Kris Lutt ’06 M.B.A., general manager, Specialty Feed Ingredients Group, ADM and Marcee Place ’00 M.B.A., general manager, ADM/Matsutani LLC returned to campus and shared the presentation Increasing awareness and sensitivity in a global business environment during Leadership Day.

Listen to presentation by Kris Lutt and Marcee Place  - “Increasing awareness and sensitivity in a global business environment during Leadership Day.” (mp3)

Andrew Jackson ’80 BUA, president, BravoTECH Inc., is a successful entrepreneur and member of the College of Business Alumni Hall of Fame.

Beyond technical know-how, Jackson believes professional success depends on personal ethics.

Listen to presentation by Andrew Jackson of BravoTECH Inc. - “The law of karma in business: Build success one good deed at a time.” (mp3)

Johnson & Johnson Corporate vice president and CIO LaVerne Council ’86 M.B.A. returned to campus and shared the presentation “Information Technology means business: Create real wealth combining technology with business”.

Council is a member of the Illinois State University Alumni Hall of Fame and has agreed to serve as the keynote speaker for Business Week 2010 in March.

Listen to LaVerne Council share about creating real wealth combining technology with business. (mp3)

Scottie Venable ‘86 FIN is a member of the Illinois State University College of Business Alumni Hall of Fame. A Managing partner for The PrivateBank, and a Lieutenant Colonel for the U.S. Army Reserves.

Venable is an expert at achieving excellence. Click here to listen to his presentation  “Focusing on the important tasks: Achieving extraordinary results with basic management and personal skills.”

Listen to presentation by Scottie Venable of The PrivateBank - “Focusing on the important tasks: Achieving extraordinary results with basic management and personal skills.” (mp3)

In this tough job market, it is vital to distinguish yourself from other qualified candidates competing for the same position. Illinois State University graduate Eric Hoss ‘87,’90 M.B.A. has spent more than 25 years studying the most effective ways for an individual to maximize the interview experience.

He is the author of “Removing Doubt in an Interview: A Better Way to get the Job you Want.” Click here to listen to the recent presentation he made at the College of Business at Illinois State University.

Listen to presentation by Eric Hoss - “Removing Doubt in an Interview: A Better Way to get the Job you Want.”. (mp3)

WGLT Air Date: 3/27/09
Run time: 4:44

The head of Chicago’s largest independent financial services firm says government should be able to control executive bonuses for companies that receive publicly-funded bailouts. WGLT’s

Willis Kern has more with Jim Tyree, CEO of Mesirow Financial in advance of his appearance in Normal next week. Tyree, an ISU graduate, speaks at 2:00 pm Wednesday, April 1st at Braden Auditorium in the ISU Bone Student Center.

Listen to Willis Kern’s Interview (mp3)

Listen to Tyree discuss Governor Quinn’s tax proposals.

Tyree talks about business ethics reforms and his own rags to riches story.

Members of our various Advisory Councils, our corporate partners and recruiters consistently tell us that students entering the work force must have soft skills that compliment all they are mastering through coursework. They know Illinois State’s College of Business students are very well-prepared academically, but have asked that we continue helping our graduates develop skills that truly differentiate them from other candidates competing for the same positions.

The array of events that comprise Business Week 2009 are designed specifically to build these competencies and truly capture the spirit of Educating Illinois. They also provide valuable opportunities for alumni and external partners to get connected and hear the perspectives of top business leaders from across the nation. The Business Week 2009 brochure has all the details you’ll need.

http://www.cob.ilstu.edu/pdfs/business_week_brochure09.pdf

We all have great intentions of getting together with college friends but time slips by, professional obligations and family responsibilities require our time…you know how it is. The Illinois State College of Business Alumni Network (COBAN) can help.Step 1 – Quickly find former classmates.If the contact information you have for a fellow graduate is out-of-date, use the free Find-a-Friend service offered by Alumni Relations http://www.alumni.ilstu.edu/connect/findfriend_form.shtml. At that same site you’ll also find the online Illinois State University Alumni Directory.Step 2 – Make a DateWe have two upcoming opportunities where you can network with friends and fellow COB alumni.April 1st - 2:00 p.m.Braden Auditorium, Bone Student CenterJim Tyree, Chairman and CEO of Mesirow Financial will talk about the 4 cornerstones of business and personal success as the keynote speaker for Business Week 2009.  Mr. Tyree and the Business Week 2009 Team are hosts for a 3 p.m. networking reception in Old Main immediately following the keynote presentation. The afternoon events are sponsored by Mesirow Financial.Register online at www.illinoisstatealumni.org/ccon/events.do by choosing the calender for April. Or ou may also call Alumni Relations at (800) 366-4478, or register by e-mail natread@ilstu.edu by March 27.April 30th  - 4:30-6:30 p.m.Chicago Marriott Downtown Hotel, 540 North Michigan AvenueJoin COB leaders, alumni and industry partners for a Chicagoland after-hours networking reception. This event is sponsored by State Farm and Nicor Gas.Register online at www.illinoisstatealumni.org/ccon/events.do by choosing the calender for April. Or  you may also call Alumni Relations at (800) 366-4478, or register by e-mail natread@ilstu.edu by April 27.If you need special accommodation to fully participate in these events, please call Alumni Relations at (800) 366-4478.Make sure you receive future COBAN and COB communications by updating your contact information at https://www.illinoisstatealumni.org/ccon/my_profile.do.You can communicate directly with other COBAN members through the online professional networking service LinkedIn. It just takes a few moments to create a profile that summarizes your professional accomplishments. There is no fee for the basic service. Use the following link http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/130547 to join the Illinois State University College of Business Alumni Network.If you have questions about COBAN or would like to opt out of future communications, contact Amy Humphreys, Assistant to the Dean for Constituent Relations alhumph@ilstu.edu.

Illinois State University College of Business Alum Jim Tyree will be the keynote speaker for Business Week 2009. Jim is chairman and chief executive officer of Mesirow Financial, an employee owned financial conglomerate that got its start in 1937 when Norman Mesirow opened a one-man brokerage in the Loop. Today, the Chicago company has $35 billion under management, $451 million in annual revenue, $230 million in capital, 45,000 clients, and 1,100 employees. Its primary service is investment management, but it also offers insurance and consulting. Mesirow opened its first European office in London last year and will open an office in China this year. They are currently building a new 18 floor office high rise in River North to consolidate all six of its businesses under one roof. Since 1990 Jim has made 50 acquisitions and boosted revenue seven and a half times.

Jim graduated from Illinois State in 1978 with a degree in business administration and in 1980 with an MBA. He has served on more than 50 corporate, civic and not-for-profit boards of directors. Civically, Jim provides active leadership and participates in numerous organizations in support of healthcare, education and children. Mayor Daley appointed him as chairman of the board of City Colleges of Chicago, an organization with seven colleges and 110,000 students. In addition, Jim is the chairman for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and past chairman of the Executives Club of Chicago. He is chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. He currently serves on the boards of Illinois State University Foundation, Roosevelt University, Illinois Education Foundation, University of Chicago Medical Center, Big Shoulders Fund, Illinois Emerging Technologies Fund, and University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Advancement Council. Jim also serves on the Advisory Board of the Northwestern University Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Program Project Grant.

The keynote address will be followed by a public reception in Old Main from 3:00-3:45 p.m. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend.

To learn more about Tyree visit http://www.mesirowfinancial.com

Business Week 2009 runs from Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 3. Each activity is designed to develop essential soft-skills that complement classroom instruction and help students make a smooth transition into the professional world. Business Week also helps us build strong relationships with partner firms and alumni that directly benefit the COB.

Thank you for supporting this college-wide event through actively encouraging your students’ participation and by joining us at key events. More details about the events and other guest speakers will be released shortly.