In marketing courses, you get to work in groups and develop marketing plans, create business plans and write SWOT analyses.
Hometown:Fairview Park, Ohio
Major:Marketing
Brady Lorek ’12
Future sports marketer
President of American Marketing Association and member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Raider Relief and Raider Empowerment Council
MY EXCEPTIONAL STORY
Personal connections
Graduating from a relatively small high school, I knew a big university wasn't for me. I wanted an atmosphere where I had the opportunity to make personal connections with my peers and professors. At the time I was looking to play basketball, and after numerous campus visits to other colleges, I knew Mount Union was the right place for me. The campus is beautiful, the people are friendly to one another and I instantly fell in love with the place. There is such a huge level of pride and a great level of respect that goes along with the Purple Raider name.
Favorite place
If I could take a visitor anywhere on campus it would be to the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex (The MAAC). I spend a lot of time there because of my work-study job at the front desk and to de-stress after a long day of classes. The MAAC offers endless opportunities for active students through its excellent equipment, personal training programs, intramural sports and countless fitness classes … my favorite being the Insanity workout.
Enjoyable career
Switching majors was the best choice I could have ever made! I wanted a major and career that was high energy and hands on and marketing provides just that. Marketing is such a fast and growing field that it allows you to find a job virtually in any industry or with any organization. I have always been active with a love for sports, so marketing for a professional sports team couldn't be a more perfect fit!
Real life examples
With such a heavy course load, it is hard to sit through six classes of nothing but lecture, so marketing and sport business courses are an excellent change of pace! The material is presented in a way that makes learning more enjoyable and more interactive. My three favorite classes have been Marketing Principles with Professor Mark McConnell, Management with Professor Michael Kachilla and Programs Management with Dr. James Thoma. It is apparent that these three professors have a passion for what they do and it is evident in their teaching techniques. The courses are made up of projects, which really allow you to dive into the experience of what it would be like in that career. I have enjoyed creating marketing proposals, business plans, on-campus competitions and travel brochures for these classes. This collaborative learning method pulls my nose out of the textbooks and applies my knowledge and skills to real life situations.
Professor, mentor and friend
When I originally came to Mount Union, I was set on majoring in exercise science. It wasn’t until I took Marketing Principles with Professor Mark McConnell that I changed my major to marketing. The coffee and travel fanatic has so much energy and enthusiasm that it's contagious. As my advisor, he has helped plan out class schedules that will be the most beneficial and conducive to my interests. He’s also the campus advisor of American Marketing Association, Raider Relief and Raider Empowerment Council, all of which I am involved in. I believe that he’s the prime reason all of these organizations are so amazing.
