After graduating from Penn State University in May 2002 with a degree in mechanical engineering, Chris began his career as a design engineer with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., headquartered in Akron, Ohio.  He worked in the Advanced Product and Process Design department, developing machinery and robotics to be used in future tire-building machines.
 
In May 2003, Chris accepted a job with FirstEnergy Corp., also headquartered in Akron but relocated to the company’s Morristown, New Jersey, general office. At FirstEnergy, Chris started as a reliability engineer, managing the reliability of the distribution power network in two large areas of New Jersey. He was then promoted to Project Manager of Substation Operations where he planned, scheduled, and managed the preventive maintenance, repairs, and upgrades to area substations.

Chris had a personal goal to pursue his MBA, so he left FirstEnergy Corp. and enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in August 2005. Starting out with a marketing focus, Chris soon discovered the mathematical similarities between finance and engineering and became very interested in corporate finance. Still retaining interest in many other areas of business, he realized his true passion: business strategy. Chris is pursuing finance as an MBA concentration but is broadening his educational focus with electives like Alliance and Acquisition Strategy, Negotiations, and Consulting.

To bolster his experience, Chris took on multiple projects for Illinois Business Consulting (IBC), the IMBA’s professional consulting organization. He completed his summer internship at BearingPoint Management & Technology Consulting, where he worked for the Chief Strategy Office (CSO). At BearingPoint, Chris helped the CSO cascade their refreshed corporate strategy down to the business unit, geographic, and industry levels.  He also spearheaded a design team that created a “one-source” website for employees where they could go to get any documentation or guidelines necessary to do their daily jobs.

Chris was elected president of the Illinois MBA Association (MBAA) and began his term in January 2006. Under his leadership, the Illinois MBAA has made great strides in improving alumni relations, student opportunity, and program quality within the Illinois MBA. Chris also co-founded the Get Fit Club, which received international coverage from both BusinessWeek Online and CNN International.  Chris has been named Director of Best Practices for the Graduate Business Forum, a group that brings together the student leaders of the top business schools in the world to share thought leadership and best practices each year.

Upon graduation, Chris plans to pursue a career in strategy consulting and hopes to live in Chicago.