Rob Zmudka ’89 (MKT) is Vice President and Executive Director of Strategic Sales for GATX – the largest railcar leasing company in the world.  He recently shared an update with us about his career and GATX’s commitment to service.

Q:  How have you leveraged the key skills and understandings you acquired at Illinois State University as you’ve advanced your career?

A:  My Illinois State University business degree provided the foundation for building my future career.  My marketing classes taught me to not only consider how your company is being represented but to think also about how you are being represented and how you are representing your company, important considerations not only in my professional experience but in my life in general.

Beyond my career-specific classes, the academic experience at Illinois State taught me the value of teamwork, gave me confidence in public speaking and presentation (skills that I continually refine and enhance) and the importance of strategic planning — the ability to think beyond myself and today, and to also consider the longer-term and consequential effects of a particular action or strategy.  And perhaps equally important, my Illinois State experience gave me life-long friendships that continue to this day.

Learn more about Rob Zmudka.

Dean Johnson would like to invite you and your family to join him along with department chairpersons, faculty and staff for a continental breakfast and open house on:

November 7, 2009
8:30 – 11:00 am
College of Business Building

There will be opportunities to:

• Meet and mingle with the Dean, professors and staff
• Explore the building and all of the specialized technology rooms at your leisure including:
  • Financial Markets Lab
  • Marketing Focus Group Room
  •  Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation Professional Sales Learning Lab
  • Attend a presentation on Summer Study Abroad at 10:00am

We look forward to seeing you then!

Anson Yeganegi ‘09 (Marketing) is part of the “Best Persons Program” at Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s Midway Airport operations where he is completing extensive training for a position in upper management.

This 22-year-old Wheaton man literally exemplifies “best person” outside the job as well. Last week he dove into a lake and saved the life of a total stranger.  Wheaton police and fire officials are calling Yeganegi a hero.  They are recommending the 2005 graduate of Wheaton North High School be given an award.

Yeganegi said he’s not looking for recognition.

“I am happy enough in myself to know that in a situation like that I was able to do what I could to help,” he said.

Click here to read the amazing story.

Professional success doesn’t just happen - it has to be earned.  Come learn what it takes.

In 2008-2009 the College of Business presented its first Early Career Achievement Awards (ECAA). This annual award celebrates young graduates from each program in the college who have experienced significant professional success, demonstrated innovative and responsible professional leadership and the potential for future distinction.

See who has been selected as  the 2009/2010 ECAA recipients.

Early Career Achievement Awards Panel Discussions
2:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Friday - October 16, 2009
College of Business Building

Accounting and Finance, Insurance and Law - COB 139
Marketing - COB 357
Management and Quantitative Methods and M.B.A. - COB 366

Join us for a Networking Reception in the Lower-level Atrium following the presentations. 

The Early Career Achievement Awards are sponsored by the College of Business and Toastmasters.

The Great Urban Race is exactly that.  Founded by College of Business entrepreneurial program graduate Joseph Reynolds ’03 these fun challenges have already been a hit in 20 major cities across the United States.

So grab a partner, solve 12 clues and complete fun challenges while discovering the Normal community in a fresh way. The Great Urban Race, which is just one fun part of Homecoming, begins at 10 a.m. on October 16th  at the Alumni Center and ends on the Quad.

A portion of your registration fee will help establish the ISU Student Foundation Service Award Scholarship.

Prizes: $300 and free entry to the New Orleans national championship for first place, $150 and free championship entry for second place, free championship entry for third place, best costume, funniest pictures, and top family team. There is a $1,000 cash prize to the group that signs up the most teams.

To register go to www.greaturbanrace.com. The cost is $45 per person through September 21, with the fee then increasing to $55 per person until October 15, and $70 per person on race day.

Interested in learning more? Visit http://illinoisstatehomecoming.com/events/great-urban-race to find out about the company go to www.greaturbanrace.com.

Q: What are some of your responsibilities working for the Bulls?

A:  I am a Ticket Representative for the Chicago Bulls Front Office. I’m responsible for the sale of season and group tickets for the 2009-2010 regular season. I contact prior season ticket holders or various other contacts from the leads list provided. In addition I can also shadow other various personnel in the organization and have the option to volunteer during games and special help events.

Q: What does a typical day consist of?

A:  A typical day consist of around 80 phone calls, giving tours of the United Center to prospects, and once the season starts, Bulls games.

Read more about Amy Janus and the Chicago Bulls.

The College of Business at Illinois State University will begin its Corporate M.B.A. Program in February 2010.

This accelerated weekend M.B.A. program is held on campus.  Classes will meet on Fridays from 5:00 - 9:00 pm, and Saturdays from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.

To learn more about this program join us at our information session on Thursday, October 8, 2009 from 5:30 - 6:30 pm in Room 370 of the College of Business building, Illinois State University.

For more information contact the Corporate M.B.A. program at (309) 438-8388  -  isumba@exchange.ilstu.edu or visit www.mba.ilstu.edu/cmba/index.shtml

Cosponsored by the McLean County Chamber of Commerce.

•  Connect with others who share similar professional interests
•    Meet new clients
•    Find employment
•    Exchange expertise
•    Form mentoring relationships
•    Remain engaged with College of Business at Illinois State University

These are just a few of reasons given by some of the 800+ Illinois State University graduates who have joined our College of Business Alumni Network (COBAN) group on LinkedIn since it was launched last fall.  While e-networking is great, nothing matches building relationships in person. So tap into the power of the COBAN network and join us for a fall event.  It is also a great chance to extend a Redbird welcome to our new dean, Scott Johnson!

WHO:   College of Business Alumni, family, faculty, staff and external partners
WHAT:   Free COBAN Networking Tailgate sponsored by State Farm and Nicor Gas
WHEN:   Saturday, October 17 from 11:00-1:30
WHERE:   Redbird Tailgate Zone
WHY:   Avanti’s food + great conversation in a relaxed setting!

To help us order appropriate amounts of food please complete your RSVP by October 9th using this link: http://www.cob.ilstu.edu/events/rsvp/tailgate          You may also call 309-438-2251.

•    To order tickets for the Homecoming game against Indiana State visit http://www.goredbirds.com/
•    Complete Homecoming information is available at http://illinoisstatehomecoming.com/

Need more information about COBAN or the networking tailgate? Contact:
Amy Humphreys
Assistant to the Dean for Constituent Relations
College of Business
Illinois State University
(309) 438-2646
alhumph@ilstu.edu

An Alumni Spotlight by Student Writer Colette Kuk

Just a short time ago Dane Ramirez was a student at ISU and working at Four Seasons gym.  Day in and day out he checked people in at the front desk.  It was not exactly a job he envisioned as a major career launch.  But one fall day in 2007 Dane met Pam, a member at the gym, who asked him about the protocol for hanging up a flyer at the club.  After Dane explained, she asked for his opinion of the flyer.  Enter Mr. Marketing.  “I told her the flyer was kind of boring and not very visually stimulating.”

The next couple of times Pam came in she chatted with Dane about marketing. One day she asked, “Do you know who I am?” He was clueless. Ironically, Pam turned out to be Pam El, Vice President of Marketing at State Farm!

When Pam asked Dane what he was doing besides working at the gym and he told her he was interning at COUNTRY Financial. After learning he was working at a competing company Pam decided she needed Dane at State Farm, and told him to apply for an internship….  Read more about Dane Ramirez.

From paintballs and gemstones to the American flag – graduates of Illinois State University’s College of Business are leveraging their degrees and earning professional distinction in a wide array of industries.

Here is a brief look at the winners of the 2009-2010 College of Business Early Career Achievement Awards (ECAA) who will be recognized during Homecoming festivities at Illinois State University in October.

Mark your calendars…

On Friday, October 16th we encourage you to attend the ECAA panel discussions from 2:30 – 3:45 p.m. in the College of Business Building and the reception immediately afterwards in the lower level atrium.

On Saturday, October 17th join us at the free College of Business Alumni Network Tailgate from 11-1:30 p.m. before the Homecoming game against Indiana State University. Our electronic RSVP for the event will be available in early August.