Travis Mattingly

Travis Mattingly distinguished himself in the MSTM program at Western Kentucky University; completing all coursework in 18 months with an overall GPA of 3.90. His Graduate Project, titled Research and Development of Customer Oriented Project Guidelines, was an outstanding application of the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide (2004) to the design of a customer-based project management system at LINAK US, Inc., a Louisville-based design and manufacturing firm of electric linear actuator systems. This effort connected project management theory with actual practices in the work place and allowed managers to tailor their project strategies to serve customer needs while maintaining a degree of standardization and efficiency. His project, originally developed as a pilot application of a project management system, is being reviewed as the standard for all future projects. There is also the possibility that the parent company in Denmark will be interested in the system as the model for project management worldwide.

Travis completed Project Management Certification at KCTCS and the Project Management Professional (PMP) Prep Course through Villanova University. Because of his outstanding performance, LINAK US authorized full PMP certification at the prestigious Project Management Institute (PMI). His contributions at LINAK US were recognized in 2008 when he received the Company Value Award for Continuous Improvement and Project Management, and the Job Satisfaction and Helpfulness Award. Travis has great potential for accomplishment and promotion in project management and applications engineering. His current company contributions have already resulted in significant efficiencies and increased communication. Future MSTM students will appreciate his scholarly Graduate Project as an example of excellent work.  

Travis received his undergraduate degree, cum laude, in Applied Technology from WKU and excelled in all areas of study. Has active scholarship as a Gamma Beta Phi Honors Society member. In his spare time, he continues to support and manage activities on his families’ Kentucky farming operation of 40 years.

Graduate faculty describe him as articulate, well-informed, prepared, self-motivated, knowledgeable, thoughtful, insightful, and participative. Travis holds himself to a high standard and honors his commitments. He exhibited leadership abilities that were unequaled by his peers. Regarding his personal character, he epitomized the leadership qualities one would expect of a technology manager: honesty, a humane perspective, and professionalism. Overall, he characterized as having a great deal of personal integrity and truthfulness.

Signed, MSTM Graduate Faculty

Travis Accepting the 2009 Minton Award (Outstanding WKU Graduate)