Moody Business News: February 2021

Each month, we will share news and accomplishments of Moody College of Business faculty, staff, and students.

February 2021

Programs and Events

• The LEED Center launched the Accelerate Northside program.
• Eta Sigma Delta Hospitality Honor Society hosted a virtual speaker event "Lodging Industry Post COVID-19" with guests Beaux Schaffner, Area Director of Southern Louisiana & Mississippi Gulf Coast Choice Hotels International and James Thackston, GM of DoubleTree by Hilton Lafayette.
• David Reid hosted several MGMT 320 guest speakers to share information their organization, culture, management, and leadership lessors learning including John Hains, General Manager at Cintas; Rene Gosnell, Human Resources Manager at Cintas; Bryan Singleton, Special Agent of DEA Operations in New Orleans; and Keith Belle, Regional Sales Coordinator of AFLAC.
• Valerie McGehee was the guest on a sales podcast, hosted by the University of Houston Stephen Stagner Sales Excellence Institute, where she shared her research on what it takes to be an effective coach and how to partner with companies to create a dynamic learning experience for future sales leaders.

Awards and Accolades

• Moody College of Business received AACSB extension of accreditation for our business and accounting programs through 2025. 
• Lise Anne Slatten has been accepted as a member of Women in Business Education whose mission is to build greater diversity and gender balance at all leadership levels within business schools.
• Geoff Stewart presented a Klaxoon demo, on behalf of Klaxoon and modeled after his Moody Business presentation, to participants from 16 different countries including various universities including U Penn and companies including Microsoft.
• Lise Anne Slatten, Junior League of Lafayette member and Past President was recently selected from nearly 100 applicants to serve on the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) Diversity, Equity & Inclusion League Members Workgroup.  She is one of 25 League members from the US, Mexico, Canada, and the UK who will work to ensure alignment, collaboration, and accountability as AJLI builds its long-term Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy.
• The Sales Team, mentored by Valerie McGehee, competed virtually in the Redbird Sales Competition hosted by Illinois State University. Allison Gaubert (Management Major) and Kobe Joiner (Marketing Major) competed. Allison moved on to the semi-finals. The next competition is the Bayou Sales Challenge on February 25 at Nicholls State.

Research and Innovation

• Geoff Stewart was awarded a $300,000 grant from United States Department of Commerce for the CARES Act Supplement EDA Awards for University Center Grant Recipients-Accelerating & Planning in Rural & Low Income Areas of Louisiana.
• Gary A. Wagner released the Louisiana Economic Activity Forecast 2021:Q1.
• Chase Edwards was awarded a Discourse Initiative Research Grant from the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University for his current project entitled: "The High Cost of Blue-Collar Employment: A Proposal to Remove Regulatory Barriers to Entry Through Occupational Licensing Reform." 
• Mary Luquette had the following articles published by The Daily Advertiser:
  • "These six factors actually have nothing to do with your credit score" 
  • "You may be strapped financially, but you can take steps toward financial freedom"
• Gary A. Wagner and Josh Bendickson presented their research and teaching at the February 24th Moody Business Executive Advisory Council/Faculty Idea XChange.

News Mentions

• Gary A. Wagner was cited in The Advocate article "Louisiana's population continues to shrink: Stats show nearly 13K decline between 2019, 2020."
• Gary A. Wagner and his Louisiana Economic Activity Forecast were featured in:
  • The Advertiser "Most of Louisiana's major areas fell short of fourth quarter job projections."
  • The Advocate "Recovery continues in state, but number of people working part-time involuntarily soars."
  • The Center Square "Forecast: Louisiana's economy won't make full recovery until next year at earliest."
  • KTBS ABC 3 Shreveport "Forecast: Louisiana's economy won't make full recovery until next year at earliest."