College of Business News

Want to improve your public speaking and leadership skills? Win that job interview?

MSU students are invited to a demonstration meeting by the local Toastmasters Club

on Tuesday, November 8 from 5:30-6:30 pm in Reid Hall 333. The Bracken Center for Excellence in Undergraduate Education is excited to partner with the local club to showcase a Toastmasters meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to introduce students to the benefits that membership in Toastmasters offers and to provide students the opportunity to see a meeting in progress. The ultimate goal is to establish a student Toastmasters club at Montana State University.

Interested students should attend this demonstration. If enough students show an interest, Toastmasters International and the local Toastmasters clubs will help students move forward to form a campus club to start next semester.

Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. There are more than 270,000 members and 13,000 local clubs.

For more information on this demonstration, please contact Lisa Daniels, Bracken Business Communications Clinic at lisa.daniels1@montana.edu or 406-994-1874.

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His memorial service will be held 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Hope Lutheran Church, 2152 W. Graf St., (off South 19th Avenue) in Bozeman.

Larson retired as dean of MSU’s College of Business in 1984. He first came to MSU as an assistant professor teaching business courses. He was soon tapped to head the School of Business. Under his guidance, enrollment grew from 200 to 1,600 business majors, and the school became a college. After he retired, he served two years with the MSU Foundation obtaining support for programs and student scholarships. Larson was present at many CoB scholarship banquets and was frequently a scholarship presenter.

Larson was born Jan. 19, 1923 and raised on the family farm near Barrett, Minn. After starting college his plans were altered by World War II as he left to work in an aircraft assembly plant where he was inspired to apply for selection in a Naval aviation flight training program in 1942. His training and service as a Marine Corps flight instructor took him to bases around the country over the next four years. Later, Larson was recalled for active Marine Corps duty during the Korean War where he piloted helicopters in an air/sea rescue unit based in Hawaii. He retired from the U.S. Marine Corps as a lieutenant-colonel.

Larson married LaVille Henjum in 1945, six years after their first chance meeting in 1939. The two were married 66 years.

Between military stints Larson returned to Minnesota to resume his education, and he eventually earned three degrees, including a doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

His career as a teacher and administrator included positions as a high school teacher in Floodwood, Minn.; president of Dawson Junior College in Glendive, Mont.; and finally, a long and distinguished career at Montana State University in Bozeman.
Numerous professional and service organizations benefited from Larson’s leadership. He served as president for the following organizations: Rotary International, for which he also served as district governor; the Bozeman Chamber of Commerce; Bozeman Little League; the Sons of Norway; and the Campus Christian Center Corporation.

Larson also volunteered his time with the Hope Lutheran Church Men’s Club; Senior Fellowship; the Bozeman Senior Social Center, and many more organizations.

Larson received numerous special recognition and awards such as the MSU Blue and Gold Award in 1988, the Chamber of Commerce Guy Sperry Award for Community Service, the Big Sky Retired Teachers 1997 Community Service Award, and others.

Larson is survived by his wife, LaVille Larson; children Reed (Cheryl) Larson, of Parker, Colo., and granddaughter Marissa; Rachel (Jeff) Long, of Billings, and granddaughter Jenni; Robb (Teresa) Larson, of Bozeman, and grandsons Scott and Austin; brother Ellard Larson (Joan), of Barrett, Minn.; sister Janice Allen (Don) of Belleville, Ill., and a large extended family.

Larson could be depended upon to brighten any occasion with an appropriate joke or one-liner. He was in demand as an emcee, high school commencement speaker, a president, a board member, administrator and tour guide. He was a dedicated Bobcat fan, a proud American, and a devoted husband and father.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bozeman Senior Social Center, the Hope Lutheran Church Music Department, or the charity of your choice.

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For the second year in a row, Montana State University (MSU)’s College of Business (CoB) hosted its Entrepreneur Day in the fall for large numbers of Montana high school students and teachers. Nine high schools, totaling more than 150 students and teachers from around the state, were in attendance. The 8th annual Entrepreneur Day took place on Wednesday, October 26 in the Strand Union Building on the MSU campus. This event engages high school students across the state interested in entrepreneurship and the field of business.

Students from Augusta, Big Timber, Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena, Livingston, Missoula, Reed Point and Ryegate participated in an interactive workshop where they worked together to develop unique sustainable entrepreneurial endeavors based in Montana. The students then gave an elevator pitch to a group of current MSU entrepreneur program students who judged them on the criteria given in the workshop assignment. Winners were announced and prizes awarded.

The business teachers and advisors believe the workshop was a great way to move students out of their comfort zone by meeting other Montana high school students and working together on a project. Sheri Campbell, with Sweet Grass County High School in Livingston, said, “My students really enjoyed the business portion of the morning and they thought the MSU students were extremely helpful [with the workshop]. What a great way for students to use the knowledge that they are learning in high school!”

After lunch, Ian Davis, of Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures, spoke about doing business in the travel industry. His keynote presentation was open to the public. Davis gave a brief overview of his business, discussed the finer details of running a small business in Montana, especially one in the travel and fly fishing industries, and his overall business strategy. Throughout the presentation, Davis stressed the importance of being passionate about your job, saying it is critical to the success of any entrepreneurial endeavor. He discussed key strategies for his business, but reminded the audience the strategies hold true for all business, even a high school student’s lawn care business. Other keys to his business’ success were to under-promise and over-deliver and developing key relationships with business partners–in his case–local guides.

With any business endeavor, it is important to know everything about your business. In Davis’ case, Yellow Dog employees have been to their destination locations, developed relationships with all the people involved with that location, and they pay attention to details. Davis and crew take photos of all their destinations, even the bathrooms. “We only sell what we know!” Davis emphasized.

On top of knowing their product inside and out, Yellow Dog puts together pre-planning guides and tries to educate and prepare their customers so they have a better understanding about their trip and what to expect. Davis went over his marketing strategies: He has found it’s important to utilize the web and social media and promote a business memorably. The presentation concluded with a question and answer session.

Entrepreneur Day reflects the CoB’s and the Alderson Program in Entrepreneurship’s commitment to improve Montana’s economic development, while providing a framework for an outstanding educational experience for students. This event was sponsored in part by Boeing.

Students from any major at MSU can take entrepreneurship coursework through the CoB’s 30 credit-hour Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management minor.

For more information about the MSU College of Business Entrepreneur Day, please contact Audrey Lee at 406-994-7026 or audrey.lee@montana.edu. The 2012 event is scheduled for Thursday, November 1.

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Jake Jabs, president and CEO of American Furniture Warehouse based in Denver, announced today that he will give an unrestricted gift of $25 million to MSU’s College of Business. His generous donation is the largest private gift made in the history of the Montana higher education system.

“Thanks to his generosity, Mr. Jabs’ visionary gift will benefit generations of students to come,” said MSU President Waded Cruzado. “On behalf of all of us at MSU, I would like to offer Mr. Jabs our most sincere and heartfelt thanks and appreciation.”

As part of a comprehensive strategic plan for the College of Business, Cruzado said she will seek approval from the Montana Board of Regents and the Montana Legislature to construct a new building for the College of Business on the campus of Montana State in Bozeman.

“Mr. Jabs’ gift provides us with the necessary financial strength and flexibility to begin to advance our College of Business,” Cruzado said. “A new building is a necessary first step. We have a bold plan for the future of the College of Business – for it to be one of the best in the nation – and Mr. Jabs’ gift will get us started. We hope others will join us in building the best program possible for our students and the state. Imagine what we can do together.”

If approved, ground could be broken on the estimated $18 million to $20 million building in the spring of 2013 with completion in 2015.

The gift will also be used for new scholarships and new academic programs in: entrepreneurship, professional skills development and fostering cooperative work between business students and students in other disciplines, such as engineering, the sciences, agriculture, graphic arts and the humanities.

“Collaboration and team work among professionals from many different fields is the future of business, and Mr. Jabs’ gift will help us prepare our students for that world,” said Susan Dana, MSU College of Business interim dean.

Jabs, well-known in Colorado for his philanthropy, believes gifts to education provide a great benefit for the future. This is Jabs’ second gift to the College of Business. He gave $3 million to the College in December 2010 to fund the Jake Jabs Center for Entrepreneurship for the New West, which helps provide entrepreneurship-related services, learning opportunities, and professional experiences for College of Business students studying entrepreneurship.

For more information about this announcement, please click here for the full story. To learn more about College of Business programs, please click here.

Additional College of Business news:
MPAc Professional Workshop Resonates with Students
Professional Coaching Clinic Proves Beneficial to Student Success
College of Business Student Retention Grant Helps Improve Student Participation
Second College of Business Executive’s Closet a Huge Success

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The College of Business will host the 8th annual Entrepreneur Day on Wednesday, October 26. This event is sponsored in part by Boeing and will take place on the Montana State University campus in the Strand Union Building.

Entrepreneur Day is geared towards high school students across the state interested in entrepreneurship and the field of business. During their visit, the students participate in an interactive workshop where they work together to come up with unique entrepreneurial endeavors. They then pitch these ideas to a panel of current MSU entrepreneur program students as a part of the day’s events.

The event will end with a keynote presentation by Ian Davis, co-owner of Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures. The presentation is open to the public and will take place in the Procrastinator Theater starting at 1:15 pm.

Davis will give a brief overview of his business and what services they offer at Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures. He believes that having a passion for your job is critical to the success of any entrepreneurial endeavor. He will also discuss running a small business in Montana, especially one in the travel and fly fishing industries and how that affects his business strategy. Davis will delve into how to maintain a high level of business during challenging times through various strategic measures, including social media. A short Q & A will follow.

Each session is designed to be motivating and educational. This is also a great opportunity for high school students to learn more about business and entrepreneurship through hands on activities and meeting with entrepreneurs and current MSU business students and faculty.

If you are interested in participating in Entrepreneur Day, please contact Audrey Lee at audrey.lee@montana.edu or 406-994-7026.

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Students enrolled in Management 463, The Entrepreneurial Experience, gain practical management experience as they work in teams with a local company to apply their business skills and knowledge to solve real-world business issues. This capstone course, designed for the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management minor, places students in the position of consultants to small businesses, where they work in small teams on a variety of projects, from market assessments and promotional materials to evaluating pricing strategies and the use of social media.

“Management 463 offers tremendous benefits to both students and clients,” explained Gary Bishop, adjunct instructor of management in the College of Business and director of student research services at the Jake Jabs Center for Entrepreneurship for the New West. “Clients receive professional business consulting in a 15-week long experience, as students bring their knowledge in business marketing, management, finance and accounting to bear on specific client problems or issues. And students receive valuable practical experience in applying their academic knowledge and skills to specific business situations that involve real-world challenges and stresses.”

In the spring 2011 semester, Bishop matched one student team from Management 463 with Wizbang Hats, an outdoor hat retailer located in Bozeman. Allison Hunthausen, Kaley Bjornsen, and Christine Geil worked with Liz McRae, Wizbang Hats’ owner, to offer business consulting in three key areas: To devise ways to use social media as a publicity tool, to develop a strategic marketing plan, and to research the company’s competitors.

“The girls were great to work with and provided us with a new, fresh viewpoint, from the perspective of women in their early 20’s,” said McRae. “As business students, they helped us identify Wizbang Hats’ strengths and weaknesses and gave us strategies to improve those weaknesses.”

One marketing strategy the all-woman team offered to McRae and her business associate, Betsy Beauvais, was to implement a “Cap on Cancer” campaign during the month of October, to tie in with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The students’ idea was to offer a unique hat during the month of October that provided a donation opportunity for Wizbang’s customers.

““We loved the girls’ idea of supporting our local cancer community, and this promotion fits in very well with who we are as a company,” said McRae. “We decided to implement the campaign in a limited way this October. Every time a customer purchases one specialty hat, Wizbang Hats will donate a light-weight hat to a local cancer center.”

The practical skills students develop through this course are important tools that will help them stand out to prospective employers or begin their own, successful business ventures. Students also deepen their understanding of what it takes to start and run a small business.

“In Management 463, most of the clients we worked with own small businesses, but they never went to business school,” explained Allison Hunthausen, a recent graduate of the College of Business who majored in Business Management with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management.

“This experience was really great for us, as 22- and 23-year-old students, to see what we actually knew from our business courses and what we brought to the table for Wizbang. We had some creative ideas that we shared with Liz and Betsy, based on our business knowledge and research, and we gained valuable work experience through this process.”

Management 463 is part of the Alderson Program in Entrepreneurship, which offers students unique developmental experiences through coursework offered as part of a rigorous minor in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management. The skills learned through these courses, offered at the Jake Jabs Center for Entrepreneurship, have enabled 410 MSU College of Business students to provide more than 14,500 hours of pro bono consulting to more than 140 clients, resulting in 400 new jobs in these companies since the Center’s founding in 2002.

To participate in Management 463 as a small business owner, contact Gary Bishop, 994-7017 or email Gary at gbishop@montana.edu.

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College of Business faculty in the Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) program and the MSU Accounting Advisory Council held the first MPAc Professionalism Workshop for all 39 MPAc graduate students during the second week of the fall 2011 semester. This daylong workshop, held at MSU, was designed to help students better understand the business of accounting and to identify ways to further develop their interpersonal and business social skills.

“We really wanted to create an opportunity for our Accounting Advisory Council members to interact with MPAc students, to share their knowledge and experience, and to give students the opportunity to ask questions and participate in conversations with high-level accounting professionals,” said Christie Johnson, accounting professor, Accounting Advisory Council executive secretary and workshop organizer. “This workshop evolved from many discussions between MPAc faculty and Council members that identified ways the Council might have a meaningful impact on students.”

The workshop’s morning sessions included an Advisory Council panel discussion focused on helping students understand the profession of accounting. The panel stressed the most important points students should know about how junior-level accountants add value to their companies, beyond their excellent technical skills. The discussion highlighted the types of communication and social skills needed to help ensure success and avoid common shortcomings during their first two years of work.

“I really enjoyed the entire workshop, but the panel discussion was my favorite part,” said Samantha Mahlen, a graduate student in the MPAc program. “It was really great to ask questions of the panel, such as ‘What do you look for in a new hire?’ and ‘What do you expect from a junior associate?’ and to receive such candid, thoughtful answers from accomplished accounting professionals.”

Additional workshop session topics included how to lead with emotional intelligence; how to present oneself in an interview, which included a mock interview between a Council member and a faculty member; and information on College of Business programs and events including the Executive’s Closet and fall recruiting opportunities. Students then signed up to participate in mock interviews or student résumé reviews to close out the workshop’s offerings.

“Participating in this conference was very meaningful to me,” said Scott Holton, CPA and Partner with Rudd & Company. “Our greatest asset to offer this group of students, as Advisory Council members, was in helping them realize what it’s really going to be like out there in the business world and help prepare them to succeed.”

During lunch, students were reseated at assigned tables, where they participated in conversations with Council members about professional issues and topics of current interest. The mealtime conversations gave Council members the opportunity to model effective communication skills and helped students identify strategies to improve their ability to carry on effective conversations in small group settings.

“We all find ourselves in situations where there’s a lull in the conversation, when there’s an awkward pause,” said Holton. “I have developed a canned set of questions that I have ready to ask someone when these situations arise, to help fill the gap and get the conversation going again, and I encourage students to do the same. A little bit of preparation can go a long way towards ensuring a smooth flow of conversation.”

In the afternoon, students watched Holton and accounting professor Angela Woodland participate in a mock interview as a way to begin a discussion, moderated by accounting professor Marc Giullian, about how students should present themselves in an interview situation. Business students often hold internships prior to full-time employment, and strong interviewing skills can make the difference in landing that coveted full-time career position.

“The mock interview gave students a visual aid that helped begin the discussion,” explained Angela Woodland, accounting professor, panel facilitator and mock interviewee. “Students asked questions about posture, tone of voice, the content of responses, clothing choices—so many things that involved both body language and presenting oneself in a professional manner.”

All of these components that went into the MPAc Professionalism Workshop—from the panel discussion and mock interviews to the mealtime seating assignments—were selected by workshop organizers with a clear purpose and intent that reflects a strong commitment to student success. This workshop is one example of how the College of Business is focused on helping students further develop their interpersonal communication skills, improve their professionalism, identify areas they need to improve, and practice interacting with business professionals in a business environment.

“I think the MPAc program is awesome,” said Samantha Mahlen. “The College of Business provides students with a smaller, accessible atmosphere within a bigger academic setting. All the professors in the College have been really helpful in making sure we, as students, get what we need to succeed. I recognize and appreciate how much work went into making this workshop a meaningful experience for all of us.”

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In its second semester as a pilot program, the Professional Coaching Clinic (PCC) in the College of Business matches 12 students with a personal coach who has significant experience working and coaching in professional business environments. Each student enrolled in the PCC meets with his coach throughout the semester to receive guidance and feedback on his professional development, gain insights into his potential career path, and obtain assistance in creating a professional portfolio designed to prepare him to seek job and internship opportunities.

One College of Business student, who participated in the Professional Coaching Clinic in spring 2011, was Shilo Lundvall, a Management and Finance major.

“The Professional Coaching Clinic was extremely helpful in building my confidence in the area of public speaking,” said Lundvall. “Through this course, I wanted to practice networking and to learn how to interact and communicate effectively in real business situations, and my coach gave me numerous opportunities in these areas.”

Lundvall met with Stephen Schultz, Director of Global Alliances at RightNow Technologies, once a week for 15 weeks throughout the semester and received valuable feedback about ways to improve his communication style, as well as strong modeling from Schultz on how a successful business person interacts in business situations.

“Stephen gave me really great feedback, demonstrated effective communication skills and professionalism and modeled honesty and integrity while providing me with constructive criticism,” explained Lundvall. “This experience helped prepare me to successfully transition between my academic experience and the real world of business.”

According to Anna Hernandez, PCC Coordinator and Job Analyst Consultant, students in this program have numerous opportunities to practice professional communication, from a one-on-one setting with their coach to networking events with business leaders. In addition, students identify their strengths and weaknesses, competencies, and interests and examine their personal and professional aspirations as a way to develop a professional advantage.

“Through programs like the Professional Coaching Clinic, we strive to help students understand themselves as people and professionals,” said Susan Dana, Interim Dean for the College of Business. “Helping students understand their strengths and weaknesses, identify their goals and ambitions, and develop the self confidence and self knowledge necessary to succeed as business professionals reflects a focused effort on the part of every faculty and staff member in the College of Business.”

Students also complete a series of self-assessment and self-reflection exercises that help them think critically about the tangible assets they bring to a business environment. Students use these findings to develop a professional portfolio that includes a résumé, cover letter template, interview preparation exercises, and a list of additional resources. All of this preparation was designed to help students prepare for and take advantage of on-campus events, such as “Meet the Recruiters” and the fall career fair, as well as internship and job opportunities.

The preparation Lundvall received while enrolled in the Professional Coaching Clinic really paid off. He applied for an internship with Arch Coal, the second largest coal producer in the United States and was awarded the internship. He spent the summer working for Arch Coal in their St. Louis, Missouri office.

“During my internship with Arch Coal, I gave a presentation to 54 executives, each of whom makes a solid six figures a year,” said Lundvall. “In the past, that would have totally intimidated me, but thanks to the experience and confidence I gained working with Stephen through the Professional Coaching Clinic, I was able to successfully speak to this group of people.”

The professionalism and strong performance Lundvall exhibited during his internship with Arch Coal led to a much bigger opportunity. When Lundvall graduates from the College of Business in May 2012, he will settle in Singapore, where he has been offered a position with Arch Coal in their energy sector in the Asian market.

“We are all thrilled for Shilo and the wonderful results he received from his successful internship with Arch Coal,” said Hernandez. “Our goal with the PCC is to help students realize their full potential by providing them the one-on-one support they need to challenge themselves and explore far-reaching opportunities.”

Students interested in applying for admittance to the Professional Coaching Clinic for the spring 2012 semester should submit their application to the Bracken Center by Friday, October 28, 2011. Applications and information on the PCC is available at www.montana.edu/cob/bracken/pcc.html. To speak with Anna Hernandez, the PCC Coordinator, stop by her office at 313 Reid Hall, call her at 994-2083, or email her at anna.hernandez@montana.edu.

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The College of Business received a Retention Initiative Grant from the Provost’s office for the fall 2011 semester, to implement and assess the success of efforts within the College to increase retention amongst freshmen enrolled in BUS 101US sections. Throughout the fall semester, coaches in the College’s Bracken Business Communications Clinic (BBCC) gave a series of presentations to all 18 sections of BUS 101, the College’s freshman seminar course, to share information about how to write effective business papers, how to give strong oral presentations, and how to accurately identify and cite references in research papers.

“Our goal was to establish a personal connection between a BBCC coach and BUS 101 students, by assigning each coach to visit specific BUS 101 sections throughout the semester,” explained Terry Profota, principal investigator and adjunct professor of management in the College of Business. “Retention studies suggest that a student’s personal connection with faculty and staff can be an important contributor to that student’s persistence in successfully working towards degree completion.”

Each coach spoke to specific sections of BUS 101 students throughout the semester, with the intention of developing personal connections, encouraging students to seek additional support on written and oral communication assignments, and highlighting successful strategies to improve their educational experience. In addition, professors encouraged students to seek additional coaching support through the BBCC’s coaching staff, who provide one-on-one writing and oral communications support to students enrolled in business courses.

“The BBCC is unique in that it is staffed by business writing professionals with extensive business writing experience in a variety of fields including marketing, management and law,” said Lisa Daniels, director of the BBCC. “We provide assistance to students on anything from brainstorming the outline of a paper or presentation to grammar and spelling to feedback on ways to more clearly express concepts and ideas.”

In addition to frequent classroom visits, BBCC coaches also worked with BUS 101 faculty to develop a series of small group workshops, held outside of class, on specific topics pertaining to BUS 101 writing assignments. BUS 101 students who attended these workshops or made an appointment with a BBCC coach received Champ Change points, which is a new, campus-wide retention program based on a point system.

Participating freshmen students accrue Champ Change points when they attend approved University events or services. At the end of the semester, students who have accumulated Champ Change points participate in an auction to bid on prizes such as tuition scholarships, flat-screen televisions and general coupons, among other prizes.

“We worked diligently to coordinate our efforts in BUS 101 with other campus offerings designed to assist students and improve retention, such as the Champ Change program,” explained Profota. “We also coordinated closely with the BBCC on everything from assignment wording and structure to presentation content to workshop design and implementation. This coordinated effort really helped to create a cohesive learning experience for our students.”

The BBCC experienced a 35 percent increase in student appointments during fall 2011, as compared to the previous fall semester. Workshop attendance was also strong, with 20 percent of BUS 101 students attending at least one drop-in workshop.

On additional goal of the Student Retention Grant was to enable students to explore and act on their personal and career goals. One student assignment, the Personal Effectiveness Plan, was redesigned in collaboration with the MSU Office of Career, Internship and Student Employment Services, to include a student self-assessment. BUS 101 students will use the results of their assessments during one-on-one discussions with Student Associates and instructors to guide students in their academic choices and graduation planning.

“We believe that providing opportunities for students to further engage with their own learning and to interact directly with faculty and professional staff will result in a richer student experience that not only keeps students on track for degree completion but increases their likelihood of success in future endeavors,” said Martha Potvin, MSU provost. “We have been impressed with the depth, breadth and creativity of the proposals submitted that will engage our students in meaningful projects.”

This College of Business Student Retention Grant is one of 12 awarded to colleges, departments, and students across the MSU campus. These grants are part of a campus-wide initiative designed to give MSU students a better chance to learn, flourish, and graduate successfully. Assessment of the Grant’s success will take place through fall 2012.

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The second Executive’s Closet - held for three days in early September, 2011 in conference rooms in the College of Business - equipped 320 students with gently used business clothing and brought them one step closer to becoming successful business professionals. The Executive’s Closet is the inspiration of Linda Ward, Assistant Director of the Bracken Center for Excellence in Undergraduate Business Education in the College of Business at MSU. Ward oversees College of Business student enrichment programs including study abroad opportunities, scholarships, internships and business exchanges. Ward first identified a student need for professional business attire several years ago.

“Students needed professional clothing to wear during interviews, recruiting fairs, or to their first job or internship,” explains Ward. “Most students can’t afford high quality professional clothing, and I knew a number of people with closets full of suits and other business clothing that they were no longer using.”

Ward used her extensive network of College of Business graduates, with whom she’s developed a strong rapport during her seven and a half years in the College, and her business contacts to solicit donations of gently used, professional business clothing. In addition, she made announcements to local service groups, to the MSU community and to her personal network of contacts and held the first Executive’s Closet in 2009.

“It’s really been a very grass-roots effort,” explained Ward. “We operate with virtually no budget and lots of volunteer hours. College of Business students, faculty and staff helped in many ways. One Business student with experience from the GAP designed the layout, while student club members helped to set up and display the clothing in an attractive, accessible way. And the College’s faculty, staff, and students helped participants choose business clothing and accessories to add to their wardrobes.”

Racks of clothing—sorted by gender, style, and size—awaited this year’s Executive’s Closet participants. Of the 320 students who attended the event, 184 were College of Business students, 116 were Engineering majors, and the remainder were from other majors across campus. The majority of participants were men, who left with 62 suits, 63 sports coats, 52 slacks, 26 pairs of shoes, 195 ties, 215 shirts, and some socks.

“I reached out to the Engineering Department, because of their students’ need for business attire in their profession,” said Ward. “It was really exciting to see students from other Colleges working together to make up outfits, help each other tie ties, and laugh at some of the more humorous outfits.”

Ward also received support from local businesses, which helped donate displays and other items for the event. The Gap loaned the College several clothing racks, along with one from a faculty member, one donated from Ward, and several built by students. Another student solicited a donation of hangers from Macys. And community members and business professionals donated everything from men’s jackets and ties to women’s skirts and shoes.

“It was really neat to see the changes in some of the guys after they tried on clothing from the Executive’s Closet,” said Jennifer Brien, a senior in the College of Business majoring in Management and Marketing. “Some came in wearing cowboy boots and jeans, uncertain of their sizes and what items to choose to make an outfit. With some assistance from other female students and encouragement from faculty members, they’d find a suit, try it on, and come out standing a bit taller and looking more confident. It was really fun to be a part of that.”

The Executive’s Closet serves as one example of the College’s commitment to help prepare students to become successful business professionals. Dressing the part helps students build confidence, gives them a better sense of what it means to dress professionally, creates a positive impression during interviews and recruiting events, and eases the financial burden of purchasing business clothing at retail prices. It also creates a good feeling for donors, who take pleasure in knowing that their clothing is being put to good use. And students know that the faculty and staff in the College of Business really care and are willing to put forth extra effort to organize such an event for them.

To donate gently used business clothing to the Executive’s Closet program in the College of Business, email Linda Ward at lward@montana.edu.

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