COBI senior Nathan Boothe eyes careers in sports and business

Love of sports runs deep through the veins of Nathan Boothe, a marketing and sales major in the College of Business and Innovation and the only senior on The University of Toledo men's basketball team.

"Our family has a tradition of playing sports. I had uncles who played college football, an uncle who played professional baseball for the San Francisco Giants organization, and a sister who played professional basketball for a team in Poland and now plays for a team in Russia."

Nathan started playing basketball in the 6th grade, and also got into golf in high school, but it was his basketball skills - - where he helped his Warren Township Blue Devils post a 31-4 win-loss record - - that attracted a visit from an assistant coach from the University of Toledo, who traveled to Boothe's hometown of Gurnee, Illinois to observe him.

"I had a good relationship with an assistant coach, I got on UT's campus, and I loved it.  It was a good fit from the start for me with a good group of people," Boothe recalled. "The deal was done once they had my Mom happy with how serious they are, not just with basketball, but with academics and becoming a better person.  Coach K (Tod Kowalczyk, the men's head basketball coach) really cares about us developing into a better person."

Boothe said he enjoys team activities such as visiting a children's hospital and helping with youth basketball camps. "People would be surprised to know that I love hanging out with little kids. I think people by looking at me would think that I would not be good with kids, but I love doing the camps."

But it's all business when it comes to being a UT Rocket basketball player, and Boothe clearly recognizes his added responsibilities on the court this year. As the only senior on the team, the 6'9" power forward center knows he must assume a position of leadership.

"I have the responsibility to get the team together," he said.  "I have to step forward. The team is young this year, but we should be good."

Boothe also feels the added pressure when a game is being televised, but only at the start. "Once I'm on the court, I don't think about it. It's just really enjoyable, and I'm blessed to be able to do it."

As for the future, Boothe admits that he would love to play basketball professionally, if not in the NBA then maybe in Europe, as his sister now does. (Boothe also admits that, even today, backyard basketball with his siblings is still "competitive.") And he recalls that it was a "thrill to have met one of the all-time greats, Michael Jordan" once at a tournament where Jordan's son was playing.

However, Boothe is also excited about the opportunities of a career in business.

"My dad is in sales, he travels and enjoys it," Boothe said.  "I don't want to be in an office.  I really liked Professor Pullins sales classes, and COBI advisor Darlene Stevens talked me into a double major of marketing and sales. I would like to use my business degree and do marketing for a sports product."

This summer he worked in ticket sales for UT athletics, and said "I once visited the headquarters of Nike, and it would be the perfect job to do marketing for Nike."

Yes, the blood that runs deep through Boothe's body is saturated with sports, which is why, even when naming his favorite movies - - which he enjoys watching with his friends - -  his second favorite film is Miracle, about the 1980 Olympic gold-medal winning United States hockey team.

But both his basketball and business opponents should know that the favorite movie of this personable, children-loving, imposing young man is Gladiator.

Football player named to 2015 Allstate Good Works Team

Toledo senior tight end and COBI student Alex Zmolik has been nominated for the 2015 Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team.

Alex Zmolik, center in back, spent his spring break on a volunteer mission trip in Nicaragua.

Every year, the Allstate Insurance Co. and the American Football Coaches Association honor college players who balance academics and athletics, while remaining committed to helping others and bettering their communities.

Zmolik is a two-year starter for the Rockets. He had a career-high 16 receptions in 2014, helping Toledo to a 9-4 mark. His career-best six receptions were key in UT’s 63-44 victory in the GoDaddy Bowl last year.

Zmolik, who earned Academic All-MAC honors in 2014, is a marketing and sales major with a 3.42 grade point average. He is the Rockets’ team leader for Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Athletes in Action activities. He also volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club a few times each month. During this past spring break, Zmolik traveled to Nicaragua, volunteering his time on a mission trip.

A total of 197 student-athletes from all levels of college football were nominated for the award. A final roster of 22 award recipients will be unveiled in September. From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team members and college football media members will select the 2015 Good Works Team.

Once the final team members are announced in September, fans are encouraged to visit the Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team website on ESPN.com, featuring profiles and images of the players, for the opportunity to vote for the 2015 team captain.

College of Business and Innovation hosted fifth annual Technology Camp for high school students

 The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation presented its fifth annual Technology Camp on July 14, 15 and 16 in the Savage & Associates Business Complex.

Approximately 40 area high school students from throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan attended the camp which immersed them into the vast possibilities of modern technology. Participating students had the chance to create their own apps, learn web design, discover modern business applications of technology, create an iMovie and actually build a computer.

"Computer technology is becoming an essential life skill for young people, and this camp is an outstanding opportunity for them to immerse themselves in a technology learning experience at literally no cost to them," noted Darlene Stevens, enrollment management specialist in the College of Business and Innovation. "Students were able to explore both the power and the fun of information technology (IT). We know that some of the students will become so enthralled by this experience that they will decide to study IT at UT.”

COBI provides the entire camp experience free of charge for the participants.

  

UT College of Business and Innovation maintains prestigious AACSB business accreditation

The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation (COBI) has received a five year extension of its business accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), an elite distinction achieved by less than five percent of all the business schools in the world.

The accreditation, which is voluntary, follows an on-site evaluation in March by administrators of other AACSB accredited institutions. The accreditation recognizes UT COBI’s Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, MBA/Executive MBA, MS in Accounting and Ph.D. degree programs.

Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. It is an association of educational institutions, businesses and other organizations devoted to the advancement of higher education in management education, and is the premier accrediting agency of collegiate business schools and accounting programs worldwide.

“It takes a great deal of commitment and determination to earn and maintain AACSB Accreditation,” said Robert D. Reid, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. “Business schools must not only meet specific standards of excellence, but their deans, faculty and professional staff must make a commitment to ongoing continuous improvement to ensure that the institution will continue to deliver the highest quality of education to students.”

“UT and the College of Business and Innovation are very excited at this continuing recognition by the AACSB,” noted Dr. Gary S. Insch, COBI Dean. “This validates the high quality of our faculty and students, as well as the significance of our curriculum at all levels.”

"This is also great news following the fantastic news we received this spring, namely, that the College of Business and Innovation received - - in its first attempt - - an accounting department accreditation from the AACSB.  This is a voluntary accreditation obtained by only 1.3% (182 institutions) of accounting programs in the 13,670 business schools around the world."

“Our inclusion in this select group is a seal of quality for our degree programs," Dr. Insch said.  "It elevates the value of degrees received, leads to increased enrollment of high quality students, and enhances the qualifications of alumni.”

COBI students take 9-day study abroad trip to Germany, Czech Republic and Austria

Seventeen UT College of Business and Innovation students from a variety of majors traveled for nine days with Dr. Stanford Westjohn at the end of Spring semester 2015 to Germany, Czech Republic and Austria as part of their semester-long course IBUS 4100/6100.  The students attended presentations about each country's economy and visited local businesses such as SAP, AVG Technologies, BVG, and Teufel-Raumfeld.

Student comments include:

"The locations were incredible and all the planning made it so easy to do what we wanted to do in our free time."

"The business visits gave me essential real-world experience."

"I loved the presentations. Each of them gave a different perspective of international business. I felt that I learned so much from them."

According to Dr. Westjohn, COBI Associate Professor, Marketing and International Business department, the course looks great on a resume and is an excellent opportunity for students to develop a global mindset.

"Without question," he said, "the students made memories that will last a lifetime and opened their eyes to new international opportunities."

The course is open to all COBI majors.  Contact Dr. Westjohn (stanford.westjohn@utoledo.edu) for information about the course/trip for Spring, 2016.

Huntington Bank provides $6,500 in scholarships to four UT business students

Huntington Bank presented scholarships totaling $6,500 to four University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation (COBI) students on June 30.

The recipients and their majors are Dana Thomas, marketing; Hala Abou-Dahech, human resource management; Richard Ference, finance; and Victor Pereira, supply chain management and international business, who each received $1,625.

Pictured here at the presentation of scholarships by Huntington to four UT COBI students on June 30 are, left to right,Brian Brown, Huntington Senior VP Private Banking Region Manager; Dr. Terribeth Gordon-Moore, Senior Associate Dean, College of Business and Innovation; Dana Thomas; Hala Abou-Dahech; Victor Pereira; Richard Ference; Deirdre Jones, Director, Edward H. Schmidt School of Professional Sales; and Jon Grimm, Huntington VP of Retail District Manager.

"We were extremely impressed with the recipients, their academic records at UT, and their personal achievements in life," noted Joel Jerger, Senior Vice President, Huntington Bank, Toledo. "These students clearly reflect the capable and talented individuals that the University is developing, while the scholarships reflect Huntington's commitment to recognize and support such amazing people in Northwest Ohio. We look forward to continuing to work with the University as it educates the next generation of leaders. "

Through an expanding banking program between Huntington Bank and UT, Huntington is providing $150,000 in academic programming and scholarships for students and additional convenient banking options on campus.

"Both The University of Toledo and the College of Business and Innovation are extremely grateful to Huntington Bank for their outstanding support of our tremendous students," noted Dr. Gary Insch, UT COBI Dean.  "Huntington is serious about its role as UT's banking partner, and these scholarships reflect their commitment to provide meaningful financial support to some of our extraordinary business students."

"Graduating from college has always been a dream and a high-priority goal in my life," Abou-Dahech said.  "I know for a fact that this dream would be extremely difficult, if not impossible to attain if it wasn't for the generous donors who offer these scholarships to help fund our education as students. I want to thank Huntington for granting me one of these scholarships."

"I am honored to be a recipient of the Huntington Bank Scholarship," Thomas said.   "It may sound cliché, but this scholarship means the world to me. I'm leaving in August to study abroad in Spain and this scholarship plays a major role in my ability to have the ultimate global experience. Words cannot express how grateful I am for the support of Huntington and its associates."

"I am honored and grateful for being selected as a recipient of the Huntington scholarship," Ference said.  "I hope the committee knows how much this money will help me better achieve my career goals."

Pereira said, "In pursing my path as a young professional, this scholarship will be of aid in achieving my career goals. This opportunity will not only continue to better my education but will allow me to devote more time toward service and my community."

The presentations will be made in the Huntington Sales Lab, located on the fourth floor of the college's Savage & Associates Business Complex.

SHRM earns HR Outstanding Student Chapter Award for second year in a row

For the second year in a row, The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has received the Outstanding Student Chapter award, this time for its excellence and achievement during the 2014-2015 Student Chapter Merit Award period.

"This is a tremendous achievement and well-deserved, continued recognition for The University of Toledo, the College of Business and Innovation, our human resources program, and members of this organization," said Jenell Wittmer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Management in the College of Business and co-faculty advisor to the UT SHRM group. "It is a very high honor to be named an outstanding chapter, but to do so two years in a row is a remarkable achievement by our HR students, faculty and others who helped earn this award."

The Outstanding Student Chapter award was presented to a select number of SHRM student chapters whose programs and activities were at a level that distinguished them from other chapters. This award represents significant achievement in one of five categories: recruitment, programming/education, innovation/technology, campus/community service or promotion of assurance of learning assessment. UT SHRM has now been received this outstanding chapter award in both the areas of recruitment and programming/education.

SHRM is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management. Representing more than 275,000 professional and 19,000 student members in over 140 countries, the association serves the needs of HR professionals and advances the interests of the HR profession.

The Society for Human Resource Management's Student Program was created in 1965 to promote mutually beneficial interaction between HRM students and practitioners. The program now includes over 250 affiliated student chapters and more than 19,000 student members.

The SHRM student chapter merit award program, which began in 1972, encourages development of more effective student chapters and promotes outstanding activities and projects by student chapters.
Chapters have the opportunity to earn an award based on the number of activities they complete during the merit award cycle.

The UT COBI chapter president and advisor were recognized during the opening general session of the annual conference of the Society for Human Resource Management in Las Vegas.