Moody Business News

Moody Business News Fall 2017 newsletter

A message from the dean, Dr. Bret Becton,

This semester has been filled with many accomplishments. Our recently introduced online MBA program has received tremendous interest with 201 students enrolled while our traditional MBA continues to enjoy strong enrollment numbers with 195 students enrolled. At the undergraduate level, we introduced a minor in entrepreneurship and a concentration in analytics to provide students with innovative and relevant curricula. The Maraist Financial Services Lab is under construction, and we anxiously await its Fall '18 completion as it will provide our students with unparalleled access to financial market data and will have a tremendous impact on their career options. Our faculty continues to engage in research and grant activity that impacts theory, practice, and our community at large. It’s a great time to be a Ragin' Cajun, and we hope you are just as excited about the great things happening in the Moody College of Business.

Adopt-an-Entrepreneur Initiative

We initiated an Adopt-an-Entrepreneur Initiative for the Fall 2017 semester, where 50 entrepreneurs teamed up with students from the new Introduction to Innovation and Entrepreneurship class. The students learned firsthand about running their own businesses and competed in a contest at the end of the semester. If you are a business owner interested in participating, visit business.louisiana.edu/aei.

Hospitality Management students achieve certification

Hospitality management students earned a 95 percent pass rate for the Certified Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) exam. Thirty-seven students can now add this credential to their resume and beat out competitors in the job market. This certification is a new addition to the program and is the first certification to be offered to students outside of food and beverage. Lisa K. Bowles, the course instructor, earned her CHIA this past summer and recently attended HX 2017: The Hotel Experience in New York with four hospitality management seniors. They participated in two days of seminars, chatted with vendors on the trade show floor, and received a personal tour of NYU from a faculty member to discuss potential hospitality graduate programs.

Pam Meyer receives Patriot Award

Pam Meyer, senior accounting instructor, was recently honored by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) with a Patriot Award. This is awarded to individual supervisors who have been nominated by an employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve or by the spouse of a Guard or Reserve member. The Patriot Award is given to individuals who have gone above and beyond to help our soldiers. The award was presented by Lee Hisey, management instructor and ESGR representative.

Steve Pettus visits with students

Guest speaker Steve Pettus, managing partner of Dickie Brennan & Co., shared his insight on the restaurant industry with students in November 2017. As a successful restaurant owner and operator in New Orleans, Steve covered the various ways he and other management of Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, Bourbon House, Palace Cafe and Tableau create leaders among their 600 employees. He received a special gumbo paddle from his son, Matthew, hospitality management senior and president of Ragin’ Hospitality Association.

Beta Alpha Psi achieves Superior Status

Our Kappa Theta Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi recently achieved Superior Chapter status for the 2016-2017 academic year. This international recognition has earned the chapter an award of $500, which is sponsored by KPMG and the KPMG Foundation. Under the leadership of Dr. Suzanne Ward, the Kappa Theta Chapter has exceeded the main requirements of Beta Alpha Psi in areas such as academics, professionalism and leadership.

Students compete in sales competitions

Three UL Lafayette students placed highly in the eighth annual collegiate sales competition that was recently hosted by the Moody College of Business. Wendy Hebert, a marketing senior from Lafayette, La., placed first. Sureena Patel, a general studies senior from Lafayette, La., placed second. Brooke Landry, a marketing junior from Lafayette, La., placed third. The Service Chevrolet Ragin’ Sales Team also finished sixth overall in the Russ Berrie Institute National Sales Challenge that was held in New Jersey. While there, Sureena Patel placed among the top ten Sales Challenge Champions.

College of Business hosts Alumni Tour and Open House

The Moody College of Business hosted an Alumni Tour and Open House during Ragin’ Business Week in October. Alumni met the dean as well as faculty, staff and students as they toured Moody and F.G. Mouton halls. The Office of Career Services also collected items for the Career Closet, which provides students free access to donated professional attire.

MBA program receives national recognition

The Princeton Review recognizes the UL Lafayette’s MBA program as among the best in the nation. The education services company profiled the program among its “Best Business Schools 2018.” The Princeton Review has recognized the MBA program in this list since 2008. Earlier this year, CEO Magazine rated UL Lafayette’s MBA program among the top 68 in North America. The designation put the MBA and EMBA programs on the international business magazine’s top tier lists.

Hospitality Management students fundraise and volunteer

The Hospitality Management Program recently partnered with The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) for the inaugural event, “Acadiana Food & Wine Soirée.”

The event provided guests with over 40 wines and tasty cuisine from 20 different area restaurants. A portion of the proceeds from the event benefited the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) and the UL Lafayette Hospitality Management Program. The program will use the monies raised to fund Ragin' Hospitality Association events, scholarships and aid students in attending Regional and National Conferences.

The Moody College of Business welcomes new faculty members

Five new faculty members joined the Moody College of Business beginning in the Fall 2017 semester. The new faculty members include (from left to right) Dr. Ignatius Cahyanto, assistant professor of hospitality management, Catherine Chauvin, instructor of management, D. Clay Gardner, instructor of finance, David Reid, instructor of management, and Dr. Chris Jones, instructor of economics (not pictured).

Volunteer table hosts are needed for the March 22 Dining Etiquette Dinner. For more information visit business.louisiana.edu/mcobadiningetiquette.

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