Baylor Named a Top-10 School for Entrepreneurship Studies by The Princeton Review & Entrepreneur
Baylor University offers one of the nation’s top entrepreneurship programs for students who aspire to launch their own businesses, according to the latest rankings released by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine.

Baylor University Announces $1.5 Million Gift Honoring Business Dean
Baylor University announced a $1.5 million gift commitment to help establish a new endowed faculty position within the Hankamer School of Business, honoring Dean Terry S. Maness, DBA, on his upcoming retirement and years of service.

Baylor ProSales Takes No. 2 Team in Wisconsin
The Baylor sales team participated in the Great Northwoods Sales Warmup at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and took second place out of a field of 22 teams.

Baylor Rises to No. 76 in Latest U.S. News Rankings, in Top 10 for Undergraduate Entrepreneurship, Among ‘Most Innovative Schools’
Baylor University moved up three places to No. 76 among National Universities—with several academic programs and opportunities for undergraduates highly rated—in the latest rankings for 2021 released today by U.S. News & World Report.

Baylor University Announces $5 Million Gift from Ed and Denise Crenshaw
Baylor University announced a $5 million gift from William E. (Ed) and Denise Crenshaw of Lakeland, Florida, in support of the Give Light Campaign and the University’s Hankamer School of Business. A portion of the gift qualifies for the Baylor Academic Challenge program, creating two endowed faculty positions within the Hankamer School of Business that will receive dollar-for-dollar matching funds as well as support for the School’s dean.

Study Finds Troubling Connection Between Workplace Pregnancy Discrimination and Health of Mothers and Babies
Perceived pregnancy discrimination indirectly relates to increased levels of postpartum depressive symptoms for mothers and lower birth weights, lower gestational ages and increased numbers of doctor visits for babies, according to a management study led by Baylor University.

Alumni News

1970’s

James F. Arnold, BBA ’76, was elected president of the Boone and Crockett Club, an organization that promotes guardianship and visionary management of big game and associated wildlife in North America. The two-year term will end in December 2022.

1980’s

Haag Sherman, BBA ’88, and his wife Millette funded the installation of two bronze statues honoring Baylor University’s two Medal of Honor recipients, U.S. Army Corps Col. John Riley Kane and U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Andrew Jackson “Jack” Lummus Jr. The statues were installed in the McLane Stadium Plaza.

Dan, BBA ’89, and Jenni Hord, BBA ’92, committed a $30 million gift to Baylor University to raise awareness of the personal impact merit-based scholarships can make for students.

1990’s

Gardner Green, BBA ’92, joined Day & Ross as senior vice president of Dedicated Sales, North America. Green will be responsible for future growth of dedicated sales across the region.

Ashley Buchanan, MBA ’96, was appointed as an independent director to the TreeHouse Foods Board of Directors. Buchanan serves as the president and CEO of Michaels Companies, the largest arts and crafts retailer in the U.S.

David Gilmore, BBA ’98, was promoted to the role of deputy chief investment officer at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Gilmer had served as managing director of investments since joining the foundation in 2014.

Daniel Taylor, BBA ’99, joined Colliers U.S. as executive managing director and market leader for brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. He will directly oversee all brokerage operations and service lines in the area with a focus on new business development, talent recruitment and retention.

2000’s

Garrett Turner, BBA ’09, was selected by Montana Governor-elect Greg Gianforte to serve as director of media and content for the governor’s office.

That Extra Penny in Retirement Income Can Really Cost You
William Reichenstein, professor emeritus of Finance, was interviewed on how retiree’s qualified charitable deductions can reduce the income that determines their Medicare bracket in The Wall Street Journal.

Social Security Changes Coming Up in 2021
Professor Emeritus of Finance William Reichenstein is quoted in an article on important Social Security adjustments coming in 2021 in U.S. News & World Report.

Escape From 2020: A Case to Separate Sports and Politics for More Fans and Higher Ratings
Kirk Wakefield, marketing professor and executive director of Sports Strategy & Sales, penned a column about the connection between sports and politics and how national teams can target marketing to specific audiences for Forbes.

How to Leverage Data to More Effectively Manage Your Remote Employees
Research by Professor of Information Systems & Business Analytics John Carlson and Professor of Management Dawn Carlson finding technology-based job monitoring increases job tension and lowers job satisfaction was featured in eWeek.

2020 iPhone Survey—36 percent of Americans Plan to Reduce Cell Phone Cost Due to COVID-19
Research Marketing professors James Roberts and Meredith David found that smartphone use during the pandemic boosted people’s sense of well-being and connectedness was referenced in a Wallet Hub article.

As the Texas Restaurant Industry Struggles, so do Farmers, Truckers and Others in the Food Supply Chain
Economics Department Chair Charles North discussed the impact of the pandemic on family-owned restaurants in an article in Texas Tribune.

Baylor Professor Views Pandemic’s Effects on Supply Chains
Associate Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management Pedro Reyes discussed the challenges faced by supply chain management during the peak of the pandemic when there was an increase in grocery buying in a Waco Tribune-Herald article.

Breaking Ball

Focused on service, Brady Probasco veers off the predictable collegiate path

By Justin Walker

At the intersection of analytical thinking and possessing a servant’s heart, you will find Brady Probasco. The Plano, Texas, native enjoys analyzing a situation and solving problems but he also knows the joy of serving others when called upon.

In the spring of 2016, Probasco was preparing to graduate from Plano East High School, but unlike his friends, he did not plan to return to the classroom in the fall. Well, not in the fashion he was used to, that is.

“I did not want to go to college immediately,” Probasco said. “I felt like there were better ways for me to grow—a calling from God to take a year and do something bigger than myself.”

Brady Probasco, BBA ’21
Supply Chain Management/Management Information Systems
Plano, Texas

God’s calling led Probasco to Tees Valley Youth for Christ, an organization based in Northern England promoting youth activity in churches and community projects. Probasco volunteered as an assistant teacher, which consisted of many different roles. Tuesday through Thursday, he worked one-on-one with underperforming students. Wednesday and Friday nights—as well as all day Sunday—Probasco served with various youth groups ranging from sporty, well-groomed lads to the rough-around-the-edges crowd. Mondays were spent with the other volunteers training and going over the previous week in preparation to do it all again the next week.

Probasco worked roughly 40 to 45 hours each week with Tees Valley, not including any outside work he volunteered for. It was a jam-packed schedule, he said, but it was a valuable experience. He was able to serve others in a way he never thought possible while gaining a set of skills he did not possess prior to his trip across the pond.

“There were a lot of soft skills that I did not have before I arrived in England,” Probasco said. “Project management skills, the ability to control a room, being able to convince and persuade people—these are skill sets that grew within me.”

After his year with Tees Valley wrapped, Probasco was ready for the college experience. He had a pretty good idea of what he wanted to study, so it came down to where would be the best place to learn it.

Growing up, Probasco was always analytical in thinking. A self-described “big-picture guy,” he recognized how this mindset was helpful in supply chain management. With that in mind, Probasco began his search. It was limited—maybe five or six schools caught his attention—but it was really down to the University of Arkansas and Baylor University. Upon visiting campus, he knew where he would spend the next four years.

“Baylor gave me the best opportunity,” Probasco said. “That was the one thing I was sure about. The Supply Chain Management major presents a wide range of options upon graduation and that was important to me.”

Now in his senior year at Baylor, Probasco is starting to see how he is using the skills he attained in England throughout his journey in Waco. It is not just happening in the classroom but within the organizations he joined as well. He served as president of Baylor’s club baseball team as a sophomore and junior and now serves as senior officer to the team. When he is not on the diamond, he is running meetings as president of the Association for Information Technology Professionals (AITP).

Probasco’s involvement with AITP stems from his second major, Management Information Systems (MIS). He believes MIS and his supply chain curriculum are a perfect combination, setting him up to even more opportunities after graduating. It is the perfect one-two punch, he said.

As career opportunities begin to open up for Probasco, he is beginning to reflect on the lessons learned and the connections made while at Baylor.

“The true value is in the connection—with the professors and their knowledge, as well as the networking opportunities,” Probasco said. “I think college as a whole is a place to grow in maturity and network. It is possible to learn these skills elsewhere, but if you can get close to these people, that is where the ultimate value is.”

A Career of Connections

Sherilyn Hardy links her career to supply chain management

By Eleanor Hunt

When Sherilyn Hardy was considering a major at Baylor University, she looked for one that matched her communication, planning and scheduling skills.

“I am good at all of those things,” she said. “I came across supply chain as a way that I could use the skills that I have.”

Hardy has been supporting ExxonMobil’s supply chain since graduating from Baylor in 2019 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems and Supply Chain Management. As a supply chain planning specialist, she ensures that ExxonMobil’s supply chain software, SAP modules and Logility inventory optimization tool work optimally for the company’s worldwide chemicals business.

Sherilyn Hardy, BBA ’19
Supply Chain Planning Specialist II—ExxonMobil
Houston, Texas

“I handle break-fixes, enhancements and new configurations,” she said.

Her work enables nearly 100 people—production planners and schedulers, advisors and raw materials coordinators—to facilitate the intricate flow of goods and services from raw materials to finished products.

“Our supply chain is much larger than some other chains because we have many chemical products,” she said. “There is a lot happening at our manufacturing plants and in the field. We are not only creating and distributing chemicals for sale to other companies, but we are also creating plastics for makeup, diapers and all kinds of consumer products.”

ExxonMobil’s complex supply chain enables continuous production, scheduling and adaptability for changing times. Thus, Hardy has had to overcome technology challenges and a huge learning curve.

“Working a lot with Singapore and our other business areas, I experience the time differences and various communication styles of people around the world,” Hardy said. “These can be good challenges because I learn so much from that. My team and I have been fortunate to continue making money for the company—in spite of retracted oil prices—because of the way we prioritize our work.”

Looking back, Hardy believes Hankamer School of Business provided an excellent platform from which to launch her supply chain management career.

“If I had not gone to Baylor, I would not necessarily be where I am,” she said. “I fully took advantage of our connections with ExxonMobil and other companies and that benefited me. Although it takes hard work to reach your goals, whenever you have resources given to you, it is helpful and less stressful. Students should utilize Baylor’s business school connections with the companies they have.”

Now with nearly two years of experience, Hardy is convinced that her choice of a major was the right one. She believes the expanding field of supply chain management offers professional growth and future promotional opportunities.

“There is a lot of opportunity in this field,” Hardy said. “As technology develops, our supply chains will also develop. Supply chains can grow extremely complicated, but we have a lot of good technology to help sustain them.”

Hardy believes she can offer insight to students on the future of supply chain and the opportunities awaiting them.

“This is a good career choice if you are interested in artificial intelligence, automation and bringing new levels of efficiency and planning capabilities to a supply chain,” she said. “That is where I see it going. It is a growing field.”