EMBA Alumni Newsletter - Robert H. Smith School of Business

Fall2012

Dean’s Message – Greg Hanifee, Assistant Dean of Executive Programs

Dear EMBA Alumni,

Fall is upon us and we’re excited about how the next cohort of your Smith EMBA program is shaping up. Shelbi has summarized below where we are, and I want to give special thanks to Ray Wulff (EMBA5), Bill Bruce (EMBA10) and Randy Mortis (EMBA10) for forwarding candidates to us – we value these connections, which continually bring great candidates to the program. I also want to recognize four of our EMBA12 students who added even more to their plates by representing the Smith EMBA brand at the National Black MBA Association Case Competition this past week: Dionne Kimble-Walker, Raegen McGaughey, Drew Rouland and Jamal Starr headed to Indianapolis to compete as a team, and this marked the first time we’ve had an EMBA team enter the competition. The team will be sharing their experiences with their cohort as well as the full-time MBA community to promote future participation in the competition. Special thanks also go to Basu for his encouragement and Dave Godes for advising the students prior to the trip. This spirit of self-improvement and community is what makes our program so strong, and we’re especially proud of their energy and motivation exhibited by Dionne, Raegen, Drew and Jamal to carry the brand to new destinations!

There are lots of great activities coming up in late October and early November – I hope to see you at one of the events!

Cheers,

Greg Hanifee, Assistant Dean

In this issue:

Features

Alumnus’ Company, Comprisma, is a Finalist in the 2012 DC to VC: HIT Startup Showcase.

EMBA10 Alumnus Chris Dugan is a founding Principal of Comprisma, which was selected as a finalist in the 2012 DC to VC: HIT Startup Showcase. Chris and the other founders grew up in the UMD/Washington, D.C. area where they have always had an intellectual affinity for public policy and the implications of massive legislative changes. As the debate about healthcare reform was unfolding, discussions about healthcare costs were active in thought leadership circles. The issue of escalating healthcare costs invoked a sense of urgency in Comprisma's founders as a national crisis and they were collectively inspired to dedicate their efforts and talents to develop solutions that had the potential to positively affect the lives of all Americans.

Chris credits the talent pool of the professors at the Smith School and their supportive attitude and willingness to be a sounding board for innovative ideas as very helpful in the early developmental and validation stages as Comprisma's model was taking shape.

Comprisma helps make healthcare markets more stable, less expensive and ultimately healthier. The company’s patent-pending technology catalyzes this evolutionary shift through the creation of innovative risk pooling markets for both insurers and risk-bearing providers. Comprisma's risk pooling markets reduce the volatility of health cost risk in the new financing structure while creating the incentives that will make American healthcare less expensive and more focused on keeping people healthy.

For additional information on all the finalists, read the announcement from Morgenthaler Ventures.

EMBA13 Admissions Update

To date, we have approximately 60 percent of the incoming class finalized. We are looking for another 10 to 15 competitive candidates to join us for EMBA Cohort 13's Residence Week beginning Jan. 21. While it seems far away, incoming students are now required to complete approximately 100 hours of pre-work before they begin the program. Feel free to pass along Shelbi Brookshire's contact information - sbrooksh@rhsmith.umd.edu or 240-464-8597 - to any interested friends or colleagues.

Special recognition to Ray Wulff (EMBA5), Bill Bruce (EMBA10) and Randy Mortis (EMBA10) for recently passing along their colleagues, as well as representing the program so well.

Smith School in the News - Business Rx: Online only or brick and mortar store?

Elana Fine, managing director of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship took questions from readers of the Washington Post.

Terps Helping Terps – T.A.G.

Technology Advanced Gaming (T.A.G.) Centers is the brainchild of Terrence Wilburn (EMBA11). T.A.G. is a Not For Profit organization focused on teaching students technology and providing career outlook mentoring while building and playing video games. Terrence is joined by Margot Nassau (EMBA11), Andy Mears (UMD graduate) and Xiavian Brown (Johns Hopkins graduate) as part of the Executive team.

Currently, their target demographic is any 6th to 8th grade students with an interest in technology and gaming and a desire for an engaging approach to core academic values. T.A.G. also aims to equip D.C. Public School teachers with the knowledge necessary to bring technology and gaming into the classroom as learning tools.

T.A.G. is currently conducting a pilot program throughout the 2012-2013 academic year with the Boys and Girls Club of America to engage students in an interactive video gaming curriculum. Approximately 15 students are scheduled to take part in the weekly sessions. Additionally, T.A.G. Centers were vetted and named an official after school program under D.C. Public Schools. Throughout Fall 2012, T.A.G. is joining forces with DCPS to promote their focus on S.T.E.M. (Science Technology Engineering and Math) studies through conducting Game Days at selected middle schools in the school system.

Thanks to the help of Executive MBA Alumni T.A.G. received a generous donation from BB&T Bank to purchase laptops for the program. To find out more information or support your EMBA Alumni go to www.tagcenters.org.

Tough Mudder – a little muddy alumni camaraderie!

The weekend of Sept. 8, a team comprised of EMBA11 alumni participated in the Tough Mudder in Frederick, Md. The event was a mental and physical 12-mile course with 20 military-style obstacles. Tough Mudder is a proud supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project. To date, participants have fundraised more than $3.4 million to support thousands of warriors returning from the battlefield. The Tough Mudder team members included Bart Ludlow, Doug Riley, Zack Hill, Ryan Fuller, Joe Dankowski and Jake Yorkis.

Upcoming Events

Oct. 16, 2012
CEO@Smith - Eric Spiegel, President and CEO
Visit the website to learn more.

Oct. 25 - 27, 2012
20th Anniversary Net Impact Conference
Net Impact is a community of 30,000 changemakers originally geared toward full-time MBA students. The popularity of sustainability and ethical business has grown the organization to include students, employers, etc. We are thrilled to have the 20th Anniversary Net Impact Conference in Baltimore this year. Visit the website to learn more.

Oct. 27, 2012
Women in the Smith EMBA
Calling all Smith women EMBA Alumni and current students for an informal morning networking session as local women research whether the EMBA is a good fit for their goals. On Saturday, Oct. 27 from 9 – 11 a.m., we will be hosting women interested in learning more about the important work/life balance, ROI and why they should consider Smith's EMBA. Contact Shelbi Brookshire at sbrooksh@rhsmith.umd.edu if you can attend all or some of the morning.

Nov. 5, 2012
Executive Education at Smith – Fall 2012 Quarterly IMPACT Learning & Development Conference
Explore best practices in learning and development with other HR and OD leaders. W.R. Grace VP and Chief Human Resources Officer Pamela Wagoner will keynote. Visit here to learn more, or e-mail Liz Barron at lbarron@rhsmith.umd.edu to register.

Nov. 7, 2012
EMBA Happy Hour
Time: 6 – 8 p.m. | Location: Hamilton's in northwest DC on 14th St NW
Register at: www.cvent.com/d/1cqxtc
Mark your calendars for the 4th Annual Fall EMBA Happy Hour on Nov. 7. The event is a great opportunity to network among other alumni as well as reconnect with your fellow classmates. Current and incoming students will also be in attendance and it is this interaction with you the alum that can be a vital tipping point for a competitive candidate to select Smith over the multitude of EMBA programs in the area. The stronger our incoming students - the stronger our overall brand. Staff and faculty will also be in attendance. We look forward to seeing you again and catching up on what is happening in your personal and professional life.

Nov. 14, 2012
CEO@Smith - Jim Gibbons, President and CEO, Goodwill
Visit the website to learn more.

Alumni Updates

David Benedict (EMBA9), recently accepted the position of Program Manager at Ocean’s Edge.

Kelly DeAngelo (EMBA12), and his wife, Jessica Ann, welcomed Kipton James on Aug. 1.

Doug Riley (EMBA11), recently welcomed his granddaughter to the world. Paisley Rylee Blessing was born on Tuesday, Sept. 25.

EMBA Alumni Newsletter

Previous editions can be found online.

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