This Thursday, 9/26 at 6:00 PM, Grand Valley AMA will host the following guest speakers, who will spend their valuable time generously imparting marketing and business wisdom upon us.
Paige Etheridge
"GVSU graduate 2010. BBA in Marketing with Sales Emphasis. Upon graduating moved to ATL where I began my career as a retail sales manager for AT&T Mobility. Completed a 1yr training- Retail Leadership Development Program and took off to manage in big cities of Dallas, TX & Palo Alto, CA. Since then, 2 more transitions: sales management for Levi Stauss & Co in San Fran, back to GR where I now work as a Realtor with Greenridge Realty. Sales is my passion."
Brian Small
"Brian Small is a 2005 Graduate of Grand Valley State University's Seidman School of Business with a double major in Marketing and International Business with minor in Spanish. After graduating, Brian started a career in sales working for Whirlpool Appliances serving in a variety of roles based in Phoenix, Los Angeles and Minneapolis. In 2009, Brian returned to Michigan to complete is MBA at Michigan State University after which he began working in Human Resources for Cummins Engine Company in Columbus, Indiana. Most recently, he has returned to Grand Rapids and now works as an HR Manager for Eaton Aerospace."
Teresa Michanowicz
"I work in our Institutional Business Development department, where my role is a Leader of our Global Institutional Solutions Team. My role includes assisting our prospective and existing partners (Banks, Service Providers, Institutions) with technical integrations, training, and support in all aspects of our relationship. This entails acting as a Project Manager or Business Lead for new integration's and acting as a liaison between all departments ( to include Dealing, New Accounts, Accounting, Compliance, Client Services, Marketing, Technical Support, Institutional Sales, and Risk Management.) I collect business requirements from the prospect to then present internally to decide if business forecasts supports any new development. Following a project launch, I provide continued support for our partners' solution. I collect a catalogue of technical requirements from the clients based on their business needs and align it with the technical solutions we have available. I also help to identify any new developments required to grow business, and work hand in hand with our internal teams to ensure all solutions are delivered on time to meet project deadlines. Most of all, I help our partners to design their technology and website in a way that will help them to grow and attract new business. Additionally, on the sales side, we review the productivity of the partners to help develop ideas on how they can improve these figures to meet business goals with innovative technical solutions. This involves evaluating marketing plans/business plans, examining marketing material/websites, addressing their Sales process, setting up Sales Training, Market Knowledge, and providing general support for the areas where improvement is needed. Furthermore, my past role was to track performance and report to senior management how they expect to increase sales, or provide reasons for poor performance (which may require intervention.) The most important job responsibility is to ensure our partners are producing as expected and are generating revenue for our firm. It is also imperative that we are up to date on market news and events, which we receive commentary from our specialist to be able to assist with market questions and what is going on in the global arena.
Background Info:
I obtained a Presidential scholarship to attend NMC in Traverse City, before transferring to Grand Valley to pursue a Bacheolors in Marketing and Finance with a minor in International Business. I was awarded a special Don Lubbers Scholarship to study at John Cabot University in Rome, Italy while returning to Grand Rapids to complete my degree at Grand Valley State University in 2005. I have worked for an independent Health and Life insurance agent out of Rockford after obtaining a Michigan State certification. In 2008, I began work for GFT after passing a government regulated exam (Series 3 and 34) for the financial securities industry to work in the Forex Industry.
Extra Curricular:
I have spent several years volunteering as a tutor for the Grand Rapids Public Library as well as for Bethany Christian Sevices supporting the PARA (refugee program.) On my spare time, I am a teacher and parishioner at St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church in Allendale, Michigan. In recent years, I have volunteered for the Opera Grand Rapids volunteering in two popular opera's. Additionally, I am currently a student of Michigan Kung Fu systems, studying at Grand Rapids Karate academy."
Bryan Lutley
"I am a Senior Marketing Specialist at Steelcase. I started as a marketing intern 5-1/2 years ago, working on product development for the wood division. I did that for about 1-1/2 years, then I was an internal sales support person for a year. After that, I was a proposal manager that focused on furniture bids for the U.S. Government. I did that for about a year as well, before finally ending up in my role now, working with the wood group as a Senior Marketing Specialist. I have my BBA in Marketing and Management, but have not yet pursued any graduate degrees."
"Takeaway of the meeting: Learn how we all have different paths after college. These four professionals will share with us the paths they took and what they learned along their journey. This is a real world experience you won't want to miss!" -Grand Valley AMA President Amanda Jakubowski
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