Michael Schwartz, DBA Student College of Management

Michael L Schwartz, PE, PMP, is a student in the DBA program at the College of Management, Lawrence Technological University and President of Positive Concepts, Inc., a Management Consulting company.

Prior to joining the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, Michael amassed over 30 years of professional experience in various roles, including: Project Manager, Engineering Supervision, Team Leadership, Design Engineer, and R&D Technician. His industry experience includes Automotive, Defense, Materials/Coatings, Food Service, and Financial.

Michael joined the DBA program in January 2006, as part of Cohort 3, with the goal of consulting and teaching upon completion of the program. His areas of interest are in Organization Development and Leadership, with a particular focus on Project Management methodologies. Due to circumstances in his life, it was necessitated that, he take a break in the program. He rejoined in 2008, and will complete his coursework with Cohorts 4 and 5. While he was on a hiatus from the DBA program, Michael was separated from his job, due to program budget cuts. It was at this time that he decided to accelerate his plans, and in February 2008, he formed Positive Concepts, Inc.

A firm believer in the value of personal contacts and helping others, Michael is a dedicated networker and helps to connect people who can mutually benefit from an introduction. Michael also looks for opportunities to collaborate and partner with others, with skills and talents that are complementary to his own, with the expectation that the synergy created will benefit their clients.

In his consulting and teaching, Michael leverages his years of professional, hands-on, experience with tools and techniques learned and developed in the DBA program. As noted, Michael's specific focus is in Project Management and his belief is that good leadership is the key to successful Project Management. As such, he places particular interest in use of appropriate leadership techniques and use of Appreciative Inquiry methodology in all of his consulting work. He named his company, Positive Concepts, because of his belief in, and use of Appreciative Inquiry methods, and his focus on enhancement of positive aspects of people and organizations.

Michael's research interests include application of Appreciate Inquiry to Project Management methodologies as a means of creating and sustaining more effective and efficient Project Teams, and how to identify appropriate Leadership techniques to motive Project Team members. He has conducted seminars on Facilitation of Effective Team Building where he has incorporated Leadership and Appreciative Inquiry into his course materials.

Among Michael's professional accomplishments are:

• Certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
• Registered Professional Engineer (PE).
• Shortening of project time for new product development.
• Leadership of new product development efforts.
• New product production launches.
• Conflict resolutions, turning dysfunctional work groups into productive teams.
• Leadership of Value Analysis/Value Engineering Programs.
• Co-author of SAE publication AE-17: "Manual Transmission Clutch Systems".
• Patented solutions for noise and vibration problems.
• Teaching Masters level business courses.
• Provided Adult Education training.

Michael's professional associations include Academy of Management, AI Consulting, Project Management Institute, Troy Chamber of Commerce, Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce, American Society of Mechanical Engineer, and Society of Automotive Engineers.