Category: Leadership

Local Social Entrepreneur Speaks at Simon

Social entrepreneur and University of Rochester alum, Chris Hartman, recently spoke at the Simon School regarding his new local economic development plan.  To give you his back story, Chris is a Rochester native, born and raised.  He attended Vassar College and declared an independent major in environmental education.  Post-college, he worked for eight years at Sprout Creek Farm in Poughkeepsie, transforming it into an efficient, organic, grass-based dairy farm.  Not long after, Chris moved back to Rochester to start a family and attend the Warner School of Education for graduate studies.  Noticing a lack of access to healthy and nutritious food options for his neighborhood, Hartman created the South Wedge Farmers Market in 2007.  He went on to create the West  Side Farmers Market and The  Good Food Collective as well.

Now a teacher at the Harley School here in Rochester, Hartman sees the need for a community food enterprise that retains profits locally, encompassing the entire food supply chain from farming to restaurants.  “Rochester spends $400 million on food and only 2% of that is local,” said Hartman.  He continued, “If we move that figure to 10% – and that’s a realistic goal – we’re talking $40 million being reinvested into our community on an annual basis.”  Hartman is now in the process of growing his latest, and possibly greatest, endeavor, Headwater Foods Inc.  Headwater Foods is Hartman’s attempt to vertically integrate all possible links in the supply chain for local food including distribution, processing, restaurants, compost centers, etc.  This for-profit, for-change company has a “triple bottom line,” as Hartman put it: profit, people and planet.  Headwater Foods is committed to growing the community economically, socially and environmentally.

“There’s a lot of exciting possibility for the Rochester community and local businesses with this vertically integrated model,” Hartman noted.  “We need to think creatively beyond the current, boutique, high-priced nature of local food and make it more widely accessible.”  Hartman acknowledged that future business leaders, such as current Simon School students, need to realize the enormous potential for local and sustainable economic development here in the Rochester community.

May 11, 2010 | 0 comments View Post

Thinking Outside the Box: Part 2 “It’s About Relationships, Not Being the Smartest Person in the Room”

The “Third Annual Thinking Outside the Box Seminar” kicked off with a phenomenal morning panel of guests who discussed their career paths and how they got involved in positions that were unlikely paths for an MBA.   Our panelists came from a variety of industries including not-for-profits, health care, green energy, higher education, real estate and construction to name a few.   The morning panel was followed by a luncheon, where we had the pleasure of listening to our Keynote Address from Mark Peterson.

Mark Peterson, President and CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE), began his address with the following words of wisdom:  “It’s about relationships, not being the smartest person in the room.”   Peterson was touching on an important point, and that is one of the key characteristics of a strong leader is having a strong network.  Some of the greatest leaders in history were not necessarily at the top of their class, but they knew to surround themselves with very smart people.  Inclusion of diversity of thought and experience are the first steps to an “out of the box” idea.   Peterson advised that there are four skills in which we should be sure to develop in order to be

May 04, 2010 | 0 comments View Post

Students Tackle “Bright Flight” in Upstate New York

Last November, students from college campuses across upstate New York assembled in Syracuse to tackle “bright flight” aka “brain drain.”  This refers to the startling number of college students that receive their education from upstate New York universities, yet ultimately look elsewhere for employment.  This phenomenon plagues college communities to the tune of 75 or even 90 percent of students leaving town after graduation.

Michael Bauer, a 2010 Simon M.B.A. candidate,  joined several University of Rochester undergraduates in attending a three-day charrette titled “Work/Play/Stay.”  During these intense brainstorming and collaborative solution-building sessions, students came up with creative solutions to retain young talent following graduation.  Solutions had to address a wide variety of issues and stand up to questioning by an audience of university and community leaders, local and state officials, small and large business owners, and several media outlets.

Work/Play/Stay// UpstateAfter settling on several recommendations, ranging from entrepreneurial tax incentives to more convenient modes of transportation, participants went back to their college communities to present their ideas.  On April 15, students from the University of Rochester rallied a lecture hall filled with local business owners and government officials, influential community leaders, college professors and administrators, and even some students.  After presenting their ideas, the students engaged the audience in a lively discussion of why its important to retain talent and how it can be accomplished.  The event was ended with a clear message that students can not solve this problem on their own, a solution will require large-scale action, at all levels.

A Web site has been created to further this dialogue and perhaps secure a guiding coalition for this endeavor.  Please go to workplaystayupstate.wordpress.com to learn more about what you can do to get involved.

Apr 22, 2010 | 0 comments View Post

Simon Marketing Association: Hershey Corporate Tour

The Simon Marketing Association (SMA) continues to create opportunities for Simon students through corporate tours.  Such events educate the students about the company, opportunities within the company and facilitate networking that may not be possible otherwise.  A group of eight Simon students visited the corporate offices of Hershey in Hershey, Pa. during the Winter 2010 quarter.  Simon alumni Jeff Sigel and Patrick Haughton, who are brand managers at Hershey, prepared an incredible presentation for the event.  They provided an overview of the company, the different functions in the company, in addition to information regarding the marketing of their products.  The students engaged them in a very open discussion covering topics such as life as a brand manager, interviewing techniques, strategic analysis and decision making, product development and promotions.  The event was very successful in that the students received an enriching experience in a very intimate setting, and they were extremely pleased with the event.  They also engaged in some fun activities in the town of Hershey in which they learned about the history of the company and town, and made chocolate eggs for Easter in one of only two chocolate labs in the country.  The corporate tours have been popular events and SMA plans to continue providing a diverse set of opportunities for Simon students.

Mar 31, 2010 | 1 comment View Post
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