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Dividend The official online magazine of the Carson College of Business

August 2018 – New Hires

Matthew Beer (’96 Pol. Sci.) is the new military and veteran affairs manager in the Office of Graduate Programs. Beer was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force from WSU’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program. In his new position, he will facilitate the success of veteran students with the college, specifically, delivery of the Rucksacks to Backpacks to Boardroom program supporting online MBA and Executive MBA online military and veteran students’ transition into military leadership roles or the civilian workforce. Beer was previously the chair of the Department of Aerospace Studies at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he led a team in recruiting, educating, and training 50 cadets annually through college-level Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Read more about Matthew Beer.
Chun-Chu (Bamboo) Chen is a new assistant professor of hospitality at WSU Vancouver. He received his doctorate  from Texas A&M University and was a faculty member at Penn State University and the University of Idaho before joining WSU. His research focuses on the consumption of tourism/hospitality experiences and well-being and is guided by an overarching question: How do tourism and hospitality experiences promote the well-being of customers? Chen has worked with the U.S. Travel Association, Tourism Bureau of Texas, Tourism Bureau of Taiwan, and the National Science Council of Taiwan on an array of research and outreach projects, resulting in nearly 30 peer-reviewed journal articles.
Debbie Compeau has been appointed as senior associate dean for faculty affairs and research, succeeding Professor David Sprott. She is also the Hubman Distinguished Professor of Information Systems. She joined the college three years ago and was previously a faculty member at the Ivey Business School at  the University of Western Ontario.
Ashley Kuznia is a new career consultant in the Carson Center for Student Success. She earned her bachelor of science in psychology from the University of Idaho and her master of science in counseling psychology from the University of Kansas. Her work integrates both counseling and career development theories to identify students’ strengths and guide them toward academic and professional success and well-being. In her previous roles, she has served as a career coach, project coordinator, and as a liaison to students with disabilities, allowing her to assess various students’ needs and resources for well-rounded career readiness during and after college.
Marla Meyer is the new Moss Adams accounting career advisor in the Department of Accounting. She will serve as the primary student employment coordinator for accounting majors in the college and be a liaison to alumni and the accounting advisory board. She will also build and maintain relationships with regional and national public accounting firms, industry recruiters, and others interested in hiring WSU accounting majors. She will work with the Beta Alpha Psi faculty advisor to develop and implement events bringing accounting students and professionals together, advise students on accounting careers, and work with students to hone their professional skills. Meyer spent the last five years in Seattle with Holland America Line, most recently as a pricing and demand manager. Read more about Marla Meyer.
Cheryl Oliver has been appointed as associate dean for professional programs. She continues to lead the team responsible for delivering the college’s nationally recognized online MBA and Executive MBA online online programs while continuing to build operating capacity for online undergraduate programs.
Jason Porter is a new clinical associate professor in the Department of Accounting. He comes to the Carson College with 12 years of experience, having taught accounting at both the University of Idaho and the University of South Dakota. He has an undergraduate and master of accounting degree from Brigham Young University and a doctorate from the University of Georgia. He is an associate editor for the IMA Educational Case Journal and has published numerous articles about accounting practice and accounting education and has written a case book with Armond Dalton on using Excel skills in managerial accounting.
Tom Tripp has been appointed as senior associate dean for academic affairs. He will continue with oversight of all academic programs except the PhD, which will continue to be directed by Professor Chuck Munson. Tripp has also been appointed as the Rom Markin Endowed Leadership Chair in Business. The chair is awarded to a professor who provides the direction, knowledge, effort, and inspiration necessary to sustain and advance education programs in an increasingly competitive global environment.
Rita Whitcomb Rita Whitcomb is the new chief financial officer for the college. She is versed in a variety of financial processes including forecasting and budgeting, as well as streamlining business operations that drive growth, efficiencies, and collaboration. Previously, Whitcomb served in several financial administrative roles at WSU, and most recently was the area finance officer for the WSU Graduate School, where she provided financial consultation to the dean and advised the associate deans, faculty, staff, and students on administrative policies related to finance. She earned her bachelor’s in business management and human resources in 2006 from the University of Idaho.

August 2018 – Research & Popular Press

“Business in the Northwest 2018“

The Carson College’s new, inaugural study Business in the Northwest 2018, reveals how Northwest business leaders feel about the region’s business climate. Most feel the region is poised to take advantage of current economic prosperity, but many are uncertain about the future growth potential of business. Traffic congestion, job loss from automation, corporate taxes, and talent retention are top-of-mind factors perceived to be impacting the business environment, and leaders feel government bears much of responsibility to solve them.

“An Inclusive Approach to Technology: WSU Professor Discusses the Risks of Introducing New Technology in the Workplace“

Michelle Carter, assistant professor of management, information systems, and entrepreneurship at WSU Everett, suggests companies don’t need to give over to everything the employees want, but they should get a sense of how an employee identifies with the technology they already use and develop incentives and mechanism to loosen that identification over time in an article by Anthony Kuipers published in the March 17, 2018, issue of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Carter also discusses reasons why people push back when introduced to new technology in her article, “How We Identify with Technology in Everyday Life and Work” published in the June 11, 2018, issue of MoneyInc.

“Return Customers Drive Success in Hospitality Sector“

Christina Chi, associate professor of hospitality business management, discusses four things hospitality, travel, and tourism managers and marketers should consider to keep tourists coming back in her article published in the March 29, 2018, issue of the Spokane Journal of Business.

“Putting Senior Living on the Map for the Next Generation“

Scott Eckstein, clinical assistant professor and senior living executive-in-residence in the School of Hospitality Business Management, WSU Everett, discusses how the WSU Institute for Senior Living will provide a path for the next generation of leaders in the growing senior living industry in Sara Wildberger’s article published in the 2018 March/April issue of Senior Living Executive.

“Would You Consider Hiring a Candidate with a Criminal Record?“

Jerry Goodstein, professor of management, information systems, and entrepreneurship, discusses how businesses can successfully hire ex-offenders that result in positive benefits for the business, individuals, and their communities in his article published in the April 4, 2018, issue of MoneyInc. Goodstein’s article “How the Washington Fair Chance Act Can Expand Your Talent Pool” was featured in the June 3, 2018, issue of the Spokesman Review.

Robert Harrington
Doug Charles
Thomas Henick-Kling

“Channel the Art of Hospitality to Keep Customers Coming Back“

Robert Harrington, academic director, Carson College of Business at WSU Tri-Cities, addresses how in changing times, hospitality businesses can change to meet the needs of their customers and still run a successful operation. He says one tip is to understand what customers are looking for, then develop creative and innovative experiences to keep them coming back for more in his article published in the March 2018 issue of the Tri-Cities Journal of Business. Harrington, Thomas Henick-Kling, director of viticulture and enology and professor of enology, WSU Tri-Cities, and Doug Charles (’83 HRA), owner of Compass Wines, BBQ Wine Company, and ded.reckoning Wine Company, were featured in “Winemaking: Part Science, Part Art and All Business,” in Jamie Peha’s article published May 14, 2018, in TableTalk Northwest. Harrington and Henick-Kling also discuss how WSU is preparing students to take on both the business and the science sides of the trade in their article “At the Intersection of Wine Business and Wine Science” published in the May 23, 2018, issue of Wine Press Northwest.

“Study: Pacific Northwest business leaders positive, but Worried about Future“

Chip Hunter, dean, discusses findings from Business in the Northwest 2018, a new report by the Carson College exploring the concerns of Northwest business leaders in the June 8, 2018, issue of the Spokane Journal of Business. Hunter discussed implications of the report’s findings in “How Business and Policy Leaders in the Pacific Northwest Can Work Together,” published in a June issue of Seattle Business Magazine.

“Creating the Catalyst: Washington State Partners with Amazon on an Innovation Grant Program“

Marie Mayes, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, was featured in an article discussing a new partnership, the “Amazon Catalyst Program” between WSU and Amazon to fund projects proposed by members of the University community that are deemed to be globally impactful and disruptive. The article was published in the April 28, 2018, edition of BizEd.

“With $70 Million in Giving, the Inland Northwest Community Foundation Changing Name to ‘Innovia’“

Andrew Perkins, associate professor of marketing, was featured in Becky Kramer’s article discussing Inland Northwest Community Foundation’s name change to “Innovia Foundation.” Perkins gave insights on the rebranding process. The article appeared in the June 5, 2018, issue of the Spokesman.

“Shift General Manager Leadership Styles to Drive Hotel Success“

Jenni Sandstrom, clinical assistant professor of hospitality business management, discusses different leadership styles of successful general managers and the necessity of being able to adapt to increase motivation among employees and ensure tasks get completed in her article published in the March 31, 2018, issue of Manage Magazine. Sandstrom also discusses how strong leadership, empowering employees, and developing a unique culture are key to making hotel managers in her article “Powerful Traits That Will Make You Successful in Hotel Management” published in the May 8, 2018, issue of Manage Magazine.

“Boost a Hospitality Career with Online Courses, Programs“

Nancy Swanger, associate dean and director, School of Hospitality Business Management, discusses the breadth of the hospitality industry and ways prospective students may learn about the field in Jordan Friedman’s article published in the March 22, 2018, issue of U.S. News &World Report.

“Study: Fairness in the Classroom Reduces ‘Evaluation Retaliation’“

Tom Tripp, professor and senior associate dean of academic affairs, WSU Vancouver, suggests professors don’t have to worry about grades negatively impacting their student ratings as long as they use classroom practices students perceive to be fair in Collen Flaherty’s article published in the June 14, 2018, issue of Insider Higher Ed, and in Tala Salem’s article “Study: Fair Classroom Practices Reduce Threat of ‘Evaluation Retaliation’” published in the June 14, 2018, issue of U.S. News & World Report.