Author Archive

If Parag Shah, ’09 BSB, has his way, he’ll build a career as a “serial entrepreneur.” “I would love to create many different products,” he says.

        While a student at the Carlson School, Shah founded LunchBox, a free service that offers consumers the convenience of viewing restaurant menus, ordering food, redeeming promotions, and sharing menu items and ratings with others directly from their mobile phone or computer.

        Now the full-time CEO of LunchBox, Shah is striving along with his team to expand the application outside of Minnesota. “I think we have created a product that restaurants understand and want to be a part of as long as we can deliver,” he says of his company’s need for restaurants to buy into his application. “I’ve surrounded myself with the right people who can help me grow.”

        This past fall, Shah was a finalist in the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards finals, a premier award for students that own and run businesses while attending a college or university. “Even though I did not win, it was one of the most amazing experiences for me personally because I was able to connect with the best and brightest student entrepreneurs in the world,” he says.

        Shah was also a finalist in the student division of the 2009 Minnesota Cup, a competition honoring the best innovative ideas in the state.

        However, not all of this might have happened had Shah not come to the Carlson School. A native of Illinois, he grew up thinking he would attend a school in state. After researching the Carlson School, however, he knew he found the right fit. “I quickly realized how outstanding the program really was—along with the great amount of resources the school offered to its students and the fact that so many companies had headquarters nearby. I am happy about the way things ended up.”

        He credits the Entrepreneurship Club and the Carlson Ventures Enterprise for giving him the tools to jump-start his company. “It’s impossible for me to express how important it has been to my success,” he says of the Entrepreneurship Club where he met a few mentors who now serve on his LunchBox advisory board. “And the Carlson Ventures Enterprise is all about real world experience and learning what a book can’t teach. Being able to get hands-on the way we did with companies was a life-changing experience.”

        
Shah says that he is already working on another application that will eventually be able to tie into LunchBox. “There are always other ideas stirring in my head,” he says. “Every day is different, and that’s what I love about what I do.”

BY KEVIN MOE

Whether you are new to a job search or a seasoned employee seeking out new opportunities, the importance of networking cannot be understated. Done correctly, it’s the most effective way to land a new position. U.S. government statistics reveal that more than 60 percent of job hunters find work through friends, family members, and acquaintances.

HOW CAN YOU DO IT RIGHT? The Career Centers at the Carlson School offer these bits of information to remember when building your network:

INITIATE THE RELATIONSHIP

People can be terrified to ask people for help—it’s daunting to meet someone new and ask for guidance. Having the courage to initiate the connection is integral. “People are not going to beat down your door,” says Undergraduate Business Career Center Director Morgan Kinross-Wright. “You have to make the first step—95 percent of the people you’ll connect with want to help you.”

        Do your research and find out who they are and what they do. This is not about asking for a job. It’s more about building a network and asking such questions as: How did you get your start? What was valuable for you? People generally like talking about themselves and will be more than eager to answer these sorts of questions.

REMEMBER TO FOLLOW UP

“This is one of the most critical pieces of the networking process,” says Graduate Business Career Center Director Michelle Chevalier. “It’s also one that’s often missed. “A great connection won’t lead anywhere if you don’t follow up on the initial contact. For example, if you offer to connect someone with another person in your network, send an email making the mutual introduction. Networking is about relationship-building versus one-time transactions.”

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH YOUR OWN PERSONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Your network should include key people you can go to for guidance with difficult career decisions. A core group of advisors will serve as the inner sanctum of your network. And make sure to include different kinds of people to give you varied feedback.

USE CARLSONCONNECT AND OTHER SOCIAL NETWORKING TOOLS

CarlsonConnect is an excellent resource for keeping in touch with other alumni and with the school. This professional and social networking community is exclusive to Carlson School alumni and select staff members and allows you to reach across class years and geography to connect with anyone in the school’s alumni community. You can find CarlsonConnect.

        The LinkedIn social networking tool is also proving to be valuable. “We’re seeing a tremendous amount of success on LinkedIn,” Kinross-Wright says. “It has job postings that you won’t see anywhere else.”

MAINTAIN YOUR NETWORK

“You should keep networking intentionally as an alumnus, as it becomes more and more of a challenge after you graduate,” Kinross-Wright says, adding that it pays to strengthen your network with peers from your program, coworkers, other alumni, and professional associations.

        It’s also fine to seek career information and guidance at your company. Whether it’s a peer or supervisor, find someone at your place of business and ask for guidance to frame your networking.

        The point is to have a network in place before you need your network. Otherwise, you will be starting from square one when the time comes. You have to be intentional if you want a clear idea of how you’re going to propel yourself to what you want to do next. Ask yourself these questions:

        • To launch my next move, what do I need to build on?

        • How do I get to know the right people?

        If you continue to build your network, you’ll be ready for that next move.

ASSUME SOMEONE CAN’T HELP YOU

“Networking is often a multistep process,” says Chevalier. “Someone you meet at a reception may be married to a person who works in your ideal job at your ideal company. The point is to cast the net wide and focus on building a broad portfolio of contacts—even if it initially appears a person may not fit with your career goals.”

BURN BRIDGES

So you didn’t get something you wanted from somebody—be it a job, meeting, or a good reference. You have to remain gracious because you never know how or when your paths will cross in the future.

FORGET THAT NETWORKING IS A TWO-WAY STREET

It pays to approach a conversation or meeting with an attitude of “how can we help each other?” instead of “how can you help me?” Think about what you have to offer, as well as what you would like to get out of each meeting.

PUT QUESTIONABLE MATERIAL ONLINE

“Watch what you put on Facebook,” Kinross-Wright says. “You have probably seen news reports of people losing their jobs for what was found on their Facebook pages. Be aware that Internet content has a long shelf life.”

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL CONTACTS

Chevalier suggests always asking one question at the end of every networking conversation: Who else would you suggest I get to know? “We have endless stories of how asking this one question led to the contact that led to a great opportunity. It is the most powerful way to grow a network of highly relevant connections.”

IF YOU ARE EARLY IN YOUR CAREER, DON’T ASSUME YOU HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER

“Everyone has something to offer,” says Chevalier. “You don’t have to be sitting in the C-suite of your company to be able to provide valuable advice, connections, and opportunities to people who are your peers or are more or less experienced than you are.”

Don’t forget about the Carlson School Career Centers. “For undergraduate alumni, we offer an hour meeting each year,” Kinross-Wright says. “You can come in and meet with us, talk about your resume, and polish your interview skills. The whole meeting is done in the context of your career strategy.”

        Chevalier echoes those comments. “We are currently evaluating additional resources to help our graduate alumni connect with opportunities that exist in the marketplace,” she notes. “We hope our alumni will think of the Carlson School as a great place to start building a network or enhance an already strong network.”

1960s

William Winter ’63 BSB, was named a Minnesota Super Lawyer by Minnesota Law & Politics.

1970s

Timothy E. Doherty ’76 BSB, was honored with the National Association of Professional Employer Organization’s Michaeline A. Doyle award, which honors visionary leadership. He is the owner and chairman of Minneapolis-based Doherty Employment Group, and is one of 15 sole recipients of this award, which was presented during the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations’ annual conference.

Michael B. Fiterman ’70 BSB, was given the 2009 Hall of Fame Award by the Association of Independent Corrugated Converters.

1980s

Duncan Gallagher ’89 MBA, was named executive vice president and CFO of Allina Hospitals & Clinics. He formerly served in the same role for the Iowa Health System.

Laura Gilbert ’87 MA HRIR, published Back to School for Grownups: Your Guide to Making Sound Decisions (And How to Not Get Run Over by the Bus), a book offering guidance to adults returning to school. She was also the expert advisor in the Dec. 9th, 2009, edition of “Watchdog: Your Next Job” in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Mark Golenzer ’84 BSB, is a founding principal of Armet Capital, a commercial real estate investment and advisory firm.

Kathy J. Hollenhorst ’88 MBA, has been elected a member of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Marketing Association’s 2009-2010 board of directors.

Dr. Raja K. Iyer ’77 MBA, ’84 PhD, was named dean of Capella University’s School of Business and Technology.

Cecilie M. Loidolt ’85 BSB, was named a 2010 Super Lawyer.

Todd C. McCarty ’88 BSB, has been named senior vice president of human resources for the New York Times Co.

Paul Odlaug ’74 BSB, ’82 MBA, is now vice president of Park State Bank.

Peter Reinhart ’87 BSB, has opened an investment office, Reinhart Investments LLC. He previously worked for Kidder Peabody and Smith Barney.

Robin S. Roland ’81 BSB, was appointed director of finance for the City of Cottage Grove, Minn.

Bill Tanner ’80 MBA, has joined Webbed Marketing as CFO.

Greg Uphoff ’85 BSB, is now president of HG&K Ltd. He has more than 20 years of experience, and is a leader in the firm’s audit and accounting practice.

1990s

Andrew Dauska ’97 BSB, was promoted to senior partner, director of account management at the Carmichael Lynch advertising agency. He has been with the firm since 2004.

Corey W. Edmunds ’95 MBT, has been named a partner in Johnson West & Co., a St. Paul, Minn.-based CPA firm. He has more than 18 years of public accounting experience as a tax specialist, most recently as a tax partner in a Bloomington, Minn., CPA firm.

Chris Kent ’98 MHA, was promoted from principal consultant to partner at Evantage Consulting. He advises clients in the healthcare and financial services industries.

Luke Kujawa ’96 BSB, has launched Your Boat Club. Members pay an annual fee and monthly dues for unlimited access to fishing boats, speedboats, and pontoons. The club has 40 boats at three Minnesota locations.

Paul MacCready ’94 MBA, is now CEO of Coventry Health Care of Kansas. He previously was president and CEO of MobileCare 2U in Overland Park, Kan.

Judd Nystrom ’96 BSB, was promoted by Advance Auto Parts to senior vice president of finance. He is responsible for finance decision support, planning and performance management, investor relations, and strategic and financial plans.

D. Stan Opstad ’99 MBA, is senior vice president of product management and development for Healthland, a firm that provides healthcare information solutions for small community and critical access hospitals.

Julie Weber-Kramer ’95 MBA, has been appointed vice president of client experience for Healthland. She is responsible for the Healthland client experience, from initial contact with a prospect to implementation and ongoing client support.

2000s

Tara Belter ’05 BSB, ’09 PhD, married Bill Kleinknight on Aug. 15, 2009.

Marcus Brans ’08 MBA, has accepted a position at Schaeffler Group in Germany as vice president of corporate strategy and communication. He was previously employed by Allen & Overy LLP.

Joel D. Braun ’07 MBT, was hired as vice president of commercial loans at National Bank of Commerce.

Alraune Chowdhury ’07 MBA, has joined T-Mobile USA as human resources projects manager.

Joseph Richard Goetz ’08 BSB, is engaged to Stephanie Jude Conway, and is employed as a commercial underwriter at Federated Insurance in Owatonna, Minn.

Benjamin T. Head ’06 BSB, was hired as an attorney for the law firm of Thornton, Reif, Dolan, Bowen, and Klecker.

Susanne Holderried ’08 MBA, has joined Volkart May & Associates as director of life sciences business. She previously was with Triple Ink, a subdivision of Martin Williams Advertising.

Lars Leafblad ’06 MBA, was promoted from vice president to principal of KeyStone Search. He will be responsible for the leadership of two practice areas, will cochair another practice area, and serve as the firm’s functional expert in institutional advancement.

Jerrod Lindquist ’08 MBA, has joined Hunter Hotels, and is responsible for brokerage operations out of the company’s Minneapolis office.

Adam McCombs ’00 BSB, and his company, JumpForward, were featured in ABC’s Shark Tank, a show providing entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch and defend their business to a panel of venture capitalists. JumpForward provides recruiting and compliance software solutions to the sports industry via the web and mobile phone applications on the iPhone.

Nathan Ostertag ’05 MBA, is director of research for ActiFi, a software and solutions firm that provides management programs for the financial services industry.

Steve Shepherd ’09 MBA, a senior associate with NAI Welsh, was named a 2009 Rising Star of the Year by The Minnesota Commercial Association of Realtors. This award identifies real estate professionals with a high level of professional conduct who have a significant level of production; have contributed to the profession; and who actively participate in other business, civic, and community activities.

Nolan Soltvedt ’06 BSB, and Emily Thompson ’07 BSB, were married on Feb. 6, 2010. Both work in finance in the Twin Cities area; Emily in investment management, and Nolan in corporate treasury.

Annie Young-Scrivner ’03 MBA, was appointed global chief marketing officer for Starbucks Coffee.

In Memoriam

Kathleen E. Chalekian ’05 PT MBA, passed away in December 2009.

Dallas Degrote ’71 MBA, passed away in December 2009.

Arline Dimond ’43 BSB, passed away in September 2009.

William Greening ’75 BSB, passed away in December 2009.

Roger Wetherbee ’54 BBA, passed away in December 2009.

Herbert M. Hanson, Jr. Passes Away at 85

Herbert M. Hanson, Jr., the namesake of the Carlson School’s undergraduate building, passed away at age 85 on Feb. 4, 2010, in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He is survived by his wife, Barbara.

        A 1949 graduate in economics from the University of Minnesota, Hanson was passionate in his support for his alma mater and, in particular, the Carlson School. In 2004, he and his wife made a $10 million gift to the Carlson School to support the construction of a new undergraduate building, which was completed in 2008.

        Born in Browns Valley, Minn., Hanson served as lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II and went on to work in numerous investment companies before founding Hanson Investment Management in 1973, where he served as president and CEO until 1993.

        A recipient of the University’s Outstanding Achievement Award in 2006, Hanson served on the Carlson School’s Board of Overseers, helped launch the Carlson Funds Enterprise, and served as president emeritus of the University of Minnesota’s Bay Area Alumni Chapter.

“The more I’ve done, the more I want to do.”

        So says Jeffrey Manderfeld. Today he is a managing director and financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual. He also is an active supporter of the Carlson School.

        Manderfeld began his involvement with the Carlson School by speaking to classes, then mentoring students, and eventually helping to raise $125,000 for Hanson Hall, the new undergraduate building, and for the scholarship endowment fund. “Out of 105 financial advisors in our firm, 12 to 15 of them are Carlson School graduates,” he says. “We believe in giving back to the community we work in and started raising money for the Carlson School two and a half years ago.”

        In 2008 Manderfeld and his alumni coworkers—with the help of Northwestern Mutual, which matches employees’ scholarship donations—made a commitment to contribute $62,500 to the scholarship endowment fund and another $62,500 to the new undergraduate building over a five-year period. “The Carlson School helped me get to where I am today,” Manderfeld says. “I have a lot of pride in the school, and I want to make sure it continues to be highly regarded.”

        Over the years, Manderfeld also has served as a mentor to several Carlson School students, including 2009 scholarship recipient Conner Kolodge. “He’s a very sharp young guy; very impressive,” Manderfeld says. “I’m a big believer in young people doing big things. We currently have 15 people in our firm who are formally in the University of Minnesota’s mentoring program.”

        Manderfeld’s commitment to the Carlson School and to his community belies his age—he is only 34. He also is involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Minnesota Military Appreciation Fund, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and several other charitable and service organizations. “There comes a time,” he says, “when you’re financially comfortable and you need a higher purpose than just going to work every day.”

Over the years, the Carlson School and the Travelers Foundation have developed a strong and lasting partnership. Given the foundation’s commitment to education, it’s not hard to see why. The Travelers Foundation devotes 70 percent of its giving in the Twin Cities to education, particularly to opening college doors for historically underrepresented groups. By focusing on academic excellence for all children and youth, from preschool through college, it aims to help prepare the future workforce.

        Travelers views the Carlson School as a key partner. One reason: the Carlson School is a leading source of Travelers’ new hires. “It’s also one of the preeminent business schools in the country, so it’s an opportunity to partner with an institution that brings a lot to the table,” says Travelers Foundation Vice President Mike Newman. “Together we can explore some of the connections between academics and work readiness.”

        In addition to providing scholarships and funding initiatives such as GopherBusiness (formerly the Leadership Access Program), Travelers supports Carlson’s Edge Venture program. About 15 first-generation college students, many of whom are from low-income or diverse families, participate in this business challenge. Travelers presents the students with an internal problem or potential business opportunity, and the students work with professors and industry experts to develop a solution. Students gain the experience of problem solving or researching future ventures, while also showing off their talents to Travelers employees.

        It’s all part of Travelers’ overall goal to help students from diverse backgrounds, income levels, and ethnic groups excel in school, earn college degrees, and ultimately land good jobs. “We really see the investment in education as an investment in our future workforce and the health of our business and the health of the overall community,” says Newman. “Our businesses and communities depend on having an educated population.”

BY SUZY FRISCH

Greetings, Alumni!

As the new director of alumni relations at the Carlson School, I am excited to be joining such an active and engaged community. My alumni relations career began, as many do, as a student annual fund caller at my alma mater, Castleton State College in Vermont. After spending many years working in the corporate world, I returned to Castleton as assistant director of cultural programming and alumni relations. As that program grew, so did my experience and desire to expand my alumni relations knowledge. A move to Colby College in Maine in 2006 allowed me to do that. At Colby, I oversaw planning and logistics for all of the college’s regional clubs around the world, worked to increase young alumni engagement with the school, and identified ways that technology should and should not be used to communicate. Most importantly, I challenged myself to understand the intricacies of the alumni/alma mater relationship.

        The Carlson School offers me yet another unique perspective on that relationship. Each school must ask itself: When does this relationship begin? The answer is simple—it begins as students. Without strong alumni relations involvement during the academic years, we cannot assume engagement is a given after graduation. The Carlson School has done a terrific job of laying the groundwork for a world-class alumni relations program. My hope—no, my commitment—is to see that goal achieved by building an alumni relations program that is inclusive of all academic levels and degrees and which is engaging for our current and future alumni. I’ll also work to ensure that it builds a strong sense of community and demonstrates that no matter how you spent your time at the Carlson School—as an undergraduate or graduate student, a full-time or part-time student—“We are the Carlson School.”

        I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can and building a program of which all Carlson School alumni can be proud.

        To contact Todd Gordon, director of alumni relations, call 612-626-7442, email tgordon@umn.edu, or connect with him via CarlsonConnect.

Thanks to feedback received from you and your fellow alumni, we are continuing to improve our communication offerings to better address your needs and interests. Our alumni website now features easier navigation and more information than ever before. This site allows you to read the latest news from the school, connect with your fellow alumni, and get details on all the benefits of being a Carlson School graduate. More features are set to be offered this June, so be sure to bookmark this site and visit it often.

1. News: Check out the latest news, including upcoming events, faculty research, important updates from the University of Minnesota, and much more.

2. Join CarlsonConnect: This online alumni community is a simple and easy way to stay connected. Create a special group for your colleagues and friends, join an existing group, post a job opportunity, or simply reconnect with friends and classmates.

3. Make a Gift Today: The annual fund at the Carlson School is an essential source of revenue that directly supports many exceptional learning experiences for current students—and for future classes as well.

4. Discover the Benefits: Here you can learn about the special benefits that all Carlson School alumni are entitled to. Benefits include special services for alumni, membership opportunities with the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, alumni discounts, and many others.

5. Attend an Event: The Office of Alumni Relations strives to provide a number of local and regional events each year that appeal to the wide variety of alumni of the Carlson School. We look forward to seeing you at multiple events each year.

6. Guest Speaking: One of the greatest assets the Carlson School has is you. Your experience in the job market, business, and your individual stories of success help promote student development and model the diverse talents, interests, and contributions of Carlson School alumni.

7. Volunteer: An important aspect of any alumni program is the involvement of its volunteers. The time you spend engaging with the students and the Carlson School makes a big difference. Remember, we are all the Carlson School, so please put Carlson on your agenda.

8. Mentor a Student: Mentoring a current Carlson School student is one of the best experiences a volunteer can have. Our world-class students benefit greatly from your time and expertise.

9. Toolkits for Volunteer Engagement: Helpful and informative toolkits are available to assist you in engaging with the Carlson School. Whether you are looking to develop a regional club or starting one of our corporate clubs, the information available here can help.

10. Contact Us: As a graduate of the Carlson School of Management, you have access to a wide variety of benefits and opportunities. The Office of Alumni Relations is here to help; our friendly, courteous staff is ready to address any questions or concerns you may have. Please do not hesitate to connect with us.

What are you reading?

Boosters, Hustlers, and Speculators: Entrepreneurial Culture and the Rise of Minneapolis and St. Paul, 1849-1883 by Jocelyn Wills.

Your favorite website?

It’s TSN, a Canadian-based sports network hockey section.

Your dream job?

Governor General of Canada or host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on the Food Network.

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What are you reading?

Lately my reading materials consist of several large textbooks and an abundance of online articles. But with downtime, I occasionally glance through things like the Onion, a Top 10 London guide (I’m going abroad there this summer), handball magazines, and leadership development books.

Your favorite website?

Google. It has everything I ever want to know and more at my fingertips. Maybe you’ve heard of it?

Your dream job?

Interior designer. Or even a designer for advertisements, menus, brochures, logos, etc.

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What are you reading?

Seeing Yourself As Others Do: Authentic Executive Presence at Any Stage of Your Career by Carol Keers and Tom Mungavan. This a book by fellow Minnesotans from Change Masters. It helps you look at yourself from the view of people you interact with from a day-in, day-out basis.

Your favorite website?

Stanford eCorner. It has podcasts and videos from successful entrepreneurs. Helps to keep me motivated. Recommend videos from Guy Kawasaki and David Heinemeier Hansson.

Your dream job?

An international cricketer touring the world to warm destinations. I thought I was over cricket, but I recently went to a match at the beautiful Sydney cricket ground and it was a fantastic experience!

International Residency CEMBA students visit Helsinki, Finland, and Berlin, Germany.

The Carlson Executive MBA (CEMBA) 2010 International Residency took place April 6 to 16 in Helsinki, Finland, and Berlin, Germany. Rob Cain, ’01 MBA, CIO and business transformation officer for Coca-Cola Germany, hosted the students for a visit and coordinated several other high-level corporate visits to Rolls Royce, Daimler Financial, Bayer-Schering Healthcare, Siemens, and Universal Music.

        In Helsinki, students met with top executives from Nokia and Unilever. In preparation for the trip, alumnus Heino Beckmann, ’86 MBA, spoke with the students in his official capacity as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Germany. Marianne Wargelin, Finnish Honorary Consul, along with panel members Risto Sivula and Juoko Sipila, ’94 MBA, also presented on Finland.

        The purpose of the international field study is to give students the opportunity to meet and talk with global companies and senior managers. It also allows students to understand how business is conducted in the global environment and provides them an expanded international network. Previous classes have traveled to Vienna, Austria; Warsaw, Poland; London, England; Dublin, Ireland; Budapest, Hungary; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; St. Petersburg, Russia; Stockholm, Sweden; Santiago, Chile; Shanghai and Guangzhou, China; and Hong Kong.

        More information on the CEMBA program can be found on the school website.

BY KEVIN MOE

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George John Presents at Nobel Symposium.

Carlson School Professor George John of the Department of Marketing and Logistics Management (center) is flanked by 2009 Nobel Laureate in Economics Oliver Williamson and Professor Torger Reve, President (Rector), Norwegian School of Management, Oslo at a research symposium last December. The symposium was in honor of Professor Williamson’s Nobel Prize—winning accomplishments.

        At the symposium held at the Norwegian School of Management, John made a presentation on the influence of Williamson’s theory of transaction cost analysis. “His work, which transformed our understanding of the design and management of marketing channels, is now the dominant paradigm for making marketing channel decisions,” John says.

        John began his presentation with his own research, which was some of the early work that empirically tested Williamson’s theory, especially with reference to the “make or buy” decision which concerns what should be done inside versus outside of the firm.

BY KEVIN MOE

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The Carlson School Celebrates Business Week’s 50th anniversary.

The Carlson School celebrated the 50th anniversary of Business Week April 8 to 15. The purpose of this week is to celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of the school’s undergraduate students over the past year. Special events this year included a rousing version of the Price is Right hosted by the Business Board, an Angel Benefit Concert featuring four different performances and sponsored by the Business Association of Multicultural Students, and a Saturday volleyball and three-on-three basketball tournament. The week culminated with a Business Week dinner that included a speaker and the presentation of the Students, Staff, and Faculty of the Year awards. Business Week is made possible by funding from the Undergraduate Program Office, various student organizations, and numerous corporate sponsors.

BY KEVIN MOE

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Mark Your Calendars Carlson School Night at the Twins set for May 7th.

Plan to join fellow alumni and friends for a picnic and networking as the Minnesota Twins take on the Baltimore Orioles Friday, May 7, at the new Target Field just west of downtown Minneapolis. A pregame event with hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and prizes will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at 508 Bar on First Avenue North in Minneapolis. The game follows at 7:10 p.m. at Target Field.

        A registration fee includes a game ticket and entrance into the pre-game event. Game tickets will be distributed during the pre-game event; unclaimed tickets will be left at the will-call window once the game has started.

        Registration information can be found on the Carlson School event webpage.

NEW BOOKS BY CARLSON SCHOOL FACULTY MEMBERS

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Brands and Brand Management:
Contemporary Research Perspectives

Edited by Rohini Ahluwalia, professor, Department of Marketing and Logistics Management; Barbara Loken, professor, Department of Marketing and Logistics Management; and Michael Houston, professor, Department of Marketing and Logistics Management and Ecolab-Pierson M. Grieve Chair in International Marketing

        The authors of this book meaningfully integrate the rich and vast body of scientific research relating to both traditional and contemporary topics in branding. This book will appeal to those with an interest in deepening their understanding of how consumers view brands. Five other members of the Carlson School’s Department of Marketing also contributed.

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Operations Management:
Contemporary Concepts and Cases

By Roger Schroeder, professor, Department of Operations and Management Science and Frank A. Donaldson Chair in Operations Management; Susan Meyer Goldstein, associate professor, Department of Operations and Management Science; and M. Johnny Rungtusanatham, associate professor, Department of Operations and Management Science

        The fifth edition of this book is ideal for an instructor seeking a short text with cases. It employs a cross-functional perspective that appeals to non-majors and which is practical for use in an MBA-level operations management course. The cases offer variety in length and rigor.

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Management Strategy:
Achieving Sustained Competitive Advantage

By Alfred Marcus, professor, Department of Strategic Management and Organization and Edson Spencer Endowed Chair in Strategy and Technological Leadership

        This book demonstrates how strategy affects an organization’s position in comparison to its competitors, both in terms of the cost and quality of its products and the scope of businesses in which it is involved (vertical and horizontal integration), as well as its global versus domestic reach. The outcomes that come from analyzing an organization also determine the extent to which the organization will strive to be an innovator as opposed to being a follower.

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Labor Relations:
Striking a Balance

By John Budd, Industrial Relations Land Grant Professor and chair, Department of Human Resources and Industrial Relations

        This book, in its third edition, shows labor relations as a system for balancing employment relationship goals (efficiency, equity, and voice) and the rights of labor and management. Budd moves beyond a process-based focus in studying the topic by placing the discussion of contemporary U.S. processes into the context of underlying themes, such as the systems goals, whether or not the goals are being fulfilled, and if reform is needed. Central topics are placed in the broader context of the goals of the employment relationship, conflicting rights, and the environment of the 21st century.

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NEW BOOKS BY CARLSON SCHOOL ALUMNI

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Canine Instinct:
Guide to Survival and
Advancement in Corporate America

By Ellen Burts-Cooper, ’06 MBA

        The instinctive responses of canines are remarkably similar to the responses that have helped leaders move past mere survival and thrive toward advancement in the corporate ranks. This guide breaks these natural instinct skills into manageable performance characteristics that can be studied and practiced to develop optimal survival skills in corporate America and academia.

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Experience Intelligent Eating

By Ashfaq Khan, ’09 MBA

        Intelligent eating is about making smart food choices on a daily basis. As the son of a commercial airline pilot, Khan had the good fortune of meeting, eating, and living among people from around the world. Moving every few years from one country to another allowed him to experience the culinary lifestyles of regions in both Europe and Asia. He uses his years of training as a cardiologist, as well as his years of travel around the globe to offer up the best ingredients with which to prepare meals.