coca-cola north America president visits southern miss business
MBA Graduate 1984
Alfredo Rivera, President of Coca-Cola North America, visited the Southern Miss Hattiesburg campus this month to be recognized as the 2021 Alumnus of the Year. While in town, Alfredo met with business students to share stories about the journey of his career, give advice, and answer questions.
Rivera earned his Master of Business Administration from Southern Miss in 1984. He also completed the Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School.
Rivera Named 2021 Alumnus of the Year
Rivera joined The Coca-Cola Company in the Central America and Caribbean Division in 1997 as a District Manager for Guatemala and El Salvador. Rivera worked his way up in the company and served as president of Coca-Cola’s Latin America group, where he oversaw the operations of four business units across nearly 40 Latin and Caribbean countries, before becoming President of Coca-Cola North America.
Rivera was honored at a luncheon as the 2021 Boardman Distinguished Alumnus of the Year by the College of Business and Economic Development.
2021 Boardman Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year
BSBA Graduate 2015
Jarvis Wilbert, a pharmaceutical sales representative for Eli Lilly, was also recognized that day as the Boardman Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year. The awards are sponsored by Joseph F. Boardman.
“The College of Business and Economic Development at USM has a long history of producing outstanding graduates who go on to distinguish themselves in their career endeavors. We are pleased to honor two individuals who have achieved impressive levels of success and renown in their chosen fields.” - Dr. Bret Becton, dean
Business Student Research Presentations
Student Research Showcase
The School of Marketing hosted its 2nd Annual Student Research Showcase in-person in April. The unique event invited both undergraduate and graduate student researchers to disseminate their knowledge as they present their research in 5 minutes, followed by a 5-minute Q&A. 13 student presentations were given and three students were selected to win cash prizes for their presentations. Help us recognize the following students who bravely presented their research: Lauren Beverly, Maxwell Greenough, Margaret Rennie, Chipper Baudry, Sophie Unson, Andrew Sheets, Delaney Corrick, Summer Irby, Cassidy Williams, Matthew Yang, Nichada Satasuk, Lacey Wallace, Samuel Sumrall, Bradley del Rio, and Austin Busby.
Undergraduate Research Symposium
The 2021 Undergraduate Research Symposium was held virtually with pre-recorded presentations and live Q&A sessions. Two of the presentations given were by Southern Miss Business students who attend classes on the Gulf Park campus. Congratulations to the students below and their faculty mentors!
- Loribeth Fitzgerald – The Exacerbation of Gender Inequality: The Effects of Overwork on Work-Family Spillover (mentored by Dr. Jacob Breland)
- Estella Varn with co-presenters Shauana Brown, Charles Gray, and Haley Roberts – Brand Perceptions of Gulf Park Reorganization: A Qualitative Study (mentored by Dr. Joanne Cao)
New Rankings
Student Awards and Recognition
Graduate School Hall of Fame
Two Southern Miss Business students were inducted into the Graduate School Hall of Fame this year. Gregory “Greg” Laney, is from Alexander, NY and is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration (MBA). Greg has worked his way up in the United States Navy since 2000 and is currently stationed in Spain as a Facilities and Maintenance Officer. Greg and his wife have also owned a business on the MS Gulf Coast since 2013. Samantha Coblentz is a Hattiesburg native currently in pursuit of her Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA). Samantha serves as the President of Beta Alpha Psi and is described by her professors as hardworking and an excellent leader in the School of Accountancy. Additionally, she serves as Campus Ambassador for Becker CPA Review.
Graduate Research Assistant of the Year
Lacey Wallace, an MBA student graduating this May, was selected as the Graduate Research Assistant of the Year by the Graduate School. Lacey is from Jayess, Mississippi, and serves as a Graduate Assistant in the School of Marketing. She serves as the faculty research support lead to coordinate six GAs who support ten faculty in the School of Marketing, and she has co-authored several projects. Her research earned her the title of Grand Champion for USM’s 2020 Three-Minute Thesis, and she went on to compete regionally at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools virtual meeting in February. After graduation, she will enter a doctoral program in marketing at the University of Alabama.
Dr. Joanne Cao, Lacey’s faculty advisor, noted that Lacey was the first student in the College of Business and Economic Development to receive national recognition for research by presenting at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, and other prestigious venues, paving the way for her graduate research project. Lacey is coauthor on several of Dr. Cao’s manuscripts and conference proceedings. Dr. Cao also said, “She is a rising scholar and the type of candidate who has represented our university beyond measure.”
“As a first-generation college graduate, I have worked incredibly hard for my achievements while leaning on the support of an excellent team of marketing researchers and professors at USM. My interest in research emerged from my collective experiences. I grew up in a small community where neighbors care for each other, often sharing meals and hosting many family members and friends in their homes for local events. As I began to travel and see more of the world during college, I realized that these same societal bonds could be replicated through sharing communities (i.e., Airbnb), which use technology to connect people who have a home with those who need a place to stay. This discovery inspired my independent study, where I, with guidance from my research advisor, investigated how an individual’s cultural orientation impacts value perceptions of sharing. The findings reveal that cultural values impact consumers’ beliefs and judgments, and value perceptions mediate the relationship between culture and satisfaction.” - Lacey Wallace
Additional recognitions
- Reid Morris (Marketing): 2020-2021 Southern Miss Hall of Fame
- Savannah Rheams (Healthcare Marketing): 2020-2021 Southern Miss Who's Who
- Yolanda Linares (Accounting): 2021 Newt D Becker Scholarship Award Winner
- Nathaniel Moeller (Hospitality and Tourism Management): 2021 Outstanding Service-Learning Student Award from the USM Center for Community Engagement
- Hunter Reed (Accounting): Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants Hamp King Award Winner
Faculty and Staff Recognition
Southern Miss Business Spring Awards recipients
The college held its biannual awards ceremony in April to recognize the extraordinary work of students, faculty, and staff in the College of Business and Economic Development. Join us in congratulating the following faculty and staff:
- Mike Morgan, Instructor of Finance - Joseph A. Greene Excellence in Teaching Award
- Dr. Marco Wolf, Associate Professor of Marketing - Louis K. Brandt Publication Award
- Dr. Chad Miller, Professor of Economic Development - Faculty Service Award
- Russ Willis, Assistant Teaching Professor of Management - Faculty Service Award
- James Wilcox, Director of the Center for Economic & Entrepreneurship Education - Outstanding Staff Member
- Dr. Paula Parker, Associate Professor of Accounting - BAC Research Award
- Dr. Fujun Lai, Professor of Management - BAC Research Award
- Dr. Curtis Matherne, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship - BAC Research Award
- Dr. Katie Howie, Assistant Professor of Marketing - BAC Research Award
- Dr. Chao Meng, Assistant Professor of Marketing - BAC Research Award
- Dr. Marco Wolf, Associate Professor of Marketing - BAC Research Award
- Dr. Chris Croft, Assistant Professor of Sport Management - BAC Research Award
- Dr. Sungsoo Kim, Associate Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management - BAC Research Award
Amber Hatten Receives Center for the Public Trust Award
Amber Hatten received the campus-wide faculty award for making a difference this year. This honor is bestowed upon a deserving faculty member by the NASBA Center for the Public Trust chapter at USM each year. Hatten is a Professor of Practice in the School of Accountancy and is certainly deserving of this award as she is widely known for her commitment to our students, the School of Accountancy, the college, and the university.
Introducing our Executives in Residence
Southern Miss Business launched a new Executive in Residence Program at the beginning of the Spring 2021 semester. These individuals have significant executive experience in the professional world and are recruited to share their experiences and advice with students and faculty members. The program is an excellent way for students to be exposed to the realities of the business world while making connections and developing needed professional skills. These executives contribute to bridging the gap between theory and practice. The inaugural group of Executives in Residence include:
- Edward Grogg: Retired CEO with over 15 years of experience working in physician practices such as Neuroscience & Spine Associates, Crystal Lakes Orthopedics, Barrington Orthopedic Specialists as well as being a business owner, entrepreneur, and investor.
- Mark Killingsworth: Retired Vice President & General Merchandise Manager for Dillard’s Department Stores. Mark worked for Dillard’s for 42 years.
- Phil Bryant: 64th Governor of Mississippi, former Lt. Governor, State Auditor, and State Representative with extensive experience in government, economic development, and auditing. Governor Bryant is a founding partner of Bryant, Songy, Snell Global Partners.
- Mark Peach: Retired partner with KPMG with 38 years of experience in public accounting, all with KPMG.
2021 Commencement
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented us from holding recent commencement ceremonies, we are pleased to share that the university has planned a full week of celebrations during May to catch up. During the week of May 3-8, 2021, we’ve scheduled multiple ceremonies to safely honor those who graduated in Spring, Summer and Fall 2020, and Spring 2021. Tickets will be required for entry, however, all ceremonies will be streamed online for those unable to attend in person. Students from the College of Business and Economic Development will be recognized on the following days:
🗓 Wednesday, May 5, 2021 | 🎓 Graduate Students (MBA, MPA, MSED, MSSM)
🗓 Thursday, May 6, 2021 | 🎓 Undergraduate Business and Economic Development Students
🗓 Saturday, May 8, 2021 | 🎓 All Coast-based Undergraduate & Graduate Students