Student Profile: Joe Maher

New Year's Eve had passed, yet Joe Maher, Class of 2002, soon had another occasion to pop the champagne and celebrate. On February 14th, Maher assumed the role of Global Marketing Manager in charge of marketing Poclain Hydraulics in the U.S. and France. A multinational corporation headquartered in France, Poclain Hydraulics manufactures hydraulic motors, pumps, and control systems for a variety of applications across industries.

Since earning an undergraduate degree in marketing 12 years ago, Maher steadily climbed the ranks at Poclain Hydraulics, working to build a new marketing department for the company's U.S. subsidiary. Recalls Maher, "I sought an MBA to expand my practical business skills and know-how. The high level of business experience among both faculty and students led me to choose LFGSM."

Lake Forest's "Learn from Experience" philosophy proved key to Maher's latest success. "Simply pursuing an MBA increased my visibility. And my visibility increased even more as I worked to implement a Strategic Marketing Assessment [SMA] for my company, a marketing assessment that began as a class project for adjunct Professor John Waldron's Business-to-Business Marketing course."

In addition to appreciating his Lake Forest MBA teammates, Maher is particularly appreciative of Waldron's dedication to teaching and his marketing guidance in and out of the classroom. "I always enjoyed Professor Waldron's classes and was confident that the information I learned in class would make a difference. Now I have the ultimate confirmation of how lessons learned at Lake Forest can pay off... a key promotion!"

Waldron couldn't be more proud. "I tell our students - as do many fellow Lake Forest MBA faculty members - that we consider them ‘students for life’ and make ourselves available long after graduation to offer advice and support." Indeed, at the conclusion of the marketing course, Waldron stayed in touch as Maher refined and implemented the SMA. Yet ultimately, Waldron recalls expressing his confidence in Maher’s sharpened marketing skills, telling him, "You don't need me anymore, they've got you now!"

It seems the folks at Poclain Hydraulics agree with Waldron's assessment of Maher's increased skill and capability. Congratulations, Joe!