May 8, 2008
The NIU Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) student chapter has been honored with a Superior Merit Award for 2007-2008. This award is the most selective award from the SHRM national organization; it recognizes the highest achieving student chapters in the country for their exceptional ability in operations, the professional development of chapter members, and promotion of the profession. Congratulations to all NIU SHRM student members. The NIU SHRM student chapter is lead by student officers: Bill Roman, Andrew Landon, Jeff Prigge, Joe Majewski, Aimee Carey, Tony Leifert, and Ricardo Acevedo. NIU Management professors who advise the NIU SHRM members are: Curt Behrens, Associate Professor of Management; Terry Bishop, Associate Professor of Management, and; Chris Thomas, Assistant Professor of Management.
May 8, 2008
NIU members of the Society for the Advancement of Management (SAM) - a professional organization for students - traveled to Arlington, Virginia, where they competed in the April 2008 SAM International Conference Case Competition. The theme for this year's case competition was Innovation. Approximately 350 conference participants were challenged to recommend strategies for revitalizing a struggling company in the restaurant industry. The company had over-
saturated the market and had failed to adjust to marketplace trends, which resulted in lost market share and falling revenues. SAM conference participants were allowed one month prior to the conference to work on the project. Then, during the conference more than 30 student teams presented their recommendations for review by a panel of both faculty and industry leaders.
For several years, NIU students have competed in the case competitions that are held during SAM International Conferences. The NIU students who participated in the 2008 SAM conference are business majors: Nick Del Monaco, Jennifer Reckwerdt, Paul Berkes, Alyssa Gaenzle, and Ryan Becker. Visit www.sa.niu.edu/sfam/ to access the NIU SAM student chapter website.
April 17, 2008
Congratulations to our NIU Human Resource Management students for their participation in the 2008 HR Games and Student Conference for the North Central Region of SHRM. Eight NIU students attended the games, which were recently held at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Team Red included Aimee Carey (captain), Nick Del Monaco, Joe Majewski, Bill Roman. Team Black included Andy Landon (captain), Michelle Jurinak, Natisha Franklin, Riccardo Acevedo. The NIU Black team finished in sixth place of the 20 teams participating.
The HR Games are an opportunity for HR students to demonstrate their knowledge of HR subjects in a competitive framework. There were eight preliminary rounds, culminating in semi-final and final rounds. The HR Games also fosters interaction among students and professionals and encourages preparation for HR certification. Teams came from 7 states (Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin).
Management Department faculty members and NIU SHRM advisors Terry Bishop and Chris Thomas attended the HR Games with the students.
March 28, 2008
Congratulations to Anesha Barefield for being named a recipient of the 2008 NIU Outstanding Women Student Award! The award recognizes her leadership, scholarship, and community service.
For more information about this award, visit the Outstanding Women Student Awards Web Page of the NIU Presidental Commission on the Status of Women.
January 21, 2008
Luis Flores, Associate Professor in the Management Department, was interviewed for the Rockford Register Star story "Building a Better Business" (January 21, 2008). The article describes the importance of building an integrated team of employees and managers, while stressing the impact such an integrated team makes on the overall success of a business. Within the article, Flores, whose expertise includes strategic planning in a global setting, describes the necessity of all company members working together, particularly in a fast-paced and rapidly changing global business arena.
The Department of Management at Northern Illinois University has awarded Audrey Southard its 2007 Distinguished Alumni Award. More >>.
Kicking off Chicago's first annual Entrepreneurship Week USA, the FAST PITCH competition gives entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their business to a panel of esteemed judges for scoring and feedback - click for More (pdf) >>.
Congratulations to our Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) student chapter for its successful application to host the 2007 HR Regional Games - click for more.