Todd Carroll '89

Alumni Spotlight: Todd Carroll

Hometown: Ringgold, GA (The Marriage Capital of the South)

Degree/Minor from Auburn: Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration, Marketing

Family Life: I'm married with three kids, one is currently at Auburn now and my youngest two also plan on going to Auburn. So I'll be spending weekends in Auburn for the next few years.

Current Occupation: Sales Management for Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Current Location: Woodstock, GA

What was your favorite marketing course offered at Auburn and why?

Marketing 101, I guess Principles now, with Ford Lamer. He was fun and that class was what drew me into marketing and made me realize that it was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

Are you currently involved with Auburn?
To some degree. I have one child at Auburn now, hold season football tickets. I was just recently in Auburn for the basketball game against Florida...I guess you know the outcome of that game. I was a Farmhouse while at Auburn and am still involved as an alumni.

Do you still keep in touch with any of your graduating classmates?
Yes.

As a college student, did Auburn prepare you for the "real world"?
Yes, it did. Not as much as coursework goes, but the life lessons you learn while at college did.

When you were a student and applying for jobs, what did you do to set yourself apart?
Well, I didn't start out in the College of Business. I co-oped in Engineering for two years...worked a quarter, took classes for a quarter. I guess now it's on semesters. This gave me a technical background. Once I transferred to the College of Business, I got a job as a campus rep with Balfour. Actually, I think I sold your dad his ring. I did that job for two years to get a sales background.

Where did you first start off after graduation?
I can say that there are not many like me. I started off with the company I work with now. When I interviewed with them, they didn't really hire college grads, but they took in my sales and technical background and decided to take a try with me. This will be 24 years that I've been with the company. At that time, the company's name was Sandoz, they merged with Ciba Ciegy (the contact manufacturer for Ciba Vision) in 1996 and came up with the name Novartis; so it was two medium sized companies at the time coming together to make one mega pharmaceutical company. Most had never heard of Sandoz or pharmaceutical medicine when I got the job so I just told everyone that they were the makers of Ex-Lax when they asked.

Did you think the merger was a good idea at the time?
At the time? No. Now that I look back, I think it was a good move.

Can you give us a day-to-day description of your job?
It has changed with technology, I deal more with e-mails now-a-days whereas it used to be voice mails. I have 10 sales representatives that work under me that control a two and a half state territory, that includes South Carolina, Georgia, and the Florida panhandle. I go out into the field with my sales representatives Monday through Thursdays and on Fridays I work from home doing teleconferences. When I started, I was in general medicine, now I sell oncology medicine. My ten representatives and I meet at the start of the day to analyze sales trends and use these and other factors to plan and strategize when to visit and sell to our clients. In oncology, you don't have to make appointments with the physicians, you can see the nurse or other personnel in the oncology division. Each day is different, there's no set routine. The representatives under me set up appointments with the physician or a chemo nurse. I observe and give advice to them. After our meetings, we'll talk and strategize on ways to expand our business.

So you would definitely say it's not a 9:00-5:00 job?
Our "normal" hours are 8:30-5:30, some days are longer, some seem shorter. However, there aren't many physicians in their office at 8:30 in the morning. Often times we will make 10:00 appointments and spend time in between prepping for the appointment. If we're done with appointments for that day, we spend the rest of it cold-calling.

Do you have any advice for current Auburn students on finding employment?
It's hard to get into the healthcare field at this time because of Obamacare. Medical and pharmaceutical companies are worried about the future, especially with the shortage of doctors and nurses right now. It has been fun, but I wouldn't advise entering the healthcare field right now.

Out side of the medical field, I would advise to get as much experience as possible, be successful in what you're doing and be able to relate that back in any interview you do. An interviewer's favorite question is "why should I hire you?" A friend of mine got this question and told the interviewer flat out, "because I can make you lots of money." The interviewer laughed and said no one had given him that answer yet and since it was a good one, he gave my friend the job.

What does your company offer as far as internships and/or positions after graduation?
Our home office is in Hanover, New Jersey and our world headquarters is in Switzerland. Internships are offered through the New Jersey or Switzerland offices, mostly as pharmacy technicians and research internships, none in sales. As for full time positions after graduation? Because of the downturn in the pharmacy industry, there's not a lot. If there are openings, we post them on Monster.com or have our recruiters go out and look for people. However, due to the downturn, there are a lot of people out there with pharmacy experience and people who already have relationships with some clients that we want.

Caroline Wesch- Sales Associate at The Villager

BIOGRAPHY:

Caroline Wesch is a senior in majoring in Marketing. She is originally from Mobile, Alabama, and is graduating in August 2013. Caroline is currently employed by The Villager in downtown Auburn.

 

 

HOW DID YOU BEGIN WORKING AT THE VILLAGER?

Caroline interviewed with The Villager's manager Kathy. The conversation was spur of the moment and landed Caroline a job as a sales associate, though she applied for all positions.

 

WHAT MARKETING CLASS WAS YOUR FAVORITE?

Caroline took Promotion Strategy (MKTG 4320) with Dr. Rotfeld this past fall. While the class was rather strenuous and required a lot of hard work, she feels she left this class with better knowledge of all the different aspects of advertising which was her purpose in taking the class.

 

WHAT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?

Caroline is a member of NSCS, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and Phi Eta Sigma. She is also a member of Pi Beta Phi and was involved in UPC.

 

HAVE YOU ATTENDED ANY CAREER EXPOS? IF SO, WHICH?

Caroline attended the Sales and Consulting Expo this past fall. She found it helpful in improving interview and conversational skills. She also used it as an opportunity to update and improve her resume. She made worthwile contacts with some of the representatives she met at the expo, but ultimately decided against pursuing any positions with these companies. Caroline says she definately plans to attend more expos and highly recommends them to her peers as a useful career tool.

 

WHAT DOES THE AUBURN MARKETING DEPARTMENT OFFER THAT HAS HELPED YOU THE MOST?

Caroline took advantage of the resume review opportunities through the OPCD and would recommend this service to her classmates. She plans to also utilize the mock interviews that the OPCD offers to students. Caroline also enjoys how the marketing professors are so accessable to students and provide an approachable demeanor to questions and concerns.

 

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION?

Caroline plans applying for graduate school to obtain her MA degree. She's looking into applying at Georgia State and the University of Alabama. She is also considering remaining with The Villager and furthering her involvement with the business.

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BUSINESS SCHOOL OF AUBURN CAN IMPROVE ON?

Caroline suggests more study space for students. The new lounge is an excellent improvement, however more locations to sit and study or review with classmates would definately improve students' experience and grades.

 

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM YOUR WORK AT THE VILLAGER THAT YOU CAN APPLY TO YOUR FUTURE CAREER VENTURES?

Caroline has learned management skills, how to purchase inventory at market, and how to cultivate beneficial customer relationships. She has also been put in charge of all social media advertising and promotions for The Villager. In addition to these skills, she has learned how to create effective product placement and displays. Caroline plans to use all of these acquired skills to hopefully someday open a small business of her own!

 

 

Faculty Spotlight: Daniel Padgett

Position	Associate Professor
Dept.	Department of Marketing
Phone	(334) 844-2462
E-mail	padgedt@auburn.edu
Office	250 Lowder Business Building
Website	http://business.auburn.edu/~padgedt/

 Education:

• PhD, Pennsylvania State University, 1997
• MBA, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, 1995
• BA, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, 1988

1) How did you first get interested in Marketing?

I was a languages and literature major as an undergrad in college. When I went back to work on my MBA I took a graduate class that 1^st sparked my desire for Marketing.

2) What was your first job out of college?

 Sales- Medical Sales working with medical offices and small hospitals

3) How did you end up at Auburn?

 While at Tulane I was looking for a new job and of the open jobs that year Auburn was the most attractive. It was a good location due to the fact that I have family through out the southeast.

4) What's your favorite Marketing class to teach?

Marketing Strategy

5) What is the best way to get into the marketing field straight out of college?

The most obvious way to get a job is in sales. The best way you can help yourself is to have experience. Internship will help out a lot and show that you have experience in the field.

6) What is the biggest mistake you see college students making when looking for a job after college?

Many students use the “Shotgun approach” straight out of college. That is not applying for a specific job and marketing yourself for one type of career. Students often decide they want to live in a certain town and it doesn’t matter what job they have. Then they hate their job and quit and that hurts them in the long run.

7) What are some disadvantages of going into the marketing field or is there any?

 A lot of times people don’t know what exactly you do in marketing and sometimes look down on the industry because they think we are trying to convince people to buy things that they don’t need.

Relevant Links:

University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Marketing Dept

Penn State University Marketing Dept

Corey Kate Lambert '07

Alumni Spotlight: Corey Kate Lambert

Hometown: Originally from Columbus, GA, currently live in Auburn, AL

Degree/Minor from Auburn:

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing   

Bachelor of Arts, Communication '07

Family life:

My husband, Justin Lambert is also an Auburn grad who earned his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering and Master’s in Business Administration. We are the owners of The Mint Julep Boutique and currently live in Auburn with our two dogs, Dixie and Molly.

Current Occupation:

Manager, Special Events and Marketing Office of Alumni Affairs for Auburn University

Current Location:

Auburn, AL

 What was your favorite marketing course offered at Auburn and why?

That would be a tie between Strategic Management and Promotion Strategies

My Strategic Management course was a Central European Studies Program (CESP) offered through the College of Business Study Abroad department. We traveled through Central Europe and visited companies where we gained personal understanding of concepts and theories of strategic management, as well as an opportunity to observe how managers made resource development decision for the long-term survival and prosperity of an organization.

My Promotions Strategies course was a hands on marketing internship with the our local Chevrolet dealership. The entire class worked together to build and execute a marketing campaign for the new Chevy Equinox. From local publicity, news media contacts and day of promotion execution on the student concourse, we were involved every step of the way. The hands on element of that course taught me valuable lessons and insight that I still use today.  

Are you currently involved with Auburn?

I am currently employed by the Office of Alumni Affairs for Auburn University and a life member of the Auburn Alumni Association.

Do you still keep in touch with any of your graduating classmates?

Yes, all night study sessions and group projects fostered many of the great friendships I still have today.

As a college student, did Auburn prepare you for the “real world”?

Yes, especially the courses with great professors who brought life to the material in our textbooks. I feel those were the courses that still impact me the most today.

When you were a student and applying for jobs, what did you do to set yourself apart?

Honestly, with the economic downturn, many of my classmates and I found ourselves without jobs upon graduation. But a very wise person told me “it takes having a job to get a job” so I settled for a three month internship and that was the best decision of could have made. I firmly believe that it set me apart from other applicants by proving that I wanted to be working.

Where did you first start off after graduation?

My first full-time job following graduation was as a Marketing Specialist for Total System Services (TSYS) in Columbus, Georgia where I served as a special events planner for client conferences and product tradeshows.

Can you give us a day-to-day description of your job?

I provide leadership, supervision, fiscal management and strategic planning for the department of special events and marketing. Special events includes, but is not limited to, the Alumni Hospitality Tent open prior to every home football game, the Golden Eagles Reunion honoring alumni who graduated 50 years ago, Lifetime Achievement Awards, Tiger Trek meetings and the Auburn Alumni Club Program.

Do you have any advice for current Auburn students on finding employment?

Network, network, network…seek out individuals who are currently in the profession you believe you want to see yourself in one day. Ask if you can shadow them for a day or take them to lunch to hear about the pros and cons of their job. Follow up the contacts you meet; you never know when they might hear of an opening and have you in mind for the position.

What does your company offer as far as internships and/or positions after graduation?

The Office of Alumni Affairs does offer unpaid internships each semester. For more information on availability, responsibilities and how to apply, please contact Kate Asbury Larkin at 334.844.1149 or katesaburylarkin@auburn.edu.

All job opportunities posted with Auburn University can be found at http://www.auburn.edu/main/employment.html

Libby Massey - Co-founder, Adjective Boutique

Libby Massey

BIOGRAPHY:

Libby Massey is a senior in majoring in Marketing with a Spanish minor. She is originally from Albany, GA and is graduating in August 2013. In 2010, Libby co-founded Adjective Boutique here in Auburn with her sister, Robin. As a co-founder, Libby has been able to develop not only her marketing skills but her entrepreneurial, personal relationship, and financial skills as well through working as a store manager and  inventory buyer at apparel marts all over the country.

As a full time student at Auburn, you definitely have enough on your plate already between classes, involvement, and studying. What made you decide to jump into business ownership now?

My sister worked in retail for a number of years and had always talked about opening up her own boutique. On my end, I have always been interested in fashion and am not only interested in marketing, but the entrepreneurial side of business too. I have definitely always had a creative side and love the idea of starting something that is my own. When she approached me with the idea the timing just seemed right, what better way to develop my skills that I am being taught about in class then to actually use them? And by opening my own business I feel like I have learned more than I could ever learn just sitting inside a classroom.

What Marketing classes are you currently taking? Which Marketing class has been your favorite?

This semester I am taking Personal Selling, Retail Management, and International Marketing. Actually, my favorite marketing class was Marketing on the Internet! Learning about social media as an advertising tool and all the different ways marketers can utilize the Internet as a valuable tool really helped me when starting Adjective Boutique. A lot of my initial duties involved public relations and getting the word out there since we were brand new; so the material we covered in Dr. Astrid Keel’s class was relatable! 

What advice can you give current students on getting involved in extracurricular activities on campus?

Currently I am a Verizon Wireless Brand Ambassador. Basically that means I get to partner with the Beat Bama Food Drive, the athletic department, and the heads of the Verizon Wireless Southeastern division to promote Verizon on campus. All I did was email a network connection that previously held the position and secured an interview. Don’t be embarrassed about asking people for help. Most of the time they are all too happy to do it! And don’t feel intimidated about interviewing or trying out for things, there’s always the chance you won’t get it but there’s always the chance you will too. TRL [tiger recruiting link] is also a really important tool. There are always job opportunities on there that you wouldn’t have found out about otherwise. Also I know this isn’t really an extracurricular activity, but I would encourage everyone to take a study abroad trip! Even if you aren’t learning a language, the trips are once in a lifetime experiences and everyone needs to go!

Could you tell what would you like to see change about the Marketing department or curriculum within the college? 

I think that the College of Business needs to offer more classes to those of us interested in advertising or promotional activities. Public Relations and Marketing have a lot of cross over, so I would like to see a class to develop more creative skills like using Photoshop.

What has been your favorite and least favorite part of your experience as a Marketing student in the College of Business?

My favorite part has been getting to know the other people in my major. Some of my best friends are people that I’ve had classes with for years and get to spend a lot of time with since we have most of the same classes. My least favorite part I guess would be that the Marketing major can seem intimidating to students. Sometimes it can sound like Marketing is a dying major and there aren’t that many jobs and I hate that! As a senior applying for jobs I can definitely tell you there are plenty of fun and interesting jobs in the Marketing field. 

So you’re looking for jobs, can you give us your tips for finding jobs and internships? 

I would say the most important thing is networking. Everyone you meet is a potential important connection–from your friend’s parents to the guest speaker you go hear. Never under estimate the power of knowing the right people, it is so much easier to get your foot in the door somewhere if you have someone helping you on the inside. Besides that, keep up with social media postings like LinkedIn and ask people you know about their internships and how they got them!

How about interviewing, any tips?

Going into the interview I always like to feel like I’m overly prepared—like there isn’t anything they could ask me I wouldn’t be able to come up with a response to. I research the company using sites like glassdoor.com and the company’s website, and I make sure I know who is interviewing me. I always have my elevator speech prepared and just try to be as personable as possible through the entire interview process. Also always make sure you remember to send the interviewer a thank you letter.

Can you tell us what your plans are after graduation?

Since I have a few months before I graduate, I am doing my research on companies and narrowing down where I want to apply and what I want to do. My dream job would allow me to work within event management especially with a nonprofit. As for now, I’m just employing my networking skills in order to find a job that I love!