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Get a Pulse on Professionalism 👔👠💼🐾 #ZIPD #ProfessionalU #HuskyUnleashed #BloomOnward #business #conference #alumni (at Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck_XAxXO0oi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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Mentoring Part of the Pack
After three years in the army as an X-ray technologist, Ken Roszel ‘81 /’94M joined a little-known rural hospital in Danville called The George F. Geisinger Memorial Hospital. At the time, the hospital had a school for aspiring radiologic technologists, and Roszel found a love of teaching his craft. So, with his GI bill in hand, Roszel enrolled in Bloomsburg University’s BS program in Medical Imaging with an emphasis on education.
“At the time, you could go to a hospital-based school for a certificate and be set for life as a registered technologist,” said Roszel.
Sometimes, timing is everything. Around the time Roszel graduated from Bloom, the Geisinger school hired him as a clinical coordinator to assist the program director and oversee the clinic. He coordinated clinical schedules for students and taught several classes. Roszel enjoyed the educational aspect of his role so much that he returned to BU for his MS in Instructional Technology.
“It Looked interesting, and I wanted to know more about education,” said Roszel. “I needed more, but I didn’t know what ‘more’ was. I never thought I was Master’s material, but I liked what I heard and gave it a try.”
Not long after he received his M.S.I.T. degree, however, the rules that allowed one to become a certified technologist via a hospital program changed and a B.S. degree was now required. Geisinger’s program was one of many to close under the new requirements, and fortunately Roszel was hired by Geisinger Health Plan to oversee the newly created Member Education department.
“Having that degree saved me,” said Roszel. “Without it, I would not have been considered for the position with GHP.”
It wasn’t long, however, that the closing of so many hospital-based programs across the country created a shortage of technologists. Geisinger reopened the school, and today provides BU medical imaging students the opportunity to apply and intern at the facility. The close proximity means that nearly all of the students are Huskies, and Roszel is able to continue his association with and support of Bloomsburg University by acting as the on-site supervisor for Medical Imaging interns and a speaker on campus.
“I see students enter the profession with very little knowledge or skill and over time see their confidence and knowledge growing to the point where I would trust any of my students to radiograph my wife,” explained Roszel, whose former student did indeed have his wife as a patient. “I see them all coming in as blank slates and leaving as seasoned technologists, and it gives me a lot of pride and a sense of accomplishment.”
The internship program not only offers Geisinger the chance to see which students may be a good fit for the program, but it allows Huskies to have an edge when it comes time to move from student to professional. For Roszel, it is a win-win. Not only does he get to guide students as their supervisor, but he also gets to stay in close contact with his alma mater and assist other Huskies in their first career move.
“I really cherish the fact that I can continue to be part of BU through this process of being an intern site supervisor,” concluded Roszel. “Not only did I receive my degrees there, but now continue to be part of the process even if I’m not on campus. I greatly appreciate that.”
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"ZIPD has allowed me to grow professionally in ways a classroom cannot teach. Through ZIPD, I've learned how important connections and communication are to being successful in business. The first impression made to employers is a key factor in landing a job, and ZIPD has helped me hone the skills to be great with connecting and communicating. ZIPD has given me the tools and knowledge to be a business professional before I even graduate." — Johnny Franklin ’23 👔💼💻📊🐾 #ZIPD #ProfessionalU #SupplyChain #IT #business #analytics (at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkyvW3rPiRf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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"ZIPD has allowed me the opportunity to meet countless professionals in both areas of accounting and law. With their outsourcing and promotion of Diehl Center for Law School Preparation events, I've been able to attend these events related to my minor and speak directly with current professionals in law. Having these connections allows me to have had great conversations about the possibilities of both fields, how they go hand-in-hand in many secnarios, and what I might really be interested in once I'm out in the workforce." — Katelyn Doebler ’24 💼⚖📊🐾 #ZIPD #ProfessionalU #PreLaw #business #accounting #law (at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckyo1LRuRFY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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“ZIPD is all about personal development and growth. They will provide us with the opportunity, and it’s up to us to make the best of it. I’m so thankful for everything ZIPD has provided me with, and I’ll always remember that importance of networking and how beneficial it is to build connections with other professionals.” — Joanna Chen ’23 💼📈📊🐾 #ZIPD #ProfessionalU #CommunicationStudies #business #marketing (at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkrTJ9-Lz-J/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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“ZIPD has taught me the importance of people. I’ve learned so much — not just about networking and soft skills, which are very important — but I think most importantly how to build relationships. Building relationships both professionally and emotionally. The ZIPD program has shown me how much hard work pays off and that added to my education from Bloomsburg, I have no doubt I’m fully prepared wherever my journey takes me." — Jessica Gacsi ’23 💼📈📊🐾 #ZIPD #ProfessionalU #business #management (at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkrA8YxvAwx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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"Take me out to the ball game. Take me out with the crowd.” 🥜🍿⚾️🎟🐾 #HuskyUnleashed #OinkOn #ProfessionalU #marketing #internship #baseball (at Lehigh Valley IronPigs) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChLjqRoL6c_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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Bringing 25 Years of Experience to Help Future Teachers.
Brian Blubaugh ’95 was recruited for cross country and track team at Bloomsburg University. Little did he know that the decision would prepare him for a long and satisfying career in elementary education.
Teacher preparation has been a part of Bloomsburg University since its founding as a literary institute and later a state normal school. In 1839, 1995, and today, the professional development and field experience necessary for a successful transition from student to classroom teacher were immediate. In addition to classroom instruction, Huskies must spend hours observing different grades, classrooms, and teachers and complete an entire semester of student teaching. Some also elect to complete a practicum experience at a local school district. Blubaugh says that experience was essential to his own success.
“They start you right away,” said Blubaugh. “Professors nailed down all the different ways to instruct students, [but] those field experiences were just as important so we could start teaching right away once we graduated.”
Blubaugh was hired on the spot in Loudoun County, Virginia, after making the trip just before Thanksgiving break of his senior year. His roommate and friend, Matt Croyle, was hired just a few months later, making the transition to a new career and a new state easier. Now, after 25 years in the district, he serves as Principal of Algonkian Elementary in Sterling, VA. Blubaugh volunteered to help future Husky teachers through the Collaborating to Assist Teacher Candidate Hiring (CATCH) Conference and the Education Career Connections Expo.
“I give all credit to Bloomsburg,” said Blubaugh. “It is something little I can do since I was prepared so well. I’ve been in Loudoun for 25 years. I owe it to them to give back.”
Some may think that they may not have the time or much insight to offer current students, but Blubaugh disagrees. He says that every alum can give insight into the hiring process, how best practices and technology have changed, and how what students are learning now will be relevant once they graduate. He says it’s also fun to see how things have (or haven’t) changed since the last time on campus and networking with other professionals.
“It has been great talking to the dean of education and other teachers on panels and learn how they’ve handled the pandemic with their student teachers. We are all dealing with the same issues, so it’s good to hear what the students can do and help them package it in an interview in a way that the principal will hire you.”
Blubaugh also challenges the idea that volunteering needs to take a lot of time, especially now that alumni can volunteer virtually over Zoom. He encourages his fellow alumni to reach out to their department and make themselves available to students.
“It’s been easier virtually because there is no travel. The university’s ultimate goal is to have students be successful, and there are a lot of alumni that can talk about what they’re doing, how they got there, and what they’ve learned along the way. Everyone has 15 minutes to give back. It doesn’t need to take long.”
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Allan Myers Executive Brings Business Opportunities to Fellow Huskies
Ken Griffin '99 was not the first Husky in his family. Introduced to Bloomsburg University by his elder sister, he fell in love with the campus' size and beauty. He enrolled as an Accounting major to seize the opportunities of the business world, and now that he's established, he is bringing those opportunities to fellow Huskies.
"I loved the setting," explained Griffin. "It was big enough where you may not see the same people over the semester, but the classes were small, and there was a lot of interaction with the professors. I liked that. Bloomsburg was a great experience."
Now the Corporate Controller for ALLAN MYERS, Griffin remembers accounting firms regularly coming to interview students before they even graduated. Although he resented the challenging classes and the long hours, he grew to appreciate the rigor once he graduated.
"Some of my exams were two hours outside of class, and I remember thinking, 'Why are we doing this?'" recalled Griffin, "Once I got out and sat for the CPA Exam, I appreciated the rigor and toughness they put on us."
Griffin started in public accounting with Kreischer-Miller. He earned his CPA before moving to the private industry with the real estate investment company Pitcairn Properties.
During the 2008 recession, Griffin learned of an opportunity of Corporate Controller at Allan Myers. This spring, Griffin celebrated ten years with the company and was happy to help Allan Myers recruit fellow Huskies. He called the experience of returning to campus "humbling."
"I reached out to Dr. Shapiro after graduating more than 15 years ago, and he remembered who I was. He cares about his students, and that says a lot," explained Griffin. "He has helped pick up our recruiting. We had so many students coming to our table looking for internships and jobs. It was nonstop for hours, and it was a challenge to whittle down the great candidates."
Griffin is confident these new Husky hires have chosen a great company at which to start their careers. Allan Myers, a heavy highway construction company that boasts the largest revenue in the mid-Atlantic, began operations on the family dairy farm in 1939. That farm is now the corporate campus site for the company that employs 2200 people in blue and white-collar positions.
"We have so many smart individuals in our company that I continue to learn things from everyone I interact with," said Griffin. "I am challenged by new things constantly. We are always trying to do something different to stay on the leading edge."
Griffin says that not only does the company have a culture of lifelong learning, but it is also one of caring for each other on a personal level.
"The CEO cares about everybody within the company; truly cares," explained Griffin. "He is down to earth. It's an amazing company that challenges its employees and allows them to learn new things."
Two examples are the internal leadership programs; one for new employees (Developing Emerging Leaders) and one for seasoned employees (Leadership Intensive). Both are approximately a year in length and include projects, presentations, and professional development.
"The Leadership Intensive program was the best experience ever," said Griffin. "At a certain stage of your career, you get to a place where you think you've got it, and I found out I didn't."
Just under 20 BU grads have joined Allan Myers during the time Griffin has been with the company, some before they even began their senior year. Griffin says that today's Huskies are even more so prepared as he was in 1999.
"I didn't go to any career fairs when I was a student - I was lucky to have submitted a resume," explained Griffin. "It's amazing how well they are prepared."
The experience, he says, has been mutually beneficial.
"It has been a great experience getting back involved with the university and talking to the students," said Griffin. "You don't know all the opportunities that are out there when you first get out. I love sharing my experiences and my career path to give them an idea of what's out there."
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Providing Huskies their First Professional Fit
After ten years in the special education classroom, Shawn Tuttle ‘88 came to the Harrisburg School District as an assistant principal in 1999 before being tapped to be a special education supervisor for the district. Although her first love is classroom teaching, Tuttle has found a new love in working with special education teachers, students, and parents across the entire Harrisburg School district. She has found that she especially enjoys giving new teachers their professional start and guiding seasoned teachers through the challenges of the last year.
“I love when I get to see the students learning,” said Tuttle. “They want to show me what they’re learning and doing. [But I also] love working with the teachers and really helping them build their capacity and raise their own bar.”
Tuttle is proud of her district and the innovative ways staff remained focused on a holistic approach to education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Innovation that many new graduates find attractive when searching for that first professional fit.
“We are an innovative district,” said Tuttle. “It has been a true challenge with the pandemic, but we’re going to come out on the stronger side. Our teachers incorporate so much technology to teach and give the students various means and avenues to learn.”
Because of her recruiting efforts, several Huskies were part of that innovation. HASD frequently hires special ed teachers and Tuttle has recently taken a more proactive approach to hiring and recruiting. Tuttle first participated in a spring career expo on the BU campus, and later expanded to on-campus interviews where she hired three Huskies on the spot. Most recently, Tuttle participated in the Collaborating to Assist Teacher Candidate Hiring (CATCH) Conference and says that current BU students are much more prepared than she felt when she first started.
“During the interview, they were well-spoken and well versed about courses they had,” explained Tuttle. “The three [Bloom] students I hired have done a phenomenal job.
Although the students are well prepared for their first classroom, Tuttle still provides advice and guidance at campus events like CATCH. She always stresses that candidates know their preferred assignment and setting and be upfront with themselves and their employers, as well as gathering teaching experience outside of the required observations to add value to one’s resume.
“Districts look to see what you have done or can do within an educational setting. It tells us you’re invested,” explained Tuttle “Only you know where your strengths and weaknesses are, and you really want to find the right fit for you.”
Once a new teacher finds that fit, it is assumed that they will need a fair amount of coaching and encouragement. But even veteran teachers are not beyond someone like Tuttle to help them navigate the seismic shifts in education today.
“I always remember what it was like when I started and what I needed,” explained Tuttle. “No longer will we be regular teachers in front of the classroom. We are not going back to the old way of teaching.”
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Company Culture Attracts Talented Huskies to Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual has been providing their clients comprehensive financial planning for 160 years. And even though their partnership with BU isn’t quite that old, the consistently positive experience ensures that it will remain long into the future.
“I’m happy to be at work every day,” said Paul Vizza, Internship Director for Northwestern Mutual. “[They] provide the perfect combination of opportunity and culture to grow a career. [They] invest so much in opportunities for growth, have great corporate values and a sense of responsibility to the community.”
Vizza says that such a great company culture attracts talent, so Northwestern Mutual often has the pick of every graduating class, and many of those picks are Huskies. The firm looks for financial skills, of course, but they also look for self-motivation, grit, communication, and time management skills.
“Are you someone who can overcome adversity and have a little bit of entrepreneurial spirit,” said Vizza. “Are you coachable? We look for things like clubs, part-time jobs, anything beyond the classroom; a full-time track record of success.”
All qualities that Huskies tend to possess.
Vizza also explained the Huskies that they hire often come through their highly ranked internship program. Vizza describes the internship program as realistic – a scaled-down full-time position combined with a full slate of coaching and training.
“By the time you leave, we want you to leave with ten times the knowledge than when you came on board, regardless of whether or not you stay with us,” explained Vizza. “An internship like that required a student who is self-motivated.”
Such a partnership ensures the success of all involved.
“Bloom students are outgoing, realistic and hand’s on,” said Vizza. “They’re not afraid to try something new, and we appreciate that the learning curve isn’t as steep with them. They are always professional and have great communication skills.”
“We like to invest the most amount of time and resources in schools where we see successful students,” concluded Vizza. “Blooms has a great track record of success and is one of our top schools.”
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Senior has desire to help those in developing countries
By Eden Berlin, communications assistant
Ashley Moreno is a senior at Bloomsburg University, majoring in nursing, applied and research anthropology. As a triple major, it has been challenging for Moreno to balance her time, however Moreno comes from a family of overachievers.
Moreno always knew she wanted to be a nurse. “In high school, I realized I wanted to go into maternity and infant nursing because I love babies,” said Moreno. She added the applied and research anthropology majors after her freshmen year. “I fell in love with anthropology. I learned how culture is so different around the world."
With a triple major, Moreno has had to carry a full load of classes every semester and on breaks. “I know exactly what I want to do with my life, so I push myself through school knowing that I am getting closer to my dream career one step at a time,” Moreno said.
“I need to know how they [people in other countries] interact with their environment, with society and with different cultural practices that directly relate to how they experience healthcare,” she says. After Bloomsburg, Moreno will be applying for labor and delivery positions in the U.S. to obtain a years' experience in the nursing field, so that she can work internationally in the future.
“I want to help lower infant mortality rates in developing countries,” she states. Moreno knew she wanted to travel after visiting Rwanda with a Study Abroad Global Health Program. The group included students from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah. Moreno had the chance to really broaden her perspectives on culture because many of these students are Morman. “While I was learning about Rwandan culture, I also learned a lot about Morman religion,” she said.
Moreno is eager to learn as much as she can about the nursing field outside of her classes at BU.
The study abroad group visited a health center to observe what Rwandan healthcare was like. “I learned how different people are, whether it being a patient you run into or co-workers on the floor, someone might have completely different ideas and beliefs from you. [But] that’s no reason why they shouldn’t have access to healthcare, like anyone else,” she points out.
“After my first week there, I realized everyone’s going to think and view healthcare differently and you have to adapt to those ideas and beliefs in order to provide the best health care,” she commented.
While abroad, Moreno and her new friends sat in class with students from the University of Rwanda. "They always made us feel welcomed,” she says.
When the students had free time, they would all get together. “We would catch a bus and go hiking.” The Rwandan students “showed us how they get around,” Moreno adds.
In Rwanda, it is more common to take motorcycle taxis rather than cars to travel. Moreno said everyone was friendly. “We never went alone; we always had a group of us going together and our Rwandan friends always checked in on us.”
The special bonds made between Moreno and her new friends are secured through social media. “It’s a little more difficult to keep in touch with the Rwandan students because they do not use social media as much as we do here. But occasionally, I see updates on Instagram, and we interact with each other's photos.”
For one day, the students in the program were able to experience a day in the lives of a true Rwandan. Moreno worked in fields, walked up and down hills for water, and fed grass to cows. “This experience gave me a different perspective on things you have that you don’t realize you were taking advantage of and that is what I came here for.”
Those three weeks in Rwanda served Moreno well as she continues her journey to become a traveling nurse to help those in need.
#HuskyAbroad#ScienceTechnology#LiberalArts#nursing#anthropology#HuskyUnleashed#BloomOnward#ProfessionalU#BUClass2021
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Bloomsburg University international business students claim top honors at CUIBE case competition
BLOOMSBURG — Bloomsburg University’s Global Business Association took first place at the 2021 University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) Consortium for Undergraduate International Business Education (CUIBE) International Business Case Competition, held virtually in March.
BU’s international business students,, Carolyn Benner, Glenn Klinger, Maranda Plunkett, and Patrick Dorsey, provided a thorough strategic analysis and recommended strategic actions for a company pertaining to a relevant area of international business.
“The competition judges were impressed with the quality of the solutions, the depth of the analysis, and the professionalism exhibited by the team,” said professor Lam Nguyen, the team’s adviser and chair of the Department of Management and International Business. “The CUIBE IB Case Competition is extremely competitive and BU’s team placed ahead of all of other competing schools is a testament to the high-quality international business major program that we are offering to our students. I am proud of our students' dedication, hard work, and accomplishments. I want to also commend associate professor Wai Kwan (Elaine) Lau who is also coaching the team with me.”
Bloomsburg scored higher than teams from Michigan State University, Temple University, University of Oklahoma, Washington University in St. Louis, and five others to claim the top honor.
International Business (B.S.B.A.)
Bloomsburg University’s international business program is uniquely designed with a qualitative liberal arts foundation, a business core, an interdisciplinary IB core including a short-term faculty-led study abroad opportunity, and a functional specialization that provides you with functional skills in addition to the required business core and IB major knowledge, which increases your job marketability after graduation. As an international business major, you'll develop a global mindset, global competencies, and an appreciation of cultural and global differences that will give you the edge in the global job market.
International Business Specializations
o International Business - Accounting
o International Business - Finance
o International Business - Human Resource Management
o International Business - Information Technology
o International Business - Marketing
o International Business - Economics *
o International Business - Policy and Globalization *
* Collaboration with College of Liberal Arts
Graduates with an international business expertise are projected to be in an increasing demand, as the gross domestic products (GDP) of both developed and developing countries continue to rely more heavily on international trade and investment.
o Program Requirements
o Course Sequence
Why study international business?
Pursuing international business will increase your understanding of global markets and various regions of the world, thus enhancing your marketability in the business profession. As an international business major, you'll have greater insights into the global economic and business climates. Adding a global education component, such as study abroad, will only be more beneficial for your efforts to potentially work anywhere across the globe.
#HuskyUnleashed#CUIBE#CaseCompetition#GlobalBusinessAssociation#InternationalBusiness#ProfessionalU#BloomOnward
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Is a career journey a path or a maze?
By Eden Berlin, communications assistant
For many college students, their career journey is a straight line. They choose a major based on their field of interest, and every internship, engagement opportunity, or experience leads them to a job in that desired field. However, this was not the case for Erica Gebbia ’20. Her career path took twists and turns in ways she could have never imagined.
Gebbia graduated from Bloomsburg University amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, as a dual major in anthropology and environmental, geographical, and geological sciences. The pandemic altered her plans, leading her to work remote for a local housing authority in Salt Lake City, Utah called Housing Connect. Housing Connect is responsible for finding affordable homes for low-income families in their area. Serving as a public relations and fundraising VISTA for Americorps is not what Gebbia had in mind after graduation because her previous experiences at BU were taking her in a different direction.
While at BU, Gebbia took advantage of all the opportunities that the university has to offer, allowing her to participate in internships, civic engagement, and research to gain experience in her field of interest.
Her internship was with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), where she created workshops and presentations to engage in community outreach programs.
“Interning with the DEP afforded me valuable knowledge and experience with community development,” Gebbia said. She learned so much from this experience, but what stuck out the most to her was that “engaging with the public is an important, necessary component to ensure the success of any organization as it helps create a sense of shared responsibility and civic duty.”
After this internship opportunity, Gebbia did not stop there. Working with the PA DEP, Gebbia felt inspired to participate in a cross-country cycling ride called Bike and Build, to raise money and awareness for the affordable housing cause.
“I continued to further my experience with community development...which was monumental in bringing my college coursework to life.” Gebbia said, as she engaged in this race. Bike and Build is where Gebbia learned about Americor. “I thought it would be a good segue, given the times, to gain professional experience.”
The Bike and Build trip allowed her to take on a new role, one in the communications field. Gebbia’s previous volunteer work benefits her today because she is the current public relations and fundraising VISTA for Housing Connect. This opportunity led her to conduct an ethnographic research study, where she took part in observations, interviews, and surveys. “I studied how individuals conceptualize various geographical locations,” Gebbia said.
Gebbia was able to take part in two work studies during her last year at BU. She was a peer mentor and a mass lecture assistant for Fazzino’s World Problems course. These job opportunities were important to her.
“As a senior, these positions were valuable to me as I was able to help students engage with a subject that I am passionate about,” she said.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gebbia’s second internship opportunity ended up being remote. She was supposed to go to the Island of Kosrae to conduct research.
This whole journey navigating different opportunities has wildly changed Gebbia’s career path. Although it was not what Gebbia expected, she is content with her current position now, as it allows her to hike every day after work and travel around Utah in her free time.
“I am grateful for my time spent at Bloomsburg University and do not think I would be where I am today without the support and guidance of the anthropology department,” Gebbia said.
Gebbia has no set plan for the future. “I’d like to stay in the realm of community development and social justice to work with people in person, and eventually get back to doing things with food security.”
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Professional sales students deliver as top PA team, among the best at ICSC
It was a memorable performance for a group of Bloomsburg University professional sales and marketing students who placed 14th out of 80 schools in the recent International Collegiate Sales Competition (ICSC), hosted virtually by Florida State University due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ohio State University won the overall World Cup of Sales competition, which reflects the combined scores of the sales management simulation, sales management case, and role-play competitions, as well as webinar points.
Bloomsburg — the top performing Pennsylvanian school — was just two points behind West Virginia University and finished ahead the University of Central Florida and Iowa State. The next highest PA school was Temple University, placing 48th.
“We were in the mix with some of the top schools in the country,” says Matthew Loeh, a professional sales and marketing major competing in his second-ever sales management case competition. “It really put into perspective how well Dr. (Monica) Favia prepares us for this.”
Of the two Bloomsburg teams, one came away with a little history themselves.
Matt Dalrymple and Loeh teamed up to advance past the qualifying event and place second in their virtual room of the sales management case competition. It was the best showing a Bloomsburg team has had in the five years competing in the ICSC case competition, according to Favia, program coordinator and chair of the Department of Marketing and Professional Sales.
“If you truly want to make it in sales, you must work harder and put in more time than everyone else,” says Dalrymple, a professional sales and marketing major competing in his first-ever virtual sales competition. “Matt and I were tasked with coming up with new prospecting solutions for Paychex … solutions on how they could increase prospecting in a COVID-19 business environment.”
Dalrymple said the two had about 24 hours to come up with viable solutions and back them up with data and outside research, as well as create a presentation to present the next day to a panel of judges.
“My favorite aspect of the competition was the time crunch,” says Loeh, who landed a job offer with Oracle/Netsuite from the competition’s corporate networking session. “Only having 24 hours to do a case study really makes you push yourself to work harder than normal, and I was glad to have a great partner for it.”
The other team — Ryleigh Benjamin and Brittany Zipovsky, who individually placed in the Top 16 as a semifinalist at last spring’s National Collegiate Sales Competition — advanced to the quarterfinals of the role-play competition.
“We were selling an IT security software known as GreyMatter, acting as the sales representative from ReliaQuest who was trying to get a new client to buy and implement it within their company,” says Benjamin, a professional sales and marketing major competing in her first-ever sales competition. “However, it’s not just about making the sale. You have a 15- or 20-minute time slot to build rapport, ask the right questions, actively listen, present your product, and answer questions. And of course, the goal is to close at the end of the deal.”
Zipovsky’s spring experience ended up paying dividends.
“I already knew how to handle a virtual environment with a live client, and Dr. Favia showed us ways to keep the buyer's attention in this new environment,” Zipovsky says. “My partner had never attended a sales competition before and in each round, we ranked the same in our individual role-play events. This just goes to show that practice, research, great coaching, and confidence goes a long way in these competitions.”
According to the four students, they spent hours on their own connecting on Zoom and FaceTime to prepare as teams, as well as online sessions with Favia developing a game plan and confidence as a group. The hard work paid off as the two professional sales teams collectively placed Bloomsburg in the Top 15 overall
“My biggest take away is don’t give up,” Benjamin says. “I had a lot of bad role plays before I had great ones. This competition — and being inviting to represent Bloomsburg University by Dr. Favia — taught me another layer to the word resilience. A ‘small’ school placing 14th out of the 80 invited to participate, I’ll take it.”
Despite ICSC’s pivot due to the pandemic, Zipovsky says it was still worthwhile and impactful. Plenty of lasting takeaways.
“In trying times like this, I’m thankful we were all healthy and had great support systems to be able to attend the competition virtually,” Zipovsky says. “Like the NCSC back in March, I've learned that being versatile and flexible goes a long way. Things are not always going to go according to plan and by choosing to make the best of the situation, you may be surprised at how many doors that opens for you.”
Professional Sales and Marketing (B.S.B.A.)
It's one of the most common jobs for students graduating with a sales degree — 60 percent of all business majors and 88 percent of all marketing majors begin their professional careers in a sales-related role. And that fast-paced, exciting journey begins here at Bloomsburg University!
One of its kind in Pennsylvania
“There's a need within Pennsylvania this program will address,” said Monica Favia, chair of the Department of Marketing and Professional Sales. “The addition of the major along with BU’s membership in the University Sales Center Alliance represents a distinctive advantage for Bloomsburg University and its students. This fall the first three students will graduate with the major.”
BU was first named among the top North American schools in 2015 by the Sales Education Foundation’s (SEF) listing of the best universities offering professional sales education. BU is one of only five Pennsylvania institutions included in the listing. SEF recognizes institutions for elevating the sales profession through university education, helping you to secure the professional sales position you want and deserve.
The professional sales and marketing program is available in two forms:
a B.S.B.A. in Professional Sales and Marketing
as a minor open to any major
Students also have the opportunity to test their skills at various national sales competitions and internally at the annual on-campus competition. In addition, one of the program requirements is to engage in real-world selling. BU sales students have had great success in the sales profession securing positions with a number of corporations.
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Navigating Life - Not According to Plan
Giovanna Andrews planned on being a teacher when she first toured campus, but soon learned that life rarely goes according to plan. Fortunately, through grit, determination, and campus and community support, Andrews has continued her climb as a digital media and web content creator for the Wilmington, DE city council and founder of her own non-profit. She regularly returns to campus, albeit virtually, to help other students navigate their career journey.
“I knew I wanted to come to Bloom when I visited, and early on, my journey was filled with amazing people who supported me every step of the way”, recalled Andrews. “That sent the tone for my time at BU.”
Andrews nearly didn’t enroll that first fall because of finances, and throughout her time at BU, Andrews changed her plan and her major three times. She finally settled on Communication Studies with a track in Leadership and Public Advocacy in her senior year. While on campus, Andrews served as a Community Assistant and a Husky Ambassador, and was a member of several honor societies and volunteer organizations on and off campus. She credits those extracurricular experiences with opening up opportunities and bringing her out of her shell and noticing areas of need in the community, while her academics taught her how to advocate to fill those needs.
“My education and experience taught me how to recognize flaws in the system, what I needed to do to fix them, and how to push for change. My degree has also helped me become a marketable professional and navigate local government. I owe that to BU.”
Support remained a theme to Andrew’s experience her entire time at BU, especially when plans changed again her senior year with the news that she was expecting a baby. BU faculty, staff and community organizations helped Andrews persevere and graduate on time – two months before her daughter, Isabella Harper was born.
“For many pregnant women, transitioning to motherhood is their sole focus, but I was still a student; I was still giving tours. I knew I couldn’t fail any of my classes; I had to graduate on time.”
Her plans may have changed drastically, but by the time Isabella was born, Andrews had the knowledge and experience to adjust and push her volunteerism to the next level. Inspired by the support she received as a student, Andrews founded Harper’s Heart in 2018; a non-profit organization that helps new and expectant mothers gain the items they need to make a successful transition into motherhood. And as a first-generation college student, Andrews says that the support and knowledge she received at BU has not only allowed her to be successful, but also inspired her to give back to her pack. She has volunteered as an alumni panelist for BU’s annual Day of Dialogue and Careers in Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities Conference [CASSHCON] and imparted her words of wisdom to new Huskies and their supporters with a video series for first year students.
“Education changed my life and I adored my time at BU. There were ups and downs but I was definitely molded into the woman I am today and I want to share that with current students.“
Despite the breadth of experience and the wide skillset Andrews now employs to make other people’s lives better, she has not forgotten what it was like to be a student, and the importance of current students seeing themselves represented in the young professionals who return to campus to help.
“Bloom does a great job of bringing alumni back to campus,” recalled Andrews. “As a student, I had the chance to talk to alumni and it was like a mirror: ‘You were a Communications major and you’re doing what?’. I knew I could continue on because I saw where it could lead and it’s our duty as alumni to come back and get other huskies started.”
“I love the opportunity to speak to BU students about having a plan but still being able to go with the flow,” concluded Andrews. “I went to the same school, lived in the same dorms, took the same classes. I am a living and breathing example of where they can be in life. It’s been awesome.”
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