9.6.24

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Dear Manning Community,

Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter, where we celebrate the groundbreaking research, innovative initiatives, and thought leadership that continue to define our vibrant community.

In this edition, we highlight the interdisciplinary efforts of our faculty and students who are tackling critical societal challenges, from addressing voting inequities to exploring the global coffee market's complexities. We also showcase the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our programs, as seen in the Global Entrepreneurship Exchange and the inspiring stories of alumni who are making waves in their respective fields.

As always, our faculty and students are actively pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Their contributions are gaining recognition on both national and international stages. Whether it's leveraging AI to transform business practices or leading discussions on the intersection of politics and business, the Manning School of Business remains at the forefront of innovation and impact.

We invite you to explore the featured articles and celebrate the remarkable achievements within our community.

Warm regards,

Dean Greer

Manning School of Business

CORRECTION

In the July newsletter, the recipient of the 2024 Department Research Award for Management was incorrectly listed. The correct recipient of the award is Assistant Professor Jose Godinez Gonzalez. We sincerely regret the error and and apologize for any confusion it may have caused. Congratulations to Dr. Godinez on this prestigious distinction for the 2023-2024 academic year!

Dr. Belleh Fontem, Assistant Professor (top right) and Dr. Nichalin Summerfield, Assistant Professor, Operations & Information Systems

Shorter Lines, Stronger Democracy: UML Researchers Take on Voting Inequities

8/12/24

A multidisciplinary team of UMass Lowell faculty researchers, led by Operations & Information Systems faculty Belleh Fontem (Principal Investigator) and Nichalin Summerfield (Co-Principal Investigator), is working on a way to address disparities in wait times at the polls. “There is documented evidence to show that waiting times are quite high in traditionally minority-dominated areas,” Fontem says. “We are looking for ways to have a more equitable allocation of voting resources.”

From Snacks to Startups, Global Entrepreneurship Exchange Ignites Innovation

7/31/24

The Jack M. Wilson Center for Entrepreneurship welcomed 270 students from 12 countries for the 2024 Global Entrepreneurship Exchange (GE2), held virtually in July. This is the tenth year for the GE2 program, which promotes global collaborations between the Manning School of Business and international institutions on entrepreneurship education and research.

This year's GE2 program featured daily 90-minute workshops led by Manning faculty. Students also had the opportunity to form teams to explore new product innovations, with 27 teams participating in the final pitch competition.

Dr. Spencer Ross

Associate Professor, Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Marketing Professor Explores Inequities in Colombian Coffee Market

7/25/24

Fulbright Scholar Spencer Ross spent four months in Columbia, studying inequity in the $24 billion specialty coffee industry and conducting qualitative research with key players in the value chain. Colombia is the third-largest coffee producer in the world (after Brazil and Vietnam), and Dr. Ross recorded 45 hours of interviews with 35 farmers, roasters, cafe owners and government officials.

Kevin Willett, Adjunct Faculty, Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Success Tips, Networking and Mountain Dew: Meet 'Professor Kev'

7/1/24

Kevin Willett leverages his extensive network and entrepreneurial spirit to engage students through podcasts, videos, and community initiatives such as the Rist DifferenceMaker program.

Sean Harrington '97

Founder, Wolf Tree Wood

Business Alum Branches Out to a New Career

6/28/24

Manning School of Business alum Sean Harrington '97 has transitioned from coaching wrestling to launching Wolf Tree Wood, a venture specializing in custom furniture made from historic wood slabs.

Dr. Kimberly Merriman

Professor, Management

As Politics Divide America, Can Businesses Keep It Together?

6/26/24

Management Professor Dr. Kimberly Merriman explores how political climates influence employee relocation decisions in a recent MIT Sloan Management Review article. Dr. Merriman discusses the politics of place, and strategies companies use to navigate potential "red" and "blue" tensions.

Jeffrey Allen '24

Co-founder, Straight Up Service

Changing the Business Landscape: Jeffrey Allen Uses AI to Run Lawn Care Startup

6/12/24

Jeffrey Allen '24, co-founder of Straight Up Service, a landscaping company in Litchfield, New Hampshire, has integrated AI technology, particularly OpenAI's ChatGPT, into his business operations. With AI streamlining their accounting and marketing efforts, Straight Up Service has become more efficient, saving time and money. Jeffrey's story was featured in the Spring 2024 issue of UML Magazine.

Dr. Amit Deokar

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs & Accreditation

Local Business Leaders Get Crash Course in AI

6/7/24

Dr. Amit Deokar, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs & Accreditation and Associate Professor of Management Information Systems, kicked off a new Business Leaders Roundtable series with a talk on "Leveraging Generative AI: Opportunities and Challenges in the New Era of Work." With 80 local business leaders in attendance, Dr. Deokar showcased the transformative potential of AI and emphasized the need for businesses to embrace and manage AI's integration to enhance productivity.

Tony Gao and Michael Obal Named Associate Editors for JBBM

Dr. Tony Gao and Dr. Michael Obal have been named Associate Editors (AEs) to the Journal of Business-to-Business Marketing (JBBM). Dr. Gao and Dr. Obal, both in the Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Department, will serve as two of eight AEs from North America alongside faculty from University of Virginia, West Virginia University, and others.

From left: Dr. Tony Gao, Associate Professor, and Dr. Michael Obal, Associate Professor, Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Department.

Catherine Rymsha Shares Human Resources Insights

Dr. Catherine Rymsha

Visiting Faculty Lecturer

Management

Dr. Catherine Rymsha (Management) was featured in two recent articles on human resources practices and challenges:

A PIP means you've probably already been quiet fired, says management academic (Business Insider, 7/24/24)

How to lead change when you don’t have all the answers (Guild, 7/8/24)

Paper by Mojtaba Talaei Khoei Accepted to Research Workshop

Mojtaba Talaei Khoei

Ph.D. Candidate

Decision Sciences

A paper by doctoral candidate Mojtaba Talaei Khoei (Decision Sciences), was accepted for the Academy of Management Pre-Conference MIS Quarterly (MISQ) Workshop for the special issue on The Institutional Press in the Digital Age. Mojtaba's research is titled “The Effect of Bias in Institutional Press on the Polarization of Societal Discourse During the U.S. Presidential Election.”

Mojtaba has an MS in Business Analytics and an MBA from UMass Lowell, and an MD from Mashad University of Medical Sciences in Iran.

Manning Faculty Publications

Second Quarter 2024 (April-June)