Operations Management Major
"IUP provided me with an opportunity to get involved with student organizations, which in my experience have played a huge part in the academic success I have achieved thus far. From them, I have learned a great deal of valuable leadership, time management, and people skills that are irreplaceable."
I am from Waterford, Pennsylvania. During high school, I spent the majority of my time playing sports. I was on the football, basketball, and track teams each year. Still being interested in playing a sport and entering a career in business, I looked to several schools, including Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The fact that IUP had an accredited business college, I was interested in the school's track and field team as well as the proximity to home, jointly made IUP an undeniable decision for me.
As a freshman, I was not exactly sure which business career path I wanted to enter, so I began college as an undecided Business major. After doing some research into the different majors Eberly College of Business had to offer, I became very interested in the Management Department and, specifically, Operations Management as a major.
Eberly has done an excellent job of preparing me for a future in operations management. I can say that with confidence, because this past summer I was able to successfully use some of the knowledge and skills I had attained from Eberly. I interned with the New Product Introduction Sourcing Team at General Electric Transportation in one of the nation's top internship programs.
I am currently the president of Eberly's Management Department student organization called the Management Association. I have been in this organization since I was a sophomore, and have had the pleasure to experience several leadership positions within the group. These leadership positions include community service chair, marketing chair, vice president, and, currently, president.
My experience with the Management Association has given me the opportunity to experience and coordinate fundraising efforts and community service events and plan company site visits with our faculty advisor and members of our organization. In addition, I have spent the necessary time to set standards and objectives with the group and driving members to ensure we reach our overall goals. I have also worked collaboratively with members in keeping the organization in good financial standing. As an officer, I have had the experience of motivating chairs and other officers to actively do their part in the organization. Presiding over the Management Association's general meetings has substantially helped me enhance my ability to speak to an audience.
My experience with the Management Association has taught me how to effectively plan and lead a group of more than 20 people. Being an active participant of the Management Association for three years has shaped me into something more than an academically dedicated studentthis group has shaped me into a leader.
My experiences at IUP have given me the opportunity to meet so many great people through clubs and organizations that I have either previously been a part of or that I am currently involved in. These organizations include the school's indoor track and field team, boxing club, Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity, Student Operations Management Association, College of Business Student Advisory Council, and the Management Association.
IUP provided me with an opportunity to get involved with student organizations, which, in my experience, have played a huge part in the academic success I have achieved thus far. From them, I have learned a great deal of valuable leadership, time management, and people skills that are irreplaceable. I am proud of what I have learned and accomplished at IUP through the hard work, dedication, and determination I have experienced to get to this point.
Rich is currently a Management Associate in the Logistics Group at U.S. Steel (as of Fall 2013).