From planned behavior to drafting a business plan: new book balances the theoretical and the practical.

Alan L. Carsrud

Somewhere between an erudite article, a standard textbook, and a glib “How-To” without research to back up its points, there ought to be a resource that provides easy-to-read, yet well-substantiated information on matters of business importance.

Now there is: the seven-volume Greenwood Guides to Business and Economics. Alan L. Carsrud, executive director, Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center, and clinical professor of management in the College of Business Administration, has co-authored one of them: Entrepreneurship, published in March, 2007. He also served on the editorial advisory board, which laid out the general plan for the series. Eight or nine more books are likely to be developed.

“Our goal was to produce a book that would extract the nuggets from scholarly research on entrepreneurship and present them in a way that would be helpful to people who want to go through the entrepreneurial process,” he said. “We wanted it to have the weight of quality research behind it, but did not want it to read like a scholarly manuscript.”

Carsrud and Malin Brännback, a professor of entrepreneurship at Åbo Akademi University, with whom he frequently collaborates on research and who, like him, has helped the start-up efforts of hundreds of companies, hinged their book on the theory of planned behavior. Planned behavior posits a relationship between what people believe and how they act.

Structure and style of book invite reader participation.

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“The idea is to show potential entrepreneurs the steps they need to take to move from their attitudes about things to action.”
—Alan L. Carsrud, executive director, Pino Center, and clinical professor of management

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“The idea is to show potential entrepreneurs the steps they need to take to move from their attitudes about things to action,” he said. “We are using the theory of ‘trying,’ and our objective is to take people from ‘trying’ to actuality.”

Specific examples pepper the volume, as do exercises. To make the theory-based book even more concrete, the authors devote an entire section to how to create a business plan, with step-by-step guidance that presents the practical along with the theoretical.

“A business plan is an example of the theory of planned behavior with specific stages and specific behaviors, or actions, at each stage,” he said. “Describing the creation of a business plan was an effective way to provide both the ‘how to’ and the ‘why.’”

In addition, the section on the business plan gives readers the opportunity to take content from the rest of the book and put it into immediate practice. As a result, they actively engage with the material, reinforcing it while using it to shape an effective plan that can be implemented.

Jargon-free language brings clarity to the subjects of entrepreneurship and economics.

Written without jargon and aimed at high school and college students as well as practitioners, each book in the series also ties its particular subject to the larger issues of business and economics.

“Many people may think of economics as an incomprehensible, academic subject, but economics affects our lives in very concrete ways, and the entire series addresses the relevant issues to make the impact of economics understandable,” Carsrud said.

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Ocean Bank comes to campus for alumni day event.

From left, Ocean Bank’s Walter Devilliers, Alfonso Macedo, Chapman Dean José de la Torre, Ocean Bank’s Danilo Perez, college Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam, and Ocean Bank’s Cheryl Rees, Luis Consuegra, Benigno Aguirre, and Ricardo Gonzalez

One of the largest independent commercial banks headquartered in Florida, Ocean Bank also is one of the staunchest, most generous supporters of the College of Business Administration.

The bank recently demonstrated that support yet again, putting a different twist on a traditional alumni day event by requesting it be hosted on the college’s campus rather than at its headquarters.

That’s why, on February 22, 2007, nearly seventy Ocean Bank employees, who also are alumni of the college as well as of other Florida International University colleges and schools, convened at University Park for some refreshments, some networking opportunities, and the chance to see firsthand how the new business building project is progressing—including a preview of the state-of-the-art, 300-seat auditorium which will bear the Ocean Bank name.

Event provides alumni with the chance to reconnect with the college.

Bill Draughon, the university’s associate vice president, alumni relations, welcomed the group to campus. Other speakers included Joyce J. Elam, executive dean, and Benigno Aguirre, senior vice president and human resources director for Ocean Bank. Then José de la Torre, dean of the Chapman School, and Elam led groups on tours of the new building site.

“The hard-hat tour was definitely the highlight of the day,” said Monique Catoggio (EMBA ’03), director of alumni and partner relations for the college. “Many of these alumni had not been on campus for awhile. They were impressed with the positive changes that are underway here and excited to see the investment Ocean Bank is making in their school.”

Ocean Bank raises the bar.

Annabelle Rojas (MBA ’98, BBA ’87), director of external relations and resource development for the college, is quick to emphasize how much the college appreciates the tremendous support that Ocean Bank gives the business school and the university community as a whole.

“Ocean Bank is not only our most significant corporate donor, but also, it offers unwavering support when it comes to generating enthusiasm and strengthening our alumni community,” Rojas said.

Catoggio added to that sentiment, pointing out that Ocean Bank spearheaded and funded the alumni day’s activities.

“By sponsoring events like these and by supporting the school in countless ways—from funding the auditorium to paying for its employees’ alumni memberships, Ocean Bank sets an incredible example of the type of relationship we hope to build with other companies,” Catoggio said.

Speaking for Ocean Bank, Aguirre said that the bank’s leaders were delighted to host this event.

“From Ocean Bank’s perspective—and certainly from a human resources perspective, the college is one of our biggest allies.”
—Benigno Aguirre, senior vice president and human resources director, Ocean Bank

“From Ocean Bank’s perspective—and certainly from a human resources perspective, the college is one of our biggest allies,” Aguirre said. “We recruit and hire a number of graduates from the college every year. We view them as the future leaders of our institution. We feel it’s important for them to build connections with one another and to see what resources the college offers its alumni. The alumni day event helped us achieve both of these goals.”

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New survey measures customer satisfaction . . . strategically.

Steve Zanakis

If your company constantly looks for ways to attract new customers and secure their loyalty—and what company doesn't—you’ve probably undertaken a customer satisfaction survey at some point. Has it worked to your satisfaction?

Often, such a survey doesn’t work, and there are a number of reasons for that.

“Many surveys fail because they use poor measurement schemes, do not validate the instrument, do not identify appropriate quality dimensions, present average results without determining the importance of each question, do not segment results by product type or benchmark against competitors, and confuse loyalty with satisfaction,” said Steve Zanakis, professor, Department of Decision Sciences and Information Systems in the College of Business Administration.

To improve companies’ odds of keeping customers happy—a task that takes far less effort and money than capturing new customers—the Knight Ridder Center for Excellence in Management in the college has launched a new service. It includes two components, allowing companies to do one or both depending on their needs.

Step one: delivering a professional presentation that shows why good surveys succeed and weak ones falter.

As a first step, Zanakis, who designed the Strategic Customer Satisfaction Survey, will make a complimentary presentation that outlines the surveying procedure, describes best and worst practices, and sets out the consequences of surveys that neglect to factor in the value dimension, which he considers to be all important.

“I use one of our cases, a major bank, whose questionnaire showed that customers were least satisfied with the cost of services,” he said. “However, the importance that customers attached to that area was only eight percent. Based on a survey that did not take value into account, the bank could have set out to reduce costs to please customers—a rather poor strategic decision because other service areas were perceived to be much more valuable by its customers.”

Step two: designing and analyzing the results using proven statistical tools.

After hearing the informational presentation, some businesses may feel they have what they need to take next steps. Others can engage the Knight Ridder Center to help them design an effective survey and apply extensive statistical analysis to uncover the significance of the results.

“We have a way to obtain information about how much a customer values a particular area without increasing the questionnaire’s size—a key differentiator in the way we conduct the process.”
—Steve Zanakis, professor, Department of Decision Sciences and Information Systems

“A good questionnaire should fit on one page, with questions grouped logically around five or so different dimensions,” Zanakis said. “We have a ten-step process that enables us to create a survey building on those the company may already use. We have a way to obtain information about how much a customer values a particular area without increasing the questionnaire’s size—a key differentiator in the way we conduct the process. We also can segment the data—such as by product, branch, or whatever the company wants to measure—and can benchmark the company over time and against competitors to see if it achieves its targets.”

Thanks to the level of statistical expertise the college can offer, a client company can count on a validated questionnaire and an accurate analysis of the data along both the performance and value dimensions. The final results are presented in a report.

Service supports Knight Ridder Center’s commitment to excellence in management.

“This is a very helpful service the college can offer to the business community and fits in with the mission of the Knight Ridder Center for Excellence in Management, among whose goals are to undertake consulting and educational activities that promote excellence in management,” Zanakis said.

If you would like to learn how the right kind of customer satisfaction survey can help you strengthen your customer—or supplier—relationships, contact Zanakis at Zanakis@fiu.edu or Deanna Salpietra, research coordinator, Knight Ridder Center at dsalpiet@fiu.edu. A brochure that explains the features of the service, and the benefits that result, is posted at http://krcem.fiu.edu/Customer%20Satisfaction%20Brochure.pdf.

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Classmates, colleagues, and faculty come together to celebrate tenth anniversary of Executive MBA program.

From left, co-founders of the college’s Executive MBA program, former management professor Sherry Moss and Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam, along with long-time program manager Steve Beste

More than 120 alumni, students, faculty, staff, and advisory board members gathered on April 14, 2007, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the College of Business Administration’s Executive MBA (EMBA) program. The dinner event was held at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami and was sponsored in part by Caterpillar Inc., AT&T, and Ryder System, Inc.

“The EMBA anniversary celebration not only marked an important milestone for the college but also provided our students and alumni with an excellent opportunity to renew friendships and to network with classmates, EMBA colleagues, and faculty,” said Sarah Perez, director of both the Executive MBA and Professional MBA programs. “We also took the time to thank those who have contributed so much to the growth and success of our EMBA program. And we raised a toast to the recent rankings by the Financial Times, which put us among the top 85 Executive MBAs in the world and best in Florida.”

One highlight of the event: the presentation given by guest speaker Stephen Lundin, author of Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results and Top Performer: A Bold Approach to Sales and Service. Lundin’s lively talk explored sales lessons to be learned from street performers’ ability to connect with their audiences.

Awards recognize ongoing contributions of EMBA alumni and faculty.

A number of special awards were handed out during the EMBA anniversary event.

Eduardo Marti (EMBA ’04) and Juan Plaza (EMBA ’04) received certificates of appreciation for their continuing support and for sharing their experiences at the information sessions held for prospective students.

Albert Santalo (EMBA ’97), member of the first EMBA class and founder, president, and CEO of Avisena, a Miami-based business supporting the office, billing, and collections side of health care organizations, was recognized for his company’s ongoing commitment to the program, best demonstrated by student sponsorships.

“Going through the EMBA program was a life-changing event for me—one that provided me with the core knowledge and skills that have enabled me to move ahead with my career and to start my own company.”
—Albert Santalo (EMBA ’97), founder, president, CEO, Avisena, Inc.

“Going through the EMBA program was a life-changing event for me—one that provided me with the core knowledge and skills that have enabled me to move ahead with my career and to start my own company,” Santalo said. “I am pleased to offer my support and help whenever I can.”

José de la Torre, dean of the Chapman School, recognized several faculty members for their commitment to the EMBA program, including Christos Koulamas, chair, Department of Decision Sciences and Information Systems; Sumit Kundu, current EMBA program faculty director and associate professor, Department of Management and International Business; Clark Wheatley, associate professor, and John Wrieden, lecturer, School of Accounting; and John Zdanowicz, professor, Department of Finance.

In addition, Joyce J. Elam, executive dean, presented the Brian Frasier Scholarship to current student Juan Francisco Lopez, slated to graduate from the EMBA program in 2008. Established in honor of Frasier, a deceased member of the EMBA class of 1997, the scholarship is to be used for Lopez’s upcoming international trip.

To cap off the evening, program alumni, faculty, and staff presented a special award to Elam in appreciation of her leadership, vision, and initiative in founding and continuing to guide the EMBA program.

“We give her immense credit for the amazing job she has done for the business school and for the EMBA program in particular,” Santalo said.

To learn more about the EMBA program, visit http://business.fiu.edu/chapman/mba_executive.cfm.

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Master’s program prepares students for a rewarding career in human resources.

Juan I. Sánchez

We used to call it the personnel department. Known today as human resources (HR), it plays a strategic role in building and guiding a company’s workforce.

The Master of Science in Human Resources Management (MSHRM) program offered by the College of Business Administration provides a twelve-month specialized master's program that prepares graduates to address the wide spectrum of challenges facing senior HR professionals in this era of global competitive pressure and increased regulations.

Program demonstrates strong growth in five years.

Launched in 2002, the first class drew 32 students. The current class achieved full-capacity enrollment with a total of fifty students.

“So far, we have graduated more than 100 students from the program, many of whom are active professionals pursuing successful HR careers for a variety of small, medium, and large South Florida companies,” said Ana Maria Corredera, MSHRM program manager.

According to Juan I. Sánchez, professor and Knight Ridder Byron Harless Eminent Scholar Chair in Management in the college’s department of Management and International Business who also helped design the original MSHRM curriculum, the program welcomes two kinds of students: those with several years’ professional experience in the HR field, and those who only recently have received a bachelor’s degree and are looking to pursue opportunities in HR.

“I’d say seventy percent of the students enrolled in our MSHRM program are already working in HR, with at least two to three years of experience,” Corredera said. “The other thirty percent are looking to get into HR. We definitely have a more mature student, with 31 being the average age.”

Along with the mix of students, Corredera also explained that the faculty includes a mix of full-time college professors and working professionals in the HR field who have expertise in specialized areas such as employment and labor law.

“Plus, the MSHRM advisory board includes more than thirty prominent HR professionals in the local community,” she said.

Students value MSHRM program—and the skills it’s given them.

“The professors have been really great in providing us with real-world insight into HR,” said Cristine Vidales, set to graduate in August, 2007. “The program clearly positions HR in the business context, emphasizing that a successful HR professional needs to be a strategic partner with other business stakeholders.”

Cristine Vidales

“The program clearly positions HR in the business context.”
—Cristine Vidales, MSHRM program student

Vidales, who currently is a human resource associate at a Miami-based bank, has just taken a new position as assistant HR director with a different company.

“This is an upward career step for me,” she said. “I credit what I’ve learned so far in the MSHRM program with helping me market myself a bit better to secure this new job.”

Victoria Johnson (MSHRM ’05), human resources director for Fellowship House, cites one example of how the MSHRM program provided her with a greater understanding of the management side of HR and gave her better tools for handling HR within a non-profit organization.

Victoria Johnson

“We were dealing with turnover issues with one segment of our staff,” Johnson said. “The knowledge I gathered from the MSHRM program gave me the ability to access the resources I needed to perform a salary analysis that I could then take to our executive staff to present a convincing argument for revising our salary schedule for these positions. As a result, retention within this employee group has greatly improved.”

Program builds strong connections with HR professional group.

Both Vidales and Johnson, like many MSHRM program graduates, are active members of the Greater Miami Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). In addition, Johnson is one of fifteen members on a national SHRM committee focused on bringing corporate social responsibilities into the HR arena. Student involvement also is high. In fact, four of the college’s current MSHRM students are officers in the local student chapter of SHRM.

Sánchez noted how the college’s MSHRM program ties directly into the SHRM certification program and prepares students for the certification exam.

“Our students have an almost perfect SHRM certification passing rate,” he said. “It’s a double whammy—a master’s degree and professional certification—that makes our graduates extremely marketable to HR recruiters.”

To learn more about the MSHRM program, visit: http://business.fiu.edu/chapman/master_of_science_in_hrm.cfm.

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College students experience Europe: east and west.

Trip participants pose in front of the Castle of Prague, one of the largest fortresses in the world and now the seat of the president of the Czech Republic

As students in a college known for its excellence in international business, many undergraduates and graduates take advantage of the opportunities the business school offers for well-planned, information-rich trips across the globe.

In March, 2007, a group of undergraduates went to Paris in a study-abroad program, the logistics of which the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) handled. Graduate students, mostly from the Masters of International Business (MIB) program, with one from the International MBA (IMBA), and eight from the Professional MBA (PMBA), got introduced to life in post-Communist Europe during visits to Budapest and Prague.

Paris study-abroad continues to draw large numbers.

“The trip is always very popular and we limited the number of participants to 25—the maximum one faculty person can manage,” said Randall Martin, member of the Department of Management and International Business and faculty director of the study-abroad programs, who played that management role as he does for most of the college’s study-abroad programs. “But the size of the group gave us the resources to offer many highlights, including a boat trip on the Seine; a guided tour of Versailles; and free tickets to visit the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and the famous French cabaret, the Lido.”

Visits to local businesses—along with coursework that continues—are an important feature of the trips. As during last year’s Paris excursion, students this spring went to two internationally acclaimed champagne makers—Piper-Heidsieck and Moët & Chandon—where they learned about the business and saw the cellars, the bottles, and the machines that now rotate them.

Ian Lugo (BBA ’07), inventory coordinator, academic space management, at Florida International University, went on the Paris trip this year, following on the heels of a study-abroad to Rome, which he also enjoyed, reporting that “Rome was cold, and Paris was colder.”

“It’s easy to forget that it’s a big world and people are different.”
—Ian Lugo (BBA ’07)

As a longtime resident of Miami, he experienced “a bigger sense of history. Also, you get used to the culture here,” he said. “It’s easy to forget that it’s a big world and people are different.”

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Graduate students interact with business leaders and academics in Hungary and the Czech Republic.

An international trip has been part of the MIB program since its inception. This year, organizers decided to open it to other programs to promote a greater sense of integration among students in the Chapman Graduate School. With the collaboration of CEU Business School—a potential partner in the Chapman School’s Dual Degree program—an events-packed trip took thirty students, staff, faculty, and alumni to Hungary and the Czech Republic from March 17-24, 2007. MIB graduate Isabel Lopez (MIB ’06, BBA ’03), program manager, Master of Science in Finance, worked on the logistics with Paola Moreno, associate director, International Graduate Programs.

“We had sessions at CEU on history, economics, the evolution of Hungary, and its efforts to become part of the European Union,” said Lopez, one of the Chapman School’s staff members to attend, along with Associate Dean Tomislav Mandakovic and Maria Sierra, assistant for the PMBA and the Executive MBA (EMBA) programs.

Stephanie Ortega (BBA ’06), who works in accounting and program support for the Chapman School and who expects to complete her MIB in May, 2008, particularly appreciated the chance to see the GE Power System facility in Budapest—where the regional manager gave an inspirational talk about what a leader should be as well as suggesting opportunities for career development.

“A member of the human resources department explained how you can join an international company and move forward, including working in other countries,” she said.

A second company visit in Budapest took students to MOL Hungarian Oil Company, where they heard from the head of risk management. In Prague, the group visited CzechInvest and heard two presentations by an economist—one an overview of the Czech Republic and the second on doing business in the country.

“It was a great experience for our students,” said Mandakovic, who was in Europe not only for the MIB trip but also to promote the Dual Degree program by visiting eight universities in five countries. “They realized, for example, that within a small geographic area, there were significant differences in cultural, political, and developmental issues. That awareness contributes to their international business education and defines professional work in the international market.”

To learn more about the MIB program, visit http://business.fiu.edu/chapman/master_of_intl_business.cfm. To learn more about CIBER, visit http://www.fiu.edu/~ciber/.

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Third Global Leadership and Service Project to Thailand leaves growing legacy.

GLSP participants with some of the children from Baan Rachavadee

A new garden at one of two sites at which members of the third Global Leadership and Service Project (GLSP) to Thailand worked stands as a fitting symbol for the flourishing GLSP concept. Now in its third year, the GLSP takes a group of students—this year including a travel grant winner from Auburn University—to Bangkok to engage in community service projects in conjunction with local university service groups.

One group of students returned to the Children’s Creativity Foundation (CCF), a pre-school that rescues children living on the streets. The group knew the administrators, fine-tuned the curriculum—designed to provide cultural, hygienic, and self-promotion education—and enjoyed returning to familiar turf.

The unknown awaited the second contingent, led by Maria Polanco (BBA ’06), now change management coordinator, business information group, Cordis Johnson & Johnson and chair of the GLSP committee in the International Business Honor Society (IBHS), the College of Business Administration organization that drives the projects.

This group spent its working hours at Baan Rachavadee, a modern, government-sponsored complex that delivers services to a range of people with special needs, from blindness to severe mental and physical challenges to malnourishment. Their charges were males, mostly children—more severely disabled than GLSP students had expected.

Having to respond to change gives students opportunity to implement classroom learning.

“We were able to use our knowledge from college in a real-world situation, which made it a true learning experience.”
—Maria Polanco (BBA ’06), chair of the GLSP committee in the International Business Honor Society (IBHS)

“It was very difficult emotionally for us to confront their disabilities, but as the minutes went by, we saw they were regular kids, and that wowed us,” Polanco said. “Initially, it was overwhelming to have to discard our plans, but it was good because we were in a situation that could apply to any business—you expect things to go one way, and they don’t. As a result, we were able to use our knowledge from college in a real-world situation, which made it a true learning experience.”

Not only was the site unfamiliar turf, but also, part of what the volunteers did, along with their counterparts from Rajabaht University, was to create a garden, transforming a barren piece of land into a beautiful and hospitable spot.

Taking on the garden assignment provided a microcosm of management for Aydin Bonabi (BBA ’05), co-founder and former president of the IBHS, currently a student in the college’s Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program, and a program specialist for FIU Online. He attended the trip as participant/observer, in preparation for working with Robert Hogner, associate professor, Department of Management and International Business, coordinator of the college's Civic Engagement Initiative, and development director for undergraduate international business programs, to develop Community Service Program Management—an online course with an embedded service project slated to launch in the spring of 2008.

“As someone not involved in the logistics, I was able to get an insight into how project management unfolds,” Bonabi said. “The garden was an excellent example. None of us had gardened. We understood that we needed a project manager, we identified people’s special skills, and we broke down the tasks. I was able to see the operational structure at work. We can explain those steps in the course, along with much other content that will help create socially and ethically strong, back-boned business leaders.”

Auburn student takes lessons to heart and to his campus.

For travel grant recipient Suresh Mudragada, an international business major at Auburn University who is active in community service activities, the experience was “really inspiring. We saw kids with disabilities help those who were even more challenged,” he said. “We worked with the kids to teach them how to brush their teeth, we sang in both English and Thai, and we danced.”

Before the trip, he undertook fundraising activities on his campus, and post-trip, he is talking to school organizations urging them to get involved in a similar effort.

GLSP and partnership with Rajabaht University deepen roots.

“This year, the project became a sustainable enterprise without extraordinary management on the part of our business school,” Hogner said. “Having a participant from another university and someone from FIU Online gave us two new avenues to help spread enthusiasm and involvement in this innovative form of leadership development and global community service.”

“We had a very close relationship with the students from Rajabaht University,” Polanco said. “It wasn't the college group and the Rajabaht group; it became the college/Rajabaht team.”

Next year, Hogner expects an even stronger partnership with Rajabaht University.

“Their university’s administrators want to formalize the relationship with the college and are very enthusiastic about having their students come to Miami to do community service as well,” he said.

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Catherine A. Minnis dedicates her talents to helping county residents.

Catherine A. Minnis

Catherine A. Minnis (MBA ’97, BBA ’93) is an alumna who works hard to improve the quality of life for Miami-Dade residents.

Currently, she serves as regional coordinator of the Team Metro Kendall office, responsible for managing a service center that provides outreach, education, and service excellence throughout districts 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. She has more than nineteen years of local government experience with Miami-Dade County.

“It takes someone else seeing the potential in you in order to make it,” Minnis said. She added that Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam gave her a chance more than ten years ago to prove herself in the first Executive MBA class. Today, she incorporates skills from the program, especially those in teambuilding, in running an efficient office.

“Working in groups builds upon people’s strengths,” she said. “In any business, you have to have teamwork or it doesn’t work, and Team Metro is a great team.”

Minnis serves as a public servant but runs the office as if it were her own company.

Minnis has a positive and optimistic point of view and works with a “can-do” attitude. Her team not only meets but also exceeds the goals she’s given. She motivates her staff to focus on the bigger picture and measures her success and that of her team by pursuing goals set forth by her organization’s strategic plan. In fact, she uses an online, strategy enterprise to measure and guide her team’s performance.

Even though she is driven by the accomplishments of Team Metro, Minnis’ bottom line is meeting the needs of the region’s citizens; she believes in what she does and cares about people.

Dedication to improving lives carries over into community involvement.

Minnis was named the American Cancer Society’s 2006 Volunteer of the Year for outstanding service to “Making Strides against Breast Cancer.” She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and vice president of the National Black MBA Association, South Florida Chapter. She also graduated from Leadership Miami, an annual program coordinated by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce which brings together about 100 of Miami-Dade County’s emerging leaders to examine community issues.

This year, Minnis was acknowledged in Who’s Who in Black South Florida, a publication recognizing individuals whose positions or accomplishments in their chosen fields are significant and whose contributions to the community have improved the quality of life of those they serve. In 2006, she was included in Cambridge’s Who’s Who among Executives and Professionals.

Minnis attributes her success to her exposure to and interaction with dynamic leaders in South Florida. One such leader, Sam Hines, president of the National Black MBA Association, South Florida Chapter, said, “Minnis is the consummate professional who excels at whatever she does. I have seen her soar in her career. She is a superb leader who instills confidence in her team.”

The future for Minnis holds many more promising and fulfilling accomplishments. She said she sees herself pursuing her PhD and becoming actively involved in community boards.

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Business Alumni Conference draws enthusiastic audience.

Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam addresses attendees at Alumni Conference.

On March 23, 2007, South Florida executives and business alumni attended the second annual Business Alumni Conference held at the college’s Downtown Center. The half-day event included panel sessions on real estate, corporate governance, healthcare, insurance, and family business.

Robert Garcia (EMBA ’97), college director of Executive and Professional Education (EPE), said that “The panel discussions were wonderful — very seasoned professionals with a wealth of knowledge to share.” He added that, “It was a great opportunity to network and reconnect with fellow alumni,” and that it “was one of the most informative conferences I have attended this year.”

Lourdes Herrero-Matus (BBA ’98), program manager for the Downtown MBA and MBA for Public Managers programs, said, “It was a great honor for the Downtown Center to host such a notable event for the college; the impressive panels of speakers and distinguished alumni in attendance made for a wonderful experience.”

The college’s business alumni chapter expressed its appreciation to the panelists, who included the following people:

• The real estate session was moderated by William Hardin, Knight Ridder associate professor and director of the college’s real estate programs. Panelists were Paul Jones (BBA ’78), Pyramid Realty Group, Inc.; Guy Trusty, CCIM, president, Lodging & Hospitality Realty, Inc., and Adam Lotterman, senior analyst, Goodkin Consulting.

• The corporate governance panel, was moderated by José de la Torre, dean of the Chapman Graduate School. Panelists included Mario de Armas (BBA ’85), office managing partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP; Ben Wells, CFO and treasurer, Burger King Corporation, and Alvaro de Molina, former CFO, Bank of America.

• The family business session was moderated by James Bussey (EMBA ’97) chief of staff, College of Business Administration. Panelists included: Derek Capó (BBA ’03), analyst, Everest Capital; Jesus Capó, COO, El Dorado; and Roberto Capó (BBA ’93), CMO, El Dorado.

• The health care session was moderated by Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam. Panelists included Joseph Caruncho (BBA ’81), CEO of Preferred Care Partners Holding Corporation; John Rock, Dean, College of Medicine, Florida International University, and George Foyo, president, Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Florida.

• The insurance session was moderated by Ian McCluskey, publisher of World City Business. Panelists included: Raul Rivero, president and CEO of Insurance & Construction Consultants, Inc., and Tom Cornish (BBA ’85), president and CEO, Seitlin Insurance.

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Affinity Alumni groups gather for networking at exclusive Havana Club.

From left: Representing U.S. Century Bank, Dante Salas, Josue Rios, Karla Perenzuela, Ruth Jímenez, and Frank Fernandez; Business Alumni Chapter President Manny Matalón, and Larissa Ramos, director of development, FIU Honors College

More than 100 alumni from the business, real estate, law, and Honors College chapters gathered on March 27, 2007, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the exclusive Havana Club for a Networking Happy Hour where drinks and hors d’oeuvres were graciously provided by U.S. Century Bank and the Havana Club. Raffle prizes were donated by U.S. Century Bank and Florida International University’s (FIU) Alumni Association.

“The venue's panoramic views coupled with its Miami flair made it the perfect place for our alumni to make friends and engage in business conversations,” said George Corton, director of development for the College of Law. “It set the tone for many more events to come.”

Larissa Ramos, director of development for the Honors College said, “Our collaboration represents an effective and productive model for alumni relations partnerships among the university’s schools and colleges.”

Several alumni in attendance echoed that sentiment, and one mentioned that she appreciated the diversity of backgrounds of those present, which offered “an opportunity for an attorney to network with a real estate developer, a banker and an artist, all at once!”

“With so many wonderful events being offered in our beautiful city, it made sense to collaborate, share resources, and create a unique event that would truly offer spectacular networking,” said Monique Catoggio (EMBA ’03), director of alumni and partner relations in the college. “I think we were successful, and we look forward to working more closely with FIU's many affinity groups and alumni chapters to organize meaningful events and programs in the future.”

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Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held May 16.

The college would like to congratulate the honorees of its 2007 Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon, to be held May 16, 2007.

Margarita M. Gonzalez (BBA ’06) President and CFO AccuBANKER Founder, Inductee
Antiono L. Argiz (BBA ’74) Managing Partner Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP Builder, Inductee
Miriam Lopez Chairman and CEO TransAtlantic Bank 2007 South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year

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 join us for this year’s themed event, “The Rhythm of Entrepreneurship,” on May 16, 2007, at Parrot Jungle Island from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Register today on our web site or call 305-348-0397 for more information.

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Gloria Romero-Roses serves as role model for students.

Alumni Circle member Gloria Romero-Roses (MBA ’96, BBA ’92) of The Continental Group experiences the classroom in a different way—as a role model for students.

Romero-Roses headed back to the classroom recently to share her insights and experiences during Management and International Business associate professor Deborah Vidaver-Cohen’s Strategic Management class. Through a fun exercise, students were able to choose whether they would pick change, if they had the option, and decide how to manage change appropriately.

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