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STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

 

CURRENT INTERNSHIP/PRACTICUM SPONSOR ORGANIZATIONS AND PLACEMENTS INCLUDE:

 

ALSAC/St. Jude - Sinclaire Montgomery
Anthropologie - Daniel Lock
Avis - Alberta Paylor
CBU, MBA Program - Lawrence McDaniel
Everything Financial Company - Evangeline Hearns
Gould’s Day Spa - Megan Bryant
Ingram Micro - Debra Futch
Jay-Ton Construction Company - Nate Sellers
McVean Trading and Investments LLC - Philip Gbee
Medtronic - Katy Williams
Merrill Lynch - Kevin Russell
Mississippi RiverKings - Jimmy Palmer
Preferred Medical Systems - Cary Crain
Red Deluxe/Brand Development - Stephen Duckett
Revid Investments - Matt Ariemma
ROTC - John Metx
Shoemaker Financial - Robb Barham
Steel Warehouse - David Croenne
UBS Financial Services, Inc. - Bradley Cobb
UT Health Science Center - Brent Ariemma

 

The School of Business frequently has new internship/practicum opportunities. Currently, organizations with availability include:

- Christ Community Health Services, HM Manager
- Cordova Safety Products
- Fastenal, Outside Sales
- Independent Bank
- Medtronic, Sales Support and Technical User Support Analyst
- TekSystems, Account Manager/Sales
- Preferred Medical Systems

Contact Jenny Cowell in the Marketing Department for more information by email at jcowell@cbu.edu or by telephone at (901) 321-4259.

FEATURED STUDENT: BRENNEN REYNOLDS

 

Brennen Reynolds is a junior at CBU and is studying Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and a minor in Economics. Brennen has made plans to study abroad in Switzerland and intern with the United Nations. He is currently in a management training program, races and trains horses in his spare time, and plans to graduate in May of 2014.

CB: When we first met you said, “I am leaving to take classes in Switzerland and intern at the UN headquarters in a couple weeks.” Those are two big steps! Where will you be taking classes and what can you tell us about the internship?

BR: A few months ago I was accepted to take summer classes at the University of Fribourg, in Western Switzerland. The program is called a “Survey of International Organizations.” Aside from the main topics of international economics and international law, I will be able to spend time at the UN Headquarters and the World Trade Organization in Geneva, as well as the European Union Parliament in Strasbourg, France. If all goes as planned in Switzerland, I plan to spend the entire spring semester of 2013 at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. I can’t wait!

CB: Tell a little us a little bit about your background.

BR: For as long as I can remember, competitive equestrian activities have been a huge part of my life. I started out showing jumpers, but about ten years ago I made the switch to barrel racing and haven’t turned back since. As far as education goes, I attended St. Dominic School through middle school, and then moved on to St. Benedict at Auburndale for high school. This fall, at CBU, will be my 16th year in the private Catholic education system.

CB: Why did you want to attend business school? Why CBU?

BR: I chose to obtain a business degree because I wanted to be well prepared for graduate school. Also, the flexibility of a business degree fit me well because I am not sure whether I want to shoot for an Ivy-League law school or one of the more prestigious MBA programs available. I actually registered for classes and attended orientation at the University of Mississippi, but two weeks before school started, I changed my mind and enrolled at CBU. Its small class sizes, excellent reputation and closeness to home sold me.

CB: I understand you are in a management-training position at Strategic Business Systems. Tell us about the business, how you got there, and what you’re learning in the process.

BR: Strategic Business Systems is a value-added-reseller of GE Healthcare products. In addition to our main focus on electronic medical records, we also develop our own software for medical practices. It has been a phenomenal learning experience. I have been able to work in many different departments, which has really painted a picture of the entire business cycle for me. Last year, I even launched and oversaw a “Go Green” operation which encouraged less paper usage on both our customers and our part.

CB: What personal achievement are you most proud of and why?

BR: I have had numerous academic and equestrian achievements, but currently the thing that I am most proud of is my volunteer work at the Jubilee Schools. For the past year, I have been tutoring the fifth grade students at St. John Catholic School. Dr. Mary McDonald, who recently retired as the superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Memphis, is a personal hero of mine. She oversaw the rebuilding of the Jubilee schools and has changed the lives of many under-privileged children. Helping these students exceed academically and learn the value of being good citizens has been rewarding beyond belief.

CB: Looking forward, what skills are you most eager to build or improve upon in business school?

BR: The subject of economics greatly interests me. Since CBU does not offer an economics major, I am eager to learn everything I can about the subject in my undergraduate classes. The universality and depth of economics has not been matched by any other course that I have ever taken. Besides economics, the ability to incorporate math into business is something that really interests me.

CB: What are your plans and goals for life after college?

BR: My goal, right now, is to be accepted to the International MBA program at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. It is the number one ranked IMBA program in the world for the past twenty-two years. For years, law school has always been stuck in my head, so nothing is set in stone. Right now I am just trying to experience as many things in life as I can.

CB: Are you involved with campus life? Tell us a little about your experience with campus activities, groups, fraternities/sororities, etc., and what it means to you.

BR: I have been involved in two CBU activities: Up Til’ Dawn and Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Both are very rewarding and have helped me to become more involved in the community. I have made life-long friendships in both and would recommend Greek life to any incoming students.

CB: What do you enjoy the most about your CBU experience so far?

BR: The hands-on experience. I took a philosophy class this summer and there were only six people in the class. I do not have any friends at other schools who can claim to have ever had that experience. The engaged teachers really make the learning experience fun. I have found it hard to become bored or lost in any of my CBU courses, because it always seems as if the teacher is speaking directly to me.

CB: You’ve mentioned that you are “a three-time world finalist barrel racer and train barrel horses on the side.” There are numerous videos of you racing on YouTube now, too! Tell us about the sport and your role.

BR: Barrel racing is growing rapidly in the United States and abroad. I have grown up in the extremely competitive environment associated with it, which may be what made me so competitive in other aspects of life. I have made the finals at the National Barrel Horse Association World Championships three times, in 2008, 2009 and 2011. My best finish was in 2011 where I placed ninth out of over 1200 of the top horses in the world. In the past I have been featured in the Barrel Horse News and sponsored by national brands such as Healthy Steps and Bar-F Products.

 

CB: You seem very focused, driven, and successful for a sophomore. How do you do it and what advice would you give to incoming freshmen with big dreams?

BR: Mediocrity has always appeared repulsive to me. I look at life with the outlook that I only have one, so I might as well make it the best. I frequently hear people say how lucky some people are to have reached the top. Through my competitive equestrian years, I have learned that being the best at anything does not come through luck. You have to work three or four times as hard as everyone else if you truly want your ability and ranking to surpass theirs.

To read about Brennen’s experiences and see his pictures, and more, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cbusob. Features such as Brennen’s can be located in the Photos section. Send us an email at business@cbu.edu if you have an interesting story to tell and would like to be featured as well.

 

DELTA SIGMA PI NEWS

 

Delta Sigma Pi (DSP) president Elizabeth (“Lizzie”) McLean (Sport Management ’13) reports they will be recruiting new members in September so be on the lookout for the organization’s setup on the main floor of Buckman Hall. DSP will also be hosting a resume workshop later this year and plans to have a guest speaker present on business etiquette. Dates for recruitment and official activities will be sent out in the fall semester.

 

 

New DSP initiates are pictured above and include (from left to right): Chrisqueria Bragg (Accounting ’15), Marcedes James (Business Administration ’16), Britney Sails (Finance ’15), and Jake Williams (Business Administration ’15). Britney will be working as the new fundraising chair and Jake will work as the organization’s new social chair.

 

ALUMNI ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

 

CBU alumnus Bob Cremerius (Accounting ’83) was featured in the April 6 edition of the Memphis Business Journal. The article is available online: http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/print-edition/2012/04/06/bob-cremerius.html

CBU alumna Courtney Fee (Business Admin) was featured in the April 23 broadcast of WMCTV Channel 5. Fee who is the assistant principal at Munford High School and Tipton County Commissioner, District 7 was awarded the Sterling Award which is given annually to twenty West Tennessee women considered the most influential in their careers. A script of the broadcast is available online: http://tiptoncounty.wmctv.com/photo-gallery/community-spirit/73259-munford-high-assistant-principal-receives-sterling-award-jackson-tn

Dan Goodspeed (Accounting ’90) recently joined the Verified Person executive team as controller in Memphis. Dan has 21 years of professional accounting experience in public accounting and for-profit corporations.

Cari Gold (Sport Management ’12) has been accepted to Louisiana State University and received a Graduate Assistantship with the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student Athletes. She has accepted the offer which includes a full tuition waiver and a competitive monthly stipend. She will begin her masters in Sport Management at LSU in August.

The June 1 edition of the Memphis Business Journal reported that Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare have each donated $125,000 to Christian Brothers University’s new Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program. The donations aim to help grow the program, which admitted its first group of students in January. Mitch Graves (Economics/Finance ’83), president of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare’s Affiliated Services Division is quoted in the article which is available online: http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/06/01/christian-brothers-university-launches.html

Emily Sawyer Greer (Marketing/Management ’84) has been appointed as one the newest members the CBU Board of Trustees. Emily, a human resources senior executive with more than 25 years of experience, was recently named Chief of Staff for ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House, LeMoyne-Owen College and the Memphis Medical Center.

Ross Harris (Accounting ’93) and Craig Cameron (Marketing '96), along with two other former AIMS Logistics executives, have formed a new freight payment service in Memphis called A3 Freight Payment. A3 Freight Payment recently opened its headquarters in Southwind. Check out their website at www.a3freightpayment.com.

CBU alumna, Sibonie Jones-Swatzyna (Marketing ‘98), was featured in the “People on the Move” section of the May 11 edition of the Memphis Business Journal. Jones-Swatzyna serves as the Executive Director of the Home Builders Association of North Mississippi. The feature and picture are available online: http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/print-edition/2012/05/11/people-on-the-move.html

Ray Karasek (Accounting ’03, MBA ‘07) published a paper in the Academy of Strategic Management Journal (Volume 11, Number 1, 2012) entitled "Signaling Theory: Past, Present, and Future." The paper was coauthored with Phil Bryant of Columbus State University. Ray also completed Lasallian Leadership Institute Cohort V with a culminating session at Our Lady of Snows Shrine in Belleville, IL along with Lasallian educators from the Midwest District on March 23-24.

Jack Kenney (Marketing ’68) is the proud stepfather of Yuli Zhu, B.S. (honors) Neuroscience 2012 from Brown University, and father of David, accepted for a BFA program (2016) at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago.

Chelsea Pesce Johnson (Business Administration '10) and Matthew Johnson (Accounting ’09) were married on May 12 in Bartlett, TN. Matt is an analyst in the Real Estate Lending Group for Independent Bank. He assists in managing the bank’s diverse real estate portfolio along with assessing the risk involved in alternative real estate investments. Chelsea is assistant manager at Cotton Tails in Laurelwood Shopping Center.

In the May 14 edition of the Commercial Appeal, CBU alumnus, Peter Shea (CFP ‘09) was featured for his conservative investment strategy. He opened his financial planning firm, Quantitative Solutions, last year. The feature and a picture are available online: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/14/small-business-science-of-investing/

Brian A. Ward (Marketing ’90), Managing Director, Investment Officer, Senior Institutional Consultant, has for the seventh consecutive year been designated as a member of Wells Fargo’s Premier Advisors Program, a distinction that reflects Brian's achievement of professional success through a consistent commitment to client service.

CBU alumna, Jeanine Watts (Accounting ’88, MBA ’92), was featured in the May 21 edition of the Commercial Appeal. Her program, MRTC Kids!, focuses on encouraging youth to be active at an early age. The article and pictures are available online: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/21/get-up-and-go/

Christopher Keith Welder (MBA ‘12) was mentioned in the Cleveland Daily Banner for his recent graduation from CBU. The brief is available online: http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/18649804/article-College-Briefs

Bill Whitten (Accounting ’70) has been named successor to the current CEO at HealthNet Federal Credit Union in Cordova, TN. Bill has been a vice president at HealthNet FCUY for the past 15 years and has been in credit union leadership positions for the past 38 years, including with the Tennessee Credit Union League and Volunteer Corporate Credit Union.

 

FEATURED ALUM: CARI GOLD

 

Cari Gold (Sport Management ’12) just graduated this May has been accepted to Louisiana State University and received a Graduate Assistantship with the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student Athletes. She has accepted the offer which includes a full tuition waiver and a competitive monthly stipend. She will begin her masters in Sport Management at LSU in August.

CB: Why did you choose CBU?

CG: I decided I wanted to major in Sport Management, and I had two options for schools here in Memphis. I could go to the University of Memphis, where Sport Management is under the school of education, or I could go to CBU, where a new Sport Management was beginning under the school of business. After discussing the options with my dad and Kyle Rote Jr., I decided that a business background would be more beneficial. I also loved the idea of smaller classes and getting to know my professors personally.

CB: Sport management is growing by leaps and bounds, and although it is still a male dominated career field, many more women are entering the field every day. What drew you to the field of sport management and what has your experience been?

CG: I grew up around sports. I was involved in soccer from the time I was five. I played for 13 years, coached for five years, and was a referee for four years. During high school, I enjoyed watching football games with my dad, and towards the end of high school I began loving basketball as well. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I wanted to continue to be involved in sports. My dad helped me do some research and we decided a Sport Management major would combine my love of sports with my love of organization and administration. It just seemed to fit.

CB: You worked as the Lead Assistant to the Director of Sports Information, Eric Opperman, for all four years you attended CBU. What kind of experience did you gain working as the assistant to the director of sports information and how was it valuable to your future plans?

CG: I gained SO much experience working with Eric. Eric taught me how to keep statistics for the soccer teams, I photographed all teams (except the soccer teams), and I helped with the statistics for all the sports. Those are just a few of the things I had the opportunity to learn. I loved being at a small school to learn those things. Eric trusted me to keep stats for the soccer teams while he was busy with volleyball matches. I probably would not have had that kind of experience at a bigger school. I want to continue working in athletics, and knowing how things “behind the scenes” work will be invaluable as I prepare to enter the workforce.

CB: I understand you’ve done quite a bit of missionary work and work with Service Over Self. What can you tell me about your experiences?

CG: I absolutely loved working with SOS. I was a Team Leader while on summer staff in 2010 and 2011. Each summer, I worked at the same house each week for the eight weeks of camp. Every week, I was put in charge of a group of 6-10 high schoolers and/or middle schoolers and at least one adult leader. My job was to lead my team in home repairs (mostly re-roofing) and bonding with my homeowners. However, my primary job was to lead and encourage them spiritually. I shared my testimony and how God has worked in my life, and I was able to learn about their lives. I cannot express how much I loved working at SOS. Words do not do justice to the work God did in my life during my two summers on staff. God even granted me the opportunity to travel to Kenya with SOS over this past Christmas break. This was an incredible way to see how God is not only moving here in Memphis, but how he is moving in other parts of the world as well.

CB: You recently received a Graduate Assistantship with the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student Athletes. What can you tell us about it?

CG: I will be working alongside two full time staff members to assist several of the athletic teams. I will be working with 4 or 5 student-athletes each semester, and I will be responsible for approximately 10 hours of tutoring each week. The other half of my weekly hours will be spent in the office doing things like creating and inputting syllabus information and class checks. I will be given the opportunity to learn as much as I want to learn about academic services and LSU athletics. I am so thankful for this position, and I cannot wait to begin!

CB: What personal achievement are you most proud of and why?

CG: I was a business major with a math minor. My favorite personal achievement is that I was able to take seven math classes (that I didn’t need) and earn a minor in math. I received A’s in all of my math classes except one, where I received a B.

CB: What did you enjoy the most about your CBU experience?

CG: Working in athletics. I got paid to do what I love: watch sports and work with athletes. What could be better than that?

CB: What are your plans and goals for life after college?

CG: My immediate plans are to work some over the summer and save money for grad school. After graduate school, I plan on finding a job in athletics, hopefully at the college level.

CB: Looking back at all that you’ve learned and experienced, what advice would you give to a first-time freshman?

CG: College has to be a balance of having fun and working hard. Ignoring school work may seem like a good idea at the time, but it could hurt your future. You have a wonderful opportunity to work with teachers who want to see you succeed. Don’t waste your time and theirs by refusing to study. At the same time, you cannot focus solely on your studies. Take time to have fun, hang out with friends, and do what you love to do. Prioritize your time correctly and you will have time to maintain your grades while having fun.

CONDOLENCES

 

Phillip Patton Ervin (Business Administration ’98), 50, passed away on June 24, 2012 at Baptist Hospital in Collierville, TN. He was a corporate accountant for International Paper and a member of Bellevue Baptist Church. Mr. Ervin was a graduate of East Mississippi Jr. College, where he was on a baseball scholarship and he attended Mississippi State University and an honors graduate from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN.

He is survived by his daughter, Jaime Nichole Maskill (Michael) of Fairhope, AL; fiancé Denise Walls of Germantown, TN; grandchildren, Peyton and Parker Reese Maskill, both of Fairhope, AL; mother, Minnie Lee Ervin of Sturgis, MS; sister, Barbara Jackman (Norris) of Chelsea, AL; brothers, Thomas H. Ervin, III of Sturgis, MS and Don Ervin (DiAnn) of Midland, TX; and four nephews. He was a loving person who loved his family. He was very passionate about music and collected guitars.

Mr. An Huu Pham (Accounting ’84), 68, of Lakeland, TN passed away July 16, 2012. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church-Cordova, president of the local Vietnamese Community, member of the Vietnamese Catholic Charities and founder of the local Memphis Chapter of Human Operation all for over 30 years. Mr. Pham was preceded in death by his daughter, Nikkole Pham Dabney; and is survived by his loving wife, KimDung Pham; daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Don and Katherine Pham Federico; grandchildren, Katelyn Quynh Dabney and William A. Dabney. A funeral mass was held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Condolences may be offered at www.MemorialParkOnline.com

Emily Marie Tartera Maher, 84, of Arlington TN. passed away on June 23, 2012. She was preceded in death by; her loving husband of 50 years, Thomas F. Maher Jr., and parents, Alex and Theresa Tartera. She leaves behind three children, Teresa (Dipak) Shah, Thomas Maher III (Accounting ’78), and William (Maria) Maher; four grandchildren, Gabrielle Maher, Angelina Maher, Isabella Maher, and Ann (J.R.) Williams; and four siblings, Virginia Fanucci, Johnny Tartera, Gene Tartera, and Pat Tartera. The funeral was held at St. Ann Catholic Church on June 26.

Please continue to keep Phillip, An Huu, Emily, and their family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

 

FACULTY ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

 

James Allen (Sport Management) was a co-author on an article titled “Using points of attachment to examine repatronage and online consumption of wheelchair rugby” which appeared in Volume 13, number 2 of the International Journal of Sport Management in April 2012All authors include Cottingham, M. P., Gearity, B. T., Chatfield, S. L., Allen, J. T., & Hall, S. A. (2012).

Dan Brandon (MIS) presented a paper “Developing Adaptive SmartPhone Apps via HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript” at the Academic Business World International Conference in Nashville, TN, May 23 – 25.

Jennifer Weske (Accounting) spoke about Forensic Accounting at the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) meeting on Thursday, July 19 at the Forum building at Kirby and Popular.

FEATURED FACULTY MEMBER: FRANK MARION, PROFESSOR EMERITUS

 

Dr. Frank M. Marion was officially promoted to the rank of professor emeritus and retired at the end of the spring 2012 semester after many years of dedicated service to the School of Business.

In his earlier years, Frank Marion served in the Korean War from 1950 – 1953 and was subsequently promoted from Private to Sergeant First Class. As he relayed, “In January 1951, I was selected to attend The Engineer Officer Candidate School, Class 1, and the first class since WW 2. I served in the combat zone in Korea for 14 months, during which time I was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. After 3 ½ years I was discharged to return to college on the GI Bill and obtain my degree in Chemical Engineering.” It wasn’t until after he completed an undergraduate in engineering and went to work for the Trane Company that Frank discovered his love for business.

Frank went on to work as a sales engineer with The Trane Company in Wisconsin before moving into management positions with the Worthington Corporation and then A.C. Manufacturing. In later years, he successfully completed both MBA and DBA degrees. Throughout his academic studies he concentrated in strategic marketing, transportation studies, sales, systems management, and marketing and project management. Frank excelled in marketing, sales, and management throughout his studies and in each of his jobs and they became his lifelong passions to both practice and teach.

Throughout his career Frank was asked to lead business training courses and seminars and it was through this medium that he discovered his love for teaching while it was his wife Deanna’s love for Memphis that led Frank to Christian Brothers University. Frank transitioned from the corporate world to Loyola University, and then to teaching at Christian Brothers University in August of 1989.

Frank was granted tenure in March of 1993 and promoted to full professor status in 1996. Also in 1996, Frank Marion was nominated for the Community Service Recognition Program. He was known to volunteer for the soup kitchen at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, as a mathematics tutor at Alonzo Locke Elementary School, as co-director of the United Way campaign at CBU, and more. At the time Marion said, “For almost thirty years, I have seen men and women help bring about great changes in other’s lives through volunteer contributions on a very basic level. While it is important for higher levels of planning and administration to bring to bear government and institutional assistance to those in desperate circumstances, much can be accomplished by individuals working directly, hand to hand, voluntarily with those who may have lost their way, or never really had a chance, or perhaps suffered terribly under an economy that was not market driven.”

Frank took a sabbatical in 2007 and used his time to develop a model that applies project management knowledge to internal projects at Christian Brothers University and to establish a research stream in the field of project management. Marion then went on to serve as Vice President of Professional Development and Certification for the Board of Directors for the Memphis Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI) from 2008 - 2009.

Frank Marion has officially retired with professor emeritus status as July 31, 2012. He plans to enjoy retirement with his lovely wife Deanna, his daughters Katie, Maggie, and Annie, and their grandchildren and friends. Frank also plans to continue his volunteer efforts with tutoring and spend a little time fishing. The school would like to extend many thanks to Frank for his dedicated service over the years and for his collegiality and friendship.

CFP PROGRAM NEWS

 

The Certificate in Financial Planning is a sequential six-course certificate program that meets once a week, beginning at 5:30 pm, and lasting until 9:30 p.m. Classes meet every Tuesday night beginning in September. Students can expect to complete the program in 12 months. View the website at www.cbu.edu/fp for more program information.

The next Financial Planning cohort starts on September 18, 2012, with classes held at 5:30 pm in Buckman Hall Room 357 (BU 357). We are still accepting applications for the September 2012 cohort. Please email Christina Brown at clbrown@cbu.edu to request a schedule of courses.

In exchange for student referrals from program graduates to Christian Brothers University's Executive Certificate in Financial Planning (CFP) Program, we would like to offer you full access to Kaplan's online Total Access Continuing Education. Kaplan Financial Education offers a world-class library of online, self-study CE courses designed to satisfy your state CE requirements. Total Access CE includes an interactive CE tracking system, a printable certificate, and CE submission to one state. You’ll benefit from 365 days of unlimited access to our extensive library. Check out the website at www.kfeducation.com.

Note: If a filing fee is assessed by individual state the student will be required to pay that cost.

Please send all referrals to Christina Brown at clbrown@cbu.edu.

 

FEATURED CFP: LINDSEY DONOVAN

 

Lindsey Donovan graduated from the CFP Program at Christian Brothers University in January of this year and passed the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ professional Board of Standards (CFP®) exam for certification in March. Below is Lindsey’s account of the experience as relayed to program administrator Christina Brown.

CB: I see you have been in the financial industry since 2007. Will you tell me a little bit about what made you decide to seek certification?

LD: I have always seen investment planning as a way for me to have a real impact on people’s lives. During my undergraduate studies, and in learning from my aunt who I am close with, I began to have an interest in the financial world. Being in the financial industry for the past 5 years since graduation, I felt that the CFP® certification would help take my practice to a higher standard for myself and for my clients.

CB: How did you manage to balance work, classes, and a personal life while completing the program? What about community involvement?

LD: I feel that the best way to prepare for the CFP® exam is to understand the long road ahead of you and to know what the commitment is with the program. For me, pacing myself and taking time to fully understand all the material helped. Balance came with setting aside time for studying, and being able to stick to a strict and regimented schedule, especially prior to the exam. Time management allowed me to continue to serve my clients, be involved in my community through various events and organizations I am a part of, and still have a personal life as well.

CB: Congratulations on passing the CFP Board’s exam this March! Passing the exam is a major accomplishment. How did you prepare yourself for the exam? What advice would you give your colleagues who are considering certification or who are about to take the exam?

LD: The best advice I can give to CFP® candidates is to pace your studying, spend time each day leading up to the exam and don’t cram. This exam has a very broad range of topics and it takes time to understand how the topics intertwine. The best thing I did was to commit time before and after work to prepare for the exam. Pacing yourself allows time to not feel pressured on the weekends to “catch-up”, which usually results in panic.

CB: I see that you are currently an Associate Financial Advisor with Veesart Financial, LLC. How has certification affected your career?

LD: Joining Veesart Financial, LLC has given me the opportunity to work on growing my financial advisory practice and build lasting client relationships and have an impact on people’s lives. We help clients understand how their assets can play a role in their lives and have a very personal approach to investment planning. With the CFP® certification, I am now able to share more knowledge with my clients to help me to be a better investment planner and set a higher level of expectation. I believe the experience and knowledge gained while preparing for, studying, and passing the CFP® exam is invaluable.

This article has been authored by Christina Brown, program administrator at Christian Brothers University. Lindsey Donovan is an Associate Financial Advisor with Veesart Financial, LLC. and can be contacted at 901-748-4899. Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), member SIPC. Veesart Financial, LLC is a separate entity from WFAFN.

CYBERSECURITY & DIGITAL FORENSICS

 

Christian Brothers University is offering the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics degree beginning August 2012. This interdisciplinary degree provides an integrated curriculum that will prepare you to pursue employment or graduate school in a fast-growing field.

CBU’s degree integrates courses in computer science, electrical engineering and management information systems. You'll learn how to protect confidential data stored within computer networks. You'll also learn how to engage in computer crime investigations – an emerging field known as digital forensics. As part of the academic program, you'll also participate in an internship with one of CBU’s corporate partners.

Computer science and engineering courses focus on subjects such as digital design, data structures, programming, networks and database design. Business coursework covers topics such as business applications, management information systems, information security and digital forensics.

For more information on CBU’s new Cybersecurity and Digital Forensic program, visit www.cbu.edu/cyber or contact Dan Brandon at dbrandon@cbu.edu.

 

SAVE THE DATE: THE BELL TOWER GALA

 

 

Saturday, November 17
The Hilton Memphis Hotel
939 Ridgelake Blvd.
6:00 p.m.

This exclusive event will honor CBU’s past presidents while giving alumni and supporters an opportunity to celebrate 140 years of Lasallian tradition. Guests will enjoy fine dining, cocktails, an auction and the opportunity to mingle with CBU luminaries past and present. Tickets are $150 each.

For more information on how you can participate, and receive an alumni discounted rate, get in touch! If you would like to support the event, please take a look at our Sponsorship packet.

 

LANDS’ END COMPANY STORE FOR THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

 

The School of Business at CBU now has a company store with Lands' End! The university logo with school name can be applied to all Lands' End products through the store online at http://ocs.landsend.com/cd/frontdoor?store_name=cbusob&store_type=3.

 

CONNECT WITH US ONLINE

 

Facebook: You can find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cbusob.We often post paid internship opportunities, current news, and lots of photographs to this group. Group members are welcome and encouraged to post as well!

Another area of interest on the group page is our “Featured Business Student” photo albums with questions and answers about current student’s experiences at CBU. We would really like to feature our successful alumni as well, so please let us know if you are interested in participating by sending an email to business@cbu.edu.

 

LinkedIn: This is a professional networking group for future students, current students, alums and friends of the School of Business at CBU. Join the LinkedIn group to catch up with your professional contacts, favorite professors, check out job openings or post you’re own, and more.

 

 

ONLINE GIFT FORM

 

The CBU Annual Fund now allows alumni to designate their gifts to a particular school or area. The online donation page is set up so you can specify where your gift should be used. In addition, you can dedicate your gift to the honor or memory of someone special in your life. Because of its simplicity, giving cash is the most popular form of giving. Cash gifts may be made by currency, check, money order, bank draft, or credit card. The applicable income tax deduction reduces the actual cost of the gift. If you would like to make a donation online, you may do so by visiting https://commerce.cashnet.com/cashnete/selfserve/EditItem.aspx?PC=ADVANCE-GFT&ItemCount=1

 

SUBMISSIONS

 

Have news or images you would like to share with the school? Email business@cbu.edu.