TPS students in innovative Y.E.S. program demonstrate their skills during COBI visit

Since October, 2017, more than a dozen students at the Toledo Public Schools Jones Leadership Academy have been enhancing their leadership skills through a new program called Young Executive Scholars (Y.E.S.) conducted by their partner, The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation.

“This partnership exposed a select group of high school students to leadership skills, business etiquette aptitude, communication taboos and protocol, professional dress and dining etiquette while allowing them the opportunity to network with UT COBI faculty and staff,” explained COBI Professor Selina Griswold.

In February, for one session of their programming, the students came to COBI to demonstrate their skills by interacting with COBI faculty and staff.

“This has been absolutely amazing,” TPS Principal Ward Barnett said. “It has been one of the best programs I have seen, as far as the kids coming out of their shells, learning how to network. This is a game changer. It’s one thing to do it in theory, but it’s a whole other thing to come out and practice it.”

“This is wonderful…I can’t find the words how much this means to me, for our kids to be in this kind of environment. To a lot of our kids, sometimes UT can seem to be 100 miles away, and this makes it tangible,” Mr. Barnett said. “Their etiquette and how they carry themselves is totally different, even when I watch other kids in their age group, just the way they interact.”

“They are learning the skills they are often judged on, but don’t know, the language of business, those things that you just don’t know, like how you should shake someone’s hand, how you look them in the eye, how you should carry yourself when you are networking. Our kids learning those things gives them an edge,” Mr. Barnett said.

“When I joined this program it helped me get used to talking with people, helped me not to be so shy,” said Y.E.S. participant Dishe. “I would recommend this program.”

“My kids are learning things that adults don’t do,” Mr. Barnett said. “And it’s real. Coming here to the University makes it tangible. The fact that they felt nerves was good, because it gets you out of your comfort zone, and for anyone to be successful, there are tons of times that we all need to get out of our comfort zone. So I love them for their courage, to stick out the program and to come here.”

“The UT COBI people did not need to come here, but because they cared enough to come, that meant a lot to the students,” he said. “For the students to see people outside of their normal circle who care, that’s big. This is powerful.”

Public invited to hear Olympic champion at Dodd Distinguished Lecture Series

The public is invited to the next presentation of the Edwin Dodd Distinguished Lecture Series in Business Ethics when John Naber, Olympic gold medal winner and sportscaster, speaks on Thursday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m. in the Driscoll Alumni Center on The University of Toledo campus.

Olympic gold medal winner and sportscaster John Naber

 Sponsored by Dana Incorporated and Owens- Illinois, Inc. Co-hosted by the University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation, the College of Law and the Honors College.

The Edwin Dodd Distinguished Lecture Series in Business Ethics celebrates the legacy of the late Chairman, CEO and President of Owens Illinois Corporation. Established in 2003 through a collaborative effort led by the Dodd Family with partners Owens-Illinois and the Dana Corporation, this fund was established as an enduring memorial to Edwin Dodd, spotlighting his work in the business world and the Toledo community. The purpose of the fund is to support the ongoing Distinguished Lecture Series in Business Ethics. 

The fund is housed in the College of Business and Innovation and partners with both Dana Corporation and Owens Illinois with representatives sitting on the planning committee, along with a member of the Dodd Family, with the goal of leveraging national networks to identify and feature experts in the filed on a bi-annual basis.

Naber’s presentation is entitled Pursuing Victory with Honor. In today’s difficult business environment, the temptation to “cut corners” has never been greater. Delivering his remarks in a friendly and unthreatening manner, John Naber enables his audiences to learn how to succeed without violating ethical standards. Naber believes that nice guys can finish first!

In 1976, John Naber became the most highly decorated member of the US Olympic Team, winning four gold medals and one silver, and setting four world records in the sport of swimming. In the process, he became the first swimmer in Olympic history to win two individual medals on the same day. In 1977 he led his school (the University of Southern California) to his and their fourth consecutive undefeated season and national title, and won the James E. Sullivan award as the nation's outstanding amateur athlete.

Moving to broadcasting, Naber worked for all the major networks and almost every cable channel covering his sport at local, national, and international meets. In 1984 he was inducted into the US Olympic Committee Hall of Fame, just two days before he carried the Olympic torch, and later the Olympic flag into the Los Angeles Olympic Opening Ceremony. In 1986, Naber began working as a play by play announcer, covering sports as varied as motorcross, skiing, gymnastics, football, bowling and equestrian events. He has hosted coverage for over 34 different sports, and for seven Olympic Games.

As a keen observer of excellence, Naber has discovered the method by which champions in all walks of life use to reach their goals, and he shares this process along with his personal insights to audiences all over the globe.

 The program is free but registration is requested at   www.utoledo.edu/business/EdwinDodd

Dozens of companies recruit UT business students at spring job fair despite winter storm

Some 65 companies endured the challenges of traveling in a Level II snow emergency to come to the University of Toledo Student Union on February 9 to recruit UT College of Business students at the annual spring job fair.  

Among the 100 companies registered for the event were Dana, Campbell Soup, Coca-Cola, HCR ManorCare, Intuit, Owens-Illinois, Wright Patterson Air Force Base and ProMedica. 

“We are always excited and pleased for our students that so many well-known companies are coming to UT COBI to find the talent they need," noted Dr. Terribeth Gordon-Moore, COBI Senior Associate Dean. "This reflects very positively on the quality of both our programs and our students. It also demonstrates the extremely dynamic and mutually beneficial relationship enjoyed by COBI and recruiters for major national companies.”

“Employers are looking for undergraduate students to participate in business internships and their leadership development programs, as well as for seniors and graduates seeking full-time employment,” she added. “Furthermore, we strongly encourage our freshmen students to attend the job fair, engage these company representatives and begin a relationship with these employers now.” 

“This semi-annual job fair is part of what we do to prepare our students for their futures,” Gordon-Moore explained, adding that the college’s Business Career Programs office works year-round to assist students in acquiring internships and jobs upon graduation.  “We strive to provide the necessary resources so our students can conduct their own tailored job searches.”

More than 85% of COBI students participate in internships, and the job placement rate for Spring  COBI graduates was a record 93% for each of the last three years.