When Nathan Sodini ’22 graduated from Michigan Tech with dual degrees in engineering management and finance, he wasn’t chasing a desk job or a career confined to one city. The College of Business graduate wanted a role that offered international travel, worldwide collaboration, and the opportunity to transform technical expertise into leading-edge solutions.
Students, faculty, staff, distinguished alumni, and industry advisors came together at the end of spring semester for the second annual College of Business Student Awards program. Highlights included the induction of students into the Michigan Tech Chapter of the international business honor society Beta Gamma Sigma and recognition of an outstanding student in each degree program, along with presenting the Outstanding Student in Business and Teacher of the Year awards. Here’s a look at the winners and what nominators had to say about their accomplishments:
Beta Gamma Sigma is the honor society for AACSB-accredited schools. AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, is a professional organization founded in 1916 to provide accreditation to business schools that meet standards of excellence in education.
To see who qualified for the honor, joining the ranks of what honor society advisor Jonathan Leinonen described as “the best of the best,” access the full list of Beta Gamma Sigma inductees and members.
This award is presented each year to alumni under the age of 35 who have distinguished themselves in their career. The award recognizes the achievement of a position or some distinction noteworthy for one so recently graduated.
Captain Amanda (Taylor) Nerg ’10 believes in leaving a place better than when you arrived.
“Your actions will affect those around you and you can be that guiding force in creating a better future for those who come after us.”
For Nerg attending Tech was coming home. During her childhood, she lived near Tech while her mom served as the commander for the Air Force ROTC. “When we moved I missed everything about the area. When I began my search for a college, I only applied to one school, Michigan Tech. It was exciting to return to the place I had once called home.”
Nerg received a bachelor of science degree in business administration in 2010. In 2014, she earned her master of business administration at the Naval Postgraduate School.
She says the training she received at Michigan Tech prepared her for a career in the Air Force. Her first assignment she served as a contract administrator at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota where she managed a $7.6 million architect-engineer services program.
“Michigan Tech instilled a passion for innovation and creative thinking. The Air Force ROTC program guided me to become a strong leader and follower in the military. Alpha Gamma Delta taught me the values of living with purpose and impacting the world. Every class, every extracurricular activity provided the foundation for who I am today.”
Nerg is the Chief of Contracting Office at Moron Air Base in Spain, where she supports multiple Air Force, Marine, and NATO missions. While working on her master’s degree at the Naval Postgraduate School, she says her analytical background from Tech calculus and statistics classes helped create her thesis on geospatial information systems (GIS) and their use in humanitarian and disaster response, developing a transportation routing model for fuels distribution.
She says she has many fond memories from Tech include meeting her husband, Steve Nerg ’11. The couple has been married for more than six years.
Tech helped Nerg discover who she wanted to be. “Everything you do and have done at this university has shaped you into who you are today. Aspire to be your best and do your job with integrity and passion.”
Tim Spehar is a spring 2017 graduate of our engineering management major! He recalls visiting a series of universities during his junior year of high school. He and his Dad traveled around the state of Michigan before making it up to the U.P. to check out Michigan Tech’s School of Business and Economics. During his visit, Tim found exactly what he was looking for: the opportunity to combine both business and technical skills into one program. When he left his campus visit, Tim knew he had chosen his college! He knew he would be coming to Michigan Tech to major in engineering management.
Tim’s four years on campus were packed with classes, involvement in student organizations, and playing outside. As he reflects on his experiences, he came up with some advice he would like to share with future students:
Tim has already started his position as Project Engineer at Therma-Tron-X Inc. and has been enjoying his first few weeks on the job. On behalf of the School of Business and Economics, we congratulate him and wish him the best on his future endeavors! If you’d like to get in touch with Tim please feel free to send him an Email at tmspehar@mtu.edu, or follow him on Instagram @the_cycling_engeineer
We are pleased to announce that the School of Business and Economics will be hosting a panel discussion on Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 3:30 – 4:30 pm in the Memorial Union Building Alumni Lounge. The panel is open to all members of the community. Light refreshments will be served.
The panel will consist of members of the Michigan Tech Presidential Council of Alumnae.
This year’s panelist includes the following:
Denise Blankinship – Vice President, Strategic Projects, The Church Pension Group
Michele Blau – Senior Manager of IBM Cloud Engagement and Enablement
Marie Cleveland – Worldwide Account Manager, FedEx Services
Carrie Schaller – Business Process Director – Manufacturing Operations, Dow Chemical
Joyce Ten Haken – Manageing Partner/CPA, Ten Haken, Hinz & Company Accountancy Corporation
Moderators/facilitators for the panel discussion will include:
Suzanne Sanregret – Athletic Director, Michigan Tech
Dana Johnson – Professor of Supply Chain and Engineering Management, Michigan Tech
Darnishia Slade – Director of International Career Education, Michigan Tech