Management Testimonials
Traci Konrade
Executive Director
Downtown Hays Development Corporation
Hays, KS
I immediately fell in love with downtown Hays and the experiences I had on the FHSU campus. My degree required many courses in the Management and Marketing department, and I instantly felt comfortable with the professors. I wanted to attend a university where I could feel like an individual and not disappear in a classroom of hundreds. FHSU was a perfect fit. My education provided the tools for achieving success in my career. I am currently the Executive Director of the Downtown Hays Development Corporation. In addition, I opened T Studio Design, a full-service photography and design business, in 2009. The marketing skills I acquired at FHSU are a huge component of my ability to work with a wide range of people. Downtown Hays gave me a home when I moved here in 2005, and I am so glad I can give back to such a wonderful district!
Erica Stephens
(2009)
Business and Computer Instructor
Oakley Middle School and Oakley High Schol
Oakley, KS
FHSU was my first choice because it was close to my home-Colby, Kansas-and they offered a Business Education program. I benefited greatly from my instructors, who challenged the students to push themselves to their fullest ability. Everyone in the department provided positive feedback and reinforcement to the students when needed. After graduation, I took a full-time teaching position in the spring of 2009 at Deerfield Public Schools in Deerfield, Kansas. I taught all of the school's business and computer courses and was the high school's head volleyball and cheerleading coach. After one year I moved to Grinnell and began working part-time for Oakley schools. I am currently teaching the school's business and computer courses, and I am also the head volleyball coach. FHSU gave me the tools I needed to be successful, and my connections are still helping me in my career today.
Whitney Liggett
(2011)
Front Desk Agent
Broadmoor Hotel and Resort
Colorado Springs, CO
For me, choosing Fort Hays State University was about choosing a place that felt comfortable, a place that felt like home. The campus was beautiful and easy to navigate, and the people were easy to talk to. In my time at the university, I always felt that communicating with my professors and advisors was easy. The coursework in Management and Marketing gave me several opportunities to develop in preparation for my future, and the courses in tourism and human resources especially prepared me to work with people on a daily basis. Classes often required professional presentations that allowed me to overcome my stage fright. Campus activities like job fairs and mock interview days allowed me to create a personal network with employers and hone my interview skills, giving me the edge I needed to pursue my current position. I graduated in 2011 with a Business degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management. During my time at FHSU, I was never at a loss for things to do. My social, extracurricular, and academic opportunities at the University resulted in a memorable and rewarding college experience.
Grant Huck
(2010)
Solutions Designer
Cerner Corporation
Kansas City
When I began to look for a school to continue my education, Fort Hays State University's quality location near home was an appealing factor to me alongside the personal college experience. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the FHSU family because of the unique way the school presents itself: as a not only professional but also personal college. FHSU provided me with a quality education that I was able use after I graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing. My desire to obtain an MBA brought me back to FHSU because of its incredible China Graduate Teaching Associates program. I completed my MBA in December 2010. I feel remarkably fortunate to have chosen this path because the experience I gained from living in China and teaching as a GTA not only sets me apart from other employees, but also provides me with a sense of achievement that can never be taken away. FHSU was an excellent college choice for me because of the small-town friendliness, professional setting, prime location, excellent professors, and relevant programs.
Austen Bickford
(2011)
Marketing Advisor
Deluxe Corporation
I chose a business degree because it seemed like a "worldly" degree that would allow me to do whatever I wanted to after graduation. Marketing and management courses at FHSU prepare students for the language that marketing professionals frequently use in the work environment. I graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, followed by a master's degree in the same field in 2011. Businesses in certain areas are very familiar with the FHSU name and brand, and that reputation helped me to get my first job. The instruction I received at FHSU, along with an internship with the Fort Hays Alumni Association, helped to prepare me for a full-time position outside of college. Currently a marketing advisor with Deluxe Corporation, I work with small businesses to build strategy as well as analyze their current and upcoming marketing initiatives. I use my degree to advise and direct small businesses on how to spend their marketing budgets.
Brandon Nichols
Assistant General Manager
Hyatt Place
Sugar Land, TX
I was attracted to FHSU for several reasons. I knew I wanted to study business and marketing, and FHSU has an amazing program and faculty. At FHSU I felt like I belonged. I have never felt so comfortable, connected, and settled. The ability for students to relate and connect at FHSU is like nothing I have experienced. I graduated from FHSU in 2008 with a degree in Management and Marketing. Without my degree, I most certainly would not be where I am today. I have progressed unusually quickly in my career in hospitality. My degree has most definitely played a vital role in my career, and it will only continue to help me improve my professional life.
Erica Stephens
(2009)
Business and Computer Instructor
Oakley Middle School and Oakley High Schol
Oakley, KS
FHSU was my first choice because it was close to my home-Colby, Kansas-and they offered a Business Education program. I benefited greatly from my instructors, who challenged the students to push themselves to their fullest ability. Everyone in the department provided positive feedback and reinforcement to the students when needed. After graduation, I took a full-time teaching position in the spring of 2009 at Deerfield Public Schools in Deerfield, Kansas. I taught all of the school's business and computer courses and was the high school's head volleyball and cheerleading coach. After one year I moved to Grinnell and began working part-time for Oakley schools. I am currently teaching the school's business and computer courses, and I am also the head volleyball coach. FHSU gave me the tools I needed to be successful, and my connections are still helping me in my career today
Shannon Dechant
(2007)
Marketing Analyst
Nex-Tech
Hays, KS
I decided to get my degree from Fort Hays State University primarily for the affordable tuition. The creative aspect of marketing ultimately drew me to the Department of Management and Marketing. In addition to effective classes, the department also offered me personal attention from wonderful professors. As a student, I felt like I was a part of a family comprised of students, professors, and staff. In conjunction with great classes, the Marketing and Management Club helped me develop in preparation for my career. The organization gave me many opportunities to learn about various companies. I currently work as a marketing analyst at Nex-Tech in Hays, Kansas, and my marketing degree applies to every aspect of my current position. In my classes, I learned how to do research, including focus groups and competitive research, which allows me to match products to the community's wants and needs. I frequently create advertisements and media pieces for Nex-Tech. With the help of courses in the marketing department and networking through the Marketing and Management Club, my original desire for a creative career has been fulfilled. I felt confident that FHSU would provide me with an exceptional college experience, and it definitely delivered.
Joseph Galante
(2007)
Business Development Team Leader
Square
Silicon Valley, CA
A track and field scholarship brought me to Fort Hays State University from Arizona, where I grew up. I was interested in understanding how the decision-making process worked within the business world and found the Management and Marketing department had some of the smartest tenured professors. The classroom sizes at Fort Hays State University were small enough to encourage much discussion, but big enough to provide a variety of perspectives. These classes also emphasized excellence in presentation skills and public speaking, which have become a central part of my career. I graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus in Management and Marketing. I now work on the business development team at a technology startup in Silicon Valley called Square. We are responsible for finding companies we want to partner with and negotiating deals with them. This job requires many of the foundational skills I received as a business student at Fort Hays State University.
Robert Lloyd
(2007)
Marketing
Koch Nitrogen Company
Wichita, KS
After my first year at Fort Hays, I realized that it was as small school where everyone knew each other, and I really liked that about it. I was initially a Networking major, but I thought Marketing and Management would be a better path for my career. My degree from Fort Hays really opened the door for me as a prerequisite for the business world. It also presented me with a lot of skills and tools that I still use today, such as managerial economics and managerial finance. I started with Koch Industries in the fall after I earned my master's degree, and then moved into a marketing role where I've been working ever since. I think the way that Fort Hays helped me to develop in my life and career goes back to the small-town feeling that it has. The environment teaches students how to interact with people. Behind every business transaction, there's another person.
Lindsey Miller
(2009)
Territory Manager, Milwaukee Electric Tool
Techtronics Industries
New York City/New Jersey Area
After two years of community college, I chose to study at Fort Hays State University based on my friends' strong recommendations and the warm reception I received when I visited campus. I chose to major in Marketing because I had a strong interest in sales and wanted to be a successful selling manager someday. The faculty members in the Marketing Department were not only knowledgeable specialists in the business field but also outstanding professors for the college. In addition to their extensive knowledge in the management and marketing field, the faculty members in the Marketing Department also have strong connections in business and industry. These connections helped me find a suitable internship at Techtronics Industries, which is the company that I have been working for since I graduated from FHSU in May 2009. From my perspective, choosing FHSU is one of the most rewarding and satisfying decisions that I have ever made in my life.
Josh Kingsley
(2006)
Because I grew up in Hays, Fort Hays State University was a natural choice. I was immediately drawn into the opportunities and extracurricular activities on campus. The classes at FHSU were small with core classes of fewer than twenty. This provided an opportunity for individualized attention from my professors and the ability to participate easily in class. Semester-long marketing research projects at FHSU were particularly beneficial because of the hands-on case studies working with real companies. After receiving my Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management in 2004, I earned my MBA in 2006. I have used the skills learned from these projects in all of the positions I have held. My experience, both educational and social, exceeded my expectations. My positions have provided my adventurous nature an opportunity to travel and see the country. One thing is clear: FHSU was crucial in my success.
Shanna Zimmerman
(1999)
Instructor
Wichita East High School, Butler Community College
Wichita, KS
After graduating from Fort Hays State University in December of 1999, I began teaching Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Business Management at Wichita East High School. Twelve years later, I am still working here and have been able to expand my students' knowledge outside of the classroom with DECA, a club that focuses on Marketing, Management, Entrepreneurship, and Finance. Going to Fort Hays was an easy choice, since I was from the area, and the colleges that offered business education and teacher certification were limited. Then, during my junior and senior years I joined Pi Omega Pi (National Business Teacher Education Honor Society) and Mortar Board. Once I got involved, I began to truly appreciate my FHSU experience. In the time since graduating from Fort Hays, I am still supported by the faculty from my degree program and am always excited to hear about changes in the college.
Kara Gale
(1991)
Consultant and Training Development Specialist for Market-Based Management, LLC
Koch Indutries
The first time I visited FHSU, I confidently knew it would fit my academic and social needs. I met with the Management and Marketing professors on my campus visit and felt that they were interested in my success. I chose to major in business education because I was interested in business and wanted to share my passion with others. The campus size and individual attention I received from each professor was invaluable to my educational and professional success. The university also gave me several opportunities to develop professionally and personally. I especially liked that most of my classes were small and allowed for professor-student interaction. I obtained both a bachelor's and master's degree in business education from FHSU. In 1992, I began working at Koch Industries. A large part of my career as the Consultant and Training Development Specialist for Market-Based Management involves developing and conducting classroom training as well as other learning resources for Koch employees. I am continually using the writing, teaching, and verbal communication skills that I learned through FHSU.