The Illinois State iTunes U site has been officially added to the iTunes Store. There is a fairly rigorous approval process prior to being accepted by Apple into the Store, and the University is now among the select group of colleges and universities listed on the iTunes U tab of the iTunes Store.This inclusion means that users no longer have to visit the local iTunes U launch page (www.itunesu.ilstu.edu) to reach the public site on iTunes U. They may simply navigate from within the iTunes U tab to the list of colleges and universities and find Illinois State on the list. More importantly, it means that the public content on the iTunes U site is now searchable by anyone in the world who visits the iTunes Store.

The iTunes U working group has worked to make this happen over the past year or so, adding over 600 tracks on the site. The University would like to see many more take advantage of this resource to share classroom and informational material, promoting the University to the Internet at large.

Any staff or instructors interested in iTunes U may join the working group’s listserv, which can be found by clicking on ITUNES-L and then clicking on the people icon to join.

For more information about iTunes U in general, start with the University Computer Help Desk’s article, which leads to many more articles on specific aspects of iTunes U.

Also available from the Help Desk is an overview article on campus options for posting content.

Senior-level executives at top corporations, highly successful entrepreneurs and one of America’s top-rated financial advisors are among the 2009-2010 College of Business Hall of Fame honorees at Illinois State University.   Their success stories and achievements bring prestige to the Illinois State University College of Business brand and add value to our programs and every graduate’s degree.  Learn more about each of these outstanding individuals…

The 2009-2010 College of Business Hall of Fame:

Alumni Hall of Fame

• Gary Gemberling
• Duane Livingston
• Dave Magers
• Mark Thorndyke
• Donna F. Zarcone

Service Hall of Fame

• Jay Edmondson
• George Eovaldi

About the College of Business Hall of Fame Process:

Each year the College of Business at Illinois State university selects five highly accomplished graduates for its Alumni Hall of Fame and two or three non-graduates for its Service Hall of Fame.  Each person selected has shown sustained and exceptional professional success and a strong commitment to service to others.  Nominations are solicited each spring from alumni, friends, faculty, and staff through a group email.   A committee of faculty and staff assembled by the dean then chooses the honorees who are invited to campus to receive their awards and share their insights with students and faculty during Business Week.  They are also recognized on a permanent display in the College of Business.  This year’s Hall of Fame luncheon and classroom presentations are scheduled for Thursday, April 1, 2010.

The College of Business welcomes LaVerne Council ’86 M.B.A as our Business Week 2010 keynote speaker at 2:00 p.m. - March 31, 2010 in Braden Auditorium.

Council, who is Chief Information Officer for Johnson and Johnson, says change is the only constant.  Through her keynote address she will share how to avoid pitfalls, create a path that works, and discover what key ingredients ensure success - even in a tough economy.

A free COBAN networking reception will follow immediately afterwards in Old Main.

Save the date for this outstanding College of Business Alumni Network event!

Learn more about LaVerne Council.

April 29, 2010 - Save the date for this outstanding College of Business Alumni Network Event!

Last spring our first College of Business Alumni Networking event in Chicago drew more than 150 graduates. This year we anticipate even more alumni and industry partners at our Chicagoland COBAN networking reception. So whether you want to establish connections with others in your profession, get advice, find a mentor, or learn about job openings, or reconnect with the College, join us for this outstanding opportunity.

Watch your January email for a more details and a registration link.

The College of Business Alumni Network events are being made possible through the generous sponsorship of Nicor Gas and State Farm.

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.