The Benores in Texas

It is the beginning of the end. I have started the last class of my MBA. It is the hardest class because it involves the combined knowledge of all my previous classes applied to a group based simulation. So it is theory meets practical application. In about 8 weeks this class will be finished and my degree will be complete. Technically speaking this will be my 4th post-secondary degree. I have earned an associates degree, a bachelor's degree, and this will mark my second master's degree.

Someday, I will put all of this education to good use. For now, I will be continuing my work in the private sector. With the economy in a slump, now is not the time for churches to hire new associates.

We have also moved back to our house. After a year away, it was the right time to move back. This will free up some time but not much. School will be intense through December. Plus I teach at church every other week.

We will be coming to Orlando this year for Christmas. Unless flight prices come down dramatically – the whole family will be driving. Me, Shantell, and our dog Hoss. We decided to bring the dog to save money, plus Mom has graciously agreed to allow the big pup to stay at her house. Yes, we will officially become one of those people who travel with their dog.

So the countdown begins … first for school to end, then for our trip to Orlando for Christmas. 2008 will end soon, but it will have been an awesome ride!

P.S.

I have also joined Facebook. (Facebook Explained)

Well folks, this is it. These are the last classes I will take for this degree. And then I think I am going to take a break from school for awhile. I have taken small breaks here and there, but for the most part I have been in school since I was 5. Which means at 32 years old, I have been in school about 27 years.

I've spent 13 years in primary and secondary schools. I started my college career at FSU but finished at UCF while visiting 3 other colleges along the way. After 8 short years (yikes!), I got my B.A. in Political Science/Pre-Law. I then set my course to Fort Worth for a stint at seminary. I've spent 4 years at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned my Master of Arts in Christian Education. Now I've spent the past 1.5 year getting my MBA at Liberty University.

This semester I will be taking Non-Profit Management and Leading Organizational Change in session B, then I will take the capstone course in session D called Policy and Strategy in Global Competition. Then I am done.

But wait, there's more!

If school was not enough, Shantell and I are still very active in our Apartment Life gig. We typically host 4-5 community events per month for a total of 70+ hours combined.

I will also be starting a new Sunday morning Bible Study class where I will co-teach every other week. Also I will teach a class on prayer on Wednesday nights.

And we will be “maintaining” two residences. Since the house did not sell, we are moving some stuff back in the house. Our house insurance company was going to drop us if we continued to have it vacant.

We may come home to Orlando for Christmas. As it stands now, we will probably have to drive to save money – but that is still uncertain.

So … if you thought we were busy before … good grief … you ain't seen nothin' yet. (Yes I sound like I have college degrees).

It has been a long, long time since I have updated the old blog. So it is time to dust off the keyboard and give you guys a peer into the current happenings of the Benore household.

First, I am starting my last summer class tomorrow. I have registered for my last semester at Liberty University. So … the countdown begins. So far I have been able to maintain a solid 3.5 GPA. And let me tell you: finance, accounting, economics, are not among my favorite classes. Truth be told I really enjoy classes like Organizational Behavior, Executive Leadership and Management, and Servant Leadership. I even had a technology class – but for some in technology – it was nothing new.

The Apartment gig is going terrifically. Can't blog about details, but still love it.

Our house is still for sale. The market is kind of slow, but it is among the strongest in the nation. So we have high hopes for a summer sale.

This fall we are starting a new class at church. Our old Sunday school class is “planting” a new class geared toward the younger couples without kiddos. I taught once a month in the old class, but will teach every other week in the new class.

Shantell has accepted a job at a small private Christian school called ACI. More details as they come later.

Our budget right now is extremely tight, with the economy in a slump, us paying for a house we do not live in, and Shantell's lack of income for the past few months. We are getting the bills paid, but I am not sure we will be doing any traveling home this year. I have 3 days of vacation to use, but I can't imagine gas prices or airline tickets will be cheap enough to fly out. If we do make it home it will be for a very short period – but don't hold your breath.

That's the latest for now. Must get up for work tomorrow. Goodnight!

Here are the course names, dates, and a short description of the courses I will take this spring.

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BUSI 520 – Strategic Marketing Management
Jan 14, 2008 – Mar 09, 2008
This course is designed to provide the M.B.A. student with a working knowledge of the steps involved in the analytical and decision-making processes involved in formulating, implementing and controlling a strategic marketing program for a product market entry. In addition, this course covers topics such as: 1) relationships among corporate, business level and tactical strategies; 2) relationships between marketing strategy and the internal/external operating environments of an organization; and 3) relationships between marketing and other functional areas of the organization. This course also explores the influence of technology on business-to-business (B to B) and consumer-to-business (C to B) markets.

BUSI 620 – Global Economic Environment
Jan 14, 2008 – Mar 09, 2008
This course covers the tools of microeconomics useful in the analysis of producer and consumer behavior. The economics of demand, production and cost, and pricing and output decisions in a market system form the core of an approach adapted to the challenges faced by managers in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors of the economy. The coverage is from the domestic, as well as global perspectives.

BUSI 502 – Servant Leadership
Mar 17, 2008 – May 09, 2008
The MBA leadership track follows a holistic approach that deals with the heart, the head, and the hands. Servant leadership aims at the heart. This course blends the academic leadership theory of servant leadership with applied biblical integration. The Liberty University School of Business embraces the biblically-based Servant Leadership as the normative approach to leadership. As a theory, servant leadership is supported by a growing body of academic literature. Students learn practical lessons, applying the principles they are learning in the course while shepherding their teams through required tasks.

BUSI 561 – Legal Issues in Business
Mar 17, 2008 – May 09, 2008
This course provides the student with a foundational knowledge of the legal issues that both start-up and established business enterprises face. Armed with this wisdom, the student will more correctly assess an organization's need for competent legal advice from an experienced professional in matters of contracts, corporations, employment, insurance, intellectual property, international trade, leases, limited liability organizations, partnerships, and homeland security concerns.

As many of you know, I am taking 4 classes this fall. 2 for the first mini-semester, 2 for the second. Well the first set of classes has completed. I have finished BUSI 501 – Executive Leadership & Management and BUSI 512 – Managerial Information Technology. The good news is, I got “A”s in both. So this means I have a solid 4.0 in my Liberty career. Who knows if I will finish with a 4.0, but it certainly is a good start.

I thought some of you would like to know the type of courses I am and will be taking this semester and next. I will include the course names, dates, and a short description.

Summer 2007

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BUSI 500 – Organizational Behavior
Apr 30, 2007 – Jun 24, 2007
In Progress – Week 7
This course develops managerial competence in understanding the human output of organizations from the viewpoints of individual, group, and organizational systems levels. Emphasis is given to assessing one's personality and values and to applying course material to one's work environment.

BUSI 550 – Effective Executive Communication
Jun 18, 2007 – Aug 13, 2007
Executives in professional organizations are expected to solve problems and make decisions, but ultimately, they must not only make excellent decisions but also communicate them effectively to a variety of stakeholders. This course is designed to integrate knowledge of the pervasive impact of computer and other information technologies with time-honored communications principles to enable students to maximize their effectiveness in diverse and technologically dynamic business environments.

Fall 2007

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BUSI 501 – Executive Leadership & Management
Aug 20, 2007 – Oct 14, 2007
This study is integral to preparing students for “tomorrow's business world,” their world. Hence, there is a strong component of applied management built upon traditional theories of leadership and management. While focusing on all management responsibilities, this course emphasizes the problems and opportunities managers face in people management and how they can be effectively met.

BUSI 512 – Managerial Information Technology
Aug 20, 2007 – Oct 14, 2007
This course is designed to provide the essential tools needed for the effective management of information technology. The objective is to build a basic understanding of the value and uses of information systems for business operation, management decision-making, and strategic advantage. Includes topics that develop skills as managers and users of information systems technology, rather than as producers of information systems technology.

BUSI 601 – Accounting for Decision Making
Oct 22, 2007 – Dec 14, 2007
This is a graduate level course in cost management with a strategic cost emphasis. The course presents an in-depth study of contemporary management techniques used by managers in a contemporary business environment. The balanced scorecard, critical success factors, and strategic analysis are emphasized and integrated with other decision making techniques in this accounting course.

BUSI 604 – International Business
Oct 22, 2007 – Dec 14, 2007
The major purpose of the course is to prepare managers to compete successfully in the global economy. The rapidly changing economic, political, technological and cultural environments will be studied as a foundation for understanding how to compete in differing environments, utilizing the resources available to the enterprise in managing the various functional areas of business.

Well it has been a few weeks since I graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Christian Education. I am so very thankful that A) it is finally over and B) that I made it all the way through unscathed! I am now in my 4th week at Liberty and so far so good. I really enjoy the course work and believe I am gaining much insight. I am shooting for a December 2008 completion, so everyone … pray!

On the heels of graduating this May, I will be starting yet another Master's program. I have applied and have been accepted into Liberty University's Master of Business Administration. Although I will be graduating May 11th with my Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, I will start the MBA program April 30th. Can we say busy?