KENT, OHIO - MARCH 10, 2016
Denis Wolowiecki, vice president of global purchasing at Husqvarna Group, will be presenting "Project Management - a Critical Skill for Your Career" at the College of Business Administration's Global Management Speaker Series on March 30.
"Project Management is an overlooked area of knowledge and study. Very few people get certified in it, but you don't need to be certified to have a few basic and impactful skills," Wolowiecki said. "This is something that can really help you differentiate yourself in your career - it's a universal skill. It allows you to set priorities, define goals, manage budgets and plan your resources in order to reach successful outcomes."
Wolowiecki received his MBA in International Business in 1994 from Kent State University's College of Business Administration. He is currently the vice president of global purchasing at Husqvarna Group in Charlotte, N.C. He leads a global supply chain team for direct materials for Husqvarna Group's outdoor power equipment brands and devises beneficial supply chain solutions to drive down costs for suppliers at Husqvarna.
"I want to share something from my experience, "Wolowiecki said. "One of the benefits that I enjoyed during my years of study was the opportunity to hear experienced industry professionals who came in to speak with us on various topics. It helped to blend the 'real world' with my classroom study. I always enjoyed those opportunities to learn from others and now, I would like to give back."
Prior to Husqvarna Group, Wolowiecki worked at Aleris International as vice president of global procurement, where he successfully launched a transformation program in Europe.
Wolowiecki earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio Northern University and a certificate of international management at the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Ariz.
Some of his favorite memories at Kent State University include working in the College of Business Administration computer operation center in the networking lab. He spent the summer running coaxial cable through the dropped ceiling and learned how to troubleshoot the large routers that kept the building connected.
"I enjoyed the learning experience and keeping the business network running. It was satisfying to play a role in the operations of the college," he said.
Wolowiecki advises currents students to actively engage in business networking and maintain relationships at all levels. "It is critical for success," he said. "It is said so often and yet, people don't pay enough attention to their professional networks. It is vitally important to meet people and establish relationships outside the classroom."
Wolowiecki also encourages students to pursue meaningful experiences in all facets of their lives, including pursuing summer jobs and internships to build expertise, engaging in volunteer and community service work, gaining leadership experience, exploring outside their major and being passionate about what they do.
The Global Management Center (GMC) at Kent State University strives to advance international business education opportunities, advance global research through industry partnerships and provide an international stage for students, faculty and the public to learn as well as engage in best global business practices.
Kent State University's College of Business Administration is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) and one of the largest colleges of business in Ohio. The College has more than 4,300 students representing 50 countries with over 106 full-time faculty from 16 countries.
The college grants undergraduate through graduate degrees, and is one of only three public colleges in Ohio with a comprehensive Ph.D. program. The MBA program is offered with nine concentrations and five dual degree options. The Executive MBA program offer two tracks: one targeting corporate professionals and the other healthcare executives. The M.S. in Accounting and M.A. in Economics are specialized master's degrees for those seeking advanced study in these disciplines. The college boasts nine undergraduate majors, 12 minors and a Professional Sales Certificate program.
The college is listed as a Best Business School by Princeton Review, ranked as a Best Business College by U.S. News and World Report, one of only 23 accounting programs worldwide to beendorsed by the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), ranked Top-Tier for Executive Education in North America by CEO Magazine and ranked fourth by the SEF (Sales Education Foundation) in Ohio for Professional Sales Education.
The college boasts an onsite Career Services Center and International Programs Office dedicated to business students, and operates the Global Management Center, the Center for Information Systems and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation all propelling scholarly research, establishing innovative industry partnerships and providing outreach to Northeast Ohio and beyond.
Media Contacts:
Michelle Manning, Director of Marketing Communications, mparris3@kent.edu, 330-672-2717
Amy Kessler, Marketing and Communications Specialist, akessle7@kent.edu, 330-672-1279