Lycoming College News

Economics professor and student release study on area''s economy

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

Business interns partner with community organizations

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Eleven Lycoming College interns from Dr. Bonita Kolb’s business practicum class used their laptops to assist the Salvation Army with its Résumé Outreach workshop on April 5. The community service event benefitted the organization’s Project Break-Through, a mentoring program that helps struggling families reach goals such as continued education and career advancement.

Anne Landon, assistant director and internship coordinator of Lycoming’s Institute for Management Studies and a certified professional résumé writer, led the workshop. The student interns worked individually with participants to prepare a professional resume.

In addition to the résumé workshop, the same Lycoming students volunteered at a “trash to treasure” charity auction held by the American Rescue Workers. The students acted as runners, showing the merchandise up for bid and then ‘running’ it to the successful bidder.

“It amazed me how someone’s trash truly is someone else’s treasure,” said senior Brad Houseknecht. “Old glass milk pints sold for over $40, a box of Pez dispensers went to the highest bid of $10 and an old accordion sold for $275. The amount of money raised from this event absolutely blew my mind. It was heartwarming to see the compassion people have for one another.”

Lycoming College is a national liberal arts and sciences school dedicated to the undergraduate education of 1,400 students. It is recognized as a Tier 1 institution by U.S. News and World Report. Founded in 1812 in Williamsport, Pa., Lycoming is one of the 50 oldest colleges in the nation.

Vice president of Chesapeake Energy Corporation to speak

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Lycoming College’s Institute for Management Studies will host Scott Rotruck, vice president of corporate development for Chesapeake Energy Corporation, as part of the James W. Harding Executive Speaker Series on Thursday, March 31, at 7 p.m. in Heim Building G-11. Rotruck will present “The Marcellus Shale, the Greatest Shale of All Time?” The event is free and open to the public.

Rotruck serves on the West Virginia Oil & Natural Gas Association Board and the Energize West Virginia Board. He also is a FastTrac facilitator for the Kauffman Foundation’s Entrepreneurial Training Programs. Rotruck also spent 15 years in the coal industry with Maryland Coal, Inc., Anker and CONSOL, and 10 years in the railroad industry with CSX Corporation and Norfolk Southern Corporation. He is the past chairman, president and CEO of the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce.

Rotruck is a 1977 graduate of West Virginia University and earned a master’s in business administration from Frostburg State University in 1986. He taught entrepreneurship at the WVU College of Business and Economics for five years.

The James W. Harding Executive Speaker Series is named for James W. Harding, a 1938 graduate of Lycoming and native of Montoursville, Pa. Harding was an executive with Kemper Insurance. As the result of a grant from the James S. Kemper foundation to endow the series, students have the opportunity to meet and network with some of America’s top business executives from numerous internationally-recognized companies and firms.

Lycoming graduate named one of Fortune's 50 Most Powerful Women in Business

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Deirdre Connelly, a 1983 Lycoming College graduate, has once again been named by Fortune as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business. Connelly is president of North American pharmaceuticals for GlaxoSmithKline. Ranked 37th on the list in 2009, she rises to 27th in 2010, joining the ranks of Oprah Winfrey (sixth) and this year's most powerful woman, Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo.

A native of Puerto Rico, Connelly joined GSK in February of 2009. Prior to that, she spent 26 years at Eli Lilly and worked her way up from a sales representative to the president of U.S. operations. Connelly earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Lycoming and graduated from Harvard University's Advanced Management Program in 2000.

Alumnus and Ford Motor Company financial executive to speak at Lycoming Oct. 18

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Lycoming College alumnus David Schoch, chief financial officer for Ford Motor Company operations throughout all the Americas, will present “Ford – Putting the World on Wheels,” as part of the College’s Institute for Management Studies’ James W. Harding Executive Speaker Series. The presentation will be held Monday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. in Heim Building G-11, Barclay Lecture Hall.

Schoch previously served the automaker as executive director, Ford Canada, Mexico and South America Operations. He also was chief financial officer and vice president of strategic planning for Ford of Europe. Before joining Ford of Europe, Schoch was chief financial officer of Ford Asia-Pacific Operations.

Since joining Ford as a financial analyst in 1977, Schoch has held a wide variety of leadership positions. His extensive global experience also includes senior finance leadership positions in South America and South Africa.

Schoch earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Lycoming in 1973 and an MBA in finance from Temple University. Schoch and his wife, Carol (Missy) Marsland Schoch, also a 1973 Lycoming graduate, have three daughters.

The James W. Harding Executive Speaker Series is named for James W. Harding, a 1938 graduate of the College and native of Montoursville, Pa. Harding was an executive with Kemper Insurance. Lycoming was awarded a grant from the James S. Kemper Foundation in Long Grove, Ill., to endow the speaker series. As a result, students have the opportunity to meet and network with some of America’s top business executives from numerous internationally-recognized companies and firms.

President Obama nominates alumnus for key administrative post

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Lycoming College alumnus Gene Dodaro was nominated by President Barack Obama to be comptroller general of the United States, Government Accountability Office. His nomination, announced by the White House on Sept. 22, must be confirmed by the Senate.

Dodaro, who earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Lycoming in 1973, has served as acting comptroller general of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) since March 2008. Dodaro previously served as GAO’s chief operating officer, and, before that, as assistant comptroller general for GAO’s largest unit, the Accounting and Information Management Division. A 37-year veteran of GAO who rose through the agency ranks, Dodaro is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, a member of the Association of Government Accountants, and has received recognition from numerous organizations including the National Public Service Award, the Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership and the Arthur S. Fleming Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in the Federal Government.

In March 2009, Dodaro presented a lecture at Lycoming titled “GAO’s Role in Promoting More Accountability and Transparency in Government” as part of the College’s Institute for Management Studies’ James W. Harding Executive Speaker Series.

Institute for Management Studies hosts Hiawatha Riverboat outing

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Lycoming College students, faculty and administrators gathered for the Institute for Management Studies’ annual cruise and picnic onboard the Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat on Sept. 8. This popular tradition, which started in 1996, is held every September to welcome freshmen and provide an opportunity for students to meet and socialize with faculty and administrators outside the classroom. Students were transported to Susquehanna State Park by the historic Herdic Trolley. Ninety-five guests, including President James and Emily Douthat, and Arthur Haberberger, chairman of Lycoming's board of trustees, attended this year’s event.

Lycoming’s Institute for Management Studies seeks to enhance the educational opportunities of students majoring or minoring in accounting, business administration or economics by offering an expanded internship program, special seminars on important management topics, student involvement in faculty research and professional projects, executive development seminars, and a Management Scholars program for academically talented students. In addition, the IMS hosts guest speakers and conferences on current management issues, and an exchange program for business, accounting and economics students with the Westminster Business School (WBS), which is part of the University of Westminster system located in London.