Share this Story
Program Spotlight: No-Cost Courses through VWU Global Campus
Purchasing Director Mike Pettry took 19 courses offered through VWU's partnership with Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development
University News | December 8, 2021
During the COVID-19 quarantine, Mike Pettry found a productive way to stay engaged in self-improvement. Before he became VWU’s purchasing director in October 2021, he was well aware of one of the University’s spotlight initiatives.
“I jumped at the chance to take the online professional development courses,” said Pettry. “Very rarely in my life have I ever had a chance for free education, and I knew that this would be something positive to do in the evenings, especially since everyone was staying in due to COVID.”
Nineteen courses later, Pettry found himself much more knowledgeable about subjects such as purchasing, manufacturing, individual excellence, customer service, marketing, professional sales, creating mobile apps, and more.
“These classes helped me to become more well-rounded in a variety of subjects,” Pettry continued. “I am grateful that VWU offered them during COVID, because they were an opportunity for people like me to increase their knowledge and skills.”
The fully online courses are part of the continuing education offerings through VWU Global Campus along with other comprehensive non-degree courses designed to provide advanced skills valued by employers. Because of COVID-19's continued economic impact on the community, Virginia Wesleyan partnered with the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development to offer the online professional development courses at no cost to Hampton Roads residents.
Pettry’s prior work experiences have mostly been in purchasing and finance. He says that one of his favorite former jobs was when he lived in Key West and worked in the finance department of the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum.
“Mel Fisher was the person who found the Spanish ship the 'Atocha' off the Florida Keys—one of the biggest treasure finds in history,” he said. “While I worked there, the divers found some more gold and coins, and I got to go meet the boat and to see and handle the treasure they brought in."
Continuous learning plays an important role in Pettry’s life. He currently has three associate degrees, a bachelor's degree and an MBA, and he plans to pursue another bachelor's degree from VWU in the new year. He says he stays physically active, hitting the gym daily and playing sports through the Stonewall Sports League in Norfolk. He also recently graduated from the Virginia Beach Citizen's Police Academy. Originally from Victoria, Virginia, Pettry now lives in Virginia Beach with his two rescue dogs, Peanut and Alli.
Get started on your professional development journey by visiting www.vwu.edu/nocostcourses or contacting VWU Global Campus at 757.233.8789 or ceinfo@vwu.edu.