Happy Turkey Day to the fam! So excited to have so many family members at our house. Can't wait to see everyone again over the next break.
Love,
Matt
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
UIUC Update
Well, it is about time I finally get around to making a post on the blog, seeing how I am only about a month away from Finals Week! So, let me update everyone on what I have been up to this fall semester.
First off, I am taking many business courses, 5 to be exact: accounting, finance, economic statistics, business law, and marketing. Ok, so maybe economic statistics isn't really a business course, but I like saying that I am taking 5 business courses. Surprisingly enough, even though all my classes are business focused, all of the professors have very different styles and personalities. For example, my marketing professor enjoys engaging the class in a discussion of real life examples of marketing strategies, while my business law professor is more of a "take notes now, ask questions later" kind of guy. Then again, I pretty much only get to see my finance professor if I am watching him on my computer; all of his lectures are pre recorded and so I get to watch them at my convenience, which has its ups and downs! Overall, my classes are very enjoyable, and although the professors do have different styles, the material in my classes does flow nicely, and I am beginning to see how marketing, accounting, finance, and law departments all work together within a company. Well, I think that is enough about academia for now.
Now onto the more interesting parts of this semester. Currently, I am working on my second Illinois Business Consulting project. With this project, my fellow consultants and I are trying to help a UIUC professor start his own company. Our main responsibility is developing an investor presentation that outlines the company and its new product. Our finished presentation will be circulated to potential investors of this start up company. This project is very different from last semester's project in which I worked with a gas manufacturing company, and I am glad that I am getting a diversified experience while I am participating in Illinois Business Consulting.
And now onto some very exciting news! Before we get ahead of ourselves, let's start at the beginning of the story. In addition to all of my usual schoolwork and extra curricular activities, I decided to participate in a PwC accounting case competition. About two weeks ago, I recruited my roommate, Eric, and another one of my good friends, Steve, to join my team. Eric and Steve found two fellow classmates to complete our team, and the 5 of us were ready to crack the case.
A little background about case competitions and this case may be helpful. First, a case competition involves giving a 12 minute presentation to a panel of judges who will listen to your memorized presentation and the ask a few questions after your presentation is over. The presentation usually consists of solving real business problems or dilemmas within the business community. Generally, there is no right or wrong answer, and creativity is a must! For this PwC case competition, our task (and 13 other UIUC group's task) was to develop a plan for implementing a change to the the traditional GAAP accounting standards. Specifically, should the new standards be adopted all at once, or should they be adopted during a staggered transition period. I know this is all very technical and boring, but this decision will have a big impact on investors, accountants, and companies.
Ok, so back to the story. We got the case two weeks ago, and we got right to work. During the first week of the competition, our team analyzed the case and developed a recommendation. Then, during the second and final week of the competition, we practiced our delivery and presentation skills. This past Wednesday, after much work and practice, we presented to the judges (partners of PwC). That same night, we were announced the WINNERS of the PwC xACT case competition!!! Needless to say, it was a very exciting night filled with much joy and enthusiasm for our entire team! Since we won the UIUC campus competition, our video taped presentation will now be sent to the national judges who will review our tape, and make a decision as to whether or not we go to nationals, which will be held in New York City during January 2011. Out of 45 schools, only 5 schools make it to nationals, and hopefully we can be one of them!
Well, sorry for the Great American Novel, but that is what I have been up to down here in Champaign. I can't wait to see everyone for Thanksgiving and I should be back in town this coming Friday. I also want to say that I am very excited for Jessie, Darren, and baby Jaylen! I can't wait to meet him!
Love,
Daniel
First off, I am taking many business courses, 5 to be exact: accounting, finance, economic statistics, business law, and marketing. Ok, so maybe economic statistics isn't really a business course, but I like saying that I am taking 5 business courses. Surprisingly enough, even though all my classes are business focused, all of the professors have very different styles and personalities. For example, my marketing professor enjoys engaging the class in a discussion of real life examples of marketing strategies, while my business law professor is more of a "take notes now, ask questions later" kind of guy. Then again, I pretty much only get to see my finance professor if I am watching him on my computer; all of his lectures are pre recorded and so I get to watch them at my convenience, which has its ups and downs! Overall, my classes are very enjoyable, and although the professors do have different styles, the material in my classes does flow nicely, and I am beginning to see how marketing, accounting, finance, and law departments all work together within a company. Well, I think that is enough about academia for now.
Now onto the more interesting parts of this semester. Currently, I am working on my second Illinois Business Consulting project. With this project, my fellow consultants and I are trying to help a UIUC professor start his own company. Our main responsibility is developing an investor presentation that outlines the company and its new product. Our finished presentation will be circulated to potential investors of this start up company. This project is very different from last semester's project in which I worked with a gas manufacturing company, and I am glad that I am getting a diversified experience while I am participating in Illinois Business Consulting.
And now onto some very exciting news! Before we get ahead of ourselves, let's start at the beginning of the story. In addition to all of my usual schoolwork and extra curricular activities, I decided to participate in a PwC accounting case competition. About two weeks ago, I recruited my roommate, Eric, and another one of my good friends, Steve, to join my team. Eric and Steve found two fellow classmates to complete our team, and the 5 of us were ready to crack the case.
A little background about case competitions and this case may be helpful. First, a case competition involves giving a 12 minute presentation to a panel of judges who will listen to your memorized presentation and the ask a few questions after your presentation is over. The presentation usually consists of solving real business problems or dilemmas within the business community. Generally, there is no right or wrong answer, and creativity is a must! For this PwC case competition, our task (and 13 other UIUC group's task) was to develop a plan for implementing a change to the the traditional GAAP accounting standards. Specifically, should the new standards be adopted all at once, or should they be adopted during a staggered transition period. I know this is all very technical and boring, but this decision will have a big impact on investors, accountants, and companies.
Ok, so back to the story. We got the case two weeks ago, and we got right to work. During the first week of the competition, our team analyzed the case and developed a recommendation. Then, during the second and final week of the competition, we practiced our delivery and presentation skills. This past Wednesday, after much work and practice, we presented to the judges (partners of PwC). That same night, we were announced the WINNERS of the PwC xACT case competition!!! Needless to say, it was a very exciting night filled with much joy and enthusiasm for our entire team! Since we won the UIUC campus competition, our video taped presentation will now be sent to the national judges who will review our tape, and make a decision as to whether or not we go to nationals, which will be held in New York City during January 2011. Out of 45 schools, only 5 schools make it to nationals, and hopefully we can be one of them!
Well, sorry for the Great American Novel, but that is what I have been up to down here in Champaign. I can't wait to see everyone for Thanksgiving and I should be back in town this coming Friday. I also want to say that I am very excited for Jessie, Darren, and baby Jaylen! I can't wait to meet him!
Love,
Daniel
Thursday, November 11, 2010
(minus one) Veterans Day
Today is a special day for veterans, but that's not to say we forget who are veterans are, what they did, and what they mean to us all other days of the year.
Here is a video in tribute to the many days of one veteran's life:
(Disclaimer: before playing, please note that this video is meant solely to be a tribute to Grandpa and is not meant to be upsetting. If the matter is still sensitive to you, watch this video at your own discretion. It's not scary or anything, it just may be a little sad...)
Matt
Here is a video in tribute to the many days of one veteran's life:
(Disclaimer: before playing, please note that this video is meant solely to be a tribute to Grandpa and is not meant to be upsetting. If the matter is still sensitive to you, watch this video at your own discretion. It's not scary or anything, it just may be a little sad...)
Matt
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Congratulations Jessie and Darren!
To Jessie and Darren-
To Jaylen-
I'm not exactly sure when you will learn to read or be able to understand this, but hopefully the blog is still around when you can, and you can get this message (that was written the day after you were born- that is pretty cool). First of all, you have a very special name. It starts with a J. This is very common in our family, so you will fit right in. Your middle name is also special. It is in honor of a man you will only meet through others' stories and memories of him, but you will know him and remember him as we all do.
You are also very lucky to be born at this time and into our family. You will learn from an early age how important family is, how important you are to this family, and (hopefully) how much you like spending time with us.
You were born at a time when many things are starting to change- from what type of cars people drive to how people interface with computers and communicate with others. You will grow up and take everything new in stride, while the rest of us will be left catching up and thinking about how things were.
For now, just take the world in (babies seem to be good at this), and I hope you are as happy and healthy as possible.
Love,
Matt (your first cousin once removed, I think)
And here you are (the first of so many pictures, I'm sure):
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)