Michigan program networks foster continuing education

      Networking can be especially effective when it’s done with people who have similar backgrounds and interests. Currently there are a few program networks with active boards that strive to accomplish specific goals and foster networking for a particular group of Broad alumni.

“In addition to providing a world-class education, a Broad School MBA opens the door to alumni networking opportunities with business leaders, entrepreneurs and academic and public sector individuals who possess culturally rich and diverse backgrounds,” says Diane Grieves (Weekend MBA ’99), founder of GRICOC Properties, LLC, and a member of the Weekend MBA alumni board.

The Weekend MBA alumni group represents approximately 1,000 graduates of the Weekend MBA program. Recent activities included a 10th Anniversary Celebration, a newly-launched speaker series, an annual golf outing and an annual football tailgate party. The group also provides recruiting support for information sessions for prospective Weekend MBA students.

The new Guest Lecture Series, chartered in order to provide on-going education on current topics of interest delivered by major keynote speakers to students and alumni, is one example of this group’s attempt to provide lifelong learning to Weekend MBA alumni.

The Troy, Michigan-based Executive MBA board is another example of an active program network that strives to provide additional social and learning opportunities to alumni. LaVerne Eubanks (Executive MBA ’06), a member of the board and a senior account representative at 3M Company, got involved with the group as soon as she graduated. “I thought it was an excellent opportunity to network, but I’m also from the school of thought that says you can’t complain about what’s going on if you’re not involved,” she says.

Executive MBA alumni from the class of 2005 have also organized a speaker’s series, and the alumni board is involved with recommending speakers and providing financial support when needed. The group also hosts mix-and-mingle networking sessions and an annual golf outing.

Another Detroit-area network, the Detroit Broad Executive Forum board, exists for the sole purpose of creating a large annual networking/educational event at the Michigan State University Management Education Center — the same location where the Executive MBA program meets. The board is charged annually with finding a C-level keynote speaker that can deliver a timely business topic and with finding executive business leaders to participate in a cross-fire panel discussion.

The group recently hosted its 41st annual event that was well-attended as usual. “Not only is the event a great networking opportunity, but participating in planning the event provides me with an additional way to make close contacts with fellow Broad School alumni and Detroit-area business leaders,” says Jay Keranen (BA Financial Administration ’92), 2006 Detroit Broad Executive Forum chairman and Morgan Stanley senior vice president.

“Networking is truly invaluable, and I like to take every opportunity I can to do so with my fellow alumni,” says Keranen.

Chicago: Networking Opportunities Abound It’s a big city, and an enormous number of Spartans are doing business there. Chicago is the home of one of the Michigan State University Alumni Association’s (MSUAA) largest regional clubs, and its members say that networking is always on the agenda. “We have a really active alumni club, and we had organized networking activities in the past… We found that when we had speakers, lots of people came, but when there were no speakers, no one came,” says Chicago Broad Business Network Co-Chairman Phil Kuhn (BA Financial Administration ’77), who is also a former president of the MSU Alumni Club of Chicago and the president of Executive Risk Management LLC. Kuhn is also a member of the MSUAA National Board. Nate Paulson (Weekend MBA ’99), pictured left, has hosted networksponsored Strategic Network Meetings for alumni in downtown Chicago. Because of the large Broad alumni presence and because of the strong Broad connection within the MSU Alumni Club of Chicago, staff from the Broad School approached a few alumni in 2004 about forming the college’s first Broad Business Network. Kuhn says he jumped at the chance. “We needed meaty topics… We needed to get people to attend that had never come before and add business focused events,” he says. “I knew this would be a way to create value for Broad Spartans in Chicago.” So Kuhn, along with co-chair Rich Lytle (MBA ’01), an IT project manager at CDW, started approaching other people to be on the network’s Founders’ Council to get the network off the ground. “We started by developing a mission statement and a list of goals,” Lytle says. “We then held small information sessions at various places around Chicago and the suburbs. The initial turnout was not what we had hoped for, so we continued brainstorming with a core group and decided to start planning for a large, corporate-sponsored event.” Rick Lytle The group hosted the Chicago Broad Executive Forum event in May 2006 with keynote speaker Greg Josefowicz, then Borders CEO and Broad alumnus. It was attended by nearly 300 Spartans and business leaders. “Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and it really helped establish a Broad Business alumni presence in Chicago,” Lytle says. “I’ve had people say to me, ‘I’ve been seeing events like this for years, but I finally decided to come,’” says Kuhn. “I think it’s great that we can finally give people that added value and touch them consistently.” The group’s next Chicago Broad Executive Forum event is set for May 16, 2007, at The University Club of Chicago. Future goals include hosting 5-6 networking/speaker events per year and forming special interest communities for Broad alumni such as young alumni or MBAs.