Alumni Magazine Fall 2011 Alumni Magazine

Sweet Dream Celebrating the MBA Program’s Eyewitness to the The Interns Come True p 4 Golden Anniversary p 10 Japan Earthquake p 14 Take Manhattan p 20

alumni magazine fall 2011 alumni magazine

Issue Fall 2011 marriottschool.byu.edu

Publisher Gary C. Cornia Managing Editor Joseph D. Ogden Editor Emily Smurthwaite Art Director Jon G. Woidka Copy Editors Jenifer Greenwood Lena Harper contributing Editor Nina Whitehead assistant editors Michelle Kaiser Angela Marler contributing writers, editors, Carrie Akinaka designers, & photographers Robert G. Gardner Aaron Garza Sara Harding Chadwick Little Courtney Rieder Nielsen Michael Smart Sarah Tomoser

magazine design BYU Publications & Graphics

All communication should be sent to Marriott Alumni Magazine 490 Tanner Building Brigham Young University Provo, UT 84602-3187 Phone: 801-422-7696 Fax: 801-422-0501 Email: [email protected]

Marriott Alumni Magazine is published by the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. The views expressed in Marriott Alumni Magazine are not necessarily endorsed by BYU or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

find this and past issues of marriott alumni magazine online at

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members of the marriott school’s national advisory council gather in front of fenway park’s famed green monster at the nac spring retreat in boston. Hi, are you here yet? OK, just walk down that huge set of silver stairs. You can’t miss them—they look like the stairway to heaven. • So what are you going to do? I’ll text you. Why? I’m right here! Just tell me now. I said I’ll text you! • Do you want to go to the army place with the couches while we wait? You mean the war memorial in the Wilk? Yeah, it’s a lot more comfortable than these wooden benches—and one of the best nap destinations on campus. • I’m buying an iPhone today! Your quality of life will improve overheard starting today. • I spilled a ton of water on my pants at lunch. I was hoping it in the would dry by the time I got in there. Can you tell? • Has she eaten? Oh, well does tanner she want to eat again? Or does she want to watch me eat? • I’m surprised a Boy Scout wants to take the elevator. You want to take the stairs? We can take the stairs. No, the elevator’s here now. • Are you Jane? No, I’m not. I’m sorry, I’m supposed to meet someone I’ve never met before. • He was wearing skinny jeans that were skinnier than mine. Ugh. • It’s about improving service and quality because it’s the customer that keeps you in business. • I used to work at a movie theater, and it is my firm belief that nobody looks good eating popcorn • I should go practice. You should. Wait—you haven’t even had your first class yet. What are you supposed to practice? • Everybody laughed, so I called it a success. That’s my marketing strategy. • Is your cell phone waterproof? I don’t know; why? Because it just fell in the fountain. • Obviously, when you’re driving around in your car you don’t want to have bad tires. You want to have good tires—and look good. • My roommates are somewhat depressing. How so? One doesn’t talk. The other day I was so sick, and he didn’t say anything. I didn’t think I expected people to check up on me when I’m sick, but I do. • I’m a big chicken strips guy—you know, I try to eat healthy. • What’s your major? Asian studies. Cool, what do you do? Study Asian people. • I was a nerd very early in my life. • What’s the risk in climbing Mount Everest? You could freeze, you could starve, you could fall, something could fall on you—so what’s the reward for managing the risk? Reaching the top. The entrepreneur’s job is to take risks. Only then can you reach the top. • I want sushi. Sushi is gorgeous. • When you go to the grocery store, what kind of cheese do you get? Cheddar, colby, feta, mozzarella? Oh no, I get only feta. • Nobody has ever had a good story for when they were out of toilet paper. • My elementary school teacher swore to me that sublimination never happens. I just want to go back and show her she was wrong. I mean, I’ve seen dry ice. Contents | fall 2011 4

20 14 Features

4 luxury sweet 20 Summer in the City Plus . . . Scott Lund has a penchant for the sweet and A photo journey of four Marriott School the skills to build a luxury chocolate business. students working in and exploring America’s 8 Around the Cooler favorite apple. Cracking the QR Code 10 mba @ 50 19 inside the classroom In 1961 BYU’s business school embarked on a 32 word of mouse Learning without Walls new path, and fifty years later ourMBA pro- If your business doesn’t pop to the top of search 30 By the Numbers gram is stronger than ever. engine results, then you’re losing customers. Home Work Here’s how to score a top spot. 37 school news 14 Epicenter Japan 43 alumni news Read a firsthand account of former associate dean W. Steve Albrecht’s experience leading the

Japan Tokyo Mission through the March earthquake and its aftermath. Cover Photo: iStockphoto.com

fall 2011 3 By Megan Bingham Photography by Bradley Slade

Sumptuous. Decadent. Delightful. Few words could more adequately describe a box of Lula’s Chocolates. Neatly perched inside each mahogany-colored package await aromatic round crèmes, salted caramels, square truffles, and nuts cloaked with melt-in-your-mouth cocoa. During the past five years, the company, based in Monterey, California, has carved a nice niche in the candy industry, increasing sales by 90 percent annually. But Scott Lund, owner and Marriott School graduate, will be the first to tell you that the secret to these artisanal chocolates doesn’t lie in the craftsmanship or high- quality ingredients. Lula’s success stems from just one element—family. Scott Lund MAcc & Mba , 1991

fall 2011 5 tell me stories about her life and about my dad—things he’d never tell me.” When Lula moved into a retirement home, her biggest concern was the fate of her candy equipment. To ease her mind, Lund purchased it. He hauled the industrial- sized pots and large marble slabs into his basement, not knowing the role they’d play in his future.

Prep School Lund and his three siblings grew up in California’s Bay Area, spending two memo- rable years in Carmel. His father, a business manager, wasn’t shy about prodding his son along a similar path. “He believed accounting was the language of business, and it’s true,” Lund says. The Marriott School’s highly ranked accounting program made BYU Lund’s first choice. In fact, he was so determined to begin his studies at the Y that when he broke his foot at freshman orientation, he waited to tell his parents until he was sure they had completed their twelve-hour drive home. Lund describes his years at BYU as some Cocoa Pedigree of his happiest. He met and married his wife, Jennifer, and learned Chocolate has been flowing through the Lund family for three gen- the ins and outs of accounting. While completing his graduate stud- erations. Lund’s grandma, Lula, was a teenager in the 1920s when her ies, he taught Accounting 201, an experience that cemented his home economics teacher taught her how to make candy. Lula trans- understanding of the discipline and allowed him to give back. formed the skill into a business after she married, selling the treats in “I like sharing what I know,” explains Lund, whose daughter the arms plant where she worked during World War II. Victoria is studying accounting at byu. “I don’t have a lot of secrets During the next five decades, she made countless batches of when it comes to chocolate or business. I just like helping people.” sweets for friends and family in her home’s small candy kitchen, Although the ratios, formulas, and equations he learned at the ramping up production for the holidays. Marriott School are regularly used at Lula’s, the lesson that most Lund still remembers the role candy played in his family. Lula, a prepared Lund for success was much simpler: treat people the way loving woman with neatly set hair, would gather her grandchildren you want to be treated. around. Placing a chocolate into the palm of each little hand, she would look at the children and say, “Be true to your teeth, or they’ll Candy Store be false to you.” Located in Carmel’s high-end shopping district, Lula’s retail store “She had a saying for everything,” Lund remembers. “She was a is the place where that philosophy is carried out. Flanked by pot- character.” ted plants and outlined by crisp, white molding, the shop is filled Her passion for family and candy making was lifelong. When she with antique display cases packed with bundles of caramels, tof- called Lund to say she wasn’t going to make chocolates anymore, he fees, and, of course, chocolates. The one thing you won’t find here, knew something was wrong. though, is Lund. “It was her quiet way of asking for help,” Lund says. “She wasn’t Most days he’s at Lula’s factory in Monterey, managing accounts, frail; she just couldn’t do things like she used to.” checking production, and overseeing the company’s business plan. Lund’s family stepped in. They spent three holiday seasons in In fact, it’s his role in operations that Lund most enjoys. the kitchen together, learning Lula’s time-tested techniques—skills “I get a lot of help from other people, but ultimately I’m respon- Lund would later perfect in confectionery courses. Lund’s wife sible for the success or failure of the business,” Lund says. “And I’ll painted bright marks on the candy thermometers so ninety-five- never be unemployed,” he adds, laughing. year-old Lula could see them, and Lund cut fondant, tempered choc- Lund works hard to make sure the business of candy is equally olate, and carried kettles for his grandmother. sweet for his employees. His philosophy—assume that every- “We would talk for six hours at a time,” Lund says. “She would one is doing the best he or she can—is at the center point of the

6 MARRIOTT company’s culture. Employees are asked to do their best and to gave me joy,” Lund says. “When you do that, working is not work. learn from mistakes when they happen. It’s part of what makes you happy.” “I don’t dwell on mistakes because I’m doing my best and I make mistakes too,” Lund says. “People will give you their best efforts, and Sweet Dreams nine times out of ten that’s all you need.” As the idea for a premium chocolate company solidified in Lund’s And Lund ensures everyone has a chance to succeed. If someone mind, he began scouting locations for the business. He’d dreamt doesn’t quite have the dexterity to work with the chocolate, he or she about giving his five kids the picturesque childhood he’d had in joins the finished goods team, packing and preparing the candy. Carmel, and the seaside city seemed to be a smart move for the business too. Rocky Road “There are a lot of great candy makers in Utah but Lund’s own path to success started in 1991 when relatively few in California,” Lund explains. “And he completed his MBA—also from the Marriott Californians are willing to pay what the candy is School—and accepted a position as an analyst at Top Five worth.” Shell Oil Company in Houston. While the work was Some of Lund’s friends were skeptical of the satisfying, Lund found himself entering the labor Flavors decision, outlining all the roadblocks Lund would force at a volatile time. Firms were consolidating face: selling his house, moving his family, and even and laying off partners in large numbers. financing the venture. “I didn’t want to make it to the top and then Despite the concerns, the Lunds decided to hear, ‘Hey, we’re downsizing,’” Lund says. “I guess make the move, even before the Laundromats were I like security. I don’t mind bleeding ulcers, but I sold, allowing their children to start the new school year in Carmel. For nearly a year, Lund commuted like security.” #1: Sea Salt Caramels Lund took matters into his own hands. He left back and forth, managing his newly minted choco- the oil business, moved his family to Utah, and late enterprise in California and winding down his went to work for himself, purchasing a string of business in Utah. Laundromats. Although some referred to the business as a Family Ties cash venture, it turned out to be an opportunity for With Lula’s entering its fifth year in business, it’d be Lund to exhibit integrity. He purchased the facilities #2: Dark Aloha Rocky Road easy for Lund to take credit for the company’s suc- based on what the previous owners had paid in taxes. cess. But he tends to defer to others—especially to When he took over operations, he kept meticulous his wife, Jennifer. records on every quarter slipped into the machines. “It takes a lot of internal fortitude for someone The effort paid off when he sold the business and to be OK with selling everything we had and start- received top dollar thanks to his accurate tax returns. ing a chocolate company,” he says. “She’s been there “In the end, I made five times what I could have #3: California Milk Toffee every step of the way.” stolen,” Lund says. And while the kids don’t hand dip the chocolates, While the business prospered, Lund began to Lula’s is a family affair. Jennifer and the kids are grow anxious. “It’s hard to get excited about wash- often at the office, tying bows, labeling, and running ing other people’s clothes,” he concedes. the shrink-wrap machine. The most coveted job is, He filled the void by making chocolates for of course, testing the chocolate. But even there, the friends and neighbors during the holidays. #4: Truffle Assortment family follows Lula’s lead. One of those friends worked closely with Utah “Grandma was a true believer in moderation,” governor Mike Leavitt on his reelection commit- Lund explains. “She felt there was no reason to have tee. When she tasted Lund’s chocolates, she knew more than one piece of chocolate at a time. It was a they needed to be included in the governor’s 2002 simple pleasure to be enjoyed—but not all at once.” Olympics celebration. Lund was invited to prepare Though Lula passed away in 2000, it could be chocolate spreads for both the opening and closing argued that she’s still the lifeblood of the business. For #5: Milk Aloha Rocky Road ceremonies. His hand-dipped creations garnered the Lund clan, transforming tradition into a thriving high marks and, for the first time, he saw the viabil- enterprise has always revolved around spending time ity of a chocolate business. with family—and lots of rich, creamy chocolate. Still, Lund had doubts about pursuing a culinary career. It wasn’t until he checked out from the library a copy of Good to Great by Jim About the Author Collins that the idea for Lula’s really took shape. Lund returned the Based in New York City, Megan Bingham is a writer and editor at Family book the next day and bought his own copy to mark up. Circle magazine. She graduated from BYU in 2010 with a degree in “I needed to reflect on what I was passionate about and what communications.

fall 2011 7 around the cooler

by michelle kaiser

1. travel- ers 1 Even up north, QR codes are making a splash. As Canadians complete online passport applications, QR codes are created for each person. Passport hopefuls then print their applications with their unique codes. An application is sub- mitted with the requisite photos, and personal data is uploaded with a simple scan of the QR code on the application—speeding up the passport process and 2 reducing paperwork. Cracking the QR Code Think of it as the barcode’s hip, tech-savvy cousin. QR (quick response) codes allow users to scan a black-and-white box with their smartphones and instantly link to data, videos, music, or a bevy of other knowledge. These informational codes are popping up everywhere from movie posters to public buses and are being used for both business and pleasure. To join the fun, download an app on your smartphone and start scanning. Popular apps include RedLaser, Scan, Bakodo, Optiscan, NeoReader, and i-nigma.

8 MARRIOTT 4

3 5 6

2. explor- 3. green 4. home 5. Job 6. genealo- ers thumbs buyers Hunters gists QR codes turned Central Gone are the days of Many real estate agents Say good-bye to the QR codes aren’t limited Park into an interactive guessing how to best are jumping on the QR days of sifting through to the living. In Japan, board game on Arbor take care of your garden. code bandwagon, hop- a bloated Rolodex. A where the codes are Day 2010. Codes linked Many plant tags now ing to use this technol- growing number of much more ubiquitous, to trivia questions were come equipped with QR ogy to attract a new clever networkers and even graves are getting posted at landmarks codes, allowing even the generation of home- job hunters are putting a technological upgrade. around the urban oasis. most novice gardeners owners. Codes are QR codes on their busi- A tombstone company After answering the to quickly access plant- showing up on for-sale ness cards and résumés. recently started making questions, users could ing and care information. signs and flyers with This allows them to add grave markers with QR watch famous movie In many cases you’ll find links to pictures and personality or link to codes engraved on the scenes filmed in the instructions, companion videos of the properties. a portfolio. Scanning a surface. The codes link park, listen to music plants, expected bloom, QR codes provide more QR code can also import to pictures and stories inspired by the location, and maybe even a how- information and a quick contact info directly to of the deceased, per- or view photos of his- to video. interactive experience your phone. sonalizing the funerary toric events in each area. for house hunters. process.

fall 2011 9 by EMILY SMURTHWAITE U MBA BY

P AS N T T & PRESE

1961– 1963 Quinn G. McKay

1963– 1965 Sterling D. Sessions 1965–1976 Robert H. Daines

1976– 1979 Martin Wistisen

1979– 1983 Stephen Nadauld 1983– 1984 a gallon of gas Burke Jackson (interim) cost thirty cents, JFK was president, and 1984– 1990 Barbie was first introduced to Ken. And in William Giauque 1990– 1992 the basement of the Jesse Knight Building Darral (Pete) Clarke something groundbreaking was happening: 1992– 1998 Gary McKinnon the BYU MBA was born. 1998–2002 What originated with fifteen students of recruiters and the national media. Henry Eyring and a handful of professors has grown into “We are fortunate to have an ever- a topflight program, with more than 6,500 increasing number of students who were 2002–2008 alumni worldwide and a No. 1 ranking in accepted to other prestigious MBA pro- James Stice the regional schools category by the Wall grams but choose to be a part of BYU,” says Street Journal. Craig Merrill, MBA program director. “They 2008–present Celebrating the program’s golden anni- come here because of the unique emphasis Craig Merrill versary couldn’t come at a better time. The we place on faith being relevant to top- popular program is garnering the attention quality professional training.”

fall 2011 11 students demonstrate a willingness to take the higher ground.” The focus on ethics was one aspect that from the drew Adam Cuppett, who donned his MBA YEAR- graduation robes last April. But another draw was BYU’s high professor-student interac- BOOK tion—something that seemed to be lacking at other institutions. “I wanted a more personal experience when it came to working Gordon Peterson was one of fifteen stu- with faculty,” says Cuppett, who also served dents who embarked on the inaugural MBA as president of the MBA Student Association. program—one that would grow to include “I didn’t want to simply be a student with a more than three hundred students each year number stamped on my head at orientation. and become one of BYU’s most-recognized I wanted to be an active participant, and BYU EXCERPT graduate programs. offered that experience better than the other When Peterson, now retired, returned to programs I considered.” from the 1961–1962 BYU yearbook campus last fall, he sat in on a modern ver- Kate Kirkham, a retired professor who about the new MBA program: sion of his MBA classes. Laptops replaced spent almost three decades involved with

“ In the first year of its MBA “ He told us that the BYU MBA needed to be different. He said . . . program the college found that we needed to offer leadership values that are espoused by the students from all over the nation LDS Church and graduate students of high character. were applying to be enrolled in ” this special managerial training program. An outstanding fea- pencils and papers, PowerPoint slides BYU’s MBA, says she’s proud to be associated ture sponsored by the college enhanced the lecture, and instead of meet- with the program. “The principles that guide ing in the basement of the JKB, the students the program invite each person involved to was the executive lecture series were seated in a tiered classroom in the give his or her best so it continues to give held every Wednesday in 184 of Tanner Building Addition. greater benefit to those who will next be asso- the Knight Building. From the Peterson, whose MBA helped him land a ciated with it,” she says. “For almost every- modern data processing com- position at IBM after graduation, noted that one, it is a wonderful collaborative cycle of despite five decades, the classroom dynam- scholarship, study, skills, and service.” puters in the basement to the ics and format were remarkably similar. up-to-date office machinery on “We also had a great faculty, and case the second floor, the College of study methodology was very big in 1961,” Business stood ready to train says Peterson, who remembers a visit from J.W. Marriott to one of his MBA classes. the student in machine manipu- That’s not to say the program hasn’t lation. Modern laboratories and shifted and refined its focus over the years. business texts were on hand for Bill Sawaya, who recently retired as assistant the students in business to use. EVOLUTIONE director of the MBA program, recalls a faculty meeting more than thirty years ago with The case study method used for Merrill J. Bateman, then dean of the busi- instructional purposes gave the ness school. students insight into practical “He told us that the BYU MBA needed Sawaya, who estimates he’s taught half of aspects of business involving to be different. He said people had a lot of the MBAs who’ve come through the pro- options to learn about business principles, gram, says he noticed two significant turn- personal interactions with other but we needed to offer leadership val- ing points in the program’s history: an students. ” ues that are espoused by the LDS Church increase in required work experience and a and graduate students of high character,” higher minimum GMAT score. “Those two Sawaya says. “I believe we’ve been able to requirements gave us better quality stu- achieve Dean Bateman’s goal because the dents,” he says. 12 MARRIOTT E MEMBERS OF BYU’S

In addition to those screening mea- in terms of curriculum, but it is tailored to INAUGURAL sures, the learning environment, Sawaya people who have pushed their careers to a MBA CLASS says, has become more hands-on with the point at which they are looking to expand introduction of team and classroom proj- their training,” says Merrill, who notes that Gary Bailey ects and field studies. “We’re trying to teach the average work experience for an EMBA Harold Bateman students a framework to make managerial student is twelve years. Sylvan Butler decisions—not just have them memorize Another way word is getting out about information,” he says. the quality of MBA students is through the Jim Crawley In a traditional classroom, Sawaya con- school’s recruiting efforts. MBA placement George Dibble tinues, there is hardly enough time for stu- is led by Dick Smith and Shawna Gygi, who W. Keith Garrett dents to get the feedback they need from have developed some inventive strategies, Bill McKinney teachers. “But in teams they receive quality particularly to get through the last few feedback, and they also learn how to give unusually rough placement years. J. Doug Mitchell feedback to others,” he adds. “There’s been a considerable amount of Gordon Peterson Kirkham, who also served as one of effort spent on student preparation: helping Brent Pratley the program’s associate directors, points them determine their focus, building their F. Laurel Pulsipher out that the collaborative environment is networks, and developing their personal emphasized to help students learn how to brands,” Gygi says. “Informational inter- Stan Quackenbush Bill Staffanson Paul Tripp There’s been a considerable amount of effort spent Rudy Zander “on student preparation: helping them determine their focus, build their networks, and develop their personal brands. ”

participate in a diverse group—not just to views and corporate trips also help build con- GIN share the workload. nections and dispel myths among recruiters ORI AL “They are learning how to develop the that BYU grads want to work only in Utah.” FACULTY

abilities of their team members,” she says. Each first-year student is assigned to BYU MBA “These strategies and individual leadership a “Sherpa,” a second-year MBA who closely proficiencies enable a team’s performance, guides and mentors him or her in the hunt and the students benefit from the range of for that all-important internship. Stephen R. Covey team member experiences and skills.” The results of these combined efforts Parley M. Pratt have been impressive, with job placement Robert J. Smith for the class of 2011 at 90 percent and aver- Eldred Johnson age starting salaries at $92,000. BRANCHING B-school ranking organizations, such as Philip B. Daniels BusinessWeek, U.S. News, and Forbes, have Robert H. Daines also taken notice. BYU’s MBA program was Quinn G. McKay recently listed No. 15 by Forbes. Edward L. Christensen The unique aspects of the program— from the emphasis on ethics and leader- Howard Nielsen ship to the collaborative environment and Glen Nelson faculty interaction—keep producing quality Garth Magnum To make the program available to even grads. A was certainly key to help- MBA BYU MBA Charles Bradford more people, a part-time, two-year program ing Cuppett land a senior cost engineer posi- for executives was created in 1986. At any tion at Intel Inc. “My experience was invalu- Sterling Sessions given time there are about 130 students able to finding the right job. The push to get Clinton Oaks enrolled in the Provo evening program or out of your comfort zone and network really Bill Lambert the newer every-other-weekend Salt Lake helps you develop,” he says. “My degree has Brent Eagar City program. already proven helpful as I’ve implemented “We work very hard to keep the executive skills I learned from the MBA program in my program parallel to the daytime program new corporate environment.”

fall 2011 13

EPICENTER

Leadership in a Natural Disaster

Former associate dean W. Steve Albrecht shares his experience as president of the Japan Tokyo Mission during the 2011 earthquake.

eAnn and I arrived in Japan in July 2009. I had served as a missionary from 1966 to 1969, when there were no stakes or wards and only one mission in Japan. Now there L are nine stakes and two districts just in our mission. We soon discovered that serving as mission president and mission mom are relentless callings. There is always training, mentoring, or help needed for our 160 young missionaries.

The Great Tohoku Earthquake On Friday, 11 March 2011, we were holding a three-zone training conference at the Nakano church, next to the Tokyo Mission Home. We finished at 2:40 p.m. and were saying good-bye to the sixty missionaries who were attending from the Musashino, Tokyo, and Chiba stakes. At 2:46 we started to feel an earthquake. We rushed the missionaries out of the church onto a large grass field. Unlike the many previous quakes we have felt since coming to Japan, this one kept getting bigger. Instead of rocking and swaying like most quakes, it was comprised of hard jolts, almost like hitting an air pocket in a small airplane. There is a large apartment

fall 2011 15 building next to the mission home, and we all thought it would tum- been purchased at Costco for upcoming meetings. We found juice in ble down. The earthquake lasted for nearly five minutes and was fol- our food storage and a case of oranges. I was so grateful that LeAnn lowed by numerous aftershocks, some of which were quite large, that had prepared so well. At ten the next morning, the fully fed mission- continued for months. In the days after the earthquake, there were aries started back to their apartments. Because of intermittent train several each hour. and bus schedules, it took some all day. I was surprised to learn that the epicenter was approximately The next few days were marked by numerous aftershocks and 200 miles away, off the coast of Sendai. The earthquake registered revelations about the damaged nuclear reactors near Fukushima. 9 on the Richter Scale and was the biggest in Japan and one of the We decided to move four sets of missionaries who were closest five largest ever. It caused considerable damage and the loss of many (approximately 100 kilometers away) to the reactors in with other lives in the Tohoku region of Japan (Sendai mission area) and even missionaries in Tokyo. Because the trains weren’t running regularly, in Tokyo. it was hard for some of them, but they were all in safer apartments by Because of the magnitude, trains and other transportation Sunday night, 13 March. stopped running immediately. It was obvious that the sixty mission- The recurring aftershocks were making some of our missionaries aries would be staying at the mission home that evening. We started quite uneasy. Two sisters called one night afraid to go to bed. There getting organized. I let them watch The Other Side of Heaven to calm had been a major aftershock, and they were both hiding under desks. their nerves, a once-in-a-mission exception to the no-movie rule. I talked with them for about an hour until they relaxed and were able We were extremely concerned about the safety of our one hun- to go to sleep. dred other missionaries. The assistants, a couple other missionaries, and I started contacting each of them. We split up the companion- The Evacuation ship list and started calling. The phone lines still worked, but they Five days after the earthquake, everything changed. Businesses and were jammed. Earlier this year the Presiding Bishopric’s Office (PBO) embassies were being evacuated. President Gary E. Stevenson, a replaced the missionaries’ cell phones with new devices that have member of the First Quorum of the Seventy and Area President, and email capability, so we began sending emails. We got replies imme- I had been talking every day since the earthquake, and he called at 3 diately. By that evening we had heard that all our missionaries were a.m. on Wednesday with news that our missionaries were being evac- safe and there was only minor damage to a few of their apartments. uated. I immediately got dressed and contacted my assistants. Our Once the earthquake hit, the Presiding Bishopric’s Office (the missionaries would be reassigned to the Nagoya, Kobe, and Fukuoka Area Presidency office) started contacting us by email to see if our missions; the Sendai missionaries would be going to the Hokkaido missionaries were safe. We gave them updates every hour. Once we Mission. There was a conference call with all the Japan mission pres- confirmed the safety of our missionaries, we emailed the mission- idents scheduled at 10 that morning. By 8 a.m. the assistants and I aries’ parents, telling them their son or daughter was safe. We also had decided where to reassign our sisters and elders. sent a message to the missionaries again and told them to personally We had all the missionaries come in to the mission home that email their parents; stock up on food and water if possible; send us day, Wednesday, 16 March, and we arranged for buses to move them a damage report; be careful; and pray for the members, investigators, to the other missions the next day. We rented 150 futons from two and residents of Japan. companies. At 8 p.m. and at 10 p.m. I spoke to the missionaries. We

Two sisters called one night afraid to go to bed. There had been a major aftershock, and they were both hiding under desks. I talked with them for about an hour until they relaxed and were able to go to sleep.

I called the missionaries who were with us together in the chapel announced where each missionary would be going and why they and talked to them about how blessed we were to be safe and gave were being evacuated. I did everything I could to make them feel safe. them their room assignments for their night in the mission home. By 10 p.m. we were still missing eight companionships but kept in I assigned some missionaries to go to the store and buy breakfast touch with them by telephone until they arrived. The last ones finally food. They came back telling me the store shelves were empty, and arrived at 12:30 a.m., having faced serious train and car problems. they were able to buy only a few cartons of juice. We started scroung- During the day we’d planned the details of the evacuation, which ing to see what we could feed the missionaries for breakfast. There included: were twenty loaves of banana bread LeAnn had made to give as gifts. 1. The missionaries scheduled to go home in April and May would We found several cartons of muffins, snacks, and breads that had return home immediately.

16 MARRIOTT missionaries going to the Fukuoka mission to a train station. A representative from the PBO would go with them to make sure there were no problems. The Nagoya and Kobe buses would leave at 10 a.m. and take the missionaries to their new missions. We told them to be packed and ready to leave at least thirty minutes before the buses came. We assigned one person on each bus to give us periodic calls and to let us know when they arrived.

We understood bathrooms and showers would be a problem, but at least we knew where all our missionaries were and that they were safe. Before I went to bed, I called Elder and Sister Hobbs, a senior couple in our mission, and asked them to come and help the Lewises, the office couple, the next day. The morning went just as planned. The missionaries were extremely helpful. I was able to talk with them and say good-bye as they boarded the buses. We sent them all with cookies Sister Albrecht had made. By the end of the day, the only missionaries left were the fifteen scheduled to go home the next day and three couples. As each bus left I called the PBO and told them what time it departed. While the missionaries were traveling, I called the other mission presidents and told them briefly about their new missionaries. Then I interviewed the fifteen departing missionaries until about 6:30 p.m. After breakfast on Friday we held a final training session with the returning missionaries about their futures. Three PBO vans came to take them to the airport at 9 a.m. At 11:45 a.m. I got a call saying they had arrived at the airport. I also heard from each of them once they arrived home safely. The only missionaries now left in the Japan Tokyo Mission were Elder Matias from Brazil, who was flying home on Saturday; Elder and Sister Lewis, who were flying to the United States until the missionaries were back in Tokyo; Elder and Sister Arnell, a military liai- son couple, who were transferring to the Fukuoka mission; and Elder and Sister Hobbs. It’s amazing how fast a major city and mission can change. Tokyo went from being one of the world’s most vibrant and bright cities to a dark, crippled place without adequate fuel, power, or food. Our mission went from being the largest mission in Asia to just a handful of missionaries. The evacuation was one of the most difficult experiences I’ve had. The missionaries had become like our sons and daughters. We had counseled with them, loved them, taught them, and were their parents away from home—it was hard to let them go all at once. North of our mission there was tremendous devastation. An estimated 26,000 people were either missing or dead. Billions of dollars 2. Missionaries going to the new missions would be assigned com- of damage was caused. The church responded quickly and provided panionships and given a telephone to take with them. substantial aid, and in the first two months, more than 10,000 church 3. We would feed them breakfast the next morning and give them volunteers helped with relief efforts. snacks for their trips. Fortunately, the day after the earthquake, we’d stopped at Costco. The Repatriation 4. Before breakfast we would give them their passports at one table, By mid-April there had been sufficient time to believe that a major confirm the telephone number and companionships at the next meltdown or other catastrophic event would be avoided. Most of the table, and record everyone who came through at a third table. gasoline, power, food, water, and infrastructure problems in Tokyo 5. The first bus would be boarding at 9:30 a.m., taking all had been remedied. As a result, President Stevenson and I drafted

fall 2011 17 proposals recommending the missionaries be brought back. This was approved by the Missionary Executive Committee, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the First Presidency. On 2 May our first sixty-seven missionaries returned. LeAnn and the Hobbses hung big welcome home signs. Sister Hobbs placed hearts with each missionary’s name on them on the mission office door. At 3 p.m. the first missionaries arrived from the Nagoya mission. Only a short time later, the rest of the Nagoya missionaries showed up, followed by the Kobe missionaries. Amid hollering and high fives, the missionaries disembarked to hugs from Sister

Upon returning, almost all sets of missionaries found their places had not only been cleaned by the members but that the shelves had been stocked with food. The members couldn’t wait for them to return.

Albrecht and me, Elder and Sister Hobbs, and the other missionaries. people were committed for baptism. By the third week a total of After carrying their luggage in, we fed them. Just as it was starting to forty-eight were committed. get dark, the Fukuoka missionaries arrived. Again we embraced in On 26 May the remaining seventy-five evacuated missionar- hugs and exchanged high fives. The missionaries were so excited to ies, along with seventeen new missionaries from the MTC, arrived. be back together in Tokyo. Sister Albrecht and I were ecstatic. Everything we did the first time was repeated. These missionaries One set of sisters brought with them a DVD of the earthquake, were equally thrilled to be back, and it was equally thrilling to wel- tsunami, and the evacuation of our mission. We brought everyone come them back. Seeing the missionaries return was the most emo- together, spoke to them briefly, and then watched theDVD . Finally, at tional time of our mission. After they headed for their areas, we were 10:30, we all went to bed. exhausted. Being mission president has to be among the most drain- After breakfast I interviewed three missionaries who had just ing—yet rewarding—experiences in life. arrived from the MTC. At 9 a.m. we convened a meeting with the mis- To reunite the missionaries back into the Japan Tokyo Mission, sionaries. We all sang “O Give Me Back My Prophet Dear,” a song that we decided to take all 165 missionaries to give service where the has become special to our mission. Sister and Elder Hobbs and Sister destruction was the greatest. My group went to Tagajo, where we Albrecht spoke first, and then I spoke. I told them how we decided spent the day cleaning a Shinto Shrine (Jinja), which included tak- who would come back first, what had happened since they’d left, ing care of their sacred artifacts, cleaning the buildings and the yard, what they needed to do now to capitalize on the missionary spirit, and removing debris. Another group went to Higashi Matsushima, who they needed to thank, what they needed to do in case of another where they cleaned mud from homes, ditches, and other buildings. disaster, and how much we missed them. After closing the meeting, The work was hard but very rewarding. After completing our work, we gave each of them a Sister Albrecht trademark cookie, lots of hugs, we toured some of the most devastated areas. It was a reverent time, and sent them out to their areas. We then spent two hours training walking among the ruins. Where houses had stood and children had the three new missionaries, and they were also off. played, only banged-up cars, boats, and debris remained. When the missionaries were evacuated, we gave the apartment One of the great miracles that occurred while the missionaries keys to members so they could keep the apartments clean. Upon were gone was to see the members take responsibility for mission- returning, almost all sets of missionaries found their places had not ary work. Most stake presidents told me that the members now only been cleaned by the members but that the shelves had been realize what they should have been doing all along. Only time will stocked with food. The members couldn’t wait for them to return. tell how much the hearts of the Japanese people have been changed The first week the sixty-seven missionaries were back, twenty-one because of these traumatic events. Looking back on the experience, I am so grateful to have been here and to be part of a church that cares deeply about people. From the very first day, missionary and member safety and providing the best aid possible was the focus of church leaders. President Stevenson worked with the General Authorities relentlessly to do everything possible to ease the pain of those who suffered and to ensure that each missionary and member was safe and cared for.

18 MARRIOTT A painted papier-mâché mask with guises they may wear every day. It may evidence behind why these activities are a lively hodgepodge of primary colors and an sound simplistic, but the metaphor of show- therapeutic.” obvious grin sits quietly in a Marriott School ing one’s true self, without hiding behind But the class isn’t all fun and games, office, bearing an uncanny resemblance to a façade, can help clients, like delinquent Lundberg notes. the professor sitting only a few feet away. teenagers, to effectively express themselves The point is to explore the therapeutic For Professor Neil Lundberg the mask on without reverting to problematic behaviors value of an activity using proven frame- his shelf personifies the joy of teaching—not like substance abuse, self-abuse, or silence.” works like the self-efficacy theory, in which art or theater but therapeutic recreation To better serve clients such as these, stu- a client’s success in accomplishing one task, in the Recreation Management and Youth dents experience an array of activities first- like a ropes course, transfers to success in Leadership Department, recently added to hand, alternating throughout the semester another task, like confronting conflicts at the Marriott School. between the roles of therapist and client. home. It’s more science than recreation. In his upper-level class, program dynam- One day they might explore how horseback Even in their boundless classroom, stu- ics in therapeutic recreation, students riding helps agoraphobic clients overcome dents begin to see the effect their careers explore how recreational activities can fears of open spaces and social interaction, can have. Brooke Sessions, a senior from improve the lives of those struggling with ill- another day how adaptive skiing helps those Broomfield, Colorado, recalls her class trip nesses or disabilities—making masks is just with physical disabilities improve coordina- to the local climbing gym. one therapy option. tion or how painting helps those with eating “I saw my timid classmate climb to the “My students insisted,” Lundberg laughs, disorders address poor self-image. very top of the wall—something he never referring to the mask. “They wanted me Such hands-on activities often require thought he could do—and leave with to experience the gooey paper on my face. students to learn in a classroom without renewed confidence and a sense of accom- These masks can teach clients about the walls—a rare find in a business school. plishment,” Sessions says. “At that moment I realized that therapeutic recreation can be life changing.” “We can’t learn to be good therapists by staying In addition to helping stu- in the classroom. That means we do Tai Chi, dents understand their future clients, the RMYL class also offers run obstacle courses, kayak, rock climb, or ski students unparalleled preparation for upcoming internships and jobs. and identify the evidence behind why these They leave with a collection of programs, resources, and experiences activities are therapeutic.” under their belts. It’s this growth that Lundberg finds the most grati- “We can’t learn to be good therapists by fying part of the course. staying in the classroom,” says Katelyn Frost, “Students transform into professionals a recent RMYL graduate from Orem. “That in this class,” Lundberg says. “It builds their means we do Tai Chi, run obstacle courses, confidence as budding therapists and gives kayak, rock climb, or ski and identify the them a taste of their futures.”

fall 2011 19

Photography by Seth Smoot the wondersof concrete jungle. Street, MadisonAvenue, andtheheadquarters the continentandoverseas, everyyeara growing last bubblesheet,manyMarriottSchoolstu- group land in thecity that never sleeps. The stu- Not long after puttingtheirpencilsdownonthe Not longafter Mountain, leavingProvo inpursuitofinternships around Manhattan as they worked in and explored around Manhattanas theyworkedinandexplored and experience. best placestoworkandlearn. of hundredsmultinationalfirms—is oneofthe dents saygood-byetotheirfinalexamsandY dents have found that New York City—withWall We followed fourMarriottSchoolstudentsWe followed SummerAlthough theytraveltocitiesandfirmsacross in the City fall 2011 21 MBA Brad Moss, At Citigroup At one point in his interview with Citigroup, the tables were turned on Brad Moss. Although Moss was focused on selling himself, the interviewer asked if he had any questions. Moss responded, “What is one piece of advice you would give to someone like me, just starting out in my career?” “He said, ‘If there was only one thing I would do, it would be to start my career in New York City,’” recalls Moss, who landed the internship. “Being here has only reemphasized the importance of being in a place so full of phenomenal people and top businesses.” Moss spends his days as a summer associate in Citigroup’s HR and marketing department. “I’ve created an automated system to identify key personnel we need to focus on for leadership training,” he says. “I’ve also been mentored by and networked with excellent co-workers. I’ll join them when they get a drink or coffee after work, but I always order ginger ale or hot chocolate.” Outside the office, Moss and his family have been able to explore the city and participate in the Morningside Heights Ward, which meets in the same building as the Manhattan Temple. “Our best family outing was a walk in Riverside Park when our two kids discovered fireflies,” he says. “Our daughter lit up and pointed each one out as it would glow and fade. She stared at the bushes until a new one appeared, and she would call out, ‘Another one, Daddy!’” Moss has also found another unexpected benefit of the city—catching up on his reading during his thirty-five minute train ride. “It’s so easy to live without a car here. I read a lot on my Kindle during the commute,” he acknowledges. “I also love the energy in Manhattan—it’s enlivening, and I’ll miss it when I finish.”

Hometown Salt Lake City

Things to do before leaving NYC Attend a Broadway show, visit the Statue of Liberty, see a Yankees game, go to the Bronx Zoo, buy a NYC snow globe for my daughter

one thing I wish I’d packed A bed—the bed we’re sleeping on is terrible!

Sightings Anderson Cooper hailing a cab in Tribeca and 22 MARRIOTT Robin Williams at the movie theater fall 2011 23 Hometown San Diego

Things to do before leaving NYC Watch a polo match, visit Coney Island, get tickets to How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, eat at Grimaldi’s Pizza, order frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity

Sightings Dave Chappelle, a block from Times Square

What I’ll miss when I’m back at the Y Being in a city that is awake all hours gives me the free- dom to explore and constantly have new 24 MARRIOTT experiences Undergraduate Accounting Amy Hansen, At Grant Thornton Almost every day after her internship at Grant Thornton, Amy Hansen leaves her office on 3rd Avenue, jumps on the shuttle from Grand Central to Times Square, and heads uptown on the express train to 72nd Street. Her destination: Steps on Broadway for her ballet class. “The class is wonderful; it helps me relieve stress and also improves my flexibility, coordination, and strength,” says Hansen, who started dance lessons when she was four. “It’s physically demanding—I ran track and cross-country in high school, and ballet class is more challenging than a three-mile run.” It’d be easy to assume that Hansen is a little obsessed with dancing—she wasn’t in town even a week before she attended the New York City Ballet—but there are nearly fifty non-ballet items on her NYC bucket list. “The city’s a great fit for me culturally,” she says. “I have always wanted to begin my career here. I love the diverse experiences and the fast-paced environment filled with all sorts of people. There is something for everyone.” During the weekdays Hansen spends her internship preparing and reviewing tax returns, specifically those of high-net-worth individuals. “My internship has taught me the importance of constant communication,” she says. “Careful planning and good communication are necessary for the work to get done efficiently and accurately.” Whether rubbing shoulders with high-level executives or dancing alongside professional ballerinas, Hansen is consistently impressed by her surroundings. “There is so much talent within such a small radius,” she says. “From successful business professionals to street performers, the city is filled with the best of the best.”

fall 2011 25 Undergraduate Finance wilfried eyi, At Goldman Sachs Wilfried Eyi is always on the go. He hits the ground running as he leaves his Upper West Side apartment and doesn’t pause much in his daily marathon until he returns home after the sun sets. Interning at Goldman Sachs in the Investment Banking Division—with a picture-perfect view of the Statue of Liberty—is a good fit for Eyi, who says he has a deep passion for finance. “New York seemed like the best place to begin my career,” he says. “It attracts the brightest in high finance, and the mass of professionals here provide an excellent opportunity to build a strong foundation for my career.” Besides work, Eyi says the highlight of his stay in New York has been the melting pot of cultures and the strong singles ward. “It makes me try harder to be who I want to be instead of following the general consensus,” he says. “It’s really good to have such a strong BYU population here; it provides for both spiritual and social experiences, like going to the Hill Cumorah pageant.” Eyi, an undergraduate student from Africa, says his NY experience has been invaluable—from learning how to juggle his time in the demanding field of finance to being surprised how nice most New Yorkers are. “I would strongly advise Marriott School students to reach out to anyone they know in order to get an internship,” Eyi says. “Also, I would urge them not to be afraid of seeking internships in cities they may be less familiar with. The more we spread out, the more we’ll strengthen the school’s brand.”

26 MARRIOTT Hometown Libreville, Gabon

Things to do before leaving NYC Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Favorite restaurant Baba Ghanouge, for its Middle Eastern cuisine

What I’ll miss when I’m back at the Y The thrill of commuting in a big city

One thing i wish i’d packed My girlfriend, if I could have Hometown Shelley, Idaho

Things to do before leaving NYC Visit Coney Island and the Jersey beach

What I’ll miss when I’m back at the Y All the great lunch spots around my office

Church highlight Hearing Elder L. Tom Perry, Elder Quentin L. Cook, and Senator Harry Reid speak at a YSA conference MBA Jeff Dredge, At Sachs Insights Jeff Dredge, who grew up in an Idaho town of less than four thousand, had never stepped foot on New York or ever really wanted to work there in the first place. But then he had a change of heart. “My girlfriend got an internship in New Jersey,” he says, “so I started looking for one in the area.” Dredge ended up interning in finance and accounting at Sachs Insights, a market research firm in SoHo. “The company is expanding, and I suggest improvements and implement best practices and procedures,” he says. “I’m working on a model that will determine the bonus pool available to employees if targets are met. I’ve also developed a financial reporting package that is presented monthly to management and is used to review performance.” While learning how to navigate the subways and the importance of sleeping with earplugs, Dredge has also gained an appreciation for the Big Apple’s culture and cuisine. “I love the food! You name it, and you can find an amazing restaurant serving it in New York City. If you’re not careful, you could definitely put on a few pounds here, and it just might be worth it,” he says. In addition to his epicurean excursions, Dredge has also visited the Statue of Liberty, been to the top of the Empire State Building, and watched a Cirque du Soleil show at Radio City Music Hall—in addition to one other important experience. “I proposed to my girlfriend at sunset in Jersey City along the Hudson River with a great view of the Manhattan skyline. We will be getting married in October,” Dredge says. “It was one of the best decisions of my life to follow Hayley (my fiancée) toNY C.”

fall 2011 29 by Emily Smurthwaite by the numbers Home Work It’s an often thankless job with bad hours and few days off. Running a home and keeping a family going may not require a board of directors, but that doesn’t mean it’s not demanding. Here are some numbers that add up to a lot of work.

The hours a mom spends behind the wheel each 405 year. Between baseball practices and dance lessons, the average mom may feel a little like a cabbie. And with gas prices teetering on the edge of ridiculous, it’s no wonder moms are trying to 7,300 cut down on the nearly seventeen full days per The number of diaper year they’re driving kids around. changes a baby needs in his or her first Tip: Make friends with the other parents because two years. carpools are key, or try bundling your chauffeuring trips with other errands. You can also do When it comes to speed, men banking, emailing, have mastered the diaper change. and organizing On average they take one minute on your smart- and thirty-six seconds, whereas phone while wait- women spend just over two min- ing in the parking utes to complete the task. lot for your kids Tip: Although no one wants to drag out this experience, be sure to attend to your to finish their baby’s diaper rash. Don’t forget to use the time to play and talk with your little one. activities.

Source: happyworker.com Source: motherproof.com

30 MARRIOTT The hours per week a college-educated mother (22) and a college-educated father (10) spend caring for their children. 22These numbers include 10 things like playing catch, helping with homework, and bathing; they exclude things like eating dinner together and keeping an eye on kids as they play. The good news is that this number has risen dramatically since the mid-1990s.

Tip: This number also includes parental chauffeuring. Researchers warn that college- educated parents may be getting their children overinvolved in activities with hopes of helping them get into better universities. Be sure to keep extracurriculars at a man- ageable level.

Sources: nytimes.com and ucsdnews.ucsd.edu

The loads of laundry an average family needs washed annually—that’s 330 more than six loads per week. Eighty-eight percent of women do the household laundry, and they wash, dry, fluff, and fold about 5,300 articles of clothing each year. (There’s no stat available on how many facial tissues acci- dentally get washed.)

Tip: To minimize your energy bills, wash in cold water and run only large or extra-large loads. Also establish a weekly washing and iron- ing schedule to avoid a dirty clothes pileup. Don’t forget to clean out your closets and donate items you don’t need—the less you have the less you’ll launder.

Source: happyworker.com

The value of household tasks dads typically $20,415 perform a year. If you paid someone to do things like BBQing, tinkering on cars, plumbing, helping with homework, and moving furniture, your bills would skyrocket. And that doesn’t even include time washing the family cars or mediating sibling squabbles.

Tip: Take advantage of the “Honey Do” list but also know the hubby handyman’s limits. If fixing shingles takes him substantially longer than a professional patch-up would, then by all means hire out. (It’s also better to leave the trickier chores to experts instead of making the problems worse.)

Source: insure.com

fall 2011 31 At some point today you will type a phrase into Google’s search engine. A few seconds later, you’ll start scrolling through results. Chances are you’re going to click on one of the top links. And just like you, millions of people across the globe will be doing the same thing, entering other search terms into Google, Bing, or Yahoo! and clicking on whatever comes up first. That’s today’s digital world, where the search engine reigns supreme. Meanwhile, your business and every other business on the planet is clamoring for one of the coveted spots near the top of a results page. The solution—which you’ve undoubtedly heard of— is search engine optimization (SEO).

By Todd Hollingshead Illustrations by Phil Wrigglesworth

32 MARRIOTT

EO is the practice of improving Getting data is critical to assessing words on your site—is paramount. Today’s the visibility of your company’s how well your web site is accomplishing its recommended keyword density is about 3 to online presence so that when Joe purpose, whether it be branding or selling. 5 percent. Consumer does an online search, a Digital marketing and PR professional Pete Ammie Hickman knows all about getting link to your business shows up. In Codella recommends Website Grader to the right keywords. As general manager of other words, SEO is optimizing web sites so take a quick pulse of your site. Diamond Glass in Lindon, Utah, she refined search engines can more easily snag them. “If you’ve got a score in the high eighties her keywords several times before she went Achieving SEO greatness in 2011’s con- or nineties, you are in pretty good shape,” from the thirteenth to the first spot in a gested marketplace is no quick fix. Today’s says Codella, who runs Salt Lake City firm Google search. advanced search algorithms demand a much Codella Marketing. “If you’ve got a sixty, you “We adjusted until we got them right,” richer, holistic approach than simply placing need to make some improvements.” Hickman says. “The learning curve was gar- popular search terms on your site. Improvement starts with nailing down gantuan when I started, but now I’m to the “The game is constantly changing, and your keywords. point where I can do some of it on my own.” Google is trying to protect their search One simple technique is to create a results and protect their users,” says Marriott Step two: Find and place your keywords “places page” on Google, Bing, or Yahoo! School alum Michael New Jr., vice president Start by researching the most frequently Places pages are free listings that allow a of marketing for BCS Tech Ventures. “They searched keywords in your industry. business to list location, hours, web site want to make sure the information they’re Google’s AdWords keyword tool is a great links, and phone numbers on one landing displaying is truly the best result.” help here, providing data for how often a page. The good news is that the secrets of particular term is used while also suggesting In general, web site revamping should excellent SEO are out of the bag. And though other popular options. include consistent content and focused there isn’t a one-size-fits-all model when it “Try to target three to four areas on each messages that all relate back to your prod- comes to online marketing, the foundational page to use the optimal keywords,” New uct or service. BYU alum Glenn Hammer, SEO steps are a good place to start. says. who runs a background checking company What follows is an abbreviated three- There are a few areas where keywords in Colfax, California, says he’s surprised by phase trip through SEO basics. Think of it should always be used: how many sites fail to do this. as SEO 101, but remember, like anything in • The site’s title tag “People forget to actually communicate the digital world, what works today will cer- • Header tags what they are and what they sell,” he says. tainly evolve tomorrow. • Headlines “Search engines can see only what’s on the • Metadata tags page. They’re not like humans, who can • ALT tags make assumptions.” PHASE ONE • First one hundred words of the site According to experts like New, the SEO • URL or page file name PHASE two launching point should be an evaluation of your most visible online assets, which usu- For example, a Reno accounting firm Once your site is properly optimized, see ally begins with your company web site. looking for local business should have how many friends you can make in the digi- New says that every time someone asks “Reno, Nevada, Accountant” throughout its tal world. him about seo basics, he asks the same site—especially in places like headlines and OffsiteSE O is all about getting reputable, questions. “‘Do you have a web site? What’s the site’s first one hundred words. influential sites to link back to you with spe- its purpose? Is your web site fulfilling that Codella advises taking the keyword cific anchor text. The specific anchor text is purpose?’ Most customers have a web site, selection a bit further, recommending com- usually the keywords you’ve identified for but they don’t know how it’s doing.” panies generate a list of twenty-five words your site. that will guide all online posts, conversa- The SEO industry calls it link juice, and Step one: Take your web site’s pulse tions, and social media updates. it’s certainly the drink of the day. Determining web site performance requires “It counts as kind of a vote in Google’s analytics, but for most companies, it doesn’t Step three: Don’t oversaturate mind,” New says. “The power and author- require a lot of money. In many cases, free There is also a science to how many of those ity of the sites pointing back to you will be tools like Google Analytics tell you what keywords should appear on a site. Industry passed to your site.” kind of traffic you’re getting and what you experts say keeping an optimal keyword Says Hammer: “It’s like high school. If need to do better. density—the ratio of keywords to total the most popular three or four girls know

34 MARRIOTT you and think you’re great, then you’ve got it Partners. “When someone wants to learn robust, the better.” made. If nobody knows who you are and you about us, we control the introduction to Oh, and don’t forget about those social want to run for student body president, then our people and our firm.” media platforms. you’ve got a challenge.” Step three: Be actively conversant PHASE three Step one: Build links As suggested by Gochnour, a great way to A nice way to start building links is having grab people’s attention is to have a strong Among search engines, Google is the undis- good content. If your site really is well done, voice in the conversation around your busi- puted king. Yet despite being the world’s useful, and relevant, people will naturally ness or industry. most popular site, Google faces constant start linking back to it. Start to establish your voice online by competition from the web’s number two: But it is also acceptable to speed up the locating the forums and blogs that are rel- social media giant Facebook. process by building those back links using evant to your industry—then start talking. Facebook and its 750 million-plus users, SEO techniques. Some of the most standard There is immense value in getting keywords along with social media giants Twitter, link-building exercises include: and knowledge associated with your busi- LinkedIn, and YouTube, are forcing compa- • Getting listed in directories ness out there by way of guest blog posts, nies to take social media seriously. Google • Posting on forums forum discussions, or posts on industry itself has acknowledged as much with the • Producing and distributing news and association sites. recent launch of its own social network, press releases New says anything that takes time and Google+. • Blogging and guest blogging effort is seen as a positive thing in Google’s “Even Google is integrating social media • Using article directories rankings. into searches,” says BYU alum Carina Wytiaz, “Technically, what sets you apart in who runs social media marketing company Step two: Produce and push usable content algorithms today are the back links and Curve 8 Media. “All those social media plat- One of the major techniques to building the quantity and the quality of those links,” forms help your SEO. They’re just more back links is producing content for other New says. “The more content you can avenues to point people back to the site you site owners. One way to do this is article create manually to make your page more maintain as your brand.” marketing—writing short Wikipedia-style articles (250 to 500 words) relevant to a specific industry and then making them free for other sites to post. This can be done by submitting articles to web directories, such as ehow.com or ezinearticles.com. The key to article marketing is making sure you’ve got a resource box on each sub- mission. This box includes a short descrip- tion of the author, contact information, and a keyword-friendly link that leads people back to the author’s site. The more content online and the more articles on reputable sites pointing back to your company’s site, the higher your page will show up on a search. Or if these techniques are done extremely well, your company can own the entire first page of search results. Such is the case with Leavitt Partners, the advising firm of Michael Leavitt, former EPA administrator and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary. “Instead of having a site that serves as a library of information about our firm, we actively push information, news, and what we call ‘thought leadership,’” says NAC member Natalie Gochnour, vice president of policy and communications for Leavitt

fall 2011 35 Step one: Step two: Wytiaz, for one, is willing to venture an Establish a social media presence Reach out through social media educated guess. It’s called the game layer, Online marketing experts understand there Building a social media audience takes time and if expert forecasts come true, it may is often trepidation to step into the fast- and attention, but there are tricks to jump- change the entire SEO strategy. moving world of social media, so they rec- start the process. If resources allow, one way “It’s already starting now with social ommend establishing personal profiles on to quickly build a following is through pro- media apps like Foursquare, where people social media platforms first. As soon as you motions, New says. are interacting with companies through feel comfortable on a personal level, start a Hickman of Diamond Glass uses pro- games,” Wytiaz says. “And they’re doing it business social media profile. motions, such as autographed sports on the run on their cell phones. More and Set up business pages on LinkedIn and memorabilia giveaways, on a weekly basis. more people are using their smartphones Facebook with as much detail and as many The approach has increased traffic on her instead of their computers. If you want to be keywords as possible. Start a business Facebook site, which then translates into relevant going forward, make sure your site handle for Twitter and monitor the conver- traffic on her business site. is well represented in mobile form.” sation about your company and industry. At the very minimum, getting traffic to Being mobile-ready today is certainly Create an engaging blog filled with keyword- your site assures people are getting the right a way to stay on the forefront of online rich content. Always make sure your bio or information about your company. marketing, but if it seems a bit much right profile information includes—you guessed “When we started doing SEO I was sur- now, don’t worry—computers aren’t going it—keywords. prised by all of the incorrect information anywhere. “Then you need to start sharing content that was out there about our company,” For a solid SEO foundation, make sure that is very valuable to your constituencies,” Hickman says. “Wrong telephone numbers, the legs of the three-legged SEO stool are Codella says. “Start discussions around your wrong addresses, wrong web sites. One first firmly established—onsite optimiza- keywords, share pertinent information, and directory was sending people who found tion, offsite optimization (link building), let the keywords serve as a guide for your our name directly to our competitor’s site. and social media optimization. online conversations.” A big fat perk of doing SEO is becoming Build your SEO stool right, and before Wytiaz says at the very least you need to hands-on with everything about your com- you know it, you’ll be sitting pretty at the follow the conversations, even if you’re not pany on the web.” top of the search results page. trying to get your message and brand out there. Step three: Keep an eye to the future about the author “The worst thing that can happen is to Like other businesses trying to stay on the spend a lot of time, money, and energy on cutting edge of technology and market- Todd Hollingshead is a media relations man- SEO and, all of the sudden, somebody starts ing, Hickman has implemented just about ager for BYU’s University Communications. He having a conversation about your company every SEO approach. Unfortunately, there is graduated from BYU in 2004 with a BA in com- on blogs or on Twitter and that conversa- no way of knowing how the algorithms will munications and worked as a journalist for the tion is ranked higher than your company’s change in the future or what new SEO trend Salt Lake Tribune. He and his wife, Natalie, site,” Wytiaz says. will crop up. live in Orem with their two children.

Pay-per-click refers to the practice of paying for your which keywords are being targeted for the search. company’s site to come up at the top of a search results This process is done by bidding on keywords. Google page and then paying for each click on the sponsored AdWords, Yahoo! Search Marketing, and Microsoft (paid) link. In Google these ads appear at the top of a adCenter allow advertisers to compare the most com- search results page, with a shaded background. petitive search terms. These programs show users These ads can be uber effective or they can be a exactly what other people are bidding so they can get waste of money. In general, companies looking for a a good idea of how much they are going to need to bid quick influx of traffic to their sites carry out a pay- for a specific search term. per-click campaign for a period of time. Pay-per-click ads range from 5 cents to hundreds “Generally, pay-per-click and paid searches are of dollars per click. For example, a mom-and-pop bak- for companies selling products directly online,” ery shop might be paying 15 cents a click for the term Wytiaz says. “If you’re a bigger company and you “local bakery” while a law firm might pay $300 a click want some presence out there, then it’s valuable to for “structured settlements.” use paid searches just to make sure your brand is rep- “I recommend using pay-per-click when it is an resented in a prominent position.” ROI positive venture,” New says. “And it’s not hard to To do paid searches, one must first determine determine whether or not that’s going to be the case.” School News BYU CIBER Hosts High School Students Select 2011 Merrill J. “I truly feel I’m among the best of the Business Language Competition Bateman Award Winners best today,” said Michael J. Bateman, The Marriott School announced the who spoke on behalf of his father, Merrill winners of the 2011 Bateman Awards, J. Bateman. “You’re great examples of the only school-wide awards selected what it means to be leaders through the entirely by students. wonderful service you provide.” Amy Hansen, a junior accounting major In addition to the students and faculty from San Diego, and Mike Christensen, awards, given annually since 2002, the an MBA student from Lincoln, Nebraska, Outstanding Student Organization Award received Outstanding Student Awards. The was added this year. The Investment Investment Banking Club was recognized Banking Club was the first to receive this Seven teams of students from Utah high as the Outstanding Student Organization honor. schools put their marketing and Spanish winner, and William H. Baker, professor Baker, who was presented with the skills to the test as they competed in the of management communication, took Student Choice Award, has worked second High School Business Language home the Student Choice award. at BYU for more than forty-one years Competition. The event, sponsored The Merrill J. Bateman Awards are and has also helped students add value by the Whitmore Global Management given annually to students who serve and to their résumés by coaching several Center/BYU CIBER, the Center for lead within the school and community; winning graduate and undergraduate the Study of Europe, and Nu Skin the Student Choice Award is given to teams in national and international case Enterprises, was held at BYU’s Marriott faculty, staff, or administrators who dem- competitions. School on 29 April. onstrate outstanding efforts to enhance Hansen, the Outstanding Under- Bruce Money, an international busi- students’ experiences. graduate Student Award winner, has ness professor, says the competition offers high school students a unique chance to improve their language and business skills. “Knowing a second language in BYU Recognized for Social America is a rare and a very marketable commodity,” he says. “I believe that Entrepreneurship Innovation events like this turbocharge students’ careers with bilingualism. It’s a very methods to social issues. Some say its popularity powerful thing.” among college students comes from Generation Y’s The participating high schools orga- drive to not only attain professional success but also nized teams that included heritage and work out the world’s problems. nonheritage Spanish speakers. These “Social entrepreneurship is service you can make teams had four months to prepare a busi- a living on,” says TJ Thomander, co-president of ness plan marketing a Nu Skin product to Students for Social Entrepreneurship. “Students the Utah Hispanic community. Students want jobs after they graduate, but they also want to From left, TJ Thomander, Bill Drayton, Gregory Dees, and created their strategies and honed their make a difference. Through social entrepreneurship, Todd Manwaring presentations while learning business we can use our business skills to benefit more than terms in Spanish. Social entrepreneurship is cropping up on cam- the bottom line.” A panel of Spanish-speaking profes- puses everywhere. And BYU’s Students for Social The Students for Social Entrepreneurship program sionals, including Nu Skin managers and Entrepreneurship internship program is among the lets students earn credit while working with social BYU employees, judged the presenta- best in the field. enterprises such as Teach for America and Kiva. tions—given in Spanish—and awarded The internship, which pairs students with top BYU’s program also includes a lecture series. Bingham High School first place. Skyline social innovators, was granted the Award for College social entrepreneurship programs have High School and Orem High School came Innovation in Social Entrepreneurship Education quadrupled within recent years. In 2004 twenty in second and third place, respectively. from Ashoka U, an international organization that universities in the United States offered such a Other participants included Spanish supports college social entrepreneurship programs. course. Today there are nearly one hundred. For Fork High School, Timpview High School, Social entrepreneurship applies free-market more information visit studentsforsocent.org. Wasatch High School, and Lone Peak High School.

fall 2011 37 SchoolFish-Farming News Franchise Wins 2011 Social Venture Competition

production and distribution so Ghanaians can grow their own fish, sell them, and feed their families in a sustainable way. “Although fish farming is done around the world, there’s not much in Africa,” says King, a second-year MBA student from Kaysville, Utah. “It’s a fairly new industry, and Ghana has passed recent laws and initiatives because they want this to be their next big economic stimulant.” Fellow co-founder Andrew Steward, a second-year MBA student from South Jordan, Utah, and Janice Kirk, a first-year MBA student from Blanding, Utah, were essential to Tilapiana’s success. The organization plans to expand its fish-farming model to five countries in Africa within five years. The second place team, TeensACT, won $4,000 for their program that prepares teens for college. The program decreases the dropout rate of students by offering ACT prep courses, guest speakers, campus tours, and assistance in finding and applying for scholarships. “There’s a passion and a demand for the program, and that’s what helped According to finalists at the 2011 Social Venture Competition, solving a few me to know from square one that TeensACT was going to succeed,” says of the world’s problems is possible—using tutoring, technology, and tilapia. Tory Norman, a second-year MAcc student from Fairview, Utah. The competition, hosted by the Ballard Center for Economic Self-Reliance, In addition to Norman, TeensACT includes Dayan Bernal, founder and challenged students to create innovative solutions to social concerns and 2010 BYU graduate in Latin American studies from La Paz, Bolivia; Saeko honored finalists with more than $50,000. Logsdon, second-year MPA student from Hokkaido, Japan; Carolina Otero, Tilapiana, a program for fish-farming franchises in Ghana, placed first a sophomore studying sociology from Oceanside, California; and Katherine and received $10,000, plus an extra $3,000 for the audience-choice award. Wilkinson, a senior English teaching major from Hamilton, Virginia. The name Tilapiana comes from the tilapia fish, one of the most popular Stratus, a software program that connects businesses with nonprofits, varieties in fish farming. took third at the SVC and received $1,000. According to Justin King, co-founder of Tilapiana, Ghana has experi- The three finalists are also eligible for additional mentoring through the enced an 80 percent decline in marine stocks and currently produces less Ballard Center. The center awards each team an extra $12,000 upon meet- than half of the country’s fish demand. Tilapiana’s solution leverages local ing benchmarks throughout the year.

served many students as a student coun- the Presidency of the Seventy and was cil representative for the Marriott School president of the Provo Utah Temple and as the human relations officer for the from 2007 to 2010. Marriott School Rotary Club. Christensen, an MBA student major- BYU Alum Honored ing in OBHR, received the Outstanding as Romney Institute Graduate Student Award. Christensen Administrator of the Year has also served his peers by running The Romney Institute of Public the MBA Sherpa program, a peer-led Management honored the late John W. mentoring group that helps first-year Keys III as its 2011 Administrator of the Bill McDonald, retired deputy commissioner and MBA students secure internships. After Year. Keys was the former commissioner former Pacific Northwest director for the Bureau of Reclamation, relates some of the experiences he had graduation, Christensen will begin for the Department of Interior’s Bureau working with John Keys. working as an HR generalist with the of Reclamation, which manages, develops, Kellogg Company. and protects the water resources in the Keys was a native of Sheffield, Alabama. The Merrill J. Bateman Awards were western United States. He earned his BS in civil engineering created in 2002 in honor of Merrill J. Before his death in 2008, Keys exem- from Georgia Institute of Technology in Bateman, who served as president of plified dedication, vision, and integrity. 1964. After graduation, Keys began his BYU from 1996 to 2003 and as dean of According to the Administrator of the lifelong career working for the Bureau the BYU School of Management from Year selection committee, he exemplified of Reclamation. While working as a 1975 to 1979. He served as a member of the mission of the Romney Institute. hydraulic engineer, he earned his master’s

38 MARRIOTT degree in water resources engineering Wadsworth, associate professor of received first in both systems analysis from BYU in 1971. public management; and Eva Witesman, and design and database design, second Keys went on to serve as Northwest assistant professor of public management. in Java, and an honorable mention in School News director for twelve years before retiring The center also named Robert Jensen, Visual Studio application development. in Moab, Utah. After Keys’ three years of assistant professor of strategy and Up against more than sixty colleges retirement, President George W. Bush international business, a Peery Research and universities, with some schools invited him to be commissioner in 2001. Fellow and Nathan Furr, associate entering dozens of teams per division, In this role, Keys managed the water professor of entrepreneurship, a Peery BYU’s group seemed to be an under- systems for more than 31 million people Teaching Fellow. dog, but the students came away with in seventeen states. The faculty members were selected by almost more awards than hands to hold During the Administrator of the Year the Ballard Center based on nominations them. They attribute the success to their awards banquet, Bill McDonald, retired from department chairs and in-depth preparation in the junior core classes and deputy commissioner and former Pacific interviews. Once selected, the profes- their professors’ emphasis on solving Northwest director for the Bureau of sors utilize the center’s support to hire real-world cases under pressure. Reclamation, shared some of his experi- assistants, cover travel costs, and obtain The competition, which is part of the ences working with Keys. training needed to reach their goals. AITP’s National Collegiate Conference, “John regarded public service, as do also provides many networking opportu- I, as an honor and privilege that should STUDENT NEWS nities with industry thought leaders and never be tarnished by personal gain other talented students across the nation. or aggrandizement nor by cutting any ISys Students Rake in Record BYU has been entering the competition corners,” McDonald said. Wins at National Competition since 2003, and the longevity of success After a seventeen-hour test of endurance has posed a new problem for the ISys Ballard Center Names First and IT skills, six students championed a department—where to store the growing Research and Teaching Fellows national information systems com- number of trophies. petition hosted by the Association of Information Technology Professionals Video Service Wins Web in Orlando. Continuing their winning Marketing Competition tradition, BYU left with three first-place A class project turned into a winning finishes, three second-place finishes, one business for Marriott School student third-place finish, and two honorable Saul Howard as he transformed an mentions—taking home more awards assignment into $10,000 and first place than ever before. in the Crexendo Website Competition. “The students represented BYU well— As part of a special topics course, we had the most awards per entrant, and Howard, a master of information systems The buzz around social innovation and nearly each student won at least one first candidate from Denver, was required to entrepreneurship is growing as the place,” says Craig Lindstrom, associate design a web site for the Roku player, a Ballard Center welcomes seven faculty professor of information systems and digital streaming device for movies and members to its fellows program. advisor for the competition. “But it’s a television shows. Howard went above As research and teaching fellows, the marathon. Our students competed in four and beyond to develop a variety of online professors receive funding and other contests, about four hours each, went to platforms to connect Roku players with resources needed to incorporate prin- bed, and did another one the next morn- network computers and Android phones ciples of social problem solving within ing. By the end they were exhausted.” so users can view their movies on a variety their research and lesson plans. Students competed in five divisions— of media on a home network. His web site, Saul Howard, winner of the “Promoting research is one of our systems analysis and design, business rokuConnect.com, and corresponding Crexendo Website Competition, stands with judges from the Rollins major focuses,” says Gibb Dyer, aca- intelligence, database design, Visual services became the competition’s winner. Center and Crexendo. demic director of the Ballard Center. “We Studio application development, and enthusiastically support our colleagues Java. The senior ISys students included in producing top-tier articles that Eric Christensen from Provo; Nate coincide with the center’s goals. We’re Eborn from Boise, Idaho; and Tyler also excited to assist them as they teach Seader from Bloomington, Illinois. The students creative approaches to resolving junior ISys students included Nathan today’s social issues.” Cooper from Orem; James Kershaw The 2011 Ballard Research Fellows from Garland, Texas; and Arthur Weagel include Paul Godfrey, professor of from Albuquerque, New Mexico. strategic management; Todd Mitton, “The competition tests how much you associate professor of finance;Monte already know and how much you can Swain, professor of accounting; Lori learn on the spot,” says Weagel, who

fall 2011 39 “I’ve learned a lot about what it means Two Students Receive New Paul Montgomery, a senior from Villa Rica, to be an entrepreneur,” Howard says. “I Morris Marriott Scholarship Georgia, with an emphasis in entrepre- School News developed this product to distribute neurship, and Trevor Taylor, a junior it to customers, and now I’m learning from Baker City, Oregon, with an empha- about everything from web marketing to sis in finance. product development.” Creativity is one of Montgomery’s The second annual Crexendo Website strengths, and he enjoys bringing his Competition allowed BYU students from ideas to life, whether it is by planting a all majors to learn online marketing garden, starting a business, or cooking a and search engine optimization skills meal. Montgomery also volunteers regu- from experts while competing for prizes. Nathaniel Montgomery Trevor Taylor larly at the Utah Valley Intermountain Submissions more than tripled this year, Two BYU students were recently awarded Hospital, where he assists patients and with thirty-seven teams submitting web the Paul Morris Marriott Business their families. Among his favorite activi- sites built using Crexendo’s eCommerce Management Scholarship, honoring ties are spending time with his family and Content Management System. them for their ambition and commit- playing sports. Second place and $5,000 was awarded ment to service with yearlong, full-ride Taylor lives by N. Eldon Tanner’s to the team Golf Compete for their web scholarships. quote: “Service is the rent we pay for site golfcompete.com, and third place The scholarships are presented to living in this world of ours.” Taylor has and $1,500 went to team Bamboo Forever well-rounded Marriott School business served throughout his life in positions for cascadebedding.com. In addition, six management undergraduates who have such as program director for BYU’s teams received honorable mentions and demonstrated active involvement and Center for Service and Learning, creator $250 each. leadership in their communities from of an anonymous service group, and The nine finalist teams were judged by early ages. Recipients are given funds to caretaker within his family. Marriott School professors and members cover tuition and books in recognition of “We look for ambitious students of the Crexendo SEO and web develop- their efforts. who will go far in life because of their ment teams. The 2011 recipients are Nathaniel drive,” says Melinda Maughan, Marriott

2011 Eccles Scholars Announced

The Kay and Yvonne Whitmore Global Management Center recently named five first-yearMB A students as Eccles Scholars and awarded each recipient $10,000 to explore careers in global business. The honor encourages them to make the world their campus. “The award recognizes students who, immediately into their MBA program, begin thinking about their interest in international business,” says Lee Radebaugh, director of the Whitmore Global Management Center. “It helps them engage in international experiences in their first summer as graduate students.” From left: Benjamin Rich, Ammon Shumway, James Toone, Mason Chenn, This year’s Eccles Scholars include Mason Chenn from and Cecilia Yiu Hong Kong; Benjamin Rich from Kaysville, Utah; Ammon Shumway from Moab, Utah; James Toone from American organizations and executives and learn more about a Fork, Utah; and Cecilia Yiu from Hong Kong. Scholars career in international business. were selected based on international experience, foreign The Eccles Scholarship is funded by the George S. and language proficiency,GP A, GMAT score, career goals, and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation. To ensure that the Eccles’ faculty recommendations. philanthropic work continued beyond their lifetimes, the A team of six professors specializing in global foundation was formed in 1960 and supports a variety of management, including Radebaugh, interviewed each projects and programs throughout the Beehive state. The applicant and gave recommendations for the prestigious foundation is particularly committed to promoting quality award. The scholarship provides funds for tuition and education; it funds programs on nearly every college and travel, allowing scholars to meet with multinational university campus in Utah.

40 MARRIOTT School scholarship coordinator. “They are determined to be successful not only in their careers but also in giving back Marketing Professor School News to the community, making them great contributors wherever they go.” Rebecca Marriott Champion founded Joins Global Research the Paul Morris Marriott Business Management Scholarship in 2010 to honor her father, a Utah business- Center man who helped his brother establish It’s not every day a professor is what would become the Marriott asked to collaborate with a Fortune Corporation. Through sacrifice and 500 company, let alone report to its creativity, Marriott contributed to top executives. BYU assistant pro- creating a successful business during the fessor of marketing Sterling Bone Great Depression, building a legacy that will get a chance to do just that as Champion is sharing with students who he becomes a research faculty mem- show similar dedication. ber of Arizona State University’s Center for Services Leadership FACULTY NEWS (csl), bringing him into a community of thought leaders in the field of Professor Heaton Appointed services marketing. Faculty Director of Peery Founded in 1985 to bridge the gap between academic research and practi- Institute cal application, CSL brings together top researchers and service industry BYU finance practitioners to strategize on various projects while still maintaining their professor Hal current teaching posts. Bone is collaborating with CSL colleagues on a long- Heaton will term project for a global technology leader. fill the shoes The invitation-onlyCS L partnership features sixty professors from thirty- Ned Hill left five schools around the globe as well as professionals from more than fifty on this side of organizations, including the Mayo Clinic, Sony, and Marriott International. the globe after In order to join the CSL Faculty Network, faculty members must have an Hill departed exceptional academic reputation, expertise within the service sector, and a to serve as presi- firm commitment to advancing knowledge in the field. dent of the Romania Bucharest Mission. Bone says this unique opportunity will not only help bring the Marriott Dean Gary Cornia has appointed Heaton School to the forefront of the growing realm of services research but will also as faculty director of the H. Taylor Peery provide new opportunities for students and professors, including potential Institute of Financial Services. internships and cross-discipline research collaboration. Heaton holds a doctorate in finance and a master’s in economics from Stanford University as well as an MBA and bachelor’s degree in mathematics from prepare to break into the field of finance,” BYU. A popular professor, he teaches Heaton says. “I’m honored to work advanced corporate finance and capital alongside those who have made the markets. He is also an accomplished institute such an excellent organization author of many articles dealing with and will do my best to strengthen its optimal capital structure, cost of capital, influence among our students.” mergers/acquisitions, and capital markets. Sustained by an endowment from EMBA Alum and Faculty children of the late H. Taylor Peery, the Member Honored English from BYU in 1987 and earned her Peery Institute prepares students for BYU’s Executive MBA program recently Executive MBA five years later. For the dynamic careers in the financial services presented alumna Carine Clark with last twenty years Clark has led successful industry. The institute helps students its first-ever ExecutiveMBA Honored software companies and currently serves gain experience solving financial service Alumni Award and also recognized as senior vice president and chief market- business problems, develop relationships associate professor Burke Jackson ing officer at Symantec, the largest maker with industry leaders, and find internship with a special faculty award. The EMBA of security software for computers. and career opportunities. program honored these two at a ban- Clark’s support is not limited to those “The Peery Institute serves a terrific quet last March. within Symantec; she has also given back function for BYU students as they Clark earned her bachelor’s degree in to the BYU community. She is a member

fall 2011 41 of the marketing program advisory eventually be acquired by Microsoft for would say is, ‘Help me understand where board, a frequent campus presenter, and $8.5 billion. Or Craigslist’s free online the revenue responsibility and where the School News an advocate for many students. Clark classifieds can gut the profits of 100-year- cost responsibility are in your organiza- has advised dozens of students and has old newspaper companies. tion, and we’ve got to split those apart helped many BYU students secure intern- But, as the researchers point out, fundamentally,’” Bryce says. ships and jobs with Symantec. offering physical products for free is The researchers suggest that one team Like Clark, Jackson also helps Marriott also increasingly common. Among the manage the product as a cost center, School students succeed. Jackson was thirty-four companies they studied was making it the best it can be with the most given a special faculty award for his European discount airline Ryanair, which efficient costs. An entirely separate team thirty-five years of serving thousands offers some flights for free. Its market should have responsibility for generating of business students as well as being share now exceeds Air France’s. revenues, not just from the product’s an associate director and director of The authors share their observations price but from upselling or cross-selling the MBA program. One of Jackson’s key of how to compete against free products— customers to other products, charging contributions was his pioneering role to garnered from an analysis of businesses third parties to advertise to them, or bun- implement the Executive MBA program in twenty-six different markets during the dling the free product with paid offerings. in 1983, which has provided more than last five years—in the June 2011 issue of “Free competitors are typically new 1,450 students with the opportunity to Harvard Business Review. businesses that have been built from the earn their MBA while working full-time. “Some of the companies that got outset on a different business model,” “It was an experiment that we thought this wrong panicked and offered a free Bryce says. “A traditional business, built we’d try for a few years and see if we’d product too fast, instead of waiting for on the prospect of a product that gets exhaust the local community of demand the new competitor to self-destruct or revenue directly through price, often has for the program,” Jackson says. “I’m not for the structure of the market to play a very difficult time changing over.” sure we could have predicted the success out a little more,” says David Bryce, lead and longevity that has occurred since author on the piece. His co-authors are Monte Swain Appointed that first class.” Jeffrey H. Dyer and Nile W. Hatch—all Associate MBA Director three are Marriott School faculty. Dean Gary BYU Biz Profs’ Harvard Biz But even more companies erred by C. Cornia Review Article: How to Beat Free doing nothing, he says. So how do you appointed know what to do? Based on the outcomes accounting of the battles they followed, the research- professor ers established a formula. Monte Swain to If the new competitor is stealing less serve as the new than 5 percent of your customers a year associate direc- and is growing less than 40 percent a year, tor of the MBA don’t worry. It will probably flame out. program. Swain replaces associate direc- When the opposite is occurring, your tor Bill Sawaya as he retires after more very existence is threatened. That’s what than twenty years of MBA leadership. In Craigslist did to the newspaper classified the three-year appointment, Swain will business in all of the top fiftyU.S. metro- assume responsibility for streamlining politan areas except one—Salt Lake City. the MBA and EMBA curricula as well as Deseret Media Company launched its directing the Executive MBA program, a own free classified site on ksl.com. The role previously held by Tad Brinkerhoff. researchers hail that and the company’s Brinkerhoff is transitioning into the other moves to change its business model, newly created role as director of the Professor David Bryce published an article in Harvard Business What do you do when your company is pointing out that last year its print and Cardon International Sponsorship pro- Review about how established comfortably selling a product and then online audience grew at the industry’s gram. Brinkerhoff’s appointment to this companies should respond when suddenly a competitor offers a similar second-fastest rate and that online new position underscores the importance new competitors emerge offering one for free? Well, if you’re like two- “profits exceed those of the traditional the school is placing on international products for free, like Skpe. thirds of the companies in a new study, businesses, including the newspaper.” students. you’ll get it wrong. The article gives advice for how to After Swain earned his bachelor’s and Three BYU business professors react to situations between those two master’s degrees in accountancy from researched this scenario, increasingly extremes and shares guidance about how BYU, he went on to earn a PhD from familiar in the digital age. A one-time established firms can shake up their man- Michigan State University. In addition to start-up Skype can begin offering free agement structures to win these battles. teaching graduate students for more than voice and video calls over the internet, “If a company that was dealing with a twenty years, Swain has also served on sending established phone and video- free-product competitor called me and the EMBA operating committee for the conferencing companies scrambling, and asked how to respond, the first thing I last several years.

42 MARRIOTT Alumni News Changing Lives fly his grandparents to the United States. of good people through Education Together they explored Utah and took from all over the Hiking Y Mountain has been a tradition a road trip across the country before world. I felt like for BYU students and visitors for more Adhikari started his job in Manhattan. I found a new than one hundred years, and it was a Adhikari says it was the least he could do home here.” tradition that Marriott School graduate to repay them for the positive influence The opportu- Rashik Adhikari was happy to share they have been in his life. nities Adhikari with his grandparents on their first trip “My grandparents laid the foundation gained have outside of their native Nepal. for my entire family to go to school,” inspired him “I didn’t think they would do it, but Adhikari says. “They received no formal to give back to his home community. they really wanted to,” Adhikari says. education, but they knew its value and His father is the principal of a school “My grandfather is almost eighty and my pushed me to learn. It’s just wonderful in Nepal that does not have enough grandmother is seventy-five, but they that I could be with them to share the resources to teach the 1,500 students in made it all the way up.” best moments of my life. ” the village. To keep the school running, Determination is a quality Adhikari Drawn to BYU because of its low cost teachers often give up a significant admires in his grandparents, and he says and highly ranked programs, Adhikari portion of their salaries to pay for basic that without them he would not be a moved to Provo from the rural village in supplies such as books, chalk, and eras- BYU graduate. After earning a bachelor’s Nepal where he grew up. ers. The school also lacks a library, and degree in accountancy last April, Adhikari “Once I got here the environment Adhikari wants to change that. used his signing bonus from Citigroup to struck me,” he says. “I got to know a lot “The sheer fact that the school does New Language, New Job—No Problem Kristen Hill knows that an oppor- In her new position, Hill is able to see a different side of the business and tunity missed may never return, is more involved with the everyday decisions that shape the company. She so she takes them when she can. is learning and growing with help from her French co-workers and provides This year she had the chance to them with insights she learned while working for Disney in Los Angeles. change not only her job but also Transportation strikes, bureaucratic red tape, and language difficulties her residency as she took a posi- have been obstacles for Hill as she has adjusted, but she says she enjoys tion in Paris as a senior financial being immersed in the lifestyle of the French, both in her free time and analyst for Disneyland Paris corpo- at work. rate business planning group. As one of the only Americans in her office, Hill has learned that the Hill, who graduated from BYU French receive more vacation time than she had in the United States and with a bachelor’s degree in busi- also have a different rhythm in the workplace. ness management in 2007, says “There’s just a different mentality surrounding work,” Hill says. “They’re although she passes the Bastille hard workers, but they try to balance work and other interests. In the Monument every day on her way United States work can be intense and competitive, while in France there’s to work, there is more to life in more of a feeling of camaraderie. For an American coming from a corporate Paris than croissants and tourist destinations. setting, this was a nice change of pace.” “When you tell people you live in Paris, they picture you sitting under the In addition to growing professionally, Hill says she will take every occasion Eiffel Tower eating a baguette,” she says. “I try to separate myself from the to experience life in another culture. Her time in France will be guided by an dream of Paris to actually living and working here.” Arabian proverb her father shared with her: “Four things come not back: the Hill had been working for three years in the Walt Disney Company’s spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity.” corporate finance group in Los Angeles when she felt she needed a change. With that in mind, Hill has already learned how to make macaroons and She had been itching to go abroad and came across the perfect position to has traveled to Amsterdam and Rome. Her next goal is to join a crew team work for Disney in France. As a senior financial analyst for Disneyland Paris’ and row on the Seine River. Her family is also making the most of her posi- corporate business planning group, she prepares financial forecasts for tion on the other side of the globe: her parents and some of her siblings Disney’s executive teams in France and in the United States. will join her in Paris for Christmas.

fall 2011 43 not have a library is hard to digest,” Adhikari says. Members Raise Money His goal is to raise at least $6,000 to establish the library. He says his efforts will start out small, but he hopes that, for Deserving Students like his grandparents, he can make a difference in someone’s life by promoting education. Adhikari began working for Citigroup as an investment banking analyst in July. For information about the school Adhikari is supporting, visit someshwarhss.edu.np.

Loving Alaska from 30,000 Feet One of the perks of flying a Boeing 737 in Alaska for a living? An incredible office view of the majestic state. Jarad Carter fell in love with Alaska years ago as a summer tour bus driver and now enjoys the grand landscape from thirty thousand feet as a cargo pilot for Northern Air Cargo in Anchorage. Carter began working toward earning a private pilot’s license while studying finance at BYU. When he graduated with Scholarship recipient Kennedy Bailey a bachelor’s degree in 2001, he had the Growing moral and ethical leadership around the world starts with education. That’s the idea behind the choice: fly or work in management. $430,500 in scholarship money that the Management Society raised last year for deserving students who are He chose management, taking a posi- pursuing higher education. Many chapters have funds exclusively for scholarships, and every year members tion with Holland America to supervise gather at galas, golf tournaments, and awards dinners to contribute to the success of students in their area. about eighty bus drivers and guides during Salt Lake City Chapter president Marc Jewell says the need for scholarships is growing, and chapter mem- the summer. There he oversaw employee bers can be a huge help to students who want to attend a university. This year the chapter gave out fifty-five training and coordinated the movement scholarships to high school seniors in Salt Lake and Davis Counties. of up to three thousand tourists. “Because it’s been a tough economy, we’ve increased our giving,” he says. “If you had the chance to read Although he enjoyed his work, Carter some of these applications, you would want to give more too.” determined he would fulfill his dream of The Salt Lake City Chapter raises much of its scholarship funds at its annual Distinguished Utahn Event, becoming a full-time pilot. where it honors an exceptional member of the community. Jewell says the event allows the chapter to pay “The aviation bug bit me, so I went tribute to those who have made a difference in the community while raising money for students. out and changed my career, and it’s been During the past three years, the Salt Lake City Chapter has been able to give almost $200,000 in scholar- great,” he says. ship money to high school seniors who are furthering their education. While earning his master’s degree in avi- Peter Harris, president of the Dallas Chapter of the Management Society, says one of the chapter’s main ation science from Everglades University, objectives is to promote education by raising scholarship money. He guarantees members that 100 percent of Carter worked for Air Wisconsin Airlines. their donations will go directly to the scholarship fund. He flew US Airways Express passen- This May the Dallas and Fort Worth Chapters gave twenty-five scholarships of $1,500 each. Twenty-four gers in the Canadair Regional Jet for scholarships went to students from the Dallas and Fort Worth areas, and one went to a student chosen by three and a half years before he had an their sister chapter in Monterrey, Mexico. opportunity to return to Alaska and fly for One of the most highly attended Management Society events this year was the Washington, D.C., Northern Air Cargo. Chapter’s twenty-seventh annual gala dinner, where the chapter awarded President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second As a cargo pilot, Carter flies to the Counselor in the First Presidency of the LDS Church, with its Distinguished Public Service Award. Eight hun- bush communities of Alaska—areas with dred and fifty people attended and helped the chapter raise more than $25,000 for scholarships. no access to roads. The scholarships that chapters give out are gratefully received by hundreds of college students each Northern Air Cargo takes freight to year. Clearfield High School graduate Whitney Porter received a scholarship this year from the Salt Lake City about twelve bush villages, providing a Chapter and says it came just as she was wondering how she would pay for her first year atBYU . service that is essential to the communi- “I had been working so hard, and I was so grateful to receive this,” she says. “The generosity of the donors is ties’ survival. In the summer months, amazing; I can now pay for almost a whole year at BYU.” some villages can receive cargo by barge over the Bering Sea or Arctic Ocean, but their only constant connection to goods

44 MARRIOTT is by plane. Northern Air Cargo is one of management society of the group, organized an event where the main cargo haulers for the bush com- attendees brainstormed solutions to munities and provides them with mail, Chapters Take on problems that entrepreneurs within the Alumni News food, and manufactured goods. Entrepreneurship chapter were experiencing. The brain- Carter says one of the most rewarding Entrepreneurial fever is spreading storming sessions gave participants fresh elements of his job is the warm reception throughout the country, and Management ideas and the chance to network with he gets every time he lands a plane. Society chapters are showing members like-minded individuals. “When we’re off-loading a plane, some that starting a business is not only a “Entrepreneurship is exciting. It’s people will show up just waiting for the viable career path but also extremely creating something new, and the energy things they have ordered,” Carter says. rewarding when approached with the created when people talk about potential “They’re really excited, and that’s fun right training. makes for a rich network,” Hass says. to see.” Chapters across the country are hold- “We want to facilitate that network.” Although Carter does not work directly ing forums and lectures by successful with business, he says his experience at entrepreneurs to provide insight into Class Notes the Marriott School prepared him for his the process of establishing and growing later education as well as his career. a business. By facilitating access to 1971 “I apply everything that I learned at resources and networks, chapters are A. Kent James gradu- BYU,” he says. “It’s not the specific things helping new businesses thrive. ated from BYU with that are related to finance but the skills “Right now there is an incredible entre- a BS in accountancy that I acquired. Learning how to learn preneurial feel in the business world,” in 1971. He has since was one of the most important things.” says Jeff Moss, chair of the Utah Valley become a consultant at BYU also provided him with the oppor- Chapter’s Entrepreneurial Initiative. “It’s James and Associates, tunity to meet his wife, Jewelene. They like an infection. Everyone is getting which is ranked as one of Hawaii’s top and their three-year-old son, Cai, enjoy involved, and I’ve seen some amazing CPA firms. The firm has clients from hiking in the mountains and taking in the companies come from it.” around the world and provides them beautiful scenery. Moss, who has been involved with with services such as tax preparation, Because he loves the outdoors, Carter start-ups for more than fifteen years, bookkeeping, and audits. James is also decided to serve as a member of the says many members who are out of president of Alii Linen Company, a com- Anchorage Parks and Recreation Trail work are turning to building their own mercial laundry service. Watch program, where he reports any haz- businesses. The chapter’s initiative taps James enjoys spending time with his ardous conditions or crime along Alaska’s into the entrepreneurial groups that family, which includes his wife, Teri; hundreds of miles of trails. already exist in Utah and tells members seven sons; seven daughters-in-law; Carter notes that Alaska is not for about their events. Their web site, www and twenty-one grandchildren. One of everyone but says he and his family .ecoutah.com, aggregates information James’s favorite hobbies is playing golf, wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. and spreads the word about all of the and he can often be found on the course “It’s a very unique place,” he says. “It’s resources needed from start-up to late- with his sons. James and his wife reside big, it’s beautiful, it’s rugged, and it’s still stage ventures. in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii. fresh. Some come up here and hate it; The Management Society also gives some come up here and fall in love with successful entrepreneurs the chance to 1978 it. My family and I fell in love.” share what they have learned with other Mark Dickson has members. One event the Oklahoma been principal of a Chapter recently held featured two sole practitioner CPA members of the chapter who started suc- firm since 2004, where cessful companies. Chris Lee, director of he provides tax and programs for the chapter, says the insight consulting services to they shared helped members see that small businesses and to individuals. He starting a business is within their reach. is also director of Capital Management “You don’t need to have the greatest, Group LLC, which manages about $170 most creative idea in the world to be million for individuals and families. an entrepreneur; you just need to find a Dickson graduated from BYU with a niche you are comfortable in and provide BS in accountancy in 1978. He remains the best service out there,” Lee says. involved with BYU as a member of the The Seattle Entrepreneurship Group Management Society International within the Seattle Chapter is taking Steering Committee. He is also a member advantage of the minds within its chapter of the National Presidential Advisory to help bolster those who are starting Board for Utah Valley University and a their own businesses. Eric Hass, founder former member of the BYU Alumni Board.

fall 2011 45 Dickson lives in McLean, Virginia, president of fund-raising for the BYU positions of increasing with his wife, Melody. They have seven Management Society Salt Lake Chapter. responsibility in areas Alumni News children and three grandchildren. Young loves to spend time with his such as purchasing, family, which includes his wife, Dawnene; audit and finance, and 1981 their five children; and one granddaugh- financial systems. In Kim R. Judd earned his ter. Together they travel, explore history, 2006 he was promoted undergraduate degree and spend time outdoors. The family to director of Walt Disney Parks and from BYU in finance in resides in Farmington, Utah. Resorts business operations in the United 1981. Later he attended States. As director he is responsible for Golden Gate University 1989 various domestic functions, including in San Francisco, Melissa Friesen accounting, auditing, banking, ticketing, earning his MBA in 1987. Currently he is earned a BS in retailing receiving, and managing assets. principal manager of Patriot Enterprises and business manage- McCammon is also active in his com- in the greater Seattle area. ment from the Marriott munity, where he serves as a member Before working with Patriot Enterprises, School in 1989 and of the Parks and Recreations Citizens Judd was involved with different roles in went on to earn an Advisory Board for the Jurupa Community many companies. From vice president of MBA from Arizona State University. Services District. operations at C.R. England Inc. to general Friesen now lives in Chandler, Arizona, McCammon, a resident of Eastvale, manager at Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, where she is a channel business manager California, is an avid skier and enjoys Judd has been a key contributor to more for Roche Diagnostics, a health care traveling and camping with his wife, Terri, than six companies. organization that develops products and and their three children. Judd currently lives in Kent, services to diagnose, prevent, and treat Washington, and is a single father of two diseases. As channel business manager, 1997 children. Judd is an avid runner and has Friesen manages business-to-business In 2010 Kory Wayne completed more than twenty marathons interactions and promotes the Accu- Jensen became and many triathlons, including an Iron Chek brand of diabetes care products. vice president of IT Man. He also enjoys downhill skiing, Friesen is an avid tennis player and operations for AAA in snowshoeing, hiking, and traveling. enjoys playing in several community Northern California, leagues. For the past ten years she has Nevada, and Utah. 1985 also been a mentor for Marriott School Jensen has worked with AAA in various Brigham C. Young students. management roles since 2004. Currently owns the wedding Jensen works closely with his five senior planning web sites 1990 IT staff members and more than 350 SaltLakeBride.com and Stan Prigmore earned employees to encourage the depart- WeddingSoEasy.com. a BS in finance from ment’s strategic vision. Young purchased the Marriott School in Jensen earned his BS in international SaltLakeBride.com in 2003 and expanded 1990. He then went on finance from the Marriott School in 1997. it into a nationwide business with to earn an MBA from Before working for AAA, Jensen moved WeddingSoEasy.com in 2007. In addition the University of San to California and worked for Lucent to overseeing the web sites, he publishes Diego in 1996. He currently works at Technologies, North American Mortgage a magazine, providing advertising for Lusardi Construction Co., a commercial Co., Bank of America, Digital Island, and local and national wedding vendors. general contractor, where he was recently Cable & Wireless. Young graduated from BYU in 1985 promoted to CFO. Jensen and his wife, Starr, live in with a BS in business management. He Before working for Lusardi, Prigmore Surprise, Arizona, and have three children— went to work as a manufacturer’s repre- worked as a finance manager at Ligand two boys and one girl. Jensen also serves sentative for companies in Washington, Pharmaceuticals, as a financial analyst youth in the community through the Boy Kentucky, and Utah before buying for Blockbuster Entertainment, and as a Scouts of America. SaltLakeBride.com. financial analyst for Overland Data Inc. Outside of work, Young enjoys volun- Prigmore lives in Escondido, 2001 teering in his community and at church. California, with his wife, Natalie, and Travis Kimball is a He has served in the local Boy Scouts of their six children. partner and market- America program, as a coach for his chil- ing director of Quick dren’s sports teams, and as a docent at 1991 Quack Car Wash, a This Is the Place Heritage Park with his After graduating from the Marriott School company he, a group wife. He has also served on the boards in 1991 with a BS in business manage- of investors, and entre- and been an active member of various ment, Michael McCammon joined the preneurs started. In six years the company trade organizations. He is currently vice Walt Disney Company. There he has held has grown from one car wash to fifteen

46 MARRIOTT Grad Sustains Hospital in Alumni News Missouri Tornado Aftermath

With an accomplished career in the health care industry, Gary Pulsipher found himself where no one wants to be: in the middle of a natural disaster. Pulsipher, a 1983 MPA graduate, is president and CEO of St. John’s Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. When a massive EF5 tornado swept through town on 22 May 2011, Pulsipher’s hospital was in the middle of the destruction path. Pulsipher’s youngest son had returned from serving a mission two days earlier, and their entire family was in town to celebrate. They heard the storm warnings but didn’t think much of something so ubiquitous in the Midwest. Pulsipher received a call that the hospital had been hit and drove over to make a routine check. He didn’t realize the magnitude of the storm until he entered the destruction path just blocks from his house. From there it became difficult to maneuver through the traffic and debris. of dollars in damage. Winds from the tornado were so “I saw the hospital had been devastated and couldn’t strong that hospital debris were found 70 miles away. imagine we didn’t lose a lot of staff and patients,” Pulsipher Less than a week after the tornado hit, St. John’s was said. “It was like a bomb went off.” operating as a field hospital across the street. After a stur- In forty-five seconds, two hundred mile per hour winds dier temporary steel facility is ready in the coming months, had decimated St. John’s. Hospital staff, many injured the hospital will break ground in January 2012 to rebuild. themselves, immediately started putting into practice In the middle of everything is Pulsipher, whose job is plans from their frequent disaster drills. When Pulsipher markedly different now than it was just a few months ago. arrived, relief efforts were already underway. He got to Instead of walking through the halls of a large hospital, work, helping carry patients out of the nine-story building he stoops as he walks through the tent labyrinth in the and moving supplies to other treatment areas. field hospital. Instead of focusing on budget and customer “It was one of those nights where you went to find satisfaction scores, Pulsipher works on rebuilding and where you could help the most,” he says. “I just jumped in, preserving jobs for his employees. and it was exhilarating.” The difficult situation has brought out the best in this Even with communications completely down, all 183 close-knit community and has proved a growing experi- patients were evacuated and dispersed to other area ence for all involved. hospitals within ninety minutes. Five patients who were “I’ve been so impressed by the community’s resolve,” already in critical condition died in the disaster, but all Pulsipher says. “We had a number of co-workers who lost hospital staff stayed safe with only minor injuries. everything, but they’ve accepted it and are ready to make The building itself is a total loss, estimated at millions the most of it and move on.”

located in three states. It is now recog- their five children. He enjoys coaching his Carolina in 2006 and nized as one of the top fifty car washes in children in sports. Kimball recently trav- recently completed the the country and has plans for expansion. eled to Israel with his parents and siblings. Columbia Graduate Before joining Quick Quack Car Wash, School of Journalism’s Kimball worked in marketing and prod- 2002 publishing program. uct management for companies such as Reid Neilson earned his undergradu- Currently Neilson is Omniture, Infopia, and Big Planet. He ate degree in international relations managing director of the Church History earned his BA in communications stud- from BYU in 1996. He returned to BYU Department for The Church of Jesus ies in 1996 and his MBA in 2001, both to earn a master’s degree in American Christ of Latter-day Saints. from BYU. History in 2001 and his MBA in 2002. Neilson has also authored several Kimball lives in Rancho Cordova, He also earned his PhD in religious books, including Exhibiting Mormonism: California, with his wife, Ginnie, and studies from the University of North The Latter-day Saints and the 1893 Chicago

fall 2011 47 Alumni News 48

MARRIOTT CFO Activities inJapan,1901–1921.He hasalso America and helps with charitable events andhelpswithcharitableevents America World’s Fair Missionary andEarlyMormon children’s youthleaguesportsteams.children’s of management atChapmanUniversityof management 2005 2003 of papers onreligion, history,of papers andbusi- collaboration, cooperation, andcompeti- collaboration, cooperation, Oklahoma, withhiswife,Amy,Oklahoma, andtheir Christiansen enjoys beinginvolvedin enjoys Christiansen Christiansen is responsible Christiansen for the profits Illinois atUrbana–Champaign in2009. administration from theUniversity of a dozen academic books. academic a dozen Neilson has and lossesofthecompanyalsohelps and holdstheWang-Fradkin Assistant Morgan andConocoPhillips,heisnow sports and has been acoachforhislocalsports andhasbeen steer He thecompany’sgrowth. isalso He also serves with the Boy ScoutsofHe withtheBoy alsoserves recently cast in an upcoming film starring castinanupcomingfilmstarring recently He anassistantprofessor iscurrently Ben AffleckandBen Rachel McAdams. management, whichincludes thestudyof management, most prestigious facultyawards. oneoftheuniversity’sProfessorship, ness at various academic conferences. ness atvariousacademic marketing strategies forthecompany. written manyessays,written bookchapters, and part ofthemarketing team anddevelops three children. Hethree children. andhisfamilywere tion. His researchsolutionsfor provides three children andliveinBountiful,Utah.three children in hiscommunity. introductions andhaspresented dozens high schoolfootballteam andforhis been editorbeen orco-editor ofmore than A former A former Christiansen livesinBartlesville,Christiansen Neilson andhiswife,Shelly, have McCarter’s research interest isconflict ofTate As Tire &Service. Boys BYU footballplayer, After workingfor BS In 2003Brian Christiansen gradu- a PhDinbusiness ated from the Marriott ated from theMarriott McCarter earneda W.Matthew from theMarriott School in2005and School witha business management. inmanagement BS in in CFO JP

, Arlington, Virginia. Accountability Office,Robinsonassists Washington, on corporate and culture, innovation, operation centersoperation intheUnited States dealing with policy issuessuchaseduca- dealing withpolicy 2006 2008 deploy new logistics new deploy California. Congress in its oversight duties.Congress initsoversight She Center, anonprofit group thatassists Arts Therapeutic County Children’s Office, where she is currently ananalyst. sheiscurrently where Office, an analyst forAppleInc., heruns where at theNational BuildingMuseum in and the2010Census. Robinson livesin at-risk anddisabledyouth.McCarter and and amaster’s degree ininformation and Europe. He is also on the university and Europe. He isalsoontheuniversity and fostering to voluntarycooperation serves on the general board of the Orange board oftheOrange onthegeneral serves inter grids,encouraging shared energy systems management. sustain environmental andorganiza- sustain environmental recruiting team andgivespresentations He School graduated from theMarriott national funding for green initiatives,national fundingforgreen Ben Bernardsisabusinesssystems various scholarlyjournals. projects thatbridgethegapbetween presentation skills. presentation three children andliveinElkGrove,three children tion, defense, government efficiency, government tion, defense, to to tional resources. His workispublishedin in 2008.After completinganinternship in Anaheim,California. issues suchasavoiding blackouts with in 2006witha ing at the Government Accountabilitying attheGovernment his wife, Miriam, havehis wife,Miriam, three sonsandlive has worked onthree missionteams, business and As partoftheGovernment As MBA In additionto hiswork,McCarter Bernards andhiswife,Megan,Bernards have Before working at Apple, Bernards was Before workingatApple,Bernards IT systems analystforExxonMobil. and information systems students andinformationsystems students D.C. IT BS . Currently he is helping heishelping . Currently , Robinson beganwork ininformationsystems Crystal Robinson graduated from with a to earnan the Marriott School the Marriott in 2006 and went onin 2006andwent IT systems inApple’s BS ineconomics MPA from BYU

- - York morningruns her Cityandenjoys MBA of Zylun Staffing,of Zylun anoffshore staffing 2010 decided to givebackto thecommunityby children and live in American Fork, andliveinAmerican children Utah. Tomco managedan$800million port Tomco at Canyon View wasapartner The company employs more thanthreeThe companyemploys an internet marketing andwebdesign and thePhilippines. and outsourcing firmstarted in2010. Meyer Ventures inNew York City. sales andonlinemarketing second rotation in talent management. second rotation intalent fortheglobaltransaction servicesseries six start-up companies. firm focusedonincreasing company global reach. rotation to take advantageofCitigroup’s Partners, aprivate company. investment mentoring high-achieving low-income, Human Resources Management AssociateHuman Resources Management nieces andnephews. working for Ocean Road Advisorsandworking forOcean program, shecreated where and part ofthe program andislookingforward to her launched ahumanresources education focus onhumanresources in2010. folio inpublicandprivate equitieswhile through Central Parkthrough Central andvisitingher She ishopingto forathird gooverseas tion Tomco hasplayed afoundingrole in high schoolstudents. ShelivesinNew hundred individualsintheUnited States business. Andersen now worksforCitigroup as now Andersen Andersen is currently part of Citigroup’s partofCitigroup’s iscurrently Andersen Currently TomcoCurrently and isfounder In additionto career, her Andersen Tomco andhiswife,Jillian, have four Tomco isalsodirector Media, ofOxzen Before co-founding Zylun Staffing,Before co-foundingZylun degree fiveyearslater. Sincegradua- HR Management Associate Management Andersen graduated 2003. He returned to BYU earned an earned a In 2004 Chloe accountancy from the accountancy Marriott Schoolin Marriott returned to Brigham Tomco from in geography. She andearnedhis BYU BS ROI witha MBA in in BYU . witha and BS

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