Reconnect This Summer!

Upcoming Events to Get You Connected

 

Saturday, June 2^nd @ Bechtel
1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA.

Rebranding Workshop

5:30 p.m.

Commerce Career Services (CCS) will be presenting on the topic of“Rebranding”. As MS in MIT alumni, you should be able to integrate what you’ve learned and practiced into your professional identity. This process isn’t always easy, however, so CCS will be presenting on how to create this new professional brand. We will discuss ways of identifying new concepts and skills, and we will also explore integrating the development of previously existing abilities and work values. We’ll also discuss your current perception of what your brand is and why it’s important to your professional development. This presentation isn’t just for those who are seeking to leave your company or industry; we will also share ways to leverage this program in your existing role with your organization.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Kelly (keddins@virginia.edu) or Aaron (gilley@virginia.edu).


Wednesday June 13th @ Cafe Caturra - Short Pump(www.cafecaturra.com/)

3332 Pump Road, Richmond, VA 23233

MS in MIT Happy Hour
4:00 p.m. - Until?  

Thursday June 14th @ Virtue Feed & Grain (www.virtuefeedandgrain.com)
106 S. Union St., Alexandria, VA 22314MS in MIT Happy Hour
6:00 p.m.– Until? 

We hope to see you there!

Are there MS in MIT Alumni where you live? Want to help plan a happy hour to get alumni, students and program recruits together? Contact Aimee Carter today. aimeecarter@virginia.edu

Career Services Update

Included in this newsletter are alumni profiles, links of interest, and words of wisdom from the staff at Commerce Career Services; each month, we’ll have important information for MS in MIT students. Please let us know if there is a topic you would like us to cover!

1. Alumni Profile

Jason Williamson (MS in MIT ’12) – Client Advisor, Oracle. (Raleigh/NYC/Boston). Embedded in C-Suite of two clients, performing Management Consulting.

1) What were your expectations of the MS MIT degree as you were going into the program?

I expected to get an integrated approach to strategic IT management. I was looking for a program that would prepare me to operate within the leadership circles of a firm where the intelligent application of technology could be strategic advantage. I can tell you that what I am learning module to module has been extremely relevant for me and my clients. I also expected that the work would be challenging. You can certainly immerse yourself as deep as you want. A lot depends on what you know coming in and what you want to improve upon. Finally, I expected to
broaden my knowledge and exposure to other industries through the interactions with my cohort. An unexpected bonus was that I have found that we learn as much outside the class from each other as we do from the class setting and module projects. The beautiful part of that is that it will continue many years beyond the program as we form lifelong friendships.

2) Are you expecting to make a career change during or soon after finishing the program? That elements of the program are helpful in making this change?

Having done a few startups in my career and now being in a position to assist my clients in new business ventures and major initiatives I am in that great space where I am content in the present with a watchful eye on the future. Both the U.Va. experience and brand have already returned dividends within my current role, both for me personally and for my clients. For those of us within the program that are looking at a career change, our network of classmates, alumni and faculty continue to be huge assets for testing the waters, seeing was is out there and even brokering new opportunities.

3) What advice/words of wisdom do you have for current or future MS MIT students who are considering either a job change or career change now that they are working towards the MS MIT degree?

Be patient. Just like a running back, you need to let the play develop before you make a move and don't be afraid to take a risk. Learn how your new and growing body of knowledge and U.Va. family can help you find that right next step. The IT career field is very open right now and hiring. Don't forget that there is room for entrepreneurial efforts as well. Pragmatically speaking, wait until graduation if you can because the rigors of the program will make a new job that much more challenging.


2. Articles of Note

How To Stand Out
Different Outlook on Networking
Freelancing Tips
Thinking Globally?

3. Career Advice 2.0 – Words of Wisdom
From Aaron Gilley, Assistant Director of Career Development

At this point in your academic and professional lives, networking is a concept that may be oversold and underdeveloped. While the business of connecting with like-minded individuals and future employers is always important, the opportunities may seem limited. That’s why local and regional networking are so important! From local groups like Rotary, Kiwanis, and Junior League to professional organizations like Virginia Society of Professional Engineers and National Center for Women & Information Technology, there are ways to network without having to schmooze it up with the same VPs and former classmates that can make networking more of a chore than an opportunity. Memberships in these organizations can give you valuable professional information, introduce you to individuals who can assist you in your career development, and bring you a way to speak about the things you enjoy most about your profession. While time consuming for members, professional organizations are a fantastic avenue for networking and growth.

4. We’re Here to Help

Commerce Career Services is always available to assist you with your career development needs. Whether you’re actively seeking new employment or simply learning how to network within your
current company and/or industry, we have tools to assist you in the career development process! We’re available for in-phone, video, or in-person appointments. We can also answer your questions through email if you’d prefer. Please don’t hesitate to contact Kelly Eddins (keddins@virginia.edu) or Aaron Gilley (gilley@virginia.edu) with any questions you might have. Good luck!

Exciting Update

I share with you exciting news from Stefano! ~Aimee

Dear Alumni,

I hope this message finds you well and that 2012 is off to a great start for you. During this time of year the MSMIT students are working on their capstone projects and looking forward to graduation. I am sure that you remember how rewarding that work was, and that you are proud of your U.Va. degree. It involved a significant investment of resources, time, hard work, and passion. It is part of your intellectual history and of your professional credentials. Most importantly, it makes you a member of the MSMIT network and the larger U.Va. community.

Because of your connection to our program, I write today to bring you some good news. The faculty and I feel a duty to protect and grow the value of your investment. While the program in many ways is getting incrementally better every year, this year we have made a change that will increase the profile of your degree. The Northern Virginia section of the MS in MIT is moving to a new and significantly more prestigious home. The new location is the 23rd and 24th floor of the Waterview Conference Center in Arlington. It is a recently built facility designed by New York-based Pei Cobb Freed & Partners - the firm responsible for the expansion and modernization of Paris’s Louvre museum, with stylish interior design by California-based Gensler & Associates. The Center is located at the Corporate Executive Board building, 1919 North Lynn St., Arlington, VA 22209.

We are very excited about the move. The Center has two excellent u-shaped, tiered classrooms which are ideal for the highly interactive classroom discussions that characterize our program. The dining space for the program participants features floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of the Potomac and the city. Students and faculty will enjoy faster and better IT resources.

For the incoming MSMIT class, the 2012-2013 academic year will begin in August. We changed the starting date of the program to better fit the lifestyle of our participants. Both the Charlottesville and NoVa section now last one year, with a graduation date expected for July 2013. Synching the two sections opens up opportunities for the two classes to meet several times throughout the year, which in turn means that all students will have significantly better opportunities to network with other professionals, exchange experiences, and socialize.

Of course, you are invited to be a part of this happy moment in the history of the program. We are planning an opening reception for all alumni, so that we can show off the new location and let you meet the NoVa class of 2013 – specifics will follow. Spread the word. I look forward to seeing you there!

Sincerely,

Stefano Grazioli
Academic Director, M.S. in Management of IT
McIntire School of Commerce
University of Virginia

New Year New Face

In This Issue
1. Introduction
2. M.S. MIT Alumni Reading List
3. Alumni Profile
4. Upcoming Events

1. INTRODUCTION

My name is Aimee Carter and I have recently joined the Development and Alumni Engagement team at McIntire and I wanted to write to introduce myself as the face behind this blog and as your alumni connection to the McIntire School of Commerce. I am so excited to be working with all of you and helping to strengthen the network that you have with one another and connect you with the current students, the McIntire School of Commerce and fellow Virginia alumni.

I am joining the McIntire team from the University of Virginia’s Office of Engagement as the Associate Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement and before that as the Director of Special Events for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. My background experience has included a variety of work including volunteer management, special event planning, fundraising, sales and marketing. I am a graduate of Elon University in Elon, North Carolina and have my Masters work in Higher Education Administration at Ole Miss. I live in the area with my husband and our two children. In our house we are avid sports fans and follow the Pittsburgh Steelers and Virginia Cavaliers with unbridled passion.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email me with any questions, updates, opportunities or just to chat. I will be hitting the road soon and look forward to meeting as many of you as possible. If you’re in town feel free to stop by and see me in 208 in Robertson Hall. I look forward to hearing about your ideas for alumni networking, social and lifelong learning events.

Aimee E. Carter
Associate Director of Development & Alumni Engagement
McIntire School of Commerce University of Virginia
125 Ruppel Drive
PO Box 400173
Charlottesville VA, 22904
434-982-5623 (direct)
434-607-7719 (cell)
434-924-0890 (fax)
@MS_AimeeC on Twitter
www.commerce.virginia.edu/give


2. MS MIT ALUMNI READING LIST

Microsoft PocketTouch Lets You Use Your Phone Through Fabric

The Most Common Strategy Mistakes


And from Christopher Porter , Principal, Verizon RISK Team
The Seven Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful Executives


3. ALUMNI PROFILE from COMMERCE CAREER SERVICES
Each month the Commerce Career Services department is sending a Career Development Newsletter to the current students including an alumni profile. I thought you all would enjoy. If you’d like to be included in a future digest contact Aaron Gilley gilley@virginia.edu.


Alumni Profile

Richard Ross (MS in MIT ’11) – Senior Director, Office of the CIO, The College Board. (Reston, VA)

1) What were your expectations of the MS MIT degree as you were going into the program?
Course content that I could apply to my job immediately, spirited discussion in the classroom, networking opportunities, forge a few close relationships with faculty and classmates.

2) Have you made a career change since you completed the degree? What elements of the program were helpful in making this change?
Yes. I moved from a Technology Consulting role to an in house opportunity helping drive Strategic Technology Planning and IT Business Operations. Elements of the program that helped me make the change included the constant focus on tying every technology decision to the idea of business value. Throughout the different Mods, various levers were identified through discussion or course content which helped me better articulate my potential value prop. in a strategic role with my new organization.

3) What advice/words of wisdom do you have for MS MIT students who are considering either a job change or career change now that they are working towards the MS MIT degree?
Advice: Do not make the change mid program; wait until after the program. With that being said, no matter when you make the change - be sure that you are moving into a role that allows you to develop a line of sight between your specific role and how you can influence the core competencies of your new organization. If you can do that, in most organizations you will be able to tie the impact of your daily decisions to overall corporate objectives. Move into a role out of your comfort zone - if you are a technologist at heart, ensure you gain some experience in a pure business role; if you are business oriented and have not written a line of code - gain experience as a member of solution development team, expose yourself to engineers and developers - understand the technology. As you consider your next role, don't change for the sake of change - change because the new role will bolster your value prop. to the organization.



4. UPCOMING M.S. MIT ALUMNI EVENTS:

Winter Warming
M.S. MIT Alumni and Student Networking Reception on Saturday, February 4 from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm at Bechtel.


Of Note for Richmond Alumni
UVaClub of Richmond hosts a monthly Downtown Luncheon Series, This month’s lunch and talk will include McIntire School of Commerce faculty Karin Bonding who will speak about "The Best Way to Allocate Your Assets" Register at http://uvaclubs.virginia.edu/richmondbonding. For questions, email jennie@jenniebarrettshaw.com.
Tuesday, January 24
11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
The Bull & Bear Club
901 E Cary St # 2100
Richmond, VA 23219

For more events from the UVaClubs program (open to all alumni, friends and family) around the world visit http://uvaclubs.virginia.edu/events.


5. FOLLOW US

I am committed to restarting this M.S. MIT Alumni Blog with links to our Alumni Directory, Jobs Blog, McIntire Event Calendar, Social Media Connections and other McIntire Alumni information. Follow us at http://msmitalumni.blogspot.com/ or follow me on twitter @MS_AimeeC for articles from our faculty, news from McIntire and around Grounds and information on upcoming events.

Alumni Resources

We want to make sure you all know about the resources we have for our alumni. Please see below for more information regarding our alumni directory, jobs, career services, and listing of social media connections.
Please let us know if you have any questions! Thank you again for your support!


McIntire Alumni Directory and Jobs Blog
The McIntire alumni directory and jobs blog is live on our website (www.commerce.virginia.edu) under the Alumni tab.

McIntire Alumni Directory
Need to look up alumni contact information or update your own? Please use our McIntire Alumni Directory.
www.commerce.virginia.edu/alumnidirectory.
*Click on contact us for your user name and password.

Jobs Blog
Does your organization have an opportunity to post or looking for a new opportunity? Please use our Jobs blog or email me the job description to post.
www.commerce.virginia.edu
Click on the Alumni tab
Click on Jobs
http://www.commerce.virginia.edu/info/alumni/jobs/default.aspx


Career Services
McIntire has two Assistant Directors of Commerce Career Services to work specifically with graduate students and alumni. Please contact Kelly Eddins at kae5y@virginia.edu or 434.924.5670 for any assistance or questions.


Social Media Connections:

Please visit the below site to join the MS MIT LinkedIN, Facebook, Twitter groups etc:

http://www.commerce.virginia.edu/news_events/social/Pages/index.aspx

D.C. Career Fair

McIntire is once again teaming with MyWorkster.com and several other universities to execute an alumni-only career fair in Washington, DC on June 9. It will take place at the George Washington University Charles E. Smith Center, 600 22nd Street NW, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Last year’s event was very successful, with over 70 employers and hundreds of alumni from several top universities participating.

**If your company is hiring, please take advantage of this opportunity to connect with experienced professionals from a variety of industries! More information and employer registration is available at: http://dcemployer.eventbrite.com/. Employer registration ranges from $250 (non-profit) to $500 (for-profit), and sponsorship opportunities are available.

**If you are job searching or considering a transition, this is an excellent opportunity to meet representatives from top DC-area companies. To register as a job seeker, visit: http://recruitdcalumni.eventbrite.com/.

M.S. MIT ONE

Thank you for all of your support and for joining M.S. MIT ONE. During the month of March we had 284 M.S. MIT Alumni join and support the School. From the 284 alumni we raised a little over $30,000 + an additional $28,400 ($100 match) for a grand total of $60,000 for the program. This does not include all of the company matches we are working on collecting. Thank you!

For more information please visit:
http://www.alumnifidelity.com/MSMITONE.html