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A global outlook, plus a deep understanding of the principles of finance and accounting: these are core attributes of the Finance and Securities Analysis Center (FSAC). They also describe Jeffrey B. DeBoer, the center's newly appointed managing director, who joins the UO on July 1. DeBoer brings a wide range of career experience to his new position, thanks to more than a decade as CFO of Lithia Motors--a Fortune 700 auto retailer and one of Oregon's largest public companies after Nike.

With the warmer weather and (at least a few) sunnier days, comes another inevitable spring ritual: tax day. Luckily for the tax-phobic among us, help is at hand. Starting each February, members of the UO branch of the national accounting society Beta Alpha Psi team up with law students to offer free tax preparation to students and area residents, as part of VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), a nationwide program run by the Internal Revenue Service. Still haven't filed? You're in luck--VITA volunteers will be available two more Saturdays: April 9 and April 16, from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Business students from the Center for Sustainable Business Practices worked with with master's candidates from the architecture and landscape architecture programs to compete in the ULI/Gerald D. Hines Urban Design Competition. "The MBAs wanted to really crunch the numbers before putting pencil to paper," said MBA candidate Andy Fenstermacher.

Ever wondered how much carbon you're saving when you pedal your bicycle instead of taking your car? Soon you'll know, thanks to the Ride Your Bike There smartphone app. Created by a team of MBA candidates from the Center for Sustainable Business Practices working with students from disciplines across the university, the app was powered by a grant from the Student Sustainability Fund. What sets this carbon calculator apart?

Two start-up teams from the Lundquist Center for Entrepreneurship are racking up a string of successes--and some nice cash prizes, too. At the Stuart Clark Investment Challenge held in Winnipeg, Canada, Sonas LLC took second place and $10,000 for their presentation of a business concept based on a technology that uses acoustic waves to precisely identify any liquid in sealed containers. Sonas had previously competed at the University of Cincinnati's Spirit of Enterprise, where they won the trade show competition.

A grand new tradition began last month, with the presentation of the first-ever Jim Warsaw and Annalee Thurston Award at a festive dinner gala during the BNP Paribas Open in southern California. Created to honor the legacies of Jim Warsaw and Annalee Thurston, the award recognizes individuals, female or male, who have created and advanced opportunities for women in the business of sport. Its first recipient was Stacey Allaster, chairwoman and CEO of the Women's Tennis Association, who has led the way in securing equal prize money for male and female tennis players.