EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

Successes

Slingshot, LLC

When Owen Hannay wanted to offer his employees broader training in business and management skills, he turned to SMU Cox Executive Education. Hannay, a 1986 graduate of SMU’s MBA program is chief executive officer of Slingshot, a fast-growing advertising agency in Dallas,

“Because we’re a relatively young, creative organization, the training had to be useful, yet interactive and engaging,” Hannay says. “SMU Executive Education worked hand in hand with us to develop a program that was spot on with our needs. The faculty presented materials in a way that captured our attention and got the message across.”
 
SMU Cox Executive Education created a customized training program for Slingshot employees with five focused modules:

• Team building and strategic communication
• Project management
• Time management
• Influence
• Conflict resolution

 
“The training was tailor made for us and has made a positive impact in our organization,” Hannay notes. “ExEd understands what we need to be effective in the business environment, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with this great organization.”

Pioneer Natural Resources

Pioneer Natural Resources is a Dallas-based independent oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Canada and Africa. “Our relationship with SMU Cox Executive Education enables us to develop a rigorous leadership development program that addresses our future management needs and fits our culture,” says Gene Gerber, Pioneer’s training director.
 
Gerber believes that investing in management-team development is one of the best ways for a company to succeed in today’s knowledge-oriented economy. “It’s especially important in the oil and gas industry, which has historically suffered through severe economic cycles,’ he explains. “The result is either an excess or absence of talent, depending on the industry cycle pattern when potential petroleum engineers, geoscientists and landmen choose their major.”

For Pioneer, SMU Cox Executive Education created a customized leadership curriculum that weaves Pioneer’s core competencies into the seminar content. “The faculty’s flexibility means that we can deliver content that participants can apply what they learn on the job—and know that it’s consistent with the leadership traits Pioneer values in its management team," Gerber explains.

The Delta Companies

The Delta Companies is one of the top 25 fastest-growing health care professional staffing firms in the nation. When the company was looking to expedite its growing need for professional development, the answer was a customized program designed by SMU Cox Executive Education.

“We’re in the forefront of tremendous growth in our company and the industry itself,” says Ryan Tipton, Delta Companies’ chief talent officer. “SMU Cox Executive Education’s custom approach works great for us, and the quality of professional teaching is second to none.”  Tipton stresses the importance of giving managers an outside perspective with fresh topics and solid results. “This caliber of training and professional development not only attracts new employees, it’s also a real retention tool in keeping them.”