You have given so much to this country. Now let Zarb give back to you!

Ethan Kirwin

My name is Ethan Kirwin. I am a Hofstra student and a Veteran. I grew up on Eastern Long Island and served seven years in the Army right out of high school. My father was a Vietnam era veteran and growing up I always wanted to join. For me, the Army was a very rewarding chapter of my life, ripe with meaningful people and experiences. Most of my time was spread between Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Mosul, Iraq. I was lucky enough to do a wide range of things from jumping out of planes as a Paratrooper, leading soldiers as a Sergeant, and most importantly making it back from a combat zone safe.

Today, I am a finance major in the Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University, and enrolled in the dual degree program with Dongbei University of Finance and Economics in Dalian, China. I am also the Treasurer for Hofstra's Veterans Organization.

Although I am no longer a Paratrooper, in my off time I still enjoy skydiving upstate. Now that I am at Zarb, I hope to use the Zarb's trememdous resources to build a strong career in finance, and to help other Veterans through their transition by working with Hofstra's Student Veterans Organization. Our goal is to ease the transition for veterans and cultivate opportunities for them by building strong relationships with other Universities and major human resources departments across a range of industries.

My time at Zarb has been so rewarding. Everyone I have met has been so supportive and I encourage veterans who may be thinking of going back to school to follow their inspirations and look for supportive organization that can help them along the way. We are all here to help you succeed!

Eric Schmidt

U.S. Air Force
2010 - 2014
Security Forces Specialist

You learn a lot about yourself when you are removed from your comfort zone. After graduating from East Islip High School in 2010, I joined the U.S. Air Force in hopes of contributing towards something larger than myself. I started my career in San Antonio, Texas where I completed basic training. This was the best lesson in teamwork and leadership I've ever received. The process is challenging; take young men and women from all corners of the country, strip away their idea of societal norms, and have them unite as one team to strive toward a common goal. In this environment, you learn quickly that your individual actions will have a direct impact on the mission, and a heightened awareness on personal accountability is essential. You're taught to never apologize for your shortcomings, but rather show that you acknowledge them by taking actionable steps toward correcting them. An inherent trait in humans is our inability to admit fault, and distribute blame during times of hardship. There is a conceded effort by our instructors to forget this mentality, and enable us to understand our strengths and weaknesses to create systems that will get us through the training.

Furthermore, there was always a gap between expectations and reality. Many times we had to perform tasks that had such little margin for error that failure was inevitable. Learning how to fail, and reflecting upon how you could have done better allows individuals to use shortcomings as feedback, rather than a setback. This discipline has carried with me into my personal, professional, and academic career, and has built a foundation for the way I live my life.

After basic training, I served in Germany from 2011- 2013. Here, our unit was responsible for conducting law enforcement duties for a military community that totaled 52,000 Americans. Germany's prime location allowed me to have unique experiences, working in Spain and multiple African nations. Being tasked on a Fly Away Security team gave me the opportunity to support military operations on seven missions across the African continent, which included humanitarian efforts, training exercises, personnel transport, and asset security. During this effort, I was able to engage individuals who experienced the harsh realities of extreme poverty. Despite their living conditions, these were some of the happiest people I have ever met. By not being exposed to luxuries that many people take for granted, they established a lower benchmark for possessions and experiences that they enjoy. This put in perspective how fortunate I was to inherit the quality of life I had. It serves as a constant reminder that no matter what the obstacle, there is always someone who overcame something much worse. This has allowed me to appreciate the simplistic and organic facets of life, and that happiness is not derived from artificial symbols of status and materiality that our society is accustomed to.

Following my time in Germany I finished my service at a smaller, remote base in New Mexico. Although there was a lot of down time at this location, I tried my best to fill in the gaps by being a full time student at an online university. I was able to earn my associate's degree, and I was looking for a University to attend as my service commitment was coming to a close. Hofstra University, specifically The Frank G. Zarb School of Business, stood out to me because of its strong academic reputation on Long Island, and its close proximity to New York City. I started my studies in the fall semester of 2014 pursuing a BBA in finance. Although I was excited about finally being in a physical classroom environment again, at first I had a difficult time relating to my peers. My experiences gave me a different perspective than the rest of my fellow classmates so I focused most of my energy on making myself more marketable in the labor force. I joined a professional development organization, called Four Block, which taught me the importance of leveraging my military acumen into desirable traits that companies are looking for. Also, I found that middle-tier professionals genuinely want to help young, motivated students make their way into the business world. I knew that getting outside of my comfort zone was the only way I could meet these professionals, and learn where to channel my energy in regards to finding my niche in pursuit of a promising career. I have been fortunate enough to obtain career guidance from the strong group of alumni from the Zarb School of Business. Attending resume workshops and executive speaker series', I was able to find valuable mentorship, which has led me to complete four internships in finance, retail, and the commercial real estate industries.

Additionally, the Zarb School of Business allowed me to participate in a new dual degree program where I am working toward an additional degree in economics from Dongbei University of Finance and Economics in China. This has given me a more global economic perspective, and will allow me to travel to China to work for six weeks with a Chinese company in the finance industry. This experience allows you to be an active participant in regards to the globalization of business. Ultimately, all of these factors have distinguished me in the competitive workforce and resulted in my receiving full time offers upon graduation from companies like AIG and Amazon.

In this growth period, and new chapter of my life I found that there is a distinct overlapping of values for what companies are looking for in their employees, and the qualities that prior military personnel gained during their time in service. However, without the right support of fellow service men and women, it is difficult to navigate the adjustment to your new environment. It is because of this that I founded Pride Students Veteran Organization at Hofstra which brings together over 70 veterans. We focus on alleviating the stresses of the transition process by creating a social platform for prior service members to network with each other, and grow as professionals together.

While establishing this organization, I've found that there is an amazing opportunity to tap into the talent and mindset of veterans from all academic disciplines. My vision is to create initiatives where we can use the specialized passions of students across the entire university to work toward a common goal in academia and community service. In the military, there are different roles that everyone plays that ultimately contribute toward a common mission. I believe that starting with the veterans at Hofstra University, we can create cohesive programs that are run by the students originating from different schools of thought. Together, we can make impactful strides to uniting Hofstra University and the community as a whole.

Dr. Charles McMellon

Associate Professor of Marketing and International Business

Email: mktcam@hofstra.edu
Telephone: 516-463-6450
Term of service in United States Army
1960-1966
Highest rank:  Specialist 5^th class
Army MOS: Explosive Ordinance Disposal Specialist 
Basic training: Fort Jackson, SC
MOS Training: US Naval Propellant Plant, Indianhead, MD
Assignments:  Fort Benning, Georgia and 83^rd Ordinance Battalion, 24^th Ordinance Detachment, Anyang-Ni, South Korea

Degrees: PHD, 1997, CUNY Gr School of the City University of New York; MBA, 1994, CUNY Baruch College; BBA, 1968, CUNY Baruch College

Bio:

Teaching:

• MKT 211 Advertisement Management (graduate)
• MKT 222 International Promotional Campaigns (graduate)
• MKT 247 Consumer Behavior in the Global Environment (graduate)
• MKT 270Marketing Problems Seminar (graduate)
• MKT 275Strategic Planning in Marketing (graduate)
• MKT131Principles of Advertising
• MKT132Integrated Marketing Campaigns
• MKT133Advertising Case Competition

Areas of Expertise & Research

• Creativity in Advertising
• Advertising Effectiveness
• Consumer Behavior Aspects of New Media
• Advertising Management, Strategy and Tactics

Accomplishments & Honors

2010-Present

Member of Editorial Review Board
Journal of Advertising Education.

2009
Co-chairperson (with Dr. Barry Berman)
Retailing 2009: Strategic Challenges in Uncertain Times, Tri-Annual Conference
Sponsors: Academy of Marketing Science & American Collegiate Retailing Association.
September 30/October 3, 2009, New Orleans, Louisiana.

2006
Co-chairperson (with Dr. Barry Berman)
Retailing 2006: Strategic Planning in the New Millenium, Tri-Annual Conference
Sponsors: Academy of Marketing Science & American Collegiate Retailing Association.
November 1-4, 2006 Orlando, Florida

2007-Present
Member - Executive Board
American Collegiate Retailing Association

2007-Present
Member - Editorial Review Board
Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising

2004-Present
Member - Editorial Review Board for Buyer Behavior
Journal of Business Research

2003
Co-chairperson (with Dr. Barry Berman)
Retailing 2003: Strategic Planning Uncertain Times, Tri-Annual Conference
Sponsors: Academy of Marketing Science & American Collegiate Retailing Association.
November 6-9, 2003, Columbus, Ohio.

Professional Experience

1989-1991
Executive Vice President
Ted Chin & Company, New York
Director of Client Services ($ 30MM in Billings).
Responsibilities: marketing and service to all accounts, including such as: Irving Bank, Simon & Schuster, Shaklee Corporation, Forest City MetroTech, Acutrak Watches, Sonnet Sprint water, and others.

1979-1988
Senior Vice President
Ally & Gargano, New York
Management Supervisor
Accounts: Dunkin' Donuts, Jergen's Products such as Jergen's Lotion, Bryan Foods, BayBanks, Kayser-Roth, Mindscape Software.

1972-1979
Vice President
Foote, Cone & Belding, New York.
Management Supervisor($20mm budget)
Main Accounts: Clairol Products (Introduced many new products as this client grew to be number one) and Schenley Liquors.

1968-1971
Account Executive
Young & Rubicam, N.Y.
Main Accounts: General Foods, National Distillers, Time Inc
Top of Form
Bottom of Form

Selected Publications
Journals:

• McMellon, Charles A. & Mary Long (2006). Sympathy, Patriotism, and Cynicism:
  How Advertisers and Consumers Reacted after 9/11/01. Journal of Current Issues and
  Research in Advertising. 28 (2), 1-18.
• Long, Mary, Charles A., McMellon, S.D. Clark & Leon G. Schiffman (2006). Building
  Loyalty: An Empirical Examination of Relationship Marketing. Services Marketing
  Quarterly, 1-17.
• McMellon, C.A. & I. Eftimov (2004).Exploring the Determinants of the Media Negotiation
  Process: A Qualitative Study. Current Issues and Research in Advertising. 26 (2), 27-39.
• McMellon, Charles A. & Mary Long (2004). Exploring the Determinants of Retail Service
  Quality on the Internet. Journal of Services Marketing. 18(1), 78-90.
• James, William, Charles A. McMellon & Gladys Torres-Baumgarten (2004). Dogs and Cats
  Rule: A New Insight into Segmentation. Journal of Targeting, Measurement and Analysis
  for Marketing. 13 (1), 1-8.
• Long, Mary, S. D. Clark, Leon G. Schiffman & Charles A. McMellon (2003). In the Air Again:
  Frequent Flyer Relationship Programs and Business Travelers' Quality of Life. International
  Journal of Travel Research. 5 (6), 421-423.
• McMellon, Charles A. & Leon G. Schiffman. (2002). Cybersenior Empowerment: How Some
  Older Individuals are Taking Control of Their Lives. Journal of Applied Gerontology. 21 (2),
  157-175.
• McMellon, Charles A. & Leon G. Schiffman (2001). Cybersenior Research: A Practical Approach
  to Data Collection.Journal of Interactive Marketing. 15(4), 46-55.
• McMellon, Charles A.(1999). Integrating University, Community, and Student Goals in an
  Advertising Skills Course. Journal of Advertising Education.3 (Spring), 9-15.
• McMellon, Charles (1995). and R. H. Ducoffe."Sorting the Mail: A Study of Categorization and
  Deliberative Processing. “Journal of Direct Marketing, 9 (Winter), 56-66

Book Reviews published in Journals

• McMellon, Charles (2009).Digital Engagement. The Journal of Consumer Marketing(review of
  Harden and Heyman's book).
• McMellon, Charles (2008).Citizen Marketers. The Journal of Consumer Marketing(review of
  McConnell and Huba's book).
• McMellon, Charles (2008). The 50-Plus Market. The Journal of Product and Brand Management
  (review of Stroud's book).
• McMellon, Charles (2007).Pop! Standout in Any Crowd, The Journal of Consumer Marketing
  (review of Horn's book), 24(2), 120-121.
• McMellon, Charles (2006).Web Copy That Sells: Revolutionary Formula for Creating Killer Copy
  Every Time. . The Journal of Consumer Marketing(review of Veloso's book), 23(6), 367-368.
• McMellon, Charles (2005). The Customer Learning Curve: Creating Profits from Marketing Chaos
  The Journal of Product and Brand Management (review of Hellman and Burst's book) 14 (5), 348-350.
• McMellon, Charles (2005). Inclusive Branding: The Why and How of a Holistic Approach to Brands.
  The Journal of Product and Brand Management (review of Schmidt & Ludlow's book) 14 (1), 74-75.
• McMellon, Charles (2005). Defending the Brand: Aggressive Strategies for Protecting Your Brand in
  the Online Arena (review of Murray's book) 14 (1), 75-76.
• McMellon, Charles (2004).How to Advertise: What Works, What Doesn't-And Why The Journal of
  Consumer Marketing(review of Roman, Maas & Nisenholtz's book), 21, 366-367.
• McMellon, Charles (2003).Making It Personal The Journal of Consumer Marketing(review of
  Kasanoff's book), 20 (6), 591-594.
• McMellon, Charles (2002). Provacy-Enhanced Business: Adapting to the Online Environment The
  Journal of Consumer Marketing(review of Frye's book), 19 (4/5), 445-447.
• McMellon, Charles (2000).Online Customer Care - Applying Today's Technology to Achieve World-Class
  Customer Interaction The Journal of Consumer Marketing(review of Cusack's book), 17 (1), 78-81.
• McMellon, Charles (1999).How Advertising Works: The Role of Research The Journal of Consumer Affairs
  (review of Jones' book), 33 (2).
• McMellon, Charles (1995).Business-to-Business Communication Handbook The Journal of Business-to-
  Business Marketing(review of Messner's book), 2 (2), 89-91.
• McMellon, Charles (1995).Business-to-Business Direct Marketing The Journal of Business-to-Business
  Marketing(review of Bly's book) 2 (2), 92-93.
• McMellon, Charles (1993).Global Perspectives on Advertising Self-Regulation The Journal of Business-to-
  Business Marketing(review of Boddewyn's book) 1 (4), 4.

Dr. Charles Smith

Professor of Management, Entrepreneurship, and General Business

Email: Charles.H.Smith@hofstra.edu
Telephone: (516) 463-5731
Degrees: PHD, 1985, Syracuse University; MBA, 1972, Syracuse University; BS, 1968, La Salle University, PA

Bio:
Dr. Smith received a B.S. in accounting from LaSalle College, and an M.B.A. in organization theory and finance, and a Ph.D. in organization theory from Syracuse University. His teaching and research interests are in systems theory applications to group and organizational development, the management of change and innovation, business policy and strategic decision making.

Dr. Smith has been a faculty member at Syracuse University, an instructor at the United States Army Intelligence School, and an auditor, financial manager, controller and operations analyst in industry and nonprofit sectors. He worked with United States Army Intelligence in Seoul, Korea, 1969-70.

His recent articles have appeared in The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, World Futures, Systems Research, Human Relations, Vision/Action, Organizational Dynamics and New Management. He has presented papers at the national meetings of the Academy of Management and the Operations Research Society of America and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and chair of the Spirituality and Systems Group of the International Society for the Systems Sciences. Dr. Smith consults to organizations in the areas of leadership skills and group and organizational development. He is on the boards of trustees of for-profit and not-for-profit corporations, and facilitates community workshops on humanistic/Jungian psychology, meditation and creativity.

Dr. Smith served from 1988 to 1991 and 2004 to 2006 as Chairperson of the Department of Management and General Business. In 1987 he was awarded the Hofstra University Stessin Award for his article "Transformation and Regeneration in Social Systems, a Dissipative Structure Perspective," which appeared in Systems Research, Winter, 1986. In 1992 he received the M.B.A. Association Teacher of the Year award.