New study shows that coordination among supply chain partners reduces costs.

Sushil K. Gupta

“We need to cut costs!”

This mandate drives most companies today—and many of them look to supply chain management as one area in which they could achieve that goal.

“The importance of effective supply chain management is increasing amid intense global competition and growing business complexities,” said Sushil K. Gupta, professor in the College of Business Administration’s Department of Decision Sciences and Information Systems (DSIS).

Gupta, along with three colleagues from other universities, recently completed a study that examines the benefits of coordinated decision making in a supply chain consisting of a manufacturer, a distributor, and several retailers. The paper, titled “Supply Chain Scheduling: Just-in-Time Environment,” will appear soon in the Annals of Operations Research, a leading journal in the field.

The study puts forth the premise that a harmonious relationship among various members of a supply chain is key to a firm’s survival and growth.

“However, supply chains are susceptible to power plays wherein a dominant player may dictate terms to other members, thereby improving its own performance but decreasing the overall performance of the supply chain,” Gupta said. “Ideally, the supply chain’s members should coordinate their operations to lower costs, to keep their competitive edges sharp, and to achieve global optimization.”

Complex calculations offer a simple formula for success.

As part of their study, Gupta and his colleagues developed mathematical models for the individual optimization goals of the manufacturer and the distributor, and then compared the results of these models with the results obtained from a joint optimization model at the supply chain system level.

“In our study, we examined conflict and cooperation issues in the supply chain,” Gupta said. “The cost of conflict to a supply chain partner is a measure of the amount by which the unconstrained optimal cost increases when a decision is made under the scheduling constraints imposed by one of the partners.”

While the formulas may seem complex, the concepts they present make good, solid business sense. In essence, according to Gupta, three possible scenarios are at work in the supply chain system:

1. The manufacturer is the dominant partner, telling the distributor, “Hey, this is my production schedule. You do whatever you have to do on your end to manage distribution and inventory, but I’m not changing. This is how I’m going to control my costs.”
2. The distributor is the dominant partner, telling the manufacturer, “You have to produce the goods according to my schedule. That’s how I can best minimize my costs.”
3. The manufacturer and distributor work together to develop a production and delivery schedule that minimizes costs at the system level.

Partners who choose cooperation over conflict reap the cost-savings benefits.

“Our formulas and analyses demonstrate that when the manufacturer and distributor in the supply chain system agree to collaborate, they both benefit in today’s just-in-time environment,” Gupta said. “The creation of positive surplus in the supply chain system due to cost reduction can be shared by both partners—an end result that makes the coordinated mechanism much more attractive. What’s more, by working together, the partners build trust and strengthen their relationship.”

Another key player in the supply chain—the retailer—benefits as well, as the resulting cost-savings and improvements in operational efficiencies help the supply chain system as a whole compete more effectively in today’s global marketplace.

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College of Business Administration makes strong showing in BusinessWeek rankings.

The second annual ranking of the country’s best undergraduate business schools as evaluated by BusinessWeek brought great news to the College of Business Administration. The school ranked in the top 5 percent among the 1,400 business schools in the nation and among the top 20 percent of those accredited by AACSB International—the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Among the “Business Specialties,” categories, moreover, the college’s Landon Undergraduate School of Business was ranked # 8 in the country in the area of “Operations Management.”

“These are truly exciting times for the business school,” said Joyce J. Elam, executive dean. “We have accomplished much, but we still have much more to do as we continue along our path to creating a world-class institution.”

The college was among the 56 public university business schools that made the list of 93 institutions in the rankings. At 80th place, the college ranked third best among Florida’s public business schools with the University of Florida at 43rd and Florida State at 77th.

“We’re really pleased with our placement in this survey,” Elam said. “Some of our students’ comments revealed areas of frustration, but we continue to address those issues at the college level and have made—and will continue to make—significant progress, especially once we move into our new building complex this fall.”

Business schools selected for inclusion in the ranking had to be AACSB International-accredited as well as meet criteria related to students’ test scores, selectivity in admission, and number of students in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating classes. The list appeared in the March 19, 2007, issue of the publication.

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College of Business Administration takes center stage in Tallahassee.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist flanked by student ambassadors Angelina Troff, left, and Sashle Eslaquit, right

FIU Day, an annual event held in the state capital—Tallahassee, Florida—gives representatives from Florida International University(FIU) a chance to showcase the university’s programs and services as well as to meet with key state legislators and their staffs at the start of the legislative session.

This year, the spotlight was on the College of Business Administration, invited by the university’s Government Relations Office to be the featured college to exhibit in the exposition area set up in the Capitol Rotunda on March 8, 2007.

College’s students and staff join university leaders for Tallahassee events.

President Modesto Maidique and his senior management team headed the FIU delegation, which also included representatives from the Student Government Affairs Office, Alumni Relations, and the Hurricane Center, among others.

Florida International University President Modesto Maidique with student ambasssadors Angelina Troff, left, and Sashle Eslaquit, right

Three members of the business school’s staff also made the trip to Tallahassee: Natalia Echeverría-Sol, director, Corporate Relations; Robert Garcia (EMBA ’97), director, Executive and Professional Education; and Lourdes Herrero-Matus (BBA ’98), program manager, Downtown MBA program.

Another important participant: Joseph L. Caruncho (BBA ’81), CEO, Preferred Care Partners; chair of the college’s Dean’s Council, and director, FIU Foundation.

“Accompanying President Maidique and fellow board members to FIU Day was a unique opportunity to share our many successes with our legislators and Governor Charlie Crist,” Caruncho said. “It also was an important forum for educating our elected leaders about the priorities and needs of the university for the coming year so that we can continue to achieve those successes in the future.”

The Florida International University delegation to FIU Day

Two of the college’s students, finance major Cristian Bossa and current graduate student Sashle Eslaquit (BBA ’05, ’06), joined eighteen other “super-star” students for the event. Personally selected to represent the university, they had the opportunity to meet with legislators one-on-one while lobbying for priority issues such as student enrollment and faculty retention.

“I was honored to get this chance to represent my school and to speak on behalf of my fellow students regarding these important topics,” said Eslaquit, who holds bachelor’s degrees in finance and management and is slated to receive her MBA in December, 2007. “The legislators and their aides were very attentive. They took the time to speak directly with student representatives to hear firsthand what we believe needs to be done to ensure the ongoing betterment of the university and to strengthen the value of the degrees we earn here.”

The FIU delegation attended a reception at the Governor’s Club on the evening of March 7, 2007.

From left: Student ambassadors Sashle Eslaquit and Angelina Troff

“At the reception, we were able to meet and mingle with members of the legislative community on a more personal level,” Eslaquit said. “The next day, we were all ready to get down to business.”

College has a great story to tell to a very receptive audience.

The college’s FIU Day booth definitely was the center of attention, complete with banners and marketing materials that painted a colorful picture of the business school’s programs and impressive achievements.

“This was the first time the FIU Day event was opened up to showcase a particular college,” Echeverría-Sol said. “We were very pleased to represent the college and to share our accomplishments.”

Garcia added that a number of legislators and their staff members visited the college’s booth.

“They were impressed by our Executive and Professional Education programs, by our MBA for Public Managers program, and by the fact that our Executive MBA program is ranked number one in Florida,” he said.

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Victorious case competition participants showed thirst for success.

The college’s self-named “Dream Team” holds their trophy—from left, Blas Elias, Ruben Salazar, Martin Fernández, Tatiana Lopez, and Mahendran K. Jawaharlal

Teams competing in the Intercollegiate Case Competition hosted by the University of South Florida spent an intense 24 hours analyzing a case from an actual company and presenting recommendations to a panel of judges which included executives from the company itself—this year, Anheuser-Busch.

Weeks of preparation and dedication paid off for the College of Business Administration when its 2007 team members Blas Elias (Executive MBA student), who worked on the financial aspects; and Professional MBA program students Mahendran K. Jawaharlal, Tatiana Lopez, Martin Fernández, and Ruben Salazar, who did the marketing analysis, walked away as the winners, out-performing teams from four other Florida universities. It was the second victory for the college, whose 2003 team won the initial event.

In the college, the team received support from a cadre of faculty, staff, administrators, former team members, and a presentation coach who teaches in its graduate programs.

Judges found substance and flair in the presentation.

“The Florida International University (FIU) business school’s team made a professional presentation and left behind for the judges high-quality materials that were what you would expect from a group of consultants—not students,” said Arne G. Haak, vice president of finance and treasurer of AirTran Airways, Inc., whose company was the subject of last year’s case. “They also had lots of energy, and I was particularly impressed because they offered specific solutions, rather than generic ones.”

Students seize opportunity for professional development.

“To analyze a complex case in 24 hours and present to a real executive board is a rare opportunity,” said Fernández, finance manager for U.S. outbound business to Latin América in Western Union’s Latin Américan office. “The competition also was an excellent way to meet new people and to learn how to build a team quickly with individuals with different backgrounds. At the event itself, we got to network with colleagues from the other universities—another plus.”

Fernández worked on the strategy with Tatiana Lopez, marketing project manager, Batanga, who took on the challenge to learn how to work under pressure and who was delighted to discover that “almost everything we have done in our coursework applied to the case.”

For all the careful preparation, sometimes luck enters in.

“I had worked in the tobacco industry, which had many of the same challenges as does the beverage industry,” Lopez said. “I understood the importance of ethics and strategies for those over 21. I was confident we’d come up with a good strategy.”

That confidence was well-deserved.

“You could tell they agreed on the strategy,” Haak said. “They were able to sell the idea harder, and you could see that other teams didn’t have agreement. The FIU business team members were all on the same page and all seemed to believe they had come up with a good idea.”

Event delivers meaning beyond the victory.

Mahendran Jawaharal, senior vice president and COO at Campus Management, which provides administrative software for colleges and universities, opened and closed the presentation and prepared an abstract for the judges. For him, the chance to “understand needs in a high-pressure situation” was a valuable learning experience. He also recognized the longer-term implications of the team’s achievement.

“As students, we have to have some level of pride in our graduate program,” he said. “We all had a desire to demonstrate that our university has the right pedigree.”

The five-person team was chosen from a field of 25 strong applicants. Ellie Browner (MS ’93, BBA ’79) assistant director, Career Management Services, who coordinated the college’s effort, accompanied the students to Tampa.

Undergraduate places second in new business plan competition.

Michael Jadoo

In a different event, Michael Jadoo, who expects to graduate in August, 2008, with majors in finance and management information systems (MIS) and minors in economics and Asian studies, came in second in the first business plan competition held at the Success Institute for the southern region of the business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. He had developed the plan in a course called Asian Values in Business. Participants in the event, which took place in Atlanta, Georgia, in February, 2007, made twenty-minute presentations and then took questions for ten to twenty minutes from a panel of judges.

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Innovative Latin Trade MBA Challenge offers full scholarship to winning candidate.

From left to right: José de la Torre, Chapman School dean; Livia Muzzi, scholarship winner; and Mike Zellner, Latin Trade publisher

Florida International University and Latin Trade magazine recently partnered to launch the Latin Trade MBA Challenge, which offered participants the chance to win a full-tuition scholarship for the International MBA (IMBA) program in the College of Business Administration.

“We saw a unique opportunity to work with Latin Trade to market our IMBA and to use this innovative scholarship competition to attract interested, qualified students,” said Luis Casas, director of marketing and recruiting for the college.

Mike Zellner, publisher of Latin Trade, was equally enthusiastic about the creation of the MBA Challenge.

“We jumped at the chance to make this innovative scholarship program available to executives all over the world,” Zellner said. “Our target audience was Latin América, but we heard from scholarship candidates as far away as Eastern Europe and Mozambique. We credit this tremendous response to the college’s excellent reputation as a top-caliber business school.”

A successful cross-media campaign spread the word about the MBA Challenge.

Working closely with Casas and his staff, Zellner and the Latin Trade team designed an extensive print and online marketing campaign to announce the MBA Challenge to the publication’s 350,000 business readers worldwide.

Internet banner advertisements and email blasts to a large distribution list generated more than eighty million Web browser “impressions” that in turn produced 80,000 click-through responses.

Ultimately, the MBA Challenge campaign attracted 1,200 respondents and 200 leads for prospective graduate students.

“These are impressive results for a first-time scholarship and recruiting promotion,” Casas said. “Building on this positive experience, we are extending similar programs to other publications, such as China Trade.”

And the first Latin Trade MBA Challenge winner is...

To qualify for the one year, full-time MBA scholarship, candidates had to have maintained at least a 3.6 grade point average as an undergraduate and scored 600 or higher on the GMAT. In addition, they had to submit an essay that persuasively answered the question, “What would an MBA do for your career?”

The winner, Livia Esteves Guedes Muzzi, a Brasilian native currently living in Miami, is excited to be given the chance to pursue an International MBA as part of her career strategy for moving from civil engineering into finance.

“I feel that winning the Latin Trade MBA Challenge will open many new doors for me,” she said. “I am so grateful for this opportunity, and I believe that an MBA from Florida International University will make it possible for me to achieve my goals and succeed with a new career in private banking.”

Muzzi will begin her MBA program in August, 2007. She looks forward to starting classes, where she feels she will “connect with and learn from interesting people with different backgrounds who are all committed to advancing their careers through the college’s outstanding graduate program.”

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NSHMBA Fair gets high marks.

From left: Robert Garcia, director, Executive and Professional Education; Harold Sinnott, vice president, Citigroup Global Transaction Services (GTS) and human resources head, Latin América; Maria José Monti, director, GTS regional client manager, Latin América; Juan Pablo Trigo, managing director, GTS business manager, Central América; and José de la Torre, dean of the Chapman School

The South Florida National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) held a “Just-in-Time Hiring Event” on March 2, 2007, at Florida International University’s (FIU) University Park campus. By all measures, it was an excellent venue both for those seeking jobs and those seeking to hire.

The fair was open to all AACSB International-accredited business schools affiliated with a State of Florida NSHMBA Chapter. MBA students from other universities in South Florida, most particularly the University of Miami, also attended. Director of the college’s Career Management Services Barry Shiflett and Elsie Florido, coordinator, handled the recruiting of companies and all logistics related to the event.

“Many of the companies that participated have not recruited at our university before,” said José de la Torre, dean of the Chapman Graduate School. “Companies also had the option to interview pre-selected candidates drawn from an event résumé book that was sent to them several weeks before the event, and more than half requested interview booths.”

A large percentage of the companies responded to a post-fair survey and unanimously described the event as well-planned; they also said that they would attend a similar gathering in the future. They noted that they were able to see a significant number of prospects that day—between twenty and 100 students—and many of them scheduled interviews at their company offices.

Among their overall impressions, which echoed de la Torre’s assessment that the fair was “a great success”:

• “Everything was wonderful. This was the best event we have attended with the best-quality candidates;”
• “Very pleased with the event and with the professionalism of the candidates;”
• “Very good coordination, great organization, well-planned, very well-organized, marvelous;” and
• “Very nice event, very good event, great career fair.”

Fair attracts companies from across many industries.

The participating companies were AXA Advisors, Burger King, Carnival Cruise Lines, Citigroup, Cushing & Wakefield, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Fannie Mae, Great Financial Consultants, IKON Office Solutions, ING, John Hancock, KPMG, Kraft, LAN, Miami Dade College, Northwestern Mutual Financial, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Office Depot, Ocean Bank, Procter & Gamble, Prudential Financial, Raymond James, Ryder Systems, Stryker Latin América, Vitas, Walgreens, and Yahoo Telemundo.

In addition to the fair itself, Procter & Gamble and Fannie Mae presented information sessions to graduate business students on March 1, 2007.

The total student attendance was 191, representing 138 current students, 24 alumni, and 28 students from other universities.

NSHMBA’s mission is to improve society by fostering Hispanic leadership through graduate management education and professional development. Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam was named to NSHMBA’s Corporate Advisory Board in 2002.

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Two top business leaders motivate and inspire Wertheim Lecture attendees.

One is a South Florida business legend who shared lessons learned while transforming a waterbed store chain into a leading quality furniture retailer. One is a recognized automotive industry leader whose career path has taken her from receptionist to globetrotting executive.

Both Herbet A. Wertheim lecturers drew capacity crowds of 100 faculty, students, alumni, and guests who gathered to hear their compelling insights into their business success.

Retail industry success story: It all started with waterbeds in the 1970s.

Keith T. Koenig

Held on March 5, 2007, at the MARC Pavilion on the University Park campus, this year’s first Wertheim lecture featured Keith T. Koenig, president, City Furniture.

Today, City Furniture is South Florida’s leading furniture retailer, with 21 showrooms that include six exclusive Ashley Furniture HomeStores. Founded in 1994, the company was born from Waterbed City, the chain of waterbed stores started more than thirty years ago.

Koenig explained that this business transformation was fueled by careful focus on offering quality home furnishings at excellent values, complemented by friendly, efficient service and exciting showrooms. The results speak for themselves: the company’s revenues grew nearly 800 percent between 1994 and 2006.

“Koenig had an incredible story to tell, and we were excited to get the opportunity to hear him speak here on campus,” said Annabelle Rojas (MBA ’98, BBA ’87), director of external relations and resource development for the College of Business Administration. “He views our young, diverse student community as a perfect example of his target employees and customers. He already has hired some of our graduates and has expressed interest in continuing to build a relationship with the college.”

Stephen Flowers, president, UPS Américas Region, was one of the business community members who attended Koenig’s lecture.

"It's always beneficial to hear from other business leaders in South Florida,” Flowers said. “It was interesting to understand the history of City Furniture and how it has evolved throughout the years.”

An inside look at the global automotive industry: What it takes to be a true player.

On March 15, 2007, in the Graham Center Ballroom on the University Park campus, Wertheim Lecture attendees were riveted by the presentation given by Maureen Kempston-Darkes, group vice president and president, General Motors (GM) Latin América, Africa, and Middle East, and a member of General Motors' Automotive Strategy Board.

Maureen Kempston-Darkes

Kempston-Darkes knows the American automotive industry inside out. Based on her extensive experience, she offered keen insights into what it will take for American automotive companies—to be successful global players. In her talk, she outlined GM’s strategies for the future.

Augusto Vidaurreta (BBA, ’80), entrepreneur, author, and member of the college’s Dean’s Council, found Darkes’ lecture to be of both personal and professional interest.

“I’m a car fanatic who is concerned about the future of the American automobile industry,” he said. “I’m also a businessman who was interested to hear Darkes’ assessment of the policies and economics that drive success or failure in today’s global marketplace.”

Vidaurreta said he also is impressed with the caliber of speakers the Wertheim lecture series brings to campus.

“This series provides students with invaluable, firsthand learning experiences,” he said.

This year’s Wertheim lecture series is another excellent example of the college’s ongoing commitment to bringinging distinguished speakers and experts in business leadership and entrepreneurship to campus. Herbert A. Wertheim, a long-time supporter of the university and the college, endowed the lecture series in 1993.

View or download the Wertheim lecture series’ podcasts.

If you missed the real events, listen to, download, or view the podcasts now at: http://business.fiu.edu/Spotlights/wertheim_lecture_series.cfm.

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Entrepreneurship Week USA comes and goes, but its impact remains.

Bruce Welch (left), graduate student assistant in the Pino Center, at Entrepreneurship Week USA Fair

When Entrepreneurship Week USA took place across the country from February 24-March 3, 2007, the Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center in the College of Business Administration was a lively participant. Sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation—a grant from whom made possible the creation of the Pino Center in 2003—the week included activities for people in K-12, in college, and in graduate school. The activities drew people’s attention to entrepreneurship—which crosses age groups as well as professions.

Banners celebrate the cross-disciplinary nature of entrepreneurship and the college’s talented alumni.

Awareness Campaign at Cielo, Coconut Grove, during Entrepreneurship Week USA Fair: The unveiling of banners featuring alumni who have become successful entrepreneurs, many of whom are well known in South Florida

The Pino Center kicked off its participation in Entrepreneurship Week USA by hosting an “Entrepreneurship Fair.” An array of 25 banners celebrating alumni entrepreneurs occupied the first floor of Green Library on February 26th and 27th.

“The banners showed alumni from history, engineering, the arts, education, and many other arenas, all of whom are successful entrepreneurs,” said Colleen Post (MBA ’03, BFA ’00), the Pino Center’s associate director and adjunct professor in entrepreneurship, management, and international business.

As part of the event, staff members were on hand throughout the two days to provide information about the many opportunities the center offers for those with an entrepreneurial bent.

Awareness Campaign at Cielo, Coconut grove, during Entrepreneurship Week USA Fair

“We probably had 1,000 students each day,” she said. “They were very curious, and many didn’t know about our offerings—such as an entrepreneurship track for business majors, an entrepreneurship minor for non-business majors, and an entrepreneurship certificate. We also told them about our graduate entrepreneurship track for business students, our graduate entrepreneurship certificate, various courses, and our annual business plan competition, the New Venture Challenge.”

Happy Hour and permanent display continue the festivities.

“Part of Entrepreneurship Week USA’s goal was to encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs,” said Alan L. Carsrud, executive director, Pino Center, and clinical professor of management. “We gave our students and young alumni the opportunity to network with our successful alumni entrepreneurs at a special happy hour we hosted together with the university’s Young Alumni Professionals Group.”

Held at the Cielo Garden & Supper Club in Coconut Grove on March 2, 2007, the event drew about 150 people for a lively get-together at which the banners were on display.

“The guests read all the banners, took photos, and saw for themselves how entrepreneurship crosses all disciplines,” Post said. “There was a lot of warmth displayed, and alumni were touched by the recognition.”

The week of March 12, 2007, the banners were installed in the college from which the alumnus or alumna graduated.

The Ryder Building is now home to banners for attorney Ed Arista (BS ’95); inventor Alexis Nogueras (MBA ’06); and marketer Monique Hamaty-Simmonds (BBA ’96). In addition, the banner of current BBA student Carole Bernstein (MA ’73), who has her graduate degree in educational administration, is located in the College of Education.

“Having the banners on display in so many of the university’s buildings is tangible evidence supporting our strongly held conviction that entrepreneurship is truly cross-disciplinary,” Carsrud said.

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In the community

The Peace Corps just celebrated its 45th anniversary, an occasion that brought memories to and reconnections among those who have served as volunteers since its inception.

Ed Glab during his Peace Corps volunteer stint.

In 1963, Ed Glab, director, Knight Ridder Center for Excellence in Management in the College of Business Administration, was an idealistic young man one-month short of his 21st birthday and devastated by the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He turned that desolation into a positive commitment: to join the Peace Corps. Today, he continues to marvel at the impact the experience has had on his life.

“After Kennedy’s death, I thought of his call that we ask what we could do for our country. When a former Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) turned recruiter came to my campus in the dead of a frigid Chicago winter sporting a golden suntan, I said to myself, ‘Self, where do I sign up to serve my country and get a suntan like that?’ The answer turned out to be Puerto Rico and Perú.”

After applying in 1963, he was sent to Puerto Rico in the summer of 1964 for training and a suntan and served as a PCV in Perú from 1965-67, placing him among the earliest volunteers and under the leadership of Sargent Shriver, the first Peace Corps director.

Poverty yields riches.

During his two years in Perú, he lived without running water or electricity but with a hammer by his bedside to fend off rats and a U.S. Army issue can of DDT-laced talcum powder for the ever-present fleas.

“I lived among the very poor in front of the local garbage dump,” he said. “My Perúvian friends said the area was very dangerous, but it turned out to be both safe and friendly.”

He resided in a “barriada” (squatter slum settlement) on the outskirts of Lima. Despite their daily struggle to survive, the inhabitants felt they had improved their lot compared to the rural poverty they had endured in the Andean mountains. They lived with dignity and optimism, according to Glab.

“I worked with the U.S. Ambassador’s Small Projects program to build one-room libraries, clinics, schools, and bridges,” he said. “The local communities always provided the construction labor, while the PCVs furnished the expertise and materials. The construction was basic and low-cost, but had a high impact on the lives of the people in these communities.”

He also started a nutrition/health program and a day-care summer camp for the children of his “barriada.”

During his stint, Glab learned to speak Spanish fluently and to love the culture and people of Perú. The Peace Corps in Perú recognized him as a model volunteer and the U.S. Ambassador to Perú gave him a special commendation for his work. His service also led to a scholarship for his graduate education.

“I never imagined or expected that by volunteering two years of my life, I would receive a lifetime of benefits,” he said.

Corporate careers and the Peace Corps are not mutually exclusive.

Many volunteers—Glab included—subsequently followed the corporate path, gravitating, as he did, to international business. He is in the process of inviting a number of them from around the country to speak at Florida International University as part of the Wertheim Lecture series.

“Some former Peace Corps volunteers who are now in business include W. Frank Fountain Sr., vice president, Daimler Chrysler; and Robert Haas, chairman of the board, Levi Strauss & Co., among others,” he said. “It will be an opportunity for them to discuss how the Peace Corps affected their international business careers.”

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Alumnus leads Miami-Dade College's Wolfson campus to new heights.

Rolando Montoya

Rolando Montoya’s (PhD '03, MS '85) appreciation for diversity and international perspective help him run a major educational and cultural institution in South Florida. The role of a lifelong student and educator has prepared him for his current responsibilities as president of the Wolfson campus, Miami-Dade College.

A native of Cuba, he grew up in Panama, Mexico and Costa Rica. In 1980, he was appointed by the government to be the consul and trade commissioner for Costa Rica in Miami, where he became a permanent resident.

After teaching part time for a few years, Montoya left the private sector in 1986 to teach full time. He excelled as a student and said he loved to be around those who wanted to learn; as a result, he said he decided to do for a living what he enjoyed the most.

Florida International University was a logical choice for receiving higher education.

“I was a commuting student when working on my master’s and my doctorate. The university offered the flexibility to study part-time, and the cost was reasonable,” Montoya said. “Out of local options, the university was the best choice because of its quality programs and accessibility; it was the ideal location.”

He added, “I had an excellent experience in the Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program; it was so good, in fact, that I decided to return for a doctorate in higher education administration.”

Degrees from Florida International University provided Montoya with opportunities for advancement.

“I am grateful to the university and the faculty of its business and education colleges for all of the opportunities that have allowed me to progress in my professional and personal lives,” Montoya said. “When I arrived in the country, I had limited use of the English language, and I learned the correct terminology by going through the master’s and doctoral programs. I know that communication skills are essential in order to excel.”

“Everyone knows that the master’s degree in finance is a rigorous program and that it exemplifies great prestige in the community,” he said. “People who have graduated from that program have the capacity and discipline to get a job done,”

He added that, “The finance courses involved rigorous numerical procedures, but faculty took the time to explain them carefully and meticulously to those willing to learn.”

Montoya’s doctorate in higher education administration provided the credentials and practical support he needed for his current position as president of the Wolfson campus.

“The best theory is one that is put into practice,” he said. “I confront new situations and variables daily. It does not matter that I have been at Miami-Dade for twenty years; my job is ever-changing.”

His job changes as much as the face of downtown Miami has changed over the years. Montoya remembers a time when no one was interested in the downtown sector. “It was a challenge to attract students and personnel to the campus. Twenty-two years ago, we created the Miami Book Fair to attract people to downtown and our campus for cultural and economic development.”

The Wolfson campus has played an integral role in developing downtown and will continue to do so.

The Miami International Film Festival, plays, concerts, and lectures add life to the city’s downtown area, and now, other cultural centers are cropping up as well. Churches are being revitalized, and so are office buildings. Condos are going up and more construction is in the works. Other institutions are seeing a benefit to being located downtown, including the college’s Downtown Center.

Montoya sees the future of the Wolfson campus as a continuous promoter of art, culture, and humanities for the community. He said he sees the campus accomplishing this goal through the New World School of Arts, the Prometeo Theatre, the Miami Book Fair, and the International Film Festival.

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Alumni Circle demonstrates engagement at its best.

The Dean’s Alumni Circle—now in its fourth year—not only has adopted and sponsored the Recruiter’s Lounge in the college’s new building complex (a combined pledge of $25K), but it has broken into sub-committees to do some critical hands-on work for various college constituents—students, faculty, alumni and members of the business community.

“Among the new projects we have developed for the Circle is the Faculty Linkage Program,” said Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam. “One thing we saw lacking in the group’s members was high-level interaction between them and our faculty members, who can bring them and their respective companies much closer to us and all that we do.”

The program has to-date linked up approximately half of the Circle’s members with faculty members in their desired areas of interest/specialty with the hope of building relationships leading to increased student access, mentoring opportunities, speaking engagements, and research projects.

In addition to the Faculty Linkage program, Circle members are continuing to help the college build a program to assess and improve the business readiness of its undergraduate students, an initiative now housed within the college’s Career Management Services.

Circle members also are meeting to establish an Investment Banking Recruiting Pilot program to assist students interested in this specific career path to find the right connections. This model, if successful, can then be used to address other career paths which may not be accessible to students.

Demian Bellumio

“A career like investment banking comes with few surprises,” said Circle Chairman Demian Bellumio (BBA ’00), who began his career on Wall Street. “If we can teach them the ins and outs of this business and really get them to understand what investment banks are looking for, I think we can find more success in placing our students.”

Part of the Circle’s mission also is to increase the impact our students and alumni make in the community through their community service. Last year, the Circle organized an awareness event for Teach for America, a national non-profit educational organization whose work is felt deeply in South Florida. The Circle’s Community Service Committee plans to host an event on campus for business students, faculty, and alumni to provide opportunities for service and altruism.

“All in all, our Circle has risen to meet the challenges we have laid out for them,” said Monique Catoggio, the college’s director of alumni and partner relations. “Our alumni really want to make a difference, and they understand that by helping us make positive changes, they, their organizations, and the business community at large will benefit.”

To learn more about the Circle and about becoming a member, please contact Director of Alumni and Partner Relations Monique Catoggio at 305-348-4227 or at catoggio@fiu.edu.

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2007 Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Inductees will be honored on May 16th.

The Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame will be celebrating its 8th annual Luncheon and Induction Ceremony on Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at Parrot Jungle Island. The Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame inductees were selected by a panel of judges representing the business community and previous honorees.

Margarita M. Gonzalez

Margarita M. Gonzalez (BBA ‘06) President and CFO of AccuBanker, will be inducted as the "Founder,” an alumnus/ae of Florida International University’s College of Business Administration who is a founder and key member of a start-up team. To receive the award, the individual must have at least five employees, have been in operation for a minimum of five years, and have had significant revenue and profit growth over the last five years.

Antiono L. Argiz

Antiono L. Argiz (BBA 74), managing partner, Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP., will be inducted as the "Builder,” awarded to an alumnus/ae of the College of Business Administration whose company must have been in operation for a minimum of ten years and have had significant revenues and profit growth. The individual must have been instrumental in the growth of an established business.

Miriam Lopez

The 2007 South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year award, given to a non-alumnus/ae, will be presented to Miriam Lopez, chairman and CEO of TransAtlantic Bank. She is an outstanding entrepreneur and contributing member to South Florida’s entrepreneurial community. She serves on Florida International University’s Board of Trustees.

The event also will recognize winners of the New Venture Challenge, the college’s business plan competition organized by the Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center.

The Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame is the college's largest alumni event each year, bringing together more than 500 alumni and other local business leaders. Please save the date—Wednesday, May 16, 2007—and join us for this year’s themed event, “The Rhythm of Entrepreneurship”. Register today on our web site or call 305-348-0397 for more information.

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