Inside the Flex MBA experience

Nicholas Kimmel had already established a successful career managing complex technology agreements when he realized technical expertise alone wasn’t enough to get where he wanted to go.

After graduating from college, Kimmel joined the U.S. Army as a logistics officer, managing everything from maintenance to the distribution of fuel, water, and equipment. After completing his four-year service commitment and landing an internship through the Department of Defense Skills Bridge Program, he transitioned to a technology procurement analyst position at Cushman and Wakefield.

“I went from moving supplies across the battlefield to this very corporate job where I'm buying software, and a lot of the skills still really translated,” Kimmel said.

Today Kimmel is an MBA student at Texas State University’s McCoy College of Business while continuing his work in technology procurement. In his current role as a senior procurement specialist, he supports the Energy Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) through AMTEK Consulting. His work includes negotiating complex technology agreements and addressing issues involving artificial intelligence, data privacy, and information security.

As his career progressed, however, Kimmel realized there was another skill set he wanted to develop.

“I realized I had good technical skills, but I didn't understand how the corporation thinks, how all the structures above me work, and how what we do affects everyone around us,” he said.

That realization brought him to Texas State.

An MBA built around a career
Kimmel began McCoy College’s Flex MBA program in January 2025. As a husband, father, and full-time professional, he needed a program that would allow him to continue working while earning his degree.

The 36-hour Flex MBA allows students to attend full or part-time and adjust their course load as their needs change. Courses are offered in the evening, and students can pursue a general MBA or concentrations ranging from computer information systems and supply chain management to healthcare administration and international business.

For Kimmel, that flexibility has been crucial to his success in the program.

“I would say the structure definitely helps,” he said. “It's very much set up for working professionals.”

Kimmel drives about 45 minutes from Seguin to attend classes in San Marcos. He expects to graduate in December 2026 and has maintained a 4.0 GPA while continuing his career and becoming involved with the McCoy College community.

Kimmel has participated in the McCoy College Graduate Ambassadors Program, the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, and undergraduate mentoring, and has taken advantage of the college’s professional development opportunities.

“There are so many brilliant people in the community, and so many of them have done what I'm trying to do, and all you have to do is ask,” he said. “I'm also very much on the thought of paying it forward. There have been so many people who have helped me to get to where I am.

Kimmel said the support from McCoy College faculty and staff has also been an important part of his experience. Whether through professional development, connections with alumni or simply having someone there to help along the way, he said he has felt supported throughout the program.

“Everyone's out to help you succeed,” he said. “I’ve just been blown away [by the support of the graduate staff and faculty].”

One course in particular has had an immediate impact on Kimmel’s work: Artificial Intelligence for Business Managers. With AI becoming an increasingly important part of the technology agreements he handles, much of what he learned in the course was directly relevant to his day-to-day work.

“After taking that course, I have an understanding of what large language models really are, how they actually operate, and how they're trained,” he said.

When Kimmel entered the MBA program, he already had experience managing projects and negotiating complex technology agreements. What has changed most, he said, is how he sees his role within the larger organization.

“It's having a wider perspective, having a strategic view rather than a tactical view,” he said.

As Kimmel approaches graduation, he says the program has changed the way he sees his work, giving him a broader perspective on how his decisions fit into the bigger picture of an organization.

“I've gained more confidence by understanding how much more there is to learn and how much everyone else is learning too,” he said. “There's so much opportunity in this program, but you get what you put in.” ✯