by Nicole Hackett, Student Public Relations Writer
When Dan Filpus helped his 70-year-old company transition ownership, he was able to immediately apply lessons from his Cedarville University Master of Business Administration (MBA) coursework.
Filpus has worked for eight years at Polygon Company in Walkerton, Indiana, which manufactures composite tubing for a variety of industries. He currently serves as director of finance. In 2017, the owners of this thriving business decided to sell the company.
During this transition in ownership, Filpus took the Management and Organizational Behavior MBA course at Cedarville University and was in the process of completing the Accounting for Business Executives MBA course. The material from both courses was very applicable to his work as he was adjusting to new responsibilities to serve the management team and the new owners.
— Dan Filpus
“One reason why I wanted an MBA degree was to gain a broader leadership perspective,” said Filpus. “The ownership transition came quickly, but my MBA preparation gave me a good start. My prior management class and my current accounting class were very relevant as there have been takeaways from each class that have directly helped me in this transition.”
This transition caused Filpus to work extra hours, which resulted in a short break in MBA classes from January-March of 2018.
“I did not want to take the break, but looking back, I appreciate the flexibility the MBA program provided for ‘curve balls’ like this one. I was ready to jump back in as soon as I could to keep the momentum going,” said Filpus.
Regardless of his short break, Filpus is on track to graduate this coming December. Looking back, Filpus recognizes the impact his professors have had by teaching from a biblical worldview.
“I appreciate the perspective the professors have brought to my various courses through how they see the world,” explained Filpus. “Along with the knowledge I’ve gained, I've been challenged to articulate my beliefs and convictions that have ethical and moral implications in my work, which has been really helpful and encouraging to me.”
More importantly, Filpus recognizes how the Lord has worked on his heart through the MBA program.
“My wife, Jody, and I knew this program would bring added pressures to our family schedule. Jody has been a wonderful helper and encouragement to me,” explained Filpus. “What was unexpected was how the Lord would use this to continue to sanctify me. The Lord tells me in Proverbs 17:3 that trials and tests are for me to discover the impurities that are in my heart. This is the same message God gives Moses and the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8. It’s not the furnace that adds the impurities; the furnace simply adds heat to refine. God has used the added pressure of time management to help me discover impurities within me of impatience, a love of comfort and ease and a desire for life to go my way. I am very thankful for His sovereign work!”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,193 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including its master of business administration, master’s in business analytics, healthcare mba, master’s in cybersecurity, mba in innovation and entrepreneurship, pharmd/mba dual degree, mba in operations management and bachelor of science in economics programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and high student engagement ranking. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.