Career Profiles - Snapshots of Vocation
School of Mathematics, Engineering and Business
Owen Byer
Title: Professor of Mathematics
Employer: Eastern Mennonite University
Graduated: 1989
Major: Mathematics
"It is most important for students learn to think critically and write persuasively."
“Study what you love” is Owen Byer’s advice to students entering college or looking for ‘the right major.’  (more)

Joonsu Cho
Title: Sales and Marketing Division Coordinator
Employer: Hyundai
Graduated: 1990
Major: Bachelor of Science, Marketing; Master of Business Administration, Marketing: Michigan State University
"So You Think I'm on the Fast Track"
The world’s always been a small place. Everyone’s grown up around each other, parents knowing parents and children knowing children, with parents knowing children and children knowing parents. (more)

Nate Desmarais
Title: Director of Human Resources
Employer: CURE International
Graduated: 2001
Major: Human Resource Management
“It is gratifying when you know that employees and managers come to you because they respect and trust you . . .”
Nate Desmarais grew up with the dream of owning his own business someday, and he aimed to advance toward that goal with a major in business administration at Messiah. (more)

Mike Foster
Title: Graduate Student
Employer: Drexel University
Graduated: 2002
Major: Engineering
"It's the curiosity of nature, wanting to know how things work..."
In high school, Mike Foster didn’t know what he wanted to do or become. A suggestion from his physics teacher led him to engineering. He hasn’t looked back since and is now in a Drexel University graduate engineering program. (more)

Peter Greer
Title: President
Employer: HOPE International
Graduated: 1997
Major: International Business
"This is where I feel my talents and my passion are aligned."
It was not until he received guidance from Dr. Webb in the Department of Management & Business that Peter realized his passions for traveling and foreign languages indicate a perfect fit in the field of International Business. (more)

Jeffrey Horst
Title: Tax Partner
Employer: Kuntz Lesher
Graduated: 1995
Major: Accounting
"I think contrary to a lot of the stereotypes out there..."
“I like dealing with financial information and numbers,” Jeff explains. “I think contrary to a lot of the stereotypes out there, there’s a lot of interpersonal skills required. I work one-on-one with clients.” What to do with a love for numbers and math, but also a desire for interacting with people? According to Jeff, consider accounting. (more)

Tonya King
Title: Associate Professor
Employer: Pennylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey
Graduated: 1992
Major: Mathematics
"I loved applying math and statistics to something as meaningful as the health field."
For many students, falling in love with a subject means excelling at it as well as having positive learning experiences.  While in high school, Tonya gained a new appreciation for mathematics through a great calculus teacher. (more)

Deb Pierson
Title: Consultant
Employer: Pierson Consulting Co. Inc.
Graduated: 1989
Major: Computer Science
"As a small business owner my job entails many things"
"When Deb came to Messiah it didn’t take her long to realize that she could translate her passion for computers into a major and a career." (more)