CIBER Hosts Educational World-Trade Summit with Students from U.S. and Mexico

Students representing Uganda pose with their table display during the economic summit.

In a first-of-its-kind effort, teams of students from San Diego and Baja California, Mexico, came to SDSU on Monday, April 24 to participate in a Regional International Economic Summit designed to simulate world trade among nations. SDSU’s Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) co-sponsored of the event, along with the International Economic Summit, the California Council for International Trade, the California Trade Education Center and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Sempra Energy provided financial support for the summit.

Like a mini-United Nations, dozens of student teams (nearly 400 students) represented various countries. They spent weeks getting ready for the event, researching their assigned country's economy, political structure, imports and exports, natural resources, infrastructure needs, and other strengths and weaknesses. They arrived at the event with specific strategies in mind, prepared to negotiate and trade their way toward improving the standard of living within "their country."

"The International Economic Summit is an exciting opportunity for students to explore basic economic concepts and globalization issues in a way that combines learning and fun," says Mark Ballam, director of CIBER. "This kind of program has been conducted successfully elsewhere in the United States, but this will be the first time it has been done with students from more than one country."

Along with financial support, Sempra Energy employees donated their time as volunteers at the event, including playing the role of "world bankers" who gave out development loans, sold units of internal improvement, accepted tariff payment and exchanged currency. SDSU students and employees from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco volunteered their time as Summit Secretaries and members of the USA-Mexico team.

"Community leaders in Baja California have encouraged our support for programs that will help in the development of their future community, business and political leaders," says Cathy Lavin, community relations manager at Sempra Energy. "With so much of our San Diego-Baja California region's fast growth tied to international trade, this educational program is really targeted to their needs."

Barratt American Donates Second $50,000 in Support of Real Estate Program

The college’s Real Estate Program is the recipient of a second $50,000 gift from the San Diego real estate developer, Barratt American. The first $50,000 gift was announced in January 2005.

“We are thrilled that Mick Pattinson of Barratt American is such a wonderful supporter of our Real Estate Program,” said Dean Gail Naughton. “We are honored to be associated with Barratt American and their legacy of high standards and community involvement.”

Several corporate partners have made substantial contributions recently to the SDSU Real Estate Program bringing recent total gifts to well over $2 million. Contributors include The Corky McMillin Companies, Grubb & Ellis/BRE Commercial, the Warwick family, Stephen and Michele Coslik, Cornerstone Communities and the San Diego Foundation’s H.G. Fenton Company fund.

“I promised to double my gift last year if other real estate developers, planners and builders would step-up and make contributions to the SDSU Real Estate Program. They did, so I am fulfilling my promise,” said Barratt American President Mick Pattinson. “I also wanted to welcome Dr. Peter Chinloy, the new chair of SDSU’s Real Estate Program. With Dr. Chinloy’s well-respected reputation, I’m sure he will take the program to new heights.”

San Diego Entrepreneur Stephen Cushman Named Chair of CBA Board

Stephen P. Cushman, president and CEO of Cush Enterprises, has been named Chair of the CBA Board of Directors. He joined the Board in 2004.

Cushman, a fourth generation San Diegan, has served on more than fifty boards and commissions, including chair of the San Diego Convention Center, chair of the board of directors for the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce, past Chair of the Acura National Dealer Council, past Deputy Chair Republican National Convention Host Committee, and past director of the San Diego Urban League.

Currently, he is a Commissioner for the San Diego Unified Port District and is Secretary of the Board of Directors of Sharp Healthcare. He also serves on the Board of Hubbs Seaworld Research Institute, and serves on the board of California Motor Car Dealers.

“I am honored to take this leadership position on the College of Business Administration Board,” Cushman said. “The college has generated some of our community’s top business leaders, several of whom are on this Board. It is my goal to build upon all the hard work the college has done thus far and take it to the next level.”

Cushman replaces Duane Roth, CEO of CONNECT, who stepped down as Board Chair, but remains a member. Founder and Chairman of the Board of Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp., Roth serves on a number of boards and executive committees, including BIO and BIOCOM.

Alumni Encouraged to Judge Student Case Competitions

Rick Burgoon, Angelika Gaylord, Clay Kilpatrick and Kathy Pennington from EMBA IV returned to campus to judge the final round of the case competitions held in Management Professor Chamu Sundaramurthy's capstone undergraduate strategy class. They join the ranks of other business professionals such as local entrepreneurs Michael Brau, who sold his local chain of 16 bagel stores to the Einstein Bagel Company; Steven Hamerslag
managing director of Titan Investment Partners; Neil Senturia, CEO of Blackbird Ventures; and businessman Giles Bateman.

The finalist teams are selected based on peer and instructor ratings of approximately 24 student teams' case presentations. The students analyze the strategic issues confronting "real-life" companies and offer recommendations to build and sustain the company's competitive advantage.  The external judges participate in the final round and pick the winning team that is awarded a certificate signed by CBA Dean Gail Naughton and SDSU Provost Nancy Marlin. 

Alumni are encouraged to participate as judges in future competitions. For more information, contact Professor Sundaramurthy at csundara@mail.sdsu.edu.

email: business@sdsu.edu