Ten years Out
Alumni reflect on education and career a decade after AACSB accreditation
Accreditation by AACSB International confirms that the College of Business programs are among the elite in the nation and the world, but the success of graduates demonstrates in a more personal way the value of a degree from the University of Southern Indiana. The college’s graduates from 1998 were the first to earn their degrees following the awarding of initial accreditation from AACSB. Now 10 years later the business programs recently earned reaccreditation. In the meanwhile, 1998 graduates have used their education to move ahead in their careers. Four alumni from 1998 are profiled in the following paragraphs.
Jason Kellams—business administration with concentrations in economics and human resources
Hiring the right 250 employees for Toyota Boshoku in Princeton, Indiana, before the plant ships its first products in December 2009 is a primary focus for Jason Kellams ’98, who returned to the Evansville area earlier this year as plant manager for the facility now under construction. A 90-year-old company, Toyota Boshoku has more than 100 facilities worldwide. The Princeton plant will make metal seat frames and foam padding for Toyota vehicles.
Kellams' experience in automotive-related businesses goes back to 1992 when he began working for Mid-America Clutch Company in Evansville. He continued his employment there through fall 1998 and was assistant shipping/ receiving manager when he left to join T and WA Assembly in Princeton, rising to regional director of operations over a seven-and-a-half year period. Kellams was most recently manufacturing department manager for final assembly for the Nissan Motor Corporation in Canton, Mississippi, with 36 managers reporting directly to him and a total of 515 employees.
"We put the car together," he said.
Kellams majored in business administration with concentrations in economics and human resources. "USI gave me a foundation, not just from an operations perspective but tying in finance, human resources, and other processes," he said.
Kellams' work has included travel throughout the United States and to Canada and Mexico. He appreciates that his education included information about global companies. Later this year he will travel to Japan.
Stephen Pickering—business administration
Evansville’s Stephen Pickering ’98 took something he was passionate about—fitness—and combined it with his business knowledge to open Body Makeover, a fitness center for women.
"I’ve always been interested in fitness, exercise, and nutrition. All through college I worked as a personal trainer. I’ve always wanted to have my own business," he said.
In addition to his background as a personal trainer, Pickering has experience as a sales representative for a technology firm in Kansas City. While he learned a lot, the experience solidified his preference for entrepreneurship.
At Body Makeover a certified personal trainer supervises a total body workout to help clients lose weight, tone up, and feel better. The center, employing three persons in addition to Pickering, also offers body wraps, tanning beds, and nutritional supplements.
"I evaluated the market and didn’t think Evansville would support another large gym," said Pickering of the niche concept. He opened Body Makeover in 2003 and is now registered to sell franchises in Indiana and Kentucky.
A business administration graduate, Pickering values skills he developed in organization, goal-setting, and problem-solving. "My marketing and advertising courses have been valuable for what I do. I think you need to focus on what you are good at. For me, that is helping and motivating people," he said.
Stephanie Polen—business administration and French
Stephanie Stewart Polen '98 M.B.A. '05 was promoted in May to vice president for business development and marketing for CMC in Evansville, but when she talks about her career, she says the best place to start is with an internship.
At the suggestion of a faculty member, Polen interviewed to be a member of a student team to research new business ideas for SIGECO (Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company), now Vectren. After serving on the product development team, Polen began work the day following USI Commencement as an employee of a Vectren telecommunications company for which she had helped write the business plan during her internship.
Her main responsibility was in sales throughout the United States. Later, she took on a marketing role.
As a CMC vice president, her primary objective is moving her area of responsibility from a support function to a revenue-generating center. Polen joined CMC in late 2002 as a manager in the marketing department. She now directs a staff of four.
"We deal with banks and credit unions all over the United States, helping them sell more credit cards and motivate greater use of credit cards," she said.
A business administration and French major, Polen said interaction with faculty as a College of Business student proved significant to her. "Professors knew who you were and who would be best suited for opportunities that came along. My internship was definitely the result of being known by my professors."
Chuck Wigger—accounting
A specialized set of qualifications brought Chuck Wigger '98 to his present position as assistant national safety director for Lamar Advertising Company with offices in 42 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Lamar is based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Wigger works from the Evansville office.
An accounting major, Wigger joined Gaither Rutherford and Company in Evansville after completing an internship there. While he liked the job, he had done construction work, including electrical work, previously and missed it. Soon he got back into construction with a company that worked on large projects, including the AK Steel plant in Rockport, Indiana. Then he joined Lamar, known for many years as Naegele before a series of changes in ownership. As a national company, Lamar wanted to implement a number of standard policies. Identified as an employee who could help make the transition, Wigger was named operations manager. "Many of our operations managers had come up through the ranks and did not have the knowledge that a college degree provides," Wigger said.
In 2007, he completed the national test of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. "Because I have the background of working on the site, the college degree, and now the safety certification, I can go in the field and help employees do the job and do it safer. It's perfect for me. I don’t spend all my time in the office or the field."
