Maine Business School www.umaine.edu/business MB SConnects Orono, Maine • Fall 2009 • Volume 3, Issue 1

Message from Dean John Mahon

fter a dreary summer of rain, Arain, and more rain, fall is upon us. It is always an exciting time when the students return. You can feel the surge of energy and excitement. MBS Connects once again provides you with a hint of the activi - ties and events occurring at the Maine Business School at the end of the last aca - Photo by Rhan Flatin demic year and over the summer. You will find a story about MBS students on three Students Enjoy and Learn different continents this summer, visiting Brazil, Japan, and Russia to study issues of concern for the state of Maine. And, you will Through Trips to Japan, Russia, read about our continued participation in the invitation-only, oldest graduate case and Brazil tournament in the world at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. “The world is a book and those who do not travel read But the heart of the school lies in the ongoing involvement of faculty, students, only one page.” — St. Augustine and alumni. In MBS Connects you can read about Finance Professor Bob Strong’s excel - he Maine Business School kept students, faculty, staff, alumni, and lence in the classroom and the recognition community residents on the move last spring with trips to Russia, provided to him by students. You can learn T Japan, and Brazil. about the national recognition given to Dr. These travel opportunities are about more than being a tourist. Required Scott Anchors, lecturer in management, for for all MBA/MSA students, the international field experiences are rigorous more than 30 years of work with individuals courses for which students earn academic credit. Prior to travel, UMaine stu - and corporations. And you can find out dents meet with state economic experts. They are given assignments both about Dr. Nory Jones, our director of gradu - before and after their trips and they are asked to keep a journal of travel ate programs, who was recently recognized experiences. for her efforts in community building with a By all accounts, each trip was a huge success. Whether they were focusing grant from Wal-Mart. This is just a small on how Russia manages its vast natural resources, how Japan conducts busi - sampling of how faculty expand students’ ness, or how Brazil cultivates ecotourism, the University of Maine travelers knowledge and practical experience, con - said they came away with a better understanding and appreciation of the tribute to Maine’s economy, and help the people, cultures, economies, business practices, and histories of the particular MBS grow roots in the community. country they toured. The results of these efforts are quite visi - Travel abroad is especially vital for business students, according to ble in the success stories of students like Associate Professor of Finance Richard Borgman who helped lead the trip to Brenton Murray, who received an award for Japan. “Today, business is done on a global scale and we want our students his outstanding work with Habitat for to be comfortable doing business with companies and people from different Humanity of Greater Bangor, and Anna continued on page 6 continued on page 12 visit us on-line at www.umaine.edu/mbsnews MBS News

Professor Strong Receives Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award

Maine Professor of Finance Robert Maine Foundation Professor of Strong has received the Maine Investment Education and the UMaine UBusiness School’s 2009 NCAA faculty athletic representative, Outstanding Teacher of the Year award, received the University of Maine General given annually to a faculty member who Alumni Association’s 2005 Distinguished has demonstrated exceptional dedication Maine Professor award and was the and accomplishment in teaching. Carnegie Foundation’s selection as The award is based on students’ course Maine’s 2007 Professor of the Year. evaluations. A chartered financial analyst, he advis - “I am obviously pleased to have been es UMaine’s student investment club, selected, but I can immediately think of SPIFFY, the Student Portfolio Investment several people who could just as easily Fund, and is the author of three textbooks have been picked,” said Professor Strong, on investments, portfolio management who has been on the UMaine faculty since and derivatives. He has consulted for Robert Strong 1983. numerous organizations including “I have the advantage of teaching a Eastern Maine Healthcare, Bangor Hydro course in investments where most stu - Electric Company, the Maine State Police, of science degree in business administra - dents have a pre-existing interest. I don’t the Maine Forest Service, and Texas tion from Boston University, and a Ph.D. have to convince them that the topic is Instruments. in finance from Penn State, and has been a important. This gets us off to a good start He earned a bachelor of science degree visiting professor of finance at the Maine in the classroom.” in engineering from the United States Maritime Academy and Harvard Professor Strong, the University of Military Academy at West Point, a master University. ▲

Patrice Krant and Melissa Baribault Join MBS Advisory Board

elcome to our newest Maine Business School Advisory Board members: Patrice Krant ’78, director of Procure-to- Pay Operations at The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Ga., and Melissa Baribault ’84, director of Compliance at WThe Hartford in Hartford, Conn. Krant, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Maine in 1978 and an MBA at Georgia State University in 1999, has worked at The Coca-Cola Company for more than 20 years in a variety of global procurement positions. Her organization, Procure-to-Pay Operations, drives cost savings and policy compliance, and controls for goods and services procurement and accounts payable. Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company, Krant served as director of marketing for TransSettlements, Inc., in Atlanta; software sales manager for Coles Express in Bangor; director of alumni affairs and public relations at Husson College in Bangor; and adult education coordinator at Eastern Maine Vocational Technical Institute – now Eastern Maine Community College – in Bangor. She holds the distinction of being the first female member of the Old Town Fire Department where she worked from 1979 to 1982. Baribault joined The Hartford following graduation from the Maine Business School. She advanced her career in various leadership positions within Call Center Operations, Underwriting, Audit and Product Management. As director of Compliance, Baribault heads up a team of professionals responsible for designing, implementing and enforcing compliance and ethics strategy and programs. Thanks to The Hartford’s Compliance Team’s effectiveness in preventing misconduct or violations of government regulations and company policy, The Hartford was named one of The World’s Most Ethical Companies for two consecutive years by Ethisphere Institute, a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption, and sustainability. Actively engaged in several community organizations, Baribault is especially passionate about her work with Covenant Preparatory School, an independent, interfaith, tuition-free middle school for boys from under-served families in the Hartford area. ▲

2 Maine Business School MBS Lecturer Scott Anchors Is Recognized for Use of Myers Briggs Personality Instrument

aine counseling and for designing student life Nominated for the psychology award Business programs and curriculum. by a former doctoral advisor at Iowa State MSchool fac - A recognized authority on the MBTI University, Anchors says he feels “flat - ulty member Scott instrument, Anchors has written more tered, humbled, and honored. Anchors has been than a dozen articles and co-edited two “The University of Maine has been lauded for his work books on the subject. He routinely applies essential in helping me cultivate my with the Myers Jung’s theories in his current position knowledge and experience in this area,” Briggs Type advising and teaching management and he adds, noting the administrative support Indicator, a person - leadership. he received when he requested a leave of ality instrument that “Effective managers and leaders need absence to pursue a doctorate. provides informa - to have self-awareness, and this instru - Anchors also praises his colleagues. Scott Anchors tion about the differ - ment provides an excellent framework,” “My current assignment in the Maine ent ways people per - he says. “It is exciting to be able to help Business School has provided me excellent ceive and process information, make deci - students understand their management support and a great opportunity to inte - sions, and organize their lifestyles. grate my decades of experience with this A lecturer in management, Anchors instrument into preparing managers and received the Gordon Lawrence Educational “It’s very fulfilling to be able to leaders of the future.” Achievement Award from the Association help people be more effective in When he’s not working, Anchors of Psychological Type International in working together so they enjoys a variety of hobbies and activities. Dallas, Texas, in August in recognition of “A perfect day for me involves a morning his “outstanding contributions to promot - achieve the organization’s goal with my wife Kelly working with our gar - ing the constructive use of psychological by understanding themselves den or beehives and an afternoon doing type,” a theory developed by psychology and their colleagues more fully.” one of my favorite water sports such as pioneer Carl Jung and the basis for the surfing and swimming and whitewater Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). and sea kayaking.” Anchors, who has an academic back - style so they can be more effective super - A Registered Master Maine Guide and ground in both psychology and education, visors down the road.” an American Canoe Association Certified was a student affairs administrator and He also serves as a consultant for com - Sea Kayaking Open Water Instructor, executive assistant to President Peter Hoff panies and businesses throughout the Anchors enjoys leading trips on Maine’s earlier in his career at the University of Northeast, using the MBTI for coaching, rivers and coastal waters. He recently Maine. He has worked with the MBTI for goal-setting and team development. received training in Adaptive Paddling more than three decades in a variety of Anchors is finding more ways to use and is looking forward to sharing his pad - settings at the university and estimates the MBTI. He is applying his knowledge dling interests with handicapped individ - that he has used the tool with more than of Jung’s theory to study how personality uals in Maine. 20,000 UMaine students and staff. In addi - is related to a student’s choice of major For Anchors, UMaine is the perfect tion, he has conducted a variety of and the differences in how managers use place to have “an adventurous life, both research projects using the MBTI to match their time. “Currently, I am exploring with personally and in my work. Land grant roommates, advise students on their aca - a colleague how understanding the MBTI universities, such as UMaine, focus on demics, and determine who tends to stay framework can help managers structure teaching, research and public service, all in school and who is likely to drop out. He more effective meetings. Eventually these important to education and the develop - also has employed the MBTI for career will work into a publication.” ment of a healthy state,” he says. ▲

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and in pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, MBS Connects is published by the College of Business, Public Policy and Health religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin John Mahon, Dean or citizenship status, age, disability, or veterans Edited by Ruth-Ellen Cohen • [email protected] • 581-1926 status in employment, education, and all other Students, faculty and alumni are encouraged to submit information. areas of the University. The University provides Sign up for the online version of this newsletter at www.umaine.edu/mbsnews reasonable accommodations to qualified Layout and design by Val Williams, University Relations • Printed by University of Maine Printing Services. individuals with disabilities upon request.

University of Maine 3 MBS Students

MBA Student Brenton Murray Wins Citizenship Award

BA student Brenton Murray ’11 has won the 2009 Active MCitizenship Award in Community Service from the University of Maine’s Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism for organizing a chap - ter of Habit for Humanity on campus and for engaging in other charitable work. “I’m pretty excited about winning the award,” says Murray. “I just wish that I could give one to each person in the chapter because they’re also putting in an effort.” The Active Citizenship Award is given to a student who is involved in a variety of community service projects and events, demonstrates leadership Brenton Murray and ongoing commitment to service, and is dependable and enthusiastic. The award also may be given to a student used and surplus construction materials build safe, decent and affordable hous - group or campus organization. are sold at a discount. ing for families in need. Murray was nominated by Nory With about 15 members, UMaine’s “We’re living in the richest nation in Jones, business professor and director of Habitat for Humanity assists the Greater the world and there’s no excuse why graduate business programs in the Bangor chapter in other ways. The people should be living in substandard College of Business, Public Policy and group helps run ReStore. And it has an housing. I’m doing my part to fix things Health. In her nomination letter she said arrangement with Burby & Bates, an that shouldn’t be broken.” Murray “has the ability to bring people Orono beverage store, in which people A native of Tempe, Arizona, Murray together to work collaboratively and can donate money from their bottle and comes by his altruism naturally. “My achieve great results.” can returns to the Habitat for Humanity parents were very socially conscious,” After establishing UMaine’s Habitat of Greater Bangor. Members of the he says. “Helping others has always for Humanity in September ’08, Murray UMaine chapter wear their shirts with been important to us as a family. As a organized campus fundraising events to the Habitat for Humanity logo as often kid, I used to work at soup kitchens and benefit the chapter, including last win - as possible to call attention to their provide meals to migrant workers. I also ter’s “There’s Snow Place Like Home” cause. And they plan to pitch in when - volunteered at an animal hospital.” four-day camp-out on the Mall and ever the Greater Bangor chapter needs Getting others excited about a cause “The Habitat UMaine Thawout Bash” help building a home. isn’t hard, Murray maintains. “People Rock Concert at the Keith Anderson Val Marsh, executive director of want to help, but sometimes they don’t Community Center in Orono. He also Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bangor, know how to get started. One thing helped arranged the Care A-Fair last says Murray deserved the volunteer that’s helped us unite as a group has spring to recognize UMaine student vol - award for organizing the UMaine chap - been team building activities. Making unteers and the organizations they sup - ter. “He provided amazing leadership Habitat for Humanity posters to hang in port. At the fair he and other members skills to get something like that off the Burby & Bates, building the birdhouses of UMaine’s Habitat for Humanity sold ground and get students involved. He’s for the Care A-Fair, and constructing the birdhouses they built using wood also very calm and handles pressure shacks we slept in during the There’s donated by UMaine’s Advanced well. I’m very impressed.” Snow Place Like Home winter sleep-out Engineered Wood Composites Center. Murray began his relationship with all helped build a sense of community. Proceeds from the UMaine chapter’s the Habitat for Humanity of Greater The secret is to make volunteering fun,” fundraising events go to Habitat for Bangor by lending his technological he continues. “Time is an issue for Humanity of Greater Bangor which is expertise when the group was in the everyone. But sometimes you just have located at ReStore, a retail outlet on process of creating a new website. He to bite the bullet. Like the Nike ad says, Main Road in Holden where donated decided he liked the idea of helping to ‘Just do it.”’ ▲

4 Maine Business School Brothers Take Advantage of MBS Discount Tuition Program

niversity of Maine graduates Brian and Christopher Vernal know a good deal when they see one. That’s why the twin brothers, who both earned bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering last May, enrolled in a new U Anna Maine Business School pilot program that enables them to receive scholarships Assenmacher amounting to a 25 percent tuition discount in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) programs. That translates to almost $3,800 off the in-state tuition for the two-year, 42 credit MBS Student Anna graduate program that totals nearly $15,000. Assenmacher Assists Created earlier this year by Dean John Mahon of the College of Business, Public Policy and Health, the program is aimed at helping UMaine graduates who Orono Company have lost or can’t find jobs or who want to go back to school until the economy and job market improve. nna Assenmacher ’11 recently was “At a time when the need for graduate degree-educated managerial personnel able to use the skills she learned at is acute, but the capacity to hire these people is lagging, it is appropriate that we Athe Maine Business School to help find ways to assist talented and ambitious people in maintaining their career an Orono company operate more momentum,” Dean Mahon said. efficiently. Working toward a business management degree, Assenmacher created “With the discounted tuition we’ll have enough money to a new database management system for pay for all our tuition. Thanks to the program we won’t Four Directions Development Corporation, an eight-year-old non-profit company that have to take out student loans.” — Brian Vernal helps Native Americans obtain small business and housing loans. Using her knowledge of database The Vernal twins, who grew up in Falmouth, Maine, said they originally management and information systems planned on working for a couple of years before going back to school to obtain design principles, she spent three months MBA degrees, but changed their plans in light of the weak economy and stagnant developing and implementing the new job market. system which enables the company’s “We figured we might as well stay in school a couple more years and have a housing department to more efficiently leg up,” said Christopher. store information, track and monitor “With the discounted tuition we’ll have enough money to pay for all our tuition. activities, write grants and generate Thanks to the program we won’t have to take out student loans,” said Brian. reports. The project was supervised by To be eligible, MBA/MSA students must enroll full time and commit to 10 hours Matt Graham, lecturer of management a week of service to the Maine Business School or in community outreach activities. information systems at the Maine Business The Vernal brothers, who are among four students taking advantage of the School. scholarship program, said their grandparents read in the Bangor Daily News about “I thought it would be a great way to the Maine Business School’s discount tuition program and then passed on the use some of the skills I’ve been learning information. Now the brothers are looking forward to earning an advanced degree, while at the same time gain some resume enhancing their personal skills, and participating in community service projects. building experience,” Assenmacher said. “I wanted to get involved with community service, but didn’t really know how The new system, which has been to go about it and this seemed like a simple way,” said Brian. running since May, has been a real boon A variety of community service opportunities exist for students, according to for the company, said Housing Program Nory Jones, director of Graduate Business Programs and associate professor of Coordinator Kathy Welch. “Anna has management information systems. One student will work on projects with Dean helped us streamline our data collection Mahon, she said, while others will assist in faculty research or teaching, help with and analysis. Now, at the click of a button, alumni or business outreach, or lend a hand to one of the groups affiliated with we have access to a wide variety of the MBS Corps – the Maine Business School’s community outreach organization. information.” These groups include the Bangor Humane Society, The Maine Troop Greeters, Big Welch, who earned a bachelor’s degree Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine and Habitat for Humanity. from UMaine in business finance in 2001 A total of 25 students will be able to participate in the discounted tuition program and a master’s degree in public which likely will be phased out when the economy recovers, Dr. Jones said. administration in 2007, said the majority of “This is a way for the Maine Business School to help Maine citizens and the the company’s employees also are UMaine state of Maine during tough times. We’re helping people advance their business alumni. ▲ knowledge so they can grow successful, sustainable businesses, and we’re training future business leaders who will create a skilled and strengthened workforce.” ▲

University of Maine 5 MBS Students

Travel from page 1 countries,” he said. “By sending them to another country they not only get to expe - “The Japanese are so organized and structured, it boggles the mind,” rience another culture and learn important she said. “When you walk into a business meeting there are certain business practices, but they come to understand that traveling to a very differ - places for each person to sit depending on their age and their title ent culture is not as difficult as they may within the company.” — Megan Grant, Student have thought and they learn that people really aren’t that different.” business and commerce, is known for its One of the trip’s highlights was partici - cultural and historical significance. pating in the first-ever Japanese-UMaine Japan In Tokyo, the group visited the Tokyo alumni dinner, members of the UMaine Stock Exchange as well as companies group agreed. Five Japanese alumni who “Although Japan is an ancient civilization involved in banking and investments, graduated from UMaine between 1985 and with a rich past, it is in the forefront of mod - international law, trading, advertising and 2004 met the travelers at a Tokyo restau - ern science and technology. This trip was marketing, diversified paper manufactur - rant for Shabu-Shabu – thin slices of meat designed to allow students to appreciate and ing, and apparel. The Mainers saw the and vegetables cooked at the table. They develop empathy for cultural differences as famous Tsukiji fish market – the largest in enjoyed getting to know each other and well as understand how Japan managed to har - the world – and they toured the Ginza talking about their experiences at UMaine. monize the lessons of the past with the realities shopping district, Tokyo’s most famous Kevin Paul, who earned his MBA last of today.” shopping, dining, and entertainment area spring, is an aficionado of electronics and — Richard Borgman, and among the most expensive real estate video games and said he was blown away associate professor of finance, and in Japan. They also visited Akihabara, by the Akihabara District in Tokyo, a place Paul Myer, executive-in-residence lecturer. probably the largest shopping area on he always wanted to visit. “It’s like a Seeing how business is conducted in earth for electronic and computer goods, Times Square, but every shop and every Japan and gaining an understanding of the as well as Tokyo Disneyland. billboard and advertisement is focused on culture there kept the 18 UMaine graduate From Tokyo they took the Japanese bul - electronics, video games and anime. There students busy. With their guides – Richard let train – the world’s busiest high-speed are at least four arcades that stretch eight Borgman, associate professor of finance, rail line – to the Toyota manufacturing stories high. The arcade industry in Japan and Paul Myer, executive-in-residence facility which features a famous and inno - is a major success story. While ours has business lecturer, and his wife, Keiko vative production system that enables been in decline since the early 1980s, theirs Myer, who works at UMaine’s Purchasing more goods to be produced quickly while is still thriving.” Office – the travelers toured Tokyo and using fewer resources. Then it was on to Megan Grant ’10 found Japanese busi - Kyoto. The largest city in Japan, Tokyo Kyoto, “the Heart of Japan,” where the ness etiquette particularly intriguing. “The houses the head offices and financial func - Maine tourists visited beautiful and Japanese are so organized and structured, tions of thousands of companies, while important temples, shrines, Zen gardens, it boggles the mind,” she said. “When you Kyoto, a major urban area with significant and historical sites, and even experienced walk into a business meeting there are cer - a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. tain places for each person to sit depend - ing on their age and their title within the company. In Japan, business is based on relationships and long-term friendships. You’re expected to develop a rapport with people before you discuss contracts. Doing business is often frustrating for people from other countries because it takes longer – you have to set up a variety of meetings first just so you can get to know everyone. Another thing is that you must take special care in handling business cards. Business cards are accepted with two hands and a slight bow, and read and examined before they are placed on the table or in a card case. You never immedi - ately put it in your pocket or your wallet.” The visit to Kyoto – with its many shrines and gardens – was particularly enjoyable for Pam Patterson ’10. “The Golden Pavilion – a shrine that houses sacred relics of the Buddhists -- was absolutely gorgeous,” she said. “It was painted in gold leaf and the ponds nearby

6 Maine Business School were stocked with huge fish. The gardens College of Liberal around it are immaculate. It was just Arts and Sciences, breathtaking – I’ve never seen landscaping said one of the best like that before.” parts of the trip She also was struck by the rituals was riding the involved in a Japanese tea ceremony. “It’s overnight train to quite a process. It’s amazing to see how Sykviktar, 600 miles they go about it, step by step. After you northeast of prepare it, you have to bow to it and then Moscow. “I spent bow to your partner. It takes about 45 lots of time looking minutes. It was a really thick, green tea – out the window, almost like a paste. They gave us a cookie taking pictures, and to accompany the tea. At first I thought, getting off at many ‘oh, good a sugar cookie!’ But it was very of the train stops to plain.” see vendors selling everything from potatoes, dried fish, and stuffed animals Russia to roses. The coun - “The focus of the trip was to explore the role of tryside looked like to some of the Mainers. The Russians were the Russian government in the exploration and ours –rural and hilly with lots of lakes.” welcoming and gracious, giving up their development of the country’s vast natural He was struck, he said, by the opulence beds for their guests, holding parties in resources and to assess how that government of the palace of Peter the Great, the their honor, and making sure they were manages these natural resources – comparing Hermitage, and the many gold-domed comfortable and safe. “Our hosts took us and contrasting to the way it’s done in churches, all of which were in stark everywhere – for walks around the city, to Maine.” contrast to the surrounding poverty. His — John Mahon, stores, and to restaurants,” said UMaine wife Carol noticed that while the Russians dean of the College of Business, senior Kelley Ruhl. “They introduced us to were extraordinarily friendly, it was Public Policy and Health a drink called Kvas. It has a hint of beer, apparent that “you really couldn’t make but it’s not alcoholic, and it tastes a little your opinion known. Each city we visited Guided by Dean John Mahon and like molasses. Some of the host families required us to register with the Instructional Technology Development knew each other and so at night we’d all government authorities. The military was Specialist Andrei Strukov, the 22 UMaine get together at someone’s house or at a very visible in subways and other places tourists toured Moscow and St. Petersburg night club. We really got to see a different of interest, especially in Moscow. – Russia’s two largest cities – and visited a side of Russia.” “I think it made the students realize host of art galleries, museums, and MBA student Nick Nadeau ’10 said he what a great country ours is,” she said. historical attractions. They also spent time would like to see the friendships between in Syktyvkar – capital of the Komi the Russian and the UMaine students con - Republic and home of the oil, natural gas, tinue. “The hope is that we’ll get some to and forest products industries – where study at UMaine. When we visited Brazil they heard presentations from politicians, Syktyvkar State University we signed an “In Brazil, students got a taste of one of the university professors, businesspeople and agreement to begin talks about an fastest growing economies in the world. This is other experts on how Russia deals with exchange program. The Russian students a country that is very competitive because it issues surrounding the development of its indicated they would like to visit. A lot of has no debt and because it has discovered its vast natural resources. them speak very good English. Those who own natural resources, including oil and gas. In St. Petersburg the travelers – who need help could learn here at the Intensive We learned best practices in ecotourism that included undergraduate and graduate stu - English Institute.” we can bring back and apply to Maine.” dents – visited The Hermitage, which hous - Lin Lufkin, a 1958 UMaine alumnus es one of the largest and most impressive who said he and his wife Mabel enjoyed — Harold Daniel Jr., associate professor of art collections in the world, and Peterhof, traveling with the young people, was marketing, and director of UMaine’s Center for the luxurious imperial castle and estate particularly interested in the presentations Tourism Research and Outreach built by Peter the Great. They also took a on Russia’s natural resources, especially boat cruise down the many canals in the one by the head of Shell Oil’s Business The opportunity to learn about city which is known as the “Venice of the Development and Exploration for Russia. ecotourism and sustainable business North.” Stops in Moscow included the “He gave an excellent overview of what it’s development drew six MBA students and Kremlin, Red Square, Lenin’s Tomb, and like for an international organization to do a member of the Penobscot Tribe to Brazil Gum, the “State Department Store,” an ele - business in Russia and how Russians are where they visited the free trade zone in gant, turn-of-the-century shopping mall. developing their natural resources using bustling Manaus, and then switched gears Staying with host families in Syktyvkar international companies to help them.” proved the highlight of the trip, according Gordon Kulberg, dean emeritus of the continued on page 11

University of Maine 7 MBS Honors

CASE Competition Participants Need to MBS Board Members Honored by Think On Their Feet WANTED: A few good Maine Business University of Maine Foundation School graduate students who are skilled at thinking critically, solving problems, and delivering persuasive wo members of the Maine written and oral presentations – all Business School advisory while under the gun. board were among five T That’s the criteria for MBAs and alumni honored last June at the MSAs who would like to be considered 75th anniversary celebration of for participation in the John Molson the University of Maine MBA International Case Competition Foundation. which takes place the first week of Lauded for having “served January, 2010, in Montreal, Canada. their professions and their com - During the week-long round-robin munities at the highest level” tournament, the four-member were Edward J. Keefe ’86 of University of Maine team coached by Belmont, Mass., and Patrice Edward J. Keefe ’86 and Patrice Krant ’78 Paul Myer, executive-in-residence, and Krant ’78 of Atlanta, Georgia. Jason Harkins, assistant professor of Keefe graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from management, will compete with 35 UMaine and is Chief Financial Officer for M/C Venture Partners in Boston other teams of students from top where he is responsible for oversight of financial and administration activities, business schools worldwide. information technology, and financial reporting. After graduating from Participants will be presented with UMaine, he obtained an MBA from Suffolk University and a master’s degree complex “cases” or challenges that in taxation from Bentley University. businesses face every day, including a Krant, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UMaine, is direc - case presented by a major company tor of Procure-to-Pay Operations at The Coca-Cola Company, overseeing the about a real-life problem with which it purchasing of all materials and equipment worldwide. She obtained an MBA currently is dealing. at Georgia State University. Using the skills, knowledge, and Accepting the award “on behalf of all alums in the College of Business,” experience they have acquired from Keefe said, “without the scholarship money I got in 1982 when I first came to their MBA classes, participants spend the University of Maine, I never would have obtained the high quality educa - three hours analyzing and evaluating tion which gave me the foundation and the knowledge to continue my career, each challenge and then developing a go onto graduate school, and progress within the finance profession. feasible solution which they have 25 “It’s amazing to think that 75 years ago people had the foresight and wis - minutes to present to a panel of judges. dom to establish the University of Maine Foundation and that I was able to They also have an intense 15-minute reap the rewards from people who never knew who I was,” he continued. period of questions and answers. “I’m thankful for the first 75 years of the Foundation, and I’m looking forward “Students can’t use computers and to the next 75 years being even bigger and better.” they have no contact with the outside The journalism skills she learned at UMaine gave Krant the foundation for world,” Professor Harkins says. a successful career, she said. “The bullet points I write on those corporate More than 200 business executives PowerPoint presentations are just headlines to me. I use my interviewing serve as judges, assessing students on skills to create clear status updates for my clients and stakeholders, and my their creativity, insight, substance, and ability to find the lead in a 15-page report and quickly turn it into an effective plausibility of implementation. executive summary has been part of the capability wow factor in each promo - Following the round robin tournament, tion I’ve received at The Coca-Cola Company.” nine teams advance to the semi-finals In addition to serving on the MBS advisory board, Keefe and Krant have for the opportunity to compete in the other connections to UMaine. Keefe is one of the founding members of the three-team finals. Boston Executive Club of the University of Maine (BECUM), organized in Recognized as the largest and oldest association with the Office of University Development. Krant, who travels competition of its kind, the Molson MBA extensively in her position at The Coca-Cola Company, has created a fund International Case Competition provides through the University of Maine Foundation that will enable one or two busi - valuable experience that enables ness students to participate in an international trip. ▲ students “to acquire real world business

continued on page 12

8 Maine Business School Advisory Board Spotlight: MBS Volunteer Organization Wins Grant Jon Dawson he MBS (Maine Business School) Corps, an outreach organization that ine years ago creates volunteer opportunities for students, has received a $1,000 Wal- when Jon T Mart Community Grant to continue supporting Bangor-Orono NDawson ’67, community service agencies. MBA ’72 was recruit - Created by Dr. Nory Jones, director of graduate programs in the Maine ed to serve on the Business School, the MBS Corps provides a way for students and faculty to Maine Business lend their expertise and knowledge to help nine local organizations including School advisory Habitat for Humanity, Bangor Troop Greeters, Bangor Homeless Shelter, Ronald board, he happily McDonald House, and Special Olympics. The MBS Corps also is affiliated with accepted. several UMaine student organizations. Jon Dawson Not only was it a For more information visit way for him to give http://mbs.maine.edu/~mba_msa/mbs_corps.htm. ▲ back to the university which provided him with a quality business education, but it enabled him to help ensure that the MBS maintained its high standards and that its curriculum reflected the current and future needs of the local business community. Today, Jon Dawson, president and co- owner of Dawson-Bradford Company Realtors – ERA, along with his wife Nancy Dawson ’74, remains just as pas - sionate about the importance of the MBS advisory board. “The dean and the faculty rely on our assessment of proposed initiatives and programs to help them establish priori - ties,”says Dawson, who has offices in Bangor and Orono. “And students, staff and faculty appreciate the real-world input that the supportive business profes - sionals on the board provide.” As a member of the advisory board, Nory Jones Dawson says he is pleased that he has gained “a perspective from which I can communicate to the greater community the MBS mission and goal. up. “I had lots of country cousins and statutory relationship between the real “People are always asking me about many of them were in business, so I was estate agent and the buyer. Previously, the the College of Business, about the courses exposed to the entrepreneurial side of Realtor primarily represented the seller, and programs it offers, and about where things very early in life,” he says. “Some but thanks to legislation that occurred in MBS students end up after graduation.” relatives were involved in retail business - the 1980s, both sides now have the ability Jon Dawson says the business degrees es in Dexter. One uncle owned a woolen to be separately represented. he earned from UMaine definitely played mill in Harmony and another owned Today, Dawson still enjoys the part he a part in helping him launch his success - Abbott General Store.” plays in helping people find the homes ful 35-year career in the Greater Bangor With these successful businessmen as that make them happy. Employing 65 real estate market. He recalls the stimulat - role models, Dawson says he learned the agents who live as far north as Lee and as ing classes and the attentive, caring pro - value of working hard, treating customers far south as Brunswick, Dawson says he fessors who “gave me the self confidence and employees fairly, and being true to also gets great satisfaction from knowing to pursue an entrepreneurial career path.” one’s word. that he’s helping other real estate agents Something else helped Dawson forge a Looking back on more than three reach their goals. successful business career. A native of decades in real estate, Dawson says the “I like encouraging the growth in their Belmont, Mass., he spent many summers most profound change over the years has careers.” ▲ in Dexter, Maine, where his mother grew been the legal shift that established a

University of Maine 9 MBS Alumni

Alumni Spotlight: Shawn McKenna

company which has become one of the Nowadays McKenna is concentrating largest and most popular in the city. In all, on running Starlite Diners which are open the companies employ 1,300 people. That round the clock. A resident of number is expected to grow: in addition to Bowdoinham, Maine, he commutes every opening the fifth Starlite Diner, McKenna two weeks to Moscow. and his partners plan soon to launch two “I have a lot of frequent flyer points.” new restaurants featuring entirely Conducting business in Russia presents different concepts. a number of challenges, according to Shawn McKenna A series of chance events led him to McKenna. In the U.S., code enforcement hen Muscovites crave a juicy become a Moscow businessman. and other regulations are clearly defined, burger, crisp fries, and a thick In 1990, as marketing manager for but in Russia, “the business structures are Wmilkshake they can thank a Proctor & Gamble, he was solicited by the still evolving and the day to day problems Maine Business School alumnus for agent of Joan Benoit Samuelson – the can be significant,” he says. enabling them to indulge in the delicious, Maine resident who became the first-ever “For example, regulatory agencies like American-style fare without having to woman’s Olympic marathon champion – the liquor commission have wide ranging travel very far. to help organize a marathon in Moscow. A authority and don’t always have to follow Shawn McKenna, who earned a bache - good friend of Samuelson’s, McKenna was due process. At our biggest restaurant we lor’s degree in business administration happy to oblige. One day he and a group once lost our liquor license through the from the University of Maine in 1977, is of Moscow officials decided to treat Christmas and New Year’s holidays – co-founder of Starlite Diner, a chain of themselves to lunch at an upscale which are huge business opportunities in four 50’s style eateries in Russia – because it took Moscow. so long to work through Offering typical “I cherish my UMaine business education. I really locked the bureaucratic red tape. American food such as into some outstanding professors whose advice has “When I tell my meatloaf, mashed friends who run potatoes, Caesar salads, stayed with me.” — Shawn McKenna companies in the U.S. club sandwiches, and what my day is like, they banana splits, Starlite Diner features a sit back and laugh,” says gleaming steel and chrome exterior, red restaurant only to find that the eating McKenna, who has come to enjoy doing and white vinyl booths, a soda fountain place was inexplicably closed even though business in Russia. and juke box, and walls covered with the streets were bustling and passersby “I love what I do. No day is the same.” photos of classic cars, movie stars, and old would have welcomed the opportunity for There are other reasons he enjoys living Life Magazine covers. a nice meal. and working in Moscow. It’s a walk down memory lane for “A light bulb went off in my head,” “I really like the Russian people – many Americans. McKenna recalls. “I realized that the country they’re open minded and friendly. And the And although Russians may not be able needed many things, and that one of the energy level in Moscow is extremely high. to relate to vintage America, that doesn’t easiest and most obvious opportunities was The city is alive. With 14 million people, stop them from flocking to the restaurant. in the restaurant business.” Moscow by itself would rank as a “Russians historically have had a For a while the idea of a restaurant significantly large country. It’s bigger predisposition for anything Americana,” took a back seat. Author of “The Complete physically than New York. Right now it’s McKenna says. Guide to Regional Marketing,” McKenna the most expensive city in the world and So determined was he to offer the real became a consultant for Anheuser-Busch it’s ultra high end – very fashionable, with thing that he had his first three eateries which hired him to develop a great dining experiences and car manufactured by a company in Florida distributorship in Moscow. But, in the dealerships that sell BMW, Mercedes and that specializes in producing authentic mid-1990s he connected with a couple of Rolls Royce. Some malls in Moscow could 1950’s-style diners. The buildings were American businessmen who had hold 10 Maine Malls.” shipped in modules to Moscow where restaurant experience and the group Serendipity may have played a key role they were assembled on site. McKenna decided to open one of Moscow’s first in his decision to do business in Russia, and his partners now are poised to open at private, high-end restaurants. It proved but McKenna says the business skills that a fifth location. wildly successful. enabled him to build a successful career “Business is solid,” he says. “The Not content to sit on their laurels, were carefully honed at UMaine. world-wide recession has been kind to our McKenna and his partners soon branched “I cherish my UMaine business business niche.” out and opened one of the city’s first education,” he says. “I really locked into The business also diversified to include health clubs which ultimately was some outstanding professors whose advice 13 corporate cafeterias in office buildings purchased by Planet Fitness, a chain of has stayed with me. Assistant Professor of throughout Moscow, as well as a catering exercise facilities. Management William Bigoness impressed

10 Maine Business School upon us to be organized, to have a plan, Travel from page 7 and to set goals. He also emphasized logistics – how to get from point A to and spent three days in point Z in your business. the middle of the jungle, “For me, logistics are huge. When I listening to the sounds shipped the first Starlite Diner in of birds and howler modules I had 21 pages of checklists. monkeys. They ate Each page had a different heading. I native Brazilian really got the big message from Professor barbecue, met members Bigoness. I learned that you don’t just of indigenous tribes, and wing it. Like Benjamin Franklin said, ‘if swam in the Rio Negro, you fail to plan, you plan to fail.’’’ a tributary of the His UMaine labor relations instructor, Amazon River. Carol Gilmore, also affected McKenna Guided by Harold positively. “You could tell that she loved Daniel, associate professor Photo by Rhan Flatin her job and that she had a passion for of marketing and director her subject. She came to work happy of UMaine’s Center for Tourism Research and Outreach, the group learned that the every day and it was really nice to see Free Trade Zone is home to hundreds of international companies including Coca that. It made me want to go to class. I Cola, Harley Davidson, Honda, Siemens, Kodak, and Gillette. The firms, which have felt lucky to be her student.” taken advantage of the special tax incentives in this free import and export trade It wasn’t only in class that he was area, train and hire members of the indigenous community, eliminating the need for able to build his business acumen. them to cut down the rainforest for farmland. “Being president of my fraternity, Sigma In Manaus, the UMaine travelers listened to presentations from tourism and Phi Epsilon, provided me with hospitality leaders and from representatives of an organization involved in a invaluable experience. All of a sudden I successful carbon trading system. They spoke with the coordinator of the Free Trade became responsible for a 50-person Zone and the secretary for planning and development for the State of Amazonas. organization with a budget and a house Staying at the Uacari Lodge, an international icon for ecotourism, was one of the as well as an alumni board and a highlights of the trip, students agreed. The lodge, which floats on the Amazon River, thousand alumni to answer to. It made relies on solar energy and is completely self sufficient and profitable. Members of me grow up quickly and it provided me the native population, who act as guides, cooks and maintenance workers, actually with a management and leadership own, manage and profit from the lodge as well as from the Mamairaua Sustainable laboratory that enabled me to learn the Development Reserve on which it is situated. skills that would help me throughout Amy Sundberg ‘12 said she particularly enjoyed interacting with the native my business life.” tribes. “In one village the farmer took us to see the plot of land where he grows With his hectic lifestyle, McKenna has cassava root. In another village we danced with members of the tribe and the little time to visit campus, although he medicine man showed us the native plants that he said could cure disease. It was returns now and then to attend Black really cool to see how these communities are preserving their culture and to see how Bear hockey and football games and to healthy the villagers looked. The kids were happy – playing soccer and doing check in with his fraternity. But this past cartwheels – and the adults were strong and muscular.” May while he was in Moscow, the The trip was one of the most important experiences of his life, according to university came to him! Much to his Brenton Murray ’11 who called the jungle “awe inspiring. delight, some of the UMaine students “I grew up reading in nature magazines about the ‘save the rainforest who were touring Moscow as part of the movement,’’’ he said, “and so it felt surreal to be in a canoe going down the Amazon Maine Business School’s annual River seeing the things I had read about. Flocks of herons and scarlet macaws would international field experience took him up fly by and the sunsets would be magenta, red and orange – it looked like the sky on his invitation to eat at Starlite Diner. was on fire.” “I loved helping to host the trip,” Cristin O’Brien, who earned her MBA last May, said she came away with a better says McKenna, who was particularly appreciation of the way U.S. factory workers are treated. “An employee at the impressed with the “enthusiasm, class, Honda motorcycle plant told me that once someone is trained for a position on the and dignity” displayed by the students. assembly line they rarely move. It didn’t sound as though there was much He took an immediate liking to Dean opportunity for diversifying one’s skill set. It really made me appreciate that in the John Mahon. “I saw him do a U.S., employers don’t just focus on getting the job done, but also on making sure tremendous job guiding the group and that employees are satisfied and engaged.” explaining international business.” Justin Jamison, another MBA student who graduated this past year, noticed that McKenna aims to be more involved businesses both large and small in Brazil all are focused on curbing deforestation. with UMaine in the future and may “Whether it’s a large corporation or a small ecotourist lodge, everyone is on the even present lectures at the Maine same page when it comes to helping preserve the rainforest,” he said. Business School. Special thanks to our devoted alumni Dan Bouchard, Patrice Krant, and Shawn “I love UMaine,” he says. “It’s one of McKenna who helped in various ways to develop and deliver the international trips. ▲ my primary relationships.” ▲

University of Maine 11 MBS News

Message from Dean from page 1 Assenmacher, who was lauded for helping Four Directions Development Corporation in Orono. Twins Brian and Christopher Vernal also are on the road to success. They are Dean Mahon among four students who have decided to continue their education in our MBA pro - gram thanks to an innovative program in tuition reduction we launched recently. Honored for Also in MBS Connects you will find several features on alumni who have made the Most-Cited Journal Maine Business School proud. Please note the diversity of alumni involvement and contributions to the Maine Business School. These former students, who have built suc - Submission cessful careers in Bangor, Boston, Hartford, Atlanta, and even Moscow, Russia, demon - strate that a graduate can be successful in any chosen field and in any location. ohn Mahon, director of the Finally, there is one unheralded group without which the MBS cannot operate: staff Maine Business School and members who work behind the scenes helping faculty, students and alumni to “get the J dean of the College of job done.” Specifically, thanks to Eric Beal, Ruth-Ellen Cohen, Maxine Ewankow, Wendy Business, Public Policy and Haehnel, Diane Hughes, Vicky King, Jody Loper, Alice Pellegrini, Sharon Steele, and Health, has received a unique Kevin Shanley. They care and they make things happen. award for a paper he published As always, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or if you are on cam - more than a decade ago, but still pus, drop by and say hello—this is YOUR school. Much has changed at UMaine, and if is considered the best paper ever you have not visited in awhile I urge you to attend Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 16 – published by the scholarly journal 18, when The Black Bears take on conference rival, the University of Richmond. The “Business & Society.” Graduate Business Association plans to celebrate with its Second Annual Alumni Honored during the 20th Tailgating Event on Saturday, Oct. 17. For more information, visit UMaineGBA.com or annual meeting of the email [email protected]. ▲ International Association for Business & Society last June in Snowmass., Colo., Dean Mahon received the association’s “20th CASE Competition from page 8 Anniversary Commemoration experience, network with other MBA will identify and prepare students Award for the Best Paper” ever students, make contacts from all over the interested in competitive business case published in its nearly 50-year- world, and hone the types of skills that are analysis featured in the John Molson old journal. needed for the business world,” says Myer. International MBA Case Competition and Dean Mahon, a cofounder and “Understanding the tools and in similar events. former president of the associa - techniques needed to analyze business The class will be a great opportunity for tion, was honored for his 1977 challenges, offering effective persuasive students to learn essential business skills paper, “Corporate Social presentations, and responding to real whether or not they participate in a case Performance and Corporate questions from informed executives are all competition, according to Myer and Financial Performance: Twenty- key takeaways from the competition,” adds Professor Harkins who will co-present the Five Years of Incomparable Professor Harkins. course. Research,” co-authored with Because these skills are so important, “At some point, everyone in the Jennifer Griffin. The paper has The Maine Business School has developed business world needs to stand up before an remained the most cited paper in a new MBA course designed to improve audience, analyze a problem, and offer a Business & Society, a manage - students’ ability to quickly analyze, recommended solution,” says Myer. ment journal focusing on social diagnose and resolve strategic business Those interested in participating in the issues and ethics and their influ - problems while preparing persuasive John Molson MBA International Case ence on organizations. ▲ presentations of those solutions. Competition may contact Paul Myer or “Business Analysis and Advocacy” also Jason Harkins on FirstClass. ▲

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