Jim Tyree to Keynote Business Week 2009

Illinois State University College of Business Alum Jim Tyree will be the keynote speaker for Business Week 2009. Jim is chairman and chief executive officer of Mesirow Financial, an employee owned financial conglomerate that got its start in 1937 when Norman Mesirow opened a one-man brokerage in the Loop. Today, the Chicago company has $35 billion under management, $451 million in annual revenue, $230 million in capital, 45,000 clients, and 1,100 employees. Jim graduated from Illinois State in 1978 with a degree in business administration and in 1980 with an MBA.

Business Week 2009 runs from Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 3, 2009. Each activity is designed to develop essential soft-skills that complement classroom instruction and help students make a smooth transition into the professional world. Business Week also helps us build strong relationships with partner firms and alumni that directly benefit the COB. .

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New COB Alumni Network

Please join us to officially “kick-off” the NEW COB Alumni Network —our way of helping graduates of the College connect with each other and us!

On Saturday, October 18, 2008 between 11:00 a.m. and the 2:00 p.m. Homecoming game against Missouri State, COB graduates, faculty and staff can bring a spouse or guest and  enjoy great conversation along with some barbeque from Famous Dave’s.

Hosts for this first gathering of the COB Alumni Network include: our Early Career Achievement Award winners, members of the College of Business Emeritus Faculty Association, COB Advisory Council members and Beta Gamma Sigma student leaders.

More about the New COB Alumni Network....

Alumni Early Career Achievement Award

For the first time the College of Business is presenting its Early Career Achievement Awards (ECAA) to 15 truly outstanding young alumni who have experienced significant professional success.  Nominations began arriving soon afterwards and were reviewed by departmental teams in July. Honorees representing the different programs in the College of Business will be recognized on Friday, October 17, 2008. We hope you will attend the ECAA panel discussions from 2:30 – 3:45 p.m. on Friday, October 17, 2008 and join us to honor the recipients at the public reception which immediately follows in the lower level atrium.

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Development Outlook

As the new Director of Development I am excited to serve the college and University in a different role and look forward to visiting with old friends and creating new relationships as well.

Since starting my new role as Director of Development I have been busy meeting with the Leadership Team and Center Directors to determine the most critical funding needs for the College. Here is a short list of priorities...

More about Development Priorities...