MBA Faculty

Jake Aguas

Adjunct Professor, School of Business

Biography

With over 25 years of experience in the banking and market research industries, Jake has held leadership positions with two Fortune 100 companies and one of the country's top polling firms. He spent 15 years with JPMorgan Chase as a leader in its retail bank division as the Human Resources Manager for the Western United States, Regional Sales Manager, and Market Director, where he specialized in strategy, training, talent acquisition, and workforce planning.
Jake was actively involved and participated in the JPMorgan Chase and Washington Mutual Bank merger, the largest conversion in US financial services history at the time. He has been recognized by the California State Assembly and the City of Los Angeles for his contributions in business and organizational leadership.
As a consultant, Jake assists businesses with strategy, team building, training, and the design of human resource processes and procedures. He speaks regularly on emotional intelligence, leadership, and current topics in management. He is a course designer and has developed a variety of face-to-face, blended, and online courses.
Jake is bilingual and is pursuing his Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, and his current area of interest includes the mega-trends impacting the global business environment, specifically in regards to a multi-generational and changing workforce.

Education

• M.A., Organizational Leadership, Biola University
• B.A., Economics, University of California, Los Angeles

Courses

MBA Courses

• Management Theory and Practice
• Economics

Undergraduate Courses

• Organizational Behavior

Arthur Carter

Adjunct Professor, School of Business

Biography

Art Carter is an accomplished senior banker with well developed strategic and operating skills. He has a demonstrated track record in managing client relationships while maintaining a strong focus on company’s market objectives and profitability. He delivers results because of core competencies in New Business Development, Client Relationship Management, Strong Centers of Influence, Team Building and Mentoring, Innovation and Problem Solving, and Competitive Market Intelligence. He has a long career in middle market banking, most recently with Wells Fargo Bank. Art has been an adjunct professor at Concordia University since 2004 and teaches Entrepreneurship and New Venture Finance.

Donna Carter

Adjunct Professor, School of Business

Biography

Ms. Carter has more than 25 years in marketing and public affairs encompassing strategic planning, operations, systems development, business development and account management. Her clients range from government agencies and national research projects to private sector clients throughout California. Since 2007, she is the owner of J-U Carter.

Ms. Carter literally “wrote the book” on public awareness campaigns for transportation construction projects when she codified for Caltrans the elements of effective public awareness campaigns in 1987. This work was later published with TCRP and has been adopted as model communications not only with the State of California, but also with transportation departments nationwide.

Ms. Carter also works with a roster of healthcare organizations ranging from the second largest insurer in the nation to the third largest health system in the nation to deliver effective marketing programs to members and patients.

Ms. Carter’s strength is developing strong, strategic plans that are objectively driven and use multi-layered tactical communication measures. She thrives working with diverse client agencies and is a master at understanding various customer and constituent groups and getting to the root of how to most effectively communicate with them.

A lifelong learner, she aspires to earn her PhD in management. She is a serial volunteer with leadership positions within Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts. She is also involved in forming and managing two foundations to benefit youth sailing.

Education

• Master of Science in Management, Claremont Graduate University
• MBA, Pepperdine University
• Bachelor of Arts, University of California Los Angeles

Courses

• Marketing Communication

Kevin Grant

Biography

Dr. Kevin Grant is a widely published author, sought-after lecturer, and keynote speaker. Recently Dr. Grant was inducted into the International Educator Hall of Fame for his achievements in education. His consulting clients include Fortune 500, start-ups, small to medium businesses, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations. Dr. Grant’s goal is to help leaders and their businesses create an alternative future to grow profitably and transform their personal leadership, influencing their teams to become more productive, committed, and loyal.

Dr. Grant’s background as a Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer has allowed him to serve as a practitioner with a wealth of experience that cuts across the arenas of leadership education, training, and consultant management. His particular approach builds on real-life situations and needs, current knowledge, a variety of theoretical and methodological “standards”, and strategic thinking.

Dr. Kevin Grant has published journal articles on leadership transformation and written a book. He is currently completing two more books to be published in the near future. Most of Dr. Grant’s material for books and journals draws on his experience living in the UAE, and going to boarding schools in India and Pakistan. As a result, Dr. Grant has worked with and engaged in the International community and sees the world through a unique lens.

Education

• Ph.D. in Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship, Regent University
• MBA in Entrepreneurial Finance, Azusa Pacific University

Courses

• Leadership Development
• Finance
• Economics
• Global Leadership
• Ethics
• Management
• Strategy
• Human Resources

Kim Chatani

Professor, School of Business

Biography

Kim Chatani is a Professor in the School of Business at Concordia University, Irvine where he teaches Accounting 604, Finance 606, Governance and Risk Management 615 A and International Finance 621. In addition, he teaches Auditing ACT 419, Financial Statements Analysis ACT 332 and FIN 332 and GASB 350, ACT 311 and 312 Intermediate Accounting at the Undergraduate level.

Professor Chatani’s experience includes numerous senior level positions at notable organizations: Audit Partner at Arthur Andersen, LLP and a Consulting Partner in charge of JD Edwards Business Solutions Group, Consulting Partner and Vice President of Technology Solutions at A.T. Kearney, Inc., Consulting Managing Director at BearingPoint (formerly KPMG Consulting) and Director of Japanese Advisory Practice at KPMG, LLP. He is also an Advisory Partner and Board member at Khronicle Partners, Inc., a boutique management consulting firm based in Irvine, CA. Concurrently, he serves on a number of organizations as a board member and the audit committee chairman.

He is a published author and expert on the topics of fraud and cyber-security, being interviewed numerous times in various publications including Forbes, Moody’s, and American Banker and speaking on Talk Radio. In addition, he is a frequent speaker at conferences with his knowledge cybersecurity and risk management. Professor Chatani is co-author of several Fraud Casebooks published by John Wiley & Sons of New York, is a contributing author for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Examination on IFRS training programs. He also provides his time to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) as the Orange County Chapter’s Vice President and Board member.

Education

• MBA in Finance from Boston University
• BS in Accounting from the State University of New York at Albany
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
• Certified Internal Services Auditor (CISA)
• Forensic Certified Public Accountant (FCPA)
• Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)
• Fluent in English and Japanese

Mark Francis

Adjunct Professor, School of Business

Biography

Mark holds an MBA and MA in Sports Administration as well as a Diploma in University Teaching from the University of New Brunswick (Canada). He has recently been retained by Concordia University Irvine where he is serving as the Director of the Sports Business program and Assistant Professor. Mark has also served as a Sports Business Professor at UCLA Anderson’s Center for Media, Entertainment and Sports since 2011, and as an academic advisor to educational technology company and UCLA Anderson Academic partner, Athleta-Ed. He is also course developer and professor for the MBA program in Hockey Business at the Business of Hockey Institute for Athabasca University in Edmonton. In 2016, Mark had the privilege of acting as the Lead Instructor for UCLA Extension’s Custom Programs in Sports & Entertainment Marketing in Shanghai, China and served in a similar capacity for Jiaotong University of Shanghai in 2018. Mark currently serves as an advisor to IMPACT Internship LLC.

In addition to his professional academic work, Mark also boasts a wealth of consulting experience through his consulting company, MARK ONE Sports & Entertainment, whose clients have included Athleta-Ed, Edwards Technologies International, Panasonic, Business of Hockey Institute, California Center, BaAM Productions, Concordia University Irvine and UC Irvine.

Mark has in depth experience at all levels of Sports & Entertainment with significant expertise in fan/guest engagement technologies and large-scale event management and marketing. He speaks regularly on numerous topics related to the business of sports, hi-lighted by the 2019 Keynote presentation on the NCAA College Admissions Scandal, 2019 Future of Sports Conference with the LA Chargers, 2019, PrimeTime Sports Management Conference (Toronto), 2018 Keynote Presentation for Sport BC AGM, 2017 UCLA Anderson Big Data Conference, 2015 Gravity Summit & UCLA Sports Technology Panel, 2014 SATE Conference in Themed Entertainment, 2014 LA Dodgers/LA Chamber of Commerce panel on Sports Technology, and the 2014 Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce Panel on the “Art of Negotiation in Sport.”

Through his extensive industry work, Mark has developed a deep professional network of leaders throughout all levels of sports & entertainment, many of whom appear annually during his Sports Business program at UCLA Anderson. He also serves on the international board of advisors for the European-based IBJA Sports Alliance Group.

Mark served Head Coach of the Men’s Ice Hockey program at UCLA from 2010-2017 and won the 2017 PAC 8 Conference Championship, 2013 & 2017 Crosstown Cup and 2017 Los Angeles Kings College Cup. He was also selected as one of two finalists for the PAC 8 Coach of the Year Award for 2012 and was selected as Head Coach of the PAC-8 Selects at the ACHA National Championships in Philadelphia in 2011 and 2013 respectively. Mark served a two-year term as the Associate Executive Director of the PAC 8 Men’s Hockey Conference. Prior to his move to Los Angeles in 2010, Mark served as Head Coach for the University of New Brunswick Women’s Varsity Hockey program from 2004-2007 and holds 2 USports Canada National Silver Medals and 2 Atlantic University Sport Championships as an Assistant Coach with the University of New Brunswick Men’s Ice Hockey program (1999-2004).

Shea Frates

Biography

Shea Frates is a Social Media and Digital Marketing Strategist with 10+ years of experience. Currently, Shea is a Digital Media Strategist at Pacific Life, a Fortune 500 financial services company. Skillfully merging creativity, innovation, and data-driven insights, Shea increases revenue through brand awareness that exceeds stakeholder expectations.

After being crowned Miss Tustin 2013, Shea wanted to learn how to better promote herself and her platform. Her first step was enrolling in a social media class at a local community college, then interning and gaining outside school experiences after transferring to Concordia. After graduation, Shea continued developing her skills at various companies and industries such as e-commerce, technology, travel and tourism, hospitality, and insurance industries. Skillfully merging creativity, innovation, and data-driven insights, Shea increases revenue through brand awareness that exceeds stakeholder expectations.

A lifelong learner, Shea is a candidate in USC’s M.S. in Digital Media Management program, where she continues to hone her digital marketing craft.

Education

• MBA, Concordia University, Irvine
• B.A. Mass Communication, Concordia University, Irvine
• M.S. Candidate in Digital Media Management at USC

Courses

• Digital Marketing
• Marketing Communications

Karl Hoenecke

Adjunct Professor, School of Business

Education

• Masters Business Administration, Concordia University, Irvine ('14)
• Bachelor of Arts, University of California at Santa Barbara ('93)

Richard Ingrassia

Adjunct Professor, School of Business

Biography

Professor Rich Ingrassia has more than 20 years’ experience as an analyst and consultant in advertising, media and entertainment, conducting primary research, writing industry newsletters and individual company reports and supporting nearly $2 billion in equity financings. Rich has advised senior management on issues of market analysis, business development, organization and operations, and he continues to draw his insights from a wide network of current and former CEOs, professional money managers and other experts in the space. His work spans app- and browser-based mobile and social media; online video, over-the-top TV and related IP broadcast technologies; motion picture production, distribution, finance and exhibition; and all facets of digital marketing and advertising.

Education

• Northwestern University, M.S. in Journalism
• University of Notre Dame, B.A. in Economics

Professional Highlights

• Currently Managing Director of the media/technology practice at Digital Offering LLC, a next-generation venture finance firm in Laguna Beach, CA.
• Currently CEO of Hash Finance, a start-up technology company in the Digital Offering portfolio that mines social media for stock trading ideas.
• Formerly Senior Research Analyst at ROTH Capital Partners, where he was among the first on the sell-side to cover Netflix, IMAX, aQuantive, Bankrate.com and many others.
• Formerly strategy consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Los Angeles, where he guided strategic initiatives for AT&T, Boeing, DreamWorks, MGM and others.
• Formerly analyst and appraisal specialist at Paul Kagan Associates, where he acted as consultant and expert witness for The Walt Disney Company, Intel, Artisan Entertainment and others.
• Has appeared on CNBC and Bloomberg TV and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, USA Today and Forbes.

Courses

• Capstone
• Investing

Alain Mazer

Biography

Alain's history includes startup, M&A, IPO and turnaround roles with United News & Media, Ocean Pacific Apparel (Op), Pacific Sunwear of California (PacSun), Namco Bandai Games, Spy Optic and Razer. Alain’s experiences include marketing and public relations, journalism, publishing, competitive cycling and music performance.

Education

• MBA, Concordia University, Irvine
• B.S., Biology, U.C. Irvine

Courses

• Business Process Management (MBA-686)
• Strategic Management (MBA-607)

Robert McClatchy

Adjunct Professor, School of Business

Biography

Robert's career spans over the transportation, finance, and nonprofit sectors where he has held operations management, controller, and CFO positions. He currently serves on the boards of Reef Check and Blue Water Photo.

Robert specializes in asset and equity valuations using hard data to develop and test pricing and forecast models.

Education

• Pepperdine University, MBA
• UC Riverside, Environmental Science, B.S.

Raj Mitra

Adjunct Professor, School of Business

Biography

Mitra has held vice-president and senior director level leadership roles in global product marketing, product development and product life cycle management with Hewlett-Packard, Cisco Systems and Thales. His leadership style accelerates collaboration among functions while deploying best practices and processes.

Mitra blends an expertise in translating market insights and business acumen into high impact innovative product portfolios along with a global Go-To-Market skill set. For over twenty years, he has developed, launched and marketed over 100 products for Hewlett-Packard, Cisco, Thales, Intel, and Duracell.

Education

• MBA, New York University, Stern School of Business, New York, NY
• Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering, BITS, Pilani, India

Courses

• New Product Development
• Marketing for Results
• Marketing Communications

Kit Nagel

Professor, School of Business

Biography

• Marketing Manager-Asia with Fortune 100 International Paper Co.
• VP-Commercial Development with Servrite International
• Born in the UK; worked and traveled in over 50 countries

Education

• MIM-AGSIM

Publications

• "Global Market Entry - Rules of Engagement" (Xlibris)
• "Quants Gone Wild" (WSJ)
• "Global Marketing Management" (Pearson)
• "Luther on Trade and Commerce" (CPH)

Courses

• International Marketing
• International Finance
• Marketing Research
• New Venture/Entrepreneurship
• History of Economic Thought
• Global Enterprise

Mary Park

Biography

Dr. Park’s primary role since 2013 has been to manage a global nonprofit impact media firm with innovative leadership and intercultural communication knowledge providing her firm with many firsts (media analytics, content strategy & innovation, and brining third-party validation such as BBC & VOA programming and a glowing review from the Atlantic to mention a few.

Mary Kay’s passion is helping clients lead in a VUCA world (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity, Source: Bennis & Nanus) with clarity, understanding, and agility. Dr. Park’s role in this is by delivering customized learning sessions utilizing experiences in management, intercultural communication, & transnational project management. Additionally, as a serial entrepreneur, I have learned how to fail fast and learn from mistakes. I've learned & grown the most from peers and students where I've been given the chance to share my craft at institutions such as Harvard Grad School of Ed, Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) and Biola University and at fortune 500 corporate training settings.

Navigating and emerging from the global pandemic experience highlighted the following personally: "Essential both in personal & work life are meaningful relationships." And difficult to deny is the fact that building meaningful relationships can be exponentially aided by Intercultural communication Insights.

Education

• Ph.D of Philosophy in Intercultural Studies, Biola University

Courses

• Entrepreneurship

Roger Philips

Professor, School of Business

Biography

Roger Philips has been in international management for over twenty years. In addition to his consulting practice, he is adjunct professor and lead course instructor for the international business strand of Master of Arts in International Studies program at Concordia University. This program emphasizes study of Chinese business. Prof. Philips also teaches in the MBA program and leads business study tours to Shanghai and Beijing.

View Curriculum Vitae

Mick Ukleja

Adjunct Professor, School of Business

Biography

Mick Ukleja is founder and president of LeadershipTraQ, a leadership-consulting firm based in California. He hosted LeadershipTraQ Televised, an interview-format talk show in Southern California that profiled outstanding leaders. He helped found the Ukleja Center For Ethical Leadership at California State University, Long Beach, the second largest university in the state. His book, Who Are You? What Do You Want? Four Questions That Will Change Your Life, has been praised by legendary coach John Wooden, Grand Slam golf champion Gary Player, and many prominent leaders and CEOs, as “The one book to read that will immediately impact your life.” Mick has also co-authored two other books, The Ethics Challenge, and Managing the Millennials.

Mick has worked with entrepreneurs and corporate executives of businesses and organizations in the non-profit and for-profit sectors. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Astronauts Memorial Foundation at the Kennedy Space Center, which oversees the Center for Space Education. Mick holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, a master’s degree in Semitic languages, and a Ph.D. in theology. He received the President’s Distinguished Service Award from California State University, Long Beach in 2002, and in 2006, was named Distinguished Alumnus from the College of Liberal Arts.

Mick has been featured on Fox News, CNN, Fox Business Network, NBC, and in numerous publications. Click on this video to know more about LeadershipTraQ’s founder and President.

Courses

• Leadership and Development

Matthew Weiss

Biography

Matt Weiss is currently the head of business intelligence at In-N-Out Burger, located in Irvine, CA. At In-N-Out, Matt helps influence the company's data driven strategy, build innovative reporting, craft impactful analyses, and assist with other wide-reaching initiatives. Prior experience includes leadership roles in analytics at Blizzard Entertainment and Taco Bell, with focuses on marketing, product design, and sales optimization.
 

Matt’s passions center on fostering analytical ability, data-driven storytelling, and intellectual curiosity in his team and with his students.

Education

• MBA at the University of California, Irvine
• BA in Economics at the University of California, Santa Cruz

Courses

• Data Analytics

Edward Willett

Adjunct Professor, School of Business

Experience

Over 30 Years of professional experience in the sports industry. Worked for Sports Illustrated, USA TODAY, ESPN, LPGA, Topgolf and several sports startups

Education

• BA, Bucknell University, MBA, University of Denver

Courses

• Sports Leadership
• Sports Media
• Public Relations

Phillip Winkler

Adjunct Professor, School of Business

Biography

Phillip (Todd) Winkler is trained in Electrical Engineering (BSEE - LeTourneau, MSEE - USC) and experienced in multiple disciplines as a data analyst, software programmer, systems design and system engineering. He has 23 years as a systems engineer in IT technical sales. He has deep expertise in servers, data storage, IT systems and data center architectures. Previously he worked in the defense industry for 12 years as a missile systems software designer, data analyst and data visualization expert.

• He has always been called by his middle name Todd.
• He has lived in 26 different places in the US and Europe.
• He enjoys teaching, solving problems and technology.
• He has been a follower of Christ since 4th grade.
• He lives in Lake Forest with his beautiful wife Dawn.
• He has two boys, both in college - CUI and Cal Poly SLO.
• He has a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from LeTourneau University in east Texas.
• He has a MSEE from USC in 1992 in Nuclear Fusion and Plasma Dynamics.
• He loves outdoor sports, travel and racquetball.

Drew Wolf

MBA Director, Assistant Professor, School of Business & Economics

Biography

Dr. Drew Wolf serves CUI School of Business as the MBA Director and Assistant Professor. Before joining CUI nine years ago, Dr. Wolf held a variety of staff and teaching positions at a private Christian university and a large community college, both in Ohio.

Prior to his work in higher education, Dr. Wolf worked in management for a large financial institution as well as for a non-profit company. One of his favorite experiences was working ten years for the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Dr. Wolf’s education includes his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management preceded by degrees in Corporate Communication. Dr. Wolf has had papers presented in California, Ohio, New Mexico, and India. His two most recent peer-reviewed publications focus on the incorporation of a theoretical framework using Appreciative Inquiry to develop resiliency in businesses. He has also served as a peer reviewer for a number of publications including the International Journal of Human Resource Management. He has volunteered for a number of years for LASEC, Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission.

Courses

• MBA 642 Effective Communication
• MBA 603 Management
• MBA 678 E-commerce
• BUS 261 Information Technology

George Wright

Administrative Dean, School of Business

Biography

George W. Wright, CPA, became the Administrative Dean for the School of Business after serving as the Assistant Dean of the School of Business and Professional Studies. He supervises all academic undergraduate and graduate programs in the School of Business by leading the faculty to determine academic policy, to establish requirements for degrees and programs, to approve the courses of instruction offered by the departments, and to administer the curriculum of the school. In order to fulfill this role he is responsible to seek appropriate personnel and fiscal resources to fulfill the school’s mission including the recruitment, retention and development of faculty and staff.

In addition he is an active faculty advisor in the MA International Studies program in the School of Professional Studies assisting students complete their Master’s Thesis. Professor Wright has won competitions in research papers for the AICPA Professor/Practitioner Case Development and the American Accounting Association including presentations at their annual national conferences. He comes from a 30 year international career in business where he was regularly required to overcome the obstacles of language, culture and currency on major business process changes and projects in information technology & systems, accounting, finance and strategic planning. He is a certified Zenger-Miller Facilitator/Trainer focusing on leadership development, change management and team building.

Education

• M.S. in Accountancy from the California State University at Fullerton
• M.B.A. in Finance from the California State University at Fullerton
• Bachelor of Arts in Economics the California State University at Fullerton

Yi Schuler

Biography

Dr. Schuler has lived and served in higher education in both China and the United States. She has taken on various roles at Concordia since 2008 with experience in teaching, new program development, curriculum design, social research, faculty and student support, student recruitment, advising and retention, risk and change management, budgeting and marketing.

Dr. Schuler also worked seven years in a US high tech company as senior global accounts manager. She is bilingual in Mandarin Chinese and English. She has published and presented at various conferences. Her most recent publication is a book translation (from English to Chinese): Armstrong, J. (2017). Like mother, like daughter? How career women influence their daughters’ ambition, translation published by The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Publishing House (2018).

She is a long term volunteer at her church and other community organizations. Dr. Schuler is a proud mother of two adult children, Michael and Michelle. In her spare time, she enjoys mountaineering, ultra-running, cycling, mountain biking, hiking, and backpacking.

Education

• PhD. – Intercultural Education, Biola University, La Mirada, CA
• M. A. – British and American Literature, Sichuan University, China
• B. A. – English Language and Culture, Minor – French, Sichuan International Studies University, China

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Laszlo Zoltany

Adjunct Professor, School of Business

Biography

Professor Zoltany likes to be referred to as an entrepreneur or intrepreneur in business and in education. His philosophy of teaching evolved from embracing the concept around andragogy while working in corporate America and instructing business courses at Concordia University. He has hands on business knowledge as a Financial Manager of national, public and private organizations. Professor Zoltany considers the most important position he has ever had is teaching currently for his alumni at Concordia University as an Adjunct Professor. Some of the organizations he has worked with and learned from include: The Irvine Company, UDR, Inc., Strategic Sanitations, Inc., and The Ticket Group, Inc. His goal is to 'create the savvy business leader' by teaching the importance of global and diversity perspectives in business and future business trends.

On a personal level, my hobbies include "Tennis". My favorite sports include tennis, soccer, and basketball. My door is always open. Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions. Please remember, I am outdoors on weekends and won't always get reception, while on the courts and chasing down tennis balls. I promise to get back to you within 24 hours.

Education

• MBA, Finance - Brandman University, Chapman University System, Irvine, CA
• Bachelors of Art, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership - Brandman University, Chapman University System, Irvine, CA

Courses

• MBA-604-Accounting
• BAL-309-Finance Basics for Managers
• BAL-201-Macroeconomics