COBI’s Student Managed Portfolio to celebrate 10th anniversary

The UT College of Business and Innovation will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Student Managed Portfolio class during the 2016 Homecoming.

The Student Managed Portfolio (SMP) course provides students with active portfolio management training utilizing an endowed portfolio. In this hands-on learning experience consistent with the university’s goals of experiential learning, students use state-of-the-art Bloomberg terminals in the John B. and Lillian E. Neff Trading Room. The UT Foundation Investment Committee exercises its fiduciary obligation to oversee and question the SMP student managers and analysts on their performance and investment process. 

SMP was proposed by COBI Dean Thomas Gutteridge to the UT Foundation in 2005 and was established in August 2006 with $1 million of UT Foundation funds, with the first quarterly presentation to the University of Toledo Foundation Investment Committee in November, 2006.  

The investment fund is currently worth approximately $1.7 million.

Student Portfolio Managers apply equity selection analysis and portfolio risk analytics, with fiduciary responsibilities. The Student Managed Portfolio invests in large-cap domestic securities within the Russell 1000 Value Index investors using “bottom-up” fundamental analysis in the style of John Neff. Mr. Neff is an alumnus of the UT College of Business and a generous benefactor of the college, which has named the Neff Department of Finance and the Neff Trading Room in honor of John B. and Lillian Neff.

Neff Trading Room

“We look primarily at stocks with relatively low Price/Earnings and Price/Book ratios, strong dividend yield, superior relationship of total return to Price/Earnings paid, solid financial statements, and strong long term growth prospects, among other factors,” noted Dr. Ozcan Sezer, Chair of the COBI Finance Department. “The fund's Investment Policy Statement (IPS) outlines the parameters that we must adhere to.”

The 10 Year Reunion of the Student Managed Portfolio (SMP) program will take place on Saturday, October 15 in Libbey Hall immediately following the Homecoming football game, at approximately 6:30 p.m. with heavy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.

The cost is $65 per person, of which $25 is tax deductible as a contribution to the SMP Fund.

Guests at the celebration will include:

Gene Collins, ('68, '71), Executive in Residence in Finance (retired); Dr. Gary Insch, Dean of the College of Business and Innovation; Dr. Ozcan Sezer, Chair of the John B. and Lillian E. Neff Department of Finance; Dr. Marc Simpson, John B. and Lillian E. Neff Endowed Chair in Finance; Dr. Gary Moore, and Dr. Linda E. Boyer (retired).

“We are excited to have the opportunity to gather to share UT memories and reconnect with fellow SMP alums,” Dr. Sezer said.   “Many students know their classmates. However, we want to use the 10-year celebration so each SMP alum will get to know their fellow SMP alumni from different years for stronger relationships and an enhanced sense of pride.”

“The Student Managed Portfolio class has helped tremendously in my career,” noted Steven R. Plummer, Principal,  The Trust Company.  “The incredible knowledge and experience gained from the class gave me a head start in regards to a career as an investment analyst and portfolio manager. Employers always commented that they wish such a class existed when they went to college.”

As for the future, Dr. Sezer explained that “We’re considering a major renovation of the trading room. Also, we are going to accept students who will begin in both the spring and fall semesters who are willing to manage the portfolio for two consecutive semesters, as opposed to students who only begin in the fall semester, as it has been structured.”

Individuals who are interested in attending the 10 Year SMP Reunion can register online here: https://www.utfoundation.org/foundation/home/Events_Alumni.aspx 

Two COBI alumni to be honored during UT’s Homecoming gala

During The University of Toledo’s 2016 Homecoming Gala, William Carroll (Class of 1969) will receive the College of Business and Innovation Outstanding Alumnus Award.

Additionally, Robert A. Bleile (COBI Classes of 2004 and 2010) will receive the Edward H. Schmidt Outstanding Young Alum Award.

William Carroll

Rob and Ala Bleile

Carroll is CEO at Limo-Reid Technologies, a Toledo-based automotive company, since 2009. Prior to that he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Dana Corporation, and served on the Board of Directors of Graco, Inc. Carroll also serves as Chair of the Business Engagement and Leadership Council of the UT College of Business and Innovation, and was the 2012 recipient of the college’s prestigious Business Pacemaker Award.

“As a UT College of Business alumnus and Chair of the UT COBI Business Engagement and Leadership Council (BELC), Mr. Carroll continues to display his deep personal commitment to the College of Business and Innovation and its important activities within the business community,” noted COBI Dean Gary Insch. “Mr. Carroll’s highly successful career, community involvement and outstanding integrity and leadership in the regional business arena make him the ideal business professional to receive this year’s Outstanding Alumnus Award.”

Mr. Carroll, a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve for six years, obtained his bachelor’s degree in accounting at UT and completed an advanced management program at Harvard Business School. Beginning in 1987, he held several key positions at Dana Corporation, including President of the Automotive Systems Group from 1997 to 2004, and President and Chief Operating Officer from 2003 to 2004. Mr. Carroll also has been Director of Economic and Community Development for the City of Toledo, Chairman of the Lucas County Port Authority, and a member of the Toledo-Lucas County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Bleile is a two-time grad of the UT College of Business and Innovation, having obtained both his bachelor's and Executive MBA there, and is a past president of the COBI Alumni Affiliate. He is co-founder of Shopmetrics and president of American Timber and Steel. A recent profile of Bleile published in Rocket Business News can be found here.http://rocketbusinessnews.blogspot.com/2015/09/two-time-cobi-grad-focused-on-giving.html

“Rob has already been of tremendous service to the College of Business through his commitment to the Alumni Association,” Dean Insch said, “and we are proud of the fact that he obtained both his bachelors and Executive MBA here.  We congratulate him for receiving the Outstanding Young Alum award and look forward to a long, mutually beneficial relationship.”

The 2016 Homecoming theme is Rocky's 50th Birthday, Celebrating 50 Years of Rocky. Ticket information for the event can be found here. 

Love of travel leads COBI student to learn language and business in Spain

Krista Wellman, an international business and marketing major in the UT College of Business and Innovation, likes to travel.

“100%, it is my favorite hobby,” she said.

So when she had the opportunity to combine her favorite hobby with completing work for multiple courses, she did just that….and spent nearly six months in Spain earlier this year.

Krista Wellman

“Going to Spain was a no-brainer for me,” Wellman said. “It was beneficial to me in multiple ways, such as finishing course work there for business and Spanish courses, learning more about different cultures, and traveling to six different countries, all for a respectable price.”

“In the process,” she added, “as an international business student I finished my foreign language requirement and took two junior level business courses. Going to Spain to finish my foreign language was helpful to me because, instead of going to classes and then never using it out side of the classroom, I was living and breathing the Spanish lifestyle and language.”

Wellman said “I chose international business and marketing at The University of Toledo College of Business because I enjoy learning about other cultures and the way they handle business. I chose to do a double major because it makes me more marketable and versatile while looking for jobs, especially since there are so many paths you can take with marketing.”

“My most memorable moments in Spain were sitting in these little coffee shops with my friends,” Wellman recalled.  “We would people watch and we quickly learned that the Spanish lifestyle was very different from America. They really did have siestas where everything would close from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., except the restaurants. The lifestyle was very slow-paced.”  

For someone who loves travel, it was not surprising that Wellman took advantage of the opportunity while in Europe to visit some other countries. “When I was studying abroad I went to Italy, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, London, and Ireland.”

She also fondly remembers other international travel she had taken. “I have been to Honduras on a mission trip in December, 2013, which was a life changing experience for me, because I had never been out of the country before.”

“Studying abroad was super beneficial to me because I can now say I have lived in another culture and I can talk to future employers about how I have adapted in certain situations,” Wellman observed. “After graduation I would love to move and live in California for a couple years. I want to work for an international clothing store and travel and represent them, either in marketing or sales.”

So it is not surprising that Wellman would recommend international travel to other students who have the interest to do so.

“Studying abroad is an experience you can’t explain in enough words,” she said. “It is honestly indescribable. There were times where it wasn’t easy and fun, but it is by far the most amazing and unforgettable experience. It really opened my eyes to the different ways of life, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”  

FUBU founder and Shark Tank star Daymond John to speak at UT on Oct. 18

Daymond John, CEO and founder of FUBU and star of the popular television show Shark Tank, will be speaking at The University of Toledo on Tuesday, October 18 at 7 p.m. in Nitschke Auditorium. The presentation is free, but tickets are required.

Daymond John

The presentation is part of the Jesup Scott Honors College Distinguished Lecture Series, which promotes intellectual discourse and academic inquiry at The University of Toledo, sharing the innovative ideas of movers and shakers who are anything but traditional. 

An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, John has come a long way from taking out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother’s house and moving his operation into the basement. John is CEO and Founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry with over $6 billion in product sales. He is an award-winning entrepreneur, and has received over 35 awards including the Brandweek Marketer of the Year, Advertising Age Marketing 1000 Award for Outstanding Ad Campaign, and Ernst & Young’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

His marketing strategies and ability to build successful brands has made him a highly influential consultant and motivational speaker. His marketing firm Shark Branding offers advice on how to effectively communicate to consumers through innovative means and connects brands with the world’s top celebrities for everything from endorsements to product extensions. 

John is also an author of two best-selling books Display of Power and The Brand Within. In 2009, he joined the cast of ABC entrepreneurial business show the Shark Tank by acclaimed producer Mark Burnett. Millions of weekly viewers tune into the show as John demonstrates his marketing prowess and entrepreneurial insights.

For additional information call 419.530.2738. To obtain tickets to John’s presentation, click here.

COBI Faculty publications and recognitions

Marcelo Alvarado-Vargas, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Management, had a paper accepted for publication in the Journal of International Business Studies, which COBI Dean Gary Insch called “the top journal in the international field.”

Hermans, M., Newburry, W., Alvarado-Vargas, M.J., Olivas-Lujan, M., Borda, A., Baldo-Ortiz, C., Duran-Zurita, E., Geleilate, J.M., Guerra, M., Lasio-Morello, M.V., Madero, S. & Zwerg-Villegas, A.M. Attitudes towards women’s career advancement in Latin America: The moderating impact of company international proactiveness. Journal of International Business Studies. (forthcoming).

  

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Dean Insch announced the recipient of the inaugural COBI David B. Snow and Mark W. Stout Teaching Fellowship, as well as the recipient of the Brooks Insurance Research Fellowship for 2015-2017.

David B. Snow and Mark W. Stout Teaching Fellowship ---- Dr. Michael Mallin

Brooks Insurance Research Fellowship ---- Dr. Yue Zhang

Dr. Mallin and Dr. Zhang join the John Neff Research Fellows  Dr. Kainan Wang, Dr. Doina Chichernea, and Dr. Alex Petkevich of the Finance department as awardees in this cycle.

UT President Gaber to speak at COBI, BGSU Women in Leadership conference

The Bowling Green State University College of Business and The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation are presenting a Women in Leadership conference entitled CREATING AND PURSUING PATHWAYS FOR PROMOTION on Friday, October 21, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, Levis Commons, Perrysburg.

The first session will feature BGSU President Mary Ellen Mazey, Ph.D., and University of Toledo President Sharon Gaber, Ph.D., share opportunities and obstacles faced throughout their career journeys. Christine Brennan, USA Today, will serve as moderator.

UT President Dr. Sharon Gaber

Dr. Sharon L. Gaber began her tenure as the 17th president of The University of Toledo in July 2015. A city and regional planning expert, Gaber came to the UT presidency following six years as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Arkansas.

At UT, President Gaber is focused on elevating the national stature of one of the country’s most comprehensive institutions of higher education through increases in externally funded research, student enrollment and graduation rates, philanthropic support, and the recruitment of leading academic and clinical faculty.

Dr. Mazey became the 11th president of Bowling Green State University in 2011. Prior to assuming the presidency, she served as Provost and Vice-President of Academic Affairs at Auburn University, as Dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University, and as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Wright State University. She had an Intergovernmental Personnel Assignment and served as Director of the Office of University Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The keynote presentation, “The Politics of Promotion:  How High Achieving Women Get Ahead and Stay Ahead,” by Bonnie Marcus, certified executive coach, speaker, writer, self-promotion expert and author of "The Politics of Promotion:  How High Achieving Women Get Ahead and Stay Ahead"

Additional presenters include:

Christine Brennan, USA Today writer and author of several books, including The Best Seat in the House.

Andrew Faas, speaker and author of The Bully’s Trap.

Sam Horn, The Intrigue Expert and author of numerous books including "Got Your Attention?  How to Create Intrigue and Connect with Anyone"

Panel of female business leaders from the region will share how they forged paths within their organizations and how their organizations created and supported pathways for women. Moderated by Christine Seiler, BGSU College of Business faculty member.

Dana Ullom-Vucelich, chief human resources and ethics officer, Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services

Sheri Caldwell, human resource director, The Grain Group, The Andersons

Meg Ressner, principal, Meg Ressner and Associates, LLC

Paula Russell, vice president of human resources, Composite Solutions Business, Owens Corning

More information about the conference can be found at women's leadership conference