Business Undergraduate Newsletter
Undergraduate Student News, Programs, Faculty, Alumni & Staff Spotlights
November 2007
Student Spotlight: WCBA Students Win Asian Business Case Challenge
(Pictured at Left: Caroline Etter, Seth Mollitt, Shae Ferguson, and Montana Massa)
On October 13th, four of Warrington's top business students won the Asian Business Case Challenge, an international business case competition hosted by the Nanyang School of Business at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. In addition to the Warrington College of Business Administration team, teams from Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand), the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the University of South Carolina, Erasmus University (the Netherlands), Thammasat University (Thailand), the University of British Columbia (Canada), the University of Otago (New Zealand), the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland), Nanyang Technological University, and the University of Washington participated in the competition.
The case focused on Keppel Offshore and Marine, a Singapore-based firm since 1968 and one of the most successful builders of oil rigs in Asia. The teams acted as strategic consultants and had the task of formulating a strategy for sustainable growth through prosperous times and during economic downturns. They were asked to implement the client's growth strategy, to identify the contingent factors relevant to the strategy, and to prepare and present their recommendations at the next management committee meeting.
Following the initial round, four teams were named finalists, which included the Warrington team, University of South Carolina, Nanyang School of Business, and Erasmus University.
(Pictured at right: Seth Mollitt, Caroline Etter, Shae Ferguson, and Montana Massa make their presentation.)
Program Spotlight: Warrington Welcome
Increasing Our Reach and Students' SuccessIn Summer and Fall 2007, the Warrington Welcome (WW) freshman experience course saw the largest increase in enrollment since its inception in Summer 2004: Enrollment in WW increased by 114% from Summer 2006 to Summer 2007 and Summer and Fall 2007 enrollment increased by 13% from the same period in 2006. With this growth, the School of Business staff has been able to proactively advise a greater percentage of freshman business students through their first semester and position them for a more successful college experience.
The increase in enrollment is the result of a new enrollment plan that guarantees students' enrollment in WW only in their first term. The establishment of this new policy was based on observations made by School of Business staff that students who took Warrington Welcome during their first semester had an easier adjustment to college and were more likely to take advantage of extracurricular and professional development opportunities than students who waited to take the course in their second term. This new policy, coupled with increased collaboration between the School of Business and Preview coordinators to emphasize the importance of taking Warrington Welcome in the first semester, has had a dramatic impact on enrollment in this course.
In addition to creating a difference in the college experience of freshmen, the WW course is also making a difference in the Gainesville community. During the 2006-2007 Academic Year, WW students provided over 350 hours in service to the city's parks. In recognition of those efforts, the WCBA was honored with the STAR Volunteer Award by the City of Gainesville's Nature Operations Division in Spring 2007.
Business is BOOMING in the Online Business Program!
Enrollment in the WCBA Online Business Program continues to flourish. This fall, we experienced a 38% increase in student enrollment over the Fall 2006 term.
Our current crop of online Gators has significantly narrowed the 'distance' in distance education with a new initiative: the Gator Online Student Organization (GOSA). Through the GOSA Web site, students from all over Florida can find a supportive community of peers with whom they can form study groups, trade textbooks, and carpool to exams on test nights. Program veterans are also mentoring new students, as well as fielding questions from prospective students seeking advice on how to combine a UF business degree with fulltime jobs and family responsibilities.
As of this summer, 203 students have earned BSBA degrees through the Online Business Program. A record number of 45 students graduated this summer, including one summa cum laude honoree — Javier Espinoza from West Palm Beach. For many of the students who attended the August graduation ceremony, their first trip to UF featured a walk across the commencement stage.
Alumni Spotlight: Meghan Fiore
While attending the University of Florida, Meghan Fiore wondered if anything could be more enjoyable than tailgating before football games or walking across campus in the morning with a cup of Java City's best. Three years later, having traveled the world with the Boeing Company supporting a product that is changing aerospace, technological capability and air travel, she finds that the answer to this question is a resounding "yes."
Meghan began working at Boeing after graduating from UF with a major in business management in 2005. Her first year and a half was spent in the company's Business Career Foundation Program in southern California, rotating through assignments such as C-17 estimating, ICBM business operations, Delta Rockets procurement cost analysis, Space & Intelligence Systems financial planning, and Space & Intelligence contracts. Her final rotation sent her to Seattle to learn about Boeing's commercial airplanes. After her first week as a procurement agent for the 787 Program, Meghan was hooked. She immediately signed up for a permanent job buying the aft fuselage from a supplier in Charleston and coordinating the purchase of nuts, bolts, and washers for the aircraft. When the first airplane sections started to arrive in Washington, she transferred down to the shop floor of the largest building in the world to coordinate parts logistics for manufacturing. Her job requires flexibility, hard work, long hours, problem solving abilities, and a willingness to live in a rainy climate! In return, Meghan's job gives her a sense of pride and excitement, an opportunity to lead, and manufacturing know-how.
Meghan offers new business grads the following advice: Ask a lot of questions and pay attention to why the company you are working for operates as it does. Once you have an understanding, develop ideas for improving operations and voice those ideas to your supervisor. Also, avoid complaining unless you have a solution to offer. To maximize your learning experience, take on just a little more than you think you can handle, but be sure not to over commit. Lastly, demonstrate your sense of Gator pride by having some Gator memorabilia on your desk!
Meghan will complete her Master of Science in Supply Chain Management from the University of San Diego in the near future. Other short term goals include learning how to drill and countersink holes on the airplane by her self. In the long term, Meghan hopes to increase her level of responsibility by learning more about different aspects of business and manufacturing.
Staff Spotlights: Jason Hinson and Derek Guffin
Jason Hinson: Newest Member of the Online Business Program Team
In August, Jason Hinson came on board as the new Assistant Director for Online Programs in the School of Business Office. Jason fills the position vacated by Lindsay Zannis, who moved back to Birmingham to be closer to her family. Jason will coordinate admissions, testing, academic advising, and student recruitment for the Online Business Program. He enjoys the challenge of assisting non-traditional students achieve their dream of earning a UF business degree.
Prior to joining the WCBA, Jason spent eight years in UF's Office of Admissions, where he worked with freshman applicants and their families. His admissions background should come in handy as applications to and enrollment in the online program continue to soar.
Derek Guffin Joins the School of Business Advising Team
Originally from New Palestine, Indiana, Derek earned a B.S. in Sport Management from the University of Florida. As an undergraduate student, he was highly involved in many endeavors on campus, including service as a resident assistant, Preview staff member, athletic trainer, mascot, and fraternity founding father. In addition, he facilitated discussions on spirituality and helped direct students to a faith of their choice.
In April 2007, he graduated with an M.S. in Higher Education from Florida State University and continued to pursue his passion of empowering college students in their endeavors. As a graduate student at FSU, Derek worked for university athletics and helped at-risk student athletes maintain their academic eligibility. Later, he served as a research assistant for the Florida Board of Governors, where he researched benchmarks in outcomes-based assessment models and performed higher education senate bill analysis.
Derek loves being a part of students' journey as an academic advisor and encourages them to stop by his office for meaningful dialogue. He encourages students to become involved in campus organizations and to not be afraid to try new experiences.
The Warrington Wire is a quarterly e-mail newsletter distributed by the Warrington College of Business Administration School of Business.
