Brandon Dainas

            In some cases, acquiring a master’s degree allows one to accomplish more than just entry into a particular field; it allows one to truly stand out in it. A recent MBA graduate, Brandon Dainas, stands as proof that professional upward mobility often goes hand in hand with the higher credentials that come through graduate study.

            Graduating from the University of Montevallo in 2011, Brandon belongs to one of the first sets of students to complete the Masters in Business Administration program that was just launched at UM in fall 2010. Now about to begin its third year, the AACSB accredited MBA program boasts many more new graduates and an ever-increasing pool of prospective students who are entering the program each semester. 

With a previous background in accounting and several years of work in the business field, more specifically the investments sector, Brandon became interested in going back to college to obtain an MBA in order to further his career. His wife, Angela, who was then a student in the graduate counseling program, suggested that he look into UM’s MBA as an option for reaching his goal.

            What Brandon immediately found upon checking on the format of the MBA program was that it was not only “new and fresh,” but also a “good fit” for the demands of his business career and lifestyle: he could attend full time via convenient evening classes and complete the program in only one year without giving up his full time job. Aside from being drawn to the overall accessibility of the program, Brandon was also drawn to the “small class sizes” that prompted many engaging group discussions and the “diversity within the faculty” that helped to bring “unique perspectives to each course.”

             Not surprisingly, the results of Brandon’s vigorous work in the program paid off rather quickly and led to gratifying results. Only months after obtaining his MBA, Brandon was hired as a Consumer Loan Underwriter for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, a position that he currently holds. Recalling his fond experiences at UM, Brandon stated that finally putting an MBA beside his name was the crowning touch that “set [him] apart from the candidates and allowed [him] to get [his] foot in the door with a great company.”

Through reviewing, analyzing, and approving the underwriting for mortgages as well as evaluating numerous financial statements, Brandon continues to provide his excellent business services to Wells Fargo.