Scott L. Carmona College of Business News

June 6, 2022

Michigan Small Business Development Center conference honors SVSU regional director

Beth Roszatycki, regional director for the Lake Huron Region of the Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Saginaw Valley State University, earned the Culture Award for going above and beyond to support Michigan small businesses. She received the honor at the 2022 Michigan SBDC conference. 

The Culture Award is a peer-nominated award for individuals recognized as going above and beyond expectations to advance the SBDC’s mission of helping Michigan small businesses succeed. Roszatycki shared the honor with Laura Mahronic, regional director for the Upper Peninsula SBDC 

“Laura and Beth helped during a time of need,” said J.D. Collins, state director of Michigan SBDC. “When another region needed help, it was the actions of two people that stood out above the rest. Beth’s actions remind me of a quote: ‘If you have more than what you need, build a longer table.’ Your leadership bucket runneth over – thank you.”   

Each year the entire Michigan SBDC network gathers with clients, team members and guests to learn, network and recognize each other for the work done assisting Michigan small businesses to succeed. The conference included a Capital Region client panel discussion, general sessions and breakout sessions as well as the awards ceremony. 

The Lake Huron Region SBDC, housed at the Scott L. Carmona College of Business at Saginaw Valley State University, is one of the Business Excellence Centers at SVSU, which provide training, consulting and research services to Michigan’s business community.  

The Lake Huron Region SBDC was recently awarded ARPA funds to support small businesses in Bay County. 

The Michigan SBDC provides no-cost consulting, business education, market research and technology commercialization to new and existing businesses throughout Michigan’s 83 counties. Michigan SBDC services are available through the support of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The Michigan SBDC is committed to fostering and sustaining a culture of inclusion through equitable outreach and service to Michigan’s diverse business community. Entrepreneurs and small business owners may access the services of their nearest Michigan SBDC by visiting www.michigansbdc.org. 

April 21, 2022

SVSU B.A.T.S. Project tackles difficult community challenges

Saginaw Valley State University is celebrating the 10^th anniversary of a unique research initiative designed to involve students from different academic disciplines in identifying collaborative solutions to community challenges in Saginaw and other urban settings. The 2022 B.A.T.S. Project ― Business, Art, Theatre and Social Work Reinvent Urban Communities ― is designed to foster creative thinking and problem solving through a community and leadership development project.

Students and faculty from the academic programs involved will hold a presentation program on Thursday, April 21 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in SVSU’s Rhea Miller Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public. 

Forty-two students will present the results of their research during the event, which includes poster presentations, skits, and the unveiling of murals that will be hung in SVSU’s College of Health and Human Services building. The presentations will be judged on teamwork, creativity, audience engagement, and research and clarity of message. The judges are Dominic Monastiere, Boutell/First Merit Bank Executive in Residence at SVSU’s Scott L. Carmona College of Business, and Sammy Brobbey, supply chain specialist at Microsoft.

Launched in 2012, the B.A.T.S. Project began as a means to promote collaboration across different curricula at SVSU. That year, the project involved students from business, art and theatre; this year, social work students are included, as well.  

“BATS began in conversations between faculty about our very focused majors interacting and learning from each other's disciplines,” explained Mike Mosher, professor of art/communication and multimedia and one of the SVSU faculty involved in the creation of the project. 

This year’s semester-long research project had four teams of students analyzing and addressing different community challenges: 

• Transportation in the Saginaw area, including access and accommodations for persons with disabilities 
• Food insecurity in Saginaw, including food deserts and temporary food assistance 
• Abuse and neglect 
• K-12 schools and student success 

Abigail Walk, a business management major from Saginaw, said, “This collaborative research project has taught me the importance of synthesizing information, clear deadlines and communication, the impact of a positive attitude, and being a team player to help out whenever it is needed regardless of my experience on the subject. I learned to step up even if I am not an actor, artist or a social worker.” 

Alexis T. Krzeminski, a finance major from Warren, said her team hopes to increase awareness of sensitive topics facing the community and to inspire change. 

“I was assigned the study focus area of transportation. I have learned how fortunate myself and others are to have a car but realizing that not everyone is as fortunate as us. We must be grateful for the things we take for granted." 

Students involved in the B.A.T.S. Project include business students who are part of the Vitito Global Leadership Institute, students in Mosher’s Art 433 Community Murals class, social work students in the SW316 – Social Welfare Policy I class, and students in the Theatre 336 – Intermediate Acting class.

Mosher said the project helps art students make connections between their work and the needs of the communities where their art will be displayed. 

“It's important for Art 433 Community Murals students to learn to develop and produce themes and imagery with and for other ‘neighborhoods.’ This year, the B.A.T.S. teams participated in developing painted panels for the Social Work suite in the Health and Human Services building.”

Joseph Ofori-Dankwa, the Harvey Randall Wickes Endowed Professor in the Carmona College of Business and one of the architects of the B.A.T.S. Project, said SVSU students have gained a lot of exposure to and a greater understanding of community operations through the project. 

“In the past, B.A.T.S. participants have worked with community organizations such as United Way of Saginaw County, First Ward Community Center, Pets Angels Adoption and Rescue, Autism Center of Michigan, Edgewood Assisted Living Center and the Yellow Ribbon Guard,” he said. “Work with First Ward Community Center, for example, has included helping mentor and place some young leaders from Saginaw on boards of corporations and organizations such as the Saginaw Community Foundation.” 

Associate Professor of Social Work Catherine Macomber added that the social work students worked with mentors from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at SVSU.

“These older adults have worked with the social work students to frame these policy issues in terms of impact,” Macomber said. “The OLLI mentors are able to help the social work students understand the broader implications of policies and how the reach goes well beyond the immediacy of a tax payment or a ride on a bus designed to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.  The collaboration with OLLI mentors has been an integral part of the broader understanding of policy advocacy toward social justice.”

In addition to the team presentations, the B.A.T.S. presentation program will include performances by the Saginaw High School Drumline, remarks by SVSU President Donald Bachand and Provost Deborah Huntley, and an update on the future of the B.A.T.S. Project by SVSU faculty.  

Registration is not required for this free public event. 

A list of participating students accompanies this release.

February 1, 2022

SVSU and Lake Huron Region office of SBDC awarded ARPA funds to support small businesses in Bay County

Award is part of $2 million being managed through Bay Future, Inc.

The Lake Huron Region Michigan Small Business Development Center, housed at Saginaw Valley State University, has partnered with local organizations to provide much-needed financial support for small businesses in Bay County that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The $368,500 award is part of the $2 million in ARPA funds allocated to Bay Future, Inc. by the Bay County Board of Commissioners.  

The SBDC will work with Bay Future to help new businesses get off the ground and grow existing businesses.  

“The SBDC offers critical tools and resources to guide entrepreneurs in launching their new business, early-stage startups, as well as providing consulting services to help business owners put a growth plan into action, and expert consulting to help mobilize technology to commercialization. After the once-in-a-century pandemic, with this funding, our local economy will now be poised for a once-in-a-generation comeback,” said Beth L. Roszatycki, Regional Director, Lake Huron Region Michigan SBDC. 

Roszatycki said the SBDC has been a go-to resource for small businesses striving to weather the pandemic. That support will continue with SBDC consultants providing a variety of services and resources to Bay County businesses, including one-on-one consulting support, small business training and a “comeback toolkit.” The SBDC also will offer a “90-day refinement program” that includes weekly discussion and instruction to prepare owners to expand their business activity. 

The Lake Huron Region SBDC is part of the Scott L. Carmona College of Business at Saginaw Valley State University. It is one of the Business Excellence Centers at SVSU, which provide training, consulting and research services to Michigan’s business community.

For more information, contact the Lake Huron Region SBDC at sbdc@svsu.edu.  

December 16, 2021

SVSU graduates to cap off fall semester with in-person commencement on Friday

More than 400 graduates of Saginaw Valley State University will celebrate their determination to complete their academic degrees during Commencement exercises Friday, Dec. 17.

The university will hold two ceremonies for fall 2021 graduates: one at 12:30 p.m. for students in the colleges of Arts & Behavioral Sciences; Education; and Science, Engineering & Technology, and another at 4 p.m. for graduates of the colleges of Health & Human Services and the Carmona College of Business. Both ceremonies will be held in SVSU’s Ryder Center and will be video-streamed live.  

SVSU also is holding a Commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 18 for those who graduated in 2020 and did not receive an in-person ceremony due to pandemic restrictions in place at the time. More than 125 people have registered to participate in the Saturday ceremony. 

SVSU President Donald J. Bachand will deliver remarks at each ceremony.  

“Our students have overcome extraordinary challenges to complete their degrees. I’m extremely proud of all of our graduates who have persevered through all of the ups and downs of the past two years,” Bachand said. “I’m very happy that we can share this occasion with students and their families.” 

Brooke Elward, a marketing major from Shelby Township, is among those graduating. She is looking forward to the celebration.  

“I am thrilled to participate in Commencement,” she said. “College is where you choose what you love to do. I get to celebrate me finding myself with my family.” 

Of the 486 students who applied to graduate, 407 are expected to receive bachelor’s degrees and 79 are expected to earn master’s or other advanced degrees. Around 425 graduates have indicated that they will don regalia and participate in Friday’s commencement exercises.

Elward has some idea of what’s in store Friday; she was among the scores of volunteers who helped coordinate SVSU’s first outdoor Commencement ceremonies in May.  

“Seeing how happy those students were to walk across the stage outside in the rain made me excited for December,” she said. “The shared energy of being proud of yourself, but also having the faculty show up to show you how proud of you they are is phenomenal!” 

Each graduating student is allowed up to four guests, and health and safety protocols will be observed. SVSU also is providing a live video stream of each ceremony. Details are available at www.svsu.edu/fall2021.

November 5, 2021

SVSU faculty presented with Distinguished Professor of the Year Awards

The Michigan Association of State Universities (MASU) honored two Saginaw Valley State University faculty members with the Distinguished Professor of the Year Award during the Oct. 25 meeting of the SVSU Board of Control. The award recognizes the dedication and outstanding efforts of faculty from Michigan’s 15 public universities to the education of undergraduate students. 

Professor Joseph Ofori-Dankwa, Harvey Randall Wickes Professor of International Business and a professor of management at SVSU, was recognized as one of the state’s three recipients of the 2020 Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award. Tami Sivy, a professor of chemistry at SVSU, was recognized with the honor in 2021. 

“Dr. Ofori-Dankwa’s commitment to bringing his students outside of the classroom and into the world shows how higher education in Michigan continues to evolve to meet the needs of its students and Michigan’s people,” said Dr. Daniel J. Hurley, CEO of the Michigan Association of State Universities. “These professors give their all when it comes to dedication to student success, helping them achieve their ambitions, all the while strengthening Michigan’s prosperity.” 

Since joining SVSU in 1987, he has earned several university awards including the House Family Award for Teacher Impact, the Rush Distinguished Lectureship, the Braun Fellowship, and the Thomson Award for Community Engagement. He has helped develop and teach courses for SVSU’s Vitito Fellows Global Leadership Institute, including experiential leadership projects for SVSU business students. He has also helped coordinate the B.A.T.S. (Business, Art, Theatre and Sociology) program as well as other inter-disciplinary teaching initiatives.  

A native of Ghana, Ofori-Dankwa is a leader in expanding programs to Africa. He has led and facilitated 10 trips with students, faculty, and Saginaw community leaders to Ghana since 2000. In addition, he served as a faculty advisor for SVSU electrical and computer engineering students planning to design and install solar panels at a health clinic for the Royal Seed Home Orphanage in Ghana.  

He has founded or coordinated additional programs including the Makola Institute, which is a training and advocacy center for market women and small-scale business operators in markets in Ghana, and the Makola Foundation which provides funding for entrepreneurs and students. He has also provided a curriculum on leadership and ethics for the U.S. State Department’s Young African Leadership Institute, initiated by former President Obama and located at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.  

Ofori-Dankwa received his Bachelor of Law from the University of Ghana, his M.S. in management and technology from the University of Wales, and his Master of Labor & Industrial Relations and Ph.D. in organizational behavior from Michigan State University. 

Sivy joined the SVSU faculty in 2008 and has served as department chair since 2015. In her tenure at the university, Sivy has promoted outstanding student experiences for undergraduate students, creating opportunities for research and community partnerships. She emphasizes developing students’ critical thinking skills and helps them discover joy in learning.   

“Dr. Tami Sivy represents the best of teaching, research and dedication to student success,” said Dr. Daniel J. Hurley, CEO of the Michigan Association of State Universities. “She mentors and empowers her students, symbolizing the excellence in higher education for which Michigan’s public universities are globally renowned.”  

Sivy not only teaches classes at every level, she is responsible for the entire upper-level biochemistry curriculum and has mentored more than 50 SVSU students in laboratory research. Sivy sits on the steering committee of the Saginaw Bay Environmental Science Institute at SVSU. She also was involved in the development of the SVSU /STEM/Dow Science and Sustainability Center’s mobile laboratory and the curriculum that is used in outreach activities to area students. She has mentored many regional high school teachers and students in environmental research projects.    

In 2012, Sivy and her undergraduate students began using rapid DNA testing to detect fecal contamination and its sources at freshwater sites in the Saginaw Bay Watershed. After many years of collaboration and validation, the method has now been used to determine beach closings in Bay County since 2019. This pioneering work led the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to request her assistance in adapting testing for the COVID-19 virus in wastewater. Sivy was the first in Michigan to engage undergraduate students in this testing, which spans the SVSU campus and seven surrounding counties. In support of freshwater and wastewater testing, she has received nearly $4 million in external funding. 

“As a faculty member at SVSU, Dr. Sivy positively impacts the classroom and surrounding community through her research on water quality,” said Deborah R. Huntley, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at SVSU. “She is a teacher who mentors and understands the needs of students. Her dedication to the success of students and her commitment to her community, colleagues and SVSU are well evident.”   

Sivy has won several awards at SVSU, including the Franc A. Landee Award for Teaching Excellence, the most prestigious teaching award conferred by the university. She also was an exchange professor at Shikoku University in Tokushima, Japan, where she served as an ambassador of SVSU to the community and taught undergraduate courses.   

Sivy earned her B.S. in biochemistry from Calvin College and her Ph.D. in chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Colorado, Boulder. 

The other two recipients of the 2020 award were Grand Valley State University Professor Stephen Mattox and University of Michigan Professor H. Scott Fogler. Thomas Werner of Michigan Technological University and Yunus Zeytuncu of the University of Michigan-Dearborn also received the 2021 award.   

October 25, 2021

Saginaw Valley State University Professor Receives Distinguished Professor of the Year Award

Saginaw Valley State University Professor Joseph Ofori-Dankwa was recognized as one of the state’s three recipients of the 2020 Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award by the Michigan Association of State Universities. The award recognizes the dedication and outstanding efforts of faculty from Michigan’s 15 public universities to the education of undergraduate students.

“Dr. Ofori-Dankwa’s commitment to bringing his students outside of the classroom and into the world shows how higher education in Michigan continues to evolve to meet the needs of its students and Michigan’s people,” said Dr. Daniel J. Hurley, CEO of the Michigan Association of State Universities. “These professors give their all when it comes to dedication to student success, helping them achieve their ambitions, all the while strengthening Michigan’s prosperity.”

Ofori-Dankwa is the Harvey Randall Wickes Professor of International Business and a professor of management at Saginaw Valley State University. Since joining SVSU in 1987, he has earned several university awards including the House Family Award for Teacher Impact, the Rush Distinguished Lectureship, the Braun Fellowship, and the Thomson Award for Community Engagement. He has helped develop and teach courses for SVSU’s Vitito Fellows Global Leadership Institute, including experiential leadership projects for SVSU business students. Among the inter-disciplinary teaching initiatives he has helped to co-coordinate is the B.A.T.S. (Business, Art, Theatre and Sociology) program. 

A native of Ghana, Ofori-Dankwa is a leader in expanding programs to Africa. He has led and facilitated 10 trips with students, faculty, and Saginaw community leaders to Ghana since 2000. In addition, he served as a faculty advisor for SVSU electrical and computer engineering students planning to design and install solar panels at a health clinic for the Royal Seed Home Orphanage in Ghana.

He has founded or coordinated additional programs including the Makola Institute, which is a training and advocacy center for market women and small-scale business operators in markets in Ghana, and the Makola Foundation which provides funding for entrepreneurs and students. He has also provided a curriculum on leadership and ethics for the U.S. State Department’s Young African Leadership Institute, initiated by former President Obama and located at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.

Ofori-Dankwa received his Bachelor of Law from the University of Ghana, his M.S. in management and technology from the University of Wales, and his Master of Labor & Industrial Relations and Ph.D. in organizational behavior from Michigan State University.

The other two recipients of the 2020 award were Grand Valley State University Professor Stephen Mattox and University of Michigan Professor H. Scott Fogler. 

The Michigan Association of State Universities will recognize Ofori-Dankwa and Tami Sivy, SVSU professor of chemistry and a 2021 recipient of the award, during the SVSU Board of Control meeting Monday, Oct. 25.  

May 14, 2021

SVSU hires new dean for business school

Saginaw Valley State University has hired an experienced leader in business education to serve as the new dean of the institution’s Scott L. Carmona College of Business. Jayati Ghosh will head SVSU’s business school after devoting more than two decades to a career in higher education, most recently at Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania. Ghosh said she was excited for the opportunity to join an institution with SVSU’s strong ranking among top business schools worldwide.

“I am honored and excited about the opportunity to lead the Carmona College of Business in its upward trajectory of academic excellence,” Ghosh said. “I am impressed by the commitment of the college towards the professional and personal development of students and looking forward to working with the faculty and staff, centers of excellence and engaging with the community.”

Deborah Huntley, SVSU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said Ghosh brings impressive leadership experience to SVSU as an administrator as well as a strong record of professional service, research and teaching.

The arrival of Dr. Ghosh comes at a very important time for our Carmona College of Business,” Huntley said. “She brings extensive leadership experience as a dean, and we are counting on her experience and innovative thinking to enhance business education for our students and to collaborate with regional businesses to support the vitality of our region. We have outstanding faculty and a world-class facility, and I know she is excited about the opportunities at SVSU.”

SVSU opened the doors to its new $25.4 million business facility in spring 2020. The 38,500-square-foot addition includes data analytics labs and Bloomberg Trading terminals, which track stock data in real time. Upgrades include cutting-edge equipment used by Fortune 500 companies, providing students with hands-on experience utilizing resources adapted to match global business trends.

Ghosh has over 25 years of higher education experience at public and private institutions. As dean of the School of Business Administration at Widener University, Ghosh led program development, AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education accreditations, Widener University’s Small Business Development Center SBDC, Environmental Management Assistance Program and worked with alumni and business leaders. 

Prior to joining Widener University, Ghosh held leadership roles including associate dean, director of the Honors Program, director of faculty development and founding executive director of the Global Education Office at Dominican University in San Rafael, California. She held teaching positions at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, Canada.

Ghosh serves on AACSB peer-review teams as a member and chair and serves as mentor to a school going through initial accreditation process. She has served on the Steering Committee of the Small Schools Network Affinity group of AACSB and is a member of Women Administrators in Management Education, an AACSB affinity group.

Ghosh is a strong advocate of high impact practices such as internships, cooperative education, global experience, faculty-led research with undergraduate and graduate students, and service learning.

Ghosh completed her doctorate at the University of Waterloo (Ontario, Canada) and earned an M.A. from Wilfrid Laurier University (Ontario, Canada). She also earned an M.S. from University of Calcutta (India).

SVSU provides access to tools and technology fine-tuned for the next generation to strengthen an academic college already honored with an AACSB-International accreditation, a gold standard distinction earned by fewer than 5 percent of the world’s business colleges. For more information about SVSU’s Carmona College of Business, visit svsu.edu/scottlcarmonacollegeofbusiness.

Ghosh will join SVSU Monday, June 28.

May 6, 2021

SVSU graduates to celebrate Commencement in person Friday; first outdoor ceremonies to be held in Wickes Stadium

More than 700 SVSU graduates have registered to participate in Saginaw Valley State University’s three outdoor commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 7. The ceremonies, SVSU’s first-ever outdoor commencement celebrations, will be held in the Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium. Relocating the ceremonies outdoors provide a safer venue and allows more people to participate in person. 

“I have spoken with a number of our May graduates, and I know how much it means to them to don regalia and hear their name called as they cross the stage,” said SVSU President Donald J. Bachand. “They have overcome much to earn their degrees.” 

The schedule of ceremonies is: 

10 a.m. ― College of Health & Human Services 

1 p.m. ― College of Arts & Behavioral Sciences and College of Education 

4 p.m. ― College of Business and College of Science, Engineering & Technology 

Each graduate may bring two guests who have registered in advance. Health and safety protocols will be observed. SVSU also is providing a live video-stream of each ceremony. Details are available at www.svsu.edu/2021. 

Editor’s note: Members of the media are welcome to cover any of the Commencement ceremonies and speak with graduates and their guests. Please follow SVSU health and safety guidelines, such as wearing a mask when coming within 6 feet of others.  

Prior to or during each ceremony, please call/text Justin Engel at 989-284-4087 for assistance. Following each ceremony, you may call/text J.J. Boehm at 989-295-8225.  

In the event of mild to moderate rain, the ceremony will continue. In the event of severe weather, a ceremony may be postponed until later in the day, or if necessary, rescheduled for Saturday, May 8. 

May 3, 2021

SVSU graduating seniors: Kyndall LoVette

KYNDALL LoVETTE

management major

Holt native

Kyndall’s story

With a passion and penchant for engaging with people, Kyndall LoVette will be ready to launch soon from her status as a graduating senior at Saginaw Valley State University to the professional career that will soon follow.

The management major said she has benefited from her classroom studies as well as extracurricular opportunities at the university. All of these experiences have allowed her to build her skillset as an engaged citizen.

Among the SVSU opportunities Kyndall said served her best: her selection to the Vitito Global Leadership Institute. The SVSU program of distinction annually provides leadership development to a select group of students enrolled in the SVSU Scott L. Carmona College of Business. LoVette called the opportunity a “rewarding experience” that allowed her to collaborate with fellow Cardinals across the academic disciplines as well as student ambassadors from Ghana.

One of her academic courses — a family business class — also sharpened her community engagement skills. As part of the class, she volunteered at a fundraising event for The Mustard Seed Shelter, a Saginaw-based nonprofit which moves women and children from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

We asked Kyndall a series of questions about her experience at SVSU. Here are her responses:

What was your favorite memory at SVSU?

“My favorite memory, while attending SVSU is the community service opportunities I’ve had, once I joined Delta Sigma Pi, and the Organization of Black Unity.”

What was your proudest accomplishment at SVSU?

“My proudest accomplishment overall would be graduating college cum laude, and also being able to join RSOs on campus.”

What advice would you give an incoming freshman at SVSU?

“The most important advice I would give incoming freshmen would be to engage with their professors and get to know them, as well as getting involved with the student organizations. Your college experience goes by faster than you think — you get what you put in.”

What are your plans after graduation?

“My plans after graduation are to find a job I enjoy, and hopefully relocate to a warmer state.”

The following are clubs, organizations and accomplishments that highlight Morgan’s SVSU experience:

• Vitito Global Leadership Institute, 2020 cohort
• Delta Sigma Pi-Mu Phi Chapter
• Organization of Black Unity

March 18, 2021

SVSU set to host in-person, outdoor commencement ceremonies for May 2021 graduates

Saginaw Valley State University will provide an opportunity for its May 2021 graduates to participate in commencement exercises and celebrate their achievements in three outdoor ceremonies planned for Friday, May 7, in the university’s Wickes Memorial Stadium.