The Program

Steve Schultz introduced his Old Dominion University colleague Dr. Jeff Tanner, who in 2015 became dean of ODU's Strome College of Business. He formerly was a marketing professor at Baylor University and has written 15 books and published 75 articles. He spoke about the role of a modern metropolitan business school -- teaching students, developing knowledge and engaging with the community to solve real problems. This approach gives ODU students work experience while bringing new ideas to businesses and organizations. 

 

ODU students have worked with the Target distribution center in Suffolk to help it compete with Amazon. They have helped a Hampton Roads food manufacturer end high employee turnover and lower operating costs, They have assisted Coca-Cola in using big data to improve marketing and Cabela's outdoor stores to encourage shoppers to pay full price for merchandise. In each partnership, students brainstormed solutions to challenges and came up with new ideas to implement. ODU students also work on projects with the City of Norfolk and with nonprofits like Lighthouse Outreach. Some partnerships pay for students' work but others do not. Businesses also engage with students by sponsoring competitions and awards that promote entrepreneurial efforts. One recent competition led 300 freshmen students to present business plans. One group already has investors for their idea. 

 

When asked about changes in students over the past 20 years, Jeff said he believes they are more eager to learn, willing to take risks and better at working in groups. Despite needing to improve interpersonal skills, including writing emails, he remains hopeful for the future. 

 

ODU's  business school is ranked the 55th best online MBA program by U.S. News & World Report, 69th in part-time MBA programs by Business Week and the seventh best business school value for veterans by Military Times.

At the April 11 meeting the Rotary Club of Norfolk welcomed three new members:

• Maj. James (Jim) Allison of Norfolk is the new area commander for the Salvation Army's Hampton Roads Command. He grew up in South Carolina and graduated from the Salvation Army's School of Officer Training where he met his wife Lois, who also is a Salvation Army officer. They were ordained in 1977 and have served in North and South Carolina, Washington, D.C., Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. The Allisons, who have two married daughters and two grandsons, have worked in our region for nearly a year. Jim is sponsored by Will King.
• Ian Phipps of Norfolk is a Maury High School and Old Dominion University graduate with a degree in environmental geography. He is a certified arborist with Bartlett Tree Service. Ian worked in New Orleans before he and his wife Lauren, who also grew up in Norfolk, moved back to our region. Ian's grandfather-in-law is Rotarian Dr. Bill LeHew. He is sponsored by Shep Miller, who was Ian's childhood neighbor and is the father of one of his best friends. 
• Chuck Doud of Chesapeake is director of programming and audience engagement for WHRO/WHRV. He was born in Oswego, N.Y. and grew up in Westchester and Orange counties in New York. He has worked in radio television and digital broadcasting for 29 years in New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Hampton Roads where he has lived for 15 years. He and his wife Lisa have three children in elementary and middle school. He has been an on-air radio personality for several stations and previously was a member of the Rotary Club of Chesapeake. He is sponsored by Sally Hartman.

Announcements:

 

Jean Owens let us know that Bill Burnett is recuperating from his fall and should be at Rotary next week. She also shared that former Rotarian John Chittick died suddenly earlier this week. In January he retired to Bora Bora. A reporter in Massachusetts, where John lived before moving to our area, is working on an article about him and his nonprofit work helping teens avoid getting AIDS. 

 

Dean Rogis introduced guests. Rotarian Eugster Rein is a Swiss military officer working in our region with NATO. Ben Streetman was a guest of Lisa Sands. He is finishing his master's in public administration at Old Dominion University and looking to start his career. 

 

Marty Raiss highlighted our club's upcoming April 25 visit to Fink's Jewelers with its manager, Rotarian Dan Schaffer, Dan will give us insights into his business and let us try on jewelry. Fink's is in MacArthur Center. Marty reminded us that for May our Suds & Buds party on May 19 is the main optional club activity. 

 

Lisa Sands encouraged members to buy tickets to Suds & Buds and also sign up to volunteer for a shift helping at the May 19 party.

 

Jim O'Brien talked about how proceeds from the May 19 party will benefit not only our club and the charities it supports but also Norfolk Botanical Garden and Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. This organization where he volunteers helps injured military personnel and veterans through fly fishing. There is not charge for them to participate. Proceeds from the party will fund special trout fishing trips for participants. 

 

Congratulations and Fines:

 

Greg Bockheim, head of the Virginia Zoo, paid a fine for being quoted in news about two new rhinoceroses joining the zoo.

Harry McCoy will celebrate 62 years in April as a member of our club. Win Lewis paid a fine for his phone ringing in a meeting and for the day's speaker Jeff Tanner, who is his friend. Bill LeHew was happy about a page one Virginian-Pilot sports article about athlete Myron Rolle, a former football player from Florida State University and Tennessee Titans who was a Rhodes Scholar and is graduating from medical school.

 

Closing Bell

 

The book Stranded Whale was presented in Jeff Tanner's honor to Larrymore Elementary School, our school of the week. Tables 4, 7 and 14 had perfect attendance and earned an extra raffle ticket next week. Dr. Steve Jones won $17 in the daily raffle. We will meet on April 18 to hear Jim Oliver, Norfolk's First citizen.