College of Business Administration Annual Report 2015 by Oklahoma Christian University

2015 ANNUAL REPORT

2015 ANNUAL REPORT 2

CBA

EXPANDING THE CBA NETWORK (GOING BEYOND OK) I am honored to be named Dean of the College of Business Administration (CBA) and am excited when I think of the prospects before us. Examples of the CBA’s potential are found throughout this annual report. What becomes evident is that the CBA continues to expand its influence beyond our Oklahoma City campus. One of the most exciting developments in the past year has been the establishment of significant partnerships with industry-leading organizations. One example is the Niagara Bottling Company, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, which is the nation’s leading producer with more than 60 percent share of the bottled water market. Niagara came to OC to invite our students to tour its facilities in hopes of attracting students for internships and jobs upon graduation. Other firms who recently contacted us for the same reasons include Koch Industries of Wichita, Kansas, and Simpli.fi of Fort Worth, Texas. These companies were attracted to OC because of our reputation for developing high-producing people with deep integrity. Our faculty and students have also expanded their influence beyond Oklahoma. You’ll read about faculty members who presented their research at national conferences and who had work published in a top-tier journal. Our students made an impact on the national stage as well. OC’s chapter of the American Marketing Association once again won an award at the AMA’s International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans, and OC’s Ethics Debate Team won the state competition for the third year in a row, placed first at the Texas regional, and eighth at the national tournament. These are just some of the examples of the CBA’s expanding influence that you will read about in this annual report. It is a blessing to work with the talented students, brilliant faculty, and supportive business partners of the CBA. May God continue to bless Oklahoma Christian and the College of Business Administration. Grace and Peace,

Jeff Simmons Dean, College of Business Administration

LETTER FROM THE DEAN CBA

NEW DEAN NAMED AN OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY GRADUATE AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS EXPERT IS THE NEW DEAN OF OC’S COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. Jeff Simmons, a professor of business who sponsors OC’s nationally competitive ethics team, moved into the role after serving as the college’s interim dean last year. “I am humbled to take over a position that has been held by three great people before me. They built an incredible foundation,” Simmons said. “I am excited because of our outstanding faculty, talented students, amazing alumni and our many partners in the business community.” Simmons earned OC’s campus-wide Faculty Leadership Award last year. Scott LaMascus, OC’s vice president for academic affairs, said Simmons’ global perspective makes him an excellent choice to lead the College of Business Administration. “Jeff is an award-winning faculty member who has focused on helping all his students grow into business leaders of integrity and excellence,” LaMascus said. “As interim dean, he quickly began working with faculty, reconnecting with the state’s business leaders, and shaping a fresh vision for the college to boldly tie its work to the needs of national business leaders and to the university’s mission. He has the heart of a servant and the perspective of a global business leader.” A 1990 OC graduate with a marketing degree, Simmons completed a master’s degree in international business training at the prestigious Thunderbird School of Global 4

CBA

Dr. Jeff Simmons

Management and earned his doctorate in marketing from Nova Southeastern University. He served as dean of the College of Business Administration and Professional Studies at Rochester College in the Detroit area and taught at International Christian University in Vienna, Austria. He returned to his alma mater in 2008. Before moving into higher education, Simmons was employed at the U.S. Department of Commerce in the International Trade Administration and also worked in automobile marketing, sales and retail management. He recently served as a consultant to a firm in the Shandong Province of China. “One of my strengths is international business, and it is my desire is to continue working with the state’s business community to build international connections,” Simmons said. Simmons helped Oklahoma Christian launch its popular international business degree in 2009. In addition, he has been involved in the university’s master of business administration program – the secondlargest MBA program in Oklahoma – and OC’s Rwandan cohort. “Our Rwandan graduate students continue to experience exciting growth, and we are proud to help contribute to their nation’s economic future,” Simmons said. In addition to Simmons’ professional experiences, his leadership in the classroom has made a positive impression on students and staff alike. “Jeff has helped students have high

quality experiences at OC through his mentoring of our business ethics teams,” OC president John deSteiguer said. “In the past three years, Jeff’s teams have won three state titles and placed fifth in the nation. The future of the College of Business Administration is bright with Jeff serving as dean.” In his free time, Simmons enjoys spending time with his wife, Pattie, and his son, Jordan, as well as golfing, swimming, playing basketball and reading from several genres of literature. Pattie is a 1991 Oklahoma Christian graduate who is an executive assistant in OC’s finance department. Past deans of OC’s College of Business Administration are Howard Leftwich, a longtime leader in accounting in Oklahoma; Jack Skaggs, who also served as OC’s ethics ombudsman after retiring from teaching; and Phil Lewis, a national leader in the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and author of “From Boardroom to Whiteboard: A New Generation of Leadership.” David Seat, an Oklahoma Christian alumnus and executive vice president for Oklahoma City-based BancFirst, praised the choice of Simmons as OC’s new business dean. “Dr. Jeff Simmons is an intellectually gifted man with a deep understanding of preparing students to thrive in the business world along with developing their personal value perspectives,” Seat said. “He will lead Oklahoma Christian’s College of Business Administration to even greater levels of student preparation and accomplishments.”

Eagles on Wall Street

STUDENT ACTIVITIES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS EAGLES ON WALL STREET For the ninth consecutive year, OC students studying finance traveled to expand their knowledge outside of the classroom, and 2015 marked the second year this experience was part of a class. In March, 14 students traveled to Washington D.C., and New York City as part of Eagles on Wall Street, one of OC’s many study and travel programs. This experience was part of International Finance, an elective course for Finance majors and required for International Business majors. In addition to normal spring semester class work, students traveled to sites relevant to their studies over spring break. While in Washington, students visited the United States Treasury, White House, Capitol Building, and Bureau of Printing and Engraving. These sites are largely responsible for the day-to-day operations of the United States economy and the longterm development and implementation of fiscal policy.

Students also met with the staff of the Rwandan Embassy. They were able to discuss how education and financial development are critical for Rwanda as an emerging country striving for political and economic stability. Rwanda and OC have developed a special relationship over the past decade that has blessed the CBA with several special students and rewarded Rwanda with many prominent graduates. Students also visited historical sites such as the Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jefferson, Washington, World War II, Vietnam, and Teddy Roosevelt memorials. These sites helped build a context of how history shaped our economy and how the United States grew into a world power. Students also visited the Holocaust Museum and met with Dr. Dieter Kuntz, one of the preeminent scholars of the German Holocaust. They openly discussed how unbridled power and unethical government led to history’s largest genocide, which was overlooked in the name of economic expansion.

Following five days in Washington, students spent four days in New York City. They explored Wall Street and sites related to the financial histories of the United States and the world. Students also visited the headquarters of Bloomberg, the world’s leading provider of financial information. Finally, students visited the United Nations, an organization that seeks to maintain political peace throughout the world as well as financial stability and opportunity for new and developing markets. Visiting sites that relate to the development of the United States as a world economic power coupled with modern institutions that demonstrate the interdependence of all countries in a global economy helped students better understand the world in which they will work. Spring 2016 will mark the 10th anniversary of student travel as part of OC’s finance program. For more information or to find out how you can support student travel, contact Jody Jones (jody.jones@oc.edu). CBA

OC AMA: A LEGACY OF STUDENT LEADERSHIP OC’s chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA) was officially chartered in 2008 and has become a very successful organization over the past several years. Although the strong track record of conference awards is noteworthy, most evident this year was the strength of leadership and willingness of students to serve as officers in the chapter for two-year terms. Leadership takes time to develop. Historically, AMA officers have tended to be upperclassmen, with the majority of them serving in leadership positions in their senior year. However, the chapter enjoyed a change in this trend this year. More than ever before, officers served second terms, meaning they ran for and were selected for two successive positions within the chapter. This shows two great signs of strength within the organization. First, younger students are increasingly viewing AMA leadership as something that will benefit their future goals. Increasing numbers of sophomores and juniors are seeking high-level leadership positions earlier in their

CBA

academic careers. Second, current officers highly value the AMA officer experience enough to serve a second year. Student officers are volunteers, and this trend shows they value the officer position so much that they are willing to dedicate a second year of volunteer leadership for the chapter. Among the repeat officers from the chapter are three 2015 graduates who dedicated their junior and senior years to AMA leadership.

fellow officers to grow the innovative and creative ability that I originally lacked. The friendly environment cultivated confidence and a new way of thinking.” Marketing graduate Channing Sizemore (VP of Membership in 2014 and Executive Vice President in 2015) agreed: “Being an AMA officer gave me the opportunity to build stronger relationships with my classmates, professors and local professionals.” Expanding the Comfort Zone

Supporting Growth The OC AMA acts as an incubator for leadership practice and learning. The chapter taps into support from faculty sponsors, student members, and CBA faculty and administration. This support provides members with a strong foundation of resources as they develop leadership skills and experience in business planning and evaluation. This safe environment for success is recognized by recent graduates. Accounting graduate Melanie Sharbine (VP of Events/Project Management in 2014 and VP of Finance and Fundraising in 2015) said, “I felt encouraged by my sponsor and

Because of the safe and supportive environment, AMA chapter leaders are encouraged to try new things, to carry out their dreams, and to test the waters in new and exciting areas. This often requires that students deliberately plant themselves in areas where they are least skilled, thus bringing about growth. “Being an officer pushed me out of my comfort zone,” Sharbine said. “The experience helped me develop important skills that I lacked and would not have been able to develop in a classroom setting.” Marketing graduate Allison Goldapp (VP of Logistics in 2014, President in 2015) also recognized the benefit of

stretching her leadership experience. “Leadership in the AMA gave me the opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone and network with professionals in the area while allowing me to lead my peers to do the same,” she said. Benefiting the Future AMA leadership is more than checking a box or sitting in an audience. The students who invest time as chapter leaders end up receiving more than they imagined. As a result of being part of the AMA leadership team, students are able to identify key characteristics that permanently and significantly impact their future careers. “My involvement in the AMA has helped me develop networking and leadership skills. It helped me build my skills in multitasking and communication, preparing me for the job that I started after graduation,” Goldapp said. Sizemore also recognizes personal growth areas that were influenced by her involvement in AMA leadership. “Being part of the AMA leadership team furthered my professional development by allowing me to write

plans and reports, lead a workshop and improve my networking skills.” In retrospect, Sharbine describes her time as a leader in the AMA as a “huge blessing.” The future of the chapter looks extremely bright, with another twoyear veteran, Denali Hicks, leading as president this year. “Our members are committed and we offer so many valuable opportunities to learn and develop as a professional in any field,” Hicks said. “I am really excited to see how the AMA benefits students and the OC community again this year.” A senior accounting major, Hicks served the chapter as Vice President of Professional Development last year. This position is responsible for scheduling business professionals to come to campus and speak in chapter meetings throughout the year. Hicks has already shown that she is up for the challenge, resurrecting the AMA Charity Golf Tournament after a two-year break. The tournament, which raises funds for OC’s Teaching the Disabled Child class and the AMA Travel Fund, was held in September. THE OC AMA: YEAR IN REVIEW Awards

Clockwise from top left: AMA officers at a planning retreat; OC’s chapter with the award for Excellence in Chapter Planning at the annual AMA Intercollegiate Conference; AMA students tour VI Marketing and Branding; AMA students in New Orleans during the AMA Intercollegiate Conference.

In spring 2014, OC’s AMA chapter experienced success at the American Marketing Association Intercollegiate Conference in New Orleans. Nine AMA officers and members, along with faculty sponsor Dr. Kerianne Roper, traveled to the conference, where OC won an award for Excellence in Chapter Planning. This award is the result of the dedication and hard work of AMA’s officers, including Goldapp, Sizemore, Hicks, and Vice President of Finance Trace Naylor. Planning Retreat The fall semester began with the Annual Officer Planning Retreat at the home of Dr. Roper, where AMA officers spent a Saturday planning events and setting goals for the year. Dr. Jeff Simmons, Dean of the College of Business Administration, encouraged students with an inspiring message, setting them up for success.

Company Tour AMA officers and members, along with faculty sponsor Dr. Burt Smith, visited leading local firm VI Marketing and Branding. Students toured the unique facility, and spent time in the board room with company leaders for a close look at current marketing trends. Campus Speakers OC’s AMA chapter has consistently enhanced student networking by bringing business professionals to campus to interact with students. Over the past seven years, the chapter has brought more than 25 business professionals to speak at chapter meetings. An annual favorite is the visit from Brian Byrnes, Senior Vice President of Marketing for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Byrnes made his first visit to OC in 2009 as one of the AMA’s first professional speakers and has returned to campus every year. Erin Engelke, formerly with World Neighbors and Feed the Children, shared her valuable experience in the nonprofit sector. Sharron JacksonGlover was a featured speaker who has served on the boards of numerous nonprofits, including the Girl Scouts of America, the Black Chamber of Commerce of Greater Oklahoma City, and the YWCA. Student Workshops OC’s AMA chapter served the campus community by providing valuable workshops to enhance the professional development of the student body. Following the theme of Uniquely You, the workshops centered on helping students demonstrate their unique value to potential employers. In the fall semester, an Interviewing Workshop featured Dr. Smith and Dr. Roper, focusing on professional ways to demonstrate excellence during an interview. The spring semester included a LinkedIn workshop, hosted by Tim Priebe, owner of T&S Online Marketing. Priebe provided an interactive presentation with hands-on tips that students were able to use immediately to enhance their LinkedIn profiles.

CBA

OC’s AMA chapter was officially chartered in 2008 and has become a very successful organization over the past several years. The chapter received national recognition at the AMA Collegiate Conference in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, being selected from 140+ schools for demonstrating excellence in membership, community service, communication, fundraising, and chapter planning. The conference is hosted by AMA International, the parent organization for collegiate chapters. AMA membership brings many benefits to students, such as the chance to network with marketing professionals who speak on campus at chapter meetings, the opportunity to develop leadership skills through officer positions or committee leadership, and membership in the Oklahoma City Professional AMA chapter as well. For more information, contact President Denali Hicks at denali.hicks@ eagles.oc.edu, or faculty sponsors Kerianne Roper at kerianne.roper@ oc.edu and Burt Smith at burt.smith@ oc.edu. CFA RESEARCH CHALLENGE The 2014-2015 school year marked the fourth consecutive year OC students participated in the CFA Research Challenge. Each year, teams comprised of five students research a company assigned in the geographic region in which the university competes. This year’s company was Panhandle Oil and Gas, Inc. (PHX), an oil and natural gas producer headquartered in Oklahoma City. Research was conducted from November 2014 through early in the spring 2015 semester, a time period that saw oil prices fall dramatically and high volatility in the energy industry. Ultimately, the OC team produced a ‘HOLD’ recommendation. Last year’s OC team consisted of undergraduate students Clayton Brewer, Jared Dickson, Christa Umuhoza, Michelle Umurungi, and Ornella Umutini. All were seniors majoring in finance except Dickson, a double major in finance in accounting. The latter three students hail from Rwanda while Brewer and Dickson are native Oklahomans. OC is part of the Southwest Region,

CBA

which includes universities from Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana and represents one of the largest regions in this annual global competition. Furthermore, many of the teams from other universities are comprised of graduate students. This competition displays OC’s commitment to produce excellent students that can compete globally and excel against students from much larger schools. ASIAN STUDIES This summer marked the return of Asian Studies, a summer study abroad program that takes students to Japan and China. In addition to traditional offerings in history and art, the 2015 program included International Business as a course offering. Dr. Jody Jones took eight OC students through the two countries during much of May and June. These students came from several disciplines across campus – Art, Biology, Marketing, Political Science, and Psychology. Six students were enrolled in the International Business course as part of the program. Dr. Simmons oversaw the coursework of the International Business course. Students observed and participated in currency exchange at a time when the dollar strengthened greatly against many world currencies. Students also learned about different business practices in finance, marketing, and management from faculty members at Ibaraki Christian University. One of the highlights of Japan was a visit to Hitachi Control, where students observed the design and construction of electrical control systems, including the ‘brain’ of a nuclear power plant. Several students commented that they were in awe of the organization and efficiency of the Japanese people and industry. This practical experience provided rich enhancements to purely textual and class-based learning. In China, students experienced an economy that is growing quickly while still firmly founded in thousands of years of history. While in Beijing, the group stayed at a traditional ‘Hutong’ hotel that was several hundred years old, but less

than a mile from Joy City shopping, one of the world’s largest shopping centers. After Beijing, the group traveled to Xi’an where, with the cooperation of Xi’an Polytechnic University, students experienced not only more of China’s rich history, but also China’s future as XPU students, many of whom study at OC, are producing future leaders. The experience in China allowed students to experience a traditionrich culture juxtaposed to a rapidly expanding capitalist economy. Ironically, the Chinese stock market decreased dramatically just after the group left. In 2016, the College of Business Administration will once again lead the Asian Studies program. Dr. Don Drew will serve as the faculty sponsor.

Top to bottom: AMA-sponsored LinkedIn workshop with Tim Priebe; AMA officers with Oklahoma City Thunder vice president Brian Byrnes; Finance professor Dr. Jody Jones with OC students in China.

MALE FEMALE

164 147

GRADUATE

53% 47%

FINANCE

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

GENERAL

LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

HEALTH SERVICE MANAGEMENT

HUMAN RESOURCES

ACCOUNTING (MBA)

MARKETING

MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

20%

16%

15%

12%

10 %

311

445

TOTAL STUDENTS

FROM 28 COUNTRIES

China

2 2 1 3 7 1

United States

76 Rwanda

AUSTRALIA BANGLADESH BELARUS BRAZIL BURUNDI CAMEROON

2 29 1 1 3 2 4 1 4 3 1

UNDERGRAD

CANADA CHINA GERMANY HONG KONG INDIA JAPAN MEXICO MOROCCO NEPAL NIGERIA PAKISTAN

1 76 2 3 1 1 1 1 445 1 3

RUSSIA RWANDA SENEGAL S. KOREA SPAIN SYRIA THAILAND UGANDA USA VENEZUELA VIETNAM

GENERAL BUSINESS

ACCOUNTING

MARKETING MANAGEMENT

FINANCE

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

MANAGEMENT

FINANCE & ACCOUNTING

26%

23%

18%

11%

292 MALE FEMALE

TOTAL STUDENTS 168 124

58% 42%

FROM 22 STATES AK AZ CA CO

1 1 10 7

IA IL KS MI

7 1 7 3

MN MO MT NC

1 7 2 2

NE 2 NJ 2 NM 2 OK 100

OR SD TX VA

3 1 67 2

WA WI

3 1

CBA BY THE NUMBERS CBA

CBA NEWS & EVENTS REPUTATION ATTRACTS LEADING BOTTLER The dedication to operational improvements, a consistent recipe of hard work, integrity, attention to detail and the relentless quest for perfection has driven Niagara to become the largest family owned and operated bottled water company in the United States.

CBA

“He must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.” - 1 Timothy 3:7 Why would America’s largest privately held water bottling company with state-of-the-art reverse osmosis, micron filtration and ozone technologies, automated digital inspections, quality laboratories at each plant facility, and regular FDA and third party audits actively seek OC business students as interns? Because of our reputation for integrity and reliability. Given the rapid growth of Niagara Bottling, its leaders are always on the lookout for fresh new talent. Niagara’s comprehensive internship program allows interns to build practical skills and exposes interns to the many facets of the water bottling business. So when it came to mining business colleges for talent, OC was at the top of Niagara’s list. On May 8, Dean Jeff Simmons and Dr. Don Drew accompanied 10 students on a road trip to Niagara’s Dallas plant to view the company’s operations and learn more about its internship process. Bill Hall, Executive Vice President of Manufacturing, Jim Utley, Director of Technical Services, Training and Organizational Development, and Jay Hanan, Director of Research and Development, invited our students and a group from OC’s College of Engineering and Computer Science to come to Dallas and see what they have to offer. It’s just another example of how a small college with a big reputation can make a difference.

OC-MBA RWANDA COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES MAKE HEADLINES In March, members of OC’s Graduate School of Business traveled to Kigali, Rwanda, to host commencement ceremonies for 42 students who were receiving their MBA degrees. The ceremonies grabbed a lot of attention in the Rwandan media. After the ceremonies, Dr. Simmons, who presented the commencement address, was interviewed by the Rwandan national television network for a story that aired later that evening. Dr. Ken Johnson, Chair of the Graduate School of Business, was pictured on the front page of the main Rwandan newspaper, which also carried a story about the ceremonies. What was most fun was seeing the look on the face of a restaurant hostess who had a copy of the paper in front of her when the OC contingent came in to be seated. She was asked if she recognized Ken. At first she didn’t, then someone pointed to the picture on her paper. She had a look of surprise, gave Ken a big smile, and a good seat at the restaurant. The video of the television interview can be viewed at: http://www.oc.edu/ news/rwandans-earn-mba-degreesfrom-oklahoma-christian. OC LAUNCHES NEW MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY DEGREE Starting in spring 2014, OC’s College of Business Administration began offering a new Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program. The 30-credit-hour graduate program features “hands on” experiences and

theory-based approaches on advanced accounting and business topics. It is designed to be an academically rigorous graduate program for students who majored in accounting in their undergraduate studies and who want to further their careers by deepening their professional knowledge and prepare for the CPA examination. According to Elaine D. Kelly, Chair of OC’s Department of Accounting and Finance, the degree was developed in response to feedback from the accounting industry and alumni. “For a variety of reasons, many employers of accountants in this region believe that employees with a Master of Accountancy degree have the increased knowledge necessary for their professional development,” Kelly said. “Employers want to invest in these employees. This is a positive change in the industry since graduate degrees in accounting have not always been as popular as in other areas of business. This recent shift toward the increased value in a graduate degree in accounting has been very positive for the accounting profession.” The new degree fits well into OC’s mission and emphasis on faith. “One unique aspect of the degree is a core business course in ethics,” Kelly said. “Most MAccs do not have this kind of course. Our program requires students to examine basic ethics in the conduct of business from a biblical perspective and how that affects the decision-making process.” The degree is composed of 18 hours of graduate level accounting courses, and 12 hours of businessrelated courses, including three hours of ethics.

LEARNING AREA Accounting Economics Management Quantitative Analysis Finance Marketing Legal & Social Environment Information Systems International Issues Total Aggregate Score

The degree is currently 70% online with future plans to become 100% online. In addition, future specializations in tax, forensics accounting, and oil and gas accounting are envisioned. Dr. Ken Johnson, a CPA and the Chair of OC’s Graduate School of Business, notes that the MACC launch has been very successful in its first year, exceeding the university’s initial expectations. “The program has a sustainable model and we’ve seen a lot of interest from prospective students. The program has already graduated 12 students.” Current students in the program completed undergraduate accounting degrees at OC, the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, the University of Central Oklahoma, and several other universities. Most of the program’s current students are employed at companies such as Chesapeake Energy, Continental Resources, Devon Energy, First National Bank of Oklahoma and several other Oklahoma City-area employers. Several of the program’s students come from foreign countries, including Argentina, China, Japan, and South Korea. Six full-time and 11 adjunct professors teach in the MAcc program. One of the professors teaching in the MAcc program, CPA Dr. Daniel Sorensen, noted that the “students in the OC MACC program are highly motivated and knowledgeable.” Students have provided positive feedback and are telling their friends and colleagues about the new program.

MFT Percentile Pre-Test 1st 10th 7th 34th 3rd 2nd 1st 1st 34th 2nd

MFT Percentile Post-Test 54th 59th 75th 27th 37th 41st 57th 29th 74th 46th

CBA

OC STUDENTS MAKE SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE The CBA annually assesses student learning in key business areas. The college uses a standardized assessment test to measure the gains in students’ knowledge and understanding from the time the students begin OC’s business program to the time they graduate. Twice during their college studies, OC business students take the Major Field Test in Business, which measures their knowledge and understanding in major business disciplines such as Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, and Marketing. They first take the test during the Introduction to Business course, then take the test again their senior year in the capstone business course, Strategic Management. When students take the test at the beginning of the business program, they score in the 2nd percentile, which means they score better than only 2 percent of the test takers. At the completion of the OC business program the average score of OC students was at the 46th percentile, with scores in some areas as high as the 74th and 75th percentiles. The MFT is a standardized test provided by ETS, the same company that produces the SAT and GRE exams.

PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OC AND BECKER CPA REVIEW COURSE In the business world, one of the most sought after designations is Certified Public Accountant (CPA). To help our graduates with this important milestone, the Department of Accounting and Finance has been working with Becker CPA Review Course to bring a live course to campus. Discussions have been ongoing for nearly a year, and the current plan is to have a live accelerated Becker CPA 12

CBA

Review Course begin at OC on May 31, 2016. According to independent research, students who prepare with Becker pass the CPA exam at double the rate of non-Becker candidates. The CBA is confident this live course will be a successful way for accountants to achieve the important goal of becoming a CPA for their professional career and advancement. OC will be the only place in the Oklahoma City area where candidates can receive face-to-face test preparation from a certified Becker CPA instructor in the evenings and on Saturdays during the summer months. Candidates’ schedules are very busy, and these classroom-based Becker CPA Review sessions on the OC campus should be beneficial for success on the exam. For more information, go to the Becker website at: http://www.becker. com/cpa-review/courses/cpa-examreview/flexible-course-formats/live. CBA ADDS NEW MEMBERS TO THE BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL Mr. Jim Carter The CBA welcomes back Jim Carter, who served on the business faculty during the 1980s as a assistant professor of marketing. Since retiring from AT&T in 2014 after 24 years of service, Carter has returned to his family business for ranching and farming in North Central Texas. Prior to this, he held the position of Assistant Vice President – Strategic Customer Insight and Research; a direct report to AT&T’s Global Marketing Officer. He was responsible for understanding how AT&T is viewed through its brand, advertising, and corporate communications. His team’s primary focus was to develop objective, customer-centric insights related to brand performance (including Net Promoter Score), strategy and message evaluation, and advertising. His team also was the primary research group for all of AT&T’s corporate functions. Carter joined Southwestern Bell Telephone in 1990. He had roles in Small Business Marketing, leading the local wireless marketing efforts in Baltimore/Washington, D.C.

Since 2000, he worked in customer analytics for SBC, then AT&T. Before his time at OC, he was a reporter and field producer for KAMR-TV in Amarillo, Texas. Carter also serves on advisory boards for the master’s degree in Marketing Research at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and the College of Business Administration at Tarleton State University. Carter earned an MBA degree from the University of Arkansas and an undergraduate degree in Economics from West Texas State University. He is married and has three children; the oldest (Anna Carter Parker) is a graduate of OC’s undergraduate and MBA programs. Joel Forhan Joel Forhan is a 1990 graduate of Oklahoma Christian. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing, was a member of Student Senate, and served as President of the social service club, Delta Gamma Sigma. Following graduation, he pursued a career in sales and marketing and landed in the pharmaceutical industry.

He has held several roles in the past 25 years, including sales representative, recruiter and trainer, sales operations, and marketing. He has been a part of two startup pharmaceutical companies and was instrumental in the growth and development of those organizations. Forhan currently works for Publicis Touchpoint Solutions, one of the world’s largest health care communications companies, as Regional Director for the western United States. Once again, this was a startup position consulting with one of the industry’s top 10 pharmaceutical companies. After seven years, this program continues to change the face of the industry. Forhan has been married to Kristi for 23 years; they have two teenage boys: Nicholas (15) and Michael (13). They have lived in Edmond, OK for 20 years and are members of Memorial Road Church of Christ. They enjoy traveling, coaching, and watching their boys play basketball. Kristi and Joel are also active with the youth group and teaching DGroups at Memorial Road.

Nancee Roberson Nancee Robertson serves as Chief Sales Officer for American Fidelity Assurance Company, specifically responsible for the Association Worksite Division (AWD) and AWD brokerage. Robertson has a strong history of building partner relationships with brokers since 1996. She is responsible for assisting both captive and broker partners of American Fidelity’s Association Worksite Division. She holds a BA in Business Administration from Harding University and an MBA from the University of North Alabama. With nearly 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, Robertson has held the roles of Account Manager, Fringe Benefit Consultant, State Manager, National Director of New Markets, Chief Operating Officer, and Vice President with American Fidelity. Robertson has been awarded Manager of the Year three times with American Fidelity. She has obtained her Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Registered Health

Underwriter (RHU), and Registered Employee Benefits Consultant (REBC) distinctions from the American College during her career at American Fidelity. HUNTSMAN AND RICKETTS JOIN THE TEAM Janell Huntsman Generations of business students have come through the Harvey Business Center. Each generation remembers their departmental administrative assistant who was the “go-to-person” for the students. They knew they could go to her to borrow a calculator for a test, get a paper stapled before turning it in, leave a note for a professor, or simply hang out on the couch between classes. For the students of the 80s, this was Wanda Neal. In mid-90s and early 2000s, it was Cynthia Helmuth. Today, our students have Janell Huntsman, who became the CBA’s Administrative Assistant in August 2014. Huntsman, an OC graduate, came to us after serving in a similar role for eight years in the Biology, Chemistry,

Left: Nancee Roberson Right: Janell Huntsman

CBA

and Physics departments at OC. Prior to returning to OC, she worked at Endries International in Oklahoma City and for the Allen Independent School District in Allen, Texas. Huntsman and her husband Gary are active foster parents, furnishing a home to 13 children over the past seven years and providing respite for other foster parents. When she is not working or foster parenting, Huntsman loves spending time with her daughters and her grandkids ... and getting to Disney World as often as she can. Angie Ricketts Angie Ricketts joined the Graduate School of Business staff as the role of Admissions Counselor this fall. Ricketts comes to us from Biggs Financial, where she was the Director of Marketing and Operations. She has held marketing-related positions for the past 15 years. While serving as a Marketing Specialist at American Fidelity Assurance Company, she won the prestigious Outstanding Performance award. “When she interviewed, what impressed me most about Angie was 14

CBA

her level of professionalism as well as her marketing experience,” Dr. Simmons said. “She is a Godsend at a time when we need to reach out to more companies and students to grow our graduate business programs. OC has one of the largest MBA programs in the state of Oklahoma and I would not be surprised if Angie doesn’t help us make it the largest.” In addition to her work, Ricketts volunteers her time to the “B2B Leadership Program” at the University of Central Oklahoma, where she serves as a student mentor, and to Generate Ministries, where she guides the marketing plan. Ricketts also has been involved with Toastmasters and served as an officer in 2005-06. Ricketts was in the first cohort to graduate from our OC MBA program back in 2001. ACCOUNTING ADVISORY BOARD In fall 2013, OC formed the Accounting Advisory Board (AAB) to assist the faculty and staff at the undergraduate and graduate levels as OC prepares students for careers in the accounting profession. AAB members work closely with the chairs of the Department of Accounting

and Finance and the Graduate School of Business to help bring relevance to the graduate (MAcc) and undergraduate (BBA) accounting curriculum, and to champion the accounting program to business colleagues and the community. Current membership requirements include professionals with an undergraduate accounting degree currently working in the field of accounting, either private or public, or in the finance field. Members believe in OC, are enthusiastic about Christian business education, and are willing to actively participate in the AAB. Major AAB activities include student assistance and coordination for internships and career placement, curriculum development and monitoring, and updating faculty development. AAB members continue to challenge the College of Business Administration to strive for excellence by raising questions and insisting on relevance and focus. The AAB meets on campus as a formal body twice each year. Current discussion topics include retention, student success, the CPA exam, computer technology, and the establishment of a mentoring program.

Left: Angie Ricketts Middle and Right: Former WorldCom controller David Myers speaks during his campus visit for the Millican Ethics Symposium.

J.J. MILLICAN ETHICS SYMPOSIUM The eighth-annual J.J. Millican Ethics Symposium was held in October 2014. This program has brought in speakers from all over the United States to investigate the field of business ethics and encourage more ethical conduct in the practice of business. The speaker at our most recent symposium was David Myers, the former controller at WorldCom. In 2005, Myers was at the center of an $11 billion accounting fraud case that brought WorldCom to its knees after he made a series of false accounting entries. It cost him his job, his reputation, and his freedom when he was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison. At the symposium, the evening began with a dinner party with Myers and select guests. In attendance were members of the CBA faculty along with managing partners of regional accounting firms, the Senior Financial Officer of BankFirst, and the General Counsel and Director of Compliance at Continental Resources. After dinner, Myers delivered a speech in OC’s Judd Theatre to the

more than 230 people in attendance. The title of his speech was “The Slippery Slope: Learning from someone else’s mistakes.” It was a powerful story of a remorseful man who, in his own words, “allowed my own ethics to be compromised,” and who is now donating his time to visit with college students, encouraging them to not make the same mistakes he made. Myers exhorted students to make sure they recognize when they are allowing themselves to go against what they know is right. “I remembered hearing someone give a similar speech when I was in college and thought, ‘I’d never be that guy.’ Now, I’m that guy,” he said. He explained that rarely does one set out to do something unethical, but they allow themselves to be convinced to do something they normally wouldn’t do. After the speech, Myers engaged in a question-and-answer session with the audience, which allowed our students to further engage the topic and better understand the complexities of and influences on ethical decisionmaking. During the discussion, Myers acknowledged that he realizes God

has forgiven him for what he has done, but Dr. Simmons, who moderated the discussion, noticed that it appeared Myers has yet to forgive himself. Myers admitted he has not. The evening ended with a prayer, thanking God for the power of the story and lesson Myers brought us, and asking God’s blessing in helping him accept the grace that our Lord provides to those who repent.

CBA

ALUMNI ACCOMPLISHMENTS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS Outstanding Management & Marketing Alum - Jimmy Arter Jimmy Arter graduated from OC in 1998 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management. He currently serves as Vice President of Minerals and Trust Property at MidFirst Bank in Oklahoma City. Arter began his career as a Purchasing Agent working for Gerd Fecht at Beam’s Industries, Inc., an opportunity originally presented to him by his academic advisor at OC. Moving from a manufacturing context to a serviceoriented business to a bank presented Arter with many challenges, as he had to learn whole new industries with each move. Arter considers one of his greatest achievements to be taking a small one-man oil and gas department and turning it into a staff of five people. He feels blessed to be mentored throughout his career by some of the greatest trust minds in the state of Oklahoma, including fellow OC alum Mike Carroll. Arter serves the College of Business Administration as a member of our Business Advisory Council. He is married to Holly (Hayes) Arter and has three kids: Samantha, age 8, and a set or 4-year-old twins, Jane and Max. Outstanding Graduate Program Alum – Cindy Smethers Cindy Smethers completed a Bachelors of Science degree in Math Secondary Education in 1989 and returned to complete her Master of Business Administration degree from OC in 2010. 16

CBA

She currently serves as Vice President of Life Product Manager and Product Actuarial Director at American Fidelity Assurance Company in Oklahoma City. She has risen to this position since starting at American Fidelity as an Actuarial Assistant. One of Smethers’ greatest achievements is attaining the designation of “Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and Member of the American Academy of Actuaries,” which required an eight years of additional study and testing. Smethers serves on the Finance Advisory Board of the College of Business Administration. She has been married to her husband Todd for 25 years; they have two children in high school: Connie and Laura. Outstanding Accounting & Finance Alum – Matt Cole Matt Cole, CPA, earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from OC in 1999. After his graduation, he began his career with Deloitte, a Big 4 International Accounting firm, as a staff auditor. Until recently, he was a partner at Cole and Reed, an accounting firm located in Oklahoma City. He now is Senior Manager at HSPG & Associates, PC. In addition to becoming a partner in a successful, highly regarded accounting firm, Cole counts passing the rigorous CPA exam as one of his most significant personal achievements. He serves on the Accounting Advisory Board of the College of Business Administration. He and his wife Mindy will celebrate 19 years of marriage in December. They have three children: Cayden, Gavin, and Sophie.

JIMMY ARTER

CINDY SMETHERS

MATT COLE

KEVIN LAWRENCE

Outstanding Management & Marketing Alum

Outstanding Graduate Program Alum

Outstanding Accounting & Finance Alum

CFO, BancFirst

KEVIN LAWRENCE On April 1, OC business graduate Kevin Lawrence officially became the Chief Financial Officer of the Oklahoma Citybased BancFirst Corporation. This promotion was set in place when Lawrence joined the bank as a senior finance officer in June 2013. His role as CFO, Executive Vice President, and Treasurer involves overseeing the bank’s financial activities and operations. Lawrence started preparing for his business career as a freshman at OC in 1997. He initially began as a biology major, but quickly determined that accounting was the field for him. He excelled in the classroom with outstanding grades and was also very much involved in campus life through Delta Gamma Sigma, a social service club, and through sports. He quickly became a star on the campus, and was always liked by his peers and teachers. “Kevin is the type of student you enjoy having in the classroom because he is so diligent and works hard to learn the knowledge,” said Elaine D. Kelly, Associate Professor of Accounting. “You know he will be successful professionally, but also as a person based on his work ethic and integrity. I am so proud of Kevin, not only in his professional career, but also due to his Christian values and family life.” At OC, Lawrence met his future wife, Devin, and they married in 2001. After graduation, he started at PriceWaterhouse, a public accounting firm in San Jose, California. In 2003, he became a Certified Public Accountant. Later he joined Ernst and Young in Tulsa. He received many promotions there and became Senior Manager, overseeing audits for banks with asset size in excess of $10

billion. Lawrence has maintained strong ties with OC and the College of Business Administration by membership on the Accounting Advisory Board and the National Alumni Council, and his career counseling work with OC’s Career Services office. One of Lawrence’s personal interests is in the area of mentoring other young professionals. He feels this concept is intrinsic to the building of relationships in the workplace and helping students gain confidence. Some of his coaching strategies include the significance of high character, selfawareness, and accountability. He especially feels a calling to mentor in the area of setting goals in the spiritual, family, health, career, and financial aspects of life. Ian Morris, Class of 2013, feels Lawrence’s mentoring has been vital to his professional career and has contributed to his success. “Kevin has really helped me develop in my career as a professional and as an individual,” Morris said. “As a young CPA in public accounting, it is reassuring to receive advice from someone who has encountered many of the same experiences I am currently facing. Many of the topics we talk through deal with both professional and individual challenges that many young professionals face. This experience has certainly impacted how I view and prioritize things that go on at both work and at home. Kevin has done a wonderful job setting up this program, and he has been a great source for advice and encouragement.” OC plans to formally implement this type of mentoring program in the fall of 2015. Lawrence and his wife attend Westwood Church of Christ and have three children: Skylar, Londyn, and Lincoln. CBA

FACULTY ACTIVITIES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS Dr. Dan Sorensen presented a paper he co-authored titled, “Developing and Measuring the Impact of an Accounting Ethics Course that is Based on the Moral Philosophy of Adam Smith.” He presented during the “Dissertation Showcase” at the 2014 Christian Business Faculty Association national conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Sorensen teamed up with Scott Miller of Edinboro Wesleyan University to publish a paper in the Journal field of business ethics. The paper was based off the Faculty Association Conference and carried the same

University (Pennsylvania) and Kevin Cabe of Indiana of Business Ethics, the leading publication in the work he presented at the Christian Business title as that presentation.

Dr. Jody Jones’ paper titled, “Economic Realities Found Within the Oral Histories of First-Generation Oklahoma College Graduates,” was recognized as the “Best Paper” at the national conference of the Academy of Business Research. Dr. Don Drew graduated from the Leadership Tinker Air Force Base (COMMSTAR) program in November. COMMSTAR’s mission is to “increase awareness, understanding, and cooperation while fostering essential relationships between Tinker’s senior leadership and community/government leaders throughout central Oklahoma.” The program lasts one year and involves visiting key Oklahoma Air Force units and participating in exercises, drills, and lectures. Dr. Kerianne Roper guided two different undergraduate student research efforts based on work completed in her Marketing Research class. A paper written by Allison Goldapp and Caroline Sizemore was submitted to the Oklahoma Journal of Undergraduate Research (acceptance pending) was titled, “An Empirical Study of Customer Satisfaction Research of Sonic Drive-In.” The other study, “Current and Potential Customer Preferences Regarding Group Exercise Services,” was presented by Maryfer Abreuroman and Raquel Rojas at Oklahoma Research Day on the University of Central Oklahoma campus.

CBA

Dr. Burt Smith

OC PROFESSOR CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF PERFECT ATTENDANCE Dr. Burt Smith had been present for every one of the 199 meetings of the Oklahoma City chapter of the American Marketing Association since he became a member in 1994. At his 200th meeting earlier this year, Dr. Burt (as he’s affectionally known) celebrated 20 years of perfect attendance. “It’s been an awfully good run, and I can’t thank AMA enough for the impact it has had on my career,” said Burt, a professor of marketing and management at OC in addition to his work as a business consultant. “AMA has provided me and my students with access to the sharpest minds in the state. I’ve really enjoyed showcasing OC and helping students land great jobs and internships.” Dr. Burt was the youngest person named to AMA-OKC’s board in 1995, and he is a past president of the chapter, which received its first National Chapter Excellence Award under his leadership. Just a few years ago, the chapter renamed its lifetime achievement award in his honor. “Dr. Burt has been an integral part of AMA-OKC during the last 20 years,” said Stewart Law, an OC alumnus and the chapter’s president-elect and a research manager at Evolve Research. “Today, he still volunteers his time and expertise as a trusted advisor to the board and even gives a free copy of his book to every new member. As his former student, I can say that his passion for marketing knows no bounds.”

Dr. Burt said he made the decision to aim for 20 years of perfect attendance a few years ago after realizing the goal was attainable, even if it meant adjusting his family vacations. DR. BURT KEYNOTES AT ARKANSAS GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE Dr. Burt had a busy day in March at the 2015 Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism and Travel. He delivered the conference’s opening keynote address, then presented two breakout sessions on how to write strategic marketing plans. “This was a great group to work with,” he said. “In the room, you had the executive directors and presidents of Convention and Visitors’ Bureaus from across Arkansas, who control huge marketing budgets and are very successful in their own right. What I think impressed me more than their talent was how eager they were to find new ideas.” Dr. Burt said being asked to be the opening keynote is an honor, and one that comes with its share of pressure. “If you’re doing the opening keynote, your job is to help set the tone for everything event-related that follows,” he said. “You help introduce the theme of the event and get the attendees excited about being there. You represent not only your brand, but that of the program director who hired you, and of the whole event, basically. It can be a little scary!” For the opening keynote, he offered a motivational message on how to get, and keep, the success audience members were after, showing them how success in any field comes down

to knowledge, skills, and attitude. He urged the audience members to make sure they obtained the maximum value from the conference workshops, most of which offered specialized knowledge in the travel and tourism industry, by making a point to apply what they learned once they returned to their workplaces. In the breakout sessions, Smith conducted one of his more popular workshops, “The Forty-Minute Marketing Plan.” In two concurrent sessions, Smith showed marketing directors, who control budgets of all size, how to write an actionable marketing plan in the shortest time possible. Smith said getting to help marketers in the workplace validates what he strives to teach his students. “I try to give my students tools they can put to work right away and start making a difference in their chosen fields. Plus, challenging myself out there in the marketplace helps me relate to what they’ll go through in their careers,” he said. Dr. Burt teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate programs at OC. His courses include Marketing Management, Entrepreneurship, and Organizational Design and Development. After earning membership in the National Speakers Association in 2006, Dr. Burt went on to serve as president of the Oklahoma Chapter and earned consecutive “Member of the Year” honors, for which he was recognized in the NSA’s national magazine and on the stage at the annual conventions in 2011 and 2012. He writes a weekly blog at www.drburt.com. CBA

BOX 11000 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73136-1100 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Be the boss of your life, schedule, and career with a MBA or Master of Accountancy degree. OC is Home to America’s #1 best value Christian MBA program, led by real-world business leaders who treat you like a boss.

ONSITE OR ONLINE • OC.EDU/BOSS GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS