Upcoming events

The Johnson School Club of New York sponsored a wine tasting at DFN Gallery in Soho on September 29. The event, which was organized by Athena Dratelis, MBA ’91, was attended by 70 alumni and guests, including prospective students and the wine tasting was led by Rick Weissman, MBA ’81, of FunWithWine.com.

Thanks to several alumni who attended the first-annual match up with the Johnson School rugby club on September 25. See more photos of the event on the club's web site.

Useful links:

Celebrate Homecoming

Click here for details
Homecoming 2004
October 15-17
See details for Johnson School events in the events section down below

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Director’s Message: Johnson School moves up to #7 spot

As many of you may already have heard, the 2004 Business Week MBA program rankings were just released, and the Johnson School moved from #11 in 2002 to #7 in 2004. The overall ranking is based on MBA graduate rankings by the class of 2004 (45 percent), corporate recruiter rankings (45 percent), and intellectual capital rankings (10 percent). The Johnson School received high rankings on each of these components and received straight A’s in communications, teamwork, analytical skills, teaching quality, and career services.

As Dean Swieringa recently noted, “These survey results are encouraging. And yet, Business Week and other recent surveys remind us that corporate expectations for business schools and MBAs are changing, and there are a number of excellent business schools that are working very hard to be in the top 10. We are very pleased with our ranking, but we are not standing still. We have an excellent long-range plan that is guiding our actions. In addition, our immediate focus is on building our network of actively engaged alumni, strengthening our brand through integrated marketing and communications, and enhancing our curriculum and programs to respond to the demands of a rapidly changing marketplace.”

In these respects—and particularly in terms of our alumni network and reputation—all of you play a most important role. We encourage you to take advantage of the many opportunities for active involvement with our alumni program, and to continue the kind of strong support for your alma mater that will permit us to achieve the sustained level of excellence that our long-range plan envisions, and that you rightly expect from us.

Risa M. Mish '85, JD '88
Director, Alumni Relations

Roy Park enters Johnson Hall of Honor
On October 27, the Johnson School will induct Roy H. Park Jr., MBA '63, to the Hall of Honor for devotion and commitment to the school. The community is invited to attend the Wednesday ceremony, at 4:30 p.m. in the West Entrance of Sage Hall, and the reception, from 5:15-6:00 p.m. in the atrium. Induction into the Hall of Honor is the highest form of recognition that can be rendered by the dean in the name of the Johnson School community and pays tribute to those who have been the most generous of supporters of the school—as evidenced by their tremendous support, outstanding leadership and dedicated service in building the Johnson School's strength. Past inductees include, Richard A. Marin, MBA ’76, Jeffrey P. Parker, MBA ’70, John P. Neafsey, MBA ’63, Ronald P. Lynch, Nelson Schaenen Jr., MBA ’51, Samuel Johnson, Richard Tucker, Nicholas Noyes, Joseph Eastwick, Gilbert Wehmann, and J. Joseph Driscoll

Jr. Roy H. Park Jr. is the owner, president, and CEO of Park Outdoor Advertising, a dominant force in the billboard market throughout New York State and Pennsylvania. He assumed leadership of Park Outdoor, a division of his father Roy Sr.'s Park Communications conglomerate, in 1971 and purchased the company outright in 1988. In February 2003, he became president and chairman of Triad Foundation Inc., which is dedicated to supporting educational excellence at Cornell University, primarily through the Johnson Graduate School of Management, and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Roy's undergraduate alma mater. It is through Roy's vision that the Park Foundation created the Roy H. Park Leadership Fellows Program in the Johnson School in 1997, and that the Triad Foundation supports the program's continued growth and excellence.

Johnson School seeks Corporate Programs director
Click here to read the job listing.

Women’s business symposium in November
The Women's Management Council (WMC) of the Johnson School is hosting the WMC Symposium on November 18 and 19 at Cornell. Entitled “Women in Management,” this event brings together alumnae, students, and high-profile women executives to explore the unique opportunities and challenges facing women in business. Topics include alternative career paths for women MBAs, success strategies for women in traditionally male-dominated industries, and policies that promote a family-friendly workplace. Sponsors include Credit Suisse First Boston, General Electric, Citigroup, and 85 Broads. For more information, go to: http://forum.johnson.cornell.edu/students/orgs/wmc

Volunteer spotlight

Ken Gurrola, Esq. MBA ’95, is a corporate tax consultant at Ernst & Young LLP's Transaction Advisory Services group in New York. Ken focuses on tax due diligence and mergers and acquisitions structuring for corporate business development and private equity clients. Ken's group is the primary tax and accounting service provider to 52 percent of private equity funds greater than $2 billion.

Ken's volunteer achievements on behalf of the Johnson School include serving as president of the 2,000-member Johnson School Club of New York during the last two years. In this role, Ken worked closely with Risa Mish, Jennifer Thurston, and Pam Staub of the Johnson School, as well as with club chairman Rich Marin, MBA ’76, club officers Tammy Dalton, MBA ’94, Athena Dratelis, MBA ’91, David Kelsey, MBA ’95, Jeff Fenigstein, MBA’01, Gligor Tashkovich, MBA ’91, and dozens of other active alumni to help build a sense of community among Metro-NY area Johnson School alumni.

Ken's key achievements with regard to the Metro-NY Club include working with Craig Ewing, MBA’72, of Ewing Consulting to design and execute the Club web page; working with the Johnson School to enable online registration and payment for various social and community service events; and holding more than 20 events for area alumni including Week on Wall Street presentations by Professors Hal Bierman and Maureen O'Hara, an executive placement event with Spencer Stuart and the CEO of Hancock Insurance coordinated by Associate Dean Richard Shafer of the Johnson School, two golf tournaments, and two wine tasting events coordinated by Athena Dratelis and Rick Weissman, MBA ’81, of http://www.funwithwine.com.

Ken looks forward to working with club president-elect Tammy Dalton, MBA ’94, as she increases her leadership role in the club on January 1.

Ken currently serves as liaison between the Metro-NY Club and the Dean's Leadership Committee for the Annual Fund, a select group of volunteers coordinated by Marybeth Tarzian that focuses on furthering relationships with alumni who contribute $5,000 or more annually to the Johnson School.

Featured alumni

Gary Markoff, MBA ’73, is managing partner of the Boston law firm of Sherin and Lodgen and also serves as chairman of the firm’s Business Law Group. He works with clients primarily on business and corporate and real estate transactions and bank financings. Gary represents lenders and borrowers in various real estate projects and secured and unsecured commercial loans for private and publicly held companies, and also represents companies in mergers and acquisitions and recapitalization. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar and the U.S. Tax Court, serves as a trustee of the Greater Boston Aid To The Blind, and is on the executive board of the American Jewish Committee. He is also a co-founding trustee of the Rachel Molly Markoff Foundation, a private foundation formed to assist families struggling with the treatment of children stricken with cancer.

In February 2004, Paul E. Huck, MBA ’79, was appointed vice president and chief financial officer of Air Products, a global corporation with 18,500 employees, annual revenues of $6.3 billion, and operations in over 30 countries. Air Products serves customers in technology, energy, healthcare and industrial markets worldwide with a portfolio of products, services and solutions providing atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials and chemical intermediates. Paul, who joined Air Products upon graduation from the Johnson School, is responsible for all aspects of the worldwide financial organization, including controllership, treasury, investor relations, tax, and audit. He reports to the company’s chairman and CEO, and serves on the company’s corporate executive committee. Paul served as an officer in the United States Navy from 1972 to 1979, and is currently a member of the board of directors of Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, Pa.

Laura Wilkinson, MBA '85, a litigation partner in the Washington, DC, office of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, was named to the board of directors of Leadership Montgomery, and will serve as its treasurer. Leadership Montgomery is an organization that brings together current and emerging community leaders to make Montgomery County, Md., a better place to live and work by "building a diverse group of informed community trustees who can create collaborations and partnerships to further common goals." In addition to her service on the board of Leadership Montgomery, Laura is co-chair of the District of Columbia Bar Association's Antitrust and Consumer Law Section, and a member of the American Bar Association and the National Bar Association. She also is a member of the President's Council of Cornell Women (PCCW), and the Advisory Council of Cornell's Entrepreneurship and Personal Enterprise Program (EPE).

Marc Sacks, MBA '87, was appointed senior managing director, head of the private equity partnership group, and member of the executive committee at Mesirow Financial, a Chicago-based financial services firm with $19 billion in assets under management and 900 employees in 10 offices across the U.S. Marc came to Mesirow from Adams Street Partners, where he was a partner for over 11 years, and was active in all aspects of the firm's private equity partnership investment activities. Marc has been a frequent guest speaker on the private equity industry in Professor David BenDaniel's private equity class at the Johnson School, most recently in April 2004, and has served as a member of the Cornell University Private Equity Subcommittee since 1998.

Recent Media Hits
Professor Robert Frank’s findings are cited in the Sydney Morning Herald article about happiness and money; the Johnson School Veterans Club is prominently featured in the September 2004 issue of VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Magazine, with a cover photo and great coverage in the article; Professor Robert Frank’s research was in the news across the country during the week of September 6. Frank’s research, commissioned by the Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, found that a college or university with a champion sports team does not necessarily attract better students or benefits from bigger alumni gifts; Kevin Baradet, the Johnson School’s chief technology officer, is quoted in a Mobile Technologies article that looks at making college campuses wireless and secure; Steve Shapiro, MBA ’91, and his company, Pinnacle Learning Centers, are featured in an article in Smart Money magazine's September issue; Sightspeed, the brainchild videoconferencing product of a former Cornell professor and Brad Treat, MBA ’02 , was wonderfully portrayed in a New York Times column as a “cool” communication device for parents and college students; The Shanghai Star cites the work of Professor Robert Frank in an article that questions the cornerstones of happiness; CFO.com highlights Professor J. Edward Russo’s "Strategic Decision Making and Critical Thinking," executive education course; a guest article written by CTO Kevin Baradet appeared in Syllabus Magazine in August. The article focuses on the wireless efforts and goals of the Johnson School and Cornell University; Professor Robert Frank’s research on executive pay was cited in a New York Times article in a unique business arena: the pay for orchestra leaders.

For more Johnson School media hits, see Johnson School in the News.

SageConnection Events/other:

October 15-17
Ithaca, NY
Cornell University Homecoming - Cornell vs. Colgate at Schoellkopf Field at 1:00 p.m. Special Johnson School events include: 5th Annual Black Graduate Business Symposium: Friday, 12:00 to 10:30 p.m. The Black Graduate Business Association (BGBA) 2004 Symposium is themed, Leaving a Legacy through Business Leadership. The primary objective of the event is to understand what is required from both the individual and collective organization to positively contribute to society. More specifically, this symposium will highlight and discuss individuals and initiatives that have helped improve the quality of life and standard of living for future generations of people of color. For more information go to: http://forum.johnson.cornell.edu/students/orgs/bgba/symposium.htm.

Saturday, 10:15-11:30 p.m., Frozen Assets Homecoming Game at The Rink in Lansing. For more information on homecoming: http://homecoming.alumni.cornell.edu/

October 19
Boston, MA
Johnson School Club of Boston Fall Kick-Off Dinner featuring William Lee MBA/JD’76, co-managing partner, Wilmer, Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP and introductory remarks by Dean Robert Swieringa. Location: Omni Parker House, 60 School Street. Time: Networking Reception – 6:00 pm; Dinner and Presentation – 6:45 p.m. Cost: $35.00 per person. Register at: http://www.johnson.cornell.edu/alumni/events/.

October 19
Menlo Park, CA
HBS Presents Women in Technology: Path to Success, Third Annual Event. Featured keynote speaker: Dawn Lepore, vice chairman, The Charles Schwab Corporation and Board of Directors member for eBay and Wal-Mart. Location: Stanford Park Hotel, 100 El Camino Real, Menlo Park (650-322-1234). Time: 5:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Cost: $35 members & affiliate members (Cornell included), $55 nonmembers. Registration: online at http://www.hbsanc.org/events/EventDetail.asp?id=SB301/SB301 (For more information: hbswomeninhightech@yahoo.com

October 21
San Francisco, CA
Zinck’s Night 2004-San Francisco. Join alumni from around the world in toasting the memory of Cornell and Theodore Zinck. This is a great opportunity to network with Cornellians from across the Bay Area. Hosted light appetizers and Cornell drink specials and door prizes. Location: Jade Bar, 650 Gough St. (415-869-1900). Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more information contact Ryan Oettinger.

October 23
New York City
Be part of the 13th Annual New York Cares Day serve-a-thon. New York Cares will mobilize thousands of volunteers to revitalize more than 100 New York City public schools in a single day. Volunteers will reorganize libraries; work in technology centers; clean up playgrounds; paint murals and line games; and make our schools brighter, cleaner, and happier--efforts that have an enormous impact, creating positive learning environments for children. Last year Cornell alumni showed our support of NY Cares and our dedication to NYC public schools by volunteering at IS 318K, Eugenio Maria De Hotos School in Brooklyn. Together, we helped the school to become a brighter, cleaner, and happier place to learn and play. Please join together with Cornell alumni to do our part and make this happen! Please feel free to invite your friends and family to join us for this great event! Join the Cornell Alumni team at: http://newyorkcaresday2004.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeam.asp. Please contact Cornell Alumni Team Captain Katie Bolton '99 or Misako Yamagishi, MBA ’94 with any questions.

October 26
Atlanta, GA
The Johnson Club of Atlanta presents Cornell Atlanta Business and Entrepreneurial Network (CABEN) Round Table Discussion. This event will allow all attendees to discuss their business and entrepreneurial interests with each other in an informal manner during dinner. Location: The Pricci Restaurant (500 Pharr Rd. NE (404-237-2941). Time: 6:30 p.m. Cost: Each attendee will be responsible for covering their dinner and drinks. Registration: e-mail or call Pam Staub (607-255-9437). For additional information contact Tyler Tatum (404-783-0923) or Dan Berler (770-853-3448).

October 27
New York, NY
The fourth annual All-MBA Soiree, sponsored by the New York Business Schools Club that includes the New York chapters of 35 business school alumni clubs, is expected to draw 350 MBAs. RSVP: (buy before October 16 and save $10): http://www.nybsc.org/soiree/index.html. Consider responding early as we expect the event to sell out. Key Contact: Beth Schrader, MBA '04

October 28
Chicago, IL
The Graduates Club presents “Robert Herbold, former COO, Microsoft, “The Fiefdom Syndrome.” In a presentation based on his new book “The Fiefdom Syndrome,” Hebold explains how fiefdoms develop at every level of an organization and reveals the seven key disciplines for eliminating them wherever they appear. Location: 410 Club & Conference Center, 410 North Michigan Ave. Time: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (presentation begins at 8:45 a.m). Cost: Free-of-charge. Dress: Business. Registration and more information: http://www.thegraduatesclub.com/cuevents-1028.shtml.

November 1
Palo Alto, CA
The Johnson School Club of the Bay Area presents An Alumni Reception Featuring Professor Tom Dyckman. Professor Dyckman will provide an update on happenings at the Johnson School, and will lead a lively question and answer session following his remarks. Time: 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This event is full.

November 4
Boston, MA
Cornell University and the Johnson Club of Boston announce reception for President Jeffery Lehman ’77. Location: State Room, 60 State Street, downtown Boston. Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Register online at: http://presidentevents.aad.cornell.edu/.

November 6 Southern California
“Tapas and Sangria in Moorpark – CCL Scholarship Dinner.” Hosted by Christine Hewitt. More information: http://ccla.alumni.cornell.edu/dinners04.htm#J.

November 9
New York, NY
Join us for a special brand management event to learn why Jose Cuervo is the world's most widely recognized brand of tequila. Presentations by Eileen Higgins, MBA ’89, director-North America, Jose Cuervo Portfolio, and Byron Hoover, MBA ’90, director, Marketing Communications, Jose Cuervo International, Inc, both of whom are integrally involved in Jose Cuervo's global brand management campaign. Location: Maz Mescal restaurant on 86th between 2nd and 1st. Time: 6:30 p.m. Cost: $30 per person (guests welcome) RSVP. Key Contact: Jeff Fenigstein, MBA '01.

November 10
Southern California
CEN-LA/CBAA present Angeles Echols, Founder/CEO/Executive Director of Educating Young Minds.

November 11
Dallas, TX
Johnson School Club of Dallas and the Wharton Club of Dallas co-present Bill Conner, CEO, Entrust, “The Future of Internet Security.” Location: Park City Club, 5956 Sherry Lane, 17th Floor. Time: 6:00 p.m. Cost: $15.00. For more information or to register online, go to Wharton Club web site, or contact Jeff Peterson.

November 13
New York, NY
Tailgate - Cornell vs Columbia Football. Select EMBAs are coordinating this year's tailgate party for the Cornell/Columbia football game. Bring your friends, fun, food, and refreshments to what promises to be an outstanding tailgate. And plan to visit the Cornell Club after the game where the School band enjoys New York City's only 11.5 minute music permit and marches from St. Petersberg cathedral to the Cornell Club. Key contact: Maurie Curran, EMBA '06

November 16
Washington, D.C
Cornell Entrepreneurial Network (CEN) presents "Leveraging Personal and Professional Networks for Career Advancement" by Sunny Bates '78, President & Chief Executive Officer of Sunny Bates Associates. Location: The Madison Hotel, 15th and M Streets, Washington, DC. Time: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Cost: $30 (includes Buffet Reception, Presentation, Dessert and Coffee). Seating is limited. Please register early. For more information or to RSVP, please visit http://www.cen.cornell.edu/.

November 18
Boston, MA
Cornell Entrepreneurial Network (CEN) presents Todd Krasnow '79, Founder of Zoots and one of the original management team members of Staples. Location: Marriot Boston Newton. Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more information or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.cen.cornell.edu/.

January 11, 2005
Southern California
Welcome to Dean Robert J. Swieringa, the Johnson School and the First Annual Predictions Dinner. http://forum.johnson.cornell.edu/alumni/southerncalifornia/ClubEvents.htm.

View and search a complete listing of Cornell University events.

Johnson School specific events appear in red.

JAC - The Johnson Alumni Connection
JAC, our online alumni database, is your ticket to networking, the Alumni Job Database and connecting with the Johnson School community. You can search the database by class year, geography, company, industry and more. Please help us keep our data current by updating your alumni profile and by letting us know if JAC contains inaccurate information for any of your Johnson School friends. We thank you for your assistance and support, and we look forward to receiving feedback from alumni who are JAC users.

Alumni Job Database
The Johnson School regularly receives job postings from companies, search firms, and alumni. To access these postings, log in to JAC and click on “Community,” followed by “Alumni Job Database.” We update these postings continuously. The Johnson School encourages our alumni and friends to share information about job openings in their organizations so that our graduates can continue to enjoy access to a wide range of career opportunities. To post an opening, please email AlumniJobs@johnson.cornell.edu.

Cornell Alumni Directory
As Cornell graduates, you have access to the recently launched Cornell Alumni Online Directory. To access this, go to the directory and click “first time user.” You will need to provide your last name and alumni ID number. (If you don’t know your alumni ID number, use the form provided on the site or contact University Alumni Affairs at 607 255-2390). This directory is searchable by name, location, and company name!

Johnson Gear Available Online
To view and purchase Johnson School clothing and accessories please visit: http://www.adminders.com/jscu/. All proceeds benefit Johnson student clubs.

If you wish to be removed from the Johnson School e-mail list, please e-mail alumni@johnson.cornell.edu.