Tag Archive: Board of Visitors | Business and Economics

Board of Visitors

The Business and Economics Review for Summer 2024

By Beth Ryan August 21st 2024

Business and Economics Review front cover — Click on the image to read the newsletter in .pdf format

What’s new at the CBE? Find out by reading The Business and Economics Review

What’s inside:

Dynamic New Program Offers Students a Clear Path to One of the World’s Fastest Growing Professions – Healthcare Management
Connecting with the Working Women in the Meadville Community
Understanding the National Economic Outlook with the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank
VITA Volunteers Make a Real Difference in the Meadville Community
The Board of Visitors Prep Students for Life after Graduation
Allegheny Students Earn Top Awards at the Sigma XI Intercollegiate Student Conference
Business and Economics Undergraduate Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities (URSCA) Students and Faculty Participate in the ACROSS 2024 Summer Research Program
Robotics on Display During the Zingale Big Idea Competition Awards Ceremony
Celebrating Academic Excellence Beyond Expectations

Please note: activities, dates and program titles have been updated since publication, please visit the Center for Business and Economics Calendar for updated information.

Spring 2024 Symposium: Navigating Careers in Business and Economics

By Beth Ryan March 5th 2024

Students participating in the Board of Visitors Networking Lunch

Students of all majors are welcome to attend our Spring Symposium, “Navigating Careers in Business and Economics” with the Board of Visitors (BOV)- the Center for Business and Economics alumni advisory board that journeys back to campus each year to help students achieve their career goals.

Our twelve returning BOV members will be our guest speakers throughout the day starting at the Campus Center on Monday, March 18th.

There are three ways to participate:

Attend a session that aligns with your interests.
New for 2024! From 10:00 am until 12:15 pm Board of Visitors members not in session will hang out at Grounds for Change-students are encouraged to stop by and have a drink on our tab! CBE Fellows will be on hand to make introductions.
Attend our networking lunch at 12:30 pm in the Tippie Alumni Center – RSVP here, it just takes a minute!

Contact Beth Ryan for more information.

Students are free to attend any of these four sessions – here’s the details:

Monday, March 18

10:00 am – 11:00 am, CC 301/302 =>

“What’s Next? Graduate School vs. The Real World”
“The Power of Perception: How Personal Branding Influences Career Success,” sponsored by the Women in Business and Economics Club (WIBE).

11:00 am – 11:15 am => Coffee Break

11:15 am – 12:15 pm CC 301/302 =>

“Market Yourself as an Allegheny Grad – Comps and Experiences”
“How to Stand Out at Your First Job,” sponsored by the Wealth Management Club

After the final session, students are invited to attend lunch with the BOV members where they can enjoy the soup and salad buffet and do some “speed networking”! The lunch will begin at 12:30 pm and the BOV members will be on hand until 2:15 pm.

RSVP here so you don’t miss out on a great lunch experience!

Who’s coming to campus?

Dayan Aberaratne ’94 Managing Director, PJT Partners
Stacy Corbin ’89, Managing Director, KeyBanc Capital Markets
Elizabeth White ’83, President, White Biotech Solutions
Anne Gearan ’85, Partner, FGS Global
Naveed Ismail ’12, VP Customer Management Healthcare Analytics at Craneware
Keith White ’83, VP Risk Management, TD Bank
Evelyn Pendleton ’87, VP, CFO, Commercial, Specialty & Markets at Aetna
Angelica Runova ’06, VP, Sr. Strategy & Planning Manager, PNC
Diane Sutter ’72, President/CEO, ShootingStar Broadcasting
Eileen Webb ’06, Senior Manager, Exempt Organization Tax Services, EY
Trish Lawless ’92, VP – Transformation Management, PNC
Devone McLeod ’13, CFP® Financial Advisor at Wealth Enhancement Group

The Board of Visitors annual event is supported by the Earl W. Adams, Jr. Endowment, established by Allegheny College Trustee William H. Brown, Jr., Allegheny Class of 1980, in honor of Professor Earl William Adams, Jr. – teacher, mentor and friend.

New! Winter 2024 Edition of the Business and Economics Review

By Beth Ryan February 20th 2024

What happens during the busy fall semester here in the Business and Economics Department? A lot!

This issue includes stories about the screening and discussion of the documentary “Beyond Zero,” the visit of Devone McCleod ’13 as our Executive in Residence, a Board of Visitors meeting supplemented by the return of recently-graduated CBE Fellows, student-faculty research funded through a new endowment honoring the memory of Steve Casler, new faculty arriving in Quigley, career fairs, career guidance from students and returning alumni, and our Financial Literacy winners.

Click here to download a .pdf version of our Winter 2024 issue

What’s happens during a Busy Spring Semester at the Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics?

By Beth Ryan September 25th 2023

Quite a lot! Read “The Business and Economics Review” to look back at the highlights for Spring 2023 — Click here to download a .pdf

Our Distinctive Program

At the Allegheny College Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics, students may pursue a major in economics or business with each course of study applying the rigor of economic theory, with the benefit of interdisciplinary coursework that allows students to create a personalized concentration. Like many disciplines in a liberal arts curriculum, business and economics emphasizes oral, written, and quantitative methods in courses and seminars.

We offer students a program that requires a balance of theory and application in its curriculum. A combination of theory courses, quantitative work, and a number of field courses are offered to non-majors and minors. The program is designed to provide a foundation in liberal arts education to prepare students for postgraduate study and careers such as international affairs, law, business, management, banking and finance, human resources, accounting, marketing, education and public policy.

An extensive portfolio of co-curricular activities complements our curriculum, enhancing student learning and real-world experience and soft skill development to ensure that each student succeeds in pursuing internships, job, and graduate school opportunities at Allegheny College, and throughout their professional careers.

The distinctive Allegheny model requires students to declare a minor in a non-business and non-social science discipline, for example philosophy, religious studies, a foreign language, music, english, fine arts, biology, world health, mathematics, and computer science among other fields.

The Board of Visitors Offer Practical Insights for Life Beyond the Classroom

By Beth Ryan June 26th 2023

Members of the Board of Visitors on campus during the spring 2023 semester from left: President Ron Cole, Devone McLeod ’13 (Co-Chair), Anne Linaberger ’84, Anne Gearan ’85, Evelyn Pendleton ’87, Trish Lawless ’92, Lauren Odrechowski ’10, Eileen Webb ’06, Diane Sutter ’72 (Chair), Assistant Professor Tim Bianco, Stuart Armstrong ’81, Professor Tom Nonnenmacher, Naveed Ismail ’12; missing: Stacy Corbin ’89

When the arrival of the Board of Visitors is announced each spring, many students ask “who are the Board of Visitors?”…but what they are actually thinking is “what does that mean to me?,” “do I have to go?” and most importantly, “can I get extra credit?”

The real answer to all of these questions is that students who participate in the Board of Visitors day of activities come away with actionable information about how to approach getting the most out of their time at Allegheny, and starting a satisfying career. They make valuable connections and learn what’s happening in the real world outside the classroom.

Here’s what happens

Each year, members of the 20 member alumni Board arrive in Meadville to engage with students in a variety of activities. The programming is designed to help students use their college experience to achieve their career goals, and investigate trending topics in employment, economics and work/life balance.

According to CBE Co-Director and Asst. Professor of Economics, Timothy Bianco, “members of the Board of Visitors serve a three-year term with the possibility of reappointment to two additional terms. The Board of Visitors members were students themselves, and now understand what they wish they knew before starting their careers. “

He continued, “Devone McLeod, the Vice Chair of the Board of Visitors and the upcoming 2023 Executive in Residence, suggested that we consider a new set of topics for the morning symposium for 2023. We tasked the CBE Fellows, the Women in Business and Economics Club, and the Wealth Management Club with choosing original topics, and it was a huge success. Next year, we’ll continue to rely on feedback from students and Board of Visitors members to guide these topics.”

The day is divided into three main events, each designed to capture opportunities for alumni/student engagement and learning.

Morning, the Symposium

This year’s symposium featured a variety of topics:

Determining your Strengths and Utilizing them in the Workplace,
Breaking barriers: Navigating the Job Search to find an Inclusive Workspace (chosen by the Women in Business and Economics Club),
How to Cope and Be Smart with your First Salary, (chosen by the Wealth Management Club), and
Transitioning from College to Career.

Noon, the Networking Lunch

The Board then re-convened in the Tillotson Room in the Tippie Alumni Center for a popular lunch with students that combines good food with good conversation and a “speed networking” session managed by the CBE Fellows.

Individual Board members are invited to host a table; in turn, they introduce themselves to students and let them know something about their professional lives and their career paths. After introductions, the students in attendance rotate in small groups around each table, getting the opportunity to practice their elevator speech and make connections with board members.

Afternoon, the Executive Roundtable

Global news and events swirled around the 2022/2023 academic year leading Diane Sutter, Board of Visitors Chair, and CBE Co-Director, Tim Bianco, to re-imagine the Executive Roundtable as three distinct panel discussions with three specific topics:

How have Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Initiatives Affected the Business Landscape?
Global Economic Outlook: Soft or Hard Landing?
How has Generation Z Changed the Workplace?

At the end of this year’s event, students knew not only who the Board of Visitors are, but how much there is to learn about the real world outside of the classroom. Our special thanks to the Board of Visitors for participating in this high energy schedule of events.

Learn more about the Board of Visitors and who is currently serving on the Board here.

Board of Visitors Mini Conference & 18th Executive Roundtable

By Beth Ryan March 27th 2019

The Allegheny Community and students of all interests are invited to attend two special events hosted by the Center for Business and Economics:

Board of Visitors Mini – Conference
April 8, 2019 | 9:00 am – noon
Quigley, 2nd floor, various classrooms

The Board of Visitors is an advisory body for the Center for Business and Economics. The Board of Visitors advisory group is a powerful asset for students and faculty alike. This year’s event includes the following sessions, followed by refreshments and networking opportunities with our visiting executives.

All three sessions run concurrently with session #1 from 9:00 – 9:50 am, and session #2 from 10:00 am – 10:50 am. Beginning at 11:00 am, there will be refreshments & networking with the visiting Board of Visitors members until noon.

Managing a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace, Room 215
Graduate School — When, Where and How, Room 217
Leveraging your Comp & Extracurricular Activities to get your First Job, Room 220

The 2019 visiting Board Members in attendance for both conference topics and networking include:

Jennifer Daurora ’99, Trustee, former Chief of Operations, McGinnis Sisters Specialty Foods
Mark Hanson ’83, Senior Vice President, Freddie Mac Securitization Division
Terry Hartford ’81, Trustee, Vice President, ATI Defense
Sean Mathis ’65, Founding Partner, New Centuropm Capital Partners
Devone McLeod ’13, Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Reby Advisors
Samuel Moss, Doctor of Letters, Allegheny College, Senior Director of Finance, CF Foundation
Evelyn Pendleton ’87, Vice President, PA Market Chief Financial Officer & Coach of the Mid-Atlantic Territory for Aetna, a CVS Company
Roger Tufts ’76, Director, Policy Analysis Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, U. S. Treasury
Don Belt ’93, President, Hefren-Tillotson
Jim Spaulding ’80, Sr. Vice President and General Counsel (retired), Vanguard Health Systems, Inc.
Kyle O’Connor ’03, Sr. Vice President of Corporate Development at TriState Capital

Business Culture and the #MeToo Movement
April 8, 2019 | 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Ford Memorial Chapel, Allegheny College, Meadville, PA

The Center for Business and Economics proudly presents the 18th Executive Roundtable on a critical topic of national interest. Our goal is to provide our local community with a thoughtful, balanced inquiry into the important questions of our time.

What started as a simple phrase of support for survivors of sexual assault in 2006 has evolved into the viral #MeToo movement that has shone a spotlight on the culture of sexual harassment in some American workplaces. Sexist comments, unwanted sexual advances, and demands for sexual favors have contributed to a culture in which both women and men report lost work opportunities, reductions in income, demotions, and other forms of career impairment. In this roundtable, a group of experts will discuss the #MeToo movement and its impacts on the future of business, jobs, and careers.

This year’s panel of business leaders include:

Jennifer Daurora ’99 (Moderator) is an experienced executive leader, community builder and entrepreneur. As the former Chief of Operations of McGinnis Sisters Special Foods Stores, Ms. Daurora has deep experience in executive leadership, entrepreneurship, strategic planning, open book management, nonprofit management and governance, relationship management, data analysis, employee and community engagement. Ms. Daurora earned her BA in Economics at Allegheny College.

Sarah (Webster) Quinn, Attorney, Steptoe-Johnson focuses her practice in the area of energy (coal, oil and gas) and transactions throughout the Appalachian Basin. Mrs. Quinn also counsels higher education clients regarding workplace harassment, mental health issues, overtime regulations, transgender issues and Title IX. In addition, she helps institutions of higher education develop solutions for novel challenges both on and off campus. Ms. Quinn earned her BA in International Politics and Political Science at Westminster College and her JD at Ohio Northern University.

Mark Hanson ’83 is the Senior Vice President of Freddie Mac’s Securitization Division. In this role, he oversees Freddie Mac’s mortgage securitization efforts, including pass-thru, REMIC and strip issuance. He currently serves as the Executive Sponsor of Freddie Mac’s Women’s Network. Mr. Hanson earned his BS in Economics at Allegheny College and his MBA from the University of Rochester.

Karen Ubelhart ’77 is a senior analyst at Bloomberg. Ms. Ubelhart has covered the industrial sector for more than 30 years. Her time in the industry includes roles as the Managing Director at Lehman Brothers, a sector portfolio manager and analyst at Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, and an analyst at Oppenheimer. During her tenure Ms. Ubelhart has been ranked by both Institutional Investor and Greenwich Associates polls and has been a winner of Wall Street Journal’s Stock Picking Award. Ms. Ubelhart earned her BS in Economics at Allegheny College and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Learn more at https://sites.allegheny.edu/econ/center-for-business-and-economics/the-executive-roundtable/

The Board of Visitors and Executive Roundtable programs are supported by the Earl W. Adams, Jr. Endowment, established by Allegheny College Trustee William H. Brown, Jr., Allegheny Class of 1980, in honor of Professor Emeritus Earl William Adams, Jr. – teacher, mentor and friend.