EFFECTIVE USE OF DATA AND ANALYTICS EVENT UPDATE

On September 17th, Business Innovations & Emerging Technologies Workgroup hosted an event spotlighting the Effective Use of Data and Analytics. This event featured a number of presenters and panelists who addressed a number of subtopics in a pressing need in government: effective use of data. This session brought together an audience of both business managers and technology staff to develop a shared understanding as to why data analysis is important and to what steps can be taken to help a business unit collect useful data while positioning itself for meaningful analysis.

John E. Ulberg, Jr – Chief Financial Officer for Medicaid and Director of the Division of Finance and Rate Setting for the Office of Health Insurance Programs; New York State Department of Health and Ryan S. Hayden – Director KPMG Healthcare Advisory; KPMG, LLP, were the first to present and their topic was “Using Scalable Analytics to get more out of Medicaid”. They presented a case study illustrating both positive effects and challenges associated with analytics. Read more...

LALLY SCHOOL MASTERS’ SCHOLARS LEARN COMMERCIALIZATION PATHWAYS

Lally School master’s students are taking their academic knowledge to the next level by learning to identify commercialization pathways for lab research discoveries and inventions through the Lally Masters’ Scholars Research Program (MSRP). Now in its second year, more than 50 Lally master’s students have signed up to be considered for the highly selective voluntary program. Lally M.S. and MBA students are paired, individually or on teams, with researchers on campus to help them convert their findings to benefit society.

This includes partnering with Lally faculty as well as those in the schools of Engineering or Science, including the biomedical engineering department and the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS). The MSRP program aligns with the interdisciplinary approach at Rensselaer and collaborative efforts among faculty and students.  Read more...

MBA STUDENTS VISIT SILICON VALLEY

The Technology and Innovation Immersion Program (TIIP) at the Rensselaer Lally School of Management provides a unique experiential learning opportunity in technological innovation and entrepreneurship. TIIP places first-year MBA students in work environments that help them discern their strengths and areas for development. TIIP serves as the context for the Professional Development Workshop III course and includes an intensive three-day experience, held this year in Silicon Valley during spring break.

“TIIP provides a deeper understanding for our MBA students to see how technology is developed and the opportunity to connect with successful alumni and alumnae, and technology and business executives,” said Thomas Triscari, professor of practice and MBA program director. “In a major hub with emerging technologies, our students see firsthand how important it is to fail as well as to keep innovating.”  Read more...

CDC STUDENTS COMPETE IN A REGIONAL INVESTING COMPETITION

BENNINGTON — Two teams of high school students from the Southwest Vermont Career Development Center’s business management program competed in an investing competition in Springfield, Mass., on Nov. 7.

“To any business manager in this community who has trouble filling entry-level positions, I have 10 students who just competed against 800 of their peers and excelled in the areas of quantitative analysis, teamwork, and resiliency,” said Billy Obenauer, business management instructor.

This is the second year that the SVCDC Business Management students participated in the competition. Last year they finished 7th out of 62 teams.  The competition, which attracted 158 teams, was hosted by Junior Achievement of Western Mass.  Read more...

14 MOUNTAINEERS NAMED TO 2012 NECC FALL ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

BENNINGTON, Vt. – The New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) announced Friday the 2012 Fall Academic All-Conference teams, and of the 169 student-athletes around the conference who were named for their respective sports, 14 are representatives from Southern Vermont College. 

To be eligible for the NECC Academic All-Conference, a student-athlete must post a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.40 on a scale of 4.00 and must be a sophomore or higher in class standings. Student-athletes who competed in men’s and women’s cross country, men’s golf, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer,  women’s tennis and women’s volleyball were eligible for fall NECC academic honors.  Read more...

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT STUDENTS SHOW SAVVY IN INVESTING COMPETITION

BENNINGTON — Southwest Vermont Career Development Center students in Billy Obenauer’s business management program placed seventh in a stock investment competition held in Springfield, Mass., Thursday. The event was sponsored by the Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts.

Springfield Technical Community College turned into a replica of the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at the seventh annual competition, which drew 72 high school teams including the CDC, the only Vermont entrant.

Teams of students competed to build the highest portfolio in a 60-day stock simulation. Each team began with $1 million to invest in fictitious stocks.  Read more...

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PLACES 2ND AT NECC CHAMPIONSHIP – CEASAR, VELAZQUEZ NAMED TO ALL-NECC TEAMS

Waterford, Conn. – The Southern Vermont College men’s cross country team placed second at the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship Saturday at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, Conn.

The Mountaineers finished 27 points lower than in the 2011 conference championship.  The second-place finish is the best result for the men’s program in NECC history.

Lesley University took first place with six out of the top seven placers coming from the Linx squad.  Junior Max Bulger (Falmouth, Maine) crossed the line first with a time of 27:51.

Southern Vermont was led by freshman Joshua Ceasar (Bardstown, Ky.) who finished fourth with a time of 28:34.  That placing is the best-ever for an SVC harrier in NECC championships, and it is the best conference finish since Dan Dix won the 2001 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship.  With fourth place, Ceasar earned a spot on the All-NECC First Team.  Read more...

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY SEES RECORD DAY AT WNE GOLDEN BEAR INVITE

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Southern Vermont women’s cross country team took back to competition after taking last week off, participating well at the 2012 Western New England Golden Bear Invitational.  The Mountaineers finished 19th out of the 23 teams running on Saturday. 

SVC was led by freshman Alice Lala (Biddesford, Maine) who finished 64th with a personal-best time of 21:36.00; that places her fourth all-time for Mountaineer women in a 5K race.  Freshman Haley Omasta (Danbury, Conn.) was close behind, finishing 71st at 21:43.44.  Omasta’s finish ranks her tied for fifth on the SVC all-time list.  Read more...

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY RUNS RECORD TIMES AT WNE GOLDEN BEARS INVITE

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Southern Vermont College men’s cross country team competed in the 2012 Western New England Golden Bear Invitational on Saturday and saw great results across the board.  The Mountaineers finished 17th out of the 21 teams that participated.

Freshman Joshua Ceasar (Bardstown, Ky.) led the way for SVC with a personal-best time of 27:41.59.  That places him second all-time for a Southern Vermont runner.  He finished the Invitational 18th in the 204-runner field.

Senior captain Victor Velazquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) ran the 8K course 3:01 faster than he did in 2011, finishing Saturday with a time of 30:22.84 (111th).  That time gets him on the all-time SVC list at 10th.  Sophomore Hesbon Ogeka (Windom, Minn.) was not far behind, finishing 123rd at 31:15.69.  Freshmen Kenneth Poteat (Yonkers, N.Y.) and Cameron Curtiss (Milton, Vt.) rounded out the Mountaineers’ top five, finishing 32:48.97 and 34:39.25, respectively.  Read more...

BUSINESS PROGRAM AT CDC NOW OFFERS NATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

BENNINGTON — A revamped business management program designed according to state competencies at Southwest Vermont Career Development Center had its first group of students earn nationally recognized customer service certifications last week.

Instructor Billy Obenauer took over the business management program in January when it was under internal review. With federal funds, Obenauer was able to evaluate the program already in place and improve on it with revised curriculum.  Read more...