TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

My interest in teaching is driven by limitations of industry training and support that facilitate students achieving an improved standard of living. I believe the Community Colleges provide a good opportunity for students to gain the skills, experience and contacts to advance. I embrace the idea of teaching Business related and Entrepreneurial Courses for the opportunity to help students gain easier access to better jobs in better environments. My academic background studying and teaching business concepts and methods in the global marketplace supported by extensive personal business experience provides a solid foundation for the free exchange of knowledge in a multicultural setting. I have also created several community-based enterprises, in addition to conducting business in all the major foreign markets through my responsibilities as a Senior Executive with several global organizations. My business experience in most major international and domestic markets working with both community-based and global corporate organizations, supported by business travel to over 50 cities in 28 foreign countries, has provided me with a diverse perspective directly applicable to the needs of today’s students. I have found through my work that encouraging a learning environment fosters effective levels of creativity, autonomy, cohesion among colleagues and discipline that promotes responsibility. Experience has shown this model is the most productive for creating and sustaining superior performance. This “Respect Based Management Process” considers the non - work environment, the entering skills and the willingness to learn and achieve of each individual student. 

    My personal objective is to inspire each student by sharing theory and experience to encourage a higher level of personal performance through a stimulating and enjoyable course experience. I also expect to inspire each student to take responsibility for learning and help them advance to better jobs. Because students bring unique socioeconomic, life experience, cultural and skill backgrounds to a class, I find it critically important to gain a sufficient understanding of these factors for each student in order to create a healthy, safe and respectful environment while encouraging personal connection. The information gained from this effort also provides the basis for selecting appropriate delivery methods for the course material. I believe this effort allows the best opportunity for each student to progress towards their respective goals. I also find it important to create an environment that encourages students to gain support through their emotional connection to the group and the work of transferring knowledge among the participants. Communal rules need to be established to allow for respectful disagreement to encourage the free flow of ideas and broad class participation.

    I organize course material in a manner that allows for multiple delivery formats and appropriate timely

measurement/feedback of student progress. As many of the Community College students are working adults, I strive to make the course and reference material easy to find with clear instructions. Beyond course material organization and the textbook, I research and provide additional material to the students to allow for a better understanding of concepts. My style of interaction is relaxed and I am available by email, phone, office and class to support my role as a “Steward” of the educational process. I am dedicated to helping students in the community find better opportunities through effective relevant multi-cultural business education with a unique understanding of the new global marketplace and relationships with industry.