IUPUC faculty member Erica Berte, Ph.D., recently presented at the 2009 Academy of Management Annual Meeting.

Berte’s presentation was titled “The Effect of Financial Crisis on Latin America: Companies Sustainability Initiatives.”

Her presentation outlined the difficulties Latin American companies are facing during this financial crisis. Berte said in 2009 Latin American companies are expected to cut investments in social programs by 10 to 30 percent.

“The advent of the crisis can be a chance to better distinguish those companies who really have alignment between strategy and sustainability initiatives from those that only use them as a marketing tool and discard them when they become cost source,” Berte said.

Berte is an assistant professor of management for the IUPUC Division of Business.