George Aba, Class of 1983

George Aba intends to enjoy Founders' Day 2003 with his family, picnicking and basking in the fall sun. It will be a day of relaxation unlike most of those he spent as a Woodbury student.

The Class of 1983 alumnus was too busy working at what he describes as low-paying jobs during the day and going to MBA classes at night to enjoy the more carefree college experience. The hard work has certainly paid off, though.

Today, Aba is the chief financial officer for the Outdoor Recreation Group, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of outdoor backpacks and duffle bags found in stores such as Target and Wal-Mart. He also found time along the way to earn a CPA's license and to start a family.

Aba's journey toward success began in Istanbul, Turkey when he decided to seek an American graduate degree. Relatives in Southern California, night classes, the then-downtown location of the campus and a host of other factors led him to Woodbury. Aba says it was the right decision.

"I have been lucky and had great instructors," he says. "Most of them were actually working their industry at the same time they were academicians. I was able to tap into their knowledge, which really helped me."

Upon graduation, Aba left behind the jobs that paid for his tuition and entered the professional world as an accountant at a downtown Los Angeles printing company. Aba earned his CPA license in 1988 and never looked back, climbing up the corporate ladder at both local and national firms until joining the Outdoor Recreation Group nearly three years ago.

Along the way, Aba's international business concentration at Woodbury gave him a different perspective on his work and was an asset when he was faced with international business transactions.

"Having that experience really gave me a step up," he says. "I am grateful that I was with good professors and Woodbury provided me with exposure to diverse students and faculty. That international environmental has been quite beneficial. Overall, my Woodbury education prepared me to much better be able to compete than I would have been otherwise."

A Burbank resident, Aba and his wife Tamar and children, Christopher, 12, and Stephanie, 7, won't have to go far for 2003 Founder's Day and his 20th reunion. Aba lives only blocks from the Woodbury campus — a place he'll finally be able to relax and enjoy.