MBA Students Win Stoddard Prize

George Stoddard with his wife, Elma. The Stoddard Prize was established in 1985 to honor outstanding MBA finance students.PROVO, Utah – Apr 2, 2012 – Twenty-one Brigham Young University MBA finance students received a significant return on investment by being awarded the George E. Stoddard Prize, which comes with a cash award of $2,000. This year 10 second-year and 11 first-year students received the honor. 

"The Stoddard Prizes are intended to recognize and reward outstanding finance majors in the Marriott School's MBA program," says Grant McQueen, a finance professor who oversees the awards. "The finance faculty view these prizes as a vote of confidence in the students, their professional potential and their role as representatives of the BYU MBA program around the globe."

The second-year MBA 2012 Stoddard Scholars are Ryan Allenbach, from Farmington, Utah; Locke Anderson, from San Bernardino, Calif.; Jared Christensen, from Vernal, Utah; Matt Cowan, from Salt Lake City; Everett Crane, from Rupert, Idaho; Ava Huang, from Shanghai; Janice Kirk, from Blanding, Utah; Tyler Larson, from St. George, Utah; Ammon Shumway, from Moab, Utah; and James Toone, from American Fork, Utah.

The first-year MBA 2012 Stoddard Scholars include Zachary Bellows, from Fairfax, Va.; Andrew Flamm, from Salt Lake City; Spencer Hafen, from Kaysville, Utah; Mitchell Hiatt, from Sandy, Utah; Mark McLean, from Thousand Oaks, Calif.; Jordan Monson, from Naperville, Ill.; David Nash, from San Jose, Calif.; Preston Peterson, from Rigby, Idaho; Brandon Poyfair, from Plano, Texas; Matthew Shumway, from Kaysville, Utah; and Phil Williams, from Pleasant Grove, Utah.

The second-year students were chosen with input from faculty and fellow MBA classmates based on academic performance and commitment to the finance program. Selection of first-year students was based on registration in the finance major and academic performance.

"I am honored to receive the Stoddard award," Crane says. "It is a privilege to learn and study among such high-quality MBA students and associate with professors and students who hold the same deep values that I hold."  

The Stoddard Prize was established in 1985 by George E. Stoddard, a 1937 BYU alumnus. His numerous credentials include acting as senior managing director of the W.P. Carey & Co., a leading global real estate investment firm in New York. He was a pioneer in the use of real estate transactions known as sale-leasebacks to provide financing to companies having trouble gaining access to traditional sources of capital. Before joining W.P. Carey & Company, Stoddard was also head of the multi-billion dollar Direct Placement Department of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States.

The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, public management, information systems and entrepreneurship. The school's mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School's graduate and undergraduate programs.

Stoddard Scholars Bios

Second-Year MBAs

A foosball champ and BYU accounting graduate, Ryan Allenbach is managing director of Cougar Capital, a student-run venture capital and private equity fund. While in the MBA program, he competed in the Venture Capital Investment Competition in Silicon Valley and took second place. Allenbach worked for Accenture for three years as a consultant in the health and life sciences industry helping clients prepare for changes as health care reform came into effect. After graduating with his MBA, Allenbach will join Macquarie Capital as an investment banking associate.

The Graduate Finance Association director of activities, Locke Anderson enjoys all things finance. While in the MBA program, he works for Cougar Capital, a student-run investment fund, and is a member of the BYU team that placed second in the Venture Capital Investment Competition. Anderson graduated in finance from BYU in 2006 and worked for Duff and Phelps for four years as an analyst and a senior associate. After completing his MBA, he will join the Celanese leadership program.

Jared Christensen worked at Goldman Sachs as a private banking specialist before joining the MBA program. He currently serves as the MBA Association vice president of finance, is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and was a finalist in the Adobe Web Analytics Competition.  Last summer he interned with Dell Computers doing financial planning and analysis. Christensen graduated in economics from BYU–Idaho in 2007.

Although devoted to school, Matthew Cowan also enjoys jogging and plans to run in the Salt Lake City Marathon in April. Cowan graduated from the University of Utah magna cum laude in both finance and accounting in 2007. After graduation, he worked for Zions Bank as a real estate credit analyst and an assistant commercial relationship officer. Upon completion of the MBA program, he will join Zions Bank as a corporate financial analyst.

Everett Crane earned a dual degree in accountancy and business finance from BYU–Idaho in 2006 and worked for Melaleuca, Inc. for three years as a senior cost analyst. In the MBA program Crane is a member of the Silver Fund, a student-run investment portfolio, and the Graduate Finance Association. After graduating with his MBA he will join Cisco in the finance rotation program.

Ava Huang is the only daughter of a software engineer and a chemist. In 1997 she earned a degree in English literature from Fudan University in Shanghai. Before joining the BYU MBA program, Huang worked for various companies, including Horizon Fuel Cell Technology as a controller, Dura Automotive Systems as a finance manager and Unilever as a commercial manager. After graduation, Huang will join Hewlett-Packard as a financial analyst.

Janice Kirk worked for DHI Computing for five years as a training consultant after earning a BS in management from BYU in 2004. In the MBA program she is part of the Social Venture Academy competition leadership and is a member of the Women in Management presidency. Kirk plans to work for American Express as a finance manager after graduation.

University of Utah graduate Tyler Larson received undergraduate degrees in finance and in German in 2004. He is involved in Cougar Capital as director of finance and fundraising and is also involved with the Graduate Finance Association as vice president of career development. Before starting his MBA at BYU, Larson worked for Ford Motor Company and Ken Garff Automotive. After earning his graduate degree, he plans to work at Intel Corp. as a senior financial analyst. An avid traveler, he has visited 17 countries — so far.

Ammon Shumway grew up in Moab, Utah, as the seventh of nine children. He earned his BS in management from BYU in 2005 and worked for PEAK Securities as a securities trader for four years. Last summer he held an internship at DMBA, performing investment research. In the MBA program, Shumway serves as co-president of the Silver Fund, the Marriott School's investment portfolio.

Having a strong interest in Chinese economics and politics, James Toone double majored in Asian studies and Chinese at BYU and graduated in 2006. He is president of BYU's Graduate Finance Association, executive vice president of the China Business Club and a member of the BYU Business Plan Competition leadership team. Last summer he worked at Credit Suisse as an investment banking summer associate and conducted valuation and market analysis for Chinese tech companies preparing for IPO listings on the NASDAQ.

First-Year MBAs

Zachary Bellows is constructing a bright future as he plans to intern for Walmart Realty this summer. In 2008 he received his undergraduate degree in construction management from BYU. In the last few years, he has worked as a corporate purchasing manager and a project engineer for commercial construction in Las Vegas.

Continuing on a tradition, Andrew Flamm is the fourth son in his family to earn an MBA. The aspiring entrepreneur and University of Utah graduate earned his bachelor's degree in finance in 2008. Before joining the MBA program, he worked at Infinite Mind for five years as chief financial officer.

Spencer Hafen worked for Intermountain Healthcare for more than four years as a financial analyst and project consultant. While there, he led a large-scale effort to design and launch a new Web-based budgeting platform. The corporate finance graduate will spend the summer as an intern with Symantec.

A corporate finance major at BYU, Mitchell Hiatt was president of the undergraduate Strategy Club and now serves as president of the MBA Strategy and Consulting Club. He also chaired the Latino Outreach program, which encourages Latino elementary children to do better in school. Before joining the MBA program, Hiatt was a buyer for Overstock.com, working closely with suppliers to purchase, price, market and sell products online. This summer, he will intern with Amazon as a financial analyst.

As a BYU graduate in finance, Mark McLean began his professional career at Cisco as a business and financial analyst. His time there led to a new service project called Program Escuela, which helps elementary school students in the U.S., China and Mexico gain an interest in technology and staying in school. This summer he plans to use his newly gained knowledge as an intern with AT&T's construction and engineering business unit.

A successful entrepreneur, Jordan Monson owned and operated a fitness center in Arizona that he started. Monson earned his degree in accountancy from the University of Arizona and worked at Sneddon and Associates as an accounting consultant and auditor for two years. This summer he will have a finance internship with General Motors in the product development department.

In addition to studying finance and real estate prospects, David Nash enjoys restoring classic cars. In 2008 he earned his bachelor's degree in construction management from BYU. He worked for SourceOne Financial for seven years as an investment analyst focused on evaluating real estate investment opportunities.

The small town of Rigby, Idaho, could not hold down Preston Peterson, who earned a BS in biology from BYU in 2008. He was selected as the 2012–2013 school year's head sherpa for the MBA mentor program in internship searches. He spent six years at Zions Bank, ending as a portfolio manager in the special asset group and managing a portfolio that averaged $23 million. Peterson plans to fly off this summer and intern with Boeing Capital.

Brandon Poyfair comes from a family of BYU graduates. He earned a BS in finance from BYU in 2007 and spent four years at Texas Wasatch Group as a senior project manager, developing and managing the business' strategies. As an avid sports enthusiast, Poyfair enjoys rooting for BYU sports whenever he gets the opportunity. Back in his home state of Texas, he organized and directed youth basketball and volleyball sports leagues for four years. After graduating from the MBA program, he hopes to work in the private equity/venture capital industry.

The oldest of five children, Matthew Shumway has always enjoyed leadership roles. After graduating from BYU with a BS in management in 2006, he worked as a manager for Texas Wasatch Group, leading sales teams and managing company projects for four years. While in Texas, he served as a Boy Scout leader of a group of 11-year olds. This summer he will intern with Boeing as a marketing financial analyst.

Phil Williams is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys skiing, biking, mountain climbing and rooting for BYU football. In 2009 Williams graduated from BYU with a degree in finance. Before joining the MBA program, he worked at Allegiance Software as a senior financial analyst and has work experience as a sales team lead for Logoworks by HP.