Don Rudzinski:  

I am a very lucky man. I know that much. I have a wonderful family, live in a nice home, have a nice job and enjoy traveling and spending time with my family. It was not part of any grand plan but happened to work out that way. My wife, Lori, and I both work for ExxonMobil. We met in a training class over 20 years ago. She is a sharp and smart Programs Manager for our Credit Card portfolio and I am the Advertising Manager for our C-store chain. I wanted to be Veterinarian or an Animal Biologist (the next Marlin Perkins ... Mutual Of Omaha's Wild Kingdom ... remember that show?). I went to Va Tech and then on to Penn State for a Masters of Science. I worked in the animal field (Animal Behavior ... Social systems, etc.) for a few years and worked in some neat parts of the country (North Dakota, Wyoming, San Juan Islands in the Puget Sound) but had a hard time making a real career out of it. While working as a Research Aide at Penn State, I was turned on to the MBA Program there. I got in and entered into the business world (some cracked that my Animal Behavior background was much more suited to the business world anyway!). I was recruited by Exxon and hired into their management program. It has been rewarding. I have had various jobs in Marketing, including as a Global Advisor where I worked in Japan, Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. Very interesting. Remind me someday to tell you about the earthquake in Tokyo. That's another story. ...Expand for more