• How did you select your graduate school and how did it prepare you for your career?
• Work or internship experience during graduate school
• What was the most important or useful course you took in the MPA/MPP?
• Were you a Presidential Management Intern?
• What has been your career path since graduating? What do you want to be doing in 5 years?
• What is the most exciting and/or interesting aspect of your current job?
• Do you feel your MPA/MPP is helping you to “make a difference?” How?
• What advice, if any, would you give to an undergraduate thinking about going for an MPA/MPP?

How did you select your graduate school and how did it prepare you for your career?

> I spoke with several MPA graduates who spoke highly of the MPA program at the University of Houston. I visited with Dr. Robert Thomas, head of the Program, and other faculty, and was very impressed. I had also worked with the University for several years as a Publishers’ Representative and felt that U of H would offer a lot to furthering my education and career.

Any work or internship experience during graduate school?

> Being as I was employed full time, with a wife and two kids, internships did not fit into my schedule. I felt the two most rewarding activities through the Program were my Masters Project and a class in Urban Politics. My Masters Project covered the privatization of TPSA, a Polish state-owned telecommunications company. This Project was later published on the Polish Consulate’s web site in Los Angeles. 

What was the most important or useful course you took in the MPA/MPP?

> A course on Urban Politics was taught by Al Haines, the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Houston. Mr. Haines brought in his real world experience from the private sector and his lessons learned as city manager for cities in Texas and Utah. I worked on a project pertaining to interlocal cooperation for incidents involving Weapons of Mass Destruction. This was in the Spring of 2000. Since Sept 11, 2001, this background became instrumental as I have assisted the Houston-Galveston Area Council in preparing a Regional Response Plan in anticipation of Federal Funding for first responders. I have now been working with many of the same individuals I interviewed back in 2000.

Were you a Presidential Management Intern?

> No.

What has been your career path since graduating? What do you want to be doing in 5 years?

> The MPA has allowed me to assist in many more areas at H-GAC. I expect the training and education I received in public affairs, interlocal cooperation, and public/private partnerships to allow me to expand into positions assisting governments in their dealings with the private sector. This may mean an expanded role within the organization I am with currently.

What is the most exciting and/or interesting aspect of your current job?

> I have been responsible for coordinating the development of H-GAC’s Cooperative Purchasing Program, which allows local governments nationwide to purchase items that have been competitively procured by H-GAC. I enjoy seeing the benefits that these local governments realize by purchasing through these contracts, and the relationships that are established in the supplier community as new products and services are brought to the table. I have written several articles and conducted many workshops on purchasing related issues. Most recently, an aggregation of over 100 Texas local governments was put together to collectively purchase electricity in the newly deregulated marketplace.

Do you feel your MPA/MPP is helping you to “make a difference?” How?

> Definitely. I understand how government operates and why – much better than I did previously. This allows me to truly contribute to issues affecting local governments through the Houston-Galveston Area Council. Without this training and background, I would be unable to contribute in such a fashion. It has also confirmed my desire for a career in the public sector.

What advice, if any, would you give to an undergraduate thinking about going for an MPA/MPP?

> I would first encourage a student to talk with government staff and local elected officials. Try to get a feel for what the public sector is like, and what such a career has to offer. Also, keep in mind that even careers in the private world will invariably intersect with the public sector at times. The management skills learned in an MPA curriculum are equally transferable between private and public careers. If the student feels that their career may head down one of these paths, then the experience and education of an MPA degree would be invaluable.