May 2012

Student Advice Column: Don’t

Delete your Emails!p. 3

Steps to Success: Mock Interviews

p. 7

Wisentreprenuer:Sconnie Nation

p. 4

Swipedin is the next big thing, and you could be too! Learn about the new app

that is taking Madison by storm.read on p. 12

May 2012Issue 14

WISCONSIN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Dear Readers,

As most of you already know, b.Line’s mission is to create an informative, easy-to-read publica-tion written for students and by students. Most college students get their news online, so we wanted to work with this fact instead of against it. For this reason, we’ve decided to increase our online presence through Facebook and Twitter and completely revamp our website.

Although we have no intention of terminating our hard-copy publica-tions, we want to make b.Line a way for you to access the latest information more than just twice a semester. Our website contains an archive of our past issues, list of upcoming events, and most importantly our new blog.

The blog is updated weekly by b.Line staff to inform you of the latest news in Grainger, on campus, and in the global business world in gen-eral. Basically, anything you’d need to know, we write about it. Also, we launched a new “b.Line E-subscribe” feature, where students, fac-

ulty and alumni can simply sign up online to receive e-newsletters and copies of each new issue via email. Check it out at blineonline.org!

My main goal this semester as b.Line president was to unite members from all committees, and this was accomplished through our various bonding activities throughout the semester. For example, members had the opportunity to get to know each other through socials at Buffalo Wild Wings and the Comedy Club on State Street. Although I knew most of b.Line’s members before I became president, I really enjoyed the chance to get to know each of them on a personal level and wit-ness their growth as business leaders.

In my completely unbiased opinion, b.Line members are some of the best students at UW-Madison. I have so much respect for the amount of time that b.Liners put into this student organization, and without these ongoing efforts our publication would not be what it is today.

I look forward to all of the challenges and triumphs ahead and cannot wait to see what the future will bring! I would like to personally thank all of you for your ongoing readership and support.

Thanks!

Jenna Muellerb.Line President

“ in a bundle are .” Kenyan proverbWe are all part of the Wisconsin School

of Business bundle. Together we are a strong community! I want to take this opportunity to talk about three key aspects of the Wisconsin School of Business com-munity and how you can take full advantage of the opportunities pro-vided. Your education here should be a transformational experience, with opportunities to see the world in new ways, through exposure to research at the frontier of knowledge and your time at Wisconsin being infused with the Wisconsin Idea.

Your experience at the Wisconsin School of Business should transform you. As I have mentioned in the past, your time as an

important that you make the most of the opportunities provided. A key transformative experience is the opportunity to study abroad, particularly in a way that stretches you and forces you to be outside of your comfort zone. No experience allows such a great opportunity for personal growth and expansion of ideas than studying abroad. When

I would change and grow through that experience. Although I have

my way back to the hotel. It was a bit disconcerting but also exhilarat-ing. One of my favorite quotes is by George Shinn who said “Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown.” Take that step, move out of your comfort zone, study abroad to accelerate your transformation!

Another key aspect of the Wisconsin School of Business community is your exposure to research at the frontier of knowledge. Many of

In marketing 300, Professor Noah Lim regularly brings his research

his research expertise in designing pricing contracts to teach the value

of using analytical tools to help companies formulate a suite of pricing

Lim also exposes students in his class to research methods including economic experiments where small groups of students play a competi-tive market game. As Wisconsin School of Business students, you should embrace the classroom experiences that enable you to learn more than what is provided in any printed material. We want you to join us at the frontier of research!

From the moment you stepped onto campus, your experience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been infused with the Wisconsin

th year on our campus. Advancing the Wisconsin Idea means that we are a resource to the public and we are dedicated to improving the quality of lives around us - in the state, the nation and the world. We all have the responsibility to use education

with various consulting projects or community service through student organizations at the Wisconsin School of Business. A wonderful ex-ample of the Wisconsin Idea in action is the Grainger Goes Pink event organized by the BBA government. In support of this effort many faculty, staff and students wore pink last October and the Grainger atrium was decorated in pink, all to raise awareness of breast cancer. It was a concerted effort to come together as a community and give back to a worthy cause.

Permeating your student experience with exposure to and participation in cutting edge research, and opportunities to participate in advancing the Wisconsin Idea make this a transformational experience for us all and binds us together tightly like sticks in the bundle of the Wisconsin School of Business community. Take advantage of all the opportunities to grow and transform yourselves during your short time as an under-graduate at the Wisconsin School of Business.

Associate Dean Peck

Summer Activites in Madison

bLineonline.org 1

Table of ContentsFeatured Articles

4 Wiscentreprenuer: Sconnie Nation

In every issue3 Student Advice: Don’t Delete Your Emails!

6 Staff Spotlight: Craig Thompson

17 Professor Research: The Business of Philanthropy

12 Entrepreneurship Article: Swipedin is the Next Big Thing, and You Could be Too 16 Alumni: Where are they now? Michael Weiner, BBA ‘07

19 Entertainment Page

20 Student Org Highlignt: Student Faculty Board

21 Top 10: Summer Activites in Madison

7 Steps to Success: Mock Interviews

8 La Bahn Arena: A Home for Hockey

14 True Life: I Want to Change My Major (I Think?)

2

MEET THE DE

SIGN

FUND

ING

MARK

ETING

EXEC

UTIVE

BOAR

D

WRITI

NG

b.Liners

From Left to Right: Funding Director Sam Long, Marketing Director David Loux, President Jenna Mueller, Design Director Monica Hacker, Writing Director Ben Falk

From Left to Right: Ben Falk, Dana Singer, Amanda Maenner, Susie Korzec, Tyler Collingbourne Not Pictured: Madeleine Beher, Devin Cavanor, Lexi Harrison, Andrea Perkins, Coley Scheider, Alisa Weiner

Back (Left to Right): Jenna Bell, Austin Williams, Dana Scheller, David Loux Bottom (Left to Right): Kelli Kettel, Devin Cavanor, Paige Spaulding, Brianna Witte Not pictured: Kevin Vollmer, Ali Weiner, Alexa Silverman, Jennifer Pedriani, Chelsea Melworm, Allison Spoden, Emily Pfeffer, Jenna Mueller, Liz Kirzner, Amanda Kesten, Madeline McDonnell

From Left to Right: Lauren Goralnick, Ann Daugherty, Monica Hacker, Brianna Witte. Not Pictured: Susie Korzec, Blair Boden

Back (Left to Right): Alysha Bilodeau, Lexy Larson, Joe Doc-tor, Sam Long. Bottom (Left to Right): Rachel Geller, Sara Klose, Emily Flom, Longda Jiang Not Pictured: Colin Devoe, Carly Mednick and Liz Malec

bLineonline.org 3

E

E@

Don’t Delete

Your E-mails!

Why should students check their email?

“Students should check their email for the school of business because there are lots of useful re-‐sources advertised in there that a student may not know without looking at those emails.” -‐Claire Usher, Pre-‐Business student

“Students should check their email (the weekly ones) from the business school because they inform students with many opportunities to get involved and usually address any questions you would have for an advisor.” -‐Adam Anderson, Pre-‐Business student

business school information?

“I get most business school information through email, but sometimes professors also work with student orgs to get the word out in large lectures.” -‐Usher“Pretty much all communications are through email. Sometimes there are announcements in

-‐Kim Connor, Finance major

What emails do you look forward to?

“The only emails I look forward to getting are after I ask a faculty member from the business school a question. Sometimes it may take a while for them to respond though.” -‐Adam Anderson, Pre-‐Business student

What emails do you tend to ignore?

“If the message does not come directly from My Biz, but rather a student, I ignore those. “ -‐Adam Anderson, Pre-‐Business student

What does the MyBiz newsletter tell students

about?

“It’s a weekly newsletter plus a blog on the busi-‐ness school website. It provides students with events coming up on campus at the business school. It is especially helpful for knowing when employers are on campus.” -‐Kim Connor, Finance major

What emails do you look at the most?

“I get the MyBiz Weekly Digest as well as other emails from the Wisconsin School of Business re-‐garding information sessions and what not. I try to at least skim both of these things to see if there is anything relevant to me, such as a club meeting, information sessions, etc. “ -‐Claire Usher, Pre-‐Business student

“The most helpful emails are the MyBiz newslet-‐ters. I can go through and look at what is impor-‐tant for me. Sometimes they send out emails with internship opportunities etc. that are more spe-‐

-‐Kim Connor, Finance major

your inbox everyday, how is a business

student supposed to sort out which ones

are important and which ones aren’t?

Here are some tips from fellow business

students.

by: Madeleine Behr

4

by: Susie Korzec

It all Started with an Idea

Troy Vosseller, a Brown Deer native, came to UW in the fall of 2003 with no real intention of starting a company. Although the busi-ness gene had been in him, coming from a family of entrepreneurs, he had no idea that his Wisconsin pride would be the starting point of Sconnie Nation. He quickly became friends with his dorm mate, Ben Fiechtner, who also happened to have the business bug. It didn’t take long before the two decided to create a business together. The pair started to brainstorm different businesses; from a UW dating site to a business that stocked gasoline and re-sold it to mo-ped riders who did not want to venture off-campus – but none seemed right.

While nothing had really seemed to stick, it was in the spring semester that Vosseller and Fiechtner had an idea they were ready to

-cally pride about Wisconsin, or as UW Students like to call it, “Scon-nie”. Originally supposed to be used as a derogatory term given to UW students from out of state students, it became better known as an endearing term by many UW students. From brats to beer, to the Pack to the Badgers, Sconnie encompasses all that makes Wisconsin unique. From the Dorms to State Street

Finding the word amusing and seeing its marketing potential, the pair had decided to put Sconnie on a t-shirt. After receiving positive remarks from their friends, they each put in $300 dollars, and had

straight out of their Kronshage dorm room, and within a week they were completely sold out. It was at this point that the two realized they were on to something, and with some professional guidance, that year

and federal.

Sconnie Nation

“We wanted to create a clothing company that allowed people to show their pride in the state of Wis-

consin without doing it in such a over the top, hokey way like

wearing a foam block of cheese on your head”

“As a freshman we would joke while walking down State Street that’d be awesome if we had our own store

on State Street”

[ [they made back into the company, which made it easier to buy larger batch sizes, making the cost of the shirts go down. This helped the pair be able to make new designs and new types of apparel, many of them like the ones you see around campus today. The two had been success-ful selling their shirts mostly to family and friends (now at their apart-ment) and quickly sold out of those as well. It was during that time that they decided to have another one of their previous dorm mates help design a website for the Sconnie apparel, which is now known as www.Sconnie.com. By doing this, Vosseller and Fiechtner were able to expand and ship out their one-of-a-kind shirts all over the country. While they had liked the increased business, it was hard to juggle schoolwork and being able to ship items to their patrons in a timely

to sell and distribute their product. It was then that they reached out

Wiscentreprenuer:

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You can check out Sconnie Nation online at www.sconnie.com or at

their store at 521 State Street.

Advice for future Entrepreneurs?

“The best ideas come from ones where you are the target market – and you have to be passionate about your idea. But at the end of the day my advice would be you just have to jump in and do it. The best way to learn about your business is to actually run your business”

to third party retailers, like the University Bookstore, Bucky’s Locker room and Insignia. With these third parties, they were able to increase their legitimacy, and it was a great moment to be able to see their product side by side with other reputable brands.

By 2006, Sconnie was growing rapidly and it got to be too much to handle selling online, so the partners decided to create a partner-ship with Underground printing, who had been their screen-printers. The two approached the printing company and entered into a deal where the company would help with the business, from dealing with the distributions to returns. This helped things run quicker and more

Fiechtner set their sites on opening a store in Madison. Underground had already established its own custom print-screening store, and approached Sconnie about opening a retail store. Originally Under-

component. It was a win-win for both companies, and the store opened its doors in the summer of 2007.

Today, Vosseller is the sole owner of Sconnie Nation, buying out his partner three years ago. Sconnie grants exclusive rights and its trade-mark to Underground Printing, who manages the store. Because of this, Vosseller’s role in the business is very limited, but he still takes part in promotional strategies and helps control the Sconnie social media pages. Overall it’s been a fantastic experience for Vosseller, and the sales don’t seem to be stopping for Sconnie Nation anytime soon. Now that they have a good hold on apparel, Sconnie is ready to take on a State favorite – their own beer. Vosseller describes the beer as a

Madison. It will be available on draft and in 16-ounce cans. This spe-cial Sconnie beer is due to be out in April, made by Berghoff Brewing.

Most Popular Sconnie Item

“Hooray Wisconsin” tee, it was their “We’ll never forget you Brent”

shirt that went viral after Brett Favre decided to un-retire and join the Minnesota Vikings. It was featured on FoxSports.com, and endless Twitter and Facebook accounts. From all this frenzy, a new Packers blog was created, BrentFavre.com. Building on the fame that this Packer shirt received, Sconnie went on to make several new designs, which helped Sconnie gain a national following.

6

Craig ThompsonStaff Spotlightby: Coley Schneider

Since 1991, the University of Wisconsin has been fortunate enough to have a truly exceptional professor with a unique goal: to expose his students to the world in a way they haven’t thought about before. A popular professor, he receives much praise from his students. “Craig has the unique ability to hold a student’s interest for an entire 75-minute lecture. He makes the concepts easy to understand and provides interesting examples that support his points,” says Ben Falk, b.Line’s editor-in-chief and a current student of Craig’s. “He gets to the core of what makes a consumer tick and does it in ways you wouldn’t have previously thought about.”

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Craig had the typical aspirations of a kid. His initial goal was to someday be a professional basketball player (unfortunately, he “was only 12 inches from living the dream”). After that, his career focus shifted to becoming an actor, and throughout high school, he dreamed of being an attorney. He attended the University of Tennessee, and it was there that he became captivated by the subjects of marketing and psychology. His interest in teaching grew during his graduate student teaching duties as he worked towards a PhD in marketing.

Craig decided to teach at the University of Wisconsin because he wanted to reach the strongest research department he could, and Madison was his best option. He also (as many do) fell in love with the city on his campus visit. He moved to the Madison in 1991 and enjoys living here. His favorite places to grub in Madison are Pasquals, Eldorado Grill, and L’Etoile. He also loves the local music scene; Barrymore Theater and High Noon Saloon are his favorite places to hear music acts that are playing in town. He is an avid runner and cross country skier, so the arboretum and the ski trails surrounding the city, particularly Elver Park, are some of his favorite sites.

Here at UW, Craig teaches an undergraduate course in consumer behavior, which looks at the interrelationships between the marketplace, culture, and consumer psychology. His interest in consumer behavior stems from his “fascination in the way that consumer behavior organizes people’s lives and helps them to understand themselves and their relations to others.” He also teaches a PhD seminar in consumer culture theory, which is a course that serves

phenomenon.

Craig’s teaching methods vary across the different levels he teaches. In his undergraduate classes, he tries to expose students to a broad range of texts that they have not had much exposure to in other courses. These classes are a mix of lecture and discussion. At the MBA and PhD levels, he focuses less on lecturing and more of hands-on application components.

Craig is a very accomplished man and has proven his success through several life achievements. He was a successful distance runner and won several regional races throughout the South. He even

he has been nominated for several articles of the year and a few other academic awards. However, he considers his biggest accomplishment being a great dad to his fourteen-year-old son and eleven-year-old daughter.

bLineonline.org 7

Sweaty palms, shaky hands, and a pounding heart described my

interview. Fast-forward 15 minutes, and I was feel-ing freed, accomplished and excited about future op-portunities! Interviews can be agonizing for some and elating for others. For those of us who get consumed by interview anxiety, practice is the only remedy. Fortunately, the Business Career Center organizes times for students to participate in mock interviews and receive immediate feedback afterwards. The interviews are behavioral based, focusing on questions about your past experiences and how you reacted, solved problems and acted as a leader. This mock interview program attracts a multitude of impressive employers that could be offering you a future position! Read below to see how to most effectively embrace this opportunity.

1.Investigate Future Opportunities

2.Perfect Your Resume & Bring it Along

3.Recite, Rehearse and Review

4.Dress Smart

5.Be , Cool and Collected

6.Make the Most of this Experience

7.Rinse and Repeat

By: Amanda Maenner

Steps-2-Success:

Mock Interviews

For more information contact the BCC at [email protected] or call 608-262-2550.

8

by: Tyler Collingbourne

The vast improvements to the UW-Madison cam-pus serve to recognize the present and future suc-cess of the university. At the pinnacle of the univer-sity’s pride rests—next to academics—its athletics.

surrounding the UW Hockey program for quite some time now.

Just behind the SERF and near Gate B of the Kohl Center, con-struction for the new La Bahn Arena is well underway. By October of 2012, the UW Badgers Woman’s Hockey Team will have a place to call their own…. well, not entirely. The three-level, 102,800 gross square foot arena will accommodate the men’s and women’s hockey and swimming team locker rooms, and serve as the new practice facility for both men’s and women’s hockey. It will also host women’s competitive hockey games during the season. And as if that weren’t enough, La Bahn will feature lounge, study, and training facilities, provided for the UW teams to sharpen their skills in the classroom and on the ice. There will also be a lavish space for visiting teams to relax before they take the ice against the Badgers

The UW Hockey brand has long been recognized for excellence and strength in Division I competitive hockey for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The remarkable achievements of the

ranking fourth in college hockey history. And although they may have a more recent inception, coming into existence in 1999, the UW Women’s Hockey team has added an immense amount of appreciation and respect to the UW athletic brand. Winning four national champi-onships in the past seven years and making it to the Frozen Four six times in the past seven years, the success of the UW Women’s Hockey program has certainly added rationale for the development and fund-ing for La Bahn Arena. With the help of Chuck (a former UW Alum

La Bahn Arena

bLineonline.org 9

and Varsity Swimmer) and Mary Ann La Bahn, many UW Hockey Alumni got together in efforts to raise funds for a much-needed new hockey arena on the UW campus. One of the drivers behind the UW Hockey Alumni’s push for the new facility is that most universities with reputable hockey programs have their arenas on or near campus.

La Bahn’s aesthetically pleasing appearance was an important part of

-ment and construction of the arena, also participated in the develop-ment of the Chazen Art Museum, Aberdeen Apartments, The Fluno Center, The Health Sciences Learn-ing Center, Grainger Hall and many other buildings around campus. Early on in the building process, Findorff ran into issues with success-fully satisfying the structural needs of maintaining a sturdy underground passage connecting The Kohl Center and La Bahn Arena. Emergency ve-hicles would use the thoroughfare if needed. To solve the problem, Tom Sweeney, Findorff’s preconstruction team member, utilized the talents of the University of Wisconsin’s Capstone class. This program gives UW engineering students the op-portunity to develop and problem solve for a mock construction site. The idea of BubbleDeck was presented to Sweeney by a Capstone stu-dent. It enabled the project team to cut costs by nearly $25,000, reduce

in the composition of the La Bahn Arena. Essentially, BubbleDeck refers the substitution of a traditional concrete-only structure with large plastic spheres sitting in metal cages, which then sit on concrete. Interestingly enough, BubbleDeck technology has never been used in the United States before it was implemented for La Bahn Arena!

While working out at the SERF, one might notice some minor con-struction going on towards the back of the building. That is because the new La Bahn Arena will be connected to the SERF through a Skywalk corridor, which will make transportation between the two

whose locker rooms will reside in La Bahn arena while practices will be held at the SERF. Furthermore, designers and developers structured an open concourse design with the understanding that families with children make up a rather large portion of the fan base for UW hockey games. This feature seems certain to change with time as more and

Overall, La Bahn will be able to seat 2,400 spectators. This capacity

makes it a little bit more than six times smaller than the Kohl Center for hockey games, but the smaller venue promises to provide a unique viewing experience for fans of UW athletics.

The La Bahn Arena is going to offer a whole new experience to the UW Campus. Incorporating state-of-the-art technology and innovative design, the latest addition to our campus will embody the excellence, strength, pride, and success of our university.

10

by: Andrea Perkins

The Impact ofCrowdsourcingon the Marketplace

Crowdsourcing involves broadcasting an idea, problem, or question to an unknown group of people who voluntarily submit a response. It allows for more input and perhaps, better ideas.

with the creation of the Oxford English Dic-tionary. The project asked communities to volunteer by indexing all English language words and giving example quotations for each of their usages. A conglomeration of the over six million submissions created the dictionary over the course of the 70-year project.

One of the most current, obvious examples of crowdsourcing is a business website called Threadless. The company is based off the concept that members can design

Technology’s strong hold on business and mar-keting tactics in today’s economy has created a phenomenon known as crowdsourcing. Crowd-

solving and production process that involves out-sourcing tasks to a network of people.

and produce logos and other members can vote on the best design. Then, Threadless produces the most popular shirt. The com-pany is able to function with only twenty members simply because its crowdsources its designs and ideas to anyone through the Internet.

‘‘ ‘‘Crowdsourcing really took off because of

continual improvements in new technology and

social media

bLineonline.org 11

Katie Krueger, a marketing communica-tions lecturer in the Wisconsin School of Business, went in depth about the popular marketing technique in her class. She ex-plained that crowdsourcing really took off because of continual improvements in new

it as “using social media venues to gather feedback from businesses, consumers, and focus groups.”

“It is very easy to crowdsource with social media. That’s one of the reasons it’s popu-lar. College students grow up doing it. It is totally normal for young people to make a status about clothes or music and get opinions over Facebook, so new graduates are very comfortable with that. It is almost natural,” Krueger said.

Furthermore, Krueger explained crowd-sourcing as not simply a marketing too, but also as a way for businesses to raise capital.

For example, AngelList is a start-up com-pany website where people can pitch their ideas and investors can research them and provide funding to those of their liking.

This is crowdsourcing because it involves someone simply putting his or her idea

in. There is no contact between the idea generator and the investor other than the Internet.

As Krueger describes it, crowdsourcing is “knocking down all geographic barri-ers” for businesses and entrepreneurs. This feature of the technique, however, comes with positive and negative repercussions. According to a CBS report by Jennifer Alseyer, “crowdsourcing can improve pro-ductivity and creativity while minimizing labor and research expenses.”

Essentially, marketing costs are tremen-dously reduced through this technique, but so are marketing jobs by extension. Companies no longer need to hire teams of marketing people to generate ideas when they can seek Internet users for a reduced cost or no cost at all.

“I think there is truth [to the idea mentioned above],” says Krueger. “I think it will lower the price of marketing talent because people can work on a project from the U.S. and

also people from other countries. In India…they can do that project for 40 dollars, whereas people here are trying to make a living off them.”

Despite this fact, Krueger explained that although “it will change the wages and price of talent…it will give opportunity for people to allow their work to speak for itself and showcase good work.”

Changing technologies will continue to innovate business models, marketing schemes, and modes of communication. Crowdsourcing is just one example of an increasingly fragmented marketplace, where ideas can and do come from anywhere. Now more than ever, companies are charged

innovations that can give them a sustainable advantage over competitors.

‘‘ ‘‘Although it will change the wages and price of talent…

it will give opportunity for people to allow their

work to speak for itself and showcase good work

‘‘ ‘‘Crowdsourcing is knocking down all

geographic barriers for businesses andentrepreneurs

12

SwipedIn is the Next Big Thing, and You Could be Too

by: Devin Cavanor

SwipedIn is an app available for iPhone and Android devices that allows you to receive the “deals for the in-crowd.” From a free beer at the Kollege Klub to buy one get one 12-inch subs from Subway, the opportuni-ties for you are endless! The app launched in Madison on January 23rd, 2012 and is quickly becoming the next big thing in the technology world. What makes this app even cooler are the faces behind the technology. App co-creators Jordan Wolf, 23, and Sam Jorgenson, 24, both attended school in Wis-consin. I sat down with both of them to talk about the SwipedIn of today, the SwipedIn of the future, and how to be your own boss. So starting off, how did you guys meet?

Jordan: That is actually an interesting story. When I was junior here at UW-Madison, I got into entrepreneurship and began working with Corey Capasso, who was graduating

after I graduated I started working for him,

The Flavor for 7 months in New York. Then

company, partnered with Add The Flavor to use our technology to develop their product. Corey Capasso, the owner of Add the Flavor, who was also heavily involved with MoGo Mouthguards wanted someone to start selling the mouthguards in the Wisconsin area, so he called Sam whom he knew from school. So Sam was working for MoGo while I was working for Add The Flavor. One weekend, Sam came out to New York and we got to talking. He mentioned an idea like what Swi-pedIn is today. His idea happened to be some-thing very similar to an idea I had pitched to an investor, and Sam had already began networking with computer programmers Brian Thiel and Phil Dougherty, Computer

Science graduates at UW, who had the skills to develop the product. So I decided to team up and Sam began developing in Madison while I was also still working in New York with Add The Flavor. It was tough only being able to contribute over the phone and email in the beginning, but Sam, Brian, and Phil did a great job. At the end of January I left Add The Flavor to work on SwipedIn full time.

For those people who aren’t familiar, what exactly is SwipedIn?

Sam: We allow small businesses to put out their own deals and keep all the revenue, and we don’t require people to “check-in” anywhere. So it basically takes the best aspects of both a check-in service and deals and combines them. The reason we do this is because many daily-deal type websites cause

-es when they take a cut, whereas we allow the

they can afford. Because of this, businesses can put out deals more often. Also, only one out of ten people feel comfortable sharing their location online or on a mobile app, so we allow people to get deals without having to share their locations. How the SwipedIn app actually works is it’s directly on your phone’s screen and you redeem the deals with the bartender, cashier or whomever by swiping an icon on your screen. There are two types of deals: unlim-ited and one-time use. The unlimited deal allows you to keep “swiping-in” and getting the discount, whereas the one-time use allows you to swipe-in once and then your screen will stop glowing, signifying you’ve already received the discount or free item. So it’s designed to be very straightforward and easy to use.or whomever by them swiping the icon on your screen. There are two types of deals:

unlimited and one-time use. The unlimited deal allows you to keep “swiping-in” and get-ting the discount, whereas the one-time use allows you to swipe-in once and then your screen will stop glowing, signifying you’ve already received the discount or free item. So it’s designed to be very straightforward and easy to use.

If you allow the business to keep all the

Jordan: We’ve created software that allows businesses to put out deals by themselves and also write the ads, so we’ve eliminated a need for writers and a large team of that nature to

costs compared to a daily deal, which allows us to grow without a lot of money. The more users we obtain, the more money investors are willing to give our company to keep growing. They look at the potential for future advertising revenue; however, that is just one of a variety of ways we could look at making money in the future. We want to get the prod-uct perfect for businesses and users before exploring any revenue options further.

As you expand, do you plan on continuing to deal with small businesses or moving up to chain restaurants?Jordan: -dIn with small businesses in mind, anything that the consumer wants, I’d be willing to put on the platform. But, what we would never do is give a chain restaurant or larger business preference over a smaller business just be-cause they may have paid us more money. We will always keep the most popular deals at the top of our list. Deal popularity is what will always determine preference for SwipedIn. How important do you think social media

If you haven’t heard about SwipedIn already, you’ve been missing out. This new app is taking Madison by storm and offering students

great deals at local small businesses.

bLineonline.org 13

is to business today and to SwipedIn spe-

Sam: Right now, if you’re a business you have to utilize social media. Luckily, we are on the younger side, so we understand its importance. Facebook and Twitter are veryimportant. In my opinion, I would say Twitter is becoming more so, because a user actively follows a brand or business’s message. Face-book is very different because their advertis-ing has become so prevalent in our everyday life that when we check Facebook we don’t even realize there are ads on our page.

Jordan: our deals for the day on our Facebook and Twitter pages so our followers can “share” and “re-tweet” the them. What we’ve done further is to integrate Facebook and Twitter icons directly into the app itself. If a user likes a deal, they can click on the Facebook or Twitter links on the app right then and

What do you think is the biggest challenge SwipedIn faces?Jordan: Explaining to businesses that we

them is an objection to overcome. A lot of businesses have been burned by daily deal sites, so if you walk in the door and the business thinks you’re anything like them, they may shut you down on the spot. So for us, creating clear differentiation is huge. But also, on the other side of things, gathering users and spreading awareness is a challenge. We do things to help this like integrating Facebook and Twitter links directly into our app, but it’s not necessarily enough. So you

have to keep adjusting the ways you reach out and try to expand your consumer-base. Sam: We face the same challenges as any small business does of getting people in the door. For us, it’s getting users to download the SwipedIn app. We’re actually developing something now that is going to make some changes to the app itself to move it forward and help user engagement. We can’t tell you what it is yet, but it’s going to be something that small businesses and consumers are both going to love.

Speaking of the future, where do you guys see SwipedIn in 5 years?

Jordan: Hopefully everywhere! In the big picture, we’d like to be bigger than Four-square. Again, roughly one out of ten people are comfortable sharing their location online, but everyone loves getting great deals. We’re hoping we’ve positioned ourselves in a way that will allow us to capitalize on that other

ninety percent of people. What really sums up our future goal is what a girl said to me recently. She said: “Every morning I wake up, I check Facebook, I check SwipedIn, and I go to class.” That is where we want SwipedIn to be.

You guys are so young, and yet you’ve suc-ceeded already in the business world. What advice would you give students who want to start their own business?

Sam: Go for it! Especially while you’re young and without obligations. You don’t want to be the person who had a great idea

but never went for it and is now 35 or 40 and wondering, “what if?”Jordan: Also, take advantage of networking, and start while you’re still in school. What people don’t realize is there are 40,000 people on a campus like UW-Madison, which means networking opportunities are endless. You don’t have to wait to have a diploma to be taken seriously, so don’t. Also, don’t be afraid to tell people about your idea. In the tech community especially, everyone is so afraid of people stealing ideas so people don’t share them. But in reality, only about one percent of the people around you have the resources to take an idea and fully develop it, and they aren’t waiting around to steal yours.

Sam: I mean, just take a look at how we met. It’s because we weren’t afraid to talk about our ideas with people.

Are there any last things you guys want to say about SwipedIn?

Jordan: Download it!

Sam: And once you download it, share it with your friends. We run into the problem

with iPhones sitting together and three people tell us how much they love SwipedIn and the other two have no idea what SwipedIn is. Jordan: Yes, so download it and share it!

SwipedIn is available oniPhone andAndroid

Use SwipedIn for deals at:Mondays, KK, City Bar, AJ Bombers, Big Red’s Steaks, Red Mango, Subway, State Street

Brats, Pita Pit, Wando’s, JD’s, and many more!

14

TrueLife

I want to change my Major (I think?)

? ? ??

Let’s face it... Sometimes things just don’t work out as planned. Maybe that new set of wheels your parents kept hinting at before your 16th birthday turned out to be just a bike. Or that paper

you’ve been working on for 6 hours straight somehow managed to self-destruct itself and disappear into cyberspace. Unplanned events happen not only in your personal life but in your professional life as well.

by: Jenna Mueller

As you take more courses in college, you may begin to second-guess a profession you’ve been dreaming about for years. Feeling trapped in a major leads to stress and anxiety, especially considering how much time and money you have already invested in your education. If you’ve considered a major other than the one you’ve declared, you’re

that sixty percent of college students change majors before graduat-ing!

As business students, we understand that sunk costs (costs that have already been incurred and cannot be recovered) shouldn’t be factored into decision-making for accounting, but what about in our own lives? Of course, we have to take past decisions into account, right? True—but only to a certain extent. Although it may be tempting to stick to the original plan, remember that this is the rest of your life we’re talking about, not just a hobby or something you do on the weekends. Every. Single. Week. 9-5. Make sure you love what you do.

Signs that you should switch your major...

YOU FALL ASLEEP DURING EVERY COURSE IN YOUR MAJOR. This means that it’s highly likely that you would fall asleep during actual meetings once you hit the real world. Clearly, the material doesn’t interest you! Not only should courses in your major hold your attention, you should leave the classroom wanting to learn more in order to apply it to a full-time position later.

YOU’RE FAILING YOUR CLASSES.

Although this is an obvious one, it’s really important. The material

will help you excel in your profession after graduation. If you’re not

you. It can also mean that the information you’re learning doesn’t matter enough to you to make you want to study.

YOU DIDN’T CAREFULLY CONSIDER YOUR MAJOR THE FIRST TIME.

Maybe a particular profession seemed appealing on paper, but you didn’t really do much research on the area of study from the begin-ning. Or possibly you didn’t do anycollege students feel pressure to know what they want to do, but actu-

know, you may change your mind after taking a few courses. Deciding on a major doesn’t happen overnight so don’t force it!

YOU CAN’T LET THE IDEA OF A DIFFERENT MAJOR GO.

interests lay elsewhere. Your interests should match up well with your major. If you’ve always thought of your interests and profession as two completely separate entities, think of how great it would be if you could mesh the two.

What to do if you don’t know what to do...

RESEARCH (BOTH CURRENT AND POTENTIAL MA-JOR).

late. Go online and research everything you can about both majors. It may be tempting, but make sure you look at things other than just the pay. Even though a hefty salary is an attractive status symbol, it is

-

major options on the Wisconsin School of Business website and set up a career advising appointment at the BCC.

bLineonline.org 15

TALK IT OUT.

PARENTS

Although we’re independent in college, chances are our parents have already been through this process. They also know you better than most people so their advice really is meaningful (whether you want to admit it or not!). Be open with them and willing to hear their sugges-tions even if you don’t agree with them.

ADVISORS

Advisors are more than willing to sit down with you and discuss potential routes for your career. Utilize these services! Also, advisors can help you look through your DARS report with you and print off “What-If” reports, which are also available on MyUW. What-If reports show what courses you would need to take for a certain major and al-low you to compare course requirements between majors. Comparing the What-If reports help to see what each major would entail. Lastly, advisors will provide a valuable, unbiased opinion to help you make a decision. Advisors can also give advice regarding double majoring to

-cates available to students.

STUDENTS

Ask other students why they chose their major and their experiences so far. Older students in particular have been through this exact pro-

led them to their particular major, you may be surprised how much you can learn!

PROFESSORS

Don’t be afraid to approach a professor in your current or desired ma-jor. They love to talk to students about their own passions and experi-

can also put you into contact with UW Alumni or current professionals in your area of interest.

PROFESSIONALS

Reach out to someone to see what a “day in the life of a ______ employee” is like. What you think a job entails and what the duties actually are could be two different things. It might surprise you to know how professions line up with which majors in the real world. It’s a great idea to sit down with someone in the industry to learn what path led this person to his or her current profession. There are also job shadows available at Grainger, continue to look for these opportunities on BuckyNet.

TRY IT OUT.

INTERNSHIPS

Internships offer a commitment-free, short-term opportunity to try out

it will be to narrow down what you actually want to do. If you’re unhappy in a short-term position, you’ll learn that you won’t want to

are also a great way to network with professionals, and many times lead to full-time positions. STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

-zation related to your major. The Business School has thirty-eight different student organizations to choose from so there will almost certainly be one that pertains to any area of interest. Be sure to attend the Business School Org Fair in the Fall!

DON’T PANIC.

That “What do you see yourself doing ten years from now?” interview question might create some anxiety, but things will fall into place. Ma-jors do not have to be the absolute determining factor for what you’ll do for the rest of your life so try not to feel so much pressure to make a decision right now! I’m ready to switch...now what?

Once the decision to change a major has been made, the process is fairly simple according to Nikki Bollig, UW-Madison Marketing

off at the front desk in 3150 Grainger Hall. Also, don’t forget to cancel previously declared majors!

I want to change my Major (I think?)

?

by: Jenna Mueller

16

At the age of 26, Michael Weiner is an investment analyst for Prudential Mortgage Capital Company in Los Angeles, California. He lives in a 2-bedroom apartment 5 blocks away from Century City, where the top commercial real estate companies reside. His daily duties consist in the origination of commercial real estate loans on behalf of Prudential and other pension/ life insurance companies. The story of how Michael landed this amazing opportunity takes root in his 3 years spent in the Wisconsin School of Business.

A major in real estate and urban land economics appealed to

was looking for a career with something tangible and hands on. It

McCabe, who has had over a decade of experience in commercial real estate, taught him the value of real estate by applying her real world experiences to the classroom. Her twenty years of experience in the industry has included time spent as a market analyst, appraiser, assessor and instructor.

For Michael, it was McCabe’s class combined with a class in business law that gave him the best taste of business in the real world. A unique aspect of business law that was especially

were attorneys. The class afforded him the opportunity to apply course concepts by analyzing real law cases. Today, he uses the knowledge he acquired in these two classes as he analyzes loans and

Michael graduated in 2008 at the heart of the recession. A recently graduated real estate major was a horrible place to be in at this time. Luckily, as a member of the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association, Michael was not left to fend for himself, and was offered support and some strong connections as he entered the workforce. Every job he has had since graduating has been through this organization, and he can proudly say it really does foster professional growth, advice, and support. The strongest and most useful piece of advice he can offer a business school student is to join organizations now and start networking. He got involved with the Alumni Association as a sophomore and continued to make connections throughout the rest of his three years as a student. This organization not only found him amazing job opportunities, but was also a great social network. One of Michael’s co-workers at Prudential is a fellow UW alumnus, and almost ten other departments within the company consist of former Wisconsin School of Business Alumni. Another piece of advice he offered is to really ‘live up’ your college experience and appreciate all that Wisconsin has to offer, because you’ll never be able to relive another four years as a Wisconsin student.

Alumni: Where are they now? An Interview with Michael Weiner, BBA ‘08

by: Alisa Weiner

FORSALE

bLineonline.org 17

The Business of PhilanthropyThomas Eggert, a Senior Lecturer of General Business here at the University of Wisconsin School of Business, has not only applied

students, but he is also in the process of developing an outside research project that focuses on helping Haitian people whose country was devastated by a catastrophic earthquake on January 12, 2010. The UW

-‐nance Project (UWMFP) began in 2010 with a goal that aims at creating structures that will further en-‐able sustainable development in Haiti. I sat down with Professor Eggert to have him explain the foundation of

the program and how it has developed through the years. At the time of the earthquake, there was a student in his class from Haiti. The student and Professor Eggert were both determined to make a difference, and strove to donate money to the people in Haiti, but wanted to make sure their donations were going to a reliable

-‐

Still determined to make a difference, the student reached out to his community found a local pastor he and Professer Eggert could partner with. They would provide the funds and the pastor would facilitate the distribution of the aid to various groups of people. From there, UWMFP was born. One objective of the UWMFP is to avoid reliance on other sources of aid coming into Haiti, thus giving the community and its partners opportunities to develop a funding plan and gradu-‐

of Wisconsin Business School students and faculty a chance to -‐

tion between the work being done in the region and the learning taking place in the classroom.

by: Dana Singer

Pictured: Some of the people who were funded through UWMFP

You can learn more about the UWMFP here:-

This program operates in the Barau Michel region of Haiti, where around 15,000 residents (many of whom live in poverty) reside. The UWMFP has partnered with a local community organiza-‐tion called the Centre d’Education Chrtienne de Formation et d’Orientation Professionnelle (CECFOP), which engages in sustain-‐able development within Haitian communities. Eggert and his student trekked to Haiti last summer in order to follow up on the work being done since 2010, making sure that things are running smoothly with the program. The Haitian com-‐munity was thrilled to see the two, who had raised $7,000 in relief efforts at the time of their visit. They brought additional proceeds with them on the trip, and were happy to see that the organi-‐zation was running smoothly. It was an incredible experience for both individuals, and they were fortu-‐nate enough to meet many people who

program. The fol-‐lowing fall, Professor Eggert put together a team of students from the Wisconsin School of Business to formal-‐ize the infrastructure in the program’s target region, meeting another one of the organization’s core objectives. UWMFP continues to develop with time, and new ideas continue to arise that will help to continue the success of the program. Last semester alone $2,000 was raised on campus through events such as a “Zumba-‐thon”, efforts of the

classes. Last semester the program also came up with the idea to use the current program as a model to expand into another community in Haiti, using current relationships that other faculty members have with members of developing countries. Through

expanded, helping even more people than it already has.

Professor Research Highlight:by: Alisa Weiner

bLineonline.org 19

For Your EntertainmentAccounting

Actuarial Science

Finance

Investment

Banking

Information Systems

International Business

Management

Human Resources

Marketing

Real Estate

Urban Land Economics

Economics

Risk Management

Insurance

Business

Grainger

Can You Name America’s Largest Private Companies? Try to rank these:

Pricewaterhouse Coopers

C&S Wholesale Grocers

Mars

US FoodKoch

Industries

Ernst & Young

Publix Super Markets

Love’s Travel Stops and Country

StoresBechtelCargill

Find Your Majorby: Lexi Harrison

Answers are on our website at www.bLineonline.org!

20

Student Faculty Board

Looking for a way to connect with fac-ulty on a more personal level but not quite comfortable enough shooting the breeze

hours? If you answered ‘yes’ to the above question, or are simply a pizza lover looking for a great meal and some great conversa-tion, then the Student Faculty Board is the perfect organization for you!

The Student Faculty Board (SFB) is a casual student organization open to students from all business majors as well as pre-business students. Its goal is to improve on the relationships between Wisconsin School of Business faculty, students, and overall community. Every other Thursday from 12:15-1:00 p.m., students gather for a free pizza lunch and a chance to interact with faculty from all departments, including professors and career advisers. Students learn about faculty member’s background and research as well as more personal details--such as hobbies and favorite foods--that may not be brought up in a normal classroom setting. “Student Faculty Board is just a really informal environment,” says Kristin Beran, a senior marketing and management major and the Marketing Director of SFB. “I joined for the pizza but I stayed because of the leadership opportunities and be-

-spectives on different majors and opportunities that they may not have known about prior to joining. There is a special semester dinner where a small group of students share a meal with a nominated professor in an informal environment, as well as an exclusive faculty appreciation ‘Nacho Night’. “We get to learn so much about the professors,” says Beran. “You don’t get to do that on a normal basis.”In addition to learning more about the faculty and staff of the WSoB, professors and advisers also appreciate the feedback students provide. Students can give suggestions to faculty members on changes they would like to see at the business school. “It’s not a one way conversa-tion,” says Beran. “We are able to give our feedback. The idea for a student government came up during one of our meetings.” Leadership opportunities are growing in SFB. Currently, there is an executive board that organizes special events such as the exclusive Nacho Night. There is also a Marketing Committee and a Finance Committee in the works to provide further leadership oppor-tunities for any members interested in showing more initiative. A great volunteer event that SFB takes part in are the fall and spring career fairs at the Kohl Center. Members help set up the event, assist employ-ers in setting up their booths, work throughout the event and help with tear down at its conclusion. One special feature that Student Faculty Board organizes

is the Wisconsin School of Business Excellence Award. Students can nominate the faculty member that they feel has made a difference in their lives and throughout the school community. Surveys are avail-able online and are advertised on MyBiz and promoted throughout the business school. The winning faculty member is selected based on both the quality and quantity of the nominations made to them. They receive a plaque and well-deserved recognition for the positive differ-ence they make in the lives of everyone they come into contact with. “It’s mainly a way to show that we appreciate their contribution to the school,” says Beran. Interested in joining the Student Faculty Board? “Like” SFB on Facebook, or e-mail Kristen Beran at [email protected] for more information.

Loren Kuzuhara – Spring 2011 winner of the Wisconsin School of Business Excellence AwardLoren Kuzuhara, Senior Lecturer of Management & Human Resourc-es, truly evokes the community and spirit of the Wisconsin School of Business. Kuzuhara displays a true love for his students and shares in their passion to get involved. He is a faculty advisor for AIESEC, b.Line Magazine, DECA, Delta Sigma Pi, Sigma Iota Epsilon, Society for Human Resource Management, Students in Free Enterprise, and Wisconsin Consulting Club. He teaches courses in organizational behavior, consulting, and leadership development. He is truly a leader for many students at the Wisconsin School of Business.Comments made in the nominations for Dr. Kuzuhara include:

“Loren exceeds the expectations for a teacher. He goes beyond what is expected from him. He is not only passionate about teaching MHR, but also cares about his students!”

“Loren goes beyond teaching the material and tries to get to know each of his students. He really cares about their success and provides relevant, useful information in all his classes!”

“Fantastic professor! He has made me excited to start my career in HR. He has offered me so much insight on the industry, current events, and more. Not only is he full of knowledge, but he is also a great person.”

TOP TENSummer Activites in Madison

FOR LINKS AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF THESE GREAT ACTIVITIES VISIT www.blineonline.org!

CONCERTS ON THE MEMORIAL UNION TERRACE – Grab a pitcher, gather some friends, and relax along Lake Mendota while listening to local and national bands span-ning every genre.

CONCERTS ON THE SQUARE – the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra performs a wonderful concert on the steps of the Capitol building as thousands take in the beautiful sounds across the square. The free concerts are held each Wednesday from the end of June to the beginning of August.

FARMERS’ MARKET – The Farmers’ Market is a great way to try some new foods or create a special meal for a special someone! The nation’s largest producer-only farmer’s market features fresh, sea-sonal fruits and vegetables, meats, cheeses, and baked goods. Open every Saturday outdoors starting April 21, rain or shine!

MAXWELL STREET DAYS – For one magical weekend, State Street be-comes a haven for incredible deals at this amazing summer sidewalk sale. As you walk along the street employees on ladders grab your attention by hollering out their store’s specials with a megaphone. My personal favorite deal – 50% off of EVERYTHING at Sports World (yes, they mean EVERY-THING).

RHYTHM AND BOOMS – There is no better way to celebrate Independence Day than the Madison

Rhythm and Booms is held the Saturday before the Fourth of July.

TANNING ON CAMPUS – Nobody wants to see your pasty side during the summer. There are popular locations all across campus to catch some rays. Famous spots include Bascom Hill, the Kohl Center, Memorial Union Terrace, and that little patch of grass on the corner of Gorham and University. Don’t forget your sunscreen (nobody wants to see you like a lobster either)!

HENRY VILAS ZOO – only remaining free zoos in America. Just a few minutes’ walk from campus reside true “party animals”. Tigers, bears, and the true BUCKY BADGER all

PICNIC ON PICNIC POINT – This incredible natural peninsula on Lake Men-

some quality time with friends and family. S’mores at sunset? Yes, please. The end of the path was remodeled, giving you another reason to check out this beautiful getaway!

WORLD’S LARGEST BRAT FEST – Celebrate this Wisconsin classic with delicious grilled brats (around

local charities, giving you all the more reason to enjoy 2 or 12 brats.

CANOEING – UW students and faculty can rent canoes, life jackets and paddles offered by Hoofers to bring out along Lake Mendota. Available every day of the week throughout the summer starting May 28.

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Need More b.Line?Now you can catch up with more business news on our new blog! Subscribe to the

blog to get the news hot off the presses and stay up-‐to-‐date.

Visit b.Lineonline.org to get started today!

b.Line staff would like to thank the following:

The Business Career Center (BCC)Steve SchroederLoren KuzuharaMarty Blalock

Funded in part by the AssociatedStudents of Madison. ASM doesnot necessarily endorse the beliefsor actions of the organization.

Find us on Twitter! www.twitter.com/bLineWSoB

Find us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/bLinemagazine

May 2012

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