Ted McWilliams, MBA ’97, Management Information Systems ’95
Why come back to school?
Because information technology changes so rapidly, a continued education into the upper reaches of MIS allowed me to be more proficient in the technical aspects of my career field and showed me how to step outside the IT field and apply it to many other industries – all of which use IT in different ways. More specifically, the MBA program at Tennessee Tech equipped me with advantages in the business field that allowed me to recently fulfill the chief operating officer position of one of the most successful auction companies in the Upper Cumberland.
How has your degree helped in your profession?
MIS is a core point of almost every company that is successful in today’s world. Without the help of IT, the auction industry would still exist only on the local level. The MBA program helped me build a base of technical and business knowledge, which allows our company to compete on the same level with larger companies. We regularly have online auctions that have a global reach instead of pulling in buyers and sellers just from the local area. My experience gained from going a step further with the MBA translates constantly into increased growth for our company.
What was the best thing about your graduate experience at TTU?
Without a doubt, the professorial staff at TTU. Each and every one of my professors was knowledgeable about their industry, kept tabs on the latest advances in information technology and went the extra mile to make sure I did not leave TTU without the best preparation for a highly competitive industry. They understand what it takes to be successful and help students gain access to that success.
To find out more about the Tech MBA program, visit tntech.edu/mba