Ashland University MBA student having a special year

For Christopher Blough, 2024 is turning into a special year.

He started a business in the spring, Bonum Cultura Group, a consulting firm focused on building better business cultures and leaders through Biblical principles and values; will complete an MBA in organizational leadership from Ashland University at the end of the year; and was recognized in the most recent Marquis Who’s Who biographical volume, which profiles individuals based on noteworthy accomplishments, visibility and prominence in a field, according to a news release from the organization.

Blough has been in executive leadership in financial services, banking, cooperatives, nonprofits, insurance and mutuals for over two decades, including being president of Synergy Comp Insurance Company and CEO of Mennonite Mutual Insurance Company.

“I was contacted for an interview in February of this year,” Blough said about the Marquis Who’s Who. “I did not know a lot about the organization when I was contacted but went ahead with the interview. Once I found out the history of Marquis and did some research, I realized that it was truly an honor that I was chosen and on a list of honorees that I was proud to be a part of.

“Being included may help a bit with credibility as I work with clients who are not familiar with the work I’ve been a part of in the past,” he added.

After 20 years of leading and learning, Blough said he felt this year was his opportunity to use the lessons and tools he has learned to help others reach the goals they have for their careers and their companies.

“Bonum Cultura means ‘Good Culture” in Latin,” he said. “I chose that name because I believe that having a good company culture is at the heart of a successful organization.”

So far, Blough said he has enjoyed the freedom to dream big, to write and create content that can be put into practice in real-life situations as the CEO and founder of Bonum Cultura.

“I have enjoyed the people who I have been able to talk strategically with and the chance to write material that consolidates over two decades worth of work and experience into something useful,” he said.

He also has enjoyed taking MBA classes at AU, especially MBA 514, Game Theory and Business Strategy.

“I had heard of Nash Equilibriums and other parts of game theory but had never considered their applications to business strategy,” Blough said. “The course was well taught and both challenging and eye opening.”

As a strong believer in lifelong learning, it had always been Blough’s goal to earn an MBA. He had started programs at a few other universities over the years but always had something come up in his career that derailed them, Blough said.

“When I finally decided to make it happen, I chose a degree with the flexibility to allow me to continue regardless of what came up professionally,” he said. “Ashland not only met that need but had the reputation for quality that I was seeking.”

Not only has AU allowed Blough to work toward his MBA while still working, it also has enabled him to continue being active in his community – he has lived in Ashland the past 10 years with his family – as a board moderator for Park Street Brethren Church, a board member of the Ashland Salvation Army Kroc Center and an active member of the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce.

“The flexibility that most courses offer work very well with a busy professional schedule,” Blough said about Ashland University’s MBA program. “The course work can be done in chunks when a sometimes-unpredictable schedule allows it while still offering interaction with other students and the professors through discussions.”