ALUMNI BENEFITS | UPDATE INFO | ALUMNI EVENTS

Executives and Entrepreneurs From Point Park's School of Business Lead the Way for Students and New Graduates

Point Park alumni can be found in every business sector across the nation and around the world.  From CEOs, to international marketing project managers, to senior operating system engineers, business graduates bring great credit to their education at Point Park University.  They chose Point Park for it's flexible class schedule, personalized attention, convenient location and expert faculty.  And while they were here, they sharpened their analytical reasoning, learned to articulate complex concepts, improved their teamwork skills and ultimately advanced their careers.

Point Park alumnus Nicholas Gigante, MBA ’07, plays a key role in helping the Cultural Trust achieve its goals, serving as director of institutional development.  Below, Gigante shares a first-hand account of his experience as a Point Park student and graduate, from why he chose the University’s MBA program to his ongoing support for current students.

Barbara VanKirk, Computer Science, 1983 - honored with the 2010 Distinguished Alumni Professional Achievement Award  from Point Park University.  VanKirk has served as the president and owner of IQ, Inc., a company that provides expert consulting, staffing, project management and software development services to clients with information technology and software needs, for more than 15 years. 

From its humble beginning in a home office, the company has grown to employ 45 people and generate $6 million in gross annual revenue.VanKirk continues to lead IQ, Inc. and acts as an advocate for women looking to re-enter the workplace, serving as a mentor to them. In addition to her leadership at IQ, Inc., she serves on the executive committee of the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce, the Murrysville Professional Board and the Forbes Hospital Health Foundation.

  Roy E. Cox, D.Ed., EMT-P, Public Administration, 1991 honored with the Distinguished Alumni Service Award at Point Park University in 2010.  Roy E. Cox serves as the district chief of the City of Pittsburgh’s Bureau of EMS, part of the Department of Public Safety. Cox also serves as the leader of the Pittsburgh CISM Team, which helps mitigate the stressful effects of tragic events within the community. 

In addition to his work with the CIMS Team, Cox is writing a public safety textbook to be published in 2011.  He has received numerous awards from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Emergency Medical Services Institute for his dedication to public safety and emergency management. Cox is a member of the Federal Response Unit - Pennsylvania 1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team, which responds to crises, such as hurricanes, and H1N1 preparation in Delaware.

 James K. Shearer, Public Administration grad of 1999 honored with the 2010 GOLD Award (Graduate Of the Last Decade) from Point Park University.  James K. Shearer is a special agent for the FBI, assigned to the Detroit Field Division's Grand Rapids Resident Agency. Shearer is responsible for investigating domestic terrorism matters.  His training and expertise led to the capture of the leader of the Earth Liberation Front organization responsible for an arson at Michigan State University in 1999. Before joining the FBI, Shearer served as a police officer in Wilmington, N.C., spending his time on night patrol and working with the department’s narcotics team.  While on the Wilmington force, Shearer earned a master’s degree from Florida State University in 2003.  He was also responsible for obtaining a $130,000 grant to establish the Wilmington Street Walker Project, a rehabilitation program for prostitutes addicted to drugs.

Point Park alumnus Douglas M. Anderson is in the unique position to be able to utilize his diverse career experiences and expertise to help our nation's citizens with some very timely issues:  disaster preparedness and health care affordability.  Read more in our feature article.

"Onsite MBA program sends managers back to school"
CE News; November 2009
Gary M. DeJidas, president and CEO at GAI Consultants, Inc., touts the benefits of Point Park's on-site MBA program.  Gary, a Point Park undergraduate alumnus is looking forward to completing his MBA at Point Park with this on site program.