College of Business Highlights
Professional Sales Program recognized by the Sales Education Foundation
Student and Alumni Highlights
Pi Sigma Epsilon National Convention
Sixteen students from the Center for Professional Selling traveled to St Louis for the Pi Sigma Epsilon National Convention April 10-13, 2024. Pi Sigma Epsilon (PSE) is the only national, professional fraternal organization in sales, marketing, and management open to everyone.
The Convention is for individuals who want to build a strong professional network, learn from industry leaders, showcase accomplishment, compete in a variety of individual and group competitions, and connect with employers. This annual event brings together students, alumni, educators and industry professionals for an exciting week of networking, professional development, competitions and fun.
If students are interested in getting involved, they can contact club president Blair Whitted: [email protected]
Two Alums win Sticker Contest
Excitement and anticipation brewed within MSU Denver’s College of Business as students waited to see who the winners were for the 2023-24 sticker competition, proudly sponsored by local business and supporter StickerGiant. This collaboration wasn’t just about stickers; it ignited creativity and entrepreneurship right on campus.
Erica Peterson, graduated last fall with a major in Marketing and a certificate in Digital Marketing.
Erica designed two of the top winning stickers.
“Digital marketing has always been a passion of mine, from understanding consumer behavior, to interpreting trends and how different brands interact with consumers, I find it all fascinating”
I graduated with a marketing degree in May 2023 and finished my digital marketing certificate this past fall. I am also a proud alum of the Women’s Soccer team.
I enjoy digital marketing because I get to bring my ideas to life in a way that connects with people.
Pi Sigma Epsilon National Convention
Sixteen students from the Center for Professional Selling traveled to St Louis for the Pi Sigma Epsilon National Convention April 10-13, 2024. Pi Sigma Epsilon (PSE) is the only national, professional fraternal organization in sales, marketing, and management open to everyone.
The Convention is for individuals who want to build a strong professional network, learn from industry leaders, showcase accomplishment, compete in a variety of individual and group competitions, and connect with employers. This annual event brings together students, alumni, educators and industry professionals for an exciting week of networking, professional development, competitions and fun.
If students are interested in getting involved, they can contact club president Blair Whitted: [email protected]
College of Business Students Take Home Top Prizes!
Ethics Quest 2024
MSU Denver College of Business students took home 1st & 2nd place prizes for the recent campus-wide Ethics Quest 2024 competition! A big shoutout to 1st place winner Ruby Vargas, and 2nd place winner Desirae Mondragon.
Ethics Quest 2024 was open to all students enrolled in higher education, and offered four days of immersive experiences including games, presentations, and ethical learning opportunities.
The College of Business extends its sincere gratitude to Julian Friedland for his contribution to the recent Ethics Quest 2024 competition, hosted by the University of Colorado and funded by the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative which is dedicated to fostering a culture of ethical leadership and decision-making among students, faculty, and the broader community.
Students and Alumni
Jesiah Lopez - VP of Accounting Student Organization
Meet Jesiah Lopez, Vice President of the Accounting Student Organization, ASO. Jesiah joined ASO because he wanted to meet likeminded students who share the same goal of becoming successful accountants. Very soon, ASO became the bridge in assisting him to network with accounting firms. Jesiah's favorite part about ASO is the interpersonal connections among the firms.
Tatym Lillquist- Alumni
"My experience at MSU Denver’s College of Business is undoubtedly a major contributor to my personal and professional success. From the dedicated support from professors and faculty to the numerous opportunities for growth, the department equipped me for the marketplace. What I appreciate most about my experience is having opportunities to network with tenured industry professionals, understand how the marketplace works through sales competitions, and being connected to companies seeking top talent. I am grateful for my time as MSU Denver and the community it helped me create." Tatym Lillquist, Marketing Grad
Jacob Haberthier - Alumni
“I am very thankful for the MSU Denver College of Business! One of the biggest things that the CBUS taught me was how to network myself. Because of them and their teachings, it helped me land a job at Burton Snowboards, where I now work in my current degree field as one of the Marketing Managers. Not only did my networking skills allow me to find a job in this industry, but has allowed me to flourish professionally and personally” Jacob Haberthier, Marketing Grad
College of Business Faculty Judging at FBLA/DECA events
Throughout the academic year, faculty members at MSU Denver College of Business generously devoted their time to judging events like FBLA and DECA. These competitions served as platforms for high school students to exhibit their marketing skills, networking abilities, project management skills, and business competencies.
Faculty members at the College of Business see the immense benefits of donating their time to these competitions. When asked why they dedicated themselves to these events, faculty members shared their stories emphasizing the importance of these events.
Faculty Recognition
College of Business Dean’s Overall Excellence Award
David Bechtold, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, was recognized for Overall Excellence at the College of Business Spring 2024 meeting.
College of Business Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award
Laurel Lane, in the Department of Marketing, was recognized at the Spring 2024 College of Business meeting for Excellence in Teaching.
College of Business Dean’s Excellence in Scholarship Award
Julian Friedland, in the Department of Marketing, was recognized at the Spring 2024 College of Business meeting for Excellence in Scholarship
College of Business Dean’s Excellence in Service Award
Mark Segall, in the Computer Information Systems and Business Analytics department, was recognized for Excellence in Service at the College of Business Spring 2024 meeting.
Faculty in the News
Cost Advantages of Renting versus Buying Single-family Homes in Denver
Jeff Peshut, Real Estate assistant professor, interviewed with KOA Radio to discuss a recent study that highlights the cost advantages of renting versus buying single-family homes in Denver. He explained the factors contributing to this trend. A RED story contributed to coverage.
Declining Cost of Groceries as Retail Prices Drop
Kishore Kulkarni, Economics professor, interviewed with Scripps News about the declining cost of groceries as retail prices drop. He also interviewed with Denver7 to discuss the nature of cryptocurrency and the current landscape of the cryptocurrency market.
The Hazards of Putting Ethics on Autopilot
Julian Friedland, David B. Balkin, and Kristian Ove R. Myrseth.”The Hazards of Putting Ethics on Autopilot” , MITSloan Management Review, May 8th, 2024. Read the article here.
Cheaper to Rent than Buy a Starter Home
Alexandre Padilla, Economics chair and professor, interviewed with Univision Colorado about why it’s now cheaper to rent than buy a starter home across the nation, including in Denver. A RED story contributed to the coverage.
Potential Benefits of Hosting the NFL Draft in Denver
Darrin Duber-Smith, Marketing senior lecturer, spoke with FOX31 about the potential benefits of hosting the NFL draft in Denver, highlighting the positive impacts he foresees.
Increase in Household Expenses Due to Inflation
Kishore Kulkarni, Economics professor, interviewed with Scripps News about how the increase in household expenses due to inflation may lead to numerous families opting for stay-at-home parent arrangements. He also interviewed with CBS4 about the impact of Middle East tensions on the global oil industry and its ripple effect on investments and stock portfolios. In a separate interview with CBS4, he discussed how the discovery of bird flu in dairy cows may lead to higher prices for milk and dairy items.
Bill Passed That Could Potentially Ban TikTok due to Data Privacy Concerns
Edgar Maldonado, Computer Information Systems associate professor, spoke with Telemundo Denver about the bill that was passed that could potentially ban TikTok due to data privacy concerns.
More Faculty in the News articles
Avoiding Text Scams – Unpaid Tolls
Edgar Maldonado, Computer Information Systems associate professor, interviewed with Scripps News about how to avoid text scams after the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warning about fake texts messages claiming consumers have unpaid tolls.
Federal Reserve’s Interest Rate Reduction Plans
Kishore Kulkarni, Economics professor, interviewed with Scripps News about the Federal Reserve’s forthcoming interest rate reduction plans and the implications of the Consumer Price Index Report on extending potential inflationary concerns.
Grocery Prices on the Rise despite Inflation Cooling
Kishore Kulkarni, Economics professor, interviewed with Fox News to discuss grocery prices rising despite reports of inflation cooling.
Millennials Buying Homes
Jeff Peshut, Finance assistant professor and director of real estate, interviewed with Denver7 about whether it’s more difficult for millennials to buy homes compared to previous generations.
Odds of winning the 1.09 Billion Colorado Powerball Lottery
Darrin Duber-Smith, Marketing senior lecturer, interviewed with 9News about the odds of winning the $1.09 Billion Colorado Powerball Lottery.
Timing and effectiveness of retail marketing campaigns, months leading up to Black Friday
Darrin Duber-Smith, Marketing senior lecturer, interviewed with KOA Radio about the timing and effectiveness of retail marketing campaigns, particularly in the months leading up to Black Friday. Duber-Smith also interviewed with 9News about the rise of inflation contributing to a decline in consumer shopping, including on Black Friday.
Colorado’s Warranty of Habitability law protecting tenants’ rights to stay warm
Colorado’s Warranty of Habitability law protecting tenants’ rights to stay warm
9NEWS KUSA-TV – October 31, 2023
MSU Marketing Professor Darrin Duber-Smith on the Taylor Swift effect
Colorado’s Morning News with Marty Lenz & Jeana Gondek – October 26, 2023
Scammers damaging contactless payment methods at gas stations to steal credit card information
Scammers damaging contactless payment methods at gas stations to steal credit card information
Univision Colorado – September 26, 2023
Edgar Maldonado, Computer Information Systems and Data Analytics associate professor, interviewed about skimming technology after the Aurora Police Department issued an alert of scammers drilling holes in contactless payment screens at gas stations, forcing consumers to swipe
Interest rate hike pause welcome news for Colorado homebuyers
9news – September 22, 2023
“Having the same interest rate is good news,” said Kishore Kulkarni, a professor of economics at MSU Denver. “What’s bad news is in the press conference, the Federal Reserve chairman said that this only means we’re going to increase it in the November meeting,”
Federal child care funding from American Rescue Plan Act ending
Federal child care funding from American Rescue Plan Act ending
Scripps News – September 21, 2023
Threat of strike looms heavy
Threat of strike looms heavy as negotiations between Kaiser, unions to resume
9news – September 21, 2023
How much does Boulder’s economy benefit from CU’s football success?
How much does Boulder’s economy benefit from CU’s football success?
9NEWS KUSA-TV – September 19, 2023
… the Chamber [of Commerce] to come up with that kind of money,” MSU Denver Economics Professor Kishore Kulkarni said.
Continued Disputes Between Altitude Sports and Major Cable Providers
Darrin Duber-Smith, Marketing senior lecturer, interviewed with Axios about the continued disputes between Altitude Sports and major cable providers, Comcast ‘s Xfinity and DISH Network, which have prevented customers’ ability to watch Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche games since 2019.
Federal Reserve’s Plans to Reduce Interest Rates
Kishore Kulkarni, Economics professor, interviewed with Scripps News to discuss the Federal Reserve’s plans to soon reduce interest rates and the various factors influencing their decision-making process.
Co-branding Opportunities Boost Sales
Darrin Duber-Smith, Marketing senior lecturer, interviewed with KOA radio to discuss the recent retail collaborations between McDonalds and Krispy Kreme and how co-branding opportunities boost sales.
Federal Reserve’s Interest Rate Plan
Kishore Kulkarni, Economics professor, interviewed with 9News to discuss the Federal Reserve’s interest rate plan and how it provides market stability and relief to homebuyers anticipating an interest rate drop.
National Association of Realtors Settlement
Jeff Peshut, Finance assistant professor and director of real estate, interviewed with Summit Daily to discuss the implications of the recent National Association of Realtors settlement on commission rates and its potential impact on home prices and sales in Colorado.
Odds of Winning
As the Mega Millions lottery jackpot approaches $1 billion, Darrin Duber-Smith, Marketing senior lecturer, interviewed with 9News to discuss the long odds of winning it and the even longer odds of producing a perfect March Madness bracket. A RED story contributed to coverage.
Shrinkflation
Kishore Kulkarni, Economics professor, interviewed with CBS4 about shrinkflation, exploring the external forces driving companies to decrease product sizes and how this phenomenon is likely to stabilize once inflation decreases.
Price Increases and Changes in Consumer Spending Habits
Kishore Kulkarni, Economics professor, interviewed with CBS4 to discuss price increases and changes in consumer spending habits post-pandemic. He also interviewed with Scripps News for two separate interviews, one regarding Cookie Monster’s comments on shrinkflation, its underlying causes and another addressing federal antitrust concerns regarding airline and grocery mergers.
Personal Selling and the Elements of Promotion
April Schofield and Darrin Duber-Smith, Marketing senior lecturers, published a piece in Nutrition Industry Executive on personal selling and the elements of promotion.
Scam Awareness and Prevention
Robert Persichitte, Accounting affiliate professor, interviewed with CBS4 to discuss scam awareness and prevention for Slam the Scam Day on March 9th.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)
CBS4 featured MSU Denver’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in the Department of Accounting. Robert Persichitte, Accounting affiliate professor and student, America Paisley, discussed its role in educating students while assisting low-income families with their tax returns. A RED story contributed to coverage.
Tips to Students – Filing Tax Returns
Robert Persichitte, Accounting affiliate professor, interviewed with Campus Well to provide tips to college students on filing their tax returns. A RED story contributed to coverage.
Wendy’s Proposed “Dynamic/Surge Pricing”
Darrin Duber-Smith, Marketing senior lecturer, interviewed with KOA radio and Scripps News about Wendy’s proposed plan to test “dynamic/surge pricing” in certain locations starting in 2025, which would raise or decrease prices in real-time based on demand.
Value of Hiring a Good Financial Advisor
Robert Persichitte, Accounting affiliate professor, interviewed with MarketWatch to discuss the value of hiring a good financial advisor while being mindful of the costs.
Supply Chain Adjustments Leading to Increased Gas Prices
Kishore Kulkarni, Economics professor, interviewed with the FOX31 disruptions in critical oil-producing regions leading to supply chain adjustments, consequently resulting in increased gas prices.
Super Bowl Ads
Darrin Duber-Smith, Sports Marketing professor, interviewed with KOA Radio, 9News, CBS4, and CGTN on the effectiveness of this year’s Super Bowl ads and highlighting the distinctions from previous years. Additionally, he also interviewed CBS4 on what constitutes the best Super Bowl ad and its impact on the local economy. A RED story contributed to coverage.
Kroger-Albertsons Merger
Alexandre Padilla, Economics chair and professor, interviewed with FOX31 to discuss the definition and implications of a monopoly in relation to the Kroger-Albertsons merger.
Handling Post-holiday Debt
Robert Persichitte, Accounting affiliate professor, interviewed with CBS4 to discuss strategies for effectively handling post-holiday debt. Additionally, he interviewed with FOX31 and KOA Radio about the delayed implementation of a new tax regulation mandating that mobile payment services must issue tax forms to users. A RED story contributed to coverage.
Potential Economic Cooling in Colorado
Alexandre Padilla, Economics professor and chair, interviewed with LaVoz about potential economic cooling in Colorado and the U.S., attributing factors to election-year politics and immigration.
Transformative Effects of Legalizing Sports Betting in Colorado
Darrin Duber-Smith, Marketing senior lecturer, interviewed with FOX31 about the transformative effects of legalizing sports betting in Colorado, highlighting its role in boosting sports viewership and its generation of significant state tax revenue.
Marketing and Brand Tactics and Stanley Tumblers
Darrin Duber-Smith, Marketing senior lecturer, interviewed with KOA Radio about the marketing and brand tactics that have led to the significant spike in sales and popularity of Stanley tumblers.
Tax Tips
Greg Clifton, Accounting chair and associate professor, interviewed with Denver7 to provide tax tips ahead of Jan. 29 when the IRS begins to accept 2023 tax returns.
Online Security and Scam Prevention
Edgar Maldonado, Computer Information Systems associate professor, interviewed with Telemundo Denver about online security and scam prevention, especially for seniors who are highly targeted by scammers.
Economic and Workforce Impact on Denver from Unauthorized Immigrants
Alexandre Padilla, Economic professor and chair, interviewed with the Denver Gazette about the economic and workforce impact on Denver from unauthorized immigrants coming to Colorado seeking support and employment.
Overspending During Christmas Since the Onset of the Pandemic
Robert Persichitte, Accounting affiliate professor, interviewed with CBS4 about the rising trend of overspending during Christmas since the onset of the pandemic. Persichitte also interviewed with CBS4, shedding light on how Americans have been juggling two or more jobs to meet their financial needs since the start of the pandemic.
Top Seven Holiday Cybersecurity Scams
Edgar Maldonado, associate professor of Computer Information Systems, interviewed with Denver7 about the top seven holiday cybersecurity scams. A RED story contributed to coverage.
Gas prices in Colorado Springs Drop to Three-year Low, Impact on Price of Other Goods and Services
Kishore Kulkarni, Economics professor, interviewed with the Denver Gazette about gas prices in Colorado Springs plummeting to nearly a three-year low and how the drop could impact the prices of other goods and services.
Colorado Joins Lawsuit Accusing NCAA of Antitrust Violation in Athlete Transfer Rule
Darrin Duber-Smith, Marketing senior lecturer, interviewed with Associated Press about the lawsuit against the NCCA filed by seven attorneys generals, including Phil Weiser. The suit alleges the NCAA’s transfer rule for college athletes violates anti-trust laws.
Which Way is the US Economy Going?
Glenn Furton, Economics professor, interviewed with Scripps News about the state of the U.S. economy does not match consumer sentiment.