Kira Knickrehm (2007) B.S. Marketing/Sales/Sales Management
I was involved in various campus activities holding various positions during my time at Missouri State. I started getting involved my freshmen year joining the social sorority Delta Zeta. This in turn became a springboard into many other opportunities on Missouri State's campus. I was involved in: Business and Professional Women, Emerging Leaders, Student Government Association, Student Alumni Association, St. Jude's Research Hospital "Up 'till Dawn" team, Campus Leaders at Work (CLAW), Delta Sigma Pi Professional Business Fraternity, various Panhellenic Committees, Hurricane Katrina Relief Volunteer and Red Cross Student Developmental Board.
Since graduating this past May I have joined Galderma Laboratories, a dermatology company based out of Fort Worth, Texas. I am a sales representative currently selling dermatology products. I am located in San Jose, California. Without my experiences at Missouri State and the professors teaching in the Marketing Department, I would not have been as well prepared as I was entering the working world, so I would like to take this opportunity to thank Missouri State and the Marketing Department.
Amie Shelton Hessemyer (2001) B.S. Marketing/Retail Merchandising
Amie landed her dream job as an Assistant Buyer for the Home Shopping Network (HSN) in St. Petersburg, FL. She collaborates with world-renowned fashion designers and famous celebrities like Emmy Award winner soap-diva Susan Lucci for the live 24/7 television program. Amie was originally hired as Merchandise Assistant and after only five months was promoted to Assitant Buyer for Ladies' Ready-to-Wear. Amie is also able to travel to "market" (fashion trade shows) in Los Angeles and New York, "We attend fashion shows, meet with designers and vendors, go to design trend forecasting seminars, textile shows, color shows – all very fast paced."
Jeff Schlarb (1999) B.A. Marketing/Creative Advertising
Jeff and his wife Tracy began their own staging organization in 2002 named Green Couch Staging and Design. Their startup company not only stages open houses to impress audiences of all types, but also photographs the designs for clients to use on websites. Jeff attributes much of his success to skills and values acquired at Missouri State. "Receiving a B.A. in Marketing from Missouri State offered me the opportunity to hammer out all-important professional values--such as positive attitude, creative copy writing, web design, leadership, presentation skills, positive expectation, management skills, and HARD WORK."
Courtney Pham (1994) B.S. Marketing Management
Courtney is currently working as the Business Manager for Pac-West Telecomm Company in San Diego where she oversees the entire Southern California region. She manages to stay busy with a consulting company she began, C.T. James Management Group, LLC, and volunteering her time at the Boys and Girls Club to help fundraise and plan activities. Courtney also received her MBA from Missouri State, where she worked in the Marketing Department as a graduate assistant. While attending school, she was able to help her parents improve their local business and increase sales by emphasizing customer service.
Stan Lippelman (1991) B.S. Marketing
Stan Lippelman is the Vice President of Marketing at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, MO. After an introductory Marketing class at Missouri State, Stan became "instantly hooked" and was able to "find an outlet for his creativity." Stan began his career at Noble & Associates in Springfield, MO, then left to pursue a Master of Business degree from the University of Virginia. He then went to work for General Mills where he worked his way up from the Assistant Marketing Manager to Senior Marketing Manager. Upon leaving General Mills, Stan went to work for Rawlings Sporting Goods where he revamped the Marketing department and lead the company to top-line growth helping it to avoid bankruptcy.