Few people can claim to have saved a client $13 million after a
one-hour meeting. John McCalpin can make that claim and gives UNF
credit for making the opportunity possible for him.
McCalpin
works in Atlanta as a senior executive with Accenture, a global
management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. His
responsibilities include business development and delivery of
technology solutions. Among his proudest professional accomplishments
was helping a client avoid $13 million in costs by offering the firm an
alternative way of accomplishing a project. Two qualities allowed
McCalpin to achieve such a cost savings for his client: the ability to
straddle two fields and an MBA from UNF that opened the door for
achievement.
McCalpin worked for CSX Corp. for 17 years, of
which 13 were spent with CSX Technology in a variety of technical and
management roles. In 1994 he transferred to CSX Transportation where he
worked in the costs and budgets group responsible for the $1.4 billion
annual operating budget.
While working for CSX, McCalpin
attended the Coggin College of Business. McCalpin said he specifically
selected UNF because of its AACSB accreditation and the quality of its
faculty such as Dr. Jeffrey Steagall. "I am immensely proud of the
International Business Flagship and believe the IB (International
Baccalaureate) program takes measurable steps to bring us closer to our
global neighbors."
Less than a year after completing his
graduate degree, Accenture offered him a management position. He was
promoted to senior manager in 2001, to associate partner in 2003 and to
senior executive in 2005.
Despite living in Atlanta, McCalpin occasionally visits Jacksonville
and witnesses the phenomenal growth of the UNF campus. "I've been able
to accomplish many things in my career that would not have been
possible if it were not for the education I received at UNF."
