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TJM Ethics Essay Competition
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News & Announcements

2012 Thomas J. Masterson Ethics Essay Competition

>>> Now accepting submissions <<<

◊ See this year's case > Eco-Waste Environmental Services (EWES)

◊ Five Awards totaling $10,000, including a $5,000 top award!!!

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Sunday, March 18th, 2012

Early in each spring semester, the Gilliam Center runs the annual Thomas J. Masterson Ethics Essay Competition. Now in its eleventh year, the competition is sponsored by Rich Masterson, a 1982 JMU College of Business alum and highly successful entrepreneur, and Rich's sister, Beth Masterson Beahm, a 1983 JMU alum and strong JMU supporter (along with her husband and JMU alum Mike Beahm). The contest is named in memory of their father, Thomas J. Masterson. The competition is also sponsored by Leslie Gilliam (JMU 1982) and Richard Gilliam, benefactors of the Gilliam Center for Ethical Business Leadership.

PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this competition is to engage participants in a brief exercise that enables them to deeply ruminate about ethical issues and consequences -- both personally (by providing a 'Personal Statement') and through case analysis (of a realistic business case). The hope is that participants engaging in this exercise will in the future be more tuned in to ethical issues and act appropriately in ways that, for instance, reflect honesty, integrity, moral courage, and interpersonal respect and dignity.

NOTE: This competition is open to JMU business majors who are SOPHOMORES and JUNIORS (contestants MUST have a CoB Major and must be planning to be enrolled at JMU in the fall). Winners are selected to receive scholarship awards (to be applied to each winner's JMU student account!) and are recognized during the annual College of Business Awards Banquet held each fall.

There are now five awards (up from 3 in most prior years) totalling $10,000, including a first place award for $5,000!!

CLICK HERE to see the Submission Guidelines

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We CONGRATULATE recent Masterson Scholarship winners:

2011 Winners: Rachel Lewis ($5,000 scholarship), Meridythe Fallon, Ghizlaine Mallek, Victoria Groene, & Anthony Hwang

2010 Winners: Nick Harris ($5,000 scholarship), Katie Manges, & Sarah Blake

2009 Winners: Ryan Farrell ($5,000 scholarship), Chelsea Sasala, & Brett Abrams

2008 Winners: Alek Mikasinovich ($5,000 scholarship), Jessica Dante, & Kathleen Billington

ETHICAL BUSINESS LEADERSHIP SPEAKERS SERIES

Upcoming Sponsored Speakers

Stay tuned as speakers are currently being lined up…

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Recent Sponsored Speakers

*November 7, 2011: DOUG MORAN, (JMU '87), leadership development expert, consultant, and author (with a new book out, “If You Will Lead: Enduring Wisdom for 21st-Century Leaders”) gave an interactive talk entitled, "Choosing to Lead, Ethically." Click here for Doug's website http://ifyouwilllead.com/ and his "16 IF" leadership characteristics. Doug has spoken in the Speakers Series several times.

* October 19, 2011: LAURA WITTMAN, JMU Alum ('89, Accounting) and Vice President of Corporate Compliance and Human Rights for multi-billion dollar firm Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (which includes Jones New York, Nine West, and Anne Klein) gave an interactive talk (via Skype) on the "Ethical Challenges in the Global Apparel Industry." During this interactive Q&A session, Laura discussed issues her company (and industry) faces, including child labor, deceptive practices, audit malfeasance, quality irregularities, factory monitoring challenges, and more. Laura's talk can be seen on JMUTube at this link: https://jmutube.cit.jmu.edu:8443/content/maypl/playlist/12889/play/. Laura has spoken in the Speakers Series several times.

*October 10, 2011: ALBERT MEYER, fraud whistleblower and watchdog, gave a talk that discussed problems with executive compensation (especially with executive stock options), corporate shenanigans at Coca-Cola, Cisco Systems, and also his role as fraud investigator and Ponzi Scheme whistleblower. Albert was lauded for blowing the whistle on the Foundation for New Era Philanthropy and its fraudster John Bennett. He also questioned the practices at Enron and Tyco before they were exposed! See his recent NY Times Article and the "American Greed" video segment on his exposure of the fraud. Albert's presentation was recorded and can be viewed on JMUTube: https://jmutube.cit.jmu.edu:8443/content/maypl/playlist/12887/play/.

* September 29, 2011: RICH MASTERSON (JMU '82), serial entrepreneur and philanthropist, gave a talk entitled, "The Billion Dollar Moment of Truth: A Leadership Lesson in Walking the Talk." He described the challenges and opportunities of an entrepreneurial life and the importance of maintaining an ethical compass on his journey from JMU to creating and attempting to sell a billion dollar company. He is chairman of Campaign Grid, an online political advertising platform and an investor in real estate and private equity through Masterson.com, a holding company. In honor of their father, Rich and his sister Beth (Masterson) Beahm endowed a JMU College of Business scholarship for the Thomas J. Masterson Ethics Essay Competition. Rich was an engaging and thought-provoking speaker.

*April 21, 2011: DENNIS TRACZ (JMU '78) gave a talk entitled, "Can Business Solve the Global Malaria Problem?" Dennis is the founder of 141Repellent, Inc. and a serial entrepreneur with a history of developing and bringing to market new and effective solutions to difficult problems. He has launched, developed and sold several companies in the financial services market, consumer products and corporate services over his career. Dennis recently served as the Director of Entrepreneurship at JMU and was responsible for sustainability efforts for JMU’s College of Business. Dennis serves on the EAC for JMU and has a BBA (1978) from JMU as well. Flyer for this event.

* April 11, 2011: Dr. BIDYUT CHAKRABARTY gave a talk entitled, "Roots of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Carnegie, Gandhi and Other Influences." Dr. Chakrabarty is the 2010-2012 Mahatma Gandhi Visiting Chair at the JMU Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence. He is the author of 24 books, including the following currently in press, "Corporate Social Responsibility: Articulation and Manifestation in India (Routledge). Flyer for this event.

* October 7, 2010: RICK SHAPIRO (JMU ‘80) gave a talk entitled, “Enron: Individual wrongdoing, collective guilt - The long and winding road to personal peace and redemption.” Rick’s talk will focus on lessons learned from ethical challenges confronted at Enron and throughout his career. Rick is the former head of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Enron, and now public policy VP with the international public affairs firm, DCI Group (Web address: www.dcigroup.com ) in their Houston, Texas office. Rick’s work is concentrated in the areas of his expertise: Energy, Natural Resources, and Environmental. Rick also gave an interview on this expertise (and a particularly interesting ethical dilemma he and his team faced at Enron); video interview available soon.

* November 11, 2010: MIKE BRADSHAW, former WorldCom VP, MCI Senior VP, and current Comcast VP, gave a talk on "Ten Leadership Lessons Learned at WorldCom (and other places I've worked)." Mike fielded questions about leadership, business ethics, the current employment environment, and about his time at WorldCom. Mike is a summa cum laude graduate of Michigan State University. Back by popular demand, Mike made his fourth visit to JMU and intends to be back in the spring. Mike has spoken in the Speakers Series several times.