Education

I will receive my B.B.A. Degree with an emphasis on management from Adrian College in May of 2000. At that time I also will receive a minor in Economics. Currently my G.P.A. is 3.6 on a 4.0 scale. My desire to learn, as well as my high internal motivation, has led to my academic success. The courses of management study that I have taken have proven extremely useful in my work experiences. The ability to relate management concepts to real-world situations has aided in my understanding of the science of management.

Skills and Competencies

Programming
I learned HTML 4.0 through the use of information gathered on the Internet as well as books and other supplementary materials. The process of web page construction is, for the most part, standardized. Yet, the developments in HTML and JavaScript made the actual task of programming the page very interesting. The page contents continue to expand as I gain more programming knowledge.

I learned the basic operations and abilities of Visual Fox Pro 6.0 in the summer internship at Hackney Hardware. I was primarily assigned to developing databases and writing SQL statements for querying those databases. The internship was very interesting and exciting because it allowed me to see the power of programs in the business world. It was also interesting to see how a minor amount of programming knowledge can facilitate a business? need.

I learned the functional operation of VMS BASIC 3.6 in an elective class at Adrian College. I took this class to supplement my interest in computer science as well as provide background information in other programming languages. Learning the Basic language allowed me to see the power of even the most simple programming language. I even took what I learned from the course and wrote a program to calculate my class grade averages.

Office Suite Software
I have proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office 97 Standard Edition including PowerPoint, Word, and Excel. I have used these office applications throughout my academic and professional careers. I have used PowerPoint extensively in the development and presentation of reports and case analyses. The use of Word has been primarily in the development of reports and papers.

Also, Word was used, to some degree, in the development of memos to employees of Hackney Hardware regarding the development of the accounting software. Excel was used mostly in conjunction with self-developed spreadsheet documents for personal and academic use. Overall, the knowledge gained from using the various modules in the Office Suite has led to the development of a level of knowledge which allows me the freedom to move in virtually any software environment.

PC Architecture
I have learned the various aspects of personal computer (PC) architecture through information gathered on the Internet as well as books and other supplementary materials. My interest in PC's stems from my mechanical inclination. Computers have always sparked my interest and, with the comfort level I possess in the software respect, I decided to tackle the hardware end.

Learning the different terminology and functions of a PC's internal components, as well as the previous knowledge of computer software, has provided a wealth of knowledge that I have used to help others with their computer problems. I recently built a 400MHz Pentium II system for myself in the summer of 1999. Since then, I also built a 500MHz Pentium III system for an aunt this past summer (1999) and a 450MHz AMD K-6 III system for my brother. The knowledge gained from these experiences has proven invaluable.

Internship

I completed an internship at Hackney Hardware (located in Dexter, Michigan) in the summer of 1999. The purpose of the internship was to develop a back-office accounting/bookkeeping system. I consulted with the end user and developed the application code, databases, and interface in accordance with the end user's general specifications, as well as training the end user on the new system.

Learning Visual FoxPro 6.0 was a very interesting experience because it was like nothing I had ever used before in a classroom. The visual programming interface showed me there was a large world of programming that existed beyond the classroom. Developing the final program involved form design, database design, code design (SQL statements) and many hours pouring over a user's manual.

The basic coding and design chores were delegated to me while my supervisor performed much of the higher-level, intricate coding. I also learned a great deal about how people learn and interact with computers during the application-training phase of the internship. Overall, this internship showed me how to work with people to determine their needs, use a programming language to build a powerful application, and train the user on the use of the application.

Work Experience

Accounting/Finance Tutor
Being employed as an accounting/finance tutor serves to reinforce the knowledge gained in the classroom. Working with students to help them understand core accounting/finance concepts is a challenge because it seems as though everyone's thought process is different. Striving to teach students accounting/finance is one of the things that made my college work experience rewarding.

Sales Associate
Working as a sales associate at Hackney Hardware (Dexter, Michigan) was an extremely challenging experience because of the wide array of skills needed. Supervising 6, on average, other sales associates for the purpose of cash register operation and general customer service requirements was difficult at times. The knowledge and skills gained from this type of management experience are invaluable.

Some of the coordinating duties I was delegated: re-merchandise departments, perform remodeling of departments, organize new mershandise displays, and clean and organize departments. Almost everything imaginable was delegated for me to perform. As such, this drew upon, and developed, a wide variety of skills. This job enabled me to participate in every aspect of retail-floor operations.

Among some of the office duties I performed at Hackney Hardware: balanced cash drawers averaging $2000, reconciled order invoices, transmitted orders, updated inventory stock levels, and consulted on store layout changes. These front-office duties also developed a large number of skills that have proven to be invaluable. I have participated in almost every aspect of a small business operation in one form or another.

Honors and Awards

Dean's List
I have been named to the Adrian College Dean's List five times. To be eligible for the Dean's List a student must have a semester cumulative G.P.A. of 3.5 or higher.

MIAA Honor Roll of Athletes
I have been named to the MIAA Honor Roll of Athletes two times, in two years of participating in MIAA athletics. To be eligible, a student-athlete must have a cumulative semester G.P.A. of 3.5 or higher and have scored at least one point in a MIAA varsity sport meet.

State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship
I have received the Michigan Competitive Scholarship four times during my college career. Hey, every little bit of scholarship money helps pay those tuition bills.