MBA Student Balances Work, Life While Furthering Career Goals
By Jenny Pedraza, University Marketing Communications

As a civil engineer with HDR One Company, Brad Collins makes sure Pensacola’s roads and highways are safe and effective for travelers. He’s responsible for designing and developing blueprints for the area’s roadways and has worked on the widening of Interstate 110. With extensive training and hands-on experience involving the technical aspects of civil engineering, Collins turned to the University of West Florida when he decided to take his career in a different path.

“Within the next 10 years, I hope to manage my own civil engineering office,” said Collins. “I’m really hoping to advance in my company and begin to manage more of the business side of engineering.”

Collins’ supervisor at HDR obtained his Master’s in Business Administration from UWF, and after seeing the opportunities available to him, Collins decided to further his education as well. He said an MBA will give him respect within the industry and open doors to future responsibilities.

“Even while I was completing the program, the very fact that I was getting the degree opened doors, giving me chances to expand my responsibility in project and staff management,” said Collins.

Within the next six months, Collins hopes to be transferred to Alabama, where he’ll help to open new offices for his company. He credits the UWF MBA program with enabling him to remain in his career while furthering his education.

As a civil engineering undergraduate at Auburn University, Collins was not able to take many of the MBA undergraduate pre-requisite courses necessary to enter the program. UWF program advisors helped Collins to obtain the pre-requisite classes he needed through a unique two-week online course program. He was then able to enter the MBA program, which will enable him to earn his degree in just five semesters.

In addition to its flexible approach geared toward working professionals, Collins also values the experience of his professors in the program, with many sharing their real-life business knowledge with students and translating it into class lessons.

“In our capstone class, we had to form groups and simulate running a business,” said Collins. “Our success in the class was measured by how profitable and successful our business was in the market, compared to other groups’ businesses.”

It’s this real-life business experience and personal attention that has prepared Collins to take the next step in his career.

“I’m really excited about my future,” he said. “I now understand the business side of my field, and I’ve been able to obtain a degree without putting my career and life on hold. UWF really caters to working professionals, tailoring the program to our needs.”