Hendels among FSU students to meet Buffett

            Florida State University senior Alishia Hendels got a lesson in business last month from someone who should know.

            Billionaire investor Warren Buffett, considered the nation's richest individual, shared with a group of students from the College of Business the two rules of business they should always remember.

            "Rule number one, always make money," he told them. "Rule number two, never forget rule number one."

            Hendels was among 27 FSU business students who met Buffett Oct. 17, part of a group from six schools invited to Omaha, NE to spend time visiting with the famous chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway, a diversified holding company. Forbes magazine named Buffett the nation's wealthiest person earlier this year.

            "He's unusually humble and down-to-earth for a man of his caliber," said Charlette Livingston, an MBA student chosen to participate. Students also were treated to a question-and-answer session and lunch by Buffett at a local steakhouse and toured two Berkshire Hathaway subsidiaries, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Borsheims.

            "I was most impressed by the candor of Warren Buffett's responses during the question and answer session," said Paul "Chris" Grunewald, an MBA student. "Mr. Buffett has the uncanny ability to opine on a wide range of topics concerning finance and business evaluation."

            Students applied for the trip opportunity. The college required student participants to have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.8, and the application submitted included a resume and a statement describing professional goals and extracurricular activities. A faculty committee made the selections.

            "It was a good experience," said Hendels. "It was interesting meeting someone of his stature, he was really down to earth. He let us all ask questions. He told us, ‘If you invest in what you like, if everyone else likes it, it will be good."

            Valedictorian of Carrabelle High School in 2004, Hendels will graduate magna cum laude from FSU next month with a bachelor's in finance and management. She'll start the FSU masters of business program in May 2009.

            Right now she's working in the office of the FSU vice-president of university relations, and is beginning to focus on how her business career will unfold. "I'm thinking maybe banking or portfolio management, something definitely with finance," Hendels said.

            She is the daughter of Choppy and Rachial Hendels, of Carrabelle Beach, and the granddaughter of the late Cottie and Mildred Hendels, of Apalachicola, and the late Ukie (D.N.) and Irene Creamer, of Eastpoint.

            "We had a great trip," said Glenn Boggs, a business law professor who led the group of undergraduate and graduate students. "You can string some superlatives together - fantastic, informational, informative. More than that, it was really, really interesting." He was impressed by Buffett's obvious intellect and humor and emphasis on the importance of ethics in business decisions.

            Lauren Turner, another MBA student participant, said it was interesting to learn how little material possessions mean to Buffett.

            "He really believes in using his money for good and feels the best way to do that is by finding valid and trustworthy foundations to donate toward," Turner said. "That was refreshing to hear from a man who could be frivolously spending money on pretty much anything he wants."

            Other schools participating included Saint Louis University, Tulane University, the University of Iowa, the University of Missouri and the University of New Orleans. Boggs said the college is grateful to Bill Smith, CEO of Capital City Bank, who spent time helping to coach students before their trip.

            For more information about the College of Business, please go to www.cob.fsu.edu.