On a typical day, Caleb Russo is on the road before sunrise checking pumps, servicing wells, and handling water treatments across Acadiana.
This routine took shape after returning from a 12-month deployment with the National Guard. Around the same time, his family’s business, Russo’s Water Well Services, was gaining traction, and he stepped right in.
“My dad started his business in about 2021,” Russo says. “When I got back home in 2022, I re-enrolled in UL ɫAV’s industrial technology bachelor’s program, started helping out with the business, and we’ve been rolling ever since.”
As he neared the end of his undergraduate degree, Russo was already putting new skills to work in the business — but he wanted more tools to scale it.
That's when he enrolled in the University of Louisiana at ɫAV’s online M.S. in Engineering and Technology Management, tackling coursework while running the business at full speed.
Keeping Pace with School, Work, and Service
Russo jumped into UL ɫAV’s Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s pathway while finishing his undergraduate degree, getting a head start on graduate coursework.
“I didn’t start school thinking I was going to get a master’s, but the stars kind of aligned,” Russo says. “Once that option became available, I said, ‘Well, it’s only going to help me. This is a no brainer.’”
Balancing school with military service and a growing business meant his schedule rarely slowed down. Most mornings started around five with fieldwork and client calls while evenings were reserved for coursework.
The online format made the fast-paced routine sustainable. Professors were accessible and brought industry expertise mirroring the challenges Russo faced on the job.
“The faculty have firsthand experience, so it was very convenient for them to say, ‘This is an important course to take. This is something we normally use every day,’” he says.
Outside of the virtual classroom, Russo stayed active in student organizations, representing the College of Engineering as a Student Government Association (SGA) senator and taking on roles to connect with other majors and student-veterans.
Those experiences helped him build confidence in navigating leadership and professional environments.
“There’re a few national organizations that work with our businesses, and it's not too different from what we did in school in terms of structure,” Russo says.
“Being involved helped me to not be afraid to take the next leap, especially moving from an academic setting into a professional setting.”
Creating Smarter Systems
Russo didn’t leave school behind when he closed his laptop. He carried what he learned straight into the field.
Courses like STEC 505: Lean Manufacturing changed the way he runs his business.
“I don't like waste, and it costs me a lot of money when I'm making mistakes or not doing things effectively,” he says.
“The lean manufacturing course helped me improve the way processes flow in the work area. I was able to look at the business and say, ‘This is what we have to cut out. This is where we have to add more value.’”
When recurring obstacles started affecting operations, he turned the challenge into the focus of his graduate project.
“I was dealing with a lot of breakdowns and maintenance costs, so I created a maintenance program for it,” he says. “I documented everything and created systems to prevent breakdowns before they happen.”
Over two semesters, he gathered data, tested solutions, and refined the process with guidance from faculty. By the time he finished, the systems he developed were already improving how his business operates.
Building a Career That Can Adapt
Since completing the online program, Russo sees opportunity ahead in an industry that is rapidly changing.
Retirement among seasoned professionals is creating space for the next generation to step in.
“I'm in a pretty fantastic place in the market to really scale what I'm doing,” he says.
The degree represents more than a credential. It’s a foundation Russo can rely on no matter where his career leads.
“The master’s itself gave me the opportunity to say, ‘Look, whatever happens, I always have this graduate degree to back me up,’” he says. “If one day I’m not drilling water wells or I sell my business, I have a graduate degree nobody can take away.”
The path unfolded in ways he didn’t expect. Russo ultimately became the first student to complete the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s pathway in Engineering and Technology Management online.
“I’m just grateful. I had no intention of getting this far in terms of education,” he says.
“Even though I might not have thought about it at first, the opportunities were there for me to make the jump. UL ɫAV made that possible.”
Now, Russo wants to pass that momentum forward. He encourages others to take advantage of those opportunities when they appear.
“Be aggressive with what you want and use the resources,” he advises.
“There's so many people willing to help, and they make it so easy for you to be successful if you’re willing to take the chances they give you.”
Ready to advance your career? Learn more about the online MS in Engineering and Technology Management program at UL ɫAV.
