April 2018

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Alumni Newsletter Banner

April 2018

“Your education is an investment unlike a car, house, or stock…you cannot sell it. 
So, you are explicitly linked to this institution and therefore, responsible for that brand.” -GMAC 2017

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Miles Winston
Each year, the METRANS University Transportation Center (UTC) selects a student to represent the center as the Student of the Year. The award offers an expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. to participate in the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting. This year MS Supply Chain Management student Miles Winston was named the student of the year.

“Attending TRB was an eye-opening experience that inspired me with a greater awareness for some of the ground-breaking research taking place across the USA and internationally. I was able to sit in on engaging presentations related to my own fields of interest - transportation planning and supply chain management - as well as others with which I was less familiar like workforce development. In addition, students are encouraged to participate in research committees, where researchers collaborate to identify research priorities related to their particular focus areas within transportation research. This is a great opportunity for students to network, learn, and grow as researchers and professionals, and I hope to attend TRB again and become more involved in the future.”

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Sharon Eshett

Sharon Eshett’s business career has been one of “embracing opportunities,” she says, since she never expected to run her family business.  She practically grew up in her father’s faculty office in CSULB’s Engineering College but knew that Business Administration was a better fit.  She recalls, after trying out several career options, that she was attracted to her father’s “side gig” which was single-family home rentals.  In her childhood, she had spent many week-ends touring open houses with her Dad, carefully choosing which three bedroom/two bath homes they would put into their portfolio. Today, she is still touring open houses looking for the perfect 3/2 singles!

Not knowing which career would appeal to her, she majored in Finance as a CSULB undergrad and continued into the MBA program after a stint working at Southern California Edison headquarters.  As a graduate assistant, she enjoyed working for Dr. Herb Stone and loved the classes she took;  “I liked them so much I took more classes than were needed to graduate, because they were fun,” she laughs. But Sharon’s career path was still vague. Fortunately, the MBA gave her credentials for a job at a home furnishings firm in the Middle East and later for an opportunity in Europe, where she worked for Gucci Timepieces. 

When another opportunity opened up back in the U.S., Sharon returned and worked in private equity and consulting. But the thought of becoming her own boss was ultimately more appealing.  “I had to go and forge my own path,” she recalls, so many years later, she realized there were great opportunities in running her family’s real estate holdings—and adding to them.

Now, she has opportunities in her business to use her marketing, finance, or management coursework—and also to give back to the community in several ways.  In addition to managing her family's real estate, Sharon mentors a student in CSULB’s MBA mentoring program and serves on the College of Business Administration MBA Advisory Board.  She frequently volunteers her expertise to help a couple of local nonprofits, too.

“While I didn’t really know what I wanted with my MBA,” says Sharon, “my career has let me seize many opportunities and have some fun along the way.”  

Sharon will be honored at this year’s Graduation Banquet; she will receive the Outstanding Alumni award on behalf of Graduate Programs Director, Dr. Ingrid Martin and the Graduate Business Office.

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Coming Soon Graphic

We are working hard to create new and innovative solutions to meet our student’s needs! See below for our new program offerings coming Fall of 2018, Spring and Fall of 2019.

Fall 2018
Accountancy Blended MS Program (4+1)
 
Spring 2019
Fully Online MBA
MS Accountancy will now offer Spring admission
 
Fall 2019
MS Finance
MS Marketing

Make sure to check the Graduate Programs Website periodically for updates. Contact us if you are interested in any of these programs.

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Mentor Mentee Group Photo

Photos of the Event

“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” — Steven Spielberg

On February 12 2018, Michelle Levy, Assistant Director Graduate Business Career Services kicked off the Graduate Career Mentor Program for Spring 2018 connecting professionals with current CSULB College of Business graduate students to form a mentor-mentee relationship. Twenty current graduate students in the Accelerated MBA and Accelerated MS Supply Chain Management program were assigned mentors.

Student mentees will have the opportunity to form a deep, one-on-one relationship with an accomplished professional while vastly expanding their professional network. Career mentors can provide industry- or function-specific guidance on virtually any career-related inquiry. 

If you are interested in becoming a mentor next year for a CSULB College of Business graduate student click on the application below:

www.bit.ly/gradcareermentor18-19  

For questions regarding the Graduate Career Mentor Program, please contact Michelle Levy, Assistant Director Graduate Business Career Services at Michelle.Levy@csulb.edu.

See what alumni from all five of our current Business Masters programs are up to and learn about the positive impact their graduate degree made in their life. Visit the alumni Testimonials page of our website to learn about our alumni and the companies where they are employed.

We love to hear from our alumni! If you are interested in sharing your testimonial, please contact Giselle Oberly at Giselle.Oberly@csulb.edu.

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Intertrend Visit with Grad Students

Photos of the Event

“Advertising is based on one thing: happiness" - Don Draper (Mad Men)

Our students were invited to a company site tour with interTrend Communications, a creative agency made up of alpha shoppers, brand whisperers, foodies, otakus & pet lovers located in Downtown Long Beach, CA.  A sample of their clients include Toyota, Chase, and State Farm insurance.  Thanks again to Michelle and Bert from our Grad Business Career Services crew for setting this up for our students.

Annual Scholarships offer direct support to students looking to further their academic experience in the College of Business Administration.  In Fall 2018, Graduate Program students have the opportunity to apply for three new academic awards.  

The Wan-Lin Kiang Endowed Scholarship was created by a CBA alumna who wanted to give back by supporting MBA students.  MBA students specializing in either Finance or Management are welcomed to apply.  Second, the newly established John C. Molina MBA Scholarship is also available.  Applicants for this scholarship, established by a close friend of CBA, must be a graduate student in the MBA program, demonstrate financial need and/or have a high GPA.  Finally, the Russ and Charlotte Lesser Family Accountancy Scholarship is available to graduate students seeking an MS in Accountancy.  Applicants must be enrolled in six graduate units, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate financial need.  

The College of Business is fortunate to have the support of our donors who provide exceptional experiences and direct support of our Graduate Programs students.  Learn more about our scholarships and funding opportunties.

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Pathways to Success Panel

Photos of the Event

On February 20, 2018, CBA Grad Programs in Collaboration with College of Continuing and Professional Education hosted the Pathways to Success in Supply Chain Management event.  It was a networking reception covering the evolution of logistics and supply chain management. Emerging and current Supply Chain industry professionals had the opportunity to interact, discuss new industry trends and most importantly, network.

Thanks again to the CSULB Center for International Trade & Transportation and the following people:

Presentation:

  • Daniel Gardner, Vice President of Supply Chain Management, Lakeshore Learning Materials

Panelist:

  • David Clifford, Director S&OP, Ventura Transfer Company
  • Mai Farrag, Director of Global Supply Chain, Guthy|Renker
  • Edna Hogue, Director, Western Regional Pool M&R, Flexivan
  • Pablo Sierra, Director, Operations & Strategy, APM Terminals

Moderator:

Professor Seiji Steimetz, Chair, Department of Economics California State University, Long Beach

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Grad Student at Business Career Fair

Photos of the Event

On Thursday, February 22, Cal State Long Beach Graduate Business students connected and engaged with 81 employers at the Business and Healthcare Spring 2018 Job and Internship Fair.  Graduate Business students were prepared and ready to talk with employers to showcase their resume by attending Prepare for the Job Fair workshops and having their resume reviewed by Graduate Business Career Services.  Employers noted that CSULB students were “high quality and focused.”

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Incubator Speakers
Join this weekly meeting and be part of our quest to foster a creative and collaborative environment where stakeholders from multiple disciplines feel empowered to develop their passions in a tangible, practical, and innovative manner.  

Innovation Challenge participants are encouraged to utilize the resources that the Incubator has to offer for their business plan.  Students, Alumni and Community members welcome!

For weekly event updates, subscribe to our email list and follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Please contact cba-incubator@csulb.edu to join us as a guest speaker for the CBA Incubator.  We welcome alumni to participate and share their expertise in starting a business, become a mentor for a student innovation team, and/or participate business plan pitches.  

Book your next team meeting in the Catalyst room.

Need a space to work?  Throw your ideas up on the walls of the Catalyst room.  You may reserve the CBA Catalyst room (CBA 242) Monday - Thursday from 8am-9pm and Fridays from 8am-4pm.

Catalyst Room Reservations

If you are not familiar with campus, review campus parking and directions

If you have any legal issues, then help is here. The Legal Information Clinic has the resources you need to assist you find the answers to these and other legal issues.

This clinic is open every other Tuesday from 1-2pm in the Catalyst Room (CBA 242) or by appointment, cba-legal-info-clinic@csulb.edu.  

8th Annual Innovation Challenge

Innovation Challenge is an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students from across the university to use innovation and entrepreneurship to make a difference in local and global communities.  The Innovation Challenge was a finalist for the University Economic Development Assn’s Awards of Excellence.

The winning team receives support for their business, including $10,000 in seed funding, and space, marketing, legal and accounting services totaling up to $40,000.

Come to the Awards Ceremony at The Pointe on April 12 to see finalist teams pitch their ideas before judges. 

RSVP now to reserve your seat.

PitchFest

Pitchfest is an opportunity for teams that did not make the final four in the Innovation Challenge to pitch their business ideas to another panel of experts for prize funding.  This event is designed to support and encourage teams to pursue their ideas even though they were not one of the finalists in the Innovation Challenge. 

Join us to support local entrepreneurs or pitch your business idea on Tuesday, April 24th.  Email CSULB-IIE@csulb.edu to register to pitch at this event!

DLBA Entrepreneurship Education Series

Second Annual DLBA Entrepreneurship Education Series Coming Spring 2018!

A partnership between CSULB’s IIE and the Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DLBA) presents an education series focused on providing the tools and skills needed to start and run a successful business. 

Saturdays, April 7th - May 12th 2018

Time:  8:00am - Noon
Where:  Downtown Long Beach, TBD
This event is free to attend.

Check the website for the Event Schedule and Registration. Coming Soon.

1 Million Cups

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1 Million Cups Logo/Banner

The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DLBA) is hosting a national program to engage, educate and connect local entrepreneurs. CSULB’s IIE is partnering in this event founded by the Kauffman Foundation. 1 Million Cups is based on the notion that entrepreneurs network and discover solutions over a million cups of coffee. The FREE, monthly gathering helps build startup communities on a grassroots level.

The program’s model is consistent in each city: two startups present their companies to an audience of mentors, advisers and other entrepreneurs. Each founder presents for six minutes, followed by a 20-minute question-and-answer session with the audience.  In each 1 Million Cups city, local entrepreneurs drive the program as community organizers.  

When: Every 1st Wednesday, February 7, 2018 through January 2019
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Where:  Studio 111/Retail Design Collaborative, located at 245 East Third St., in Downtown Long Beach.
Cost: FREE

 

CSULB VR Day!

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VR Attendee

The California State University Long Beach Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship sponsored the first campus-wide VR (Virtual Reality) Day on March 9, 2018. Over 180 people attended the event which was an interdisciplinary collaboration amongst the colleges of the Arts, Engineering, Health and Human Services, and Liberal Arts. The full day event included a keynote conversation, faculty and practitioner panels, faculty and student demos, new products from NativeVR and Wareplai, as well as a VR career readiness workshop sponsored by the Career Development Center.

Mirroring the diversity, which is the hallmark of the university, the goal of VR Day is to highlight intellectual, gender, and racial diversity within the industry as well as prepare our majority minority students to become strong contributors to the burgeoning VR industry.

Thank you to all our event sponsors and partners.  Additional event details can be found on the IIE website.

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VR Panel

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