Category Archive: Experiential Learning | Business and Economics

Experiential Learning

Plan Now for Life after Allegheny – Here’s Your Roadmap

By Beth Ryan November 4th 2019

Students of all majors are invited to attend a special Lunchtime Learning event where Professor Chris Allison ’83, Entrepreneur in Residence, will illuminate the many opportunities available for students with interests in business and economics. “Your professional life will throw a lot of surprises at you, so planning is essential to respond to those setbacks quickly and effectively,” says Professor Allison. “So, failing to plan your educational journey is really planning to fail.”

Professor Allison will guide students in considering the many professional opportunities after graduation and offer suggestions on how to secure internships and achieve career preparedness by taking advantage of the multiple experiential learning activities offered through the Center for Business & Economics and the Allegheny Gateway.

Students in attendance will receive a copy of A Roadmap for Business & Economics, career guide along with along with an internship directory providing a brief overview of the internship opportunities most appreciated by Allegheny students with interests in business and economics. Students will find information to set goals, learn how to get the most of their studies, prepare for jobs and internships as well as evaluate the many career and graduate school opportunities available to them as Allegheny College students. Included in the Roadmap is a form for students to plan their courses and a career & co-curricular planning document – both forms will assist students with resume writing and setting goals for their journey after graduation.

We encourage students to attend this event prior to registering for spring classes.

The Roadmap for Business and Economics
Thursday November 14, 12:15 pm, Quigley Auditorium
Lunch will be provided

Professor Chris Allison, Entrepreneur in Residence and Co-Director for the Center for Business and Economics — *Professor Chris Allison ’83 conducts a series of workshops for students throughout the academic year*

Chris Allison ’83 Allegheny Trustee, Entrepreneur in Residence and Co-Director for the Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics

Professor Allison is the former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Tollgrade Communications Inc. He is both the Entrepreneur in Residence and the Co-Director of the Center for Business & Economics. A published author of two books and multiple articles in the Pittsburgh media, his teaching and research interests include Managerial Economics, Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy, Investing Theory, Writing and Public Speaking. He is the host of the Financial Literacy Challenge and the annual Big Idea Competition where he shares his valuable executive experience to provide guidance and support to Allegheny’s next generation of business leaders.

Not every lesson is taught in a classroom, sometimes you have to take the field

By Beth Ryan October 28th 2019

The surprising connection between business strategy and football

The ECON 240 class learning about business strategy on the field of play

Inspiring students to learn more today and in the future requires imagination and collaboration.

When Dr. Gaia Rancati, Assistant Professor of Marketing and Neuromarketing considered methods of teaching business strategy in her Business & Managerial Economics class, she reached out to Allegheny football coach Richard Nagy to brainstorm ideas on how to drive home the meaning and significance of strategy in every area of life. Why football? Dr. Rancati shared her idea, “I believe that the connection with a professor and a coach can help to engage more students. There is no sport like football with the ability to put business strategy into practice.”

According to Coach Nagy, “I was amazed at how our model of running a football program fit what Dr. Rancati was teaching,” he continued, “She has really made me think and examine some of the things that we do. She is a great resource for me moving forward. I also really appreciate her enthusiasm and passion and how she teaches and inspires her students.”

The student reaction has been very positive. Football team captain and economics student Zach Wilson had this to say about the surprising connection between business strategy and football, “I never really made a connection with football and business strategy until Dr. Rancati showed me that they basically have the same ideology. Looking at the bigger picture of business and football, it is important to understand that every level of the business needs to do their part in order for the firm to be successful. This relates directly to football because each person out of the 11 on the field needs to do their individual job for the desired outcome.”

He continued, “Another surprising connection is the concept of competitive advantage. In the business world, you must have a quality, product, service, etc., that is perceived by the customers as better than the competition. This competitive advantage makes your specific firm more successful in some way, whether that’s total profit, a relevant position for your audience, or in football terms, more wins than other teams. Football strategy and business strategy are primarily the same in many ways and both aim to be better than the competition surrounding them. GO GATORS!”

Dr. Rancati takes the field with the Allegheny College football team to prepare for the coin toss, Oct. 19, 2019. *Photo by Ed Mailliard.*

Dr. Rancati was selected for the coin toss at the Oct. 19^th football game where the Gators won a 49-0 victory –demonstrating that a little strategy can go a long way. A native of Italy, Dr. Rancati, when asked about the differences between the European version of football, what Americans call soccer, and American football, she exclaimed, “Italy has its soccer history and the U. S. has great football!”

Gaia Rancati, Ph.D.

Dr. Rancati is the assistant Professor of Marketing and Neuromarketing at Allegheny College, a Visiting Professor – IULM University Milan, a Professor – IED Milan and the Head of Retail – Immersionneuro Los Angeles. She is the winner of the Woman of Excellence 2019 Award for Customer Experience and Retail from the World Economic Forum.

Richard Nagy

Richard Nagy is a veteran coach with more than 30 years of experience at the Division I and III levels, as its 35th head football coach. Nagy, who served as an assistant coach and eventually held the title of associate head coach for the Gators in the 1990s, returns to Meadville after most recently serving as the defensive coordinator at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

How to “Excel” at your Internship

By Beth Ryan October 22nd 2019

2019/2020 Fellows, from left - first row: Shannon Putnam '20, Emma Black '20, Rachel Tobler '21, Trevor Day '20, Carlos Sanchez '20, Rafael Balanquet '20 — 2019/2020 Fellows, from left – first row: Shannon Putnam ’20, Emma Black ’20, Rachel Tobler ’21, Trevor Day ’20, Carlos Sanchez ’20, Rafael Balanquet ’20

The CBE Fellows invite all Allegheny students for a special event on Gator Day – Allegheny’s day of programming centered on helping students connect their curricular and co-curricular experiences with the next steps they want to take at Allegheny and beyond.

The Fellows have created a new workshop entitled, How to “Excel” at your Internship based on their collective experience as both job applicants and interns in a wide variety of workplace environments. A key requirement for most positions today is a working knowledge of Microsoft Office’s spreadsheet program, Excel® – in fact, employers expect students to be proficient in Excel from their first day on the job.

But what about those soft skills everyone talks about? The Fellows recognized that it’s not simply the technical skills required for Excel, the key to success is understanding how to achieve the kind of results that benefit the organization.

To master both skills, the Fellows have designed this Excel workshop to teach Excel tips, tricks and shortcuts and share real life examples of how these skills can help students to succeed in the workplace. All six Fellows will be on hand to answer questions on Excel and internships as well as discuss how they were able to utilize these skills in their past internships. Participants will receive a handout with Excel shortcuts.

The event will be held on Tuesday, October 29 from 9:30 – 10:30 am in Quigley #220. Students can feel free to bring their laptops or use the computers in the room. A light breakfast will be provided.

Center for Business & Economics Fellows

Center for Business & Economics Fellows CBE Fellows are a select group of motivated students that function as a leadership team to support CBE programming and act as student ambassadors. Activities are structured to enable students to include this position on their respective resumes as a valuable work experience. To qualify for this position, students must have a keen interest in both business and economics, maintain a good academic standing, and regularly attend all CBE activities.

Center for Business and Economics Fellows

Gator Day

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business & Economics attracts Allegheny’s next generation of business innovators and entrepreneurs by providing a host of co-curricular activities that connect with and deepen their classroom experiences.

Welcome Alumna Diane Sutter, 2019 Executive in Residence

By Beth Ryan September 19th 2019

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business & Economics welcomes our 2019 Executive in Residence, Alumna Diane Sutter to the Allegheny College Campus September 30 – October 2. Ms. Sutter is the President and CEO of ShootingStar Inc., a consulting company that provides operational and consulting services to radio and television broadcasters, media companies, and financial institutions. She has owned and/or managed several broadcast stations, both radio and TV. While on campus, she will hold two public events, participate in this year’s Economics short course in executive leadership and meet with Allegheny students, faculty and staff.

Executive in Residence Public Events

Monday, September 30, 12:15 – 1:15 PM, Quigley Auditorium:
So you want to own a TV Station? The Path from Allegheny to Capitol Hill to Broadcasting

Tuesday, October 1, 12:15 – 1:15 PM, Quigley Auditorium: Management, Leadership & Teams

Lunch will be provided at both sessions

Allegheny students may visit Ms. Sutter during office hours on Monday, Sept. 30 and Tuesday, Oct. 1 from 2:30 until 4:30 PM in Quigley 219, students may follow this link to schedule an appointment.

The Executive in Residence program is an event is designed to connect Allegheny students and faculty with prominent business executives who spend several days on the Allegheny campus speaking about their life experiences in business, paths to success and lessons learned.

Alumna Diane Sutter

Diane Sutter’s career has included radio and television station management, overseeing a television and radio station group, and owning and operating television stations. She currently consults for radio and television stations, media companies, financial institutions and other organizations. In addition, she conducts management training and development for companies and organizations as a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. Sutter also works with organizations to implement Conscious Capitalism and “Purpose” in their company.

ShootingStar Broadcasting is the media company she formed to acquire and operate television and radio stations. The company owned the CBS affiliate in Abilene, TX (KTAB) and MyTV New England (WZMY-TV) in the Boston, MA market.

Ms. Sutter also served as the Trustee for the KFWB Asset Trust (The Beast 980-All Sports Radio) in Los Angeles, CA and facilitated the sale of the station. Sutter currently sits on the Advisory Board of Media Vista Broadcasting, Naples, FL. She was a member of the Advisory Board of Futuri Media, LLC, Cleveland, OH. Previously, she was a member of the Board of Directors of JW Broadcasting and consulted for the four station TV group in Columbia, MO until it was sold.

Ms. Sutter served as the President of Shamrock Television, in Burbank, CA, a division of Shamrock Holdings, Inc., owned by the Roy Disney family. Sutter oversaw three network affiliates for Shamrock and was responsible for station operations and acquisitions.

Prior to that, Ms. Sutter served as Executive Vice President of Operations for Shamrock Broadcasting, which operated 23 major market radio stations as well as three network television stations. She came to the corporate offices in Burbank, CA from Lexington, KY where she was the Vice President and General Manager of Shamrock’s ABC Television Affiliate there.

Her radio broadcasting career began in Pittsburgh, PA where she held numerous positions in radio, rising from newsroom producer through sales to sales manager, station manager, and general manager. She joined Shamrock Broadcasting and served as Vice President and General Manager of Shamrock’s AM/FM combination in Pittsburgh, PA.

Previously, Ms. Sutter worked on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. in various capacities for members of both the House and Senate. Her last position was as the Press Secretary for a congressman from Chicago, IL.

Industry/Community Associations

Ms. Sutter is actively engaged in both her industry and community. She recently served as the Chair of the FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment. In 2008, she was appointed to the FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age and was re-appointed in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2017 by multiple FCC Chairmen. Sutter also is a member of the Advisory Board of Multicultural Media, Telcom and Internet Council (MMTC). Sutter is also a member of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)

Diversity and Inclusion Council

She served as the National Chair of the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) and on their National Board. In addition, she served on the Entrepreneurial Leadership Council of Suffolk University’s Sawyer School of Business, and as a member of the Emerson College National Advisory Committee on Diversity in Boston, MA.

Ms. Sutter is a member of Conscious Capitalism LA and the All Star for Kids Council of the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. She also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the American University School of Communications, Washington, DC. Previously she was a member of the Alumni Advisory Council for Allegheny College, Meadville, PA.

Broadcast Leadership Training Program

Ms. Sutter created and developed the Broadcast Leadership Training (BLT) Program for women and people of color sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF). She serves as the “Dean” of the executive-MBA style, 10-month program to train women and minorities to become broadcast owners and group heads and teaches many of the sessions. The program is celebrating its 20th Anniversary year and has 325 graduates, many of whom have gone on to ownership or have been promoted to “C” suite level positions in the industry.

Awards and Recognition

Radio Ink magazine named Sutter one of The Most Influential Women in Radio in 2017 and 2018 and 2019. She was also named one of the 20 Top Leaders in Radio by Radio Ink Magazine. Radio and Television Business Magazine recently named Sutter as one of the top Television Executives. The Broadcasters Foundation of America honored Ms. Sutter as a 2017 Ward Quall Leadership Award recipient in recognition of her career contributions to the broadcast industry and the community at large.

In 2014, Sutter received the Trailblazer Award, from the Mentoring and Inspiring Women (MIW’s) at the NAB Radio Convention, recognizing her efforts to create and serve as the Dean of the Broadcast Leadership Training Program and mentor women and others in the industry. In 2011, she was chosen by the Alliance for Women in Media to be recognized for her contributions to the industry for the organization’s 60th Anniversary.

The NAB honored Ms. Sutter as the recipient of their Leadership Award at their national convention in 2009. Sutter was the 2008 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council.

The Alliance for Women in Media has also honored Ms. Sutter with their National Achievement Award. In addition, she was the first radio industry recipient of the Alliance’s Genii Award from the Los Angeles Chapter.

Education/Location

Ms. Sutter received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, and her graduate degree in Public Relations from American University, School of Communications, in Washington, DC. She is also a certified Gallup Strengths Coach.

Gators in Economic Development

By Beth Ryan September 17th 2019

Christian Walker ’20 and Ethan Graubard ’20 each interned this summer at different organizations pursuing the same interest – economic development.

Sales, Service and Economic Development

Ethan Graubard did double duty this summer working for Enterprise Rental as a customer assistance representative, and as a business liaison at the Bergen County Economic Development office. “It was a hustle all summer,” commented Graubard.

Ethan interned in 2018 at Enterprise as a management trainee, then advanced in 2019 to a Customer Assistance Representative where he gained experience in sales, customer service, management and logistics. “I have always been interested in urban planning and economic revitalization,” he said, “in fact, I did my senior project on public/private non-profit organizations.” He then earned a position at the Bergen County, NJ economic development office team whose goal is to attract business and promote tourism in the county, completing both internships in one summer.

Ethan is an Economics major with minors in Political Science and Community & Justice Studies, a student-athlete (varsity football), and a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization.

Entrepreneurship in Hermitage, PA

Christian "Dubs" Walker — 2019 Big Idea Winner, Christian Walker ’20 (right side, second from the end) interned for the second year at the eCenter @ LindenPointe, a non-profit business incubator dedicated to helping early-stage startups.

Christian Walker interned for the second year at the eCenter @ LindenPointe, a non-profit business incubator dedicated to helping early-stage startups. He participated along with other interns and entrepreneurs both teaching and attending seminars designed to improve the group’s skills at creating new business start-ups and growing existing businesses.

Christian owns and operates animatr, a brand that destigmatizes the negative misconceptions surrounding Japanese “anime” animation fans with aesthetic streetwear.

“I learned that it’s not just about having a good idea,” said Walker, “it’s about how you implement it.” He added, “My business revenue increased by 350% thanks to the accelerator and hard work.”

Christian is an Applied Computer Science major with a minor in Economics, a Bonner Scholar, and the 2019 Winner of the Big Idea Competition, Allegheny’s annual contest that emulates the experiences seen on the popular CNBC broadcast, Shark Tank.

Allegheny College is grateful for the many opportunities extended to our students through organizations like the eCenter @Linden Point, Enterprise and the Bergen County Economic Development office. The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business & Economics works in partnership with Allegheny Career Education to mentor students on how to locate and apply for internships, secure housing and apply for funding sources to defray costs.

Ryan Clydesdale ’20 Wins the Prestigious Cornerstones Summer Analyst position

By Beth Ryan August 19th 2019

Mathematics major with a double minor in Economics and Chemistry, Ryan Clydesdale ’20, was awarded the prestigious Cornerstone Research summer internship experience. According to Clydesdale, “and I had a great ten weeks as a Summer Analyst at Cornerstone Research. From gaining an understanding of the daily workflow of economic and litigation consulting, to acquiring some of the skills that come along with the job, and developing as a professional in general, I benefited immensely from this experience. I am now comfortable with coding in multiple programming languages, using Microsoft Office at a more sophisticated level, and collaborating with others to function as a productive member of a project team.”

Navigating the Application Process

To apply for this position, Ryan submitted his resume, transcript, and a cover letter to Cornerstone through Allegheny’s Career Education office. He was then called back for a phone interview, where he further discussed his interest and qualifications. The next step was a Skype interview, where he took part in two mock case studies. During the latter he was given background information on mock cases and the interviewers asked questions about his approach to investigation and analysis. As part of the process, Ryan was interviewed by multiple Cornerstone employees at various levels of management.

Cornerstone Research

Cornerstone Research is a leading economic and financial consulting firm specializing in the analysis of complex economic, financial, accounting, and marketing issues that arise in the context of various kinds of litigation. Cornerstone Research has 700 staff and offices in Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Washington.

Cornerstone Research values the professional growth of its summer analysts and recognizes their contributions to clients and the firm. Consequently, many summer analysts choose to join Cornerstone Research full-time upon graduation. The analytical depth of assignments, the breadth of industry exposure, and experience working in case teams offer outstanding preparation for analysts applying to top graduate programs in business, economics, and law, and for ensuing careers in consulting, finance industry, and academia.

Allegheny College is grateful for the many opportunities extended to our students by Cornerstone Research and their continued support of undergraduate experiential learning. The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business & Economics works in partnership with Allegheny Career Education to mentor students on how to locate and apply for internships, secure housing and apply for funding sources to defray costs.

Tech Intern Jerfenson Cerda Mejia ’20 Excels at Startup

By Beth Ryan August 12th 2019

Jerfenson Cerda Mejia ’20 Computer Science Major, Economics minor interned this summer at Arin, a technology startup in Pittsburgh that builds solutions for industry 4.0 by providing location awareness capabilities to vast networks of sensor, machines and workers.

What is it like to work in a technology startup?

Accord to Mejia, “I was a business and marketing associate intern. The overall experience was amazing. Since it was a startup, there were many things to do. I helped generate leads to help the company find potential distributors to sell their product. From the leads I generated, the startup is currently in talks with 5 of them to sign on as distributors. I redesigned and reworked their websites and worked on search engine optimization. I created a marketing plan and gathered content to post on their social networks. The internship was a great experience because the work I was doing was really helping the company.”

Benefits of Student Internships at a Startup

According to Forbes, “If you’re a particularly entrepreneurial student—you like to problem solve, ask questions, and work in a more flexible environment—then an internship at a startup may be of real benefit to you. Any student with entrepreneurial interest should seriously consider working at a startup for a summer during college. You’ll have more flexibility than you would in a large company. It will also move faster, and you’ll have more exposure to real problems.”

Entrepreneurship @Allegheny College

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics offers beginning and advanced studies in microeconomics and entrepreneurship. Students are inspired to experience entrepreneurship by participating in the Zingale Big Idea Competition in April, a funding request presentation contest where student teams propose business models for profit, non-profit or social venture companies. The contest emulates the experiences seen on the popular CNBC broadcast, Shark Tank. Unlike Shark Tank, the Zingale Big Idea distinguished panel of judges do more than evaluate the student team’s business models – they offer constructive feedback, coach and encourage students. Students are welcome to take classes, workshops and discuss ideas with Entrepreneur in Residence, Chris Allison ’83.

Experiencing Ethiopia’s Encounters with Globalization, Sustainability, and Empowerment

By Beth Ryan July 29th 2019

Dr. Onyeiwu with students visiting the African Union. The imposing and magnificent building in the background was donated by the Chinese government to the African Union.

Globalization, Sustainability, and Empowerment:
A Case Study of Ethiopia

From May 14 to June 1 this summer, Professor Steve Onyeiwu, Economics Department Chair and Lucinda Morgan, the Director of International Education, led a group of Allegheny students to Ethiopia in eastern Africa.

This EL experience, entitled “Globalization, Sustainability, and Empowerment: A Case Study of Ethiopia,” was an exploration of how Ethiopia has developed from a state-controlled economy in the 1980s and 1990s to impressive economic growth rates in the past decade. Regarded as one of Africa’s success stories, Ethiopia has done so on the basis of an agricultural development strategy, rather than on reliance on minerals.

The pre-departure sessions and site visits in Ethiopia enabled students to observe and consider the impact of economic growth. What did the group discover? Professor Onyeiwu shared these reflections:

Has economic growth been inclusive and poverty-alleviating? “We were shocked to observe how inequitable Ethiopia’s spectacular economic growth has been. The capital city, Addis Ababa, has many exquisite hotels, restaurants, and mansions. The roads in the city are replete with expensive imported cars. But driving about 30 miles outside of the city, one is confronted with abject poverty, and a lack of basic amenities (decent housing, schools, health centers, clean water, etc.).

Has growth empowered women and youth? “Women and youths are the most marginalized groups in Ethiopia. Women have limited access to education, and their roles are seen as primarily focused on child-bearing and work in the agricultural sector. Ethiopian youths lack employment opportunities. We met some youths with college degrees who were having difficulties finding jobs. Many youths with education have resorted to doing menial jobs that are unsuited to their skills and training.”

Is Ethiopia’s economic performance sustainable? “Ethiopia has done well with the development of agro-processing firms, from wineries to meat processing, cut flowers, leather products and handcrafts. Environmental students in our group also observed evidence of significant loss of biodiversity in Ethiopia. Thus, the sustainability of Ethiopia’s economic growth is very contentious.”

Experiential Learning Seminars (ELs) are short-term, faculty-led courses conducted in partnership with the International Education Office in the Allegheny Gateway to help students gain real-world experiences to achieve their ultimate career and life goals.