30 at 30: Carmen Colitz
Executive MBA – Strategic Leadership Class of 2019
Founder: Jupiter Pet Emergency and Specialty Center
The University of Tennessee is like a second home to Carmen Colitz. She earned two of her degrees, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and a Doctorate in Comparative and Experimental Medicine (Ph. D.), from the school.
Colitz explained that her passion for ophthalmology, a medical specialty focused on eye disorders, drove her to pursue additional education. After graduating with her DVM, she opted to remain at the University of Tennessee for three more years to complete her second post-graduate degree. When the time came for her residency, Colitz was accepted to her top choice: NC State in Raleigh, North Carolina.
“During my residency, my mentor helped me write an NIH grant, which I was awarded,” the ophthalmologist said. “It was a five-year grant for new researchers, and we discovered a protein in the lens and in cataracts called telomerase.”
Colitz was already making a name for herself in the world of ophthalmology. Little did she know that this was just the beginning.
Working With Marine Mammals
She continued her work in academic research, serving as a faculty member at both Louisiana State University (LSU) and The Ohio State University (OSU) veterinary schools. While working at OSU, Colitz received a life-changing call from a former student, who was working as the attending veterinarian at Six Flags Ohio (now Six Flags Worlds of Adventure).
Colitz’s student explained that two of the amusement park’s sea lions were blind and needed help from a specialist. Colitz led a team to perform cataract surgeries, both of which went smoothly. This was the first time she operated on marine mammals, and it was a new beginning in her career.
“A lot of things started in Columbus for me,” Colitz said. “And they’ve given me the ability to travel the world and see amazing places.”
Colitz continues to visit zoos and aquariums around the world, building her knowledge about marine mammals. She has also published numerous articles and book chapters to help share this useful information.
Attending to the Business Side of Things
Eventually, Colitz and her husband, whom she met in UT’s veterinary program, decided to return to Florida to be closer to family. In late 2012, they opened an emergency and multispecialty veterinary hospital called Jupiter Pet Emergency and Specialty Center, named for the town where they lived.
Within five years, the center grew into a 24/7 specialty and emergency hospital with 70 employees, and Colitz’s mother managed the business side of the center as its bookkeeper until her death. After she passed away, Colitz was determined to learn the business aspect for herself.
It was a simple choice to apply once again to Rocky Top, a school close to her heart. This time, she opted for the Executive MBA – Strategic Leadership (EMBA-SL) program.
“I have made so many friends that it always feels like coming home,” Colitz said. “To learn to better understand and grow our business, the EMBA-SL program at the Haslam College of Business was the right fit.”
Learning Leadership in Haslam’s EMBA-SL
Colitz said the leadership component of the EMBA-SL program changed the way she led her team.
“What I learned in the program helped me inspire my team to work in a streamlined way and, more importantly, to recognize and handle difficult situations in the workplace.”
Colitz said she learned more from the program’s holistic approach to business than she could’ve imagined. She appreciated its financial aspect so much that she is considering coming back to Haslam for another accounting degree.
For her Organizational Action Project, Colitz chose to evaluate her business with the goal of eventually selling it. Her project advisor, Professor Emeritus James Wansley, assisted her through the process. Together, they explored three methods of valuation, which Colitz ultimately applied when negotiating the business’ sale.
EMBA Words of Wisdom
For those considering the EMBA-SL program, Colitz shared insight into the supportive culture that the faculty foster.
“The leadership and corporate coaching system is very nurturing,” the UT alum said. “You could tell they cared about our success and were invested in both our professional and personal growth.”
Colitz added that returning to school for an executive MBA was one of the best decisions of her career. The abilities to understand and apply business concepts, as well as the academic network she’s built, will remain with her for years to come.