University Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (TEC)
North Carolina State University (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Master of Arts (ABD)
Cognitive Science
State University of New York at Buffalo (Buffalo, New York)
Bachelor of Arts
English Literature, with unofficial minor in Mathematics
State University of New York at Buffalo (Buffalo, New York)
More About My TEC MBA
Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (TEC)
North Carolina State University, 2009
In May 2009, I completed a grueling three-year program offered by North Carolina State University’s College of Management called Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (TEC). Though the TEC program has evolved since it was started in 1995, as part of the University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, its core focus remains the same: transfer technology from the idea stage to a successful, rapid growth startup company.
Though my team was unsuccessful in translating a natural food preservative technology into a successful business, the process by which we made the attempt was exhausting but very illuminating. What we achieved reminds me of the famous quote by Dwight D. Eisenhower: “Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.” From the first step of evaluating our technologies to assessing market potential, to developing a value proposition—the soul of the whole effort—to calling potential customers, we learned at every step of the way how little we knew and how much effort it takes to take even a really good idea and turn it into a useful, profitable product(s).
The MBA program required 45 on-site class hours, spread over six fall/spring semesters and two summers. Along with the basic core courses, such as Economics, Marketing, Finance, Accounting, and Operations and Supply Chain Management, the TEC concentration included an introductory class taught by Ted Baker, which was really two concurrent classes: lecture with plenty of outside reading for homework, and an outside project developing a business plan for a small company in the Research Triangle Park, NC area. My team developed a plan for Venganza, Inc. on Centennial Campus in Raleigh. This led me to learn about the genetically modified crops industry.
Certifications
AWS Certified Solutions Achitect - Associate
Amazon Web Services (AWS); Number: G2HXMYV1DBVQ1QWH
July 2018
Amazon Web Services (AWS); Number: JW3W21XKKMQ11GGT
November 2017
Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
Project Management Institute (PMI); PMI-ACP® Number: 1976523
October 2016
Program Management Professional (PgMP)
PMI - PgMP® Number: 1475572
December 2011
Project Management Professional (PMP)
PMI - PMP® Number: 1363842
October 2010
ITIL® version 3 Foundation Certified
Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
October 2010
New York State Building Technology Certification
Hutchinson Central Technical High School (Buffalo, New York)
Lockheed Martin Corporate Education
Program Management 301 (2009)
Preparation to serve as a Lockheed Martin (LM) program manager. Intense, three-day class attended by experienced LM managers focused on the study and discussion of actual Lockheed Martin programs and the “lessons learned” from those efforts.
Program Management 201 (2002)
Intermediate-level program management study, emphasizing cost and schedule planning and control and communication, especially the need for accurate reporting.
Program Management 101 (2001)
Introduction to program management concepts.
Presentations
You Just Can't Make This Stuff Up: Stories from a Veteran Program Manager (January 12, 2015)
Audience: Triad Chapter, Project Management Institute (PMI)
Venue: General monthly meeting (Greensboro, NC)
You Just Can't Make This Stuff Up: Stories from a Veteran Program Manager (December 9, 2014)
Audience: Southwest Virginia Chapter, Project Management Institute (PMI)
Venue: General monthly meeting at Schaal's Metamorphosis (Roanoke, VA)
How to be an Effective Program Manager (September 12, 2013)
Audience: North Carolina Chapter, Project Management Institute (PMI)
Venue: General monthly meeting at The Sheraton Imperial Hotel (Research Triangle Park, NC)
Teaching Experience
Introduction to Technical Writing & Proposal Writing (2004-2005)
Duke University, Technical Writing Certificate Program
HTML and JavaScript instructor (1996-1997)
Society for Technical Communication (Volunteer)
Professional Awards
- Lockheed Martin/IS&GS-Civil Team Excellence Award --"In recognition of outstanding team...excellence" (2012)
- SPOT Award for outstanding customer service (2007)
- Visualization Center cited by EPA for outstanding performance; received highest award rating given by the customer in 12 years
- Lockheed Martin Information Support Services Inc. President’s Award for exceptional customer service on US EPA contract (1999)
- STC Chapter Pacesetter Award for implementing innovative training programs for chapter members (1997)
- Martin Marietta Services Lightning Award for delivering critical technical documentation for US EPA’s Supercomputing Center (1995)
- The Registry, Inc. Diamond Club Service Award for outstanding on-site support to Glaxo, Inc. (1994)