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BlueCreek sponsors UAHuntsville student investors
UAH offers three business
degree programs at night
Dr. Gupta editor of proceedings volume of book
Dr. Werner de Bondt speaks to faculty
Rwanda students learn at UAH
Russ pursues dreams as a Gates Scholar
Gupta elected into HATS
Business school, alumni honor David Billings
Dumbacher receives Presidential Rank Award
ISSA gives gift for CBA lab
BlueCreek sponsors UAHuntsville student investors
BlueCreek Investment Partners, LLC, a company co-founded by a UAH alumnus, is the new sponsor of the award-winning, student-run investment program at The University of Alabama in Huntsville.
The $10,000-a-year commitment from BlueCreek will cover operating costs for
UAHuntsville’s Capital Management Group (CMG), the student group that manages two stock portfolios worth more than $400,000 for both TVA and the university.
The CMG’s annual student report, made this year to the group’s new advisory board, was in April.
"This will be a tremendous help," said Dr. John Burnett, a UAHuntsville finance professor and the CMG advisor for the past five years. "This will lift the burden of having to find funding each year. We will be able to bring on a student worker to handle some of the paperwork and administrative chores, freeing me to spend more time working with and advising the students."
The CMG was created in 1998 when the Tennessee Valley Authority invited the university to participate in its Investment Challenge Program. Funds for the program came from TVA’s Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Fund as part of the process of diversifying the fund’s financial management. More than 20 colleges and universities in the TVA service area initially joined the program, each managing $100,000 stock portfolios. Since that time the program has grown to 25 schools managing assets worth more than $10.1 million for TVA.
In 2006 the CMG won $20,000 in prize money from TVA. That money was used to start a second student-managed investment portfolio, the Charger Fund, which is focused on equity investments in international companies.
Founded in 2003, BlueCreek Investment Partners, LLC, is a Hispanic-owned company that focuses on high-net-worth clients and institutional clients. The firm is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940.
Founding partner and UAH alumnus Robert C. Mayes, ’84, finance, is chairman of the board, president and portfolio manager. He began his career in financial planning and asset management in 1982 with Merrill Lynch. During his 20 years with the firm he led a team that had more than $450 million in assets under management and he managed the Huntsville branch office.
Mayes is also active in the community. He has served as chairman of the board for the Huntsville Hospital Foundation. He is also a member of both the Business Advisory Council for the UAHuntsville College of Business Administration and the newly formed CMG advisory committee.
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UAH offers three business
degree programs at night
Three bachelor's degree programs in business that can be completed entirely at night are now being offered through the business school at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).
Working students who take only night classes can now complete degrees in accounting, management or management information systems (IT) at UAH, the only business school in North Alabama accredited by AACSB-International, according to Dr. Jim Simpson, dean of the UAH business school.
"There is a growing demand for business professionals in North Alabama and we want to fill as much of that demand as possible with people from our region," Simpson explained. "These night programs give people who are working and supporting their families the means to pursue new careers and take advantage of the job opportunities that are coming to Huntsville and North Alabama.
"At the same time, our traditional students gain by doing class projects and interacting with working students who might have different perspectives on careers and the workplace."
In addition to the traditional coursework needed for degrees in general accounting, general management and MIS, UAH also offers at night specialized courses in federal contract accounting, federal finance and contracts, acquisition management and supply chain management.
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Dr. Gupta editor of proceedings volume of book
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Dr. Werner de Bondt speaks to faculty
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Rwanda students learn at UAH
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Russ pursues dreams as a Gates Scholar
 The life of Michael Russ, a business administration major at UA Huntsville, is one of faith.
Russ, a sophomore from Dothan, was awarded a Gates Millennium Scholarship in April of 2006, one month prior to high school graduation.
"The scholarship has been life changing," said Russ. "God has opened so many doors for me. Without the scholarship, I would not be here. I’m blessed and privileged to be here and to be able to achieve my goals."
During his senior year, Russ’ godmother, Brenda Brown, told Russ to have faith and that he would be rewarded with a scholarship. That was just weeks before the Gates Millennium Scholarship award was announced.
Funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the scholarship provides financial aid to minority students who have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale, who have demonstrated leadership abilities through community service, and extracurricular activities, and who meet the Pell Grant eligibility criteria. The scholarship covers expenses that financial aid does not, and provides funding for graduate school.
Sixteen Gates Millennium Scholars were selected from Alabama in 2006; there are 77 attending Alabama colleges and universities.
Russ is the first person from Dothan’s Northview High School to receive the scholarship. This year, he transferred to UAH as a sophomore, after hearing about the university and its reputation.
"It’s rewarding," Russ said. "Life is hard at times, but nobody said it would be easy. I’m proud that I made the decision."
Russ’ guidance counselor at Dothan’s Northview High School, Nellie Smith, informed him about the Gates Millennium Scholarship and encouraged him to apply for it. He believes his religious faith has opened doors for him.
After completing his education, Russ plans to become an entrepreneur.
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Gupta elected into HATS
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Business school, alumni honor David Billings
On Wednesday, Nov. 28, faculty, staff, alumni, colleagues and friends of UAHuntsville's College of Business Administration honored the college's dean for the past 26 years, Dr. C. David Billings, and his wife Nancy. Billings will retire at the end of 2007.
In addition to presenting several gifts to Dave and Nancy, several senior faculty members spoke on what Billings has accomplished as the school's first dean and what he means to them individually. A transcript of their comments is available on-line at: uahnews.uah.edu
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Dumbacher receives Presidential Rank Award
Dan Dumbacher, '84 M.A.S., director of the Engineering Directorate at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, has been recognized for his achievements at NASA with a Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive.
 One of the highest honors given for government service work, the award is presented annually to a select group of senior federal executives who have provided exceptional service and leadership in some of the most critical positions in federal government.
Dumbacher leads an organization of 1,400 civil service personnel and 1,200 support contractors responsible for the design, test, evaluation and operation of hardware and software associated with space transportation, spacecraft systems and science instruments, along with payloads under development at the Marshall Center. The Engineering Directorate also manages the "command post" for research activities on board the International Space Station.
Dumbacher, who joined NASA in 1979, served as deputy manager of the Exploration Launch Projects Office from September 2005 to May 2007. Earlier he was deputy director for product assurance in the Safety and Mission Assurance Office at Marshall. He also served from 2003 to 2004 as manager of Marshall's X-37 Flight Demonstrator Project Office.
Dumbacher received a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 1981. He and his wife Lee have three children.
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ISSA gives gift for CBA lab
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