Announcing New Format for University of Alabama EMBA Program in Huntsville

• September 20th, 2013
• in EMBA Program Information

The Culverhouse College of Commerce Executive MBA Program at the University of Alabama announces a new change in the schedule format for our Huntsville location – One Weekend A Month, beginning August 2014.

The new schedule features a blended program in which classes are held one weekend per month over the course of 21 months. A blended program combines the benefits of face-to-face classroom interactions with flexible, online learning.

According to Donna Blackburn, director of EMBA Programs at The University of Alabama, “We are finding that managers who want to pursue an MBA are today juggling family and longer work hours.  A blended program will give our students more flexibility in learning material on their own schedule while enriching the in-class time for greater discourse and learning from their peers and faculty.”

Classes in the Huntsville EMBA Program offered by the University of Alabama are held on the UAHuntsville campus.  The five semester program will begin with an orientation/immersion week in August.  In addition to taking three classes per semester a leadership component will begin at orientation and continue throughout the program. The program also includes an international trip as part of the Global Business Strategy course in the students’ last semester. Emphasis is placed on enhancing leadership and business skills in preparing  students for navigating corporate challenges.

The University of Alabama has offered the EMBA program in Tuscaloosa since 1984. In 2008, UA established the Huntsville EMBA in cooperation with the UAHuntsville. For more information or to apply to the program, go to www.emba.ua.edu, or call 205.348.4501.

UA Executive MBA Named to 2014 Military Friendly Schools List

• September 13th, 2013
• in EMBA Program Information

For the fifth year, Victory Media — the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life — has named The Culverhouse College of Commerce Executive MBA program at the University of Alabama to the coveted Military Friendly Schools list. The 2014 Military Friendly Schools List honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.

“Inclusion on the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools shows UA EMBA’s commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, Vice President at Victory Media and a nine-year Navy veteran. “The need for education is growing, and our mission is to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.”

The Military Friendly Schools media and website, www.militaryfriendlyschools.com, features the list, as well as interactive tools and search functionality to help military students find the best schools to suit their unique needs and preferences. The 1,868 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience. These schools have world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility and other services to those who served.

This year’s Military Friendly Schools list was based on a survey of more than 10,000 schools nationwide approved for VA funding. Currently, 36 percent of students enrolled in the EMBA program at the University of Alabama are veterans or active duty military, an increase of 11 percent from last year. “Once again, we are greatly honored to be recognized for our continued support of the military as they pursue their academic career,” said Donna Blackburn, director of Executive MBA Programs.

EMBA Elite Spotlight: Joel Druxman

• September 6th, 2013
• in EMBA Elite Spotlight Series

This month, our student spotlight is Joel Druxman, a member of the Culverhouse College of Commerce Tuscaloosa EMBA class of 2009 at The University of Alabama. Joel received his undergrad in mechanical engineering from New Mexico State University. He has been married for almost 10 years, and he and his wife, Dr. Vlada Groysman, have two children, a 4 year old daughter and 1 year old son.

When Joel entered the EMBA program at UA, he was working as an operations manager for Commercial Metals Company. Since completing his EMBA, Joel and his wife have recently started their own medical practice, Cahaba Dermatology, located in Hoover, Alabama. “My wife practiced in the department of Dermatology at UAB for 4 years and decided she was ready to go solo. We are somewhat of a husband/wife team. She’s the doc, and I’m managing the business,” Joel said. “I have always had an entrepreneurial drive, and the EMBA program helped to better channel that drive.”

Working with a spouse or significant other could be challenging for some, but Joel and his wife are enjoying the dynamic. “It’s probably not for everyone, but it has strengthened our relationship in many ways. It’s very easy to get hurt feelings when disagreements arise, so we try to engage each other more as co-workers rather than husband and wife in these instances.”

For a husband and father of two, finding a balance between work and family can certainly prove to be difficult.  To add in the startup of a new medical practice just screams the word “chaotic.” Although it has been a challenge, Joel and his wife have found a “method to the madness” that works for them. “When you own and operate your own business, it’s not always possible to turn things off when the garage door opens, so you just have to find a balance and timing that works. We try to put our kids first and find the time with what’s left.”

Owning and managing a medical practice has really given Joel an opportunity to cash in on his EMBA degree. According to Joel, the general knowledge of how a business is run and what metrics are key are some of the most helpful things he learned from the program. “I feel the knowledge helps us to ask the right questions of those advising us and keep ourselves ahead of the curve. Knowledge of marketing and operations philosophies has been a big ROI for us.”

Joel’s advice for current or upcoming EMBA students is to learn from the program and then be flexible as you apply your knowledge to your own pursuits and goals. “Don’t think you know everything, and make sure you build a good team around you. Work on your networking and communication skills in the program as these are critical.”

You can check out the medical practice Joel and his wife started by visiting www.cahabaderm.com.

For more information about the EMBA program at UA, visit emba.ua.edu.