SPRING 2022 | 1
2 | INNOVISION MAGAZ INE
SPRING 2022 | 3 FOLLOW US: TABL E OF CONT ENT S 4 12 17 20 6 14 18 21 ........................INTRODUCTION ............................SPOTLIGHTS .............................METAVERSE ...............AWARDS BANQUET ......ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK .............................DEAN'S LIST ..............FEATURED SPEAKERS ............NETWORKING EVENT
4 | INNOVISION MAGAZ INE SPRING 2022 | 5 OUR TEAM EDITOR KATIE BOWEN DESIGNERS ANNIE KITCHELL OLIVIA MORGAN WRITER IBETH VILLA-TAMAY Annie Kitchell Ibeth Villa-Tamay Olivia Morgan NOTE FROM THE EDITORWelcome to another spring edition of Innovision! This semester went by in the blink of an eye. I am sure the students on campus felt the same way, especially my student workers. I was lucky to have two new student workers join our team this semester, Lauren Jackson and Olivia Morgan. Lauren was in charge of posting news for both our departments on social media. She did a wonderful job. Olivia took on the role as our new graphic designer. She assisted with creating flyers and various other advertising materials, as well as participating as a student panelist during our Entrepreneurship Week. Way to go, Olivia! Three of my student workers graduated in May. We will miss Ola Obisesan, our Graduate Assistant in the Dean’s Office who assisted faculty with their research. Annie Kitchell worked as my graphic designer to design this magazine along with various other projects throughout the school year. Ibeth Villa-Tamay attended many events this semester in order to write all the articles featured in this magazine. If it wasn’t for you, Ibeth, we wouldn’t have any articles to publish! Kudos to all of you for your hard work and best of luck in your bright futures ahead! More so than in fall, spring brought back many face-toface events, several of which are highlighted in this issue of Innovision. Students and faculty alike got to travel to conferences to connect with colleagues and professionals and display their knowledge. Students competed in case and other types of competitions, some placing at or near the top. The efforts of these students make us all proud, and especially so this academic year as we all emerge from our COVID cocoons. The Sport Management department did a fantastic job preparing for the COSMA peer review team visit this spring. The report they submitted to this accrediting body reflected all the wonderful things they do to continuously improve their curriculum, student learning outcomes and co-curricular experiential learning activities, all to ensure the success of their students. The reaffirmation of accreditation decision is expected in early summer, and we anticipate a good outcome. I want to acknowledge the excellent service of Dr. Marilyn Mackes, chair of our Advisory Council, who is stepping down at the end of the academic year when her term expires. Throughout her leadership, we had a high level of engagement among our members, even during the height of the pandemic. The election for a new chair will occur after the publication of this issue of the magazine. Lastly, the COB Dean’s Office is undergoing a restructuring and we hope to welcome an Associate Dean in the coming months. I want to thank Katie Bowen, my administrative assistant, for the outstanding work she has done as we work through this transition. She has picked up a number of new work assignments and has remained professional and in good spirits throughout. All of this in her first year in the role! Kudos! LETTER FROM THE DEAN
6 | INNOVISION MAGAZ INE SPRING 2022 | 7 This Spring semester, the College of Business welcomed David Nassar (‘86), a serial entrepreneur to kick off Entrepreneurship Week. He founded Marketwise Securities, Inc., an electronic trading firm, which was sold in 2006. David is also a New York Times bestselling author. In 2006, he founded Flying Lady Winery and continued to develop other projects. Due to his successful career, he has been featured on CNN, NBC Nightly News, and CNBC. During his online webinar, David described how he did not have a plan for his future when he was young. He saw himself as a “late bloomer,” full of fear and uncertainty. This period of his life was daunting. Many young people find it difficult to decide on their future, especially when they have outside pressures. David knows this first-hand since his father gave him a choice to go to college or the military. David chose to pursue a college degree at Kutztown University. David had a challenging time in school due to his dysleia. He had to work extra hard to learn and graduate from high school. When he first applied to Kutztown, he was denied. This minor setback motivated him to work even harder, and it did not take him long before he was accepted at KU. As he made connections with professors and students, he built a foundation for his success. He was able to nurture his interests and develop his confidence. David is now grateful to share his experiences with current students. He advised students to discover their strengths and explore how they can be used to develop a path to success. Patience is important since that path may not be clear initially. Your first job might not be your dream job. So what was his path to becoming an entrepreneur? When David graduated, he was not immediately thinking about starting his own business. His main goal was to obtain a job; which he did, in the field of finance. He discovered he loved trading securities and that love led him to start one of the first broker/dealer electronic trading platforms in the U.S. KEYNOTE SPEAKER DAVID NASSAR Some of the advice David shared for future entrepreneurs is that being mentally and physically healthy ensures productivity. Also, as an entrepreneur, you must be optimistic to overcome setbacks. Entrepreneurs should be inspired by passion to ensure their ideas come to a successful reality. Relationships are important in building a foundation of support in this field. He also stated that saving money will allow you to make moves without seeing them as risks. “Confidence replaces fear,” said David when discussing how to approach taking the steps to start your business. While he has encountered some obstacles in his career, David's passion for entrepreneurship has not waned and he continues to pursue new opportunities through his company, Nassar Development LLC, which focuses on lifestyle projects like ski resorts and wineries. His advice to entrepreneurs facing difficult times, "Do not wallow in your losses for too long.”
8 | INNOVISION MAGAZ INE SPRING 2022 | 9 Entrepreneurship can be daunting, especially for people who do not know how or when to take the leap. When starting a new business, it is normal to have concerns and endless questions. During Entrepreneurship Week, the College of Business invited five women to share their advice and stories in becoming entrepreneurs. The Women Entrepreneurs Panel included Ana Konopitskaya, Lori Donofrio-Galley, Ashley Russo, Sharon Brokenbough, and Dianne Denison. These five successful entrepreneurs led an interactive discussion through their journeys. Ana is an architect who lived in Los Angeles until she decided to take a leap and become an entrepreneur. She moved to Pennsylvania and spent three years finding the right fit for her, knowing above all else she wanted to make an impact. She eventually co-founded Coexist Build, an architect-led company focused on creating communities that are “healthy, simple, and sustainable.” Her success was due to her persistence and the relationships she maintained in her previous jobs. Lori is a Public Relations Strategist and founder of The Right Angle Strategic Storytelling. She took the leap Dianne is the founder and CEO of Denison Technologies. Her decision to take the leap into entrepreneurship was due to her desire to learn and grow. As a team leader for managing technical projects, Dianne realized she enjoyed learning how things work. She capitalized on this interest by starting her own technology firm, and at first she was humbled. This motivated her to take a deeper dive into the ever-changing tech world. As she did this, she established her credibility in the field. All five women shared several important insights when wanting to leave the corporate world behind and become an entrepreneur. First, when financially funding your company, they all mentioned that it is important to start saving early. They also discussed how it is imperative to work on networking even before starting your business. Establishing these contacts is fundamental in increasing credibility as an entrepreneur. Ashley advised, “be curious before getting experience.” Her company empowers young individuals through internships. She also shared that you should not wait for a seat at the table. Instead, take the seat. Most women in their respective fields must constantly prove themselves to be worthy of this seat. Also, it is important to have a plan before taking the leap. Dianne stated ice hockey players “don’t skate to where the puck is, but where it’s going.” This is the mindset entrepreneurs need to have when creating a plan. In the entrepreneurial field, everyone starts off by taking on multiple roles. However, Ashley noted that just because you can, does not mean you should. Entrepreneurs need to know their limitations and when to hire someone else to take over a role or duty in their organization, such as payroll. It is also extremely important to find a balance between work life and personal life. The panel was an immense success as students and faculty members of the College of Business attended to support these successful women. Members of the audience were treated to an interesting discussion, which included valuable advice and necessary steps in taking the leap and becoming a successful entrepreneur. after working for nonprofits and decided to become an entrepreneur at the age of 60. Lori stated it is important to know what you have to offer and where you want to go when becoming an entrepreneur. If challenges keep coming up, treat them as opportunities. Ashley is the President of ASR Media Productions. She took the leap twice before she found the career path she was looking for. As a winner of multiple Emmy awards for her work in video and television production for NBC's Today Show and other major media outlets, she gained the confidence to strike out on her own. Recognizing that hard work alone is not enough, she further developed her emotional intelligence to ensure she would become a more effective leader. Ashley advised future entrepreneurs to “be passionate, not emotional.” Sharon is the founder of R.O.S. Professional Partners. She transitioned out of the corporate world when she realized she no longer wanted to deal with discrimination in her work environment. Sharon observed it is important to “measure your commitment to what it is you want to do.” This will give you an insight into what you are willing to do to be an entrepreneur. WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS PANEL Taking the Leap: From Quitting Your Day Job to Becoming an Entrepreneur Sharon Brokenbough Founder R.O.S. Professional Partners, L.L.C. Ashley Russo President ASR Media Productions Lori Donofrio-Galley PR Strategist The Right Angle Strategic Storytelling Dianne Denison Founder Denison Technologies Ana Konopitskaya Co-founder Coexist Build Pictured left to right: Dean Anne Carroll, Lori Donofrio-Galley, Dianne Denison, Ana Konopitskaya, Ashley Russo, and Sharon Brokenbough
10 | INNOVISION MAGAZ INE SPRING 2022 | 11 ENTREPRENEURS WITH AN IMPACT For this year’s Entrepreneurship Week, the College of Business created a new panel featuring entrepreneurs with an impact. Four entrepreneurs, Deb Brandt, Daniel Price, Holly Parker, and Bart Bailey were invited to discuss their experiences. services to serve the community. She also helps lead organizations through considerable growth and into stability. Bart Bailey is a certified executive, business, and leadership coach, who helps ignite change in individuals, teams, and communities. He is known for creating safe spaces where meaningful dialogue can occur. Bart also utilizes his expertise in lean thinking to manage functions across a variety of industries, which include engineering, operations, customer service, accounting, and planning. As the Chief Operating Officer for Courage to Care consultancy, Bart strives to bring justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into the workplace and has led a multitude of race-related workshops, forums, and conferences related to racial equity and liberation. These entrepreneurs have a passion for a sense of community. They all were motivated to do work that meant something and could provide an impactful outcome for others. Through dedication and willpower, they have worked to help their respective communities. Though they all pursue different endeavors, each feels they must demonstrate both the measurable and immeasurable impacts they have on their communities in order to be successful and attract more funds. They reminded the audience that nonprofits should be viewed as a business and need to make money to grow so they can continue to pursue their mission. A key element in this is relationship building, which plays an important role in the success of all entrepreneurs. STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS PANEL Madison Dicely, Olivia Morgan, and Philip Jani discussed bringing their innovative ideas to life during Entrepreneurship Week’s Student Panel event. Madison is a content creator on YouTube and TikTok. She started creating videos in March 2020 and has grown her following to 1.2 million viewers. Her content focuses on ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response). Despite her success as a content creator, she hopes to finish college with a Communication Design degree. Olivia has her own freelance business, Morgan Photo & Design, which she started three years ago. She established her business by investing her time in her business and building relationships. Olivia is also pursuing a degree in Communication Design. Philip Jani is a recent Kutztown University alum who owns two businesses, Enterprise Capital Investments (ECI) and Real Estate Marketing Concept. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. Philip’s interests allow him to buy houses for a low value and flip them. Sacrificing free time has allowed him to grow his business. This event was well attended by other KU students, as well as local high school students. As current students, the panelists discussed how they learned to balance their school life with their entrepreneurial life. The audience members were very interested in what was shared by the panelists and followed up the event with a wonderful discussion about what it takes to become a successful young entrepreneur. PHILIP JANI MADISON DICELY OLIVIA MORGAN Deb Brandt speaking to the audience. Deb Brandt, a KU alumna, is the founder and creative director of Fig Industries, a Lancaster City-based organization. Fig is a multi-platform communications package, which offers services such as branding, packaging, marketing, web design, photography, and public relations to businesses and communities. Due to the success of her business, Deb helps local nonprofits through donations and sponsorships. Fig also encourages readers to shop local and independent businesses by advertising shopping, dining, arts, and events in the City of Lancaster. Daniel Price (’04) is the Executive Director of Mosaic Community Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving life for Pottstown residents through community gardens, community land trust housing, and community arts. Daniel is very passionate about public service and his family property called Grace’s Garden, is used as a retreat for people during times of transition. Holly Parker is the Executive Director of the TriCounty Community Network, an organization that works with nonprofits to lead community projects. She has expertise working with community stakeholders, such as funders, sponsors, volunteers, school districts, and committees. Holly helps develop and implement creative programs and Pictured left to right: Dean Anne Carroll, Holly Parker, Daniel Price, Deb Brandt, and Bart Bailey
SPRING 2022 | 13 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Kobie Tuckson is a senior Sport Management major interning with the Philadelphia Eagles. After graduation, Kobie will continue to work with the Eagles in a fulltime position. From an early age, Kobie knew he wanted to pursue a career in the sports field. “My whole life has revolved around sports. Everything I know is sports. I did not doubt what I wanted to major in when it was time to decide. I now know a lot about the sports industry/business. I have zero regrets.” As a Ticket & Fan Services intern for the Philadelphia Eagles, he spends his day offering greetings to everyone in the office, from the cleaner to coworkers. Even when he finishes an assignment, Kobie always ensures he uses his time wisely. Kobie credits his success in landing this internship to his resume. Through volunteer experience and internships with Old Glory DC, a professional rugby team, he built himself up with the skills needed to intern with the Eagles. The sports business is broad, which is why Kobie is still discovering what his dream job is. However, he has an interest in working with youth and community relations. Kobie also stated, “One day, I would love to open a fitness center that is especially friendly to the youth.” Kobie advises students to build connections. It is a crucial step in growing your academic and professional career. Through his connections, he set up meetings with people in his field of interest. Since he is passionate about working with youth, he contacted the manager of Youth Football & Community Relations for the Eagles and learned about opportunities in this field. His initiative in building this connection led to further connections with another NFL team. “Build connections. I emphasize “build” because when you have a connection, you need to keep it alive and build trust.” GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT Shantal Ewell is a Kutztown University graduate student earning her Master of Business Administration and started her academic journey as a Computer Science major. Her passion for technology allowed her to “make a difference in the communities, teams, and organizations” she was a part of. Although she thought about pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science, her love for business persuaded her to follow a different path. She hopes to use her technical and business skills to create a significant impact. Shantal was one of the finalists in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Startup Competition and later won the $10,000 first prize. Her startup idea was inspired by her undergraduate experience. As a freshman, she was provided with a degree planner to help her choose courses; however, it became useless since outside factors were not reflected in the planner. Some of these factors included: the addition, removal, or modification of courses, course availability, and prerequisites. Shantal realized the scope of this issue during her sophomore year when her friends shared similar issues when 12 | INNOVISION MAGAZ INE scheduling courses. This common thread pushed her to conduct a survey on the degree planner with a target audience of students who were not on the traditional fouryear track. She also surveyed advisors to understand their experiences with the planner. “With this data at my fingertips, I felt empowered to create a solution to help students understand their degree requirements and aid faculty in advising students in unique situations more effectively.” With this mindset, Shantal created Schedula and entered herself in this competition. Her background in computer science helped her create this solution, which relies on artificial intelligence and machine learning. By collecting valuable feedback and applying it to different scenarios, she was ultimately able to bring this idea to life. Working on this project has allowed her to further develop her knowledge and skills. Through her meaningful connections at KU, she met Kevin Smith, who has been a terrific addition to her team. His knowledge as a Student Affairs graduate student brings insight into higher education, which is needed since Schedula is an educational technology tool. Educational technology is a growing industry and the recent pandemic has contributed to its rapid expansion, making it a good time to introduce new software. When asked about what advice she would give future competitors in the PASSHE competition, she stated, “I would say go for it! It is a great way to showcase your idea and get an opportunity to take your business from the idea stage to implementation. When entering the competition, be as detailed as possible, have a good business idea, and show great effort in your work. The judges will see that you did your research and that you got what it takes to be in the top three or the winner of the competition.”
14 | INNOVISION MAGAZ INE SPRING 2022 | 15 General Business Noelle Baxter Nathan Berger Benny Espinal Brian Finn Connor Harris Logan Iacobelli Emely Jimenez Caleb Livezey Timothy Masters Scott Moll Connor Monk Erika Murillo Gabriela Sanchez Nicholas Shoemaker Liam Treacy Margaret Rittenhouse Supply Chain Management Jennifer Barbieri James Becker Taylor Diproperzio Joshua Lee Nathan Loiseau Robert Weidler Michael Windsor Marketing Brittany Arentz Brydon Barker Anna Berardi Ryan Besachio Addison Biello Sade Blanco Lauren Blichar Juliana Borisow Erica Bottjer Benjamin Cardwell Anthony Chiango Myah Davies Timothy Earls John Fechter Mckenna Flanary Matthew Graczyk Amanda Gravatt Bryce Heckendorn Devon Heffner John Horton Sara Jenkins Mackenzie Kolb Madeleine Lefevre Gracie Mckee Chauncey Miller Alisea Munshower Travis Rach Connor Redcay Madeleine Reilly Casey Remolde Eva Robinson Anarielys Santana Jessica Schneider Erin Shifflet Vanessa Stack-Smith Ben Steele Alexis Verdes Vadzim Zharnasek FALL 2021 Human Resource Management Emmanuel Bonilla Raisa Hoehn Allie Martin Accounting Rania Abdelfatah Isabel Baughman Kate Beehner Evan Betzenberger Jennifer Bjork Garrett Boyd Sebastian Buckley Cassandra Burke Brianna Casuso Megan Crist Jacob Danner Cameron Delillo Taylor Fronheiser Margret Gehman Zachary Hafer Breanna Hank Arnulfo Hernandez Tu Bang Huynh Paul Iannance Clayton Inderbitzen Cassidy Kauffman Malachi Kauffman Tyrus Kauffman Shawna Kline Makenzie Kramer Erin Lipkus Brianna Mailloux Ryan Mills Joshua Norris Joshua Percely Matthew Ritter Noreymi RiveraCamacho Emily Robson Abigail Smith Stephen Sponenburg Connor Sullivan Andrew Sulon Paola Texidor Owen Underkoffler Hannah Vaughn Kaitlyn Weiss Breanna Wesolowski Annmarie Whalen Katie Ziegler Parker Zimerofsky Finance Jadesola Alatishe Cameron Baumgardner Gonzalo Barcelo Drew Bixler Donald Blaine Hannah Boggs Nessa Cartagena John Chibirka Matthew Coller Kevin Dang Aaron Dipaolantonio Shane Dolon Emmanuel Eason Julianna Elsesser Kristopher Eustace Joseph Figueroa Ava Gelsomini Kyle Goodwin Devin Hannan Nathan Lawn Reed Lawrence Maximillian Lunsmann Heather Mastrangelo Breyten Maritz Zachary Morris Joao Pedro Simoes Alexandra Sipe Logan Sosik Trevor Spaide Andre Rivera Dylan Rodriguez Berrios Jake Skrocki Conor Steward Zoe Texidor Abacus Quinn Garrett Quinn Olivia Waterman John Zeich Sport Management Jackson Brown Jillian Buchman Kevin Cannon Victoria Cappiello Connor Coniglia Matthew Dougherty Sadie Doss Casandra Eckert Eleni Feggulis Jazzmyn Foster Hannah Garbowski Sarah Gatehouse Joshua Gibson David Graham Brook-Lynn Grim Abigail Hearn Khalif Holliday Ian Hook Zachary Hoover Morgan Hurd Aaron Jarrett Jerome Kapp Logan Kemp Alexander Khouri Alec MacNichol Andrew Mann Melvin Marte Ben Martin III Logan Nadelman Melanie Peyster Sydney Pierson Dominic Proietto Sage Rowley Makiya Savage Paige Saxey Spencer Schumacher Ryan Scymanski Tyler Sheets Seth Shoemaker John Shortino Jonathan Summers Davis Stoudt Taylor Szczecina Robert Winegar Annika Wise Emme Wolfel Zara Zerman Emily Zimmerman Management Adeola Ajayi Marcos Baez Perez Sarah Baylor Julia Belfonti Hannah Brewster Mia Cabrera Jakeline Cano Kyle Cooper Bridget Curtis Jacob Crawford Rachel Dusman Matthew Garman Roberta Harris Adam Henshaw Griffin Hillmantel Remzie Kurtis Tran Le Leomarys Marchese Daniela Maturana Dylan Moyer Joseph Parker Molly Price Haripriya Ramkissoon Jaclyn Rodick Ramsi Ross Michael Schiano Dicola Tyler Whary Jacob Wolf Entrepreneurship Nicholas Coppolino Paige Kukowski Dean’s list students from the fall semester were honored on February 15th for surpassing academic expectations. Their hard work and achievements opened doors to honor societies. Professors who supported these students throughout their academic successes were also acknowledged during this event. DEAN'S LIST
16 | INNOVISION MAGAZ INE SPRING 2022 | 17 Sport Management: Dr. Yongjae Kim, Taylor Szczecina, Melanie Lauren Peyser, Dr. Elizabeth Rogol, Dr. Dina Hayduk, Tyler W. Sheets, Robert M. Winegar, Spencer S. Schumacher, Professor Norm Sigmond, and Joshua Paul Gibson General Business and Supply Chain Management: Dr. Rajeev Kumar, Erika I. Murillo, James Lee Becker, Emely Jimenez, and Dr. Therese Maskulka Management: Professor George Rogol, Jackeline Cano, and Dr. Saehwa Hong THE FUTURE OF MARKETING The Department of Business Administration in the College of Business offers various marketing courses that focus on experiential learning. Dr. Eun Yeon Kang focuses on incorporating hands-on experiences into her classes. In her Digital Marketing class, students partnered with nonprofit organizations through a program sponsored by Google. For this semester-long project, students used funds through Google to create online search advertising campaigns for their clients. The project helped students utilize tools to analyze the data, consult real organizations, and develop the most suitable digital marketing strategies. Upon the completion of the project, students acquire three certificates – Google Search, Google Measurement, and Google Ads Grant Nonprofit Marketing Immersion Completion. Additionally, through a simulation, students have opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills in differPictured left to right: Elisha Cruz, Riley Charles, and Emily Massaro ent types of digital marketing including website, email, mobile, shopping, and display advertising. They also learn how to effectively target their audiences and improve their KPIs by analyzing their performance. Along with the importance of virtual environment for future marketing, students also learn about the Metaverse. The Metaverse is a 3D virtual world where users create their own avatar to make social connections, create their space, and interact with others for not only entertainment, but also business. Accordingly, as future business professionals, students gain an understanding of the new marketing platform and innovative technologies. Other marketing courses also offer hands-on projects based on real-world challenges. For instance, every spring semester, students in Media Concepts and Planning participate in a digital marketing competition sponsored by Liquid, a digital marketing agency in Allentown. Students propose digital marketing strategies for a real company, which is a client of Liquid. Three finalists are chosen from this competition to present their ideas to a panel of judges. In spring 2021, Elisha Cruz won the first place prize of $1,000 and Tanner Geist won the second place prize of $500. This project enables students to apply their knowledge with creativity and build their career network. Way to go Elisha and Tanner! Through various real-world experiences offered in the marketing program, students learned to adapt to emerging trends and were able to grow as capable future leaders. Pictured left to right: Tanner Geist, Riley Charles, and Emily Massaro Accounting: Kaitlyn Weiss, Evan Betzenberger, Joshua A. Norris, Jennifer Bjork, Katie Ziegler, and Dr. Greg Kaufinger Finance: Reed J. Lawrence, Dean Anne Carroll, Abacus Quinn, Nessa M. Cartagena, Ava Kelly Gelsomini, Zachary D. Morris, John William Zeich, and Olivia Ann Waterman Marketing: Dr. Therese Maskulka, Ben T. Steele, Alexis V. Verdes, and Dr. Eun Yeon Kang DEAN'S LIST RECEPTION PHOTOS
18 | INNOVISION MAGAZ INE SPRING 2022 | 19 FEATURED JOEL BRADY The College of Business partnered with East Penn and invited Joel Brady (‘96) to talk about understanding sustainability in the business world. Over the past twenty-five years, Joel built his career from his starting role as a factory floor worker to the Director of Marketing Communications at East Penn. In this role, he helps oversee sustainability messaging and reporting. He also helps develop and maintain the company’s communications. Sustainability can spur economic growth, which East Penn values. In the 1940s, a young boy dreamed of developing a battery business. This boy, DeLight Breidegam Jr., and his father grew this business into what it is today. From the start, East Penn had a mindset to promote sustainable reuse. During the war, materials for new batteries were limited and to meet consumer demand, East Penn found the solution of fixing old batteries for resale. This early foundation has been maintained even as times changed. East Penn is always looking for ways to conserve resources, reduce waste, and be efficient. “Being sustainable is in our heritage and DNA.” Because of the chemical components of batteries, recycling them properly is essential. East Penn facilitates this with its own battery recycling program that processes thousands of spent batteries per day. East Penn sets an example with their proactive environmental protection plan. East Penn managed to follow sustainable paths and has been awarded the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. Joel discussed how it is possible to be a successful business while also following sustainability practices. “When you are doing the right thing, people recognize it and respect that. It sustains your workforce and your credibility with those around you.” During the online webinar, Joel described how sustainability revolves around three components: environmental, social, and economic. With respect to the latter, Joel advised creating a product that will bring long-term success. He added, “One more component of sustainability is you, the decisions you make, and the influences you have in your future career.” When concluding his discussion, Joel asked to see if people want to be a thermostat or a thermometer. The latter is aware of the temperature in the room but does nothing. While a thermostat recognizes the current state of a room, it also has “the ability to use its influences to make a difference.” JULIE K. O’BRIEN Sustainability is a prominent issue in the world today. As it becomes a growing concern, businesses must find ways to tackle it. The College of Business at Kutztown University invited Julie O’Brien to walk us through why sustainability is important. Julie works as a Sustainability Director at Air Products and Chemicals, a leading company that produces gases and chemicals for industrial use. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. She also obtained a Master's in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Lehigh University. Her education and background allowed her to pursue various roles at Air Products. She joined the company in 1986 and has worked on assignments in environmental engineering, product safety, and sustainability. During her presentation, Julie stated, “sustainability drives what we do.” To the company, sustainability is about managing risks and resources. They approach this concern by looking at sustainability from an economic, environmental, and social viewpoint. Specifically, they ensure that they grow sustainability-driven opportunities, conserve resources, and care about their public. So, what creates sustainability risks? Some factors that are seen as risks revolve around environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. These are conditions or events that can negatively impact a company. Many sustainability risks are due to population and consumption growth. For instance, climate change and COVID-19 are key examples. With COVID-19, many businesses saw a decline in production or sales. Climate change risks also include physical and transition risks. Transition risks incorporate new regulations, technologies, and markets. These risks could lead to business closures, increased costs, restrictions, or dissatisfied employees. Even though these events negatively impact some businesses, Julie explained how they could create opportunities for others. In Air Products' case, climate change presents opportunities since they produce hydrogen, “a great source for the future of energy.” These opportunities also push companies like Air Products to ensure they monitor their impact on sustainability. Julie advised that sustainability is a topic you can tackle in any job field. SPEAKERS
20 | INNOVISION MAGAZ INE SPRING 2022 | 21 AWARDS BANQUET Seniors were awarded for their excellence in their respective field of study, internships, research and service to the university. Awards ranged from academics and research to leadership and campus involvement. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RECIPIENTS! Jackson Brown Outstanding Academic Achievement in Sport Management Award Zoe Texidor Outstanding Achievement in Fitness Administration Award Max Bosch Outstanding Achievement in Coaching and Athletic Administration Award Kayla Argen Outstanding Achievement in Department of Sport Management Award Logan Kemp GRIT Award - Sport Management Brianna Casuso Robert Weiss CPA Memorial Award Shawna Kline Accounting Club Service Award Sebastian Buckley Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Award Kevin Cannon Institute of Internal Auditors Award Tu Bang Huynh Institute of Management Accountants Award Joao Pedro Simoes Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Award Joao Pedro Simoes Applied Investment Management Leadership Award Kevin Dang Overall Top Academic Achievement in Finance Award Heather Mastrangelo Financial Management Association, KU Chapter Leadership Award Nessa Cartagena Outstanding Achievement in Personal Financial Planning Award Margaret Davis American Advertising Federation Award Rachel Dusman American Marketing Association Services Award Madeleine Reilly Outstanding Achievement in Marketing Award Madeleine Reilly Outstanding Academic Achievement in Management Award Jaclyn Rodick Outstanding Achievement in Management Award Nathan Williams Outstanding Academic Achievement in Logistics and Supply Chain Management Award Phillip Castrine Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Service Award Jadesola Alatishe Beta Gamma Sigma Excellence in Academic Achievement Vanessa Stack-Smith Beta Gamma Sigma Excellence in Academic Achievement On April 5th, students from the College of Business had the opportunity to meet area professionals, faculty, and Advisory Council members. Building and maintaining these relationships will allow for career success. At this event, students learned how to introduce themselves, create engaging professional conversations, and make professional contacts. This event introduced them to the necessary steps to network successfully. As a college student, it is never too early to start networking. Networking allows students to gain insights, get ahead in their careers, build confidence, and learn more about possible job opportunities and their desired career fields. Overall, KU students found this event to be very helpful and we look forward to additional networking events in the future. NETWORKING EVENT
22 | INNOVISION MAGAZ INE A master of business administration is one of the most recognized credentials for advanced business professionals. KU’s innovative MBA degree is built so that you can pursue two of three distinct professional certificates, letting you customize your focus based on your interests and career demands.
23 | INNOVISION MAGAZ INE THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS HAS TEMPORARILY MOVED STOP BY AND VISIT US ON THE 5TH FLOOR OF OLD MAIN
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