Michael Turner, Master's in Management, PMP
Sr. Client Portfolio Manager, Asurion
Project Management, Information Systems

Where I come from

At the beginning of my career, I worked at Allied Signal (now Honeywell) for 19 years in various project management roles, primarily in a manufacturing setting. After that, I moved into project management in the IT department of a large insurance company, Universal Underwriters Group (now Zurich Direct). Then I became Director of Operations for Catholic Charities in Kansas, where I headed all the internal operations of the agency: IT, Human Resources, finance, and operations/facilities.

Now I work for Asurion, whose core product is cell phone insurance and their customers include all the major cell phone carriers. My title is Senior Client Portfolio Manager. The portfolio I manage consists of all the IT projects we do for AT&T. I work with the individual project managers to help deliver successful projects.

Each job change has been a brand new endeavor. I am proud of my ability to move into and adapt successfully to these changes. Within project management I jumped from a manufacturing setting to an IT setting. I have crossed industry boundaries - from industrial manufacturing to insurance to business-to-business services. My oversight responsibilities have ranged from all of operations for a non-profit agency to a whole portfolio of IT projects benefiting the largest telecom company in the world.

Let's get real

I have taught for the Keller Graduate School of Management since 1997. What I like about Keller is that they want instructors to bring their hands-on experience into the classroom, and the students do the same. Though my experience in project management is vast, not a class goes by that I don't learn something from my students. Of course, we relate it back to the textbook and apply the theory to it, but experience provides a grounding in reality.

The first night of class, I say, "I know why most of you are here-to make your resumé look better, nothing wrong with that - but my goal is for you to take something back to work and put it to use immediately." I try to make the class enjoyable, to involve students in the class, and get them talking so that their wealth of knowledge is available to the class too.

I received my PMP certification in 2003, and I remain active in my local chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI), which keeps me abreast of what's going on in the discipline. I have been an invited speaker at the Symposium organized by PMI for the last two years. I work a lot with business analysts and keep abreast of what they are doing as a profession as well.

Catching up when the rules change

All my students will be managers soon if they are not already. They may not be "techies" - I'm not myself - but they need to be conversant with technology. As managers, they will need to understand all the issues, good and bad, that technology brings to the company and to the employees.

My favorite classroom exercise involves getting students into groups to discuss a case study or hypothetical situation. Our skills are not expanding as fast as technology is developing. We are constantly trying to catch up with new rules and new procedures; just think about all the rules concerning email etiquette and security. To the IT department, a technology rollout may seem a simple production issue, but how would an HR department respond? Rules, procedures and guidelines have to be defined, disseminated and embedded, and everyone needs to be trained.

Looking ahead

Working professionals have to keep current with the world and constantly look ahead. I scour the internet and newspapers for articles on current events. I stunned a class last week by showing why they had to consider not just the demographics of their company but the demographics of the country. Baby boomers are turning age 62 at the rate of one every 11 seconds. Information technology will be called on to deal with the great exodus of people from the workforce as the baby boomers begin to retire this year.

Three tips

At the beginning of each new class, I stress the importance of getting to know everybody in class, because careers are all about networking. Not one job I've gotten has been posted anywhere. I also advise them: Be expert in the things that interest you.

Finally, as the father of six children, the last of whom is still in college, I know that education is expensive - and that it's worth it. Stick with the program. Lots of employers have tuition reimbursement; even if it only covers two courses a year, keep investing in your education. I attend graduation every year. I will see you there.

Why Keller?

What sets Keller apart is the flexibility of its degree programs. Keller offers a broad and diverse curriculum, and the instructors and staff are extremely helpful to students. Keller is friendly yet professional; it has the personal touch.

Keller has a good reputation. When I was Director of Operations at Catholic Charities, I hired Keller graduates because of that reputation and I've been able to help people get jobs because of it. Keller's reputation is powerful in this market and in a highly competitive field.