University of South Florida Muma College of Business     March 2020
BUSINESS STAFF AND FACULTY URGED TO WORK REMOTELY
Faculty and staff of the Muma College of Business are urged to work remotely until April 6 to protect against the spread of coronavirus, following a directive issued Sunday by USF President Steve Currall.

NEXT CONVERSATION WITH A CEO GUEST: SOCOM COMMANDER
Gen. Richard Clarke
Conversations with a CEO have had guests that ranged from mega-corporation chief executives to a former Tampa mayor to the CEO of the Tampa Bay Lightning to the head of the College Football Hall of Fame. In May, the Muma College of Business event will host a conversation with Gen. Richard D. Clarke, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, which is headquartered at ... 


LIFE IN THE TIMES OF BIG DATA, HEALTH CARE AND CORONAVIRUS
Balaji Padmanabhan
Look to Taiwan. the small nation close to the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak. It has recorded just 45 cases of the virus, even though travel between the island nation and mainland China is robust. How? Why? Big data may have the answers, says Balaji Padmanabhan, professor in the ISDS Department, who recently wrote an article on how big data may hold the key to stemming the spread of the deadly virus. 

APPLIED SECURITIES ANALYSIS CLASS A GOOD INVESTMENT
2019-20 ASA class
A class of future stock analysts each year examines investment opportunities and comes up with stocks in which to invest real money from the Student Managed Investment Fund. This month, the class is finishing up its pitches to a room full of seasoned investors and financial advisers. For all their work, the finance students are relentlessly grilled by the professionals.  


TILLER TAKES OVER THE PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING PROGRAM
Robert Tiller
Robert Tiller, a graduate of the Muma College of Business Doctor of Business Administration program, was named the director of the Personal Financial Planning Program. Tiller said he wants to introduce the world of financial advising and wealth management to a new generation of trusted advisers because he believes ...   
 
INCOMING DBA COHORT HITS HIGH MARK WITH STUDENT DIVERSITY
A portrait of differences

Students in the Doctor of Business Administration program come from all walks of life: business, nonprofit, government, military. But the incoming class has hit some benchmarks for diversity, including the highest percentage of women ever, along with a wide range of professions, ethnicities, age and ... 

OPEN HOUSE DRAWS 180 PROSPECTIVE FRESHMEN, PARENTS 
Prospective freshmen in the house
The Muma College of Business opened the doors and its arms to high school seniors last month to show these high-achievers what college life is like. The day was  a success with a large turnout and nearly 40 future students placing deposits to come here in the fall.


FLORIDA BLUE HEALTH INNOVATION CHALLENGE SEEKS IDEAS 
The 2020 Florida Blue Health Innovation Challenge is looking for ways to reduce hospital readmissions, which cost more than $25 billion in preventable complications and unnecessary hospital readmissions, Cash prizes are awarded to the top three places. Ideas must be submitted by May 1. Finalists will pitch their ideas in September. To learn more and to register, click here.
USF/COCA-COLA PARTNERSHIP SEEKS WAYS TO COMBAT WASTE 
I'd like to teach the ... 
Muma College of Business students are involved in the partnership with Coca-Cola Beverages Florida to push the Sustain-A-Bull Challenge. The company is hoping to recycle everything it produces by 2030 and needs fresh minds to contribute ideas. Deadline for ideas is March ... 



BBC STUDENTS TOUR MELITTA, TALK CORPORATE CULTURE, COFFEE
BBC students on tour
A group of freshmen in the Bulls Business Community toured Melitta, an international company making, marketing and selling coffee and coffee-related products. They talked to executives and were taken on a tour of a plant that produces ... 



NEW BUSINESS IDEAS SOUGHT IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHALLENGE
The Frank and Ellen Daveler Entrepreneurship Program is looking for new business ideas to help fund. Ideas must be submitted by March 22 and the competition is open to all university students in Florida. Twenty "fellows" will be selected to pitch their ideas at a later date. To learn more and to submit an idea, click here.
USF ST. PETERSBURG SCORES HIGH IN ONLINE MBA RANKINGS
USF St. Petersburg online MBA in the Top 25
Congratulations to USF St. Petersburg for scoring high on the Top 50 list of online MBA programs in the nation, as ranked by Online MBA Report. The program ranked No. 25 overall, No. 18 among public universities and colleges and No. 7 in the South.



STUDY.COM RANKS HOSPITALITY PROGRAM NO. 3 IN NATION
USFSM Hospitality & Tourism Leadership program at the top 
Study.com, an online educational website, has ranked the USF Sarasota-Manatee Hospitality a& Tourisn Leadership program No. 3 in the nation. The analysis noted the breatdthof programming, busines partnerships, onsite facilities andother factors.


FACULTY/STAFF NOTES
* Balaji Padmanabhan, a professor in the Information Systems and Decision Sciences Department and director of the Center for Analytics and Creativity, was featured in the recent publication from the USF Office of Corporate Partnerships. The issue, titled "AI+X: USF & Industry Innovators Explore the Frontiers of 'Machine Thinking,' " puts a focus on Padmanabhan's research into machine learning and data mining. To read the piece, click here.

* Russell Clayton, an instructor in the Marketing Department, this month published an article about the advantages of leaving the cell phone home for a day or two. His article appeared in Psychology Today and was titled "Why Unplugging May Actually Be a Key to Reconnecting." To read the article,  click here.  


ALUMNI NOTES

* Bisma Balouch ('19, Finance, Business Analytics and Information Systems) is now an IT business analyst at Raymond James. She is a former 25 Under 25 honoree.

Megan Krieger ('17, MBA) was promoted to senior account manager at FairWarning. She has been with the company for three years, working first as an enterprise business development specialist before being named customer success manager. She took on the senior account manager role in February.

Garrett Solito ('18, Marketing, Management) is now a digital marketing analyst at PODS. He started with the company in 2017 as an intern before becoming a marketing and advertising coordinator.

* Julio Escalona ('15, Finance) is now an accountant at The IRONMAN Group.  He previously held similar roles at Taylor White, Parker and Lynch and Bloomin' Brands.

William Bakos ('12, Finance), a former 25 Under 25 honoree, has been promoted to OEM procurement business operations manager at Apple. He has been with Apple's San Francisco offices for three years.

Kayla Chesanek ('15, MBA and MS, Sport and Entertainment Management; '13, Marketing) has started a new job as a manager of team business operations at the XFL. The former 25 Under 25 honoree previously worked with the Orlando Magic, spending five years in the team's business initiatives area.

Ivan Gil ('12, Marketing) is now a senior marketing and communications manager for NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. He previously served as a special projects manager with the city of St. Petersburg and before that, he was a national marketing manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.


* May 22, 8:30-10 a.m. Conversation with a CEO featuring Gen. Richard D. Clarke, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base.
 The event takes place at the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation, 124 S. Franklin St., in downtown Tampa. To register for the free event, click here.
University of South Florida Muma College of Business
(813) 974-4281