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William Paterson business professors Robert L. Laud, Andrey Kretinin, Stephen C. Betts, and Ana Cristina Siqueira have been selected as recipients of the prestigious Bright Idea Award, sponsored by the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University.
“We are elated that Professors Laud, Kretinin, Betts and Siqueira received this prestigious award. The large-scale social entrepreneurship model proposed by Professors Laud, Kretinin and Betts may lead to new and innovative ideas for effectively addressing challenges to global water resource sustainability,” says Anthony Bowrin, dean of the Cotsakos College of Business. “Similarly, Professor Siqueira’s work on how new financial technologies can be used for socioeconomic development and social inclusion is truly groundbreaking. Their receipt of this award enhances the reputation of the Cotsakos College of Business as a leader in the field of applied social entrepreneurship that is impactful for the communities we serve and beyond.”
Professors Laud, Kretinin, and Betts were recognized for their research paper, An Integrated Model for Large-Scale Social Entrepreneurship: Addressing Global Water Supply Problems, that evaluated the impact of the global water crises and presented a model to help address the need for international water sustainability.
“We were delighted to receive this research award in recognition of the need to address the growing necessity for the development of an international water resource sustainability system within an emerging world water economy,” says the research trio. “As over 1.2 billion people today lack clean drinking water and another 2.8 billion face periodic water scarcity, we believe an appropriate overlay of multiple stakeholder interests presents a prototype for large-scale green business start-up capability.”
Professor Ana Cristina Siqueira
Siqueira, who also serves as director for the Center for Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship and Innovation, was honored for her article, A commons strategy for promoting entrepreneurship and social capital: Implications for community currencies, cryptocurrencies, and value exchange, advancing the research of socially responsible entrepreneurship.
“It is an honor for me to receive this award for research on how new financial technologies can be used for socioeconomic development while promoting social inclusion, which is particularly relevant as we are witnessing the accelerated growth of digital money, blockchain innovations, and cryptocurrencies worldwide,” says Siqueira, who was recognized by ROI-NJ Media Company in 2021 as an influencer in social equality and equity.
Through her work with the Center, Siqueira aims to empower current students, alumni, and members of the general public in industries and geographic locations to formulate new business ideas and develop socially responsible innovations for their new and existing organizations.
Both articles were identified as two of the top 10 manuscripts, in a pool of 114 submissions, for the 20th annual volume of the Publications of New Jersey’s Business Faculty, compiled by the Stillman School of Business.
Professor Robert L. Laud
Laud, professor of management, holds a PhD and MS from Columbia University, an MBA from Adelphi University, and a BA from Colgate University. With over 25 years of experience in some of the world’s leading consulting firms, corporations, and research institutes, he focuses on business strategy, innovation and growth, leadership, and sustainability. He also served as advisor to the US Department and Interior. His research has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Chief Executive, Industry Week, Business Weeks Guide to Careers, and others.
Kretinin, who holds a PhD and MBA from Kent State University and a BBA from Dickinson State University, is a management professor at WP. He has conducted research on business data measurement and multi-unit franchising. Kretinin also serves on the MS Analytics Curriculum and Technology Across the Curriculum committees.
Professor Stephen C. Betts
Betts is a professor of management and holds a BS in industrial engineering and an MS in management engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and an MBA and PhD in management from Rutgers University. He has been teaching at the college level since 1983 with a primary focus in organizational behavior. In 2003, Betts received the Academy of Educational Leadership's Award for Innovative and Creative Teaching.
Siqueira, associate professor of management, has been teaching courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels since 2009. She was recognized by ROI-NJ Media Company in 2021 as an influencer in social equality and equity and received a Social Entrepreneurship SIG Award for excellence in practice and service in 2022 from the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
The Bright Idea Awards were presented virtually during a special ceremony on November 12, 2021.
