Fall 2004 Meet Real Estate Magnate Steve Ross Michigan’s Hundred Million Dollar Man Plus—Alumni Shine in Star-studded Industry #1-Ranked Ross School of Business Rocks with Good Vibrations ean Robert J. Dolan missed the “To me, it’s an affirmation of our basic comes down to action-based learning. moment itself, but what mattered strategy,” said Dolan. “Ten years ago, the Incoming students know this is the kind of D most was making it possible. school started experimenting with action- program they’re after—they can co-create Dolan was en route to campus from based learning. I came here from a case their Michigan experience, including Detroit Metropolitan Airport, having method place, and when I saw what was reaching into cross-campus opportunities.” attended an alumni function in Boston the possible by complementing what students Partnerships with other academic night before, when he received the call learn in the classroom with practical units, especially the Corporate from Communications Director Cynthia experience, I knew this would be a point Environmental Management Program Shaw informing him that the Stephen M. of differentiation. We’ll teach you analyt- (CEMP) shared with the School of Ross School of Business had been ranked ical skills, but we’re also going to put you Natural Resources and Environment, number one in the annual Wall Street in the field. This is what’s distinctive also made a favorable impression on the Journal /Harris Interactive survey of about Michigan.” recruiters surveyed. “At a time when cor- nearly 3,000 corporate recruiters. The recruiters thought so too. “What porate citizenship has become a hot topic,” Alsop wrote, “Michigan is far ahead of most of its rivals.” Two other students inter- viewed by the Journal and CNBC, Kate Napolitan, MBA ’06, and Nick Cucinelli, MBA ’05, are both in CEMP. “There was no better fit for me than Michigan,” said Napolitan, of Cleveland. “I worked for six years before coming back to school, mostly in environmental compliance consulting, and I had come to recognize that maybe that wasn’t the best way to Students cheer and the camera rolls as CNBC Dean Robert J. Dolan, right, and students cele- make the sort of changes I was interested correspondent Phil LeBeau announces The brate in a late-afternoon party under the portico. in making in manufacturing settings.” Wall Street Journal / Harris Interactive survey Cucinelli served seven years in the rankings. PHOTOS BY D.C. GOINGS they said they love about Michigan is its U.S. Coast Guard, then founded a yacht focus on practical experience,” said Wall maintenance and delivery business before He arrived at the Alessi Courtyard Street Journal reporter Ronald Alsop, returning to school. “The only way to just after the CNBC cameras departed, who reported the story. “At a time when protect the marine environment that’s so having telecast the cheers, high-fives and companies want their MBAs to be ready dear to me is to reduce our dependence renditions of “The Victors” of a crowd of to roll the first day on the job, Michigan on petroleum products,” he said. His goal about 150 that turned out for the live graduates can do that.” is to get involved in start-ups focused on announcement on the crisp, sunny morn- “They’re living what they have to do,” renewable energy technology. “I wanted ing of the last full day of summer. said Alan L. Cotrone, director of career to come to Michigan to get exposure to Jonathan Soffin, MBA ’05 in market- development and academic services. the transportation and energy industries, ing, one of the students interviewed by “When the dean clarified our strategy, it and I’m happy to say I’ve gotten just that.” CNBC correspondent Phil LeBeau, said became very easy to tell both prospective Cucinelli was on the air often as a fed- his mom called him twice while he was students and recruiters what we stood for eral on-scene coordinator for oil spills on the air. “That was a little weird,” said and what we’re all about. We made it and hazardous materials releases during Soffin who is from Buffalo. “I could feel clear to recruiters what they’re getting.” his Coast Guard days. “That led to a lot the vibration on my leg.” “Michigan MBAs do more than take of TV interviews,” he said. “This is the It was only the first of many good notes, they take action,” said Kristina L. first one that was really a whole lot of fun.” vibrations rocking the school that day, Nebel, who served as the school’s admis- culminating in a late-afternoon celebration sions director from January 1999 until Jeff Mortimer under the portico, much as the number- this August, when she became director of one ranking was the culmination of years strategic planning and outreach for the of visioning and hard work. school’s Office of Admissions. “It all CONTENTS T HE M ICHIGAN D IFFERENCE Two Men, One Vision 26 33 Plus: Remembering $100 Million Gift an Extraordinary Day Photographers Steve Honors the Past, Kuzma, Peter Smith and Martin Vloet Looks to the Future capture the highlights, emotions and Real estate developer Stephen M. Ross, BBA ’62, whose exuberance of the firm The Related Companies developed New York City’s September 9 Ross gift Time Warner Center, is supporting what he knows best — announcement. the creation of new and improved space to enhance Dean Robert J. Dolan’s vision for team-based learning and leadership. Learn about Ross and the motivation behind the largest gift in the history of the University or any business school. FEATURES 32 Hundreds Gather to Cheer 42 That’s Entertainment! and Celebrate Historic Gift Michigan Alumni Shine “It seems it was only yesterday that I was here as in Star-studded Industry a student,” guest of honor Stephen M. Ross told more than 600 people who gathered at Hale There’s no biz like Auditorium and in overflow rooms for the surprise show biz for scores of gift announcement. “Never would I have dreamt that the school would Business School one day bear my name,” says Ross, who credits his uncle, philanthropist graduates working in and financier Max M. Fisher, for serving as a mentor and role model. the entertainment industry. Perhaps the most recognizable name in the field is Robert Shaye, BBA ’60, co-founder and co-chair of 18 University Launches 25 2004 Class Gift New Line Cinema, which produced $2.5 Billion Campaign A record $539,182 in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Shaye donations and pledges credits the school with helping him In May, the University signals recent grads’ develop the skills to turn New Line of Michigan announced continuing commit- into the success it is today. one of the largest ment to the school. fundraising goals in higher education, 46 $2.5 billion to support Executive MBA: A Fast scholarships, endowed 36 Business School’s MAP: Track to Business professorships, academic programs, facilities and other projects. Theory+Practice= Literacy for Busy Senior The Michigan Difference Executives 21 Dean Dolan: Alumni Working in teams Michigan’s Executive Support Critical of four to six, MBA MBA program students bring ana- prepares mid-career The Ross School of lytical skills, the latest professionals like Business’ strategy to research findings, and former astronaut create a distinctive new approaches to Donald McMonagle, Michigan approach firms and nonprofits MBA ’03, Arkansas to business education through Multidisciplinary Action Arts Center Director Nan Plummer, has become the Projects, the largest action-based MBA ’03, Landmine Survivors cornerstone for learning program in the nation. Network Executive Director Jerry the school’s $350 million campaign, White, MBA ’05, and entrepreneur The Michigan Difference: Leading John Kennedy, MBA ’05, to lead and in Thought and Action. create value in their organizations. DIVIDEND 1 FALL 2004 CONTENTS INTELLECTUAL DEPARTMENTS CAPITAL 12 Is America Really Facing 14 Faculty Research Dean: Robert J. Dolan Director of Communications: Cynthia Shaw a Crisis of Values? It’s a Small World Norway Executive Editor: Mary Jo Frank Denmark After All for Directors Is the United States Class Notes and Copy Editor: Fred P. Wessells c ian Protestant of Corporate Boards Europe straying from its tradi- Switzerland Designer: UM Marketing Communications Finland tional focus—beliefs A tightly woven, N resilient network of Photographers: Jennifer Altman, Philip Dattilo, Belgium in religion and God, Iceland D.C. Goings, Paul Jaronski, Colleen Kelly, Steve France family values, absolute directors leads the Austria New nation’s largest companies— and Kuzma, Marcia L. Ledford, Lorraine Pantic, Bill Italy Britain Canada moral authority, and A spreads ideas, attitudes and practices Sharpsteen, Peter Smith, Mary Vingerelli, Martin national pride? Is Vloet, and John Wheeler the gap between conservatives and among them, says Gerald Davis. liberals, between religious Americans Plus: Updates on leading change and Printer: University Lithoprinters and those who eschew organized judging how we stack up to our peers. Vol. 35, No. 2: ©2004 religion a sign that the country is in Stephen M. Ross School of Business the throes of a culture war? at the University of Michigan. 16 Alumni at Large This publication is produced twice a year by the Office of Communications and made possible Putting More Pop through the generosity of private donations. in Tops: For more information, contact Dividend, A profile of Sandra Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, DEPARTMENTS Beach Lin, MBA ’82, president of Alcoa 701 Tappan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1234. Closure Systems 222 International. 3 Across the Board The University of Michigan Regents: Connecting Urbanites with Nature: David Brandon, Laurence B.