For University of Redlands School of Business alumna Virginia Bayer ’92 (MBA), Veteran’s Day is one of the most meaningful holidays of the year. Her family has deep roots in the military; her grandfather served in WWII; she and her husband are retired United States Naval Officers; and three of her children are currently on active duty.
While she was on active duty, Virginia earned her Master of Business Administration degree at the University’s San Diego regional campus and was inducted into the University’s Whitehead Leadership Society after being nominated by her fellow MBA classmates. She credits her educational experience at Redlands with helping her career in the U.S. Navy and the launch of her own successful consulting business, RAVE INC. in 2006. RAVE INC, which stands for Rapid Acquisition Ventures & Enterprises, specializes in acquisition and program management consulting, research, training, and education. “I have been in business for over 14 years now and hope to continue to learn and grow,” she says.
Virginia was so impressed with Redlands that, 20 years after finishing her MBA, she encouraged her eldest daughter, Rebecca, to strongly consider the University when it was time to start applying for college. Rebecca’s acceptance letter to the University of Redlands invited her to follow in her mother’s footsteps, which she did, graduating in 2018 from the University’s College of Arts & Sciences, majoring in business administration and minoring in spatial studies. A legacy was born.
Rebecca wasn’t finished following in her mother’s footsteps. Shortly after completing her undergraduate degree and moving back home to San Diego, Rebecca continued her educational journey at Redlands and enrolled into the MBA program with a Location Analytics Concentration at the San Diego regional campus, continuing her focus in business and spatial studies. Coming into the MBA program with an undergraduate degree in business allowed Rebecca to complete the MBA program in just nine courses, graduating this past spring.
Virginia credits the steadfast devotion of the faculty and the small class sizes that afforded plenty of opportunity for interaction in a small, dynamic educational environment for Rebecca’s growth in her undergraduate and graduate programs. Additionally, the student aid and support, including work-study opportunities, grants, and scholarships made it possible for Rebecca to graduate without any financial burden.
Still, there were more of Virginia’s footsteps Rebecca was inspired to follow. After completing her MBA degree, Rebecca applied for and was accepted into the U.S. Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. Rebecca is currently in the final stretch of her training program and will be commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy.
“We cannot be more excited for Rebecca to continue her journey from Redlands to a rewarding career in the Navy,” says Virginia. “We are truly eternally grateful to the University of Redlands.”
The University of Redlands celebrates Virginia, Rebecca, the rest of the Bayer family and everyone who is currently serving or has previously served our country on Veterans Day and every day of the year. Learn more about the University of Redlands.
