Business Department News

Alumni share experiences at Business Strategy Senior Capstone

Would you buy a used car from this man?

Zach Zepke hopes you would.

Zepke (left) is aware of the preconception of dishonesty that seems to follow those who work in auto sales. One of his primary goals during his first job as a Maranatha graduate is to help change that perception.

“The whole stigma with selling cars is that everything out of your mouth is a lie,” Zepke said. “It doesn’t have to be that way. I told them during my interview, ‘I’m not going to lie for you. If that’s going to be a problem, don’t call me back.’ Well, they called me back in a week, and this job has been a great thing. I’ve had a ton of witnessing opportunities with my coworkers.”

Zepke was one of seven Maranatha graduates from the Class of 2008 who returned to campus Feb. 27 to address the Business Strategy Senior Capstone class at the request of Business Department Chair Dr. Corey Pfaffe.

Pfaffe has always encouraged input from his former students, and has maintained a blog to help business alumni keep in contact with fellow graduates as well as current students.

Each of the graduates related a different story about their entry into the business world. Some took on management positions immediately, while others found entry-level jobs. Dan Kaminski of Eugene, Oregon, convinced his employer to allow him to develop a new arm of that company, one specializing in the manufacturing of custom furniture and kitchen cabinets.

“There are many challenges with a startup company, but there are also opportunities and blessings,” Kaminski said. “I’ve had great opportunities in my church and community. I’ve been able to coach soccer in the public school system, which is something I really love. You have to trust God to lead and guide and direct you, even if things don’t play out the way you had pictured them.”

Ryan Wychopen was hoping to recruit employees for Firecheck of Texas and Security International as well as relate his experiences working in human resources at the south Texas company.

“You’d be surprised at how many companies are looking for honest people,” Wychopen said. “If you are in accounting, for instance, you will be dealing with a lot of money. It is a job that requires trustworthiness. If they see you have graduated from a Christian college, a small private school with a very regimented lifestyle, that could really prove to be to your advantage.”

Graduating from a Christian college was certainly to Micah Pfaffe’s advantage when he was hired as Information Technology Manager at Colonial Baptist Church in North Carolina.

“I liked the idea of being able to work in a ministry and gain some more IT background,” Pfaffe said. “This is helping me find my niche.”

Sara Anderson may have found a new niche while working in the marketing arm of a properties management company in Wisconsin. She found herself attending court hearings for disputes with tenants quite often and found that part of the job enjoyable. Now she is considering studying law.

Tim Reinert had applied for graduate school at Salisbury University in Maryland, but that school was unfamiliar with Maranatha.

“Once they did the research, they decided it was actually a very good school and created a spot for me in the program,” Reinert said.

Tara Watterson, whose goal is to work for one of the Big 5 accounting firms, is working as an independent accounting contractor while pursuing her Master’s of Business Administration at Marquette University.

“It’s good to have goals to pursue while you wait to see what God wants you to do with your life,” Watterson said.

--Posted by Andrew Call, 3-3-09

Business students fare well in testing

Maranatha Baptist Bible College 2008 accounting management graduates scored in the nation’s top 25 percent in eight business categories, including the top 5 percent in accounting, among college business schools participating in the Educational Testing Services Business Test.

The scores were compiled in May as part of a department self-study and reported earlier this month. Those scores included 447 schools that administered the ETS standardized test in 2006 and 2007, comprising more than 37,000 students.

Maranatha business students fared very well across all majors, according to department chair Dr. Corey Pfaffe.

Business management majors were in the top 25 percent in seven disciplines, including the top 20 percent in management. Marketing management majors were in the top 25 percent in six disciplines, including marketing.

The ETS scores also include a section for information systems knowledge. Maranatha's 2008 business seniors ranked among the top 15 percent in the nation. Information systems skills include the use of spreadsheet, word processing, database, and presentation software.

The self-study also revealed several other areas in which Maranatha business majors have demonstrated success.

The Measures of Academic Proficiency and Progress (MAPP) test showed an average increase in college-level critical thinking scores from 112.1 as freshmen to 114.9 as seniors. The MAPP writing skills scores ranked among the top 17 percent of college seniors.

Business interns exceeded employment supervisors’ expectations related to their general business knowledge and problem-solving skills. The interns’ information systems knowledge was considered “exceptional” by their supervisors.

The college graduated 25 business majors in May. Two are pursuing law enforcement careers. The other 23 are either employed or pursing employment in their fields of study.

Senior Capstone Project Presentations

The 2008 capstone teams were LINC, Green Sweep Solutions, and Everything Health. See Photos

Marketing Research Presentations

Student in the 2008 Marketing class performed and presented marketing analyses research for two area businesses: HAWC and Berres Brothers Coffee. See Photos