Douglas J. Quimby, Jr.

Fordham University, Gabelli School of Business

“Dependable. Honest. Funny. Motivated. Courageous. Self-starter. Outgoing. Resourceful. Professional. Methodical.”

Hometown: Huntington, N.Y.

Fun fact about yourself: I’ve been to North Korea.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Fordham University, School of Professional and Continuing Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school?

United States Marine Corps

Infantry Squad Leader & Marksmanship Instructor

Where did you intern during the summer of 2018? JP Morgan Chase & Company, New York, N.Y.

Where will you be working after graduation? JP Morgan Chase & Company, associate, Compliance Leadership Development Program

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Treasurer, Student Advisory Council (May 2018 – May 2019): Financial management and oversight of all graduate student club budgets

President, Fordham Business Veterans Association Junior Board (August 2017 – May 2018)

Volunteer, Back on My Feet (December 2016 – April 2018): A national non-profit that combats homelessness through the power of running, community support, and essential employment and housing resources. Fundraised $1,525 by committing to run the 2017 NYC Half Marathon in support of Back on My Feet.

Volunteer, Friends of Governors Island (May 2016 – Present): Assist with public events, visitor services and light construction jobs on Governors Island

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? For our capstone consulting project, I worked with the veteran non-profit, ProVetus, to develop administrative processes for their peer-to-peer mentoring program that helps veterans successfully transition from the military to the civilian sector. For active duty service members, there is often an overwhelming confusion and anxiety that comes with transitioning out of the military. As a veteran who has overcome these obstacles, it is fundamental to my values to assist my peers in any way that I can. My work with ProVetus was an eye-opening experience to the vast number of resources available to veterans and has made me a better leader, mentor, and resource for fellow veterans.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The last year of my military career was spent coaching on the rifle range at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Training new recruits on the fundamentals of marksmanship was the most rewarding time of my service. As the first non-commissioned officer they encountered outside of their drill instructors, I took great pride in helping mold the next generation of Marines. During that year, I personally trained and supervised the training of over 1,600 recruits and 200 Active Duty and Reserve Marines, directly contributing to the Marine Corps mission of “Every Marine a rifleman.” As Marines, we take pride knowing that no matter what our occupation is in the Marine Corps, everyone is trained to the same high standards, which is especially important when it comes to marksmanship.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Dr. Benjamin Cole – Blockchain & Strategy. Dr. Cole is an inspiring and passionate professor who pushes his students outside of their comfort zones. His strategy course, “Blockchain as an Industry Disruptor,” opened my mind to see the how blockchain technology could drastically change the world in which we live. His course inspired me to pursue blockchain as a secondary concentration at Fordham, which is one of the few universities offering such a concentration for MBAs.

What was your favorite MBA Course? My favorite MBA course was Cross Cultural Negotiation and Communication. This course was taught as a summer intensive and had a diverse mix of students both inside and outside of the MBA program. Professor Hollowitz’s teaching style captured the students’ attention through a variety of interactive methods, from group work to in-class presentations. The biggest takeaway is that every business, whether big or small, has the potential to have a global impact and that business leaders need to be cognizant and respectful of cultural differences in the workplace.

Why did you choose this business school? My wife is a graduate of Fordham’s Graduate School of Social Service. When I was transitioning out of the military and looking for a veteran-friendly university in New York City to complete my bachelor’s degree, she highly recommended looking into Fordham because of its strong veteran community and participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which offers full tuition coverage. I found a new passion for education while earning my bachelor’s at Fordham. I knew then that I wanted to continue studying at this university for my postgraduate degree.

What is your best advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s MBA program? My advice to potential MBA candidates is to apply early and make multiple appointments to speak with the admissions team. Also, take a campus tour with a class visit and come to one of our information sessions. There are tons of opportunities to network and learn more about the program from current students, which helped significantly during my decision-making process.

Think back two years ago. What is the one thing you wish you’d known before starting your MBA program? One thing I wish I’d known is that time management is going to be really tough, especially during the adjustment period of the first semester. The course load is heavy and demanding, with six core classes crunched into the first term alone.

MBA Alumni often describe business school as transformative. Looking back over the past two years, how has business school been transformative for you? When I first entered the MBA program, I was fixed on pursuing a career in management consulting. Business school completely shifted my perspective to see the opportunities that an MBA provides outside of the typical consulting or investment banking careers.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Jared Eisenstat. Jared has become a close friend over the past two years, and I admire his exceptional work ethic and remarkable time management skills. Aside from pursuing the MBA full-time, and then some (he’s taking 18 credits this semester), Jared serves loyally as our Student Advisory Council President, a responsibility he takes very seriously. Not only that, but he has an 18-month-old son at home and somehow still has energy, time, and focus to be a devoted father and husband. I have no idea how he manages to balance it all and excel in all areas. He is an inspiring colleague and friend. I look forward to seeing him use his work ethic and strong personal values to succeed in his future.

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? My sister was a huge influence on my decision to pursue business. In high school, she was actively involved in the business club DECA, which I teased her about for being a “nerd.” She challenged me to give it a shot before I judged it. Always one for a challenge, I accepted. I worked tirelessly to prepare my business plan on expanding a franchise to a new market and went on to win first place at the international competition. Later on, I was awarded a scholarship from both the International Franchise Association and the company for which I wrote the plan. If it hadn’t been for our sibling rivalry and the role model my sister was for me, I never would have found my passion and aptitude for business.

What is your favorite movie about business? The Big Short. You should never get too comfortable. If things seem too good to be true, they probably are.

What was the goofiest MBA term or acronym you encountered – and what did it mean? “A1, Steak Sauce!” One of the adjunct professors, Joseph Zirpolo, teaches Excel financial model building in conjunction with the Fordham Finance Society graduate club. He would constantly reiterate, “A1 Steak Sauce!” when we were leaving a sheet or saving an Excel file, claiming that there is nothing worse than opening a saved document and being somewhere other than cell A1. After spending the summer living in Microsoft Excel, I couldn’t agree more.

“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…working for a tech firm designing and installing automation systems for commercial and residential properties.”

What dollar value would you place on your MBA education? Was it worth what you paid for it – worth more or worth less? The MBA education from Fordham is priceless. It has completely changed my career trajectory and I’m incredibly grateful for the instruction and guidance I’ve received from the professors and faculty of the university. I am lucky enough to have had the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program cover 100% of tuition fees. Had I paid tuition out-of-pocket, I still would have to say that the education and opportunity from this program is worth far more than the costs associated.

What are the top two items on your bucket list? MBA, skydiving

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you?

I’d like to be remembered as the person they knew they could always come to for help.

Hobbies? Working out, reading, eating, traveling with my wife, and spending time with family

What made Douglas Quimby such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2019?

“Doug is a hard-working, driven and versatile individual with a capacity to solve problems and defuse tense situations, through his ability to listen, think creatively, and take an optimistic view. Within his first MBA year, he gained student trust by being elected as treasurer of the student government. In this role, Doug maintains a budget for all graduate business student organizations and has improved the reporting process by setting up a system to streamline revenue and expense recording. Having honorably served out his contract with the Marine Corps, Dough is an avid advocate of veteran-student advancement. Doug worked very closely with the school’s VA coordinators to come up with innovative effective solutions for veteran benefit processing and is always ready to share his experience with other veteran-students. Doug has secured a Compliance Associate position at JP Morgan Chase.”

Julita Haber

Full-Time MBA program Director

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