John Travers

I tell my students I am not an academic, like many of my peers.  I am more of a management generalist hired to bridge the gap between the academic college environment and the world students will face when they leave school.  My MBA, Leed Certification and Project Management work provides a broad foundation for me to apply classroom material to real life events.   
 
Based on student feedback, students like my class and approach.  I often tell stories and challenge students to read between the lines.  My stories complement other case studies and current events that we will review as a class.  My classes are not lectures, but conversations.  I will challenge students to speak up and guess, rather than just being idle observers.  Secondary goals in my class are to challenge students to be present, observant, and responsive.   
 
In nearly every course I teach there is at least one lesson on balance.  It may be short term vs. long term, mind-body-spirit, people-planet-profit, stakeholder priorities…  These lessons are to help students understand the business world from more than one perspective and to learn to appreciate multiple approaches as they develop their plans and strategy for work and life.   
 
With over 25 years of diverse work experience from State Farm Insurance, Polo Ralph Lauren, Orvis, US Foods, and Roanoke Valley Wine, and in multiple leadership roles, I have a wealth of experience to fall back on, especially when I review my mistakes.  Allowing students to learn from my mistakes is just another way I deliver value in the classroom.