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  • Message from the Chair: Ain’t it Grand

    “Ain’t It Grand” was our theme for the first Business Council meeting of the 2025/26 academic year.  This was in recognition of our increased membership from last year and exceeding the milestone of 1,000 years of professional experience on the council. We are off to a great start with 7 guests attending the first meeting, expressing high levels of interest in joining our group and contributing to the great work we have been doing for 40 years.  The first meeting was in our new location at 201 Edison Hall and was packed with participants as well as great information for the members, faculty, students and guests.  Dr Patrick Leahy was the keynote speaker and delivered a university update that is covered later in the newsletter.  Several important dates were announced, and these are again summarized in this newsletter for your reference so that you can plan in advance to attend all the events

    Fall is a busy time at the University and it’s also a busy time for the LHBS Business Council.  The Executive Mentoring Program (EMP) is kicking off and we expect that the student/mentor parings and the introduction breakfast occurred in early October.  This program is the centerpiece of our Student Engagement activities and has been recognized by the AACSB Accreditation Board as “Best Practices” for programs of its type.  I appreciate everyone’s participation and enthusiasm about this program.  This Fall, I’ve heard so many great stories from both students and business council members about the fulfilling experiences they have had participating in this program.  Lastly, I would like to welcome our new student assistant, Natalie Brunke.  Our student assistants do so much behind the scenes to make things go smoothly.  We appreciate Natalie’s work so far and look forward to having her assistance this year and beyond.

    Ken Young

  • The 2025 HR Young Lecture

    The H.R. Young Lecture Series, an annual event sponsored by the Leon Hess Business School, has an outstanding track record of bringing the most outstanding people from all walks of life to our university.  This year’s lecture “Building a Global Medtech Leader” featured Mr. Vincent Forlenza, retired Executive Chairman and CEO at Becton, Dickinson & Company.

    The annual H.R. Young Lecture Series sponsored by the Leon Hess Business School was held on April 24, 2025 in the Great Hall Auditorium. Our past two keynote speakers were Mr. Patrick O’Keefe, author of the award-winning book “Empire of Pain” about the Sackler family of Purdue Pharma notoriety exposing the OxyContin epidemic in our country and Mr. Carmine Coppola, Executive Vice President of Sony Music Entertainment.

    Mr. Forlenza spoke about transforming Becton, Dickinson from a medical supplies manufacturer into a global leader in medical devices, diagnostics, and life sciences.

    A Lehigh University alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Forlenza also serves as Chairman of the Board for MARAbio Systems (Maternal Auto-Antibody Related Autism) specializing in early diagnosis of autism, and director of MNHI (Maternal Newborn Health Innovations). He is also lead director at Moody’s Corporation and chair emeritus on the Valley Health Systems Board of Trustees.

    There were approximately 150 people in attendance. Several of the business professors brought their night classes to the lecture. There was also support from the School of Science and Nursing. The lecture concluded with a very engaging question and answer session.

    Mr. Forlenza commented, “It is my hope that students interested in careers in both the business and healthcare sectors took away valuable insights”. 

  • Business Council Supports Faculty Research

    The Business Council’s Faculty Support Committee is pleased to announce a successful conclusion to our 2025 Summer Research Grant award cycle.  Read about this year’s grant recipients and how past recipients’ research supports the University.

     This year, thirteen professors (tenured and tenure-track) submitted research grants spanning the business disciplines of Accounting, Economics, Finance / Investment, Management, and Marketing.  All but one proposal constituted new research considered for the first time by the Council’s Faculty Grant panel, and three proposals invited undergraduate and MBA student participation. 

    In all, the Summer Research Grant (SRG) Committee awarded $21,400 to twelve Grant Applicants this year.  Roughly half of the proposals funded have been submitted for academic journal consideration, being in the summary manuscript stage of production.  Research subjects with high potential relate to Sovereign Wealth Fund investment, International Infrastructure Investment impacts, and AI-Generated Marketing Campaign Influence.   

    Also of note, a prior 2023 grant recipient, Dr. Tjeerd Boonman, had an article, “Portfolio capital flows before and after the Global Financial Crisis,” published in the Journal of Economic Modeling.  The research explores how global liquidity since the GFC has influenced emerging market economies, particularly with shifts in risk appetite and the search for investment yield. Through its examination and methodology, its research highlights the sensitivity of overseas capital flows to sentiment changes during times of market dislocation and economic stress. This work is a strong example of cutting-edge faculty research supporting the Business School’s AACSB accreditation and is a point of pride for our SRG Committee members who are pleased to have supported it. 

  • 2025 Business Council Awards

    The Student Engagement Committee recognizes student involvement and performance through our annual Business Council Scholarship and Award Programs. Congratulations to…  

    • Business Council Award for Student Leadership 
      Alana Aufiere 
      Tatiana Romero 
    • Business Council Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship 
      Molly Alcantara 
      Alexandria Young 
    • Business Council Award for Resilience and Resourcefulness 
      Kevin Zapata Perez 
    • Karl Gordinier, Jr., Award for Community Impact 
      Kiernan Gallagher 

    In addition, we support the University with student scholarships through the Business Council Endowed Scholarship, the Joseph Adelhardt Endowed Scholarship and Annual Scholarships. Each year, we award more than $10,000 to deserving Monmouth University students.  

    Our students are becoming increasingly more aware of these valuable programs as proven by our 50% increase in applicants this year. The committee is tasked each year with reviewing student resumes and reading their personal essays about the award they are applying for in each category. Many of these essays reveal the impressive character of Monmouth students and we are honored to acknowledge the recipients each year.  Scholarship recipients are selected through the University Financial Aid Office. 

  • Member Spotlight: Joe Rice

    The LHBC encourages all members to get involved and engage; it’s what makes our council stronger and more valuable to the students. This Spring, we’re highlighting an exceptionally dedicated, long-time member of the council who has shared his experience and leadership with the students and University for more than 14 years. This is a spotlight on Joe Rice.

    Joe Rice has been a member of the Leon Hess Business Council since 2011. A Monmouth University graduate of 1986, he currently serves as the Chair of the Student Engagement Committee. In his role as Senior Director at Cardcash, Joe brings a wealth of experience in business development and sales across various industries such as retail, financial, and consumer products.

    The Student Engagement Committee, under Joe’s leadership, aims to provide students with networking opportunities, internships, and employment support. They also offer financial assistance to student-led organizations and individual students through awards and scholarships. The committee manages the Annual Student Awards/Scholarships program, awarding over $10,000 annually to deserving business students at Monmouth University. Additionally, they oversee initiatives such as the executive mentoring program and internship program.

    Joe encourages other council members to actively participate in the Business Council committees, emphasizing the diverse skill sets that can benefit students. When asked about his proudest moments and enjoyable experiences as a council member, Joe highlights the rewarding interactions with students through the Mentoring Program and Student Awards. He values the opportunity to engage with students, learn about their backgrounds, and support their professional development.

    Dr. Janeth Merkle, Assistant Dean for Student Engagement, commends Joe Rice for his dedication to the Business Council’s Student Awards and Executive Mentoring Program. She acknowledges his significant impact on students’ professional growth through mentorship and guidance. Dr. Merkle expresses gratitude for Joe’s ongoing support of the Leon Hess Business School and Monmouth University, recognizing his contributions to preparing students for their future careers.

    View All Member Spotlights

  • Business School Update 

    The LHBS continues to demonstrate its commitment to excellence in education and research. Take a moment to see the highlights of our recent accomplishments in faculty recruitment, student achievements, and scholarly pursuits.

    Faculty Searches

    LHBS is currently conducting faculty searches for multiple departments, with appointments set to begin in Fall 2025:

    1. Economics, Finance, and Real Estate:
      • Tenure-Track (Real Estate focus): Prof. Guoyang Yang has accepted the position and will join LHBS in September.
      • Lecturer (Finance focus): On-campus interviews are scheduled for the week of May 5.
    2. Management and Leadership:
      • Tenure-Track (Entrepreneurship focus): Interviews are scheduled for April 18, 21, and 30.

    Student Awards and Recognition

    On April 17, 2025, LHBS hosted its annual Student Awards and Recognition Reception, celebrating the outstanding achievements of its students across various programs and disciplines. Congratulations to Marcus Gore, for the highest GPA. Several other students received awards in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Real Estate, Management and Leadership, and Marketing and Management, Marketing and International Business, and the MBA Program. But special congratulations to our #TannerPurdy who was named the Outstanding Student in Finance and Real Estate. The Business Council distributed additional awards, which are highlighted in this edition’s Student Engagement article.

    8th Annual Hess Excellence in Scholarship Series

    The Hess Excellence in Scholarship Series, held on April 24, 2025, showcased the innovative research and special projects of LHBS students. With 22 submissions, the competition highlighted the diverse talents and interests within the school. The top five projects were:

    1. First Place: Kyle Bleiweis and Nick Brewer “Evaluating Algorithmic Trading Strategies in Cryptocurrency: A Risk-Adjusted Comparison of Active vs. Passive Management”
    2. Second Place: Ashley Zingillioglu “Gamification in Special Education: ‘Talking with my Classmates,’ Interactive Social Story for Students with Autism”
    3. Third Place: Blake Marushak “ShackConsulting: Harnessing AI for Smarter Learning and Innovation”
    4. Fourth Place: Rachel L. Van Dalinda “Municipal Bonds Marked as Green Instrument Indicators in the State of New Jersey”
    5. Fifth Place: Sherly Gonzalez Lopes “Green Marketing: Environmental Irresponsibility and Its Effect on Sales”

    These projects demonstrate the wide range of expertise being developed at LHBS, from cutting-edge financial strategies to innovative applications in education and sustainability.

    The Leon Hess Business School continues to foster an environment of academic excellence, preparing students for leadership roles in various business sectors while contributing to important research in their respective fields.

  • Message from the Chair

    As we close out the last few days of the 2024/25 Academic Year, I would like to congratulate all of the graduating students, the faculty, and the administrators for a successful year.  The business council wishes all graduating students the very best of success as you venture out from Monmouth University and on to your careers. 

    For the Business Council, it’s been a busy year as well. During this year, the Business Council:

    • Awarded over $4,000 in endowed scholarships to students
    • Awarded $3,000 in annual scholarships to students
    • Awarded $5,000 in annual awards to students
    • Awarded $21,400 to 12 faculty research projects

    In addition, we administered the Executive Mentoring Program, modernized the look and feel of the website and newsletter, continued the Professor in Residence Program, added several new members, and continued to build a collegial community with a common interest in making Monmouth University the best it can be. 

    As we close out this academic year with our annual spring social, our efforts will refocus on supporting the students and faculty once the summer break is over.  I’m looking forward to spending time with all of the council members on June 20th at our Spring Social in a relaxing and social environment.  Thanks to all of the committee chairs who have dedicated their time to the activities of this year.  Thanks to all of the members of the committees who have contributed to the great work we have accomplished.  See you on June 20th, and have a great summer.

    Ken Young
    Executive in Residence
    Chair, Monmouth Business Council
    kenyoung@monmouth.edu
    908-902-2288

  • Message from the Chair

    Welcome to the new look and feel of our quarterly newsletter! I hope you will find the newsletter easier to navigate and more interesting to read than ever. Some of the new features include:

    • “At a Glance” summary of articles with option to link into read full article details
    • Links to our online member directory and a photo gallery highlighting recent events
    • Notifications of upcoming meetings and events

    Also, our business council webpages have been upgraded to better accommodate the rich and dynamic content which is constantly being expanded.  Most noticeable is a better and more intuitive navigation structure. Please take a look at the changes and enjoy the vast amount of content that now exists on our site. 

    Special thanks to Erin Moran, Deb Clay, and Tanya Hill of the communication and event committee for their work on both the newsletter and the website upgrades.  

    As we begin the spring semester, our attention will focus on awarding student excellence and allocating the funds for the faculty summer research grants. Applications for student awards and scholarships have already been distributed and we look forward to a high level of student participation. Please encourage any student that you mentor to apply for these awards.

    For the faculty summer research grants we have some ambitious plans that will be announced in February.  Our goal is to identify creative ways to engage with the business community as both a means of driving more valuable and relevant research and providing additional sources of funding. For those of you looking to get more involved, this will no doubt be an area where you can contribute.

    Lastly, Invoices were sent in late January for the 2025 dues payment. Please be prompt in making your dues payments as we have a goal to be 100% collected by the end of March.

    Ken Young, Business Council Chair

  • 2025 Student Awards

    Applications for the 2025 Business Council $1,000 Student Awards are now open. Business Council members please encourage student mentees to apply to one of our four award categories. Direct students to read award criteria and to access the application form.

  • Faculty Development Initiatives

    Faculty scholarship and development are expectations of the University and AACSB accreditation. AACSB standards state that Intellectual contributions of faculty are expected to advance the theory, practice and teaching of business.  They may also have the potential to address issues of importance to broader society.   

    The Business Council has committed to support LHBS faculty in their ongoing development and scholarship by offsetting costs associated with qualified summer research projects.  Read the spotlight on Professor Robert Scott’s published research. 

    Robert H. Scott, Professor Department Economics, Finance & Real Estate 

    Robert H. Scott III, Ph.D. professor in the Department of Economics, Finance, and Real Estate and Arthur and Dorothy Greenbaum/Robert Ferguson/NJAR Endowed Chair in Real Estate Policy, recently published an article in the Journal of Economic Issues, Vol. 58, Issue 2 (Taylor & Francis Online, 2024). 

    Scott’s article, “The Evolution of Redlining in the United States Housing Market,” explores the lasting effects of redlining in the United States on wealth creation and economic opportunity. Though illegal since the 70s, redlining—which is the practice of discrimination in the homebuying and lending market that has resulted in significant housing inequality—has not disappeared but evolved. The article seeks to understand the history, consequences, and solutions to modern redlining that can generate greater housing equality in the United States.  

    By analyzing the latest Federal Reserve Bank’s Survey of Consumer Finances (2023) data, Scott offers public policy solutions for creating a more financially stable and equitable housing market.