13 GAI staff graduate from onsite MBA program

PITTSBURGH, PA. — On April 28, engineering and environmental consulting firm GAI Consultants, Inc., in partnership with Point Park University, graduated its second onsite Corporate MBA class as 13 GAI executives and top-level managers received master’s degrees in business administration.

“It gives me a great deal of pride and satisfaction in celebrating the successful graduation of GAI’s second MBA class. This achievement requires a significant amount of sacrifice and dedication by the MBA participants. Congratulations to each and every one of you in reaching this career milestone,” said GAI President and CEO Gary DeJidas, P.E.

Employees from five of GAI’s 26 offices simultaneously and remotely completed the onsite program through the use of web conferencing technology. Local Pittsburgh-based graduates include GAI Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Diane Landers, Ph.D., RPA, CPSM; Eric Scuoteguazza, M.A., RPA, Senior Cultural Resources Manager; Judi Andersen, P.E., Director of Engineering; Ben Resnick, M.A., RPA, Assistant Vice President/Senior Director; Patrick Gallagher, Assistant Vice President/Senior Director; John Nicholson, P.E., Senior Engineer; and John Coyne, P.E., PLS, Senior Director.

“I believe Point Park University is one of the only MBA programs to physically send their professors into a firm’s workplace, which made the entire experience not only worthwhile and relevant, but also convenient to accommodate our busy schedules,” said Landers. “I also believe the Point Park faculty learned from us as well and will take back new ways of approaching adult education that will improve academia’s ability to meet the educational challenges of the 21st century business leader.”

Point Park University’s onsite corporate MBA was launched in the fall of 2009, and GAI was among the first businesses in the Pittsburgh region to take advantage of the program. Employees attended a four-hour class every week, completing 10 MBA courses over a 42-week period. The accelerated, fully-accredited MBA program is a cornerstone of GAI’s in-house leadership development initiative, and is offered to employees who have completed or are enrolled in GAI’s Harvard Executive Leadership Program.