Business Departmental News 

Ice Cream Social And Orientation For New And Returning Students

We Have Liftoff – The Mount MBA

It was in October last year at Homecoming that the Business Administration Department announced the creation of the college’s seventh graduate program—a Master of Business Administration to be held in the weekend format at the Doheny Campus. Just six short months after that announcement, the first cohort of 30 students has been formed for our September 2008 launch. As you can imagine there is tremendous excitement about the enthusiastic response to the program.

Who are these 30 pioneers in the Mount MBA program? They are from their late 20’s to 50’s, and over 40 percent were not business majors in college. About half of the students are alums of either the traditional or Weekend College. They come from a vast array of occupational fields including health care, not for profits, education, entertainment, manufacturing, civil service, financial services, and law enforcement.

The Mount MBA has an innovative and ground breaking curriculum that has received accolades from business executives who have reviewed it. They believe it truly addresses the needs of the business community for well prepared leaders. These leaders will be prepared to solve problems in an integrated fashion, not in the linear manner of traditional MBA formats.

The Mount MBA has a number of distinguishing features in addition to its innovative curriculum. A Business Advisory Council has been formed to assist the faculty in maintaining the current relevance of the curriculum. An Executive in Residence program will bring business community expertise into the classroom. Individualized career coaching will be integrated from the outset. And an international travel study module will emphasize the global perspective necessary for future leaders.

Share this good news with family, friends, and colleagues who are ready to take the step. Applications are now being received for the second cohort, to begin in January 2009, and the third cohort beginning the following September. For more information, go to www.msmc.la.edu and under “Academics” click on the “Graduate Programs” link.

When the Mount’s Weekend College program was established 16 years ago, it adopted the slogan, “Turn your weekend getaway into a weekend get ahead.” That slogan now applies for those ready to earn their MBA.

MBA Makes Seven Grad Programs for the Mount

MSMC will launch a Master's in Business Administration Program beginning in fall 2008 in a weekend format for junior- and mid-level professionals seeking career advancement. Faculty member Janet Robinson has been selected to lead the program as its first director.

"This new graduate business program builds on the strengths of faculty in the Business Administration Department," said Provost Eleanor Siebert, "and will join the Mount's current six graduate degree programs designed to promote leadership and foster a spirit of service to others."

The program is aimed at attracting students in their 30s and 40s, and is believed to be the only one in the region offering classwork on weekends only.

Each incoming class will form a cohort of 20 to 30 students, moving together through a richly-integrated curriculum that will culminate in the MBA degree after four semesters (or 15 months) of advanced business courses. The cross-disciplinary courses will give students a big-picture view of how various theories and disciplines blend together in a real business setting.

"This program is aimed to answer the criticism that MBA program graduates are not able to solve complex, ambiguous problems that cut across different areas," according to a plan put together by a committee led by Mark Alhanati, chair of MSMC's Business Administration Department.

Professor Teaches Business Savvy With a Heart

Mount St. Mary's business professor David Leese (pictured front row, second from left) poses with students at the Chalon Campus holding prom dresses which were donated to underprivileged teenage girls. The class spent the semester helping A Place Called Home, a youth center in Los Angeles.

June 6, 2007 --  It began as a spring class assignment to support a community organization serving underprivileged children and teenagers in South L.A. But Rachel Morgan ’07 says she knew she would be a fixture at A Place Called Home (APCH) the moment she passed through its doors.

“The first time I saw the looks on the kids’ faces, I was hooked,” says Morgan, who double-majored in music and social science with an emphasis on history. She also completed a business minor and is awaiting acceptance to two Mount master’s programs in teacher credentialing and humanities. 

Morgan’s enthusiasm for service is exactly the payoff professor David Leese says he was hoping for in the nonprofit management seminar for non-business majors. He delegated roles to his 15 students like team leader and treasurer, and stepped in when they needed help resolving issues about workload and strategy. “I said, `I don’t want you doing this project for a grade. I want you to do it for those kids,’” Leese says. “It shows them first that they’re actually using skills for something they want to do as opposed to some artificial assignment.”

APCH is a youth-enrichment center founded in 1993 to offer low-income youth from rough neighborhoods a secure, positive family environment. More than 250 children each day get services at the center, which provides programs designed to help them break free from gangs, drugs, and poverty. The Mount's Sociology Department and Student Ambassadors program also have longstanding relationships with the center; Leese began sending his students there in the early 1990s.

The class raised $985 after expenses through pizza and candy sales on the Chalon Campus. Morgan also taught music lessons to children at APCH and helped coordinate a project to collect donated prom dresses and accessories for girls who can’t afford their own. She requested donations from Mount students, faculty, and staff, and also asked her mother, a teacher at a San Fernando Valley public elementary school, to prod colleagues for donations to what was called the Cinderella Project.

“Rachel and the rest of the Mount St. Mary's volunteers never cease to amaze me,” beams Melissa Molina, volunteer coordinator at APCH. “It just goes to show when you have the will there’s always going to be a way.” Molina says the money raised by MSMC students will go toward a new roof for the center.

Style Executive Speaks at the Mount

Salaam Coleman Smith, head of the Style Network and EVP of E! Entertainment encouraged students as a part of the Vantage Speaker Series sponsored by the Business Department.

Visiting Scholar Shares Experiences of Pursuing a College Education in China

Visiting scholar Yang Jin describes her life in China to students in Professor Katherine Whitman's world economic history class.

Feb. 12, 2007 -- Visiting Chinese scholar Yang Jin is spending two weeks this month with students at the Mount sharing her experiences growing up in a remote part of China and pursuing a college education.

Yang is the fifth recipient of the Chinese Visiting Scholar Fellowship through the Bridging Cultures: U.S./China Program of the Education Department, which is headed by Nancy Pine. The program, begun in 2000, is coordinated with the Asian and Pacific Studies Program at Loyola Marymount University.

Yang, who is fluent in English, has been meeting with MSMC students in economics, sociology, and Chinese language classes. This is her first trip outside of China.

Yang, now a Ph.D. student at China’s Nanjing University, described her childhood and barriers to obtaining a college degree to a recent world economic history class at the Mount. She said the rising cost of attending college, an insufficient social security system, and the complex traditional roles of women originally made her an unlikely candidate for college.

Because her family, like many families in China, had little money, one child was selected to obtain a college education. Although many of her family members believed that this role should go to her brother, the family voted to send Yang because she excelled in school.

Yang has her master’s degree in applied linguistics from Nanjing University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and literature. She has been teaching in the English Department of Nanjing University since 1993, and has published on anxiety in language learning and Internet use in academic communication.

Vantage Point Speaker Adrian M. Brown

Adriane Brown poses with students and professors from the Business Administration Department after her talk.

Adriane M. Brown, president and CEO of Honeywell Transportation Systems, spoke to a packed crowd during a Nov. 28 talk on the Chalon Campus of Mount St. Mary's College.

In explaining her success in an industry traditionally dominated by men, she said, "If you treat people with dignity and respect, no matter what the situation, you can always walk away with your head held high. That advice has carried me to this day."

Brown was invited as part of The Vantage Point speaker series, which explores issues facing today's business world. The series is designed to strengthen business acumen among Mount students and inspire them by presenting some of the many challenges found in our local, regional, national, and global markets.

In 2005, Brown was named to Automotive News' list of 100 leading women in the North American automotive industry. She currently serves on the board of directors for Jobs for America's Graduates and is a member of the Arizona Women's Forum, a chapter of the International Women's Forum.

Accounting Association Hosts Guest Speaker

On November 2nd, Roger Philipp, C.P.A., of the “Roger Philipp CPA Review Course” addressed twenty-five accounting students at a meeting hosted by the Accounting Association. Roger, in his usual energetic style spoke of the requirements to sit for the CPA Exam, the components of the exam and its scoring. He covered the dates and locations that the exam is offered as well as the two tracks that are available to CPA candidates for licensure. Students were supplied with supporting literature for future reference as well as a CD that contained a portion of an actual CPA review class.

Vantage Point Speaker Patty DeDominic

DeDominic with business department professors and students

Patty DeDominic, the founder, chair and CEO of PDQ Careers Group, a staffing services firm in Los Angeles, spoke to a packed crowd during a Nov. 7 talk on the Chalon Campus of Mount St. Mary’s College.

DeDominic was invited as part of The Vantage Point speaker series, which explores issues facing today’s business world. The series is designed to strengthen business acumen among Mount students and inspire them by presenting some of the many challenges found in our local, regional, national, and global markets.

“We live in a society that depends on each of its citizens to give back to the community,” DeDominic said. An active philanthropist, DeDominic recently announced a historic $1 million challenge grant to the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Los Angeles Chapter (NAWBO-LA).

DeDominic currently serves on several boards of directors and is chairman and a founder of the Foundation for SCORE, a free counseling service for small businesses. She is also a former chair of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, a past president emeritus of NAWBO-LA, and served as commissioner of the Americas for the World Association of Women Chiefs.

9th Annual Southern California International Trade Conference

The 9th Annual Southern California International Trade Conference was held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel on October 20, 2006. Among the 200 participants were 9 students who are studying International Marketing and two international business alumnae. Accompanying the students were two members of the Business Administration faculty, Katherine Whitman and Peter Antoniou.

The theme of the conference was "Going Global - Stretch Your Business Beyond Our Borders". The conference was highlighted by a keynote panel presentation moderated by MSMC trustee James Flanigan. One of the panel presentations featured a Weekend College student, Eileen Saucedo, who is the international marketing sales manager for Yellow Transportation.

Conference participants were able to attend breakout sessions on How to Import and Export and What to Import and Export and network with conference exhibitors and attendees. The luncheon session feature an address by the president the largest manufacturer of custom identification wristbands in the United States which is headquartered in San Fernando, California and has plants in Mexico and Belgium.

CEO of Latin Business Association Inspires Students

Ricardo Sarmiento, CEO of the Latin Business Association, stands with Mark Alhanati (left), chair of MSMC's Business Administration Department, and professor Dennis Signorovitch (right).

Ricardo Sarmiento, chairman of the board and CEO of the Latin Business Association, ignited the entrepreneurial spirit in a packed room of business majors during an Oct. 24 talk on Mount St. Mary's Chalon Campus.

Sarmiento was invited to speak as part of the Business Administration Department's The Vantage Point speaker series, which explores issues facing today's business world. The series is designed to strengthen business acumen among Mount students and inspire them by presenting some of the many challenges found in our local, regional, national and global markets.

In his presentation, Sarmiento emphasized the importance of building relationships and finding mentors in one's chosen field. Students then engaged Sarmiento with numerous questions, ranging from "Do I really need an MBA to be successful in the business world?" to "How do I find my strengths?" Sarmiento, who has more than 15 years of experience in a variety of industries, candidly answered each student with insight and humor.

Sarmiento is the principal of The Ultimate Partnership, a management consulting practice providing services in international strategic partnerships, strategic marketing, customer service, and technology. He was also appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to serve on the State of California's Enterprise Assistance Fund Board of Directors, where he represents financial initiatives focused on small business growth.

Business Administration Launches "Vantage Point" Speaker Series

The Business Administration Department's new "Vantage Point" speaker series will host three speakers during the fall semester:

1. Rick Sarmiento, Chairman & CEO of the Latin Business Association - October 24, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
2. Patty DeDominic, Founder, Chair & CEO of PDQ Careers and past national president of the National Association of Women Business Owners Organization (NAWBO)/president emeritus of the NAWBO-LA Chapter - November 7, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
3. Adriane Brown, President & CEO of Honeywell Transportation Systems and a member of the Honeywell International Inc. senior management team, November 30, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
   
   This speaker series will be held on the Chalon Campus in the Lecture Hall. For more information, contact Dennis Signorovitch at (310) 375-8201 or Olga Medina at (310) 954-4150.
   
   

MSMC BUSINESS FACULTY EARN DOCTORATES

On July 8, 2006, Educational Doctorates in Organizational Leadership were conferred upon two faculty in the Business Administration Department. Dr. Michelle French, Assistant Professor and Associate Degree Program Director and Dr. Janet Robinson, long time, award winning faculty member of the Bachelor of Arts and Weekend College Bachelor of Science Programs received their degrees from Pepperdine University at commencement ceremonies held on the school’s Malibu campus. The Mount Community is both proud and honored to acknowledge and celebrate this milestone of accomplishment in Dr. French’s and Robinson’s lives. Your students and colleagues will long be the beneficiaries of your scholarly work. Congratulations!

Not Just "Business As Usual" in the Businesss Administration Department

The start of the 06/07 Academic Year brings some exciting new changes to the business administration department. Prof. Mark Alhanati returns from a year long sabbatical as the new Department Chair. He promises new departmental initiatives to further enrich students learning and career opportunities. We will be leading with “The Vantage Point” speaker series this fall, regularly bringing to campus business leaders from throughout Southern California. We are also preparing for our entry into the American Advertising Federation’s annual advertising competition. We will be competing against more than twenty local colleges vying to present the best advertising campaign with the winner advancing to the national level. Our Travel/Study program this year offers both an Asian and European, two-week learning adventure. In the Spring, after a one year absence, we will be bringing back the (VITA) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program where students have the opportunity to be trained and certified as volunteer tax preparers by the I.R.S. Following certification, they will hone their skills preparing taxes at our own Doheny Service Center.

We are thrilled to welcome our newest full-time faculty member, Dr. Michelle French. Dr. French will be teaching courses in Business, Management and Marketing on both campuses. She will also be the Director of our Associate Degree Program on the Doheny campus. She will be sponsoring the “ Doheny Business Club.” Doheny students make sure you sign up and join in.

The department received an additional FTE faculty position for the current year and we are very fortunate to have Professor Anne Rigone returning in that capacity. She will teach several of our Accounting classes and serve co-sponsor our Accounting Association. Professor Rigone’s knowledge, commitment, experience and teaching expertise gives us faculty in Accounting that is second to none.

Katherine Whitman, Associate Professor of International Business and Economics and coordinator or our travel/study program will assume the position of Weekend College Program Director. In that capacity, she will be working with weekend students, faculty, administration and with curriculum development. She looks forward to and has some great ideas for enriching the business curriculum for Mount students.