Success Stories - August 2010
Dave Dessel
A Winning Combination
"Prudential, the company I have been lucky enough to have worked for my entire career - 24 years come July, which in this day and age is remarkable, made it possible for me to pursue my MBA."
-David Dessel
Director-Finance
Prudential
The year 1986 proved a monumental one for Dave Dessel. He graduated from college with a double major in Mathematics and Statistics. An avid baseball fan, his beloved New York Mets won the World Series. Dave also began his professional career with the company he stills works for today-Prudential.
Starting in the Retirement Unit, his main responsibility was pricing large pension plans. Three years later and after passing the first two Actuarial exams, Dave joined the Actuarial Program and had one year stints working in various units including Small Group & Individual Health, Group Insurance and Individual Insurance. In due course, he passed enough Actuarial exams to become an associate to the Society of Actuaries or "ASA" (Associate to the Society of Actuaries). By 1993, he left the program and returned to the Retirement Unit focusing on Separate Account services related to 401k type products. A few years later, Dave moved into the Finance Department where he still works.
As a Director in Finance, his responsibilities entail leading the Planning and Analysis Unit for the Retirement's Institutional Investment Business which includes Annuity, Funding Agreement, and 401k type business. Dave's other areas of responsibility include working with the Portfolio Management Group helping them to manage the assets in accordance with the liability flows and providing various financial information for both GAAP and Statutory accounting requirements. With his wealth of professional experience and solid mathematical background, Dave was still looking to broaden his knowledge of as he calls it, "the business side." This father of three boys decided to return to school to pursue his MBA degree through Corporate College Services. Life, however, was about to throw a slight curve ball at his plans.
During the summer of 2007 Dave was starting to lose central vision in his left eye. A series of tests revealed that he was suffering from Wet Macular Degeneration. Driving, reading, and even playing catch on the Little League field proved difficult and Dave became unsure of whether pursuing his MBA would even be possible. Fortunately a medical breakthrough treatment was introduced and Dave's doctor wanted him to give it a try. The treatment proved successful for not only did it stop the deterioration of vision, it also improved it. "I still see shadows in my vision out of my left eye but I can fight through it and have tested 20-20 with glasses."
With a healthy diagnosis and renewed determination, Dave enrolled in the CCS MBA program. One of his favorite classes was one many students do not look forward to taking-Quantitative Analysis. According to Dave, "this class was a great review of material I haven't studied in over 20 years." A core component, Regression Analysis, is used by Dave for an actuarial job he has to perform on a monthly basis. He explains, "I use it to help estimate the portfolio asset yield on only a portion of the products within a certain portfolio."
Having completed his MBA this past June, Dave admits that maintaining a healthy balance between work, school, and family was a challenge. A Little League coach since 1998, there were times he had to miss quite a few of his sons' baseball games due to school or work commitments. "My family has been very supportive and we are all looking forward to my finishing school and attending the ceremony." Dave is also very thankful to have his wife at his side for over 20 years and considers the life that they have made together one of his greatest accomplishments.
The year 2010 is also proving monumental for Dave. He and his family traveled to Albany, NY to celebrate his achievement at Excelsior College's 38th Commencement Ceremony. Dave is also proud of the fact that through it all, he and his family have been able to maintain their very special summer tradition of visiting major league ballparks. Having visited 29 ballparks, the tradition will continue with a trip to the Seattle Mariner's Safeco Field. Through his determination and spirit in overcoming adversity, this New York Mets' fan has shown that anything is possible...maybe even another World Series title.
CORPORATE COLLEGE SERVICES, INC,
1139 Spruce Drive, Suite C, Mountainside, NJ 07092
908.233.3399 / FAX 908.233.5719
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