Students take automotive
careers for a spin
Innovative program
supercharges education
T
I
n September the Rohrer Entrepreneurship program ramped
up its hands-on focus with a new feature.
This unique four-year program — Entrepreneurial Experiences — enables students to choose career-building opportunities from a comprehensive list of options, ranging from
shadowing entrepreneurs to launching their own businesses.
With each activity, students accrue points necessary for
graduation as they learn by doing and develop career connections. “The classroom provides the information they need. This
program provides the ‘know-how’ and ‘know-who’ experiences,”
said Dr. Steven Phelan, William G. Rohrer Professorial Chair.
Cassie Aran, ’16, an entrepreneurship major from East
Brunswick, N.J., eagerly plunged into the course. Within
weeks of arriving on campus, she entered the College’s Business Plan Competition and attended two Philadelphia events
geared for budding entrepreneurs, the Lean Mean Startup
Machine and the Philadelphia Startup Weekend, which she
particularly enjoyed. “I picked up a lot of business cards and
numbers of designers and met developers who can help me
when I want to start a business,” said Aran.
At the Lean Mean Startup Machine event, Thomas Shaw,
’16, an entrepreneurship major from Old Bridge, N.J., discovered the importance of safeguarding early business concepts
and organizing teams. “Whatever the endeavor, one of the
hardest parts is getting everyone on the same page and motivating everyone for one common goal,” he said.
Entrepreneurial Experiences is one more asset that will help
students hit the ground running in the business world.
“Employers are seeking people who can add value straightaway to an organization,” Phelan said. “You’re seeing cases
where employers are looking for one or two years’ minimum
work experience. They don’t want to train people anymore. So
I think if our students already have that experience of attending events, running activities and being self-directed learners
and self-starters, that will be very attractive to employers.”
his summer four Rohrer College of Business students
test drove business careers in the automotive dealership
industry during 10-week internships sponsored by
Holman Automotive Group Inc.
Gaining experience in a range of fields, including accounting, finance, marketing, sales and service, students acquired
a top-down view of the industry at the company’s Mt. Laurel
and Maple Shade, N.J., dealerships.
“The primary goal of the internship program is to recruit talented, motivated and intelligent college students to work in our
business,” said Trisha Perna, ’10, corporate recruiter and a Rohrer
College of Business human resource management alumna. “The
program will develop and prepare these students to take on both
management and non-management roles within the company.”
During the paid internships, the students completed the employee orientation program, shadowed department managers and
carried out specialized projects. “We gave them the opportunity
to work as if they were full-time employees here,” Perna said.
Joshua McManigal, ’13, a marketing major from Middletown, N.J., split his internship between sales and service. “I
developed a good feel for both the front of the house and the
back of the house and all of their inner workings, understanding the relationship of the two in achieving success,” he said.
Stephen Krone, ’12, a management and marketing major
from Mahwah, N.J., who will pursue a sales career after graduation in December, valued learning from experienced employees.
“Holman managers all worked in sales before they went into
management,” he said. “Working with them gave me a chance
to learn from them about customers — how to address their
needs properly and how to treat them — and, more importantly, how to build long-term relationships.”
After completing the internship, students provided a presentation about their experiences and each received a $1,500
scholarship from the company.
“The feedback that we received from the interns was great, and
we’re going to continue the program,” Perna said. “Since this is
the first year that we had the program, it was actually above and
beyond what we expected, so we’re very excited for it to continue.”
College welcomes new dean
continued from page 1
Trisha Perna, Holman corporate recruiter, worked with
Joshua McManigal (left) and Stephen Krone as interns.
Meanwhile, Beatty is putting his experience to work growing
a program that already impressed him.
He gained that experience as dean of the School of Global
Commerce & Management at Whitworth University, in
Spokane, Wash., and as a faculty member at the University of
Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Miami University, Texas Christian
University and Northern Illinois University. He has worked
in business and industry for the Kellogg Co., Amerada Hess
Corp. and the United States Air Force, for which he is a lieutenant colonel and special agent in the Reserve.
Beatty earned a D.B.A. in business information systems
from Mississippi State University, an M.B.A. from Mississippi
State University, an M.C.S.M (Master of Computer Systems
Management) from Creighton University and a B.A. in computer science from Texas Christian University.
Beatty and his wife, Raynette, live in Mullica Hill and are
the parents of Shelby and Sean.
5
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
Paid
Bellmawr, NJ
Permit #1047
Rohrer College of Business
Winter 2012
201 Mullica Hill Road • Glassboro, NJ 08028
A P ublication of the William G. Rohrer College of Business
Rohrer College of Business celebrates 40th anniversary
R
Josh, ’03, M’08; Henry; and Sarah Piddington, ’03, M’05
and Stephen Kozachyn III, ’04, the College’s director of
outreach (left to right), enjoyed the first Rohrer College
of Business Homecoming Picnic on Oct. 27.
Alum inspires prospective entrepreneurs
The Rohrer Review
Volume 8, Issue 1, Winter 2012
J
Dr. Robert C. Beatty
Dean
Margaret Van Brunt
Assistant Dean
James Jordan
M.B.A. Director
Stephen Kozachyn
Director of
Outreach
Patricia Quigley
Editor/Writer
Diane Donofrio
Writer/
Angelucci Project Manager
Traci Belli
Designer
Craig Terry
Photographer
ust a few short years after launching a business as a
Rohrer College of Business undergraduate, Stephen
Gill, ’08, is fueling the dreams of aspiring entrepreneurs
sitting in classrooms he once occupied.
As co-founder and chief executive officer of Philadelphiabased Leadnomics, Gill left large footprints to follow, having
founded his first online marketing company a year before
earning his bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship. A little
more than a year after his Rowan graduation, the thriving
firm was the first to graduate from the College’s Incubator
in the South Jersey Technology Park at Rowan University.
Alumnus Stephen Gill be This year Leadnomics placed 26 among Inc. magazine’s
Inc. 500 list of the country’s Fastest-Growing Private Com- gan achieving astounding
success as an entrepreneur
panies for 2012 (No. 1 in Philadelphia), jumping from last
while still a student.
year’s rank of 48.
Given his experience at Rowan, Gill sought to encourage entrepreneurs at the College,
establishing scholarships for students with innovative ideas to launch Internet or technology
ventures. The first recipient, David Leek, ’13, a radio/television/film major from Marlton, N.J.,
was chosen by a Rowan-assigned committee to receive a $2,500 scholarship for his submission,
AudioCollege. Gill will offer two $1,500 scholarships during the 2012-13 academic year.
“Helping fellow entrepreneurs is important,” Gill said. “I’m giving back to the Rowan community, which was instrumental in building my business.”
He urges aspiring entrepreneurs to “fail fast, fail often,” instead of building an entire business before testing its viability. “Rather than investing a year in planning or development, get
market feedback immediately on your idea, uncover what people really need, focus, iterate
quickly and repeat,” he said.
6
The Rohrer Review is published twice a year
by the Rohrer College of Business to highlight
the achievements of its faculty, staff, students
and alumni. We welcome comments and suggestions. Send correspondence to:
Rohrer College of Business
c/o Editor — The Rohrer Review
Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Rd.
Glassboro, NJ 08028-1701
Contact:
(856) 256-4025
(856) 256-4439 (fax)
www.rowan.edu/business
Find us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/RowanBusiness
Postmaster:
Send address changes to:
Rohrer College of Business
c/o Editor — Rohrer Review
Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Rd.
Glassboro, NJ 08028-1701
owan University’s William G. Rohrer College of Business
celebrated its 40th anniversary in September with a Mini
Shark Tank during which five businesses showcased their
products and services before a panel of judges. Those judges were
Daymond John, ABC Television’s Shark Tank star, entrepreneur
and FUBU fashion line founder; Linda Rohrer, chairman of the
Rowan Board of Trustees, real estate professional, philanthropist
and College benefactor; and Marc Kramer, executive director of
the mid-Atlantic region’s Angel Venture Fair.
Later that evening, about 300 people enjoyed a reception and dinner, with Daymond John as the keynote speaker. During the dinner,
the College presented the first William G. Rohrer Business Leader of
the Year award to Gerald Shreiber, president and CEO of J&J Snack
Foods Corp., Pennsauken, and the first Distinguished Business
Alumni Awards to Sarah Piddington, ’03, M’05; Dorothy Stubblebine, ’80; and Paul Tully, ’99. The College also awarded $1,000
Distinguished Alumni Scholarships to seniors Jonathan Hirsch and
Rachel Hallion and M.B.A. student Crystal (Anderson) O’Neill.
The anniversary celebrations marked the many changes in Rowan
University’s business offerings during the last 40 years. The College
started as an Administrative Studies Department and has grown
from 150 majors and fewer than 10 professors to close to 1,200 students and 40 full-time, tenure-track faculty as well as adjuncts. The
College boasts two professorial chairs and is accredited by AACSB
International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of
Business; www.aacsb.edu), with its MIS program accredited by the
Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET (www.abet.org).
“The growth is the result of many years of dedicated service,” said
Dr. Ali Houshmand, Rowan’s president, at the dinner.
Outside organizations regularly recognize the College — this fall
the Princeton Review named it to The Best 296 Business Schools: 2013
Edition.. Businesses, government offices and nonprofit organizations
regularly seek out Rohrer teams to assist on dozens of projects a year.
Said Linda Rohrer, a trustee of the William G. Rohrer Charitable
Foundation that has contributed $13 million to the College and
to scholarships at Rowan, “I’m excited to see the Rohrer College
vision taking shape. I am continually impressed by the quality of
students and faculty.”
Shark Tank star Daymond John shares his insights with
the audience during the 40th anniversary dinner.
Rohrer College of Business welcomes new dean
D
r. Robert Beatty is a 6’2” ball of energy whose ideas are
almost as big as he is. That’s good news for the Rohrer
College of Business, for which he was named dean in July. Since then he has gotten to know the College and Rowan University well, and the last few months have left him effusive.
“I’ve lived in eight different states, and I’m continually amazed by
the hospitality and warm support my wife and I have received since
moving here. I’m impressed by the people of South Jersey — some
not even alumni — who have made a commitment to the Rohrer
College of Business because they understand that their support with
time and gifts is important to ensure the College continues its mis-
sion of providing students with educational excellence,” he said.
Beatty added, “I have found that the leadership at Rowan is very
supportive of trying to move the College of Business to the next level.”
“The next level” means building on a solid foundation, increasing
the project-based learning opportunities that are a College hallmark, exploring new academic programs, expanding internship and
job placement activities, increasing international experiences, increasing collaborations with businesses and forging closer alliances
with alumni willing to share their knowledge with today’s students.
And there’s the Rohrer College of Business building. The dean
hopes to see the College in a new building in a few years.
continued on page 5
Rohrer College of
Business celebrates
40th anniversary
Professor builds bridges
for international trade
A
In September, the William G. Rohrer College of Business celebrated its
40th anniversary. Here are a few highlights from the Mini Shark Tank,
reception and dinner held to mark this important milestone.
ABOVE: Dr. Robert Beatty presents a
Distinguished Business Alumni Award to
Dorothy Stubblebine.
ABOVE: Aspiring entrepreneurs present their
concepts to Linda Rohrer, Daymond John
and Marc Kramer (left to right) during the Mini
Shark Tank.
Message
From
the Dean
s the economy continues to recover from an ominous decline, Dr. Ihsan Isik foresees a glimmer of
hope in new relationships he is fostering between
his native Turkey and the United States.
More than 350,000 Turkish-Americans live in the
United States, with roughly one-third in New Jersey, Isik
explained, but trade has lagged between the United States
and Turkey. To help promote these links, Isik, a professor of
finance who joined the Rowan University faculty in 2001,
founded the American Turkish Chamber of Commerce
(ATCOM) in 2008.
Welcome to the Winter 2012
issue of the Rohrer Review
This has been an exciting year for Rowan University’s Rohrer
College of Business. I am honored to have assumed the position
of dean during such a transformational era in the history of the
College and University and look forward to sharing with you
our continuing accomplishments.
I arrived at the Rohrer College of Business in July. Since
my arrival I have been thrilled to meet the faculty, staff and
students and witness their many contributions to the College.
In fact, it was precisely their passion that drew me to Rohrer
and Rowan.
The College has spent the last 40 years developing an
outstanding reputation for preparing students to be leaders
in the global business market. I look forward to building on
this foundation.
We will continue to collaborate with members of the University community to advance the College’s mission, expand our
project-based learning and internship opportunities, develop
new academic programs, enhance international and cultural
experiences, and fortify job placement opportunities. Capitalizing on the College’s many assets, we will strengthen ties with
business and industry in South Jersey and the Delaware Valley.
As you browse through this issue of the Rohrer Review, enjoy
the highlights of our recent 40th anniversary celebration this
fall. We thank our faculty, staff, alumni, donors, business leaders and friends who have made our achievements possible. In
particular, we owe an enormous debt to the Rohrer and Campbell families for their generous contributions to the College.
Our alumni remain key players in our students’ success. We
invite all of our supporters to continue with us on this journey,
enriching the Rohrer College of Business as they share with our
next generation of business leaders their talents, insight and
experience.
LEFT: Keith, Shirley and
Ann Campbell enjoy the festivities
with Daymond John (left to right).
BELOW: Linda Rohrer and Dr. Robert Beatty
(right) present the William G. Rohrer Business
Leader of the Year award to Gerald Shreiber.
BOTTOM LEFT: Distinguished Alumni
Scholarship recipients Jonathan Hirsch
(left), Crystal (Anderson) O’Neill
(second from left) and Rachel Hallion
(right) and Jeffrey Ritter, president of
the Accounting Society (center back),
meet Daymond John.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Dr. Robert Beatty (left)
presents a Distinguished Business Alumni
Award to Paul Tully.
Dr. Ihsan Isik (right) speaks with Prof. Dr. Omer
Dincer, the Turkish minister of education, at the
ministry of education in Ankara, Turkey.
“ATCOM has been established at the right time and in
the right place,” he said. Although top-level officials are part
of this effort, entrepreneurs at the grassroots level play a
major role. “Businessmen become a bridge between the two
countries,” he said.
The Rohrer College of Business has been a strong supporter of this effort, said Isik, a Marlton resident who
is married with twin daughters. In the four years since
ATCOM was founded, it has forged associations with more
than 200 Turkish and American firms operating mainly in
the Mid-Atlantic region. The organization held the grand
opening of its headquarters in Cherry Hill in 2010 and
hired a Rohrer College of Business intern last spring. As
this endeavor gains momentum and Rowan University
gains prominence in Turkey, increasing numbers of Turkish
businesspeople are exploring the possibility of sending their
children to the school, Isik said.
While Isik continues to work with Turkish-American
entrepreneurs and on international initiatives, his new
perspective is guiding his teaching and research. He hopes
the network will continue to grow and flourish, attracting
businesses to the area. “If we can deliver, Rowan University
is going to win and South Jersey is going to win because we
will bring businesses here,” he said.
ABOVE: Dr. Ali Houshmand, Rowan’s president, speaks to
guests during the 40th anniversary dinner.
BELOW: Dr. Steven V. LeShay; Dr. Linda Ross; Dr. Mark
Chamberlain, University president from 1969 to 1984;
Dr. Robert Lynch and Dr. George Romeo (left to right)
celebrate the College’s achievements.
2
3
Sincerely,
Dr. Robert C. Beatty
Dean and Professor
of Management Information Systems
4
Rohrer College of
Business celebrates
40th anniversary
Professor builds bridges
for international trade
A
In September, the William G. Rohrer College of Business celebrated its
40th anniversary. Here are a few highlights from the Mini Shark Tank,
reception and dinner held to mark this important milestone.
ABOVE: Dr. Robert Beatty presents a
Distinguished Business Alumni Award to
Dorothy Stubblebine.
ABOVE: Aspiring entrepreneurs present their
concepts to Linda Rohrer, Daymond John
and Marc Kramer (left to right) during the Mini
Shark Tank.
Message
From
the Dean
s the economy continues to recover from an ominous decline, Dr. Ihsan Isik foresees a glimmer of
hope in new relationships he is fostering between
his native Turkey and the United States.
More than 350,000 Turkish-Americans live in the
United States, with roughly one-third in New Jersey, Isik
explained, but trade has lagged between the United States
and Turkey. To help promote these links, Isik, a professor of
finance who joined the Rowan University faculty in 2001,
founded the American Turkish Chamber of Commerce
(ATCOM) in 2008.
Welcome to the Winter 2012
issue of the Rohrer Review
This has been an exciting year for Rowan University’s Rohrer
College of Business. I am honored to have assumed the position
of dean during such a transformational era in the history of the
College and University and look forward to sharing with you
our continuing accomplishments.
I arrived at the Rohrer College of Business in July. Since
my arrival I have been thrilled to meet the faculty, staff and
students and witness their many contributions to the College.
In fact, it was precisely their passion that drew me to Rohrer
and Rowan.
The College has spent the last 40 years developing an
outstanding reputation for preparing students to be leaders
in the global business market. I look forward to building on
this foundation.
We will continue to collaborate with members of the University community to advance the College’s mission, expand our
project-based learning and internship opportunities, develop
new academic programs, enhance international and cultural
experiences, and fortify job placement opportunities. Capitalizing on the College’s many assets, we will strengthen ties with
business and industry in South Jersey and the Delaware Valley.
As you browse through this issue of the Rohrer Review, enjoy
the highlights of our recent 40th anniversary celebration this
fall. We thank our faculty, staff, alumni, donors, business leaders and friends who have made our achievements possible. In
particular, we owe an enormous debt to the Rohrer and Campbell families for their generous contributions to the College.
Our alumni remain key players in our students’ success. We
invite all of our supporters to continue with us on this journey,
enriching the Rohrer College of Business as they share with our
next generation of business leaders their talents, insight and
experience.
LEFT: Keith, Shirley and
Ann Campbell enjoy the festivities
with Daymond John (left to right).
BELOW: Linda Rohrer and Dr. Robert Beatty
(right) present the William G. Rohrer Business
Leader of the Year award to Gerald Shreiber.
BOTTOM LEFT: Distinguished Alumni
Scholarship recipients Jonathan Hirsch
(left), Crystal (Anderson) O’Neill
(second from left) and Rachel Hallion
(right) and Jeffrey Ritter, president of
the Accounting Society (center back),
meet Daymond John.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Dr. Robert Beatty (left)
presents a Distinguished Business Alumni
Award to Paul Tully.
Dr. Ihsan Isik (right) speaks with Prof. Dr. Omer
Dincer, the Turkish minister of education, at the
ministry of education in Ankara, Turkey.
“ATCOM has been established at the right time and in
the right place,” he said. Although top-level officials are part
of this effort, entrepreneurs at the grassroots level play a
major role. “Businessmen become a bridge between the two
countries,” he said.
The Rohrer College of Business has been a strong supporter of this effort, said Isik, a Marlton resident who
is married with twin daughters. In the four years since
ATCOM was founded, it has forged associations with more
than 200 Turkish and American firms operating mainly in
the Mid-Atlantic region. The organization held the grand
opening of its headquarters in Cherry Hill in 2010 and
hired a Rohrer College of Business intern last spring. As
this endeavor gains momentum and Rowan University
gains prominence in Turkey, increasing numbers of Turkish
businesspeople are exploring the possibility of sending their
children to the school, Isik said.
While Isik continues to work with Turkish-American
entrepreneurs and on international initiatives, his new
perspective is guiding his teaching and research. He hopes
the network will continue to grow and flourish, attracting
businesses to the area. “If we can deliver, Rowan University
is going to win and South Jersey is going to win because we
will bring businesses here,” he said.
ABOVE: Dr. Ali Houshmand, Rowan’s president, speaks to
guests during the 40th anniversary dinner.
BELOW: Dr. Steven V. LeShay; Dr. Linda Ross; Dr. Mark
Chamberlain, University president from 1969 to 1984;
Dr. Robert Lynch and Dr. George Romeo (left to right)
celebrate the College’s achievements.
2
3
Sincerely,
Dr. Robert C. Beatty
Dean and Professor
of Management Information Systems
4
Rohrer College of
Business celebrates
40th anniversary
Professor builds bridges
for international trade
A
In September, the William G. Rohrer College of Business celebrated its
40th anniversary. Here are a few highlights from the Mini Shark Tank,
reception and dinner held to mark this important milestone.
ABOVE: Dr. Robert Beatty presents a
Distinguished Business Alumni Award to
Dorothy Stubblebine.
ABOVE: Aspiring entrepreneurs present their
concepts to Linda Rohrer, Daymond John
and Marc Kramer (left to right) during the Mini
Shark Tank.
Message
From
the Dean
s the economy continues to recover from an ominous decline, Dr. Ihsan Isik foresees a glimmer of
hope in new relationships he is fostering between
his native Turkey and the United States.
More than 350,000 Turkish-Americans live in the
United States, with roughly one-third in New Jersey, Isik
explained, but trade has lagged between the United States
and Turkey. To help promote these links, Isik, a professor of
finance who joined the Rowan University faculty in 2001,
founded the American Turkish Chamber of Commerce
(ATCOM) in 2008.
Welcome to the Winter 2012
issue of the Rohrer Review
This has been an exciting year for Rowan University’s Rohrer
College of Business. I am honored to have assumed the position
of dean during such a transformational era in the history of the
College and University and look forward to sharing with you
our continuing accomplishments.
I arrived at the Rohrer College of Business in July. Since
my arrival I have been thrilled to meet the faculty, staff and
students and witness their many contributions to the College.
In fact, it was precisely their passion that drew me to Rohrer
and Rowan.
The College has spent the last 40 years developing an
outstanding reputation for preparing students to be leaders
in the global business market. I look forward to building on
this foundation.
We will continue to collaborate with members of the University community to advance the College’s mission, expand our
project-based learning and internship opportunities, develop
new academic programs, enhance international and cultural
experiences, and fortify job placement opportunities. Capitalizing on the College’s many assets, we will strengthen ties with
business and industry in South Jersey and the Delaware Valley.
As you browse through this issue of the Rohrer Review, enjoy
the highlights of our recent 40th anniversary celebration this
fall. We thank our faculty, staff, alumni, donors, business leaders and friends who have made our achievements possible. In
particular, we owe an enormous debt to the Rohrer and Campbell families for their generous contributions to the College.
Our alumni remain key players in our students’ success. We
invite all of our supporters to continue with us on this journey,
enriching the Rohrer College of Business as they share with our
next generation of business leaders their talents, insight and
experience.
LEFT: Keith, Shirley and
Ann Campbell enjoy the festivities
with Daymond John (left to right).
BELOW: Linda Rohrer and Dr. Robert Beatty
(right) present the William G. Rohrer Business
Leader of the Year award to Gerald Shreiber.
BOTTOM LEFT: Distinguished Alumni
Scholarship recipients Jonathan Hirsch
(left), Crystal (Anderson) O’Neill
(second from left) and Rachel Hallion
(right) and Jeffrey Ritter, president of
the Accounting Society (center back),
meet Daymond John.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Dr. Robert Beatty (left)
presents a Distinguished Business Alumni
Award to Paul Tully.
Dr. Ihsan Isik (right) speaks with Prof. Dr. Omer
Dincer, the Turkish minister of education, at the
ministry of education in Ankara, Turkey.
“ATCOM has been established at the right time and in
the right place,” he said. Although top-level officials are part
of this effort, entrepreneurs at the grassroots level play a
major role. “Businessmen become a bridge between the two
countries,” he said.
The Rohrer College of Business has been a strong supporter of this effort, said Isik, a Marlton resident who
is married with twin daughters. In the four years since
ATCOM was founded, it has forged associations with more
than 200 Turkish and American firms operating mainly in
the Mid-Atlantic region. The organization held the grand
opening of its headquarters in Cherry Hill in 2010 and
hired a Rohrer College of Business intern last spring. As
this endeavor gains momentum and Rowan University
gains prominence in Turkey, increasing numbers of Turkish
businesspeople are exploring the possibility of sending their
children to the school, Isik said.
While Isik continues to work with Turkish-American
entrepreneurs and on international initiatives, his new
perspective is guiding his teaching and research. He hopes
the network will continue to grow and flourish, attracting
businesses to the area. “If we can deliver, Rowan University
is going to win and South Jersey is going to win because we
will bring businesses here,” he said.
ABOVE: Dr. Ali Houshmand, Rowan’s president, speaks to
guests during the 40th anniversary dinner.
BELOW: Dr. Steven V. LeShay; Dr. Linda Ross; Dr. Mark
Chamberlain, University president from 1969 to 1984;
Dr. Robert Lynch and Dr. George Romeo (left to right)
celebrate the College’s achievements.
2
3
Sincerely,
Dr. Robert C. Beatty
Dean and Professor
of Management Information Systems
4
Students take automotive
careers for a spin
Innovative program
supercharges education
T
I
n September the Rohrer Entrepreneurship program ramped
up its hands-on focus with a new feature.
This unique four-year program — Entrepreneurial Experiences — enables students to choose career-building opportunities from a comprehensive list of options, ranging from
shadowing entrepreneurs to launching their own businesses.
With each activity, students accrue points necessary for
graduation as they learn by doing and develop career connections. “The classroom provides the information they need. This
program provides the ‘know-how’ and ‘know-who’ experiences,”
said Dr. Steven Phelan, William G. Rohrer Professorial Chair.
Cassie Aran, ’16, an entrepreneurship major from East
Brunswick, N.J., eagerly plunged into the course. Within
weeks of arriving on campus, she entered the College’s Business Plan Competition and attended two Philadelphia events
geared for budding entrepreneurs, the Lean Mean Startup
Machine and the Philadelphia Startup Weekend, which she
particularly enjoyed. “I picked up a lot of business cards and
numbers of designers and met developers who can help me
when I want to start a business,” said Aran.
At the Lean Mean Startup Machine event, Thomas Shaw,
’16, an entrepreneurship major from Old Bridge, N.J., discovered the importance of safeguarding early business concepts
and organizing teams. “Whatever the endeavor, one of the
hardest parts is getting everyone on the same page and motivating everyone for one common goal,” he said.
Entrepreneurial Experiences is one more asset that will help
students hit the ground running in the business world.
“Employers are seeking people who can add value straightaway to an organization,” Phelan said. “You’re seeing cases
where employers are looking for one or two years’ minimum
work experience. They don’t want to train people anymore. So
I think if our students already have that experience of attending events, running activities and being self-directed learners
and self-starters, that will be very attractive to employers.”
his summer four Rohrer College of Business students
test drove business careers in the automotive dealership
industry during 10-week internships sponsored by
Holman Automotive Group Inc.
Gaining experience in a range of fields, including accounting, finance, marketing, sales and service, students acquired
a top-down view of the industry at the company’s Mt. Laurel
and Maple Shade, N.J., dealerships.
“The primary goal of the internship program is to recruit talented, motivated and intelligent college students to work in our
business,” said Trisha Perna, ’10, corporate recruiter and a Rohrer
College of Business human resource management alumna. “The
program will develop and prepare these students to take on both
management and non-management roles within the company.”
During the paid internships, the students completed the employee orientation program, shadowed department managers and
carried out specialized projects. “We gave them the opportunity
to work as if they were full-time employees here,” Perna said.
Joshua McManigal, ’13, a marketing major from Middletown, N.J., split his internship between sales and service. “I
developed a good feel for both the front of the house and the
back of the house and all of their inner workings, understanding the relationship of the two in achieving success,” he said.
Stephen Krone, ’12, a management and marketing major
from Mahwah, N.J., who will pursue a sales career after graduation in December, valued learning from experienced employees.
“Holman managers all worked in sales before they went into
management,” he said. “Working with them gave me a chance
to learn from them about customers — how to address their
needs properly and how to treat them — and, more importantly, how to build long-term relationships.”
After completing the internship, students provided a presentation about their experiences and each received a $1,500
scholarship from the company.
“The feedback that we received from the interns was great, and
we’re going to continue the program,” Perna said. “Since this is
the first year that we had the program, it was actually above and
beyond what we expected, so we’re very excited for it to continue.”
College welcomes new dean
continued from page 1
Trisha Perna, Holman corporate recruiter, worked with
Joshua McManigal (left) and Stephen Krone as interns.
Meanwhile, Beatty is putting his experience to work growing
a program that already impressed him.
He gained that experience as dean of the School of Global
Commerce & Management at Whitworth University, in
Spokane, Wash., and as a faculty member at the University of
Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Miami University, Texas Christian
University and Northern Illinois University. He has worked
in business and industry for the Kellogg Co., Amerada Hess
Corp. and the United States Air Force, for which he is a lieutenant colonel and special agent in the Reserve.
Beatty earned a D.B.A. in business information systems
from Mississippi State University, an M.B.A. from Mississippi
State University, an M.C.S.M (Master of Computer Systems
Management) from Creighton University and a B.A. in computer science from Texas Christian University.
Beatty and his wife, Raynette, live in Mullica Hill and are
the parents of Shelby and Sean.
5
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
Paid
Bellmawr, NJ
Permit #1047
Rohrer College of Business
Winter 2012
201 Mullica Hill Road • Glassboro, NJ 08028
A P ublication of the William G. Rohrer College of Business
Rohrer College of Business celebrates 40th anniversary
R
Josh, ’03, M’08; Henry; and Sarah Piddington, ’03, M’05
and Stephen Kozachyn III, ’04, the College’s director of
outreach (left to right), enjoyed the first Rohrer College
of Business Homecoming Picnic on Oct. 27.
Alum inspires prospective entrepreneurs
The Rohrer Review
Volume 8, Issue 1, Winter 2012
J
Dr. Robert C. Beatty
Dean
Margaret Van Brunt
Assistant Dean
James Jordan
M.B.A. Director
Stephen Kozachyn
Director of
Outreach
Patricia Quigley
Editor/Writer
Diane Donofrio
Writer/
Angelucci Project Manager
Traci Belli
Designer
Craig Terry
Photographer
ust a few short years after launching a business as a
Rohrer College of Business undergraduate, Stephen
Gill, ’08, is fueling the dreams of aspiring entrepreneurs
sitting in classrooms he once occupied.
As co-founder and chief executive officer of Philadelphiabased Leadnomics, Gill left large footprints to follow, having
founded his first online marketing company a year before
earning his bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship. A little
more than a year after his Rowan graduation, the thriving
firm was the first to graduate from the College’s Incubator
in the South Jersey Technology Park at Rowan University.
Alumnus Stephen Gill be This year Leadnomics placed 26 among Inc. magazine’s
Inc. 500 list of the country’s Fastest-Growing Private Com- gan achieving astounding
success as an entrepreneur
panies for 2012 (No. 1 in Philadelphia), jumping from last
while still a student.
year’s rank of 48.
Given his experience at Rowan, Gill sought to encourage entrepreneurs at the College,
establishing scholarships for students with innovative ideas to launch Internet or technology
ventures. The first recipient, David Leek, ’13, a radio/television/film major from Marlton, N.J.,
was chosen by a Rowan-assigned committee to receive a $2,500 scholarship for his submission,
AudioCollege. Gill will offer two $1,500 scholarships during the 2012-13 academic year.
“Helping fellow entrepreneurs is important,” Gill said. “I’m giving back to the Rowan community, which was instrumental in building my business.”
He urges aspiring entrepreneurs to “fail fast, fail often,” instead of building an entire business before testing its viability. “Rather than investing a year in planning or development, get
market feedback immediately on your idea, uncover what people really need, focus, iterate
quickly and repeat,” he said.
6
The Rohrer Review is published twice a year
by the Rohrer College of Business to highlight
the achievements of its faculty, staff, students
and alumni. We welcome comments and suggestions. Send correspondence to:
Rohrer College of Business
c/o Editor — The Rohrer Review
Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Rd.
Glassboro, NJ 08028-1701
Contact:
(856) 256-4025
(856) 256-4439 (fax)
www.rowan.edu/business
Find us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/RowanBusiness
Postmaster:
Send address changes to:
Rohrer College of Business
c/o Editor — Rohrer Review
Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Rd.
Glassboro, NJ 08028-1701
owan University’s William G. Rohrer College of Business
celebrated its 40th anniversary in September with a Mini
Shark Tank during which five businesses showcased their
products and services before a panel of judges. Those judges were
Daymond John, ABC Television’s Shark Tank star, entrepreneur
and FUBU fashion line founder; Linda Rohrer, chairman of the
Rowan Board of Trustees, real estate professional, philanthropist
and College benefactor; and Marc Kramer, executive director of
the mid-Atlantic region’s Angel Venture Fair.
Later that evening, about 300 people enjoyed a reception and dinner, with Daymond John as the keynote speaker. During the dinner,
the College presented the first William G. Rohrer Business Leader of
the Year award to Gerald Shreiber, president and CEO of J&J Snack
Foods Corp., Pennsauken, and the first Distinguished Business
Alumni Awards to Sarah Piddington, ’03, M’05; Dorothy Stubblebine, ’80; and Paul Tully, ’99. The College also awarded $1,000
Distinguished Alumni Scholarships to seniors Jonathan Hirsch and
Rachel Hallion and M.B.A. student Crystal (Anderson) O’Neill.
The anniversary celebrations marked the many changes in Rowan
University’s business offerings during the last 40 years. The College
started as an Administrative Studies Department and has grown
from 150 majors and fewer than 10 professors to close to 1,200 students and 40 full-time, tenure-track faculty as well as adjuncts. The
College boasts two professorial chairs and is accredited by AACSB
International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of
Business; www.aacsb.edu), with its MIS program accredited by the
Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET (www.abet.org).
“The growth is the result of many years of dedicated service,” said
Dr. Ali Houshmand, Rowan’s president, at the dinner.
Outside organizations regularly recognize the College — this fall
the Princeton Review named it to The Best 296 Business Schools: 2013
Edition.. Businesses, government offices and nonprofit organizations
regularly seek out Rohrer teams to assist on dozens of projects a year.
Said Linda Rohrer, a trustee of the William G. Rohrer Charitable
Foundation that has contributed $13 million to the College and
to scholarships at Rowan, “I’m excited to see the Rohrer College
vision taking shape. I am continually impressed by the quality of
students and faculty.”
Shark Tank star Daymond John shares his insights with
the audience during the 40th anniversary dinner.
Rohrer College of Business welcomes new dean
D
r. Robert Beatty is a 6’2” ball of energy whose ideas are
almost as big as he is. That’s good news for the Rohrer
College of Business, for which he was named dean in July. Since then he has gotten to know the College and Rowan University well, and the last few months have left him effusive.
“I’ve lived in eight different states, and I’m continually amazed by
the hospitality and warm support my wife and I have received since
moving here. I’m impressed by the people of South Jersey — some
not even alumni — who have made a commitment to the Rohrer
College of Business because they understand that their support with
time and gifts is important to ensure the College continues its mis-
sion of providing students with educational excellence,” he said.
Beatty added, “I have found that the leadership at Rowan is very
supportive of trying to move the College of Business to the next level.”
“The next level” means building on a solid foundation, increasing
the project-based learning opportunities that are a College hallmark, exploring new academic programs, expanding internship and
job placement activities, increasing international experiences, increasing collaborations with businesses and forging closer alliances
with alumni willing to share their knowledge with today’s students.
And there’s the Rohrer College of Business building. The dean
hopes to see the College in a new building in a few years.
continued on page 5
Students take automotive
careers for a spin
Innovative program
supercharges education
T
I
n September the Rohrer Entrepreneurship program ramped
up its hands-on focus with a new feature.
This unique four-year program — Entrepreneurial Experiences — enables students to choose career-building opportunities from a comprehensive list of options, ranging from
shadowing entrepreneurs to launching their own businesses.
With each activity, students accrue points necessary for
graduation as they learn by doing and develop career connections. “The classroom provides the information they need. This
program provides the ‘know-how’ and ‘know-who’ experiences,”
said Dr. Steven Phelan, William G. Rohrer Professorial Chair.
Cassie Aran, ’16, an entrepreneurship major from East
Brunswick, N.J., eagerly plunged into the course. Within
weeks of arriving on campus, she entered the College’s Business Plan Competition and attended two Philadelphia events
geared for budding entrepreneurs, the Lean Mean Startup
Machine and the Philadelphia Startup Weekend, which she
particularly enjoyed. “I picked up a lot of business cards and
numbers of designers and met developers who can help me
when I want to start a business,” said Aran.
At the Lean Mean Startup Machine event, Thomas Shaw,
’16, an entrepreneurship major from Old Bridge, N.J., discovered the importance of safeguarding early business concepts
and organizing teams. “Whatever the endeavor, one of the
hardest parts is getting everyone on the same page and motivating everyone for one common goal,” he said.
Entrepreneurial Experiences is one more asset that will help
students hit the ground running in the business world.
“Employers are seeking people who can add value straightaway to an organization,” Phelan said. “You’re seeing cases
where employers are looking for one or two years’ minimum
work experience. They don’t want to train people anymore. So
I think if our students already have that experience of attending events, running activities and being self-directed learners
and self-starters, that will be very attractive to employers.”
his summer four Rohrer College of Business students
test drove business careers in the automotive dealership
industry during 10-week internships sponsored by
Holman Automotive Group Inc.
Gaining experience in a range of fields, including accounting, finance, marketing, sales and service, students acquired
a top-down view of the industry at the company’s Mt. Laurel
and Maple Shade, N.J., dealerships.
“The primary goal of the internship program is to recruit talented, motivated and intelligent college students to work in our
business,” said Trisha Perna, ’10, corporate recruiter and a Rohrer
College of Business human resource management alumna. “The
program will develop and prepare these students to take on both
management and non-management roles within the company.”
During the paid internships, the students completed the employee orientation program, shadowed department managers and
carried out specialized projects. “We gave them the opportunity
to work as if they were full-time employees here,” Perna said.
Joshua McManigal, ’13, a marketing major from Middletown, N.J., split his internship between sales and service. “I
developed a good feel for both the front of the house and the
back of the house and all of their inner workings, understanding the relationship of the two in achieving success,” he said.
Stephen Krone, ’12, a management and marketing major
from Mahwah, N.J., who will pursue a sales career after graduation in December, valued learning from experienced employees.
“Holman managers all worked in sales before they went into
management,” he said. “Working with them gave me a chance
to learn from them about customers — how to address their
needs properly and how to treat them — and, more importantly, how to build long-term relationships.”
After completing the internship, students provided a presentation about their experiences and each received a $1,500
scholarship from the company.
“The feedback that we received from the interns was great, and
we’re going to continue the program,” Perna said. “Since this is
the first year that we had the program, it was actually above and
beyond what we expected, so we’re very excited for it to continue.”
College welcomes new dean
continued from page 1
Trisha Perna, Holman corporate recruiter, worked with
Joshua McManigal (left) and Stephen Krone as interns.
Meanwhile, Beatty is putting his experience to work growing
a program that already impressed him.
He gained that experience as dean of the School of Global
Commerce & Management at Whitworth University, in
Spokane, Wash., and as a faculty member at the University of
Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Miami University, Texas Christian
University and Northern Illinois University. He has worked
in business and industry for the Kellogg Co., Amerada Hess
Corp. and the United States Air Force, for which he is a lieutenant colonel and special agent in the Reserve.
Beatty earned a D.B.A. in business information systems
from Mississippi State University, an M.B.A. from Mississippi
State University, an M.C.S.M (Master of Computer Systems
Management) from Creighton University and a B.A. in computer science from Texas Christian University.
Beatty and his wife, Raynette, live in Mullica Hill and are
the parents of Shelby and Sean.
5
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
Paid
Bellmawr, NJ
Permit #1047
Rohrer College of Business
Winter 2012
201 Mullica Hill Road • Glassboro, NJ 08028
A P ublication of the William G. Rohrer College of Business
Rohrer College of Business celebrates 40th anniversary
R
Josh, ’03, M’08; Henry; and Sarah Piddington, ’03, M’05
and Stephen Kozachyn III, ’04, the College’s director of
outreach (left to right), enjoyed the first Rohrer College
of Business Homecoming Picnic on Oct. 27.
Alum inspires prospective entrepreneurs
The Rohrer Review
Volume 8, Issue 1, Winter 2012
J
Dr. Robert C. Beatty
Dean
Margaret Van Brunt
Assistant Dean
James Jordan
M.B.A. Director
Stephen Kozachyn
Director of
Outreach
Patricia Quigley
Editor/Writer
Diane Donofrio
Writer/
Angelucci Project Manager
Traci Belli
Designer
Craig Terry
Photographer
ust a few short years after launching a business as a
Rohrer College of Business undergraduate, Stephen
Gill, ’08, is fueling the dreams of aspiring entrepreneurs
sitting in classrooms he once occupied.
As co-founder and chief executive officer of Philadelphiabased Leadnomics, Gill left large footprints to follow, having
founded his first online marketing company a year before
earning his bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship. A little
more than a year after his Rowan graduation, the thriving
firm was the first to graduate from the College’s Incubator
in the South Jersey Technology Park at Rowan University.
Alumnus Stephen Gill be This year Leadnomics placed 26 among Inc. magazine’s
Inc. 500 list of the country’s Fastest-Growing Private Com- gan achieving astounding
success as an entrepreneur
panies for 2012 (No. 1 in Philadelphia), jumping from last
while still a student.
year’s rank of 48.
Given his experience at Rowan, Gill sought to encourage entrepreneurs at the College,
establishing scholarships for students with innovative ideas to launch Internet or technology
ventures. The first recipient, David Leek, ’13, a radio/television/film major from Marlton, N.J.,
was chosen by a Rowan-assigned committee to receive a $2,500 scholarship for his submission,
AudioCollege. Gill will offer two $1,500 scholarships during the 2012-13 academic year.
“Helping fellow entrepreneurs is important,” Gill said. “I’m giving back to the Rowan community, which was instrumental in building my business.”
He urges aspiring entrepreneurs to “fail fast, fail often,” instead of building an entire business before testing its viability. “Rather than investing a year in planning or development, get
market feedback immediately on your idea, uncover what people really need, focus, iterate
quickly and repeat,” he said.
6
The Rohrer Review is published twice a year
by the Rohrer College of Business to highlight
the achievements of its faculty, staff, students
and alumni. We welcome comments and suggestions. Send correspondence to:
Rohrer College of Business
c/o Editor — The Rohrer Review
Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Rd.
Glassboro, NJ 08028-1701
Contact:
(856) 256-4025
(856) 256-4439 (fax)
www.rowan.edu/business
Find us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/RowanBusiness
Postmaster:
Send address changes to:
Rohrer College of Business
c/o Editor — Rohrer Review
Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Rd.
Glassboro, NJ 08028-1701
owan University’s William G. Rohrer College of Business
celebrated its 40th anniversary in September with a Mini
Shark Tank during which five businesses showcased their
products and services before a panel of judges. Those judges were
Daymond John, ABC Television’s Shark Tank star, entrepreneur
and FUBU fashion line founder; Linda Rohrer, chairman of the
Rowan Board of Trustees, real estate professional, philanthropist
and College benefactor; and Marc Kramer, executive director of
the mid-Atlantic region’s Angel Venture Fair.
Later that evening, about 300 people enjoyed a reception and dinner, with Daymond John as the keynote speaker. During the dinner,
the College presented the first William G. Rohrer Business Leader of
the Year award to Gerald Shreiber, president and CEO of J&J Snack
Foods Corp., Pennsauken, and the first Distinguished Business
Alumni Awards to Sarah Piddington, ’03, M’05; Dorothy Stubblebine, ’80; and Paul Tully, ’99. The College also awarded $1,000
Distinguished Alumni Scholarships to seniors Jonathan Hirsch and
Rachel Hallion and M.B.A. student Crystal (Anderson) O’Neill.
The anniversary celebrations marked the many changes in Rowan
University’s business offerings during the last 40 years. The College
started as an Administrative Studies Department and has grown
from 150 majors and fewer than 10 professors to close to 1,200 students and 40 full-time, tenure-track faculty as well as adjuncts. The
College boasts two professorial chairs and is accredited by AACSB
International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of
Business; www.aacsb.edu), with its MIS program accredited by the
Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET (www.abet.org).
“The growth is the result of many years of dedicated service,” said
Dr. Ali Houshmand, Rowan’s president, at the dinner.
Outside organizations regularly recognize the College — this fall
the Princeton Review named it to The Best 296 Business Schools: 2013
Edition.. Businesses, government offices and nonprofit organizations
regularly seek out Rohrer teams to assist on dozens of projects a year.
Said Linda Rohrer, a trustee of the William G. Rohrer Charitable
Foundation that has contributed $13 million to the College and
to scholarships at Rowan, “I’m excited to see the Rohrer College
vision taking shape. I am continually impressed by the quality of
students and faculty.”
Shark Tank star Daymond John shares his insights with
the audience during the 40th anniversary dinner.
Rohrer College of Business welcomes new dean
D
r. Robert Beatty is a 6’2” ball of energy whose ideas are
almost as big as he is. That’s good news for the Rohrer
College of Business, for which he was named dean in July. Since then he has gotten to know the College and Rowan University well, and the last few months have left him effusive.
“I’ve lived in eight different states, and I’m continually amazed by
the hospitality and warm support my wife and I have received since
moving here. I’m impressed by the people of South Jersey — some
not even alumni — who have made a commitment to the Rohrer
College of Business because they understand that their support with
time and gifts is important to ensure the College continues its mis-
sion of providing students with educational excellence,” he said.
Beatty added, “I have found that the leadership at Rowan is very
supportive of trying to move the College of Business to the next level.”
“The next level” means building on a solid foundation, increasing
the project-based learning opportunities that are a College hallmark, exploring new academic programs, expanding internship and
job placement activities, increasing international experiences, increasing collaborations with businesses and forging closer alliances
with alumni willing to share their knowledge with today’s students.
And there’s the Rohrer College of Business building. The dean
hopes to see the College in a new building in a few years.
continued on page 5