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Barney School of Business Addition Opens

September 06, 2019

Ribbon Cutting Event

pres woodward, student ninamarie ayala, dean zeng, donald allan cut ribbon
(l-r) President Woodward, Ninamarie Ayala '20, Dean Zeng, and Donald Allan Jr. '86 cut the red ribbon to open the Barney School addition.

A red ribbon was cut on Tuesday, September 3 for the ceremonial opening of an addition to Auerbach Hall for the Barney School of Business. About 150 Barney students, faculty, and alumni, and donors, as well as University faculty and staff, gathered in front of the steps of the addition for a brief ceremony led by Barney School Dean Amy Zeng.

New state-of-the-art high tech learning and collaboration spaces are housed in the 10 thousand square foot addition and in an additional 13 hundred square feet of renovated space. “This addition will allow us to be even more successful than we currently are in preparing our students to work in the fast-moving and fiercely competitive world of business,” Zeng told attendees. “We have a trading floor, an analytics lab, collaboration spaces, and a beautiful new commons area where students can gather and where we can hold programs and events. It’s truly spectacular.”

Joining Zeng to mark the occasion were University President Gregory Woodward; Stanley Black & Decker Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Donald Allan Jr. ’86, and Barney School marketing major Ninamarie Ayala ’20.

This addition will allow us to be even more successful than we currently are in preparing our students to work in the fast-moving and fiercely competitive world of business.

Amy Zeng, Dean, Barney School of Business
student and professor at computer with bloomberg ticker

President Woodward acknowledged the many Barney School alumni in attendance and noted that he continually meets successful senior business executives who are Barney alumni in Greater Hartford. “Barney School graduates are highly successful,” Woodward said proudly. “That is a testament both to them and to the faculty who instructed them. Today, we are unveiling a facility that equals their high levels of achievement.”

Woodward thanked several key donors including:

  • Stanley Black & Decker (Stanley Black & Decker Commons)
  • People’s United Insurance Agency and John Byrnes (People’s United Insurance Professional Development Center)
  • The Lincoln Foundation (David C. Lincoln Trading Room and Analytics Lab)
  • The Hubbell Foundation, Hubbell Incorporated, and President and CEO David Nord ’79 (Hubbell ConneCT and The Hubbell Center for Innovation)
  • Mark A. Lieb M '77 and Kathy Lieb
  • Barbara and Richard H. Booth ’69, M’77, H ’05
  • Loïc de Kertanguy ’69
  • Karen Gibbs Orefice ’65 and Jerry A. Orefice ’66
  • The Ellsworth Ensign-Bickford Foundation (Ellsworth Ensign-Bickford Lobby)
  • Conference Room given by Donald Allan Jr. '86 and Marilyn Allan
  • George A. LaCava Jr.’60 Entrance given by George A. LaCava Jr.‘60
  • Vantis Life Insurance Company and retired CEO Pete Tedone and new CEO Ray Caucci (South Entrance given by Vantis Life Insurance Company)
  • Gerald '64 and Patricia Vitkauskas (West Entrance given by Gerald '64 and Patricia Vitkauskas)

Allan, who in addition to being Stanley Black & Decker Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer is a University Regent and member of the Barney School Board of Visitors, caused the crowd to chuckle when he said the best thing about the new construction was that the canopied sidewalk leading up to the building was gone. He went on to also acknowledge and thank those who gave to the project monetarily, physically, or supportively. He said his support is a way to give back. “I’m extremely grateful for my Barney School education, especially for the professors who encouraged me to major in accounting which gave me the skills for my current position as CFO. Throughout my career, faculty have helped me with their advice. This space is designed for students to gain additional needed skills and it will have a great impact on their futures.”

In her remarks, Ayala, who is a student representative on the Barney School Board of Visitors, issued a challenge to Barney School students. “This is the place for us to collaborate and produce the next biggest and brightest innovations,” Ayala said. “In a world that is so divided, I feel that it is not only important, but necessary that we really tap into the magic of collaboration. Consider the numerous Fortune 500 companies that were started by college students. Facebook, Google, Reddit, Dell, Dropbox- just to name a few. Let’s produce something truly remarkable in the future. As we dive into the 2019-2020 school year, I encourage you all to take advantage of this new addition and capitalize on the endless possibilities we have before us.”

The Barney School of Business is recognized nationally and internationally for its ever-evolving curriculum, tangible learning opportunities, and innovative Career Ready program. The School has been ranked as one of the top business schools in the country by both Bloomberg Business and The Princeton Review and our accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business places the Barney School among the top five percent of business schools in the world.

For Media Inquiries

Mildred McNeill
860.768.5234