Graduate School of Business Alumni Newsletter

Gonzaga’s Graduate School of Business (GSB) had a great start to the academic year. We hit the ground running with a successful networking event organized with the help of our Alumni Executive Board networking committee. They’re working hard on a stellar spring event on April 3rd that is being headed up by the first alum featured in our new “Meet a board member” section of the newsletter, Eric Agnew.

Be sure to select the “Upcoming Events” tab above for an updated list of our events!

With a new year, comes New Year’s resolutions. And to help those of you who set new fitness goals on January 1st, Jaunessa Walsh, co-owner of farmgirlfit is our featured alumni. Don’t forget to check out her story, the announcement of a prestigious award earned in part by one of our alums and a current MBA student, and other alumni updates. Our graduates are doing great things!

There are a number of exciting events coming up this spring, such as the 4th Annual Aram Lecture on Business Ethics and events surrounding Gonzaga’s 125th Anniversary, including National Gonzaga Day on January 24th.

If all of that isn’t enough to keep us busy, the GSB also strives to continually improve our programs. We’ve included a new feature, “What’s new in the Graduate School?” to keep you in the loop about all of our exciting changes and the new opportunities also available to you.

Look for our spring newsletter in April. As always, we look forward to hearing from you. Be sure to contact Adriane Leithauser (leithauser@gonzaga.edu) with story ideas, suggestions for featured alumni, and your personal and professional achievements.

Happy New Year!

“Gonzaga is who I am.”

Jaunessa Walsh, MBA ’07

This early in January most of us are still committed to our New Year’s resolutions. And for many, that includes a push for better health.

Spokane-area women looking for a challenge may find their answer with farmgirlfit. Gonzaga MBA alum, Jaunessa Walsh, along with four Gonzaga undergraduate alumni, is one of the proud owners of this Crossfit club that gained 200 members in its first year!

Jaunessa, who also earned her undergraduate degree from Gonzaga, saw first-hand the benefits of Crossfit training. She and her business partners also noticed that women-only Crossfit classes were always overflowing at local clubs and saw an opportunity. While they recognized the risk of building a business just for women, the owners of farmgirlfit were confident they could build something special. As Jaunessa explained, when you “get a group of women together that have the same goal, it’s amazing what they can do.”

CrossFit training is an intense, full body, back-to-basics work out (farmgirlfit has a stack of tractor tires next to their building that are used during workouts). But, although it might sound imposing, its focus on burning fat and building lean muscle is suitable for women of all ages and fitness levels. The owners originally assumed the Crossfit workout would appeal most to women in their late twenties and early thirties but have found that their primary clients are a bit older (35-45 with their oldest clients in their sixties) and often moms with busy schedules attracted by the impressive results gained from 60-minute workouts. “It’s not just about the pull-ups,” according to Jaunessa. “It’s about the relationships you form. Every woman can do this.”

In addition to building a great new Spokane business and offering a fitness program many local women are drawn to, the owners of farmgirlfit are committed to giving back to the community that supports them. In October 2012, they organized the “Pennies for Pull-ups” campaign to raise money for St. Margaret’s Shelter, which is a supportive short-term housing solution for homeless women and their children. St. Margaret’s was chosen because of the shelter’s emphasis on healthy eating choices for its residents that includes a community garden and training in healthy cooking.

farmgirlfit members completed 43,129 pull-ups during the month of October! Between the penny farmgirlfit contributed for each pull-up and the generous donations members gathered and contributed, Jaunessa and her partners were thrilled to present St. Margaret’s Shelter a check for $3,431.56. Jaunessa credits the owners’ Jesuit education as one of the factors for their decision to give back to the Spokane community in these tough economic times and in their first year of business.

When pressed about what part of her education specifically encouraged this desire to give back and the confidence to help build a new business, she thought for a moment and finally determined there was no one instance that set her on this path. “Gonzaga is who I am,” she explained.

128 Sherman Street · Spokane, WA
509.747.2330 · farmgirlfit.com 

In the Fall Newsletter, we introduced our newly formed Graduate School of Business (GSB) Alumni Executive Board. This enthusiastic group of MBA and MAcc alumni are giving back to the GSB programs, which they say transformed their personal and professional lives thanks to our ethics-based curriculum and their individualized experiences within the program.

We would like you to get to know these passionate alumni and will feature a board members in our upcoming newsletters.

Eric Agnew, MBA ’11

Eric Agnew is a 2011 Gonzaga MBA graduate and now serves on the GSB Executive Alumni Board. He had the distinction of being named the 2010-11 MBA Student of the Year. Eric works at Itron, where he is Service Business Manager and responsible for about $30M in annual maintenance revenue.

We recently sat down with Eric, to learn more about some of his endeavors, interests, and accomplishments.

GSB: You were a part of the first Gonzaga team to participate in the Hult Global Case Challenge. Tell us about that.
Eric: The Hult Challenge was a great experience! They bring business schools from all over the world together, and have the teams compete by using their business skills to attack a social issue; the year our team competed the issue was the Global Water Crisis, in support of water.org’s mission to provide clean drinking water to 100 million people in five years. The winning team’s idea got $1 million for implementation. It was pretty special for us to have an opportunity to represent the University.

GSB: How have you been utilizing your MBA education since you graduated?
Eric: At the moment I’m on the core team for two global projects at Itron, where I have to be able to work effectively with a cross-section of IT, Finance, Marketing, Operations, and other teams.  I think that is essentially what the GU MBA tries to provide, the ability to lead and be competent in different business competencies.

GSB: We know that you participated in Startup Weekend Spokane recently. What is that event?
Eric: Startup Weekends are a 54 hour blitz where marketers, designers and developers get together to pitch ideas, form teams, build products and launch startups. We basically worked frantically on our ideas non-stop from Friday night to Sunday night, and I loved every second of it! I took Dr. Finkle’s Creating New Ventures class my final year, and was bit by the startup bug. I took the class wanting to learn more about business planning for my corporate career, but I also learned just how much of an entrepreneurial side to me there is. Our product is called Gigmo, and it was amazing to see it take shape!

GSB: Tell us about Gigmo!
Eric: The idea is to create an online service that will match up bands looking for gigs to play with event planners needing live music. The site is pre-registering users now at www.gigmo.co, and we work on it in our free time. I love making something out of nothing, so for me it’s the most fun hobby that I’ve ever had.

GSB: Lastly, any interesting Alumni events that you are working on?
Eric: Yes! I’m on the networking team, and we’re planning a great event for next spring.  We want to have an event focused on “How Social Media Has Changed Business.” It’s incredibly relevant, will have a fabulous panel of local personalities, and will be very interactive. More to come on that soon.

Graduate School of Business alum, Ben Vangerpen (MBA ‘12 ), and current MBA student, Vivek Vats, are part of Jubilant HollisterStier’s Spokane team that was recently awarded the prestigious the Operational Excellence award for Washington State companies from the Association of Washington Business.

Holding the Operational Excellence award: MBA alum Ben Vangerpen on the left
and current MBA student Vivek Vats on the right

According to the Association of Washington Business’ press release, “In the highly competitive business of pharmaceutical manufacturing, success comes down to a matter of trust. Clients invest many years and millions of dollars into drug products, and then trust partners to manufacture them. Based on the success that Jubilant HollisterStier has experienced in the last few years growing the contract manufacturing arm of its business, it’s apparent the company has earned it. Jubilant HollisterStier began in 1921 when a doctor and scientist searched for a way to provide allergy relief. Thanks to a proven track record of operational excellence in aseptic pharmaceutical manufacturing, contract manufacturing has grown exponentially over the last decade and earned the organization a reputation as a premier outsourcing partner. Its client base now includes some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical, generic and biotechnology companies, as well as government agencies.”

We are so proud of our Zags!

“We cannot quench the drought of ethical business practices through regulation alone.
Educating ethical business leaders is our best hope for sustained economic prosperity.”
Dr. Brian K. Steverson, Gonzaga’s John L. Aram Chair of Business Ethics

In honor of Gonzaga University’s 125th Anniversary and the celebration’s theme of Tradition and Transformation, Gonzaga’s own Dr. Brian K. Steverson, School of Business and MBA professor of ethics, will present this year’s lecture.

Register Here

In the years following the onset of the financial crisis, Americans are still searching for answers. A story in the New York Times placed at least some of the blame on MBA programs across the country (Holland, “Is it Time to Retrain B-Schools?” March 15, 2009). According to Angel Cabrera, dean of the Thunderbird School of Global Management, “It is so obvious that something big has failed. We can look the other way, but come on. The CEO’s of those companies, those are the people we used to brag about. We cannot say, “Well, it wasn’t our fault” when there is such a systemic, widespread failure of leadership.”

What should be done? Make business schools more Jesuit! Catholic moral philosophy has a seven century tradition of attention to the ethical foundation of economic and business activity. That philosophical tradition is strikingly evident in the Jesuit tradition of business education.

Jesuit “B-Schools” have labored for decades to educate business leaders who see business as the pivotal social institution that it is and themselves as stewards concerned with structuring those institutions to serve the common good. At its very heart, the Jesuit tradition of business education is transformative, both of individuals and, through the efforts of its graduates, business institutions as well.

Dr. Steverson will trace the history and nature of this distinctively Jesuit model of business education, discuss its emphasis on personal and institutional transformation, and offer some suggestions for how to make all business education “more Jesuit.”

4th Annual Aram Lecture on Business Ethics
Presented by:
Gonzaga’s School of Business Administration
and
Graduate School of Business

Wednesday, February 13th 2013
Gonzaga’s Cataldo Hall Globe Room

Reception at 6:30 pm
Lecture begins at 7:00 pm

Register Here

Biographical Information:
Dr. Steverson came to Gonzaga in 1992 after earning his Ph.D. from Tulane University in 1991 and spending four years in the Philosophy Department of Xavier University of Louisiana located in New Orleans. Until 2008, he was a member of the Philosophy Department in the College of Arts & Sciences before assuming the John L. Aram Chair in Business Ethics in the Fall of 2008 in the School of Business Administration where he regularly teaches undergraduate and MBA students. He has been teaching Business Ethics and related courses for 22 years.

In addition to his work here at Gonzaga, Dr. Steverson currently serves on the following committees and professional education roles:

• Spokane City Ethics Committee
• Providence Sacred Heart Urban Ethics Committee
• Hospice of Spokane Ethics Committee
• Ethics CPE Provider: Washington State Board of Accountancy and Northwest Chapter of Fraud Examiners

Dr. Steverson’s publications include:
“Vulnerable Values Argument for Professionalization of Business Management,” Business & Professional Ethics Journal
“Temporary Employment and the Social Contract,” The Online Journal of Ethics I, St. Thomas University, later anthologized in Business Ethics for the 21st Century.

For more information, please contact Adriane Leithauser at 509.313.3419 or leithauser@gonzaga.edu.

“What’s new…” is a new feature in our newsletters to keep you informed about all of the exciting changes and new programs offered in the Grad School.

We are constantly trying to improve our programs and opportunities and training offered to our students and alumni. Based on feedback from current students, alumni, faculty, and local employers, the GSB developed our Professional Development series.

Beginning Fall 2011, we offered MBA & MAcc students Career Workshops each semester, which included resume, cover letter, networking, and interviewing training designed specifically for graduates students. In the spring we also offered Writing Workshops aimed at helping students improve both their business and academic skills.

This fall we held our first Effective Presentations workshop, which focused on how to overcome nerves, determine personal speaking style, and manage speaking volume and cadence.

All of these professional development workshops have proven very successful and popular with our students, and now we have decided to save a few spots in each workshop for our alumni.

If you are interested in attending our upcoming workshops, or if you have suggestions for professional training that would be beneficial for our students and alumni, please contact Adriane Leithauser (leithauser@gonzaga.edu or 509.313.3419).

Resume, Cover Letter, & Networking Workshop
Tuesday February 19
4-5:15 pm · Jepson 122

Interviewing Workshop
(with mock interviews)
Thursday, February 21
4-5:15 pm · Jepson 122

Effective Presentation Workshop
March – TBA

Fall Networking Social at Nectar

Fall alumni panel: Ezra Eckhardt, MBA ’02; Andrew Sorenson, MBA ’09; Shelby Culp, MAcc ’12; and Katy Bruya, MBA ’99

On September 21^st, the GSB hosted our annual fall networking event organized with the help of the GSB Alumni Executive Board. Held downtown at Nectar, the event featured four of our alumni, including Ezra Eckhardt, President and COO of Sterling Savings Bank; Katy Bruya, SVP Human Resources at Washington Trust Bank; Andrew Sorenson, Next IT; and Shelby Culp, Tax Associate at Moss Adams. This all-star panel offered their impressions of the region’s employment climate and advice on how students could get the most out of their time in Gonzaga’s GSB programs.

Ken Huitt, MBA ’10
Networking Committee Chair

Our next Alumni Board organized event features a great panel from the Spokane community, discussing the radical shift in our culture and communication practices that has taken place in the last few years as a result of the explosive growth of Social Media. This is far more than just how we network personally. From a business perspective, as our consumers practices change, this means that there is an impact to marketing methodology (shift from Outbound to Inbound Marketing), how we generate sales leads, customer support interactions, consumer expectations and engagement, corporate transparency, brand image, etc.  We are going to explore these areas with a fantastic panel of local experts in a modern and interactive approach. Mark your calendars for How Social Media Has Changed the Face of Business: An Interactive Event on Wednesday, April 3rd at 6pm. More details to come.

Before this great April event, the GSB is hosting our annual Game Watch. Join us at Jack & Dan’s on Thursday, February 28^th at 7:30 pm to cheer on our Men’s Basketball Team as they face BYU. Please RSVP with Kristen Paul (paulk@gonzaga.edu) if you plan to attend.

MBA & MAcc Alumni event at
10th annual Battle in Seattle

After an amazing start to the season, the Gonzaga Men’s Basketball Team stumbled in their loss to Illinois. Fans were confident their Bulldogs would bounce back in the match-up on December 15^th against the Kansas State Cougars in the 10^th Annual Battle in Seattle. And we were not disappointed. The Zags dominated Kansas State in the second half to pull away for a 68-52 victory.

Alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the Graduate School of Business (GSB) once again enjoyed the game from six sold-out suites in Key Arena. This annual event is a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new connections. We hope you will join the fun next year!

Mark Beattie, MBA ’03, PhD

As the Director of Student Services for the Gonzaga Virtual Campus it is Mark’s purpose to serve lifelong learners by providing accessible, appropriate, and effective education while celebrating individual diversity across cultures and time zones. This year, Gonzaga’s Virtual Campus is welcoming the first cohort of Doctor of Nursing Practice students.

One of Mark’s early successes was a collaboration with Bob Finn in the Alumni Office to invite our current online students and alums in the Orlando area to join in the fun during the Old Spice Classic. Bob had a blast with current students and alumni, and Mark particularly enjoyed seeing all the Zags fans in the stands during our tournament championship.

Mark and the Virtual Campus have been working diligently to help Gonzaga’s distance learners participate in the upcoming National Gonzaga Day by connecting current students with Alumni Chapters in their area.

This position has proven to be a great opportunity for an alum who is so passionate about the Gonzaga community!

To connect with Mark, contact him at beattie@gonzaga.edu

Kellie Jewett, MBA AIE ’11

Kellie recently began working as the Development Director for the Cheyenne River Youth Project. CRYP is an after school program serving children, teens, and families on the Cheyenne River Sioux reserve ration and offers programs in education, health and wellness, arts and culture, and more.

From the CYRP website: “Poverty has a profound effect on family structure and self-esteem, which contributes to a variety of social ills. Located in one of the nations 5 poorest counties, CRYP serves the community by offering youth programs and family services that foster healthy choices and life practices, as well as provide immediate relief and create opportunities for the future. Daily, we lay the groundwork for long-term solutions so that each program and/or service has a purposeful foundation and potential for longevity. Our vision also includes infrastructure to house our growth as we work to meet our community’s needs today and in the future.”

In addition to the valuable work Kellie is doing with CRYP, she is also engaged to be married in June 2013!

For more information, visit www.lakotayouth.org.

Dane Yancey, MBA ’11

Since Dane graduated a year ago, his family has grown. His energetic son, Boston, now is now a big brother to Isaac!

Surely these boys are very proud of their father who was recently hired as the Field Marketing Manager for US Cellular, located at the Corporate Office Building in Richland, WA. His new role requires that he monitor and educate both agent-owned and corporate-owned stores on current marekting initiatives, campaigns, promotions, and branding in order to unify US Cellular’s message nationally.

Dane is excited about his new position and looks forward to applying his Gonzaga education in his local market. He misses Gonzaga every day and never passes on the opportunity to talk about the quality of education he received.

To connect with Dane, contact him at dane_yancey@hotmail.com.

Gonzaga University continues to celebrate its 125th Anniversary through numerous events that embody the celebration theme: Tradition and Transformation. We hope you will join us for these special university events.

January 21st, 2013
Martin Luther King Jr. Unity March
Downtown Spokane
(march begins at the Convention Center)

Join members of the Gonzaga community to show your Zag pride and share your commitment to the lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr:

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

Parade begins at 10 am · Look for the Gonzaga banner at the Convention Center

January 24th, 2013
Gonzaga’s first annual National Gonzaga Day

“On this day Zags everywhere will unite in spirit and gather in person to celebrate all things Gonzaga. Whether you’re a student, alumni, parent, or casual fan we invite you to join the celebration. For certain, plan to show your pride and wear your Zag gear on Jan. 24!”

Local alumni are encouraged to join us at the Men’s Basketball game or at the Spokane Convention Center to cheer on our Zags and hear a special announcement streamed live at halftime from President McCullogh.

If you’re not local, you won’t be left out! Alumni chapters in 30 different cities will hold a special program followed by a game watch.

Visit NationalGonzagaDay.org to find a celebration near you!

April 9th, 2013
Gonzaga’s Presidential Speaker series presents
Dr. Jane Goodall
Tickets on sale later this month (January 2013)

In her speech, Making a Difference, Dr. Goodall will bring her audience into the world of the Gombe chimpanzees―from her early observations and experiences to the latest news and stories from the field.

Dr. Goodall will also share information about the work of the Jane Goodall Institute, which continues her pioneering research and celebrates its 36th anniversary this year. Today, the Institute is a global leader in the effort to protect chimpanzees and their habitats. It also is widely recognized for establishing innovative community-centered conservation and development programs in Africa, and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, the Institute’s global environmental and humanitarian youth program.

For more information, please visit news.gonzaga.edu/2012/gonzaga-presidential-speaker-series