Stephen Hiatt, Ph.D.

• Professor of Management
• B.S., Brigham Young University
• M.B.A., Ph.D., Arizona State University

Teaching:
- Management
- Operations Management
- Strategic Management
- Small Business Management

In his own words:

"I was born and raised in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, Andy Griffith's hometown. Yes, it was a lot like Mayberry. I played all sports in high school and was a slightly better than average student. I attended Brigham Young University after high school taking off two years to serve a mission for my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nicknamed Mormons) for two years in Germany. My degree was in Sociology with a minor in German.

I met my wife Darlene at BYU and we got married my Junior year. After college I joined the Air Force rather than getting drafted in the Army. In typical military fashion since I was already fluent in German, the Air Force trained me to be a Russian Linguist. I worked for the National Security Agency while in the Air Force and was stationed in Texas, California, Alaska, Turkey, and Maryland. We had three sons born to us while I was in the Air Force.

After four years in the Air Force I moved my family to Mesa, Arizona. I began working as a manager for a new business called Short Stop Markets. It was like being and entrepreneur, but with someone else's money. I opened 8 stores for them and trained managers and designed operating procedures. I also began the MBA program at Arizona State University. I then took a job as a Health & Beauty Aids Buyer for Associated Grocers of Arizona in Phoenix. After a couple of more years I finished my MBA and made the career decision to enter academics. I began the Ph.D. program with four children and very little money. I taught classes for Arizona State, Golden Gate University, Park College, and the University of Northern Colorado while working on my Ph.D.

I then took a job at Kearney State College (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney) while working on my dissertation. After one more year living back in Arizona I finished my Ph.D. in December 1983. My wife finished having children in January of 1984 when our seventh child was born (4 boys and 3 girls).

In 1987 I completed the Management Information Systems Basic Institute sponsored by the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business and started looking for a better job. I ended up at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC where I remain to this day. I am a Professor of Business. I have taught classes in Management, Marketing, and Information Systems here.

I have also been very active as a consultant, trainer, and facilitator of many businesses both in Nebraska and North Carolina. I stay busy with my family (only one son is left at home right now) and my church. I also teach the religion courses to high school age students from 6:10 am to 7 a.m. every morning (we call in Seminary). I still love sports, but more as a spectator now.

I have served on the City of Salisbury Convention Center Task Force and also the Business Incubator Task Force. I do workshops and strategic planning for the City of Salisbury, Rowan Memorial Regional Medical Center, the Community Care Clinic and other organizations.

Lately, I have written Instructors Manuals for textbooks in International Management and Small Business Management. I am also the author of student study guides for Principles of Management textbooks."