Two semester of simulating real business situations with pros to guide you is invaluable.
John Poston '05
Credentials:
- Founder, Poston Real Estate
- Cofounder, the Rise School of Dallas and the Rise School of Houston
- MBA, Acton School of Business; BS, speech communication, University of Texas
When John discovered his youngest son had Down Syndrome, he was determined to know everything he could about the condition. He spent countless hours researching and began raising money for the Down Syndrome Clinic in Dallas, but, as John put it, "We were doing something good, but it wasn't good enough." Then, John discovered an incredible school in Alabama that educated children with special needs. After visiting the school, John knew they had to start a similar school in Dallas.
John set out to raise $750,000 which would fund one classroom for three years. He put together a board and started making calls. Within six months, John had raised $1.2 million and the Rise School of Dallas opened in April of 1998 on his son's birthday. In 2000, a second Rise School was started in Houston. Today, the two preschools provide intensive therapy and education to over 120 special-needs children, with the goal of preparing them for maximum participation in the public schools.
Regarding the entrepreneur-teachers at Acton, John had this to say: "You cannot put a price on learning from true entrepreneurs. Learning business skills from those who are proven is a great advantage over learning theories from those who haven't played the game."
John is currently working in Dallas with Kennedy Associates.
