ExchangeFor the MBA Community at the University of Texas at Austin |
Chapter News: Spotlight: San Francisco
- Welcome Letter
- Bay Area Attractions
- Bay Area Statistics
- Alumni Advisory Board Task Forces
- Thank you
-
Get Involved
Hello and Welcome to the Bay Area McCombs MBA Alumni Chapter!
The San Francisco Bay Area is a
great place for business. Some of the
most important trends in the business
world happen first here in the Bay
Area. As such, it is a wonderful
place for graduates of the McCombs
School. Some of our alumni use this
area as a temporary proving ground
for their hard-won business skills.
Others prefer to settle down in this
area rich in culture, beauty, and
diversity of business opportunities.
For both short-timers and lifelong San Franciscans, we have a very engaging group of alumni. The expansive area in which we are located does present many challenges in terms of our alumni networking and gatherings. Although the biannual school-sponsored events are popular and successful gatherings, we do not have regular gatherings for business alumni. As the chapter presidents for the Bay Area alumni chapter, we are considering new plans to reinvigorate the sense of community for McCombs graduates in the area. Ideas include the following:
- Establish a local area representative from each class year to cross-pollinate smaller gatherings throughout the Bay Area.
- Plan small group monthly dinners in the area.
- Work closely with other business schools’ local chapters for more
joint events and educational activities.
- Separate the chapter into smaller area groups so we can devote attention to area and industry needs and concerns.
In order to build a stronger
alumni community, we certainly
welcome volunteers to assist with
implementing these ideas or
developing new ways to encourage
participation and connections. If you
live in the area and want to get
involved, please contact us. Our goal
is to help McCombs alumni maintain a
strong affiliation with the school,
provide valuable networking
opportunities, and enhance the value
of the McCombs School degree.
We hope to see you at the next event!
Warm Regards,
Anne McLain, MBA 2000
Eric Strasser, MBA 2000
Jesse Zimmer, MBA 1998
Like any major metropolitan area,
the San Francisco Bay Area has a
number of tourist clichés, some of
which are well worth investigating.
Alcatraz will be of interest to
anyone intrigued by great escapes,
and Chinatown is worth at least a
quick visit. Serious shoppers will
certainly want to take a trip to
Union Square, the center of San
Francisco’s retail district, where
options range from the grandest of
department stores to offbeat
boutiques.
Still, even these much-hyped
attractions are more interesting with
a bit of insider knowledge. For
instance, if you forsake the tourists
jostling around the storefronts of
Pier 39 and head behind the shops,
you’ll find a series of boat landings
commandeered by a mob of seals and
sea lions.
San Francisco is a foodie’s paradise.
Your concierge or Zagat guide can
easily direct you to the city’s most
famous restaurants, such as Gary
Danko, Masa’s or Jardiniere. And no
trip to San Francisco is complete
without a visit to Alice Water’s East
Bay paradise of California cuisine,
Chez Panisse.
But you shouldn’t be afraid to go
where the locals go. The best
burritos and tacos in the city are
served at La Taqueria, in the heart
of the Mission district; the best
Chinese, especially Dim Sum, is at
Yank Sing or Ton Kiang.
Though the Bay Area may not have the
reputation of a Chicago, St. Louis,
or New York when it comes to big time
sports franchises, it’s still no
slouch. The NBA’s Warriors, NFL’s
Raiders, and MLB’s Athletics all make
their home across the Bay Bridge in
Oakland, and the NHL’s Sharks compete
in the South Bay.
And, of course, there are San
Francisco’s powerhouses: the 49ers
and the Giants. Giants games are
particularly pleasant, thanks to a
new downtown baseball-only facility.
Pac Bell Park is one of the most
beautiful stadiums in baseball, even
though it may technically not be
named Pac Bell Park anymore. Tickets
can be easily obtained from a broker,
and the team releases hundreds of
day-of-game seats for sale 2 1/2
hours before the first pitch. Grab
your tickets and head across the
street to Momo’s for drinks or
dinner.
San Francisco also has no lack of
traditional cultural offerings. The
SF Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) has
been on an acquisition binge in
recent years, and just moved into a
fantastic new facility. The Symphony,
led by impresario Michael Tilson
Thomas, is regularly discussed as one
of the world’s top orchestras. In the
middle of Golden Gate Park, the
Academy of Sciences has an excellent
Natural Sciences, Astronomy, and
Aquarium facility.
Of course, anyone interested in
marine wildlife should plan an
overnight trip down to Monterrey to
visit the Monterrey Bay Aquarium. Try
to stay overnight in charming Carmel,
CA, home to a quiet (though chilly)
beach, many lovely bed and
breakfasts, and quite a few fine
restaurants.
–Tom Gorman
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Alumni in the Bay Area by Gender
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Alumni in the Bay Area by Graduation Year
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| Alumni in the Bay Area by Industry
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Alumni Advisory Board Task Forces
The McCombs MBA Alumni Network (MMA Network), the alumni organization for UT’s Graduate School of Business, was established in the fall of 1996 by students and alumni of the MBA program. The MMA Network and the Alumni Advisory Board have been the force behind many initiatives on behalf of the alumni and the MBA program, including our community-wide networking database, our MBA alumni magazine, the interview program, strategy conferences to aid new school programs, networking events, and chapters in 25 cities around the world. The Alumni Advisory Board is also responsible for driving the following task forces to advance the alumni network, the MBA program, and the school:
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Membership Task Force Charge: Solicit and approve new members for the Advisory Board. Chair: Dave Hendrix, MBA 97 Recognition Task Force Annual Giving Task Force |
Experienced Alumni Task Force Charge: Connect and increase the involvement of alumni who graduated before 1980. Chair: Reggie Cobb, MBA 94
Career Networking Task
Force |
The MBA Alumni Advisory Board
would like to extend a special thank
you to our chapter presidents who have
stepped down this year. It is in
great part due to their dedication
and energy that we have been able to
extend the reach of the McCombs
School of Business MBA across the
country and the world.
Thank you for your
service.
Kevin Boardman, MBA 95, Dallas
Lisa Walvrood, MBA 96, Denver
David Hendrix, MBA 97, San
Diego
Eric Strasser, MBA 00, San
Francisco
Jesse Zimmer, MBA 98, San
Francisco
Alex Von Frankenberg, MBA 92,
Germany
- Volunteer at the local level to host events, secure speakers, or serve on the local chapter steering committee.
- Serve as an Alumni Admissions volunteer to recruit and interview potential candidates for the MBA program.
- Participate in our new Plus Program by offering hands-on opportunities through projects and/or mentoring a student group.
- Volunteer to be a mentor for a student organization or an individual student.
See more opportunities to get
involved.
