Professional MBA program gave alumnus immediate value in career and leads to participation into EPIC Toledo

John Pezzino, a risk management analyst for Welltower, worked in sales and marketing before deciding to attend BGSU to earn his master’s degree in business administration. Over the years Pezzino has worked for different organizations such as a food service company and an insurance agency. Aside from his professional career, Pezzino serves on the board of the BGSU Insurance and Risk Management Institute and is also Chair Elect for EPIC Toledo, an organization created by the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce which stands for “engaging people, inspiring change.”

The BGSU Graduate and Executive Programs in Business is a corporate sponsor of EPIC Toledo and is sponsoring EPIC Toledo’s daylong Leadership Summit on November 17 at the Radisson Hotel in Toledo.

The Professional MBA program (PMBA) helped Pezzino ‘11 think about business differently and allowed him to do more analytical and strategic work. “BGSU has a fantastic business school,” states Pezzino. The PMBA program gave Pezzino immediate value by allowing him to take what he learned in class right into the office. According to the BGSU alumnus, going through the program gave him opportunities that he wouldn’t have had previously.

“The PMBA program and EPIC Toledo opened me up to a new perspective. Our cohort was very diverse so I learned about other industries and how versatile the degree really was.” Pezzino joined EPIC Toledo to become involved and help the community; he believes that EPIC Toledo makes Toledo better. “The skillset I learned in the PMBA program is also applicable to EPIC Toledo,” states Pezzino. It’s about initiating and managing change, according to Pezzino.

One piece of advice Pezzino would give to current or future PMBA students would be to make sure that whatever you do next is something you care about. Pezzino advises, “Don’t just take a job because it is going to pay more, but take the job you can be proud of and happy doing because you can apply your skillset anywhere.”  For Pezzino the connections he built in the community and relationships he already had were important factors when choosing an MBA program.

The EPIC Toledo Leadership Summit on November 17 will include such speakers as Aszure Gray, senior management consultant, ADVISA; Kristi Hoffman, CEO and founder, Total Package Global; Dr. Clint Longenecker, Director, Center for Leadership and Organizational Excellence, University of Toledo; and Chris Cooper, Dean, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo.

Click here for more information or to register for the EPIC Toledo Leadership Summit. Learn more about BGSU’s PMBA program.