Warren Jones ’17

 

1. What was your major/minor and when did you graduate?

Accounting, 2017

2. What is your current position (title, company, location)?  Can you describe a typical day?

Statistical/Budget Analyst, GEICO

3. How did your major prepare you for your current job?

Accounting provided the skills (specifically analyzing data) I needed to be successful in an analyst role. The application experience with Excel, Access and other business applications became extremely relevant to the day to day responsibilities in this role. The experience of working with large data sets in accounting was beneficial to my success.

4. How did you become interested in your field?

For me, my first position with GEICO was unrelated to my major. When I began speaking with colleagues at my company, networking, and figuring other ways to advance my career I found the role I am in today. Along with this I was constantly looking at the internal job posts our company offered.

5. What’s the best career advice you ever received?

Always continue looking for more opportunities. This has deterred me from becoming complacent and motivates me to always be developing new skill sets and setting new goals for my career.

6. Was there a professor, advisor, or fellow student who made an impression on you or helped you when you were at UMW?

I was at UMW for 2 years; coming from big universities, the whole small school experience is a large reason for my success. The ability to build relationships with the professors & deans in the business department was extremely beneficial for me. They were able to get to know me personally and I could share the aspirations/goals I had and they were able to talk with me about my path,  opportunities, and skills I needed to be successful in a career. When I was attending larger universities there was not the same level of attention for students on a personal basis.

I say all of that to say there were several individuals who made a lasting impression on me:

  • Dean Richardson
  • Professor Martinette
  • Coach Marcus Kahn
  • Professor Machande

The UMW School of Business felt like a community and the professors and department heads were always rooting for you to succeed. I’m thankful for all of the relationships I was able to build during my time here.

7. What’s your fondest memory of UMW?

My fondest memory had to be the basketball games. Being a member of the basketball team, I vividly remember the games at the Rosner Center with a packed house. All the support from classmates and faulty members across the campus was amazing. The atmosphere at those games are something that I’ll always remember.

8. Are there any special accomplishments you’ve achieved after college that you’d like to share?

Since graduating from UMW I have been able to create a business that my wife and I can call our own. One of the special accomplishments for me is creating this business without really any experience, any roadmap, or guidance in entrepreneurship. Although, we value the professional careers that we have, creating this business gives us something that we can call our own.

Royalty Athletics is something that we are both truly passionate about and another area that I can apply all that I have learned about business in my career thus far.

9. How would your family or friends describe you in seven words or less?

I did not necessarily know the answer to this question, so I had to ask a family member. The answer I received was “Hardworking, determined individual making his dreams come true”. Sorry, that is 8 😊.

10. In one sentence, what advice would you give current business students? 

Be intentional with building valuable relationships with your peers, superiors, friends, etc.