Archives
March/April 2008
Joe Thomas named the new dean of the Johnson School
USA TODAY's CEO Forum with Kenneth I. Chenault, American Express Chairman and CEO, at Cornell University
New Advisory council members
Connect with fellow alumni at LinkedIn and Facebook
Camp $tart-Up provides a first look at business school
Featured Alumni
News Highlights
Alumni in the News
Events
Cornell President David J. Skorton welcomed the news of Thomas' appointment saying, "Joe Thomas is a superb choice to lead the Johnson School, a school well known for its strong research faculty, its innovative and world-class educational programs, and the success of its graduates." More
New Advisory council members
The Johnson School is pleased to introduce the four new alumni members who recently joined the school's Advisory Council: Jeffery J. Weaver '86, MBA '90; Barry W. Ridings, MBA '76; Hernan J. F. Saenz III, MBA '98, MILR '98; and J. Michael Johnston, MBA'89. To help you get to know them, we've included their photos and brief profiles here.
Jeffery J. Weaver '86, MBA '90
Executive Vice President and Group Head, Credit Portfolio Management
KeyCorp
In his position at KeyCorp, Jeff Weaver is responsible for the development and implementation of economic capital optimization strategies for KeyCorp's $50 billion wholesale credit portfolio. In the course of his career, he has held positions of increasing responsibility at the Bank of New York, JP Morgan, and Citicorp Investment Bank. After graduation, Weaver worked for the Bank of New York's Trade and Multinational Banking division. In 1992, he joined TD Securities (USA), LLC, in New York City, where he was managing director and regional portfolio manager for the United States, Europe, and Australia loan books. While at TD Securities, Weaver was responsible for establishing the portfolio risk levels for the firm and the application of structured credit derivative hedging strategies on $10 billion in assets in the United States and U.K. Before assuming this role, he was managing director and head of transactions for corporate finance and select industries.
Weaver chairs the Cornell University Alumni Trustees Nomination Committee, and is a member of the Cornell University Advisory Council in addition to being a new member of the Johnson School Advisory Council. He is also a past director-at-large of the Cornell Alumni Federation. Weaver holds an AB in economics and government from Cornell, where he also earned his MBA in finance.
Barry W. Ridings, MBA '76
Managing Director and Vice Chairman
U.S. Investment Banking of Lazard Freres & Co. LLC
Barry W. Ridings joined Lazard Freres in July 1999 to co-head its restructuring advisory practice. He is a member of the firm's opinion letter committee, underwriting committee, and private placement committee. Ridings is chairman of LFCM Holdings, which includes the operations of Lazard Capital Markets and Lazard Alternative Investments. He is also chairman of Lazard Middle Market LLC, a subsidiary of Lazard focusing on middle market M&A.
Ridings has over 30 years experience in the restructuring of troubled companies. During this period, he has been involved in more than 100 debtor and creditor assignments, including both pre-petition and Chapter 11 restructurings, domestically and internationally. Recently he has been involved in a number of major restructurings including, among others, Calpine, Trump Casino, Tower Automotive, Collins & Aikman, Meridian Automotive, and Owens Corning. Ridings has also been the principal investment banker on over 25 public offerings of high yield debt. He has extensive experience in initial public offerings, secondary stock offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and opinion letters.
Mr. Ridings has an MBA in finance from Cornell University and a BA in religion from Colgate University.
Hernan J. F. Saenz III, MBA '98, MILR '98
Partner
Bain & Company
While at Bain, Hernan J. F. Saenz III has worked in health care, consumer and industrial products, distribution, technology and telecommunications. He has assisted clients in corporate and business unit strategy, growth and international expansion, organizational and supply chain realignment, and operations turnarounds. In addition to client work, Saenz is a leader of Bain's performance improvement practice, with a focus on full potential programs, cost reduction, and major change programs. His articles on performance improvement have been published in Harvard Business Review, Business Strategy Review, World Business, Mint – a business newspaper published by India's HT Media Ltd in association with The Wall Street Journal – and EIU.
Saenz earned an MBA and an MILR from Cornell University, as well as a MS in economics from Stanford University. He is also a graduate of Harvard College, where he received a BA in economics.
J. Michael Johnston, MBA '89
Founder and Chief Investment Officer
Steelhead Partners
Prior to starting Steelhead Partners, a Seattle-based hedge fund, J. Michael Johnston served as a senior vice president/senior portfolio manager for Loews Corporation from 1992-1996. He started his investment career in 1989 as a high yield and investment grade credit analyst at Prudential Insurance Company. In 1991, he was promoted to co-portfolio manager of a major fixed income portfolio in Prudential's general account.
A founder of the Luke 12:48 Foundation, Johnston previously served as a board member of the American Foundation for Chess. He received his BA with honors in finance at Texas Christian University and his MBA at the Johnson School at Cornell. He lives in Bellevue, Wash., with his wife, Marybeth Leedham Johnston, and their four children, Michael, Brittany, Wesley, and Clayton.
Connect with fellow alumni at LinkedIn and Facebook
Your fellow alumni have created unofficial Johnson School groups on social networking sites LinkedIn and Facebook. Although they are not hosted by Alumni Affairs, we encourage you to connect with your fellow alumni.
Daniel Czertok, MBA '04, invites members of the Johnson School community to join the unofficial Johnson School group on LinkedIn to "enable you to keep in touch with fellow Johnson graduates" and network with other Linked In members and potential recruiters. He encourages all to "send the link to other JGSM alumni – the greater the network the better."
Sharad Daswani, MBA '03, invites members of the Johnson School community to join the unofficial Johnson School group on Facebook. The group's name is "The Johnson School – Cornell MBA."
Camp $tart-Up provides a first look at business school
Do you know a young woman between the ages of 13 and 19 who is interested in learning more about business, teamwork, and leadership? Can you see your daughter, granddaughter, or niece as a future entrepreneur and business leader?
If so, consider giving this special young woman a first look into business school through the Johnson School's annual Camp $tart-Up, an eight-day camp for young women ages 13 to 19. This year's camp session will be held from June 21-28 on the Cornell University campus. Camp $tart-Up is a student run-program organized by five female MBA students who are enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge and experiences with this year's campers.
Introducing the young woman in your life to the fundamentals of business through Camp $tart-Up is an invaluable gift. During the program she will learn skills in several key business areas including marketing, finance, and research, and will gain experience in leadership and teamwork by interacting closely with current MBA students, professors, and business professionals.
For more information about Camp $tart-Up and how you can involve your future business leader in the program, please visit the Camp $tart-Up Web site.
Featured Alumni
Cornell Cares' community service project helps alum "re-create" himself
By Richard Marin '75, MBA '76
News Highlights
Einaudi Center announces seed grant winners
Cornell Chronicle - 3/14/2008
Professor Wes Sine receives a $12,000 grant from the Einaudi Center to conduct research on "The Failure of Political Institutions and New Venture Survival."
Income and Happiness: An Imperfect Link
New York Times - 3/9/2008
Economics Professor Robert Frank discusses the uncertain relationship between per-capita income and people's sense of well-being.
The Global Bet
Washington Post - 3/6/2008
Professors Warren Bailey and David Ng are quoted in an article that looks at the risks and rewards of investing internationally.
Business Schools Teach Environmental Studies
U.S. News & World Report - Online - 3/27/2008
Professor Mark Milstein comments on the performance learning approach of the immersion program in this look at hands-on training in sustainability for MBAs.
Alumni in the News
CIT appoints Scott Medla Managing Director of DIT Energy
Electric Energy T&D Magazine - 3/20/2008
CIT Group Inc. (NYSE:CIT), a leading global commercial finance company, announced the appointment of Scott Medla, MBA '80, as Managing Director of CIT Energy.
Honeywell names Vineet Nargolwala as Managing Director, Honeywell Systems Group EMEA
SourceSecurity.com - 3/4/2008
Honeywell recently announced the appointment of Vineet Nargolwala, MBA '03, as Managing Director for Honeywell Systems Group operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EME).
Eunice Omole, MBA '09, a participant in the Apprentice Africa, Season 1, has made it past the first episode.
Events
For more upcoming events, check out the Alumni Events Calendar
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Johnson School - Parker Series: "Entrepreneurship: Idea or Execution – What Matters Most?"
The Four Seasons Hotel, Los Angeles
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Johnson School - Parker Series: "Steering Your Own Ship: Investment Opportunities and Pitfalls"
The Four Seasons Hotel, San Francisco
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Johnson School - Class of 2007: One Year Reunion
Ava Penthouse Lounge, New York City
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The Johnson School Club of New York: Museum Tour and Lunch
The Museum of Modern Art, New York City
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Johnson School Club of Rochester - Spring Faculty Speaker and Networking Event
Tasteology, Pittsford, N.Y.
