUT/DESIGN: Kelsey Wright Please send suggestions and comments to swanann@isu.edu. www.isu.edu/cob • www.facebook.com/IdahoStateCOB