NEWS BRIEFS

Rizzo Expansion Dedication

Before a group of university donors, trustees and friends gathered at the Paul J. Rizzo Conference Center at Meadowmont, UNC Kenan-Flagler dedicated the 70,000-plus square- feet expansion of its executive education facilities.

UNC Kenan-Flagler in China

UNC Kenan-Flagler, in cooperation with Tsinghua University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is helping Beijing prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games. On Oct. 20, Noel Greis, director of the Kenan Institute’s Center for Logistics and Digital Strategy, and Xander Kameny (MBA ’07) traveled to Beijing to co-host the International Conference on Emergency Management and the second Olympic Logistics Symposium.

The conference was co-sponsored by the new Center for Logistics and Economic Development jointly established by UNC Kenan-Flagler and Tsinghua University in September. Located on the campus of China’s premier technical university, the center in Tsinghua will provide a venue for collaborative faculty research and student exchange, as well as the opportunity to work on behalf of North Carolina companies to support trade and economic activity between China and the United States.

Executive Education Scholarships to Nonprofits

UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Executive Education program now offers scholarships so that North Carolina nonprofits can attend classes they would not otherwise be able to afford. The scholarship provides a substantial reduction from the regular tuition.

Four North Carolina organizations have received scholarships since the program was implemented in spring 2005: Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, The American Red Cross, Family Counseling Services of Durham and the YMCA of the Triangle.

VCIC 10th Anniversary

The Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) international finals will be held in April 2007 and will celebrate the event’s 10th anniversary. Teams from more than 50 universities around the world are expected to participate in the VCIC qualifying rounds that lead up to the championship contest hosted by UNC Kenan-Flagler. The event has real entrepreneurs pitching business ideas that reach real venture capitalists who judge the competition. Judges select the team they would most like to have as a VC partner, based on the team’s risk assessment evaluation, knowledge of the VC process, communication skills and teamwork. The winning team takes home $10,000 in prize money.

VCIC in 2007 will serve 500 students, 150 venture capitalists and 100 entrepreneurs. Eleven of 33 entrepreneurs who pitched ideas at VCIC last year went on to raise $30 million in venture capital.

CSE Wins Sustainable North Carolina Award

The UNC Kenan-Flagler Center for Sustainable Enterprise (CSE) at the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise won a 2006 North Carolina Sustainability Award in the Innovative Initiatives category for its CSE Consulting program.

CSE Consulting uses MBA students as consultants to help businesses implement sustainable practices. The only such program of its kind at any business school around the world, CSE Consulting fills a growing need for sustainability expertise for businesses across the state and provides a unique opportunity for students to learn how social and environmental considerations are changing the competitive landscape of business.

Continental Tire Supports GLOBE

Dean Steve Jones accepted a $25,000 gift from Continental Tire at the UNC home football game against South Florida last October. Continental Tire is giving $25,000 per year for three years toward scholarships for students participating in the GLOBE international BSBA program. GLOBE offers a true global learning experience. Students spend two semesters at partner schools in Asia and Europe.