Jones Journal -- Alumni Magazine of the Jones Graduate School of Management, Rice University

Please send comments to:
Deanna Sheaffer, Editor
Director of Alumni Affairs
Jones School of Management - MS 531 Rice University
P.O. Box 1892
Houston TX 77251-1892
e-mail:JGSalum@rice.edu

Enthusiastic Students Organize Additional Clubs
– By Tamara Blaha, Class of 2002

As in previous years, enthusiastic students have created additional clubs to explore new opportunities, develop leadership skills, and get involved in activities with alumni, classmates, and the business community. New additions this year are the Real Estate Club and the Quill (Writing) Club.

Real Estate Club – The purpose of the new organization is to raise the awareness of the student body regarding the varied careers available in the real estate industry. The goal for the 2000-2001 year is to bring in Rice alumni and local leaders from all aspects of real estate (development, investment, management, etc.) to speak to the club in an informal, informative, and open atmosphere without the pressures associated with recruitment-style meetings. Ultimately, the club hopes to further develop the long-term relationships that exist between the Jones School and national real estate companies. The faculty sponsor for the Real Estate club is Adjunct Professor Jerry Finger, vice chairman and managing partner of Finger Interests Ltd. For more information contact Philip A. Croker at acroker@rice.edu.

Quill (Writing) Club – A new club started by students interested in business writing and enhanced communication skills. The club seeks to help members on writing assignments in formal and informal settings, to learn more about how to leverage strong writing skills in a future career, and to work as contributors to the Jones Journal, Hooter, and Rice Alliance publications. For more information, contact John Montgomery at jmont@rice.edu.

Monte Carlo Night brought out a festive crowd in November. They gambled and gamboled for a good cause. Millions in play dollars were lost and won, but the real winners are the local and national charities the event benefits.

Central Charity Challenge (Community Involvement) – A competition among students from top business schools intended to encourage students, through “friendly” competition, to provide assistance to local and national charities, to give back to the community, and to aid in interschool and intraschool camaraderie. CCC sponsors many events over the year including Juvenile Diabetes Foundation-Walk for Life at the end of October, Monte Carlo Night charity in November, a blood drive, Spring golf tournament, and several other fundraising activities. For more information, contact Mike Wieland at wieland@rice.edu.

Consulting Club – In September, they hosted a case interviewing workshop with presentations by consultants from Booz. Allen & Hamilton. As a result, Booz. Allen & Hamilton decided to actively recruit students from the Jones School for summer internships and full-time opportunities. The club hosted a second case-interviewing workshop featuring Deloitte Consulting. In October, the club sponsored a Behavioral Interviewing Workshop with a presentation by Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. These three events have helped second-year students sharpen their interviewing skills and first-year students prepare for mock interviews. For more information, contact Todd Litton at litton@rice.edu. Finance Club – Has new energy this year, focusing its resources on several areas including professional development of its members through Visual Basic and Excel workshops, interview/resume workshops, and career opportunity workshops. For more information, contact Greg Broussard at broussar@rice.edu.

Graduate Women in Business – Promotes the education and advancement of women in business by providing support through networking and mentoring opportunities, developing resources for success, supporting the goals of the Jones School regarding women, and raising awareness through community outreach. Fall semester GWIB hosted three lecture events featuring prominent women executives in the Houston business community: Carin Marcy Barth, President of LB Capital, Inc.; Mary McDowell, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Industry-Standard Server Division, Compaq Computer; and Harriet Wasserstrum, Vice Chairman of Chase Bank of Texas. For more information, contact Tricia Mitchell Kim at mitchkim@rice.edu.

Hooter – The unofficial news publication of the Jones School. The Hooter provides a forum for opinion and a conduit for news, praise, and criticism by and for the Jones community.

Information Technology Club – Educates Jones Students about technology-related issues. For more information, contact Andrew Adams at acadams@rice.edu.

Marketing Club – The focus this year has been building the brand equity of the both the marketing program and the students. RJR Nabisco came in September and spoke about the marketing of tobacco. In October, the marketing club held the first annual marketing case competition with eight top marketing programs in the country participating. Compaq, BMC Software, Minute Maid, Riviana Foods, and Enron were generous sponsors of this successful event. For more information, contact Brandon Fears at fears@rice.edu.

RicEcommerce Club – Connects Rice computer science students and MBA candidates with Houston business leaders and Internet entrepreneurs. Additional information on the RicEcommerce Group can be found at www.ricecommerce.com.

Toastmasters – Provides opportunities for members to improve their public speaking skills in a supportive environment. For more information, contact Paul Ericsson at ericsson@rice.edu.