December 2008

Welcome to It's All About You : News from the Eller MBA, sharing highlights and insights of the Eller MBA program at The University of Arizona.

The 2008-2009 MBA application season is officially here and the Eller MBA online application is now available. As you continue to make important decisions regarding your business school career, take a look at these insights from Eller students, past and present. 

For more information on the Eller MBA program, visit us at www.ellermba.arizona.edu.
 

1st Year Perspective by Justin Hart, MBA '10

Where did the year go?  It’s hard to believe that we are nearly a quarter of the way through our b-school experience.  It’s been a great semester so far and the best is yet to come.

During the past few weeks, we’ve brought closure to many of the extended group projects we’ve led during our time at Eller. We’ve also commenced the planning stages of our spring field projects. These projects will give us the opportunity to provide consulting services to a number of different local and national companies and nonprofits.

One of the most valuable aspects of our experience has been exposure to diverse business models and interesting industries. The combination of company information sessions and analysis of business cases has really enhanced my strategic thinking skills. During a recent John Deere info session, we gained unique insights into how one of America’s oldest public companies has adapted its strategy over the course of 150 years.

Finally, as winter break approaches, I can’t help but get excited about our upcoming international trips. This year the Eller College of Management is hosting two international outings. The South American excursion will enable students to visit companies in Argentina and Chile, while the Southeastern Asia trip will highlight a diverse group of organizations in Vietnam and Singapore. This will be my first experience with international travel, so needless to say, I’m thrilled that in less than thirty days I’ll be waking up halfway around the world.

>> Learn more about Eller MBA global perspectives.
 

IdeaXChange Unites Southern Arizona Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship advocate Larry Hecker (left) with UA president Robert Shelton (right) at the 2008 IdeaFunding workshop.

IdeaXChange Unites Southern Arizona Entrepreneurs Around Topic of Idea Generation

This year, the annual IdeaFunding workshop tackled one of the biggest challenges that entrepreneurs face: generating new ideas for start-up ventures. 
Individual entrepreneurs, early stage companies, and economic development officials all gathered at the historic Manning House in Tucson to investigate topics such as identifying where ideas come from, making the market your beacon, exploring the role of intellectual property, building a successful team, and funding an idea. UA president Robert Shelton delivered the keynote

address to the lunchtime crowd. Shelton told the attendees that, even during a local and national economic downturn, the UA remains an essential contributor to a knowledge-based economy.

IdeaFunding 2008 concluded with an address by and reception for UA 2008 Anheuser-Busch Angel-in-Residence John May, managing partner of New Vantage Group.

>> Learn more about the Eller MBA entrepreneurial experience.
 

Eller Students and Staff Volunteer Before Holidays

	Keyshia Conner, associate director of MBA admissions (left) and Susanna Horn, Eller MBA administrative secretary (right) paint a house for Habitat for Humanity: Photo by Amanda Thomas.

Some 350 students and staff in business and public administration at The University of Arizona's Eller College of Management turned their considerable organizational skills to volunteer and charitable works throughout Tucson during November.

On Nov. 19, for instance, Eller MBA staff pitched in on the construction of a Habitat for Humanity home that MBA students have worked on every Saturday since the end of October.

"The Eller MBA program believes in community within and outside of the University," said Kristina Wagner Cook, MBA program manager. "We stress the need to think beyond the walls of the university or business community and believe that the talent and motivation Eller attracts to Tucson each year should benefit the community as a whole." Eller MBAs coordinated the effort to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.  The house they are building will be complete in spring 2009.

On Nov. 22, undergraduate students volunteered for Tucson nonprofit organizations including the YMCA, Arts for All, and Ben's Bells. The effort was part of Eller College Philanthropy, a college-wide day of giving now in its seventh year.

"We approach different nonprofits in the community and explain that we have a huge student workforce that can deploy to complete big projects," said Sarah Diaz, coordinator of career initiatives at the Eller College. "Most of the time, the projects are heavy-duty or time-intensive, like interior painting — things that the organizations don't always have the human resources to complete."

Marisa Cox, director of MBA admissions, works on the exterior of a Habitat for Humanity home. Photo by Amanda Thomas.

On Nov. 24, first- and second-year Master of Public Administration students delivered all the ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner, including turkey, cranberry sauce, side dishes and dessert, to five families from Southside Community School. First-year MPA student Ryan Ball brought the idea to the MPA Student Association and collected monetary and non-perishable food item donations from about 60 of his fellow students, as well as from faculty and staff of the School of Public Administration and Policy. The collection followed the model established by the Anthony Robbins Foundation's Basket Brigade project.

"The spirit of giving and random acts of kindness show the selflessness of the students of the MPA program," said Ball. "Thanks to their support, along with that of our faculty and staff, the Basket Brigade was a true success."

"We're currently dealing with economy-wide fallout from corporate decision making that can, in part, be traced to greed," said Eller College dean Paul R. Portney. "For that reason, it's especially nice to see that there is a new generation of socially responsible business and public administration students on the way up."

>> Learn more about the Eller community.
 

Eller Cup Golf Tournament Right on Par

	At the Eller Cup Golf Tournament (left to right): Chris Cook, Full-Time MBA program manager Kristina Cook, Eller MBA assistant dean Trina Callie, and MBA/JD alum Jeff Hursh.

Over 50 Eller students and alumni gathered at The Golf Club at Vistoso on October 24th to enjoy a beautiful day of golf and professional networking.  The event was part of The University of Arizona's Homecoming weekend that brought many alumni back in town for a number of extracurricular activities.  

First-year MBA student Todd Leber  said, “We are fortunate that Tucson is home to some of the most beautiful golf courses in the country.  The event was a great way to enjoy classic Southwest scenery and mingle with an impressive mix of successful business professionals.”

The annual Eller Cup Golf Tournament is one of several networking opportunities that allows students to engage with faculty members, staff, and alumni.

>> Learn more about living in Tucson.
 

Building on Strengths
Robert Clarke : MBA '05
Lead Analyst : Wood Mackenzie

Robert Clarke came to the Eller MBA program for its reputation in entrepreneurship; but along the way he found himself moving in a slightly different direction. “One thing I did know was that I was looking for a career that blended business analysis with an aspect of science,” he says.  

Thanks to his father, a marine engineer, Clarke was drawn to science and understanding how things worked. He earned his undergraduate degree in geology from Texas A&M, then joined a small growth firm in Houston as a field geologist. “I found I was as interested in the P&L statements as I was in the sediment I studied,” he says. Grad school was the natural next step. “An MBA is a door-opening degree,” he explains.

He began at Eller and worked through the entrepreneurship program. “I started down one path, but half way down, I realized it wasn’t going to work out and changed directions,” he says. Clarke and his entrepreneurship team were exploring a venture idea that involved funding fitness programs for senior citizens. “It turned out that it wasn’t feasible for us,” he says. “But one of the strengths of the Eller program is the ability to make lateral moves.”

Clarke changed his focus to financial and analytical coursework. As graduation approached, he used a job board to find a position in Houston with energy consulting firm Wood Mackenzie. “I got great mentoring from Don Piper [who worked in the MBA office at that time],” Clarke says. “He was an excellent resource and helped me focus on my strengths.”

He joined Wood Mackenzie as an oil and gas analyst directly out of school in 2005. His interest in entrepreneurship has since found outlets on the job. “I helped develop upstream research for the Gulf Coast region,” he explains. “That experience provided me with the chance to develop my career alongside the company's expansion. As lead analyst for the Gulf Coast region, I am now responsible for the commerciality of the product I helped develop.”

“I really enjoyed the entrepreneurial experience at Eller,” he continues. “Though I’m not self-employed, I haven’t lost that drive, and whether or not I go there, the program helped me think about business broadly and get away from an insular view.”

>> Learn more about career development at the Eller MBA program.
 

Important Dates

Application Deadlines

 
Be sure to get your application in on time:
  
  

>> Apply for Eller MBA admission now.
 

• mba@eller.arizona.edu
• 1.888.Eller.MBA