鈥淩avago’s transformational gift is helping us build the inspiring, high-tech, creative spaces necessary to encourage students to get out of their comfort zones, collaborate and invent their futures,” Jarley said. “Our goal is to provide students with more than just the knowledge and perspective necessary to make good business decisions. We look to create student experiences that instill the mindsets, habits and behaviors necessary to succeed in today’s marketplace.”

The Ravago Entrepreneurial Hub is home to the 麻豆原创 Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, which includes the Upstarts Student Venture Accelerator and Starter Space. The center encourages and guides entrepreneurial Knights by providing the support and resources needed for successful student startups. These services and programs are available to all 麻豆原创 students.

Ravago said it believes their donation of $500,000 toward naming the entrepreneurial space and supporting the college鈥檚 recent building renovation will begin a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership with the college. The company employs a handful of 麻豆原创 graduates and strives to be a top employer of choice for College of Business graduates looking to work for an entrepreneurial company interested in growing new talent.

“Orlando is our home and so 麻豆原创 was a natural draw when we were deliberating our philanthropic efforts,” Duffy said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had a lot of success with 麻豆原创 graduates coming to work for us. 麻豆原创 is a strategic pipeline for talent, and this is a great partnership for us.鈥�

Ravago is also partnering with the college鈥檚 Executive Development Center to provide custom training for its leadership team, managers and employees. The center, in downtown Orlando, offers professional master鈥檚 degrees, executive workshops and custom training opportunities and was named the Best Local MBA in Central Florida by readers of the Orlando Business Journal.

Earlier this year, Ravago also donated $750,000 to the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine, which named a specialized medical-education classroom the Ravago Lecture Hall.

Ravago Holdings America is headquartered in Orlando and has grown to become the company’s largest subsidiary, with estimated annual sales of nearly $5 billion. The local office was selected as one of the Orlando Sentinel鈥檚 2017 Top 100 Companies for the fifth year in a row.

The 麻豆原创 PMBA is a 24-month program with a 39-credit hour curriculum. The program offers the rigor and depth of a traditional MBA while providing a convenient evening schedule, applicable content and networking opportunities for working professionals. Through its applicable curriculum, the 麻豆原创 PMBA blends theory and practice by utilizing class discussion forums, case studies, interactive simulations, and team field projects. The program is offered as a cohort format which consists of a class size of 24 to 32 students starting and finishing the program together. The cohort format allows students to learn from each other through their wide variety of industry and functional area experiences. The cohorts form strong relationships which evolve into life-long friendships and an invaluable professional networking group.

All classes for the 麻豆原创 PMBA Sanford/Lake Mary cohort will be held conveniently on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 鈥� 9:50 p.m. at the 麻豆原创 Sanford/Lake Mary Campus, 100 Weldon Boulevard, Partnership Center, Sanford, FL. The 麻豆原创 Executive Development Center, an auxiliary unit of the College of Business Administration, administers the program, and its staff attends to all logistics.

Recruiting for the PMBA in Sanford/Lake Mary begins with an information session on October 22, 6 pm, at the 麻豆原创 Executive Development Center, 36 West Pine Street, downtown Orlando. For additional information and a schedule of upcoming information sessions go to . To schedule a personal appointment with the Admissions Director, contact Robin Hofler at mba@ucf.edu or call 407-823-3913. The 麻豆原创 PMBA is offered every summer at the 麻豆原创 Executive Development Center, Downtown Orlando, and on a rotational basis every fall at one of the 麻豆原创 Regional Campuses.

One of the most important principles I have learned is that you never should stop learning. Sometimes finding the answers to the really tough questions just can鈥檛 be solved using the knowledge you currently have in your head.

I bring this up as the executive director for 麻豆原创鈥檚 Executive Development Center in downtown Orlando. Every week I have the privilege of interviewing applicants for 麻豆原创鈥檚 professional and executive Master of Business Administration programs who are wondering whether to continue their higher education.

Can you recall a situation at work when you thought to yourself, 鈥淚 really am not sure how to solve this problem?鈥� Or 鈥淢y boss gave me a new project, where should I start?鈥� Or 鈥淢y team brought me several solutions to a problem; how should I evaluate them?鈥�

We don鈥檛 have unlimited time to learn, so I tell those applicants that focusing on rewarding learning opportunities, such as an MBA, is important.

Questions regarding the right time to start an MBA come up nearly every time I interview a prospective student.

You probably know by now that life rarely follows the path that is directly in front of you.

I experienced this when I was just 9 years old. For a year I was admitted to a home for disabled children because I could not walk and was told I would never walk again. I couldn鈥檛 walk because three days earlier I had spent most of the day setting the world鈥檚 record (I鈥檓 sure) for 9-year-olds jumping on a pogo stick.

Life does not get any more predictable as you get older, either.

We can鈥檛 always predict the perfect time to get your MBA, but you鈥檒l know it鈥檚 the right time for you when your excuses for not getting your degree will be outweighed by the benefits you鈥檒l receive for pursuing it.

I had the good fortune to work for General Electric right after I completed my engineering degree. I was selected to participate in a two-year leadership development program. I worked in four different assignments for six months each. Not one of the assignments was in engineering.

I later learned that 75 percent of all GE senior executives were graduates of this leadership program. GE cross-trained us so we knew something about all the areas in the company to better prepare us for our future positions. The company believed in training employees before they needed it.

I have personally followed this philosophy since then and it seems to work very well. While getting your MBA doesn鈥檛 guarantee your next promotion or success in your own business, having the knowledge that you鈥檒l obtain from your degree should enable you to make better decisions and work from a more strategic perspective.

My decision to go back to school and get my MBA was driven primarily by questions like those above. It was about eight years after undergraduate school and I was getting more and more involved in larger projects that required significant capital investments. I realized that I did not have the business-analysis tools to determine if the projects should be undertaken.

Within three months of completing my MBA, I was offered the opportunity to run a new division of the company. I learned later that I was selected to interview for the position because I recently completed my MBA, which has opened up many doors throughout my career.

Choosing to start your MBA is a decision to be respected and celebrated. For those who decide that now is the time to start, there are always options to consider at 麻豆原创. My staff and I are always available for advice.

I tell my students that a good MBA program gives you the knowledge to start a business, to run a business, and to turn a business around. It will not make you a specialist or prepare you for every situation you may encounter in business, but it will expose you to the most important business topics, where to find information, and how to hire the right support resource for the business.

Also, if you have a technical undergraduate degree, obtaining an MBA is a very powerful complimentary degree as it will give you the principles needed to use your technical skills in business situations.

In the book 鈥淎dventures in Wonderland,鈥� Lewis Carroll wrote the following about a decision Alice had to make: 鈥淥ne day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. 鈥淲hich road do I take?鈥� she asked. 鈥淲here do you want to go?” was his response. 鈥淚 don’t know,鈥� Alice answered. 鈥淭hen,鈥� said the cat, 鈥渋t doesn’t matter.鈥�

Lew Treen, my mentor, would advise you to look ahead and decide what you want to change and what you want to learn, so you鈥檒l know which way to go at your next fork in the road of life.

Bob Porter is executive director of downtown Orlando鈥檚听Executive Development Center, part of the 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Business Administration. He can be reached at RPorter@bus.ucf.edu.

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Wolf was inspired to build The FordHarrison School in a rural village in Cambodia. The day she came to her partner Lash Harrison about her inspirational idea, he simply told her-鈥済o for it!鈥� Upon completion, Wolf made a trip to see all of her hard work in action. Holding back tears, she opened the door of the van and was greeted by 420 gracious children. It was in that moment that Wolf knew she had done the right thing, and that the school would continue to bring hope to the community and inspire her to keep dreaming big dreams.

鈥淚 grew up believing that education is the key to financial independence and stability鈥攂oth of which are desperately in need of in Cambodia,鈥� she said.

With the help of the firm鈥檚 $20,000 donation, and the constant support of friends, family, and colleagues, Wolf was able to build The FordHarrison School and enable the young children in that village to succeed in something greater. Her legacy will continue to live throughout the entire community for years to come as she has inspired the village to live an educated life.

Wolf has practiced law in the Orlando area in both private and public sectors since 1976. Her practice is devoted to providing management with the necessary tools to meet the challenges in today’s employment arena, through proactive legal advice, training, and litigating complex cases in both trial and appellate courts. She represents employers in a variety of industries, including health care, defense, energy, construction, telecommunications, financial, hospitality, public and non-profit sectors, in discrimination and retaliation, non-compete and wage and hour matters.

The seminar will be led by听Darryl Allen, Ph.D.听and听Paul Gregg, two leading 麻豆原创 College of Business Administration faculty members.

Cost is $600 per person and includes two days of highly interactive sessions, continental breakfast, lunch, refreshment breaks, parking downtown and all course materials. Participants save $50 if they register by Monday, April 8 and discounts are available when two or more people attend from the same company. Enrollment is limited.

The complimentary program will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the EDC, located at 36 Pine St. The event will feature a presentation by Charles Schnitzlein, an associate professor of finance in the 麻豆原创 College of Business Administration.

In addition to his presentation, administrators will be present to answer questions about the MSRE program, which was designed by the Dr. P. Phillips School of Real Estate for working professionals wishing to achieve senior-level positions in the industry.

The program provides graduates with the flexibility to pursue careers in commercial real estate brokerage and appraisal, real estate development, mortgage brokerage, investment management, capital markets, and asset management. The 30-credit-hour curriculum combines a unique business core consisting of finance, accounting and marketing courses with advanced coursework in real estate. Students earn Argus Software certification, and they will be well-prepared to obtain Florida Real Estate brokerage and appraisal licenses.听 They will also be eligible to take the fast track to the CCIM designation upon graduation.

鈥淢SRE鈥檚 cohort format helped me learn from gifted professors and perform team projects with experienced professionals. Student quality and cohort size prompted bonding that I neither expected nor found in undergraduate classes. As most students were from local industry, we were real-world competitors. But MSRE brought us together in an environment of teamwork and mutual respect,鈥� said Quentin Caruso, vice president of Realty Capital Advisors, Inc. and graduate of the inaugural MSRE class of 2011.

Applications are now being accepted for the second class of the program, which begins in fall 2013. Classes will be held on Monday and Wednesday evenings at the EDC. Students will go through the 20-month program as a cohort, taking all courses together.

As part of the five-day program that begins Monday, June 4, the students will learn about the challenges and economic impact of area tourism and the global economy鈥檚 effects on Central Florida.

The group will hear presentations given by business leaders from:

Additionally, they will meet executives and take a behind-the-scenes tour of EPCOT, Universal Studios, Daytona International Speedway and Orlando鈥檚 new Medical City.

This is the fifth time the EDC has hosted the Escuela de Organizaci贸n International (EOI), which was founded by the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Education to provide engineers with management and organizations skills.

The EDC, which is part of the 麻豆原创 College of Business Administration, is rapidly gaining a reputation as a destination to host international residencies for foreign universities. The EDC provides a critical link to help create global partnerships with overseas businesses.

鈥淓veryone benefits from this global alliance. The students from Spain learn more about our culture and the way we do business, and we learn more about their culture and business strategies,鈥� said Tiffany Hughes, senior associate director of the EDC.

麻豆原创鈥檚 Executive Development Center offers a full range of executive and professional master’s programs, including the Executive MBA, the Professional MBA, and the Professional Master of Science in Management and Real Estate. In addition, the center offers professional development programs and can customize a highly interactive executive residency for global corporations. Visit their to learn more.

Hanus attended the听Celebrate The Children 2012听Dinner & Auction and placed the winning bid for a seat in the 麻豆原创 Executive MBA Program. His bid of $27,000 reserves a space for him, based upon his acceptance into the program. The entire amount of the auction item goes directly to Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida.

He chuckles that it was the most 鈥渆xpensive dinner听ever听with my wife,鈥� but understands the long-term benefits he will receive by earning his degree.

鈥淚 reached out to my father who has always encouraged me to do everything I can to further my education, and with his help, was able to place the winning bid. It was one of those opportunities that just could not be passed up. My thought was not only would I get to help a great cause like Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, but I would end up helping myself by achieving my MBA,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t is an amazing feeling to think that I will be able to save money completing my education, while youth in Central Florida will have an opportunity to enhance their futures with Boys & Girls Clubs Programs,鈥� he added.

Once admitted to the EMBA program, Hanus will spend 20 months taking classes and networking with other professionals in the cohort. The program prepares executives and managers for the challenges they face as they advance in their careers. Courses are taught by distinguished business faculty members and the curriculum includes a global focus and an international residency. Read more about the听Executive MBA听program on their website.

Sean Snaith, director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness, was the keynote speaker on the first day, followed by 麻豆原创 President听John Hitt听at the second event.

“When your organizations sponsor employees to engage in our masters鈥� degree or executive education programs, those students bring back expertise and insights that make your organizations more productive 鈥� and competitive,” President Hitt said. “Students and their companies can benefit immensely from our vast network of nationally recognized faculty members and prominent executives in Central Florida.”

To learn more about the EDC and its programs, please visit its .

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