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Preparing for the International Trip

Jun 14th, 2013 by

Mekong Delta - Vietnam

Mekong Delta – Vietnam

By Dr. Jon Carrick

The world has become highly globalized and we now must interact with companies from all over the world. Throughout the past term, we have been studying how to interact and conduct business with other countries and cultures. It is beneficial to study these things in the classroom, but there is no substitute for experiencing it first-hand. This is why I am so excited about our EMBA trip to Vietnam and Singapore.

We will get to experience two of the most dynamic economies in the world. Singapore rose from the ashes of conflict in the 1950’s to become one of the strongest economies in the world; it was literally one of the poorest countries in the world and it is now among the richest. The Singaporean economy has grown at an average of 8% p.a. since the 1960’s, and its impressive growth continues.

Vietnam has also recently experienced great growth, but is still a developing country. It will be an interesting contrast to see countries in vastly different stages of economic growth. It will also be interesting to be welcome in a country that, less than 40 years ago, we were at war with. If you had told people 30 years ago that Vietnam would be an important trading partner with the U.S., people would have thought that you were crazy. But here we are getting ready to visit an open and friendly Vietnam.

Between the two countries, we have nine great business visits planned. These visits are to an array of small and large organizations and will really bring to life what we have been learning in the classroom. Stay tuned, as the students and I will blog about each of our visits and our other experiences in Vietnam and Singapore.

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Cohort 10 Marketing Simulation Success

Jun 11th, 2013 by

Mkting Sim2

A few weeks ago Cohort 10 experienced a highly interactive simulation, in which students define and execute a business-to-business marketing strategy. The aim of this group exercise was to develop an understanding of the link between marketing strategy formulation and effective execution, and using segment and customer needs analysis to make product marketing and design decisions. “The simulation helped students experience the interconnectivity of each of the marketing mix elements in making strategic business decisions.” according to the course professor Dr. Michelle DeMoss, Ph.D.
Mkting Sim1

Successful marketing strategies require consideration of a variety of factors, which may impact realization of goals. In this simulation, the students need to identify market segmentations, set a product price and discounts. They then allocate sales and marketing resources for each targeted segment including setting the level of spending on marketing communications and market research. Customer feedback is then provided by the program through dynamic video interviews so that students can gain important insights into the effectiveness of their marketing strategies. The simulation can be relayed a number of times, adjusting factors such as price and marketing investment to see changes in the results.

Mkting Sim3Dr. DeMoss was thrilled with the outcome of the exercise, stating that “the class performed very well, with one group achieving the highest simulation score yet!  Students were so engaged in the exercise that they requested that the simulation be available to play for the rest of the semester on their own time.”


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Cohort 9 Graduates!!!

May 21st, 2013 by

 

Three cohorts - working and supporting each other!

Three cohorts – working and supporting each other!

After 19 months of hard work and dedication, we were delighted to watch our largest cohort to date cross the stage, be individually recognized, and hooded during their rite of investiture. The Dean of the School of Business and Provost shook each graduates hand as they celebrated their personal journey in the quest of an MBA degree. Family members and fellow cohorts were just as vocal about their accomplishment, as cheers erupted from the audience. “This graduation experience was so much more overwhelming than any other I’ve been a part of before. It made me realize just how hard I’ve worked throughout the EMBA program and how badly I wanted to accomplish this goal. It was so inspiring to hear every single one of our names called and know that we had walked this journey together!” – Lindsay Swantek

The commencement ceremony included a speech from Stetson University President Wendy B. Libby who gave the “charge” to graduates – a tradition of placing a duty and responsibility upon the new graduates. Libby highlighted how a Stetson University education assists graduates in moving from success to significance, and reminds them how to be of service to the world.

C9 Grad 11

“Graduation was awesome. The message to lead a life of significance resonated with me. I took the president’s charge to heart! What a great way to conclude our program. I look forward to leading an active alumni life.” – David LaRocque, Stetson Double Hatter

 

During the cohorts time with us at Stetson, the group have developed lifelong relationships and grown together personally and professionally, resulting in tomorrow’s future leaders. We feel very privileged to have been a part of this transformational experience which included a 10-day international trip.  We have shared in their successes, challenges, and their personal journey – the proposals, pregnancies, and the losses shaped our overall experience. We are so fortunate to have experienced all these impactful moments!

We are so proud to have Cohort 9 join the Stetson Alumni family, and hope you will stay connected and continue to share your journey and lifelong friendship with us.

 

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Cohort 10 Prepares For International Residency

May 3rd, 2013 by

Ho Chi Minh CityWith just 7 weeks to go before they leave for Vietnam and Singapore, Cohort 10 are beginning to prepare for their 10-day international experience.

Today in a Skype call with our International Study Programs program manager, Michaela Vokounova, the students got a first glimpse at their full itinerary and the events that will dominate their trip. There is so much to see in the 10 days away, that the itinerary is filled with cultural events, sightseeing and business consultations – this will be an immersive experience, which allows the students to appreciate the differences of doing business in both countries, and deepens their understanding of different cultures, people and perspectives, to reinforce the importance of a global mindset.

The trip will consist of visits to 8 different small and large businesses in a range of industries, daily cultural events – including a boat cruise on the Mekong Delta and day at Sentosa Island – and a philanthropic activity helping disadvantaged people in Ho Chi Minh City.

Singapore skyline at nightMekong Delta - Vietnam

We are very excited about what promises to be an amazing residency!!

Keep an eye out for future updates and watch Facebook and our blog for stories of our travels when we leave in 7 weeks.

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Cohort 9 – Final Capstone Presentations

Apr 25th, 2013 by

C9 Capstone 1

Team 1 presents

Cohort 9 completed their final capstone course on March 23, 2013, by bringing the knowledge and skills they had gained over the past 19 months, and applying these to real-life business cases. Students experienced a working product, and the processes of strategic business plan development while bringing together different functional business areas such as marketing, finance and management to develop a comprehensive plan to address the needs of the company.Each group worked with an existing company, collaborated throughout the semester by acting as a consultant to refine all aspects of their business plan, and eventually make recommendations accordingly. On the last day, the business teams presented their recommendations to the entrepreneurs and a panel of experts. Each group did a phenomenal job, making this a very rewarding experience for the students and businesses alike.

Below is a summary of the businesses that our EMBA teams were exposed to for this exercise.

The judging panel & audience

Natural Current, Inc. – Edwin, Crystal, David, Michelle & Brian.

Natural Current produces innovative and environmentally friendly products for the swimming pool industry by providing an off-grid alternative to clean residential and commercial swimming pools. The product utilizes solar technology to reduce the energy cost to the consumer, and also reduce their carbon footprint, and is capable of filtering up to 10,000 gallons of water daily.

ProFlower Design – Joe, Monica, Wayne, Nelson & Lindsay.

ProFlower Design offers unique and innovative software that has the potential to reinvent the world of floral design and events. ProFlower Designs provides a range of tools to companies in the floral industry.

C9 Capstone 2

Congratulations to the winning team!

Fusion Fitness Designs – Glorimar, Christina L., Rebecca, Bonnie & Duane.

Fusion Fitness Designs is a Florida based company which designs, manufactures and sells strength training equipment. Their mission is to “supply the international strength training equipment market with a superior product in design and aesthetics and provide new designs, increased technology and health awareness training.”

Choose Rain – Christina B., Danielle, John, Maria & Michael.

Choose Rain operates in the ultra premium bottled water category. The amount of water Americas drink has risen nearly every year and Choose Rain plans to capitalize this trend while standing out by offering a healthy alternative to the other bottled water products, which are treated with chlorine.

Summaries ‘R US – Brad, Dianne, Gwen, Toshi & Valerie.

Summaries ‘R Us is a website of textbook summaries (focusing on History and Science) that helps students to focus their studies on important and relevant information in book chapters. The site would provide chapter summaries, as well as other useful resources to help students study and manage their workload.

Congratulations to everyone on some outstanding work, and we look forward to
celebrating your graduation with you next month!!!

 

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Cohort 9 – Lean Cup Simulation

Mar 12th, 2013 by

EMBA Cohort 9 experienced a Lean Paper Cup Simulation demonstrating the benefits of Lean principles and practices in action. Students learned how to simplify a process, make it more efficient, and ended up with a usable cup that was high-quality with little to no waste.

Have you drunk from a handmade paper cup?? Check it out.

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Dr. Greg McCann – New Executive MBA Director

Jan 19th, 2013 by

Executive MBA Program welcomes innovation & leadership with Dr. Greg McCann

Dr. Greg McCann has accepted the position of Director of Stetson’s Executive MBA Program. Greg, a Stetson alumnus, brings extensive experience in business including family enterprise, professional organization work, and consulting. This background, coupled with 22 years in academia as a thought leader and innovator, make him ideally suited to lead this evolving world-class program.

Dr. McCann’s passion for the Executive MBA Program reached an all-time high this fall after he had the opportunity to redesign and co-teach the introductory course. This then lead to his willingness to act as “coach” to continue dialogue with our executive students regarding their Professional Development Plans. During the fall term, he had the opportunity to engage with staff, faculty, alumni and hear from each of these stakeholders about the program’s history, strengths, and opportunities. This informed his trip with Dean Schwarz to the Executive MBA Council’s international conference in Paris where they gained a global context that validated their sense of direction. This re-visioning turned into action with the creation of a “Think Tank”, where thought leaders from the corporate world gather to brainstorm a bold vision for our future. With the collaboration and support of the Provost and the Dean of the School of Business, his passion and commitment for delivering an innovative world-class Executive MBA program and transition into this new role has been accomplished. Stetson’s Executive MBA Program will take a holistic approach to develop character-driven leaders, able to work in teams, think across boundaries, and innovate at a pace necessary in today’s global and interdependent world. As Director, Dr. McCann’s track record of leading innovation for Stetson will continue!

Dr. McCann’s commitment for innovation and development are paramount. He is the recipient of numerous awards – Innovator of the Year (2012), Hand Award for Research & Professional Activity (2010), Faculty Research Award (2009), McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching, the University’s Highest Award (2003), Professor of the Year (2000), and inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma’s Honor Society for Accredited Business Programs, AACSB (2003).

The Executive MBA program team embraces the wealth of experience, vision, and change that Greg will lead, as we prepare to develop world-class business leaders, both personally and professionally.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Greg McCann, Director of the Executive MBA Program.

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Melania Lavezzi, EMBA Class of 2010, Releases a Children’s Book

Dec 11th, 2012 by

Melania Lavezzi and Melbi, who served as inspiration for the book.

Melania Lavezzi, a Celebration resident and a graduate of the Executive MBA Program in Cohort 6, releases her first children’s book in both paperback and an e-book version available now on Amazon.On December 20th, you can download the Kindle edition for free for 1 day!  Go to www.amazon.com and search “Mom, dad, can we get a dog?” Click on the Kindle edition and enjoy with your family! In addition, the book can be borrowed from Kindle owner’s library until the end of February.

Book Description: “Mom, dad, can we get a dog” is written by a dog trainer and is the story of two children, CJ and Sofia, that want a dog.  Their parents know that owning a dog is a long-term commitment. For this reason, the wise parents try to expose the children to the canine world as much as possible. During their adventures, the family learns how to behave around dogs in order to be safe, how to have fun with dogs and how to be responsible dog owners. At the end of the book there is a quiz that reinforces the learning experience.

Congratulations to Melania for this incredible accomplishment.

Alumni and students, please keep sharing your successes with the EMBA team. Your fellow hatters, cohorts, faculty, and entire Stetson “family” enjoy celebrating with you.

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Executive MBA Cohort 9 Visits Deland Campus

Dec 6th, 2012 by

Cohort 9 creates memories in Deland – Next visit will reward their MBA accomplishments at Graduation, May 2013

Stetson University’s Executive MBA class of 2013 visited the Deland campus, a ritual that occurs at least once during their 19-month graduate program.  This year, cohort 9 had the opportunity to collaborate with the Roland George Investment students, enjoy a conversation with Provost Paul during a catered lunch in the Carlton Union, and further their graduate studies by interacting with 3 faculty members in the fields of Finance, Integrated Business Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Strategy.

Coincidentally, the Deland City holiday parade was in full swing, so as the Executive MBA students toured the beautiful campus, the sights and sounds of holiday music, laughter, and joy filled the air.  Crystal Koepke, Walt Disney World, manager shared “this experience was one of the highlights of my graduate experience.  Being able to participate in strategic discussions, seeing how investment decisions are made by the Roland George students, and seeing Stetson University’s Main Campus gives me a greater appreciation for what I’m about to accomplish – my MBA”.

The Roland George Institute Program experience was dynamic, said Wendy Lowe, Assistant Director.  The Director, Dr. Ma and his undergraduate students, prepared student research on 3 global companies that was presented to the Executive MBA students and Board of Trustees.  This information was evaluated and a final determination of the viability of the students’ recommendation to purchase shares based on their findings was made.  The Executive MBA students were extremely impressed with the high quality of the research conducted, the apparent confidence and ability of these undergraduates to field and address questions from executive level students and finally the conclusive process that is conducted in the Roland George Investments Program.  David LaRocque, Senior IT analyst at Genworth Financial, enjoyed returning to his Alma Mater.  David shared, “I had a great sense of nostalgia and pride returning to campus as a graduate student with my Cohort.  I look forward to returning to Deland in May to graduate with my Cohort”.  David will officially become a “Double Hatter”, meaning he will have both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stetson University.

Provost Paul shared numerous opportunities to stay connected to Stetson University upon graduation in May 2013 including career services, participating in additional course/class offerings, attending alumni events, enjoying football tailgating and games, and by continuing to share their “Stetson story” with others.  Students were encouraged to continually challenge themselves to learn, guide, and engage in the community to be “Lifelong Learners”.  By engaging in such activities, continued professional and personal growth will occur and have a profound impact.

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Executive Students “Support Systems” Impact Success

Nov 2nd, 2012 by

 Stetson University’s Executive MBA Cohort 10 students participated in our 1st “Family Day” in late October, co-hosted by Dr. McCann and Dr. DeMoss and the Executive MBA team.  The event was held for two purposes:

1) To be introduced to the cohort’s “support system”

Pablo Chavez and his wife, Kristen

2) To hear from both students and their respective “support system” the impact the Management & Leadership course has had on their personal and professional lives over the past 2 months.

The Management and Leadership course, scheduled at the beginning of the EMBA program, provides each student the opportunity to craft a Personal and Professional Development Plan while receiving faculty facilitation, expertise, and suggestions from an “executive coach”.  The students will use this Plan as they practice these goals and work/life behaviors during their 19-month EMBA Journey and beyond.  During this process, each student noted the significance of their “support system” and how these individuals will be instrumental in their practice, journey, and overall success. Therefore, we felt that it was extremely important to wrap these members into our larger “learning community” as quickly as possible!

The students’ “support system” arrived and shared lunch and a discussion regarding their signifi

Judy Ashbrook and her daughter, Kelsey

cant other’s growth since starting their Stetson Executive MBA program on August 10, 2012.  Guests included spouses, fiancées, children, cousins, mentors, alumni from their respective workplace, and even an undergraduate professor, Dr. Allan Hall, who recently retired to Celebration and was the instructor to one of our EMBA graduate students. 

This event was definitely another “learning opportunity” in which all participants benefited greatly. 

  • Students introduced their peers to their support system
  • “Support system” members felt validated in their role as “coach” and “supporter” and the significant appreciation of their student
  • Stetson course facilitators, Dr. Greg McCann & Dr. Michelle DeMoss, were able to glean progress made based on the students diligent efforts and ongoing “practice”

 Wendy Lowe, Assistant Director, shared her understanding and significance of the “support system’s” role in the EMBA experience having once played that role herself.  Wendy encouraged family members to stay involved and as a result of this time together, the EMBA team will be formalizing the “Support System’s” participation in upcoming events with all current students and their families and future cohorts.

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