Program Highlights JD/MBA: The Competitive Advantage Tom Kading Ambitious, entrepreneurial, and educated are just three of the many words that can be used to describe 2013 JD/MBA graduate Tom Kading.
working professionals and part-time students, whereas the JD classes were during the day and were typically full-time students.
Kading always knew he wanted to go into business, but thought he would diversify his background by starting with a degree in civil engineering and a minor in business. Kading remembers when touring UND as a high school student he thought he would want to come to UND for Law School. When deciding to start the JD/MBA program Kading felt that the law degree would fit very well with the MBA program.
Kading was grateful to be awarded the Fredrickson & Byron Law and Business Scholarship that is awarded to a JD/MBA student. “When you are a JD/MBA student you have an extra course load and may not have the opportunity to work as much, as you are taxed with classes,” says Kading.
“With a JD/MBA it sets you apart and you save money by doing the combined program” says Kading. Kading completed the JD/MBA in three years which resulted in taking approximately18 credits a semester. He indicated that the programs worked nicely together in that the MBA classes were primarily in the evening and involved more
Kading was not only working with a heavy class load, but launching a successful real estate company on the side. When Kading arrived at UND he began with an internship at the Center for Innovation, working on an entrepreneurial tech job with the chemical engineering department. He became connected with the center and later began renting virtual office space for his latest entrepreneurial venture by starting a real estate enterprise – Precision Property Management & Precision Real Estate and Capital. “I always knew I wanted to do something entrepreneurial and I saw opportunities with property investments,” said Kading. Precision Property, was founded with the intent to become a world-class service in the property management business. Kading is the president of the business and has expanded his service areas to include: Grand Forks and Fargo, ND. Precision Real Estate and Capital manages investment projects in Bismarck, ND; Moorhead, MN; East Grand Forks, MN; Pinal County, AZ; and Polk County, FL. He currently manages approximately 100 homes and works closely with investors. Kading is passionate about continuing to grow his career in the areas of real estate development and investments. While attending UND Kading was part of the Dakota Venture Group (DVG), which is a student run venture capital investment fund. Students complete all due diligence, make the final investment decisions, and negotiate the deal’s term structure. “Being involved in DVG helped open my eyes and understand the in’s and out’s with private investment,” says Kading.
Tom Kading 14 | Business & Public Administration