Alan Shenberg
Team Member, Boeing Storage Group The Boeing Company
B.S.B.A. with an emphasis in MIS, 1999
MS in MIS, 2004
We sat down with Alan and asked him some questions.
Why did you decide to come to UM-St. Louis?
Close to where I live, reasonable tuition, and accepted credits from St Louis Community College.
Why did you pursue a career in information systems?
Update my skills to qualify for better positions.
What college classes did you find most useful to your career?
No specific classes, the learning, team work, and research all assisted me with my career.
If you were in college today, what courses would you take?
Project management course.
How did you continue your education after your first degree?
Took a year off, then returned for a MS degree. I have also taken classes to upgrade my skills.
How did you find your first job?
My mentor was also a recruiter for Boeing, and through a Job Fair at UMSL he got me 2 interviews at Boeing.
In what non-academic activities did you participate in college that you would recommend to others (and why)?
None. I was a night student working full time. Upon graduation, I have been tutoring innercity school children through the alumni association.
How would you change your career if you had it to do all over again?
I am happy where I am today and do not think that I would change it, but ask me that question after January 31, 2009 and I will
let you know if I still have a job with Boeing!
What advice would you give to someone just starting in the field?
Keep your skills, take classes, look for how to automate processes and simplify tasks. By doing these things,
you can make yourself invaluable.
Look into your crystal ball. What do you see changing in the IS field in the future?
More jobs going overseas because most IT work can be done from remote locations. We will tell our great
grandchildren that we walked 1/4 mile across the parking lot and had to get dressed to go to work.
