Since being established in 1968 as the College of Business Administration at Texas A&M University, Mays Business School has focused on balancing innovation and tradition.
Obviously, much has changed in the half decade of existence, but Mays has negotiated massive societal and economic changes.
Mays Business School’s mission is to be a vibrant learning organization that creates impactful knowledge and develops transformational leaders. Mays educates over 6,400 students in accounting, finance, management, management information systems, marketing and supply chain management. It ranks among the top US public business schools and is accredited by AACSB-International - the premier accrediting agency for business schools.
Covid “really lit the fire under us”
Although Mays, like other establishments, had been looking at the possibilities of remote learning, up to 90% of its activities had been face-to-face. “Some of our clients really like pulling their employees out of their workplace and putting them in active study,” according to Ben Welch, Executive Director of Client Engagement, Center for Executive Development.
The pandemic, and subsequent lockdowns, changed all that. “When the Covid hit, it really lit the fire under us,” according to Greg Marchi, Chief Learning Officer and Assistant Dean for the Center of Executive Development, Texas A&M University. “But it also gave us the time to think about how we deal with this in a virtual world. The engagement with many of the technologies and partners we were considering immediately increased.”
The obvious solution: virtual classrooms
With its strong emphasis on a global education, Mays was determined to find a solution that enabled them to maintain those standards. Jared Bleak, senior advisor for the Center underlines the importance of getting it right. “Online learning is super-important for business schools. With the pandemic and quarantine, you have to be able to deliver the sort of learning and growth that people demand, especially during this time. So we need to get better and better at it.”
This led to an in-depth examination of the available possibilities. “While there are different platforms out there that are being used for meetings and conferences, we didn’t feel they were optimal for use with executives,” says Marchi. “They were designed as meeting or conference platforms. They weren’t designed to be teaching platforms.”
“As close as we can to face-to-face”
The choice eventually led to Barco. But why? “What I really appreciate is the ability to be myself in a classroom as opposed to sitting in front of a computer screen,” says Bleak. “It affords the opportunity to engage with participants like they are there and use my physicality to create connections. That’s a critical thing in our virtual environment.”
Moving from the drawing board to an actual educational delivery system as sophisticated as weConnect could be an issue. But in practice? “There was obviously prep time for faculty members, myself being one of those,” says Welch. “But once we were utilizing the facilities, there was a very quick learning time, a great overview, great acceptability, unparalleled customer service… And really, only half a day was utilized in prepping to use the service.”
Meeting customer needs
In addition to meeting the school’s mission as a world-class provider of executive education, the new possibilities offered by weConnect also fit in with customer needs. “I see this as something that is going to be perpetual,” says Welch. “Clients are saying it’s far more cost-effective, they’re not having to incur lodging and ensuing expenses. So I see it as a permanent addition to what we have previously been offering.”
And looking forward? “We’re looking at what we might be doing 6-12 months into the future,” notes Marchi. “We’ve had conversation with Barco about how technology is going to evolve, how the user is going to become more demanding with technology. As we get into this continued Covid and post-Covid world, there are things we must think about for that group of individuals. So the best way to future proof is always to think about flexibility, creativity and innovative thinking in your team and your partners.”
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
