Inaugural Edition - April 2008

A Message from
Dean Salvatore F. Sodano

It gives me great pleasure to introduce the inaugural edition of the Frank G. Zarb School of Business Electronic Newsletter. Our goal is to inform our friends, alumni, faculty, administration and students of exciting developments at the Zarb School and in the greater Hofstra community. A calendar, containing events open to all, will be posted. The newsletter will also highlight achievements of our alumni, faculty and students.

Let me take this opportunity to provide an update on some recent information and accomplishments at the Zarb School.

• Our graduate program is included with other prestigious institutions in the Princeton Review's 2008 edition of the "Best Business Schools," a ranking compiled from surveys of 19,000 students from AACSB-accredited M.B.A. programs. CV Starr Hall, our primary classroom facility, is renowned as a state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility. Furthermore, Princeton Review wrote that our "finance professors are cutting edge, often putting together a curriculum not found in textbooks, incorporating tools developed and used in the field." Our Graduate Career Services also received strong praise in the Princeton Review.
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  The Martin B. Greenberg Trading Room

• I am incredibly proud of our Martin B. Greenberg Trading Room. We are privileged to have the largest, most sophisticated Bloomberg-based academic trading room in the world: With 34 terminals, our students and faculty can access the same data, analytics and software, used by professionals to make trading decisions and to measure and analyze risk in all global markets.
• In April 2007, Hofstra finance students competed in a national trading competition sponsored by the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). NYMEX officials evaluated and ranked the top ten competitors, which included Ivy League students. In a significant romp, Hofstra students placed 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8.
• Effective 2009, the Zarb School of Business has been accepted as a member of the highly-prestigious and competitive New York State Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA).
• Additionally, this semester students from the Zarb School competed in NYSSA’s “Sixth Annual Investment Challenge,” a comprehensive eight-month program where business students are trained by Wall Street leaders to research and report on a publicly-traded company. The Zarb School joined other prestigious business schools in the New York area, including Columbia, NYU, Fordham and Baruch.
• Commencing in Fall 2008, the Zarb School will offer a full-time day M.B.A. program which will include a cohort Honors Scholar section. This is an exciting new venture for our school. We are actively seeking high achievers, students with very strong GMAT scores and undergraduate GPAs. The program offers the opportunity for honors scholar designation, guest speakers, an opportunity for international travel and suggested internships. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, we will be offering substantial scholarships for these top achievers. In addition, we have recently implemented an M.B.A. in Sports & Entertainment Management and an M.S. in Quantitative Finance.
• An Endowed Chair in Chinese Business and Culture Studies has been established that will significantly enhance the global reputation of the Frank G. Zarb School of Business. This is the first step in our creation of the Center for the Study of Chinese Business Practices and Customs which will support student and faculty exchange between Chinese universities and Hofstra, and faculty research relating to Chinese business practices and culture. The Center will also assist local and regional businesses to enhance their understanding of Chinese business.
• An Endowed Distinguished Professorship has also been established in the Marketing and International Business Department honoring Hofstra alumnus Robert Brockway.

The faculty and administration of the Frank G. Zarb School of Business look forward to an exciting academic calendar, filled with stimulating seminars and conferences highlighted below. Please join us.

FACES OF SUCCESS

One measure of success for any business is to examine the product. Our product - you the alumni - have assisted in making the Zarb School an outstanding institution of higher education. Please take a moment to review some of these success stories. This list will be ever growing to reflect the many exceptional graduates that we have produced.

See the Faces of Success from The Frank G. Zarb School of Business

Recently, Anthony Dalessio '80,through KPMG, and Larry Roman '77 made generous gifts to their alma mater. Click on the link below their photos, to learn more about these two successful alumni and their contributions to Hofstra University.

Class Notes

Read the latest updates about other alumni of the Frank G. Zarb School of Business.

Initiatives at the Zarb School

New Academic Programs

Daniel Novello (MBA '08), Director of the Hofstra Business Consulting Group, presents an analysis identifying potential savings for the Nassau County Library System. The plan was requested through the office of County Executive Tom Suozzi.

Full-time, Day M.B.A.
The Zarb Business School is introducing a new full- time day M.B.A. program starting in September 2008. It has been created for students who have scored exceptionally high on the GMAT and are interested in an alternative approach to an M.B.A. M.B.A. students will complete a two-year program with a rigorous core curriculum and advanced specialized work in a professional field. The program requires a 41-48-credit course of study in the fundamental areas of accounting, finance, information technology, marketing, international business, operations, communications and leadership skills, global decision making, economics, and the legal environment. The program includes a 15-credit concentration and a capstone course that involves solving complex business problems, integrating knowledge and skills from various functional areas. Relevant internship experience will also be stressed.

Master of Science in Quantitative Finance
To serve the dynamic and challenging field of quantitative finance, the Zarb School has introduced a new Master of Science program. During the last decade, interest in measuring, managing and controlling financial and operational risk has surged. At the same time, the field of finance has moved towards more sophisticated and highly quantitative methods to enhance our understanding and ability to measure and control a myriad of risks in our highly-volatile economic environment. Consequently, the demand for professionals with strong quantitative skills and knowledge of financial theory and markets has grown. The new Zarb M.S. in Quantitative Finance will provide students who have a sophisticated mathematical background the opportunity to apply their skills to analyze and develop quantitative solutions to contemporary financial problems.

M.B.A. in Sports and Entertainment Management
The M.B.A. in Sports and Entertainment Management, offered by the Zarb School in collaboration with the School of Communication, is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in the sports, media, music, event management, entertainment and gaming industries. Students explore the important issues of management operations, marketing, facilities and financial management, agent/client relations, contract negotiations and arbitration, advertising, promotion and sponsorship. The program is intended to meet the needs of middle and senior management in the profession by enhancing their education and skills, as well as preparing students for entry-level positions.

Study Abroad

In Ireland... Zarb School of Business students have the opportunity to integrate their knowledge about international business/marketing/advertising with the real-life business environment in Ireland, the European Union's strongest economy. Through classroom studies with an emphasis on the host country and specific field experiences related to the subject taught, students gain valuable insights and perspectives that enhance and supplement their learning. Classes are held at the National University of Ireland in Galway and are taught by a Hofstra professor. In addition, students, listen to guest lecturers and participate in local trips, including visits to some of Ireland's best-known advertisement agencies. For further information about Zarb School in Ireland, please contact Dr. Charles McMellon, Department of Marketing and International Business, 223 Weller Hall, (516) 463-6450, or via email.

In the Netherlands ... Hofstra's Exchange Program With the University of Amsterdam ... Hofstra University and the Zarb School of Business offers students the opportunity to travel to the Netherlands to take classes either on a full-time basis during a regular semester or on a part-time basis during the summer at the University of Amsterdam. Students from the University of Amsterdam also benefit from this exchange program and may take courses at Hofstra. For more information about the School of Business' exchange program with the University of Amsterdam, please contact Professor Gioia Bales, Acting Assistant Dean, 308 Weller Hall, (516) 463-5703 or via email.

In the Netherlands ... Hofstra's Exchange Program With Erasmus University ...The Zarb School of Business in cooperation with Erasmus University offers an exchange program for graduate students majoring in finance. Under advisement, Zarb School students may register for courses offered as part of the Master in Financial Management program at Erasmus University and Erasmus students may register for courses in the Master of Science in Quantitative Finance program and other graduate finance courses at Hofstra. For further information about Hofstra's Exchange Program with Erasmus University, please contact the Department of Finance, 221 Weller Hall, (516) 463-5698 or via email.

The Netherlands-America Foundation offers many opportunities to Fullbright Fellows and educational loans for students enrolled in exchange programs. Please take a moment to review these funding opportunities at http://www.thenaf.org/index.cfm?s=education

In China ... The Zarb School's program in China offers Hofstra business students the opportunity to integrate their knowledge about international business/marketing by exposing them to the real-life business environment in China, the fastest-growing economy in the world. Students study international marketing in two stages: they attend three weeks of classes on Hofstra's campus where they learn about international marketing, and then they travel to China to experience the subject first hand and attend more lectures at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. Students visit businesses and learn about business practices in China. Local scholars and company personnel will give guest lectures to expose students to the local environment. For further information about the Zarb School in China, please contact Dr. Yong Zhang, Department of Marketing and International Business, 127 Weller Hall, (516) 463-5713, or via email.

Highlights from Recent Events

2008

Forex Symposium: Regulation of Currency Exchange and Its Impact on International Business

February 2008 ... The Journal of International Business and Law, which is co-published by the Zarb Business and Law Schools, sponsored its first FOREX-symposium. Dean Salvatore F. Sodano gave his opening remarks and then introduced Acting Chairman Walter Lukken of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, who served as the event's keynote speaker. Three consecutive panels followed with Hofstra faculty moderating each panel. The first panel, "Is the depreciating dollar good for the U.S. and world economy? Policy Implications," featured speakers from the International Monetary Fund, Bank of New York Mellon and CMC Markets. The second panel, "FOREX Regulations in the New Millennium" featured speakers from the National Futures Association and Hofstra University School of Law. Featured speakers in the third panel, "Will the pricing and hedging strategies for individual firms be affected by the declining dollar and the legal implications thereof?" included representatives from Estee Lauder, Shearman & Sterling LLP. and the Zarb School of Business.

Hofstra/New York Mercantile Exchange High School Commodities Trading Competition

January 2008 ... Hofstra University and the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) have developed an innovative program designed to introduce high school students to the exciting world of commodities markets and their impact on the economy and investments. This program extends the Zarb School's ongoing efforts to provide Long Island high schools with business education beyond that offered at the high school level. NYMEX has traditionally offered the NYMEX Commodities Challenge at the college level and limited participation to the top business schools in the country. Students from 15 high schools competed in mock, open outcry commodities trading at the state-of-the-art Martin B. Greenberg Trading Room. hhttp://people.hofstra.edu/Ahmet_K_Karagozoglu/Hofstra_NYMEX.html

2007

Hofstra-Commerce Bank Summer Business Camp

August 2007... The Zarb School, the University College for Continuing Education and the Business Development Center's Entrepreneurial Assistance Program at Hofstra University, in conjunction with Commerce Bank, presented "Camp Business - A Competitive and Fun Introduction to Business." This dynamic, two-week summer program was designed to give high school students a rigorous and realistic introduction to business. The camp's focus this summer was entrepreneurial studies and demonstrated that starting a business can be fun and exciting! Fifty high school juniors and seniors were selected from various public, private and parochial schools in the area. Camp Business closed with an outstanding opportunity for students to apply what they learned by designing and presenting a business plan before a panel of Commerce Bank executives and Hofstra faculty.

Merrill Lynch Center Hosts Conference on Private Equity

May 2007 ... The dynamic topic of private equity was the subject of the Merrill Lynch Center's annual spring conference held at Hofstra University on May 2, 2007. Attended by over 100 Hofstra students, faculty and business professionals, the conference brought together academics and practitioners in three consecutive sessions followed by a roundtable discussion. The conference titled, Private Equity: A New Force for Value Creation, was directed by Dr. Andrew Spieler, associate professor of finance and Merrill Lynch Center associate. The Center was honored to begin the conference at an executive breakfast featuring Leo A. Guthart, chairman and CEO of Topspin Partners, as the keynote speaker. Mr. Guthart, a member of the Hofstra University Board of Trustees, discussed the topic Private Equity: A Long Island Perspective. Following the executive breakfast, conference participants convened at the Scott Skodnek Business Development Center for the conference sessions. Dr. Kenneth Lehn, the Samuel A.McCullough Professor of Finance at the University of Pittsburgh, served as the luncheon keynote speaker.

NYMEX Trading Competition: Hofstra Students Shine

April 2007 ... An "open outcry" simulated trading competition was held at the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) trading floor. Participating students assumed the role of a pit trader, buying and selling crude oil futures contracts. A panel of judges made up of NYMEX officials and floor traders evaluated 30 student traders on their ability to execute trades. Dr. Ahmet Karagozoglu, Associate Professor of Finance and Academic Director of the Martin B. Greenberg Trading Room announced that the first prize, $1000 cash and a prestigious summer internship at NYMEX, was awarded to Surbhi Kapoor, a Hofstra Finance M.B.A. student. Sila Nazli Saylak, an M.S. in Finance student, and Tansel Alan, a Finance MBA student also both from Hofstra, won second- and third-place cash prizes. Three additional Hofstra Finance MBA students were among the competition's 10 prize winners. This trading competition was the final round of the 4th Annual NYMEX Commodity Challenge. Earlier this year, 21 teams participated in an electronic trading competition. In that competition, Hofstra's team placed third.

Mark Your Calendar

There are many different entities on the Hofstra campus that host seminars, conferences and programs relevant to business students, faculty and professionals. The listing that follows is organized according to the group sponsoring the event. A link to their website is provided for additional details.

Graduate Business Career Services
Executive Speaker Series: Corporate Executives and alumni from diverse industries are invited to present on current business issues and trends. The programs are designed to enhance professional development and provide career insights to invited students and alumni, while professional networking is promoted. Each semester three or more executives are brought in to share their organizational expertise.

• Wednesday, May 7, 2008, 6:00-8:00pm, 10th Fl., Axinn Lib.
  Jeffrey Siegel, Chairman & CEO, Lifetime Brands, Inc. a leading designer, developer and marketer of a broad range of nationally- branded consumer products used in the home.

Recent Executive Speakers

Hofstra is very proud to have highly-prominent professionals, many of whom are Hofstra graduates, participate in the Executive Speaker Series. Recent speakers have included the following:

l. to r.: Brian McNally, Divisional President, Arrow Electronics, James Campbell (MBA '81), President/CEO General Electric Consumer and Industrial, Doug Maine (MBA '78), Former CFO, IBM, Randy Levine (JD '80), President, New York Yankees, Thomas DiNapoli (BBA '76), New York State Controller

• Wednesday, April 2, 2008, 6:15-8:30pm, 246 BDC, Bank of New York Mellon, White Paper Presentation on Operational Risk of Hedge Funds (co-sponsored with The Merrill Lynch Center).

Corporate Industry Roundtable: Corporate management/alumni are invited to participate on panels to present information about personal career paths, corporate experiences, management roles and share hiring requirements for internships or full-time opportunities. Students are exposed to corporate success stories, as well as given advice on corporate job search practices. The speakers also get to know students in small group discussions. These programs are scheduled throughout each year.

• Wednesday, April 16, 2008
  6:00-8:00pm, Scott Skodnek Business Development Center, Room 246.
  Our presenters for the 10th Annual Corporate Industry Panel and Roundtable include alumni, managers and analysts from Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers (Hedgefund), Citigroup (Derivatives Department), Arrow Electronics Inc, Synovate (Global Market Research) and OpenLink .

The Merrill Lynch Center for the Study of International Financial Services and Markets

Support Your Alma Mater

Thank you to the many very generous benefactors who have contributed to the Frank G. Zarb School of Business. The donations we have received have directly supported everything from scholarship dollars to programmatic initiatives to faculty research and capital improvements. A strong emphasis has been placed on increasing the overall unrestricted dollars raised in the Zarb School. Unrestricted funds are, in many ways, the most valuable gifts that we receive, because they allow the dean to address immediate priorities and enhance programs not covered by the endowment or other sources of income.

Please consider making a gift to support your alma mater. You can make a contribution online at: https://www.hofstra.edu/alumni/support/support_giving.cfm

Under the section - Your Gift Designation - please mark school and select the Zarb School of Business. This way the amount donated will go directly to the business school. Many employers will match your charitable donations. To see if your company participates in matching gifts, please visit www.matchinggift.com/hofstra.

Thank you again for your continued support of the Frank G. Zarb School of Business.

Ben Vogt
Senior Director
Major Gifts
516-463-6199