Marshfield residents Jordan Bard, an employee at Forte Opening Solutions, and Ben Lee, the CEO and president of Staab Construction, both work in building-related industries, but they also share another connection.
Both are non-traditional students at UWSP at Marshfield, taking courses to complete their degrees while working full-time. Bard is pursuing his Pre-Engineering Associate of Science (AS) degree and Lee is earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
“I had a general desire to make a change in my life,” said Bard, who first attended the University of Mississippi then moved to Texas and along the Gulf Coast before taking a job in Marshfield in 2017. “I knew that going back to college was always in the cards.”
He initially wanted to take a few classes to see how he would do, starting with pre-calculus, critical thinking and an introductory engineering class. After earning A’s, he decided to enroll in the pre-engineering program to complete the AS degree. Bard’s experiences led him to tutoring other students in critical thinking, math and chemistry at the campus’ Tutoring-Learning Center.
For Lee, who worked his way up at Staab for 21 years from manager to CEO, going back to school for his MBA was a way to remain current in business management. He also holds a degree in civil engineering from Marquette University.
“I wanted to get out of my bubble, experience new ideas and meet new people,” he said. “I wanted to learn new theories in management and leadership and build my resume and credentials.”
Ben Lee is working towards earning his MBA at UWSP at Marshfield while working full-time as the CEO and president of Staab Construction.
While he was apprehensive about taking on an MBA as an older student, he found reassurance in Adam Olson, director of the UWSP MBA program through the Sentry School of Business and Economics. “I connected with him quickly, and he helped me see that there were others like me taking classes, who shared my story. That sold me.”
With one daughter in college and another in high school, Lee said he had the time to try something new. In addition to his courses, he said he gained a new appreciation for how students, including his children, are learning today. Lee has online and in-person courses and is on campus one night a week.
“I really appreciate the hybrid aspect,” Lee said. “I love that I can go to the Marshfield campus and be with other students while also having online courses.”
Almost immediately Lee found his classes to be relevant to his career, he said. He’s enjoyed learning about organizational wellness and neuroleadership, in which managers help develop the emotional and physical health of their employees to help them become more engaged. He has also been able to share his on-the-job experiences with his classmates.
“My degree is enhancing what I already do, and I’m already applying what I’ve learned at my job,” he said. “It’s been more than I expected in a very positive way. Don’t be afraid. If you want to go back to school, go for it.”
Bard also encourages other adult learners to pursue their degree at UWSP at Marshfield.
“The faculty have been supportive of my goals, from the first conversation with Academic Advisor Jen Lowe to my tutoring supervisor, Ryan O’Leary,” Bard said. “They all show how much they want us to succeed and are willing to help us get there.”
Bard will finish his degree this May, then continue with another semester at Marshfield to begin work toward a four-year degree in environmental engineering prior to transferring to another institution. His career goals include working in environmental reclamation, working to restore land that has been damaged by human interaction.
“All of my classes have been impactful, giving me perspective and helping me define who I am and who I want to be.”
Learn more about the degree programs at UWSP at Marshfield here or contact Jen Lowe at jlowe@uwsp.edu.
