Alumni Spotlight Details

Andrew Bass ‘04 graduated from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, in 2009. He earned two bachelors degrees with a double major in Engineering Management & Information Systems and Economics. He then earned a Masters in Engineering Management degree, also from SMU. He currently lives in the Highland Park neighborhood of Dallas, TX with his wife, Morgan, and his two children: Chandler (8, 3rd grade) and Carter (6, 1st grade). Andrew is a Program Director at Pinnacle Group, a mid-sized IT workforce consulting firm. He heads the overall strategy, operations, and delivery of IT consulting solutions for Fortune 500 clients exceeding $100M/year in client spend. Andrew  keeps in touch with some Whitfield classmates, and visits campus every time he comes back to St. Louis to show his kids where he went to school.   

Describe how Whitfield prepared you for college and beyond. 

Whitfield gave me a strong foundation both academically and personally by challenging me with rigorous coursework and opportunities for growth outside the classroom. On the academic side, the advanced curriculum in math, science, English, and history required me to think critically, analyze complex information, and be disciplined and prepared for tests, quizzes, and projects. The emphasis on research papers and presentations helped me develop strong writing and communication skills as well as presentation skills when I wasn’t very comfortable doing that back then. I do presentations regularly in my career, and the confidence I have now began in high school and has continued with me through college and beyond.  

Equally important are the skills I gained through the structure and expectations of the school. Time management and organization were essential for balancing academics and extracurricular activities. Group projects and classroom discussions taught me collaboration and how to respectfully engage with different perspectives. Whitfield also encouraged leadership and initiative, whether in the classroom or through athletics. Embracing these opportunities gave me the confidence to take on the challenges one inevitably encounters in life.

What skills do you use in your career that you began forming at Whitfield?

I use all of the math and analytical skills I learned at Whitfield for sure. In addition, I know how to write well technically as well as use the written word to articulate my thoughts clearly and concisely. Perhaps even more importantly, we collaborated in every class on a regular basis. Working with a team of people and having to collaborate with many different types of people and backgrounds taught me the importance of listening, understanding others, and being able to clearly share my perspective. To be sure, I got over my fear of public speaking quickly at Whitfield.

What are some of your favorite Whitfield memories?

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the Homecoming festivities, from decorating the halls, the lip syncs, the bonfire, all of the sporting events, and getting to spend it all with friends and family. Further, winning the 2002 Class 1 State Championship in soccer was a highlight of my time at Whitfield as was going to Mizzou to watch the 2002 Warriors basketball team win the State Championship.

I appreciated helping to build the sets and manage sound with classmates for the amazing musical productions the school would put on each spring. A huge growth experience for me was May Quest [now known as the Capstone Project] at the end of Senior year when I interned with the Town & Country Police Department and was able to do ride-alongs with the officers. Last, I truly enjoyed graduation with all the girls in their white dresses and the guys in their blazers and green ties.  

What were some of your favorite classes at Whitfield? Why?

There were so many! In addition to all of my math classes and P.E., which I loved, here are a few specific courses that come to mind:

Biology with Mr. Gienke: I learned so much about the body, DNA, dissecting the frogs, etc. Mr. Gienke was an amazing teacher who was able to make this topic fun to learn. He was also incredibly smart and funny and explained complex topics so we could understand and digest the information easily.  

Chemistry with Mr. Kark: Chemistry was a challenging class, but Mr. Kark made it fun, and I loved learning through the experiments he showed us in class.  This also prepared me well for Gen Chem Freshman year of college.  

11th Grade American History with Mr. McGlew: I thought the stamp project was a really creative and engaging way to learn about all the decades throughout the 20th century and how figures, shows, movements, etc. shaped the world as we know it. My writing grew as a result of this project, and it was when I first learned how to use Photoshop. I also learned a great deal about the Supreme Court and the important cases/decisions that have also shaped our world, and I still use this knowledge today.  This was also a class that challenged different viewpoints and taught us how to speak in front of the class and defend your viewpoints with support from credible sources.  

Describe your career. 

As a Program Director at Pinnacle Group, a mid-sized IT workforce consulting firm, I lead the overall strategy, operations, and delivery of IT consulting solutions for Fortune 500 clients exceeding $100M/year in client spend. I serve as the senior point of accountability, aligning our services with client objectives while ensuring operational excellence and measurable outcomes. My team and I are responsible for defining and executing program strategies to optimize talent acquisition, workforce management, vendor partnerships, cost optimization, compliance, and delivering technological solutions to our clients as well as negotiating contracts and pricing.   

I love my job because every day is different from the one before. Something new always comes up, and it allows me to problem solve and strategize to find the most effective solution for all parties involved.  I started off as an intern and designed a management rotation program where I spent 4-6 months in every department to learn the business from top to bottom.  I found being in a client-facing position to be the most fulfilling and exciting where I can cultivate great client and vendor relationships and work to deliver promised results.  The entrepreneurial spirit our CEO exudes throughout the organization empowers my colleagues and I to run our book of business in a similar entrepreneurial way where the buck stops with us.  I’m working to earn a VP promotion that would oversee several different client industries and expand internationally.