MSBA Class of 2018 Job Placement: Christopher Motola

If you are a current senior or recent college graduate wondering if the MSBA program is right for you or how it can help enhance your undergraduate degree, keep reading!


Christopher Motola, MSBA '18, has accepted a job as an “Anti-Money Laundering Consultant” for Navigant Consulting. Below, Chris shares his experiences in the program, and how it helped him find his career:

Q: Why did you choose the MSBA Program?

I chose the MSBA Program because I wanted to build on the skill set I cultivated as an Undergraduate. As a political science major, I thought that business skills would compliment my understanding of the world and expose me to new opportunities.

Q: What company will you be working for, and what will your title be?

I will be working for Navigant Consulting. My title will be “Anti-Money Laundering Consultant.”

Q: How did you get interested in this type of work?

I was exposed to the consulting field through Field Team Study, as well as classes taught by Prof. Seegers.

Q: How did the Catholic U MSBA program help prepare you for this career path?

The MSBA gave me Excel skills, communication skills, and basic accounting skills.

Q: What from the program stands out specifically that you think helped prepare you for a career in this field?

The Field Team Study, Quantitative Analysis, and Operations Management.

Q: Can you recall a favorite memory from the program?

The NYC trip was an exciting chance for our class to see what opportunities existed outside of Washington DC.

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MSBA Class of 2018 Job Placement: Justin Lerma

If you are a current senior or recent college graduate wondering if the MSBA program is right for you or how it can help enhance your undergraduate degree, keep reading!

Justin Lerma, MSBA '18, has accepted a job as a Acquisition Consultant and Strategic Data Analyst for ASI Government. Below, Justin shares his experiences in the program, and how it helped him find his career:

Q: Why did you choose the MSBA Program? 

I always enjoyed the business classes I took throughout undergrad. After sustaining an injury that sidelined my performance career, I considered getting an MBA and met with another CUA faculty member, Frederic Sautet, to get his thoughts. Frederic recommended the MSBA program, explained the differences between both degrees, and stressed the importance of understanding the fundamentals of business.

After meeting with Stew McHie and Marykate Conroy, I felt the MSBA would give me a firm foundation in business, but more importantly, I had a sense that both were genuinely interested in my growth as a professional and person. It ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Q: What company will you be working for, and what will your title be? 

I am an Acquisition Consultant and Strategic Data Analyst for ASI Government.

Q: How did you get interested in this type of work?

While I was completing the program I worked as a contract specialist for the National Science Foundation. From my time in the Navy, I was familiar with Federal Acquisition Regulations and contracts, but at NSF, I was able to be involved in the federal contract process from beginning to end. Through this progression, I gained great respect for transparency in financial reporting and fairness in contract awarding. When this opportunity came up, I knew I’d be an ideal fit for the team, and, so far, I’ve had a great time.

Q: What from the program stands out specifically that you think helped prepare you for a career in this field? 

This was answered in the previous question but again, the program stresses curiosity. It is the most necessary quality in a professional and has to be with how competitive the world is today.

Q: Can you recall a favorite memory from the program?

Oh man, I have a lot of favorites. The highlights include the Army/Navy jokes with Herb Shatzen, Rob Warren’s accounting classes, interacting with Dawn Carpenter, hearing Harvey Seegers’ stories, all the laughs, and the incredible support from every professor and staff member.

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MSBA Class of 2018 Job Placement: Nicholas Johnson

If you are a current senior or recent college graduate wondering if the MSBA program is right for you or how it can help enhance your undergraduate degree, keep reading!

Nicholas Johnson, MSBA '18, has accepted a job as a Junior Pricing Analyst for Unisys. Below, Nick shares his experiences in the program, and how it helped him find his career:

Q: Why did you choose the MSBA Program?

I was able to meet some of the professors and students before I applied and had a very positive experience. It seemed like a great way to get into business.

Q: What company will you be working for, and what will your title be?

I will be a Junior Pricing Analyst for Unisys.

Q: How did you get interested in this type of work?

During the program, I was really drawn to using my Quantitative skills, which I get to use in this role. Further, I get to be exposed to a wide range of projects, as I will be working on different proposals.

Q: How did the Catholic U MSBA program help prepare you for this career path?

The MSBA program taught me how to be a well-rounded business person. I feel comfortable working on a wide range of problems, both those I am familiar with and those which require me to expand my skill set.

Q: What from the program stands out specifically that you think helped prepare you for a career in this field?

In particular, Prof. Seegers' and Prof. Shatzen's classes prepared me well for this opportunity, as well as working on the field team study. During the interviewing process, I was able to give concrete examples of when I had successfully solved real business problems.

Q: Can you recall a favorite memory from the program?

My favorite memory was the New York trip. It was a lot of fun exploring such an interesting city with a great group of people.

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MSBA Class of 2018 Job Placement: Edward Orzechowski

If you are a current senior or recent college graduate wondering if the MSBA Program is right for you or how it can help enhance your undergraduate degree, keep reading!

Edward Orzechowski, MSBA '18, has accepted a job as a a Consultant with ASI Government, a management consulting firm that primarily works with federal government programs and specializes with acquisitions and program management. Below, Eddie shares his experiences in the program, and how it helped him to find his career:


Q: Why did you choose the MSBA Program?

A year ago, I would have told you it was because I wanted to diversify my experience and give me the business skills to further my career in food science. While this statement is still true, today I think I joined because I knew I could do more in my career and the MSBA program has certainly jump-started the foundation of my career. The skills I have gained over the past (almost) year will carry all the way through my professional life and (hopefully) one day in the C-suite.

Also, I have to give my close friend and alumnus, Luke Bader, a shout out for introducing, selling and supporting me with the program. I definitely felt welcomed quickly into the Cardinal family.

Q: What company will you be working for, and what will your title be?

I will be a Consultant with ASI Government, a management consulting firm that primarily works with federal government programs and specializes with acquisitions and program management. The project I am being hired onto is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program to help solve and manage issues with their re-insurance and risk-rating programs.

Q: How did you get interested in this type of work?

I had no idea what consulting was or how broad of a term it was until joining the program. It was fairly apparent to me that consulting was going to be the career path for me early in the program because of the problem solving it requires. Coming from a STEM background, consulting was where I felt at home, rather than going into other career paths the program can lead to such as marketing, finance, accounting or data analytics. I think it is fascinating to go into a business, assess the situation, do the brainstorming, research, and then come up with insights that drive recommendations to clients that lead to results for the business.

Q: How did the Catholic U MSBA program help prepare you for this career path?

The range of classes offered and short length of the program form a sort of pressure cooker of business learning. We were exposed to many facets of business in an intense yet manageable environment that allowed us to absorb information and almost immediately apply it to a practical problem.

One of the many differentiators in the program is the integration of ethics. It was apparent from day one, that we would be taught how to conduct ourselves in business to promote putting people over profit. We’ve been taught that the best business decision may not be the one that maximizes profit but rather the one that maximizes what is best for all stakeholders.

Q: What from the program stands out specifically that you think helped prepare you for a career in this field?

For consulting, it’s definitely the Field Team Study. There isn’t another program that lets you take the limited tools you’ve acquired so quickly and apply them to real work business problems. In sports terms, it lets you scrimmage a consulting contract in preparation for the prime time match in the real world.

Q: Can you recall a favorite memory from the program?

Organizing the New York City Trip. Getting my peers around a new city for 5 days was honestly a challenge but incredibly rewarding. Spending that many days in the city allowed us to not only experience jobs at many different companies, but also what the wide range of office cultures are like.

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MSBA Class of 2018 Job Placement: Erin Cavalier

If you are a current senior or recent college graduate wondering if the MSBA Program is right for you or how it can help enhance your undergraduate degree, keep reading!

Erin Cavalier, MSBA '18, has accepted a job as a a Marketing and Events Assistant at Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP. Below, Erin shares her experiences in the program, and how it helped her to find her career:


Q: Why did you choose the MSBA Program?

I was not satisfied with the jobs I found and realized I needed to go back to school. The nine month program allowed me to gain sophisticated business skills and apply them in a way that complemented my politics degree.

Q: What company will you be working for, and what will your title be?

I will be working for Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP as a Marketing and Events Assistant.

Q: How did you get interested in this type of work?

I studied Politics in undergrad and I wanted to find a way to bridge the world of business and politics. I have always been interested in law. Additionally, I am a people-person so marketing was a natural choice.

Q: How did the Catholic U MSBA program help prepare you for this career path?

The MSBA program is set up to teach skills in the fall and apply those skills in the spring. The program equipped me a wide variety of skills to apply to the work place. Not only do I have a strong understanding of marketing, but accounting, finance, operations management, and quantitative analysis as well.

Q: What from the program stands out specifically that you think helped prepare you for a career in this field?

The professors are extraordinary. Their experience in their respective fields is unparalleled and helped me to better understand how the business world works.

Q: Can you recall a favorite memory from the program?

I have so many good memories from the program, but my favorite was our business trip to New York City where we visited all types of companies and learned about different business careers.

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MSBA Class of 2018 Job Placement: Wilfred Thomas

If you are a current senior or recent college graduate wondering if the MSBA program is right for you or how it can help enhance your undergraduate degree, keep reading!

Wilfred Thomas, MSBA '18, has accepted a job as a Sales Development Representative at MemoryBlue. Below, Wilfred shares his experiences in the program, and how it helped him to find his career:

Q: Why did you choose the MSBA Program?

I wanted a wide range of business courses with Professors from diverse career backgrounds in order to figure out a new career path.

Q: What company will you be working for, and what will your title be?

I will be working at MemoryBlue as a Sales Development Rep. (SDR)

Q: How did you get interested in this type of work?

I've always been involved in initiatives to help fund raise and grow programs for the non-profit I worked for. After speaking with Prof. Mark Weber, it clicked that tech-sales would be a good fit for me.

Q: How did the Catholic U MSBA program help prepare you for this career path?

Having a professor play the role of a mentor throughout my job search helped open many doors and created additional learning opportunities outside of the classroom.

Q: What from the program stands out specifically that you think helped prepare you for a career in this field?

The program was very helpful with networking opportunities to expose me to different aspects and career paths in business.

Q: Can you recall a favorite memory from the program?

One of my favorite memories of the program was meeting John Campion, the CEO of APR Energy. During dinner, he had students do a sales pitch about the wine we were drinking. 

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MSBA Class of 2018 Job Placement: Dennis Treanor

If you are a current senior or recent college graduate wondering if the MSBA program is right for you or how it can help enhance your undergraduate degree, keep reading!

Dennis Treanor, MSBA '18, has accepted a job as an Operations Analyst for the Strategic Investment Group. Below, Dennis shares his experiences in the program, and how it helped him to find his career:

Q: Why did you choose the MSBA Program?

I chose the MSBA Program because I wanted to complement my undergraduate background of education. I was at a crossroad in my professional life because I knew I did not want to go back to school for teaching. Once I heard about the program, I was sold. I knew that combining business and education would help me portray myself as a versatile professional.

Q: What company will you be working for, and what will your title be?

I will be working for the Strategic Investment Group as an Operations Analyst.

Q: How did you get interested in this type of work?

In operations, you learn about the inter-workings of a company. I think being able to make an impact within different departments of a company really excites me.

Q: How did the Catholic U MSBA program help prepare you for this career path?

It started with the people. Every staff member of the MSBA program is there to help you succeed. Whether it was a quick question or a 30-minute conversation, everyone is always willing to lend a hand. It gave me the confidence that I would be successful in whatever I did.

Q: What from the program stands out specifically that you think helped prepare you for a career in this field?

Operations Management was my favorite class during the program. I really liked the problem-solving and critical thinking aspects of the class. After the class, I knew I could really purse a career in operations.

Q: Can you recall a favorite memory from the program?

I think visiting the headquarters of Morgan Stanley in New York City was a cool experience. After meeting with alumni who work at Morgan Stanley, it made me realize that I can go anywhere after graduating from this program.

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MSBA Class of 2018 Job Placement: Kayleigh Johnson

If you are a current senior or recent college graduate wondering if the MSBA program is right for you or how it can help enhance your undergraduate degree, keep reading!

Kayleigh Johnson, MSBA '18, has accepted a job as a a Data Consultant at NimbleUser. Below, Kayleigh shares her experiences in the program, and how it helped her to find her career:

Q: Why did you choose the MSBA Program?

I chose the MSBA Program because I wasn't happy in my sales position. I knew I wanted to do something more, but wasn't sure how to get there. I started searching for graduate programs and came across the MSBA one and thought it would be a perfect fit.

Q: What company will you be working for, and what will your title be?

I will be working for NimbleUser as a Data Consultant.

Q: How did you get interested in this type of work?

I've always loved math and really enjoyed our Quantitative Analysis class in the fall semester. That experience solidified my desire to get into the data field.

Q: How did the Catholic U MSBA program help prepare you for this career path?

The MSBA Program connected me with an alum who worked at NimbleUser. After I reached out to him, we scheduled an interview for a Data Consultant internship for the spring semester. Without the MSBA Program, I would not have had the confidence to reach out to someone that I didn't know or be able to answer the interview questions confidently.

Q: What from the program stands out specifically that you think helped prepare you for a career in this field?

Quantitative Analysis was one of my favorite classes, and very helpful. I've also used tools that I learned in Managing the Enterprise and Business Communications.

Q: Can you recall a favorite memory from the program?

One of my favorite memories from the program was going to Top Golf in the fall after we did a company visit. Even though I'm a terrible golfer, it was a great bonding experience for our cohort!

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MSBA Class of 2018 Job Placement: Michael Morris

If you are a current senior or recent college graduate wondering if the MSBA program is right for you or how it can help enhance your undergraduate degree, keep reading!

Michael Morris, MSBA '18, has accepted a job as a a Junior Research Analyst at FRANdata in Arlington, VA. Below, Michael shares his experiences in the program, and how it helped him to find his career:

Q: Why did you choose the MSBA Program?

I chose the MSBA Program because I saw a disconnect between the business executives and the lab technicians at the labs that I interned for. I wanted to figure out if there was a way to bridge these two mindsets. When I received the offer from Prof. McHie to join the program, I showed it to my former supervisor, who was the head of the company I was interning at. He thought it was a good idea to gain these business skills and encouraged me to take the opportunity.

Q: What company will you be working for, and what will your title be?

I will be working at a company called FRANdata in Arlington, VA. My title is a Junior Research Analyst.

Q: How did you get interested in this type of work?

I always had an interest and proficiency for Data Analysis. The MSBA Program helped me understand how to apply this skill set to fields outside of the mainstream sciences.

Q: How did the Catholic U MSBA program help prepare you for this career path?

There are three main classes that helped prepare me for this particular job. Quantitative Analysis challenged me use to a lot of the excel programs that my job uses. Accounting helped me to read financial data and relevant formulas. Career Development aided me in preparing for interviews. The MSBA Program as a whole helped me prepare for this position by showing me that there are other fields that I can pay my skill set towards other than the sciences.

Q: Can you recall a favorite memory from the program?

Professors Seegers' shares stories in class to provide a practical example of what we are learning or just to tell a funny story. The way he relates these stories  make them particularly memorable.

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Thirsty Thursdays: The Value of Simplicity in Presentations

Last week, Tom Heath, a local business reporter and columnist for the Washington Post, spoke with our students during one of our Thirsty Thursday events. Students presented their Field Team Study capstone projects to Tom and received feedback on how to improve their presentations.

The presentations to Tom were a unique opportunity to practice a business discussion, think on their feet, and test their knowledge of their project in advance of their final client meetings. Tom challenged students to simplify their presentations and to walk their audience through the charts.  A great chart is one the reader can understand on their own.  But if the subject matter demands a more complex treatment, students should carefully explain how the chart is constructed and what the chart represents, a piece at a time.

Final client presentations are next week!

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MSBA Class of 2018 Job Placement: Leah Szews

If you are a current senior or recent college graduate wondering if the MSBA program is right for you or how it can help enhance your undergraduate degree, keep reading!

Leah Sophia Szews, MSBA '18, has accepted a job as a a Content Associate at BluShark Digital in Bethesda, Maryland. Below, Leah shares her experiences in the program, and how it helped her find her career:

Q: Why did you choose the MSBA Program?

The MSBA program offers a unique and competitive opportunity to earn a Master’s degree in 9-months. This was my primary motivation for enrolling in the program; however, I also desired to advance my business acumen.

Q: What company will you be working for, and what will your title be?

I will be working for a SEO firm called BluShark Digital in Bethesda, Maryland. I will be a Content Associate.

Q: How did you get interested in this type of work?

I have always been interested in marketing. However, I networked with a MSBA alumni at a program hosted event and later reached out to her for a fellowship opportunity.


Q: How did the Catholic U MSBA program help prepare you for this career path?

The Catholic U MSBA program demands excellence and discipline through many different aspects. This has largely helped define the way I prepared for entering a professional business setting.

Q: What from the program stands out specifically that you think helped prepare you for a career in this field?

Attention to detail and a flexible attitude towards problem solving are two attributes that have been constantly reinforced by the program. Applying those two attributes has strongly helped prepare me for my future position at BluShark.

Q: Can you recall a favorite memory from the program?

The TopGolf excursion was one of my favorite memories from the program. This is where I initially bonded with classmates that have become some of my very close friends.

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MSBA Class of 2018 Job Placement: Christine Awad

If you are a current senior or recent college graduate wondering if the MSBA program is right for you or how it can help enhance your undergraduate degree, keep reading! 

Christine Awad, MSBA '18, has accepted a job at Cummins, Inc. as a Corporate IQA Engineering Auditor. Below, Christine sheds light on how the program helped prepare her for her career path:


Q: Why did you choose the MSBA Program?

I chose the MSBA Program because I thought it would be a valuable investment for my future,
and I wanted to focus on becoming a well-rounded professional. I currently possess technical
skills that are highly valued across multiple industries, but it is important I also understand more
qualitative business aspects the program provides to succeed in the business world. Most
importantly, I knew the program would teach me how to unite my Catholic faith and ethical
business practices.

Q: What company will you be working for, and what will your title be?

I will be working for Cummins, Inc. and stationed in Columbus, Indiana as a Corporate IQA
(Installation Quality Assurance) Engineering Auditor.

Q: How did you get interested in this type of work?

As a young girl, I developed a passion for the field of engineering through various STEM
organizations, job shadowing experiences, and inspiring mentors. Before beginning my freshman
year at Purdue as an engineering student, I had the opportunity to complete my first summer
internship with Cummins. Five years later, I have completed six internships, in different job
roles, with Cummins. All my internships have exposed me to innovate products and processes,
diverse perspectives, development opportunities, and encouraging teammates. Additionally, I
have not felt like an “intern”; I have felt like a full-time employee who is helping to make a
positive impact on the world. For all these reasons, I am excited to return to Cummins and utilize
the knowledge obtained from my internship and academic experiences.

Q: How did the CUA MSBA Program help prepare you for this career path?

The MSBA Program has taught me several practical business skills that can be used in any
company. Some of my greatest takeaways from the program, which will help me at Cummins,
include learning how to analyze complex problems as well as communicate results effectively
and concisely. Specifically, I have learned how to take complicated problems and break them
down into manageable working parts. I have realized the importance of “big data” and can now
use various processes and analytical programs to examine and decipher such datasets. Lastly,
using the Extreme Presentation method, I can “tell a story” to an audience. Using results and
insights from datasets, I can help individuals make critical decisions.

Q: What from the program stands out specifically that you think helped prepare you for a
career in this field?

All the professors in the MSBA Program have most certainly helped prepare me for my new
career. The program requires my classmates and I to take a diverse course load in a condensed
amount of time. Each professor brings industry experience, a specialized skillset, and the motive
to help each student reach his/her full potential to the classroom. I takeaway significant methods
and examples from every lecture I attend. I have managed to build a relationship with each
professor and feel comfortable approaching them with questions even after I graduate in May.

Q: Can you recall a favorite memory from the program?

My favorite memory is working with Catholic Charities and Adam’s Place Shelter to provide a
Thanksgiving Feast for many men in Washington, D.C. A few days before Thanksgiving, my
classmates and I brought joy to several individuals by serving food, providing entertainment, and
having conversations with those around us. By the end of the feast, I knew I just participated in a
very rewarding experience; I served others, worked as a team with my classmates, saw many
joyful faces, and heard many interesting stories from those I served that will be ingrained in my head for a lifetime.

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