The Master Plan for December 1, 2011

From left, Accelerated MBA students Sophie Parkinson, Tianyu Shao and Jamey Ballo attended the 2011 MBA Association Tailgate Party on Nov. 12. College of Business alumni and current students gathered outside FSU’s Rovetta Business Building prior to the Florida State vs. University of Miami football game, where they enjoyed food, drink and music while preparing to cheer on the Seminoles.

Students compete for team spot

Ten full-time, Accelerated MBA students are competing this week for a spot on the four-person case competition team that will represent Florida State University’s College of Business at the 2012 Florida Intercollegiate Business Case Competition in February. Students Eric Brennan, Chance Castellucio, Yanzhong Deng, Ryan Drew, David Godwin, John Hamill, Jacob Kuta, Aylin McGinnis, Brandon Olaisen, and Savannah Snow will each make 10-minute presentations to a faculty decision panel. The chosen teamwill compete against other Florida schools for a $10,000 prize.

TMH CEO O’Bryant speaks at Ethics Roundtable

Mark O'Bryant, CEO of Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare (TMH) and a national leader in the healthcare industry, discussed the relationship of ethics and healthcare Oct. 25 at the College of Business. “As we look at health reform, and we look at where we’re going in health care,” O’Bryant said, “there are enormous ethical-healthcare dilemmas that we’re going to have to address – as individuals, as families, as communities and as a nation. The health-care system we have right now is not working.”  O’Bryant, who joined TMH in 2003, has more than 25 years of experience in the health-care industry. The talk was part of the MBA Ethics Roundtable, a series of speakers and events designed to explore and clarify the relationship between ethics and business decisions for students, faculty, and staff in an effort to improve the quality of business education and business decision-making. View the video of O’Bryant’s talk here.

Register now for spring classes

Registration continues through Dec. 9 for spring classes. College of Business schedules for on-campus master's students are posted in the COB Graduate Student Organization on Blackboard. On-campus students needing help should contact Jennifer Boyles, assistant director for graduate programs. Online students should receive information from online registrars Kim Burkes (MBA students) or Freddi Robinson(MS-MIS or MSM-RMI students) before registering.

Attention, graduates

Mark your calendars for “Coffee with Caryn” from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 8 in the Weichelt Lounge, Room 220. Graduating students are invited to drop in for coffee and conversation (and get your graduation gift from the College) with Dean Caryn L. Beck-Dudley. RSVP to Leslie Mille, director of alumni relations. 

The College of Business Master’s Hooding Ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 16.The hooding ceremony will be followed by a short reception for graduates,family and friends. Graduates needing more information should contact MelanieYeager, director of graduate programs.

Universitywide fall commencement will be held at 9 a.m., Dec. 17, at the Leon County Civic Center, 505 W. Pensacola St. Both ceremonies require graduates to wear the cap and gown regalia.

Check Blackboard’s “COB Graduation Information” for details on both ceremonies. If you haven’t made travel arrangements yet, here's a handy link for making hotel reservations.

Consider scholarship opportunity

African-American business students are encouraged to apply for a Jacki Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship. Applications are due Jan. 3. More information and an application form can be found at www.jackituckfield.org. Approximately $45,000 in tuition dollars are available for the spring and summer terms, according to a news release.

Nominate your mentor

Nominations are now being accepted for FSU’s 2012-2013 Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentor Award. Sponsored annually by the Graduate School, this award honors faculty mentors whose dedication to graduate students and commitment to excellence in graduate education and mentoring have made a significant contribution to the quality of life and professional development of graduate students at Florida State University. For criteria, nomination checklist and nomination form, visit The FSU Graduate School’s website.

Kudos, colleagues

Elizabeth Cook, Online MBA student, accepted a position as a contract analyst with Preferred Medical Marketing Corporation (PMMC), a health-care software company in Charlotte, NC.

Jennifer Todd, Online MBA student, was named as a 2011 Virginia Society of CPAs "Super CPA" in the category of Small Business Consulting. “I received this designation in 2006 and2009 as well,” Todd said. “It’s meaningful because my peers - other members of the Virginia Society of CPAs - nominated me for it.”

Dr. Charles Hofacker, who teaches in the Master of Science in Marketing (MSM) program, was appointed as the Carl DeSantis Professor of Business Administration.

Accounting Department Chairman Dr. Bud Fennema, who teaches in the Master of Accounting (MAcc) and MBA programs, was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the Board of Accountancy for a term beginning August 15, 2011, and ending October 31, 2014. Additionally, Fennema was selected as the recipient of the 2011 John Castellan Service Award by the Executive Board of the Society for Judgment and Decision Making (SJDM).

Online MBA students Michael Wheeler and Andrew Marshall, and recent graduates John Messina, MSF 2011, and Jess McClellan, MBA 2011, were awarded the Kislak Award for Outstanding Classroom Performance. Given to a single student in each of several real-estate courses,the award is made possible by a grant from the Kislak Family Fund Inc., recognizing exceptional student performance in the classroom.

Nicholas Del Zingaro, MSF 2011; Albert El Beyrouty, MSF 2011; Christopher Reber, MSF 2011; and Brad Wolfe, MSF 2011; have completed ARGUS training courses in real estate valuation.

Mark your calendars

• Dec. 9 – Last day of classes
• Dec. 12-16 – Final exam week
• Jan. 20 – Women in Business Conference
• Jan. 25 – Corporate Networking Night for master’s students
• Jan. 26 – Seminole Futures Career Exposition

For all other important dates and deadlines, see the fall 2011 academic calendar.

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The Master Plan is a monthly newsletter sent to all on-campus and online master’s students in the Florida State University College of Business. The newsletter is coordinated by Michael Baggett and designed by Andrew Burgess. Please e-mail Baggett, newsletter editor, with any news or career updates about our students or alumni.