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Adisa Omerbegović Arapović

• Professor
• Dr. Omerbegović Arapović has obtained Ph.D. in International Macroeconomics and Finance from University Malaya, Malaysia in 2004 and was awarded the fellowship by the Ryoichi Sasakawa Foundation, Japan. As recipient of Petronas Award for the Best Student of Business Administration at IIUM (Malaysia) in 1996 she has been accepted into an MBA program at University Malaya in 1996, which she graduated from in 1998.
• Dr. Omerbegović Arapović is Professor at SGSB and teaches subjects in the field of accounting and finance. Prior to joining SGSB she has worked in the field of investment management and valuation including the completion of a number of direct investment and acquisition projects. Her experience includes management of the finance and accounting functions of an organization in Malaysia.
• Dr. Omerbegović Arapović’s ongoing research and recent publications are in the area of international economics and finance. Her teaching experience spans across the subjects of financial reporting, corporate finance and economics at undergraduate, graduate and executive level programs. She is the adjunct faculty member at the University of Delaware, USA and has taught in Asia, USA and Europe.

Aleksandra Ristić

• SGSB Executive Director
• ristica@sgsb.edu.ba
• Aleksandra Ristić was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina where she graduated from the 1st Gymnasium. In 1995 she moved to Prague, Czech Republic and completed the undergraduate degree in Business Administration and got an MBA in International Business. She worked both for government organizations and in the private sector. She started at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Voice of America (VOA) in the program placement office in Prague as the marketing manager for the Southeastern Europe.
• Ristić was responsible for developing a considerable network of affiliated radio and TV stations for RFE/RL and VOA in this region. Ristić returned to BH in 2004 to work as the Carbonated Soft Drinks Manager at Coca-Cola HBC. Being in charge of 5 sales regions, she was managing four channel executives who were responsible for promotion of the Coca-Cola assortment and nationwide marketing activations.
• In January 2005, Ristić was hired as a Student Services Director for the USAID GBEP project with the main responsibility to administer and coordinate students’ admission on behalf of the University of Delaware. During a critical period for SGSB Ristić led the recruiting efforts for the third cohort which resulted in a doubling in the size of the incoming class.
• As of January 2008, Ristić was appointed Marketing and Communications Director with the main task to recruit and admit students to the new HSU/IUS MBA program and build and promote SGSB brand.In September 2008, Aleksandra was appointed SGSB Executive Director.

Aziz Šunje

• Professor
• Aziz Šunje, PhD. in Business (University of Sarajevo, 1989), is Associate Professor at Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Sarajevo. During his professional life he has taught a wide scope of different courses, undergraduate and postgraduate level (Management, Human Resource Management, Project Management, Cross-cultural Management, Corporate Strategy, Business Consulting Project, Entrepreneurship, …), at University of Sarajevo; University of Zagreb, Croatia; Loyola Marymounth University, Los Angeles, USA; and Sarajevo Graduate School of Business.
• He published three books, and a lot of scientific papers in academic journals and conference proceedings. Dr. Šunje spent one academic year (1998-99) at Michigan State University as an international business researcher (Fulbright postdoctoral study). Dr. Šunje is one of the leading BH business consultants. He is well known in organizing and delivering short-courses on a wide range of subjects to different BH firms, institutions, and international organizations. Dr. Šunje is a chairman of board of directors of the biggest building construction company in B-H (Vranica).

Daniel Gies

• Foundation President
• Mr. Daniel Gies has over fifteen years of experience in designing, implementing and administering education, training, microfinance and bank downscaling projects at board and management levels. He has extensive expertise in providing technical assistance and training programs in transition countries in order to raise revenue and profitability. Supervised the design and implementation of over $9 million in technical assistance programs and the disbursement of over $35 million in credit facilitation in six countries. He has fluent German and Serbo-Croatian language skills as well as proficient Russian and French skills. He has an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Regents College.
• Currently, Gies is a Partner and Co-owner of FLAG International, a $4 million annual-revenue consulting firm specialized in enterprise development, access to finance and business education. He provides consulting and program management services to eight donors in twelve countries in the Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia. He serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Sarajevo Graduate School of Business (SGSB), a locally-registered Foundation providing MBA education under an AASCB-accredited partnership with Henderson State University. He manages business development activities for FLAG, including activities in fund-raising, business education and microfinance/leasing development. He is a Board member of Prizma Microfinance Foundation and Board Chairman of DEMOS Savings and Loan Cooperative, the largest microfinance organizations in Bosnia and Croatia, respectively.

Edward Conrad

• Professor
• Mr. Conrad joined Henderson State University in August of 2007 as a faculty member in the School of Business. Prior to joining the faculty at Henderson State University he was an Instructor at the University of Southern Indiana (2006-2007), and has 18 years experience in corporate governance. Mr. Conrad’s research interests are primarily in the areas of the diffusion of innovations at both the firm and individual level, and business ethics.
• He has published in the Journal of Applied Business Research, the International Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing, and the Journal of Computer Information Systems. He has also served as a reviewer for numerous publications, and presented research studies at numerous conferences. Mr. Conrad is nearing completion of his Ph.D. in Management from Southern Illinois University. He received his MBA (1995), and BA in Economics (1983) from Southern Illinois University as well.

Jean Tesche

• Professor
• Dr. Tesche has a BA in Russian and French languages from the University of Oregon and both an MBA and PhD in Economics from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. She has taught micro and macroeconomics, international trade and finance, comparative economics systems and development at the undergraduate and graduate levels at Emory University, as well as more recently at the University of Delaware, Linfield College in Oregon, USA, and Sarajevo School of Science and Technology.
• After teaching at Emory, she worked for the US Treasury Department providing technical assistance in fiscal and macroeconomic policy to Ministries of Finance in the region, as well as shorter term work in Turkey, South America, and Africa for 12 years. She has published extensively in the US, Europe and the region on topics ranging from computable general equilibrium analysis of trade and migration issues to fiscal policy, local governments and banking reform.

John Stocker

• SGSB Board Member
• stocker@sgsb.edu.ba
• John Stocker has Ph.D., Finance from Kent State University, Kent, OH, 1992, he earned his MBA, Finance from Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 1987 and his BBA in Accounting from Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 1984. Stocker is a seasoned educator and practitioner that has taught undergraduates, graduate students, and business professionals in the United State, Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Far East. Launched the first CFA review course in Bulgaria and was the lead architect on the creation of a two leave-behind entities providing services in the private sector following the completion of a highly successful USAID program in Bulgaria.
• In January 2006 Stocker was appointed as the Chief of Party of SGSB and charged with leading the creation of a sustainable entity. Additional consulting assignments include the development of a restructuring plan for a failed aircraft manufacturing facility in Germany and the successful search for funding for a start-up insurance company in the United Kingdom.
• Consulting assignments include the development of a restructuring plan for a failed aircraft manufacturing facility in Germany and the successful search for funding for a start-up insurance company in the United Kingdom
• Stocker also developed a Customer Service Plan for USAID/Bulgaria which formed an integral part of the overall framework for the restructuring of USAID activities in Bulgaria and a Company Valuation training program adopted by the Bulgaria Privatization Agency which led to the licensing of more than 500 individuals. Stocker has raised over $25,000,000 in funds for firms in the United States, Southeastern Europe, and Central Asia.

Lejla Polimac

• Student Services Director
• polimacl@sgsb.edu.ba
• Lejla Polimac was born in Sarajevo, where she studied History at the Faculty of Philosophy. In her ten years working experience she worked in both governmental and non-governmental sector. Working for World Vision International Polimac was involved in different projects helping community groups, local NGOs and citizens’ associations in developing proposals for funding from international and local donors. Project of minority return to Eastern Bosnia included coordination with local officials and associations of displaced persons.
• One of the tasks was to help returnees restart or start-up family/community operated business. In the period 2000 – 2004 Polimac worked for USAID Tax Administration Modernization Project and for USAID Corporate Governance and Business Investment Project. As of October 2004 she joined USAID Graduate Business Education Project. In January 2008 Polimac assumed position of Student Services Director at Sarajevo Graduate School of Business, being responsible for all student related issues.

Miloš Trifković

• Professor
• Professor Miloš Trifković graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Sarajevo, in 1962 and went on to earn M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade in 1969 and 1972, respectively. Back at the Faculty of Economics in Sarajevo, he was elected full-time professor in 1981. He thought Business Law, International Business Law and related disciplines. Professor Trifković was appointed as the dean of the Faculty.
• At Sarajevo Graduate School of Business he served as the dean and the co-teacher and teacher for Business Ethics (BUAD 840). Right now, he is Adjunct Professor for the same subject. The list of his works consists of six monographs, one textbook as the sole author and six written in co-authorship. In 1984 Professor Trifković won BH award for the best textbook. Additionally, Professor Trifković published 77 papers and participated in 58 major research projects. He was engaged in 110 consulting projects, mostly performed via his own consulting company.

Mugdim Pašić

• Professor
• Dr. Mugdim Pašić, PhD. in Management and Business, associate professor at the University of Sarajevo, received his Master of Science degree at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and Ph.D. at the University of Sarajevo. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the field of management science, data analysis and quality management, operations management, organizational design, economics, human resources management and business decision making.
• Dr. Pašić developed and delivered numerous training courses and executive programs and is one of the leading business consultants. Dr. Pašić taught courses at the University of Delaware. Dr. Pašić, together with prof. dr. William Gehrlein from the University of Delaware, published a breakthrough scientific paper which proved that existing theory of centroid method is incorrect when used in optimal facility location problems. He received prestigious academic rewards such as three silver and a golden medal of the University of Sarajevo, and was the best evaluated professor at the University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Economics.

Nežla Adilagić

• Business Development Director
• adilagicn@sgsb.edu.ba
• Mrs. Nežla Adilagić obtained her MBA degree from Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware and Master in Sciences Degree from The School of Economics and Business at the University of Sarajevo in 2008. Her undergraduate degree is in Arabic and English issued by the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Sarajevo in 2005.
• Mrs. Adilagić was born in Sarajevo and has over ten years of working experience gained at different positions with number of USAID projects (Graduate Business Education Project, Financial Sector Business Advocacy and Training Project, Bank Development Project), Save the Children/U.S.A, local government and companies.
• Mrs. Adilagić has been with SGSB from its beginning and preformed the wide range of duties and jobs – office management, student recruitment, marketing, public relations, etc. Since September 2007 she has been in charge for Executive Education Program and business development at SGBS.

Peter G. Roberts

• Managing Partner, FLAG International, LLC
• Peter Roberts joined FLAG in 2002 and was appointed its Managing Partner in 2004. He holds a BS degree from the United States Naval Academy and a MS degree from the University of Maryland, University College. For three years he served as a Departmental Chairman at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD and he later held the Strategy Chair at the Royal Naval Staff College in London, England for two years. Additionally, he spent two months in Sarajevo assisting in the implementation and start-up of the SGSB program for USAID during the winter of 2004.
• FLAG specializes in international economic development projects which emphasize business training and education. FLAG has played a significant role in SGSB since early 2004 when the MBA program was launched. During that time FLAG managed the Administrative and Financial Offices of SGSB and was directly responsible for the delivery of short training courses. These professional, non credit courses generate significant revenue for SGSB and extend the awareness of the program and its extraordinary business educational resources. FLAG’s role and responsibilities will be similar in the second phase of SGSB.

Renae Clark

• Professor
• Renae Clark is an Assistant Professor of Business Information Systems at Henderson State University. Renae teaches a variety of course in information systems. She has extensive experience in web-based teaching tools along with practical experience as a former vice president of the New Mexico Lottery Authority. Ms. Clark earned a BS and BA from the University of Missouri and her MBA from New Mexico State University.

Tarik Mehmedović

• Graphic Design & IT
• mehmedovict@sgsb.edu.ba
• Tarik Mehmedović earned his BS in Information Systems, with minor in Economics, from Sarajevo School of Science and Technology. He has six years of working experience prior to his work in SGSB, starting as a columnist in a technology newspaper, and working on an organizational support position in an NGO committed to helping the community through distribution of World Bank funds.
• He also participated in several internship programs, working in the field of financial auditing. Tarik is also apt at graphic design, with his undergraduate thesis in the field of 3D animation; he uses this knowledge in creating SGSB marketing campaigns. Although a new member of the SGSB team, he has participated in office management, library management, website content management and information technology activities, in addition to his designer work.