Tag: H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship

Business Spotlight: Solutions to Poverty Drive Entrepreneurial Professor

When Jose Brache was growing up in the Dominican Republic back in the ‘70s and ‘80s it was easy to find poverty – in fact, it’s still prevalent there. The key for Brache, a professor at the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, was learning from such conditions.

“I was a Boy Scout and visited many regions of my country and saw the tough reality of many people who were living in the ‘poverty trap,’” he said. “That raised questions and made me think of potential solutions.”

Jose Brache, Ph.D.

Brache’s parents came from humble beginnings and his father became an entrepreneur out of necessity, building a successful real estate development company from nothing. As he watched his father’s progress in the business world, Brache took notes.

“I learned that fundamentally if you are able to find a spot in life where you can create value – and you are flexible and willing to learn from your experiences – you can make a substantial contribution in any field,” he said.

Brache has been living, breathing, and preaching entrepreneurship ever since. He is an economist with a Ph.D. in Management from Adolfo Ibanez University and a Master’s in Applied Economics from Georgetown University. His research interests include international entrepreneurship, open innovation, inter-firm cooperation, SME´s internationalization, technology commercialization, geographic co-location, and innovation management.

Assisting both established and aspiring entrepreneurs with the challenging task of value creation is one of Brache’s passions. He says he strongly believes in building and nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems as a pathway toward stronger and better economies.

Brache, also director of the Huizenga Business Innovation Academy, says that coming to NSU gave him an opportunity to see entrepreneurship from its inception.

“The academy is a fantastic academic and scholarship program,” he said. “Students have the opportunity to get funding and run on-campus businesses. They also have a chance to get seed funding at the end of their program. The sheer possibility of making a contribution to the academy and its students was enough to bring me here.”

Brache’s relocation was quite a testimony to Shark Nation’s magnetism. He arrived at NSU in August 2021 from the University of Auckland in New Zealand, where he spent three years as the director of the Master of Commercialization and Entrepreneurship program.

From an entrepreneurial perspective, New Zealand and Florida see the world through different lenses, Brache says, because of their stark differences in other characteristics.

“New Zealand is a developed nation with one of the highest living standards in all of the world,” he said. “Many of the companies that I had the chance to work with had an orientation toward foreign markets because New Zealand only has a population of about five million people.

“In Florida, nascent businesses are exposed to more growing opportunities because of the size of the market in the country. I observe that many startups have a regional or national orientation instead of an international orientation.”

For Brache, those characteristics create an educational opportunity to instill a broader perspective in the students he teaches at NSU.

“I think that it is our responsibility as educators to show that there are many opportunities for Florida startups in foreign markets,” he said.

Knowledge is a two-way street, Brache says, adding that students at NSU are creative and savvy at identifying and developing innovative business opportunities.

“They are interested in topics that are ‘Best for our World,’” he said. “We have academy students with projects that try to solve environmental challenges, develop healthier foods, improve the wellness of people in the community with apps that tackle anxiety and depression, and contribute to those that are more vulnerable with not-for-profit initiatives.”

Posted 06/05/22

Business Spotlight: Albert Williams Stays in Tune with Students

If you’ve ever heard Albert Williams play his Fender Stratocaster axe, you would think his chosen profession was music. But on the contrary, teaching business at NSU is his full-time gig.

Albert Williams, Ph.D., the Chair and Associate Professor of Finance and Economics

Williams, Ph.D., the Chair and Associate Professor of Finance and Economics, says his guitar reflects his “artistic side.” But don’t be surprised if a jam session breaks out in one of his classes, he says. He’s been known to mix music and business when the situation calls for it.

Besides entertaining and educating students at the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Williams’ life has been full of adventures and exciting job opportunities.

But he doesn’t brag about his career. He brags about his students. In fact, his office walls are adorned with accolades he has received from some of the thousands of students that have crossed his path. Williams was nominated and received a Student Life Achievement Award, or STUEY, for Professor of the Year in 2017.

“I don’t teach economics and finance,” Williams says. “I teach people. I encourage, motivate, and care about my students.”

Williams says his recipe for student success is to help them grow by seeing how they can improve their lives from the knowledge gained from his classes. His lectures tap into his prior professional career, which enables Williams to share a variety of real-world examples with his students.

Before coming to NSU in 2003, Williams was a jack of many trades: a high school math teacher, banker, agricultural economist, CEO of an agricultural marketing firm, and analyst for Burger King Corporation.

He takes those experiences to the classroom and combines them with his ability to dissect complicated economic concepts and make them easier to understand. But he doesn’t stop there.

“I also bring current issues to class and have students discuss them,” Williams says. “This makes economics and finance more applied and alive!”

During his years at NSU, Williams has become a Shark through and through. He is the faculty adviser for the Graduate Business Student Association (GBSA). In this role he helps student leaders practice leadership by developing projects and implementing them for the benefit of all students. He also has played an active role in the Honors College and still speaks to new students and parents on the importance of being in the college.

When it comes to undergraduate recruitment, he doesn’t hesitate to speak to parent groups and answer their questions while promoting the advantages of attending NSU.

Williams also takes his expertise to the airwaves from time to time appearing on television and radio as one of NSU’s business experts. NBC and PBS have featured him locally and he frequently provides expert opinions on Love FM in Belize, his country of origin.

Despite his many roles, Williams’ headliner is teaching, which he considers as much an art form as playing his guitar.

“You have to put passion and knowledge into it and that makes learning exciting for students,” he says.

Posted 05/20/22

Students Place Third in American College of Healthcare Executives Contest

From left, Kenneth Wong (past president of ACHE of South Florida), Tania Perez, Samanta Gomez, Professor François Sainfort, and Abby Stout.

Our Complex Health Systems graduate students team of Samanta Gomez, Tania Perez and Abby Stout placed third at the 2022 American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) of South Florida Graduate Case competition. This was the first time a team from NSU competed in this event, and what a great result!

Tania, Samanta and Abby did a marvelous job and set a high bar for their fellow students to surpass next year! Professor Timothy Page, Ph.D., and Associate Professor Eleanor Lawrence, Psy.D., provided invaluable mentorship to the students in the CHS program.

Congratulations and thank you for your hard work and dedication!

Posted 05/22/22

Business Students Score Impressively in Simulation Contest

From left, Dr. Will Hawks, Michael Capuno, Ryan Clark, Steven Suarez, and Caleb Fell

A team of Nova Southeastern University business students hit a global high note recently in a business simulation competition. Adam Sumioka, Ryan Clark, Caleb Fell, Michael Capuno, and Steven Suarez of “Company C” placed second worldwide out of 2,761 and 127 colleges and universities competing within the GLO-BUS business simulation. NSU Huizenga seniors participate in this simulation as a part of MGT4880, Business Strategy and Policy, the 8-week senior capstone course.

The simulation focuses on the competitive business of action-capture cameras and unmanned aerial vehicle drones. Teams of students act as co-managers of a Taiwan-based multi-million-dollar company that designs, assembles, and markets the cameras and drones. Through this simulation experience, senior at the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship can apply business concepts learned in MGT4880and cultivated throughout their time at the college to make collaborative data-driven decisions to promote their company’s overall performance and competitive advantage.

Each week during the competition, student teams were challenged to leverage various business reports to make high-stakes decisions related to import duties plus exchange rate fluctuation, product design plus performance, workforce compensation, assembly operations, corporate social responsibility, pricing, marketing, and other vital areas of their companies. In the simulation, one week is a simulated year.

After co-managers make their decisions at the end of each week, rankings are published highlighting the highest performing companies (in classrooms and globally) based on factors including financial performance, earnings per share, return on equity, and stock price.

During the week of April 11-17, co-managers of NSU’s “Company C” earned a Global Top 100 ranking, with their score of 109 tying for the 2nd best overall game-to-date score performance of the week worldwide. The week prior the team earned a global ranking of 41st place out of 3,183 teams and 136 colleges/universities.

“To say I’m proud of this group of sharks is an understatement,” said Will Hawks, Ed.D., instructor of management at NSU.

Posted 04/24/22

Study: Drug Overdoses Rise During COVID-19, Creating ER Disparities

Nova Southeastern University professors conducted a landmark study on drug overdoses in Florida during COVID-19 and found unexpected results regarding disparities by age, ethnicity, and insurance status.

Among their key findings:

  • There were more opioid and stimulant overdoses reported by emergency departments (EDs) during COVID-19 in Florida than before the pandemic.
  • ED visits among those under age 18 were more likely to involve drug overdoses during COVID-19 compared to before COVID-19.
  • ED visits among those on Medicaid or without insurance were more likely to involve drug overdoses during COVID-19 compared to before COVID-19.
  • There were no disparities according to ethnicity or race. Drug overdoses were problematic for all groups during COVID-19.

The interdisciplinary, multi-college, multi-university study was conducted by Professors Timothy F. Page and François Sainfort from NSU’s H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Professor Julie Jacko from NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, and Professor Weiwei Chen from Kennesaw State (Ga.) University’s Department of Economics, Finance and Quantitative Analysis. Their study of disparities in drug overdoses during COVID-19 was the first research of its kind in the state of Florida.

The researchers compared ED data from April to September 2019 (before the pandemic) to the same time period in 2020 (during the pandemic). While opioid overdose visits increased during the pandemic, visits for other causes declined as activity was restricted during the pandemic.

“This type of research has broad impact in the scientific community. It advances our knowledge of drug abuse during the pandemic and therefore helps us help society,” said Andrew Rosman, Dean of the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

The opioid crisis continues to persist in Florida as well as the United States, fueling thousands of overdose deaths. In 2019, the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control awarded Florida a new Overdose Data to Action grant, which was expanded in the scope of previous drug overdose surveillance to include more non-opioid related overdoses and strengthened funding of prevention efforts.

For details on the study go to https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/epdf/10.1089/pop.2021.0369 or contact Professor Timothy F. Page at tpage1@nova.edu

Posted 03/15/22

Associate Professor Pens Opinion Piece for Wall Street Journal

PHOTO: JOSHUA ROBERTS/REUTERS

Emre Kuvvet, an associate professor of finance at Nova Southeastern University, recently penned an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal on the politicization of the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Wall Street Journal subscribers can read the article here.

NSU faculty, staff, and current students can access The Wall Street Journal, including podcasts, finance tips, and career insights through the library’s portal here.

Have questions? Ask a librarian at the Alvin Sherman Library!

Posted 03/08/22

Adjunct Professor Plans 5K Run/Walk for Childhood Cancer

Beth Cohen Besner is an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at the Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship (HCBE).  She primarily teaches courses on the Entrepreneurial Mindset.  Besner is a proud graduate from Duke University and the George Washington University Law School.  After law school, she practiced bankruptcy law and litigation first in Washington, D.C., and then in Miami.  Not only is Besner a professor at HCBE but she was also the Assistant Director of Career Services at the NSU School of Law before starting a family in 1995.  Beth had three sons – Ian was born in 1995, Grant in 1997 and Noah in 1999.

Sadly, in 2006 tragedy struck when Besner’s eldest son Ian was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 11.  After undergoing four months of treatment, he contracted meningitis and died in May 2006.  Besner and her husband, Brad, established the I Care I Cure Childhood Cancer Foundation in Ian’s memory.  Since its inception, I Care I Cure has raised more than $3 million for research to find gentler, less toxic cures for childhood cancer.  The foundation, now merged with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, is hosting its 14th Annual I Care I Cure 5K Run/Walk and Festival on NSU’s campus on Saturday, March 5 at 9 a.m.  The Besners hope that members of her NSU “family” will join her for this event for a worthy cause.

Sign up to run/walk and/or attend the festival and concert at : https://www.alexslemonade.org/campaign/i-care-i-cure-5k

Sign up to volunteer at : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcvekD6Xi8o65qaHYFJHwLzErHFmO_rAUFOUXFIvig40VTow/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

Posted 02/24/22

Wonder Women Event Will Offer Scholarship Opportunity

The NSU Center for Academic & Professional Success (CAPS) in partnership with H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement, and The Women’s Success Series will be hosting an exciting event known as Wonder Women. The event will feature a panel of women from various industries who are considered Wonder Women for their accomplishments. The event will be held on Tuesday, March 22, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Nominate a current undergraduate NSU student today. Students can nominate their peers that have developed and displayed traits that embody a Wonder Woman:

  1. Leadership
  2. Academic Excellence & Career Focus
  3. Community Service
  4. Integrity/Ethics
  5. Women’s Empowerment

The winning student will receive a $500 scholarship. The NSU Wonder Woman award is open to all undergraduate students.

The winner will be announced at the event, which will feature a panel of women in different industries who are considered Wonder Women for their accomplishments. The Wonder Women panelists lineup announcement is coming soon.

To submit your nominations, visit https://nova.edu/wonderwomennominations. Nominations close on Sunday, March 13, at 11:59 p.m.

Panel Moderator:  Dr. Andrea Nevins, Ph.D., M.F.A., Dean, Farquhar Honors College – Nova Southeastern University

Register for event. 

Posted 02/10/22

2022 Berger Entrepreneur Bootcamp on Feb. 18-19

The Shepard Broad College of Law and the Sharon and Mitchell W. Berger Entrepreneur Law Clinic proudly present the 2022 Berger Entrepreneur Bootcamp: Innovating Successfully – Making it Happen!

The bootcamp will be Friday, February 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and Saturday, February 19, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission to the program is free and includes course materials, breakfast, coffee, and water. Lunch can be purchased for $20 per day.

Building on the successes of the previous two Berger Entrepreneur Bootcamps, each with more than 200 in-person and online participants, the program will immerse entrepreneurs in the skills and disciplines needed to successfully launch and grow a start-up business.

The 2022 Bootcamp will feature a faculty of more than 20 diverse presenters from NSU’s Shepard Broad College of Law, NSU’s H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, start-up founders, and other experienced professionals and participants in South Florida’s start-up ecosystem.

This two-day workshop is open to ALL NSU students, faculty, staff, and the general public.  It also will be simulcast and recorded for those who want to attend the program online.

Posted 01/16/22

Deerfield Beach Students Attend Business College Workshop

On December 9, 41 students from the Academy of Finance program at Deerfield Beach High School visited Nova Southeastern University. Donning their business attire, bright green scarfs, and ties, the students received executive treatment from the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship staff.

Students participated in a leadership workshop from business college administration focusing on innovation, an hour lesson on investing from Associate Professor Albert Williams, Ph.D., and a guided tour of the university’s campus by Huizenga Business Innovation Academy students. The students even met with their high school teacher, Frank Pizzo’s oldest son Frankie, a senior at NSU, majoring in neuroscience. He shared some of his personal experiences, how much support the university provides, and how to self-advocate while in college.

Academy of Finance students received certificates for excelling in recent cooperative learning projects, including Stockbroker of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, and Group Leader of the Year. Students also received certificates for helping with a food drive and club leadership activities. At the end of the educational activities and informative campus tour, the students were treated to lunch at the University Center food court by the Huizenga Academy.

Pizzo says he is incredibly proud of his students and looks forward to the next opportunity to share leadership opportunities outside of school. NSU’s business college welcomes student associations, high schools, and others for special site visits throughout the year. If you would like to refer anyone for these on-campus learning opportunities, please email hbia@nova.edu.

Posted 12/15/21

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