What a fantastic opportunity, congrats Olivia Wessley!
Consulting CFO | Aerospace | Manufacturing | Aftermarket - Falcon Value Advisors & Senior Educator - Wichita State University
Five talented students from the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University recently completed a unique, semester-long independent study project in collaboration with Textron Aviation’s finance leadership team. This initiative provided an unparalleled opportunity to gain hands-on experience in financial analysis, strategic decision-making, and professional communication. The project challenged our students to simulate the financial evaluation of a potential new aircraft development program, determining whether it should be pursued or declined. Throughout the semester, they periodically engaged with Textron Aviation’s finance and sales leaders, gaining valuable insights into the General Aviation industry and the company’s operations. During the project, Joel Slaughter gave our students a tour of Textron Aviation’s Plant 4, where iconic aircraft like the King Air and SkyCourier are assembled, and engaged with leaders including Juan Manuel Escalante, Erin Smoley, Chelsea Carvalho-Manuel, and Jayden Mears. Their guidance and insights proved invaluable to the students' learning and development. The culmination of our students' efforts came on November 22, when they presented their final analysis and “go/no-go” recommendation to members of Textron Aviation’s finance and sales leadership teams. This project exemplifies the value of applied learning by seamlessly blending academic rigor with practical industry application. Co-led by Jodi Pelkowski and me, and championed by Chad Archer and Textron Aviation’s finance leadership team, this collaboration highlights the powerful synergy between industry and higher education. A special thanks to Chelsea and Jayden for their outstanding support throughout the project. Together, we created an engaging and impactful applied learning experience that provides students with the critical skills and mindset needed to thrive in their careers. This “Gold Star” project equips our students with advanced critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills while fostering?essential industry connections. Congratulations to Christine Tran, Emil Godinez Vinduska, Michael Goldberg, Olivia Wessley, and Shawn Hulen for their impressive dedication, growth, and accomplishments—you are poised for bright futures! A heartfelt thanks to Textron Aviation for your commitment to shaping the next generation of business professionals. Your partnership creates transformative learning opportunities and positions our students for success. I look forward to continuing and expanding this invaluable collaboration. Textron Larisa Genin Angela Dudley Mehmet Barut James Schisler Siyu Wang Kent Boomsma Melody Teague Jason Neel