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VOL 20, SUMMER 2001
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS REPORTS
U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H E R N I N D I A N A
Accounting, e-business programs meet new needs
Curriculum prepares graduates for jobs in today’s evolving workforce
As technology continues to change the way business is conducted, the School of Business is
improving its accounting program and developing a concentration and a major in e-business to
ensure that graduates have the knowledge and skills they need in today’s workplace. The following
two sections of this article will tell you about new curriculum in these areas.
Accounting and Professional Services E-business
Dr. Daniel E. Wade, director of accounting programs for Taking advantage of new opportunities available by doing
the USI School of Business, said that changes in the account- business online is high on the agenda of many companies
ing curriculum are designed to attract more students into the today. School of Business students interested in helping com-
program and to prepare them for the kinds of services that panies capitalize on the efficiencies of e-business will soon be
accountants offer their clients in today’s marketplace. studying how to do just that.
Wade said that a major indicator of change in the Beginning in the fall, the School of Business will offer
accounting profession is evidenced by the names of the major an e-business concentration as part of the business adminis-
accounting firms. They now call themselves “professional tration major. The school also is developing a major in
services” firms rather than “accounting” firms. The focus has e-business that will be presented to the Indiana Commission
shifted from audits and other traditional accounting functions on Higher Education this fall. If approved, the new major
to a sophisticated array of business consulting services. Profes- will be offered in fall 2002.
sional accounting organizations in recent years have called for Dr. Phil Fisher, dean of the School of Business, said the
a change in the way accountants are educated. concentration in e-business will equip students with knowl-
In recent years enrollment nationwide in accounting edge about e-business which they can apply in business pro-
programs has declined due to growing interest in other attrac- cesses and managerial decision-making. The concentration
tive business majors, such as computer information systems. will be attractive to students who feel they do not need
The increased requirements for students to take certification in-depth technical training in e-business.
See Accounting, page 3 See E-business, page 3
Kevin Celuch named to fill Blair Chair of Business Science
Dr. Kevin Celuch, a professor in pany. She established the endowed as the top candidate who could bring
the College of Business at Illinois State chair during Campaign USI in recogni- leadership to a wide range of challenges
University, has been named to the first tion of the value of nurturing the within the business science arena.”
academic endowed chair at the Univer- business science field. In his first semester at USI, Celuch
sity of Southern Indiana. The new USI faculty member will is scheduled to teach courses in promo-
He will join the School of Business teach and conduct applied research to tional strategy and marketing research.
faculty in the fall to fill the Blair Chair benefit local businesses with national He also may teach the graduate course
of Business Science. The new faculty and international objectives. in marketing management and is inter-
position was initiated by Meg Blair, Dr. Phil Fisher, dean of the USI ested in instructing a new course in
president of rsc THE QUALITY School of Business, said, “We searched e-business marketing called interactive
MEASUREMENT COMPANY, an for someone with a record of accom- marketing.
Evansville-based market research com- plishment and identified Dr. Celuch
See Blair Chair, page 4
The spectacular productivity gains
Dean’s letter made possible by the intersection of
computer technology and the Internet
Where is economy headed? have not yet run their course. I think
the most likely scenario is that the
recession will be short, and that a
Survey to provide information recovery, albeit a more modest one,
will take place within the next year.
on economic outlook, trends The School of Business Center
for Business and Economic Research
By Phil Fisher in partnership with the Evansville
models that
Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
In the dean’s letter for the Winter could generate
recently launched a project intended to
2001 School of Business Reports, I wrote, growing sales
provide businesses with better informa-
“The United States is experiencing the but had no real
tion about the direction of the local
longest period of continuous economic chance to pro-
economy. As I write this letter in early
expansion.” That was written in duce profits.
June, our first Economic Outlook and
November. By the time the letter Their failures Fisher
Trends Survey is going out to more
reached your mailbox, the economy reaffirm that in
than 1,000 businesses in the Evansville
seemed to be teetering on the brink, a market economy, businesses have
area. This survey should provide us
and I was wishing that I could do a to provide value to their customers
with the information to build reliable
quick rewrite. at costs that provide for profits. The
economic indexes of both the current
So what happened, and where is ‘dot.com’ economy operates under
conditions of the local economy and
the economy going? What happened the same rules as the old economy.
the directions in which it is moving.
seems to be the result of a number of Where the economy is going is,
The survey was developed by a
factors. The Federal Reserve Board of course, more difficult to predict.
team led by Dr. Mohammed Khayum
raised interest rates several times dur- The downward trends are not universal.
of our economics department and
ing 2000, and we experienced a rapid While we appear to be in a manufac-
included input from a wide variety of
increase in petroleum prices. Both of turing recession, other sectors of the
area business leaders. We will publish
these factors increased the cost of economy are in much better shape.
the survey results as widely as possible
doing business and increased costs to While it may be quite awhile before
consumers, which probably had an we get relief from the increased energy
impact on consumer spending. prices, the Federal Reserve is doing its Our graduates must be
Probably more importantly, the part by slashing interest rates. The sit-
forces that usually contribute to the uation also seems to vary from region to grounded in both the new
business cycle also were present. In region. State governments in Indiana technology and in the old and
periods of expansion, businesses tend and most Midwestern states are experi- unchanging economic realities
to over-estimate growth and expand encing revenues well below earlier
operations beyond the needs of the projections and surpluses are vanishing.
market. When the expected growth The situation is even worse in some so that everyone who can use the
doesn’t materialize, managers are left Southern states, but the problem is not information will have access to it. Our
with no choice but to reduce produc- as serious in other parts of the country. plan is to do the survey quarterly so the
tion levels and reduce inventory. This President Bush recently signed a indexes will be kept current. Funding
time the cycle probably was exacerbat- tax cut bill. While this probably will for the survey comes from a private
ed by the extraordinary expenditures have less impact in the short run than donation to the USI Center for Busi-
organizations made during 1999 for the Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, ness and Economics Research.
new software and computers to ward it should provide a stimulus to the In a more fundamental way, we are
off the millennium bug problems. economy. Some experts are predicting trying to meet the challenges of our
Business capital expenditures led the that it will increase gross domestic role in the new economy with new
expansion, and they are a major factor product by as much as one percent programs and redesigned programs.
in the current situation. by the end of the year. I invite you to read the cover articles
The much publicized ‘dot.com’ I remain optimistic. The forces in this newsletter that describe our new
bubble explosion has had a big impact that drove the economic expansion of programs in electronic business and the
on technology stocks, and a lot of the 1990s were demographic and tech- new options available to our account-
people aren’t nearly as wealthy as they nological. The demographic baby boom ing students. Our graduates must be
were. It seems clear in retrospect that bubble is still moving into the years of grounded in both the new technology
many of the failed e-commerce compa- peak consumption, and that will con- and in the old and unchanging eco-
nies had seriously defective business tinue for another seven or eight years. nomic realities.
2 University of Southern Indiana School of Business
Accounting sufficient number of accountants to
meet employer needs.”
Each accounting major will choose
an area of interest based upon career
Continued from page 1 Wade said the revised undergradu- interest. The program will offer three
ate program, to be known as account- tracks: finance, information systems,
exams in order to be a certified public ing and professional services, will offer and managerial accounting. Each area
accountant also have affected enroll- students more choice and provide more of interest will contain 12 hours.
ment in accounting programs. Indiana, breadth to their academic background. The Accounting Circle, a group
Kentucky, and Illinois, as well as many Introductory courses in accounting will of senior accounting professionals from
other states, now require students to be taught with a “user” rather than both public and corporate accounting,
have 150 semester hours of credit, man- a “preparer” approach, training the has provided advice on curriculum
dating courses beyond the baccalaure- student to use financial information development for the School of Business
ate degree for those who want to go to benefit the company or client. accounting programs. David E. Gunn
into public accounting. Students who The revised curriculum for ’73, vice president of Harding, Shy-
desire a career in corporate, small busi- accounting majors will go into effect manski & Company, was the chair of
ness, or government may never need to fall 2002 and will include the following the Accounting Circle for 2000-01.
take the CPA exam. core of 16 hours: Robert Smith, financial accounting
“With the changes we are making • Introductory Accounting Lab manager for Berry Plastics Corporation
in the accounting curriculum, we are • Intermediate Accounting in Evansville, chaired the group’s Prac-
broadening the educational experience • Cost Accounting I tice/Education Interaction Committee
so students will be better prepared for • Introduction to Federal this year.
the kinds of work accountants perform Income Taxation The School of Business also offers
today,” Wade said. “A primary concern • Accounting Information Systems a master’s program and a post-baccalau-
is that in the future there will be a • Auditing Theory and Practice reate certificate in accountancy.
E-business tions, Fisher said that most opportuni-
ties for use of the Internet apply to
• Supply Chain Management
In addition to the above five cours-
Continued from page 1 business-to-business applications. es, the proposed major in e-business
Many traditional companies, not just would include the following courses:
The major in e-business is designed dot-coms, are using the Internet to • Computer Science 1 – Program-
to give students both e-business literacy collect information, connect with ming (JAVA)
and the technical skills necessary for suppliers, and perform other business • Management Information
e-business. functions. Employers need workers Systems
Fisher said there is a lot of interest who understand the business aspects • Data Communications
in both programs. “Use of the Internet of the Internet. • Introduction to Data
is transforming business processes,” The 15-hour e-business concentra- Base Concepts
Fisher said. “It has and continues to tion will include five courses: • Web Site Design
provide ways of increasing business • Introduction to E-business • Electronic Business
efficiencies—helping companies cut out • E-business Security, Controls and Entrepreneurship
paperwork and reduce costs.” and Ethics In developing the e-business con-
While many people think of • Interactive Marketing centration and the proposed major,
e-commerce primarily in retail applica- • E-business Finance Fisher said the School of Business
investigated what other business
schools are doing. Five faculty members
E-Business Advisory Task Force attended a conference in Boston on
Sandy Bailey Steve Holt Pamela Schneider ’89 e-business, and others are attending
Ivy Tech State College ’83 Accuride Corporation Old National Bank workshops this summer. The school also
assembled a local panel of 15 persons
Dan Bugher Jerry Peters ’85 Liv Watson involved in various e-business applica-
Vectren Harding, Shymanski & Co. Gaither Technology
tions as consultants on curriculum
Karen Daniel ’79 Tim Piazza Kerrie Weinzapfel development.
Mead Johnson Nutritionals Keller Crescent Co. Olive, LLP Fisher said that there is a need for
all graduates today to understand some
Jeff Eckels ’01 Stephen B. Provost III Dan Wilhite aspects of e-business as online business
PVC Plastics Co. Hilliard Lyons, Inc. Fire House, Inc.
applications become widespread. Facul-
John Greer Martin Roth Maria Worthington ty are integrating information about
Escalade Sports Kemper CPA Group Kahn, Dees, Donovan, e-business into many business courses
& Kahn to prepare graduates for the workplace.
Summer 2001 3
School of Business briefs Blair Chair
Continued from page 1
Four receive faculty awards Celuch was honored recently at
Illinois State with the Outstanding
School salutes teaching, research, service for 2000-01 Researcher Award in the College of
The School of Business has recog- Nunn, assistant professor of business Business. He said, “Research is impor-
nized four faculty members who excelled law, received the teaching excellence tant to me! I enjoy working with others
during the past year in teaching, service, award. Dr. Mehmet C. Kocakulah, on collaborative efforts and have devel-
and research. Awards were presented in professor of accounting, and Dr. Brian oped the foundations of what I believe
the spring. L. McGuire, associate professor of to be some interesting research agendas.
The winners were chosen by their accounting, received the research I view the upcoming collaborative
peers for their outstanding contribu- excellence award. McGuire and Dr. work with USI’s colleagues and students
tions to the school and to their disci- Mohammed F. Khayum, professor of as an important facet of professional
plines during 2000-01. Dr. Leslie E. economics, received the service award. growth.”
He also was named recently to the
research staff of the Carl Gunnard
Johnson Center at Worcester Polytech-
nic Institute for his contribution to the
research field.
Celuch earned a bachelor’s degree
in psychology from State University of
New York; a master’s degree in clini-
cal/community psychology from Marist
College in Poughkeepsie, New York;
and a Ph.D. in marketing with minors
in research methodology, and organiza-
tional behavior from Syracuse Univer-
sity in 1988, after which he joined the
faculty at Illinois State University.
Celuch has written a number of
articles appearing in business science
Mark Brendel-USI
publications, including Psychology &
Marketing, Journal of Consumer Satisfac-
tion/ Dissatisfaction and Complaining
Behavior, Advancing the Consumer Inter-
est, and Journal of Applied Social Psy-
Jeanette Maier-Lytle, instructor in accounting and chair of the awards selection committee, chology. He also has works in progress
congratulates faculty award winners. From left are Mohammed Khayum, Mehmet with the Journal of Business and Psychol-
Kocakulah, Leslie Nunn, Maier-Lytle, and Brian McGuire. ogy and the Journal of Business Research.
In response to the appointment,
Blair said, “I have every confidence
Alumni Association recognizes Arp, Sieben that Dr. Celuch will work to redefine
The University of Southern Indi- associate degree in business administra- market research. He knows that in the
ana Alumni Association honored a tion and a bachelor’s degree in commu- information and technology age, busi-
School of Business faculty member and nications at USI in 1993. ness research organizations will contin-
an alumna in May at the annual Senior ue to be bombarded with data from
Reception and Dinner. multiple sources.
Dr. Larry Arp, professor emeritus “We will learn to synthesize,
of business education, received the analyze, and insightfully relate this
Faculty Recognition Award. He retired information to business decisions and
in 2000 after 28 years of distinguished performance – at lightning speed.
service to USI and to his profession. Those of us in the business science
Nancy Sieben, executive director arena will direct the transformation
of the Deaconess Hospital Foundation and transfer of this information to
in Evansville, received the Alumni knowledge that leads to improved
Service Award. Sieben completed an Arp Sieben performance and stakeholder value.”
4 University of Southern Indiana School of Business
Two students Rick Stein named GLVC Coach of Year
participate in Women’s basketball plays in Elite Eight Tournament
Honors project Rick Stein ’92, a graduate of the ern Kentucky University for the Great
USI School of Business and head coach Lakes Valley Conference regular season
for USI women’s basketball, coached title. The team also won its second
Harding Shymanski the team this year to a tie with North- GLVC Tournament title and its second-
offers practical experience ever NCAA Division II Great
in financial analysis Lakes Region title. Stein was
named GLVC Coach of the Year.
Derek Adams and Justin His Eagles put up a good fight
Greer, students in the manage- at the NCAA Division II Elite
ment accounting course taught by Eight in Rochester, Minnesota,
Jeanette Maier-Lytle, participated against the number-one-ranked
in the first annual USI Student Cougars of Columbus State Uni-
Honors Conference in March. versity, but the Cougars prevailed
Sponsored by the USI Hon- in a contest that featured 25 lead
ors Program, the conference gave changes and 10 ties.
students an opportunity to pre- Stein earned a B.S. in busi-
Elizabeth Courtney-USI
sent the results of research or ness administration. He played on
assignments from their Honors the USI men’s team for two years
Program courses. Forty students beginning in 1989 and has been
from various disciplines partici- associated with the women’s team
pated in the event. since he was named an assistant
Adams and Greer reported coach in 1991-92. He took over
School of Business graduate Rick Stein was the head coaching position in fall
on their experience working with
named GLVC Coach of the Year following his 1999. The Eagles return nine
the accounting firm of Harding,
second year as head coach for USI women’s players from this year’s outstand-
Shymanski & Company in
basketball. ing team for the coming season.
Evansville. The two School of
Business students visited the firm
once a week for eight weeks to
complete a learning experience Vanderbilt dean speaks on market reform
under the direction of David
Gunn ’73 and Sally Joest ’74,
School of Business sponsors nomic Advi-
vice presidents of the firm. lecturer William Christie sory Board at
Adams, an accounting major, the National
and Greer, a computer informa- Dr. William G. Christie, profes- Association
tion systems major, analyzed sor of finance and dean of business at of Securities
financial statements of some of Vanderbilt University, spoke on Dealers. His
the firm’s clients and made rec- “Financial Market Reform and Innova- research has
ommendations for improving tion” on March 22 as part of USI’s been pub-
cash flow and cutting costs. The Distinguished Lecture Series. His pre- lished in a
students prepared a PowerPoint sentation in Carter Hall was sponsored variety of
presentation on the experience by the School of Business. academic Christie
for the Honors Program confer- Christie gained national promi- journals,
ence. nence in 1994 when he co-wrote and including the
Maier-Lytle said the assign- published the article, “Why Do Nasdaq Journal of Financial Economics, the
ment gave the students an oppor- Market Makers Avoid Odd-Eighth Journal of Finance, and the Journal of
tunity to interact with profession- Quotes?” in the Journal of Finance. Business. He serves as an associate
als and a better understanding of According to a report in Barron’s, editor of the Review of Financial Studies
the work done by an accounting the article led to increased security and as co-editor of the Journal of Finan-
firm. measures at Nasdaq, SEC fines against cial Intermediation. He has appeared on
28 trading firms, and settlement of Marketplace Radio, CNBC’s Inside
a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Opinion and Market Wrap, the Wall
investors overcharged by dealers. Street Journal Report, and CNN’s Inside
Christie is a member of the Eco- Business.
Summer 2001 5
The Company we keep, 2000-01
Speakers Phil Malone Brian Williams Andy Ellerbrook ’98
Kimball International Red Spot Paint Company Shoe Carnival, Inc.
The following individuals were among
Mark Miles ’93 Jeff Wilmes ’81 Susan Everett ’81, ’99 M.B.A.
speakers to business classes.
Berry Plastics BKD LLP Keller Crescent Co.
John Bolger ’80 (retired) Jerry Moore Jeff Wolf ’81 Darlene Fisher
Commercial Credit Corp. The DOMA Group Deaconess Hospital University of Southern Indiana
Teresa Bradley ’89 Angela Noble David Woll Debbie Fleck ’91, ’00 M.B.A.
General Electric Leadership Resources Woll Enterprises, Inc. American General Finance
Center Inc.
Don R. Breivogel ’83 Jim Freson
American General Finance Dane Partridge American General Finance
Judy Brooks
University of Southern Indiana Mock interviews
Sean Georges
SIGECOM John Phipps ’96 Shoe Carnival, Inc.
These individuals conducted mock
Fifth Third Bank employment interviews for students in
Tim Buecher Jennifer Godsey
University of Southern Indiana the Career Planning and Professional
Stephanie Pollen Development classes. Manpower Professional
Career Counseling Vectren Communication
Services Ken Graves
Robert Bulkley Mendi Bartlett Crescent Plastics
Expressway Dodge Blaine Roberts Kelly Services
Safeguard Business Systems Christine Hachmeister
Steve Byelick Dave Bates Visiting Nurse Plus
Bank of Evansville Randy Sauer Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Sauer Smith, Inc. Adam Hall ’86
Pat Coslett Julie Bennett ’95 St. Mary’s Health Care Services
Pat Coslett’s Furniture Festival Marilyn Schmidt Old National Bancorp
University of Southern Indiana John Halverson
Carrie Donovan Career Services and Placement Bonnie Benson Human Resources Support, Inc.
Rice Library Frontier-Kemper Contractors
Randy Schultz Judy Hamilton ’84
Steve Farrell ’73 Harding Shymanski & Co. John Bolger ’80 (retired) Keller Schroeder & Associates
Gaither Rutherford & Co. LLP Commercial Credit Corp.
Misty Seaton Brad Harris ’00 M.B.A.
Darlene Fisher Harding Shymanski & Co. Brenda Bosecker Vectren
University of Southern Indiana Red Spot Paint & Varnish
Bob Smith Co., Inc. Scott Herrell
B.J. Flittner Berry Plastics Rexam Closures
Geiger Transfer & Storage Jason Braun
Company Chastity Spindler St. Mary’s—Warrick County Suzanne Hilbert
Given & Spindler Mgt. Co. Hospital Seton Corp.
David Gunn ’73
Harding Shymanski & Co. Darryl Spurlock Don R. Breivogel, Jr. ’83 Vicki Hubiak
Umbach & Associates American General Finance HR Solutions, Inc.
Gene Hahn
Hahn Realty Corp. Roy Templin Cindy Brinker Frank Kanowsky
Kimball International University of Southern Indiana Ferro Corporation
E.R. (Rick) Hoffman
Fifth Third Bank James Walker Nancy Byrd Amanda Klass
Evansville Police Department Fifth Third Bank St. Mary’s Medical Center
Becky Jones
SIGECOM Liv Watson Michelle Choate ’91 Laura Knight ’96
EDGAR-Online, Inc. Harding Shymanski & Co. Card Management Corporation
Jennifer Kellams
University of Southern Indiana Eric Weber Chasity Coy ’99 Mike Lamey
Career Services and Placement The Slice Integra Bank American General Finance
Tonya Kirkland ’98 Kerrie Weinzapfel Jean Crowe Michelle Land Harris
Harding Shymanski & Co. BKD LLP Casino Aztar The Evansville Courier
Thomas Magan Larry Whiteside ’82 Kathryn Dahmer
Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Card Management Corporation
6 University of Southern Indiana School of Business
Stacey Lloyd Robyn Taylor ’92 Travis England Chamber of Commerce
Adecco Escalade Sports Paoli Furniture, Inc. C.H. Robinson Co.
Cintas – The Uniform People
Carol McMichael Cathy Thomas ’96 Jeff Fisher Comprehensive Accounting
Card Management Corporation Kimball International WFIE Television Services
Dan’s Competition
Marty Mattingly Stacy Thomas Julie Fruit Deloitte & Touche
Welborn Clinic Old National Bancorp WKDQ Gaither Rutherford & Co. LLP
GE Plastics
Susie Mattingly ’84 Susie Traylor Bryan Hughes Gibbs Die Casting Corp.
Keller Schroeder & Associates Card Management Corporation US Voice and Data Grand Teton Lodge
Grand Teton National Park
Lana Meyer Gene Weisheit Dan Jeffries Harding, Shymanski &
Northwestern Mutual Life Indiana Hardwoods Met Life Company PC
Henkel Chemical Management
Linda Minton Susan Wilson Lisa Kelsey Hilliard Lyons, Inc.
Vectren Old National Bank The Evansville Courier Indiana Economic Development
Indiana House of
Thom Mominee ’72 Jane Wittmer Jerry Lubbe Representatives
The Evansville Courier Old National Bank HP Products Corp. Indiana Senate
Indiana State Fair Commission
Jerry Moore Valerie Zink Matt Michael Insight Communications
The DOMA Group American General Finance Mix 96 STO ITT Technical Institute
Keller Crescent Co.
Allen Mounts ’74, ’91 M.B.A. Lisa Zwahlen Mark Nettles ’92 Kelly Services
Old National Bancorp Kelly Services American General Finance Kimball International, Inc.
Merrill Lynch
Mike Murphy Kenneth Robinson Methodist Hospital
Shoe Carnival, Inc. Vision 2000 Old National Bank
Old National Bank Investments
Jessica Myers ’00 Career exploration Todd Rowe One Star
Shoe Carnival, Inc. Vision Communications, Inc. Penske
These people provided career exploration Styline Corporation
Mike Neely interviews or job shadowing experiences Jana Sly Sunshine Promotions
Deaconess Hospital for students in Personal Selling and Glaxo-Smith Cline Toyota Motor Manufacturing
Marketing Management classes. Indiana
Joseph D. Neidig ’01 Rick Stein ’92 TS Boyd Grain, Inc.
Red Spot Paint & Varnish Curtis Bradley University of Southern Indiana University of Southern Indiana
Co., Inc. Sprint PCS Business Office
Michelle Webb ’90 Vectren Communication
Steve Niemeier Elizabeth Bucko ’00 Standard Register Services
Human Resources Support, Inc. Choice One Communications Walt Disney World
Byron Wright (retired) Western Kentucky Energy
Janice Oliver Kristi Butler University of Southern Indiana Wright Consultants LLC
Keller Crescent Co. Coca-Cola
Woody Youngs
Vickie Oshodi Gretchen Carroll Product Acceptance and
University of Southern Indiana Hoosier Stamping and Research
Manufacturing
Site Visitations
Rod Penfield ’72
Vectren Susan Caufield The following companies and
organizations allowed site visitations
WSTO Internships and for business classes.
Brad Platts
Keller Crescent Co. Chris Clements Cooperative Programs
Koch Air, LLC Berry Plastics Corporation
Bob Scheller More than 100 School of Business Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Deaconess Hospital Jennifer Curry students were in internships and cooper- Business Micrographics
Interstate Imaging ative programs at the following 47 Kern Brothers
Dennis Shannon employers during the summer 2000, Kinder Moving and Storage Inc.
American General Finance M. Brian Davis fall 2000, and spring 2001 terms. Phoenix LLC Imaging &
Private Investor Office Products
Cris Stichler American Cancer Society Young Democrats
St. Mary’s Medical Center Robin Decamps American General Financial
Casino Aztar Services
Terry Stumpf ’77 Ameriqual
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Paul M. Dennison Aristokraft
Indiana Consumer and OEM Sales Beldon Corporation
Berry Plastics Corp.
BKD LLP
Summer 2001 7
Cheerleader sponsor
Alumnus urges
Greg Valentine: business students
to believe they
a jump ahead are ’somebody’
Cheer, dance teams win
CEO Steve Lowrey
awards in national meets shares secrets of success
Elizabeth Courtney-USI
In a sense, all faculty members are in franchising business
cheerleaders for the universities where
they teach, but Dr. Gregory P. Valen- Steve Lowrey ’76, president
tine of the School of Business takes the and chief executive officer of Texas-
concept more literally than most. The based Franchise Concepts Inc.,
associate professor of business education urged students in the School of Wanda Hibbitts, professor emerita of
has completed five years as sponsor of Business to believe in themselves business, was among faculty and
the University of Southern Indiana while working toward success in students who heard her former stu-
cheer and dance teams. the future. dent, Steve Lowrey, present the
The teams competed at the Uni- “That’s the greatest power you Alumnus-in-Residence program.
versal Cheerleading and Dance Associ- have. Once you believe in yourself,
ation’s College National Championship no one can take that away from you,”
said Lowrey, whose FCI brands gen- see when you take your eyes off
at DisneyWorld in January, earning
erate more than $150 million in the target.”
national recognition. The dance team
annual retail sales. The high school guidance
placed 12th, the co-ed cheer team
The Mount Vernon, Indiana, counselor who said Lowrey was not
earned an eighth-place award, and the
native presented “From the Class- “college material” couldn’t have
all-girl cheer team placed fifth.
been farther off the mark. Relying
Many members of the cheer and
on the core concepts of “tenacity,”
dance teams have been involved in
“persistence,” and “the power of
these kinds of activities since middle What happens to you in believing,” he graduated from USI
school. “They get a sense of satisfaction
with a Bachelor of Science degree
and enjoyment from it,” Valentine said, life is not as important in accounting and finance, became
“and the competition gives them a
a certified public accountant, and
chance to showcase their skills.” as how you react to it. eventually a Deck the Walls fran-
He also said that national exposure
chisee.
from the competition is important in Obstacles are what you Lowrey soon owned three Deck
bringing a higher caliber of student
the Walls stores, including the one
interested in cheer and dance to the see when you take your in Evansville’s Eastland Mall, and
University. USI’s all-girl team is fea-
was well on the way to becoming
tured on the Universal Cheerleading eyes off the target. the business leader he is today.
Association’s Web site at
FCI, a system of more than 400
www.varsity.com/competition/2001/uca-
retail stores across the United States
college.
room to the Boardroom” March 26 and Canada, includes Deck The
Valentine also serves as director of
as the Alumnus-in-Residence. Walls, The Great Frame Up, and
USI’s Center for Economic Education
Each spring the School of Business Framing & Art Centre, as well as
in Southwest Indiana. The center trains
brings a senior executive who is a Ashley Avery’s Collectables, a joint
K-12 teachers in implementing an
USI graduate to campus for a day venture incorporated under FCI.
economics curriculum in an applied
of presentations to faculty and “If one person believes that
format. Two of the most popular
students. you’re somebody, you’re somebody,
programs are the stock market simula-
“What happens to you in life is even if that one person is you,”
tion activity and the “mini-economy”
not as important as how you react to Lowrey said. “It’s up to you.
program which turns an elementary
it,” he said. “Obstacles are what you You make it happen.”
classroom into an economy with partic-
ipants earning wages, paying rent, man-
aging bank accounts, and learning
about other economic concepts.
8 University of Southern Indiana School of Business
Student from USI’s first class re-enters to complete degree
Persistence pays off for Jerry he was drafted into military service in
Barth. He achieved a goal this year December, 1966. He served two years
that he began working toward in 1965. as a medic and then returned to
Barth was one of 1,390 University Evansville. By then he was married and
of Southern Indiana students to receive life responsibilities took precedence
a diploma May 6 at Commencement. over a return to the classroom. He
He earned an associate degree in busi- completed some courses in the early
ness administration. ’70s when the Wright Administration
His pursuit of higher education Building on the present campus was
goes back to fall 1965 when, as a recent new and housed all classes, offices,
graduate of Bosse High School in and other services. To finish the credit
Evansville, he was among the first hours he needed for the associate
students to enroll at the University degree, he re-entered the University
of Southern Indiana. Elizabeth Courtney-USI
about three years ago
Barth believes that he was the 12th “I’m very glad to have my associate
student to register. His twin brother, degree,” Barth said, “and I never want
Terry, who died in 1968 while serving to stop learning.”
in the army, enrolled at the same time. He thinks today’s students are
They were among the 412 students sharper than those of the mid-’60s and
(244 full-time and 168 part-time) who encourages them to follow their dreams.
attended classes that first year at the Jerry Barth, a student when the school Barth works for the City of Evans-
old Centennial School. opened in 1965, completed an associate ville and part-time for Rose Marie’s gift
“We signed up in the basement degree in 2001. shop. In the future, he is interested in
and paid our money,” Barth said. “The than books. There was no cafeteria, just working internationally in a mission
library was one room, and as I remem- a few vending machines.” field or for an organization such as the
ber it, there were more empty shelves Jerry Barth attended classes until Red Cross.
Alumni, let us hear from you!
We welcome comments from our alumni and friends regarding accomplishments, career choices, and momentous personal events. Send to
Nancy F. Bizal, School of Business, University of Southern Indiana, 8600 University Boulevard, Evansville, IN 47712-3597 or nbizal@usi.edu.
Name_______________________________________________________ Your student record name________________________________
Class of _____ Major________________ Telephone (home)_________________ (work)_________________ E-mail___________________
HOME BUSINESS
Address______________________________________________ Your title/date effective_____________________________________
City, State, ZIP________________________________________ Company name___________________________________________
Check here if home address is new ❐ Address__________________________________________________
Preferred mailing address ❐ Home ❐ Business City, State, Zip____________________________________________
Check here if business address is new ❐
News Item___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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❐ Please submit this information to the Alumni Today section of USI Magazine.
❐ Please use this information only to maintain accurate alumni records.
Summer 2001 9
E-business curriculum fills technology gap
this potential revenue in mind, many
Graduates with high-tech skills will serve businesses are placing a priority on
existing employers, attract new industry e-business. They need Internet-savvy
professionals such as Web architects
and designers, project managers, and
By Abbas Foroughi extranets, and the World Wide Web. Internet marketing specialists.
Firms are realizing the benefits of using High-tech companies who wish to
Editor’s note: The following information is an edited intranets to improve coordination and establish new facilities place high prior-
version of a report about the development of an information-sharing among isolated
e-business area of interest in the business administra- ity on locating in communities that
tion major and a major in e-business for the Univer- internal supply chain processes and offer pools of highly skilled workers.
sity of Southern Indiana. This portion of the report extranets to coordinate supply chain Metropolitan areas are in competition
focuses on the growth of e-business and the urgent processes shared with business partners. to attract such industries, but only
need for employees with high-tech skills. For more Real-time coordination among the
information about the new School of Business those that offer the type of workforce
e-business curriculum, see page one of this newsletter. functional areas of business enables which high-tech companies seek will
firms to detect, reduce, and in some be successful in attracting their interest.
A recent study conducted by the cases, eliminate bottlenecks. This has The market for e-business graduates is
Hudson Institute Center for Workforce led many firms to enjoy continuous good, both in terms of opportunity and
Development revealed a lack of trained improvement in productivity. salary levels. Last year’s e-business grad-
workers in south- Companies can save large amounts uates from Vanderbilt University were
ern Indiana, north- of money by conducting business over offered an average of more than
western Kentucky, the Internet because of the ease of $22,000 in signing bonuses, which is
and southeastern completing transactions directly from 50 percent more than for finance or
Illinois, particularly business to business without going marketing graduates.
in high tech fields. through middlemen. Researchers pre- Business schools all across the
Industries and dict that this year, business-to-business country are scrambling to develop
businesses that e-business will be 10 times the expected e-business curricula, both at the under-
have begun imple- market for consumer transactions. In graduate and graduate levels, to provide
menting e-business Foroughi today’s business world, those businesses the growing number of trained person-
practices are forced that are willing to take advantage of e- nel which industries need to help them
to seek new employees out of town. business can gain a competitive edge. achieve the strategic advantages possi-
Opportunities to attract new industries E-business requires a technology- ble with e-business. While business
to the area are missed because of the savvy, skilled businessperson to create schools have offered isolated courses in
scarcity of local, adequately trained the commercial applications companies e-commerce and Internet technology
employees. and organizations need to gain an edge for several years, they are now receiv-
According to Workforce Develop- in the worldwide marketplace. Many ing urgent requests — from companies
ment in the Tri-state, a project con- companies have grown increasingly as well as from students — for formal-
ducted by the Hudson Institute’s Cen- dependent on the ability to conduct ized programs in electronic business.
ter for Workforce Development, the business through the use of Web-based
availability of high-tech university applications, creating a shortage of
programs is one of the magnets that professionals with the training neces-
can attract high-tech industries to a sary to provide e-business solutions to
metropolitan area. Offering opportuni- fit their company’s needs. No matter
ties for local youth to become trained if businesses want to build their own About the author
in e-business, by offering the option of e-business systems, purchase a package,
an e-business major or an area of inter- or outsource, they need trained infor- ▼Dr. Abbas Foroughi, professor of
est in the business administration mation technology personnel with the computer information systems, has
major, would help to create an envi- expertise to manage the development submitted his report on the devel-
ronment which would encourage high- and/or implementation of their opment of an e-business curriculum
tech firms to locate in the area. e-business successfully. for publication in the Proceedings
Electronic business is quickly Current levels of consumer online of the National Meeting of the
becoming the norm for business trans- spending have reached about $29.2 Decision Science Institute in San
actions. E-business connects business billion, with Internet retail sales Francisco and for presentation at
systems directly to important business expected to reach $133 billion by the meeting November 17-20.
constituencies — customers, employ- January 2004, according to a study by
ees, and suppliers via intranets, the Wharton School of Business. With
10 University of Southern Indiana School of Business
Evansville Factbook Faculty Experts Guide
The Evansville Factbook 2000-01 is a Do you need information or expert
one-stop, comprehensive source of eco- consultation? Faculty members in the
nomic, social, and demographic data on USI School of Business have expertise
Evansville and the region. The Center in many business-related topics. To get
for Business and Economic Research at your copy of the USI School of Busi-
the USI School of Business supports ness Faculty Experts Guide, call
the research and development of this 812/465-1681 or access it online.
authoritative resource.
http://business.usi.edu/factbook http://business.usi.edu/expertguide
Sixth edition available online with links to sources
Business students find career that suits them best
Strong Interest Inventory information, and placement assistance interpreters can help students who
with internships, coops, part-time score highly in other personality types
stacks individual’s interests work, and full-time jobs. These services understand what unique characteristics
with traits of professionals are available to all students, but stu- they could bring to a profession. For
dents must seek them out. instance, an individual with strong
For students who are wondering After the results of the interest “social” traits could be valuable to an
whether they have chosen the career inventory are scored, trained faculty accounting firm in relating to clients
path that is right for them, the School interpreters, supported by the Career and soliciting new business.
of Business offers a valuable service. Counseling office, explain the results While the Strong Interest Inven-
Three years ago the school, in to students. Most often the results tory is a relatively new requirement for
cooperation with USI’s Office of validate the student’s major choice School of Business students, the
Career Counseling, began administer- and give the student greater confi- mandatory 200-level business commu-
ing the Strong Interest Inventory in dence that his or her course of study nication course has some longstanding
the business communications course is on target. components that also help students
required of every student enrolled in The inventory draws on the learn about business careers.
the School of Business. RIASEC (realistic, investigative, artis- A career search project includes
The Strong Interest Inventory is a tic, social, enterprising, and conven- library and Internet research and infor-
highly validated instrument that mea- tional) theory, most people fall into mational interviews with at least three
sures similarities in an individual’s one of these six personality types. people working in the student’s chosen
interests to those of masses of success- Buecher said, “When I introduce field. The project provides the student
ful individuals in particular fields. the inventory to students, I encourage with a network and considerable infor-
Timothy K. Buecher, director of Career them to look at the personality types mation about one career as well as the
Counseling for USI, said the test would before they take the test and try to tools to replicate that network and
cost each student hundreds of dollars if decide which one describes them. research for other careers.
administered by a private firm. Overwhelmingly, the ‘enterprising’ and As part of the project, students
Dr. Phil Fisher, dean of the ‘conventional’ types are associated with synthesize the Strong Interest Invento-
School of Business, said the school business.” ry results with the particular career
added the Strong Interest Inventory to Generally, a person with an enter- they explore.
the business communications class as a prising personality would be interested Nancy F. Bizal, instructor of the
result of graduate surveys that empha- in such things as management, market- course, said that career exploration
sized the importance of career advising. ing, or business development; a con- helps students increase their awareness
USI has an active Career Services and ventional type would be data-oriented. of what is out there to do and what
Placement office that offers counseling, Buecher pointed out that the faculty they are best suited to do.
Summer 2001 11
Students see marketing visited the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Alpha Kappa Psi attends
in action on club trip in St. Louis. April Duncan, incoming
president of the club, said the 12 national conference
The Marketing Club saw market- students saw the plant in operation The USI School of Business
ing in action in March when they and learned about the company’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi profes-
advertising through sional business fraternity had the
the years, interna- second largest contingent of members
tional products, envi- of any campus from the Midwest at
ronmental programs, the organization’s national confer-
and survival during ence. Twenty USI students went to
prohibition. The Chicago in February to attend ses-
famous Clydesdale sions on personal and professional
horses, known around development, chapter management,
the world as a Busch personal finance, and leadership.
symbol, also were For the second straight year, the
on display. USI Office of Student Development
Elizabeth Courtney-USI
The Marketing Programs presented Alpha Kappa Psi
Club raised funds for the Academic Achievement award
the trip by asking for the campus professional organiza-
students to sponsor tion whose members had the highest
faculty members in a average grade-point average.
kiss-the-pig contest.
Nancy Bizal, coordinator of School of Business external
Dr. Joy Peluchette
relations, won the privilege of kissing the pig in the Market- University of Southern Indiana is an
and Nancy Bizal
ing Club fund-raising project. Dr. Leslie E. Nunn, assis- affirmative action/equal employment
won the honors.
tant professor of business law, steadies the porker. opportunity institution.
Information Services
Betty R. Vawter, News and
812/464-1801
Nancy F. Bizal, Editor
Phil Fisher, Dean
01-0025
Evansville IN 47712-3597 University of Southern Indiana
8600 University Boulevard School of Business
Permit No. 1675
Evansville, IN
University of Southern Indiana
A publication of the
PAID School of Business
U.S. Postage
Non-profit Organization
1-10700
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