David Viel, Owner/President
Metal Cutting Services
Returning to school for a master's degree was never in David Viel's plans.
David is the owner and president of Metal Cutting Service, a successful company
manufacturing parts for such organizations as Boeing and the Department of Defense.
So why did he choose the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership at Biola University for his graduate degree?
"Leadership," says David, who was first introduced to the program while attending an MOL lecture series, featuring Dr. Henry Cloud speaking on 'unlocking your leadership potential.'
"I was forced to look at my own leadership abilities," he recalls. "At that event I met Dr. Dan Maltby, director of the MOL program, and what he said had an impact on me. I realized that there was more that I could be doing for my employees, and the current processes could be improved to benefit them and improve our overall business."
David evaluated not only his own company, but also how business was done across the country. Headline news spoke little of character.
"Being a person of character - morally and ethically - may not be in alignment with our competitors, but for the long term, it's the only way to live," says David. "Yes, it would be nice to be rewarded for doing things the right way, but that's not my goal, and it's not the reason I want to live my life the way I do. I want to be able to wake up in the morning and look in the mirror with a clean conscience, knowing I did my best for God, as well as my employees, peers, company, family, and myself."
Metal Cutting Services had a mission statement, but did not have written vision and values. David developed some, as well as a set of ethics now posted on their website (www.metalcut.com).
"One of the greatest benefits from the MOL program came as a result of developing an international quality control system (ISO 9000), for my thesis," he continued. "This system has put us light years ahead of our competitors. There is nobody within our field that is going to get ISO registration as we have done. I am excited to know that my work through the MOL program will affect an entire industry, not just my company alone."
David is quick to attribute any success as a result of the MOL program to the faculty and his classmates.
"You just don't get this level of faculty anyplace you go," he says. "Not only do they provide up-to-date information and the latest strategies in business, they also make themselves available to us. We, as students, are served in ways that cannot be matched by any other program.
"A network quickly developed among my classmates. We came from different backgrounds, but with common goals. Immediately I recognized the uniqueness of this program. I am convinced we were divinely brought together for this experience.
"To say I was impacted greatly is an understatement. The MOL is a complete
program. We can have all the economic knowledge and training in
the world, but without the ability to lead our people, we will be ineffective.
"