Sales Workshop Taps Business Badger Network to Give Students a Head Start P. 6

WISCONSIN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS UPDATESPRING 2018

Unique Approach Sets Apart WSB’s Master of Accountancy Program P. 16

8 TO WATCH UNDER 40 Meet WSB alumni who are making their mark P. 8 History’s Witness Roger Ervin takes a business approach to global relief effortsP. 18 LETTER FROM THE DEAN

ABOUT BARRY GERHART Barry Gerhart has been a member of the WSB faculty since 2000. He has served as chair of the Department of Management and Human Resources and was founding director of the Strategic Human Resource Management specialization in the Wisconsin Full-Time MBA Program.

He will serve as interim dean until a permanent dean is identified by a search that will begin in September. To learn more about Barry, visit go.wisc.edu/wsb- gerhart

When I was in the Ph.D. program at the experience, improving student access and opportunities, University of Wisconsin–Madison, I was maintaining and growing faculty excellence, and always struck by how faculty and staff went out of their expanding and improving research. way to make everyone feel at home and helped create a We’re already doing significant work to enhance connection I knew would last a lifetime. business students’ educational experience, such as As the interim Albert O. Nicholas Dean of the expanding applied learning opportunities, incorporating Wisconsin School of Business, I understand the interest interdisciplinary content into our curricula, and opening you and thousands of other alumni have about what we the Learning Commons. Our faculty continue to do here and our plans for the future. You’re invested in deliver transformative research that drives excellence the place that helped you become who you are. in our Ph.D. program and informs industry decisions. Our vision is to be a premier broad-based business Their focus on educational innovation, through the school and we are moving forward to develop and support provided by the Inspired Learning Chairs execute a strategy that considers the changing and Professorship, has transformed our classroom landscape of business education. At the same time, environments to the benefit of all students. this strategy aims to build on our many strengths to Fundamental to our vision is providing the innovate and provide cutting-edge research while opportunity to obtain a world-class business education preparing the next generations of Business Badgers. in a way that works best for students. Improving access Our strategic initiatives align with UW–Madison strategic is where real potential for growth and innovation lies. On

priorities for 2015-2019: enhancing the educational the next page, our strategic initiatives outline this theme. II L. Newby Paul by Photo Wisconsin School of Business STRATEGIC INITIATIVES To enhance and build on our existing portfolio of programs

M.S. BBA MBA

New and expanded BBA growth: A competitive MBA M.S. programs: Master of Enrollment has more program: Offering an MBA Science (M.S.) programs than doubled in the last degree continues to be can provide BBA students decade, and there is important, with deliveries a chance to continue their potential for additional that expand access and education and attract new growth to bring more versatility to our full-time, students for in-demand talent to the Business evening, and executive degrees. Badger community. programs. SUMMER HYBRID/ TERM ONLINE

Summer enrollment: Creating more Hybrid and online degrees: These opportunities for summer study delivery options will position WSB increases access to business education to provide top students flexible while enabling flexibility for students pathways to a business education to pursue study abroad or internships and create opportunities for during the academic year. students across the globe.

These initiatives will require an increase in resources, design and deliver programs in those areas. including growing the size of our faculty to support We’re already doing many things that set us apart, more students and new degree offerings. We are and I hope you will enjoy reading about some of these collaborating with campus leadership to reach exciting initiatives in the pages that follow. agreement on how much to grow the faculty and how to Our alumni continue to be key partners in what our fund this growth. School has been and what we will be. I look forward As we work to distinguish ourselves in the changing to working with you as we move into the future and landscape of higher education, be assured that communicating as our strategic initiatives progress. everything we do will be true to WSB’s long-held values Together Forward, and the tradition of shared governance at UW–Madison and WSB. A key part of our strategy process is an ongoing conversation with our faculty, staff, students, —Barry Gerhart, Ph.D. ’85 partners, and alumni. We’re also benchmarking against Interim Albert O. Nicholas Dean Professor of Management and Human Resources peer and aspirational schools to identify which areas Bruce R. Ellig Distinguished Chair in Pay & Organizational of study hold the most promise and determine how to Effectiveness

Interested in learning more about the Wisconsin School of Business Strategic Initiatives? We are committed to creating a transparent approach to our strategy development and implementation. If you would like to learn more or share your thoughts, please visit go.wisc.edu/wsb-update-survey

Update Spring 2018 | 01 SCHOOL NEWS

SPRING 2018

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Shannon Timm (B.S. ’08, MBA ’19)

ART DIRECTOR Katie Schauer

PHOTOGRAPHER Paul L. Newby II

WRITERS Jane Burns Siri Pairin (B.A. ’15)

EDITORIAL ADVISORS Kaylene Christnovich Binnu Palta Hill (B.A. ’97) Meloney Linder Rachel Lionberg

BRAND ADVISOR Cindy Bush (BBA ’05)

News you can use ©2018 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System It was a familiar voice if not a familiar face that came to the Wisconsin School of Business this spring when David Brancaccio, host and senior Update is published biannually. editor of public radio’s Marketplace Morning Report, served as the School’s All rights reserved. business writer in residence. Brancaccio spoke with students, learned from faculty about their research, and moderated three discussions about PUBLISHER contemporary topics—health care reform, tax care, and a forward-looking The Wisconsin School of Business conversation with six faculty members called “What We Talk About When Grainger Hall We Talk About Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, and the Internet of Things.” Of 975 University Avenue his three days at WSB, Brancaccio says, “This was an opportunity for me to Madison, WI 53706 go.wisc.edu/wsb-UPDATE steep myself in ideas, where others were sharing things that they thought were important to them—students and faculty.” The University of Wisconsin– Madison is an equal opportunity and affirmative action educator and employer.

Cover photo by Paul L. Newby II

02 | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business In This Issue

TO WATCH UNDER 06

18

28 08 02 Writer in Residence Shares Insights 04 WSB Research: Now You Know 18-21 [COVER STORY] 05 What Inspires You? Roger Ervin Shares a World of 06 Sales Workshop Helps Students Experience With the Wisconsin Make Their Pitch School of Business 22 Business Badgers Who … Are Foodies 08-15 24 Class Notes [ALUMNI PROFILES] 8 to Watch Under 40 28 [PHOTO GALLERY] A Look Back at Learning Spaces for 16 MAcc Program Offers Accounting Students Generations of Business Badgers

Photos by Paul L. Newby II, bottom left photo courtesy of University of Wisconsin–Madison Archives (ID S08860) Archives of Wisconsin–Madison of University courtesy left photo II, bottom L. Newby Paul by Photos a Unique Experience

Update Spring 2018 | 03 NOW YOU KNOW New WSB research that answers important questions

BY JANE BURNS

Q: Will financial incentives Q: Do in-store samples Q: Have legal marijuana get people to the gym boost product sales? sales had an impact on more often? home prices? Shoppers who stop for that sample If someone is already motivated to go of ice cream or pizza aren’t just As lawmakers’ discussions of to the gym to improve their health, getting a free snack, they’re helping a recreational marijuana legislation earning a financial incentive to do so is company build long-term sales. throughout the U.S. center on health a gimme, right? That’s one of the conclusions WSB and enforcement, another piece of the Well, not so much. Associate Professor of Marketing debate has emerged: property values. Research by Justin Sydnor, the Qing Liu discovered about in-store Research by Moussa Diop, WSB Leslie P. Schultz Professor in Risk sampling after she and her research assistant professor of real estate Management and Insurance and partners noticed a proliferation of it. and urban land economics, found associate professor of risk and As an experiential (and sometimes that property values increased in the insurance at the Wisconsin School of tasty) method of promotion, vicinity of Denver’s newly legal retail Business, shows that motivation and sampling long has proved popular. marijuana establishments since the modest financial incentives aren’t But is it effective? law took effect in January 2014. enough to overcome the likely culprit The research looked at samples in Diop and his research partners keeping people from a new workout four product categories and included chose to study the immediate vicinity routine: overconfidence. new and existing products as well of retailers in Denver, where the new The researchers offered 836 new as national and private-label brands. law only applied to establishments gym members varied incentives valued It yielded a number of findings that that had been medical marijuana between $30 and $60 to visit the gym retailers can use to their advantage. dispensaries. They compared data nine times in the first six weeks of their Besides a short-term product from the year before the law took membership. As new members, they boost, sampling also provides a lift effect and the year after. They found already had invested in a plan to work in sales that is sustained for two to that single-family residences within a out regardless of an incentive. eight weeks afterward. Also, the tenth of a mile of retail establishments Yet, they didn’t. Ninety-five percent sampling of one brand has a positive increased in value by 8.4%, or an of participants in the study indicated impact on other brands within the average of $27,000 per house. they expected to hit the gym an same category. Instead of a sale that Diop and his researchers didn’t average of once a week; only 63% did might persuade a customer to buy propose explanations, but offered in the first month and it dropped to Product A over Product B, sampling insights into what neighbors might 34% by the third. brings customers to all the category’s think about such businesses being The research, reported on widely by brands. Sampling also provides a nearby. Residents could vote with national media including the Wall Street brand loyalty that sales or displays their feet and leave, driving down Journal and Men’s Health, suggests do not. house prices. They haven’t done so, that incentives won’t even help people Further research can explore providing a quiet way to measure already motivated to change. What details such as optimal times or reaction to the law. might be more effective, Sydnor says, products, but in the meantime there is helping people set realistic goals that is a simple conclusion to draw from don’t just consider time and money, but in-store sampling: It works. also overconfidence. That might prove Want more business insights you be the healthiest choice of all. can trust? Read the latest research at go.wisc.edu/WSBresearch

04 | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

“The Wisconsin School of Business gave me the skills and confidence necessary to fuel my career at General Mills. As a result, I was inspired to establish and lead the General Mills UW–Madison Alumni Team. This experience allows me to stay connected to the university, mentor current and future Badger leaders, and give back to the institution that continues to support me. On, Wisconsin!”

—ALLI JONES (BBA ’07) Global Sourcing Marketing Manager in Nyon, Switzerland, General Mills Photo by Paul L. Newby II L. Newby Paul by Photo

Update Spring 20182017 | 05 Making the Pitch An alumnus’s idea for a sales workshop becomes a collaboration of Business Badgers

BY JANE BURNS | PHOTOS BY PAUL L. NEWBY II

ameron Rowe (BBA ’18) politicians, think of CEOs, think of never planned to take the chancellor—their job is really a sales job or to learn about selling,” says Noah Lim, C what one might entail. professor of marketing and the Between an internship and a job John P. Morgridge Distinguished lined up after graduation, he’d Chair in Business, who organized been steering his education to stay the workshop with Kevin Chung, an on track for the finance career he assistant professor of marketing. planned all along. “If you are in a leadership role you Then, it occurred to him that have to communicate value and you and I thought this workshop would maybe there was one necessary skill have to communicate strategy—and help give the students a head start he lacked as he was about to head that’s selling.” in a very competitive world.” into the work world: sales. Sobic was not just a sponsor of “I realized the jobs I was pursuing A head start for students the workshop, he helped shape were client-facing,” Rowe says. “And The interactive workshop was its curriculum, Lim said. Sobic’s in general it’s good to know how to proposed and generously lessons to students went beyond convey a message to management. sponsored by Dan Sobic (BBA sales tips—he told them about You’re selling an idea to people— ’77), who also participated. It honesty and authenticity, about what you’re selling is yourself.” brought together all elements of learning from other cultures, and Rowe gained those skills through the Business Badger network— the importance of taking care a sales workshop held at the alumni, faculty, students, and WSB’s of themselves when they have a Wisconsin School of Business last educational innovation team. demanding schedule. fall. Students in a variety of majors “Sales is an extremely important “He gave a keynote speech, he dived in to learn sales tactics, skill set in business globally,” says coached the students, he shared his as well as communication and Sobic, who retired as executive vice experience,” Lim says. “He asked negotiation skills. president of PACCAR Inc., in 2016. the students what they wanted to “People traditionally think of “Even engineering, finance, and hear—he’s a good sales guy, right? sales as a low-end job but when marketing jobs are sales. A lot of He developed a keen sense of what you look at leaders—think of companies hire from the university would benefit the students.”

“If you are in a leadership role you have to communicate value and you have to communicate strategy—and that’s selling.” ­—NOAH LIM, PROFESSOR OF MARKETING AND THE JOHN P. MORGRIDGE DISTINGUISHED CHAIR IN BUSINESS

06 | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business Dan Sobic (BBA ’77), retired executive (From left) Allee Peterson (BBA ’18) makes vice president of PACCAR Inc., took her sales pitch to Alan Scher (BBA ’99), who a hands-on role in the creation of a has taken on the role of a client as part of the new sales workshop at the Wisconsin interactive sales workshop held on campus School of Business. He spoke with during the fall semester. Also participating students during the event, gave a are Cameron Rowe (BBA ’18), who also made keynote speech, and worked with a sales pitch, and Michelle Hudson (BBA ’14), faculty and staff on the workshop who helped provide feedback to the students. curriculum.

Much more than sales students played the role of a hotel’s own videos but it’s important to The workshop was a commitment sales agent. Their customer, played do,” Lim says. “If you can just cut on the part of the students, too, by the industry partner, was looking out three things you should not be with challenging role-playing to reserve meeting space. They doing you can be so much more exercises and peer critiques. negotiated details from room size effective. Maybe you nod too much. “When I saw this workshop, I to food to WiFi access. Maybe you have mannerisms you’re thought it looked fun and I knew it “The industry people were tough not aware of.” would put me outside my comfort but they didn’t make it too tough on Peterson discovered that she says zone,” said Allee Peterson (BBA ’18). the students,” says Peterson, who “um” too much, something that “I thought it was going to be sales- wants to go into a sales-related field wasn’t part of her feedback but she focused but this was about creating after she graduates as a marketing noticed on her own. personal connections and building major. “I was playing it back in my relationships, not about a hard sell.” room laughing at myself and my Students took on sales roles Feedback from professionals roommate saw it,” she says. “She’s a with tough clients—roles played The industry partners provided journalism major and said, ‘We need by industry partners, many of immediate feedback—what that.’” them alumni and/or recruiters for students did well, what they The workshop will be offered their companies. Students met the could do better, what approaches annually. Details will be tweaked as “client,” negotiated with them, and they could take to work through it moves forward, Lim says, but its then closed the sale. The “clients” roadblocks. Other students learned impact will only grow. were instructed to be tough on the from that feedback, too. “This is a great example of our students, to make a few demands, The students’ biggest eye- alumni, our industry partners, and even be stubborn if they had opener was watching themselves. a donor, faculty, students, and to be. The sessions were recorded, then staff coming together to create “This had to be interactive,” Lim viewed together at the end of the something that really benefits our says. “The only way you can learn workshop. Students received a copy students,” he says. “It’s everyone is by doing. You have to make of the video so they could watch working together, and it’s hard to mistakes.” and learn some more. find a better example of it.” In the three-part “transaction,” “People don’t like to view their

Update Spring 2018 | 07 TO WATCH UNDER

Meet eight Wisconsin School of Business graduates making an impact on their industries

BY JANE BURNS AND SIRI PAIRIN | PHOTOS BY PAUL L. NEWBY II

Sarah Van Caster of crazy to be willing to live in that manager, Van Caster leads all (MBA ’13) kind of environment every day.” strategic marketing for Anaplan’s Van Caster completed her sales and marketing solutions. undergraduate degree at Drake “In the tech world, there’s no Sarah Van Caster (MBA ’13) loves University in Des Moines, Iowa, ability to stay stagnant,” she says. working in the startup world. The and came to the Wisconsin School “It’s very motivating to know that in Wisconsin native describes her of Business to pursue her MBA order to progress in my career and day-to-day life with San Francisco- in operations and technology excel at my job I need to continue based company Anaplan as fast- management for what she to learn and evolve my skill set. paced, constantly evolving, and describes as one of the best times “I love it because things are always interesting. of life. Her time at WSB allowed always changing,” she says. “It “In the startup world, your job her to dive into the world of keeps you honest; it keeps you on title is more or less irrelevant,” she entrepreneurship, working with your toes.” says. “You come to work asking, startups and incubators in Madison Van Caster continues to use ‘What is the task at hand and how and Milwaukee. the skills she learned at WSB in do I deliver?’ It takes a certain type As the senior product marketing her career. She recalls a particular

08 | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business Laura Beussman (MBA ’11)

Laura Beussman’s passion for sang in a cover band made up the arts world brought her to the of fellow MBA students called Wisconsin School of Business, “Statistically Irrelevant.” but it was her dedication to driving Beussman joined Blackbaud, a change that eventually landed company dedicated to powering her at Blackbaud as the director nonprofit organizations and their of product marketing for technology needs, in Austin, Texas fundraising solutions. in 2013 as a product marketer in the “It’s very motivating Born and raised in Bryan, Texas, arts and culture vertical. There, she to know that in order Beussman was in dance at age was able to combine her interest in to progress in my 4, piano at age 7, and was always the arts with her dedication to the singing. Her interest in the arts nonprofit world. career and excel at my continued to wield influence well “Getting excited about the work job I need to continue into the start of her career. After I was doing and energized about completing her undergraduate the impact it was having helped me to learn and evolve degree at Texas A&M, Beussman grow my career and really drive it my skill set.” worked in nonprofit arts, primarily forward,” she says. “I’m passionate in accounting and finance. She about what I’m doing and how it can —SARAH VAN CASTER soon realized, however, that what impact other people.” SENIOR PRODUCT MARKETING she really wanted to do was drive Beussman recently became MANAGER, ANAPLAN strategy in an organization, and director of product marketing for came to Wisconsin to get her MBA fundraising solutions. in arts administration. “It’s very customer focused, which change management course that “What’s great about education is great because I’m passionate taught her invaluable skills. and my MBA is that it’s a foundation about our customers and what “I learned that, at any that can’t go away,” she says. our customers do,” she says. “Our company, if you’re not managing “Companies grow and shrink. customers are mission-driven change from a human behavior Industries change and decline. There organizations. We get to talk to standpoint, you’re not going to are going to be changes in how them, hear what their challenges are, be successful,” she says. “I still things move forward in the business and what they need help to be able go back to that, even now with world, but having that foundation is to do. Our technology helps them the launch of our new software. mine forever.” do more and serve more people, The skills I learned in that change From industry experience to a which is extremely rewarding. We’re management course have been tight-knit cohort, Beussman recalls not just marketing anything; we’re applicable in any circumstance her time at WSB fondly. She even helping people change the world.” I’ve been in professionally.” The MBA program made Van Caster realize she’s never been afraid of failure. “It gave me the confidence to pursue whatever it is professionally that intrigues me because if I work hard and I’m passionate about it, it’s going to be successful for me,” she says. Using the skills she has collected over the years and the knowledge from her experience in the startup industry, Van Caster hopes to one day own a startup of her own. Until then, she strives to keep learning as much as she can. “Professionally, my continual goal is continuous learning,” she says. “I aim to be constantly learning not just about industry and external things, but also Laura Beussman photo by Julia Robinson by photo Beussman Laura learning about myself.”

Update Spring 2018 | 09 Peter Olesen (BBA ’09)

Peter Olesen (BBA ’09) always knew he could make a lot of dough when he grew up. Layers and layers of it, in fact, sometimes filled with pecans, cherries, or cream cheese. Olesen is vice president of O&H Danish Bakery, which is nationally known for its signature item, kringle. The fourth- generation business was founded by Olesen’s great-grandfather in Racine, Wisconsin, where O&H is still based and growing. “We’ve been good about teaching our team members how to bake,” he says. “Now we are teaching them how to lead and to build a strong company.” Kringle, a circular Danish pastry that folds various fillings into its 36 thin layers, has fans throughout the U.S. The flaky treat was named Wisconsin’s official state pastry in 2013, was featured on CBS Sunday Morning, and has loyal fans who order it online or buy stacks of it in person. During the busy holiday season, O&H makes 6,000 kringles a day at its 44,000-square-foot baking center that opened in 2016. The company long had an established fan base and mail-order business. As foodie culture and social media emerged, demand for unique items grew, and so did O&H. That prompted greater focus on marketing, which is also in the family; Olesen’s brother-in-law Matt Horton (BBA ’05) is vice president of marketing. “We don’t just sell bakery,” Olesen says. “Our customers invite us into their lives to celebrate their most special occasions and we weren’t really telling that story. We do now.” Olesen majored in finance and real estate, and considered a real estate investing career. He began his career as a consultant for Blue Stone International in Chicago. The kringle was always calling, though, and in 2012 when an uncle retired, Olesen came home. His real estate and finance background is instrumental in helping to lead the company’s growth and strategy as its popularity grows. His experience in every job at the company from sweeping floors to running a cash register comes in handy during busy times. “Every day I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve our customers and put out a product that we are all proud of making,” he says. “I can’t imagine not doing that. It’s in my blood.”

10 | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business Margaret Ntambi photo by Noah Willman of thosecustoms or herparents’ expectations for her. her friendsdidn’talways understand theimportance different than most of my peers.” challenges,” shesays. “Mycultural experience was recruiting leadfor UW–Madison. While at P&G, Ntambialsoserved asthediversity offered herafull-timepositionasfinancialanalyst. at Procter twice &Gamble before thecompany intern withtheforeign service. Shewent onto intern Department ofState inSwaziland asadiplomatic chance shegets.Her first internship was withthe U.S. would besuccessful andbecomfortable inlife.” children was never compromised. They ensured that I their fundswere tight,investing ineducation for their sacrificed to bewhere they are,” shesays. “Even when with imprintingthisvalue onherat an early age. to Baltimore in1980to pursuetheirmedicalcareers, pursuit. Shecredits herUgandan parents, whomoved Excellence isherpersonalmeasure andcontinued them to pushtheboundariesoftheirown potential. talents andstrengths inothers,andencourages Margaret Ntambi(BBA’14)isamaximizer. Shesees Ntambi’s parents upheldtheircultural idealsand “Growing upasaUgandangirlin Madisonhadits Ntambi pays herparents’ efforts forward every “I work hard becauseIunderstand how muchthey Margaret Ntambi

(BBA ’14) finding ways to make people feel theirbest.” “Everything Idohasto dowithbeinginclusive and so that they’re confident inwhat they do,” shesays. help themfocus onthingsthat make themfeel powerful work more confidently. out how memberscanlearnmaterial more quicklyand largely focus ontechnical mastery, she helps to figure members’ interpersonal experiences. Onteams that teams, working withcompany leaders to optimize team Accenture. There, sheserves onseveral leadership development transaction services (CDTS) analyst at assurance so that they canreach theirfullpotential.” uplift othersfrom aplace self-doubtto aplace ofself- people inthispositionby beinga maximizer. Istrive to they don’tbelong.I’ve naturally become anadvocate for conscious ofotherswhomay feel aloneorasthough through to find my happiness hasmademe very belonged,” shesays. “The spiritualjourney I’ve pushed her life. insecurities, shefeels more comfortable inallaspectsof says, butafter gainingmore confidence andshedding Her desire for acceptance was difficult tobalance, she “If Iseeaweakness orstrength insomeone, Itryto Ntambi now works inWashington, D.C., asacorporate “I felt quite aloneasIstruggled to findwhere Itruly Update Spring 2018 | 11 Kimberly Cozza (BBA ’01)

Recently named one of Commercial Property “Every position I’ve ever Executive’s “2018 Stars to Watch,” Kimberly Cozza held it’s been completely essential (BBA ’01) is living up to her title—and her childhood dreams—with a flourishing career and industry success to be able to work well with others, to prove it. whether they’re colleagues or Born in a suburb of Milwaukee, Cozza dreamed of clients or superiors.” becoming a successful businesswoman. “I grew up in the ’80s and Melanie Griffith’s character —KIMBERLY COZZA in Working Girl was a huge inspiration to me,” says MANAGING DIRECTOR, BERKADIA Cozza. “I had that dream of being in a power suit in a high-rise corner office overlooking a big city.” Cozza works at Berkadia in Chicago, where she started as the direct liaison for Fannie Mae, responsible “It was obviously a culture shock,” she says, “but it for a third of the company’s mortgage banking was such a great experience to be able to work with network. In her first five years there, she helped people from a completely different background and grow the firm’s Fannie Mae volume tenfold. Now, still recognize the universal similarities.” Cozza is a managing director responsible for training, Cozza learned to value teamwork during her time at development, and production strategy in Berkadia’s the Wisconsin School of Business, where she majored Multifamily GSE Debt Origination department, a new in finance and real estate. Most of her classes required position for the company. it, which somewhat clashed with Cozza’s Type A “Moving into this new role, it’s more strategic,” she personality and work style at the time. Now, however, says. “The overall mission of growing production is she sees the value in learning to work in teams. defined, but the path to get there and to achieve that “Every position I’ve ever held it’s been completely goal was completely left up to me.” essential to be able to work well with others, whether Cozza has also been instrumental in developing talent they’re colleagues or clients or superiors,” she says. in the company’s international office. In 2016, she flew to “Growing up, I never wanted to rely on anyone to get India for a week to train the production operations team the A or to ace the test, but the reality is life isn’t like on multifamily and commercial real estate finance. that. That’s the best thing I learned from WSB.”

12 | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business Larry Phillips (BBA ’13)

Larry Phillips (BBA ’13) wastes no time. In the four years since he graduated from the Wisconsin School of Business, the Chicago native has played a key role in creating Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.’s new diversity and inclusion strategy. The risk and insurance firm, based in the Chicago area, recently dedicated an entire team to support several of its top priorities: creating strategies to increase diversity within its workforce and building a strategic alliance with diverse trading partners. “This is a great opportunity for Gallagher to be more client-centric and to bring in innovative ideas by bringing in diverse individuals,” he says. Two years into his first role at the company, Phillips approached the director of talent management and acquisition, offering to help with recruiting efforts in addition to his regular responsibilities. At the time, the firm had no formalized diversity recruiting strategy. Before long, Phillips and several others at the firm gave the initiative an official platform. Phillips grew up in Cabrini-Green, a public housing project in Chicago, surrounded by violence, crime, and gang activity. As a teen, Phillips became involved with Boys Hope Girls Hope, a program that provides scholarship opportunities to at-risk Chicago youth. The program helped shield Phillips from his neighborhood’s negative influences and provided him a family-like atmosphere. His background fuels his passion for recruiting from diverse student populations, particularly at schools his company hadn’t traditionally visited. “I share my story with them and say, ‘Look, the insurance business is not rocket science. If I can do it given all of the adversity I’ve been through, any of you can do it,’” Phillips says. Phillips is now president of the junior board of Boys Hope Girls Hope and is still “What inspires me are the people who involved with the program. He also mentors have made so many sacrifices before five seventh-graders on the south side of Chicago through an organization called The me or during my lifetime to make this Big Shoulders Fund. world better for me and other people. “Having a good job and a good title is great, but when you die, you can’t take any I want to pay that forward and say, of that with you,” he says. “What inspires ‘Okay, what can I do?’” me are the people who have made so many sacrifices before me or during my lifetime —LARRY PHILLIPS to make this world better for me and other ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, CULTURE AND INCLUSION, people. I want to pay that forward and say, ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER & CO. ‘Okay, what can I do?’”

Update Spring 2018 | 13 Aaron Habriga (BBA ’09)

Sometimes the best path to success is an unconventional one. Aaron Habriga (BBA ’09), who went from a machine gunner in Iraq to principal in a Los Angeles private equity firm, knows that more than most people. And it’s that unconventional path that has made him a good fit for his chosen field, spending the last seven years within private equity, predominantly focused on investing within the health care services sector. “People are increasingly looking for less of a cookie-cutter background in our world,” says Habriga, whose Los Angeles office overlooks Beverly Hills and offers a peek at the famed Hollywood sign. “More people are looking for a breadth of thought and experience.” Habriga, a native of Plymouth, Wisconsin, is from a career military family whose service dates to World War I. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17 and was soon an infantry team leader serving in Yusufiyah, Iraq, walking into town on a mission for which he and his unit were told to pack for three to 30 days, but stayed seven months. Four months after returning to the U.S., he was on campus in Madison, using his knack for math and finance to pursue a business degree. In 2008, he was back in Iraq on a scout sniper team, working in the dark of night conducting surveillance and gathering intelligence. “I actually miss it a bit,” he says. “It’s obviously more exciting than sitting behind a desk but also slightly more dangerous than working in private equity.” He cut his teeth within private equity at his first job out of college, as an analyst with Pfingsten Partners. He then made job moves within Chicago and then to New York, with a stopover at Harvard Business School to pursue his MBA. But California had called since basic training and he returned to join Varsity Healthcare Partners, an emerging health care-focused private equity fund. Habriga enjoys doing a deep dive into everything he sees, from observing inefficiencies in daily life to asking about software his own health care provider uses. “The military, for better or worse, makes you hyper-aware,” he says. “Combine that with business school training and it’s either the worst of both or the best. It can drive other people nuts.”

14 | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business (MBA ’15) Erin Strepy “It’s like you’re the conductor of As a young girl, Erin Strepy (MBA ’15) didn’t have much the orchestra. Everyone else is very time for dolls. She was busy climbing trees, riding her talented, very creative and you get to skateboard, and tinkering with creative projects. Now in her 30s, she plays with dolls every day seek out all of those different strengths because that’s her job. Strepy works for Mattel as global to turn it into something bigger.” brand manager for Barbie, the iconic doll with a busy life —ERIN STREPY as a fashion icon, chef, paleontologist, or any number of GLOBAL BRAND MANAGER, MATTEL other endeavors. “It’s a brand that’s under constant scrutiny,” says Strepy, who works in Mattel’s headquarters in El inventors to retailers as Barbie goes from the idea stage Segundo, California. “If Barbie does something, the to the store shelf. media picks up on it. There are a lot of talented people “It’s like you’re the conductor of the orchestra,” she working to make sure we stay within the guardrails of says. “Everyone else is very talented, very creative and what Barbie is and what she isn’t.” you get to seek out all of those different strengths to Strepy joined Mattel in early 2017 after starting her turn it into something bigger.” career working in agencies. One agency job had as Strepy works with about 200 items including dolls, its client a popular consumer brand with a team that clothing, houses, and with a new line of Barbies that included Wisconsin School of Business alumni, and the features different body sizes and ethnicities. Customers seed was planted for her to pursue an MBA with a brand are responding emotionally to a Barbie who resembles focus and a goal of moving to the client side. She took a them, Strepy says, and she and her colleagues are job with Unilever after earning her MBA. building on that for next year’s line. “The Wisconsin School of Business was definitely two Barbie continues to evolve not just with the times but of the best years of my life,” says Strepy, who enjoys because the entire toy space is seeking ways to promote talking to prospective and current WSB students about imagination in a digital world. her MBA experience and career. “I still have dreams “I’m still learning a lot,” Strepy says. “You learn very about the Terrace.” quickly about the world around you when you work At Mattel, Strepy works with everyone from toy with Barbie.”

Update Spring 2018 | 15 (From left) Megan Allen (BBA ’18, MAcc ’19) and Derek Matzke (BBA ’01, MAcc ’02) talk taxes as the season kicks into full gear at BDO’s Madison office, giving Allen valuable experience during her internship.

Value-Added Degree The IMacc Program’s unique approach gives accounting students a strong foundation BY JANE BURNS | PHOTO BY PAUL L. NEWBY II

hen Derek Matzke As part of the overall Master of during the spring semester of the (BBA ’01, MAcc ‘02), Accountancy Program (MAcc), fourth year—the busiest time of represents BDO at the IMacc is a five-year program the year for the public accounting W intern recruiting that offers what’s known as a 4+1 firms—ensuring students a solid events for Wisconsin School of degree that combines a bachelor’s head start to their career. Business accounting students, he and a master’s. “Students are thrown into the fire knows he just can’t sit at a table and “It really sets up the students to really experience in eight to 12 wait for them to come to him. well for their careers,” says weeks what you might experience “These are 100, 125 students Terry Warfield, PwC Professor in four to six months in the slower who are the best of the best,” says in Accounting and Richard J. season,” says Kristen Fuhremann Matzke, a partner at the public Johnson Chair of the Department (BBA ’99, MAcc ’00), director of the accounting firm’s Madison office. of Accounting and Information Wisconsin MAcc Program. “They “It’s competitive among the firms Systems. “Our graduates advance get this really good internship to get them. You have to seek quicker and are a little more experience while they are still an them out and distinguish your firm successful once they start their undergrad.” because there are a lot of good careers. To us, that’s validation that The MAcc program also has students everyone wants.” our fifth year adds something.” another path to a master’s: the WSB students rise to the top The goal of the program is Graduate Master of Accountancy because of a unique program to prepare students for their (GMacc), which is a two-year that sets them apart from other professional lives and the Certified program that targets students who business schools—the Integrated Public Accounting (CPA) exam. did not earn an undergraduate Master of Accountancy (IMacc). One of its hallmarks is an internship degree in accounting. It provides

16 | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business more fundamental accounting speak to an audience and become education in its first year, then the subject matter expert. That a second year that mirrors the prepares you so well for the work graduate year in the IMacc program. world.” TOP 5 A benefit of the internship, 100% placement rate Fleissner said, was being able to WSB’s distinctive approach works. in the U.S. take a risk since it was temporary. The School consistently ranks in for the CPA exam She interned at PwC in New York the top five in the U.S. for the CPA and got a sense of if she would like exam pass rates, and has a 100% pass rates living there (she did, and returned placement rate within three months to the firm after graduating). She of graduation. also was uncertain of what she The School created the MAcc wanted to do in business, but knew program in reaction to a change accounting would help steer her in educational requirements for toward her goals. CPA certification, an increase from % Most MAcc graduates start 120 hours to 150 in 1999. Faculty their careers in public accounting, and staff saw the change as an 100 developing a strong foundation in opportunity to do more than add accounting and business. Alumni accounting classes. Instead, they placement rate work as CFOs, controllers, partners, could enhance the skills students within three months C-Suite executives, and more in a need to become good business variety of industries. professionals—writing, speaking, of graduation “The accounting degree is teamwork, ethics, global mindset, one degree and 360 degrees of and broad business knowledge. opportunity,” Warfield says. “It “Some programs looked at it as Learning by teaching provides a great foundation and a something they needed to get their The accounting department created great springboard.” students to 150 hours,” Warfield partnerships with firms that needed Whatever career path graduates says. “That wasn’t our only goal. We interns. It also created a teaching choose, they have the best wanted those hours to be a true assistant (TA) program for fifth- preparation for it. When students value-add.” year students to teach introductory return from their internship, they That was the appeal for Megan accounting classes. Fifty-one of take a three-week professional Allen (BBA ’18, MAcc ’19) to enter the 140 MAcc students were TAs in issues class that serves as a bridge the program. 2017-18. connecting what they learned in “They work on developing the “The internship and the TA their internship and preparing to be full person and not just learning position were the absolute best graduate students. accounting,” says Allen, whose parts of the program for me,” says “When we see them before they spring internship was at BDO in Kim Fleissner (BBA ’01, MAcc ’02), leave for their internship and fast- Madison. “I’d heard positive things CFO and COO of Shopbop, an forward to the end of the three- from students ahead of me as to Amazon subsidiary. “The classes are week class, it’s almost like they’re how the program doesn’t just want obviously a foundation but as an different people,” Fuhremann you to churn out numbers, it wants intern you learn so much that you says. “They come back as mature, you to know how to carry yourself bring back for a fifth year, and in a business professionals who are professionally.” TA position you have to be able to ready for graduate school.”

From Grainger Hall to the Olympic stage The MAcc program at the Wisconsin School of Business has another path its students have taken beyond the accounting world—as Olympians. Gwen Jorgensen (BBA ’08, MAcc ’09) won a gold medal in the triathlon at Rio in 2016. She had run track while at UW–Madison, and had begun her accounting career with EY in Milwaukee when she was recruited to try triathlon. She is now training as a marathoner. In Pyeongchang, South Korea in Feburary, hockey player Ann-Renée Desbiens (BBA ’17, MAcc ’19) helped lead Canada to the silver medal after her team lost to the U.S. in a match filled with former Badgers on both teams. Desbiens earned her bachelor’s degree last spring and will return for her master’s year through the IMAcc program next fall.

Update Spring 2018 | 17 An Eyewitness to History Roger Ervin shares his experiences on the world stage in the classroom and beyond

BY JANE BURNS | PHOTOS BY PAUL L. NEWBY II

18 | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business f you want to know the arc of Roger Ervin’s career, you don’t need his résumé. You just need to watch I some movies. Ervin (MBA ’09) witnessed the genocidal horrors of Hotel Rwanda in real life. He was in the midst of the events in Somalia that resulted in Black Hawk Down and helped negotiate the end of U.S. involvement there. He designed the U.S. response to the political transition in South Africa and helped provide training for the security forces that protected its new President Nelson Mandela and were prominent characters in Invictus. In West Africa he dealt with warlords and mercenaries similar to the characters in Blood Diamond. His work now plays out more on a smaller screen, with TV reports of refugee crises throughout the world. Ervin is CEO and president of Blumont, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides international development and humanitarian assistance in 40 countries. The position, which Ervin began in 2015, is the culmination of an extensive career working in the public and private sectors in areas ranging from diplomacy to finance. “I’ve seen it all, the good and the bad,” Ervin says. “I’ve seen the ugly side of humans as well as the wonderful side.” It’s a perspective that he shares in myriad ways at the Wisconsin School of Business, including serving on the Dean’s Advisory Board. He earned his degree in the executive MBA program, and has been a lecturer in the program for nine years, An Eyewitness teaching managerial communications. “Students can connect with Roger because this is someone who is on the front lines; he is living a case study every day,” says Leslie Petty, WSB’s assistant dean of the Wisconsin Evening to History and Executive MBA Programs. “It’s a case study based on ethics, leadership, team-building, how to step in and turn an organization around, what it’s like to work with an organization that works internationally. He can bring all of that to the table.”

Working around the globe On any given day, Ervin might be in Madison, where Blumont moved its headquarters in 2016, or the nonprofit’s other locations in Washington, D.C., and Amman, Jordan. There’s also a good chance he might be on site in any number of the countries with Blumont projects (he traveled to 15 of them in 2017).

Update Spring 2018 | 19 Roger Ervin (MBA ’09) visits a camp for displaced people in Iraq. Ervin is CEO and president of Blumont, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides international development and humanitarian assistance in 40 countries.

The organization works around the globe, including the Middle East, “Students can connect with Roger South America, Asia, and Africa. because this is someone who is on the front Blumont manages projects for governmental entities such as the lines; he is living a case study every day.” U.S., Britain, the World Bank, and ­—LESLIE PETTY the United Nations in the most ASSISTANT DEAN OF THE EVENING AND EXECUTIVE MBA PROGRAMS challenging countries and desperate communities in the world. “It’s everything from delivering Gamble after graduation and saw time for the continent. His time goods into war zones to rebuilding his career path take a turn when there coincided with civil wars in war-torn communities while a friend’s mother, who was an Angola, Somalia, and Rwanda, and conflicts continue to rage,” says advisor to then-Gov. Bill Clinton, Mandela’s presidential election in Ervin, who lives just outside thought Ervin’s college political South Africa. He helped craft part of Madison in Middleton, Wisconsin. activism might make him suited for three State of the Union addresses “We are the largest refugee a different kind of work. for President Clinton. camp manager for the U.N. High “She said, ‘I know a couple “I was there the day the genocide Commission on Refugees, and members of Congress, you should started in Rwanda and we pulled at the same time we use our think about talking to them,’” he all the Americans out,” he says engineering capabilities to provide said. “So I did.” of events in 1994 in which an support in more stable communities estimated 800,000 people died like the Palestinian Authority in the A career in diplomacy in 100 days of ethnic cleansing. “I West Bank or Jordan.” Ervin took a job working for Sen. went back the day we opened the A key area for Blumont is Syria, Joe Biden on the Senate Judiciary embassy and there were still bodies which has been in the midst of a Committee and went on to work everywhere. For a 31-, 32-year- civil war that has killed 400,000 in the House of Representatives, old that was all very challenging. people and displaced another where he served on the Banking Imagine looking into the eyes of the 11 million since 2011. and Foreign Affairs committees. worst people in history like Mobutu It’s all a far cry from the career he From there he began a career in in Zaire, Gaddafi in Libya or the originally planned when he was a diplomacy, working in the State genocidal killers in Rwanda. It gives biology major at Tulane University. Department as senior advisor in the one a unique perspective.”

He was offered a job at Procter & Africa bureau during a tumultuous It was good preparation for what of Blumont, Inc. courtesy Photo

20 | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business “I’ve seen it all, the good and the bad. I’ve seen the ugly side of humans as well as the wonderful side.”

­—ROGER ERVIN (MBA ’09) Roger Ervin (MBA ’09) brings his knowledge into the classroom at the Wisconsin School of Business, teaching was to come. Upon returning to the master’s level classes in U.S., Ervin founded an international managerial communications. consulting firm that was acquired by Foley & Lardner LLP, a move that brought him to Wisconsin. He became secretary of the professional experiences and in the project management systems that Wisconsin Department of Revenue classroom with the Evening and use mobile technology to create and found himself in the midst Executive Programs as a lecturer. transparency, efficiency, and of a maelstrom: a data breach “I’m sure the way he teaches is language solutions for a worldwide that resulted in taxpayers’ Social very similar to the way he leads,” workforce. He moved Blumont’s Security numbers being printed on Petty says. “I can see him being headquarters to Madison, where mailing labels for their tax forms. It very poised, very steady. He shares he believed the organization could was a public relations disaster but so many stories and so much take advantage of partnerships a chance to implement changes information. He leaves students with the university as well as tap that transformed and modernized craving more.” into its research. the department. Ervin has scaled back his “We take a private sector “You don’t waste a crisis,” he says. teaching because of his worldwide approach to this business, which “You try to make something of it.” commitments since taking over at makes us different than others While serving as revenue Blumont in 2015. He came on board working in this space,” he says. “We secretary, Ervin made something when it was International Relief and don’t want to reinvent the wheel else happen—a long-desired MBA. Development, the U.S. government’s but instead look to private sector Family and career obligations had largest contractor in Iraq and innovations and adapt appropriate made it a challenge in the past, Afghanistan. Prior to Ervin’s arrival, methodologies or products for us to but now he was in a city with a IRD had been investigated and work with in developing countries.” strong public university and he suspended by the U.S. Agency With a life of airports, refugee chose to dive into WSB’s executive for International Development for camps, and crisis management MBA program. alleged financial misconduct. Under throughout the globe, Ervin doesn’t “There were a lot of things Ervin’s leadership, the organization have to seek adventure, it just I didn’t know or didn’t think eventually took the U.S. government comes to him. That makes being about,” he says about pursuing to court over the matter and home with his family that much an MBA. “The good thing about won a landmark case that voided sweeter, and his connection to the executive program is it brings the suspension and put the Wisconsin and the university together your experiences and organization back in good standing so meaningful. focuses on where you have gaps with the U.S. and all of its clients. “These things are hard to take, and where you have strengths.” From there, Ervin’s task was they’re hard to see,” he says of his to rebrand and restructure work. “People are living under dire A worldview for MBA students the organization. Blumont has circumstances. It’s motivating to be Since 2009, he has shared what instituted more accountability involved in an organization that is he has gleaned through his standards and implemented new making an impact.”

Update Spring 2018 | 21 “I am in the process of starting a fine charcuterie company called Driftless Provisions—we take the finest organic hogs and create tasty dry-cured sausages. Growing up on a farm in rural Wisconsin taught me about the relationships that are developed with the land around us. If we don’t take care of the land and the animals, we are not taking care of ourselves. I moved to the Driftless Region, the heart of small family farming, in order to grow closer to my food chain and develop a product that I could create here and distribute all over the world. It is easy as a business owner to purchase the cheaper products and hold onto some of the thin margins that exist in the food industry. Balancing morals, consumer demands and elasticity, food costs, and resources is extremely difficult. Driftless Provisions will celebrate the relationships we share with the land, farmers, and animals.”

—RYAN WAGNER (B.S. ’13, MBA ’17)

Business Badgers Who... AREARE FOODIESFOODIES “I have shared countless meals with Business Badgers who enjoy good food. It is honestly the best way to network and make new friends.”

—JONATHAN WEERTS (BBA ’00)

22 | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business

A | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business “Cooking is a process of discovery. Once fundamentals are mastered, one is free to iterate around recipes and composition. In many ways, it becomes a journey akin to entrepreneurship.” (BBA ’79) —JOHN PHILOSOPHOS

“Food opens you to new cultures and experiences that feed constant curiosity and learning. Being open to new food experiences has cultivated a sense of risk-taking and willingness to learn in business and a personal openness to new opportunities.”

—ALYSON KIM (MBA ’08)

“I’ve traveled the world sampling and reviewing many “I love the combination of different kinds of chocolate milk. I’ve learned lots food and science—it makes for about various chocolate milk trends and individual amazing dishes. For example, market idiosyncrasies, including packaging, popular both molecular gastronomy and ingredients, availability, flavors, and other factors sous vide are passions of mine. that can differ significantly based on the location. My experiences with chocolate milk worldwide have taught When I cook for friends and me a lot about website development, brand building, family, they are amazed at the digital content creation, and other newly acquired skills way food can be presented and that have been built and/or strengthened through my enjoyed. I love giving people new chocolate milk passion.” experiences and the unexpected —PERRY ARGIROPOULOS (BBA ’01) when dining.” —HETHE HENRICKSON

(MBA ’17)

In the next issue: Business Badger Book Club Share your book recommendations at go.wisc.edu/wsb-badgerbooks

Update Spring 2015 | A Class Notes

Barbara Feldman Leroy Kemp (BBA ’79, MBA ’83) 1950–1959 (BBA ’78) retired in shares insights he discovered on his Eugene Shapiro (BBA ’52) and his 2017 after 38 years path to success as a wrestler in his wife, Marlene, celebrated their 65th in HR, organization new book, Winning Gold: Success wedding anniversary on February development, Secrets of a World Champion. 14, 2018. He is retired and has and learning. Her lived in Arizona for 33 years. The career spanned Paul Kaufhold Shapiros still enjoy playing golf and UW–Oshkosh, Corning Inc., and GE. (MBA ’80) is traveling. They have four children, She and her husband live on a farm supervising eight grandchildren, and two great- in Valley Falls, New York. This year the Financial grandchildren. for fun, they ventured to China, Investigation Vietnam, Norway, and Denmark. Unit for the Alfred Watterson They visit family and friends in Marijuana Enforcement Division in (BBA ’58) attended Wisconsin often and attend one Colorado. He recently received his the Orange Bowl Badger football game each year. She CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) and and the pre-game is loving her next chapter and even moved from the role of controller to huddle, and wonders caught her first muskie! investigator. if any other Business Badgers from his class were there Terry Thul (MBA ’81) received NAMI also. Watterson was a member and Southeast Minnesota’s Volunteer of vice president of Alpha Kappa Psi 1980–1989 the Year award at the organization’s from 1956 to 1958. December awards dinner for his work Michael Culhane (BBA ’84) was in the office, and for giving talks to named executive vice president and community groups on NAMI and his CFO of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. in experiences with bipolar disorder. 1970–1979 January 2018. He is responsible for accounting, treasury, tax, credit, Ron Kral (BBA ’83) Harvey Fein (MBA ’72) is now investor relations, legal, and internal co-founded Kral Ussery retired after working for more than audit. Culhane was most recently LLC last year through 12 years at Molina Healthcare. He president and co-founder of TMAG, a merger of Candela was the company’s first CFO. Fein Inc., providing CFO consulting Solutions and Pt. is happily married and he and his services. Prior to TMAG, Inc., he Platinum Consulting, wife celebrated their 40th wedding served as CFO at Hudson’s Bay which is headquartered anniversary in February. Company and also has held various in the Dallas metropolitan area and executive roles with Lord & Taylor and has an additional office in Las Vegas. John Henderson (BBA ’75) is in the May Department Store Group. Kral Ussery is a public accounting process of completing his 40th year firm delivering advisory services, of practicing law in Colorado in the Mark Olson (BBA litigation support, and internal audit to area of natural resources. Henderson ’79, MS ’88) U.S. public and private companies to is deeply involved in the process of recently accepted protect and grow shareholder value. attempting to determine how 43 a position with years went by without being more Integrity Appraisal Robert Schnese (BBA ’83) wants to closely watched prior to their escape. in Menasha, Wisconsin, as senior thank WSB for giving him a great Henderson was a former debater at commercial appraiser. educational experience and enabling UW–Madison and a past president of the Hoofers Riding Club.

Fredrick “Fritz” Jacobi (BBA ’76) was ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT awarded the Grand Prytanis Award by Tau BRUCE ELLIG Kappa Epsilon Fraternity in November 2017. The award is given to a fraternity (BBA ’59, MBA ’60) member who has rendered the most established the Bruce R. Ellig valuable services to the fraternity Scholarship Fund for outstanding as a whole. Jacobi was recognized for the past eight years of service as undergraduate students. He previously a member of the TKE International funded the Bruce R. Ellig Distinguished Board of Directors as well as his Chair in Pay and Organizational Effectiveness. previous seven years of service on the TKE Educational Foundation Board.

24 | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business To submit your own class note, go to go.wisc.edu/F18ClassNotes

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT LIZ (MILLER) DAWES (BBA ’85) and her husband founded a foundation in both the U.S. and Australia in 2013 after their 18-year-old son Connor lost his life to brain cancer. In just over four years, they have raised over $2.5 million and have created the largest event for pediatric brain cancer in Australia, “Connor’s Run.” In the U.S., “Connor’s Erg” is a virtual event between UW–Madison and Stanford crew teams (Connor was keen to row at one of these schools). All money raised at UW–Madison supports the university’s neuroscience department.

him to use his talents to enjoy a Medical Practice Management. Liedtke is the founder and president 33-year career with the company It was published by Health of the management consultancy that provided his initial interview in Administration Press. Strategic Improvement Systems, LLC. Madison. Schnese is proud to be a Business Badger. He hopes all his Steven Strye (BBA ’87) switched Michelle Kullmann brothers and sisters have enjoyed the careers in 2017 after practicing law (BBA ’90) recently same experience. On, Wisconsin! for 27 years and now owns and joined Overture manages rental properties in West Center for the Dave Rosen (BBA ’84) is enjoying a Allis, Wisconsin. He also co-owns/ Arts in Madison as new challenge down in San Antonio, co-manages several farms in Grant director of corporate Texas with an appointment to County, Wisconsin. While these development. She is president of FLEXcon Industrial. He is farms are leased to farmers, his thrilled to represent cheering on the Badgers with his two family, siblings, and friends utilize this world-class facility and work with daughters Melia ’14 and Sonya ’17. the recreational land for hunting, local businesses on their donations On, Wisconsin! fishing, and ATV riding. Strye remains and sponsorship of Frostiball, married to his wonderful wife of 20 Broadway, Overture Presents, and Jeff Thomas (BBA ’84) recently years. Their daughter will attend community programming. opened a new brewery in the Denver UW–Madison in 2018 and their son is a area. Stop by FanDraught Sports freshman in high school. Steve Hoffman (M.A. ’92) is executive Brewery to say hi and enjoy some director of Centre College’s Norton craft beer and sports. Cheers! Scott Lingren (BBA Center for the Arts, which was given ’88), CEO and global the Community Arts Award by Todd Taylor (MBA managing director of Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin in February ’84) retired five Xycarb Technologies 2018 as part of the 2017 Governor’s years ago from Kraft Inc., has been named to Awards in the Arts. The Norton Center Foods after a 32-year the company’s board of for the Arts has a rich history of career, with leadership directors. providing important, world-renowned positions in finance artists to Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region. and information technology. In retirement he has done Laura Halferty some IT management consulting 1990–1999 (BBA ’92), a but mostly he has been enjoying life partner at Stinson on Lake Wisconsin and traveling the Charles Liedtke Leonard Street LLP world. Recently, Taylor became a (MBA ’90, Ph.D. ’97) Minneapolis, was board of directors member for the presented his latest recently named UW–La Crosse Foundation, as well as research paper on big chair of the firm’s the Sauk Prairie Area Food Pantry. data in Hoshin Kanri Tax, Trusts & Estates Division. She was at the Asian Network also appointed a member of the firm’s Stephen Wagner for Quality Congress in board of directors. In addition to her (M.S. ’86) published a Kathmandu, Nepal in September 2017. new roles, Halferty maintains a full- textbook in October Hoshin Kanri is a Japanese strategic time practice representing families, 2017, entitled planning system. Over 400 people individuals, and businesses with estate Fundamentals of from 18 countries attended the event. planning matters.

Update Spring 2018 | 25 Class Notes

Ellyn Davidson (BBA ’93) recently formation and day-to-day operations been with the company in various purchased Brogan & Partners, a full- through exit strategies and succession leadership roles since 1997. In addition, service advertising and marketing planning. Kauffman is licensed in Petersen serves on the University of communications firm located in Wisconsin and Illinois. He and his wife, Wisconsin System Board of Regents. Birmingham, Michigan. Davidson Laura, have two children, Avett and Appointed by Gov. Scott Walker in started her career at the firm 24 years Sienna, and a dog, Cody. 2013, Petersen is now vice president ago as an intern. of the board. He is also a director at Jay Ebben (MBA ’99, Park Bank. Gowri Sriskandarajah (BBA ’94) is Ph.D. ’03) had his first the newest member of Independent novel, Painted Hives, Manu Raju Living, Inc.’s board of directors. published in May 2017. (BBA ’02) was Independent Living, Inc. is a local The story was inspired named one nonprofit multiservice agency assisting by the five months he of Wisconsin seniors and adults with disabilities in and his family lived in Foundation Dane County. Sriskandarajah retired Slovenia in 2011, when he received and Alumni in September 2016 as senior financial a Fulbright Scholarship to teach at Association’s 2018 Forward Under 40 analyst at American Family Insurance, the University of Ljubljana. Jay is award recipients. Raju is CNN’s senior where she had worked since 2007. A currently an associate professor of congressional correspondent and licensed CPA, she previously worked entrepreneurship at the University has been breaking news on Capitol for Madison Metropolitan School of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, Hill for 15 years. He has reported District, Legislative Audit Bureau and where he lives with his wife and for Inside Washington Publishers, McNally CPAs and Family Business three children. Congressional Quarterly, and The Hill; Consultants. and he was Politico’s senior Capitol Mandy Lewis (BBA Hill correspondent for seven years. Torrey Jaeckle (BBA ’99) and Jean He’s also often shared his insights with ’95) is co-owner of Jourdain (B.A. viewers of NBC, CBS, and PBS, where Jaeckle Distributors, ’99) got engaged he has a regular guest for political a Madison-based on November 25, talk shows. Raju’s introduction to the third-generation 2017 and have journalism world was through the family-owned planned a destination wedding for UW–Madison student newspaper, the business that 2018. Jourdain played football for the Badger Herald. distributes flooring and surfacing Badgers and lived in the same dorm products throughout the Midwest. as Lewis their freshman year, but they Bernard (Benny) He recently completed five years of never met until 2017. Vanden Avond service on the board of the North (BBA ’05) and American Association of Floor Nathan Garcia Covering Distributors (NAFCD), 2000–2009 were married including serving as president in 2016. May 18, 2017 by Jaeckle also currently serves on the Parham Eftekhari Kate Pierson of the B-52s before the board of Once City Early Learning (BBA ’02) co- band’s concert at ACL Live in Austin, Centers in Madison. founded the Texas. The couple’s “first dance” was Institute for Critical onstage as the band performed “Love Rita Chen (MBA ’97) moved back Infrastructure Shack.” The couple renewed their home to Chicago in 2010 after Technology (ICIT), vows with family and friends present spending nine years in Los Angeles. which offers objective nonpartisan on May 27, 2017. For the past two years, she has been research and advisory to Congress, working at Choose Chicago, the the executive branch, and public/ Kurt Kober (MBA city’s official destination marketing private sector cybersecurity leaders ’07) launched organization. She could not be more around the world. ICIT recently his campaign for proud to be a brand ambassador for introduced the Center for Cyber- lieutenant governor the city and show the world what Influence Operations Studies (CCISO), of Wisconsin in Chicago has to offer. which will study the weaponization of January 2018. He’ll digital applications by nation states run as a Democrat. He spent much of Kurt Kauffman for influence operations. 2017 talking to Wisconsinites around (BBA ’98) was the state and country asking them, named partner Andrew “Drew” “What would it take to make you in the law firm Petersen (MBA move back to your hometown?” Krauskopf ’02) was recently Kauffman, P.C. in elevated to the Paul Meier (BBA Chicago. He advises entrepreneurs, position of senior ’07) joined the professionals, and family-owned and vice president at investment team privately held businesses on corporate TDS Telecommunications Corp., which at M25 Group, a

and transactional matters, from is headquartered in Madison. He has venture capital firm of CNN courtesy Manu Raju photo

26 | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business To submit your own class note, go to go.wisc.edu/F18ClassNotes

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT CARRIANNE BASLER (BBA ’91) was recognized at the WSB Department of Accounting & Information Systems’s 49th annual awards banquet in October 2017 as a distinguished alumna. Basler is a managing director with the global consulting firm AlixPartners LLC. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Insolvency and Reorganization Advisor. She is also the vice chair of the International Women’s Insolvency and Reorganization Confederation, a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), the Turnaround Management Association, and the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors. Carrianne has published numerous articles on turnaround management and reorganization matters as a contributing editor of the ABI Journal.

headquartered in Chicago, investing Joseph Henry (BBA Peter Geppert solely in companies headquartered ’14) has been hired as (BBA ’15) is in the Midwest. M25 Group is the sales and marketing currently pursuing Midwest’s most active early-stage manager for J. Henry & his master’s in new-venture investor, building a Sons Wisconsin Straight Healthcare System portfolio that in many ways resembles Bourbon. His family farm Administration at an index of early stage startups in diversified into bourbon the University of Michigan School of the Midwest. production in 2009 and came to Public Health. He also holds a student market in 2015. Joe is responsible research position with the university’s Nicole Belisle (BBA ’09) wrote two for sales and market development in Center for Value-Based Insurance episodes of Season 5 for DreamWorks Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. J. Design, where he studied possible Animation TV’s All Hail King Julien, Henry bourbons have won national innovations to the nation’s health care which dropped on Netflix December and international acclaim and there payment system. Upon completing his 1, 2017. are three expressions available. Henry graduate degree in 2019, he hopes to sold his first barrel to the Palmer pursue a fellowship at a leading health House Hilton. The company is based services provider. 2010–2015 in Dane, Wisconsin, where there is a tasting room as well as tours. Elly Pirman (BBA Jessica Brostowicz ’17) thought the (BBA ’13) and Kellen Carlos Nunez (MBA ’14) was impending “real Wallace Benjamin promoted to CFO of Massachusetts- world” seemed were married on based N12 Technologies. The startup both thrilling October 14, 2017 is a manufacturer of NanoStitch, and terrifying in Bridgehampton, an additive that strengthens and after graduation. Luckily, Team TTI New York, surrounded by many prevents delamination in carbon (Techtronic Industries) has made family and friends from Boston, fiber composites used in consumer these first few months of adulting New York City, Wisconsin, California, products and aviation markets. absolutely awesome. If you ever pass and Chicago. Kellen and Jess were Prior to joining N12, Nunez was an a big, red Ford truck covered with introduced four years ago by a mutual investment banking associate with Milwaukee Tool logos (they’re hard to friend at an industry event. They live Cleary Gull. miss), be sure to wave. There’s a good on New York City’s Upper East Side. chance the driver is one of many Todd Pilcher (MBA former Business Badgers working for Brace Clement (MBA ’14) and his wife, TTI! ’13) and his wife Corrine, welcomed welcomed into the their fourth child world a healthy baby into the world on boy by the name December 23, 2017. of Broyce Chanon Baby Calvin is happy Read more Class Notes at Clement. He was and growing quickly. bus.wisc.edu/Update born in Seattle, Washington. Update Spring 2018 | 27 UW Archives (ID S10050) UW Archives (ID S08860) UW Archives (ID S08864) UW Archives

A STUDY IN SPACES Formal or informal, Business Badger students have always found places of their own to hit the books

Photos courtesy of University of Wisconsin–Madison Archives and by Paul L. Newby II UW Archives (ID S07606) UW Archives UW Archives (ID S09122) UW Archives (ID S17197) UW Archives Photo by Jeff Miller, Courtesy of UW Archives (ID S17204) of UW Archives Courtesy Jeff Miller, by Photo

28 | UW–Madison Wisconsin School of Business he unveiling of the new Learning Commons at the Wisconsin School of T Business this spring offers an opportunity to celebrate the spaces where Business Badgers have gone for decades to find a quiet place to work alone or collaborate with classmates. While there have been formal spaces such as a computer lab at the Commerce Building or the Business Library at Grainger Hall, students have always found their own nooks and crannies to cram for exams or finalize a project. The three-level Learning Commons, which opened in May, provides the entire WSB community something bigger and brighter—just like the futures of the students who will study there.

Top row (from left): Commerce Building study room, 1958; School of Commerce accounting lab, 1951; Grainger Hall Business Library, 1993; Grainger Hall’s Capital Café, 2016; Grainger Hall atrium, 2016. Center (from left): Commerce Building, now Ingraham Hall, circa 1960; Grainger Hall (current). Bottom row: (from left) Commerce Building entryway, circa 1956; Commerce Building computer lab, circa 1980; watching financial news online, circa 1996; Grainger Hall entryway, 2016; accounting students collaborate, 2015.

Learn more about the Learning Commons at bus.wisc.edu/learning-commons.

Look for photos of the finished space in the Fall issue of Update.

Update Spring 2018 | 29 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MADISON, WI PERMIT NO. 658

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