Sponsor Profile
Joseph Stockunas, Air Products
“I'm very impressed with the Wharton program — the quality of the faculty and the students. Sponsorship has definitely been a good investment for us.”
Executive MBA Blog
RSS Sponsor Profiles: Air Products
Alex Botelho had reached a ceiling in his career. Educated as a chemical engineer, with 15 years of experience in engineering and product development, he knew that he needed new business knowledge to move ahead in his career — but he faced a steep learning curve.
"It was very much like learning a different language," he says. "The terminology is very different."
Botelho took his request for sponsorship to his then supervisor Jim Walton, and Walton took the request to Joe Stockunas, general manager for the Electronics Equipment Division of Air Products, a supplier of gases and chemicals to the global semiconductor industry.
Walton and Stockunas supported Botelho's application, recognizing his commitment to his career and to Air Products. "Alex is a high performer and has the technical, commercial, and leadership skills to advance into higher levels of leadership in our company," says Stockunas.
"Alex knows what's important," adds Walton. "He knows our strategies, and he influences other people in support of those strategies."
Botelho successfully brought his new business knowledge to bear on projects at work. "I was able to directly apply some of the concepts in cost accounting and operations management to our manufacturing environment," he notes. And he used new techniques of contribution margin analysis to evaluate deals that Air Products has in place.
"I was very impressed with the Wharton program — the quality of the faculty and the students," concludes Stockunas. "Someone who's willing to dedicate himself to the experience will gain a much broader understanding of business and markets, as well as leadership skills that will benefit the company.
"The folks that Alex rubbed shoulders with opened his eyes and ears. His experience gave Air Products some new ideas and things to think about, and I think that's very worthwhile. Sponsorship has definitely been a good investment for us."
Alex Botelho, WG’07
President
Goar, Allison & Associates
an Air Products subsidiary in Tyler, TX
Joseph Stockunas
General Manager
Electronics
Air Products
James Walton
General Manager
Electronics Equipment
Air Products
