|
LISTED
BELOW ARE PERDUE SCHOOL MENTORS AND CAREER ADVICE AND SUGGESTIONS FROM
THEM |
Mr. John J. Orsini
|
■ Title-Systems
Engineer
■ Employer-Plan B Technologies
■ Major-Salisbury State University, 1997-Bachelor of
Science in Business Administration.
Management Concentration, Loyola College, 2003
■ Minor-
■ Year of Graduation-1997
■ Graduate School Major-Masters of Business
Administration, Information Technology Concentration |
1. Provide a few
sentences about your career and any advice that may help them.
My career has led me through several jobs that I really enjoyed and
several jobs that I haven't. Technology is my current muse and have been
enjoying that career path since 2000. As an enterprise level technology
consultant, I am constantly challenged to develop new solutions and
learn new technologies.
Career advice -
Never stay somewhere long term where you are not happy. Remember, you
spend more waking hours per week with your co-workers than you do with
your family. If you are not happy at work, it will be difficult to be
happy in life.
Never be afraid to fail. Recovering from a failure (personal or
professional) can be a great learning experience. It will show you what
type of person you really are and allow you to become stronger.
2. Offer any career-related suggestions to better prepare them for a
career in
your industry.
Get into the industry you think you want to work in as soon as you can
(your senior year of college is too late). This will enable you to take
classes that will dovetail nicely if you like what you see, and a chance
to re-evaluate your career options if you find out that career is not
for you.
Be very careful about going right from undergrad to graduate business
school. Graduate programs are very time and effort intensive, so make
sure that you have found a sustainable career path before dedicating
yourself to a Master's program. |
 ►Nicole
Kovacsics
(Click on picture to enlarge) |
■ Title-Senior
Consultant
■ Employer-Booz Allen Hamilton
■ Major-BS Information Systems Management
■ Year of Graduation-2002 |
1. While my career at Booz
Allen Hamilton is young, I have been able to expand upon my professional
and technical skills while developing my career path.
I would advise all students graduating from college who are entering the
workforce to have an open mind and be willing to take on any work that
will challenge you. If you approach a job with a narrow mindset, you
will not be motivated. Seek out opportunities that will keep you
interested and expand your knowledge. Make sure you seek out
professional mentors to guide you through your career and meet new
people every chance you get.
2. Just because you have a degree in a specific field does not mean you
are stuck doing that type of work forever. Once you get your foot in the
door, the opportunities are endless so long as your job performance
proves it. |
| ►Kris Hallengren |
■ Title-Senior
Valuation Consultant
■ Employer-Clifton Gunderson, LLP
■ Major-Math-stats concentration and Accounting
■ Year of Graduation-2000
■ Graduate School Major-Finance (pursuing at
Loyola)-2008 |
I perform business and
intellectual property valuations, damage calculations and forensic
accounting services to attorneys and corporations for purposes of breach
of contract, divorce, estate/gift tax, shareholder oppression, ESOPs,
FAS 141/142/123R compliance, IRC 409(a) compliance, merger's &
acquisitions and embezzlement. What a mouthful!
This career is great if you have a strong accounting background but are
interested more in the financial decision making aspects of a business.
Every engagement is different so eventually you become a jack of all
trades and industries. Overall, my top recommendation is to not
initially get a 5th year of accounting in pursuit of the 150 credit
hours. The more you diversify yourself the more opportunities you will
have down the road as over 50% of high level accounting jobs require a
strong working knowledge of financial concepts. My top recommendations
for additional studies to get the 150 are finance, economics or
statistics. In addition, I definitely recommend starting at a Big 4 firm
just to get the experience, you can always go smaller later or switch to
a division that interests you more within a larger organization. |
| ►Rick Miler |
■ Title-Product
Manager, Mouldings
■ Employer-Tenon USA
■ Major-Business Administration, Finance
Concentration
■ Year of Graduation-2001 |
My career involves the
international trading of wood products between several different
countries and the U.S. I am in charge of our moulding and boards
business covering the U.S., China, New Zealand, and South America. My
path since graduation in 2001 has been quite interesting, as I have
always managed to keep an open eye for new opportunities. The only
advice I have is try to involve yourself in a career that you enjoy,
even if it's at the "bottom of the totem pole". You will make contacts
and gain experience that will act as a foundation in the future. Put in
a year or two at that level and all the while keep an eye out for new
opportunities. Always talk to your friends and family to see if they
know someone from the field of work in which you are interested. Give
those people your resume, and use your education and one or two initial
years of grunt work to justify a good foundation to learn the ropes. My
first job had nothing to do with what I wanted to do, but it was good
income until I figured something out. Every job after I have gotten
through a friend or family member knowing someone from the field in
which I wanted to be involved. Always keep your options open and network
with new acquaintances.
For a career in my field, which is essentially Sales and Program
management, there are several ways to prepare yourself. In my particular
industry, you need to decide which part of the industry you would like
to be involved. If you would like to be involved in international trade,
it will be a huge incentive for you to take those types of classes while
still working on your degree. There are many more parts to trading
internationally than making a domestic sale between two U.S. companies
and it helps to understand that process early on. Also, make sure you
have some experience in the construction industry or in building product
sales. It's not tough to learn and understand these products, but it
will make a HUGE difference even when applying for the same job as
someone with much higher academics. Nothing can replace that kind of
specialty knowledge. |
 Shari-Lynn
Deavila
(Click on picture to enlarge) |
■ Title-Realtor
■ Employer-The Prudential Carruthers Realtors
■ Major-Business Administration- Individualized
■ Year of Graduation-1987 |
| My advice to someone wanting
to enter into this profession or any other self employed position where
marketing is a factor is that while your degree is nice, you learn a lot
of "book" facts, it is not the real world. Learning how to blend the
book facts with real life is an art that once mastered will take you
far. I would also say not to be afraid to look for others that can help
you. For example, I belong to a Real Estate marketing university out of
California. I have a coach that meets with me over the phone 2-3
times/month to discuss how I can better market and more efficiently
operate my business. And finally, always learn, never feel that you are
at the top of your game b/c there is someone right behind you ready to
move ahead of you. Scary but true. I would also advise someone entering
into my profession to learn Spanish. I'd also advise that with any
profession. |
 ►Don
Taylor
(Click On picture to enlarge) |
■ Title-Chief
Information Officer
■ Employer-Perdue Farms Inc.
■ Major-BA in History/Math
■ Year of Graduation-1973
■ Graduate School Major-MBA was from Northwestern
State University. |
I have been working in
Technology for over 30 years. 10 in the Oil and Gas Industry( with
Dresser Industries, Occidental Petroleum and Armco Steel) and 23 in the
Food Business with Perdue. I have been the Chief Information Officer at
Perdue for 12 years. I worked my way through college picking up valuable
experience as I earned my degree. Gaining real life work experience
while earning your degree helps develop your skills and value to
potential employers. Earning experience through Co-op or internship
programs or part time
employment in your chosen career will add important experience to your
resume. |
| ►Helen Vonnie Williams |
■ Title-Manager
Financial Analysis
■ Employer-Perdue Incorporated
■ Major-BS in Business, Computer Science
Concentration
■ Year of Graduation-1985
■ Graduate School Major-Salisbury University -
Executive MBA
Started my career over 20 years ago as a computer programmer.
In 1991, obtained an MBA and made the switch to accounting/finance. |
1. Currently the Manager of
the Financial Analysis Department at Perdue Incorporated. The Financial
Analysis Department is responsible for the internal reporting of all
financial information; the preparation and distribution of the Annual
Report to Shareholders; preparation of information for the Board of
Directors; support of ad hoc requests from CFO.
2. Technical skills are becoming increasing important. Do not short
change your computer classes!!! Also very important are communication
skills, especially writing. The ability to clearly write is a key
element of a successful career. |
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