Ten GAI employees graduate from onsite MBA program

Pittsburgh — On April 26, national engineering, environmental, planning, and economic consulting firm GAI Consultants, Inc. (GAI), in partnership with Point Park University, graduated its third onsite Corporate MBA class as 10 GAI executives and top-level managers receive master’s degrees in business administration.

“It gives me a great deal of pride and satisfaction in celebrating the successful graduation of GAI’s third 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 six of GAI’s 26 offices simultaneously, and remotely, completed the onsite program through the use of web conferencing technology. Local Pittsburgh-based graduates include: Jeanne Cotter, Senior Director of Quality Management; Ryan Hurt, P.E., Engineering Manager; Justin Johnston, AFP, Environmental Manager; and Richard Krajcovic, P.E., PTOE, Engineering Director.

“Completing the Point Park University MBA program has been a challenging and rewarding experience for me,” said GAI Senior Director of Quality Management Jeanne Cotter. “Going back to school after so many years was a little intimidating, but I found that I could apply real business experiences to every course which made my MBA experience more meaningful and valuable.”

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.