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Young Alum—Rising Star: Russ Schwartzbecko you’re 26 years old, and it is6 a.m. on a Saturday. Where areyou? Well, if it’s the day of theAmerican Heart Association’sHeartwalk in Rochester, and you’reRuss Schwartzbeck, you’ve alreadybeen up two hours marking the walkSAlumnus Electedto RIT BoardRIT’s Board of Trustees elected threenew members at their April session,and alumnus Sudhakar (Bal) Dixitis one of them. Dixit, presidentand CEOof NewtexIndustriesInc.,foundedthe companyin 1978.It is anintegratedmanufacturer ofhigh-tech,heat-resistantBal Dixitproductsfor the industrial and safety marketas well as wallcovering and hearthproducts for consumers. Amonghis entrepreneurial successes, Dixitinvented a fabric that protects againsttemperatures as high as 2000 degrees.Appointed to the Federal ReserveBoard as a director of the Buffalobranch, he has been chairman ofthat board since 1997. He was alsoappointed to and is vice chairman ofthe U.S. Department of CommerceUpstate New York District ExportCouncil. Dixit has received thePresident’s E-Award for Excellencein Exporting and the college’sHerbert W. VandenBrul Entrepreneurial Award. Locally, he has servedon the boards for Compeer andRochester General/Genesee Hospitaland the Greater Rochester MetroChamber of Commerce.route through downtown Rochester.Even if it’s not the day of theHeartwalk, you’re probably still upand at work. Unless, of course, yourwife Alexa and your faithful pupGilmour insist that you slow downfor the day.So who is this “no sleep” individual?Russ Schwartzbeck is a 1997 financealumnus (married to COB alumna,Alexandria Bordynski Schwartzbeck).He works as a financial representativefor Northwestern Mutual FinancialNetwork—where he’s been named theoutstanding college agent, CollegeUnit Director, and received a varietyof other awards.In Russ’s spare time, he has helpeddevelop the COBRA (COB RecentAlumni) Network, is an active member of the COB’s Alumni AdvisoryCouncil, volunteers for the NathanielRochester Society, and devotes manyhours to the American Heart Association. (This year he is co-chairing theHeartwalk in Rochester.) And thoseare just the high points.Morse Named NewAssociate Deanith the new academic yearcomes a new associate deanfor the College of Business—Wayne J. Morse, former chair ofaccounting and information servicesat the University of Alabama inHuntsville (UAH).Morse has been instrumental ininitiating graduate programs at UAHin accounting, information servicesand information security. At the undergraduate level, he helped establish aninterdisciplinary program in computermediated communication, involvingcoursework in communications arts,graphic arts and information systems.An author or co-author of morethan 50 published works, Morseconsiders his most significant writingsto be in the areas of learning curves,human resource accounting, andquality costs. He is also a foundingW3Alexa, Russ and Gilmour SchwartzbeckThe college thanks Russ for hissupport and dedication and congratulates him on being named our first“Young Alum—Rising Star.”If you know other recent alumniwho are “rising stars,” please give DebKingsbury a call at 716-475-2354.memberof the managementaccountingsectionof theAmericanAccountingAssociation.“WayneMorse bringsto RIT anexceptionalWayne Morserecord ofacademic leadership,” states DeanHopkins. “He has won numerousteaching awards and has been published extensively. We are fortunateindeed to gain his strengths.”Prior to joining UAH, Morseserved on the faculties of theUniversity of Illinois, Duke University,the University of Tennessee, andClarkson University. He received hisMBA from Cornell University and aPh.D. from Michigan State University.

First RIT McGowan Scholars Selected COB Leads Statewidestudents Victor Silva andRenaé Powell, undergraduates in the College ofBusiness, have been namedas the William G. McGowan Scholarsfor the 2001-2002 academic year.Victor Silva is a 3rd-year studentfrom North Chili majoring inmanagement information systems.He is vice president of MISST(Management Information SystemsStudent Team) and a member ofthe college’s Lowenthal Group—aservice organization whose studentsact as ambassadors for the college.Renaé Powell, a marketing majorfrom Brooklyn, is also in her 3rd yearof study. She serves on the Dean’sStudent Advisory Council and ispresident of the Society of AfricanAmerican Business Students and aco-leader of the Lowenthal Group.Both students will receive fullscholarships made possible by a 40,000 grant from the William G.McGowan Charitable Fund. Theprogram recognizes academicachievement among business studentswhile encouraging leadership andcommunity involvement. RIT isamong 31 colleges and universitiesaround the country that participatein the William G. McGowan ScholarsProgram, named in honor of thefounder and chairman of MCICommunications Corp.Prague Graduationthe most diverse in the school’s10-year history with students representing countries from around theglobe—Bulgaria, Canada, the CzechRepublic, Hungary, the Netherlands,Russia, Slovakia, Vietnam, and theUnited States.RIT has granted MBA degreesto more than 300 graduates of theU.S. Business School. Many of theschool’s alumni now hold seniormanagement positions in theCzech Republic.RITRIT’s business school in Prague hashonored 17 new graduates from itsMBA program. The U.S. BusinessSchool held its annual commencement ceremony last month. DeanThomas Hopkins, who is presidentand CEO of the U.S. BusinessSchool, was in Prague to distributediplomas during the ceremony.This year’s graduating class wasVictor Silva and Renaé Powell receive fullscholarships as part of the new William G.McGowan Scholars Program.Prague graduates4Research Networkhe hardest part of any researchproject is simply getting started.Now, a statewide initiative,spearheaded by the College ofBusiness, is helping researchers takethat all-important first step.The newly formed New YorkInnovation Research Network willfocus on the development of qualitywork related to innovations in thefield of technology management.John Ettlie, director of RIT’sTechnology Management Center,came up with the idea. He says thereare few forums that acknowledgedeveloping research and offer anopportunity for feedback.“To get on the program, youusually need to have a piece readyfor publication,” Ettlie explains.“What sets the New York InnovationResearch Network apart is our focuson promoting the evolution of highcaliber research in its early stages.”Ettlie has gained the support ofcolleagues at other academic institutions across New York, includingSUNY Buffalo, Syracuse University,RPI, and New York University.Members of industry have alsooffered to participate in the effort,which is funded entirely by RIT.During the group’s first annualconference in May, several Ph.D.candidates presented elementsfrom their dissertations for analysis,followed by junior and senior facultypresentations. Ettlie says the impactfrom developing these projectsextends well beyond the academicworld.“We’re interested in managingbroad technological issues, and abetter understanding of the problemsthat exist will lead us to the rightquestions,” he states. “The long-termimplications of that for the community at large are highly important.”T

Rochester Teen Named M&T Scholarmagine holding down a job atXerox, attending an overseas tradeshow, and participating in a paneldiscussion with the First Lady ofthe United States. Now imagine doingall of that while still in high school.These are the remarkable accomplishments of Berta Rivera, this year’shonoree of the M&T Urban ScholarsProgram. She entered the Collegeof Business this fall as a first-yearmanagement major and becamethe program’s second recipient.A Rochester resident, Riveragraduated from Benjamin FranklinHigh School in the top 10 percent ofher class. For several years, she participated in the Xerox School-to-WorkPartnership Program. Due to herexcellent performance, she was chosento discuss her work experience withIHillary Clinton. The conversationwas part of the former First Lady’slistening tour before her official runfor U.S. Senate.“I was the only student on thepanel,” recalls Rivera. “She asked mea lot of questions about what it’s likeworking in a real workplace and howit benefited me personally. It wasquite an experience.”Rivera also took part in VirtualEnterprise, a program that teachesstudents how to run a business, andwas elected to represent Rochester atan international trade show inSalzburg, Austria.As the M&T Scholar, Rivera willreceive a partial scholarship and isassured summer employment andco-op opportunities at M&T Bankthroughout her four years at RIT—Berta Riveraall made possible by a 50,000 giftfrom M&T.Rivera is already looking forwardto the day she can serve as an example to other urban scholars. “I wouldlike to go back to my old schooland give talks. I want to show thekids there that they can also have abright future.”Capstone Project Provides Results for Students and Businesseshe intelligence and hard workof students from a pair of RITmaster’s programs is providinga boost to the Rochester areabusiness community. Coordinatorsfrom the Executive MBA (EMBA)and Manufacturing, Managementand Leadership (MM&L) programsreport another successful year forRIT’s Capstone Project.As the climax of two years ofintense study, the Capstone Projectprovides students from both programs a chance to put their traininginto action, assisting local companieswith critical business issues.Packaging Services couldn’t passup the opportunity to take part. Adivision of Diamond Packaging, thecompany designs packaging for photographic and pharmaceutical customers and was anxious to developa sales and marketing plan. KirstenVoss, executive vice president forPackaging Services, invited a teamfrom the College of Business toevaluate the situation.“We gave them an overview of thecompany and discussed with themwhat we hoped to accomplish,” sheTPackaging Services’Capstone Project. Hequickly realized thebenefits of working aspart of a team.“Among us, therewas a mix of backgrounds that broughtvery different butapplicable expertiseto the program,”explains McMahon.“The biggest challenge was providinga service similar tothat of a management consultantKirsten Voss, executive vice president for Packaging Services, listens as company but on amembers of RIT’s Executive MBA program discuss details of theirpart-time basis.”Capstone Project. The student team included (clockwise from bottom left)Members of theFrancis McMahon, William Nelson, David Greenfield and Marty Lawler.team proved up tosays. “They met with employees,the challenge. The students recentlysuppliers, and customers to get agave their final presentation to Vossperspective from several differentand her colleagues and received raveangles. They also turned to thereviews. “It’s very exciting, and we’reInternet to research what kind ofanxious to implement their recomopportunities are out there.”mendations,” she states.Francis McMahon, a marketingPackaging Services was among amanager for Nexpress, was among thehalf dozen local companies to takeEMBA students who participated in(Continued on page 6)5

Capstone Projects continued . . .(Continued from page 5)In Business . . .part in this year’s EMBA CapstoneProject. Other sponsors were GouldsPumps, IEC Electric, Lightnin, CJWinter, and Montego. Each projectwas designed to meet that company’sparticular needs.Five teams from the MM&L program, which integrates business withengineering disciplines, added theirbrand of success to the CapstoneProject. Bausch & Lomb, HeidelbergDigital, Commodore Machine Co.and Alliance Plastic invited studentteams to examine and diagnoseproblems related to product flow andmanufacturing processes. In the end,program organizers calculated morethan 4.6 million in combined savingsto these companies generated bytheir participation in Capstone.Directors from both the EMBAand MM&L programs are now busyseeking new business partners toparticipate in the Capstone Projectfor the upcoming school year. Ifyour company is interested in beinginvolved in this project, pleasecontact Ann Young, EMBA programcoordinator, at 716-475-2344.This is the first in a series of articles highlighting COB alumni entrepreneurs.It is based on feedback from our readers.New FacultyAward and the University ofConnecticut’s 1999-2000 OutstandingDoctoral Student Teaching Award.Dr. Baldridge will be the first deaffaculty member at RIT whose primary responsibility will be to teachhearing students.David Baldridge joined the COBmanagement faculty in Septemberafter completing his Ph.D. from theUniversity of Connecticut. His dissertation is titled “A study of factors thatinfluence individuals’ decisions torequest workplace accommodation.”Dr. Baldridge has an MBA and BGSfrom the University of Michigan,where he majored in finance, economics, and philosophy. He has taught atthe University of Connecticut and atWorcester Polytechnic Institute. Inaddition, he has more than 10 yearsof business experience at ProjectAdventure in Boston, HewlettPackard in San Diego, and IBM inDetroit. He has published in theAcademy of Management Review aswell as other outlets. He is the winner of the Academy of ManagementCareer Division Applied Paper 2000PEGGY FELT OFDESIGN ESSENCE“You know how in this age of information overload, every business isstruggling to get noticed and beremembered? Every company, fromthe largest international corporationsto the folks just starting up in theirin-homeoffices? Well,it’s all aboutimage!”Startedin 1998 byCollege ofBusinessretail managementalumnaPeggy Felt’71, DesignPeggy FeltEssence creates, defines, and refines the publicimage of companies, both large andsmall. Design Essence is a full serviceDeborah Colton joined the COBmarketing and international businessfaculty this fall after completing herPh.D. with a specialization in marketing at the University of SouthCarolina. Her dissertation is titled“The effects of marketing and firmresources on electronic retailer performance in international markets.”Deborah completed her MBA fromRIT in February 1997 in international business, and she holds a BAin international studies from theState University of New York atBuffalo. Dr. Colton has taught at theUniversity of South Carolina andat RIT and has almost a decade of6graphic design studio located inPittsford, New York, that specializesin creating strong, elegant corporateidentity materials for all visualcommunications.Peggy puts her RIT knowledgeto work every day by stressing theimportance of personal service.“When working with Design Essence,the client can count on open, directcommunication with the personactually doing the job. I strive tomaintain a close relationship witheach of my clients, which enables meto anticipate my clients’ needs andexceed their expectations. By making every effort to understand andrespect their message, DesignEssence can accurately project eachclient’s true vision and message.”As everyone knows, there’s nevera second chance to make a firstimpression. Design Essence makessure that every element of a company’s business communication,whether it be cards, stationery,business experience at Troyer, Inc.,in Rochester and Spaulding International in Tonawanda, New York.She has published in the Journal ofWorld Business.The management informationsystems faculty was joined inSeptember by Jack Cook, who holdsa Ph.D. in business administrationfrom Washington State University.Dr. Cook’s dissertation was entitled“Optimal design and management ofautomated manufacturing systems.”His MS in computer science is alsofrom Washington State, and he holdsan MA in mathematics, an MBA, anda BS in computer science, all fromthe University of South Dakota. Heis a certified fellow in productionand inventory management and anAPICS certification instructor. Hecomes to RIT from his currentposition as associate professor atthe Jones School of Business, State

brochures, advertising or marketing,all work together to create a positivefirst impression.As Peggy is fond of saying,“Remember, just as time is of theessence, Design is of the Essence.”You can contact Peggy at 716-2640705 or PeggyF@rochester.rr.com.GLENDA BARCKLOW OF THEGENESEE COUNTRY INN“Like cats, innkeepers seem to havemany lives. They are always interesting, dedicated, workaholic peoplewith lots of stories, patience, a loveof people, and nearly always a goodsense of humor. My innkeeping lifebegan with a dream that startedafter my first visit to a wonderfulold inn in Connecticut.”Glenda Barcklow, a 1973 accounting alumna, worked at EastmanKodak for nearly 20 years. Her background in business served her wellas she ventured into the life of anentrepreneur in 1981.“While reading the local paperone morning in 1982, I found ahistoric old mill for sale. It was surrounded by many serene acres ofponds, waterfalls, and gardens.University of New York at Geneseo,where he has taught for the pastseven years. Dr. Cook is the winnerof the 2000 Excellence in Innovative/Creative Teaching Award at SUNYGeneseo, and he has an extensivepublishing and consulting record.Joining the marketing faculty this fallis Wen Gong, who recently completedher Ph.D. in marketing at GeorgeWashington University (GWU) inWashington, D.C. Her dissertation wastitled “Measuring web advertising effectiveness in China: an empirical investigation.” Her MBA in internationalbusiness management is from theUniversity of International Businessand Economics in Beijing, China, andher bachelor of engineering in telecommunication engineering is fromthe Beijing University of Posts andTelecommunications. Dr. Gong hastaught at American University, atGWU, and at the School ofGlenda Barcklow and Kim Rasmussen at the InnOf course, ‘love at first sight’ happened, and this was to become theperfect spot for the inn.”In her spare time, Glenda is alsoan avid chef. “My favorite pastime iscooking. My recipes, I am proud tosay, are now published in more thansix major cookbooks, and now I amwriting my own cookbook. Pleasefeel free to send me your favoriterecipes, or come visit us at the inn!”Glenda has served for more than10 years on the board of directorsfor the Western New York State BedInternational Business Management inBeijing. She has several years of business experience in China, and thisyear she helped develop a seminarcourse for corporate executives ononline marketing research. She haspresented papers at conferences inthe United States and abroad.Khondkar E. Karim joined the COBaccounting faculty this September.He taught most recently at LongIsland University C. W. Post. He is aCPA and a former bank executiveand holds a DBA from MississippiState University. He has publishedmore than 25 articles in various refereed journals, including AccountingOrganizations and Society (AOS),Behavioral Research in Accounting(BRIA), International Journal ofFinance, Advances in Accounting,Advances in InternationalAccounting, Research in Finance,International Journal of Auditing,7and BreakfastAssociation.Kim Rasmussen,who works asan innkeeperwith Glenda,graduated fromRIT in 1986with a BS inhotel science.While at RIT,she worked asa co-op at theGeneseeCountry Innand joined theinn full time in1990. The innitself has been a member of theprestigious “Select Registry,” a groupof 330 inns and B&B inns all overNorth America, since 1989, and waschosen as one of the 10 Top Inns ofthe Year in the United States in 1992by Country Inns Magazine. Glendaand Kim can be reached at 1-800NYSTAYS or you may visit the inn atwww.geneseecountryinn.com.If you’d like to be included in “InBusiness ” please contact DebbieKingsbury at dlkbbu@rit.edu.and The Mid-Atlantic Journal ofBusiness. He is also the recipientof a 1999 ANBAR Citation ofExcellence for his AOS manuscript.He is co-editing a monograph onenvironmental accounting.A two-year appointment as a visitingassistant professor of finance hasbeen awarded to Zhaohui Zhang.Dr. Zhang received his Ph.D. infinance at Texas Tech University in2000, where he also earned his MSin finance. His BS was from ShannxiInstitute of Finance and Economics.He has spent the past year workingin San Francisco as an analyst inthe portfolio management team atAllianz Dresdner Asset Management.During his years at Texas Tech, hetaught courses in corporate financeand presented some lectures forcourses in international finance,money and capital markets, andmoney, banking, and credit.

FACULTY/STAFF NOTESSTAFF NOTESprofessor in marketing and managementKristi Hughes, COB director of development,has accepted a new position at PILOR(Public Interest Law Office of Rochester).Best wishes to Kristi in her new job.Andrew DuBrin, professor of management,reports that his book, The Complete Idiot’sGuide to Leadership, has now been printedin Polish.Mary Ann Pearl, senior staff assistant inStudent Service, has retired after 15 yearsat RIT. She and her husband, Frank,plan to travel, pursue hobbies, andspend time with their grandchildren.Eugene Fram, J. Warren McClure ResearchProfessor of Marketing, had an articlepublished in the May-June issue ofNonprofit World. Entitled “Expectationsfor Nonprofit Boards Are Changing,” thearticle focuses on changing legal standards for nonprofit directors and onth

University of Illinois, Duke University, the University of Tennessee, and Clarkson University. He received his MBA from Cornell University and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Wayne Morse Morse Named New Associate Dean 3 RIT's Board of Trustees elected three new members at their April session, and alumnus Sudhakar (Bal) Dixit is one of .