Public Administration and M.B.A. Alumna Working for Management Science Associates Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Meet Michelle Herrle
Job title: Business Systems Analyst
Employer: Management Science Associates, Inc.
Degrees earned: Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and M.B.A. with a concentration in Management, Point Park University
Graduation years: 2008 and 2009
College Activities: Graduate Assistant for the School of Business
Hometown: Penn Hills, Pa.
High School: Penn Hills High School
Now living in: West View, Pa.
Hobbies/interests: Reading, writing, spending time with family including my six-year-old daughter and two-year-old son and serving as a board member for Belle Voci women's choir
What does your job entail at Management Science Associates?
Our company manages data for consumer package goods so our clients are manufacturers. My job is to serve as the voice between our clients and IT team, working closely with project management, development and design to determine the most cost-effective solution that will work within the given project's time frame. I gather requirements for each project by defining and interviewing stakeholders and conducting research on internal processes and risks associated with each project and then I thoroughly document and report my findings.
What factors made you choose Point Park's public administration and M.B.A. programs?
I went to a fairly large high school so I liked that Point Park offered small class sizes. Also, I wanted to go to a small university where I could receive personal attention from my professors. An admissions counselor at Point Park suggested I consider the public administration major since at the time I really wanted to pursue nonprofit work. In the public administration program, I got to learn about both the nonprofit and business worlds. I really enjoyed my accounting and statistics classes and was surprised by how much I liked learning about the business side of things so I decided to stay at Point Park and earn my M.B.A. degree.
What are your career goals?
I really enjoy strategic planning and the business process side of things. As a business systems analyst, I'd like to grow into the process side more. I also hope that my education and experience will bring me back to the nonprofit world someday.
What job advice do you have for Point Park's School of Business students?
I really believe that continuing your education - no matter what path you go down - is very important. Stay connected and be in-the-know about your specific industry. Go the extra mile to keep yourself educated and up-to-date on the latest information in your field.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I truly had a lot of support at Point Park. My professors really worked with me and went above and beyond. They were very helpful, encouraging and allowed me to bounce ideas off of them, showing me the pros and cons. That's something I really appreciated. Also, I met some great colleagues at Point Park who I still stay in touch with to this day. I may not be on the career path I'm on, had it not been for the support I received at Point Park.