A new beginning

My post content

I want to start this off by saying that my life is in a flux at the moment. I have spent the last 25 years traveling 100% for several organizations called 'Registrars' who contract with client organizations for the purpose of auditing their managmement systems to ensure they meet the minimum requirement of internatioal standards. Initally, I only audited quality managment systems within the automotive sector. I later started auditing environmental management systems (eventually becoming the Environmental Product Manager for North America in my last registrar). Eventually, I audited Health & Safety in addition to a number of other national and internation standards.

Because we needed to travel to the client sites the job entailed a lot of travel. Traveling 100% for business is not at all as glamorous as it sound. The travel it not to exotic places (unless you consider places like Mexicali, Tijuana, Reynosa, and Matamoros, Mexico exotic). Most are industrial cities with little special attractions to offer visitors. Eventually, your body wears out as well. This is where I am at the moment.

After earning my doctoral degree at Grand Canyon University I started exploring the possibility of teaching either remotely or on-site. I eventually was given the opportunty to interview for a full-time faculty position in the business depart at Central Community College's Hasting, NE campus (above is a picture from the Hastings campus). The short story is that they offered me the position and I accepted.

While the new postion has much to offer it will require a lot of changes. Such as moving to Hasting, NE and adjusting my lifestyle to match. I also will not be traveling every week and my wife will need to adjust to me being 'under foot' constantly.

Finally, this position will provide more time for me to pursue my goal of publishing research and supporting management teams by leverage my expertise in management system. Through my doctoral research I have gained expertise in risk-based thinking and risk managment. That expertise coupled with my years of experience in various management systems puts me in a unique situation and allows me to now guide management teams towards excellence rather than merely judging readiness and continued conformance to standards.

My academic journey is just beginning. Here is to the future!

Blessings,

Dr. Blanchard