Things I've been working on Lately

This is a presentation for my Analytics class. It was given on 4/20/10. It was a case where we were advisors telling our client how to best invest their money in one of 6 choices, a US Treasury, GE, XOM, or any combination of two of those.

This was our final slide, we opted for the 10,000 dollars to be invested in Exxon Mobil stock because its Expected Monetary Value was the highest.



However, this was only one presentation I've given in the last week.
Another presentation that was given on 4/29/10 for my transportation and logistics class revolved around Sport Obermeyer the ski wear retailer.

I've also worked on a report regarding Harry Winston Diamond (NYSE: HWD) They have a 40% stake in the Diavik Mine in Canada and have high end retail stores located in Japan, the U.S., and Western Europe. Here is a sampling from it.

Coming up, I will have to give a presentation on category development. Our product is Sargento Cheese. We will be examining Nielsen data from January 2010 regarding market basket data, demographics, income, education and several other factors regarding the people who purchase Sargento Cheese at various retailers.

In fact, everything you buy from Walmart is stored on a database known as RetailLink and is supplied to all vendors of Walmart allowing to see the above information, along with items purchased at the same time as the product of interest. Don't worry, although Walmart stores your credit card number in the world's largest database, they aren't tracking your every purchase. Although, it would be great if they did. Then, every time you swipe your card at Walmart, they could apply manufacturers coupons, or even quantity discounts on frequently purchased goods. Even better, Walmart will eventually allow you to tie your credit card to a Walmart account where you can go on and see your entire purchase history and print out receipts for items.

Battle of the Czars

Apparently someone is running around claiming to be me.

I am Czar. Just because someone gets mad that I already have that license plate doesn't mean they can just throw "The" in front of it.

This will not end pretty.

MBAs out on the Town.

So, the Walton MBA Class of 2011 had its first mid-term exam in Retail Marketing last Thursday (I got an 85%) and it was pretty painful. After class, we went home, slept, and then attended the University of Arkansas Law School Bar Review. This "Bar Review" is exactly how it sounds. Law students go to a bar and drink free beer but pay a $5.00 cover.

So here is how it went down: Ten of us walked into the bar, we each punched the first law student we saw, grabbed his girl and kissed her, then proceeded to the bar where the ten of us drank 15-18 pitchers of beer. We chalked this adventure up to "networking."

*Apparently we didn't punch or kiss anyone, but the rest is true.

Also, if anybody tells you that the MBA program is all work and no play, take a look at this picture from our block party we hold each year.
                             .
Everybody loves Coke right?

Walton MBA

Apparently people read this because they keep asking me to update.

I'm currently in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, earning my Masters in Business Administration.

All of my classes are held in the Willard J. Walker Hall and you can check out the building and the ridiculous technology we employ.

I am currently taking:

Business Analytics

Economics of Supply Chain

Financial Markets & Valuation

Retail & Consumer Products Supply Chain Management

Retail Consumer Marketing

People whom I've met:

Joe O'Conner : Remember the Crest Spinbrush? ($6 battery toothbrush) He sold that to Proctor & Gamble for over $550 Million

Al Spain: Original COO (Ret.) of Jet Blue Airways

Doug Degn: Executive Vice President (Ret.), Food, Consumables, and Hardlines Merchandising, Walmart Stores, Inc.

Jim Olsen: Chief Communications Officer for U.S. Airways (Managed "Miracle on Hudson" crisis)

I've also brushed elbows with Governor Mike Beebe at an International Business Forecast Luncheon.

Also, I'm only two months into the program and will graduate in May 2011.