Alumni participants of the Executive Luncheon Series

2000-2001 Highlights

Honorary degrees. Raymond E. Mason Jr. (BS ’41) and Betty Frank Schoenbaum were both awarded honorary Doctor of Business Administration degrees at Ohio State commencement ceremonies last year in recognition of their long-time commitment and support of the university. Recent gifts from Raymond Mason resulted in the naming of the college’s new library and resource building, Mason Hall, and establishing the Raymond E. Mason Sr. Professorship in Transportation and Logistics. A gift from Betty Schoenbaum, who is president and trustee of the Schoenbaum Family Foundation, Inc., and her late husband Alex Schoenbaum (BS ’39) helped build Schoenbaum Hall, the undergraduate program building.

Alumni reunion. Last November, Fisher College minority alumni participated in a university-wide reunion to celebrate minority alumni successes. In addition to campus tours, college receptions, a football tailgate party and other celebrations, the four-day schedule of events included a diversity forum on the university’s Diversity Action Plan hosted by Ohio State President William E. Kirwan.

Alumni awards. Six distinguished Fisher alumni were recognized for their accomplishments, service, leadership, creativity and commitment at the college’s annual dean’s dinner and alumni awards presentation last September.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Harley E. Rouda, owner and chairman of HER REALTORS®, and Marlese N. Rouda, president of Capital Title Agency, Inc.

Distinguished Alumni Award: David A. Rismiller, chairman and CEO of America First Financial Institutions Management, L.L.C.; managing general partner, AFFI Investment Fund, L.P.

International Alumni Award: Charles J. Bramlage, senior vice president and general manager, Battelle Pulmonary Therapeutics, Inc.
Community Service Award: Dwight E. Smith, president and CEO, Sophisticated Systems, Inc.

Young Professional Award: John T. Shave, founding president and CEO, Globalcom, Inc.

Pace Setters awards. For the past 41 years, Fisher College Pace Setters has recognized outstanding performance and leadership at the annual Pace Setters awards banquet. Awards for academic excellence and leadership are presented to graduate and undergraduate students, along with faculty awards for teaching, research and service and a special executive award. Last year’s award winners were:

Executive Award: David T. Kollat, founder and president of 22 Inc.

Graduate Teaching: G. Andrew Karolyi, associate professor of finance

Undergraduate Teaching: John Current, professor of management sciences

Research: John Current and G. Andrew Karolyi

Service: Roy J. Lewicki, Dean’s Distinguished Teaching Professor and professor of management and human resources

Corporate mentoring. Last year, 25 alumni from companies
representing a wide variety of industries were matched with Fisher undergraduate honors students in a mentoring program initiated two years ago by Fisher College Alumni Society board members. The program gives students an opportunity to network with leaders in their fields, while gaining insight into industry issues and trends, exploring career options and receiving tips on job hunting and interviewing skills.

Of the 42 mentors participating in last year’s Fisher MBA corporate mentoring program for women, minorities and international students, 13 were alumni. Because of increased participation in the program, which has doubled in the past three years, it was possible to pair mentors with students in a one-to-one match, ensuring a quality experience for all. Last year marked the seventh consecutive year for this successful program.

Fisher College finance and accounting alumni participated in a mentoring program to prepare Ohio State optometry students for starting and managing their own practices. The effort was part of an executive education program on financial planning and management presented by Fisher finance and accounting faculty in partnership with the School of Optometry.

Max Fisher visit. Among the college’s many visitors last year, college benefactor Max M. Fisher (BS ’30) made his annual visit to campus to hear about new programs from Fisher faculty and to share experiences and lunch with Fisher students. The select group of students included MBAs, honors undergraduates and last year’s Max M. Fisher MBA Fellowship recipient.

Alumni hosts. Alumni in New York and Chicago hosted visits by MBAs and undergraduates enrolled in the Fisher College’s popular Student Investment class last year. The finance students toured NASDAQ, the New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade. The trips gave students a chance to discuss and analyze stock market activities first-hand with financial industry experts.

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Career
opportunities

Fisher College graduates enter the job market with credentials that land them jobs with some of the nation’s top companies. Fisher alumni board member Denis Shibiko (’99) is using his MBA in finance as an analyst for the chief economist at J. P. Morgan Company in New York City.