MSBA student to compete in Miss Maryland USA Pageant

Caitlin Treuth, MSBA class of 2015, will be competing in the Miss Maryland USA Pageant this Saturday and Sunday at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel.

Caitlin Treuth

Good luck this weekend, Caitlin! We know you'll be great.

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MSBA graduate has job as COO

Bernardo Nogales obtained the position of Chief Operation Officer at Agro Noles S.A. after graduating from the CUA MSBA program. Mr. Nogales gives us a deeper look into his position in the interview below.

Tell us a little about your company

"The main focus of the company is grain production, mainly soybeans. We also have operations in sugar cane and beef cattle. These three branches are located in different areas outside the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The organization decided to get into this type of business due to the high demand for these products not only locally but also in foreign markets"

What you do there?

Bernardo Nogales - Agro Noles S.A. COO

"As a COO I have the responsibility of planning, executing and controlling operations within our budget for each branch of the business mentioned above. I work closely with the CFO and the purchasing department in terms of budgeting, cash flows and purchases. My everyday duties are keeping in contact with every area of operation, and quickly come up with solutions if issues arise. Issues having to do with the use of heavy equipment within production often come up. I have meetings with different vendors that provide services and products, in which deals can be closed depending on the subject matter and the situation. I also have weekly meetings with the whole staff to discuss and plan our priorities for the week, and a daily meeting with the general manager"

How did the CUA MSBA program help prepare you for this career?

"The program has helped me in terms of planning and executing. We covered these topics in different classes throughout the program and I now have a better sense of how to approach things and how I can apply planning and executing in my everyday tasks.  Leadership is another strong asset I learned in the program and it is something that has helped me tremendously as professional and in my career."

What really stands from the program that you think helped you get a job?

"Something that really stuck out to me was the constant mentoring that one receives in this program. No matter what your field might be, there is always a faculty member or a guest speaker that can guide you. Through this mentoring I learned how I could reach my goals, and be more curious and focused. One of my favorite moments, which I am sure I share with my peers, was the trip to NYC and the opportunity to visit so many important companies. The highlight was having the chance to be inside the New York Stock Exchange."

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CUA MSBA Class Visits the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

The Future of Data Driven Innovation
The future of the global economy and Corporate America as we know it lies within the numbers and spreadsheets of "big data." Really a misnomer, "big data" is in its essence not all that big. Hidden within the 1s and 0s of computer code, the information about users, industries, and collected responses drive the businesses of today. Many questions are being raised regarding the ethical practices behind the data collected. How should it be used? How should it be protected by businesses? What role will it play in the innovations of the future?

The Chamber of Commerce's "Future of Data Driven Innovation" event, featured panelists who are all experts within their fields. They gave professional insights on the future of the economy, technology, and legislative policy and how data impacted each of these areas. From smarter cars to more efficient farmers, the speakers shared that collected data can help industries become more technical, efficient and safe. We learned that economies will be able to more effectively forecast stocks and potential earnings using gathered data from consumers, businesses and governments. Furthermore, the goal for cyber securities is the protection of banks and markets that will bolster the trust of investors and foreign traders. It is likely that legislation will govern how data is handled, de-identified, and then used to gear advertising and marketing back to the consumer. Ultimately, the usage of data will help drive corporate growth, continuing the cycle of data driven innovation for generations to come.

Follow this link to read the official report released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.



Original post by Sean R. Wilson

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CUA MSBA graduate is one of the youngest head coaches in the NCAA

We had the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Hyland, MSBA class of 2014 earlier last week. Ryan is the Head Men's Basketball Coach at John Jay College in New York City and is one of the youngest head coaches in the NCAA. From 2007-2011, Hyland served as a manager, player, and student assistant coach at Catholic University of America before becoming a full-time graduate assistant coach and guards position coach for the CUA Cardinals in 2012. Hyland earned his Bachelors of Arts and Sciences in Psychology in 2011 and his Masters of Science in Business Analysis in 2014, both from Catholic University.

Mr. Hyland's impressive resume includes coaching and directing at eleven elite summer basketball camps over the last five years, and he has worked alongside the likes of Florida Head Coach Billy Donovan, Michigan Head Coach John Beilein, former St. John's Head Coach and current Kansas Assistant Coach Norm Roberts, and Memphis Tigers Head Coach Josh Pastner.

Of his current position, Hyland states, "I am humbled and honored by this opportunity to join the John Jay family. I want to thank Athletic Director Carol Kashow for this chance to return to NYC to a great institution with an amazing vision to succeed. I am committed to supporting our student-athletes and building a program that strives for excellence on and off the court."

Q: Can you explain what sorts of duties you have in your position and what goes on day-to-day?

A: I run and operate the Men’s Basketball Program. My hands are on everything from recruitment of new student athletes to managing a budget, to dealing with day to day operations like running practices and coaching the games, and helping students manage their academics. My job encompasses lot of different areas but my main goal is to help our players reach their goals both on and off the court.

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

A: In every way possible. The MSBA program helped me get into the right mindset for entering life after school. Each of the classes contributed greatly in preparing me for my career. The Entrepreneurship classes provided me invaluable tools I use every day while running my own program– I use many of the things I learned in Professor McHie’s Marketing class to fundraise for our team. Our Management and Leadership classes with Professor Brach taught me how to manage and lead a team in both the business and athletic sense.

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

A: The field I was looking to enter was very specific. I think the mentoring and career prep with Ms. Kelly was invaluable – she helped me get organized and do mock interviews and helped prep me for the job search. Same for Professor McHie who from day one was very accommodating and made sure he could help even in a field that no one in the program knew too much about.

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

A: I think one of the highlights were the speakers and the guest lecturers we had both in class and on Thirsty Thursdays, particularly Brad Peacock, Andreas Widmer and Congressman Fortenberry. Also, interacting on a day to day basis with all of the teachers and faculty in the program and absorbing all of the knowledge they’ve amassed during their time as leaders in their specific fields.

We are proud of you, Ryan, and are glad the CUA MSBA program helped set your career in motion. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors!

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Washington Post Interviews Dean Abela

A re-post from the CUA School of Business and Economics blog:

CUA Business and Economics: Washington Post Interviews Dean Abela:

Dean Andrew Abela was one of just five new business school deans highlighted by The Washington Post on Sunday, September 14. Other deans included in the article hail from the University of Maryland, George Washington University, George Mason University, and American University. All five deans featured in the article - which covers nearly every major university in the Washington Metro Area - have been appointed within the last two years.

The article also includes several frequently asked questions regarding CUA's new School of Business and Economics, such as: "Why transition from a department to a standalone school?"

Please click here to read the full list of questions and Dean Abela's answers. 

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Interview with MSBA Graduate with New Job

Anatole Doak took the time to speak with us about his position at World First Foreign Exchange. Anatole graduated from the MSBA program in May 2014 and has already seen great success. We are proud of his accomplishments and wish him the best in all his future endeavors. 

Anatole Doak - MSBA class of 2014

Tell us a little about the company.

I work at World First on the business development team.  World First is an international payments company.  The service we provide is wire transfers from companies here in the United States to those overseas.  We convert foreign currency and transfer the money to overseas accounts.


What do you do at World First?

My job involves lead sourcing, calling prospects, on-boarding them until they sign up and then transitioning them over to our relationship management team.


How did the CUA MSBA program help prepare you for this career?

Coming from a liberal arts background,I didn't know too much about business.  The MSBA program gave me the tools I needed to understand clients and companies and be able to develop relationships with clients. 

What stands out from the program that helped you obtain this position?

What helped me the most was definitely the networking aspect.  I met so many people and every opportunity I had was through networking; the MSBA program really stressed that.  I knew somebody who worked at my company and I was able to reach out to her.  We spoke and I was able to apply for this job.

Can you share a favorite memory?

We went bowling one night in New York and really got to know everyone in the program.  I also remember finals in the spring.  We all studied in Professor McHie's office and he would would come in and hang out with us and we'd order pizza.  It was a great experience because everyone was trying to get their stuff done and it was great to see everyone getting things accomplished.  

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CUA MSBA and San Miguel School DC

MSBA interns play a key role in helping to plan the Annual Scholarship Benefit—the school’s major fundraiser. This past year, Laura Caporaletti (’14) was assisted by Pat Fricchione (’15) in organizing the event. Over 400 people attended the fundraiser at Congressional Country Club, which brought in $250,000 of revenue. This year, both Stew McHie, Director of the MSBA program, and Mary Kate Kelly, Corporate Relations Manager, attended San Miguel School’s most successful Scholarship Benefit to date.

Catholic University’s MSBA program is unparalleled in preparing students for careers in both the private and public sectors. Firmly rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, the MSBA program instills students with the value of service—especially service to those in need. The MSBA partnership with San Miguel School is just one of many ways the MSBA program and its students embody the virtue of service.

San Miguel School was founded in 2002 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers to serve Latino boys in the greater DC area. The school is part of the larger Nativity Miguel movement, a nationwide effort of more than 50 elementary and middle schools offering a holistic and faith-based education to inner city and under-served communities. Currently, San Miguel DC teaches 65 boys, grades 6^th through 8^th, whose families live at or below the poverty line.

As an independent and tuition-free school, San Miguel raises 98% of its operating revenue from individuals, foundations, businesses, and anti-poverty programs. The development office has reached out to the MSBA program for qualified and dedicated interns to assist with fundraising efforts. MSBA students have interned with San Miguel for the last four years. 

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