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School of Business students keep Rock Chalk Revue moving 'Full Speed Ahead'

Saturday, February 20, 2010

BY WAYNE LARSON

KU School of Business students make up half of the 2010 Rock Chalk Revue's four-person executive leadership team, and naturally, they are using their business knowledge to improve the philanthropic organization and push it toward its 2010 theme "Full Speed Ahead."

"My accounting background proved to be invaluable when I was Ôkeeping the books' for Rock Chalk Revue," Steve Fessler, a senior in finance from Kansas City, Mo., said.

Fessler is the organization's executive producer and Nick Vignatelli, also a senior in finance from Kansas City, Mo., is the organization's business manager. Both students have been involved with Rock Chalk Revue for multiple years and now hold the organization's two highest positions on the business side of the operation.

"I have gained applicable financial knowledge as the organization's business manager," Vignatelli said. "I figured working on the program would be a great experience because I would like to be doing this (financial work) a year from now, so why not do it at something fun like Rock Chalk Revue."

In addition to numbers-based concepts, the students use management and marketing practices learned at the School of Business to better the Rock Chalk Revue organization.

"I have always been a numbers guys, but that is just the bare bones of business," Fessler said. "Working at Rock Chalk Revue helped me get a read for the drivers behind the numbers."

The Rock Chalk Revue, an annual variety show produced by KU students, raises money for the United Way of Douglas County. School of Business students have a history of holding important roles in the Rock Chalk Revue. They have held positions on the organization's executive team since the 2007 Rock Chalk Revue, Fessler said. Additionally, the organization was created by School of Business alumnus Roy Wonder in 1949.

"I think it's not necessarily coincidental," Vignatelli said.

"I am sure there is a strong correlation on the business manager and executive producer front," Fessler said.


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