Classes for next 15-month program begin in January 2015

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (Nov. 3, 2014)—The Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program announces there is still time to submit an application for the next cohort beginning January 2015 for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in CIM. The program, which began in August 2012, is offered through the Jennings A. Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). The Jennings A. Jones College of Business is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. This customized MBA is a rigorous, highly interactive degree program that thrives on diversity of cultures with mutual benefit to participants and sponsoring companies. Its major themes are operational excellence, leadership, strategy and execution. The program takes participants beyond basics to a true understanding of forces that will shape the concrete and construction industry. Successful graduates will immediately impact their businesses with a unique global, strategic and operational perspective and be ideally equipped to tackle the most pressing industry issues and help chart a future course of action. Participants will be shown skills needed for leadership and team building, as well as motivational skills to create synergy and energize their teams with the aim of achieving excellence throughout the organization. “The CIM Executive MBA is an excellent opportunity for companies to invest in their future leaders by sponsoring their participation in a program of higher education that is specifically designed for the concrete industry,” said Eugene Martineau, executive director of the CIM program. “In developing this program, we wanted to ensure we were offering an advanced degree that was truly unique and not simply an MBA Program. While the program does offer many similar courses one would find in a typical executive MBA, the course content has been tailored to reflect on the issues important to managers and executives in the concrete industry.” Because of the distance learning aspect of the program, candidates pursuing this degree can continue in their full time employment responsibilities. With small class sizes, the student-to-teacher ratio is ideal maximize this unique learning experience. Beginning in January, the 15-month-long program will be administered in seven-week blocks. The format will include distance learning, webinars and on-campus visits to MTSU. The CIM MBA faculty have completed extensive internships in the concrete industry and have real exposure to the unique aspects of the industry and understand how issues and examples can be integrated into the courses they are teaching. “Since the candidates for the program are coming from many different aspects of the concrete industry, there is an excellent opportunity for individuals to gain a broad perspective regarding aspects of the industry they typically would not be exposed to,” said Martineau. Industry professionals participating in the CIM MBA program will have a minimum of three years of experience in the industry and hold at least supervisory positions or above in their respective organizations. Academically, all participants will have at least an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education. While participants must have at least a bachelor’s degree, that degree does not have to be in business.