Shannon during an international study tour to Peru in January 2012.

Age: 21

Major/Emphasis/Minor: Supply Chain and Operations Management with an emphasis in International Management

Clubs/Involvement: I am currently President of APICS, President of Phi Beta Lambda, Vice-President of Wisconsin Phi Beta Lambda, and a College of Business Ambassador.

Favorite Class Taken: Supply Management with Dr. Godfrey because he explained the material very well and made it interested. He also related the topics to real life experiences and brought some speakers to class from big name companies.

Food you couldn’t live without:  A chocolate malt with marshmallow added and cheese curds from Culvers.

Hobbies Outside of Class: I really enjoy reading, traveling, spending time with my family and friends and crafts, such as scrap-booking.

 Favorite movie: I love a lot of movies and have many favorites but a classic one that I always watch with my dad is The Princess Bride. We can name almost all of the lines in the movie! Inconceivable!

Why did you choose UWO COB? I really liked the campus of UWO, but the reason I chose the College of Business is because of the great majors and the many opportunities within the college. UWO COB is the only accredited school in the area and the college has great relationships with employers to help with internships and real life experiences. Also, the class requirements for the COB seemed really interesting and actually related to future job duties.

What is your internship experience and what have you learned from this experience? I am currently an intern at Oshkosh Defense in the Aftermarket Purchasing Department. I learned to always ask questions and communicate with the team. Don’t feel like you are a bother to those on your team, they are willing to help and will happily answer questions! Also, ask to sit in on meetings or get more involved in the team to see day-to-day activities and how the business functions. Internships are for learning about the company and the job.

What advice do you have for younger COB students? Get involved outside of classes and network! I have had amazing opportunities through my organizations and interviewers will ask about classes but they are really interested in hearing the stories of organization activities and leadership positions. It is great to add to the resume, but it is also a great career building experience if you want to get into leadership positions in a company.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? 10 years from now I would like to be with a company in a leadership role and to have traveled a lot, personally and professionally. I would also like to have obtained some supply chain certification and have completed my masters as well.

Age:

Current Employer and Position: Breakthrough Fuel, Director of Client Services

Expected graduation date: May 2013

Favorite class taken or professor at UWO and why it’s your favorite: Organizational Change and Leadership because the change management process is almost always a critical factor in the success of a project.

Food you couldn’t live without: Mashed Potatoes

Hobbies Outside of Class: You can find me water-skiing every chance I get when the weather is warm enough!

Favorite movie:  I don’t have a favorite but I love comedies.

Why did you choose UWO MBA?  I chose the UWO MBA program because it is a reputable program that allowed me to learn with business leaders in the community.  UWO’s MBA program’s Green Bay location is ideal from a location perspective and the program offers a great balance of classroom and internet classes that allows flexibility for scheduling based on my personal and work needs.

How do you balance work, life and graduate school? I try to work ahead and be prepared for each day at the start of the day so I am always one step ahead instead of one step behind.  Also, I am taking graduate school at a slow pace so that I can maintain one night of the week for myself.

What advice do you have for younger COB students or students thinking about pursuing an MBA degree? It is advantageous to have a few years of work experience before beginning the program.  It helps create better discussions within the classroom, internalize the material, and at the same time can provide great lessons to apply to the work environment immediately.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? In 10 years I hope to deepen my strategic work at Breakthrough Fuel, expand my knowledge of supply chain management, and develop new product offerings within the organization based on market needs.

Major/Emphasis/Minor: Human Resources Management major

Favorite Class Taken: My favorite class so far has been Organizational Behavior Management with Ashay Desai.

Food you couldn’t live without: I could not live without Pizza and Lobster (or both at the same time).

Kade-Michael at the rifle range.

Hobbies Outside of Class: I enjoy taking my FS2000 to the rifle range and practice shooting with my fiancé and my soldiers. I currently hold the rank of Sergeant First class in the National Guard, and am the platoon sergeant for fires section for the 1-105^th Cavalry out of Madison.

My fiancé, Sarah, and I go to as many concerts together as we can. We recently saw Taproot, a band I listened to a lot while deployed to Kuwait in 2004-2005. I met Sarah at an invitational track meet in Wautoma, Wisconsin, eleven years ago. We were both sprinters then, and she didn’t have anyone to hold her blocks, so I asked her if I could. We didn’t talk for some time, and I moved to Appleton, and was sent to Kuwait for the military.  She found me on Facebook a year and a half ago.  We soon began to take many trips back and forth from Appleton (where she lived) to Wisconsin Rapids (Where I was taking business courses).

I also like to play Call of Duty, and work out at Gold’s Gym in Appleton, Wisconsin.

How did you get involved with the Appleton Knights semipro football team? I ran into an old friend, and learned about his recent business venture.  I needed to interview a business owner for my Managerial Accounting class at the University, and I noticed the sign on the way advertising the team.  A short inquiry got me enough info to find them online.  I filled out their interest form online, and when Matt Hill (the coach) read it a few minutes later, he called asking me if I could try out that night (It was on my birthday, January 20th of this year).  I ended up trying out two weeks later, and was named the starting quarterback about a month ago.

Favorite movie: The Matrix

Why did you choose UWO COB? I chose UWO and COB because I want to provide a good life for my new family. I am a really good leader and motivator, and the military has given me the confidence I need to be successful. I like working with people, and learning/understanding why they make certain choices (which is why I really enjoyed OBM).

What is your internship experience and what have you learned from this experience? I haven’t had an internship yet, but I’ve served in the Wisconsin National Guard for 12 years and am now a Sergeant First Class. This has given me a lot of leadership experience that will serve me well in the business world.

What advice do you have for younger COB students? My advice to younger students is this. “It is better to have tried and failed, then to never have tried at all.” Apply this quote to your life. Don’t be afraid to be uncertain. Try things, make mistakes, and strive to be better and have clearer focus the next time.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? Ten years from now I want to be building my architectural business with a focus on “Green building.”

Bill Wons, MBA '12

Name: Bill Wons

Current Employer and Position: Owner of Wons Background Investigations, LLC

Expected graduation date: Fall 2012

Favorite class taken or professor at UWO and why it’s your favorite: Marketing – I enjoyed the Capstone business simulation game.

Food you couldn’t live without: Seafood

Hobbies Outside of Class: Community Theater, Fishing, Travelling

Favorite movie: Lord of the Rings

Why did you choose UWO MBA? The best, well-rounded program.

How do you balance work, life and graduate school? By staying very organized.

What advice do you have for younger COB students or students thinking about pursuing an MBA degree? Take a project management class early. It will help you organize the rest of your classes.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? Managing a background screening firm with 20 people.

Kenny in Drum Corps

Age: 30

Major/Emphasis/Minor: Human Resource Management

Clubs/Involvement: I’ve been involved with SHRM since Fall 2011, and I am currently serving as the secretary for Spring 2012.

Favorite Class Taken: BUS 361 Essentials of HR… Why? Because I had the great Dale Feinauer. If you have a class with him and it doesn’t become your favorite, you’ve got something wrong with you!

Food you couldn’t live without: Rice! it is the ultimate side dish. Don’t have bread? Put it on rice! I guess thats what I get for being half Filipino

Hobbies Outside of Class: Well, I am a dad, so I’m not allowed to have hobbies anymore! I would say spending time with my son, Nathan, is most important to me. Also, Drum Corps is a big part of my life. I marched for 12 years. If you don’t know what Drum Corps is, you should look it up on youtube. It’s pretty much professional marching band.

Favorite movie: I would have to say that my ALL TIME favorites are all of the Star Wars movies. Yes, I am a Fanboy, and proud of it! I also have to put Fight Club and Half Baked up at the top.

Why did you choose UWO COB? There are a few reasons I chose UWO COB. First, my wife and many of our friends have graduated from the COB and have only had wonderful things to say about the college and the professors. I have heard so much about Dr Moon and Dale. Second, I own a house in Oshkosh, so that made the choice quite simple.

What is your internship experience and what have you learned from this experience? When I was getting my first degree, I was an intern for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. I was in charge of about 200 people touring all over the United Stated, 24 hours a day from May until Mid-August. I learned so much that summer about effective time management and how to deal with many types of people. I am also just starting a new internship, so maybe in a couple months I can tell you about that.

What advice do you have for younger COB students? Get involved and become a leader. There are so many clubs out there and that is the best way to market and brand yourself. Also use every person you meet as a possible network connection, you may never know where that person will be in the future.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? Hopefully I will have won the lottery by that point and I’ll be on a life-long vacation traveling around the world with no cares. In reality, I would love to be in business consulting, helping businesses either get off their feet or to have them continue in their efforts in becoming successful.

Tasha on vacation in Greece.

Name: Tasha Gosselin

Age: 26

Major/Emphasis/Minor: Accounting

Clubs/Involvement: Accounting Club

Favorite Class Taken: Intermediate Accounting, of course!

Food you couldn’t live without: Chicken Tikka Masala

Hobbies Outside of Class: Biking and Pinterest

Favorite movie: The Labyrinth

Why did you choose UWO COB? I really liked the campus and small class sizes and the College of Business had an impressive reputation.

What is your internship experience and what have you learned from this experience? I have interned at Oshkosh Corporation and am currently interning at Deloitte & Touche. I have learned that the most important thing to have is a good attitude.

What advice do you have for younger COB students? Join a club….right now! I went to college right out of high school and then I took a break. The second time around, I learned from my mistakes and got involved, it’s a great way to distinguish yourself from other students and clubs provide amazing networking opportunities.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? 10 years from now I would like to either be a partner in a public accounting firm or starting my own practice.

Eric Svoboda at the Rose Bowl

Name: Eric Svoboda

Age: 33

Current Employer and Position: Plexus Corporation – Dual role as Manufacturing Manager and Lean Sigma Champion

Expected graduation date: May 2012

Favorite class taken or professor at UWO and why it’s your favorite: Marketing Strategy – The Capstone Simulation is a great way to learn about marketing. You get an opportunity to compete against other teams and develop a strategy that maximizes sales and increases market share while maintaining a solid contribution margin.

Food you couldn’t live without: Steak and potatoes

Hobbies Outside of Class: Golf, playing cards, exercising, camping, traveling

Favorite movie: Usual Suspects

Why did you choose UWO MBA? I am a strong believer in continuous learning and as an engineer I wanted to learn more about the business aspects of an organization. I felt that getting my MBA would give me the knowledge and skills I needed to help develop others and become a successful leader. I chose Oshkosh because they are AACSB accredited and provided the flexibility I needed as a full-time employee. I live close to Green Bay and work in Appleton, so I can take classes in Oshkosh, Green Bay, or even online depending on my work schedule.

How do you balance work, life and graduate school? That can be a challenge, but it is all about being organized and setting aside time for schoolwork, family, and yourself. Obviously, work or school may demand a larger time commitment at times, so meeting your professional and personal goals will require a certain degree of flexibility. Having the support of your friends and family is also vital to achieving this balance.

What advice do you have for younger COB students or students thinking about pursuing an MBA degree? Don’t be afraid to take the next step toward improving yourself personally and professionally. In addition to learning a lot about the different elements of business, an MBA allows you to meet a lot of great people and learn more about yourself.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? I plan to continue learning and challenge myself to tackle new opportunities within Plexus. After taking on other managerial roles over the next 5-10 years, I see myself moving into a General Manager or other leadership position within the company. You never know, I may find my way back to school seeking another master’s degree.

Name:

Age: 23

Major/Emphasis/Minor: Marketing Major / Journalism Minor (PR Emphasis)

Clubs/Involvement: I have had the wonderful opportunity of being involved with some amazing organizations and campus involvement positions.  For three years I was a part of the University Speaker Series and from September 2008 – May 2010 I was fortunate enough to lead the committee as Chairperson.  During that same time I was also part of the Titan Gold Corps, a small yet elite group of student ambassadors for the UW Oshkosh admissions office.  In the fall of 2009 I was lucky enough to be crowned the UW Oshkosh homecoming king and during the summer of 2010 I served as an Odyssey captain during freshman orientation. Last year I created the UWO Social Media Club alongside a few of my fellow classmates and have co-chaired the committee for two years now.

Favorite Class Taken: Although I have taken multiple classes I thoroughly enjoyed, no class has stood out more than my Essentials of Human Resources class with Dale Feinauer.  I can honestly say Dale fundamentally changed the way I look at life.  He taught me the importance of empowering those around you by sharing a quote from the famous Al McGuire, stating “they don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  No words have moved me more than these.

Food you couldn’t live without: Pizza: any kind, anywhere, anytime.

Hobbies Outside of Class: I am a social media fanatic.  I love keeping up with the latest industry trends and learning from professionals via Twitter. I am also an avid music lover; I feel there should be a soundtrack to my life.

Favorite movie: Inception

Why did you choose UWO COB? I have a family history here at UW Oshkosh and the College of Business.  My Dad, uncle, and grandfather all graduated from here and have gone on to successful careers.  It also helped that I lived in Oshkosh for the past eleven years.  Although these elements did factor into my decision it was not the main reason I chose this amazing institution.  I initially had plans to go my own route and attend an out-of-state D-1 university. However, after my campus visit, my gut reaction was telling me it wasn’t the right fit for me.  I wrote down the pro’s and con’s and gave myself three days to decide whether or not I would stay at that D-1 university or come back home to UW Oshkosh.  On the third day I was driving around Oshkosh and happen to be following a car with the license plate that said “Go to UWO.”  I am person of faith and truly believe it was a sign from God, because it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

What is your internship experience and what have you learned from this experience? My first internship was as the Lead Marketing Intern for Reeve Marketing at Reeve Memorial Union. I learned the importance of creativity, meeting deadlines and clientele relations.  In my current internship at Pierce Manufacturing I have learned extreme multi-tasking, editing, web development, content management and search engine optimization.

What advice do you have for younger COB students? Network early and network often.  As we all know, practice makes perfect.  The more experience you gain speaking with employers the more comfortable you become around them.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? I honestly can’t answer this question.  I plan on working for an interactive marketing agency but I believe business is forever changed now that social media has entered the realm of marketing and public relations.  Since the world of online, digital and mobile marketing is continually evolving all I can hope for is to love what I do and that I am in an organization where I can add value to a business’s marketing efforts.

Learn more about David on his personal Web site.

Amy Brecheisen, HR major

Name: Amy Brecheisen

Age: 28

Major/Emphasis/Minor: Human Resources Management

Clubs/Involvement: I was the secretary for the International Business Club last semester (Spring 2011).  Along with my leadership position, I was also on the Public Relations committee for the Global Careers Day. This was a first annual event for the International Business Club and feel that it was a great success. It was of great value for me to see how local businesses place emphasis on globalization and how it can affect my own personal career growth. In the past I have also been a member of Phi Beta Lambda (PBL).

Favorite Class Taken: I can’t believe I am even saying this, but quantitative business analysis (QBA). This particular class was a struggle for me. There were times where I thought the homework was impossible and I struggled to see the big picture. However, Professor Andy Miller is an amazing teacher. He managed to keep the class interesting and hold my attention during lectures. I know a lot of students complain about this class, but it really is the material that’s a challenge, not the professor. Looking back now, I feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in myself. When I have to use something from this class in a real world application I know all my hard work and dedication are paying off.

Food you couldn’t live without: Hands down, coffee.

Hobbies Outside of Class: I am a non-traditional student. I am married with a two-year-old daughter. My family and I spend a great deal of time exploring in state parks and marshes. One of my favorite places is Terrell’s Island, which is located off Lake Butte des Morts. I also am a big photography buff.

Favorite movie: The Twilight Series.

Why did you choose UWO COB? I selected the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, particularly the College of Business, because of the accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). According to the article I read in the Oshkosh Northwestern last year “about 605 schools of business worldwide…or fewer than five percent” receive this accreditation. I think by earning my degree here at UWO, local employers will hopefully select me over other area graduates.

What is your internship experience and what have you learned from this experience? I am one of the Human Resources Interns at the Business Success Center. I have had the pleasure to complete a variety of tasks while employed by the center. I recruit and interview to help local Fox Valley businesses fill immediate internship and job openings. I work with Intern Coordinator to create HR policies and procedures; recruit employees; and develop orientation and training programs. I also manage personnel records and handle HR generalist workplace issues. I have learned not only a great deal about human resources and our roll in an organization, but I have also learned a great deal about myself. During my time with the center, I have noticeably grown my self-confidence and leadership skills. It has been exciting to watch my own professional growth and development as a result of my internship.

What advice do you have for younger COB students? My number one piece of advice would be you really need to select either a minor or at least an emphasis. This is one thing that I wish I would have learned much earlier in my college career. In selecting one of the two options you are going to make yourself more marketable to employers.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? Ten years from now I see myself holding a master’s degree and working towards becoming a Vice President of Human Resources. I would like to think at this point in my career I will also have made a decision on whether or not to pursue law school.

Name:

Age: 38

Current Employer and Position: CFO at Fox Valley Technical College

Expected graduation date: December 2014

Favorite class taken or professor at UWO and why it’s your favorite: My favorite class so far has been Personal and Professional Development. As you will see in my final response below, I am the first to admit that life personally or professionally rarely works out according to plan. But nevertheless, I am a firm believer in having personal and professional goals and always striving to achieve them. This class allows us all an opportunity to put into words that which we aspire to and the specific action steps we will take to achieve them.

Food you couldn’t live without: Sounds very corny, but I’m a huge tea drinker. That would be my number one.

Hobbies Outside of Class: I have two small children (ages 7 and 3), so being a mom is my main hobby. I also love to travel and am an avid reader. Someday I aspire to be a better golfer and would also like to learn ballroom dancing.

Favorite movie: I don’t really have one, but whenever I’m asked this question I always answer Top Gun. (After all, I am a child of the 80′s.) Did you know Top Gun celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2011?

Why did you choose UWO MBA? A couple of years ago I experienced some significant transitions in my personal and professional life, including transitioning to my current role of CFO. I entered the MBA program because I felt a master’s degree was critical in my position and I was also hoping to network and meet new people. I know many friends and colleagues who have graduated from the program and had only positive things to say about it.

How do you balance work, life and graduate school? I’m not sure! I plan my schedule carefully, accept the fact that I won’t have much of a personal life until school is done, and I have the best parents ever. They help out with my kids whenever I need extra help.

What advice do you have for younger COB students or students thinking about pursuing an MBA degree? I am a firm believer in lifelong learning, whether you do that via an advanced degree such as an MBA or through continuous professional development. Just don’t ever let your skills become stagnant.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? Well, ten years ago I never would have predicted that I’d currently be a single mom and CFO. Therefore I will keep my future predictions extremely general. In ten years I see myself doing work I love, sharing my life with someone I love, and experiencing the joys and trials of raising teenagers. I read recently that the most pivotal points in our lives are unplanned, and that has proven so true for me. I can only imagine what the next ten years have in store for me!