AU graduate recognized for her career in business as a teacher and financial adviser

Dena Kotz-Fresch chose Ashland University for an MBA for two main reasons.

First, her undergraduate degree in finance was from AU.

Second, she wanted a more specific specialization other than a traditional MBA to distinguish herself from all the other MBAs in the workforce, which she received from AU with an MBA in global management.

Not only has that helped distinguish her in the workforce, it also has helped her be included recently in the Marquis Who’s Who.

Factors, such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility and prominence in a field, are all taken into account during the selection process for the individuals profiled in the Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, according to a news release from the organization.

“I have been nominated for things previously, but being recognized with the same group as Warren Buffet was surreal and an honor,” Kotz-Fresch said.

She said her family has always been about business, so it’s no surprise she has made a career in the field as a financial adviser and business teacher. Her most recent position is as a business teacher with Olmstead Falls City Schools.

“Helping clients with their financial success has been very rewarding,” she said. “However, educating our high school youth and helping to shape their futures has been the most rewarding. Showing my students that hard work does pay off, winning scholarships for business and hearing about their successes after graduation is what drives me every single year to do what I do.”

Kotz-Fresch worked hard to earn her MBA, taking two classes per semester for two years, including summer courses, while working full time to complete it in two years in 2005.

AU recognized her with an Outstanding Graduate Award with Honors and a member of Delta Mu Delta designation.

“I loved the small class sizes, the diversity of my professors, the flexibility of the scheduling and the various class locations,” Kotz-Fresch said. “I was a single mom of two kids, so the flexibility was key for me.”

Building a professional network through relationships with the students in her classes was another benefit of AU’s MBA program.

“Everyone is from various industries and has various levels of expertise, so you learn a lot through class discussions,” she said. “I believe hearing the personal stories of my classmates at AU made me realize you cannot be just one style as a leader.”

All that has helped Kotz-Fresch find success throughout her career and earn honors like this most recent one.

“My education and my real-world experience from a young age is what shaped me to be noticed by the Marquis Who’s Who,” she said.