Paul's Home Page

Hello, welcome to my Web site!

Hello! My name is Paul Szostak. I am currently enrolled at the University of Houston as a post-baccalaureate student (since August 1999) working on a Business teaching certification (for secondary education). Previously, I spent sixteen years in the business world in a variety of financial and managerial positions. Most of those years (13 of them!) were spent at Compaq. In my last assignment, I was the Site Finance Manager with controllership responsibilities for all of Compaq's warehousing, manufacturing and distribution operations in Houston. I am also a CPA.

My move into the educational arena was driven by a desire to pass along some of the valuable knowledge I have gained during my working life. I also enjoy seeing people learn and helping individuals do what they can to reach their professional and personal intellectual goals.

Top Five Web sites

• Web Site #1 - National Business Educators Association (NBEA): The NBEA is the nation's largest professional organization devoted exclusively to serving individuals and groups engaged in instruction, administration, research, and dissemination of information for and about business. NBEA provides the vital link between both the private and public sector by providing business educators an opportunity to stay on top of the changing skills required in today's business world through its linkages with corporations and small businesses. I joined the NBEA (member ID 84218) in February 2000 while enrolled as a student in the teacher certification program at the University of Houston.

• Web Site #2 - Texas Education Network (TENET): The TENET is affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin. The TENET's purpose is to provide useful, up-to-date resources for the education community including teachers, parents, administration and students. There are additional links to classroom resources and curricula (good information if you are working on lesson plans). There are also links to professional development opportunities with some good information on job opportunities and continuting eudcation.

• Web Site #3 - The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA): The AICPA is the premier national organization for CPAs in the United States. The web site is a wealth of resources when it comes to information on continuing education, current developments in accounting, job opportunties, professional contacts and lots more. One of my areas of teacher training includes accounting and basic business subjects, so this a good web site to use for educational development purposes.

• Web Site #4 - E Trade: E-TRade is an online investing service (I opened an account last year). I am really impressed with the level of research and investment information provided by this service. I would recommend it! Be sure to keep an eye out for ETrade's periodic promotional offers...

• Web site #5 - Business Week: A lot of good reference information is available here. Since I have been back in school, I have used the site many times to look up articles on business education for use in class assignments.