Month: November 2014

UA EMBA Welcomes T-EMBA Class of 2016

TEMBA 2016 Class PhotoThe Culverhouse College of Commerce Executive MBA at The University of Alabama welcomed the Tuscaloosa-EMBA Class of 2016 at the Bryant Conference Center for orientation on Thursday, November 20.

TEMBA classmates Steve Grissett, Pritha Powell, Neil Morton and Stephen Burton
TEMBA classmates Steve Grissett, Pritha Powell, Neil Morton and Stephen Burton

UA EMBA staff introduced themselves and the program via informational sessions.  Incoming EMBAs got to know each other over team-building exercises, including the traditional scavenger hunt and the networking dinner with alumni hosted by the Executive MBA Alumni Network Board.
The new class of 26 students represents a diverse pool of industries; 12% from manufacturing, 16% energy/utilities, 16% retail/services, 12% defense, 12% finance, another 12% government, education, or nonprofit, and 12% technology/telecommunication, and 4% each in construction, and media.
The class reflects an assortment of job function areas including 38% in general management, 18% in engineering, 12% in marketing/sales, 12% in finance/accounting,  8% in MIS/IT, 4% each in business development and strategy, consulting, and operations.

TEMBA 31 orientation
Tommy Walker and Nate Hall discuss team values during the “Values and Team Charter” exercise at orientation.

In addition, this class includes 27% U.S. military veterans.  According to Jason Sellars, TEMBA 2016 student, and Assistant Director with The University of Alabama Office of Veterans Affairs, “The EMBA Program is one of the strongest military supporters on the UA campus.”

 

This class will join the Huntsville-EMBA class that began in August 2014 for their international trip in their final semester and will graduate together in May 2016.  This class is fortunate to have the opportunity to learn and grow alongside a cohort filled with talented and experienced professionals.

Please join us in welcoming TEMBA Class of 2016:

Patrick Briles, Wells Fargo Bank
Stephen Burton, Buckman Laboratories
Ben Caro, US Air Force
Joe Caubo, Mississippi Power Co.
Aaron Craddock, Randall-Reilly
Stefan Eitzinger, Drummond Co.
Paulo Gonzalez, Drummond Co.
Steve Grissett, Southern Research Institute
Nate Hall, Hubbard Properties
Cody Higgins, Social Security Administration
Jason Kennedy, KCI Crane Service
Josh King, WTI Transport
Neil Morton, Pradco Outdoor Brands
Crystal Mosley, M3 Accounting and Analytics
Pritha Powell, Regions Financial Corporation
Bradford Price, All-South Subcontractors Inc.
David Reiniger, The Boeing Company
Kimberly Rose, BBVA Compass
Jason Sellars, UA Office of Veteran Affairs
Beth Smith, Progress Rail Services
Joey Snowden, Enerfab Power and Industrial
Erik Spencer, Walter Energy
Michael Stanley, US Navy
Tom Thayer, FMG, Inc.
Josh Vinson, Verizon
Tommy Walker, Speedy Tire and Services

EMBA Alumni Network Hosts Conference

Ahmad Ijaz, Associate Director of the Center for Business and Economic Research & Director of Economic Forecasting, prepares for his presentation.

On Saturday, November 1, the Culverhouse College of Commerce Executive MBA Alumni Network hosted the second annual EMBA Alumni Network Conference in Mary Hewell Alston Hall at The University of Alabama. The conference featured various informational sessions and updates on the EMBA program as well as the announcement of the newly-elected Alumni Network Board.

One benefit of becoming a Culverhouse EMBA alum is the option to accompany students, faculty, and staff during their annual international trip. Conference attendees learned the spring 2015 destinations: Panama City, Panama, and Bogotá, Colombia.

Session topics included Preparing to Face the Media, Alabama Economic Outlook, Promoting Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn, and Dealing with Difficult People. Kent Darzi, 2013-2014 Alumni Network President, shared updates and accomplishments with attendees, such as the network lunches in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Mobile, and Boston; their first annual tailgate reunion; and the creation of the AlabamaEMBAwear.com website.

2014-2015 EMBA Alumni Network Board (L-R): Vice President Jennifer Thomas, President Michael Ross, Secretary-Treasurer Beckie Crawford, Communications Chair Ben Paulk, and Past President Kent Darzi

Please join us in congratulating the members of the 2014-2015 Alumni Network Board: President Michael Ross, EMBA 1989, Vice President Jennifer Thomas, TEMBA 2014, Secretary-Treasurer Beckie Crawford, TEMBA 2013, Communications Chair Ben Paulk, TEMBA 2012, and Past President Kent Darzi, HEMBA 2010.

The new Board has several fresh faces, but Ben Paulk and Kent Darzi are returning from the Network’s inaugural year. With Paulk and Darzi’s experience and the completed organizational infrastructure, the new Board has plenty of underlying support to put their plans into action. We are excited to witness the growth and prosperity of the Alumni Network. Under its new leadership, President Ross announced that the Board will engage in several initiatives, including the 30th anniversary of the Culverhouse Executive MBA.

For more information about the Culverhouse College of Commerce Executive MBA Program at The University of Alabama, contact Cheryl Altemara at 205.348.4501 or request information here.