Global Commerce Newsletter

http://www.mtsu.edu/~berc/globalcommerce.html 

In the new Global Commerce newsletter from the Business and Economic Research Center, Dr. Steven Livingston examines trends and changes in Tennessee's county-level export activity. Mexico became the first country other than Canada to import more than $1 billion in Tennessee products in one quarter. [more]

Take a Stand and Stop Bullying

Jackie Gilbert's undergraduate EXL management students are presenting on topics of bullying (cyber bullying, corporate bullying, and stalking) to student groups on November 28 in the BAS State Farm room beginning at 6 p.m. Although the event was originally scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m., because there are only three groups it will more likely last one and one-half hours.

[Management and Marketing]

Tennessee Housing Market

http://www.mtsu.edu/~berc/housingbrief.html 

The Business and Economic Research Center has posted its 3rd Quarter 2012 Tennessee housing newsletter. Housing and manufacturing are leading Tennessee's economy. Single-family home construction is rising but from very low levels. Home sales are gaining in 2 of the 3 largest metro markets. Price stability has reached 6 of the 10 metro areas. [full report]

Jump-Start Your Career with the BAT on 11/30

Bloomberg is coming to campus on Friday, November 30, to run a career assessment for students who may be thinking about a future in business or finance. The Bloomberg Assessment Test (BAT) is an opportunity to further your professional development. All students and majors are welcome, provided you have an interest in connecting to firms looking for great individuals. 

The goal of the BAT is to match student strengths with employer needs, so you do not need to be an expert in all sections of the test. Bloomberg has relationships with over 20,000 global companies that are actively using the test score data to fill full-time and internship opportunities.  

 
To register for the upcoming session:
What:  Bloomberg Assessment (screens students for careers in finance, economics, or business) 
When: Friday, November 30, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Cost: free for undergraduate and graduate students

Click link to register: 

November 30 at 9 a.m. - http://bit.ly/MTSU11301

November 30 at 1 p.m. - http://bit.ly/MTSU11302 

The BAT consists of 11 sections measuring finance aptitude and career skills with topics ranging from economics, analytical reasoning, and math to investment management and verbal skills. The BAT assesses your strengths and weaknesses for a career in business or finance. After you take it, your scores are anonymously entered in the Bloomberg Talent Search, used by employers to source top talent. All results are anonymous, and you maintain control over which employers can see your information.  

The BAT can also be leveraged to enhance your resume and social media profiles. Highlighting your participation in the BAT may help to differentiate you from thousands of other candidates by demonstrating and reinforcing your abilities in front of  employers.
 

Take the assessment that connects you with over 20,000 global employers. 

The Bloomberg Assessment Test (BAT) is a free, standardized, three-hour exam designed to assess an individual's aptitude and knowledge relevant to opportunities within business and finance. Every BAT test taker is anonymously entered into the Bloomberg Talent Search Database, which is available to more than 20,000 top firms and allows employers to contact a test taker for an internship, entry-level, or graduate-level position. The test consists of 155 multiple-choice questions and 11 total sections (50% finance aptitude, 50% general aptitude and career skills.

Students Create Anti-Bullying Video

Students of Jackie Gilbert (Department of Management and Marketing) created a video: "Take a Stand, Stop the Bully/ The Face of a New Resistance."

Economics Speaker

The Department of Economics and Finance will host speaker and economist Douglas W. Allen on November 9, 2012, at 7 p.m. in COE 160 (College of Education building) on the MTSU campus.

Professor Allen will give a lecture titled "The Industrial Revolution: What Happened to Dueling, Aristocrats, Indentured Servants, and the Town Watch?" It will be about an hour long, with 15 minutes afterward for questions.

Douglas W. Allen is Burnaby Mountain Professor in the Department of Economics at Simon Fraser University.

For more information: 

• Mike Hammock
  Michael.Hammock@mtsu.edu
  615-494-8678

Sales Career Showcase

A networking event, “Sales Career Showcase – An Evening With the Professionals,” will be held on Tuesday, October 30, from 6:15  to 9 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Murfreesboro.  The event is funded by the Professional Sales Program/Sales Enrichment Fund at the MTSU Foundation.  Twelve companies (with 24 representatives) will be there along with representatives from the Rutherford Chamber of Commerce and the United Way.

Hors d’oeuvres will be served at 6:15 p.m., and company reps will give 2-3 minute presentations beginning at 6:30 p.m. on why the students should visit his/her table; this should be completed by about 7:15 p.m.  The Chamber and United Way reps will speak briefly on the value of getting involved in the community.  Following the brief introductions to the companies, the students will visit tables of interest for the “career fair” portion of the event.

The event is open to any undergraduate or graduate students who have an interest in a sales position. Students should be dressed appropriately and have resumes.

For more information, contact Katie Kemp.

Journey Home Benefit DInner Ticket Sales

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) members are selling tickets for a benefit dinner for the Journey Home's garden. The Journey Home is a Christian Outreach Center for the homeless and at-risk individuals and families in Rutherford County. The class goal is to sell 540 tickets at $7 per ticket; if they make that goal, Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial will match up to $2,500. The class should be able to turn over a check to the garden for over $6,000 to purchase some much needed equipment.

The event will be held on Friday, November 9, at Stones River Country Club. There will be two seatings: one from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and one from 6:30 to 8 pm. The spaghetti sauce, noodles, and Alfredo sauce are being provided by Demos. The ticket price also includes rolls or bread sticks, salad, dessert, coffee, tea, or water.  One hundred percent of the ticket price goes to the garden. Scott Foster, Executive Director of the Journey Home, will be giving a short presentation on the panhandling issue at both dinners as will Brad Blomgren from Way of Hope.

Students from Siegel High School's Key Club will also be working that time to help the SIFE students serve the patrons.

For more information, contact Jean Wilson.

Pre-Election Economic Policy Discussion

The Department of Economics and Finance and the Economics Club presented a panel discussion of the policies of the presidential candidates. Five economists--Bill Ford, Karen Mulligan, Todd Gable, Bram Gallagher, and Mike Hammock--participated. Prior to the Q&A session, Bill Ford presented a summary of the macroeconomic situation.

Weatherford Chair of Finance Golf Scramble

The Weatherford Chair of Finance Golf Scramble at Old Fort Golf Club on September 26 raised a record $44,500 to support the Financial Institution Management program, research, scholarships, and conferences.

Weatherford Golf Scramble at Old Fort Golf Club

Dr. Bill Ford and Mr. Jack O. Weatherford

Culture Fest 2012

Culture Fest 2012 is an opportunity to tour the world and never leave home! Exhibits from more than 40 countries, interactive activities, entertainment, informational booths, and food will delight the senses and expand your world view. Coordinated by Students in Free Enterprise, this MTSU student-created event is free and open to all ages.

Come celebrate the richness of our community’s diversity and have fun!

• Thursday, November 15 
• new MTSU Student Center ballroom
• 6 to 9 p.m.

For more information, contact Jean Wilson:

• jean.wilson@mtsu.edu 
• 615-898-2436

Accounting CPE Day Seminar

http://www.mtsu.edu/accounting/CPEDaySeminar.php 

The annual Accounting CPE Day Seminar will be Thursday, December 6. Presentation topics include accounting and financial reporting, auditing, taxation, and ethics. Participants can earn up to 8 hours of CPE credit.

• Information 
• Agenda 
• Brochure 
• Registration 
• Directions

Dean Burton to Keep a Role in College

"Jim Burton won't be through with his contributions at MTSU's College of Business for some time yet. Even though he announced plans to step down as dean after 13 years at the end of this academic year, he will be back on campus as dean emeritus. . . ."  [Read more at Daily News Journal.] 

Economics Lecture

The Department of Economics and Finance will host Douglas W. Allen on Friday, November 9, at 7 p.m. in the State Farm Room (BAS S102). Professor Allen will give a lecture titled “The Institutional Revolution: What Happened to Dueling, Aristocrats, Indentured Servants, and the Town Watch?” It will be about an hour long, with 15 minutes afterward for questions. Douglas Allen is Burnaby Mountain Professor of Economics at Simon Fraser University. 

(For information, contact Michael Hammock, Michael.Hammock@mtsu.edu.)

Pre-Election Policy Discussion

The Economics Club and the Department of Economics and Finance will hold a “Pre-Election Policy Discussion” Wednesday, October 17, at 7 p.m. in the State Farm Room (BAS S102). Professors Bill Ford, Karen Mulligan, Todd Gabel, Bram Gallagher, and Michael Hammock will answer questions about the economic policies proposed by the presidential candidates as well as other questions about economic policy raised by the audience. The discussion will be about one hour and 15 minutes long, but it might run longer if there is interest.

(For information, contact Michael Hammock, Michael.Hammock@mtsu.edu.)

Report: County Employment and Wages

http://mtsu.edu/berc 

New special report from the Business and Economic Research Center:
Tennessee County Employment and Wages (pdf, Oct. 1, 2012)

Experts Forecast Mixed 2013 at MTSU Economic Outlook Conference

http://mtsunews.com/economic-outlook-conference-2012/ 

The Midstate economy has shown promising signs of recovery heading into 2013, but regulatory and policy-making uncertainty on the national stage continue to hinder sustained economic growth and threaten to reverse any economic momentum gained since the peak of the recession. [more]

Economic Outlook 2012

Download presentation pdf

Economist David Penn's presentation (pdf)

Economic Outlook Conference Sept. 21

(Business and Economic Research Center)

Economic Indicators and Outlook Conference

http://www.mtsu.edu/berc

• Seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance are gently rising, reflecting an increased number of layoffs for Tennessee employers in August. The trend for UI claims has increased to 6,040 per week in August, rising from the recent low of 5,801 per week in April. Rising initial claims will place upward pressure on the unemployment rate.
• Single family home construction for Tennessee, as measured by seasonally adjusted building permits, rose to 1,084 units in July, up from 1,011 in June. The less volatile trend also increased.
• Tennessee's unemployment rate climbed to 8.4% in July, the third monthly rise. Employment, according to the household survey, declined in July, following declines in all but one month this year.
• Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment rose slightly in July, adding 6,400 jobs. While higher than in June, nonfarm employment has shown little change in 2012.
• Seasonally adjusted state sales tax collections were about the same in July as in June. The less volatile moving average has shown little change since March.
• Details by MSA

Economic Outlook Conference Friday

The annual MTSU conference is scheduled for Friday, September 21, at Embassy Suites, Murfreesboro. To register,

• call 615-898-2764, or 
• email teena.young@mtsu.edu

Entrepreneurship Chair GIves Conference Keynote

Doug Tatum, Wright Travel Chair of Entrepreneurship, gave a keynote speech, "No Man’s Land and the Economics of Growing Middle Market Companies," based on his book No Man's Land: Where Growing Companies Fail at the Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors summer conference.