ROSE DECOSIMO SELECTED AS BETA ALPHA PSI ACCOUNTANT OF THE YEAR
Rose Decosimo was selected as the Beta Alpha Psi Accountant of the Year for 2008 by the Eta Kappa Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) at UTC. Beta Alpha Psi is a professional, international honors organization for accounting, finance, and information systems majors. Beta Alpha Psi recognizes academic excellence and complements members’ formal education by providing interaction and networking among students, faculty and professionals.
“Ms. Decosimo is being recognized for her many years of service to the accounting profession, as well as her exemplary dedication to and promotion of the Chattanooga community,” said Dr. Stan Davis, Guerry Associate Professor of Accounting and Head of the Departments of Accounting and Finance. “She has been involved in local professional and civic organizations since joining Joseph Decosimo & Company almost 20 years ago.”
Decosimo received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee and worked for several years as a registered nurse in San Francisco and Chattanooga. In 1988, she earned her MBA with an emphasis in accounting from UTC.
For two decades, Decosimo has worked as a Certified Public Accountant. In addition to serving as a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, Decosimo serves on the boards of the Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, Youth Leadership Chattanooga, WTCI Community Advisory Board (chairperson), Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy charter school, and Young Women’s Leadership Academy Foundation. Her past civic service activities include (but are not limited to) serving on the UTC’s Chancellor’s Roundtable, United Way of Greater Chattanooga Campaign Cabinet, and the Chattanooga Urban League.
The presentation of the Beta Alpha Psi Accountant of the Year award to Rose Decosimo was made by Dr. Marilyn Willis, Associate Professor of Accounting at UTC and former teacher of Decosimo.
FACULTY NEWS
• Dr. Mo Ahmadi published “Online Teaching and Problem Solving Skills: A Performance Oriented Investigation,” International Journal of Management in Education (IJMIE). (Co-Authors: Asllani, Roth, C. White.) He also published “Technologies in Support of Mass Customization Strategy: Exploring the Linkages between E-Commerce and Knowledge Management,” Computers in Industry. (Co-Authors: Ettkin, Helms, and Jih.)
• Dr. Rich Allen, with Gail Dawson, Kathleen Wheatley, and Cindy White, published “The Relationship Between Diversity Practices and Perceived Organizational Diversity,” Problems and Perspectives in Management. Additionally, he also published “Porter’s Business Strategies in Japan,” Business Strategy Series. (Co-authors: Helms, M.; Takeda, M.; White, C. S.; and Jones, H.) and “Perceived Diversity and Organizational Performance,” Employee Relations. (Co-authors: Dawson, G.; Wheatley, K.; and White, C. S.)
• J. R. Clark, Probasco Chair of Free Enterprise, had four articles published in the 2008-2009 academic year: “Government Transfers and Inequality: An Anatomy of Political Failure,” Journal of Public Finance and Management; “Are Regulations the Answer for Emerging Stock Markets? Evidence from the Czech Republic and Poland,” Quarterly Review of Economics; “Making Social Security More Harmful,” The Freeman; and “The Impact of Economic Growth, Tax Policy and Economic Freedom on Income Inequality,” The Journal of Private Enterprise. A fifth article, “Suppressing Liberty, Censoring Information, Wasting Resources, and Calling It Good for the Environment,” co-authored with Dwight R. Lee, has recently been accepted for publication by Cambridge University Press.
• Dr. Gerald Debusk published “Straight Talk on Lean Accounting,” Tennessee CPA Journal.
• Dr. Mark E. Mendenhall, J. Burton Frierson Chair of Excellence in Business Leadership, co-authored a new book, entitled: Global Leadership: Research, Practice, and Development. (Oxford, UK: Routledge Press.)
• UTC COB faculty members Drs. Valerie Taylor, Diane Halstead, and Paula J. Haynes co-authored research investigating consumer responses to marketer provided religious symbols in the marketplace and marketers’ motivation for providing these symbols. “Consumer Responses to Christian Religious Symbols in Advertising” will appear in a top marketing journal, The Journal of Advertising. “Service Provider Use of Christian Religious Messages in Yellow Pages Advertising” will appear in Advertising & Society Review.
MARKETING CLASS OFFERS CHATTANOOGA AIRPORT FRESH IDEAS
Open space at the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport beckons advertising opportunities, according to a group of UTC business students in Dr. Diane Halstead’s marketing class. At the invitation of airport officials, the group presented their marketing plan aimed at bringing in new revenue.
The group presented big ideas, including renaming the field in honor of a major employer, and smaller ideas that could create advertising opportunities. They included laptop trays, rain poncho stations and a baggage area with large flat screen televisions and comfortable recliners.
Business student Andrea Bart’s portion of the group presentation suggested continuing the UTC partnership. “The airport website could be improved,” she said “Perhaps UTC computer science students could take on that task.”
Following the presentation, airport Marketing Director Christina Seibold expressed her thanks for the group’s work and was receptive to their fresh ideas. Amy Bingham, Advertising Sales Manager, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority, said, “Some of the ideas you have presented will be incorporated into our business plan.”
Bart responded that it had been “a great real-world learning experience.”
Zachery Beker, a marketing and management major who plans to graduate in August, called this project “the most creative of the three we had to choose from.” He said the group has been working hard all semester to gather information and spent last week practicing their presentation.
VOLKSWAGEN EXPERIENCE OFFERED TO MARKETING AND BUSINESS STUDENTS
A day of partnerships between UTC, Chattanooga State, and Volkswagen gave 24 students a rare opportunity to drive or ride in the 2009 CC sedan. Following a media event to celebrate the new vehicle, students and faculty from both campuses joined Volkswagen officials and local leaders for lunch.
Steve Keyes, Director of Press and Public Relations for Volkswagen Group of America, addressed the group on the educational partnership and the company’s future plans for Chattanooga.
During the re-enactment of a press conference for the students, Keyes said the CC sedan is a cut above the VW Passat, with a price range of $26,790 to $42,000. “It looks more upscale than it costs,” he said.
The night before the ride and drive event, Volkswagen representatives spoke to Business and Communication students from UTC and Chattanooga State. VW marketing and public relations professionals discussed the company’s approach to branding, business philosophy, marketing strategies and more.
“A well-educated workforce is a benefit to the entire community, not just Volkswagen, and so events like the one we held are a win-win-win,” said Jill Bratina, Director, Corporate Communications for Volkswagen Group of America. “We are invested in the communities we call home, and will be a reliable partner with the state of Tennessee and the city of Chattanooga. Long-term commitment is the hallmark of our success, and we look forward to a long and productive relationship.”
COUNTY MAYOR CLAUDE RAMSEY ADDRESSES BUSINESS STUDENTS ABOUT VOLKSWAGEN
County Mayor Claude Ramsey encouraged 400 College of Business students to finish their education so that they can be prepared for career opportunities offered by Volkswagen.
“It comes down to this: education,” Ramsey said. “For those studying accounting, and those with a banking background, there will be all kinds of opportunities. If you don’t have the education and the discipline to finish, you won’t have those opportunities.”
Ramsey recounted the story of local government’s courting of Volkswagen at the 13th Annual Clarence E. Harris Entrepreneurial Forum, held at the University Center. He said after many months of negotiations, Chattanooga fought its way to the short list of locations under consideration. The situation was reminiscent of the area’s bid for a Toyota manufacturing plant, which eventually located in Tupelo, Mississippi.
“We learned from that process and now the economy is changing. We pursued all avenues and learned a lot,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey said in the final stretch toward making the deal with Volkswagen, the city of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and the private sector were given three weeks to work together and coordinate site work. When the Volkswagen officials returned, Ramsey said they were thrilled with what they saw, calling the progress “absolutely amazing.”
The Volkswagen manufacturing plant being built at Enterprise South will employ 2,000, with the potential for spinoff employment of 8,000 to 9,000 more. The scale of the $1 billion facility will be just under 2 million square feet.