Radford University
John Travers
Instructor, Special Purpose
Management, Dept of
- Phone:
- (540) 831-5258
- Address:
-
Kyle Hall 390
Box 6954 - Email:
- jtravers1@radford.edu
Biography
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.
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.
Education
PMP, Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute, May 2025
MBA, Business Management, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
BS, Business Marketing, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, Missouri
LEED AP, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional, United
States Green Building Council
Recent Research and Engagement
Co-Host, Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge Corporate Fundraiser, Roanoke, VA, 13 August 2026
Seminar Instructor, Project Management, Treasurers Association of Virginia (TAV), Staunton, VA, 4-5 August 2026
Seminar Instructor, Leadership, Virginia Government Finance Officers Association (VGFOA), via Zoom, 23-24 July 2026
Visiting International Instructor, Project Event Management - PEM, Kassel University, Kassel Germany, 11 May 2026 – 4 July 2026
Panel Moderator, Small Business Institute (SBI), Pedagogy Panel, Fort Myers, FL, 8 April 2026
Coordinator, Junior Achievement Event with Floyd High School, Radford Venture Lab, 17 February 2026
Coordinator, Jobs for Virginia Graduates Ignite Pitch Competition, Radford University, 12 February 2026
Seminar Instructor, Leadership, Virginia Government Finance Officers Association (VGFOA), Roanoke, VA, 13-14 November 2025
Guest Speaker, Jobs for Virginia State Conference, Charlottesville, VA, 7 October, 2025
Coordinator, Junior Achievement Event with Salem High School, Radford Venture Lab, 30 September 2025
Coordinator, Junior Achievement Event with Roanoke Burton Technical School, Radford Venture Lab, 23 September 2025
Coordinator, Junior Achievement Event with Roanoke Burton Technical School, Radford Venture Lab, 23 September 2025
Seminar Instructor, Leadership, Treasurers Association of Virginia (TAV), Staunton, VA, 4-5 August 2025
Community Education Volunteer, Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge, Roanoke, VA, 14-17 July 2025
Courses Taught
ENTR 350, Entrepreneurship New Venture Creation
ENTR 425, Entrepreneurial Leadership
MGNT 101, Introduction to Management
MGNT 421, Leadership and Motivation
MGNT 440, Project Management
MGNT 460, Business in Society
MGNT 488, Honors Project Mentor
UNIV 100, Introduction to Higher Education
ENTR 425, Entrepreneurial Leadership
MGNT 101, Introduction to Management
MGNT 421, Leadership and Motivation
MGNT 440, Project Management
MGNT 460, Business in Society
MGNT 488, Honors Project Mentor
UNIV 100, Introduction to Higher Education
Publications - Chapters
Contributing author to: Stephen J. Skripak, Ron Poff, Fundamentals of Business, 4th
edition, (Pamplin College of Business in Association with Virginia Tech Publishing,
2022), contributions to Chap. 4 – Ethics, Chap. 14 – Marketing (reviewer), Chap. 16
– Hospitality
Publications - Proceedings
Presented Abstract: Travers, J.A. (2026). “Leveraging Community Partnerships to Drive
Campus Outreach Goals.” Proceedings of the Small Business Institute, 8 April, 2026
Honors and Awards
We are Radford Award Winner, Radford University, October 2024
High Performer of the Year 2024, Jobs for Americas Graduates, August 2024
Board Member of the Year, Junior Achievement of SW VA, May 2023