“If you had told me that one professor’s phone call would have a lifelong impact, I never would have believed you … but it did! The Management program, with its unique structure — the tools I learned, the knowledge I gained, the experiences I had and the relationships I built — is the building block upon which I built my future. Each day, I continue to draw from what I learned and build upon it, not only professionally but also personally. The success I am today is due to my years in the program and is a lifelong gift from the professor, Mary Lou Avera, who I am honored to have as my teacher, my mentor and my friend.”

Myra completed the management certificate and an Associate in Applied Sciences degree in business (with honors) at Brookhaven College. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Social Sciences — also with honors — from the University of Texas.

“Since graduating from SUNY Broome with a degree in accounting, I have had the opportunity to become exposed to the accounting profession. I have worked my way up the ladder as I have gained experience, and I have held various positions such as assistant accounting manager, full charge bookkeeper and staff accountant.

“In the past five years, the role of the corporate accountant has changed, and corporations now demand higher-level management skills. I discovered that I could obtain these skills by enrolling in the Management program at Brookhaven College.

“Taking what I learned and applying my education to daily on-the-job scenarios enabled me to stand out, and I was promoted to higher-level accounting positions such as controller, senior accountant and finance manager. The skills I learned through the Management program (and from my mentor, professor Marisa Walsdorf) enabled me to communicate to my staff, the executive team, upper management, stockholders and colleagues. The Management program taught me to look at the company infrastructure as a whole, understand the corporate culture and values, and analyze my strengths and weaknesses to assess how I could become a bigger asset and better manager for my company. My biggest success in this program was learning how to report information analytically, which was very important in my position.

“This program is so valuable to managers - both those who are entering the job market and those who are already managers. The education and skills learned will stay with you for years to come. After three years, I am still referencing what I learned in the Mangement program. Any chance I get, I have and will recommend the program to staff, colleagues and peers.”

Fred earned several degrees and awards from Brookhaven College, including Associate in Applied Sciences degrees in Management and Business Administration, a Management Certificate and a Business Trainee III Skills Achievement Award. Since enrolling in the Management program, Fred has been promoted and has earned a generous salary increase. In his current position, he wears several hats, working closely with executive management and providing software, technical and accounting support.

“My associate degree prepared me to be successful in my career in human resource management. The four core courses — Decision Making, Human Resources, Organizational Behavior and Supervision — have helped me in every aspect of my career. I enjoyed the networking amongst the other students because you learned about how other organizations functioned. But most of all I am thankful for having an instructor like Mary Lou Avera. Mary Lou took each one of her students by the hand and helped guide us in the right direction. I highly recommend the Management Program offered at Dallas County Community Colleges. I have had my staff and other employees in the organization enroll in these courses, and I have noticed a major improvement in their management skills.”

Blanca earned an Associate in Applied Sciences in management from Brookhaven College and a Master of Arts in management from Dallas Baptist University.

“The Management Program has been a great asset for me in my career. I still use the tools and techniques Marisa taught in the program for my everyday work life. At first I didn't realize just how much of an impact this program would have and how it would affect my life. In addition to my career, it has also helped me in a personal way and helped me reach my personal objectives a success as well.”

“The Management Program at Brookhaven helped me reach my lifelong dream of a college degree. Classes were interesting and fun and were related to my position as a new manager. Interaction with other students offered encouragement to excel, and semester goals and objectives provided constructive applications of current management concepts. My professor, Mary Lou Avera, drew on her own expertise to challenge us to reach our career potential. Learning plus fun — what an opportunity!”

Pat continued her education after leaving Brookhaven College, earning a Bachelor of Business Studies in management from Dallas Baptist University.