Education: The Key To Career Advancement

Black Enterprise, Feb, 2000

When asked, To what set of skills do you attribute your success? Hash readily replies: "First, my people skills which have resulted in my having an appreciation for everybody's role. My work requires me to rely a lot on people to get the job done", he says. For example, as a loan officer and secondary market manager, I took on many jobs and interacted with people involved in every secondary market manager, I took on many jobs and interacted with people involved in every phase of a process people who originated third party loans, people who were selling the loans, people who were servicing the loans and consumer lending operators" he says, "As I accepted increasing responsibility, I learned the most intricate details of my work", he added.

Second, I learned to not take things personally but look at suggestions as just business. It is important to be able to receive criticism and react accordingly, he continued.

"Last, but not least, I think it is important to relate to people in a warm and caring way, even in the midst of severe stress. I learned many lessons from my father--a good, decent man who treated everyone with respect. We lived in the Appalachian area of West Virginia where jobs were not always plentiful. I watched my father struggle to keep our family together after hardship, that has 'always been the greatest test of stress and endurance that I have observed. I draw from it in times of adversity".

SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY

THE COX SCHOOL OF BUSINESS: AN EDUCATION TO ACHIEVE AND INSPIRE

Several years after founding his company, On-Target Supplies & Logistics, Al Black realized he needed more skills to

help his business grow. So, he turned to the Cox School of Business at SMU in Dallas, Texas, for his graduate business education. The Cox MBA experience provided me with a challenging and supportive environment, he says. Cox faculty provide a holistic approach to educating business leaders. He attributes the skills he gained at Cox to helping him grow On-Target into a successful $40 million business that provides a broad range of integrated products and logistical services to major corporations.

In addition to his Cox experience and network. Al Blacks personal motivation and drive have helped him rise to significant leadership roles in the dynamic Dallas business community, recently ranked #1 by Fortune magazine as the top business city in the US. Among his many roles, he serves as the Chairman of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors, the first African-American in the history of the chamber to hold that position. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Chase Bank. Dallas-TX and is a member of Governor George Bushs Business Council. In 1999, he was named Ernst & Youngs Entrepreneur of the Year for the Southwest Region.

Cox gave me to confidence to succeed to deal with issues, find creative solutions to problems and anticipate trends. Cox has helped me be a better business person so I can make a difference in other peoples lives.