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Fully Employed Program Testimonials

Class of 2018

Sholeh Norouzzadeh
Sholeh Norouzzadeh
Staff Technical Program Manager, Dexcom

"Going back to school to obtain my MBA degree at CSUSM was one of the best decisions I made in my career. Completing the Fully Employed MBA program at CoBA, helped me to look at business problems from new perspectives. The classes were a perfect mix of skills required for the business world offered by knowledgeable and caring faculty. Our classes were always hands-on and business focused. In particular, learning about global business and challenges of the growing market was helpful in my career. I learned how to find my leadership style, strengths and growth opportunities. Weeknight and weekend classes allowed me to complete the program with a peace of mind while working full time.

The cohort structure of the FEMBA program allowed me to network and build a strong relationship with my classmates, which I have benefited and will definitely benefit from in the future. I highly recommend taking advantage of the active MBA alumni association to expand your network. FEMBA program helped me to build a great network of successful professionals in the region. We had multiple workshops with distinguished leaders of industry in the region which enabled me to acquire skills needed for the next steps in my career."

- Sholeh Norouzzadeh

Class of 2017

jocelyn

Jocelyn Wyndham
Director of Major Gifts, University Advancement, CSUSM
"The CSUSM FEMBA program had a significant impact on my professional development. It helped me develop greater proficiency in public speaking, report preparation and presentation, strategic analysis, leadership, and project management. I was able to apply the skills and knowledge I developed in the program to my job which resulted in several immediate professional successes, and within 6 months of graduating from the program I received a promotion at work."
-Jocelyn Wyndham
Elizabeth Quintard
Elizabeth Quintard
Business Manager for Instant Ink and New Business Models,  HP Inc.
"The MBA program at CSUSM is perfect for any working professional anywhere in San Diego County. There is a great mix of both Cal State and guest professors and speakers, all of which are distinguished in their fields of expertise and bring a high level of knowledge to the program. The core curriculum is well balanced across finance, management, business analytics, and leadership. The foundation of most courses is team projects and case studies, which quickly help you fine tune and grow specific skills that can be re-applied to your current career. The program is offered in a cohort style which fosters growth in both personal and professional networks. The FEMBA program at CSUSM offers the best return on your investment compared to any other program in San Diego county. I would highly recommend it to any working professional looking to earn an MBA degree, gain lifelong friendships, and seeking a catalyst to take your professional career to entirely new level."
-Elizabeth Quintard

Class of 2016

Rosemary Reed

Rosemary Reed Kessel
Director of Operations, Commworld of San Diego-North, Inc.

"I highly recommend CSUSM’s Fully Employed MBA program.  It is a demanding and intensive program that will help you take your career to the next level.  For me there were several factors impacting my decision to attend CSUSM over other schools.  The integration with the business community was most important to me.  Through courses such as Meet the Leaders you are granted access to leaders in the business community that you wouldn’t otherwise have access to.  Also learning in a cohort environment helps ensure your success as an individual. Lastly CSUSM provides the best value, keeping the cost of the program competitive."
-Rosemary Reed Kessel
jorge
Jorge A. Gaspar 
Chief Medical Information Officer, Samahan Health Center
Chief Financial Officer and Co-founder, Vicarious PR, LLC
"The FEMBA program at CSUSM is an experience that those who choose to enter will never forget. If working full time and studying for your MBA at the same time seems like a lot of work, that's because it definitely is. Still, the rewards stemming from a successful completion far outweigh the toil. At its core, the FEMBA will teach you two main things. The first is how to be a good leader and the second is how to be a good at networking. These two foundations are what drive businesses today and throughout the program, they are constantly reinforced. If you're looking for a piece of paper that says MBA on it, then this might not be the program for you. However, if your goal is to grow as a leader and obtain a deeper working knowledge of how businesses function and thrive, then you've come to the right program."
-Jorge A. Gaspar

Class of 2015

keith gemmell
Keith Gemmell
Senior Management Analyst, City of San Diego
"The intensive courses of the CSUSM MBA program are oriented toward creating leaders and strong business professionals. They pushed me to excel and find solutions through new skillsets and perspectives. Being a husband, father and working professional, the FEMBA program was a perfect fit for me to manage my already at capacity life. Obtaining my MBA has given me skills to advance my career, become a better leader, provide financial and performance analysis, and plan strategic initiatives for programming. CSUSM’s program is the best choice for any professional looking to become a better manager and well-rounded candidate in any career field."
-Keith Gemmell

Class of 2014

Matthew Hyatt
Matthew Hyatt
Head of Operations, MilliporeSigma
"The MBA program at California State University, San Marcos was a challenging, yet fully rewarding career experience for me.  The accessible North County campus and convenient scheduling of classes gave me the ability to achieve my dream of earning an MBA degree, while continuing to work full-time.  The comprehensive curriculum provided a strong foundation in management, leadership, financial analysis and business analytics.  Many of the principles learned in the program were able to be applied immediately at my place of work.  The program allowed me to interact with top-notch faculty and industry leaders, as well as create networking opportunities and friendships that will last a lifetime."
-Matthew Hyatt

Class of 2013

Melissa Horning
Melissa Horning
Product Quality Manager, ViaSat

"The CSUSM MBA program was the best fit for me because of the competitive price and class schedule. Once I adjusted my mindset and schedule to balance both work and school I realized that my potential was larger than I ever thought it could be. I was able to apply many of the class deliverables to special projects in other functional areas within my company.  This created networking and learning opportunities that have given me great exposure for my career."

"My cohort and the faculty have consistently inspired me to think about the business world in different ways. At the end of the program at CSUSM we created a “MBA Business Book Club” in which we continue to learn business concepts, grow our networks, and help each other in our careers. Members of my cohort have been a critical sounding board for my personal career decisions, and I have no doubt that we will stay friends and colleagues for years to come."
-Melissa Horning

Class of 2012

Ania Piotrowicz
Ania Piotrowicz
Senior Financial Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific
"The CSUSM program has been the best career move I could have made. The program was very challenging and demanding, but extremely rewarding. I gained a deep understanding of the theory behind business processes and was introduced to real-world scenarios which provided me with direct experience and knowledge of how today’s top businesses operate. On top of it all, I gained incredible friendships with both, professors and students."
-Ania Piotrowicz
Tylia Smith Tietje
Tylia Smith Tietje
Operations Manager, A Novartis Company
"Higher education often opens doors and CSUSM's MBA program is no exception! There were many opportunities for professional and personal development that could not have been experienced through an online program. Knowledge gained could immediately be applied in the workplace. Industry leaders were often guest speakers who inspired students, shared lessons learned, and were open to networking. Relationships formed in our cohort will be a great support for years to come. My MBA experience provided tools for a deeper understanding of the business world which will be beneficial to my career in biotech and at home."
-Tylia Smith Tietje

Class of 2011

Jared Shapiro
Jared Shapiro
Sales Engineer, Southern California Sound-Image
"Through all of the ups and downs, the MBA program showed itself to be an excellent source of scholastic development. The faculty allows you to have a voice in the development of the young program in a continuous effort to maximize your education. The courses covered in the program offer a well-rounded management education with an emphasis in quantitative skills. Going through the program as a cohort brings with it a tremendous level of support. Thanks to this program, I not only have a network of great contacts, but a group of great friends as well."
-Jared Shapiro

Class of 2010

Jodi Coe

Jodi Coe
Executive Assistant, NuVasive

"CSUSM’s program is the best choice for North San Diego County residents who want to obtain an MBA. The Saturday classes are convenient, the cost is competitive, and the quality of the education is first-rate. Because CSUSM’s MBA students go through the program as a cohort, they build personal and professional relationships that last a lifetime."
-Jodi Coe
Photo of Roger Herzler 
Roger Herzler
 
 Technical Business Analyst, Advanced Symitar & Lecturer at CSUSM
“The CSU San Marcos MBA was the most challenging academic effort I've undertaken, yet it was very rewarding! I was thoroughly impressed by the instructors’ knowledge and enthusiasm for their courses, as well as the high caliber of the other students that were in my cohort.  I've been able to take away a much deeper understanding of how to contribute to a company's success, and I have added life-long friends that I can network with in the future. Taking the MBA at CSUSM was a high-value endeavor that I recommend to anyone wanting to be more successful in business and in their career.”
-Roger Herzler
Photo of Alaa-addin Moussa 
Ala'a-addin Moussa
Senior Manager, IoT Products at Dish Network
"The MBA program was well-rounded and introduced me to many concepts that a product development manager should be aware of: operational excellence, market segmentation, strategic positioning, competitive advantages and product differentiation to mention a few. The theories of organizational behavior, leadership, ethics, and cultural differences came in handy when working with global companies each with a distinct culture. Of special utility were the analytical decision making tools I learned to guide my decision making processes in uncertainty."
-Ala'a-addin Moussa

Class of 2007

Photo of Natalie Andrade Hinson 
Natalie Andrade Hinson

 Manager of Operations, Plavan Fleet
“Cal State San Marcos had all the qualities I was looking for in an MBA program: top-notch faculty along with a convenient schedule that made it possible to attend classes while working full-time. I was able to learn real world solutions to a variety of business challenges that could immediately be applied in the workplace.”
-Natalie Andrade Hinson
Photo of Chris Bererducci
Chris Berarducci

 President, Vital Digital
“Overall, the program was excellent. I feel that it really taught me how to think quickly in new situations, meet deadlines and provided a better understanding of how business works in general. All of these items together have helped to open new professional opportunities.”
-Chris Berarducci
David Page 
David Page, CPA
Director of Finance & Controller, San Diego Zoo
“The Cal State San Marcos MBA program is extremely challenging with top quality, knowledgeable, experienced professors…. Obtaining an MBA is an incredible experience. It has improved my performance at work and reinvigorated my career. I highly recommend seeking an MBA and I highly recommend the MBA program at CSU San Marcos."
-David Page

Class of 2006

Photo of Erhan Ercan  
Erhan Ercan, MBA

Vice President of Marketing, Ostendo Technologies, Inc.
“The CSUSM MBA empowered me with that extra oomph I needed in getting the company I co-founded on its feet with now over 120 people since its inception in October 2005.”
-Erhan Ercan
Photo of John Paterson 
John Paterson
International Program Manager, Fire Scout Program, Northrop Grumman
“As an engineering manager at a major aerospace company I had an excellent technical background but no practical experience in the business aspects of my company. Cal State San Marcos' MBA program taught me to think from a business perspective rather than as an engineer. I have since been promoted to managing the international sales of one of our aircraft.”
-John Paterson