Stocknotes Spring 2024

spring 2024

MAKING THE SALE

fa l l 2 0 2 3

outstanding s e n i o r s

accounting major

entrepreneurship major

PAULA MATEUS

OLIVIA FRISTICK

ELIZABETH JORDAN

MEREDITH COWAN

JOSHUA STUCKEY

JORDAN ANDERSON

hospitality management major

SARAH SOLIS

management information systems major

management major

ISAAC PITTMAN

supply chain & management double major

finance major

marketing major

TITUS WILLIAMS

thomas d. arthur graduate school of business

from the dean One concept is front and center when we talk about the College of Business (COB) and its role in student success, public service, and regional transformation: return on investment.

With our stories, we will continue to inform you of all the impactful programs and people focused on building leaders and making the COB a destination of choice for students, faculty, and staff. Please read the following stories with pride and the knowledge that your help and generosity are positively influencing so many. We are proud to produce a high ROI for your gifts of time, talent, and treasure.

Stocknotes, as well as our web page and social media, presents us with an opportunity to show that your investments have positive effects on many, and the economic impact report that came with this issue paints that picture in undisputed terms. Many thanks to Drs. Jason Rowe and Dennis Barber for pulling it all together, and Emily Leach for presenting this story in a way that explodes off the pages.

Let’s not forget Sanford Bailey’s gift to fund a trip for our COB student rockstars to visit New York City. His gift has already yielded several positive impacts. The Miller School’s climb in rankings reflects Fielding Miller’s goal for the school to be a national model.

In the case of our cover story about Richard Twilley’s gift to name the Academy of Sales Leadership, we know precedence has been established for success. We will deliver in a way that will make Richard proud, our students sought after, and the Twilley Academy a benchmark for higher education and industry to follow.

Rest assured that your gifts make a substantial impact on the College, and that your support makes our success possible. On behalf of our students, faculty, and staff, thank you for all you do!

Go Pirates!

spring 2024

contents cover story Making the Sale ������������������������������������������������� 4

features Business Pirates Travel to NYC ������������������������� 8 Growth Mindset ����������������������������������������������� 12 Innovation Driven �������������������������������������������� 14 Unprecedented ������������������������������������������������ 16

stories Meet The Firms ������������������������������������������������ 18 Office of Expert Services �������������������������������� 19 COB and BCCC Partnership ��������������������������� 20 Miller School is on the Move �������������������������� 21

spotlights Faculty Spotlight: Kros ������������������������������������ 22 Student Spotlight: Faller ��������������������������������� 24 Student Spotlight: Williams ��������������������������� 26 Student Spotlight: Anderson ������������������������� 28 Grit at Work Spotlight: Kimbril ���������������������� 30

communications Paige Hill, Publisher

Michael Rudd, Editor-in-Chief Mike Harris, Interim Dean

Emily Leach, Creative Director Printed with nonstate funds.

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From left, Rodney Bonilla, Richard Twilley and Olivia Grubb

MAKING THE SALE “Nothing happens until someone sells something”

By Patricia Earnhardt Tyndall | Photos By Rhett Butler

Richard Twilley ’89 is sold on his belief in East Carolina University and the potential for the university to become a national leader in sales education.

Through a $4.5 million commitment, Twilley is leading the way to bring his vision to fruition. His investment will establish the Richard G. Twilley Academy of Sales Leadership in the College of Business (COB). “There is a great deal of positive momentum in the College of Business and our donors are seeing a strong return on investment for their gifts,” said Mike Harris, interim dean of the COB. “We’re using these opportunities to create high-impact learning experiences and the Twilley Academy of Sales Leadership is a great example of a strategic investment that can enhance critical skills for our students and better prepare them to be successful early in their careers.”

Twilley has worked in the sales profession for 35 years while the last 25 years as an executive sales leader with Fortune 100 companies in a high-growth, competitive businessto-business marketplace. He aims to leverage his expertise and serve as an advisor in developing the new academy. “I’ve prepared my whole life to help the university do this and didn't even know I was,” Twilley said. “It’s a place that changed my life. I will be very engaged for as long as the university will take my input.”

Since 2015, Twilley has served as group vice president for vertical sales at Spectrum Enterprise, a division of Charter Communications. He is responsible for vertical sales across the country. With his vertical sales group, Twilley leads the generation of new revenue for the company across health care, hospitality, state and local government – K-12 public and private school systems, and higher education market segments.

Twilley graduated from ECU with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing and completed Harvard Business School’s executive management program. He is experienced in the development and execution of dynamic sales distribution plans, methodologies and emerging technologies to accelerate revenue growth while aligning and contributing to organizational business priorities.

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He was recently appointed to the ECU Foundation board of directors and will serve a four-year term, promoting and strengthening the university through the solicitation, management and distribution of private gifts. He also serves as a director on the Pirate Club’s executive committee.

Management. It serves COB students and its industry partners by developing a new generation of sales professionals based on academic excellence, experiential learning and executive education.

Philanthropy As part of his overall gift, Twilley has established a charitable trust which will provide annual funds for the benefit of the academy, creating resources for scholarships, research, technology, marketing, and travel for professionals or students. The remaining funds will come to ECU through pledged planned gifts and a bequest from his estate.

ECU’s leadership, mission to be a national model for student success, public service and regional transformation, and the refreshed strategic plan, Future focused. Innovation driven., has inspired Twilley to give back to ECU in such a significant way.

“I’ve spent the last 35 years of my career training for this moment to be able to advise and participate in creating and launching a vision that all began in a discussion with Chancellor Rogers,” Twilley said.

“That’s really what got me excited about the unlimited potential of such a needed resource for our university and region.” Twilley sees himself as a catalyst for recruiting other people in the community to put their money and expertise behind the program.

About the academy The Twilley Academy of Sales Leadership, which will be formally dedicated in Twilley’s honor later this year, is focused on advancing world-class sales education, cutting-edge research, providing executive educational programs, and fostering beneficial corporate partnerships.

“This investment in sales leadership through the Office of Expert Services will significantly enhance the region’s professional development and business growth,” said John Chapman, Twilley Academy director. “By establishing an executive education program in our state-of-the-art Twilley Academy of Sales Leadership, we will educate and empower the region’s current and future sales leaders with skills and strategic insights.”

The Twilley Academy is housed in the college’s Department of Marketing and Supply Chain 6

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Richard Twilley, seasoned sales professional with 35 years of Fortune 100 expertise, imparts invaluable insights to students, igniting a passion for success in the business world.

Twilley hopes to leverage cornerstone pieces already in place in the sales academy. Chapman offers four classes built for a sales certificate with more than 100 students enrolled. With additional courses, Twilley believes the academy can grow in relevance for sales professionals and students.

“Sales is what I do and I love it. It is not what we teach in college but we have to innovate as ECU is committed to offering academic excellence and regional transformation. It’s so crucial to ECU,” Twilley said. “No matter what your training, eventually you’ll need to be able to understand that sales is a science and follows a disciplined system approach for optimal outcome. I am confident through the academy we can provide the foundation to give students the opportunity to become influential professional sales leaders.”

Raising ECU’s profile Ultimately, Twilley’s goal is to support ECU to elevate the sales academy to be best in class within NC in five years and competitive on the national stage at a top level in that same timeframe.

He is eager to serve as an advisor and will play a critical role in developing the academy's long-range plan, vision, and mission. Future ideas include the creation of a sales executive in residence program, enabling Twilley and other leaders to coach and mentor students and business professionals enrolled in sales training programs. Twilley believes the short-term goal is to develop a comprehensive sales curriculum that includes both a certificate (open to all majors) and a concentration available in the COB. Sales training and professional development programs could be a revenue producer for ECU. The most important goal for Chapman is graduating top-notch professional sales students.

The Twilley Academy provides students the ability to compete in national sales competitions and meet and network with global companies at these events.

A more robust sales academy will create more opportunities for competition, attract more national companies wanting to get involved as sponsors, and lead to student job opportunities, Chapman said. The increase in career opportunities will attract students wishing to participate in the Pirate Sales Club and compete in sales competitions, growing the academy.

The academy’s goals align with Twilley’s focus on educational excellence. In addition to improved

infrastructure and space within the COB, advanced learning resources and expanded research opportunities are on the horizon.

“The investment will attract top-tier thought leaders and students, elevating the academy's reputation,” Chapman said. “I also envision scholarships to outstanding sales student leaders.”

Training students to become sales leaders Rodney Bonilla, a senior majoring in supply chain management and marketing with a professional sales certificate, said it is motivating and inspirational to have access to ECU alumni and proves to him that Pirates can and will reach the highest positions of the business world.

“Having access to alumni like Richard Twilley is humbling because I know that for him to be at the level that he is at he has a lot of people that try to talk to him and taking up his time,” Bonilla said. “For him to want to be around us and want to teach us the lessons he has learned throughout his amazing experiences is humbling and great for students.”

ROI The investment of time and training Twilley experienced at ECU have inspired and guided him throughout his career. He was a non-traditional ECU student who had a full-time job and no idea what profession he wanted to pursue.

Twilley recalls advisors and professors, Dr. Havva Meric, Dr. Jim Westmoreland, and Dr. Ed Wheatley and others who influenced him. He says he would have never been prepared for the business world, including his transition to sales, without them. He describes Meric as a catalyst to his educational success.“She always believed in my abilities and continuously pushed me to achieve greatness,” Twilley said. “I will forever be indebted to her for her mentorship.”

Westmoreland once wrote Twilley a note on a business card, “Richard, you have got a great career ahead of you, don't press to impress.”

“I carried it in my wallet and before meetings where I had to go in and talk to people at an executive level, I would read that card before I walked in and it grounded me in purpose,” Twilley said.

He returned the card to Westmoreland about 15 years ago with a note to share how much it influenced his professional life.

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business

pirates travel to New York City

By Michael Rudd | Photos By Reed Marshall Wolfley

Grayson Brann and Rachelle Cabrera

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A Google search on Pirates and New York City yields numerous results, including a Seattle Times article stating that in New York in 1692, “piracy was a leading economic development tool in the city’s competition with the ports of Boston and Philadelphia.”

Famed pirate Captain William Kidd built a house and Trinity Church in the city before his hanging in England.

Fast forward more than 300 years, and in early October 2023, over 20 College of Business (COB) graduate and undergraduate students visited the Big Apple for a different purpose: exposure to business environments found not only outside the conference room but also outside the state of NC. The students, representing the Arthur School’s immersive MBA pathway and the COB’s undergrad student leadership board, sought business knowledge, skills, and networking opportunities beyond their local context. For many, experiences had been handed down from professors with industry backgrounds, involving collaborations with local businesses for class projects or internships with companies scattered around NC. Now, they had the opportunity to explore the financial center of the world.

“We wanted to give our students new experiences that will prepare them for broader, possibly more global opportunities,” said Mike Harris, interim dean, COB. “I think they got it, and better understand just how far an ECU degree can take them.”

Along with experiencing fine dining at iconic New York restaurants and attending shows, the students met with ECU alums Sean Clark ‘18, who works at PIMCO, an investment company; Sarah Evans ‘01, Miller Orians ’15, and Stevie DupreeParker ‘20 with J/PR, a global communications firm; and Ryan Johnson with BMG Music, a music publisher.

Lessons learned were shared, insightful questions were answered, and connections were made.

Top right, Arthur Immersive MBA student Isaiah Rutledge.

Middle right, PeeDee at FAO Schwarz in Rockefeller Center.

Bottom right, Arthur Immersive MBA students Jenna Scott and Andrew Kerry pose with the Fearless Girl statue.

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Seizing the opportunity “The night before the trip, I specifically edited my resume for BMG. I wanted a different copy for them since they require a different set of skills. I have a background in music. Music has always been in my family. I was involved with ECU’s jazz ensemble program and its choirs. Even though I had a different major, I was always in the music building. Everyone thought I was a music major since I was always in the building.” BMG Music proved to be the second visit on the first day of the four-day trip. Scott and the rest of the students, energized from the plane ride, strode into a New York City high-rise, piled into an elevator, and eventually found themselves in a conference room where Johnson greeted them.

Johnson, a senior director of creative music licensing at BMG, spoke to the COB student contingent about his career path and how he eventually landed a job he loves. He told the Pirates it started at ECU. “I wanted to pursue a music career,” said Johnson. “So, I decided to take advantage of the resources ECU made available. I was getting all this real-world experience through ECU, and that’s what I wanted to communicate.”

Johnson’s story resonated with Scott. So, as a true

BMG’s Ryan Johnson engages with students as he shares valuable insights from his extensive experience in the music business.

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Pirate, she seized the opportunity with Johnson. “He talked about being bold and putting your best foot forward. Then, he got on the topic of internships.

I asked if they (BMG) had openings for summer internships. He said yes. I asked if I could give him my resume. He said email it to me. I said … I have it right here.” Scott then passed her resume to Johnson during the meeting, hoping to land an internship.

Professional Development At the COB, professional development is key to fulfilling its purpose of building leaders. The unique Leadership & Professional Development Curriculum has four classes that prepare students for the realities of the business world. COB leaders work with alumni and industry partners to provide experiential opportunities where students can bring what they’ve learned in the classroom to the business community.

A recent (and annual) Fall Networking Event brought together eastern NC alums and business leaders with COB undergraduate and graduate students.

Opex Technologies and its CEO and COB alumnus Courtney Humphrey ‘98 hosted an entrepreneur and leadership university day where COB graduate and undergraduate students participated in

Jenna Scott, an Arthur Immersive MBA student, moments before presenting her resume to Ryan Johnson of BMG.

panel discussions with entrepreneurs, alums, and executives from the Raleigh-Durham area.

Travel also plays an important role in professional development, and Sanford Bailey ’64 knows it. Since graduating with his accounting degree, Bailey’s business acumen has led him down the path of several careers. After working at an accounting firm for seven years early in his career, Bailey decided to “make history instead of looking at history.” That history included starting – and selling – numerous banking and financial institutions. He ultimately landed on starting a commercial and residential real estate development company, which keeps him busy daily.

However, he’s not so busy that he can’t find time to support ECU and the COB. Bailey has spoken at COB events. He provides scholarships and participates in the COB’s business advisory council meetings.

Bailey also believes in the importance of travel in education and its transformative role on a student. “I think travel … broadens your horizons,” said Bailey, who helped play a major role in making the October New York City trip happen. “It’s the financial capital of the world. You need to be able to visit there and get a taste of … the culture and everything else that goes on in that city.”

“Right as the plane touched down in New York, I felt like I was truly doing some of the right things in life,” said Isaiah Rutledge. Rutledge is an immersive MBA and first-generation student. The trip was Rutledge’s first to New York City. “Being in the city gave me a sense of belonging, and I can truly do anything I want. I hope an experience like this can not only benefit myself in the ways it has but also others around me,” said Rutledge. Jenna Bacon is a marketing major and plans to graduate with a BSBA in May 2024. She said the New York City trip allowed her to “visit and learn from alumni and experience how much opportunity and real-world prep the College of Business gives us.”

“This fantastic opportunity has taken what we all learn daily in Bate and has shown us real-world applications,” said Bacon. “It has made me explore all the possible opportunities I didn’t even know.”

“I saw firsthand how this travel opportunity affected these students,” said Harris. “When they shared their personal experiences with Sanford, we could see that it produced a significant return on investment.” Harris added that more travel opportunities will be available next term if all goes according to plan.

Business graduate and undergraduate students, along with faculty and staff, visited New York City to meet with alumni, gain travel experiences and learn from business professionals.

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Growth Mindset Pharma leader, MBA alumnus delivers keynote at annual Business Leadership Conference Story and Photo By Michael Rudd

Raj Kannan (MBA ’90) inspires the audience at the annual Business Leadership Conference.

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The Business Leadership Conference (BLC) is an immersive opportunity for students to network and learn from business leaders. The keynote presentation and breakout sessions are led by local and national leaders representing both industry and business concentration degrees. The networking opportunity takes place at the end of the conference, where students have opportunities to connect with the conference presenters.

Importantly, the conference provides an opportunity for the students to take what they’ve learned from the COB’s leadership and professional development curriculum and put it on full display.

Presenters have chances to meet possible interns, potential employees, and future leaders.

Past keynote presenters have included entrepreneurs and leaders from NASA, Duke Power, EY, nonprofits, and ECU athletics. Last year, John May of CORE Industrial Partners was the first COB alumnus to return and give the keynote. Raj Kannan (MBA ’90) attended the event as a participant last year. His visit last year was his first trip to campus in more than 20 years. Kannan attended the BLC again this year, but instead of listening from the audience, he served as the keynote speaker. “To be invited as the keynote speaker was an honor,” said Kannan. “It was a privileged moment for me because it was as good as being invited to host ‘Saturday Night Live.’”

Kannan brought to the BLC attendees an enviable breadth and depth of business experience in the healthcare industry. Kannan joined I-MAB as CEO in late June, where he’s “excited about the potential to bring differentiated biologics that could make a meaningful difference in the lives of people with cancer.”

Kannan has been steadfastly focused on building a successful career in pharmaceuticals, rising from a field sales position to leading multibillion-dollar global business franchises. Prior to I-MAB, he was the CEO of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, where he led the successful merger of Aerie Pharmaceuticals to Alcon Inc. Prior to Aerie, Kannan was CEO of Chiasma Inc.

So it came as no surprise that the topic of success was front and center in his keynote. Kannan spoke on three critical traits for achieving business success, starting with believing in oneself and cultivating a growth mindset, being comfortable operating outside one’s comfort zones, and lastly, becoming stronger and more resilient going through life’s challenges. “If you let success be defined externally and by society, you are never going to be fulfilled,” Kannan told the approximately 1,000 attendees.

Kannan’s message resonated with attendees.

LinkedIn posts by attendees and selfies with Kannan demonstrate just how much his story and message struck a personal chord with students.

Current Arthur MBA student Precious Esong posted, “One standout highlight of the day was the captivating keynote; I can’t wait to apply these takeaways to my journey.” Accounting student Phu Aung wrote, “A memorable session for me was the keynote address. The keynote speaker was my favorite part of the conference,” said marketing senior Jenna Bacon. “Raj has such an inspiring story and outlook on life. His work ethic, I think, inspired every person listening.”

Isaiah Proctor is a military veteran pursuing a double major in business management and biochemistry. This year’s BLC was his first, and he attended it because of Kannan’s background.

“I wanted to get insight into the world of pharmaceuticals,” said Proctor. Kannan’s message also resonated with him. “Other people should not define what success means for you,” said Proctor.

“Only you know what you want to accomplish.”

Kannan pointed out that once an individual defines their version of success, a foundation of knowledge is needed and can be leveraged to jump-start a business venture or career. “Education is the foundation. It helps shape your ability to think critically and how you solve problems,” said Kannan.

“ECU COB gives you that essential framework for starting, managing, and scaling a business.”

“To complement one of Raj’s messages at the BLC, an ECU College of Business degree will give you the skills and knowledge to help you reach your desired success,” said Mike Harris, interim dean, COB. “Events like the BLC give our students opportunities to show off what they’ve learned in the classroom,” added Harris.

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Innovation Driven ECU student teams participate in seventh annual entrepreneurship challenge

By Jules Norwood | Photo By Rhett Butler

More than 70 teams participated in the first round of the seventh annual Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge, competing for $170,000 in cash and in-kind prizes in the signature pitch competition of the College of Business (COB).

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Gage Palmer pitches his business during the first round of the 2023-24 Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge.

Startup business ideas included waders with built-in flotation to prevent drowning for hunters and fishermen, a virtual reality rehabilitation app for injured athletes, an entertainment business designed to increase kids’ confidence by interacting with their favorite costume characters, and a multifunction home health care device and app for caregivers.

Round 1 launched with an open-air expo on the ECU Mall. Visitors stopped by the tables to learn about each business idea and vote for their favorites.

In addition to the popular vote, secret expert judges reviewed the proposed businesses, and leaders from the Miller School of Entrepreneurship weighed in to determine the 12 teams that advanced to the second round, which was held Feb. 6 in the Health Sciences Student Center.

The competitors included undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students representing 41 different majors in eight colleges, and more than 1,700 votes were cast during the opening round, said David Mayo, teaching instructor in the Miller School of Entrepreneurship and the event’s organizer. The advancing teams include: • Horizon Shield, a pedestrian safety system for intersection monitoring.

• Dude Trips, a travel agency centered on creating the trip of a lifetime for men and bachelor parties, as well as company retreats.

• Twist-n-Surf, surf wax in a twist up-down stick container (like deodorant) that is heat resistant and environmentally friendly.

• PALMQUATICS, a service-based business that provides boat dealerships and private owners with repair services for fiberglass and gel coat repair.

• Crossfit Greenville Kids, a place of strength and empowerment for the area kids.

• Moon Grips, a novel universal pill bottle opener to ease with adhering to medication regimens.

• GRID, an all-in-one housing app for students.

• Arnold and Curtis Education Design, educational kits for teachers to introduce students of all ages to STEM and simplify the teacher’s experience.

• Valet, a ride-hailing service where a driver takes the customer home in the customer’s own car.

• Mental Ease Kit, a service to enhance mental well-being on campuses by providing items that promote mindfulness and provide resources to help students navigate a stressful and anxious time, in the form of a gift box or subscription box.

• Limulus Biomedical, a company that will design, construct and maintain aquaculture systems for the American horseshoe crab with the purpose of sustainable hemolymph collection.

• Talkative, a virtual reality speaking environment to help speech language pathologists assist their stuttering patients with real-world situations. “(Speech therapy patients) are able to immerse themselves within whatever environment, whether that’s in the drive-thru, doctor’s office, college lecture hall or ordering at Sup Dogs,” said Amber Faircloth, a doctoral student in rehabilitation sciences and a member of the Talkative team. “They are in a safe environment in the clinic room with their speech therapist, and they are immersed in something where they are able to practice their strategies to hopefully work on desensitizing some of that social anxiety.”

Chip Galusha, acting director of the Miller School of Entrepreneurship, said the first round provides a great opportunity for students to see other students pitching their business ideas. “We do this one outside on purpose,” Galusha said, “so students can see their friends and see what they’re doing. There’s no idea that’s too new or too crazy.

Just come out and pitch it and see what happens.”

Tyler Hodge, an entrepreneurship student and co-founder of Limulus Biomedical, said there is as much as a 30% mortality rate for wildcaught horseshoe crabs, whose blood contains a protein used in the medical industry to test for bacterial contamination in injectable drugs.

Through aquaculture, he and his partner, Payton Cottrell, hope to reduce mortality and create a more stable supply of the vital protein. Winning the competition, Hodge said, would provide seed money needed to expand the idea and make connections in the medical industry. Following the second round in February, six finalists will be selected to advance to the final round, set for April 10 in the Main Campus Student Center.

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Unprecedented COB celebrates record-breaking student financial support

By Michael Rudd | Photo By Rhett Butler

Almost 160 College of Business (COB) students, faculty, and donors celebrated an unprecedented $435,000 in scholarships at the college’s annual scholarship ceremony on Sept. 27.

To kickstart the event, COB Interim Dean Mike Harris recognized another record-breaking number for the 2023-2024 academic year — $675,000 in total financial support for COB students who received scholarships and other funding, including Thomas D. Arthur Graduate School of Business support.

“I look at those numbers as investments,” said Harris. “I wanted to celebrate that amount with all who attended and invested in the future of the COB and the students it serves.”

Sanford Bailey received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in accounting in 1964.

Since graduating, he’s been a certified public accountant and entrepreneur whose past companies ranged from accounting firms to investment banking to commercial and residential real estate development. Over the years, he’s given back to the COB in various ways, including scholarship support and providing travel opportunities.

“I think travel opens doors to many things,” said Bailey, who provided remarks during the ceremony. “It broadens your horizons.” The ceremony gave Sanford an opportunity to share some advice resulting from his more than 60 years of entrepreneurship. “Be a leader in all you do,” said Bailey. “Be out front and meet people. Be visible and be around successful people.”

Lauren Humann is a junior entrepreneurship major and scholarship recipient who spoke of her experience. Humann is a Brinkley-Lane scholar, Copeland Fellow, and a recipient of the Bob and Jenny

Rippy Miller School of Entrepreneurship Fellowship.

Humann’s activities while at ECU check all the boxes that Bailey referenced during his remarks. As a Brinkley-Lane scholar, her study abroad included a trip to Germany. She participated in a summer internship with Walt Disney World in Florida. With the help of current and what she hopes are future scholarships, she plans to continue her study abroad travels to Australia. From everything she’s accomplished while at ECU, Humann appreciates all she’s received. Being from a small town, she admits to having limited resources while growing up and understands how the scholarships benefited her.

“Being able to come here and not have to worry about how I’m going to pay for things has allowed me to spend so much time shadowing different job possibilities and doing internships without worrying about how I’m going to be able to fund my housing or my books or my tuition,” said Humann.

As part of her remarks, Humann emphasized how much scholarship support means for students.

“It’s the opportunities,” said Humann. “I wouldn’t be able to look at them without their (donors) support.”

Last year, Humann sat in the scholarship ceremony audience and saw her best friend, Jordan Anderson, provide remarks, and Humann thought to herself, “I wanted to do that.” This year, she accomplished her wish thanks to Bailey and 130 other COB donors who saw opportunities to invest in someone’s future.

“When you invest in students, you get the greatest return on investment,” says Harris.

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stories

Another successful Meet the Firms career fair is in the books Story and Photo By Michael Rudd The College of Business (COB) and its Department of Accounting held their annual Meet the Firms career fair in mid-September. Twenty-eight accounting firms participated, hoping to find their next intern or employee from the 150 students who attended.

Tyler Peacock is a senior accounting major from Garner, NC. His attendance at last year’s event led to an internship with KPMG. Peacock’s hoping the same (or more) happens again this year. “I’m here today to meet a lot of great firms and (to) get my name out there,” said Peacock. “I want to talk to as many people as possible for a potential internship or job offer.”

Alyx Gant, tax manager with TJT, visits with a student at the Meet the Firms accounting career fair in September 2023.

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Alyx Gant is a tax manager with Thomas, Judy and Tucker, a research triangle-based certified public accounting firm. She received her undergraduate accounting degree and Master of Science in Accounting from ECU and the COB. Like Peacock, she got her first job after attending Meet the Firms. “It’s just a really good opportunity to get to know the different employers, learn about them, and see if you’d be a good fit,” said Gant.

And why did TJT decide to participate in this year’s Meet the Firms? Gant says, “TJT is here to meet good accounting candidates, whether for internship opportunities or full-time job offers. It’s usually a great opportunity to identify people who could be a good fit for us.”

Brandon Hales of FORVIS said his company has participated in the event for at least ten years.

He continues to attend because he likes to “stay connected with the recruiting process on campus. Our firm relies heavily on the recruiting process to continue to bring new talent into the firm,” said Hales. “We find much value in it, so that’s why we’re back every year.”

What does Hale like to see when attending Meet the Firms? “We hope we’ll meet some good potential candidates for interviews,” said Hale. “We hope to get some folks placed into some internship positions, possibly some full-time positions for any location where we recruit, including all different service lines and positions. Everyone leaves the night with such a positive momentum for the year,” said Dr. Cal Christian, COB’s Department of Accounting chair. “Being able to interact with students and share in their excitement about the career opportunities the profession offers is so rewarding for our faculty. We are already looking forward to next year,” Christian added.

COB Office of Expert Services available to accelerate ENC growth

By Michael Rudd | Photo By Rhett Butler In January 2024, private and public sector leaders in eastern NC will have easier access to the thought leadership, actionable research, and industry expertise coming out of the College of Business (COB) in its newly formed Office of Expert Services.

The OES includes five areas of excellence that are structured to work with organizations and customize solutions that will advance not only organizations but also the employees they rely on daily. From the needs of start-ups to growing and optimizing existing organizations, the OES experts, business practitioners, and researchers will work with leadership, side by side, to ensure their organizations remain relevant and dynamic in NC’s economic landscape.

The areas of excellence include: Richard G. Twilley Academy of Sales Leadership – provides the next generation of highly-skilled sales professionals who have benefited from having access to academic excellence and experiential learning. The Twilley Academy also provides executive education to help internal sales teams meet the demands of today’s global economy.

Professional Development & Advisory Services – provides experts to work side by side with companies to address challenges and implement solutions to meet those challenges. Offers a comprehensive suite of training and professional development programs and workshops designed to equip leaders and employees with the understanding, skills, and tools necessary to compete in the marketplace.

Bureau of Business Research – provides business leaders and policymakers with insightful and actionable research to support informed decision-

Andy Herdman, Director of Professional Development & Advisory Services for the COB, speaks to an audience of business leaders.

making for public policy-makers and business leaders.

Crisp Small Business Resource Center – serves the entrepreneurial resource hub of eastern NC and its 29 counties. The center provides resources to help launch and sustain small businesses and foster sustainable economic development.

Center for Healthcare Management Systems — offers tailored consultancy, cutting-edge technology implementation strategies, and expert guidance in healthcare management systems. COB expertise can help healthcare institutions face challenges stemming from inefficient processes, outdated systems, interoperability issues and enhancing patient care.

As part of its launch, OES started its 21st Century Leadership Series workshops, a sevencourse program, in partnership with the Office of Continuing & Professional Education, designed to equip current and aspiring leaders with the skills and tools needed to lead strategically. The first workshop began in February.

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stories

COB and BCCC Partner on Transfer Story and Photo By Michael Rudd Students who complete an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Business Administration at Beaufort County Community College (BCCC) through a new transfer pathway will be guaranteed admission to ECU. The ECU College of Business (COB) will grant BCCC graduates in the transfer pathway 60 hours of credit toward a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) at the university. The agreement helps open access to a four-year degree for students who can take advantage of BCCC’s Beaufort Promise Scholarship, offering free tuition and fees for qualifying residents of Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties.

From left to right: Dr. Dave Loope, BCCC President; Dr. Michael Harris, COB Interim Dean; and Kevin Williams, COB Director of Undergraduate Programs

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“We appreciate ECU’s efforts on this very important articulation agreement with us,” said Dr. Dave Loope, BCCC President. “As one of the college’s largest degree programs, it is crucial that we help those students who want to pursue four-year degrees to do so seamlessly.”

“With such an agreement, AAS in Business Administration students are more likely to make better course choices, and it can save students both time to degree and money,” said Cynthia King, Lead Professor for Business Administration. “It shows a clear pathway for continued advancement.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Beaufort County Community College,” said Kevin Williams, Director of Undergraduate Programs for the COB. “This agreement is a huge win for our students. It will allow them to complete their first two years at BCCC and earn their associate degree. Upon completion, students will enter the College of Business as declared majors, allowing them to take full advantage of the programs, services, and leadership opportunities offered by the college.”

Once students transfer to ECU, they may still be eligible for federal financial aid along with private scholarships. ECU will help prepare students to react to the dynamic nature of the business world.

“Pirates are resilient, tough, and have grit. We pride ourselves on the fact that we help to build resiliency in the students so they are ready for life,” said Mike Harris, interim dean, COB. “We want to make sure you have the content knowledge, the experience, and the connections to the network so that when you have those challenging times you can stay connected to the College of Business.”

The COB has similar agreements in place with four other community colleges: Lenoir, Martin, Pitt, and Robeson.

Miller School is on the move

By Michael Rudd | Photo By Rhett Butler The COB's Miller School of Entrepreneurship is firmly entrenched in Entrepreneur magazine and Princeton Review’s Top 50 Undergraduate Schools for Entrepreneurship list. For five years in a row, the Miller School has been on the list, and this year, it moved from No. 40 to No. 37, making it the only ranked NC school. According to Miller School leaders, the climb in the ranking indicates the school’s approach to being a national model for student success and transformational programs.

“I’m extremely proud that ECU and the Miller School were once again named to the Princeton Review’s Top 50 list, rising to 37 on the list,” said Fielding Miller ’84, chairman and CEO, CAPTRUST. “Recognition on this prestigious list for five consecutive years is a testament to the dedication and commitment of Mike Harris and his team.”

“When I tell the College of Business’ story, the Miller School is a perfect example that I can show where we’re raising the bar to serve our students and the entrepreneurial community,” said Mike Harris, interim dean, COB. “This track record of success reflects the hard work of the Miller School team, the university, students and our supporters who continue to see a strong return on their investment.”

Since its inception seven years ago, the Miller School has prided itself on developing programs for inside and outside the classroom. The entrepreneurship degree has become a popular degree for tomorrow’s leaders to seek out. The number of students pursuing the degree has grown by almost 300% over the past five years.

The Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge just kicked off its seventh year. More than $700,000 in cash and in-kind services have been awarded over the past six years. More than 15,000 visitors used the Isley Innovation Hub during its first year, bringing

Patrick Briley discusses his product during the first round of the 2023-24 Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge.

students together from all over campus to express and bring to life their entrepreneurial ideas.

The Miller School, with ECU’s Office of Research, Economic Development and Engagement, has led RISE29, a program where students are matched with businesses and communities to help drive economic growth in eastern NC. Almost 200 students have worked with 74 small businesses to expand business operations, build sustainability plans and explore new ideas. These consulting projects have led to the creation of 118 jobs and 25 business starts since 2019.

“I believe our continued climb in the rankings is attributable to the Miller School’s focus on its students and its dedication to providing realworld examples and practice in the classroom,” said Chip Galusha, acting director, Miller School of Entrepreneurship. “In the Miller School, you don’t just learn about these topics. You live them and practice them with real businesses in our region. You can’t beat real experience.”

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faculty spotlight

Meet JOHN KROS

John F. Kros currently is the McMahon Distinguished Professor of Marketing and Supply Chain Management in the College of Business (COB) at ECU. He teaches Business Decision Modeling, Statistics, Operations and Supply Chain Management, and Purchasing and Materials Management courses.

Before joining academia, John was employed in the electronics manufacturing industry by Hughes Network Systems (HNS), in Germantown, Maryland.

Professionally John is a member of the Council for Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science (INFORMS), Production Operations Management Society (POMS), and the Decision Sciences Institute (DSI).

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How will you leverage this gift (the professorship) with your work?

As the recipient of the McMahon Distinguished Professorship, I have been charged with enhancing our undergraduate and graduate students’ learning experience while conducting meaningful research.

Within academia, tenured faculty are evaluated on and rewarded for work in three areas: teaching, research, and service. My goal for the professorship is to have a clear agenda in each of the following areas.

• a rich research agenda, including writing/revising textbooks, writing peer-reviewed journal articles, and engaging in external consulting projects • student interaction and student travel experiences

• involvement with professional organizations within the supply chain field.

How will this work impact your students?

One long-term objective has been to use the Professorship as a platform to attract more supply chain management majors and grow the program.

Over the years, many student-centered events and research-oriented projects have taken place to further the regional transformation efforts of the COB. The Student Chapter of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) has been greatly impacted through the Professorship. Each year at the beginning of the fall semester, a tour of the Port of Wilmington takes place. The tour enhances students’ understanding of how goods flow into and out of the state of NC and expands their knowledge of a critical part of the supply chain.

Early each fall semester, at least two supply chain management students are sponsored as interns to the Council for Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) conference. The students work with other supply chain students from all over the United States in running the conference. The students also interact with professionals at the conference exposition as well as attend many educational sessions on real-world supply chain and logistics topics.

Also in the fall semester, at least four supply chain management students attend the Specialty Tool and Fastener Distributors Association (STAFDA) conference. The conference usually has around 3,000 attendees. The students participate in the Supply Chain Case Challenge and have placed in the top three each year the competition has been held. The students also spend time at the next-generation luncheon networking with industry professionals in on-site interviews with select companies. A number of students have been offered full time positions in the supply chain industry from these interviews.

Each May, two or more officers of the Student ISM Chapter attend the National ISM Conference.

The students participate in the conference as

volunteers. Being a volunteer gives them exposure to not only how the conference works but exposure to numerous supply chain professionals and industry firms. Many of these students have interviewed while at the conference and secured jobs in the field of supply chain management.

To date, more than 150 supply chain students have been involved in these activities and benefited directly from them.

What are your research goals for this gift?

My research agenda has three main components: writing of scholarly articles for submission to peer-reviewed journals in the field of supply chain management, revising and updating textbooks that I have authored or co-authored, and engaging in external consulting projects.

Current scholarly research topics include studying the trends in the area of last-mile delivery within the supply chain and investigating the relationship of software as a service (SaaS) within the supply chain.

The textbooks that are included in the research agenda are: • Spreadsheet Modeling for Business Decision Modeling, Kendall Hunt (sole author) • Supply Chain and Operations Management, Cognella (co-author) • Statistics for Health Care Professionals, Jossey-Bass (co-author) • Healthcare Operations and Supply Chain Management, Jossey-Bass (co-author) • Corporate Sports Marketing, KendallHunt (co-author) Recent external consulting projects have included an industry analysis of the amphibious aircraft market and supply chain and an external staffing and operational needs analysis for the purpose of developing a long-term funding needs plan for the North Carolina Department of Air Quality.

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s tudent spotlight

Grace

FALLER

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This Pirate is using her event management skills on and off campus

By Meaghan Skelly | Photo By Rhett Butler

As a second-generation Pirate, Grace Faller felt right at home when she arrived at ECU. “I have very vivid memories of being in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and my dad taking me around campus to show me where he had classes,” Faller said. “I grew up being a Pirate, which made me want to become one officially by going to school here.”

Growing up in Salisbury, she did apply to other schools as contingency plans. However, she always knew ECU was where she belonged. “There are pictures of me in Pirate cheerleading outfits when I was 2 and it is still true to this day that I was going to be a Pirate no matter what,” Faller said. Faller received her bachelor’s degree in hospitality management with concentrations in conventions and events and food and beverage in December of 2022 and is now finishing her master’s degree in business administration.

After a visit from the homecoming committee to her COAD class freshman year, Faller worked with the previous homecoming parade lead organizer.

“I owe a lot of my involvement in the homecoming committee to Molly Roth,” Faller said. “She taught me the ropes of the parade and then handed the parade to me after she graduated that year.” Grace was promoted to the parade lead in her sophomore year after serving as co-lead in her freshman year.

As head of the parade in 2020-2021, she was tasked with organizing a parade while still under COVID-19 precautions. To comply with all safety standards, Faller and the committee coordinated a golf cart parade.

After leading parade planning throughout undergrad, Faller wanted to pursue a new position in the committee during graduate school — homecoming chair. “Being over the parade is very event specific, I focused a lot on participants in the community,” she said. “As the homecoming chair, I oversee the planning of all homecoming events and assist the leads in the planning of their individual events.” Faller estimates that it takes upwards of 200 to 300 hours of work on behalf of the committee to plan the week of events.

Much of the programming for homecoming requires close work with the City of Greenville — where Grace began working as a special events intern in May. Faller has transitioned into a part-time position with the office as the special events assistant.

“I think the internship really helped open my eyes to what a true planning process should look like from both sides,” Faller said. “Being the homecoming chair and working for the city has had a huge benefit for both parties with an open line of communication and ensuring that we are following all guidelines that the city has outlined for us.”

Those guidelines include permits for food trucks to attend events, renting space for skit night through the recreation and parks department, and knocking on every door on the homecoming parade route to notify local residents of road closures. Through her position as special events assistant, Grace gets to work with numerous local events.

“I help with events like National Night Out, the Little League Softball World Series and the Junior Fire Marshal Academy over the summer,” Faller said.

She also helped with the Good Neighbor Initiative, a program that educates residents of local student housing on how to be good neighbors.

With her final homecoming week ending last week, Grace is excited for the homecomings to come.

“After homecoming is over, I look forward to passing the torch to the next chair and coming back to Greenville for homecoming next year,” Faller said.

“Being part of these traditions has been so special and I can’t wait to see what the committee will do in the years to come.”

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s tudent spotlight

WILLIAMS

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Titus Williams’ Legacy: Lift People Up

By ECU News Services | Photos By Rhett Butler and Michael Rudd

Greenville native Titus Alexander Williams graduated in December with his Master of Business Administration from the Thomas D. Arthur Graduate School of Business. He is a legacy Pirate — his mom received both her graduate and undergraduate degrees from ECU — and he came to ECU’s College of Business (COB) after receiving his two-year degree from Pitt Community College.

“After transferring from PCC, I met with Lee Brown (director, Cunanan Center for Professional Success), and he gave me a tour of the College of Business and (showed me) all that it had to offer,” said Williams. “After our meeting, I signed up for business courses for that semester.”

Williams found himself back with Lee Brown and supporting the COB’s Cunanan Center upon receiving his undergraduate degree. He was brought on as a graduate assistant and for almost two years, Williams brought more than a can-do attitude to the Cunanan Center and the students it serves.

“He brings a smile that lights up your day,” said Melissa Parks, associate director of the Cunanan Center. That attitude and an inviting smile give Williams the ability to lift people up and an innate ability to help, or, better yet, want people to succeed.

Since joining the Cunanan Center, Williams has worked at numerous Cunanan-sponsored events and has been a go-to resource to help students with their resumes. Williams estimates he’s helped more than 1,000 students with their resumes since joining the Cunanan Center.

“It’s just a way for me to be able to talk to students and get to know them,” said Williams. “I had one student who came (to the Cunanan Center). We looked at her resume right before the career fair, and we talked about how we wanted to format it.

Later, she came back to the office and said she got a

job; they (the hiring company) praised her resume.”

Walking the halls of Bate Building, it was not uncommon to see Williams taking students to the Cunanan’s Center professional dress closet, a repository of donated suits, ties, skirts, shirts, pants and shoes for students to use if they need business attire for job interviews and COB activities, such as the annual Business Leadership Conference. “A student came up (at the Business Leadership Conference) and was clearly not in dress code,” said Williams. “I brought him back to the dress closet and fitted him with something so he could attend the event. You never really know what hurdles students go through,” added Williams.

Williams credits his ability to help people to his mom, who was a librarian and is currently a teacher.

“Just seeing the energy that she brought and just seeing how excited the kids were to see her, it instilled in me to be the light and be the caring one,” said Williams.

Williams says he plans to bring to his career the knowledge gleaned while at ECU and the COB, as well as the uplifting, positive attitude that comes naturally to him. “You never know what a person’s been through,” said Williams. “Why not be the one to bring a smile to their face.”

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s tudent spotlight

ANDERSON

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Array of opportunities led to future career paths

By Meaghan Skelly | Photos By Rhett Butler and Reed Marshall Wolfley

When thinking back over the last 3 1/2 years at ECU, the word that sums up Jordan Anderson’s experience is opportunity.

The Greenville native planned on leaving Pitt County to attend college; however, meetings with faculty in the Honors College and College of Business (COB) changed her mind and showed her all of the opportunities and community support that would be available to her. “I was like, wow, I can really see myself here, making a difference and growing over these years,” she said. After graduating, Anderson has an internship with Ernst and Young, one of the big four accounting firms.

Working for a firm is one of the many paths that Anderson is considering after completing graduate school and becoming a certified public accountant.

She’s also interested in pursuing her doctorate and potentially becoming a professor, a career path that opened after working with Dr. Linda Quick to complete her signature honors project.

“Coming into freshman year, I was really nervous about it and didn’t know what it was,” she said. “Now that I’ve done it, it’s probably my favorite thing that I’ve done at ECU. My mentor for that project is still my mentor for everything that I do.”

Another favorite experience has been her time on the COB Dean’s Student Leadership Council, which led to a New York City trip to experience business environments outside of NC. “That showed me there are so many opportunities out there,” she said. “I wasn’t scared. I felt prepared to go pursue these opportunities because of my experience at ECU.” Anderson also studied abroad for two weeks in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and France. “It made me more comfortable trying new experiences because that was very out of my comfort zone since I didn’t

have any friends going into it,” she said. “I walked out of it with great friends and great memories. It showed me I was capable of more than I thought.”

The investment ECU put into her and her fellow students is one of the things for which Anderson is most grateful.“Looking at high school senior Jordan and now senior year graduating college Jordan, they are completely different people. I’m so much more comfortable and confident in myself and what I was to do personally and professionally. … The thing that I say to all my friends who are considering ECU is it’s a small school with a big school feel and big school opportunities.”

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#grit atwork

Name: Joy Kimbril • Age: 40 Occupation: HR Director Hometown: Winterville Degree Awarded: BSBA Accounting Story & Photo By Michael Rudd

I am currently working as the HR director at Opendoor Church and Education in Winterville. I have worked in various fields – from chiropractic assistant, estate planning legal assistant, youth pastor, criminal legal assistant, and business administrator to now HR director.

I celebrated 10 years at my current employer – Opendoor Church & Education. I was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa in December 2017 and the National Society for Leadership and Success in April of 2018 while attending Pitt Community College. I am also a Certified Church Administrator (July 2021) through The Church Network, a nondenominational organization of church business administrators who help facilitate the business side of a church. I was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma in November 2021. My career philosophy is to help whatever organization I get to be a part of and steward the resources that God has placed in their hands. I took accounting in high school and enjoyed it, but I did not want to sit at a computer all day and look at numbers, which is now funny because a big part of my job has been to sit at my computer and look at numbers. However, I know that every number I look at working for Opendoor ties back to a church member or student attending our education programs, which is rewarding.

What made you decide to complete your degree?

I originally thought about pursuing graphic design, but I enjoyed my job at Opendoor and wanted to learn more about business administration and nonprofits to be a more well-informed employee and contribute more to the organization.

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I enrolled at Pitt Community College in August 2017 to pursue a business degree. Even though I had earned an associate degree, almost none of the credits transferred since they were from a Bible college, so I had to start all over. My original plan was to take only one class at a time. However, I soon realized it would take me 10 years to finish my undergrad degree as I worked 40+ hours per week and could only handle two courses simultaneously.

I took fall, spring, and summer classes and graduated from PCC in July 2019. Before transferring to the College of Business, I had to decide whether to pursue a finance or accounting degree. After talking to several mentors, they advised me to pursue accounting.

Why ECU and what have you enjoyed about being a business student?

Ever since I moved to Greenville, I wanted to be a Pirate. I looked at other four-year schools, but the location and atmosphere didn’t compare. The biggest thing I enjoyed as a business student is applying what I’m learning in the classroom to my job. I remember when I sat in a classroom (January 2020), looked around at the other students in the classroom — most of whom I was old enough to be their mom — and realized the life experience I brought to the table helped me retain the information I was learning. I understood why a journal entry is recorded a certain way and how it affects the financial statements in a way I didn’t understand before. With the education, I now feel I can contribute more to the conversation than I did before. Practice interviews and answering “Why should we hire you?” questions have equipped me with questions I can now ask potential employees. I don’t regret for a minute going back to school. This was the right time and season of life to do this!

Are there any new occupational goals after your degree is completed?

I hope to move up in the future as the organization grows. I may pursue a master’s later, but my brain needs a break right now.

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