Tom ('08) and Kara ('09) (Kuntzelman) Tyson

Tom and Kara were married October 3, 2009, and spent a week in Jamaica for their honeymoon and loved it (see the happy couple picture here)!

Kara says:

"The day after we got back we packed all my stuff and moved out to Elkhart, Indiana. Tom works in Middlebury still with P and P Imports. He continues to manage and run their store and work with wholesale customers on a daily basis. I work at the Hilton Garden Inn in Elkhart as a Front Desk associate.

"We joined Northside Baptist Church, and we are really enjoying it. The Pastor went to college in Pennsylvania and was taught by my High School Choir director. It's a small world!"

Matt Evon ('09)

Matt says that he "arrived at [his] 'permanent' duty station of Ft. Campbell, KY just before the Christmas season." As a Finance Officer his official "title" is Platoon Leader/Disbursing Officer.

As they prepare to deploy, Matt says: "God has blessed me with a very good Platoon Sergeant who is an excellent leader. I've mostly been observing what my platoon does on a day-to-day basis and thinking of ways to make our training better."

One of the next steps in Matt's training will repelling out of Blackhawk helicopters! He's excited about that prospect: "cannot wait." Sure! This is exactly what all of his former professors would be saying if they had the same opportunity! NOT! :^)

Fellow Business Alumni, please pray for Matt and his wife as he serves our Country. We are very proud of him and understand that God must protect and guide him.

Pictured here, we dug out of the archives one of (young) Matt's color guard pictures.

New Accounting Major: 150-hour, CPA-track

Maranatha’s Department of Business faculty announced this month the addition of a 150-hour Accounting major that may lead a graduate to pursue the designation of Certified Public Accountant. This augments the Department’s current Accounting Management major which has led several on the path to become CPAs after completing additional education beyond its 128-hour program.

Expectations for growth in the accounting world exceed many other industries, which means that future accountants will have numerous job opportunities, especially if they hold a bachelor’s degree and their CPA designation.

Professors Ron Miller, CPA, MBA, and Corey Pfaffe, CPA, PhD, will lead the implementation of the 4½-year track, including the introduction of four new courses—required courses Advanced Accounting and Accounting Information Systems; elective courses Federal Income Tax II and Government & Not-for-Profit Accounting.

The new courses will first be offered during the 2010/11 through the 2012/13 school years. Fall 2010 freshman in the 150-hour program begin their studies right away in Financial Accounting. Current Maranatha juniors entering the Fall 2010 semester who are currently enrolled in the Accounting Management major will be able complete all 150-hour Accounting major requirements by the end of the Fall 2012 semester, if they so desire.

Both Mr. Miller and Dr. Pfaffe anticipate applying their considerable experience in private and public accounting to prepare the next generation of Christian financial leaders.

Michael Johnson ('09)

Michael and his bride were married June 13, 2009. Mike started his accounting job with Jaguar Communications in Owatonna, Minnesota in the same month. Mike says,

"God orchestrated the entire scenario [housing and jobs] for us to stay close to our families, and provided us both with wonderful jobs (working at the same place), and a great place to live. We can work the same hours, take the same lunch break, and go home together every day!

"[In January 2010] we signed the papers for our new house that we are having built for us in Owatonna. God provided us with decent jobs and the financial training necessary to be able to be debt free from school, and still be able to put more than 25% down on our house. So, in that aspect, thank you [business faculty] for your part of that financial training.

"It has been very exciting to get out and apply what I learned in school in the real world. I have enjoyed my job very much. I have been working here seven months now, and was promoted to the Accounting Manager last month. I was able to come in and set up some principles and guidelines for their accounting methods, as well as do some coding and data base work for their accounting software.

"I know that it is nothing more than by the grace of God that I am where I am. He provided my wife and I with what we have and where we are at, and I owe Him so much!"

Praise the Lord, Michael. We like that attitude!

Jeremy Crooks ('98)

Jeremy writes:

"Our kids continue to grow. Jared is 9, Vanessa 8, Olivia 2 and Erica 1. Even now, we are preparing financially for them to be able to go to MBBC when they finish school. Speaking of school, we are really blessed to have our older 2 in Wyong Christian School.

"In terms of an update of what is happening with us. This year we planted a new church in Wyong (it looks to be about 100 kilometers north of Sydney). It is located in a 'socially needy area' and so getting the right balance of meeting people's physical and spiritual needs is a constant challenge. However, we are encouraged with t

he new relationship inroads we are making into lives of people who have no church background. Don Lawson, Phil Patch and I are elders and we share preaching and pastoral responsibilities. It is a challenge time-wise as we all work vocationally too. However, it means we are able to see a new work established without requiring salaries.

"Stephanie unexpectedly lost both her grandparents this year. We were actually in the US when her grandmother died, so she was able to make the funeral. However, this Christmas has been hard for her - particularly when thinking about her family who she doesn't see often.

"Work-wise, I continue to operate my own HR consultancy business. The Lord has blessed with plenty of work and finances this year, inspite of the financial crisis. While the longer term business outlook is uncertain, I am blessed to have regular and stable clients in the short to medium term. This year I also had Peter Prusak (MBBC business senior) join me for an internship - which was an encouragement."