GBA Election Slides

1. GBA Election Slides College of Business Graduate Students: The following slides introduce the graduate students who are seeking positions within the Graduate Business Association. Please review these profiles and vote via email to tgreenlee@ou.edu by Thursday, October 23 at 5:00pm. Good Luck! Steve Sinos GBA President

2. Eric Ellsworth Name: Eric Ellsworth Home Town: Tulsa, OK Position Seeking: President Concentration:Energy, Finance Hobbies: Relaxing with my wife and two dogs, all things sports, learning more about U.S politics and different cultures, and improving my man room Why I am Seeking this position: I aim to make the GBA a self-sufficient organization that can assist its students in need, give back to the community, strengthen alumni relationships, and facilitate the career goals of each student. I know that my previous work and leadership experience will help me hit the ground running and build on the momentum left by the previous leadership team and I would be grateful for the opportunity to be an officer for the GBA.

3. Nicole Heyland Home Town: Edmond, OK Position Seeking: Vice President Concentration: Finance & Energy Hobbies: I enjoy cooking, dancing, yoga, and listening to all types of music (especially 80’s!). Why I am Seeking this position: I want to increase GBA involvement on campus as well as in the Norman community. I will draw on my previous leadership experiences to contribute to the group and encourage an environment where everyone’s best interests are promoted. I am currently serving on the GBA fundraising committee and am involved with planning all of this fall’s semester events. I hope to develop the lines of communication between the GBA and all graduate students to increase participation.

4. Michelle Cates Name: Michelle Cates Home Town: Norman, Oklahoma Position Seeking: Secretary/Historian Concentration: Corporate Finance, Risk Management Hobbies: I like to go surfing, play paddle tennis, run, pilates, and yoga. I love science fiction fantasy. I enjoy a good Jigsaw Puzzle. Why I am Seeking this position: I am extremely organized and detail oriented. With my previous leadership experience, I think I would be a great asset to the GBA. I would love to represent my class and continue the work of the previous secretary.

5. Matt Zellner Name: Matt Zellner Home Town: Norman, OK Position Seeking: Treasurer Concentration: Finance Hobbies: Music, playing sports, working out, reading, going out and meeting new people, and doing anything outside Why I am Seeking this position: The Graduate Business Association is beginning to take off as student organization, and I feel my leadership experience and strong desire to contribute will propel the organization as far as its members want it to go. I am best at working in committee environments, and can get along with most anyone. I have enjoyed working on the GBA Budget Sub-Committee, and want to expand my role in this area. I am eager to serve my fellow students, all of whom I have enjoyed getting to know. Thank you.

6. Kate Ryno Home Town: Gibbsboro, NJ Position Seeking: Treasurer Concentration: Finance Hobbies: I love being active and being outside, whether that involves playing sports, coaching field hockey, hiking, camping, boating, snowboarding, riding my bike, attending athletic events, or playing with my nieces and nephews. I also love to travel and experience new places, people, and cultures. If I am not doing any of those things, there is a good chance you can find me with my nose in a good book, shopping or taking a nap. Why I am running for this position: This position truly emphasizes my strengths and will enable me to best contribute to the GBA. I am very detail-oriented and committed to the work of the organization. I was a mathematics undergrad, I enjoy working with numbers and I am currently part of the budget subcommittee. I look forward to continuing the work of the previous year and helping the GBA grow.

7. Zhou, Mi • Name: Zhou, Mi • Home Town: Zhejiang, China • Position Seeking: Treasurer • Concentration: Public Accounting, Public Finance • Hobbies: I love reading, singing, dancing, and playing instruments. And I always love to make new friends and learn new things Why I am Seeking this position: I am a Master of Accountancy candidate and used to be the vice president of Women’s club in my college. Also, from my two-year work experience, I learned creative problem-solving skills and how to work in team. As an international student, Price College of Business makes me feel like home, and I would love to work as the Treasurer in GBA and dedicate my effort to our college.

8. Alison Wilson Name: Alison Wilson Home Town: Edmond, OK Position Seeking: Director of Events Hobbies: Going to the lake, volunteering (especially for animal shelters!), watching movies, socializing/networking, traveling as much as humanly possible, and shopping. Anything that allows me to be creative, express myself and interact with others. Why I am Seeking this Position: I wish to be your 2008-2009 GBA Director of Events because event planning is a role I feel I am best in. I am detail-oriented, creative, and always looking for a new project. I feel I have already begun to prove my abilities with the GBA through helping to plan events such as upcoming GBA fundraisers, the GBA raffle, and the newly annual Halloween event to benefit the GBA. Please consider me for your GBA Director of Events as I would love the opportunity to continue working for you. Thank you!

9. Phey Hing Name: PheyHing Hometown: Taiping, Malaysia. Position Seeking: International Student Representative Concentration: Energy and Finance Hobbies: Watching movies, bowling, pool, video games, shopping, or anything I feel like doing for the day. Why I am seeking this position: I am certain that I am knowledgeable about the needs of international students and would be more than glad to assist them in anyway while making them feel comfortable in a whole new culture and environment. I have also been in OU long enough to have reliable resources in solving any problems that they might run into.

10. Vasudev Dhamdhere Why I am seeking this position: I believe that the main purpose of an international representative is to serve as a buffer between the American students and international students in the program. Having arrived in the United States only a few months ago, I understand the hurdles internationals face while interacting with people here. I believe this is an excellent opportunity for me to share what I have learned with others in need. I am confident that as an International Student Representative I would able to bridge the gap between the large variety of GBA members. Hometown: Pune, India Position Seeking: International Student Representative Concentration: Finance Hobbies: I love playing badminton, tennis, meeting people and visiting new places

11. Bayu Widhyanto Name: BayuWidhyanto Home Town: Jakarta, Indonesia Position Seeking: International Student Rep Concentration: Finance and MIS Hobbies: I love to playing basketball, badminton and ping-pong. I like to travel and meet different people. Recently, I just learned how to surf. Why I am Seeking this position: I believe that I can make a contribution by adding diversity value that benefit to the MBA community. As an international student, I understand the challenges and the issues that international students have. I want to help them and make the cultural transition easy for them. Thank you

12. Sanaz Aghazadeh Name: Sanaz Aghazadeh Home Town: Baton Rouge, LA Position Seeking: PhD Representative Concentration: Accounting Hobbies: Running, Cycling, Traveling, Volunteering Why I am Seeking this position: I enjoy participating in organizations and working in leadership positions. I have the applicable skills to hold this position in order to represent the PhD students in the GBA . I hope to give PhD students greater exposure to the GBA and increase PhD student involvement in GBA activities. Thanks.

13. Xiying He Name: Xiying He Home Town: Quanzhou, Fujian, China Position Seeking: MAcc Representative Concentration: Financing accounting/ Auditing Hobbies: I love reading and hanging out with my friends. I like challenges and novel things. And I also like traveling. Why I am Seeking this position: I enjoy working with people as a group and I believe I have the necessary organization and communication skills to serve and represent the Macc students. I understand the need of the Macc students and I would like to take this opportunity to be an MAcc representative and make sure Macc students feel accepted as a part of the business school as a whole.

14. Name: Melissa O'Mealey Hometown: Okmulgee, OK Position Seeking: Macc Representative Concentration: Income Tax Accounting Hobbies: Reading, Studying, Being with Family, going to Norman North athletic events (my fiancé is a coach). Why am I seeking this position: Get involved with the Graduate Students and representing the Great Steed School of Accounting!!

15. Name: Nicholas B. DychesHometown: Stillwater, OklahomaPosition SeekingPart-Time MBA RepresentativeConcentration: MBA Hobbies I like to spend my time outside of work playing music, going to concerts, teaching myself to weld, studying Norse mythology, and walking my dog. Why are you seeking this position? As a part-time MBA student I understand the importance of staying connected to both the college and the full-time program. Most, if not all, of us are full-time professionals and take the part-time route due to the time constraints attached to furthering our careers. As the part-time representative I hope to keep my peers informed of, connected to, and proud about the work that the GBA will be doing this year.

16. To Vote please send an email with the subject line: “GBA Elections” to tgreenlee@ou.edu. The deadline is Thursday, October 23 at 5:00 PM.  Votes will be tallied and reported next week. Thank you to everyone running for a position with the GBA. I hope to see all graduate students participate in this organization in the year ahead. We thank you for your support and your voice for the Graduate Students in the Price College of Business.