University of Arkansas

Walton College

The Sam M. Walton College of Business



Walton MBA Reconnect/Showcase Highlights


 

Walton MBA Reconnect, now known as Walton MBA Showcase, is a special time to come back to campus and reconnect with old friends, learn something new, hear what is happening with the MBA Programs and at the Graduate School of Business, and to just have some fun. Whether it's been one year or twenty - these reunions offer you a chance to refresh your memories, network with friends, and stay in touch with your school.

We hope those memories of graduate school are good ones. We want to stay in touch and continue to develop the bond you have with Walton. Your support is important to us as we want to make our programs stronger and more secure for future generations.

Walton MBA Alumni Reconnect 2013 Chancellor and Jacque Martini

 

2017 – Disruption

Our 2017 keynote speaker was Gary Dowdy, head of Innovation & Disruptive Technology at J.B. Hunt.

The Distinguished Alumni Award was given to Laura Phillips, 2000 Walton MBA alumna.

Breakout Sessions included Disruption in Retail by Dr. Dinesh Gauri, Disruption in Supply Chain by Gary Dowdy, and Disruption in Global Economic Order by Dr. Raja Kali, Professor of Economics.

Panel Discussion Topic: Accessible E-Commerce: How Disruptive Technologies are Enabling Seamless Shopping at Home, In-Store and all the Moments In-Between. Panelists included Rand Waddoups (2005 MBA graduate); Josh Yates, Bill Akins (2005 MBA graduate), and Angelo Welihindha (2006 MBA graduate)

2015 – Think Like a Start-Up

Our 2015 keynote speaker was Laura Phillips, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Strategy – Omnichannel Assortment, Walmart.

The Distinguished Alumni Award was given to 2001 Walton MBA alumna Christiane Brocky.

Breakout Sessions included Competing with Amazon & Alibaba by Dr. Annibal Sodero and Sustainability as an Entrepreneurial by Dr. Jon Johnson.

Panel Discussion Topic: Think Like a Start-Up. Panelists included Ellen Brune - founder/CSO of Boston Mountain Biotech, LLC, Nheim Cao - President/CEO of cyclWood Solutions (2011 MBA graduate), Ryan Frazier - Co-Founder/CEO of DataRank Inc., and John James - Founder/CEO of Acumen Holdings/Country Outfitter

 

2013 – The First Walton MBA Alumni Reconnect

The keynote speaker for the inaugural Walton MBA Alumni Reconnect was Paul Davis, Vice President for Customer Development Global Walmart Team, Tyson Foods, Inc.

Morning Panel Discussion Topic: Entrepreneurship. Panelists were Tami Hutchison (2009 MBA graduate), April Seggebruch (2008 MBA graduate), Kevin Oden (2011 MBA graduate), Paul Mlakar (2010 MBA graduate)

Afternoon Panel Discussion Topic: Managing Your Career. Panelists were Dina Howell - Saatchi & Saatchi X, Tom Verdery - The Soderquist Center, Charles Redfield - Sam's Club, Louis Gottsponer - Tyson Foods, Inc.

Breakout Sessions included Egos and Identities: Positive and Negative Effects at Work by Dr. Anne O'Leary-Kelly, Global Economic Trends by Dr. Raja Kali, and Understanding and Evaluating Business Models by Dr. Vikas Anand.