Top 5 Benefits of the Alabama EMBA Program

• February 25th, 2022
• in Helpful Tips and Advice

Are you ready to return to graduate school?  Is the EMBA Program at The University of Alabama right for you?  UA’s EMBA program is designed for working professionals and allows students to continue working while completing their degree in four or five semesters. Students may earn an MBA degree in one of two locations, Tuscaloosa or Huntsville.

Students enter the EMBA program with specific needs and set expectations. Interviews conducted before starting the program show that the number one reason for enrollment is “increasing business knowledge.”

What are the top 5 benefits for UA EMBA students?

1. Increased business financial skills

Students are given tools to assess new financial strategies and develop a deeper understanding of annual reports and related financial data. Students report a better understanding of how their businesses run.

2. Building a business network

Without a doubt, one of the greatest benefits is the strong network forged in the UA EMBA.  Students form lifelong friendships and make valuable business contacts.  Diversity in student backgrounds, academics, industry, and culture provides a rich environment to learn.

3. Achieving Personal and Professional Goals

Students set goals at the beginning of the program and encourage each other to reach their personal and professional goals by the end of the program. Achieved goals run the gamut from company promotions to running a marathon, from improving business skills or starting a company to becoming a more effective leader or even learning how to skydive.

4. Improved Negotiating Skills

In combination with other courses, the negotiation class helps students understand their businesses better and teaches them to make more informed decisions. Graduates attribute the skills they learned to negotiating savings for their companies, as well as obtaining better raises and signing bonuses.

5. Thinking Strategically

A boardroom approach to learning encourages the exchange of ideas, discourse, and executive-level strategic thinking. The program builds to a final semester focusing on strategic communications, management, implementation, and global strategy, including a final project that provides valuable ROI to companies.

https://manderson.culverhouse.ua.edu/programs/mba-programs/emba/

For more information, visit: https://universityofalabama.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5jYBLMIMPkR8rBj

UA EMBA Welcomes 2020 Incoming Classes

• December 7th, 2020
• in UA EMBA Latest News/Events

The University of Alabama’s Executive MBA Program is proud to welcome this year’s incoming classes.  The Huntsville EMBA class started in August and will graduate in December 2021.  The Tuscaloosa EMBA class completed orientation on November 20 and will graduate in May 2022. Forty-five students enrolled for the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters.

Our new EMBA students represent diverse industry and functional backgrounds. Industries include manufacturing, government, non-profit, defense, technology, engineering, media, consulting, energy, legal, education, aeronautics, healthcare, agriculture, services, and financial.  The average age is 36, with an average of 12 years of work experience.  Students living in Alabama are joined by classmates from across the U.S. Thirty-six percent have military backgrounds.

Changes to EMBA included taking the Tuscaloosa EMBA (TEMBA) hybrid with students meeting face-to-face one weekend per month for the four semesters. The Huntsville EMBA (HEMBA), a hybrid program, has moved from a five to four-semester program. Both classes will come together in November 2021 to attend the international trip as part of their global business course.

Congratulations to all of our new EMBA students. Roll Tide!

Huntsville EMBA (HEMBA)

• Eric Chism, Aviagen
• Desmond Clay, Torch Technologies
• Aaron Joyner, Department of Justice
• Kevin Neal, QuantiTech Inc.
• Emily Newton, The Boeing Company
• Will Patton, Adhere
• Clark Roper,  Piggly Wiggly Alabama Dist. Co.
• Ty Sackett, EOS Defense Systems USA, Inc.
• Shannon Sullivan, Lockheed Martin
• Cody Vanderford, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing U.S.
• Mike Weigart, CAE
• JD Williams, S3 inc
• Tyler Wilson, PeopleTec, Inc.

Tuscaloosa EMBA (TEMBA)

• Brian Albritton, Leidos
• David Bath, PeopleTec
• Ben Bourgeois, RJ Mechanical
• Maleah Cousineau, U.S. Army
• Michael Emfinger, Accenture
• Michael Gallant, Halliburton
• Kelli Gant, Warrior Met Coal, Inc.
• Peyton Hartzell, Clear Inc.
• Matthew Hayne, The Valletta Group, Inc.
• Dr. Jack Heath, Huntsville Hospital System
• Patrick Hogan, DIPRA
• Rodney Holmes, Birmingham Fastener
• Joshua Horton, Meredith Corporation
• Shannon Kynerd, Hunt Refining Company
• Katie Masoor, Deloitte Consulting
• Jayson McConnell, Tronox
• Mona Lisa Morris, Birmingham Business Resource Center
• Sudheer Nagam, GEODIS
• Rob Norris, Southern Nuclear
• Brooks Padgett, Truist
• Edward Patton, Phifer Inc.
• Ryan Pew, Spatial Networks
• Lily Posey, Altec
• Natasha Shumpert, Jefferson County Department of Health
• William Simms, BLOX, LLC
• Casey Smith, Simulation Technologies (Simtech)
• Chris Spann, Collins Aerospace
• Caleb Story, CareView Communications
• Cade Warner, The Westervelt Company
• Colin White, Carl W Consulting
• Flynn Woods, Inteva Products
• Dominic Yeager, The University of Alabama

To apply for the next UA EMBA program, contact Cheryl Altamara at caltemara@culverhouse.ua.edu or 205-348-4501 to request more information and attend a virtual information session

Huntingdon College Dedicates the Black Student Union Center in Honor of Wanda A. Howard

• October 12th, 2020
• in EMBA Elite Spotlight Series

For 40 years, the Black Student Union has been a part of campus life at Huntingdon College. This October, the College community will dedicate a new BSU meeting and event space in honor of trustee Wanda A. Howard ’81, who helped to found the BSU and who has mentored countless Huntingdon students and student-athletes and served as a guiding light on the board of trustees for 11 years.

When did you find out about the Naming?

I was informed during a Friday night meeting with President Cameron West in early September.  He stated that a space had been identified to house the new BSU Center.  I was extremely pleased to hear it.  Thereafter, he asked if it could be named after me, which caught me absolutely off guard.  I ultimately agreed after picking myself up off the floor.

What does it mean to me to receive this honor?

It gives me a greater urgency to continue my commitment, responsibility, and accountability to collaboratively effectuate transformational change for racial equality, justice, and inclusion at Huntingdon, The University of Alabama, and our country in general.

As CEO/Principal Consultant for B.O.L.D. Endeavors, LLC, (BOLDnDev), Howard is currently expanding business activities beyond operational consulting and real estate restoration. She is establishing an enterprise that emboldens (inspires, prepares, and equips) this Generation with Truth, godly wisdom, knowledge, life skills, and diverse opportunities to be courageous and daring leaders spiritually, naturally, and financially as they live the abundant life in Christ Jesus.

BOLDnDev comes after a successful career in diverse healthcare arenas from pharmaceutical sales in Brooklyn, NY to business office management in acute care and physician office settings in Alabama and twenty years of high-performance healthcare project management experience, which included directing the software implementation team at a Fortune 15 company; leading complex, enterprise IT projects in the fifth-largest US healthcare system and orchestrating the UAT for the largest US home health and hospice company’s interstate, data center migration of 100+ applications.

What advice would you give to fellow EMBA alumni in serving on a board and paying it forward?

I encourage them to be servant leaders of unwavering integrity who can lead from the front by valuing all people, having a selfless purpose and a deep desire to tangibly improve the lives/conditions of the people they are serving and to equip them to also live a high impact life that pays it forward for generations to come.

For more information on how The University of Alabama EMBAs are making an impact in their companies and communities, visit the UAEMBA website or contact Samantha Vasey at 205.348.0954 or svasey@culverhouse.ua.edu.

EMBA Spotlight: Julie Mathis, HEMBA 2020

• September 14th, 2020
• in EMBA Elite Spotlight Series

This month we are spotlighting EMBA Class of 2020 alumna Julie Mathis, Human Resource Business Partner at Pilot Company. Julie shares with us how The University of Alabama EMBA Program prepared her to move into an executive position.

Tell us a bit more about your company, Pilot, and your new role in the company today?

Pilot is a growth company focusing on innovative solutions across our retail, energy, and logistic operations. Our vast network of more than 900 retail and fueling locations provide travelers with convenient stops offering an incredible variety of amenities and products to make road travel easier.

The Pilot Flying J travel center network includes locations in 44 states and six Canadian provinces with more than 630 restaurants and 35 Truck Care service centers. Our One9 Fuel Network connects smaller fleets and professional drivers to the services they need at a variety of fueling locations. We supply more than 11 billion gallons of fuel per year with the third largest tanker fleet in North America. Our sourcing infrastructure, strong market presence, and expertise in energy and logistics optimize the distribution of fuel, DEF, bio, and renewables.

Our fleet also provides critical hauling and disposal services of our nation’s busiest basins. As an HR Business Partner for the Sales Division, I work with the leadership team to drive company initiatives and business strategies. Essentially my role is to make sure we have the right people in the right places.

You began your EMBA Program in the fall of 2018, what was that journey like for you?

At first, terrifying. But I quickly learned that there was nothing in my classes that was “over my head.” The challenge was not in understanding new theories and concepts, rather the volume of work and time management. This is a skill you MUST have in corporate America. There were times where things would get dumped on us last minute and when you think about it—that’s the real world.

How has the EMBA Program at UA helped you in your job roles thus far?

My MBA has made me a more well-rounded professional. I chose the MBA program over an HR Masters program because I wanted to understand the whole business. In doing so, I am not just HR, I am a thought partner to Senior Leaders of the organization and help drive company strategy.

Describe a UA EMBA project, assignment, or a particular class takeaway that you considered
invaluable to you and your company.

Simply stated, this is what I learned from Dr. Ron Dulek that I will remember for the rest of my life: Humility will take you a hell of a lot farther than book smarts. Humility is a life journey. Projects will come and go. It’s about how you change the lives of others that really matter most. That, in itself, is a legacy.

Also, Dr. Larry Baldwin’s negotiation class offered me the most practical knowledge that I use every day. We would work through everyday scenarios and learn how to negotiate the desired outcome. This type of knowledge is something that every professional can put to use right away.

What one piece of advice would you give any aspiring female business professional?

The investment in yourself now is truly an investment in your future self. You’re worth it. The advice is the same as I give my kids: stop whining and be the change you want to see in the world.

What advice do you have for others wanting to start an Executive MBA degree program?

I think this is best given as an analogy. It’s like when you were a kid and you would go to the very back of the diving board and then take a running leap into the pool. You’re a little scared, a little excited, and when you get completely submerged into the water you realize, it wasn’t so bad and totally worth it.

For more information on The University of Alabama Executive MBA Program, visit the UAEMBA website or contact Samantha Vasey at 205.348.0954 or svasey@culverhouse.ua.edu.

You’ve Heard the Lecture, Now Read the Book

• August 10th, 2020
• in Behind the Scenes: Meet our Staff & Faculty, UA EMBA Latest News/Events

Dr. Ron Dulek’s newest book, Sitting with Elephants: Lessons in Humility from the African Bush, has just been released.  The book shares lessons Ron and his wife, Sally, learned while spending fifteen summers living in an African bush house.  As we would expect from Ron, the story tugs at both your heart and your funny bone. The book’s content includes significant content from Ron’s opening day lecture to EMBA’s in Huntsville and Tuscaloosa.

Proceeds from the sale of Sitting with Elephants will be directed toward an educational trust fund for African students desiring to attend the University of Alabama.

Dr. Dulek is the John R. Miller Professor of Management in the Culverhouse College of Business at The University of Alabama. Dulek teaches management communications in the EMBA Program. He is a devoted teacher and has received numerous awards and honors by his students, the college, and the university.

The book is available on-line at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and Waldorf Publishing.

To become a part of our upcoming EMBA programs, contact Samantha Vasey at svasey@cba.ua.edu or 205-348-0954 to request more information and attend a virtual information session.

Celebrating the EMBA Class of 2020

• May 1st, 2020
• in EMBA Uncategorized

Although The University of Alabama Executive MBA Class of 2020 Graduation Ceremony, scheduled for May 2, is postponed until August contingent on how the summer health outlook progresses, we celebrate their achievement today as they finish their final semester.

We will also celebrate again in August so that they receive the recognition they so richly deserve. We look forward to honoring our EMBA graduates along with their families, faculty, and staff at the EMBA Ceremony. The ceremony will honor the achievement of our graduates who have earned their degree from one of the most prestigious universities in the world, during one of the most challenging times in recent history.

Congratulations UA EMBA Class of 2020

• Alanna Aaron, Infomedia
• Brandon Barnhill, Pilot Catastrophe Services Inc.
• Chad Brennan, Dynetics, Inc.
• Jeremy Chism, Aerojet Rocketdyne
• David Coleman, Hunt Refining Company
• Mike DeWerff, Motion Industries
• Cynthia Dempsey, Decatur Morgan Hospital
• Danielle Devaney, The Boeing Company
• Shane Gandy, Pratt & Whitney
• Lonnie Golightly, BF Goodrich/Michelin
• Gilbert Goscicki, BASF
• Pamela Harris, The University of Alabama, AL-PTAC
• Joey Holdmeyer, Sonoco Products Company
• Jake Horner, Unison Environmental Services
• Bob James, Social Security Administration
• Gabe Lewis, Mobius
• Julie Mathis, Futaba Corporation of America
• Brian McCormick, Parker Hannafin
• Phil Monkress, All Points Logistics, LLC
• Jared Murray, The Reprieve
• Candace Padgett, Southwire Company
• Justin Padgett, DRD, LLC
• David Ramirez, Seimens
• Jennifer Ridgeway, PPG Aerospace
• Stephen Schlanger, Walt Disney World
• Robert Smith, Trustmark
• Adam Stephens, OYO
• Amanda Suddath, FirstGroup America
• Patrick Talley, o2ideas
• Wilson Townsend, Schneider Electric
• Tim Ware, Anheuser-Busch
• Mandy Watts, B.Braun Interventional Systems
• Stephan Williams, GAF – Tuscaloosa
• Ted Yonke, ThyssenKrupp Materials

The Power of the UA EMBA Network

• April 27th, 2020
• in EMBA Elite Spotlight Series

I wanted to share with everyone the power of The University of Alabama Executive MBA network and what it has done for North Alabama to save lives. I am the Business Manager of Surgery for Decatur Morgan Hospital in Decatur, Alabama.

At the beginning of April, I reached out to my HEMBA 2020 cohort asking for donations consisting of personal protective gear to use in my hospital. I asked the cohort to check within their network to find those who would be willing to donate supplies.

By taking advantage of the vast UA HEMBA network I was connected to Destin Sandlin, a local engineer that offered to print face shields for us through the use of a 3D printer. Much to my surprise, Destin has a YouTube channel with nearly 8 million followers. He made a video calling for everyone in North Alabama with a 3D printer to join us in our efforts to facilitate the fantastic work that our healthcare professionals are performing day in and day out.

Destin acquired local warehousing space and set up operations for the mask bands to be received from the community, sterilized, and then sent to Huntsville Hospital Logistics as a donation. We are expecting to receive thousands of these in the coming weeks which will surely save lives. To be honest, when I reached out and asked for donations, I was expecting a few hundred masks or gloves, certainly not thousands!

Throughout this process, Destin has been meeting with our supply chain team and the Chamber of Commerce. He is now looking to see if he is able to engineer and print culturettes for our lab and protective gear for our anesthesia team. Thanks to the connections within our cohort, our medical staff on the front lines will have proper protective gear. It’s so great to see our community come together to help!

Additionally, our cohort is working to raise money to buy meals for hospital staff at Huntsville Hospital, Madison Hospital, Athens Hospital, and Decatur Morgan. The idea is to help our local restaurants by purchasing the food from them and then to treat healthcare professionals to a warm meal. We are still working on the vast logistics of such an operation and then we will move into a funding phase generously provided by the Huntsville Hospital Foundation. We are also planning on raising funds for our friends in South Korea at Teach North Koreans Refugees (TNKR) once we are through the COVID crisis. Our EMBA class visited companies in Cambodia and South Korea, including TNKR during our EMBA international trip as part of our global business course.

For more information on The University of Alabama’s Executive MBA Program, contact Cheryl Altemara, caltemara@culverhouse.ua.edu, or call 205.348.4501.

Article contributed by Cynthia Dempsey (HEMBA 2020), Business Manager of Surgery for Decatur Morgan Hospital

UA EMBAs Begin Their International Trip in Seoul

• February 21st, 2020
• in International Trip

The University of Alabama Class of 2020 EMBAs have arrived in Seoul to begin their international trip. The eight-day trip will take them from Seoul, South Korea to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  The international experience is part of the global business course taught in the final term of the program. Students are immersed in business and cross-cultural experiences.

Considered transformative by our students, the trip includes visits, tours, presentations by senior executives of local and global companies, exposing them to how business is conducted in those countries and the region.  Also, our students will be consulting with Friends International, applying their expertise and business knowledge to work on critical issues in growing their opportunities in international markets.

Ranking 12th among the world’s largest economic powers and 4th in Asia, South Korea is famous for its spectacular rise from one of the poorest countries in the world to a developed, high-income country in just one generation. During the global financial crisis, the country maintained a stable economy and even experienced economic growth during the peak of the crisis.

Cambodia is among a few economies in the East Asia and Pacific region that continues to perform well. The economy is projected to remain robust, although the average annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth decelerated to 7.0 percent in 2019 it continues to be driven primarily by the expansion of exports, investment, and internal demand.

Following the trip, students may elect to do an optional post-trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia to visit Angkor Wat.  Students return after the trip to complete their spring term classes before graduation in May.

For more information on The University of Alabama Executive MBA international trip and how to apply for the program, visit the UAEMBA website or contact Cheryl Altemara at 205.348.4501 or caltemara@culverhouse.ua.edu.

2019 EMBA Alumni Network (EMBAAN) Year in Review

• January 14th, 2020
• in EMBA Alumni Network

As we enter the New Year, it is sometimes helpful to take a deep dive into the past and relive some of the EMBA Alumni Network activities/events that made our year truly so special. They say hindsight is always 20/20, and indeed it would be hard to miss some of the moments that served to propel the EMBA program at The University of Alabama towards a bright future. Feel free to sit back and relax as we share some of our favorite memories from 2019!

You Can’t Spell EMBA Without Expansion

2019 was brimming with opportunity for EMBAAN as it extended its reach by providing alumni events in Orlando, Florida, and Nashville, Tennessee. These new locales provided even more ways for us to stay connected with our program.

All For One And One For All

We often find ourselves with so many responsibilities and so little time to accomplish them all. Whether it is remembering to complete our old New Year’s resolution before making a new one or balancing work and personal time. Every one of us has been there before, and it is important to recognize what we have accomplished. We are so thankful to our EMBA alumni for making a terrific showing at both our annual EMBA conference and our family day at Regions Field with the largest attendance to date!

It is also wonderful to celebrate our many alumni successes.  This year we honored Mspark’s CIO Jamie Adams (EMBA 2013) at our Women’s Initiative luncheon for being named the 2019 Alabama CIO of the Year® ORBIE® Enterprise Award winner.  We also recognized at our alumni conference in October, Kent Darzi, vice president of quality at ADTRAN and EMBA Class of 2010 graduate, as the EMBA Alumnus of the Year.

New Year for EMBAAN. Get Ready for 2020!

2020 means the end of a decade but also the start of a new one. With so much accomplished last year, the EMBA program is excited to see where this new year will take us. To assist us in this endeavor, we are proud to introduce our new EMBAAN Board members:

• President Ryan McDaniel (HEMBA 2016), Director, Manufacturing and Strategy Office, Nissan North America Inc.
• Past President Russell Chambliss Jr. (TEMBA 2006), Chief Financial Officer, Precision Grinding Inc.
• Vice President Angela Sandritter (HEMBA 2011), Vice President of Global Services, HAUFE Inc.
• Board Member Justin Brown (HEMBA 2016), Senior Analyst, DESE Research
• Board Member David Lyles (TEMBA 2012), Tuscaloosa Area Local Transportation Manager, Alabama Department of Transportation
• Board Member Lacey Schoff (HEMBA 2018), Director of Marketing, Oral Arts Dental Laboratories

Events, Events And You Guessed It More Events!

2020 is full of new people, places, and things to meet and explore. Why not get a head start with the EMBA program at the following events:

Jul. 19 – Family Day @ Regions Field

Oct. 22-23 – Annual Conference

Additionally, stay tuned for updates on alumni events we have in store for the new year: Women’s Initiative in Birmingham, A-Day, Football Tailgate, and events in Nashville, Mobile,

For more information on The University of Alabama Executive MBA Program, visit the UAEMBA website or contact Cheryl Altemara at 205.348.4501 or caltemara@culverhouse.ua.edu.

Article was written by Ben Tarkoff, Graduate Assistant in the Executive MBA Program.

Welcome to our New HEMBA Class

• August 15th, 2019
• in EMBA Program Information, UA EMBA Latest News/Events

The newest students in The University of Alabama’s EMBA in Huntsville Program are up and Rolling! After completing their orientation on August 7-8, they began classes immediately, tackling accounting, marketing, statistics and project management.

The new class represents a diverse group of industries. The average work experience for the class is 14 years, representing industries in aeronautics, defense, military, technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, energy, distributions, services, engineering, government, education, and non-profit.

The HEMBA program is taught in a hybrid format with students combining face-to-face one weekend per month classes with online learning. Click here for more information.

We look forward to getting to know our new EMBAs over the next 21 months. Roll Tide Roll!

HEMBA 2021 students:

• Gene Cox, Target Corporation
• Dean Cozzolino, The Boeing Company
• Tom Evatt, The Boeing Company
• Doug Fitzgerald, Legrand
• Jessica Grubbs, U.S. Army SMDC
• Tara Guilfoil, Aerojet Rocketdyne
• Lakota Holder, The Bailey Company
• James Lee, SAIC
• Jim Lopresti, Yulista Aviation
• Lorenzo Mack, U.S. Space and Missile Defense Command
• Miracle Osborne, ITW Sexton
• Sam Overdear, Aerojet Rocketdyne
• Jason Richburg, PPG Aerospace
• Ryan Roberts, The University of Alabama Intercollegiate Athletics
• Aundrey Ruffin, Army Material Command
• Gareth Scott, Boneal Aerospace
• Shardra Scott, Alabama Power Company
• Michael Sommer, U.S. Army
• Christina Zegler, Girls on the Run of North Alabama
• Don Zegler, KBR Government Solutions