PMRE Overview

UCF EMBA Professors and students alike feed off each others’ knowledge and experience and raise learning to its highest level. EMBA at UCF is more than an education. It is a creation of a valuable network of professionals.

George Gramatikas

Founder and Co-Owner Turbine Technology Services EMBA 2004

"A business degree is the mandatory foundation for any professional who wants to advance into a leadership position, there is simply no substitute. Being employed as an aerospace engineer at the Kennedy Space Center, the UCF Executive MBA quickly emerged as the ideal package for me: Fantastic faculty and staff, viable class schedule, thorough curriculum, diverse class interaction, AACSB accreditation, and a recognized degree from one of the largest business schools in the nation."

Martin Born

Technical Project Lead United Space Alliance EMBA 2007

The EMBA has taken my life to the next level; new job, new knowledge, and a new outlook for the future. It's more than just an MBA. When you graduate you don't just have letters behind your name, you have a skill set and knowledge base that prepares you for the real world of business.

Dewane Pace

Administrator of Clinical Information Health Central EMBA 2005

"It's hard enough to get an MBA, but the real challenge is to apply what you learn in class to your business. The difference the EMBA makes is the direct applicability to your professional life."

Tony Thornton

President Turbine Technology Services EMBA 1995

“The UCF Professional MBA provides practical education for the real-world professional. The program structure gave me the flexibility to continue my professional career while advancing my career knowledge and skills.”

Nouval Guerrera

Director, Portfolio Services CNL Financial Services PMBA 2009

“What I found most appealing about the Professional MBA program was the number of professors who had actually practiced the trade they were teaching. Bringing that real-world knowledge offered deeper perspective to the textbooks, the case studies, and the simulation exercises.”

Winnie Eliassaint

Sr. Pricing Analyst Walt Disney World PMBA 2009

“I would absolutely recommend the PMBA program to working professionals who want to further advance their careers. It was not uncommon for me to take what I learned in class and apply it the very next day to my work. “

Leonardo Santiago

Director of Marketing and Communications International Speedway Corp. PMBA 2007

“The PMBA program exceeded my expectations. Upon graduation, I was immediately offered a position at another company for much higher compensation. I chose that over promotion with my current employer. The impact that UCF’s PMBA program had on my career was evident. I felt a great sense of accomplishment by obtaining the degree—and was rewarded by the job market at the same time.”

Brendan O’Toole

Pharmavite LLC Senior Buyer PMBA 2011

“Last weekend, we had dinner with several of my PMBA classmates and their spouses. I began the program expecting to make friends. But I had no idea I’d graduate from the program with friends as close as family.”

John Stover

Regional Vice President LaVie Healthcare Management PMBA 2009

“If you want a quality education without compromising aspects of your work and home life, the PMBA program is a great option. My career has been impacted significantly since graduation, and I owe much of my success to the PMBA program. I recommend it to all prospective students.”

Jessica Brewer

Director of Operations Analysis Liberty Medical PMBA 2008

“The EDC was very supportive in making the PMBA run as smoothly as possible. They supported me as a working student by bringing the school and faculty close to me. With an already busy work schedule, driving 50 miles each way to UCF’s Main Campus for classes would have made my MBA goal unachievable. From my career perspective, the MBA was and is ‘a must have.’ The UCF PMBA program made that achievable. I can highly recommend the program.”

Peter Ehrhard

Chief Technologist Harris Corporation PMBA 2011

"UCF's Professional MBA program provides the optimal classroom experience. In addition to learning from outstanding faculty, I greatly benefited from the real life examples shared by other working professionals in my cohort. I finished the PMBA program with a strong academic foundation and an equally strong professional network of peers."

Jaycelyn Kryzer

Director, Business Development LPGA International PMBA 2011

“I am proud to have earned my MBA from UCF. The professors were top notch, and their real-world experience made their lectures relevant and captivating. The EDC staff took care of all the extra administrative details which made it easy to focus on the curriculum. I am thankful for the personal and professional relationships I developed during the PMBA.”

Lynn Preuss

Senior Financial Analyst Computer Sciences Raytheon PMBA 2011

“The UCF PMBA Program allowed me to fulfill a dream and achieve a goal. It is masterfully created for those with busy careers and family commitments who want to further their education and promotability. The curriculum is very engaging and provides a foundation of knowledge and proficiency in all areas of business.”

Kimberly Fulcher

Director of Human Resources Halifax Health PMBA 2010

“The UCF PMSM program offered a variety of courses to help develop our leadership, presentation, managerial, and human resource skills. It also provided a great platform of knowledge to help prepare us for the HR certification test.”

Heather Deyrieux

Director of Client Services Orlandojobs.com PMSM 2009

“The PMSM cohort experience provided a place to share experiences, both personally and professionally. By the end of the program, lasting friendships and professional networks were formed not only with classmates, but also professors, faculty and staff.”

Christine Murphy

Senior Human Resource Analyst Orlando County Government PMSM 2009

“The PMSM program not only enhances your competitive advantage regarding managerial philosophy, but it also sharpens your social intelligence while providing an academic distinction among your peers.”

Christopher Leo

Adjunct Lecturer Management Department, UCF PMSM 2011

“I found the PMSM to be the perfect fit for me and my business. All of the instructors were truly concerned with how well I learned and functioned in the classroom. Classroom material was pertinent and I immediately found myself taking what I learned and using it in my business. The PMSM has made me a better business owner and I am looking forward to using what I have learned and growing my business.”

Leah Assenmacher

Managing Director & Owner FFC Enterprises PMSM 2011

“The UCF EMBA program provided a unique opportunity to directly and actively engage with Department Chairs and key faculty members in a small setting. I also interacted with, and learned from, a cohort of outstanding peers as classmates.”

Cathy Nash

CEO and President Citizens Bank EMBA 2003

"Earning my UCF Executive MBA has been one of the most transformative events in my life—both professionally and personally. The program delivered the perfect complement to my Public Relations background by providing a challenging yet safe ‘laboratory’ to sharpen my business acumen. What I gained has served me far beyond the classroom and boardroom—I developed skills, as well as deep and lasting relationships throughout our growing community. This degree has given me the knowledge and confidence to earn—and keep—my seat at the table."

Karen Breakell

Director, Community Engagement Nemours Children's Hospital EMBA 2001

“My EMBA experience at UCF provided me the valuable skill set to think and solve complex business issues as a leader. The program offered a platform for utilizing those skills by surrounding me with experienced classmates and articulate professors who could apply concepts to real-world scenarios.”

Taylor R. Sacha

Vice President, U.S. Trust Bank of America Private Wealth Management EMBA 2010

"I really enjoyed my time in the PMBA program. I learned so much from my cohort and established life-long contacts that will help me expand my networking capabilities needed in today's world. I'm able to apply concepts from class to my job now and see different angles by looking at the whole picture vs. a much smaller point of view. I feel that my MBA definitely gave me that edge for my recent promotion at work this year. Thanks, UCF!"

Alex Richwagen

Assistant Vice President Quality Management Office, Pershing LLC PMBA 2012

"Think of a program that is designed to complete what is missing or needs some fine tuning in your leadership, business and management portfolio… That is what UCF Professional MBA offers. Taught by a group of the most elite faculty in the region and with a cohort of professionals from different backgrounds, it widens one’s viewing angle and perspective. The difference the program made in me was easily noticeable by others and it helped me get a promotion."

Melih Beser

Engineering Manager ABB Inc. PMBA 2012

“I had been a commercial real estate professional for 30+ years when I enrolled in PMRE. I can attest to the validity and value of the program, as I now practice my profession on a higher intellectual level. My fellow graduates and I highly—and unanimously—recommend the program to those who desire to improve their knowledge and understanding of the real estate industry.”

Marshall S. Cohn

President Dunhill Management Corp. PMRE 2011

“PMRE’s cohort format helped me learn from gifted professors and perform team projects with experienced professionals. Student quality and cohort size prompted bonding that I neither expected nor found in undergraduate classes. As most students were from local industry, we were real-world competitors. But PMRE brought us together in an environment of teamwork and mutual respect.”

Quentin Caruso

Vice President Realty Capital Advisors, Inc. PMRE 2011

“I went into the PMBA program terrified. I hadn't been in school in more than twenty years. I thought I was going to make a fool out of myself. The EDC has a goal of ensuring that students succeed. We were grouped together to provide a diversity of strengths across all disciplines and we were able to help each other. I quickly learned that I was not doing this by myself, that I had 30 other very smart people who were making the same journey. It was a tremendous experience and I am so glad I took the plunge.”

Wendy Stone

Traffic Manager Golf Channel PMBA 2012

The Executive MBA program at UCF is a fun and dynamic learning environment where I got to meet lots of people from different backgrounds. Their experience and viewpoints were invaluable in helping me get a better understanding of business as a whole. It has greatly expanded my understanding of my own business, helped me improve our overall strategies, sales and product development while also helping me understand how to profitably grow my business.

Matthew Polk

Marketing & Sales Manager ABB Inc. EMBA 2010

“The PMBA Program at UCF is truly a program tailored for the working professional. The faculty understood the demand brought on by your professional career and were reasonable in accommodating your request. The professors selected for the program were among the top professors in the field with both educational and in the field experience. Overall, it was a great program and very convenient for the cohorts to participate in. If only the Executive Center would offer a PhD program with similar attributes...”

Benjamin Henein

PMO Business Process Manager Siemens Energy PMBA 2012

“I felt like I got a new lease on life after entering the UCF PMBA program. It felt so good to be challenged and reminded of all the skills we were capable of doing. Through a recommendation by a PMBA professor, I was given an opportunity at Lockheed-Martin that led to being hired on full-time as a program engineer. Best decision I ever made.”

Joe Kramlinger

Program Engineer Lockheed Martin PMBA 2012

“Every aspect of the EMBA program was tailor-made to fit the needs of the busy professional. The small class size, elite faculty members and staff, and professional cohort members all work together for a superior experience. I would definitely recommend this MBA program.”

Monica Ponder

President Q4 Services EMBA 2012

“ I was very impressed by the quality and experience of the faculty and the mix of academic and practical business content. The International Residency was well-planned and the experience of a lifetime. The interaction and shared professional perspectives with the other members of our cohort added significantly to the value of the Program."

Marvin Gardner

Principal Director The Aerospace Corporation EMBA 2012

“I acquired skills and knowledge that could be directly applied within the workplace. My leaders recognized my professional growth and shortly after graduation rewarded me with a substantial merit pay increase. A few months ago, I was given the opportunity to lead the development and implementation of the first 5-year Strategic Plan for my company. During this effort, I continuously found myself rifling through textbooks and class notes to revisit topics aptly taught by the professors.”

Tim Armstrong

Customer Service Division Manager Orange County Government EMBA 2011

The PMRE program greatly broadened my perspective on not only commercial real estate, but many other business topics as well. Not only was the faculty very experienced and knowledgeable, but my fellow cohorts were a valuable resource and still continue to be today. Overall, the program significantly boosted my professional skill set and knowledge and was well worth the hard work and dedication involved.

Rob Rothaug

Sr. Investment Analyst NorthMarq Capital PMRE 2011

“When I started the program; I had been in IT for the previous 10 years and was looking to broaden my knowledge about the different Real Estate markets. Since starting the program, I have purchased a few properties and am looking into starting my own property management company. The programs offered at the Executive Center take away many of the frustrations of going back to college while still working.”

Chris Sheedy

IT Sales Manager Rosen Hotels and Resorts PMRE 2011

“I highly recommend the EMBA program. In addition to learning from top faculty, it’s also incredible to experience the program with other professionals. Often you get as much intellectual stimulation from debate among your classmates as you do from the professors.”

Richard Van Slyke

Vice President Busch Properties of Florida, Inc. EMBA 2004

"I received a promotion during my participation in the Professional MBA. I am positive that my learning from the program helped set me apart and land the role. I am so glad I decided to participate in the PMBA program. "