Library Partners with UNG for Cottrell MBA Speaker Series

Make a new year’s resolution you can keep and mark your calendar to attend the Cottrell MBA Speaker Series presented by the Mike Cottrell College of Business at the University of North Georgia and the Forsyth County Public Library.

“We’re so pleased to partner with the library and bring the passion and expertise of our professors and instructors into the Forsyth community,” says Dr. Jeremy Bennett, director of MBA programs at the University of North Georgia. “The Cottrell MBA Speaker Series will help local residents and business owners better understand current best practices in finance, technology, marketing, and management.”

Dr. Ellen Best

The Cottrell MBA Speaker Series begins on Wednesday, January 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sharon Forks Library with a Personal Finance session led by Dr. Ellen Best, assistant professor of accounting. Dr. Best will focus on family budgeting and tax issues for 2015 and 2016.

“One of the biggest mistakes individuals can make with their personal finances is to always be reactive, and never proactive. This session will give an overview on addressing your current situation, as well as laying out some key steps to help you better prepare for the future,” says Best.

Dr. Ellen Best joined the faculty of the Mike Cottrell College of Business at the University of North Georgia in 2013. Dr. Best has teaching experience in the areas of managerial accounting and taxation, and her research interests include judgment and decision making in accounting, business ethics, and tax education research. Prior to her doctoral studies, Dr. Best worked in corporate taxation in the Atlanta office of KPMG, focusing mainly on foreign inbound clients. Dr. Best holds a Ph.D. in Accountancy, a Master of Taxation and a BBA in Accountancy, all from Georgia State University.

Dr. Bryson Payne

Dr. Bryson Payne, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and professor of computer science, teaches the “Information Management” portion of the Cottrell MBA program. He will lead a discussion on Cybersecurity at the Sharon Forks Library on Thursday, March 24 at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Payne will discuss trending topics in technology and data security, as well as the practical steps individuals and businesses can take to protect themselves.

After a break for the summer months, the Cottrell MBA Speaker Series will resume at the Post Road Library on Tuesday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. with a presentation on Agile Marketing Planning from Nick Kastner, marketing manager and instructor of marketing.

Dr. Wendy Walker, assistant professor of management, teaches the “Leadership and Motivation” course for second-year Cottrell MBA students. Dr. Walker will discuss Transformational Leadership with patrons and business leaders at the Post Road Library on Wednesday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m.

The Cottrell MBA program recently relocated from the UNG campus on Pilgrim Mill Road to a renovated space on the fourth floor of Cumming City Hall. New MBA classes begin each fall and applications to the Cottrell MBA programs located in Cumming and Gainesville are being accepted now at www.ung.edu/mba.

For more information on the Cottrell MBA Speaker Series or to register to attend, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

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UPDATE:

As requested by patrons attending the Personal Finance presentation, Dr. Ellen Best has provided copies of the materials she discussed:

• Slide Deck (PDF format)
• Budget Template and Sample Budget (Microsoft Excel format)