Editor's note:
This year's class representative for AFSA's professional development program at the University of North Carolina provided a first-hand perspective on his experiences. The UNC program took place July 7-18.

The AFSA executive education program at the Kenan-Flagler School of Management was an exciting and rewarding experience. I was very pleased with the curriculum, facilities and instructors. The two-week course proved to be challenging and rewarding.

This program offers individuals such as my classmates and myself the training and exposure we need to enhance our careers and take them to the next level. The course ranged from negotiation skills to corporate accounting. The instructors at the Kenan-Flagler school did a great job covering the tools we will need to build and progress in the industry. In my case I believe the return on investment made by my company, Washington Mutual Finance, to send me will reap immediate and long lasting rewards. I believe all the corporate AFSA members that sent representatives will realize the same rewards.

The classmates I met at the beginning of the course became over the two weeks good friends and colleagues of mine that I would correspond with for years to come. The team building exercises gave each of us the opportunity to get to know each other very well. Our day at the ropes course proved to be the perfect forum to test our teambuilding skills. Rock wall climbing while blindfolded and tightrope walking 30 feet in the air with your teammates holding the rope will help you grow close.

The AFSA Executive Management course has put together the best learning program imaginable combined with a great state of the art facility. I would like to thank my classmates for giving me the opportunity to represent them, and my company for sending me. I believe I probably spent two weeks with some of the future leaders in our industry.

Casey Balke, class representative for the UNC Management Development Program's class of 2003, is a District Supervisor at Washington Mutual Finance.