U.S. Army Vet and MBA alum credits Costello for expanding his dreams

Jennifer Anzaldi — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 14:31:18 +0000

U.S. Army Vet and MBA alum credits Costello for expanding his dreams Jennifer Anzaldi Mon, 11/11/2024 - 09:31

After eight years in the U.S. Army, Allen Taber, MBA ’22, was looking for a way to grow in his career. The Donald G. Costello College of Business at George Mason University provided him the tools he was seeking. Taber came to George Mason for an MBA, and left with a new dream of pursuing a doctorate.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22

“George Mason was an awesome experience, especially for someone who wasn’t in school for over a decade,” says Taber. A parent of a young child, Costello offered him the location and flexibility he was seeking. “Professors worked with us. Almost every single professor you had was out there to help students out.”

Prior to coming to Costello, Taber served as a computer detection specialist in the U.S. Army. “I brought the skills I learned in the military to the workplace, which allowed me to become a program manager within the information technology industry,” says Taber. While working as a project manager he quickly realized that if he wanted to grow in his company, he needed an advanced degree.

For Taber, learning the theory behind what he was doing in his position helped to make him a better manager. Taber says his Management Consulting course with Jim Wolfe, associate professor of management and entrepreneur in residence at Costello, was particularly impactful. “We bounced ideas off of each other in the class that I could implement in my current position,” says Taber.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22, in Chile on his MBA Global Residency.

In addition to Wolfe’s class, Taber says his most memorable experience during his time at George Mason was the Global Residency Program to Chile. “We had the opportunity to learn different business operations, and more importantly how a different country operates, both similarities and differences. It was amazing to study in a place you normally would never go,” says Taber. “It was the first time I left the country in 20 years.”

Taber says that not only was the business education experience impactful, but exploring the city and learning about the culture left a lasting imprint as well.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22, spent eight years in the U.S. Army.

After completing his MBA, Taber continued on for his doctorate in business administration at Walden University. “Professor Wolfe was a catalyst to push me into my doctoral studies,” says Taber. “You talk about it, you think about, but having someone who’s been doing it for so many years say ‘Go for it’ is pretty awesome.”

Taber says the MBA program prepared him well for his doctorate. Taber is currently the senior technical project manager for Monture, LLC, and working on completing his doctoral study.

Taber’s advice to students considering the program: “It is never too late to go back to school. While I had great accomplishments in the workplace, having an advanced degree will open up future opportunities that would not be possible without it.”

Photos provided by Allen Taber.

Topics

Costello College of Business News

Costello College of Business Alumni

MBA Program

Alumni

Military

Mason professor receives prestigious U.S. Navy civilian award

Damian Cristodero — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 17:24:28 +0000

Mason professor receives prestigious U.S. Navy civilian award Damian Cristodero Thu, 01/26/2017 - 12:24

Professor John Hillen, right, receives the U.S. Navy Meritorious Public Service Award from Admiral John Richardson, chief of U.S. naval operations. Photo courtesy U.S. Navy.

John Hillen, professor of management and executive-in-residence at George Mason University’s School of Business, has received the U.S. Navy Meritorious Public Service Award, the third-highest civilian award the Navy can bestow.

Hillen, a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran, was recognized for his service during the past nine years as a member of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel. As a personal advisor to four chiefs of naval operations, Hillen provided expert peer-level advice on essential naval and national security matters. He also led several studies for the Navy, including ones on teaching and training ethics in the service.

The citation given to Hillen reads, in part, “Hillen’s leadership and superb council on the Navy Ethics study led to significant recommendations that were of great value to the Chief of Naval Operations. His contributions to studies on Iran, agile information technology, rightsizing the civilian workforce, and survivable communications directly impacted operational improvements and had a significant influence on U.S. Navy policies and programs.”

Said Hillen: “It was a great honor to help advise the head of the U.S. Navy for many years and lead several studies that impact the service, in particular the study on teaching ethics in the Navy, which is an essential part of the curriculum in my leadership class in our MBA program.”

Hillen received the award on Jan. 24, in a ceremony at the Pentagon. It was presented by the head of the U.S. Navy, Admiral John Richardson, chief of naval operations.