Students took part in leadership and team-building exercises during the retreat.

The CMIS Leadership Retreat ensures that students gain a head start in their future careers by helping them become comfortable with the process of the job hunt. Former Aggies gave leadership development presentations focusing on topics such as diversity in the workplace, financial management and social networking, sharing career advice and real-world experience that was learned both on the job and at Texas A&M University. Although the talks gave students a glimpse into the future, students were challenged to further develop their knowledge in these topics while still in college.

On the last night of the retreat, students were able to celebrate the friendships made and the accomplishments of the retreat over dinner and ice cream with corporate representatives from many different companies across the state of Texas. Many representatives were fellow Ags who were able to easily relate to the students in their experiences. The social event was an opportunity to meet recruiters in an informal setting, giving students an advantage by allowing them to meet and build a rapport with career fair representatives before the event.

The annual CMIS Leadership Retreat is held at Camp Allen in Navasota, Texas.

Students attending the retreat participated in several different team-building exercises, ranging from icebreaker games to outdoor activities such as the ropes course and the giant swing. All activities focus on the importance of team building, teamwork and leadership. Students gained practical knowledge in these areas; knowledge they can use for events such as the annual CMIS Case Competition as well as their respective professional careers.

Outside of the professional-centered activities, there were opportunities for students to socialize with one another: taking a dip in the pool, tie-dyeing t-shirts, and playing ping pong; just to name a few.

Although CMIS hosted the retreat, students had a hand in planning the retreat. The student planning committee helped choosing topics for presenters, which speakers would be brought in to speak about such topics, and even the design of the t-shirts.

Students gained invaluable information about life after college and built lasting friendships, all while having a great time, making the eighth annual CMIS Leadership Retreat a true success.

The competition offers future information technology professionals an opportunity to sharpen their analytical, presentation and teamwork skills. It challenges the student teams to solve an IT-related business problem.

The students had one week to prepare solutions to online marketing challenges faced by the company that makes and sells “skinny” wallets. They presented their solutions Oct. 20-21 to business professionals, who judged the proposals based on their originality, creativity and feasibility.

Of the 10 undergraduate teams and 18 graduate teams that participated in the competition, four teams of undergraduates and four teams of graduate students were the winners, while four teams (two undergraduate and two graduate) were named finalists.

Undergraduate teams

• 1st place: M3 Technical Consultants – John Maye, Jr., Megan Schulte, Michelle Shaffer
• 2nd place: In Case of eNERDgency – Austin Jackson, Benjamin Lockhart, Andreaus Perkins
• 3rd place: Case Solutions – Kathleen Baker, Ashley Jacobs, Megan Olson
• 4th place: JAR – Roger Bynum, Jonathan Harris, Artem Neretin
• Finalist: JJK – Kelsey Brawner, John Reavis, Jakob Rosenberg
• Finalist: Pay Us Money – Neil Amsberry, Kyle Shaffer, Benjamin Suchy

Graduate teams

• 1st place: The Info Incredibles – Shalabh Jain, John Morrison, Ronak Tali
• 2nd place: Fortius Consulting – Suyesh Chaudhari, Jason Earles, Vasu Pandey
• 3rd place: Team SNT – Siddharth Basu, Trishka Fernandes, Nimmy Jose
• 4th place: Blue Orchid – Benjamin Finn, Udayan Sathe, Aparna Vishwanathan
• Finalist: Synergia Inc. – Chandan Jethani, Viraj Mehta, Rishit Mishra
• Finalist: Team OSM – Alejandro Fautsch, Thomas Walther, Eric Wivagg

All participants received tote bags filled with items such as T-shirts, pens, notepads, USB hubs and other items donated by CMIS advisory board member companies. Such participation by corporation makes the event one of the center’s most impactful, says director ’Jon (Sean) Jasperson.

Members of the winning teams received scholarships ranging from $100 to $350 and gas cards for $100 to $200, along with laptop carry cases from HP and a Big Skinny wallet. Each member of the finalist teams received a $50 scholarship.

This year, 30 undergraduate Department of Information and Operations Management (INFO) students attended the retreat, where they participated in a variety of activities ranging from business etiquette workshops to ice cream socials.

Students who attend the CMIS Leadership Retreat participated in outdoor activities designed to build their teamwork skills, such as scavenger hunts, canoe games and races, and ropes course challenges.

The purpose of the retreat centers on the importance of leadership techniques and how they translate in the professional world. Students participate in conflict resolution and personal managing sessions, where they are able to assess their own leadership style and learn how to effectively apply it to the workplace. Numerous guest speakers share on topics including real-world finances and crossing cultural boundaries.

Additionally, corporate representatives from around Texas come and meet with the students, offering career advice and real-world insight.

“It’s a relaxed way for companies to meet with some of the students over dinner,” says Randy Blaschke ’84, senior IT manager with HP. “Students ask questions about the career opportunities that are out there and we have casual conversation about which opportunities align with their capabilities.”

This is Blaschke’s second year at the retreat, although he’s been involved with CMIS for eight. He is consistently impressed with the students who attend, adding, “I like the ambition that I see in these kids.”

Jennifer Smith ’07, ITS analyst for Anadarko Petroleum, attended the 2011 retreat as a corporate representative. She attended the first four retreats (2004-2007) as a student.

“The setting is very casual, so it gives students an opportunity to ask for career advice, about the transition from college to corporate life, and for information about the companies at which we work,” says Smith.

This year, 30 undergraduate INFO department students attended the retreat at Camp Allen in Navasota.

MIS student Kaleigh Morgan ’12 also appreciated the casual environment, saying it was a great way to meet and talk with the corporate reps “without the pressure of trying to score a job or interview.”

But the retreat isn’t all leadership workshops and career-centered talk.

Students who attend the retreat also participate in outdoor activities such as scavenger hunts, canoe games and races, and ropes course challenges. The activities are designed to build teamwork amongst the students, many of whom will work together on group projects throughout their time at Mays.

The CMIS leadership retreat has a long-standing history of preparing students for leadership roles in the information technology field. Not only do the students gain invaluable knowledge regarding their personal strengths and career options, they also establish friendships amongst peers who share common interests.

Morgan sums it up this way: “I think it was a great experience to not only get to know other people within my major and recruiters, but also to spend some time figuring out where my strengths lie as a member of the group, which is definitely something I’ll be discussing in my upcoming interviews this year.”

The Center for Management of Information Systems hosted its annual Women in Information Technology conference on March 4, 2011.

David and Julia Gardner, co-owners of David Gardner’s Jewelry, provided insight on current jewelry designs and a featured door prize.  In addition, door prizes were donated from HP and ExxonMobil. Five $100 scholarships were provided by CMIS. Industry attendees and conference sponsors included members from AMD, Chevron, Conoco Phillips, Dell, ExxonMobil and HP.  Additional attendees included members from Anadarko, PWC, Deloitte, Pariveda Solutions, SAS, Shell, Sungard, TAMU (faculty and staff), and USAA.

Attendees assisted with round table discussions with students regarding Preparing for Your Career and Beginning Your Career.  Industry sponsors also hosted a panel discussion on Work-Life Balance Experiences.

The Women in Technology conference is hosted yearly by CMIS and includes students from Texas A&M University, Prairie View A&M, Texas A&M-San Antonio, and Texas A&M-International.

Three Mays undergraduate management information systems students traveled to Singapore on April 25 to participate in the 2010 APEX Global IT Case Challenge, a business-IT case competition, hosted by Singapore Management University. Over the course of five days, team “Boa Contractors” worked out a solution to an in–depth, IT case problem as did 24 other teams from a variety of schools from Hong Kong, to Canada, to South Africa.

(Left to right) Dr. ‘Jon Jasperson, Nicole Crum ’10, Kevin Avila ’10, and Heather Hewett ’10

For the competition, teams acted as consulting firms that bridge the gap between businesses and IT departments. Students were challenged with solving IT problems in terms that business leaders could understand and implement. The competition itself was divided into three rounds of preparation, presentation, and discussion, and the top six teams were invited to compete in the final round.

While the details of the specific case for the competition were confidential prior to the event, the Boa Contractors spent the spring 2010 semester preparing for the event by researching current trends in IT industry best practices, refining their presentation skills, learning tips and tricks for using PowerPoint to its fullest, and discussing strategies for analyzing a business case on a short timeline.

As in business, APEX participants had to think fast to stay ahead of their competition. For the first round, students had 24 hours to study the case, develop an IT solution, and put together a presentation for the judges. Their coaches were not allowed to help. Students spent the majority of their time brainstorming in their hotel rooms. Teams were also prohibited from discussing the competition with other teams, and from using cell phones, social networking sites, and instant messaging.

Another important aspect of the APEX competition was the discussion element that first appeared in round two. After pitching ideas to a panel of judges in round one, advancing teams had to then discuss their proposal with the panel in round two. Students had no prior knowledge of the questions, so each member of the team had to possess a thorough understanding of their proposed technical solution. In addition to the discussion, judges provided students with valuable information for revising their proposals for the final round.

Six teams were selected at the end of round two to advance to the finals round. These teams received a case addendum with pertinent additional information regarding the case. The students then had 17 hours for presentation revision, incorporating the new information. The teams could not, however, change their technical solutions. Thus, each team had to demonstrate that their technical solution was sufficiently flexible and scalable to address the modified business situation.

Overall, the Mays team proved itself, beating out other finalist teams from the University of Hong Kong, Simon Fraser University (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), and Mahidol University (Thailand) for the third place trophy. The first and second place trophies went to Brigham Young University and Singapore Management University, respectively.

Congratulations to the Mays Boa Contractors:

• Kevin Avila ’10
• Nicole Crum ’10
• Heather Hewett ’10

Congratulations also to team coach `Jon Jasperson, assistant INFO department head and director of the Center for the Management of Information Systems at Mays.

On March 26, the Center for the Management of Information Systems held its 10th annual Women in Information Technology (WIT) conference at A&M. The conference, designed for future female IT professionals, gave students the opportunity to interact with women from all levels within the field. Students from sister schools Texas A&M International University and Prairie View A&M University also attended.

The theme of the 2010 WIT conference was “Finding the Right Fit,” and presenters focused their lectures on how women can make a place for themselves in IT management. The WIT roundtable discussions allowed for students to ask questions related to their fields of interest, and for IT professionals to share some of their personal experiences, including the challenges they face in a male dominated industry.

Networking with professionals and presenters was another valuable component of the event for students. Corporate sponsors AMD, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Dell, ExxonMobil, and HP also provided a number of door prizes and scholarships for participating students.

Two students at Mays Business School at Texas A&M University have been awarded $2,000 scholarships from Dell. The computer giant partners annually with the Mays Center for the Management of Information Systems (CMIS) to recognize students who strive to impact MIS in a unique way. This year, Michael Prettyman and David Reme were the selected recipients. In addition to the scholarship, Prettyman also was granted a corporate internship at Dell.

Students were selected based on their grades, leadership, extracurricular activities, and participation in Mays events and organizations. CIMS faculty as well as a representative from Dell reviewed applications before students were selected for interviews with a senior manager from the company. Dell is one of CMIS’ advisory board member companies.

About the Center

The Center for the Management of Information Systems provides a competitive advantage to its student, faculty, and industry members by facilitating an active partnership (aligning needs and resources) to provide robust, relevant educational opportunities, research support and corporate access. To achieve its mission, CMIS engages a highly active and innovative corporate membership who facilitates the CMIS Mission through coordination, participation, and sponsorship.

At its inception in 2000, WIT was a small and informal event to acquaint female students with the range of career choices open to them in IT. This year, corporate leaders ConocoPhillips, Dell, EDS, Chevron, Deloitte, ExxonMobil and Anadarko Petroleum donated funds for the event, making it the most sponsored WIT conference thus far. The event’s theme was “Managing Your Career,” and featured an interactive workshop panel facilitated by Lori Williamson, strategist for DBI IT (Design, Build and Integrate) Retail and Reseller Programs at Dell. The keynote address was delivered by Lynette Graversen, director of Enterprise Systems Management at Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.

Company representatives at the WIT conference were welcomed by a audience of bright young women, thirsty for knowledge about how top firms address some of the issues women face in the industry today. As professionals discussed concerns of future job candidates, participants were able to grasp a better understanding of the IT industry while simultaneously creating a network of future contacts and mentors. Senior executives, managers, professionals, and newly hired women in the workforce presented on topics such as finding a job, building a career path, career expectations, finding a mentor, networking, and work-life balance. The event was also a valuable networking and learning opportunity for the professionals.

Ninety students from College Station and four other A&M campuses (Corpus Christi, Kingsville, International, and Prairie View) participated, as well as students from Bryan High School. Forty professional women hailing from CMIS board member companies took part in the conference. Participants interacted in roundtable discussions featuring personal experiences from women working in the information technology sector. WIT presented a unique opportunity for students to have their questions answered by professionals at all stages of their careers.

Thanks to CMIS and the corporate sponsors, WIT provided participants with several scholarship opportunities and door prizes. Congratulations to the following recipients of a $100 scholarship: Kristi Tipton, Prairie View A&M; Melissa Bueno, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Sowmya Vinta, Texas A&M International (Laredo); Sarah Hartman, Texas A&M University; and Daryela Sarabia, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Additionally, two companies brought door prizes for the students, including an iPod Nano from Chevron and an Inspiron writing journal from Dell.

“We’re excited about the continued success of WIT and the support it has received from companies and individuals involved in the IT industry,” said George Fowler, director of CMIS and professor at Mays. “The conference serves a very important function for our female INFO majors, because it deals with aspects of leadership and career building specific to women, including balancing family and work-life. However, we’re also cognizant of the fact that all business professionals face these issues, and we’re working to include all our students,” Fowler added.

For more information regarding the Women in Information Technology Symposium, please call the CMIS office at (979) 845-1618 or visit their website at http://cmis.tamu.edu.

For the third consecutive year, the last week of summer break for some of Mays’ students consisted of much more than alarm-less mornings. This year 28 management information systems undergraduates attended a three-day retreat in Navasota, Texas, to focus on leadership and team building.

With a wake up call at 7:30 a.m. and lights out at midnight, the students took full advantage of their days. The Center for the Management of Information Systems’ Leadership Retreat was an informative student getaway full of useful tips and techniques for the workplace.

A unit on team building focused on job skills ranging from communication to trust and patience. Retreat speakers addressed conflict resolution, wellness and motivational practices. Students also attended an etiquette session and visited with representatives from Dell, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Anadarko. The retreat was also sponsored by OfficeMax.

Tim O. Peterson, Mays’ director of undergraduate learning assurance, stressed the importance of understanding conflict resolution in business. His primary focus was on the change in the workplace that IT professionals initiate. “You are change agents,” he instilled in them, “and employees are going to resist you.”

While the retreat’s purpose is to teach undergraduates the importance of leadership, senior Jennifer Smith said it did more than that. “When I attended the first CMIS Leadership Retreat I had not even decided if I was going to declare my major as INFO (information and operations management),” Smith said. “But they offered so much advice and encouragement that even before leaving the retreat I had decided INFO was where I wanted to be.”

Potential employers say the retreat broadens students’ perspectives—and makes them even more attractive to the workforce.

“The course work is important, but students get exposure to other aspects that really will pay dividends in their careers—teamwork, wellness, manners, networking and fun,” says Carl Wilganowski, manager of ITS Customer Service for Anadarko. “This really will differentiate you from your peers.”