Collins College of Business Magazine

4 T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F T U L S A B U S I N E S S M A G A Z I N E W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 5 ExECutIvE advisory board prof ile ] [ COLLEGE news C ollins College of Business Executive Advisory Board (EAB) member Marcia MacLeod (BA '75, JD '80) credits The University of Tulsa with shaping her life and career, thanks to a chance meeting and a dose of strong advice. When she made her first "short list" of colleges to visit, TU wasn't even on it. "As I initially considered colleges, I only applied to the big state schools," said MacLeod, WPX Energy senior vice president of human resources and administration, "However, I had the opportunity to meet Dewey F. Bartlett, Sr., while he was our state governor. He encouraged me – no, he insisted – that I apply to TU." Though MacLeod was concerned that she couldn't afford the private school tuition, Bartlett encouraged her to seek scholar - ships and recommended her for financial aid. "The fact that such a wonderful man cared enough to help me in this important process gave me so much confidence," she said. MacLeod earned her TU undergraduate degree in commu- nication in 1975 and a juris doctorate from the College of Law in 1980. Her professional roles have varied by industry and geography, such as serving in a trust auditing function for First National Bank of Tulsa, as an attorney for Hughes & Luce, and in Marcia MacLeod many leadership capacities with Williams Companies where she advanced to vice president and chief information officer. In 2004, MacLeod joined the EAB as one of the many ways she could "pay it forward." "I wanted to give back to the university for many reasons, not only because it provided me a tremendous education and helped financially support me through two degrees, but also because of the way TU influences many lives within the fabric of Tulsa," she said. During her career at Williams and WPX, a strong relationship developed between the Collins College of Business and MacLeod's organizations. "TU has become one of three core recruitment sites for us due to the exceptional quality of the students," MacLeod said. "The MBA grads have a remarkable ability to move easily from one discipline to another." In addition to her professional agenda, MacLeod also devotes her time and talent to many groups and organizations such as the Oklahoma Center for Community Justice, the Tulsa Area United Way Women's Leadership Council, the Tulsa Community Foun - dation, Saint Simeon's Foundation, and the Feeding Oklahoma Initiative. Most recently, she has worked with Dean Sullenberger and the Collins College of Business EAB. She says it's exciting to watch the college receive national recognition. "It's so encouraging to see the college listed in U.S. News & World Report as well as in Bloomberg Businessweek," she noted. "TU has really upped the game." ■ Friends of Finance also helps students through the funding of the Student Investment Fund (SIF), now with student-managed investments in excess of $3.4 million. The first four 2014 events are made possible thanks to the generous support of underwriters Sam Combs/COMSTAR Advi- sors, SemGroup Corporation, Helmerich & Payne and Leggett & Platt. To register for a luncheon or for more information, please visit www.utulsa.edu/fof. Friends of Finance Luncheons Fueled Up for 2014 Friends of Finance kicked off the new year with special guest Andrew C. Taylor, chairman and CEO of Enterprise Holdings at a January luncheon. Taylor entered the automotive business nearly 50 years ago, and currently oversees the privately held business, founded in St. Louis in 1957 by his father, Jack Taylor. Building on the success of the company's flagship Enterprise Rent- A-Car brand, the Taylor family acquired the Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental brands in 2007 in the largest acquisition ever in the car rental industry. The family renamed the company Enterprise Holdings in 2009, and today it operates a network of more than 8,200 neighborhood and airport locations worldwide. "We were very fortunate to have Mr. Taylor come to TU," said J. Markham Collins, the Edward E. and Helen T. Bartlett Founda - tion Professor of Business and Finance. The luncheon speaker series, now in its 29th season, is an outreach of the TU Friends of Finance membership (more than 430 strong) and their commitment to professional improvement. More than 400 business men and women regularly attend the executive luncheon series held in TU's Allen Chapman Activity Center. Each month, the speakers share insights on challenges, opportunities and career motivations with luncheon attendees and TU students. "We are delighted to be able to host students, and members often are surprised to learn they can do so," Collins said. Students are seated next to a representative of a corporate sponsor such as ONEOK, NORDAM or the Trust Company of Oklahoma. "This is the perfect opportunity for companies to scout out the new crop of soon-to-be alumni for an internship or ground floor post in one's organization. Better yet, to make a connection and consider sharing a bit of sage wisdom. Our students and attendees thrive in this environment of collegiality." Outstanding quality contributes to the series' enduring success. "Professionals who attend share with me that they are leaving with something of value, information about actions or the motives behind actions, that they could not have obtained elsewhere," Collins said. Collins noted that in addition to bringing industry insight to professionals who attend, the speakers leave with more than just a thank you. "They often take away an entirely new perspec - tive of our city, business environment and university. I recall that Lawrence Leibowitz, COO of the NYSE Euromart, was highly complimentary of the preparedness of our finance students and the beauty of our campus. I am glad Friends of Finance can help bring recognition to the college." "Every meeting, I still encounter someone new and learn something new," Collins said. "It is a great networking opportunity as well as a way to learn from the speakers and audience. Each month, someone asks a question that makes me realize how much business knowledge is in the room." 2014 Friends oF Finance speakers February 11 Doug Lawler, CEO of Chesapeake Energy March 10 Thomas Jorden, President and CEO of Cimarex Energy Co. april 23 James Hackett, CEO of Steelcase, Inc. Friends oF Finance MeMbership beneFits Friends of Finance membership is open to students, alumni and friends of TU who are interested in supporting the basic mission and objectives of Friends of Finance. Members are eligible for reduced registration fees for all meetings, priority in attending sold-out functions, the monthly FOF newsletter, opportunities to interact with the Tulsa business community and the personal satisfaction of helping improve the education of tomorrow's business leaders. For more information on becoming a member, please contact Judy Adair in the School of Finance, Operations Management and International Business at 918-631-2588. ] [ COLLEGE news The University of Tulsa's Collins College of Business has main- tained accreditation by AACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB International announced December 18, 2013 that the college's accreditation at the undergraduate and graduate levels will continue for the next five years. AACSB International accreditation is the highest standard of achievement for business schools. Less than one-third of schools in the United States and less than 5 percent of those worldwide meet the organization's standards. Approximately 687 business schools in nearly 50 countries and territories currently maintain AACSB accreditation. Gale Sullenberger, dean of the college, said the accreditation process requires a team effort from students, faculty and staff. "We are thrilled by the news that we have retained our status among the country's most elite business schools," he said. "This achievement represents ongoing advancements in our college, and it will help us capitalize on the momentum within our degree programs." TU's Collins College of Business is dedicated to educating and mentoring business and healthcare professionals for leader - ship roles in the international arena. In the past year, it has been recognized as the sixth best undergraduate accounting program in the country by Bloomberg Businessweek, a top 100 graduate business school by U.S. News & World Report, and one of the nation's top business schools by The Princeton Review. According to U.S. News, the Collins College of Business is one of only four graduate business schools with a 100 percent employment rate within three months of graduation. TU's Collins College of Business Upholds Accreditation

• Cover