GBC 2004

2004…Return to University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is the fourth school to re-host the GBC. Its theme, Leading In Dynamic Times was a dynamic and highly successful conference. Held March 25th-28th, and attended by over 100 student delegates from 25 schools, ithe Conference kicked off early on Thursday afternoon, with a Best Buy Action Learning Competition, that was facilitated by the dynamic Professor Noel Tichy of the Michigan Business School, and sponsored and judged by CEO Brad Anderson. Six teams comprised of delegates from three of the participating schools competed in the competition; Queens and MBS were co-winners and were selected to present in Minneapolis later this Spring.

 

Focus: HOPE
Friday morning’s program kicked off with a delegate breakfast at the MBS Executive Residences, and a presentation by GBF President Brian Cowan. The delegates were then bussed to Focus HOPE, a Detroit inner city not-for profit center dedicated to training those less fortunate, which was the venue for Friday’s program. Founded in 1968 by Eleanor M. Josaitis, Focus: HOPE is committed to intelligent and practical action to overcome racism, poverty and injustice. Its long-term objective is to eliminate the need for supplemental food programs by providing opportunities for all people to enter the economic mainstream via highly respected education and training programs. A day of learning workshops and inspiration ensued, with the proceedings led by the captivating Professor Noel Tichy of Michigan Business School, with strong assists from Bob Knowling and Eleanor Josaitis. After an inspirational tour of Focus; HOPE by its associates of luncheon sponsor Booz Allen Hamilton led our mealtime discussion Corporate DNA. The team from Proctor and Gamble led a great exercise on Corporate Ethics. The workday ended with a tearful and passionate presentation by Eleanor Josaitis, and capped with the annual GBF Business Leadership Award presentation to Professor Tichy.

Michigan Student Union
Michigan Business School Dean Bob Dolan welcomed us to the Union, and the paneled walls and arched ceiling was the evening’s intimate evening venue for the annual GBC Awards banquet. Student Organizing Committee Chair Jason Dolenga and his pals from the famed Glee Club gave a stirring rendition of Michigan’s fight song. GBF Founder and Chairman Jim Deveau, along with GBF Director Travis Dommert emceed the presentation of the annual Student Leaders Awards. Second year delegate Ed Magee of Fuqua was recognized for applying best practices at Duke that he gleaned from the GBC 2003 at Darden. The Student Leadership Award for 2004 was presented to John Owens from the Owen School at Vanderbilt, for his leadership in developing and executing the 100% Owen Program of matching first year students at Vanderbilt to summer internships. The evening was capped by the stirring rendition of the traditional Swedish toast.

 

Saturday’s program returned the delegates to the Union, for a full day of workshops. These included the all day GBF President’s Forum, attended by 30 presidents and facilitated by GBF’s own Jim Deveau. The workshop focused on B-School issues Jim identified from a survey Emailed in advance to the student leaders. The learning points and structured around a survey Jim sent to the leaders in advance, and will be posted to the GBF Yahoo Group Presidents Group for 2004, and will continue year ‘round via the President’s network. Travis Dommert of the GBF led successful School Best Practices workshops. The afternoon culminated with three schools bidding to host the 2006 GBC, including the Mendoza School of Business at Notre Dame, Chicago, and the Copenhagen Business School. At the evening pizza dinner, Copenhagen was announced the winner of a close competition, and the GBF moved forward to globalize its annual GBCs, for the first time awarding a host to a school outside of North America.


Attendees from this Conference