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Kelley School of Business Indiana University Bloomington
Kelley School of Business

IU Kelley School conference to focus on inequities in health and wellness

Posted on by George Vlahakis

 

Black female pediatrician hold stethoscope exam child boy patient visit doctor with mother (stock photo)

The conference will examine ongoing efforts to improve both the delivery of healthcare and health-related social factors like access to healthy foods. (Getty Image)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana University Kelley School of Business is hosting a conference on Dec. 1 focusing on widespread inequities in health and wellness among different populations and ongoing efforts in the state to address them.

Dr. Paul K. Halverson, founding dean of the Fairbanks School of Public Health at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, who has served as senior health advisor for the state health commissioners as well as the governor’s office, will open the conference as keynote speaker.

The conference, “Closing the Gap of Health Inequalities,” will take place at Roche Diagnostics, 9115 Hague Rd, on the northeast side of Indianapolis. It is part of the Indiana Life Sciences Collaboration Series, presented by the Kelley School’s Center for the Business of Life Sciences.

“Addressing the persistent disparities in health and wellness is an issue that can’t be ignored. While the healthcare cost implications are significant, the societal and economic implications are even more so,” said George Telthorst, the center’s director.

“This conference will examine ongoing efforts to improve both the delivery of healthcare and health-related social factors like access to healthy foods, access to transportation and safe neighborhoods, which influence health outcomes.”

Paul Halverson

Paul Halverson

Halverson will present the conference’s opening keynote, “Defining Health Inequities,” at 9:15 am.

Other presenters will include Paige Bingham, director of Close the Gap, a health equity initiative supported by Boston Scientific; Ariana McGee, founder and CEO of Navigate Maternity, a Fort Wayne-based company that produces a wearable intuitive monitoring system that collects data and notifies providers when there are significant or alarming patient changes, and Holly Wood, senior director of Purdue University’s Equity Health Initiative.

Participating on a panel discussion about provider perspective and initiatives will be Edmond Davis, senior director for health equity at Zimmer Biomet; Dr. Brownsyne Tucker Edmonds, associate professor of obstetrics & gynecology and associate dean for health equity research at the IU School of Medicine and vice president and chief health equity officer at IU Health; and  Tedd Grain, vice president of social determinants of health at Eskenazi Health Foundation and Eskenazi Health. Marsha Weiner, director,  project management office at Boston Scientific, will moderate.

A second panel looking at the payer’s perspective will feature Antoniette Holt, division director of the Office of Minority Health at the Indiana Department of Health; Darryl Lockett, health equity director at Anthem Indiana Medicaid; Andy Vetor, president of benefits consulting and chief growth officer at MJ Insurance. Jenn Kowalski, vice president of the Public Policy Institute at Elevance Health, will moderate.

Halverson joined the Fairbanks School of Public Health in 2013 as the first dean of a newly established school. The school was created in September 2012 through a $20 million endowment from the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation and a $1 million feasibility study from Eli Lilly and Company. In his role, he has served as a senior health advisor for the state health commissioners as well as the governor’s office, and led the Indiana Health Systems Review, which led to a role in the Governor’s Public Health Commission. In addition, Halverson led the creation of an academic health department within the Marion County Public Health Department, led by Dr. Virginia Caine.

He recently was appointed as dean and professor at the School of Public Health at the Oregon Health & Science University and Portland State University, and this conference will be one of his last public appearances in Indiana. Earlier this month, he was awarded one of the highest distinctions in the state of Indiana, the Sagamore of the Wabash. The award is the highest bestowed by the governor of Indiana and is a personal tribute given to those who have rendered distinguished service to the state.

The Center for the Business of Life Sciences brings together key players from industry, academia, government, and economic development communities to share ideas and expertise. It drives the Kelley School’s life sciences agenda and provides connections to its outreach and research activity and its academic programs.

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IU and Kelley students, faculty and staff build Habitat home for Bloomington family

Posted on by George Vlahakis

Group of people on the field waving to the camera, after Maria Magno-Perez and her three children accepted the keys to their new home.

The IU Kelley School of Business has worked with Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, Habitat for Humanity International, and Whirlpool Corporation to participate in a community home build. Students, staff, and faculty are invited each fall to volunteer with us to build a home and community together. Last year, Maria Magno-Perez and her three children accepted the keys to their new home on the field at IU’s Homecoming game.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Among the thousands of fans flowing into Memorial Stadium for Indiana University’s football game, the word “homecoming” will have special meaning for one Bloomington family.

While homecoming is a tradition of welcoming back alumni and friends, for Cherri Morris and her four grandchildren, it will be remembered as the day they received the keys to a home of their own. As part of Homecoming Weekend, they will join leaders from the IU Kelley School of Business, Habitat for Humanity and sponsor Whirlpool Corp. at the official groundbreaking for their new home.

An official groundbreaking and celebration will take place at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 21 at the building site in Osage Place, Habitat’s third neighborhood in Monroe County. The public is welcome to attend. The day before, students, faculty and staff from IU and the Kelley School along with Whirlpool employees will begin building the home through Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County.

This will be the 13th house constructed since the collaboration with Whirlpool Corp. began in 2010. Nearly 3,000 IU students, staff, faculty, and alumni have come together to build the previous homes alongside Monroe County families. About 245 people are expected to volunteer this year. Morris’s new home will be one of 250 climate-resilient and energy efficient homes built through the BuildBetter with Whirlpool initiative.

Local and national Habitat representatives will be joined at the build and groundbreaking event by volunteers, campus leaders and several current and retired Whirlpool Corp. executives. The executives include those with strong ties to Kelley, such as retired CEO Jeff Fettig, who earned a bachelor’s degree and MBA from IU before joining the company in 1981.

Morris and her grandchildren will symbolically receive keys to her home after the event, on the field at Memorial Stadium before IU’s homecoming football game against Rutgers University.

Cherri Morris and her four grandchildren in a family portrait

This year’s homeowner, Cherri Morris, and her grandchildren

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Christopher LaMothe, key leader in Indiana’s venture capital community, to speak at IU Entrepreneurial Connection Day

Posted on by George Vlahakis

Christopher LaMothe

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Three alumni of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business will return to campus on Oct. 6 to share insights and experiences with students, faculty, and guests at the 14th IU Entrepreneurial Connection Day.

Christopher LaMothe, a 1992 MBA graduate, venture capitalist and a key figure in the state’s business community, will be the keynote speaker and will receive the William L. Haeberle Entrepreneurial Legacy Award.

Also presenting is John Walter, a 2008 MBA graduate and executive vice president of Direct Supply, a leading provider of the healthcare and medical products; and David Weisburd, head of venture capital at 10X Capital and a 2008 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in management and entrepreneurship.

The event will take place from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Room 2075 of the Hodge Hall Undergraduate Center, beginning with remarks by LaMothe. It will wrap up with an annual networking event for IU Kelley entrepreneur alumni and students. There is no cost to attend.

The event is being presented by the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Kelley School.

Christopher LaMothe

LaMothe is founder and CEO of Ascendanci Ventures, a private equity entity focusing on early-stage tech and tech-service firms. He served as CEO of Elevate Ventures from 2015 to 2022, a venture development venture capital organization investing in start-up and early-stage entrepreneurial launches throughout Indiana.

Elevate Ventures was ranked, and has held the ranking by Pitchbook since 2017, as the number one early-stage VC in the Great Lakes and in the top 10 in the world.

Before Elevate Ventures, he served as executive vice president of Element Materials Technologies, leading the global transportation, power generation and industrials sectors of the company.

In 2013, Element Materials Technologies acquired Sherry Laboratories in 2013, which LaMothe had acquired in 2006. As its partner, chairman and CEO, Sherry Laboratories grew into a diversified testing company with divisions in materials, engineering, food and microbiological, oil & gas and environmental with eight laboratories in five states serving national and international customers.

He also has been president and chief operating officer of Oxford Financial Group, LTD, one of the largest private wealth management firms in the country. He also served as CEO of the Trust Company of Oxford with nearly $8 billion under management.

Many Hoosiers remember LaMothe’s contributions as president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. There, he was instrumental in the vision, funding and completion of numerous studies that were used to create a master plan for the direction of the State of Indiana. This plan, Economic Vision 2010, was the foundation for the growing resurgence of Indiana’s prospects and business climate. (more…)

Kelley School and Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies co-sponsor conference, “Business and Peace Scholarship: The Next 25 Years”

Posted on by George Vlahakis

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The two-day Business Horizons Workshop, “Business and Peace Scholarship: The Next 25 Years,” set for Sept. 26-27, brings Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and Institute for International Business together with the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, to focus on bridging the gap between business and peace studies.

The first day is a private, invitation-only session, while the second day is open to the public.

Tim Fort

“This gathering seeks to consider what the next 25 years or so will look like,” said organizer Timothy L. Fort, affiliated scholar of business ethics at the Kroc Institute, who holds the Eveleigh Professorship in business ethics at the Kelley School. “We will look in terms of disciplines the field might encompass, geographical areas to be considered, and values of business organizations and how those values may or may not foster peace.”

“The State of the Art in Business and Peace” is the focus for day one, with participants and conference co-organizers Jason Miklian, senior researcher of business development at the Centre for Development and the Environment at the University of Oslo, and John Katsos, associate professor of management at the American University of Sharjah. Other invited scholars represent the Wharton School of Management, University of York, Peace Research Institute Oslo, Kedge Business School in France, Universidad de los Andes in Colombia and others.

The second day’s theme, “Bringing the Business and Peace Agenda Forward,” will be an opportunity for engagement with the public via Zoom. The discussion will center on the role of business in Colombia, with four scholars presenting papers on business and industry issues in the country, including Richard (Drew) Marcantonio, assistant teaching professor of management and organization at the Mendoza College of Business.

Marcantonio’s paper, “Environmental violence and Enterprise: The outsized role of business for environmental eacebuilding,” will also be included in a special workshop issue of Business Horizons. The academic journal aims to showcase articles that provide empirical evidence and theoretical contributions on how organizations can and should adjust their management and operations to adapt to the current era of uncertainty–particularly related to climate change, globalization, and social inequalities.

In his article, Marcantonio delves into the role of business as a primary producer and contributor to environmental violence, as well as the possibility of business being a force for good, protecting the environment.

“This is my first foray into speaking truth to power in this area of scholarship,” said Marcantonio, “I am excited to see how it is received.”

Those interested in attending the second day’s public event may register via Zoom.

Editor’s note: This article originally was a news announcement from the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.

Kelley School of Business honors six alumni for their professional achievements

Posted on by George Vlahakis

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Six alumni of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business will be honored for professional achievement and volunteer leadership during the 2023 Kelley Alumni Awards Ceremony on Oct. 7 at IU Bloomington.

The Kelley Academy of Alumni Fellows recognizes alumni who have earned the stature of exceptional leaders by their demonstrated successes in organizations and their contributions to management philosophies and practices. This year’s class of fellows includes:

  • Tom Cole, BS’82, retired co-head of U.S. Leveraged Finance at Citigroup Global Markets
  • Yousuf Mahomed, MD, MBA’15, professor emeritus of surgery at the IU School of Medicine and co-founder, owner, and CEO of Mahomed Sales & Warehousing, LLC
  • Deidra (Dee) Merriwether, MBA’97, chief financial officer at Grainger
  • Michelle Wu, BS’01, senior vice president Core IT at Brenntag

The Distinguished Entrepreneur Award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated the ability to establish a new business or turn around or significantly grow an established business. This year’s award will be presented to Greg Oslan, BS’82, CEO of Arturo.

Derek Hicks, MBA’02, executive vice president & chief business officer at Intellia Therapeutics, will receive the Volunteer Leadership Award. He is recognized for extraordinary involvement with and investment in the Kelley School and for inspiring and impacting future generations of alumni leaders.

“It is an immense honor to celebrate the achievements of these exceptional alumni, who have positively impacted the global business landscape while promoting Kelley’s culture of collaboration and support,” said Ash Soni, dean of the Kelley School and The Sungkyunkwan Professor. “They embody the very essence of what it means to be a Kelley, and their journey from our classrooms demonstrates the transformative power of a Kelley education.”

The Kelley School of Business Alumni Association selects and confers members of the Academy of Alumni Fellows, which now includes 257 individuals. Read more about this year’s award recipients. (more…)

Kelley professor travels with Indy Chamber to study Switzerland’s work-based learning system and bolster Indiana’s workforce

Posted on by George Vlahakis

Delegates in the Indy Chamber’s Leadership Exchange gathered for a discussion at the FIFA Museum in Zurich.

ZURICH – Phil Powell, executive director of the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, is among a delegation of more than 100 business, government, nonprofit and education leaders who have traveled to Switzerland to study the country’s work-based learning system.

The delegation, which also includes IU President Pam Whitten and her peers at Butler University, the University of Indianapolis and Marian University, is learning more about Switzerland’s apprenticeship system and how its best practices may be applicable to Ascend Indiana’s Modern Apprenticeship Program.

They have traveled there though the Indy Chamber’s Leadership Exchange (LEX), an annual event described as “an exclusive immersion into the economic infrastructure of other major metropolitan areas.” The IBRC is a session sponsor and Powell is providing opening remarks for a panel discussion on Sept. 20, “Role of Intermediaries in the Dual Education System.”

Phil Powell, left, and Tony Denhart, executive vice president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, discussed how to make apprenticeships a competitive asset for the state.

“The focus is all about workforce. The objective is to learn how universities, businesses, and government came together to build regional apprenticeship systems in Switzerland,” said Powell, also an associate clinical professor of business economics.

The IBRC published a special issue of the Indiana Business Review to provide pre-reading for the delegation. The highlight article is a study of the Indianapolis workforce that it just completed.

Jason Kloth and Stephanie Bothun, president and vice president respectively of Ascend Indiana, co-wrote an article about the importance of apprenticeships today in Indiana. The organization works with all Indiana universities – including IU – to match graduates with jobs.

In 2020, Employ Indy and Ascend Indiana launched the Modern Youth Apprenticeship program, which has been successful thus far. It may provide a basis for future efforts.

95% of Swiss high school graduates enter the labor force with a post-secondary credential. A share of working age adults significantly higher than Indianapolis participates in the labor market. Income tax rates in Indiana and Switzerland are similar.

“Per capita real GDP in Indy only grew 1% between 2007 and 2021. Compare this to 16% in our peer cities. Real labor productivity only grew 3%. Indianapolis will enter an irreversible poverty trap without bold vision from business, government, and education leaders,” Powell said.

“We will return with ideas to positively disrupt the way we prepare Hoosiers for high wage, high fulfillment jobs,” he added. “The future of prosperity in our city of Indianapolis depends upon it.”

Previously, LEX delegations have traveled to cities across North America, including Minneapolis, Nashville, San Antonio, San Diego and Toronto, to learn how those cities have addressed needs pertaining to public transportation, homelessness and other issues.

U.S. News ranks Kelley School undergraduate program and eight specialties in the top 10

Posted on by George Vlahakis

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business continues to deliver a quality experience for undergraduate students, as demonstrated through another top 10 ranking among all business schools in the U.S. News rankings.

The Undergraduate Program at the Kelley School in Bloomington is ranked eighth overall and No. 1 in the state of Indiana. Eight specialty programs are ranked in the top 10 and nine are in the top 15.

“U.S. News’ overall No. 8 ranking of our Undergraduate Program is certainly impressive, but it is also a story of consistency and delivering high quality business education across all disciplines and fields,” said Ash Soni, dean of the Kelley School and the Sungkyunkwan Professor.

Ash Soni

“Over the last decade, the program has consistently been ranked in the Top 10 along with many of our disciplines,” Soni added. “This year, four of our disciplines are ranked in the Top 5 in the U.S., eight in the Top 10, and nine in the Top 15. This shows that our graduates are getting an education from one of the best programs in the country, no matter what their major is.”

Kelley’s marketing program is ranked third; both accounting and entrepreneurship were fourth; management; fifth, information systems, seventh; production and operations management, ninth; and finance and business analytics, each 10th.

The school rose eight spots in rankings of international business specialties, from 23rd to 15th.

Kelley also was ranked eighth last year and is fourth overall among public institutions.

Soni said he appreciates hearing from students and their families about how they see tremendous value in the education Kelley offers, and from companies who recruit its graduates.

The program distinguishes itself from others through initiatives such as Kelley Compass, which helps students build their personal brand and develop their career path based on values, interests, personality, and skills. The school also offers a portfolio of support services for students, including a one-on-one mentoring program offered to every incoming student.

Kelley’s frequently copied I-Core program helps students attain an understanding of the cross-functional relationships between finance, marketing, operations, and leadership.

U.S. News only ranks undergraduate programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and results are solely based on surveys of deans and senior faculty. Its peer-assessment score is based on two years of data about programs that are considered the best in a variety of specialty areas.

Kelley School announces partnership with Suzy to empower the next generation of market researchers

Posted on by George Vlahakis

NEW YORK — Suzy, a leading end-to-end market research software platform, announced a groundbreaking partnership with Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

This collaboration is a first of its kind for the Kelley School and will provide students with unparalleled access to cutting-edge market research tools and insights, fostering the development of the next wave of innovative business thinkers.

The Kelley School, renowned for its world-class business and marketing education, will be incorporating Suzy’s market research platform into its curriculum.

Ann Bastianelli

Ann Bastianelli

The class, led by Ann Bastianelli, Teaching Professor of Marketing, is working with renowned, enterprise brands over the course of the year to help solve business challenges. With Suzy, the students will be able to use the platform and advanced research methodologies to enhance their consumer insights. This collaboration aligns with both Suzy’s mission to democratize market research and the Kelley School’s commitment to providing students with real-world, applied learning experiences.

“As CEO of Suzy, I am honored to partner with Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, an institution known for nurturing the brightest minds in the business world,” said Matt Britton. “This collaboration aligns perfectly with Suzy’s vision to revolutionize market research by putting powerful insights into the hands of those who will shape the future of business. Together, we’re equipping students with the tools they need to innovate, disrupt, and lead in an ever-changing market landscape.

“A special thanks to Professor Bastianelli for her innovative thinking in forging this partnership.”

Founded in 2018, Suzy is changing the way research gets done by integrating quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis, and high quality audiences into a single connected research cloud. Suzy enables teams to conduct iterative, efficient research with agency-quality rigor at a fraction of the cost of traditional market research. Suzy has been recognized on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Startup Employers in 2022, Inc. Magazine’s list of Best Workplaces of 2022 & 2023, and as a GRIT Top 50 Most Innovative Supplier in Market Research.

Suzy has raised over $100 million in venture capital funding from investors that include Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, Foundry Group, H.I.G. Capital, Rho Ventures, North Atlantic Capital, Tribeca Venture Partners, Triangle Peak Partners, and Kevin Durant’s 35 Ventures.

The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University is ranked eighth nationally for undergraduate business education by U.S. News & World Report, with the marketing program ranked third nationally. Known for its commitment to academic excellence and real-world applications, the Kelley School continually produces graduates who are poised to become leaders in the global business community.

Life sciences conference series contributes to innovation and collaboration among Indiana firms

Posted on by George Vlahakis

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana Life Sciences Collaboration Series, presented by the Center for the Business of Life Sciences at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, addresses issues facing Indiana companies and Hoosiers in general.

Topics that will be discussed during the 2023-24 series include persistent disparities in access to health treatment, the effect of the Inflation Reduction Act on the cost of prescriptions and healthcare plans, and the expanding involvement of Big Tech firms on the industry.

Now in its 17th year, the conference series receives support from BioCrossroads, Indiana’s leading initiative to grow, advance and invest in the life sciences. Darshan Shah, executive vice president for data and AnalytiXIN at the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and serves on the advisory council for Kelley’s Center for the Business of Life Sciences, said the conferences provide a valuable forum for discussing key issues facing the state’s life sciences industry.

Darshan Shah

Darshan Shah

“As a frequent attendee of IU’s Center for the Business of Life Sciences’ convenings, I know the value of the information shared by some of the leading minds and innovators working in the life sciences sector,” said Shah, who has regularly attended the conference series since while he was completing his MBA at Kelley School. “It’s an excellent place to learn about the challenges we face and to find your place as part of the solution.”

The Center for the Business of Life Sciences brings together key players from industry, academia, government, and economic development communities to share ideas and expertise. It drives the Kelley School’s life sciences agenda and provides connections to its outreach and research activity and its academic programs.

“BioCrossoads’ role over the years to educate people as to the industry’s size and significance to the state has gained it much respect and credibility. Having their support and involvement will help do the same for the conferences,” said George Telthorst, the center’s director. “BioCrossroads is a touchpoint for many start-ups they invest in as well as strong relationships with large long established companies in the industry.”

George Telthorst

George Telthorst

Telthorst said the healthcare ecosystem is so tightly interconnected that it makes sense to look at the bigger picture though the conferences, as opposed to focusing strictly on life sciences companies.

“It’s better to think of it more as a ‘value web’ and not a ‘value chain’ – things impacting one part can be felt throughout the system. Many of these issues impact all companies and communities in one way or another as payers, providers, and consumers,” he said.

“The series gives people from across the ecosystem a reason to get together and make connections they otherwise might not have made. It also provides opportunities to learn from seasoned executives and researchers and build a sense of camaraderie and synergies among professionals working in this highly regulated industry.”

Here’s the schedule for the conference series:

  • Dec. 1, at Roche Diagnostics in Indianapolis – “Closing the Gap of Health Equalities.” The program will examine ongoing efforts to improve both the delivery of healthcare and health-related social factors like access to healthy foods, access to transportation and safe neighborhoods, which influence health outcomes.
  • Feb 16, 2024, at Ice Miller LLP in Indianapolis – “Industry Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act.” Various stakeholders from across the industry will share their perspectives on the law’s current and future effects on healthcare plans, product portfolios and patient choices and costs.
  • April 19, 2024, at the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute in 16 Tech Innovation District in Indianapolis – “Tech: Don’t Be Afraid of Healthcare!” Close observers and “those in the trenches” will provide analysis of Big Tech companies like Microsoft and Alphabet and their attempts to expand into healthcare.

The registration fee is $450 for the series or $175 for individual conference and lunch is included. Registration can be done online or by contacting Kelli Conder at the Kelley School at 812-856-0915 or kconder@indiana.edu. Full-time students an at accredited Indiana institution of higher learning may qualify for a student discount. Contact Conder for more information.

Series sponsors are Commissioning Agents, Inc., Elevance Health, Lilly, LabCorp and Reckitt Benckiser. Other sponsors are Blueprint Marketing Group, Boston Scientific, Cook, Crowe, Deloitte, Fort Wayne Metals, hc1, Ice Miller, the Indiana Clinical and Transitional Sciences Institute, Miles Printing, Paragon, Purdue University, Roche and Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP.

Marketing sponsors are the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, Indiana Health Information Exchange, IU Office of University Relations, and Linking Pharma Women.

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