University at Buffalo School of Management

Kramadibrata, MBA '99, president of Grab Indonesia. "We are working closely with governments to keep our communities safe, while providing customers the essen- tial services they need. That's our main focus to keep business going during this pandemic." As life shis to a "new normal," Kramadibrata sees touchless technology—like cashless transactions, auton- omous vehicles and biometric identification—becoming increasingly prevalent, and says Grab is well-positioned because of advancements made during the pandemic. "Every sector has been impacted to varying degrees; travel and transport might get hit hardest, but telemed- icine and e-commerce are gaining momentum," he says. "As a super-app, there's no dead end for Grab as long as we continue to listen to new market needs and evolve." Solutions with pizzazz With the crisis affecting everyone, communities have come together to support one another—and busi- nesses have been part of the effort. (See sidebar for more ways alumni are helping out.) When hand sanitizer starting flying off store shelves, Todd Snyder and Joe Nardecchia, BS '03, sought to help meet the critical need. So, in addition to producing small-batch spirits at their micro-distillery, Niagara Cra Spirits, they started making hand sanitizer and giving it away for free. Francine Brooks, CEL '99, has completed multiple Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership programs, and was participating in the Class Connections program when the pandemic began. Right now, her business, FB Displays & Designs, would typically be producing exhib- its and displays for companies headed to trade shows or conferences, but those projects were put on hold as events were canceled. Instead, her facility is busy manufacturing face shields, sanitizing stations and safety barriers, along with banners and floor graphics for entrances, lobbies and workstations, so organizations can keep their employees and clients safe. "We are working hard at being creative and agile while providing relevant solutions during this very unusual business climate," she says. "As difficult as it is to wrap your arms around this reality, we all have to face it, and you might as well do it with style and pizzazz." Wesley Froebel, CEL '19, pivoted both of his busi- nesses: Big Ditch Brewing Co., where he's a founding partner, and Minuteman Press, a Buffalo-based market- ing services provider. At the latter, as companies slashed their marketing budgets, Froebel started printing more lawn signs to help schools celebrate their grads and busi- nesses facilitate curbside pickup. In addition, he's in a new market: custom face masks. "During these tough times, we are putting our customers first with our philosophy that we 'design, print and promote—you,'" Froebel says. "We will only be successful if we can help our clients and the community be successful." In these unprecedented times, the School of Management is a community—now more than ever—and we are here to support our alumni. You can: • Access resources from the school's Career Resource Center and UB's Career Connector Network to find opportunities, network and prepare for a job search. mgt.buffalo.edu/career/alumni • Gain insights from faculty through webinars on such topics as virtual networking and interviewing, emergency management, finance and supply chains. mgt.buffalo.edu/research • Connect with the school's Alumni Engagement and External Relations Office to find a local alumni chapter, take advantage of alumni benefits and engage with students in clubs and classes. mgt.buffalo.edu/alumni • Tap into resources for Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership graduates, including webinars, consulting and the Class Connections program. mgt.buffalo.edu/cel • Hone your skills through the new Alumni Advantage program for Executive MBA graduates (see Startups, page 2). mgt.buffalo.edu/alumni-advantage Alumni resources Brooks shows off her face shields, sanitizing stations and other products. Autumn 2020 Buffalo Business 21

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