Cody Stavig, BBA 2006
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Materials Intern, Intel
With a family predominantly employed in the computer industry, Cody has grown up with a fascination for electronics, “Whether it be TV, video games, the internet, or cell phones, I’ve always been interested in technology.” Cody still recalls his first desktop personal computer, an Apple Performa, and the numerous hours he spent playing on it.
As Cody graduated high school, he had two options: to stay in-state and attend the University of Oregon, or to come down to Austin. Deciding that it was time to experience something new, Cody chose UT. Initially intending to major in management, two events changed his mind. First, a panel of MIS professionals came to his Business Administration course to share their experiences and explain what an MIS major does after graduation. Second, Cody attended an MIS Steering Committee exploration dinner where Professor Konana’s vision for the MIS program closed the deal for Cody. He has enjoyed every part of the curriculum since making his choice to go MIS.
“I like MIS because everything I learn here puts me light years ahead of everyone else in the workplace; from project management to database manipulation, I can really apply what I learn in the business world.” Thinking back, his favorite course was Professor Ruefli’s MIS 375: Strategic Information Technology Management because the class focused so much more on the impact of technology on a company rather than individual coding projects. Cody also recalls Professor Mote’s query assignments from MIS 325: Introduction to Database Management. “I’ll never forget the countless hours I spent on the assignments in my dorm and then the celebrating when I finished as if I’d just won the Super Bowl.”
Cody’s brother, who works at Intel, helped Cody push his résumé along and the Materials, Planning and Purchasing Department offered him an internship. As a Materials Intern, Cody’s main task was to research environmental legislation within the computer hardware industry. New legislation coming out of the European Union and China imposes new restrictions on certain substances in electronic assemblies. Towards the end of the internship, Cody presented his findings to senior management and recommended a course of action to deal with the new regulations in their purchasing and production processes.
Three recommendations Cody offers students preparing for the professional world are (1) think preventively instead of constantly “putting out fires,” (2) be original and employ your knowledge to solve problems, and (3) remember that it takes a few months to get settled into something, so give your job a chance before calling it quits.
After graduation, Cody’s academic career will continue on with an MBA and eventually a PhD. He also hopes to move back to Oregon and own his own business. During college, Cody was a walk-on defensive back for the UT football team and an active member of the Longhorn Community Service Program. Outside of work, Cody enjoys video games, college football and reading.
