Rohrer College of Business Rohrer Review

April 2023

Vol. IX Issue 3

Welcome to the Rohrer Review!

Jadiza Reece models a business suit that is just one of 50 donated by alumnus Anthony "Tony" Galvin in honor of the RCB's 50th anniversary.

RCB Golden Anniversary gift: Rowan Alumnus funds 50 suits for 50 students

A new suit.

It’s the kind of gift that alumnus Anthony “Tony” Galvin could have used when he was in college.

But like many students, Galvin did not own a suit when he started college and borrowed what he needed for job interviews and socials.

“My friends and I were all first gen, post war Baby Boomer kids,” Galvin said. “But just because I didn’t have help doesn’t mean it wouldn’t have been nice to have some.”

A 1989 graduate with a degree in Business Administration, Galvin serves on the Rowan University Foundation Board and the Rohrer College of Business (RCB) Dean’s Advisory Council where he’d heard about an idea: 50 suits for 50 students as part of the RCB’s 50th anniversary celebration this year. The only problem – it wasn’t clear how the suit program would be funded.

RCB students provided business support for Holy Grounds Coffee, as well as other St. John of God Community Services programs.

St. John of God projects: Learning well while doing good

“Do good for yourself by doing good for others.”

This was the advice of St. John of God, founder of the religious order that created St. John of God Community Services (SJOGCS) in Westville. The nonprofit, a Rohrer College of Business (RCB) partner, offers numerous services for children and adults with special needs, including early intervention, adult recreation, vocational services and others.

His words have a familiar ring in the College — which assigns a high priority to business for the greater good. Project-based learning is one component, where RCB students build experience while applying their skills to help companies and nonprofits flourish.

Serving as an economic engine for the region is one of Rowan University’s strategic pillars, which fits in well with the RCB’s mission, said Stephen Kozachyn, director of experiential learning and project-based learning coordinator. “The best way to do that is to help companies grow and pivot,” he said. “Students use real-world data to solve real-world problems. They do real-world research.”

Harrison Nastasi wins first place in the New Jersey portion of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards for his Bobica Bars.

Freshman's superfood granola bars win New Jersey leg of international competition

The fast-melting nature of acaí bowls, and his father’s gluten allergy, may have inspired a golden idea for a Rowan University freshman – a superfood granola bar that’s already flying off the shelves.

Harrison Nastasi, a freshman business major, developed and is already selling Bobica Bars, an all-natural snack that may be ideal for anyone with sensitive digestion, as well as anyone who wants to eat healthier.

While on a summer vacation with his family, Nastasi brought home an acaí bowl, a frozen dessert made from the fruit of the açaí palm, but it melted before his parents could enjoy it. Known as a Brazilian superfood, acaí is easily digested, even by people like Nastasi’s dad with sensitive stomachs.

BestAccreditedColleges.org ranked RCB's Human Resources Management program #21 & Supply Chain & Logistics #39 on its 2023 Best Bachelor's Degrees list.

Dr. Jordan Howell shows off his new book, Garbage in the Garden State.

Researching the business of garbage and recycling

There is nothing trashy about Dr. Jordan Howell. Except for his research.

Howell, an associate professor of sustainable business and co-director of the Rowan Center for Responsible Leadership in the Rohrer College of Business (RCB), sees recycling and waste management as key challenges facing humanity. However, they are also opportunities.

Working with colleagues Dr. Daniel Folkinshteyn and Dr. Jordan Moore, the trio recently published “The potential for exchange-traded futures on recycled materials to improve recycling efficiency” in the journal Investment Management and Financial Innovations.

“We’re taking the idea of a futures contract and applying it to recycled materials,” Howell said.

Dr. Eric Liguori is one of eight faculty members nationwide to support development of the Amazon Small Business Academy.

Rowan’s Liguori, others in Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, collaborate with Amazon in new Small Business Academy

Rowan University’s Dr. Eric Liguori, founding head of the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Rohrer College of Business (RCB), is one of eight faculty members from across the U.S. selected to support the development of Amazon.com’s newly launched Amazon Small Business Academy (ASBA), the online retailing giant announced March 21.

The faculty members, including educators from Indiana University, Sam Houston University in Texas and California State University, are faculty leaders in the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO), Amazon’s ASBA partner. ASBA offers a suite of free, interactive resources and tools for small business owners and entrepreneurs to help start, build, launch and scale up businesses online.

In a statement, Amazon representatives said “the new ASBA experience features three self-service educational tracks – ‘Start,’ ‘Build’ and ‘Launch’ – to help small business owners build the self-reliance, confidence and perseverance they’ll need for success.”

Douglas Hartmann (fourth from left), founder of Aeriform, received $4,000 in the 2022 Rohrer New Venture Competition. He is surrounded by (from left) Marty Buchalski, CEO, International Consumer Products Inc.; Kara Moore, senior advisor, New Jersey Economic Development Authority; Kevin Lynch, who helped Hartmann present; Michael Josephs, executive vice president, Business Development and Mergers & Acquisitions, Townsquare Media; and The Prof.

Top prize for Rohrer New Venture Competition expands to $30,000

Funding for Rowan University’s Rohrer New Venture Competition (NVC) expands this year with a top prize of $30,000, the most ever awarded to a Rowan student startup.

Held each April, the NVC encourages entrepreneurial startups across the University and awards winners with capital funding to help launch their businesses.

With the additional equity investment from the Rowan Innovation Venture Fund (RIVF), financial support for the winning student company expanded from a $4,000 top prize in 2022.