College of Business and Economics Archives - 91福利社 /news_tag/college-of-business-and-economics/ Knowledge for your Journey Tue, 19 May 2026 14:37:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/uploads/2022/05/aufavicon.png College of Business and Economics Archives - 91福利社 /news_tag/college-of-business-and-economics/ 32 32 Kenneth Rhodes and Associates, Inc. Named a Founding Family of the FEISC /news/kenneth-rhodes-and-associates-inc-named-a-founding-family-of-the-feisc/ Tue, 19 May 2026 14:37:40 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=46823 The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina (FEISC) at 91福利社 is proud to announce that Kenneth Rhodes & Associates, Inc. has been named a Founding Family, […]

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The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina (FEISC) at 91福利社 is proud to announce that Kenneth Rhodes & Associates, Inc. has been named a Founding Family, marking a significant milestone in the Institute鈥檚 mission to strengthen and sustain family-owned businesses across the state.

This distinction recognizes not only the Rhodes family鈥檚 long-standing business success, but also their deep commitment to generational continuity, community impact, and the advancement of family enterprise throughout South Carolina.

Founded by Kenneth Rhodes, the second-generation family business has grown into a highly respected insurance agency serving clients across South Carolina and Georgia. Known for its unwavering commitment to personalized service, integrity, and long-term relationships, Kenneth Rhodes & Associates exemplifies the values that define enduring family enterprises.听

As a Founding Family, Kenneth Rhodes & Associates joins a select group of multi-generational enterprises dedicated to investing in the future of family business through education, collaboration, and shared learning. Founding Families play a critical role in shaping the Institute鈥檚 foundation鈥攐ffering wisdom, leadership, and financial support to ensure that family enterprises across the Palmetto State thrive for generations to come.听

鈥淲e are honored to welcome Kenneth Rhodes & Associates as a Founding Family of the Institute,鈥 said Dr. Brad Bechtold, Executive Director of FEISC. 鈥淜enneth and Luke Rhodes represent the very best of family enterprise鈥攍eaders who understand both the privilege and responsibility of stewarding a business across generations. Their investment is not only in their own legacy, but in the future of family businesses across South Carolina.鈥

Kenneth Rhodes, Principal Agent and CEO, shared his perspective on the significance of this commitment:

鈥淏ecoming a Founding Family of the Institute is a meaningful step for our business and our family. We believe strongly in the importance of learning from others, sharing our experiences, and investing in the future of family enterprise. This opportunity allows us to contribute to something larger than ourselves鈥攈elping ensure that family businesses across our state remain strong, connected, and prepared for the next generation.鈥

The Founding Family designation reflects a five-year commitment to the Institute鈥檚 mission, including active participation in educational programming, peer learning, and mentorship of other family enterprises. Founding Families serve as ambassadors of the Institute, contributing both intellectual and social capital while helping to build a trusted community of enterprise-owning families.听

Kenneth Rhodes & Associates鈥 recent recognition as the Greenville Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year further underscores the strength of their leadership and their impact on the community鈥攓ualities that align closely with the Institute鈥檚 vision of cultivating resilient, values-driven family enterprises. .

About Kenneth Rhodes & Associates, Inc.

Kenneth Rhodes & Associates, Inc. is a family-owned insurance agency with location throughout the upstate of South Carolina and NortheastGeorgia offering comprehensive insurance solutions to individuals and businesses across the Southeast. Built on a foundation of trust, service and relationships, the firm continues to grow while maintaining its commitment to personalized client care and community engagement.

About the Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina
The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina at 91福利社 exists to empower family-owned businesses through education, research, and meaningful connection. By addressing the unique dynamics of family enterprise鈥攊ncluding governance, succession planning, and leadership development鈥攖he Institute equips families to build lasting legacies that strengthen both business and community.

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Integrated Support Systems, Inc. and the Maiberger Family Named Framing Family of the Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina /news/integrated-support-systems-inc-and-the-maiberger-family-named-framing-family-of-the-kim-s-miller-family-enterprise-institute-of-south-carolina/ Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:56:32 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=46707 The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina (FEISC) at 91福利社 is proud to announce that Integrated Support Systems, Inc. (ISS), and Phil and Sarah Maiberger, have […]

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The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina (FEISC) at 91福利社 is proud to announce that Integrated Support Systems, Inc. (ISS), and Phil and Sarah Maiberger, have joined the Institute as a Framing Family鈥攁 distinguished level of membership reserved for enterprise families committed to continuous learning, long-term sustainability, and the advancement of family businesses across South Carolina.

Based in Clemson, South Carolina, ISS is a respected provider of engineering software and support services, known for its commitment to excellence, customer service, and industry expertise. ISS was founded in 1984 by Everett Thomas, a retired USAF Colonel. Under the second-generation leadership of Reid Thomas, President, and Sarah Maiberger, Vice President, ISS has built a strong reputation as a values-driven enterprise dedicated to both business success and meaningful relationships. Sarah鈥檚 husband, Phil, worked for ISS for almost 15 years and her daughter, Hannah, currently works in the business.

Framing Family members of FEISC are forward-thinking enterprise families who seek not only to grow their businesses, but also to strengthen family unity, governance, and generational continuity. These families actively engage in educational programming, peer learning, and collaborative dialogue with other family business leaders across the state.听

鈥淲e are honored to welcome Phil, Sarah, and the entire Maiberger family as a Framing Family of the Institute,鈥 said Founding Executive Director of FEISC Dr. Brad Bechtold. 鈥淭heir commitment to excellence, learning, and stewardship reflects the very essence of what it means to be a family enterprise. Their leadership will not only benefit their own organization, butwill also contribute meaningfully to the broader community of family businesses across South Carolina.鈥

As a Framing Family, Integrated Support Systems will participate in a wide range of FEISC offerings, including educational programs, exclusive networking opportunities, and access to research and thought leadership from 91福利社. The Maiberger family will also collaborate with other enterprise families to address key challenges such as succession planning, governance, leadership development, and sustaining family harmony while achieving business success.

鈥淧hil and I are excited to deepen our involvement with the Family Enterprise Institute,鈥 said Sarah Maiberger, Vice President of Business Administration at Integrated Support Systems. 鈥淲e believe strongly in the power of learning from other family businesses and investing in the long-term health of both our company and our family. Becoming a Framing Family is a meaningful step in that journey.鈥

The FEISC continues to expand its statewide impact by bringing together family-owned enterprises from across the Upstate, Midlands, and Lowcountry, fostering a collaborative environment where families can learn, grow, and thrive together.

About Integrated Support Systems
Integrated Support Systems (ISS), headquartered in Clemson, South Carolina, provides innovative, high-performance software designed to the aerospace and defense industry. With a focus on reliability, service, and long-term partnerships, ISS serves clients across a range of industries with tailored solutions that drive performance and success.

About the Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina
The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina at 91福利社 exists to educate, connect, and empower family-owned businesses across the state. Through innovative programming, peer networks, and expert resources, the Institute supports enterprise families in navigating the complexities of business, family, and ownership to ensure sustainability for generations to come.

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AU Students Win National Tech Sales Competition鈥 /news/au-students-win-national-tech-sales-competition/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:33:27 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=46669 Students from the 91福利社 College of Business and Economics returned from the Middle Tennessee State University National Tech Sales Competition with awards and valuable networking opportunities.听 This was a […]

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Students from the 91福利社 College of Business and Economics returned from the Middle Tennessee State University National Tech Sales Competition with awards and valuable networking opportunities.

This was a three-round team selling competition where one student served as sales lead and one student served as tech lead.听

The corporate event was sponsored by Oracle, who brought all their own people in to play the roles of buyers and judges. Last year, six students got hired by Oracle out of this event.

A total of 13 universities attended, each bringing two teams. Included were major universities who are powerhouses in the area of sales education with standalone sales centers and multiple full-time staff (eg, University of Florida, LSU, MTSU, University of New Mexico, University of Tampa, etc.).

“You got to love a good David and Goliath story,鈥 AU Professor Bruce Morgan commented in praise of the AU students.听

AU sales competition Morrow and Stevison

Jacob Morrow and Grant Stevison (pictured above) walked away with First Place and $1,000. They also won the Teamwork Award. Morrow won 鈥痶he top Tech lead award. Our other team consisted of Delaney Smith and Alejandro Perez.

Morrow and Stevison said they pulled some late hours to prepare for the competition, which they feel paid off in the end. They are grateful to ther professors at AU鈥擠rs. Joe Spencer and Bruce Morgan, as well as Rick Moody. They also feel that representatives from Herc Rentals provided valuable assistance, coming into the classroom and staging sales competiitions.

鈥泪f you don’t learn how to apply those and the experience to draw from, at the end of the day, you’re just book smart and you’re not actually going to be able to be successful in the real world,” said Morrow, who is majoring in marketing and also finance. 鈥淵ou’re able to immediately be able to integrate the sales skills that you’ve been picking up through your classes. It also gives you a way to test some different sales techniques that you’ve been thinking about in your off time and your studying.鈥

鈥淛acob brought an incredible ability to relate and be personable, and keep the conversation calm, and he spoke with confidence鈥擨 think that that was key,” said Stevison, who is majoring in marketing and minoring in entrepreneurship. 鈥泪 think for me, one of the things that helped me be successful was the ability to adapt and adjust, read the room, read the conversation, read the person, and try to adjust based on that, and not being afraid of hearing an objection or hearing 鈥榥o.鈥欌

Stevison feels that the competition boosted his confidence in his ability to sell, overcoming a mindset that, as a marketing student he felt somehow out of place in a sales competition.

鈥泪 think it gave me a lot of confidence that this is where God wants me and that I have a talent for this,” Stevison said. 鈥泪’m not trying to be cocky when I say that, but I do think that the Lord has allowed this to grow in me, and it’s just further confirmation that this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Also at the conference were 10 other corporate sponsors who participated in five rounds of networking competition, 30 minutes each round.

鈥淵ou went to a table with a corporate sponsor and two to four other students from other universities and had to push your way to the forefront without being domineering. Quite a balance,鈥 said Morgan, adding that before the competition even started, Oracle scheduled an interview with Morrow.

Morgan also praised alternate Erin Rable for her performance during the networking event.听

鈥淪he won the Top Personality Hire Award (not a real award, I made it up but once she got over her fears of just approaching a table of people she didn’t know, you couldn’t stop her),鈥 Morgan noted.

Sponsorship Networking

Morgan considers these competitions as being beyond a conventional competition, citing real results the students bring home, citing the example of Morgan getting a lead for a commercial insurance carrier.

He commented, 鈥淭he Greenville Oracle rep said, ‘all the Anderson students were wonderful.鈥

The group also got to experience a country songwriters show at the Nashville Symphony, along with some line dancing, which student Delaney Smith excelled at. And of course, when in the Music City, they enjoyed some individual and group karaoke singing.听

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Jani-King of Greenville-Spartanburg Joins the Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina /news/jani-king-of-greenville-spartanburg-joins-the-kim-s-miller-family-enterprise-institute-of-south-carolina/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:24:17 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=46599 The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina (FEISC) at 91福利社 is proud to welcome Jani-King of Greenville-Spartanburg as its newest member, further strengthening a growing network […]

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The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina (FEISC) at 91福利社 is proud to welcome Jani-King of Greenville-Spartanburg as its newest member, further strengthening a growing network of family-owned and closely held businesses committed to excellence, stewardship, and long-term success across the Palmetto State.

Jani-King of Greenville-Spartanburg, a leader in commercial cleaning and facility services, is known for delivering high-quality, reliable solutions to businesses throughout the Upstate. With a strong emphasis on professionalism, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence, the organization continues to make a meaningful impact across a wide range of industries.

鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome Jani-King of Greenville-Spartanburg to the Institute,鈥 said FEISC Executive Director Dr. Brad Bechtold. 鈥淭heir commitment to excellence and service aligns beautifully with our mission to support and elevate family enterprises across South Carolina. We look forward to walking alongside their team as they continue to grow, lead, and build a lasting legacy.鈥

As a member of the Institute, Jani-King of Greenville-Spartanburg will gain access to a dynamic community of family business leaders, educational programming, and resources designed to strengthen governance, leadership development, and multigenerational continuity.

鈥淛oining the Institute represents an exciting opportunity for us to connect with other family enterprises and continue growing both personally and professionally,鈥 said Olivia Orren of Jani-King of Greenville-Spartanburg. 鈥淲e are honored to be part of a network that values relationships, shared learning, and long-term success for family businesses across our state.鈥

About Jani-King of Greenville-Spartanburg

Jani-King of Greenville-Spartanburg provides comprehensive commercial cleaning and janitorial services to businesses across the Upstate of South Carolina. Backed by the global Jani-King brand, the Greenville-Spartanburg location combines proven systems with local ownership and personalized service. Their team is dedicated to maintaining clean, safe, and healthy environments for clients across industries, delivering consistent quality and trusted results.

About the Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina

The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina (FEISC) at 91福利社 exists to support and strengthen family-owned businesses across the state. Through world-class programming, peer networks, and advisory resources, the Institute equips family enterprises to navigate leadership transitions, governance, and growth with confidence. Serving members across the Upstate, Midlands, and Lowcountry, FEISC is building a vibrant community committed to sustaining family business success for generations.

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Merit Technologies Joins the Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina /news/merit-technologies-joins-the-kim-s-miller-family-enterprise-institute-of-south-carolina/ Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:23:04 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=46575 The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina (FEISC) at 91福利社 is pleased to welcome Merit Technologies as its newest member, further strengthening a growing community of […]

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The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina (FEISC) at 91福利社 is pleased to welcome Merit Technologies as its newest member, further strengthening a growing community of family-owned and closely held businesses committed to long-term success and generational continuity.

Merit Technologies, led by CEO Abe Varughese and President Theresa Varughese, is known for its innovative approach to technology solutions and its commitment to delivering exceptional value to clients. By joining the FEISC, Merit Technologies aligns itself with a statewide network dedicated to advancing family enterprise excellence through education, collaboration, and shared best practices.

鈥淲e are honored to welcome Merit Technologies into the Institute,鈥 said FEISC Executive Director Dr. Brad Bechtold. 鈥淎be and Theresa and their family exemplify the leadership, innovation, and stewardship that define strong family enterprises. Their engagement will not only enhance their own journey but also contribute meaningfully to the collective strength of family businesses across South Carolina.鈥

As a member of FEISC, Merit Technologies will gain access to exclusive programming, peer networks, and thought leadership designed to support leadership development, governance, succession planning, and strategic growth.

鈥淲e are excited to join the Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina and become part of such a dynamic and forward-thinking community,鈥 said Abe Varughese. 鈥淎t Merit Technologies, we value continuous learning and collaboration, and we look forward to engaging with fellow members to share insights, build relationships, and strengthen the future of family enterprise in our state.鈥

The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina serves as a hub for family-owned businesses across the state, providing resources, education, and a trusted network to help families navigate the complexities of business and family dynamics while sustaining their legacy for generations to come.

About Merit Technologies Merit Technologies is a leading provider specializing in software development, managed services, and IT support. As a Managed Service Provider, the company delivers innovative technology solutions, including applications in artificial intelligence (AI), tailored to client needs to leverage wisely these emerging technologies. Their expertise spans custom software development, comprehensive IT support, and proactive management of technology infrastructure, enabling clients to focus on standards, safety, privacy and growth of their IT systems.听

About the Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina
The Kim S. Miller Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina at 91福利社 exists to support and sustain family-owned businesses across the Palmetto State. Through educational programming, peer learning, and strategic resources, the Institute equips family enterprises to navigate leadership transitions, strengthen governance, and build lasting legacies.

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Mother With an MBA: Hannah鈥檚 Story /news/mother-with-an-mba-hannahs-story/ Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:43:55 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=46410 A quest to pursue further education while seeking balance between home, work and studies led Hannah Reynolds back to 91福利社.听 Reynolds, now a mother of five, recently earned her […]

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A quest to pursue further education while seeking balance between home, work and studies led Hannah Reynolds back to 91福利社.

Reynolds, now a mother of five, recently earned her MBA from 91福利社 while giving birth to two children during the program.

“I think part of me wanted to prove to everyone that you can go to school and have children at the same time,” Reynolds said. “It’s hard, but you can do it if you want to. You don’t have to pick one.”

Reynolds graduated in December 2025 with her Master of Business Administration from the 91福利社 College of Business and Economics, a听milestone听that鈥檚听been听years听in the making. Her journey began with an undergraduate degree听in graphic design听from the South Carolina School of the Arts鈥攁lso at 91福利社鈥攂ut life took her in a different direction before she could pursue graduate studies.

“I always wanted to go back to school,” Reynolds said. “I had my undergraduate degree, but I wanted to continue my education.”

Reynolds鈥 faith was integral to her commitment to see her MBA听through听to completion听while听she was听raising her growing family. She points to 2 Timothy 1:7 as their family verse: 鈥淔or the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power,听love听and self-discipline.鈥

Reynolds said, 鈥For me and my husband, we honor God鈥檚 command to听‘be fruitful and multiply,鈥 and听the degree came second. My first mission for God is my children and family鈥攖he听career was always to support what God blessed us with.鈥

Finding the Right Fit

When Reynolds decided to pursue her MBA, she needed a program that could accommodate her demanding schedule. 91福利社’s online format provided the flexibility she听required.

“I worked a full-time job while doing the online degree, so I had to just work around those two things,” she explained.

Reynolds heads into the office four days a week听at Fujifilm in Greenwood听and works from home on Fridays.听Balancing听work and family听commitments with graduate coursework听required听some strategic听time management.

“I dedicated time to my classes within the window of time after children went to bed every night,” Reynolds said. “I would also read on my lunch breaks, and if there were any apps that would read your textbooks, I would listen to them on the drive to and from work.”

The Art of Being Present

For Reynolds, success听wasn’t听just about finding听time鈥攊t was about being fully present in each moment.听It was also about prioritizing motherhood and choosing to bring two lives into the world during that time.听With three children in diapers and her older sons will听under听10, it听wasn鈥檛听easy,听but听she persevered.听

“Focus and discipline require that you dedicate portions of your life to specific things,” she said. “If I’m with my family, I need to be present with my family. If I’m at school, I need to be present at school.”

This philosophy was tested when life’s unpredictable moments arose. Reynolds recalled times when she had to request deadline extensions, including spending an entire day in the emergency room with one of her children when a paper was due.

“They were understanding,” she said听of听her professors.

A Culture of Support

What stood out most to Reynolds during her MBA journey was the family-friendly culture she听encountered听among 91福利社 faculty.听This support system proved invaluable as Reynolds navigated the challenges of graduate-level coursework while managing the demands of a growing family and听a听full-time career.

“Certain professors I really connected with because they were happy that I had children and a family,” Reynolds said.听“They were so supportive of family.”

When听Reynolds听was giving听birth to her听youngest daughter, she shared the news with her professor, letting her know when to expect the delivery.听She sent the professor a photo of her new baby, receiving the reply, 鈥淭hat makes my听day.鈥澨

Reflecting听on her experience,听Reynolds said,听鈥This past May we welcomed Elizabeth to our family of now听seven, and I took some time off work to heal and take care of her. Then shortly after that I was able to finish my MBA听while being able to talk about my faith in God in every class! Only a little over a year ago, while in the middle of my MBA studies I had another beautiful girl named Ren茅 and right before I started my MBA program I had my first daughter Catherine.鈥

Lessons in Balance

Reynolds’ experience taught her important lessons about managing multiple priorities simultaneously. The key, she discovered, was听maintaining听focus on whatever task was at hand, especially when trying to manage many things at once.

“You have to be present at the time,” she emphasized.

Reynolds鈥櫶齤ourney听at 91福利社 crossed听two different academic worlds, but听she听found value in both experiences. The MBA program offered her the opportunity to develop new skills while听proving to听herself鈥攁nd others鈥攖hat major life events听don’t听have to derail educational goals.

A Message of Possibility

Reynolds hopes her story will inspire others who may be hesitating to pursue their educational dreams because of family commitments.

“You can go to school and have children at the same time,” she said. “It’s hard, but you can do it if you want to.”

Her success听demonstrates听the quality and flexibility of 91福利社’s MBA program, designed to accommodate working professionals and parents.

For Reynolds, earning her MBA while raising five children鈥攊ncluding welcoming two more during the program鈥攚asn’t听about proving she could do the impossible. It was about showing that with focus, discipline,听support听and determination, the听seemingly impossible听becomes achievable. Receiving her degree this past December stands as proof that, with the right mindset and support system, you truly can have both.

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AU Student is Inaugural Supply Chain Scholarship Recipient /news/au-student-is-inaugural-supply-chain-scholarship-recipient/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 15:49:54 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=44512   An 91福利社 student is the inaugural recipient of a new scholarship from the South Carolina Society of Healthcare Supply Chain (SCSHSC).听 SCSHSC established the Dottie Mullins Scholarship for […]

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An 91福利社 student is the inaugural recipient of a new scholarship from the South Carolina Society of Healthcare Supply Chain (SCSHSC).

SCSHSC established the Dottie Mullins Scholarship for students studying supply chain management who have worked on a project with one of the hospital partners and presented their work at their annual conference.

Kim Wooten of the South Carolina Hospital Administration (SCHA) presented Brewer with the $1,000 scholarship, which was named for her mother, Dottie Mullins, recognizing her contributions to South Carolina hospitals.

In God鈥檚 providence, Allison needed such a scholarship at just this moment. Seeing this be awarded at the conference was amazing!鈥 Allison had no idea that this scholarship was even available to her because of how new it was鈥搕he organization announced it and awarded it at the same time,” said Dr. Kimberly Whitehead, supply chain professor at the 91福利社 College of Business and Economics. 鈥淕od has truly blessed 91福利社 and our students because of our relationship with this great organization.鈥疻e could have never imagined the lives that would be changed and blessed by this collaboration the first year we attended.鈥疭o many students have attended, received jobs or internships, and we have even started a program to job shadow with the hospitals and their vendors.鈥

Dr. Whitehead also thanked 91福利社 College of Business and Economics Dean Steve Nail for his support of the Supply Chain program and helping with the cost of attending the conference.

Brewer commented, 鈥淒r. Whitehead had been saying 鈥業 have a surprise for tonight and I can’t let you know what it is.鈥 I had an inkling maybe with some scholarships and I though since there’s only three of us here… I was surprised that I was singled out and selected.鈥

Brewer attended the conference, held annually in North Myrtle Beach, along with Tanner Buck, Avery Croston and Faith Denton. They learned about ways that hospitals interact with supply chain professionals in healtcare-focused companies. They also presented research on how hospitals dispose of outdated technical equipment, comparing the costs of an asset disposition company with the cost of the hospital disposing of items themselves.

The students worked with one such company, Tekyard Medical, as they were preparing their presentation.听

“There are issues with private health information being on machines,” Brewer said, commenting that there are companies that ensure that sensitive information is removed from equipment before it is disposed of.听

Brewer, who is double majoring in Supply Chain and Christian Studies, is exploring potential future careers.

鈥泪’ve thought a lot about how missions and supply chain kind of intersect but is also interested in how missions and supply chain intersect,” said Brewer, giving as an example the Christian organization Samaritan鈥檚 Purse and supply chain applications for Operation Christmas Child, as well as their disaster relief efforts.听

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New Economics Degree Emphasizes Free Markets, Student Involvement /news/new-economics-degree-emphasizes-free-markets-student-involvement/ Thu, 10 Apr 2025 18:04:43 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=43276 The 91福利社 College of Business and Economics is launching a new Bachelor of Science in Business (BSB) in Economics degree in Fall 2025.听 The BSB in Economics at Anderson […]

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The 91福利社 College of Business and Economics is launching a new Bachelor of Science in Business (BSB) in Economics degree in Fall 2025.

The BSB in Economics at Anderson will prepare students for success in further studies, whether they鈥檙e pursuing an MBA or going on to earn a master鈥檚 degree in economics, the latter of which is usually pursued by someone seeking a career as an economist, working in think tanks and other settings where they can provide valuable business insights.

The new BSB in Economics is another one of many examples of 91福利社鈥檚 pillar of Great Academics, with its strong emphasis on student involvement. In the BSB in Economics program, students will develop a foundational knowledge of free markets, free enterprise and individual choice. The program also emphasizes the application of mathematical modeling and statistical analysis, providing students with opportunities to develop and research ideas that have both practical and academic value. They will gain the ability to think analytically in terms of how the economy operates, accurately interpreting data as it connects to the marketplace.

According to College of Business and Economics Associate Dean and Professor of Economics, Dr. Gordon Smith, the program is unique compared to economics programs offered at other institutions, with its strong emphasis on student engagement through practical activities that immerse them in the day-to-day activity of an economist. These activities include a student-run investment fund, preparing economic outlook reports and many opportunities to present research at economics conferences. Smith commented that this approach has been taken in the Economics minor that the College of Business and Economics currently offers.

Details about 91福利社鈥檚 BSB in Economics can be found online here.

 

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What鈥檚 the Big Idea? That鈥檚 the focus of Marketing Students鈥 Project /news/whats-the-big-idea-thats-the-focus-of-marketing-students-project/ Tue, 10 Dec 2024 15:19:00 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=41924 Marketing students in the 91福利社 College of Business were tasked with re-thinking many of the issues we face today and coming up with imaginative solutions for them.听 Their projects […]

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Marketing students in the 91福利社 College of Business were tasked with re-thinking many of the issues we face today and coming up with imaginative solutions for them.

Their projects received funding from The Clouse-Elrod Foundation, Inc. as part of the 2024 Maverick Innovators Fellowship that inspires the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders to catch the 鈥渕averick鈥 spirit and nurture their innovative thinking. As Fellows, these students completed an eight-week, cohort-based training program and “Big Idea” research project with their student peers from eight universities across North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, culminating in a presentation of their project.听

According to Emma Peters, a double major in Marketing and Accounting with a Dance minor, the eight-week course was an innovation 鈥渕indset-reset鈥 kind of course. The foundation provided students with guidance based on top global issues identified by the United Nations鈥攕ocial, economic and environmental.听

鈥淲e were able to learn where our strengths and weaknesses were when it came to innovation and entrepreneurship,” Peters said. 鈥淭o finish out that project, we were able to do a paper where we looked at a global issue and we came up with a new innovative solution for it; we were able to present on that with the founders of the foundation as well as professors across the state of South Carolina.鈥

Peters chose to do a project on global overconsumption and waste disposal practices, focusing on practices and attitudes prevalent among first-world countries.

“I was able to come up with a solution for awareness by using public art displays to bring awareness through public spaces to the issue in hopes that in the future that that could be reduced,鈥 Peters said as she shared her vision for public displays of art works created out of non-biodegradable waste items such as plastic car parts, fast fashion and textiles. 鈥淲e鈥檇 use those to create art pieces that would be lasting, showed impact of what we consume and how it stays on earth for a prolonged period of time鈥攍onger than most people would probably expect it to.鈥

Delaney Smith, who is majoring in Marketing and minoring in Entrepreneurship, focused her project on a sector of the apparel market considered to have a negative global impact.

鈥淢y project was based around the idea of fast fashion. Overconsumption of discarded clothing is a huge problem globally,鈥 Smith said.听 鈥淭rends are just so quick to fade and they change really fast in our society right now because of the way you can find out what people are doing on social media.鈥

Smith unpacked how fast fashion is harmful.

鈥淓very part of the textile manufacturing process, there’s waste generated at literally every step, and so it’s not even just the clothing itself being discarded and polluting our environment,鈥 Smith said. 鈥淭he fact that I surrounded my project on is that every second of the day there’s a tractor trailer full of clothing either discarded or burned鈥攅very second.鈥

Smith’s proposal is to involve consignment sellers of clothing and others such as thrift stores to become part of a multi-city event to raise awareness of fast fashion鈥檚 problem while at the same time creating a solution that鈥檚 more of a win-win.听

Marketing Major Eric Moore drew inspiration for his project from working with kids a couple of summers at a sports camp. While there he interacted with a lot of middle school-age youngsters who were involved in travel sports, such as baseball or basketball.听

鈥淭hese are some of the richest kids in America, so it kind of makes sense… They have the money to do it, but I had 10-year-olds one time, and these kids were literally going to Cooperstown, Panama City Beach, Tennessee, Louisiana. They’re traveling everywhere when they鈥檙e 10,鈥 Moore said. 鈥淲hen I was 10, I was still playing with Matchbox cars and Hot Wheels. I did baseball practice three nights a week and loved it. I’ll never forget one of the kids basically told me that he likes just being at home on the weekend. I was like 鈥榞ood grief, you鈥檙e 10. You shouldn’t be worried about your ERA鈥 or whatever stats they’re worried about.鈥

Moore is concerned about the burdensome expense not all families can handle and burnout from extensive travel aimed at giving a son or daughter a competitive advantage in a particular sport.

Moore鈥檚 project, which he calls the Fun First Movement, is aimed at helping young athletes and their parents value the fun aspects of playing sports. There would be a marketing campaign using high profile sports figures to promote local rec leagues. Another part of the Fun First Movement would be organizing events at community recreation departments. The events would promote team sports while providing fun activities kids can enjoy with their friends. He envisions events where youngsters can enjoy playing their favorite sport, but also enjoy rides, food and parades with their teammates.

The Maverick program keenly develops an innovative mindset among students鈥攈ighly desirable in interviews for a variety of professions as well as for entering graduate school.听 Integrating such innovation into classwork is just one of many aspects of AU’s pillar of Great Academics.

鈥淵ou’re able to build a skill set to become better at those things, which is very valuable to companies and firms when you’re going to look for full time or even part-time employment,鈥 Peters said.

鈥泪 loved being able to find a problem, find a solution and see what overall impacts I think my solution would have,” Moore said. 鈥淭his was definitely a very helpful part of my education.鈥

For Smith, a big takeaway was the program鈥檚 focus on creative problem-solving.听

鈥泪nnovation is something that can be taught if you just take time to learn it. I haven’t really started my entrepreneurship classes, but that’s kind of a different side of things,” Smith said. 鈥泪t was really cool to learn how to be an innovator.鈥

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Whitehead Co-authors Supply Chain Textbook /news/whitehead-co-authors-supply-chain-textbook/ Thu, 05 Sep 2024 16:56:10 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=40756 Dr. Kim Whitehead, a professor in the 91福利社 College of Business, has co-authored with Dr. Edmund Prater An Introduction to Global Supply Chain Management: What Every Manager Needs to […]

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Dr. Kim Whitehead, a professor in the 91福利社 College of Business, has co-authored with Dr. Edmund Prater An Introduction to Global Supply Chain Management: What Every Manager Needs to Understand.

Supply chain concepts haven鈥檛 always been on everyone鈥檚 radar. The COVID-19 pandemic brought new awareness to the crucial role supply chain plays 24/7 in global business. Although most managers and executives are not chain experts, they must know and understand the key aspects of supply chain management to make the best daily decisions for their business.

Many textbooks cover numerous details and theories about supply chains. There鈥檚 a saying that goes something like 鈥淓verything that is taught in business school is theory鈥ntil you must make payroll.鈥

Both Dr. Whitehead and Dr. Prater have made payroll in various businesses they鈥檝e been involved in. This textbook removes the details and is focused on an executive overview of the key aspects of global supply chains that every businessperson needs to know to continually听succeed in their business and make payroll.

Dr. Prater is National Academies of Science Jefferson Fellow and Executive Director of the Veterans Business Outreach Center.

The book is published by Shroff Publishers. Details and ordering information are on their .

Supply Chain book Whitehead

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