Major: Business
Class: 2004
Hometown: Kenosha, Wis.
Tell us about your job as senior marketing officer with Park Bank. What are your main duties?
Right now, I'm doing a little bit of a lot of things like copywriting (letters, e-mails and website content), assisting with event coordination and meeting the marketing needs of our bankers. Long term, I will continue to do all those things, but I will also lead the development of our online presence and new products.
How has your business degree helped you in your career?
Going to MSOE was the best decision I could have made for my career. Because there was such a focus on hands-on experience, my class projects prepared me for the responsibilities I would have as a working professional. As a student, I thought that I'd never use some of the concepts I learned, but I have and I'm glad I had the opportunity to practice these skills in the classroom. Also, my employers didn't have to spend as much time with me to build those competencies so that I could do my job - I came in already having built them at MSOE. An MSOE education also gave me the competitive edge when interviewing for internships and full-time positions. For example, at the time I graduated, very few of my peers from other schools had Web design classes. I had taken several at MSOE, and my comfort with technology differentiated me from other candidates.
What advice do you have for MSOE business majors?
Take full advantage of your MSOE education. It's one thing to hear your professors tell you how well-regarded MSOE is in the business community, but it's true. Simply showing up already says a lot about you, but taking your classes seriously and doing the best work you can do will not only get you the grades you need, but will also go a long way in helping you get the kind of job you want.
Why did you pick business as your major?
After looking at all the majors available, business had the best fit for what I wanted to do in my career.
What did you like about MSOE?
My professors knew me by name, and because I had the same classes with the same people in my major, I was able to build close friendships. This was really important to me because I had friends to do homework and study with, but they were also a group of people who were going through the same challenges and could be supportive through the stressful times. I also loved living in the residence halls. The staff did a great job to make it feel like a home away from home; my freshman roommate and I got along so well we continued living together off campus for a few years; and living on campus helped me feel more connected to the larger MSOE community.