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University of Rochester of University A Day in the Life:

POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE BY PAID BE WILL POSTAGE FIRST-CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO. 137 ROCHESTER, N.Y. ROCHESTER, 137 NO. PERMIT MAIL FIRST-CLASS Constellation

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NECESSARY NO POSTAGE NO Inside: Simon Receives Major Gifts • The Student Visa Crisis • All-Simon Alumni Reunion • 2006–2007 Report on Giving Fruits of Their Labor A Day in the Life at Constellation Brands —by Charla Stevens Kucko

Constellation Brands receives 30,000 tons of grapes each autumn during the “Grape Crush,” pictured here, the fi rst step in the company’s production of brands that include Richard’s Wild Irish Rose, Arbor Mist, Taylor dessert wines, J. Roget champagne and Manischewitz.

hen Marvin Sands started Canandaigua of wine and spirits brands and imported beer. With net Industries more than 60 years ago, he had no sales of more than $5 billion in fi scal 2007, Constellation Widea that it would become the world’s largest Brands has skyrocketed to success by blending just “The wine producer. Today, under the name Constellation Brands, Right Mix” of some of the world’s best-known brands. it employs more than 9,200 employees around the world, Robert Mondavi wines, SVEDKA Vodka, Widmer, Paul including several Simon School alumni in senior-level Masson, Kim Crawford, Hardys, Simi, Corona, Black Velvet positions throughout the company. While Constellation Canadian Whisky, Effen Vodka, Toasted Head, Ruffi no, Brands has approximately 60 major production and Estancia—the list of more than 250 brands is seemingly distribution sites throughout the United States, Canada, endless, offering something for every taste and price range. United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, the fi rm’s In a business where acquisitions are often being U.S. wine company headquarters remains where the family made—most recently, Canada’s Vincor in 2006 and business originated—in Canandaigua, N.Y., while the SVEDKA in 2007—Constellation Brands has harvested corporate headquarters is just down the road a few miles in a global empire by being both open to growth through the Rochester suburb of Fairport. acquisitions and staying true to its core values. Simon What began as a small, regional, bulk-wine operation alumni who are part of the Constellation Brands family are has developed, through careful strategic planning and helping shape the future of this industry powerhouse. Here execution, into one of the world’s most dynamic portfolios is “A Day in the Life at Constellation Brands.”

U NIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER | SIMON GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | SimonBusiness | 15 Lou Applebaum, B.S. ’93, M.B.A. ’95 Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development

synergies. His group works closely with Susan Gardner ’91 (see p. 18) and her team in corporate development on the fi nancial side of new acquisitions. Applebaum hosts company-wide quarterly internal global marketing and sales council meetings for senior-level executives to discuss best practices and address any issues. Last summer, he was promoted to senior vice president of strategy and business development. His additional responsibilities include disseminating the corporate vision and goals through the ownership of the strategic planning process. “We are the largest wine company in the world, with just about 4 percent market share,” Applebaum says. “There is plenty of room for expansion.” In a business where there is no typical day, Applebaum hits the gym at 6:30 a.m., is in the offi ce by 7:30 a.m. and gets a lot done before career path that began for Lou Applebaum, B.S. phone calls and meetings are scheduled. He ’93, M.B.A. ’95, as a marketing analyst intern at travels about 30 percent of the time, visiting the company’s ACanandaigua Wine Company has come full circle. large operations in its fi ve core markets: United Kingdom, A Buffalo, N.Y., native who now resides in Victor, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. N.Y., Applebaum earned both his undergraduate degree and Applebaum says the most important benefi t from Simon M.B.A. through the University of Rochester’s 3-2 his Simon education was acquiring, through the Frame, Program. Following his summer internship, he was asked Analyze, Communicate (F.A.Ct.) curriculum, the skills to to stay on as a full-time market analyst at Canandaigua frame and analyze complex business problems. “That was Wine while fi nishing his Simon M.B.A. part time. In 1996, my biggest ‘light bulb’ moment—learning how to take a when the company expanded the market research group, variety of input, information and data and come up with a Applebaum moved into a sales role and relocated to Dallas, hypothesis, framing what’s going on and communicating it in Tex., to call on major retailers Wal-Mart, Kroger and HEB. a presentation to senior executives,” he notes. “That concept A year later, the company offered Applebaum a was huge for me and has been so throughout my career.” position back in Rochester as a brand manager of some of Applebaum enjoys spending family time with his wife, its premium wines. He had spent six years at Canandaigua Julia, and their children, Ben, 8, and Hannah, 5. He coaches Wine Company when he accepted a position as global Ben’s soccer and baseball teams in the summer, and attends marketing manager for camera lenses and fi lters at Tiffen, Hannah’s gymnastics meets. an optics fi rm based on Long Island with a consumer Applebaum’s expectation for the future of Constellation division in Rochester. Brands is an optimistic one. “We are driven by a consistent But Applebaum faced a crossroads at Tiffen, which was vision and strong, seasoned management,” he says. “It’s struggling. In late 2001, an opportunity arose as a senior not about being a conglomerate; it’s about understanding marketing manager for contact lenses at Bausch & Lomb, and meeting consumers’ needs. Our plan is to stay ahead where he stayed for three and a half years. of the trends by looking at not only geographic expansion Applebaum returned to Constellation Brands in 2004 as but also niche growth potential in our core markets through vice president of business development. His responsibilities innovation, new product development and, of course, include commercial evaluation of acquisitions and joint acquisitions. These elements will continue to be our strength ventures as well as analyzing internal sales and marketing over the years to come.”

16 | SimonBusiness | S IMON GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER David Cole ’89 Director of Operations Finance

Struggles in the auto industry, however, soon led Cole to begin seeking other opportunities. “I wanted to get more involved in strategy and stay in the area,” he says. He was controller of the large manufacturing complex in Lockport when the opportunity at Canandaigua Wine Company (now Constellation Wines U.S.) arose. Cole joined Canandaigua Wine in 1999 as an accounting manager, before the company’s explosive growth took place. Today, as director of operations fi nance, he is a key member of the management accounting group for the company, supporting its New York operations. The group performs budgeting and various performance analyses, while his staff in Canandaigua maintains cost information for profi t and loss development and cost estimation for new products. “The company’s growth means that, we are always working to integrate staff and companies,” Cole says. “It takes a lot of analysis and reassignment to integrate systems and people. My biggest challenge is pulling everything together.” A native of Dansville, N.Y., who now lives in ew people are able to turn their passions into a Fairport, Cole estimates he works an average of 50 hours a career, but David Cole ’89 has been able to do just week, traveling a few times a year to Constellation’s product Fthat—twice. As a child, he loved cars; as an adult, and distribution facilities on the West Coast. “Learning he is a wine enthusiast. When he came to work in both the about wine is a lifelong process,” Cole says. “I’ve learned automobile and beverage alcohol industries, each job has so much about growing grapes and the subtle nuances that been a dream come true. make a better product.” After completing his undergraduate degree in economics As for the skills necessary for the job, Cole says patience at St. John Fisher College, in the spring of 1982, Cole landed as well as good people and negotiation skills are needed. “In a full-time position in payroll and accounts payable with my position, you don’t have the luxury of much time to make General Motors (now Delphi) in Rochester, N.Y. Cole soon decisions, so the basic analytic and problem-solving skills I decided he needed an M.B.A. “One of my undergraduate learned at Simon are skills I’m using every day,” he says. professors recommended Simon, based on its outstanding Cole spends family time with his wife of 24 years, reputation, so I decided to attend part-time classes at night,” Donna, and their children, Adam, 19, Emily, 16, Jacob, 11 he says. and Erika, 10. When he can, he enjoys pursuing yet another After earning his M.B.A., Cole transferred to the passion—jazz. Harrison division of General Motors in Lockport, N.Y., As for the future, Cole expects the company’s growth where he found his true niche in operations, supporting to continue. “No one can argue with what we’ve achieved,” cost accounting. Shortly thereafter, he was tapped to be part he says. “We will continue to improve internally, with an of a team that traveled to GM’s headquarters in Michigan, eye to the marketplace for opportunities.” to develop a manufacturing and accounting information Cole’s advice for students: “If you’re attracted to a job system. “I worked with people across the company and that will provide unique challenges on a fairly regular basis, discovered the entire process of building a car,” Cole says. “It consider a career in manufacturing,” he says. “Above all, be was an incredible experience.” passionate about whatever you choose to do.”

U NIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER | SIMON GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | SimonBusiness | 17 Susan Gardner ’91 Senior Vice President, Corporate Development

investment bankers, industry experts and executives in the company’s business units to identify a potential candidate and assess whether it would be a good fi t for the company,” Gardner explains. “My group is responsible for the valuation work and due diligence, as well as the coordination with internal teams including legal, tax, treasury, accounting, investor relations and human resources.” “Our goal is profi table, sustainable growth, both organically and through acquisitions,” Gardner says. “We’d like to acquire more premium brands in both the wine and spirits categories and to continue expanding the global reach of existing products in the Constellation portfolio.” The main challenge, in Gardner’s view, is coordination of internal company resources. For Gardner, a Livonia, N.Y., native who now lives in Victor, N.Y., the rewards are “seeing what we as a company have been able to accomplish with stock price appreciation and shareholder value creation.” What started as a small, family run company has remained very decentralized. Gardner sees that as a distinct advantage. “People closest to the street can identify fter earning her undergraduate degree from Alfred trends and react to changes in the industry and they University, Susan Gardner ’91 was debating have the autonomy to do so,” she notes. “The company’s A whether to pursue a graduate degree in business incentive structure rewards high performance and balanced or law. She decided she was better suited to business school risk taking. Our leadership team has great vision but and has never regretted that decision. more importantly can execute against it. That’s what The summer after her fi rst year at the Simon School, differentiates Constellation Brands as a company.” Gardner landed an internship at Bausch & Lomb’s Of her Simon education, Gardner has nothing but praise. Rochester, N.Y., headquarters. Following her internship, “I came away with great analytical skills, and I still refer to she continued working at B&L part time and received a job some of my textbooks for theory and background,” she says. offer in the fi rm’s Treasury group with fellow Simon alum “Simon still plays a signifi cant role in my career today.” Ariadna Rodriguez ’91. A few years at Bausch in various For current Simon students interested in getting into fi nancial roles enabled her to build a solid foundation in mergers and acquisitions, Gardner advises, “be willing to analytics and business acumen. work hard, hone your analytical skills, pay close attention to Gardner began her career at Constellation in 1996 as detail, be self motivated and be a team player.” manager of planning and reporting for the Wine division. “We are an intense group,” Gardner says. It’s not Soon thereafter, she was promoted to director of fi nancial unusual to work long hours and have multiple deals and planning and analysis for the Corporate division where she projects going on simultaneously. She travels quite a bit, worked with the chief fi nancial offi cer on the company’s typically around 30 percent of the time. “It’s exciting to annual and long range planning. A few years later, she research a company, build a plan and a strategy, execute was promoted to vice president, corporate development against it and close the deal,” she explains. and began her experience in the fi eld of mergers and As a single mother of two boys, Matthew, 8, and Ethan, acquisitions. Currently she is senior vice president, corporate 11, Gardner is very involved in their sports schedules development. including football, soccer and the ski team at Hunt Hollow. Gardner says she loves her job and thrives on the In her spare time, she runs and gardens. “I have a wonderful excitement of identifying opportunities for growth and support network,” she says. “And, I have a great job at a acquiring new businesses. “We typically work with truly phenomenal company.”

18 | SimonBusiness | S IMON GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER Peter Lijewski ’93 Vice President, Supply and East Coast Operations

a customer, manage winery or supply issues, and handle a freight claim or a forecasting issue. “It’s keeping me off the streets,” he quips. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., who now lives in Canandaigua, Lijewski says he knew a year out of Penn State that he needed to get an M.B.A. “My Simon M.B.A. was critical to my success,” he says. “It was a door opener, and it helped me to frame and analyze all aspects of a problem. It also gave me year out of undergraduate studies in engineering terrifi c understanding of fi nance and at Penn State, Peter Lijewski ’93 was working change management skills. One strong reason for how I’ve A for Kraft Foods as an engineering production progressed in my career is my ability to bring about change.” supervisor at the company plant in Avon, N.Y., where the Lijewski says he uses the skills he acquired at Simon company produced Pudding Pops. After being transferred on a daily basis. “In this job, everything I do is about with Kraft to Indiana and White Plains, N.Y., respectively, organizational behavior, reward systems and incentives. Lijewski’s next career move was in 1991, to the supply People will behave in a way you motivate them to behave. I chain team of Zotos International, a $60 million company was fascinated by Professor Ron Schmidt’s course and now based in Geneva, N.Y. Then, in 1997, an opportunity arose I’m putting it into practice.” at Constellation Brands, in Canandaigua, N.Y., that would In all company operations, the goal is to work safely and prove pivotal. put out a quality product. “We have great people working Lijewski started at Constellation as a purchasing here, and the longevity of our employees is a testament to manager. From there, he quickly added more operations the leadership of this company. We have very low turnover,” and supply chain responsibility over the years. Nearly Lijewski says. four years ago, he was promoted to vice president of East But it’s not just about managing winery employees; Coast operations, and recently took over U.S. supply Lijewski’s other constituency is the grape growers. “We chain management. Today, as vice president, Supply contract with roughly 155 grape growers annually,” he and East Coast operations for Constellation Wines U.S., says. “We meet with them, assess their crops and by Lijewski oversees the winery operations in Canandaigua, August 15, as required, post the price we will pay in a Widmer Wine Cellars in Naples, N.Y., and the company’s given year. The grower then decides whether to sell us distribution center in Geneva. the grapes. It’s basic supply and demand. We always try to Perhaps Lijewski’s favorite time of year is the annual come up with a fair price to maintain a good partnership.” “Grape Crush” in the fall, when 30,000 tons of grapes are The result is what Lijewski calls “an incredible portfolio processed for wine making. He oversees 270 employees of fi ne wines from around the world”—a portfolio bound to and, he estimates, about 8 million cases of wine production, grow even more. “This company is not afraid to do things including Richard’s Wild Irish Rose, Canandaigua Wine differently, so it will never get stale or stagnant,” he notes. Company’s original brand, and Arbor Mist, Taylor dessert Lijewski, a member of Simon’s Alumni Council, wines, J. Roget champagne and Manischewitz. enjoys spending family time with his wife, Suzanne, and In a business where there is no typical day, Lijewski their children, Meghan, 17, Zachary, 14, and Noah, 12. In can oversee purchasing, transportation and customer addition to being involved in his children’s school and sports service for all Constellation Brands wine products produced schedules, bicycling is his recreation, and he rides about in the United States, including exports, as well as demand 1,200 miles during the course of the summer throughout the and inventory planning; he also may handle an issue with Bristol Valley and the South .

U NIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER | SIMON GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | SimonBusiness | 19 Brian Meath ’89 Vice President and Associate General Counsel

and working full time, Meath and his wife, Kelly, welcomed their fi rst child, Allison. “What I remember most about those four years is how time intensive it was,” he recalls. One of Meath’s favorite Simon memories is of Commencement 1989, when 2-year-old Allison shouted, “That’s my Daddy!” as Meath crossed the Eastman Theatre stage. After earning his Simon M.B.A., Meath was offered a job with Fisons Pharmaceuticals in Rochester, where he remained until 1996. That year, he became the fi rst in-house counsel at . Three years later, he was offered the job at Constellation Brands. With Constellation Brands’ astronomical growth, the legal department at Constellation Wines U.S. has grown to four full-time attorneys. Outside counsel is retained as needed to support and supplement the handling of the multitude of diverse legal matters affecting the company. Meath expects Constellation Brands to continue to grow both organically and by acquisitions. In this position, says Meath, no two days are the same. “The best thing about my job is that, on a daily basis, I work with a diverse group of very talented managers on a wide array of business matters—I learn something new every day,” he says. Meath frequently travels to the West Coast, where s vice president and associate general counsel of Constellation Wines U.S. has wineries and offi ces in Constellation Wines U.S., an operating division California, Washington and Idaho. When he’s not traveling, Aof Constellation Brands, Brian Meath ’89 is he works at the Constellation Wines U.S. headquarters in responsible for managing the legal risk of the company’s Canandaigua. four U.S. wine businesses: Icon Estates, Centerra Wine In a business that can be time consuming and intense, Company, Pacifi c Wine Partners and North Lake Wines. Meath does his best to balance it with his family and A native of Canandaigua, N.Y., Meath earned his other interests. He and his wife recently celebrated their undergraduate degree in management at SUNY Geneseo in 25th wedding anniversary. Allison, now 20, is a junior at 1978 and his law degree from the University of Buffalo law Ohio State University, and his son, Kyle, 16, is a junior at school in 1981. He went into private practice in Rochester Canandaigua Academy. Kyle, who has cerebral palsy, loves to until 1985, when he joined the legal department at Rochester play wheelchair basketball. Meath attends Kyle’s games and Telephone, now Frontier Communications. During that time, is on the advisory board for the Rochester Wheels basketball he decided to round out his background in business—in team. He also serves on the boards of Thompson Health, particular, human resources/labor relations and fi nance—by Happiness House–Finger Lakes United Cerebral Palsy, pursuing a graduate-level certifi cate in industrial and labor and SportsNet, a division of the Rochester Rehabilitation relations at Cornell University and his M.B.A. at the Simon Center, whose mission is to develop recreation and sports School. He obtained both degrees as a part-time student, opportunities for people with disabilities. He is also a while employed at Rochester Telephone. “I use the skills member of the Simon School Alumni Council. I acquired at the Simon School frequently,” Meath says. Meath’s advice to Simon students is to strive for a “Law school taught me to think like an attorney, but my wide variety of experiences—educationally, professionally Simon M.B.A. helped me develop the tools and discipline and personally. “Each new experience exposes you to new of a business manager that make me more effective in challenges and opportunities,” he says. “Most important, pursue counseling senior executives.” While earning his M.B.A. your dreams, but challenge yourself along the way.” SB

20 | SimonBusiness | S IMON GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER Sands Leadership Lecture Series

The Richard Sands Leadership Lecture Series brings prominent executives to the Simon School to discuss effective leadership. The inaugural Sands Leadership Lecture, on April 20, 2007, featured renowned fi nance scholar and former Simon School faculty member Michael C. Jensen, Jesse Isidor Straus Professor of Business Administration Emeritus at Harvard Business School and managing director, organizational strategy practice, for The Monitor Group. The lecture series is made possible through the generous support of Richard Sands, board chairman at Constellation Brands and member of Michael C. Jensen the Simon School Executive Advisory Committee.

Richard Sands

Zupan Joins Constellation Brands Board

Simon School Dean Mark Zupan joined the Constellation Brands board of directors in October 2007. “We are fortunate to be able to tap into Mark’s business and academic acumen and bring his unique perspective to our company’s board,” said Richard Sands, Constellation Brands board chairman. “We believe Mark will be a welcome and important addition to our board, and we look forward to his counsel and contributions in support of achieving our long-term corporate goals.” Zupan will work closely with fellow board members and recently appointed C.E.O. Robert Sands.

Simon UNcorked Last fall, Simon students founded a new wine club, called Simon UNcorked. The club, open to all members of the Simon community, was established on the belief that students should take advantage of every opportunity to set themselves apart in business and society. Because wine is an important part of business networking, students believe it is necessary to understand the many varieties and types of wine to make educated and respected wine choices in business settings. In addition to attending lectures by wine industry executives, club members visit area vineyards, wine shops and restaurants to explore wine Students attend a Simon UNcorked event. culture.

U NIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER | SIMON GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | SimonBusiness | 21