Skip to Main Content

 

School of Business and Economics

Develop the many skills necessary
for your success in the global economy.

Business schools seek out accreditation to obtain quality assurance as an institution of higher learning, as well as to ensure an environment of continuous improvement. Find out how Concordia’s School of Business and Economics took learning to a new level by actively involving their students in the IACBE Accreditation process.

Stephen Christensen, Dean of the School of Business

George W. Wright,
Dean

Welcome to the School of Business and Economics where we actively participate in developing or expanding your knowledge, experiences and network relationships in any and all of our undergraduate, graduate or co-curricular activities. Additionally, we provide you with an environment to pursue your own personal mission and ministry goals as well as the necessary tools to become wise, honorable and cultivated citizens.

Staff and faculty members are active participants in ensuring we help you reach your educational and professional goals. Concordia offers courses developed and delivered by faculty who integrate best business practices, real world experience as well as a Christian moral, ethical and value perspective of leadership empowering students for exemplary lives of learning, service, and leadership in today’s global marketplace.

Many of our programs are accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), a global accreditation agency for college and university business programs, both recognizing our achievements and our commitment to continuous improvement. Notably, Concordia University Irvine is the first IACBE member to receive an ancillary specialized accounting accreditation.

Every individual is blessed in different ways by God and brings with them their own unique set of comparative and competitive advantages. We look forward to working with you in developing your unique skills at our unique university – Concordia University Irvine!

[email protected]

Charlie Zhang

Karl Hoenecke, Assistant Dean

Concordia University Irvine has named Karl Hoenecke as the Assistant Dean for the School of Business and Economics. Hoenecke holds an undergraduate degree in History from UC Santa Barbara and an MBA from Concordia. For the last seven years, Hoenecke has been an adjunct professor at Concordia. His career path included management positions at multiple large corporations before working as the Vice President of Business Development for TeamLogic IT and most recently as the Director of Sales and Operations for sports and location-based event company GZ6G Technologies.

Read more »

Michael Kinnen

Faculty Spotlight:
Michael Kinnen

Michael Kinnen is an expert in finance with over 20 years' managerial and executive experience in valuation and management consulting; he has 10 years' experience teaching at the university level. Prior to embarking on a career in teaching, Michael served corporate clients as an authority on valuation issues in engagements related to mergers and acquisitions, corporate valuation, capital budgeting, solvency, and restructuring. Michael is also an expert in leadership development, is actively involved in instructional design, learning program development, and performing leadership assessments for Fortune 50 companies. Before being named a full-time professor, Kinnen served as an adjunct professor at the School of Business and Economics for four years.

Read more »

Kim Chatani

Faculty Spotlight:
Kim Chatani

Professor Kim Chatani is being named a full-time professor after being an adjunct professor since 2015. To say that Chatani has had an impressive career would be more than just an understatement for all he has accomplished. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Internal Services Auditor (CISA), and a Forensic Certified Public Accountant (FCPA).

He is a published author and expert on the topics of fraud and cyber-security, being interviewed numerous times in various publications including Forbes, Moody’s, and American Banker and speaking on Talk Radio. In addition, he is a frequent speaker at conferences with his knowledge of “Big-4/8” public accounting, consulting in delivering audit, corporate strategy, and risk management services.

Read more »

Mark Francis

Faculty Spotlight:
Mark Francis

Professor Mark Francis has joined Concordia University Irvine as Assistant Professor and Sports Business Program Director. Professor Francis’s involvement in local, regional, national, and international sport management has led to his success with the professional sports community throughout Southern California and has helped him secure professional internships for students that have included the LA Angels, LA Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, Golden Boy Promotions, Sports 1 Marketing, LA Galaxy, Rose Bowl, and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Read more »

Kellie Playter

Faculty Spotlight:
Kellie Playter

Kellie earned her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Communication Studies from California State University, Long Beach, and her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University. She has served on several nonprofit boards in her community, including the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Ronald McDonald House Charities. She has been teaching college courses since 2008, teaching at California State University Long Beach and Long Beach City College before finding her home at Concordia, where she can combine her love of teaching with her Christian beliefs. She has taught a variety of classes in communication, leadership, and business, but tends to focus on workplace communication and behavior, professional writing, internship/career preparation, and professional development skills.

Join Our Community

Apply Now
Visit Concordia
Request Info
Virtual Tour
Contact Us
Back to top