The Business Leadership Initiative is a unique opportunity for exceptional Jewish business students to learn from and network with some of the leading Jewish business executives in the country. Within the framework of a small group (20-25 students), you will be able to meet with these executives in a relaxed setting and engage with them in open dialogue. These executives, who have generously given their time, are eager to get to know you and speak with you about how they achieved their success. Students will also participate in a private Shabbat dinner at Rabbi Silberberg's home.

Due to its competitive nature, in order to be considered for the Business Leadership Initiative, you must make a commitment to participate in at least three of the program of opportunities offered. If you are unwilling or unable to make this commitment, please contact Rabbi Sue at hillel@indiana.edu before submitting your application.

Please click here to complete the application to be considered for participation in Gesherim's Business Leadership Initiative.

Business Leadership Initiative Spring 2012

Pizza Party and Watch IU Hoosiers Basketball at Nebraska. Learn more about BLI, see old friends from BLI and celebrate as the Hoosiers beat Nebraska!

Dinner with Tom Schneider, Executive Vice-President, Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG), the world’s largest publicly traded retail real estate company. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Simon Property Group is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust which, through its subsidiary partnerships, is engaged primarily in the ownership, development, management, leasing, acquisition and expansion of income-producing properties, primarily regional malls and community shopping centers. It currently owns or has an interest in approximately 250 properties. Mr. Schneider oversees the acquisition of land, municipal approvals for the projects, securing of public finance, coordinating the design and construction and overseeing the lease-up and grand openings for new malls, town centers, mixed use projects and specialty centers. Mr. Schneider is also responsible for projects undertaken as joint ventures with strategic development partners.

Dinner with Hannah Kaufman Joseph, an attorney at JOSEPH AND TUROW PC, where she focuses her practice on business law and entrepreneurial services. Hannah is an Indiana business attorney who provides common sense guidance on complex issues including business entity selection and formation, commercial and real estate transactions, strategic planning, drafting and negotiation of contracts and leases, trademark, copyright and licensing, and business disputes. She is one of the only attorneys in Indiana to offer experienced legal guidance on promotional law, including advertising, sweepstakes, contests, consumer privacy and e-commerce related issues.

Hannah and her husband also have started their own business, King David Dogs, an Indianapolis restaurant that already has opened two locations in less than three years. These combined experiences have given Hannah a unique perspective into the legal needs of a small business owner. Hannah is an entrepreneur, and can therefore provide thoughtful, cost-effective guidance to individuals hoping to start up a for-profit enterprise or facing business-related legal issues.

Dinner with Jamie Ratner Rich, Banker, CFP® JP Morgan. Jamie evaluates the resources available throughout the firm to determine which are best suited for each client’s current and future needs. These include capabilities in financial planning, trusts and wealth transfer strategies, private banking and investment, and business development through comprehensive wealth management solutions for high net worth families. She is also involved in the management of a team including an Investor, Capital Advisor, Client Service Team and an Associate to meet planning and solutions needs for clients. Jamie has also served as Financial Advisor, CFP® at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and President and CEO of the Original Time Capsule Company.

Dinner with Todd Maurer, JD, President and Founder of Halakar Properties and Ralph Balber, CPA, President of Halakar Real Estate. Halakar Properties, Inc., formed in May 2000, provides clients more than the typical bare bones brokerage and development services that are provided by the rest of the real estate brokerage community. Halakar Real Estate, a subsidiary of Halakar Properties, Inc., was later formed to focus exclusively on assisting clients in their real estate brokerage needs. Maurer began his professional career practicing law with the Indianapolis firm of Rubin & Levin and then worked for Gershman Brown & Associates, where he focused on developing CVS drugstore sites throughout Indiana. After a stint with Meridian Real Estate Services, Maurer returned to Halakar Properties, Inc. and formed Halakar Real Estate with partner, Ralph Balber. Ralph Balber began his professional career in Chicago as an auditor for Arthur Andersen’s commercial division and specialized in large publicly traded companies and small Chicago based entrepreneurial businesses, focusing on all aspects of financial reporting and business consulting for each client. In 1993, Balber left to start Ralph & Barry’s Inc., a corporation that owned and managed 9 restaurants across the Midwest. Balber created two restaurant concepts and developed them into multi-market restaurants and also started a manufacturing and wholesale division that sold bakery goods to various restaurants, hospitals, and colleges throughout Michigan and Ohio. In 2001 Balber joined Meridian Real Estate as the Director of New Business Development. Balber left Meridian to become President of Halakar Real Estate.

Hors d'oeuvres with David Moss David Moss is a Director and Head of NA Client Strategy in Citigroup's Global Markets businesses. David Moss is the Head of NA Client Strategy for Citigroup's Global Markets businesses. In that role, David provides cross-product client coverage and is also responsible for identifying and executing strategic initiatives related to new business opportunities and organizational effectiveness. He is a member of the Global Markets Marketing & Branding Steering Committee and a leader in Citi's Sales & Trading recruiting efforts. Prior to joining Citi, David was a consultant with McKinsey & Company, where he counseled executives at a variety of financial institutions on questions regarding client service strategy, sales force effectiveness and organizational design. David also acted as Co-Chair of the New York Office's Connectivity Committee and led McKinsey's associate recruiting efforts for the Northeast Office Complex. David began his career as a risk and performance analyst with JP Morgan Alternative Asset Management, a fiduciary hedge fund of funds, and has also worked at Banc of America Securities, where he helped develop a proprietary hedge fund of funds business. David graduated Cum Laude from Harvard Law School and received his BS in Finance with High Distinction from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. In addition to serving on the Kelley School's Alumni Association Board of Directors, David is a member of the Alumni Leadership Network and has been a Guest Lecturer on topics including networking and relationship building, the financial markets and careers in consulting.

Tour of the Textillery Weavers with John and Judith Rose, Founders. The Textillery Weavers, established in 1976, is a leading producer of handwoven throws, pillows and decorative accessories in the US. The Textillery is dedicated to providing the highest quality, fashion-forward woven accessories for upscale home furnishing retailers, including Crate and Barrel, Room & Board and Neiman Marcus. The company has received the 1996 ARTY Award and was elected to the Indiana Growth 100, an award sponsored by a distinguished group of Indiana’s top companies, in conjunction with IU’s School of Business. www.textillery.com

Dinner with Matt Burnett, Vice President, City Securities Corporation. Matt Burnett has been working with individuals, foundations, and retirement plans as a financial and investment advisor since 1997. He has developed and implemented comprehensive financial plans and investment strategies for high net worth individuals and served as an advisor to numerous company retirement plans. Matt manages over $250 Million and has been a City Securities President’s Club member from 2005-2010. Prior to joining City Securities in 2003, Matt spent three years with McDonald Financial Group. At McDonald he developed employee education programs for retirement plan clients, implemented 529 college saving programs, conducted investment management searches, while building a business working with individuals and retirement plans. Matt received a bachelor of arts from Indiana University in 1997. He currently holds a Series 6, 63, 65, 7, Life and Health, and is a Registered Investment Advisor.

Meet at Rabbi Sue's home for Shabbat Dinner. Join other BLI members for an intimate Shabbat dinner at Rabbi Sue’s home for a home-made Shabbat dinner. A chance to relax and schmooze.