Johnson School alumni in Philadelphia welcomed Tom Cleary of the Johnson School's Career Management Center to a happy hour at Boathouse Row in the Rittenhouse Hotel. The event was organized by EJ Dealy, MBA ’02, and Lisi Lerch. Pictured are Yael Wielgus, MBA ’04, and Felix Rouse, MBA '03.
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Homecoming 2004
October 15-17
See details for Johnson School events in the events section down below
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Director’s Message: Alumni jobs database is new and improved
The Alumni Office regularly receives postings from executive recruiters and companies. We appreciate these communications, and also want to encourage all alumni to help us make the database even more robust by letting us know of job openings in your organizations. Several of our peer business schools have reported that they receive more job postings from alumni than they do from recruiters, and we hope that Johnson School alumni will be similarly generous in passing along this kind of information so that we can continue to expand the number and range of postings in our database.
If your company has an internal job posting Web site, and permits you to pass along job openings to those outside of the organization, please consider emailing the Alumni Office at alumni@johnson.cornell.edu and letting us know of any available positions that are suitable for MBAs. You can also assist us by encouraging the Human Resources office at your company to e-mail us directly about position openings for MBAs.
We thank you, in advance, for your kind assistance with this request, and we welcome your feedback on the new and improved jobs database.
Risa M. Mish '85, JD '88
Director, Alumni Relations
JS community remembers Dean David Thomas
Dean Thomas grew up in west Texas and at 20 earned his BA from Texas Tech in 1937. After serving as a captain in the Army Air Corps during World War II, he returned to Texas to earn his MBA and CPA while teaching accounting at Texas Christian University. He earned his PhD from the University of Michigan and in 1953 became the twelfth professor hired by Cornell’s Graduate School of Business and Public Administration. Thomas taught accounting and was an expert in cost accounting, accounting in the construction industry, cost structures, and philanthropy. In 1962, he became associate dean, a position he held for the next nineteen years. He was named dean in 1981 and under his leadership the school underwent a critical period of self-examination and change and was renamed the Graduate School of Management. In June 1984, he retired after thirty-one years as a professor, associate dean, and dean. The David A. Thomas Professor of Management was established to recognize and honor Dave's contributions to the school over the years. Bob Libby holds that professorship.
Nearly all of the school’s graduates in the 1960s and 1970s were students in his core accounting course or in his electives. He derived great satisfaction from teaching and his interactions with students and truly loved this school. Many alumni have told us about his personal assistance and support when they were here—with a course, with financial aid or a part-time job, or assistance with finding employment.
Thomas became heavily involved in philanthropy as executive director of the Charles E. Merrill Trust [Family Foundation] and he oversaw the distribution of more than $120 million to educational institutions, medical schools, religious charities, and social-service organizations. We hold his wife Libby and daughter Annie in our thoughts and prayers.
Consider the Kauffman Fellows Program: an opportunity for alumni Two successful Johnson School alumni—Adele Oliva, MBA ’93, and Don O’Neil, MBA ’02—are graduates of the Kauffman Fellows Program, and Adele will be at Cornell in early October in collaboration with Johnson School’s Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club to give an overview over the Kauffman Fellows Program those who are interested would like to learn more about the program. Minimum requirements for applying are a graduate degree and five years full-time professional experience. The application due date for those seeking to enter the venture capital industry closes on November 1, 2004; additional information on the fellowship as well as biographies of the fellows and application links can be found at our Web site: www.kauffmanfellows.org. Jarrow makes hall of fame Bob’s teaching and research interests are in mathematical finance, including derivatives, risk management, investments, and asset pricing theory. His research contributions are widely recognized and he is the recipient of many honors. More information about Bob’s activities and achievements is available at: www.johnson.cornell.edu/faculty/profiles/Jarrow/ We are very proud of the outstanding research contributions and achievements of members of our faculty and congratulate Professor Jarrow on this wonderful achievement. Get involved with JS research 2004 Tech Symposium: Managing Technology: New Frontiers Johnson School seeks Corporate Programs director Johnson alumni to serve on University Council board The University Council is an organization of selected alumni and friends who are leaders in service to the university. The Council’s mission is to provide an opportunity to exchange information between the university and the communities represented by its members, to mobilize alumni in focused efforts that benefit the university, and to provide the university with a source of expertise. Council is managed by the Administrative Board, a group of elected and ex officio members selected from among university administrators, trustees, faculty, Council members-at-large, alumni officers, and council committee chairs. BGBA to present alumni award This year’s recipient, John Clark, MBA ’72, recently retired as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Science for Resource Management in the U.S. Department of Energy, and received the DOE Leadership Award on in recognition of "Sustained Outstanding Leadership within the Department of Energy Training Community." For symposium and registration details, please contact bgba@cornell.edu or visit the event Web site Volunteer spotlight Raj Alur, MBA ’95, managing director of St. Paul Venture Capital in Boston, has been actively involved as a volunteer with the Johnson School entrepreneurship and alumni programs. His volunteer activities on behalf of the school include serving as a guest lecturer for the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club; serving as a consultant to BR Ventures; guest lecturing in the “Case Studies in Venture Capital” class in 2003 and 2004; judging the Business Ideas Competition in January 2004; serving as a panelist at the 2004 Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Symposium; serving as a guest speaker for the Southeast Asian Business Club; and serving as a featured presenter at a Johnson School Club of Boston alumni event in 2004. Charles Gruye, MBA ’77, is chief investment officer and founder of Money Management Group, Inc., a Walnut Creek, California firm trading cash, U.S. securities, and G-10 foreign exchange. MMG manages a global macro hedge fund, CRG Partners. From its inception in January 1995 to December 2003, MMG has had a net average annual return of 21.49 percent, and the CRG Fund managed by Gruye has over $700 million in assets under management. Gruye has more than 25 years of investment and trading experience, including serving as co-head of Fixed Income Proprietary Trading at R.C. Brown Inc. and serving on the board of directors at Pacific Securities. In June, he was a featured speaker at the prestigious Global Alternative Investment Management Forum in Lausanne. Nate Kornfeld, MBA ’78, was appointed chief operating officer and executive vice president of the investment advisory firm, GMAC Institutional Advisors LLC. He joined the firm’s parent company, GMAC Commercial Mortgage Corporation in 2001 as executive vice president and director of strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions. Launched three years ago, GMACIA had $9.2 billion in assets under management as of the close of 2003. Arete Passas, MBA '79, executive vice president and general manager of Halo, was featured in a June 14, 2004 article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The article described the success of Halo, a company that manufactures products designed to save infants from life threatening dangers such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Passas joined the company from Department 56, where she was a marketing executive. She previously worked at Mattel and Crayola. Alan Mark, MBA ’80, is president and founder of The Mark Company (www.themarkcompany.com), a real estate marketing and consulting firm based in San Francisco. The Mark Company offers research, marketing and sales expertise to residential developers, with services including market research assessment, custom feasibility reports, unit mix analysis, product and floor plan design, strategic pricing, marketing strategy, product identity and positioning, and budget and sales execution. The company’s current project roster includes the St. Regis Residences, 200 Brannan and The Towers at Embarcadero South in San Francisco; 464 Prospect in LaJolla; Montebello in Cupertino; and the Monte Merano in Fremont.
We are sorry to inform you that David A. Thomas, professor of accounting and dean emeritus, died on June 28 in Venice, Florida.
He was 86.
The Kauffman Fellows Program, a post graduate educational institute, focuses on professional development in venture capital and entrepreneurship, primarily targeted to the early-stage venture capital industry. The program provides a rigorous yet flexible educational experience enabling the fellow to combine the theory and best practice of venture creation, while utilizing their position in a venture capital firm as a learning laboratory. The fellowship is built around a 24-month educational program, where the fellow is an employee of the venture capital firm and a student of the program much like a residency program for a medical doctor. As such, the fellowship provides a great opportunity for those without any venture experience to enter the venture capital industry.
Professor Robert A. Jarrow, the Ronald P. and Susan E. Lynch Professor of Investment Management and Professor of Finance and Economics, will be inducted into the Fixed Income Analysts Society (FIASI) Hall of Fame later this fall. The FIASI Hall of Fame was established in 1995 to recognize the lifetime achievements of outstanding practitioners in the advancement of the analysis of fixed-income securities and portfolios.
Having trouble with your employees? Frustrated with your boss? Did you know that the Management & Organizations Department at the Johnson School has made several research discoveries in recent years that address these issues? Now is your chance to be on the inside track to this knowledge. Soon, many alumni will receive an e-mail invitation to participate in a new study conducted by Professor Elizabeth Mannix and Matt Rodgers. This study will analyze how subordinates respond to certain types of managerial behavior. As a result of your participation you will receive feedback about the findings of the study and its implications for managers. We hope that when you receive this e-mail invitation, you will strongly consider participating, as your responses will be of great assistance to the excellent research going on at the Johnson School. Many thanks, in advance, for your kind assistance.
The Johnson School’s High Tech Club will host the eighth annual Technology Symposium on Thursday, September 23, 2004. This is the Johnson School’s showcase technology event of the year, bringing together students, faculty, and leading technology industry executives for a day-long exploration of contemporary technology issues shaping today’s business world. For more information, visit the club Web site at www.jgsmhightechclub.com.
The Cornell University Office of the Councils announced that five Johnson School alumni will be serving on the Administrative Board of the University Council in 2004-05:
On Friday, October 15, 2004, black alumni from the classes of 1950 through 2004 will return to Cornell to connect with each other and honor the second recipient of the Wilbur Parker Distinguished Alumni Award, John Clark, MBA ’72. The Wilbur Parker Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni who demonstrate outstanding professional achievement and commitment to their community, and who embody the Johnson School's shared values of mutual respect, collaboration, integrity and trust, pride and accountability, professionalism and investment in self. The Alumni Award Presentation is part of the Black Graduate Business Association (BGBA) fifth Annual Professional Development Symposium.
Beginning with this month’s issue of SageConnection, we will highlight Johnson School alumni who provide significant volunteer service to the Johnson community.
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, 2004. 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 video conferencing 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:
September 22 September 22 September 22 September 23 September 24-25, 2004 September 27 September 28 September 29 September 30 October 1 October 5, 2004 October 6 October 9 October 12 October 15-17 Saturday, 10:15 p.m.-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 October 23 November 16 View and search a complete listing of Cornell University events. Johnson School specific events appear in red.
San Francisco, CA
Downtown San Francisco Alumni in Technology and Entrepreneurship Luncheon Series, Noon to 1:30 p.m., San Francisco, http://www.csv.cornell.edu/event.cfm?ID=151#151
Boston, MA
Become a member of the Cornell Club of Boston for 2004-2005 and receive a complimentary admission to the Membership Appreciation Party. The event will be held at the Boston Harbor Hotel from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and features plenty of networking as well as intriguing door prizes. Please visit www.cornellclub.org for further information and to pay your dues for the year.
Wasington, DC
The Johnson School together with the Graduates Club and Business Week present “The Power of We: Succeeding Through Partnerships,” by Jonathan Tisch, chairman & CEO, Loews Hotels. Location: City Club of Washington, 555 13th Street, NW. Time: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Cost: Free. Advanced reservations are required and no walk-ins will be admitted. For full event information and to register: http://www.thegraduatesclub.com/cuevents-922.shtml.
Menlo Park, CA
Strategic Business Intelligence -- The SRI Scanning Process: A Corporate Radar for Change Thursday, 7:30AM, Menlo Park, http://www.csv.cornell.edu/event.cfm?ID=163#163
San Francisco, CA
“Romanza – Show of Original Jewelry by Anne Cramer, MBA ’01, and Other Local Designers.” Friday: 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.; Saturday, 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Build Gallery, 483 Guerrero St. (between 16th & 17th). For more information: 415 863-3041.
Zurich, Switzerland
The Johnson School presents a socializing and networking event for alumni with welcoming and introductory remarks by Dean Robert Swieringa, the Ann and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Johnson School, and a presentation by Professor Roni Michaely, the Rudd Family Professor of Management at the Johnson School, entitled “Should We Change the Way Equities are Issued to the Public” A Post-Moretem on the Google IPO.” Location: Ernst & Young AG, Bleicherweg 21. Time: 17:30 ( 5:30 p.m.). Admission is free of charge. RSVP at alumni@johnson.cornell.edu or 607 255-9437 by September 21.
Paris, France
The Johnson School presents a socializing and networking event for alumni with welcoming and introductory remarks by Dean Robert Swieringa, the Ann and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Johnson School, and a presentation by Professor Roni Michaely, the Rudd Family Professor of Management at the Johnson School, entitled “Should We Change the Way Equities are Issued to the Public” A Post-Moretem on the Google IPO.” Location: Hotel Bel Ami, 7-11 Rue St. Benoit, Saint Germain-des-Pres. Time: 19:00 ( 7:00 p.m.). Admission: free. RSVP at alumni@johnson.cornell.edu or 607 255-9437 by September 21.
London, England
The Johnson School presents a socializing and networking event for alumni with welcoming and introductory remarks by Dean Robert Swieringa, the Ann and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Johnson School, and a presentation by Professor Roni Michaely, the Rudd Family Professor of Management at the Johnson School, entitled “Should We Change the Way Equities are Issued to the Public” A Post-Moretem on the Google IPO.” Location: East India Club – Luncheon Room, 16 St. James Square. Time: 18:45 ( 6:45 p.m.) Admission is free of charge. RSVP at alumni@johnson.cornell.edu or 607 255-9437 by September 21
New York
Johnson School Club of New York’s 2nd Annual Wine Tasting Event. An informal evening of great wines, hors d'oeuvres and mingling with fellow alumni and guests at DFN Gallery in Tribeca. Seventeen wines will be showcased from around the world that are particularly noteworthy and unique. Location: DFN Gallery, 176 Franklin Street (between Greenwich and Hudson Streets), New York City. Time: 7:00 p.m. -9:30 p.m. Cost: $45 for registration and payment by September 23; $55 after September 23. Registration Deadline: Monday, September 27. Register online at: http://www.johnson.cornell.edu/alumni/events/. For additional information contact Ken Gurrola at kwg1@cornell.edu or Athena Dratelis at adratelis@mindspring.com.
San Francisco, CA
Johnson School Club of the Bay Area and Cornell Silicon Valley present An Alumni Networking Luncheon featuring Professor Stuart Hart, the Samuel Curtis Johnson Professor of Sustainable Global Enterprise on “Creating Sustainable Value.” Noon - 1:30 p.m. at the Westin Palo Alto, 625 El Camino Real. Cost: $20.00 per person. Register at http://www.johnson.cornell.edu/alumni/events/. For more information e-mail: alumni@johnson.cornell.edu.
San Francisco, CA
Downtown San Francisco Alumni in Technology and Entrepreneurship Luncheon Series, October 5, 2004, Noon - 1:30 p.m., San Francisco, http://www.csv.cornell.edu/event.cfm?ID=160#160
Los Angeles, CA
Johnson School Club of Southern California, USC’s Marshall School, Harvard Business School and The MBA Alumni Alliance of Southern California (MAASC) present “Business Lifecycles – Current Knowledge You can Use.” Panelists include: Jim Freedman, Barrington Associates (Cornell ILR, UCLA Anderson), Klaus Koch, Kline Hawkes (Harvard), Steve Green, Kibel Green (USC Marshall), and Ivan Hindshaw, Bain. Location: Regency Club, 10900 Wilshire Blvd., 17th Floor (SW corner at Westwood). Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.; includes passed hors d’oeuvres and hosted bar. Cost: $30 (free parking on street or $5.50 in building). For information: Scott Taylor at 310 738-0084 or Duncan Thomas at 310 393-0503 Register at: https://www.johnson.cornell.edu/alumni/events/registration/participant_frm.cfm
Boston, MA
Join the Johnson Club of Boston at the annual Cornell-Harvard Football Game. Kickoff is at Harvard Alumni Stadium at 12:30 p.m., with a tailgate beginning at 10:30 a.m. Game and tailgate tickets are for sale through the Cornell Club of Boston. Families are welcome. Please visit www.cornellclub.org for information and to purchase tickets.
Stanford, CA
The Biotechnology Roundtable is partnering with The Bay Area Bioscience Center to bring life science entrepreneurs and venture investors together at a networking forum. The event entitled "Life Sciences Entrepreneur & Investor Roundtables" will be hosted at the Stanford Faculty Club. Location: 439 Lagunita Drive, Stanford. Time: 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Venture capitalists and angel investors interested in hosting a table should contact Ms. Caitlyn Waller at cwaller@baybio.org. Entrepreneurs interested in participating in this event can register at: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=71608.
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.
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 p.m.; Dinner and Presentation: 6:45 p.m. Cost: $35.00 per person. Register at: http://www.johnson.cornell.edu/alumni/events/.
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 at ksb7@cornell.edu with any questions.
Washington, DC
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 www.cen.cornell.edu.