Evening UST MBA students are experts at balancing work, life, and classes. The vast majority of our students work full time, take one or two courses each semester, and make time for activities with friends and family. But few evening students pack as many activities into each day as Tony Wang does.
Like many MBA students, Tony had several years of work experience under his belt before starting his MBA, having worked for retail giants SuperValu and Best Buy. However, Tony also plays the role of Business Development Manager and trusted advisor to his parents, owners of wholesale noodle manufacturer Canton Foods. The company, which has been in the family for 36 years, is based in south Minneapolis and was recently profiled in the Twin Cities Daily Planet.
In addition to his family business, Tony is a photographer and runs his own company, FireBox Photography. Tony has even put his talents to use on campus by photographing Commencement, graduation receptions, and holiday parties.
While the combination of professional endeavors Tony engages in may be unique, he exemplifies two major trends in today's business world: family-run businesses and start-ups. The Opus College of Business has developed centers run by staff and faculty experts to help families and new entrepreneurs successfully develop their businesses.
The UST Family Business Center has five faculty fellows, three full-time staff members, and over a dozen business executives on its advisory board with expertise in operating family-owned companies. The Morrison Center for Entrepreneurship and the William C. Norris Institute provide valuable financial and consulting resources for start-ups, and the Small Business Development Center offers consulting assistance free of charge to Twin Cities small business owners.
Tony may not know yet exactly where his career will ultimately take him, but he has plenty of resources at his disposal at UST to help ensure that his next business step is a successful one.
