I am in front of the computer for a good portion of everyday, which means that information on everything from sports (fantasy football is just around the corner – don’t get me started on my playoff flameout last year) to business is only a click or two away.  But I get tired of staring at the screen all day, so I make a habit of keeping up-to-date on business news and trends the old fashioned way – by reading the newspaper.  My two papers of choice are the venerable Wall Street Journal and the Indianapolis Business Journal.  

Keeping up with what’s going on in the business community is essential for anyone – prospective and current students, professors, working professionals, even career counselors – associated with the Kelley School of Business.  And there is no better (or easier) way to keep current than by regularly picking up a copy of the WSJ or IBJ (or by checking out their respective websites if you can’t stand getting a little ink on your hands).

Plus, you get some insight into some incredibly interesting (if a little disturbing) local business news.  Check out these two stories that have unfolded in our fair city over the past month (excerpts from the IBJ) – both of them read like poorly written Lifetime miniseries:

1) Affairs likely behind ouster: WellPoint CFO's private life exposed by lawsuit, movie-rights deal. 
J.K. Wall - jwall@ibj.com

In this era of hyper-scrutiny of corporate ethics, even messy personal lives can fell the career of a "well-loved and well-respected" executive. Such appears to be the case with David C. Colby, whom WellPoint Inc. forced to resign as its vice chairman and chief financial officer on May 30 for violating the company's code of conduct in a "non-business" way.

Details seeping out since then suggest Colby was maintaining extramarital affairs, at least one of which had overlapped with his work life and was on the cusp of bursting into public view.

One woman in California was living in a house he owns and using his last name. Another woman in Indianapolis was doing the same. Colby, 53, is married but has had a divorce pending for three years.  Go to www.ibj.com and seach the title for the complete article

2) Fight puts print firm on spot:  Harding Poorman Group plans changes after incident between CEO, secretary
Cory Schouten – cschouten@ibj.com

A local printing powerhouse is trying to regain the confidence of its employees and customers after the CEO and his secretary were involved in a profanity-laced physical altercation at work.

Interviews with the involved parties and a police report seem to agree on several points:
Cries of “Help!” and “Call 911” came from the office of Harding Poorman Group CEO David Harding on the afternoon of May 18. The screaming was Harding’s secretary of two years, Susan Blair. The pair had argued in the office before, but this time it turned physical.

Hearing the screams, fellow employees rushed to the CEO’s locked door. One employee went outside and, looking through a window, saw Harding standing over Blair, holding her down. He was trying to retrieve his cell phone, which she had hidden in her pants.  Go to www.ibj.com and seach the title for the complete article

So spring classes have been out since May and I’m not teaching the summer term. What does a professor do with all the time? These are two of the most asked questions that I get over the summer; "So what do you do over the summer?" and "Isn’t it great having a 3-month vacation?"

Like many of you, I like taking a bit of time off with my family to have a vacation, like going to an amusement park or a water park, but most days you can find me in the office working on writing a paper, collecting data, or analyzing data in a program called SAS (Statistical Analysis Software).

This summer, I am working on several papers. Usually I have anywhere from 4 to 8 papers in progress at any time. Right now I am working on revising two papers to resubmit to a journal. The first paper is on mutual holding company life cycle and the second is on the impact of the Financial Services Modernization Act on corporate borrowers. I am also working on the final stages of data collection on four other papers. The first is on whether thrifts and banks that go public manager their earnings around the time that they go public. The second is on how stock market investors reacted to the events surrounding the options backdating scandal. The third is on the how the corporate balance sheet of companies changed as a result of the Financial Services Modernization Act. The fourth is on the impact on firm characteristics on the probability that a bank or thrift becomes an acquisition target.

Some of these papers will result in publication, some will be scooped by other authors in the field and I’ll need to toss my paper aside and begin a new project, and with other papers I will find that the data neither supports or rejects the hypothesis that I am testing and I will need to toss the paper aside and also begin a new project. Publishing is never a certainty when you begin a project. It sometimes reminds me of Kenney Roger’s song The Gambler, when he says “you gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, know when to run…” Sometime you spend too much time working on a dead-end project. Sometimes you miss out on a great opportunity by not starting a project when the idea first came to you and someone else beats you to the punch.

When you get that great hit in the journal though, it’s like hitting a grand slam and you’re ready to celebrate.

Last week I was eating my lunch in my office, as usual.  I got a frantic call from my younger daughter.  She and her friend were trying to find a building downtown to run an errand and were lost.

From the story I got, they asked a friend how to get there.  I don't know if he didn't know what he was saying or if they misunderstood what he meant.  Either way, they were lost.

They called "Mom" because I know where everything is downtown.  (Yeah, right...I was close by and their best bet!)

As it was, I had a good idea where it was and told them how much further they had to go to get there.  They were happy. 

Well, it seems it has been a while since I was down there, and they couldn't make a right hand turn where I told them.  They came to get me to show them where to go.

I got in the car and showed them where they needed to be.  Of course there was no parking, so we dropped the friend off and let her get her stuff done while we went around the block a couple of times waiting on her.

They brought me back to finish my lunch.  Everyone was happy that the errand was completed.

That made me think that this relates to what academic advisors and I do. When students get "lost" in what courses, we are here to guide them to the correct sequencing, requirements, electives, to finish their degree and get the most out of it.

Many times students get lost because they listen to what other students have done.  This can be a problem because not all students are on the same plan...even if they are doing the same major.  So much depends on when each student was admitted to Kelley as far as requirements are concerned.

Or, sometimes a student asks for help without giving all the correct information and the directions they received were based on the information given.  Not always a good thing, either!

Make sure you see an advisor at least once a year...every semester is best!!  This will keep you from getting "lost" and having to turn around and back track.

Here's to always moving forward!!

It seems like just yesterday summer 1 classes started... and starting tomorrow-- it will be my first day of summer 2 classes.  I don't know if I'm ready!!!! Is 4 days of a break really considered a break...? I don't think so.  I need like 2 weeks off to recoop and get ready for summer 2...BUT that's so not gonna happen.  So, I better buckle up 'cuz this might be a bumpy ride. Okay, that was lame but... you know what I mean!!!

I'm sure that there are other people out there that think things are never easy for them.  But, honestly, it seems like I have my share of run-ins with problems... ESPECIALLY when it comes to school.  Okay, so somehow I accidently signed up for J411 before I took the prerequisite, J401. (They don't call me Spacey Casey for nothin'!) And I didn't notice it at all-- or I think somehow I got the impression that because I was able to register for the class-- it didn't matter in what sequence I took them.  Well, anyhow, I get this email that said basically I needed to drop J411 and sign up for J401.  Well, I logged onto Onestart right away because I plan to graduate in December and so I need to take J401during Summer 2 and J411 in the Fall.  You think that'd be easy, right? Well, no-- I was the 8th person on the waitlist. Aaghhh. I almost had a melt down.  I was like, "oh no... I HAVE to get in this class otherwise I won't graduate in time!!!"  But, I was reassured that Kelley was doing everything they could to get me in. 

Long story short-- I got in at the VERY last minute because they increased the class size.  Thank goodness.  I was really freaking out there for a minute.But I was informed that there would be a table in the back of the lecture room since there wouldn't be enough seats for everyone and that the students who were "bumped in" were to sit in those seats unless at the start of class there were other seats available. So, if you are taking J401 during Summer 2--- you may see me.  Yeah, I'll be the one sitting in the VERY back of the room.  Woo hoo!  But, hey, really-- I AM thankful they let me in the class.  REALLY thankful.

Hello Everyone!

Life has been amazing for the last few weeks. I took a few weeks off from work right after graduation and just went back yesterday. On my break, I did not do much other than resting and enjoying the nice weather before going back to work on a full time basis (probably until I retire). I went to Colorado too for a few days; I really love that state. There is so much that you can do outside, not too mention the amazing scenery all around.

Work is nothing less than amazing. I joined a world class company on a leadership development program. Every four months or so I have different rotations. So I will be exposed to many teams and parts of the company that will give me a greater understanding of all the functions of the corporation. All my team members are great, and my manager is amazing. I am really looking forward to spending the next couple of years working with this company.

What about all of you? What plans do you have after graduation? If you like the corporate world, I would highly suggest that you look into a development program. It is a great way to get exposure and lift your career very early in the game.

Hope all is well with your summer and I'll keep you posted on how life is as a Kelley grad.

This summer has been a busy one and it is only half way done. I’m working about 45-50hrs a week, playing soccer, trying to stay in shape, and still trying to find free time. Some days I find myself wishing the days were longer. 

Two weeks ago I received the Michael A. Carroll scholarship. This award is given to one student athlete who shows determination in the class room, on the field, and throughout the community. It was a true honor to receive this award and it is one I will never take for granted. I was presented this award at the annual Michael A. Carroll golf outing where I was able to meet some great people from around the community. I find it really interesting that you never know where you might make some great contacts for your future. Not only did was I able to network at the outing, but I find myself networking everyday at my internship.  I am still really enjoying my work and I have gained some great new tools for my career. I am really looking forward to the week of July 21-29^th because that is when the Indianapolis Tennis Championships conclude and it will allow me the opportunity to see everything I have been working on all summer fall in place.

This past weekend I went to St. Joseph, Michigan for a regional soccer tournament. My team played against teams from Kentucky, Ohio, and Illinois. We went 1-2, but it was a fantastic tournament and it gave me the opportunity to improve my skills for the upcoming IUPUI season. Our IUPUI soccer schedule was released a few weeks ago and it can be viewed on the IUPUI Athletics website. Coming off of a successful fall and spring season from last year should help us improve attendance this year. We have a great group of guys coming back and we have high expectations leading into the season.

If you are already a student at Kelley Indianapolis, or are thinking of coming to school here, one of the primary reasons you are probably considering the campus is for one of the same reason that I chose to come to work here – our location in the heart of downtown Indianapolis.  And there is no better place to be right now than downtown Indy - especially in the summer! 

Not only is Indianapolis the economic center of the state – meaning hundreds of year-round opportunities for internships, job shadowing and research, not to mention professional job opportunites – it is the entertainment capital as well.  I’m the biggest proponent there is – I live, work, and play almost exclusively downtown (check out the award-winning revitalization in my Fall Creek Place neighborhood).

Here are the before and after pics of my house - it used to be a center of drug-related activity.  The transformation is almost unbelieveable:

If a pink house right on the corner isn't quite up your alley, there are an incredible number of more modern developments underway, all of which speak volumes about the growing Indianapolis economy.  And I'll be the 1st to encourage anyone and everyone to take the urban plunge (even if there is only one good grocery store).

DeSoto Condos

Lockerbie Park

Market Center (including a Target - proposed)

The Towers on Market (proposed)

The Maxwell

Meridian Arch Condos

Athletic Club Condos

Facebook-- ever heard of it? It's this online site where people can join a "network" in order to keep in touch with others within and outside of that network.  I belong to the IUPUI network which is just for students and facutly.  (Although-- I don't think I've EVER seen a faculty member on Facebook.)  It started a few years ago-- it was exclusively for college students--but they recently changed it to allow anyone to join.  In the past, all you could do was write on people's walls-- which is like a message board that everyone can see and there are also fun groups you can join.  A couple groups that I belong to are  "I'm going to be at IUPUI forever because I can't decide what to do with my life" and "I belong on a boat or a beach somewhere."  Basically you can join whatever group that interests you and you can network with people within those groups.

Just recently facebook had a major face lift.  No pun intended.  Actually, yes... pun intended.  Anyway, It's almost way too much.  For a long time facebook was behind the times and you couldn't do the fun things you could do on sites like MySpace.  For example, on MySpace you could add music, videos, fun pictures, and interactive applications.  Facebook was boring. But, honestly, there's all these new "applications" now that you can add to your facebook page.  It's totally on overload.  These applications allow you to add fun things onto your page like your horoscope, favorite music, and fun photo scrapbooks.

But, there's other really weird things to do like... the food fight... you can actually throw food items at people online.  Some of my friends have interactive pets or even little music players that play their favorite songs.  There's a fortune cookie application that shows a different fortune each day.   But I think my all time favorite application is the grafitti option.  You can paint pictures for your friends and leave them on their walls-- it is seriously the coolest!!!

Some people say that Facebook has gone too far and it's just on overload right now.  What do you think-- is it fun or just too much to handle all at once?  What is your favorite part of the new facebook?  Or your least favorite part??? Have you run across problems with some of the new applications???? I sure have!!! My interactive pet was worthless-- he didn't do anything!!!! So I deleted him.  Do you even have a Facebook? If not-- you should totally get one-- it's a lot of fun--but definitely cuts down on my productivitiy with other things. *oops*  Oh well.  If you have one (or plan to get one) you should add me!!!!

Grade School Graduation

My two boys, Aaron and Joshua, graduated from 8th grade at Calvary Lutheran School this week.  It’s hard to believe that all three of my children will be at Lutheran High School this fall.  It was great having family and friends over to celebrate their graduation.

I was especially proud to find out at the ceremonies that Aaron received the Citizenship Award.  This is an award that has input from teachers and fellow classmates.  Both boys are always available to help out with any items around the school from setting up for an event or cleaning up after an event. 

They had their classmates over for a graduation party this weekend.  It was great fun seeing the excitement of these young high school freshmen.  The excitement of beginning the next phase of their life is great. I remember the good old days of high school and the anticipation we had as we exited 8th grade.

Okay, okay......

So, I'm floating along in my Summer I course... A201.  Did I mention that we cover a chapter or two a day?!??!! Okay, so I'm floating along, trying to stay alive.... wishing I wasn't as school....

I'm working a part-time job as a bank teller, also, so the flip-flops don't get to come out very often! However, I know that I need money, so I keep showing up so I can get a paycheck....

(Objects in the picture may appear larger than they really are!)

But, my husband and I have been saving up for a new home! So, until then, I will be Staying Alive.....

Or, at least trying to! After I'm done with Financial Accounting, I move on to Microeconomics..... Check in to see if I make it to the fall semester!

It has been a few weeks since I last blogged. It has been crazy around here! So what has happened?

I graduated! Finally graduated after four years in school! Graduation was great! It all started the day prior to Mother's day. I had a graduation party and had around 70 people that came to celebrate with me. Family, friends, co-workers, my whole life friends met at this event. It was a great time. Then graduation came the next day. It felt great to walk through the Kelley ceremony to receive my diploma (although the "real" diploma won't be ready until July or August). The IUPUI commencement was longer- nonetheless it was once in a lifetime experience. I am glad I attended both events (Thanks everyone who worked hard to put those together!).

Some friends and family members came and stayed here in Indy for a few days so I was busy showing them around. Indianapolis is a great city. My family comes from the big metropolitan areas of the world, but they were really impressed with Indianapolis. It is truly a world class city-- it is just hidden from the world!

I took a break from work and I resume on a full time basis in two weeks. It has been somewhat odd not to have anything to worry about (work and school wise). Nonetheless, I am sure I will get busy as soon as I get back to work. I am pretty excited to start my new job; it is a leadership program so I will be rotating in different sites through out North America and over at our UK home office. I am sure I will learn much and will serve me well as I develop on my position at the company.

So needless to say, I have not been busy as I usually am. It has been a challenge to learn to enjoy my free time but I am learning fast. This week I am going to Colorado for some more free time fun. I will tell you all about it when I come back.

Keep it simple,

Jaime

Wow!  Time sure flies.  Some how I lost the month of May.  Actually, I didn't lose it.  The days were very busy for me and I am now able to breathe and it is June 4th.

So, what had me so busy, you ask? Again, you ask very good questions.

The first week of May I sent out e-mails to certain tentative graduates letting them know they were able to wear honor cords at Commencement and when to pick them up.  I also sent out reminder e-mails about the mandatory meeting on May 11th.  I made sure all the awards were correct and ready for the ceremony.  I didn't do this all by my self.  Julie Moore, Recorder for the Evening MBA program, contacted the award company and I gave her all the names and types of awards.

Along with that, I made a list of all the faculty cap and gowns I needed to order because I didn't know these people were coming to the ceremonies.  This was quite a list.  These faculty were award winners and didn't know they were coming until just the week before.

I also go over to the Registrar's Office and stuff 350 diploma covers with the "Congratulations on Graduating" letter.  This takes about 2 1/2 hours.  I don't have to pack them up and take them to the Dome, however.  The Registrar's Office does all that for me.  I am very grateful for all they do for us over there.

The next week, I sent the list over to the Alumni Office so they could get all my faculty apparel ready for me at their convenience.  I end up with about 30-35 orders.  That is quite a few for them to pull while all the graduates are trying to get their apparel too.  The next day I get the apparel and get them all ready for the faculty to pick up.  I send e-mails to all of them letting them know their apparel is ready.

I also go over to the Alumni Office to get the Honor Cords for the students who are graduating with honors.  These are the students who are graduating with Highest Distinction, High Distinction and Distinction.  NOT the students who have completed the Business Honors Program.  Two TOTALLY different kinds of honors.

I make sure I have all the supplies ready for commencement.  I run to the store and pick up items I need.  I also get all the names printed and put on the index cards for the graduates to give to Professor Ken Carow so he can announce them as they go across the stage.  I also get the "right" and "left" cards ready.  This isn't hard work, but it is time consuming!

Finally, it is Friday before Commencement!!  We get the vehicles all loaded up with the things we take over to the Sagamore Ballroom, have the mandatory meeting for those coming to Commencment.

On top of all this I try to get some students certified for graduation.  They are students whose employers need notification so they can get their promotions.  Unfortunatly, they have to wait until grades are official on transcripts and Friday is it!!  I check out the students and mail/fax/e-mail the letters to the proper people.  I manage to get it all done!!!

The next week begins with Commencement.  It goes very well.  The next two days I spend getting things back and put away from Commencement.  I then get to work on certifying the graduates.  This year went pretty well.  I didn't have very many students who didn't make it.  That is such a relief.  I hate letting students know they aren't going to graduate.  I have a couple of students who need to get some incompletes changed and I have until Tuesday of the next week to get them done.

The next week begins just fine.  I work on getting students ready to process their degrees.  I find out who actually graduates with honors and get everything ready.  I just have to finalize it on Tuesday.

Tuesday morning I wake up very sick.  I KNOW I have to get the grads done.  I come into the office and get them all done and go home.  I am there the rest of the week!  I haven't been this miserable for about 6 years!!!  I am just glad everything is done for May.

That brings me to last week.  I had 4 days to get everything caught up from the two weeks before.  I didn't quite make it, but made great strides.

Now it is June.  Things are calming down a bit.  That is why I am able to get things caught up a bit.  I still have LOTS to do.  I need to check tentative December graduating students to make sure they have everything they need.  I am seeing transfer and returning students.  I also have lots of e-mails to answers.  However, I don't think June will disappear like May did.  I sure hope not.

Have a great summer.  Don't let it disappear!!

OOO so happy the race is over. As part of our fundraising for soccer we work a food booth and a couple of merchandise stands throughout the month of May at the Indy 500.  It is fun to be able to experience the race, but working from 5am trough the end of the race can really take a toll on people. Many do not realize that nearly every stand inside the track is run by volunteers trying to raise funds for their group. Each group gets a certain portion of the proceeds.  The first time we did this I thought it was a great experience, but after the rain delayed race last weekend I learned it can be tedious.  In our food sand we make hotdogs, hamburgers, brats, and many other types of hot food.  Because of the rain delay this year we sold out of nearly everything in our booth.  People were buying peanuts, crackerjacks, skittles, and anything else that they could get their hands on.  It was a very long day trying to meet the needs of thousands of people, but in the end it will be rewarding when we get new gear for or soccer team and we are able to extra trips that we have not done in the past.