Can you tell us about your professional journey and current position?
I started out in the private sector as a Chemical Engineer in the Chemical/Textile Industry. During that time, I was called upon to lead employee involvement and empowerment initiatives. After 14 years, I developed a passion around training and employee involvement and started ProTec Performance Group with a focus on training and consulting. One segment of my business was providing training at local industry for the local NC Community Colleges. Observing the impact of community colleges on creating opportunities for individuals to become prosperous, I decided to join Catawba Valley Community College.
What contributed to your decision to pursue an MPA degree?
After a period of time, I realized that I needed a Masters degree to advance in the community college system. I also realized that I needed to gain a better understanding of administration in education or the public sector. At first I explored an MBA. I took the GMAT and actually enrolled in an MBA program. After a few classes, I was not passionate about the topics. Logistically, I was going to have to drive to multiple locations in Charlotte and I began to lose interest.
Then I saw that Appalachian was offering a Masters in Public Administration and it was going to be in Hickory, N.C. Appalachian was also offering a Masters in Education, but it was going to be in Davidson County which would add at least a 2-1/2 to 3 hour commute. I weighed out the pros and cons of each program and the MPA program seemed to give me more options. So that's the program I chose.
How did the App State MPA program prepare you to work in government, nonprofit, or the private sector?
The MPA came at the perfect time for me. The classes in budget and fiscal administration helped me understand how governmental accounting differs from accounting in private industry. The classes dealing with supervision or the human resources aspect helped me to become a better leader and manager. Learning about how public policy is developed provided a foundation that I was missing. My capstone project was on apprenticeship and I continue to reference it four years later.
What advice would you give to individuals considering the App State MPA program?
The more effort you put into a program, initiative or project, the more you will receive from that effort. My advice is to not use the program as an opportunity to only check the box that you now have a master's degree. Use the program as an opportunity to open your mind to other points of view, learn from professors with experience in multiple areas of public administration, meet local/state public administrators and elected officials, become a more informed citizen and perhaps meet someone that will open a door for a career opportunity you would not have accessed without this experience.
If hiring, what would you look for in new graduates the App State MPA program?
Someone that is able to be objective and examine an issue from multiple points of view. Someone that understands how to work collaboratively with other agencies. Someone that can navigate a public policy issue and represent my organization in a professional manner.