With the U.S. economy struggling to stay afloat, retailers are weathering a rough holiday shopping season this year. When the dust clears after the New Year, how bad will the damage be? In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up with the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, Dr. Jie Zhangdiscusses the retail outlook for an economy in turmoil.

The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business cordially invites alumni, faculty, students, and friends to "Thought Leadership at Smith," a monthly speaker series with presentations from top faculty members who will share their research and expert opinions on timely topics.

mith School faculty are doing more than leading the way with their research, they are also making an impact on corporate best practices. Case in point -- business intelligence and quotes from Smith faculty were recently highlighted in publications from McKinsey & Company, a leading source of business management consulting services and insight.

Andrew J. Sherman has been an adjunct professor of business management, strategy and planning at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business for over 20 years now. Sherman has been a keynote speaker on business growth topics in over 35 countries at thousands of conferences around the globe. Whether a professor, speaker, advisor or a senior partner in Jones Day in Washington, D.C., he has spent his entire career helping companies grow.  

Robert H. Smith School of Business professor Peter Morici testified Nov. 18, 2008, at a U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing examining the challenges facing the automotive industry. Morici joined a panel that included Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and the major players in the U.S. auto  industry: Alan Mulally, president and CEO of Ford Motor Company; Robert Nardelli, chairman and CEO of Chrysler LLC; and G.

The U.S. and global economies are feeling the fallout of the credit crisis. How long will we be waiting for things to thaw? What is the recession outlook for the coming year? And how does the economic turmoil affect you and your personal financial decisions? In this edition of Smith Business Close-Upwith the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, Dr. Albert “Pete” Kyle discusses the outlook for an economy in turmoil.

College Park, Md. – October 24, 2008 – TheLogistics, Transportation and Supply Chain Management (LTSCM) Society and the Supply Chain Club (SCC) of the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today named Rick D. Blasgen, president and chief executive officer of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), as the 2008 “Person of the Year.” The award is presented annually to an influential leader in the logistics, supply chain or transportation industries.

College Park, MD – October 13, 2008 – This year’s annual conference from the Institute for Operations Research and The Management Sciences (INFORMS), the largest professional society in the world for professionals in the field of operations research (O.R.), is significantly influenced by contributions from University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. Smith School Dean G. “Anand” Anandalingam and Professor Michael Ball serve as the program co-chairs. The INFORMS 2008 Annual Meeting, held Oct.

College Park, Md. – October 10, 2008 – University of Maryland students and their parents selected Mark Wellman, Tyser Teaching Fellow at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, with the 2008 Outstanding Faculty Educator Award. The award is presented each year by the Maryland Parents Association to honor a faculty member who demonstrates a deep commitment to providing an exemplary education experience for students.

College Park, Md. – Oct. 2, 2008 – The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business hosts the 17th annual Frontiers in Service Conference, Oct. 2-5. Considered the world’s leading annual international conference on service research, this year’s conference will draw attendees from around the globe.