J.R Kautz graduated from Waynesburg University in 2016 as a Business Management major. During his time on campus, J.R became heavily involved in the Stover Center for Constitutional Studies and Moral Leadership.
After graduating from Waynesburg, J.R obtained his Certified Financial Planner designation (CFP) and currently works at Hefren-Tillotson, a Pittsburgh wealth management firm that merged with the Milwaukee-based Baird firm in 2022.
Even though he thoroughly enjoyed his time at Waynesburg, it wasn’t always the plan for J.R.
“My dad got sick in my senior year of high school, and I decided to pivot to stay close to home, with Waynesburg being the closest college to where I grew up (Marianna, PA),” explained Kautz. “I had some friends/family that had good things to say, and I met Dr. Stratton – we had a mutual connection with Zander Shashura [a 2013 Stover alumnus] – and I was able to apply to the program on the very last day possible. It started as an opportunity to save on the cost of school and turned into so much more.”
Some of the most valuable skills and knowledge that J.R learned from the Stover program were learning how to properly present himself and communicate with important people in his profession, which was honed by meeting multiple Supreme Court Justices, senators, esteemed counsel and various business leaders during his time as a Stover Scholar.
When asked what stood out to him the most during his time in the Stover program, Kautz said, “Dr. Stratton specifically for the program, and all my peers that were incredibly thoughtful, kind, and wicked smart. Outside of the program, Dr. Ola and Dr. Satzer (Lantz) in the business field helped me grow my business skills, such as negotiation, marketing, and financial analysis.”
“Waynesburg, the Stover program and all the opportunities granted through my mentors allowed me to connect with Kim Fleming, daughter of Hefren-Tillotson’s founder, and find an incredible career,” said Kautz. “I’ve been able to help countless families, business owners, athletes and charities put a smart financial plan in place and grow their resources.”
About the Stover Center for Constitutional Studies and Moral Leadership
Waynesburg University's Stover Center for Constitutional Studies and Moral Leadership is an interdisciplinary scholarly center dedicated to bringing insights from the U.S. Constitution's Founding Era and from Christianity to bear in the contemporary public square, with the ultimate goal of creatively transforming the ethical state of the polis.
About the Business Management Program
Through this program you will earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and establish a strong background in marketing, management, finance, human resource management, accounting, leadership and business strategy.
About Waynesburg University
Consistently ranked a best value school, Waynesburg University’s Strategy for the 21st Century affirms its commitment to developing an entrepreneurial mindset and ethical leadership skills for all students. Rooted in its mission of faith, learning and service, the private, Christian university is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania.
