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Fall 2012

Eagle Executive Magazine

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GEORGIA SOUTHERN From the Dean ...... 2 UNIVERSITY From the Alumni Editor ...... 2 Department News ...... 3 Eagle Scholarship Recipients ...... 4 NEWS Spotlight on Graduate Studies ...... 6 NEWS Alumni in the Spotlight ...... 7 from the College of Business Administration Homecoming Scenes ...... 8 Executive STATESBORO, GA 30460 Welcome New Faculty ...... 9 Eagle Executive Society ...... 11 VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1 Fall 2012 Alumniville ...... 13-15 BB&T Funds Eminent Scholar COBA and BB&T Corporation, with lead Under the leadership of center director and liability funding contingency policies; and, to client satisfaction bank Branch Banking and Trust Company, BB&T Executive in Residence, Edward H. allowance for loan loss methodologies,” recognition awards the eleventh largest in the U.S., have recently Sibbald, the Center has developed training explained Sibbald. by J. D. Power and signed an agreement with the University and education relationships with the Georgia Joe Brannen, president and CEO of the Associates, the U. S. System of Georgia’s Board of Regents, as Bankers Association, Community Bankers Georgia Bankers Association, underscores Small Business Ad- trustees of the Georgia Eminent Scholars Association, Federal Deposit Insurance the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and ministration, and Endowment Trust fund, to create a BB&T Corporation, Federal Reserve Bank of Consumer Protection Act’s stringent and Greenwich Associ- Executive in Residence in Banking under the Atlanta, and Georgia Department of Banking prescriptive regulatory provisions, “Banks ates, among others. state’s Eminent Scholar Program, which and Finance. These include an annual spring are looking for resources like the Center for BB&T has long began in 1985. With 28 system-wide eminent Community Bank Symposium in Statesboro Excellence in Financial Services and BB&T maintained its com- Edward Sibbald scholars in the program to attract top faculty and fall event in Valdosta, the BANKSTAT Executive in Residence to help them mitment to community-driven banking to Georgia institutions, this represents the performance reporting service, and a understand and implement these new rules.” service delivery. It was founded by third for Georgia Southern’s COBA and one Regulatory Advisory While BB&T is Alpheus P. Branch in Wilson, NC, in 1872 of only two to be funded in the System since program. one of the largest and has had a major presence in Georgia the Great Recession in 2008. The BB&T financial services since the late 1990’s, having come to BB&T’s donation of $500,000 to the funding will allow companies in the Statesboro with the 1999 acquisition of College, along with the state’s matching the executive in country, with $178.5 First Banking Company of Southeast funds, resulted in an endowment of $1 residence and center billion in assets, Georgia and lead bank First Bulloch Bank million, the income from which will fund the to serve as an inde- $21.6 billion in & Trust Co., originally founded as the Bank Executive in Residence in Banking as a pendent, objective market capitalization, of Statesboro in 1894, the first bank to be public-private partnership to help community resource for policy 1,800 financial chartered in Statesboro. banks meet the real world challenges of issues facing com- centers nationwide, “BB&T is committed to education,” said financial globalization, particularly in lesser munity banks. One and a full range of John Lane, BB&T city executive for urbanized areas of the state. current focus is consumer and Statesboro and COBA alumnus.” As part of When COBA announced the establishment regulatory compli- Dean Wells and John Lane commercial banking, our mission to make the communities we of a Center for Excellence in Banking in ance and the regressive cost burdens borne by securities, brokerage, asset management, serve better places to live, the BB&T 1992, the first center of its kind for Georgia, smaller banks, which, in Georgia, number mortgage, insurance, and related services, its Executive in Residence in Banking is an the objective was to provide educational 213 and constitute 90 percent of the 236 banking subsidiaries are organized as a group investment that will return dividends to our training and research for community banking. FDIC insured commercial banks in the state. of community banks, each with a regional shareholders, customers, and the com- Today, the Center for Excellence in Financial “The Center will be extending BANKSTAT president and each allowing decisions to be munities we serve for many years to come,” Services serves banks and their financial statewide and enhancing regulatory advisory made locally, where the client is located. This affirmed Kelly King, president of the services allies, but community banking to include research and analysis of reserve, has made BB&T’s client service more BB&T Corporation. N remains the primary focus. capital, and liquidity adequacy; equity and responsive, reliable, and effective according

“I Don’t Want This Night to End” Luke Bryan

PAID Thomas Luther Bryan (MGT, 1999) His outstanding success is no surprise to his Luke started writing songs and planned to NONPROFIT U. S. POSTAGE U. STATESBORO, GA STATESBORO, ORGANIZATION go to Nashville after graduating from high PERMIT NO. 286 earned one of the four country awards family who wanted him to move to Nashville presented during the 40th Anniversary following graduation from Lee County High school, until his brother was killed in an auto American Music Awards, broadcast live on accident. He opted to attend Georgia Sou- ABC from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, thern instead, and he continued writing songs, CA, Sunday, November 18. Luke, as he was formed a band, and played at local watering known in COBA, received the country male holes most weekends. artist of the year in the company of Taylor After graduation, Luke moved back to Swift, country female artist of the year; Lady Leesburg to work for his dad, despite his Antebellum, country band, duo, or group of family’s ongoing encouragement to pursue the year; and Carrie Underwood’s “Blown his music career. His dad finally issued an Away,” country album of the year. Then, ultimatum that he go to Music City or be during the American Country Awards (ACAs), fired! In 2001, after only two months in aired live on FOX from The Mandalay Bay Nashville, Luke was contracted with a city Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV, Monday, publisher, then discovered by Capitol December 10, Luke received more than a third, Records, and eventually released his 2007 nine of twenty-six, of the accolades presented, album “I’ll Stay Me,” and followed in 2009 including Male Artist and Artist of the Year; Luke Bryan and ACA “guitars” with “Doin’ My Thing.” “Doin’ My Thing” Male Single and Single of the Year for “I School, Leesburg. Luke grew up on a peanut peaked at number two on the country charts, Don’t Want This Night To End”; Album of the farm, where his father sold fertilizer for a number six on the Top 200, and spawned two Year for “Tailgates & Tanlines”; and, Male living. When he was 14, his folks bought him number one singles “Rain Is a Good Thing” Music Video and Music Video of the Year, a guitar, and he developed a passion for and “Someone Else Calling You Baby,” Male Most Played Radio Tracks, and Most country music while listening to George along with “Do I” at number two. His third Played Radio Tracks for “I Don’t Want This Strait, Conway Twitty, Ronnie Milsap, album, “Tailgates & Tanlines” followed in Night To End.” Alan Jackson, and Merle Haggard. Summer 2011. N STATESBORO, GA 30460-8002 STATESBORO, CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED EAGLE EXECUTIVE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY 8002E BOX O. P. Page 2 Eagle Executive Fall 2012 Eagle A Message from Dean Wells Greetings from COBA! Dr. Bill McCartney has announced he will retire in May. Of Executive This academic year will be remembered for milestones course, Bill has been threatening retirement for almost within the college and changes across both the college and as long as I’ve been at Southern, so it was with some GEORGIA SOUTHERN university. Perhaps, the most significant change in the surprise, and more than a little reluctance, that I accepted UNIVERSITY college is the author of this update. Dean Ron Shiffler his letter this semester. Bill has served as department retired after ten years of service and 20 of these columns! chair for management and as the Harry S. Carter In Ron’s absence, I have been appointed as interim dean Endowed Chair in Leadership. He has taught under- NEWS for the college. A committee has been formed to identify a graduate and graduate management, leadership, and from the new dean. strategic classes. I wonder if he’ll miss the commute College of Business Ron is now dean of the McColl School of Business at from Savannah? Administration We wish Bill, Barbara, and Zandra well as they STATESBORO, GA 30460 Queens University of Charlotte. We wish Ron and Barbara all the best in their new endeavors. transition into the next phases of their lives. Their As the university has reached record enrollment of families will enjoy the additional time together, as we more than 20,500 students, COBA‘s advisors are busy, will miss seeing them in the COBA halls. classes are full, and instructors are teaching more students As we say goodbye to longtime friends and than ever. Growth continues in our traditional and online colleagues, we invite you to meet, on page 9, twelve new faculty in undergraduate and graduate programs. We will launch our first class accounting, economics, logistics, marketing, and operations for the WebMAcc in Spring 2013. The program will be offered online management whom we welcome to the COBA team. I am particularly to working professionals living anywhere in the world, putting them excited about the addition of Dr. Tim Pearson as the new SOA closer to obtaining the CPA designation. With the addition of two new director. He brings a wealth of experience and academic faculty this year, we have begun the third cohort of Georgia Southern’s accomplishments to the position. His experience and reputation in the first, and only, PhD program, the PhD in logistics. field of fraud and forensic accounting make him uniquely qualified COBA is saying goodbye to three long serving members of our to lead the school. The accounting students and faculty are in good team. Zandra Brasington retired on December 1 after serving the hands! School of Accountancy for 20 years. A caring professional who always If you haven’t been on campus in a few years, please make plans James E. Davis, Jr., Editor met visitors with a smile and found solutions to what, at times, seemed to visit the college. We are proud of where, and what, we are and enjoy like a sea of problems, Zandra held steady through six directors during meeting and entertaining visitors. If distance keeps you away, contact William H. “Bill” Wells, Dean her term in the school. She will be hard to replace! me, and I’ll try to come to you, or, maybe, you would like to host or Lewis M. Stewart, Alumni Editor Dr. Barbara Price is retiring on January 1, after 13 years with join a Dinner with the Dean! This is a wonderful opportunity to COBA. Barbara has served the college and university in many roles, connect with fellow COBA alums and learn more about our including department chair, director of student services, and founding accomplishments and dreams. We may be separated by miles, but we The Eagle Executive director of the School of Information Technology. In her career, are all COBANs in our hearts. Please forward any items of interest or other Barbara earned three Fulbright Scholarships and spent a semester in inquiries to Hungary teaching students and reconnecting with her Hungarian roots. COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY P. O. BOX 8002E, STATESBORO, GA 30460 http://coba.georgiasouthern.edu The 19th Annual COBA Golf Tournament All academic programs in the College of Business The annual COBA golf tournament was held at Forest Heights Country Club on Friday, May 18. Winning teams were Gross — Tim Administration are , accredited by AACSB Robinson, Rickey Cassedy Tony Cassedy, and Ben Watkins, and Net — Mike Connolly, Al Lawson, Cleve Edenfield, and Randy International: The Johnson. Special awards were Closest to the Pin — Michael Counts (#1), Brad Denmark (#3) Charles Patterson (#6) and Richard Association to Advance Williams (#15), and Longest Drive — Cheryl Aasheim, ladies, and Michael Jackson, men. Special thanks to corporate sponsor, Collegiate Schools of Business. Walmart.

The College of Business Administration is a member of the Association for University Business and Economic Research (AUBER) and the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC).

Greetings from the ’Boro! universities have experienced a similar reduction in state On behalf of COBA’s faculty funding. It is not really the case that your “tax dollars” and and staff, we always enjoy tuition cover the cost of your college degree. Your financial The EAGLE EXECUTIVE is published twice a year as support for COBA is needed more now than in the past. a service to Georgia Southern faculty, staff, students, visiting with our returning and alumni by Georgia Southern University, College alums. The students just voted I am still mailing those blue cards to our alumni. It really of Business Administration, Office of Publications & to add $100 to their athletic fees is important to the academic process to know what kinds of Faculty Research Services, Room 3356, P. O. Box jobs our COBA folks have. It also helps to place internships 8109, Statesboro, GA 30460-8109. Phone: (912) 478- each semester to begin the 5926, Fax: (912) 478-5340 process of raising the money when the faculty knows where our people are employed. If Professional Staff: needed for the move to the you are modest or hiding from someone, we will not put your Carol Lott Waller, Publications Specialist Football Bowl Division, info in the Eagle Executive, but, please let me know where you William J. “Trey” Neville, III, Graduate Assistant formerly division I-A. I do not are and how you are doing. The alumniville section has a lot know how many students got of good networking opportunities, so, please, keep those blue THE EAGLE EXECUTIVE approval from their parents cards coming in. can now be accessed on-line at before voting, but, students gave their approval along with the Let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas and http://coba.georgiasouthern.edu/ Chancellor and University System. Happy New Year! centers/pub/index.htm The need for outside funds for our universities today is illustrated in a recent interview with retiring President Michael Best regards, Adams of The University of Georgia. When he became UGA president, the state contribution to the university budget was around 50 percent; yet, for the most recent budget year, it was only 30 percent. My guess is that all of the system’s STATESBORO, GA 30460 A UNIT OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA AFFIRMATIVE ACTION / EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Fall 2012 Eagle Executive Page 3 Mooney Receives Department News Georgia Society of CPAs Award The Educational Foundation of John Lewis, MBA, Mercer University, MA, The Georgia Society of CPAs, Finance & Economics West Georgia College, joins us from Kennesaw (GSCPAs) awarded the Howard State University as a visiting professor. He has been A study by the Bureau of Business Research and Herman Distinguished Service a certified project management professional, PMP, Economic Development indicates Georgia Southern Award to Lowell Mooney, in telecommunications and IT project management University, including its athletic events, graduation professor of accounting, during its for the past 15 years. John’s experience includes ceremonies, conferences, and recruiting drew 163,339 fall Leadership Council meeting telecommunications, computer hardware and software, tourists to Bulloch County in 2011, accounting for an Ellen Sweat, chair, at Callaway Gardens on Novem- information technology services, soft-ware development, state economic impact of more than $47.4 million. Ben Educational Awards ber 4. This award is the highest and local government, and insurance and financial services and Committee, and Martha McKay, BBRED researcher, explained, “The study found honor the Foundation bestows for is teaching project management, management information Merrit, president, that more than 131,000 of the visitors stayed overnight outstanding service to the ac- systems, and advanced business applications. John recently Educational Foundation and helped support 748 jobs, generating more than $3 counting profession. graduated from the AACSB Professional Qualification Bridge present to Lowell Mooney. million in state and local tax revenue.” Program. Over the years as a professor at Chris Paul, professor and chair, serves as an Manouchehr Tabatabaei, associate professor, will be track Georgia Southern University, Dr. Mooney has dedicated accreditation team member for the Commission of chair for the 2013 International Decision Sciences Institute numerous hours to the profession and the Foundation, Academics Accreditation in the United Arab Emirates. (iDSI) to be held in Bali, Indonesia, in July. serving as Foundation president in 2008-2009. During his His most recent accreditation visit was to Abu Dhabi term, he was instrumental in creating and implementing the University in November were he reviewed the bachelor strategic operational plan for the Foundation used by board of finance program for reaccreditation. Dr. Paul is Management members and officers today. “Lowell has been the most scheduled to go to the American University of Sharjah in influential Educational Foundation leader in the Founda- February were he will be reviewing an MS in accounting The Center for Entrepre- tion’s recent history,” explained Harvey Tarpley, past program. neurial Learning and Leadership held its 8th Venture Concept president of the GSCPAs and Immediate Past President of Exhibition in the College of the Educational Foundation of the GSCPAs, and CEO of Information Systems Information Technology Atrium in Tarpley and Underwood, CPAs, Norcross. April. The Venture Concept Tom Case, professor and chair, traveled to In his accounting career, Dr. Mooney has written numer- Exhibition allows students to Villahermosa, Mexico, in September to give a keynote ous articles, reviewed textbooks, as well as served on present venture ideas from their entrepreneurship classes to address at the 2012 CONAIS Congress hosted Juarez numerous committees and task forces related to the students, faculty, and the community. Students come up with Autonomous University of Tabasco. He will be the profession. Dr. Mooney currently serves on the six member innovative ideas, undertake basic research, develop the concept Information Systems Education and board of The Georgia Society of CPAs Board of Directors for a panel of “prospective investors,” and present a trade show Curriculum track chair for the ICIS and is active with GSCPA’s student initiatives, as well as booth that demonstrates their business concept. The show 2013 conference in Milan, Italy, next accounting student initiatives at Georgia Southern. In typically lasts two-to-three hours, and the students engage in summer. Tom’s fourth textbook addition, he is a member of the finance committee of the conversations about their businesses and ideas for success. Business Data Communications: Bulloch County Council on Child Abuse. One of his current Judges for this years event were Joan McNeal, Exodus Payment Infrastructure, Net-working, and passions is helping students find student internships and Systems, LLC, and Ellwood G. Ivey, The Invention Ingen, Security (7th edition), co-authored by full-time employment opportunities upon graduation. N LLC. William Stallings, is now in print. COBA’s Society for Human Resource Management student Geoff Dick, senior lecturer, has chapter received the Superior Merit Award for 2012. Award been appointed an ABET Commissioner, external levels are based on chapter size, with smaller chapters, less than Mackelprang Receives reviewer for the Multimedia University in Malacca, 20 members, required to complete at least 38 of 70 activities to Malaysia’s, Knowledge Management program; Online receive a Superior Merit Award and larger chapters, more than International Awards Education Advisory Board member for the master in IS 20 members, required to complete at least 50 activities to receive Alan Mackelprang, assistant professor program, George Washington University, School of a Superior Merit Award. With 89 chapters nationwide, Georgia Business; and, Education track co-chair for the 2013 of operations management, has received Southern was the only major university in Georgia to receive European Conference on Information Systems. He was a the 2012 Elwood S. Buffa Doctoral recognition. keynote speaker at the 2012 Asociación Nacional de Dissertation Award, an internationally Misty L. Loughry, professor of management, received an Instituciones de Educación en Informática, A.C competitive award co-sponsored by Outstanding Reviewer Award from the Management Education Conference, Mexico City, in October. Hercher Publishing and the Decision and Development Division of the Academy of Management at Kevin Elder and Camille Rogers, associate Sciences Institute, recognizing outstanding its Annual Meeting in Boston, MA, in August 2012. professors, contributed to SAP University Alliances For the Center for Academic Technology Support’s premier dissertation research in the decision curriculum for cloud-based Enterprise Resources Alan Mackelprang show of TechTalk, in August, Ashlea Rogers interviewed Jan sciences. Planning solution: Business ByDesign and one of SAP’s Grimes, instructor of management, regarding the summer pilot The Buffa Award was presented at the hottest new solutions: SAP Mobility. Camille is program of Folio, Georgia Southern’s new classroom teaching Decision Sciences Institute’s 40th annual meeting in San coordinator of the online, graduate ERP Certificate and communication platform. Francisco in November where Dr. Mackelprang presented program for IS. Adrian Gardiner, associate professor, and Bob his research, “Beyond Firm Boundaries: Exploring the Szymanski, lecturer, team-taught the first SAP HANA Marketing & Logistics Interdependence between Supply Chain Partners,” which he course at Georgia Southern. HANA is an in-memory published at the University of South Carolina. In addition, database solution, supporting real-time analysis for online Karl Manrodt, professor of logistics, presented the results Dr. Mackelprang was named to the Decision Sciences th transaction and analytic processing in a single-database of his 9 annual study on distribution center metrics at the Institute’s Hall of Fame joining a distinguished list of environment, that offers students experience in in- Warehouse Education and Research Council Annual meeting in previous winners including professors from the University Atlanta in May. memory computing, data modeling, provisioning, and of North Carolina, Northwestern University, The Ohio State analytics. Georgia Southern is one of the first universities University, University of Minnesota, and Boston College, in the world to expose students to SAP HANA. School of Accountancy among others. Adrian Gardiner was recently named conference chair This is not the first research award honor for Dr. for the 2013 conference of the Southern Association of Alain Garrido (Acct 2012), staff accountant with Ernst & Mackelprang, who joined COBA this year. His co-authored Information Systems (SAIS). The conference will be held Young, Atlanta, and Dr. Leslie B. Fletcher, professor of in early March at the Desoto Hilton in Savannah. accounting, were recognized in Oil, Gas & Energy Quarterly paper, “Supply Chain Integration: A Meta-Analysis and Bob Szymanski has also been selected by SAP to lead with an article, “Overview and Analysis of the Proposed Future Directions,” was selected for the 2012 Young the SAP University Alliances HANA curriculum program Revenue Recognition Standard Under Consideration by the Researchers Award at the Annual Council of Supply Chain for SAP Americas. He will be speaking at the ICIS 2012, IASB and the FASB.” Management Professionals Educator’s Conference to held Orlando, FL, in December and the 2013 SAP Americas Lamont A. Belk, Criminal Division in Atlanta in September. Curriculum Congress, Milwaukee, in February. Bob holds assistant U. S. Attorney, Executive Office for Mackelprang earned a PhD from the University of South two certifications in SAP ERP Integration and a recently United States Attorneys, United States Carolina, an MS from the University of Rochester, and a BS Department of Justice, Augusta Office, spoke to added a third: Global Certification in SAP ERP from Arizona State University. His research interests include Procurement. the Student Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners on October 29 on supply chain contagion and flexibility, operations-marketing Hsiang-Jui Kung, associate professor, is now interface, and supply chain strategy. He has published in top secretary and vice president for the Association for “Fraud-Related Crimes in the United States empirical research journals, including the Journal of Chinese Management Educators. Attorney’s Office.” Operations Management. N Page 4 Eagle Executive Fall 2012 2012 Scholarship Recipients

Dixie Crystals Freeman Knotts Paul LaGrone

Joshua S. Pollak Greggory D. Vickers Landon J. Latham Melvin D. Zuber Courtney E. Martin and Delaney Tuggle and Cox with Dr. Jill Lockwood (center)

Mauldin & Jenkins International Beta Porter Keadle Moore Student Gamma Sigma

Grevie R. Neymour (left) with Kristin Lord and Alain R. Garrido Yue Audry Xu and Dr. Samantha Williams and Gale A. Blackmore with Leslie Fletcher (right) Nichols Caulty Debbie Sessions (right)

Cox Evelyn Janofsky GATE Scholars Spain Coe

Delaney Tuggle Melissa G. Cook Shanna Lawson Dr. Dwight Sneathen (center) with Qingqing Liu, Jeremy Story, Kristen Birchett, Rebecca Beck, Amry Stanley, and Rachel Neely

Recipients not pictured Dixie Crystals: Laura Elizabeth Anderson and Bowen Kent Flowers SE GA Society of CPAs Draffin & Tucker Scholarship: Sarah Kaye Foster Giacomo Family Memorial: Jazmin M. Tribble Holland, Henry & Bromley: Jordan Craig Klebe Leonard & Betty Blount: Lee Charles Guentert LIT: Shelby Elaine McCarter Mark Anderson: Patrick Dennis Mimbs Matthew Janofsky: Shanna Monique Lawson Priddy-Price: Christopher Dominic Sells and Emily Lauren Woods Robert F. Morris: Emily Erin Hall and Adam Peter Silcox Robert T. Cox: Emily A. Archer Susan Rebstock Williams: Courtney Leigh Rogers 2012 scholarship winners Lauren Hughes, Jonathan C. Eargle, Thomas Puckett: Jeffery Allen Smith and LaShaie E. Joshua with Dr. Chuck Harter William T. Herring: Matt Clayton Rodgers Fall 2012 Eagle Executive Page 5 Debt and the U. S. Economy The Courage to Care Immediately people’s incentive Mr. T. Farrell Nichols, chair sionalism, ethics, and following the U. S. to work and save of the Georgia State Board of leadership. Quoting former Presidential and are included in the Accountancy, spoke as the 2012 Harvard Business School Congressional elec- model, ratios of School of Accountancy Execu- Professor David Maister, tions in November, debt to GDP in- tive in Residence at the Nichols stressed taking care the Finance and crease 30 to 70 Nessmith-Lane Performing Arts of your employees, your Economics Depart- percent to a Center in November, 17th annual clients, and your career as the ment hosted a guest midpoint approxi- event. driving opportunity in the seminar, “Debt and mation of 128 In his leadership role with profession. Identified keys to the U. S. Econ- percent debt to the State Board of Accountancy, success for students included omy.” at which Dr. GDP in 2035. the state’s seven member board responsible knowing what is right, doing what is right, Kaiji Chen, Emory Dr. Shantanu Bagchi and Dr. Kaiji Chen When resear- for licensing certified public accountants and managing competing rights, and recognizing University professor of economics and visiting chers relaxed the assumption of higher taxes, public accounting firms in Georgia since that everything counts. His assessments of fellow at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the 2035 projected debt to GDP ratio further 1908, Mr. Nichols is responsible for challenges for the industry included effective discussed the U. S. publicly-held debt to GDP increased to 172 percent, yet when CBO’s regulation of the profession and adopting rules communication, positive energy, and com- ratio, which has risen from 36 percent in 2007 projected government spending cuts were and standards for licensure, standards of mitment, concluding “everyone is tested, to 68 percent in 2011. It is expected to continue modeled, the ratio exceeded 200 percent, an profes-sional conduct, disciplinary processes, repeatedly, in life; it is vision, purpose, and rising with the Congressional Budget Office’s actual 221 percent model output estimate. All and attracting the best and brightest students commitment that brings us through the recently reported $1.089 trillion fiscal 2012 model estimates assume the 2 percent inflation and professionals to careers in the industry. storm.” deficit, the fourth consecutive, in as many standard reflected in current Federal Reserve Mr. Nichols holds a BBA with honors in The School of Accountancy works with years, of U. S. government operating deficits policy, but when inflation rates are allowed to accounting from The University of Georgia the Southeast Georgia Chapter of the Georgia in excess of $1 trillion. increase to 4 percent, and taxes are held to and is active in the American Institute of Society of CPAs to invite executives to speak Based upon the presented analysis and historical tax rates, i.e., no increase over Certified Public Accountants; the Georgia, to students to illustrate professional oppor- assessment forecasts by Drs. Chen and Ayse current rates, the 2035 debt to GDP ratio South Carolina, and North Carolina Society tunities that exist for accounting graduates. Imrohoroglu, finance and business economist stabilizes at a more modest 131 percent. of Certified Public Accountants; the National “The Executive in Residence has always from the University of Southern California, it Finally, for perspective, the 2011 Bowles– Association of State Boards of Accountancy; been a student favorite,” said Lowell appears it will be difficult for the U. S. debt to Simpson Plan, which includes a phased-in and the Institute of Internal Auditors. In Mooney, professor of accounting, who GDP ratio to return to its previous average balance of higher taxes and government addition to his current position, he has served, concluded the program by thanking Mr. level of approximately 40 percent. In fact, spending cuts, models out a fully calibrated since 1985, as the managing professional for Nichols for his service to the profession and unless there is a significant increase in the U. S. equilibrium debt to GDP ratio of 95 percent in Nichols, Cauley, & Associates, LLC, Certified to COBA’s School of Accountancy. “Stu- economic growth rate, a debt to GDP ratio in 2035. Public Accounting firm, with offices in dents enjoy hearing about the accomplish- excess of 100 percent may become the future Dr. Chen’s macroeconomic research and Dublin, Warner Robbins, Clarkesville, and ments of these leaders and their stories of norm. modeling on consumer consumption and Atlanta. He has more than 30 years in public challenges, perseverance, and success.” The In the presenters’ research, the CBO’s savings, business investment, business cycles, accounting and has held numerous board Executive-in-Residence program has become benchmark baseline scenario debt to GDP ratio and social security have been published in the positions in privately-held and publicly- a highlight of the academic year in the of 73 percent compared favorably with the American Economic Review, Journal of owned companies, as well as not-for-profits. College of Business Administration. model’s 84 percent ratio projected in 2035, a Monetary Economics, Review of Economic As keynote speaker for the 2012 Mr. Nichols has served as president of the 25 year outlook, with both forecasts assuming Dynamics, and Economic Theory. His Executive-in-Residence program, Nichols Dublin Rotary, Chamber, and Scouts. He and higher marginal and capital gains tax rates. presentation to COBA students was was introduced by Julian I. Deal, Statesboro his wife, Alice, reside in Dublin and are When the adverse effects of higher taxes on coordinated by Dr. Shantanu Bagchi. N CPA, who was appointed to the Georgia members of the First Baptist Church. They Board of Accountancy by Governor Nathan have three children and ten grandchildren. N Deal last year. Deal received his bachelor’s degree in business education from Georgia Southern and was admitted to Georgia certified public accounting practice in 1966. His wife, Frances, is also a Georgia Southern Sneathen Is Volunteer of the Year accounting graduate and a certified public accountant since 1967. Junior Achievement has empowered Center. Awardees, including Monica Nichols led a very informative lecture to students across the country in the basics of free Daughtry, Beach High School, Teacher of the Georgia Southern students, “The Courage to enterprise, entrepreneurship, and financial Year and Weyerhaeuser, Business Partner- Care.” Discussions centered on profes- responsibility for the past 80 years. For the past ship of the Year, were also recognized along thirteen years, the coastal region Junior with business leaders Donald A. Kole and Achievement of Georgia has sponsored the Robert H. Demere, Jr., who were inducted as Savannah Business Hall of Fame, to recog- the 39th and 40th laureates of the Savannah nize business leaders, mentors, and volunteers Business Hall of Fame, chosen for their who have set “role model” examples for business accomplishments as well as con- A Day for Southern students in finance, economic, and workforce tributions to the community. Awardees and development throughout the region. honorees serve as role models for students, At the 2012 Savannah Business Hall of reflecting the Junior Achievement principles of Fame, COBA’s own L. Dwight Sneathen, Jr. integrity, respect, and excellence. Colonial was recognized as volunteer of the year for his Oil—Colonial Group, Inc. was the lead leadership in the “Economics for Success” sponsor for the 2012 event. N program in Bulloch County schools. Sneathen, who received his PhD from the University of Arizona and teaches financial accounting, has worked with Junior Achievement for the past several years to deliver the “Economics for Success” program in middle schools, rein- forcing the importance of personal financial responsibility for youth. The 2012 John F. Hodges Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Sneathen by Dale Critz, Sr., honorary chair, Savannah Business Hall of Fame, and Johnathan Barrett, CPA, A reception was held in COBA November 9 to celebrate the Dean’s Office, the MBA Office, Department vice president, Junior Achievement of Georgia, of Management, and Office of Publications & Faculty Research Service’s 100 percent participation in during its annual banquet, November 14, at the Georgia Southern’s 2012 “A Day for Southern” fundraising campaign. Savannah International Trade and Convention Page 6 Eagle Executive Fall 2012

Spotlighton Graduate Studies

New MBA Director Smith Mathews As director of MBA Programs at Georgia delivering the kind of value they seek now as the head brewer and first employee of a Southern, coming from the University of Utah, and in the future. Whatever we do will be a start-up brewery, moving his brewing career I’d like to share my excitement about joint effort of faculty, students, staff, to Charleston, SC. This was a great Georgia Southern’s MBA programs. alumni, and industry partners. I’m experience and the perfect stepping stone to Even as COBA looks for a new dean, excited to be part of this effort. If opening and running a new brewery. we are actively reexamining all of our you have ideas and would like to be Throughout his time working and while programs and the educational a part of the process, please contact in the MBA program, Smith continuously experiences of our students. To date, me at [email protected] planned the start-up. With the help of his we have surveyed our students and or (912) 478-2357. MBA team, he put together a great brewery MBA faculty on a number of issues Go Eagles and GATA! N business plan they later used for seeking to identify structural weaknesses and Gordon Smith capital and business planning. Upon opportunities. In addition, we are Smith Mathews (WebMBA 2011) is the graduation from the MBA program, Smith looking at areas of excellence in other Georgia brewmaster and managing partner of started planning the business full time. He Southern colleges for potential synergies. Southbound Brewing Co. He earned his immediately brought in his friend, Carly Finally, we’ll be meeting with companies to undergraduate degree in business Wiggins, as the marketing director and, make sure our programs and students are administration from the Georgia Institute with her help, has been of Technology while working at working toward opening Sweetwater Brewing Co. He Southbound Brewing Co. started in the back of the around the first of the year house, working on the 2013. bottling line but later joined Southbound will be one of MAcc Update the events and marketing the newest craft micro- staff of Sweetwater’s tap breweries in the The School of Account- (ERP) through the Information Systems room. ® Southeast. It will strive ancy is excited to kick off the department. This is a phenomenal mix for our After experiencing all to produce incredible WebMAcc in Spring 2013. students, and will make them more facets of the brewing industry, Smith was beers that are inspired by Smith’s love for This is a two year, entirely marketable in today’s technological accepted into the Fall 2009 class of The different beer styles and great music. The online program designed for environment. The ERP courses will prepare Seibel Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL, company recently purchased a 13,000 sq ft working profes-sionals. the students to pursue the TERP10 SAP® and Doemens Academy in Munich, Germany. warehouse of off West Bay Street in The first cohort of Certification, while the accounting core will Later, he obtained an international diploma in Savannah and should begin reconstruction approximately 20 students give them the tools they need for the CPA brewing technology from the World Brewing shortly. The brewing equipment is currently Dr. Sneathen from all over the United Exam. N Academy and, then, returned to Sweetwater being manufactured and should arrive in States are signed up and as a brewer while simultaneously starting mid-December. Smith noted, “If all stays on ready to go. We went across the pedestrium to work on his MBA through Georgia schedule, we are looking to start production create a unique program that will combine the Southern’s Georgia WebMBA program. in either late January or mid-February. The Master of Accounting core courses with an Since his first day of employment at production facility plans to host daily emphasis in enterprise resources planning Sweetwater, Smith knew he wanted to open educational tours and tastings. Look out for N a brewery. Fortunately, he was later hired on Southbound beers in 2013!” MBA Ranked One of the Nation’s Top Online MBA Programs

“Georgia Southern’s MBA program is According to the publication, the as retention and graduation rates. Academic sity’s umbrella are accredited through the continuing to grow and our online degree rankings include a compilation of data quality is of high importance and includes Southern Association of Colleges and program offers working professionals the students will find useful as they go through factors like the competitiveness of Schools. The College of Business has flexibility to earn their degree no matter their the program selection process. One of the admission, design and efficiency of the undergraduate and graduate accreditation location or family commitments,” said Bill top criteria used to rank schools is the online program, and flexibility of course- through AACSB International: Association Wells, dean of Georgia Southern’s College of affordability of the education, including work. Profiles of the faculty and diversity to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Business Administration. “I am particularly tuition rates and financial aid options. of the student body are also considered, as Only about 30 percent of all U. S. colleges proud of our outstanding professors Affordability also boils down to well as additional resources available to of business have AACSB accreditation. N who understand the demands of how long it takes to complete a students beyond the virtual classroom. working professionals. They have program and how many credits The Georgia Southern University Online designed the program to not only are required to earn a degree. The MBA is offered through the Georgia work with the busiest of schedules, value of the school may also be WebMBA program, a 30-hour program that For more information on any of our but to help graduates take the next determined by additional benefits appeals to professionals from a broad graduate programs, please contact step in their career.” Georgia Southern the school provides, such as student perks, business background. In addition to being COBA Graduate Studies, P. O. Box Univer-sity’s Master of Business program perks, and alumni resources. ranked among the nation’s best, the 8050 • Room 3300, Statesboro, GA Administration (MBA) has been named one M Magazine also looks at reputation and magazine also noted that Georgia Southern 30460-8050, Phone: (912) 478- of the nation’s Top Online MBA programs by prestige which takes into account is “ranked at the top among regional schools 5767, E-Mail: mba@georgia M Magazine (mbaonline.com), the number accreditation and awards the school has with similar online MBA programs.” southern.edu, Website: http://coba one online MBA magazine for students. The received. The quality of the institution is Georgia Southern University and all of .georgia southern.edu/grad.htm. University’s online MBA was ranked 8th in determined by enrollment statistics, as well its programs contained under the univer- the national rankings. Fall 2012 Eagle Executive Page 7 in ALUMNIthe SPOTLIGHT Steffany Dixon Farmer Dustin Lewis Shortly thereafter, she joined Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners where she worked as a manager and, with her extensive experience in new homes sales, now manages a sales team of three agents. Among the 1,300 agents in the greater Savannah marketplace, Steffany consistently ranks in the top 20, is listed in the top 2 percent of all Coldwell Banker agents internationally, and was voted a “40 under 40” award winner by the Business Report and Journal. She has also served on the boards of the Home Builders Association of Greater Savannah and the Savannah Board of Realtors. Steffany Dixon Farmer (MGT, 1993), Steffany and Jeff are residents of Pooler after obtaining her real estate license in with their children, Hannah (13) and Brice 1993, worked for Ben Farmer Realty where (11). N Dustin Lewis (FIN, 1995), of Dustin comprehensive examination, a written she met her husband, Jeff (FIN, 1993). Lewis Appraisal Associates, Inc., Saint demonstration appraisal report, and Simons Island, was recently awarded the attaining 4,500 hours of qualifying Appraisal Institute’s prestigious Member, experience. Designees of the MAI title are Appraisal Institute (MAI) membership further required to abide by both the designation. This designation requires com- appraisal profession’s Uniform Standards of pletion of 11 examinations covering 380 Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) hours of graduate-level classroom curricu- and the Appraisal Institute’s Standards of lum, passing a four-module, two-day Professional Practice and Code of Ethics. N Jeffery Grant Resource Management. He also serves as a Junior Achievement of America instructor, Ogeechee Technical College Career Services Advisory Board member, and founder of Maximum Potential, a career training and Cathy Butler Gregory development business. Most recently, Jeffery has been recognized as one of Bulloch County’s Top “20 under 40” business leaders. Cathy Butler Gregory (MKT, 1975), a Prior to assuming his directorship for the Broker for Re/Max Accent in Richmond City of Statesboro, Jeffery worked as a Hill, has more than 33 years of experience senior personnel manager for Advantage selling real estate in the Richmond Hill area. Human Resources, one of the world’s She, her husband Keith, and children, Kirk and Taylor, are very proud of their deep- leading staffing companies, where he seeded family roots in the Lowcountry of Jeffery Grant (MGT, 2003) is director managed and directed staffing activities for South Carolina and Coastal Georgia. more than 300 employees. of Human Resources for the City of Cathy is past president of the Hinesville Statesboro and is responsible for, among In addition to being named Georgia Board of Realtors, past vice president of the other things, recruitment, staffing, strategic Southern’s Homecoming King in 2000, Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce, and planning, compensation, and information Jeffery was the recipient of the Student past director of the Coastal Georgia management. He is certified as a senior Leadership and Civic Engagement – John F. Development Authority as well as a member professional in human resources (SPHR), Nolan Hall of Leaders Award as well as the of the St. Vincent’s Academy School Board. as an ASA staffing professional (CSP), and Southern Talon Award and the University She is a distressed properties professional currently holds the office of president of Housing Robbie L. Steele Scholarship (DPP) and holds the Re/Max Hall of Fame, the Statesboro Area Chapter of the Society Award. Lifetime Achievement, and Top Agent in of Human Resource Management and state Jeffery and his wife, Erica Grant, have Coastal Georgia awards. N representative for the Society of Human two children, Jeffery and Victoria. N Page 8 Eagle Executive Fall 2012 Faces of Homecoming 2012 The 2012 COBA homecoming tailgate was held under the water tower in the parking lot of Paulson Stadium on November 10 before game. Special thanks are extended to Rachael Barrett, Janice Brown, Wallace Brown, Jerry Burke, Cindy Glover, Jan Grimes, Deborah Hilton, Cindy Randall, Dora Schmit, Lewis Stewart, and Bill Wells for their help with this event. Later that day, Georgia Southern’s Eagles soared over the defense of Howard University’s Bison with a score of 69–26. Fall 2012 Eagle Executive Page 9

COBA Welcomes New Faculty

We welcome the newest members of the COBA team presented below, along with the talents and skills they bring. We presently have eight faculty and administrative searches for the 2012–2013 academic year: a dean of the college and a chair of Finance & Economics; one assistant or associate professor of quantitative analysis; one assistant or associate professor of hospitality management; two assistant or associate professors of management; and two assistant or associate professors of finance. Each of these searches continues to be ongoing. Christopher Boone Robert Marley Assistant Professor of Logistics Assistant Professor of Accounting Marketing & Logistics Department School of Accountancy

Chris Boone, PhD, Auburn University and MS, Air Force Institute of Robert Marley, PhD, University of South Florida and CA and BS, University Technology, comes to Georgia Southern from Albuquerque, NM, where he was a of Illinois, joins COBA following the completion his PhD. He is a CPA with 11 career logistics officer in the U. S. Air Force. Chris held leadership command positions for two years of accounting experience in a variety of roles in both public and corporate accounting, consulting, logistics squadrons and served as professor of logistics management at the Air Force’s Air Command and entrepreneurship. Prior to returning to academia, Robert established a successful virtual goods and Staff College. His teaching and research interests are in logistics and supply chain management, marketplace and was an independent consultant to Fortune 500 companies. His research interests are logistics strategy, and supply chain disruptions. N behavioral research in accounting information systems, audit judgment, and decision making. N Christopher Brunt Associate Professor of Economics Monique Murfield Finance & Economics Department Assistant Professor of Logistics Marketing & Logistics Department Before joining the faculty at Georgia Southern, Christopher Brunt, PhD, Wayne State University, MA, Wayne State University, and BS, Eastern Michigan University, Monique Murfield, PhD, University of Tennessee and MBA and BS, Bowling was an assistant professor at Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, where he taught Green State University, is originally from Ohio. She comes to Statesboro by way of a wide variety of graduate and undergraduate courses. Christopher’s research focuses on the health the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. Prior to returning to academia, her professional economics of reimbursement, physician behavioral incentives, and Medicare Part B. His areas of N experience includes several years as a buyer and manager of inbound logistics for Pressure Connections specialization include health economics, industrial organization, and labor. Corporation, Columbus, OH. Her current research focuses on buyer-supplier relationships, specifically, environmental supply chain management and supplier accommodation of customers. In her free time, Monique enjoys being outside and loves spending time with her husband and their horses on their new Chung-Yean Chiang farm south of town. N Assistant Professor of Operations Management Management Department Dora Schmit Chung-Yean Chiang, PhD, University at Buffalo, MBA, Rutgers University, Assistant Professor of Marketing BBA, National Chi Nan University, Taiwan, comes to us after being on the faculty Marketing & Logistics Department of SolBridge International School of Business last year. His research interests are in supply chain coordination, operations-marketing interfaces and strategic sourcing. This year he will be teaching Dora Schmit, PhD, Louisiana State University, and BS, University of Wisconsin– quantitative methods and operations. N LaCross, began her business career as a manager at Marshall Field’s and, later, business analyst for Menard’s, Inc. She, then, returned to academia for her PhD. Her research focuses on customer emotions and relationship marketing. It has been published in the Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics and presented at the Society for Marketing Advances, the Academy of Geoffrey Dick Marketing Science, and the Society for Consumer Psychology. Dora joins us from Baton Rouge, Senior Lecturer of Information Systems LA. N Information Systems Department

A native Australian, Geoff Dick, PhD and MC, University of New South Wales, Errol Stewart and BBA, University of Southern Queensland, came to Georgia Southern for a Assistant Professor of Accounting sabbatical in 2001 and has taught on-line in COBA for 10 years. Following a 20 year business career School of Accountancy Department in internal audit, he entered academia at the University of New South Wales and directed the Business Information Technology program. Geoff’s research has received international recognition in the Errol Stewart, PhD, Florida Atlantic University, and MS and BS, University of Emerald Management Review, citing best papers from the top 400 business journals in 2009. Geoff West Indies, is a chartered accountant, certified internal auditor, and has taught comes to Statesboro from North Georgia College and State University, Dahlonega, where he had N financial accounting and auditing at the undergraduate and graduate levels. His research interests been an IS professor since 2010. include auditor regulation and audit risk assessment. Prior to commencing his academic career, Errol was a senior manager at Deloitte, Jamaica. His industry experience includes external and internal auditing; consulting; financial management; and conversion, application, and reporting under N Myoung-Jin Keay international financial and auditing standards. Assistant Professor of Economics Finance & Economics Department Christopher Welter Assistant Professor of Management Myoung-Jin Keay’s, PhD, Michigan State University, MA, Seoul National University, and BA,Yonsei University, Korea, research interests are econometric Management Department theory and applied econometrics for nonlinear cross section/panel data models. His PhD focused on the average treatment effects and their applications in Botswana fertility. As a graduate student at Chris Welter, PhD and BS, Ohio State University, arrived in Statesboro from Michigan State, he taught principles of economics and economic development for undergraduates Ohio this summer. His research interests center around theory development in the field of entrepreneurship. Specifically, his research investigates how different opportunities require different as well as math reviews for incoming graduate students. Myoung-Jin joins COBA from Lansing, N MI. N exploitation processes. He teaches classes primarily in entrepreneurship and strategy. Lindsay Larson Arda Yenipazarli Assistant Professor of Marketing Assistant Professor of Operations Management Marketing & Logistics Department Management Department Lindsay Larson, PhD, MPhil, and MS, Yale University, BA, Vassar College, and AACSB post-doctoral certification in marketing, University of Florida, did a Arda Yenipazarli, PhD, University of Florida, and BS, Sabanci University, great job teaching last year as a visiting instructor, and is now an assistant professor. She brings Turkey, joins us from Gainesville, FL. His primary research interests are in the areas of new product development, green supply chain management, and inventory management and theory. expertise in priming research and experimentation methodology that significantly contributes to the N department’s and college’s teaching and scholarly activity. N This year he will be teaching operations and quantitative methods. Page 10 Eagle Executive Fall 2012

Thank You 2012 Eagle Executive Society Members!

The Eagle Executive Society is an annual membership society of COBA alumni and friends. The fifty dollar annual membership investment supports educational activities beyond the classroom, including travel scholarships, student engagement, and research activities to ensure the best technology, facilities, and learning opportunities are available for today’s students. Members receive an Eagle Executive Society stock certificate, recognition in the Eagle Executive, and invitations to special events sponsored by the college. Memberships are accepted on-line at http://coba.georgiasouthern.edu/, phone to Linda Wilke, 912-478-5050, QR Code on page 15, or mail form on page 15. Active members, including charter, renewed, and new, are acknowledged below. We appreciate your support.

Trip Addison Aliese P. Priddy* William Amponsah Russell A. Priddy* Jason Anderson RadioJones, LLC Stewart Applbaum Raymon Eugene Ragan II Thomas C. Avant Cindy H. Randall J. Kenneth Baker James Randall* Perry C. Barnett* Stephen E. Rary* Charles R. Barr* Mark Rawson Lovett Bennett, Jr.* Justin P. Reynolds Paul T. Bennett John A. Roach Donald L. Berecz Stephen J. Roundtree* William H. Bolen* Joseph P. Ruhland Thomas P. Bond, Jr.* Paige Rutner William J. Bostwick* LTC Stephen M. Rutner Edward S. Bowles* Andrew G. Sharp Gregory J. Brock* William Walter Sharpe, V Ted S. Brown Barbara Shiffler* Hoke S. Brunson, Jr.* Ron Shiffler* Grady W. Bryson* L. Dwight Sneathen* Bryan R. Burke* Jean Carol Spoolstra* Gerard Burke* Asbury Stembridge, Jr.* Lisa Butler* Frank L. Gaudry Lurue L. Lord* Charlene K. Stewart* Michael R. Calhoun* Jenny L. Gentry* Misty Loughry* Lewis M. Stewart* Mikelle Calhoun John M. Giddens, III Carolyn Luckadoo* Robert H. Stoddard Michael Callaghan Sara Jeanette Grimes* David M. Luckie* William N. Strawn, Jr.* Donald E. Callaway* Kathleen H. Gruben Alan Mackelprang Gloria J. Stuart Constance R. Campbell Dominique Halaby Tod Manack* Cathy Owens Swift* Boris A. Carl Debra Hall-Fretwell Karl B. Manrodt* Thomas L. Tharpe* Brenda S. Carter* Mark D. Hanna James Craig Marsh Michael Thomas Johnny L. Carter, Jr.* Larry F. Harrison* Mike McDonald* Thomas A. Thompson* Tom Case* Charles Harter* Samuel A. McDuffie* Kris M. Trainor* Kate A. Channell Jackie W. Hartley C. William McGahee* F. Ward Trulock* Nathan C. Coleman Mary F. Hazeldine* Richard W. McGee Scott C. Tuten* Doug Collins III* William D. Head* Robert McGregor* Loren P. Waldo Carl B. Coolidge Mark Herndon Benjamin Price McKay Carol Lott Waller R. Bruce Dannelly, Sr.* William R. Hickman, Jr.* Britton A. McKay* Benjamin B. Watkins, III* James E. Davis, Jr.* Jack S. Hill Edward James Meadows, Jr. Karen R. Wells Frances S. Deal* Jeremy R. Hinton* C. Robert Melton* William H. Wells* Julian I. Deal* Robert Scott Hixon Davin James Miller Joy A. West Trey Denton, III* Jason Hoynes Janet Moss Linda S. Wilke* Nicholas Dereszynski Matthew H. Janofsky* Steve E. Moss Feruzan S. Irani-Williams D. Morgan Derst* John F. Jennings* Linda Mullen* Susan R. Williams* Jeffrey J. Dion Lindsey D. Johnson, Jr.* Roger C. Murphey, Jr. Keith D. Willis John F. Dismuke* Sean Micheal Knox* Ed Nelson* Jerry Wilson* Lori S. Durden* John F. Kohn* Constantin Olgloblin John K. Wilson Jacqueline K. Eastman* Douglas H. Lambert* F. Shaun O’Quinn Mildred N. Wilson Kevin L. Eastman* Jamie Lane* Donna J. Orme Jonathan D. Woodard* Charles R. Fennell Stephen Lawler Abbie Gail Parham* William R. Woolford* Robert Fernekes John Leaptrott, Jr.* Brian N. Petsch Karl Van Zeigler* Joe L. Fincher, Jr. Col. Alvin Bryan Lee Luke A. Pittaway* Donna K. Fisher Samantha G. Lee* Patrick L. Pittman Olivia S. Flanagan* Robert Andrew Leven Barbara A. Price 
   Peter L. Frauley* Buddy Lichty* Alexander P. Priddy Fall 2012 Eagle Executive Page 11 Brasington and Price Retire with 36 Years of Service to COBA

Zandra D. Brasington began her employ- COBA and SOA, wish Dr. Price has recently Fellow of Kiwanis International, Kiwanis ment with COBA in 1992 in the associate her many happy trails! taught quantitive Club of Statesboro, 2012: the Faculty Service dean’s office and, in June 1993, she moved to Barbara A. Price, analysis in the BBA, Award, Georgia Southern University Faculty the Accounting Department under the professor of quantita- MBA, and Georgia Service Committee, 2011; the Kenneth L. leadership of Dr. Karen Fortin, chair. Mrs. tive analysis, received WebMBA programs. She Stanley Outstanding WebMBA Faculty Brasington was promoted to administrative her BS in mathmatics taught under Fulbright Award, Georgia WebMBA, 2011; the secretary in 1995 and received the Tomlinson from Grove City Scholarships twice, in Fulbright Scholar Lecturing Award, United Bond Staff Award for Excellence in 1996, the College and her MS Hungary and the Czech States Department of State and the J. William Ori James Recognition Award for service to and PhD from Virginia Republic, and served as Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, 2010; Beta Alpha Psi in 1998, a Distinquished Polytechnic Institute an exchange professor at the Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Service Award for contributions to AACSB and State University in Deakin University in Education Outstanding Teaching Brief, 2008; accreditation in 2007, and the University Staff statistics. She came to Australia. Her recent the Fulbright-Hays Professional Curriculum Merit Award in 2008. Over the years, Mrs. COBA in July 1996 as professional activities Development Seminar in Hungary and the Brasington has been a valued and respected department chair for include service on the Czech Republic, 2008, the Fulbright-Hays leader in the accounting department and the Department of executive committee of Professional Development Program, 2008; School of Accountancy, especially in the Management from Barbara Price (l), Dean Bill Wells (c), and the Computing Accredi- and COBA’s Rutherford Award for Excel- organization of the school’s annual Winthrop University, Zandra Brasington (r) at the tation Commission of lence in Teaching and Service in the MBA, Accounting Day festivities, which highlight where she had been retirement reception held in November. ABET, Inc., representa- 2007. the achieve-ments of SOA students, faculty, chair of the Wintrop tive director for ACM on Dr. Price and husband, Stan, have one and staff and is the highlight of the school’s faculty and faculty representative to the Board CSAB, lead facilitator of ABET Program son, J.T., a partner in Porter, White and year. of Trustees. evalu-ator training, and associate editor of the Company, a daughter-in-law, Erin, and one Mrs. Brasington and her husband, David, In 1999, she moved to chair of the Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative granddaughter, Madeleine Elizabeth, of have a daughter, Kelly, who is a Georgia Department of Information Systems and Education. Dr. Price’s recent professional Birmingham, AL. Southern alumna, and a grandson, Tristan, Logistics and was named founding director of service has been recognized in receipt of the Congratulations, Dr. Price, on 40 years of who is a national gold medal TaeKwonDo the School of Information Technology in CSAB Outstanding Contribution Award, excellence in higher education and best champion in his weight division. One of Mrs. January 2001. CSAB, Inc., 2012; the George F. Hixson wishes for many more in retirement! N Brasington's hobbies is travel, and we, in

COBA’s New Administrators Annual Fraud and Forensic

Timothy Pearson University of Utah. He was previously Accounting Education Conference Professor and Director, director of Joint Programs and program School of Accountancy director of the MBA Field Studies for the Pat Huddleston, CEO of Investor’s Approximately 20 continuing Tim Pearson, PhD, David Eccles School of Business. Watchdog, an investor protection company professional education (CPE) hours are MAcc, and BS, University for pension funds, endowments, and available throughout the conference of Wisconsin–Madison, Charles Williamson businesses was the keynote speaker for the designed for professional specialties, comes to us from Morgan- Director, Center for 6th Annual Fraud and Forensic Accounting including internal auditors looking for red Fraud and Forensics town, WV, where he served as coordinator Education Conference, held at the Hilton flags, certified fraud examiners (CFE) Studies of graduate programs and chair of the DeSoto in Savannah’s Historic District this keeping their skills sharp, certified Charles Williamson, Department of Accounting and past May. Huddleston spent several years as information systems auditors (CISAs) MPA, University of Texas– Management Information Systems, West Enforcement Branch Chief for dedicated to keeping computer Arlington and BA Austin Virginia University. He is a CPA, CFF, and the U. S. Securities & Exchange systems secure, CPAs looking to College, comes to COBA with 34 years of executive director emeritus of the Institute Commission, leading a team of ensure that published informa- experience—most recently as special agent for Fraud Prevention (IFP), an attorneys investigating scams, tion is reliable, civil and criminal in charge of the Tax Fraud Investigations ACFE/AICPA founded research center at insider trading, and financial attorneys, business executives Division for the State of New Mexico. In West Virginia University. Dr. Pearson’s misconduct. He is the author of looking to reduce risk, and addition to being a CPA, Mr. Williamson is work with the IFP was recently featured in The Vigilant Investor: A Former professors seeking case studies a certified fraud examiner, certified in a cover story in Fraud Magazine. SEC Enforcer Reveals How to in forensic accounting. More financial forensics, and has taught graduate Fraud-Proof Your Investments. information, including regis- tax at the University of New Mexico’s Jacob Simons The three day conference tration, may be found at Anderson School of Management. His areas Pat Huddleston Director, PhD in Logistics featured more than 175 registrants http://www.pkm.com/fraud of interest are white collar crime, fraud Jake Simons, PhD, and 35 speakers discussing topics including conference/information.php. examinations, tax fraud, and taxation. University of Houston; India’s Satyam fraud, shell companies, fraud The annual event is sponsored by the MS, Troy State and Ball in small business, financial search warrants, accounting firm Porter Keadle Moore, LLC, State Universities; and BS, Jerry Wilson Associate Dean data analysis, continuous monitoring, body and hosted by COBA’s Center for Forensic Air Force Academy, joined Jerry Wilson, profes- language and non-verbal communication, Studies in Accounting. Previously, it has COBA in 1997 and was promoted to sor of marketing and ethics, establishing a forensic accounting been held in Statesboro, Savannah, professor in 2002. Dr. Simons retired from logistics, DBA, marketing practice, and teaching forensic accounting to Charleston, and Atlanta. The Atlanta-based the U.S. Air Force, Institute of Technology, and transportation, Mem- students. Porter Keadle Moore, founded as a as assistant dean for research and phis State University and Next year, the 7th annual event will be held community-bank accounting firm in 1977, consulting. He succeeds Dr. Steve Rutner, MBA and BS, Arkansas State University is May 16-18, 2013, at the J. W. Marriott Hotel, now represents corporations nationwide in founding director of the PhD in Logistics co-founder of the logistics and intermodal Buckhead, Atlanta. Conference sessions are financial, insurance, technology, biological program, as its new director. Dr. Simons has transportation program in COBA and expected to include panels on risk sciences, and government service arenas. It previously served as associate dean for founding editor of the Journal of management, to help businesses assess, was recently named #1 among mid-sized COBA. Transportation Management. He began his prevent, and manage fraud-related issues; red firms in the country in Accounting Today Gordon Smith career in COBA in 1988 and received the collar crime, including fraud investigations magazine and the Best Companies Group’s Director, MBA Office M. Albert Burke Faculty Development that spill over into conventional crimes, Best Places of Employment in the including murder; cybercrime and money Accounting Industry for 2012. H. Philip Gordon Smith, PhD Award in 1991. laundering; preparing expert witnesses for Moore, Jr. (ACCT, 1978), managing and MS, Carnegie Mellon Dr. Wilson served as chair of the the next generation of jurors; trends in white partner, is a COBA alumnus and longtime University, MBA, Univer- Department of Management, Marketing, collar crime; and pink collar crime, those that N sity of Texas, BS, Southern and Logistics, as well as the School of Georgia Southern supporter. principally involve or are committed by Methodist University, Accountancy, prior to being named women. comes to Georgia Southern from the associate dean for COBA. N Page 12 Eagle Executive Fall 2012

AACSB Accreditation SAP@GSU Advantage

The board of directors of AACSB AACSB International was founded in The Department of Information Systems Accenture, Deloitte, IBM, PwC, CGI, International: The Association to Advance 1916 and began its accreditation function in has branded itself one of the top sources of Clarkston Consulting, CSS, and other Collegiate Schools of Business, this fall, 1919. As a specialized agency, AACSB ERP knowledgeable graduates in the consultancies because of their ERP continued accreditation of the undergraduate International grants accreditation, repre- Southeast U. S. with its initiative knowledge and experience. A (BBA), graduate (MBA, WebMBA, MSAE, senting the highest standard of achievement, SAP@GSU Advantage. Since 2009, significant percentage of recent and PhD), and accountancy (SOA including for undergraduate and graduate business the program has lead multiple SAP graduates have been hired into MAcc) programs offered in the College of administration and accounting programs TERP 10 Student Certification business intelligence positions. Business Administration. First accredited in worldwide. Academies, launched the graduate ERP Most program graduates are employed by 1977, COBA has maintained its AACSB AACSB International accreditation is the certificate program, contributed to SAP companies with locations in Atlanta or accreditation for 35 years. hallmark of excellence in business and University Alliances curriculum, and Charlotte, but many have accepted positions AACSB accreditation means management education. In addition expanded exposure at SAP academic in other major cities including Chicago, COBA’s business programs have to establishing and maintaining conferences and events. As a result, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, standards of quality for collegiate met or exceeded the highest SAP@GSU Advantage has been named a Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, and operating standards, as defined education, AACSB provides “Success Story” on the SAP UA website. Washington, DC. Average starting salaries by the independent agency, services to and represents the Leadership in the SAP@GSU Advantage have been approximately $60K for under- AACSB International, for interests of its members. AACSB includes Bob Syzmanski and Camille graduates, among the best in COBA. delivering bachelor and master International accreditation assures The SAP@GSU Advantage initiative degrees in business. “AACSB sets stakeholders that business schools, Rogers, certified TERP10 trainers, and the standard for business school including the College of Business Abbie Gail Parham, John Dyer, Hyo-Joo developed as a pathway for reinforcing the accreditation,” said Dean Bill Wells. “It Administration at Georgia Southern, manage Han, and Hsiang-Jui Kung, SAP certified business roots of the Information Systems takes a great deal of commitment and resources to achieve a vibrant and relevant faculty members. In response to working discipline. IS faculty members have become determination to earn AACSB accredita- mission; advance business and management professionals wanting access to Georgia proficient with the world’s most widely used tion,” confirms Jerry Trapnell, executive knowledge through faculty scholarship; Southern’s ERP courses and an opportunity business software platform and employing vice president and chief accreditation officer provide high-caliber teaching of quality and to participate in the TERP10 Student it to help students see firsthand how ERP of AACSB International. “These schools current curricula; cultivate meaningful Certification Academy, an online graduate- systems support integrated business have met rigorous standards of excellence, interaction between students and a qualified level ERP Certificate program was begun in processes. The SAP@GSU Advantage has as well as made a commitment to ongoing faculty; and produce graduates who have August 2011. The program consists of 15 been tabbed a SAP UA Success Story and improvement that ensures that they will achieved specified learning goals. N hours of fully online graduate ERP courses has given Georgia Southern the distinction deliver a high quality education to students.” and two weeks on campus to participate in of being perceived as “the” go-to source for the TERP10 Student Certification Academy. SAP and ERP graduates. Best yet, COBA Summer 2012 students had a 100 percent students have benefitted from being able to Mark Your Calendars NOW for . . . success rate on the certification exam. add lines on their resumes that set them COBA’s SAP graduates are employed at apart in the job market, such as SAP th major SAP user companies, including Coca- University Alliances Student Recognition 20 Annual COBA Golf Tournament Cola, Delta Airlines, Georgia Pacific, Home Award and/or SAP Certified Business Depot, McKesson, Newell Rubbermaid, and Associate with SAP ERP. May 17, 2013 UPS. Hewlett Packard, Goodrich, and More information about the ERP Norfolk Southern have also hired multiple Certificate program is available at SAP@GSU graduates. SAP@GSU Advant- http://online.georgiasouthern.edu/index.php FastPitch age students have also landed jobs with ?link=grad_ERP. N In each of its past two years, the which can be reviewed later in order to FastPitch event, co-hosted by Georgia provide clarity and better communication Southern University’s Center for with patients. Dr. Smith is the CEO of ACL Data Analysis Software Entrepreneurial Learning and Leadership; Georgia Skin and Cancer Clinic, and hopes Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation to see his product integrated into medical ACL Services, Ltd, Vancouver, BC, than two-thirds of Fortune Global 500 Institute and Advanced Technology care nationwide. Canada, a global provider of technology for corporations. Georgia Southern accounting Development Center; and The In 2012, COBA management audit, finance, risk and compliance, has students will gain a major competitive edge Creative Coast, has drawn more with entrepreneurship emphasis donated a $308,000 in the job market with than 100 applicants, and 30-40 major Jordan Steen, along with software analysis package applied experience in its participants were selected to computer science major, Jim to COBA and the School application and use. compete before a panel of 20 Ashachik, created the campus of Accountancy. The Universities which have experienced entrepreneurs and guide app, intended to help contribution, as part of the been beneficiaries of the investors with a three-minute pre- students find campus locations, ACL Futures program, software include the sentation and one-page investment including parking areas, buildings, provides the same software and support that University of Texas, University of Southern summary of their ideas. and class venues, which secured a many CPA firms and corporations use in their California, University of Nebraska, and the Each competitor meets with a runner-up award for their business accounting, auditing, and financial University of Missouri, among others. coach prior to the presentation to Jordan Steen Pro Applications. Savannah State The ACL Services recognition is the refine the investment summary and University accounting majors result of research by COBA accounting the oral presentation. The participants David Prjean and Pebbles Winston professor Robert Marley, who pre- achieved runner-up status for their product compete not only for cash prizes and the viously utilized the software at the title of FastPitch winner, but also for Lips of Bliss, an organic lip balm that re- University of South Florida. Marley investor interest in hope of launching their moisturizes for lip health. made recommendations under the ACL concepts. FastPitch is an open event, free to Preparations are already being made Futures program that provides the the public, and spectators are invited to for the March 28, 2013, FastPitch attend. Competition. Applications are due by software and support to college Some of the product innovations that February 18. For more information or to campuses. "Georgia Southern and have been presented have included all register, contact Dr. Luke Pittaway, COBA appreciate ACL for its support natural pest control products, feature films, director, Center for Entrepreneurial Robert Marley (standing) prepares accounting and commitment to providing student magnetic socks, and alternatives to Learning and Leadership, at (912) 478-5321 information systems students, Steven Meharg, access to ‘real-world’ technology,” producing fiber. The overall winner for or [email protected]. Daniel Rabideau and Josh Rich for final exams. emphasized Dr. Marley. “We attract 2012, however, was Dr. Sydney Smith A registration form is available at many of Georgia’s top accounting with his presentation for Complete https://tcci.wufoo.com/forms/fast-pitch- operations. ACL has an international students, and the ACL experience will Consent, a digital, tablet-based way of 2013/. N customer base that includes 89 percent of enhance their degrees and its competitive- recording consultations with patients, American Fortune 500 companies and more ness.” N Fall 2012 Eagle Executive Page 13 ALUMNIVILLE

Accounting Lauren G. Moore (2007), Statesboro, CPA, CFE is a staff accountant with Dabbs, Hickman, Hill and Cannon, William Josiah “Trey” Neville, III Louise Daniel (1969), Savannah, CPA CPAs. She is married to Jonathan (MBA, 2012) received his degree and and partner in Daniel and Duncan, nd LLC, has been selected as a new board Moore. Email: hayleyglisson@hot was commissioned a 2 lieutenant in member for Goodwill Industries of the mail.com. U. S. Army by his father, William J. Coastal Empire, Inc. Email: ldaniel@ Neville, Jr. while his grandfather, William danielandduncan.com. Markita L. Jones (2008), CPA, Pooler, J. Neville assisted in pinning epaulettes. is a tax accountant with Deemer Dana & Froehle, CPAs, Savannah. She is Trey ranked in the top 20 percent of Army Karl Van Zeigler (1975), Cedar Hill, TX, married to George Jones. Email: ROTC graduates nationwide and was is now retired. Email: vzeig@yahoo [email protected]. recognized as a distinguished military .com. student by his cadre of the Eagle Battalion at Georgia Southern. The Eagle Battalion has twice received the prestigious McArthur Award, ranking it in the top 8 ROTC Kaye C. Dowell (1981), Savannah, is David R. Lyons (2008; MBA 2010), now the principal business banker for formerly in Evans, is now in Norman, programs in the nation. Trey plans to attend flight school in Alabama and, Wells Fargo Bank. She is married to OK, where he is an accountant with eventually, law school. He is currently enrolled in COBA’s MSAE program and a the University of Oklahoma Health graduate assistant in the Office of Publications & Faculty Research Services. William Dowell. Sciences Center. Email: david- [email protected]. Mary F. Thomson (1981), Savannah, is a CPA with her own accounting firm. email: [email protected]. Leslie Anne Culbreth (2009; MAcc Sheila A. Dyson (1993), Albany, is a she is an account consultant with 2009), formerly in Valdosta, is now in teacher in the Dougherty County Buckhead Business Consulting. Email: Savannah, where she is a staff James E. Rogers (1990), Walthourville, School System. Email: ladydy2020 bwether1@ gmail.com.Atlanta. accountant/CPA with Hancock Askew @yahoo.com. is now the senior vice president and & Co, CPAs. She is married to Radly Hinesville and Liberty County market McDaniel, a 2006 Georgia Southern General Business executive for The Coastal Bank, nursing graduate. Email: lmcdaniel William Walter “Sam” Sharpe (1994), Hinesville. @hancockaskew.com. Pooler, State Farm agent for Pooler, has received the company’s Jenny L. Gentry (1981), Savannah, Chairman’s Circle award, which goes market president for Wells Fargo Bank, Melanie Huff Oddo (1991; Delta Sig), Cristol Cannon Johnson (2009), formerly in Peyton, CO, is now in San to the company’s top producing is a returning member of the board of Warrenton, a CPA and CFE, is an agents. His wife is Angela. Email: Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Antonio, TX, where she is a senior accountant with TPI, Inc., Thomson. accountant with Clean Channel Media [email protected]. Empire. Email: jenny.gentry@wells She is married to Larry Johnson. fargo.com. & Entertainment. She is married to Email: [email protected]. Jerome Oddo. Email: jerome.melanie Duane A. Sheldon (1994), formerly in [email protected]. Savannah, is now in Springboro, OH, Denise Sears Moody (1986), Nahunta, Brittany L. Riddick (2009), Savannah, where he is the director of the revenue is a co-owner of Zblue, Inc., a blueberry is a staff accountant with Hancock Christy Keel Bowen (2000), Brooklet, is cycle for the Kettering Health farm. She is married to Dan Moody. Askew & Co. Email: brittany.riddick@ Network, Miamisburg, OH. He is Email: [email protected]. a CPA with C. Doug Collins, CPA, gmail.com. Statesboro. She is married to Mark married to Vickie Carter. Email: Bowen. Email: ckbowencpa@gmail [email protected]. C. Darryl Riggins (1991), Chattanooga, .com. Tyler S. Morris (2010), Perry, is a TN, is a sales rep for the Athens Paper claims examiner with Geico, Macon. Brad S. Bixler (1998; 1992 Psy- Company. His wife is Karen. Email: Email; [email protected]. Robert M. Mock, Jr. (2003; MACC chology), Richmond Hill, is a [email protected]. 2004), formerly in Sylvania, is now in mortgage originator for The Coastal Macon, where he is an associate Chad N. Strader (2010), formerly in Bank, Pooler. He is married to Denise Hotel, Restaurant, & attorney with Stone & Driggers, LLC. DeSoto, TX, is now in Danbury, CT Miles, a 1991 Georgia Southern COE where he is an accountant with Pepsi graduate. email: [email protected]. Co., Somers, NY. Email: cstrader14 Institutional Mgt. @gmail.com. Christopher McKeller (2004; MACC S. Jesse Long (1999), Mt. Pleasant, Dean T. Teusaw, Jr. (1998), recently 2005), Acworth, is now a manager with SC, is a principal in Birchin Lane married Laurie McGill, a 1995 Georgia Mauldin & Jenkins, Atlanta. His wife is Economics Realty Advisors. He is married to Southern marketing graduate. Alisha. Email: christopher_024@ Allison Cobb. Email: jlong@birchin hotmail.com. Tiffany Womack Mills (1994; MBA, lanerealty.com. 1997), formerly in Jacksonville, FL, is Information Systems Merri-ellen Ryals Wadsworth (2004), now in Craig, AK, where she is a Heidi L. Swygert (2004), Atlanta, is Tampa, FL, is the audit manager for children’s services specialist for the State employed by Campbell & Brannen, Charles A. Huff (1984), Oxford, MS, is Crowe Horwath, LLP. She is a Georgia of Alaska. Tiffany earned an MA in Attorneys, LLC, Marietta. Email: now the senior systems implementation and Florida licensed CPA. Merri-ellen English from Georgia Southern in 2006 [email protected]. specialist for FNC, Inc. Email: huff is married to Harvey A. Wadsworth, and graduated from the Florida Coastal [email protected]. who has two degrees from Georgia School of Law in 2011. She is married to William P. Mitchell (2005), formerly in Southern—a 2006 BS in construction Brian Mills. While at Georgia Southern, Statesboro, is now in Stuart, FL, where Logistics management and a 2007 BBA in Tiffany worked in the Office of he is a credit analyst II–banking finance. Email: merri-ellen.wadsworth Publications writing for the Eagle officer for the Seacoast National @crowehorwath.com. Executive. Email: tiffanywomackmills@ Bank, working with commercial Terrance N. Howard (2001), formerly in yahoo.com. customers. Email: mitchellwp547@ Bainbridge, is now in Loganville, where Lindsay M. Daughtry (2006), Brooklet, gmail.com. he is a supply chain analyst for the Robert Companies, contracted to AT&T. He is is an accountant with Denmark and Michael J. Halper (2000), Irvine, CA, is Brown, CPAs, Statesboro. She is Emily Aaron Dove (2007; MBA married to Isha L. Dean, a 2000 Georgia the product manager for Edwards Southern management alumna. married to Chris Daughtry. Email: Lifesciences. His wife is Akane. email: 2009), Statesboro, is an accountant I [email protected]. [email protected]. with Georgia Southern University. She is married to Dennis A. Dove, Jr., a Jordan Lockhart (2008), formerly in Marietta, is now in Charleston, SC, where Heather Happoldt Jennifer Hendrix (2000), Statesboro, a Georgia Southern general studies (2006), Savannah, graduate. Email: edove@georgia she is the logistics analyst for SAIC. budget analyst for Georgia Southern Email: [email protected]. internal auditor with University, is engaged to Matt Berghoff. southern.edu. CitiTrends, Inc., is Email: [email protected]. married to Allen D. Charles P. Webb (2007), formerly in Eric Engel (2009), formerly in Broken Akins, and they have a Statesboro, is now in Mt. Pleasant, Arrow, OK, is now in Huntersville, NC, son, Parker Bryce, Finance SC, where he is with Wells Fargo where he is the vendor supply chain born April 18, 2012. Bank. Charles is engaged to Caitlin specialist for Lowe’s Companies, Heather & H. Heyward Burnet, IV (1991), Grace Quinn, a Mercer University Mooresville, NC. He is married to Carter Parker Happoldt Fernandina Beach, Fl, is the owner of alumna. Sample, a 2009 Georgia Southern Insurance Office of America. His wife nursing graduate. Email: eric.h.engel@ is Ginny. Email: heyward.burnet@ Becky Alice Pucket (2008), Alpharetta, lowes.com. iao.us. a personal lines underwriter for ALUMNIVILLE Central Mutual Insurance Company, Saxony Shields (2009; Delta Sig), Jeff D. Bentley (1993), formerly in is now married to Andrew W. Phelps. formerly in Stone Mountain, is now in College of Business Administration Monticello, is now in Toney, AL, where Warner Robins, where she is an inventory he is in customer service with Verizon Brooke S. Wethrington (2010; MA, management specialist with the Defense Wireless. He is married to Sheryl Sport Management, 2012), formerly Department. Email: sshield1@gmail. ACC 1969 - LOG 2009 Holman. Email: [email protected]. in Cave City, is now in Atlanta, where com. Page 14 Eagle Executive Fall 2012 ALUMNIVILLE

Whit E. Robbins (2010), formerly in Steven A. Shuman (1998), Claxton, is the Waycross, is now in Richmond, VA, purchasing agent for the Rotary Corp., Justin Samples (LOG, 2003) has been named community where he is a trainmaster for CSX Glennville. He is married to Lacy Transportation. Email: whitrobbins@ Knighton, a 2001 Georgia Southern relations officer for the Statesboro Police Department. Justin, a gmail.com. College of Education middle grades certified police instructor and patrol officer, has been involved graduate, and they have a son, Ashton in public safety for several years. His new role involves public Mike J. Sizemore, Jr. (2010), formerly in (11). Email: [email protected]. information officer responsibilities, including coordination, Evans, is now in Orlando, FL, as the design, and development of community programs, technology competition coordinator with Walt Michael C. Gosselin (1999), Atlanta, is a employment, and recruitment activities, which draw upon his Disney World Resort, Kissimmee, FL. He consultant with Stage Front Presenta- design and photography background. Recently launched was the lead coordinator for the Walt tions. His wife is Katherine. programs of the Statesboro Police Department include the Disney World Pro Soccer Classic and CrimeReports.com program in which residents can incidents the U.S. Men’s National Soccer team Isha L. Dean (2000), Loganville, is an training camp. Email: msizemore10@ examiner with The Westfield Insurance and crime reports in the city; a TipSoft.com program where anonymous web-based gmail.com. Group, Duluth. She is married to “tips” or information may be provide by Internet, e.mail, or texting; and, the Nixle Terrance N. Holland, a 2001 Georgia program in which residents receive public safety alerts on major crimes, wanted or W. Trent Wright (2010), formerly in Southern logistics graduate. Email: escaped prisoners, significant road or weather situations, and other safety Hawkinsville, is now in Savannah, [email protected]. information. Justin also administers the SPD website and Facebook pages, where he is the shipping and receiving coordinates the Citizens Police Academy, a 10-week resident-engagement program coordinator for MHC Kenworth James C. Marsh (2004), formerly in to extend the “eyes and ears” of law enforcement, along with the Cops Actively Savannah, Port Wentworth. His wife is Statesboro, is now in Winterville, NC, Involving Citizens Everyday (CAICE), which pro-actively engages police officers in Cheri Leigh. Email: wtwright11@ where he is the district sales manager for gmail.com. Monsanto. He is married to Krista communities and businesses for better education and communication. The Waagner, a 2008 Georgia Southern department is in the process of developing a new Neighborhood Watch and Crime Reggie L. Lawson (2011), formerly in management graduate. Email: james.c Free Housing program for the city. As the early 1800’s prime minister of Great Norman Park, is now in Newnan, [email protected]. Britain, author of the Britist Tamworth Manifesto, and early pioneer of the modern where he is the logistics supervisor for police force concept, Sir Robert Peele once said, “The police are the public and the the Sears Holding Corporation. Email: Clint B. Patton (2006), Griffin, CEO of K public are the police.” In that spirit, Justin will be leading the community relations [email protected]. & G Patten Enterprises, Inc., is married to role of the agency toward a closer partnership with the public. He may be reached Susan L. McGaun, a Georgia Southern at [email protected]. Alex Richards (2011), formerly on alumna. Hilton Head Island, SC, is now in Columbia, SC, where he is employed W. Wesley Olliff (2007), Savannah, is by C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. now a vice president–commercial Email: [email protected]. relationship banker for The Colony Bank. Brad S. Skinner (2008), formerly in Georgia Southern hotel, restaurant, and He is married to Jessica Hammonds. Charlotte, NC, is now in Atlanta, where institutional management graduate. he is the transportation planner for email: lauriegill@hotmail .com. Management Woodgrain Distribution, Norcross. Laura N. Harkins (2008), formerly in Email: [email protected]. Lawrenceville, is now in St. Simons, Gin Starling (1996; MBA 2000), formerly J. Randal Whitten (1980), formerly in St. where she is with Gateway BHS, in Statesboro, is now in Millen. She is an Petersburg, FL, is now in Smyrna, where Brunswick. Greg Dowling (2009), formerly in associate broker with Coldwell Banker he is the senior pastor for the Mt. Marietta, is now in Charlotte, NC, where Tanner Realty and an instructor in business Harmony Baptist Church, Mableton. His he is an accounting manager for Insight for Georgia Southern, Statesboro. Gin wife is Catherine. Email: randal@ Crystal M. McCorkle (2008; MBA, Global, Inc. Email: gregdowli@gmail recently married Jeff McPhail, a Georgia mtharmony.org. 2010), Statesboro, has a Mary Kay .com. Southern marketing graduate. Email: business and is a sales director. For the [email protected]. past two years, she has been the top Stacie Coppock (1997), Pooler, is now a sales director nationally. Crystal is Brett L. Hoyle (2009), formerly in human resource manager at Gulfstream married to Leroy “Will” Clarke. Email: Carrollton, is now in Newnan where he Emanual L. Minter (2000), formerly in Aerospace Corporation. Email: stacie [email protected]. is the owner of Brett L. Hoyle Alfa Norcross, is now in Marietta, where he is [email protected]. Insurance Agency. He is married to Blair sales team manager for Belk, Kennesaw. Parks, a Georgia Southern alumna. Email: el_minter@yahoo .com R. Tyson Morris (2008), is the central Email: [email protected]. Melanee R. Morales (1998), Statesboro, is receiving person for the College of the owner of Morales Consulting Services. Coastal Georgia, Brunswick. He is Geri Elise Turner (2000), Marietta, is in She has a masters degree in HR from Troy married to Kayla Wilson. Email: rmorris Alexa Rae Hesse (2010), Murray, KY, is a sales with Tri-State Utility Products. Email: State University and is an associate @ccga.edu. sales rep with American Cellular. She is [email protected]. professor for the University of Phoenix, the Number 1 sales rep in a company of Savannah Campus. Melanee is married to 270 people for 2012. Alexa is married David B. Benson (2003), Smyrna, is a Luis Morales. to Chris Covington, a 2009 Georgia supervisor with Toys “R” Us. Email: Southern criminal justice graduate. [email protected]. Email: [email protected]. Leticia E. Barlow (2005), Pooler, is now a Mitzi Smith Moore (FIN & MGT, 1983), formerly in Brooks, Brian K. Marsh (2010), Brooklet, an group leader for Target. She was on the is now in Marietta, where she is president and owner of Sundial employee of Gulfstream, Pooler, recently women’s swimming team. married Megan Elizabeth Gresham, a Plumbing Services. She left her pursuit of a master’s in middle 2011 Georgia Southern nursing Jennifer M. Wilson (2006), Tampa, FL, is childhood education and entered the plumbing industry after her graduate. now an RN nursing student and employed divorce left her as the sole provider of a newborn and toddler. She by Florida Hospital. She is married to took a position in her father’s company in order to provide for her Chantel Hale Coxhead (2011), Dominic Kouffman. children, but soon found that she had a real passion for the family Savannah, is an associate with the business. Mitzi, after spending time out on the trucks laboring as United Way. Email: cchantal88@ Catherine A. Holley (2008), Statesboro, a plumber, earned her journeyman and class I and class II licenses. hotmail.com. legal assistant for Hube and Tucker, She was later promoted to a managerial position, where she gained experience and Attorneys, recently married Josh Donald confidence in running the business end of the family company. When her father Charles “Chad” Wethern, II (2011), Tucker. Roswell, is the vehicle status coordinator decided to retire, Mitzi approached him to secure his help in starting her own company with LeasePlan USA, Alpharetta. Email: – Sundial Plumbing. She later bought out her father’s interest in the company, and has Caylee Martin Bickmore (2009), formerly [email protected]. in Reidsville, is now on St. Simons Island, grown Sundial to encompass a service area of the entire greater Atlanta area with where she is the web marketing and around 32 trucks and 50 employees. She has chosen to feature her face on about 20 ecommerce manager for the Rotary of her trucks in order to show her accountability and commitment to customer service. Marketing Corporation, Glennville. She is married to While she says that her management degree helps her run her business, she thinks that Joel Bickmore. Email: cayleemb@ Dwayne A. Waxer (1994), formerly in gmail.com. her work while pursuing the master’s in education aids in her position on the state’s five- Alpharetta, is now in Cumming, where person Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers of the Georgia Construction he is a vice president of operations for Industry Licensing Board. Mitzi was named a Power Woman by Georgia Trend Pace-O-Matic, Norcross. His wife is magazine in June of 2012, a Top Ten Businessperson by the Metro-Atlanta Chamber Jennifer. Email: dwaynewaxer@com of Commerce in 2011, and the National Contractor of the Year by the Plumbing cast.net. Heating Cooling Contractors and Delta Faucet in 2010. Additionally, the Cobb ALUMNIVILLE Chamber of Commerce has named her company Small Business of the Year. Mitzi is Laurie M. Gill (1995), Roswell, a College of Business Administration married to Richard Moore. Email: [email protected]. pharmacy rep with Abbott Lab, recently married Dean Thomas Teusaw, Jr., a LOG 2010 - MKT 2009 Fall 2012 Eagle Executive Page 15 ALUMNIVILLE

Frederick G. “Erick” Blitch, III (2009), Industries Group, Dalton. He is married Statesboro, a community relations to Kimberly Oravet. Email: levi.bowman manager for Hospice Advantage, is Sven Stumbauer (INTL BUS, 2000) has joined Veris @gmail.com. engaged to Victoria Ann Sloan, a 2011 Consulting, Inc., headquartered in Reston, VA, as managing Georgia Southern kinesiology graduate. Amanda Hodges Panaresa (2012), A March 23, 2013, wedding is planned. director of its forensics and dispute resolution practice and will Ruckersville, VA, is now the assistant Email: [email protected]. lead the Miami, FL, office in delivery of services in Florida and director of career education and Latin America. Veris specializes in regulatory compliance, advising at the University of Virginia’s Bruce W. Johnson (2010), Jefferson, a accounting and financial reporting fraud, financial analysis and Darden School of Business. She is sales rep with Coastal Energy, is engaged modeling, damages valuation, and expert witness testimony in married to Thomas Panaresa. Email: to Breezy Breanna Bray, a 2010 Georgia connection with commercial dispute resolution, regulatory [email protected]. Southern College of Education gradu- investigations, and other legal proceedings. ate. Email: wade@ coastalenergy .org. Sven began his career as a compliance examiner in the Atlanta offices of the In Memoriam Eric T. Mitchell (2011), formerly in National Association of Securities Dealers, now known as the Financial Industry Lawrenceville, is now at Sheppard Air Regulatory Authority, Inc., and most recently was a director in the forensic advisory Jefferson Edward Owens, Jr. (BS, 1960), Force Base, TX, where he is an airman 1st services practice of KPMG, one of the Big-4 public accounting firms. Sven speaks Statesboro, died on October 31, 2012. class in the U.S. Air Force and in technical six languages, including English, German, Czech, Slovak, Russian, and Spanish, school learning air crew equipment and holds an MBA from Georgia Institute of Technology. Michael Ragsdale (ACCT, 1965), CPA, maintenance. Email: blitzem He is married to the former Rosse Barrantes (MBA, 2000) of Lima, Peru, who Atlanta, died on July 1, 2012. [email protected]. is a senior vice president and the head of Enterprise Risk Management at TotalBank in Miami. They have one son, Sven, Jr., and reside in Atlanta and Miami. Gary R. Hancock (ACCT, 1966), MAcc Savannah, died on July 31, 2012. Robert L. Walker (GEN BUS, 1966) died Brandi Williams Waters (2004), States- on December 19, 2011. boro, is now the practice administrator at Family Health Care. She is married MBA the City of Fayetteville. Email: blazeyk@ Carl “Dan” Murray (MGT, 1973), to Josh Waters, a 2005 Georgia hotmial.com. Vidalia, died on May 16, 2012. Southern management graduate and a Jack B. Wheatley (1981), Louisville, 2006 construction management KY, owner of Michael Properties, LLC, Luella Sanders (2003), Richmond Hill, Thomas Michael “Mike” Deal (GEN BUS, graduate. Email: just completed a 3,200 mile bike ride is now director of finance for Union 1974; MED, 1989), Statesboro, Georgia [email protected]. from San Diego, CA, to Jacksonville, Mission, Inc., Savannah. Email: Southern University’s registrar, died on FL. It took 64 days and, for a 66 year [email protected]. August 11, 2012. Allen D. Akins (2006), CPA, CVA, old, is something to brag about. Savannah, is a manager with Hancock Email: [email protected]. Sarah Eaves Smith (2005), Statesboro, Rochelle Piebes Barry (OA, 1977), Askew & Co. He is married to Heather is the director of admissions for Gainesville, died on December 21, 2011. Happoldt, a 2006 Georgia Southern Curtis Woody (1988), Statesboro, is Georgia Southern University. She is accounting graduate, and they have a now the director of corporate higher married to Jonathan Smith. Email: son Park B. Akins, born April 18, 2012. [email protected]. Trina Denise McCloud (MGT, 1997), education and work force Pembroke, died on May 21, 2012. Email: aakins@ hancockaskew.com. development for Georgia Southern University. He is married to Georgia Linda K. Dahlskold (2010), formerly in Lesley Culbreth McDaniel (2009), Sweden, is now in Atlanta. Email: Somer F. Halasa (IS, 1999) died on Southern graduate Charlotte Parrish- March 4, 2001. Savannah, is a staff accountant with Woody. Email: curtis [email protected]. [email protected]. Hancock Askew, and Company, LLP. She John D. Purvis (FIN 2005), formerly in is married to Radly D. McDaniel, a 2006 Chad S. Kelly (1992), Atlanta, is direc- John Sedivy (2010), Greer, SC, is the nursing school graduate. Email: director of purchasing and forecasting Alpharetta, native of Tullulah Falls, died tor of internal audits for Time Warner. on March 29, 2012. [email protected]. He is married to Robin Mason. for Southern Tide, LLC, Greenville, SC. He is married to Anita Jones. EMail: Yanan Wang (2009), Atlanta, is a [email protected]. Jennifer Rachel Chapman (ACCT Amanda Garrett Peebles (2001), student), passed away December 7, senior internal auditor for Global Swainsboro, is a credit officer with the Payments, Inc. Email: yanan0704@ William Ray Brown 2011; BSEET 2007), 2012, of a congenital heart condition. Morris State Bank, Dublin. Email: As a child, she determined to live life to gmail.com. [email protected]. Aiken, SC, is an electrical engineer at Areva, Savannah River Site. He is pur- the fullest, and was fond of saying, “Do not fear death, but rather the unlived life. Iche Nathans (2010), formerly in Olin F. Fulmer (2003), Gainesville, is a suing a master in electrical engineering at Roswell, is now in Marietta, where he is a NC State and PMP Certification. Wil-liam You don’t have to live forever, you just community access counselor for Star have to live.” CPA and senior auditor with Habif, Choices. He is married to Ann Chua. is married to Shomoneik JaNada Grant. Arogeti & Wynne, CPAs, Atlanta. Email: Email: [email protected]. Email: [email protected]. [email protected]. Kelly B. Nicot (2003), Fayetteville, NC, Levi A. Bowman (2012), Calhoun, is a Sean G. Pelliccione (2012), Savannah, is the assistant director of transit for systems engineer with the Shaw is a CPA with Pelliccione and Associates. Eagle Executive Society and “Blue Card” K I would like to become a member of the Eagle Executive Society. Enclosed is my $50.00 payment. K I am not interested in the Eagle Executive Society. Please update my information as shown below.

Full Name (include maiden name) Spouse’s Full Name (include maiden name) Georgia Southern Graduation Year(s) ______Degree(s) ______Major(s) ______Spouse Degree and Year Home Address ______City ______State ____ Zip Home Phone Number ( ) ______Business Phone Number ( )______Cell ( ) Employer ______Business Title Business Address ______City ______State ______Zip E-Mail Address Preferred Address for delivery K Home K Office

Please return this form to Lewis Stewart, COBA Alumni Editor, P. O. Box 8002E, Statesboro, GA 30460-8002 or use the QR code, right, to join the Eagle Executive Society. Page 16 Eagle Executive Fall 2012 Hanna Wins University Award Sexton Named Greenly Scholar

At fall convoca- with high expectations for students to see Christmas came early for Retail Federation’s 103rd Annual tion, Mark D. statistics and operations management as COBA’s Kelly Sexton and 23 Convention & EXPO, January Hanna, professor of relevant to decisionmaking. Dr. Hanna has other college students nation- 13–16, 2013, at the Jacob J. operations manage- taught everyone from entering freshmen and wide when they were recently Javits Convention Center in ment, received the upper classmen to graduate students in more named recipients of a $5,000 New York. More than 25,000 2012 University than six different courses. He receives scholarship through the National retail industry professionals are Excellence in strong student ratings on the technical Retail Federation Foundation’s expected to attend the event. Contributions to material of his discipline. One alumnus Ray M. Greenly Scholarship A special student program Instruction award. explained this commitment to excellence, fund. Ray Greenly was a during the Convention, made Dr. Hanna came to saying “emphasis on continuous improve- divisional vice president of the possible by contributions from Mark Hanna Georgia Southern in ment techniques combined with a priority of National Retail Federation Kelly Sexton The Container Store, Macy’s, 2001, having re- respect for people was something we didn’t before losing his battle with Saks, and Walmart, will ceived his BS from LeTourneau University, hear from other professors, yet we knew cancer in 2005. incorporate unique networking sessions with and his MS and PhD from Clemson. inside it was not only profoundly true, but Ray was the kind of person everyone retail recruiters and opportunities for This award honors contributions to the critical for being successful managers in the wants on his or her team: patient, witty, and students to meet executives from BJ’s teaching-learning process at the institutional emerging business world.” willing to go the extra mile. His spirit lives Wholesale Club, HSN, Rent the Runway, level by identifying recipients who In 2011, Dr. Hanna received COBA’s on in the Foundation’s Ray M. Greenly and Tractor Supply Co. As a part of its demonstrate excellence in the classroom and W. A. and Emma Lou Crider Award for beyond by making contributions to the Excellence in Teaching and the Martin Scholarship Fund, established to provide commitment to foster the next generation of discipline and to the overall institutional NeSmith Faculty Award for Distinguished financial support to students pursuing a retail leaders, the National Retail Federation mission. Recipients are nominated and Service. He serves on the University’s retail career in any field including is on track to award more than $350,000 in selected in a university-level, peer review Advisory Board for the Center for Teaching marketing, operations, merchandising, scholarships this year through its 26 process. Only six awards are presented and Learning and carries the same logistics, IT, and analytics. university partners, including Georgia annually, two in each of the areas of commitment to maintaining academic Each student is nominated, evaluated, and Southern, and University Partner Program. contributions to instruction, research, and standards reflected in his own teaching. Dr. selected on his or her high scholastic Dr. Kathleen Gruben, Center for Retail service, respectively. Hanna has often noted Deming that a good achievements and passion for retail. Each Studies director, will accompany Kelly and In the classroom, Dr. Hanna is recognized teacher’s aim “should be to give inspiration will receive a $5,000 scholarship and a trip COBA marketing students to the BIG Show as an enthusiastic and demanding instructor and direction to students for study.” N to attend Retail’s BIG Show, the National in January. N

COBA Expands Logistics Opportunities COBA and the Savannah Technical institutions from TCSG institutions 14 semester hours in logistics-related workforce along the I-95 corridor,” said College signed an articulation agreement accredited by the Southern Associa- course-work—including supply chain Savannah Tech President Kathy Love. “This this fall for logistics management graduates tion of Colleges and Schools management, transportation and collaborative is just the beginning, a great of Savannah Tech to transfer their Commission on Colleges, the logistics management, ware- example of how we can partner to put our coursework in its entirety to Georgia articulation agreement provides housing technology and materials students in a win-win position, and make a Southern toward a BBA in logistics and Savannah Tech students a pathway management. significant positive impact on our region,” intermodal transportation. Building upon an to transfer their courses to Georgia COBA offers the bachelor of Georgia Southern President Brooks Keel agreement earlier this year between the Southern. business administration degree in agreed. “With the growth of the Savannah Board of Regents of the University System Savannah Technical College is the logistics and intermodal transportation, Port, there is a growing demand for logistics of Georgia (USG) and the State Board of the first college in the TCSG to offer an one of Georgia Southern’s fastest growing professionals.” “This program will ensure a Technical College System of Georgia associate of science degree in logistics majors serving the needs of a dynamic steady pipeline of talent to area businesses (TCSG), increasing the number of core management curriculum, a new 74-credit industry. “This program of study grew out of for years to come,” he concluded. N curriculum courses transferable to USG hour associate of science degree featuring a regional partnership to improve the

Fall 2012 — COBA Enrollment by the Numbers Georgia Southern’s fall enrollment was recorded at 20,574 students, the larget number ever, representing a 1.8 percent increase from the previous year, and marking the sixth consecutive year of enrollment increase.