executive magazine fall 2009 edition

f a l l 0 9 c b a . u a . e d u 1

In thIs Issue:studying and working abroad give Culverhouse students a unique view of the world and themselves

Fal l 09Winte r 09

Culverhouse College of CommerCe

executive >>Magazine

Z a c B r a g g f i n d s g o l d in the Microsoft hills

our students. Y o u r F u t u r e .

WhenZacBragggraduatedfromTheUniversityofAlabamalastspring,hewaslookingforanemployerasdedicatedtoresearchandinnovationasheis.Thatledhimtothegreat

Northwest,totheSeattlearea,whichinlate1890swasthenorthernmostdeparturepointinthecontinentalUnitedStatesfortheworld-famousKlondikeGoldRush.LikeZac,alotofpeopleheadedforSeattleinthosedays,

lookingtofindthemotherlode. Zac,23,ofMcCalla,hasadegreeinmanagementinformationsystemsandaminorincomputerscience,whichmakeshimagreatfitforBillGatesandcompany.MicrosoftCorp.isbasedinRedmond,Wash.,partofthegreaterSeattlearea,andisaglobalcompanywith89,809employeesin60countries. Now,ZacisatechnicalaccountmanagerwithMicrosoft.Assuch,

heworkswithcustomerstoresolvetechnicalissues,providestimelyadviceandformsandmaintainsworkingrelationshipswithMicrosoftpartners. Whennotworking,ZacplaysultimateFrisbee,ridesamountainbikeanddoesgraphicdesigns. Evenintimesofreducedspending,Microsoftplanstoinvest$9.5billionthenextfiscalyearinresearchandtechnology.Thiswasassuringtome,that

Microsoftwouldexpandwhatcanbedonewithtechnology.Iwantedtobeapartofthat.Iwantedtohaveglobalimpact. So,Zac,howistheSeattleweather,really,andhaveyoumetGates? Seattlesummersareabest-keptsecret...possiblythebestsummerweatherinthecountry. Andno,butdoIgetpointsformeetingSteveBallmer?

For more information about our graduates and how they can contribute to your success, contact Linda Johnson, director of employer development and relations, Culverhouse College of Commerce, at 205-348-3455 or by e-mail at [email protected].

4 c u l v e r h o u s e c o l l e g e o f c o m m e r c e

Fall 09 Winter 10V o l u m e 1 4 I s s u e 2

The Executive is published twice annually, in the spring and fall, for alumni and friends of The university of Alabamas Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration.

Dean:J. Barry mason

eDitor:William R. Bill Gerdes

Graphic DesiGn:Travis Gibbsoffice of Design and ProductionThe university of Alabama

contributinG Writers:Caroline BeardCarmen shea BrownTiffany FountainBill Gerdes

contributinG photoGraphers:Zack Riggins, laura shill, samantha Hernandez

oFFice oF Development, alumni anD corporate relations:Charlie Adair, lindsey Blumenthal, Kathy Deshazo, Kyle Fondren, Diane Harrison, Amy Henderson, laura Rector

Culverhouse College of CommerCe and Business administrationBox 870223Tuscaloosa, Al 35487-0223

Comments, suggestions, questions: [email protected]

The University of Alabama is an equal-opportunity educational institution/employer. MC7884

2 Deans Message

3 A Successful Capital CampaignThanks for all your help in supporting the school of

business

5 College International Business ProgramsStudying and working abroad give Culverhouse students

a unique view of the world and themselves

14 Alabama International Trade Center Students go global with careers after completing

internships on campus

16 Hall of FameFour distinguished business figures inducted

25 Tide-FiMIS class develops a free wireless Internet service for

the Strip

28 Alfonso Yuchengco Friend of the University has long and distinguished

history of philanthropy

29 Alumni Notes

31 In the NewsNations economic woes make Culverhouse faculty

popular with media

35 Dennis LauschaCulverhouse graduate finds football in the Big Easy to

his liking

Culverhouse College of CommerCe

executive >>Magazine

f a l l 0 9 c b a . u a . e d u 5

5o n t h e C o v e r

College International Business Programs

37 Faculty and Staff NewsAppointments, recognitions, honors and awards keep

coming

41 Boardroom DisputesTurmoil in the boardroom can affect company performance

45 Academic Business Library Directors Conference

Angelo Bruno Business Library hosts library director from

major business schools

47 Womens Initiative

Program provides female business students with the tools

for success

49 Entrepreneurship CampHigh school seniors get a feel for college and careers in

business

51 Distinguished Alabama SportsmanRonald Bruno tapped for honor by Alabama Sports Hall of

Fame

53 Student HighlightsAward, conference and internships demonstrate students

commitment to excellence

57 Staying AbreastKeeping in touch keeps getting easier

E x E c u t i v E c o n t E n t s>>


our safety is our speed

J. Barry Masondean and thomas d. russell Professor of Business Administration

>>


f a l l 0 9 c b a . u a . e d u 2f a l l 0 9 c b a . u a . e d u 2

My first order of business is to give a huge thank you to all who contributed to our recently ended capital campaign. We raised nearly $85 million, no easy task in these daunting economic times. Thanks to your generosity, we will now be able to develop a plan that will take the college to the next level of excellence, and that is exciting. We are re-examining each facet of what we do: organizational structure, our mission, our programmatic priorities and possible new directions for the college. These are unusual times and the college faces a unique set of challenges. For example:

Despite the fact that we are operating on a flat budget for the second year, our enrollment continues to increase. We have more than 6,000 students enrolled this fall, including our online students.Our endowment support has been stable for 200910, but we have been advised that it will decline next year and the year beyond. We have reserves so we will meet our minimum needs for the time being. But we have gone two years without merit salary increases. A third year may cause some defections.The job market is soft across the board, and our undergraduate placement is roughly 50 percent.

But on the other hand:We have added some intellectual firepower by hiring three traditional faculty members and one clinical faculty member, while at the same time increasing our faculty and staff diversity.To take some economic burden off the students and their families, we have developed a way to offer the last two years of our general business program online to the states two-year colleges. That allows some students to remain at home to earn a four-year degree.

We all know that the economy will turn around. Until then, we are taking several steps to make sure we do not lose momentum until it happens.

We are strengthening our regional presence as the university of choice for state students, while at the same time making sure we recruit the quality of students we need. We are doing that by focusing on our recruiting system and intensifying our contact with alumni and friends, encouraging them to hire our students.We are looking for new revenue sources, such as certificate programs, executive education, industry-specific training programs and more online training.We are turning to our centers and institutes to bring in more grants and other assistance.We are looking at our existing courses for ways to meet market demand, streamline costs and partner with other colleges in new program offerings we can launch without investing more resources.And we are looking at how to more effectively use professionally qualified faculty as opposed to academically qualified faculty. And of course, we will continue to look for ways to reduce our costs by combining jobs in some instances and not filling others.

But we must focus on market-driven strategies and avoid short-term, budget-driven decisions. We must continue to attract good students with prosperous futures, hire quality faculty and staff, strengthen our regional appeal, enhance our revenue and manage our costs effectively. I urge you to remain in contact with the college and share with us your thoughts about the possibilities for the future. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, In skating over thin ice, our safety is our speed. We are moving quickly to make sure we reach the other side of the lake.

dear friends of the College:

D E a n s M E s s a g E>>


A successful capital campaign is in the books. The University of alabama raised a total of $612,672,016 million, including $84,787,590 in gifts to the culverhouse college of commerce. More than 100,000 people donated to the Universitys campaign, and there were 130 gifts of $1 million or more. Ua employees donated $11.6 million, and students gave $289,093, according to Ua data.

Those are great numbers, but the most important number for the business school may be 6,714. That is the number of people who joined in the culverhouse effort and showed their faith and confidence in our stewardship of their contributions. The college development staff, led by dean J. Barry Mason and director of development charlie adair and joined by diane Harrison, development officer, and John snider, assistant to

the dean, worked long and hard on the campaign. They traveled throughout the nation to meet with potential donors to articulate the need to support a strong business school that is not only a major economic engine for the state but one that produces bright and capable business leaders for the future. contributions came from 45 states and Puerto rico, demonstrating the reach of the culverhouse college of

a successful capital campaign Thanks for all your help in supporting the school of business

>>

f a l l 0 9 c b a . u a . e d u 4

commerce. as might be expected, the bulk of the gifts came from the 3,890 alabama donors who chose to contribute. a core group of executives was

instrumental to the success of the business schools efforts. They were Will Brooke, of Birmingham, chairman of the culverhouse college Board of Visitors and executive vice president and managing partner of Harbert Management corporation; c. Kemmons Wilson Jr., of Memphis, principal and executive vice president of Kemmons Wilson inc.; charles E. Eddie adair, of Montgomery, a partner in cordova Ventures; Harris Morrissette, of Mobile, president of china doll rice and Beans; and carl Jones, of Birmingham, retired cEo of regions financial. one of the great truths in fundraising is that people give to people. Those five gentlemen opened a lot of doors and kept us pointed in the right direction, charlie adair said. and they led by example. all were very generous, and we are deeply appreciative. The gifts came in all shapes and sizes, from individuals to corporations, from employees and faculty, from new graduates to retirees. Here are some examples. Each campaign has a category called major gifts, and few gifts were more important to the college capital campaign than those of

lewis M. and faye Manderson. They have made gifts in excess of $12 million to support the Manderson graduate school of Business, which is named in lewis

Mandersons honor. The gifts are the third largest in the Universitys history. faye and i are pleased to partner with the University in educating and supporting the brightest business leaders of today and tomorrow, Manderson said. We want our gift to support many generations of The University of alabama family and continue a tradition of academic excellence at the capstone. Manderson is the founder of creative displays inc., one

of the largest outdoor advertising companies in the United states. in 1983, Manderson sold creative displays and went on to serve as president of Manderson and associates inc., a private investment company in atlanta. He also founded cordova capital inc., a venture capital fund, and various other businesses. Manderson received an honorary doctorate from Ua in 1984 and was inducted into the alabama Business Hall of fame in 1994. a native of cordova, he and faye Manderson now reside in atlanta. another example is a gift that came toward the end of the campaign from the current partners, retired partners, principals and employees of Ernst & Young. The gift was one of several from leading accounting firms such as Pricewaterhousecoopers and the reznick group. The accounting profession has always been exceedingly generous to The University of alabama and to the culverhouse school of accountancy, Mason said. That generosity has been exhibited in a number of ways internships, mentoring initiatives, employment of Ua students as well as in monetary contributions.

and there was the grant from the Protective life insurance co. foundation that will be used to support the business schools developing program in insurance and financial services, risk management and actuarial science. funds will be allocated to add to existing faculty resources in actuarial science and insurance and to provide important infrastructure for the program. dr. William H. rabel, head of the insurance program, said, We are elated that Protective is helping out at this critical juncture in the programs development. over the years, Protective has been a wonderful resource for the University. They hire our students for internships and full-time jobs, assist us with speakers for student programs and provide volunteers for our committees. The contributions to the campaign will be used several ways, including maintaining a level of excellence in business education as judged by national standards; retaining our ranking as one of the premier public business schools in the nation; continuing to upgrade our world class teaching facilities; retaining and adding to the ranks of our outstanding faculty; and providing scholarships to deserving students. Hank rosso, author of achieving Excellence in fund raising, wrote many years ago, fund raising is values-based; values must guide the process. fundraising should never be undertaken simply to raise funds; it must serve the larger cause. our larger cause is producing the best business school graduates we can produce.

One of the great truths in fund-raising is that people give to people.

c h a r l i e a d a i r

college international Business ProgramsStudying and working abroad give Culverhouse students a unique

view of the world and themselves

>>

In England, Crystal McCants didnt

just smell the roses and take in

the beauty of a London park. She

learned to become more agile and

adaptable as a human being. In

Buenos Aires, Argentina, T.J. Murphy

didnt just scale the Andes with his

classmates. He learned more about

cultural differences and how to

prepare for the role those differences

play in conducting business

internationally. And in Gabon, Africa,

Lauren Wilder didnt just see an

elephant in someones garage while

spending four days in the middle of

a jungle. She learned what it truly

meant to see business from a global

perspective.

b y c a r m e n b r o w n


Thanks to faculty leadership and new curriculum developments, students at the culverhouse college of commerce and Business administration at The University of alabama are proving that studying and working abroad are no longer just for the wealthy, the privileged or the brave. in fact, many of them are studying out of the United states for the first time in their lives. not only can everyone do it, they say, but its imperative in todays marketplace. dr. chad Hilton, associate professor of management and marketing, has

directed international business programs in the college since 1998 and also serves as co-chair of the international Business advisory Board, which advises the college on curriculum issues. He has been responsible for internationalizing the programs both on an internal and external level and has recruited many business school students to study abroad. The bottom line for me is, its impossible to talk about business in 2009 and not talk about the global marketplace, Hilton said. Were in a multiplayer world now.

Hilton said the business school now accounts for 25 percent of all Ua students who study abroad, whether on a short-term or long-term basis, whereas liberal arts students once made up the majority. Many students still participate in traditional, well-known programs such as Uas alabama in spain program. However, Hilton said that because the number of students earning double majors in business and a foreign language is increasing, as well as an overall awareness of key players in the global marketplace, he has seen some surprising

Internatio

nal progra

ms and re

lated activ

ities have

been a pr

iority of the

college fo

r almost 5

0 years.

dean Paul

garner wa

s a visiona

ry and fore

saw the

acceleratin

g importa

nce of gl

obalization

at that

time. the

college has

a strong

executive a

dvisory

board that

has contin

ued to gui

de our inte

rnational

business in

itiatives as

they acce

lerate in im

portance.

our progra

m leading

to a double

major in a

foreign

language

and a tra

ditional bu

siness dis

cipline is

popular wi

th students

and has le

d to more s

tudents

studying a

broad. dur

ing the pas

t year, our

students

have spen

t time abro

ad in coun

tries rangi

ng from

Cuba to C

hina and h

ave return

ed with a

profoundly

changed v

iew of the

world.

J. Barry m

ason

Dean

thomas d.

russell

Professor of

Business Adm

inistration

f a l l 0 9 c b a . u a . e d u 6


new trends. Arabic has had a big uptake since 2001, although its still kind of slow, Hilton said. A growing number of students are also interested in learning Chinese. The business school can also take credit for having the first UA course taken in Cuba. That came in 2003 through the Cooper Cuba Initiative, which was established at UA by board of trustees member Angus Cooper and his brother David Cooper, both of Mobile. The Culverhouse College of Commerce was also the first

college at UA to send students to Turkey in 2008, as well as one of the first to send students to China in 2006 and 2007. Hilton said Culverhouse turns to leading universities, such as the University of South Carolina, the University of North Carolina, Florida International and the prestigious Thunderbird School of Global Management, to find benchmarks for its initiatives. UNC, for example, encourages all of its MBA students to participate in an international trip during their course of study, and

there are extensive opportunities for undergraduate students that go beyond just studying abroad their GLOBE program, for example, Hilton said. So, we look to such universities to get some measure of how well we are doing and to get an idea of the kinds of innovation we could successfully bring to our own programs. Currently, all of our Executive MBAs have to participate in a study-abroad experience, and we are considering international options for the regular MBA as well.

lasse sigurd seeim, consul general of norway, delivers the keynote address at a recent meeting international business advisory board of the culverhouse college of commerce and business administration. founded in 1992, the board of business and campus leaders assists the college of commerce in furthering its international initiatives.

f a l l 0 9 c b a . u a . e d u 8

Culverhouse faculty members lead international learning by example When it comes to learning about business issues from a global perspective, culverhouse faculty lead by example, not only encouraging their students to immerse themselves into other cultures, but by regularly traveling and teaching abroad themselves.

dr. alex Ellinger, professor of marketing and management, teaches supply chain management at BEM management school (formerly, the Bordeaux cole de Management) in france every three to four years. He is also

a member of the editorial board for supply chain forum: an international Journal published twice a year by the institute for supply chain Excellence of BEM. He described it as a unique and different experience that personifies multiculturalism. The students at Bordeaux are some of the worlds brightest students, Ellinger said. Theyre more globally attuned to what is going on. They come from all over the world and speak different languages, but they all understand English well enough for me to lecture in English. Ellinger suggested Ua business students should take introduction to global Business by their sophomore year, a course that is currently an elective but one that the business school is considering making a requirement. a lot of kids havent got a clue whats going on in the world, Ellinger said. Maybe by their junior year they may take a class on internationalism or study abroad, but they need to start

earlier. They need to be exposed by their sophomore year. dr. craig armstrong, assistant professor of entrepreneurship in the department of management and marketing, is teaching out of the country for the first time

this year. Through Uas partnership with the consortium of Universities for international studies, he is joining his wife and three children for

two years on the asolo campus in italy to teach an MBa class on entrepreneurship. He will share his experiences via his blog on culverhouse across the globe, the colleges new Web page through which faculty, staff, alumni and students can follow the international activities of their colleagues and peers via blogs, photos and videos. Having an international intelligence is just as important as all of their other subjects, like accounting and finance, armstrong said. its a necessary literacy. armstrong said that he has increasingly added international issues to his traditional business courses to expose students to current business topics around the world that can or will affect them in the future. He also said he plans to come back from italy with fresh ideas to incorporate into his courses at Ua. Every class should have an international element to it because the line between local and global is disappearing, and this needs to be reflected in the curriculum, armstrong said. dr. Benton gup, professor of finance and an international banking expert, has visited approximately 30 foreign

countries throughout his career as a financial expert, teacher and author. Having served as a visiting professor or research scholar at universities

around the world and at the U.s. comptroller of the currency, gup has often been sought after by the U.s. department of state to share his expertise with foreign governments. He most recently went to Morocco and Tunisia to explain the global financial crisis. He met with government leaders, bankers, businessmen, academicians and students. The financial crisis is a global problem; its not just our problem, gup said. My job was to explain the causes of the current financial crises that have spread around the globe and how governments are responding to it. Both Morocco and Tunisa are affected by it because of their close relationships with Europe. gup also recently spent four days in Vienna, austria, and athens, greece, where he discussed the U.s. economic crisis with austrian economists and financial experts. He also did an interview with English language radio station fM4 and talked with the local newspaper, die Presse. He has published or edited 28 books that deal with national and international financial issues, including his recent publication, Too Big to fail: Policies and Practices in government Bailouts. dr. glenn richey, associate professor of international marketing and supply chain management, teaches import-export management as part of the online MBa program. He also

dr. alex ellinger

dr. craig armstrong

dr. benton gup


teaches international issues in istanbul, an interim course that focuses on international trade issues in the third largest city in the world. The class tours istanbul, the cappadocia region and the aegean region containing the old greek cities, getting three different spins on economic issues in Turkey. richey said Turkey has one of the worlds leading emerging economies, and through the interim course, students can experience a culture where capitalism and islam merge successfully. He also noted that studying such a culture is invaluable when it comes to standing out in the business world. if youre going against a student from another southeastern college who went to spain, france or london, theres a significant shock factor, richey said. People will think, wow, what a difference. richey said European schools require travel for business students, and the masters program in the culverhouse college of commerce and Business is moving in that direction. a lot of students are apprehensive about traveling because of cost, but were working with the advisory board to find more ways to fund, richey said. Eighty percent of our students who travel have been funded through the

marketing department and the international business program. dr. lou Marino, professor of strategic management, has also taught entrepreneurship in the BEM management school in france. so far it is us going there, but were trying to make it reciprocal, Marino said. its very exciting. We get to work with executives

all over the world. not only do we get to work with them, we get to learn from them. Marino said that through

participating in the Bordeaux program, he has discovered new opportunities in finding capital and learning how to access it. The Bordeaux program has a specialized Wine MBa, which provides students with marketing and leadership skills they can use to succeed in the wine industry. Marino said international travel helps faculty and students. it allows faculty members to become a bridge to the network, he said. it shows that we have a world-class faculty. dr. Michael adams, coordinator of the doctoral program in applied statistics, said that although he does not specialize in international courses, he has traveled to several countries including germany, spain, china, Mexico and canada.

However, he clarifies that he did not start traveling until much later in life. When i was growing up i didnt get a chance to travel, adams said. i grew up in a small town in louisiana, and it never occurred to me that there was a whole other world out there. adams said the most intriguing country he has been to is china. china is exploding in the global market and a major player in international business, he said. it has over 4,000 years of history and culture. adams said he encourages his students to get out of alabama and into the world. The world is an extremely fascinating place, adams said. i want students to look past the boundaries they have made for themselves.

dr. lou marino

The Student Perspective for danielle Borsh, a senior double majoring in international business and italian, learning about business from an international perspective has been a passion cultivated since childhood. if we want to go way back, my passion for international travel, communication and business began when i was in middle school, Borsh said. By age 20, i had traveled to africa, south america and the majority of

Europe, not only for business, but also

photography and community

service. Most recently, Borsh was

the director of photography on a team that successfully produced a travel magazine, alpine living, which focused on france. When i think about international business, i become so excited and pumped for what lies ahead due to the experiences i have already had, she said. Borsh recently lived in italy for six months during which she studied abroad with the consortium of Universities for international studies. she studied topics in international business for three months. afterward she began working for Euro-fer, a multimillion dollar manufacturing company located in northern italy. Borsh served as the lead project manager in which she translated Euro-fers customized software-user-manual into English and then flew to the United Kingdom to present the manual to Euro-fers top clients. Borsh also facilitated communication between Euro-fers chinese counterparts and handled financial negotiations. she

aided the president of Euro-fer in understanding the chinese-English reports at one of Euro-fers plants in rizhao, china, a major port city. i also participated in the decision-making process dealing with key issues of manufacturing our products, employee placement and shipping methods, she said. she also partnered with Euro-fers vice president and developed a marketing plan to penetrate the australian market. i have learned major life lessons that many 20-year-olds are, unfortunately, not able to experience this early in life, Borsh said. i have come back to the University with a renewed energy to bring that opportunity to our students. one way she has brought her experiences back to Ua came after Hilton learned of an opportunity to reinstate aiEsEc, a nonprofit

organization run by students and recent graduates with a focus on world issues, leadership and management. aiEsEc offers its members customized international exchange or paid international jobs in various fields spanning 140 countries. its international office is in rotterdam, netherlands. The aiEsEc network included 35,000 students in 107 countries and territories as of June 2009. it is present in more than 1,700 universities across the globe and sends students on 5,500 international exchanges yearly. Borsh, who serves as the local committee president, is working with several of her peers to establish

an aiEsEc chapter at Ua. We have planned a full startup by spring of 2010, Borsh said. We will begin with our first recruiting class in the fall of 2009. We will be extremely proactive in our start-up phases with goals ranging from sending our first student abroad to solidifying our leadership staff. Borsh is also working on an independent project with Hilton in which she is writing a business proposal geared toward developing a joint venture between Euro-fer and an american distribution company based in Houston. dr. Hilton as well as many of my other business professors have sat with me and helped me out a great deal in figuring out the path i would take when developing my plan, Borsh said. They also have served to be amazing social networkers, helping to get me in contact with key people to make

my proposal stand out. lauren Wilder,

who graduated from the MBa program in 2007, now works in the global negotiations and Business

division for south america

and West africa for Hess corp., a leading global energy company engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. she has traveled extensively to south america but recently spent some time in a remote village outside of libreville, the capital of gabon, which proved to be a very different experience. i was in the middle of nowhere, like in the middle of the jungle, Wilder said, laughing. There were elephants all over the place. i even saw an elephant in someones garage and took a picture of it. i thought that was interesting. Wilder said that while her MBa degree prepared her for her career,

I was in the middle of nowhere, like in the middle of the jungle,lauren wilder

f a l l 0 9 c b a . u a . e d u 1 0

1 1 c u l v e r h o u s e c o l l e g e o f c o m m e r c e

she never anticipated she would have a job where she would have experiences such as the one in gabon. i never anticipated i would get a job with an international focus where i would be studying business from a global perspective, Wilder said. students have to be prepared. its important because a lot of business is global. companies are everywhere now. Business students Wilson Boardman and austin and garrett shirey, brothers, recently studied with other Ua students in Havana, cuba, as part of the cooper cuba initiative. Boardman, a senior majoring in finance, said he was able to take classes in U.s.-cuban relations, spanish conversation and grammar, cuban culture and a review course all through Uas spanish department. i carried a lot of preconceptions, Boardman said. i thought surely someone would have a grudge because im from the U.s. and, incredibly, it never happened. Boardman said he saw connections to the United states that he did not realize before, such as the fact that many people in cuba have family in the United states. The U.s. also does a lot of business with cuba that we dont realize, Boardman said. We have that program here at Ua because a lot of alumni have a vested interest in cuba, so good relations are important. Beardman is now considering teaching high school spanish or economics for Teach for america. Traveling has definitely helped direct me in my future career

leanings, Boardman said. Thanks to The University of alabama, i was able to do it. Theyre always willing to help students who want to do this.

crystal Mccants, who graduated from the business school in 2007 with a degree in marketing, participated in the london internship program, working with Universal Pictures in the special-interest department. she also worked on a presentation for HMV group, an international entertainment retail chain based in Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. Mccants, who had previously interned with MTV networks in atlanta and radio stations WBHJ 95.7 in Birmingham, said her experience in london was a step outside of her comfort zone, but the reward was worth it. Everything i had done was in the entertainment industry, and traveling abroad was the only thing i hadnt done, Mccants said. i wanted to broaden my horizons, so going to london was like a baby step for me as far as traveling internationally. Mccants said her trip changed her in two main ways.

first, on a personal level, it made me more agile and adaptable, Mccants said. secondly, it really helped to highlight my professional career. in 75 percent of my

interviews after graduation, they asked me about my experience in london. chela canler, a senior majoring in marketing, recently participated in an internship program in dublin, ireland. she was placed with Marketing network, the premiere marketing firm in ireland. i honestly fell in love with ireland, canler said. The people, the music, the land. all beautiful. canler said she was assigned real tasks for current projects the company was working on. she said she felt her work input really mattered to her colleagues, and she got to see quite a few projects from start to finish, which gave her a great sense of accomplishment. i wouldnt change it for the world, canler said. in the end, i left with a lot of good experience in the marketing field, but more notably, a job offer to work with them there in dublin as soon as i graduate.

brothers garrett and austin shirey, both business school students, in havana, cuba

Executive MBA for one subset of students, those in the Manderson graduate school, travel is a requirement. The Executive MBa program, a weekend cohort that targets working professionals, requires students to travel abroad as part of their global business course in which students research and make strategic recommendations to improve business practices for a specific company or industry. in 2009, EMBa students traveled to Buenos aires, argentina, and santiago, chile. companies visited included Johnson control argentina; globant; Empresa nacional de aeronautica de chile (EnaEr, chiles national aeronautical enterprise); X-strata; and the Via anakena winery located at the foothills of the andes. The trip provided students with an opportunity to observe people and their cultures and interact with top business leaders. for some in the EMBa class of 2009, it was the first time they had traveled outside the U.s. i thought i was prepared to experience a week of business study in latin america; i was wrong, said Tim smalley, managing partner at Byrd, smalley, Evan and adams P.c. My mental images were shattered and replaced with a love and respect for a wonderful region of the world that is aesthetically and architecturally beautiful, smalley said. The trip affords an opportunity to really immerse oneself in the way business is conducted in another country, by understanding culture and history, while meeting with business professionals, he said. Brian Middleton, a 2009 EMBa graduate and six sigma Black

Belt at Johnson controls in Tuscaloosa, had also never traveled outside the U.s. and found it to be an exciting, yet humbling experience. When we visited one of Johnson controls facilities in argentina, one striking difference was the extensive and sole use of manual labor, whereas in the U.s. we would have employed computers or robots, Middleton said. another difference is the credit markets. Every five years they experience a dip financially, but they adapt quite well. Theyre very happy because theyve been there and they know theyll get through it. according to Barry Kimbrell, an EMBa 2009 graduate and safety and security manager with chevron Mining, There is a difference in reading about latin american markets and experiencing firsthand and hearing from key executives about how its impacting their business day to day. He further said, While in argentina we witnessed the economic downturn with layoffs at coca-cola and a line shutdown at ford argentina. Meanwhile, we visited globant, and in spite of the economic situation in the U.s., they are one of the fastest-growing companies in argentina. We felt we were visiting a future power player in the internet and software industry. amy Webb, a 2009 EMBa graduate and electrolytic area leader for Tronox llc, said her group was assigned to study globant, the google of south america. Webb said her research could not

prepare her for the actual visit to south america. The trip impacted my career by giving me a deeper appreciation for business cultures outside of my domestic experiences, Webb said. i had the opportunity to participate on multicultural teams with Tronox. This experience has shown me that a little background work on the different cultures can improve the teams performance. another 2009 EMBa graduate, dave Patterson, manager of drs Test and Energy Management, was intrigued by his visits to EnaEr, which conducts maintenance repair for the latin american air force, and Johnson controls in argentina. i have traveled out of the country before, but it was always to the United Kingdom. going to south america for the first time was a life-altering experience, Patterson said. i didnt realize how much south america influenced world economy. for instance, Johnson controls makes 90 percent of the worlds batteries. You always hear about Europe, but you never hear about latin america. That was an eye-opener

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Internships Abroad Kristi Wheeler-griffin, internship coordinator for the business school, said c&Ba currently offers summer internships in london and dublin, ireland. in order to enroll in these programs, students must have earned at least 60 hours, have at least a 2.5 overall gPa and be enrolled in the upper division of the business school. although it would be difficult to pinpoint a percentage of eligible business students who intern abroad, the london program has grown significantly since it launched in 2004, Wheeler-griffin said. By 2005, program enrollment had increased by 84 percent. in 2008, the dublin program was added to offer another option for students. Wheeler-griffin said london and dublin are good choices for students who have had little to no traveling-abroad experience. These destinations combine the familiarity of an English-speaking environment with a new and unique cultural and business atmosphere. as interest continues to build, mostly through word-of-mouth among students, other destinations may be considered. Even though these countries are English-

speaking, students are often surprised at the cultural and workplace differences. Wheeler-griffin said traveling abroad for an internship is an invaluable supplement to what students learn in the classroom. already having work experience, especially international experience, carries a lot of weight with employers, Wheeler-griffin said. Working overseas cultivates an awareness of contemporary practices in the global economy, which often gives students an advantage in competing for jobs upon graduation. The unique exposure to business practices and work environments outside ones comfort zone is prominent on a rsum. an internship abroad will surely come up during an interview because its an excellent example of the confidence and initiative it takes to seek out and welcome new challenges. The seven-week program in dublin is made possible through collaboration with the European Union studies association, c&Ba, the college of communication and information sciences and Uas capstone international programs.

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alabama international Trade centerStudents go global with careers after completing internships on campus

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London, Paris, maybe Tokyo. Thats not just a line from a pop song, but places where University of alabama students have landed jobs after completing internships on campus at the W.r. Bennett alabama international Trade center (aiTc). More often, students find international jobs here in the states, thanks to this 30-year-old program that leverages University resources to help alabama firms expand internationally. i found out about the world of

importing and exporting at the trade center, said fiona nguyen, a recent Mis graduate. There are many small businesses involved, not just the large ones. nguyen had the opportunity to assist a delegation of executives from Vietnam hosted by the trade center as part of its emerging markets program. she and aiTc professional staff members accompanied the group to an international trade show in chicago and organized meetings with U.s. companies. i met presidents of companies from Vietnam, nguyen said. it was interesting to hear how they will introduce U.s. products to the market in Vietnam. Her experience is not unique. Hundreds of Ua students both graduate and undergraduate have worked at the campus center and

launched trade careers since its inception in 1979. The center is part of Uas service mission and helps existing industry increase international business and expand the states economy. dr. William r. Bennett, professor of international marketing, founded the center and served as its first director from 1979 to 1985. Upon his retirement, the center was named in his honor. from day one, center students developed professions as diplomats with the U.s. state department,

export managers with manufacturers, international

bankers and international business professors at universities in places far and near. Heres how it works. students conduct research for aiTc clients small businesses in the state and region

interested in expanding overseas sales. research

is based on client needs and includes finding foreign distributors, locating tariff and import regulations and providing statistics on product shipments worldwide. clients use the information along with other center services to increase export sales. Todays students are not only tech-savvy but also travel abroad and speak other languages. This summer Peter Jay, a student in the joint MBa-Jd program, had prior experience selling to russia and Eastern Europe. He speaks russian and has started two internet retail companies. i knew the export process, but ive gained more knowledge about domestic and export financing, Jay said. ive helped prepare loan packages for potential bank financing for center clients. students play a vital role in our daily work with over 200 small firms each year, said Michael Brooks,

aiTc assistant director of research. They conduct research for a variety of products from candy to computer software. its never a dull moment at the Bidgood office. The trade center has also been a supply pipeline for students entering the global logistics field. one top freight-forwarding firm, Expeditors international, had 10 trade center graduates in its atlanta office at one time. charlie aleman, a 2005 graduate from orlando, worked four semesters while studying finance. He was one of 10 people nationwide selected for a training program with global logistics firm Maersk and was recently posted to dubai, United arab Emirates. carolyn Turner, a former international business honors student, returned to Ua to complete a graduate degree in supply chain management. she works at the trade center. Turner passed the rigorous U.s. customs Exam and obtained a customs broker license. student profiles and success are posted on the aiTc Web site to help recruit new interns and sway future students to enroll at Ua. not surprisingly, children of former graduates and clients are interested in working at the trade center. a former client in guatemala recently sent an e-mail asking for Ua admissions information for his daughter. With annual public and private support, especially from the small Business administration, about 1520 students gain practical work experience each year and continue the tradition that Bennett started in the late 1970s. Thats good news for alabama companies that want to expand sales abroad and for students that need a springboard for international trade careers.

I met presidents of companies from Vietnam, Nguyen said. It was interesting to hear how they will introduce U.S. products to the market in Vietnam.

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Hall of fameFour distinguished business figures inducted

four of the states leading business and civic leaders were inducted into the alabama Business Hall of fame last month at a black-tie dinner at the Bryant conference center on The University of alabama campus. This year marked the 36th anniversary of the Hall of fame, sponsored by the Board of Visitors of Uas culverhouse college of commerce and Business administration. The four inductees exemplify hard work and determination as well as a commitment to excellence and the betterment of their community. More than 130 prominent business leaders have been inducted into the business hall of fame, and their likenesses are embossed on plaques that line the walls of the Hall of fame room in Bidgood Hall on the University campus.

The 2009 alabama Business Hall of fame inductees are:

Mike Jenkins iv, Chairman and Chief Executive

Officer, Jenkins Brick Co.

the late thomas e. Jernigan,

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Marathon Corporation

carl e. Jones Jr., former President and Chief Executive Officer, Regions

Financial Corp.

John russell thomas, Chairman of the Board, Aliant

Financial Corp.

p r o f i l e s b y c a r o l i n e b e a r d


Mike Jenkins iVChairman, Chief Executive OfficerJenkins Brick co.

(1940) To some, the word green indicates a lack of knowledge or experience. although Mike Jenkins is certainly green, with more than 40 years in the brick industry he is anything but inexperienced. as the fourth generation at the helm of Jenkins Brick co., he helped revolutionize the brick-making process in 1998, becoming one of the industrys first manufacturers to use landfill gas rather than natural gas for firing the kilns. Jenkins Brick is the largest user of earth-friendly methane gas in the brick industry, and the company also harvests stormwater from the roofs of its manufacturing plants for use during production. as worker-friendly as he is environmentally conscious, Jenkins treats his employees in an exemplary manner. from corporate executives to workers stacking brick, everyone is an associate, and each associate receives the same benefits. Everyone at Jenkins Brick is on a first-name basis, and Jenkins ensures equal treatment of all associates.

Jenkins has not always been an experienced and resourceful leader in the brick industry, however. in 1960, the 18-year-old graduated from sidney lanier High school in Montgomery, ala. Jenkins attended Washington and lee University in Virginia and graduated in 1964 with a bachelors degree in political science and four years of roTc training. He was then commissioned by the U.s. army and served two years of active duty in Korea as an infantry officer. Jenkins received his parachutist badge as well as the Expert infantryman Badge, and he was the only officer below the rank of major to receive the army commendation Medal during the 13-month tour. after an honorable discharge in november 1966, Jenkins began his career with Jenkins Brick co., a business founded in the late 1800s by his great-grandfather. Jenkins learned every aspect of the family trade, beginning in sales and working his way up to plant manager. He also continued his education, earning a masters degree in ceramic engineering from clemson University in 1969. in 1974, Jenkins advanced to the position of chief executive officer of the company, which at that time had three distribution locations in alabama and florida. Today, Jenkins Brick operates in nearly 30 locations throughout the southeast, manufacturing and distributing its own brick as well as brick and building materials manufactured by others.

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Jenkins Brick co. has plants in coosada, Montgomery and st. clair county in alabama, which together produce more than 326 million bricks annually. in 1998, the plant in Montgomery was converted to run on landfill gas, and it now produces 110 million bricks each year while saving energy and benefiting the environment. The coosada plant, originally built in 1959, began to produce high-end specialty brick in 2004 and makes 80 million bricks annually. in 2006, Jenkins Brick built the st. clair county facility, placing it just six miles from the local landfill so the kilns could be fueled with the methane gas produced by the waste. The companys current use of landfill methane reduces greenhouse gases each year in an amount equal to planting 14,700 acres of forest, removing the emission of 13,700 vehicles or preventing the use of 166,600 barrels of oil. Throughout the years, Jenkins Brick co. has been recognized numerous times for outstanding business and environmental practices. The United states Environmental Protection agency awarded Jenkins Brick with the 2006 Project of the Year, honoring the companys earth-friendly plant in st. clair county. Jenkins Brick was selected as one of 11 businesses worldwide to participate in a Harvard University study called, The Project on global Working families. The green-minded Jenkins Brick is also a two-time recipient of the alabama Wildlife federation governors conservation achievement award for air conservationist of the Year, receiving the honor in 1999 and again in 2007. Jenkins Brick also received the alabama Technology council and Business council of alabama award for Medium Manufacturer of the Year in 2007. The same year, the Montgomery area Business committee for the arts, a national nonprofit organization uniting business and the arts, recognized the companys involvement in the arts in Montgomery with the 2007 Business in the arts award. Then in 2008, Jenkins Brick received MaX credit Unions EcoMax green leadership award and was also named among inc. magazines Top 5,000 fastest-growing Private companies in america. Jenkins, like his company, has amassed a number of awards for business leadership and community service. in 1999, Jenkins alma mater, Washington and lee University, selected him as one of 250 leading alumni in honor of the schools 250th anniversary. Jenkins high school, sidney lanier, honored him with the title of outstanding alumnus. Jenkins received the Martin luther King Jr., community service award from the alpha Phi alpha fraternity, and the community leadership association awarded him its distinguished leadership award. in 2008, the Montgomery chapter of the american institute of architects recognized Jenkins outstanding contributions to the architectural profession, awarding him the Mike Barrett Memorial award. Most recently, Jenkins received the highest honor in his industry, the Brick institute of americas lifetime achievement award. Jenkins has not only served as the leader of his company for

decades, he has also been involved in numerous civic and service organizations, generously giving his time and leadership to the community. in the past, Jenkins acted as director and vice chairman of both the Montgomery area United Way and the Montgomery red cross, and he directed the United Ways 1999 capital campaign. He also served as a trustee for both the alabama institute for the deaf and Blind foundation and the nature conservancy of alabama. as a co-founder and an original steering committee member, Jenkins contributed to the formation of leadership Montgomery and is co-founder, past chairman and current director of leadership alabama, organizations which foster relationships that bridge social and ethnic boundaries. He is a past director of Jackson Hospital, the national Episcopal church foundation and the Montgomery area YMca. over the years, Jenkins has been involved in a number of educational causes throughout the state and the country. He was a director of the alumni board at Washington and lee and served on the board of governors for the alabama association of Private colleges and Universities. He served as president and board chairman of Montgomery academy, and he served as a director of the Montgomery city-county Public library. in business, Jenkins has served as chairman of the rebel chapter of the Young Presidents organization and director of the society of international Business fellows. He is a former chairman of the Montgomery chamber of commerce, a former director and vice chairman of the alabama association of Business and industry and a director of the Business council of alabama. currently, Jenkins continues to lead in numerous organizations. He serves as director of the alabama archives and History foundation and is a trustee of The University of alabama Museums. Jenkins also serves as director and vice chairman of the Brick industry association and director of the Business council of alabama. in education, he is a director of the alabama state University foundation and a trustee of Huntingdon college. Jenkins also holds memberships in the chief Executive organization, the society of international Business fellows and the World Presidents organization. in 2007, the position of president of Jenkins Brick was filled by someone Jenkins wholeheartedly trusts: his son, Mike Jenkins V. The senior Jenkins said he did not want his son to feel forced into the family business. i was very conscious to neither discourage nor encourage him to choose this path, he said. But the younger Jenkins chose the brick-making profession, and worked his way through the ranks of the company. Jenkins said, seeing my son now as an integral part of the company is one of the great pleasures of life. Jenkins and his wife, Kent, have four children and 10 grandchildren, with another grandchild on the way. He lives in Montgomery where he continues to serve as cEo and chairman of Jenkins Brick co.


Thomas E. JerniganChairman and Chief Executive OfficerMarathon corporation

(19232008) The life of Thomas E. Jernigan was the proverbial american dream. from humble beginnings in rural alabama, Jernigan grew to become successful in every endeavor he attempted. Born in atmore, ala., in 1923, Jernigan later moved to frisco city in Monroe county. He grew up on a farm with his brothers, ferrell and carl, and sister, loretta. after graduating from high school, Jernigan joined the United states air force and served two years during World War ii. When he returned from military service, he attended The University of alabama. after completing his studies, Jernigan settled in Mountain Brook, ala., where he raised his family and emerged as a business leader within the community and around the southeast. Jernigan began his entrepreneurial endeavors by developing a line of childrens playground equipment. in 1965, he founded

Plantation Pattern co., a manufacturer of wrought iron casual furniture, which still is operating today. four years later, Jernigan founded United chair co., an office furniture manufacturer. United chair exists today as a member of the groupe lacasse family of brands. showing no signs of slowing, in 1970 Jernigan founded Marathon realty co. to build and develop commercial properties. The company primarily did business in the Birmingham market in alabama and the fort lauderdale and Tampa markets in florida. in 1971, he decided to test his skills with an additional challenge. He founded Marathon Equipment co., a maker of commercial and industrial trash compaction equipment. during the time Jernigan was at the helm of Marathon Equipment, the company was recognized as the largest commercial trash compaction manufacturer in the world and a key supplier to some of the largest waste removal companies, such as Waste Management and Bfi. like most of Jernigans companies, Marathon Equipment received many awards and commendations from its suppliers. from its original plant in Vernon, ala., Marathon added a new plant in Yerington, nev., in december 1985 and another

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plant in clearfield, Pa., in 1989. The company began selling its products overseas, meeting waste management needs in australia, Mexico, central america and the Middle East. in 1972, Jernigan became cEo of delwood furniture, a corporation that consisted of six individual manufacturing companies specializing in home and office furniture. not one to rest on the laurels of his mounting business successes, Jernigan put another idea into action in 1973. He developed the concept of neighborhood convenience stores in alabama, an idea that caught on incredibly well. Jernigan founded and built a chain of 80 Quick Marts throughout the state. Jernigan started yet another successful business venture in 1976 when he founded Winston furniture co. in Haleyville, ala. Winston still is a leading manufacturer of aluminum outdoor casual furniture. The company began by making basic wrought iron furniture but soon added simple aluminum furniture with vinyl straps. Winston broadened and modified the materials it used, becoming the first company to develop cushioned fabrics for outdoor use. These new fabrics contained special mildew-resistant fibers and ultraviolet light stabilizers that helped the furniture withstand the elements. in 1982, a revolution hit the casual furniture industry, with Winston at the forefront of the trend. Winston introduced sling furniture, a type of furnishing in which panels of special fabric are pulled taut through the furniture frame, resulting in sleek, comfortable, low-maintenance furniture. The Winston furniture line includes both cushion and sling furniture in varying styles, finishes and fabrics. in addition to his other business ventures, Jernigan was active in the banking industry. He was an original director of the central Bank and Trust co., which eventually became compass Bank. Jernigans longtime friend and business colleague, Harry B. Brock, president and cEo of compass Bank, said Jernigan was instrumental in changing the states banking industry. He was a key player and investor in the formation of central and state national corp., a move that sparked the formation of bank-holding companies in alabama. in 1992, Jernigan became interested in the apparel industry. consistent with his progressive thinking, he was able to marry this new business to a philanthropic course. Marathon apparel was born under his hand and over a 15-year period donated more than $5 million to a variety of wildlife and conservation organizations, such as ducks Unlimited, the audubon society, the nature conservancy, the national Turkey foundation, Quail Unlimited and others. Marathon corp. has enjoyed several years of success, and it has consistently given back to the community. in 2001, Marathon donated $1 million to the relief centers in new York city following the attack on the World Trade center. in 2005, Marathon donated clothing and food to victims of Hurricane Katrina and has helped flood and tornado victims across the country. Through the Thomas E. Jernigan foundation, a program was started in Birmingham to help churches provide holiday relief for people in need.

Throughout his life and his many successful business endeavors, Jernigan always remembered people in need. He donated generously to the United Way, the salvation army, the american Heart association, the american cancer society, childrens Hospital, the Big oak ranch, Junior achievement, Juvenile diabetes, Habitat for Humanity, cornerstone schools and many other organizations. His grant started the first and only camp for children with cancer in the southeast. This was done in cooperation with campfire Usa of central alabama and childrens Hospital. He also funded medical research at local hospitals. in 1995, the association of fundraising Professionals presented Jernigan with the William M. and Virginia B. spencer award for outstanding Philanthropist. The United Way of central alabama honored Jernigan in 2007, awarding him membership in the alexis de Toqueville society in recognition of his generous gifts. during his long and busy career, Jernigan also gave much of his time and money to education. He was a member of the board of trustees for Birmingham southern college, and in honor of his years of service, the school awarded him an honorary doctor of laws. He also served on the Mountain Brook city schools foundation board of directors and the advisory Board at The University of alabama at Birmingham. He established endowments at Birmingham southern, samford University and The University of alabama, both the Tuscaloosa and Birmingham campuses. These endowments created scholarships that still provide deserving college and nursing students with the opportunities to pursue higher education. Jernigan also held memberships at country clubs throughout alabama, florida and north carolina. He enjoyed socializing with colleagues and friends in his spare time and was involved in the Birmingham rotary club, the Young Presidents organization, and the roMEos (retired old Men Eating out). Jernigan passed away in January 2008 after battling leukemia. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, donna conyers Jernigan, and his four children, Thomas E. Jernigan Jr., lisa Jernigan Bruhn, Mary conyers Jernigan and Jonathan Winston Jernigan. Jernigan remained chairman and chief executive of Marathon corp. until his death. frank falkenburg, a longtime business partner and friend, summed up Jernigans life and character: He was as tough and sweet a man as i have ever known. He could be the most rugged person you might meet, and then hed write a check for some little town in Mississippi that he read about in the newspaper trying to get over Hurricane Katrina. dr. neal Berte, president emeritus, Birmingham southern college, said of Jernigan: By any standard, the Birmingham community and beyond has benefited greatly from the quiet but generous philanthropy of one of our most successful businessmen. Thomas E. Jernigan is one of Birminghams most successful entrepreneurs and businessmen, and his legacy of leadership will live on in the future, including those who are fortunate enough to receive a Thomas E. Jernigan Honor scholarship.


carl E. Jones Jr.Chairmanregions Financial corp.

(1940) carl E. Jones Jr. graduated from The University of alabama in 1962 with a degree in finance and two job offers. He chose to take the position of management trainee at Merchants national Bank of Mobile, a small decision that set the stage for a long and extremely successful banking career. Jones began his career selling data processing services to smaller community banks and later became a commercial lender. Then in 1978, just 14 years after his arrival at Merchants national, Jones was promoted to president of the Mobile bank, making him the youngest president of a major bank in alabama. By 1981, he was president, chairman and chief executive officer of the bank in Mobile. later in the same year, regions financial corp., then known as first alabama Bancshares, acquired Merchants national, and

in 1984 Jones became a regional president, overseeing the banks in louisiana and south alabama. in 1997, Jones advanced to become president and chief operating officer for regions nationally, and in the following year, he took on the role of chief executive officer. Two years later in 2000, Jones took on the additional role of chairman of regions financial corp. at that time, regions held just more than $23 billion in assets and consisted of 435 offices in eight states. Under Jones leadership, the bank nearly quadrupled in size through acquisitions and internal growth, becoming one of the top 15 bank-holding companies in the U.s. as Jones reached age 65 and stepped down as cEo in May 2005, regions had more than $84 billion in assets and five million customers served by 1,400 offices in 16 states. While Jones served as cEo, earnings increased every year and the annual dividend was also raised yearly up to $1.40. When he retired, regions financial was the largest publicly traded company in alabama, as measured by stock market values. Jones, who fully retired in april of 2006, says that he was just privileged to be there with a hand on the steering wheel while

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all that was happening. The hands on the steering wheel were more able than the modest banker would admit. J. stanley Mackin, the former cEo of regions, said Jones is not only a seasoned banker, but he is a man of exceptional integrity. Throughout his life, Jones has demonstrated true leadership qualities, as well as the motivation to succeed. in high school, he was elected president of his senior class and the student council, along with acting as captain of the basketball team. He graduated as the top student in his class from University Military school in Mobile before continuing on to The University of alabama. Jones also stood out as a leader among his peers in the college setting. He served as president of the Kappa alpha fraternity, chairman of the senate finance committee in the student government association and chairman of the student Health insurance commission. during his senior year, he was recognized with the award for outstanding sga senator, and the alabama Bankers association presented him with the award for outstanding student in banking and finance. after graduating from The University of alabama, Jones continued his education, attending louisiana state University graduate school of Banking, the national commercial lending school at the University of oklahoma and the graduate school of credit and financial Management at dartmouth. in spite of many additional years of education after graduating from The University of alabama, Jones never forgot his original alma mater. as an alumnus, he has served on the Board of Visitors for the college of commerce and Business administration for nearly 30 years. He has held a seat on every Presidents cabinet since david Mathews term in 1969. during the Universitys capital campaigns, Jones volunteered his time, including serving as one of four co-chairmen of the very successful national capital campaign completed this summer. His wife, ann, whom he met while they were both in school at the University, was another co-chairman, and the teams combined efforts exceeded the $500 million goal by 22 percent as they raised more than $612 million. in 2005, regions financial established an endowed scholarship fund at The University of alabama in honor of Jones. The company donated $1 million for full tuition scholarships for dependents of regions employees. Jones and his wife, ann, tripled the amount with an additional $2 million gift of their own. currently, over 20 students are utilizing these awards. Jones generosity and years of hard work for The University of alabama have not gone without recognition. Jones and his wife received the Volunteer in Philanthropy award in november 2006. in 2007, the couple was again honored at the University, this time with the frances s. summersell award given by the Ua chapter of omicron delta Kappa. in addition to his involvement with the University, Jones has also given his time to numerous organizations throughout the years. He has served on several boards of directors, including the federal reserve Bank of new orleans, the alabama dry dock and shipbuilding co., the alabama chamber of commerce

and the alabama Bankers Educational foundation. Jones was an 18-year member of the alabama Power company board of directors, and he was also on the board of the financial services roundtable, a national trade association of the 100 largest financial institutions. Jones chaired both the alabama Bankers commercial credit committee and the Mobile area chamber of commerce, and he was a trustee for the Public affairs research council of alabama and the Economic development Partnership of alabama. somehow, in addition to serving many professional organizations throughout the southeast, Jones found time to give to numerous civic groups. He served as president for the Mobile Junior chamber of commerce, Mobile azalea Trail, Mobile allied arts council and Mobile rotary club and national president of americas Junior Miss. Jones was very involved in education, as well, serving as a chairman for the UMs-Wright Preparatory school board of trustees and trustee for the Mobile Pre-school for the deaf. He also served as the executive vice president of the Mobile arts and sports association and vice chairman of infirmary Health system. He is currently active at the cathedral church of the advent. for his years of dedication to both the banking business and philanthropic causes throughout alabama, Jones has received much recognition. in 1972, Jones was named Mobiles outstanding Young Man of the Year and then a year later became alabamas outstanding Young Banker of the Year. Jones high school, UMs-Wright, named him alumnus of the Year in 1992. The national association for community leadership presented him with the 1997 distinguished leadership award. in november 2004, the newcomen society honored regions and its cEo by naming regions as the featured alabama company of the year. When Jones retired in 2006, operation new Birmingham recognized him with the lifetime achievement award, and then in 2007, the Birmingham Business Journal presented him with its lifetime achievement award. Today, Jones enjoys retirement in Birmingham with ann, his wife of 47 years. They have two adult children and three grandchildren.


John russell ThomasChairman, Chief Executive Officer, Presidentaliant Financial corp.

(1937) Years before the birth of John russell Thomas, his family had already left an indelible mark on the community of alexander city, ala. The russells were among the first settlers in Tallapoosa county. in 1902, John russells great-uncle founded russell Manufacturing co., a small textile manufacturing operation that grew to become the international athletic apparel and equipment manufacturer known as russell corp. When John russell Thomas was born to russell and crawford Thomas on aug. 1, 1937, it seemed apparent he would continue the family legacy. He started preparing for a future career in the textile industry as soon as he could. Beginning on his 16th birthday, Thomas worked during the summers at russell corp. after graduating from Baylor school in chattanooga, Tenn., in 1956, he attended georgia Tech. four years later, Thomas graduated with a bachelors degree in textile engineering. He then spent 1961 and 1962 in graduate school at The University of alabama school of Business

administration. during his time in Tuscaloosa, he met Tate Jordan, whom he married in 1962. after serving two years of active duty as a first lieutenant in the U.s. army, Thomas returned home to take the position of vice president in charge of systems and engineering at russell corp., the job he had planned for and anticipated most of his life. His wife, Tate, gave birth to twin boys, John J. Thomas and russell l. Thomas in 1965. in 1966, not long after becoming a father himself, Thomas lost his own father. russell Thomas had been chief executive officer of first national Bank of alexander city, founded in 1900 by the same uncle who created russell corp., and the Thomas family held controlling interest in the financial institution. after his fathers death and issues with management succession, Thomas was forced to choose between selling the bank or running it himself. He chose the latter. although Thomas had been a director of the bank for eight years, he knew little about the operation and inner workings of a bank, and he had certainly never planned on a career in banking. His college education readied him for a future in the textile industry, specifically working in the family business at russell corp. Thomas now found himself preparing to work in the family business, but in an entirely different industry. faced with this midlife career switch, Thomas left little

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to luck. He signed up for every available alabama Bankers association seminar and as many american Bankers association seminars as he could. He enrolled at the school of Banking of the south at louisiana state University, and he went to consumer lending school. Thomas learned everything he could from every knowledgeable source available. He realized that other banks possessed a great wealth of knowledge, and as a licensed pilot, he was able to fly around the southeast collecting advice and tips from more experienced bankers. all the hours Thomas logged trying to learn the ropes paid off; when he first took the helm at first national Bank in 1973, the bank was a small but solid operation squeezed into building it had outgrown. it had $33 million in assets and two electric calculators. in 2008, the multibank-holding company, now called aliant financial corp., reported more than $972 million in assets. in his 35 years, Thomas has seen and helped facilitate a great deal of growth for the bank. one of the issues he immediately recognized was the need for space; aliant has since expanded to three separate regional divisions, including more than 20 branches in the Birmingham, Montgomery and Tallapoosa areas. from the start, Thomas also realized that technology would play an important role in the future of banking. Within his first three months, the bank had purchased its first computer, and today, aliant offers a full range of computerized online banking services. Thomas credits the success of the bank to its attention to basics and people. Thomas believes in finding good employees and giving them the proper training, motivation and equipment. often, to find the right people, Thomas goes straight to the source, visiting local schools and recruiting talented young students to join the aliant team. He also believes in treating his employees fairly, something the Birmingham Business Journal recognized when they named aliant among the best places to work in 2008. during his time with aliant, Thomas has worked diligently to help foster and instill the corporations core values of serving, positive attitude, outperforming, accountability and trust and to help build the bank that is small enough to listen, large enough to be effective. according to Thomas, golfing has also been a major player in his banking career. a member of five country clubs around the southeast, he sees golf as not only good recreation but also as great networking; on the course, he has met and befriended other bankers from around alabama and across the country. While Thomas enjoys spending some of his free time hunting and traveling, he also gives a great deal of his time back to the community. over the years, he has worked actively to promote better banking and business throughout alabama, serving on boards of directors for multiple corporations and groups across the state. in 1986, just 13 years after the start of his banking career, Thomas was chosen as president of the alabama Bankers association. in Montgomery, Thomas served on the board for the alabama Housing finance authority, a public corporation that offers affordable financing for housing to low-income alabama

families. He served on the board of directors for Huntingdon college and spent 19 years on the board for alfa insurance corp., which services more than one million policies across 12 states. in alexander city, Thomas served on the board of russell Medical center and russell lands, and he served 40 years on the board of russell corp. He was also chairman of the alexander city Board of Education and president of the alexander city chamber of commerce. Throughout the years, Thomas has given generously to philanthropic and political causes. He chaired the fundraising campaign for the Big Brothers and Big sisters sports Ball of greater Birmingham in 2005. in recognition of his contributions to the United Way, he was honored by the alexis de Tocqueville society. currently, he is on the board of directors for the Business council of alabama, as well as a number of groups promoting education. although he graduated from The University of alabama in 1962, Thomas has never ceased to be involved with the system campuses. He served on the Presidents council of The University of alabama at Birmingham, and he was a member of the Board of Trustees of The University of alabama for 13 years. Today, Thomas is a member of the board of directors for the UaB Health system. He serves on The University of alabama Presidents cabinet and the Board of Visitors of the business school, as well as the athletic foundation, and he is chairman of the 1831 foundation. Thomas married claudia Paden Thompson in 1995 after the death of his wife, Tate, in 1992. Together they have four children, russell l. Thomas, John J. Thomas, laurie Mcgill and reynolds Thompson and 10 grandchildren. in the face of todays economic turmoil, Thomas remains optimistic. He is ever confident in his employees, saying that aliants great team truly has the grit to take the rough but necessary measures to weather the storm. While the next few years may not be the easiest, Thomas notes that aliant has already survived a depression and two world wars, and he envisions a solid future for aliant. Throughout its 109-year history, aliant has seen good times and bad. By keeping a clear head and steadily moving forward with one foot in front of the other, we expect to meet our difficult challenges.


Tide-fiMIS class develops a free wireless Internet service for the Strip

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The next time you are on the strip for a meal or tailgating before a University of alabama football game, you may notice that its easier to connect to the internet. a management information systems class in the culverhouse college of commerce has developed a publically available wireless internet service that is free for patrons of shops and restaurants on the strip.

The retail and restaurant area along University Boulevard near the Ua campus is a popular place for students to congregate and socialize. Except for a few spots, the strip has lacked comprehensive internet access that allows students to connect to their studies or work in groups. The project was initiated by students who realized the value of

finding alternative environments to learn, said dung chau, a Ua business school professor. students wanted a comfortable place to gather for their team meetings and as an alternative to the library or dorm room. over the course of two semesters, the junior Mis data communications students first developed the business case and technical requirements that


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led the chamber of commerce of West alabama, Ua President robert E. Witt, the local strip business owners and aT&T to support the project. The basic value proposition identified by the project team is that there is a need for evening group study space and the strip restaurants and coffee shops have empty tables after the dinner rush, chau said. adding the internet access makes

these establishments an extension of the Universitys learning centers. The project teams also developed financial projections for future sales based on increased student patrons at the restaurants during what were previously slack evening hours. next, the team created the free wireless network called Tide-fi for all strip patrons. it provides wireless

coverage to all businesses along University Boulevard, from the start of the strip at the alabama Book store to the end of the strip at surin Thai restaurant. By creating a wireless network on the strip, Tide-fi creates more meeting spaces for groups to work on projects and stay connected to school resources. it will allow students and shoppers to stay

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connected to their school or business life while eating or shopping on the strip. The Tide-fi project teams studied several cities that have tried to implement Wi-fi. according to chau, most failed because cities tried to compete with traditional isPs, went over budget or did not properly manage expectations for all stakeholders. With the assistance of the Technology council at the chamber of commerce of West alabama, the project teams came up with a solution that allowed all stakeholders to cooperate rather than compete. They built a coalition of partners including the retail shops and eateries on the strip, the city of Tuscaloosa and aT&T to develop a low-cost wireless network that would be easy to manage. Business owners on the strip were enthusiastic about the project, chau said, and many saw it as a way to boost business traffic during their slower times. david Jones Jr., owner of the alabama Book store, is an early advocate. Businesses might get an extra drink or get a dessert out of (students staying longer). Everyone needs a better image of the strip, he said. it might not be as conducive to meeting as some of the library study rooms, Jones said. But when i was in school, we had group meetings all the time. it would have been nice to have them at a more laid-back atmosphere, and you wouldnt have to worry about oh, your 45 minutes are up.

The Tide-fi network promotes business for strip merchants by removing the connectivity barrier for customers. However, the Tide-fi project team took steps not to upset their partner aT&T by providing unlimited internet access for anyone who lived within range of the Tide-fi network. The solution was to limit the Tide-fi network to casual use. Users are allowed two hours of free internet access each day. after reaching the limit, users are prevented from using the network again until the next day. The network also limits the access speed and downloads. The casual-usage policy prevents residents and businesses in the strip area from relying on the Tide-fi network as their permanent internet connection. We didnt want Tide-fi to compete against the isPs and cannibalize their services by having residents replace their internet plans with Tide-fi. aT&T has been an incredible business partner. We could not do this project without their support, chau said. aT&T has donated two dsl modem services for the two-year research project. The city of Tuscaloosa has provided assistance with mounting equipment on traffic lights. doug Taylor, information technology director for the city, said lessons learned from this project could be used for Tuscaloosas initiative to improve quality-of-life through more internet connectivity in public spaces, such as municipal parks. The Tide-fi network was launched

during the fall 2009 school semester. it is a two-year research project to study different business models for revenue sustainability, such as advertisements and sponsorship; attitude perception and use of strip areas; and management of the Tide-fi network. students have learned to identify business value, build a business case for innovation and promote an initiative to investors and partners, said dr. david Hale, professor of management information systems and director of the Ua Mis program. Managing expectations of the strip merchants, President Witt, senior associate dean Mike Hardin, the West alabama chamber of commerce and patrons, the students gained real experience with communicating and managing expectations. additionally, the team dealt with challenges of integrating software and hardware technology, legal issues of licensing models for software, vendor selection for hardware and software, installation of network equipment and U.s. Homeland security regulations. The Tide-fi project is one of 13 hands-on experiential projects that occur every semester in the Mis program. student project teams provide solutions for fortune 500 corporations and leading consulting organizations that realize similar value. The project sponsors receive technology solutions that provide business value, and the students gain experience that has lead to virtually 100 percent placement of Uas Mis graduates during the decade. graduates of the program are among the most sought after in the market place and receive among the highest starting salaries of all Ua graduates. its a fun process when our students recognize a business need, build partnerships and apply innovative processes and technologies that exceed expectations. Everyone wins, chau said.

For more information, visit http://tidefi.com and the MIS program at http://cba.ua.edu/mis.This article includes material from Strip to Provide Wi-Fi in the Fall, published in the July 11, 2009, edition of The Tuscaloosa News.

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professor dung chau demonstrating tide-fi

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alfonso Yuchengco Friend of the University has long and distinguished history of philanthropy

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Secretary alfonso Yuchengco, chairman of the Yuchengco group of companies, who was recently awarded the first global insurance Humanitarian award by The University of alabama, has a long and distinguished history of philanthropy. in addition to The University of alabama, which has received gifts of more than $750,000 from the former ambassador, his generosity has extended to many other institutions of higher learning, as well as to a large number of charitable institutions in the Philippines and elsewhere. Yuchengco has been a longtime friend of The University of alabama and has provided support for several important initiat

executive magazine fall 2009 edition

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