FALL 2006
VOL. 8 NO. 1

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LEADERSDigest

Undergraduate business education goes global ◊ New marketing faculty ◊ Smith’s first field study trip to India
Ethics program ◊ Smith receives $1.4 million federal grant ◊ Mike Corvino ◊ Cupid’s Cup

The Smith School hosted the taping of the nationally televised program, CEO Exchange, on May 2, 2006. During the taping, five Smith MBA students had the opportunity to ask questions of the show’s guests: Robert Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television, and Bill Marriott, CEO of Marriott International Inc.

The show was hosted by CNN senior analyst Jeff Greenfield. When CEO Exchange aired on PBS in June, viewers across the country had the opportunity to see a great video tour of the Smith School.

Smith School undergraduates dressed in their finest to mingle with alumni and corporate leaders at the beautiful Riggs Alumni Center, as the Smith School celebrated the accomplishments of students, alumni and corporate leaders at the 2006 Undergraduate Awards Banquet.

Students were recognized for academic excellence both during the year and throughout their school careers. At the event, the Smith Leadership and Excellence Awards were also presented to business leaders and organizations that have made significant and positive impact to their industries and the community in the mid-Atlantic region.

North Star Games Wins Cupid’s Cup
Under Armour’s Kevin Plank Awards $10K Prize

Board-game company North Star Games took home the big check and the big trophy cup at the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship’s first Cupid’s Cup business competition May 19. Under Armour Chief Executive Kevin Plank ’96 put up the $10,000 prize and helped pick the winner from five finalist alumni-run startups.

North Star Games, founded by 2004 MBA graduates Dominic Crapuchettes and Satish Pillalamarri, incubated in the Dingman Center and has sold thousands of copies of its award-winning games, “Cluzzle” and “Wits and Wagers.” The business partners are set on producing a blockbuster board game and will use the prize money to help introduce a new card game.

“This event has given us a significant amount of exposure and will help pique professional investors’ interest in our company,” Crapuchettes said.

Other finalists in the closely decided competition, narrowed from 20 applicants, were teen-oriented T-shirt company Crooked Monkey, interactive Web map software maker Geocentric, beer brewer Hook & Ladder Brewing Co., and collegiate jewelry maker Dayna Designs. Each team had eight minutes to present a business plan before five judges and a sizable crowd in Van Munching Hall’s Frank Auditorium.

A lunch conversation between Plank and Dingman Center Director Asher Epstein sparked the competition, named for Plank’s early venture as a Smith student—a rose delivery business he called Cupid’s Valentine.

Plank founded his athletic apparel company in his grandmother’s basement while still a Smith student and has grown it into a successful publicly traded company. He encouraged entrepreneurs to determine their passions, create a vision, and assemble great people to grow successful businesses.

“You’ve got to keep your business going, whatever it takes,” Plank said. —CT