Elizabeth McCoy
President and CEO of Planters Bank
Gatton MBA, Class of 1983

I received my undergraduate degree in Accounting and became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), but soon after graduation I felt a strong desire to broaden my knowledge and specialty to include finance, management and other business topics. This, for me, meant pursuing an MBA and I felt that Gatton presented the best program. Unlike other colleges and universities, Gatton’s program presented me with the opportunity to experience and learn about many different aspects of business rather than focusing solely on one area. That was true in 1983 and even more so today with their 11-month MBA. This approach to teaching business proved to have a significantly positive impact on my career.

Today, I think that students need to take into serious consideration how the workforce is evolving. People change careers more often and are presented with more options in a variety of disciplines. By earning a broad-based MBA countless doors will be open to students seeking a career in business.

Fortunately, Gatton offers just that<the chance to learn and gain hands-on knowledge in a variety of financial and business arenas.

My Gatton MBA gave me the credentials and the confidence I needed to succeed in making a major career change in a very competitive field. Attending Gatton is a choice I will never regret.

Jim Stuckert
Senior Executive/CEO of Hilliard Lyons Inc.
Gatton MBA, 1961

I didn’t go to college to become a business mogul. In fact, I was determined to earn my undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering but one-day fate intervened when I walked into a brokerage firm to invest $1,500. I was advised to purchase stock in a company called Kodak and before I knew it my investment had grown significantly and I became very interested in the brokerage business. To become successful in this field I knew I had to educate myself and that earning an MBA was a must.

Even though it has been decades since I earned my MBA, I attribute a great deal of my success not only to UK but also to Gatton’s MBA program. The program taught me critical thinking skills, from prioritizing and strategizing to approaching problems and issues logically and practically. I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t apply this knowledge to my work.

In my experience, truly succeeding in the corporate enterprise means finding small companies that can use your talents and skills and grow with them. Gatton provides the tools and exactly those kinds of opportunities. That’s why I believe it has such a tremendous value on every level.