Author Archives: Douglass Gore

RHODES: How Family Businesses Sabotage Themselves

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GRAZIADIO IN THE NEWS

Bloomberg Businessweek

“There’s a lot of complexity in family relationships. But in a family business, the space that most of us have to navigate those relationships doesn’t exist. You keep bumping up against these problems,” Professor Kent Rhodes tells Bloomberg Businessweek in an article about his new book, Managing Conflict in the Family Business.

In the book, Rhodes and co-author David Lansky address twelve conflicts that are common in family owned businesses, how families can spot them, and then plan for their successful and effective management in ways that simultaneously uphold the family and the business.

[Full Article]

Pepperdine University Offers Flex MBA for Los Angeles Working Professionals

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PRESS RELEASES

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LOS ANGELES, Calif.  – Working professionals who desire the face-to-face interaction of a traditional on-campus program with the flexibility of an online MBA program now have the opportunity to enroll in Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management’s new Flex MBA. The Flex MBA is a hybrid option within the Fully Employed MBA (FEMBA) program and is ideal for working adults who have families, travel often, or have otherwise demanding schedules that make it difficult to attend weekly evening classes on campus.

Classes begin in August at the West Los Angeles-Howard Hughes Center campus, near Los Angeles International Airport. Students meet four Saturdays per course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those who take the recommended two courses per trimester will have class on campus eight Saturdays per term.

Information about the program is available at online here or you can contact mbabsm@pepperdine.edu or (310) 568-5555.

“Pepperdine has been a pioneer in providing quality graduate business education in convenient and flexible ways,” said Dr. Gary Mangiofico, associate dean of Fully Employed and Executive Programs. “The Flex MBA is an excellent option for students whose work, travel and life circumstances require flexibility, convenience and course scheduling that accommodates today’s shifting professional demands.”

The Flex MBA combines technology-augmented and traditional on-the-ground learning with over half of the time spent in the classroom. During the first trimester, students will also attend a weekend-long (Friday evening through Sunday afternoon) Personal and Leadership Development Workshop on campus as an introduction to the coursework.

Like the evening part-time MBA program during the work week, enrollment in the Flex MBA requires candidates to have an acceptable GMAT or GRE score, bachelor’s degree with an acceptable grade point average and at least two years of professional work experience.

Flex MBA Highlights

9/11 Hero Tom Burnett (PKE MBA ’95) Remembered

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Today, Pepperdine alumnus Chris Koble (Seaver ’96) remembered for rest of us fellow alumnus and true American hero Thomas E. Burnett, Jr.

As a volunteer at the 9/11 Memorial Center in New York City, Chris facilitates the remembrances of the fallen victims on their birthdays. He requested and was sent a Pepperdine tassel to mark the birthday of Thomas Burnett, and he took the accompanying photo.

Burnett would have been 50 today. The tragic events of September 11, 2001, robbed him and his family of that opportunity. A passenger aboard United Flight 93, Burnett was among those aboard who bravely challenged al-Quada hijackers and prevented the aircraft from reaching the assailants’ intended target. His actions thwarted the attempt to turn the aircraft into a fourth airborne weapon and surely saved lives.

Burnett graduated the Presidents and Key Executive MBA program in 1995.

BURNETTThomas Edward Burnett, Jr., born May 29, 1963 in Minneapolis, MN, is survived by his devoted wife, Deena; his 3 beautiful daughters, Halley, Madison and Anna Clare; his parents, Tom and Beverly Burnett; his sister, Mary Margaret and her fiance, Chad Jurgens; his sister, Martha Jane and her husband David O’Brien and their children, Loren, Kathleen, Devin and Mary Margaret; and a large extended family and many friends.

Burnett is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson Senior High School, was appointed to the United States Air Force Academy, attended St. John’s University and graduated from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota where he was elected President of Alpha Kappa Psi.

At Thoratec Corporation, Tom provided leadership as senior vice president and chief operating officer. He was very proud of his company and its compassionate mission.

His spirit inspires us, and his selflessness portrays the very noblest of American values.

Pepperdine MBA Selected for Most Popular Business School Ranking

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RANKINGS

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The business news and ranking publication U.S.News & World Report names the Graziadio School of Business and Management one of the most popular business schools in the country for the second consecutive year, the only MBA program so ranked in Los Angeles and Southern California.

usnews 2014 Best Graduate SchoolsPepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management achieved yields high enough to earn a place on this year’s list of most popular business schools, reported the publication. Among full-time MBA programs at private institutions, the Graziadio School garnered fourth place respective to Harvard, Stanford Business School, and the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University.

Overall, the Graziadio School places 10th on U.S. News’ short list, which includes MBA programs at both private and state universities.

A closely watched number by admissions officials, yield tracks the percentage of accepted full-time students who enroll.

“In fall 2012, the Graziadio School accepted 130 new full-time MBAs and enrolled 92, earning a yield of 70.8 percent. Our recruiters and Admission Office work tirelessly to ensure each student who applies receives exceptional individual attention, which contributes to the high percentage of students who decide to enroll once accepted,” said Dr. Michael Williams, Associate Dean of Full-time Programs.

Dean Linda Livingstone agrees. “Last year, U.S. News singled out seven most popular MBA programs at private schools. This year, only four are honored and the Graziadio School remains among them,” she said. “Like Harvard, Stanford, and Brigham Young, we are committed to delivering a high-value classroom experience, which starts with attracting and accepting high caliber students. This recognition affirms that we continue to attract the right community for developing values-centered leaders and advancing responsible business practice.”

In order, the U.S.News 10 most popular business schools at state and private universities are University of Wisconsin at Madison, Harvard University, Stanford, Oregon State University, Brigham Young University, University of Kentucky, University of Houston, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Ohio State University, and Pepperdine’s Graziadio School.

Q2 Pepperdine Private Capital Access Index Reports Slow Recovery in Small Business Lending

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PCA IndexThe nation’s small businesses continue to see only marginal improvements in their ability to access capital, with more than two-thirds of businesses facing problems raising debt and equity financing. The results are part of the most recent Private Capital Access (PCA) Index Quarterly Report (download here), a private capital markets data survey produced by Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management, in partnership with Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp.

The study shows a slight improvement in capital market conditions since the end of Q1, a period when U.S. small business owners experienced a reduction in hiring and a decrease in demand for capital.

“This study indicates small businesses are gaining a little ground,” said Dr. John Paglia, director of the Pepperdine Private Capital Markets Project, which oversees the quarterly study, and associate professor of finance at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management. “We still see the smallest businesses struggling to access capital the most, an indication their recovery is tepid at best. These companies need easier access to lending streams.” Continue reading →