As a workforce development officer for federal civilian employees, Viterbo alumnus Michael Modawell '04, '06 gets to do something he loves — help people advance in their careers.
“When I help someone get a promotion or a new job, I don’t know who is happier, them or me,” Modawell said. “I get a natural high from seeing the fruits of my labor get results.”
Located at Ft. McCoy, Modawell provides his employee clients with a variety of services, such as finding and setting up training, career consulting, personality assessment, and educational opportunities. He recently started an informal mentoring program in which leaders or experts in different fields sit down with participants and share their personal stories and advice.
Modawell, who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and an MBA from Viterbo, partnered with the university’s Dahl School of Business and Center for Professional Learning and Development to develop a certificate program in servant leadership taught at Ft. McCoy. The classes have been met with 100 percent positive reviews, not a low bar considering the amount of training military members receive throughout their careers.
“The courses have really provided us with a different way of thinking,” said Modawell, who enrolled in the program the first year it was offered.
“For me personally, I realized we need to treat employees more holistically as people because we all learn and see things differently.”
Modawell has worked at Ft. McCoy since 1998. He joined the U.S. Army upon graduating high school and served in Bosnia, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Serbia. He remained on active duty until 1997, then transitioned into the Wisconsin Army National Guard and later the U.S. Army Reserve, eventually retiring with 26 years of military service.
In his spare time, Modawell enjoys spending time with his wife and seven grandchildren. He was recently accepted into Viterbo’s new EdD in Ethical Leadership program and one day would like to further challenge himself and work in corporate America.