The United States has over 3,000 registered amateur boxing officials, but only 21 possess the AIBA certification awarded Dr. Chaplin.  He is the only Idaho official qualified to referee or judge international matches.

“I got started while attending the Western Boxing Trials (one of the final Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) in Casper, Wyoming in March, 1996. I casually commented to my friend that it would be great to referee amateur boxing. Moments later, I saw in the program that USA Boxing was encouraging interested officials to contact their headquarters in Colorado Springs to inquire about getting involved. The next officials’ certification clinic was scheduled for August, 1996 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Since I was living in Fort Collins, CO at the time, it was no trouble to attend. I became certified at that time and refereed my first bout in Pueblo, Colorado the next month.”        

He has since officiated over 1,600 bouts.  Most recently, he both judged and refereed Feb. 10-13 at the Under-19 National Amateur Boxing Championships in Cincinnati, and this month at a regional boxing match in the Treasure Valley.

Kevin Price, Chris Cox, Nicole Bradshaw, Patricia Mwove, Dr. Peter Crabb

Four NNU students from the School of Business competed against area universities and placed first in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute’s Global Investment Research Challenge (GIRC) last month.  Participating schools included George Fox, Phoenix, and Boise State Universities.  The NNU team was comprised of Nicole Bradshaw, Patricia Mwove, Chris Cox, and Kevin Price

Each participating university assembled a team of business and finance students who entered the challenge to work directly with a company in researching and preparing a company analysis.  It was a unique opportunity for students to research, analyze and report on a company as if they were practicing analysts in order to promote best practices in equity research and company analysis. The students interacted with investment professionals and top firms while getting real-world experience in equity analysis, sell-side research report writing and presentation skills. 

Dr. Peter Crabb, associate professor of business at NNU, and Lori Smith, CFA and vice president of corporate planning and CRO of Idaho Power Company, mentored the team. Ms Smith stated, “I was very pleased to work with this high-caliber group of students. They were engaged in learning how to objectively value a company and they increased their appreciation of the ethical responsibility of a sell-side analyst to the general investing public.”

A panel of local high-profile heads of research, portfolio managers and chief investment officers, all Chartered Financial Analysts, judged the competition. One of the judges, Peter Butler, CFA and president of the CFA Society of Idaho, said about the competition, “NNU’s written report was comprehensive and insightful.  They also presented their argument well and handled some difficult questions from the judges with poise.”

NNU’s team will travel to New York City March 18 to compete against 20 universities in the Americas Regional Championship.  Team member Nicole Bradshaw concluded, “I have to say it was one of the more challenging and trying experiences in my college career at NNU but so rewarding in the knowledge gained and the friendships developed among our team.”

Article contributed by Bill Russell

Dr. Samuel Dunn, Vice President for Academic Affairs, noted Dr. Mountjoy is highly qualified for his responsibilities as Dean.  He referred to Dr. Mountjoy’s 18 years experience in business, and his well-credentialed degrees in electrical engineering, mining economics, higher education and adult studies, and Christian studies.  Dr. Dunn continued, “Dr. Mountjoy is one of the most informed persons on our campus on the integration of faith and learning.” 

Dr. Mountjoy was warmly received by the School of Business faculty and staff.

Congressman Minnick discussed the current state of the Congressional legislative agenda.  He expressed doubt that any comprehensive health care or insurance legislation would pass in the Congress, but left open the possibility that bipartisan efforts would lead to legislative solutions to some elements of the health care issue.  He indicated great doubt that energy legislation, particularly involving “Cap and Trade,” would pass in the Congress.  He identified jobs legislation as the only real surviving issue, but indicated his opposition to spending any monies beyond those already authorized in the existing Stimulus bill. 

Representative Minnick then fielded questions from the audience.  In response to a number of questions, he indicated that there is little possibility that any comprehensive immigration reform would pass before the November elections.  He also indicated strong support for nuclear energy, with an emphasis on federal loan guarantees for those seeking to build nuclear power capacity.

NNU and radio station AM 670 KBOI jointly sponsor a monthly business Breakfast for business leaders in the Treasure Valley.  Recent guest speakers include: Karen Sander, Executive Director of Downtown Boise Association; Bill Whitacre, CEO of J.R. Simplot Company; Idaho Governor Butch Otter; and Dennis Johnson, CEO of United Heritage financial Group. Co-Sponsors include the Idaho Business Review and others.  Upcoming Business Breakfasts will be held at the Holiday Inn on Vista and will feature Bill Conners, President of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce and others.  Business Breakfasts are held on the third Tuesday of the Month, and are open to the public.  Alumni and friends of NNU are welcome. 

The Business Breakfast is a part of the package of cooperative activities with KBOI.  On Monday mornings at 7:37 a.m. NNU presents the Business of the Week honoring a Boise Valley business (also typically hosted by Dr. Russell).

Article contributed by Bill Russell

Lauren stays very busy with her current activities including Sophomore Class Council and Social Board, Student Ambassador escorting potential students on campus tours, and Dooley Peer mentor.  She is a people person on campus, and is always surrounded by friends.  Lauren is a self-proclaimed coffeeholic and is currently addicted to the TV show “The Bachelor”.  Pilates class is among her favorites, but you will find her most often in the Business Building and the library.

Originally from Olympia Washington, Lauren attended Mountain View Church of the Nazarene, where she first heard about NNU.  While at home she works as a receptionist at a dentist’s office and spends time with her family.  She plans to graduate from NNU in two years with a bachelor in Business Marketing and pursue a career in advertising.  After graduating she would like to move back to Seattle to be closer to her family.

Overall Lauren is very excited to be a writer for the NNU Business Blog and share the experiences and activities of students involved in the NNU School of Business.

Article contributed by Lauren Hartford

Birthdays were celebrated for Bill Russell, Ann Thompson-Crabb, and Heather Beam.  Heather is pictured, proudly standing in her office and reflecting on how to clean the confetti off her carpeted floor.

Dr. Bill Russell

Drs. Ron Galloway and Bill Russell attended the Region 7 Annual Conference of the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) held at Point Loma Nazarene University on January 21 and 22.  Region 7 is an international Region which is comprised of all ACBSP two-year and four-year schools in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest and Yukon Territories, and Western Mexico (including the Baja peninsula). 

Dr. Ron Galloway

In complimentary recognition of scholarly efforts at NNU, two of the five papers selected in a blind peer-review process for presentation at the Conference were written by NNU professors.  The first paper was a survey of business community and adult learner attitudes toward business faculty qualification, written and presented by Dr. Russell.  The second paper entitled Professional Criteria for Tenure and Promotion Decisions in the Business Discipline, written by Drs. Russell, Galloway, and Jeff Lineman, was selected by conference attendees to be the “Best of Region” winner.  Dr. Russell noted, “Discussion during Q&A in the presentation was vigorous and very supportive, and we have been asked to provide both copies and other assistance to a number of business programs at other schools.”

Dr. Jeff Lineman

As Regional winners, the authors will present their paper at the International Conference of the ACBSP which will be held in Los Angeles in June 2010.  Certainly, the honors of being selected to present papers and chosen “Best of Region” by their peers, speak well for the scholarly credentials and skills of these NNU professors.