Business Week began on Feb. 13 with a presentation from vice president and general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals John Mozeliak. “Mo,” as he is often referred to, stands as one of the most respected general managers in Major League Baseball. He has been with the Cardinals organization since 1996 and took over as senior vice president and general manager in October 2007.

According to Sondag, Mozeliak’s appearance came as somewhat of a surprise.

“Mozeliak was a complete blessing. We didn’t see him coming,” Sondag said. “He was a huge draw. At least 100 people were in the Anheuser-Busch auditorium.”

The week continued on Feb. 14 with a business leader panel, featuring entrepreneur Ron Roy and Anheuser-Busch marketing executive Tim Murphy. Roy, also an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University, launched UltraStar, an online fan club and ticketing company, and “Wines that Rock,” an endeavor that produces and brands wines for famous rock bands like The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd. Murphy currently leads Anheuser-Busch’s Global Digital team and was a creative force behind multiple Bud Light marketing strategies. The Q&A session allowed students to pick the brains of the panel for advice.

Another facet of professional success rests in presentation. On Feb. 15, the Dress for Success Fashion show gave student models a chance to show off their business attire. According to junior Tyler Vachio, the event was helpful and entertaining.

“It was absolutely crazy,” Vachio said. “It was a lot of fun, like it is every year.”

While preparing students for success, Business Week also features an event to teach students how to deal with less-than-ideal workplace moments and have a laugh in the process. On Feb. 16, SLU alumni will appear at the Business Gone Wrong forum, share stories of jobs and interviews gone wrong and give advice on how to avoid common pitfalls.

“Some alumni will come in and talk about awkward experiences they had in the work place and how to avoid them,” Sondag said. “If you can’t avoid them, they’ll tell you what to do if it actually happens.”

Presentations on “The Power of Schmoozing” and a local entrepreneurship success story will round out the week. On Feb. 16, Tessa Greenspan and Terri Arscott, both prominent in networking circles throughout St. Louis and Missouri, will teach students the “Power of Schmoozing.” Their presentation will focus on honing networking skills and winning over individuals.

On the Feb. 17, SLU alumnus Chris Sommers will share his entrepreneurship success story. Sommers is the founder of St. Louis favorite and nationally-known Pi Pizzera. After graduating from SLU, Sommers moved to San Francisco in 1998. While living there, he convinced the owner of his favorite local pizzeria to sell him the recipe to his deep-dish pizza crust. Sommers returned to St. Louis, and in 2008, he opened his first Pi Pizzeria.

“Having someone from SLU who’s been out there on their own and created something from the ground up gives a lot of credibility to our Business programs,” junior Eddie Desecki said.

To put a formal stamp on the end of the week, a Business Week Gala will be hosted on Feb. 17 for students. There will be food and beverage, dancing and decorations in the Business School atrium. According to Sondag, the Business School hosts formal events on a regular basis, but rarely for students.

“A lot of formal, professional events, high-level events are in the B-School all the time, but very few are focused on students only,” Sondag said. “One thing we want to do is involve as many students and organizations as possible, and what better way to bring them together than a formal ball?”

For Vachio, Business Week offers opportunities invaluable to business students.

“It’s really nice for students looking for internships and other opportunities outside of the classroom, and I think it’s a great way to get kids motivated towards what they’re going to do after SLU,” Vachio said. “I think it has an indirect effect for all the right reasons.”