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News from the UNLV
Executive MBA Program
January/February 2018
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Raymond Fyler, Sarath Sivadasan, Steve Packard, Dave Lacey, Steve Worley,
Andrew Kerzmann, Scott Petsel, Greg Snyder, Kyle Knapper, Michael Speagle,
Kyle Soltesz, Hykeem Gaddis, Eugenio Bafaro, Aurora Herskowitz, Katrina Jensen,
Brittinie Wick, Esther Caruso-Golleher, Calin Elardi, Jessica Mulliner, Dianna Klein,
Erica Stockwell, Elicia Babac, Patricia Beard, Kristi Brooks, Tifferney White
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Student Spotlight
Robert Scott - Cohort 16
Controller, Forte Specialty Construction
Seventeen years into his career as a construction-industry controller, and currently working with Forte Specialty Construction in Las Vegas, Bob Scott (Cohort 16) decided the time was right to strengthen his knowledge of a few key business disciplines in which he was less experienced -with the help of an EMBA from UNLV.
"I wanted a seat at the table," a realization Scott came to when Forte began the process for recruiting a CFO as part of its expansion plans. And, a few weeks after beginning the UNLV EMBA program, Scott's participation in his first executive board meeting was requested by Forte's leadership team.
"Simply pursuing my EMBA enhanced my professional credibility, but more importantly I'm gaining knowledge that will bring added value to the company and take my career to the next level," said Scott. "With all the skill sets developed and refined over the years, the forward-looking analysis needed to help Forte expand its footprint in the marketplace simply eluded me, until now."
"I've been impressed with how quickly I've been able to apply the tools and techniques that I learned in class. The knowledge and confidence I've acquired has allowed me to connect on a different level with both my management team and staff," he said.
Scott said UN
LV EMBA's relevant curriculum, cohort dynamic and experienced faculty is "one of the most engaging learning environments I've been a part of. You work with a close group of executives from diffe
rent backgrounds that challenge you to think strategically, becoming a better leader along the way."
Seven months into the 18-month program, Scott notes his EMBA journey has exceeded expectations. "The UNLV EMBA program excels at taking a diverse group of individuals and creating a sense of community and collaboration."
Read more
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Alumni Update
Dianna Klein - Cohort 15
First Officer, United Airlines
As a pilot for United Airlines, Dianna Klein (Cohort 15) is well acquainted with the view from 35,000 feet. But she knew she needed that level of business perspective to achieve her goals of becoming a more business-minded aviation professional and eventually launching her own business. So, she enrolled in the Executive MBA (EMBA) program at UNLV's Lee Business School.
Traveling at high speed in the air, Klein's "on-the-ground" life is just as fast-paced. It was only last month she graduated from the 18-month EMBA program. During her time in the program, she moved from Houston to Las Vegas; had a baby; flew international flights; and launched a non-profit!
In February 2017, Klein formed the Las Vegas chapter of the National Association of Women MBAs. Spurred to action by the support and friendship she experienced with the other women in her EMBA cohort, Klein said, "When women come together to support one another in a safe environment, things get done; changes get made, and the world is made better." Welcoming both women and men, Las Vegas NAWMBA embraces "all who support women in business," she added.
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roud of how far the Las Vegas NAWMBA chapter has come in such a short time, Klein noted the very active board includes many members of her EMBA cohort and has sponsored such successful and informative events as a well-attended luncheon featuring Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman.
Professionally, Klein sees major changes taking place in aviation. "Emerging technologies will bring about more automation integration into the pilot profession. Pilots may soon be integrating their workflows with AI (artificial intelligence). It's not a question of if, it's a question of when."
"Today those forward-looking technology decisions are being made by engineers and business executives with little input from pilots," Klein said, who aspires to take an active role in the future of flight. With a UNLV EMBA education, combined with her years in the air and masters in aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, "I will bring both a business and pilot perspective to the process."
Read more
Click Here to join the Las Vegas Professional Chapter of NAWMBA |
Special Feature
2017 Adventures in South America
This year Executive MBA Cohort 15 journeyed to South America to experience cultural and professional tours over the course of six days in both Chile and Argentina. Beginning in Santiago, Chile, students went on a half day tour of the capital city before the first of many mouth-watering meals full of local dishes. The cohort then visited the UNESCO-designated historic downtown of Valparaíso and the coastal resort city of Viña del Mar prior to a wine tasting at Viña Casas del Bosque.
Following the cultural experiences, EMBA cohort members toured Chilean businesses, including Weir Minerals Andean and Invest Chile, meeting with executives and operations leaders to learn more about industries in an emerging economy. "It was easy to see people having a lot of pride in their country with Chilean flags everywhere," said Sarath Kumar Sivadasan, an engineering manager at Scientific Games and a member of Cohort 15. "The Weir Minerals factory visit was very informative regarding mining operations in Chile, which makes a large part of their GDP."
After three full days in Chile, students journeyed to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where they visited the DANA Argentina plant, SunGreen, and Axion Energy's oil refinery. The goal of these planned meetings is to meet with international business leaders to broaden students' perspectives of global business environments-throughout very diverse types of organizations.
"Buenos Aires is a bustling city, and one can see parallels in any major city in the US," said Sarath. "The most surprising thing I remember is rolling blackout in the city due to their energy crisis. As part of the factory visits, I was also pleasantly surprised to see a startup company, SunGreen, trying to promote alternative energy to combat the energy crisis and working with the government for legislation."
To end an action-packed trip of adventures, cohorts enjoyed a tango show, a half day cultural tour of Argentina's large, cosmopolitan capital city, and an authentic gaucho experience.
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On The Move
Alumni Updates
Brianne Catlin
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Cohort 13
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Associate Faculty
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College of Southern Nevada
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David Lacey
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Cohort 15
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Principal
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Goliad Group LLC
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Stephen Packard
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Cohort 15
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Vice President |
Kiewit Power
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Kyle Soltesz
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Cohort 15
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Vice President of Business Development
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Cheetah Clean Auto Wash
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Events
Vegas Young Professionals: Fusion Mixer
February 8
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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Cucina by Wolfgang Puck
The Shops at Crystals
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Free admission if you RSVP to [email protected] by February 1st.
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Exhibit: BUILT
February 1 - 28
All day
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UNLV Lied Library
First Floor
For more information visit
https://www.unlv.edu/event/exhibit-built#
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BUILT utilizes images captured by photographer Aaron Mayes as part of the UNLV University Libraries Special Collections and Archives collecting initiative Building Las Vegas. The exhibit showcases Mayes' work to date on the project and spotlights development trends, challenges, successes, and failures in our desert city. Free and open to the public.
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EMBA Information Session
February 20
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
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EMBA Suite, WRI C-304
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Bring along a prospective EMBA student or participate as an alum. Notify [email protected] if you plan to attend.
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EMBA Information Session
February 22
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
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Centennial Hills Library
6711 N. Buffalo Dr., LV 89131 |
Bring along a prospective EMBA student or participate as an alum. Notify [email protected] if you plan to attend. |
Vegas Young Professionals: Bigwig Lunch Time
Featuring Johnathan Jossel, CEO of Plaza Hotel & Casio
February 28
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
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Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce
575 Symphony Park Ave
Ste 100
Las Vegas, NV 89106
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Free admission if you RSVP to [email protected] by February 21st.
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Executive Insight Speaker Series -
Burges Karkaria, Chief Technology Officer, Sales and Marketing, Intel
March 15
5:30 pm Mixer
7:00 pm Presentation |
UNLV Campus
Greenspun Hall
RSVP to
[email protected] |
Technology's Disruptive Impact to Marketing
Life Automation, New Human Machine Interfaces, IOT etc. are collectively creating a huge tsunami of disruption in the way we live and work. These disruptive forces manifest in a Marketing paradigm shifts from Channel Disruption, to making Sense of Abundance of Data or 'Working' with algorithms. It is critical to understand where the world is headed with regards these disruptions and how we can shape the future of marketing accordingly.
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EMBA Smiles
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| Happy birthday to Cohort 16's Eric Prall. |
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A beautiful cake to celebrate the birthday of Cohort 16's Vilma Velazquez.
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Cohort 15 group picture in front of Weir Minerals at the conclusion of their business visit in Santiago, Chile.
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Cohort 15 students look on attentively while on a tour of the Weir Minerals plant, one of many business visits during their International Seminar in Santiago, Chile.
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Cohort 15 graduates Kyle Soltesz, Scott Petsel, Greg Snyder and Dianna Klein are all smiles on graduation day.
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Cohort 15 graduates excitedly approach the stage for commencement.
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Cohort 15 Graduates strike a pose prior to their commencement ceremony.
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Cohort 13 members Ashley Farkas, Anna Hersel and Ronda Fraley attend the Cohort 15 Graduation Dinner.
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| The gentlemen of Cohort 15. |
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| Cohort 14 members Joe Muna, Andrew Lanzino, Stacey Bledsoe, Aerielle Smith and Sumeet Singh celebrate the success of their fellow EMBA alumi. |
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Cohort 12 alum Keith Wingate supporting the new graduates and the EMBA program.
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Attendees of the Cohort 15 Graduation Dinner enjoying the International Seminar video.
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Brianne Catlin (Cohort 13), Callie Chesser, Matt Kinzer (instructor), Anna Hersel (Cohort 13), Ronda Fraley (Cohort 13) and Ashley Farkas (Cohort 13)
show their support at the Cohort 15 Graduation Dinner.
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