Monday, July 16, 2007
Master of Business Administration
This is a story of two M.B.A. graduates and experiences they had at USI and in the workplace. It was written to give prospective students some insight into the M.B.A. program at USI. Lucas J. YaegerLucas J. Yaeger is a 2007 graduate of the M.B.A. program at the University of Southern Indiana and assistant vice president of Evansville Commerce Bank, a community bank located solely in Evansville. As a member of a military family, Yaeger lived in Alaska, Kansas, Texas, and North Carolina while growing up. He attended Austin Peay University in Tennessee where he graduated in 2003. He worked for Old National Bank as an underwriter before moving to the Evansville office of ONB. “I chose the M.B.A. program so I would have another credential to separate me from the crowd of applicants with an undergraduate degree in business,” said Yaeger. A marketing class assignment challenged Yaeger. He said, “I’m in a career that is numbers oriented and I use the left side of the brain. Dr. Carl Saxby proposed an independent project requiring use of the right side of the brain.” Yaeger said, “For the semester we were to write a 60-page paper to propose a new product line. Dr. Saxby gave us broad parameters. We were to interact with a variety of professions, including bankers, accountants, and attorneys and bring those perspectives to the assignment.” Yaeger proposed a high-end personal water craft in a Harley Davidson design. He said, “I wanted to keep the high profile brand so I included chrome attachments. I planned to market to a segment of society that was making such a purchase as a statement of lifestyle.” Yaeger used the tuition reimbursement program while at Old National and the benefit was part of his contract with Evansville Commerce Bank. He said, “Employers recognize the benefits of an M.B.A. degree. Good companies see employees are investments rather than expenses.” Angie J. Brawdy, SPHR Angie J. Brawdy is benefits manager for Shoe Carnival, Inc. at the corporate headquarters in Evansville. Shoe Carnival, a family footwear retailer, has 270 stores throughout the United States with 4,000 employees. She joined the company in January 2006, after working in Human Resources at the University of Southern Indiana. Brawdy earned her M.B.A. degree from USI in 1999. After working for an educational institution that was not profit oriented, Brawdy moved to a large retail setting. She said the M.B.A. degree became very useful when she had to read financial statements and understand such topics as earnings per share. It is typical for human resources staff to move from behind-the scenes staff work to leading the company in suggesting and changing policies. Senior management is recognizing the significance of the department to the company’s financial success. “At Shoe Carnival, the Human Resources Department is a strategic partner with management,” Brawdy said. “This department is beyond processing paperwork. We make recommendations to management and are a voice for the employees.” She manages the Shoe Carnival’s employee benefits program including its health insurance and pension plans. She said, “We want to have a competitive, robust benefits package so Shoe Carnival can recruit good employees but stay in the established budget of the company. We work to reach a middle ground.” As benefits manager she keeps abreast of ever-changing federal regulations and legislation that may affect employee benefits. She also stays current with state regulations for the 27 states where Shoe Carnival is located. Brawdy attended graduate classes while working full time. It took four years to complete the degree. She said, “When I started I took one night class per semester, because I didn’t want to get overloaded. As I got closer to completing the degree, I took summer classes and two night classes a semester.” Brawdy recommends gaining work experience before enrolling in an M.B.A. program. She said, “It depends on the individual, but I found life experiences a benefit when I was in class. I enjoyed the graduate classes more than undergraduate. It was harder because more was expected, but I had work experiences to relate to the concepts being presented.” In undergraduate classes, the majority of students were business students, she said. But in the M.B.A. classes, there was a wide variety of professions. She said, “In one class, half of the class members were engineers. They brought new perspectives. They explained what challenges they faced. Their world was very different from my experiences.” USI participates in a fee waiver program so Brawdy’s tuition was covered. She said, “Many local companies, especially the larger companies, provide reimbursement for classes. They recognize that graduate work is an investment in the company.” Brawdy holds the senior professional certification in human resources. She also is active in professional organizations within human resources. She is past president of the Evansville Human Resources Association and has been a board member since 2002. In 2008 she will become membership director of the Indiana State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management. Working professionals with an undergraduate degree can apply for the Master of Business Administration degree at USI. The M.B.A. degree is one of the most sought after graduate degrees and has value throughout the business world. Detailed information about the program is available from Dr. Greg Murphy, the director of the M.B.A. program, at 812/464-1926 or gbmurphy@usi.edu. |
Copyright © 2013 University of Southern Indiana. All rights reserved.