Stacie Milavec is a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. A clinical laboratory Medical Technologist by education, she oversees the technical and business operations of U.S. Naval clinical laboratories, which are located throughout the United States and the world. She started the online MBA in May 2004.

From her home and office 20 kilometers north of the city of Naha on the sub-tropical isle of Okinawa, Japan, she answered questions about her Concordia University Wisconsin MBA-Healthcare Administration that she is earning online.

 

Stacie Milavec protecting our country.

Q: What made you decide to get an MBA?

A: My motivation to obtain an MBA was the need to gain business skills to better manage the business side of laboratory operations and to be a better leader. My responsibilities include overseeing up to 40 personnel, which include career progression discussion, disciplining, praising, mentoring, and evaluation responsibilities. I manage an operating budget that exceeds $1.4 million. And, I plan for the procurement of major laboratory testing analyzers and execute the implementation of new equipment and procedures.

My job as a Lab Officer is more business and operational-oriented than technical in nature (I no longer personally perform laboratory testing as I once did when I graduated from the University of Maryland at Baltimore over 12 years ago) so the decision to become more business savvy by obtaining an MBA just made sense.

Q: Why did you choose Concordia University Wisconsin?

A: I chose CUW after researching several distance learning programs. CUW was rated as one of the top e-learning schools in the nation. That certainly appealed to me.  

I liked the fact that CUW was sensitive to the working professional's responsibilities outside of the classroom and desired to help students continue in their educational and spiritual journey.

Q: What drew you to online and E-Learning?

A:  I chose a E-Learning program because of the nature of my profession and my military obligations. I rotate from one base to the next approximately every three years and I needed a program that was versatile enough for my professional needs and challenges.

E-Learning has been a blessing for me and I am sure for many people whose busy lifestyles or type of profession is incompatible with obtaining a degree in a traditional classroom setting. E-Learning gives me the opportunity to work at my own pace.

Q: What do you think of the online MBA?

A:  I like the program and I have been very pleased with CUW faculty's understanding and support of my needs.  I believe that CUW truly cares for its students, the students' welfare, and the students' success. The course work has been challenging, but that is to be expected with graduate-level work.

Q: Where do you go from here?

A: My MBA degree will validate the knowledge and the skills that I have learned over the last several years in the Navy. I have learned the "whys" behind several business practices that I have been using in my day-to-day responsibilities thanks to CUW and its talented professors.

The MBA degree is a stepping stone in my career journey and although I am not eligible to retire for another 12 years, I am already planning for that milestone. My MBA emphasis is in Healthcare Administration and I believe that this degree coupled with several years of laboratory management and military leadership experience will assist me with obtaining a highly desirable, marketable job upon my retirement.  

I always encourage my Sailors to look beyond what they are currently doing for the purpose of planning for the future. It is so important to stay on track with life-long goals and to do that one must stay focused on that road ahead. I practice what I preach.