Tobin Alumnus Uses MBA Experience to Reach Success

March 15, 2007—Queens, NY—Former MBA student Mory Katz, CEO, Direct Response Corporation, Response Insurance Group, visited the Queens campus to speak to MBA students about overcoming volatile market conditions and treacherous adversaries within the auto insurance industry. Part of the Colman Mockler Distinguished Leadership Program, Mr. Katz’ seminar, entitled “Making Things Happen”, explained to students how what he learned while a student of the Tobin College made his success as an entrepreneur possible by teaching him to be ready to face the consequences of his decisions and actions. “The working knowledge I received here class by class was very valuable and helped open many doors for me,” said Katz.

The Direct Response Insurance Group was formed in 1995 to capitalize on the burgeoning direct-to-the-consumer business model and recruited Mr. Katz in 1998 to help them take their innovative concept and grow it within the framework of a national footprint—something, he says, that had been attempted by many large auto insurers with little or no success. While Mory Katz recounted his challenging journey, students and faculty members were riveted by the vital business decisions he needed to make, while having to deal with ruthless competition, in order to make his company successful. Something, he says, all future entrepreneurs will be forced to do at some point in their careers.

The Peter J. Tobin College of Business has provided the highest quality business education for over eighty years.  Many alumni have risen to senior executive positions in the financial services community in New York and around the world.  Degrees offered include the Bachelor of Science, Master of Business Administration and Master of Science.  The College encompasses the School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science, which is housed at the University’s Manhattan location in the heart of the New York financial district.  Recent recognitions for the Tobin College include a listing by The Aspen Institute among the top ninety business schools in the United States whose graduate curricula reflect a commitment to social responsibility and sustainability as well as representation among the “The Best 282” Business Schools in America according to The Princeton Review.  For further information, please contact Jennifer Vacchio at (718) 990-6218 or email vacchioj@stjohns.edu.

###