This story originally ran on 9.15.2021
What made you decide to enroll in the program?
I started my career long ago as a CPA, though I became more interested in being an entrepreneur. Before Case Western I鈥檇 been involved in startup entities, and I still am鈥攖hat really hasn鈥檛 changed. But at the time I applied I was between opportunities. 365bet体育在线世界杯 that time I knew I wanted to teach鈥攚hich I did end up doing at Kent State, as an adjunct for three years鈥攁nd the only way I was going to be an adjunct was to have a master鈥檚 degree. Secondarily, the reason I wanted to do the program was to fill in some knowledge gaps I might have. And Case鈥檚 reputation in the leadership area was attractive.
How did you feel about being the first person to receive the EMBA Leadership Award?
It鈥檚 an entire class of leaders in that program. It was really an honor. It鈥檚 just full of really impressive people, so if you鈥檙e going to give an award in a group like that, you could probably pick just about anybody. I was on the older side of my classmates, and I wasn鈥檛 attending the program connected as part of a job or sponsored by a company. So I think maybe I could be a little more freewheeling, expressing myself, ideas and opinions, and I didn鈥檛 worry about getting my feelings hurt. I guess you could say I just tried to improve the quality of the class, and at the time I didn鈥檛 have a company affiliation, so there鈥檚 a freedom in that.
Is it true that the class that conceived of the award鈥攖he year before yours鈥攎odeled it based on the leadership qualities of a friend of yours?
Yes. Amy [Richardson] and her class [2006] organized the whole thing, because they thought there should be a leadership award for the class, and they were inspired by their classmate Wayne. He went to Case Western the year before I did. By coincidence, Wayne and I had been friends for a long time. We went to the same church, and he and his wife were friends of ours. He always impressed me as a humble, down-to-earth kind of guy鈥攚ell, except on the basketball court. Just a real servant leader type of person. That鈥檚 how I would characterize him, and how I think his class would. Servant leadership is the model that we held in highest regard.
What about the program was particularly meaningful to you?
The EMBA is all about trying to help and improve your classmates. Everyone works to improve one another. I think the collaboration part is what is most memorable to me鈥攖he personal experience working together as a small group. One of the strengths the program is known for is its focus on emotional intelligence. And being a CPA originally by training, that and the focus on leadership were especially valuable to me, and lasting.