BSBA, Marketing and Management
Charlotte, NC
My favorite Walker College memory is…
It was 1978. I was an incoming freshman into Watauga College in East Dorm. My sister has preceded me (4) years earlier, I would then be followed by (2) more sisters (I have 6) to be then followed by my niece. Everyone started in Watauga. After arriving, I found a job as a Freshman at Walker College in the Business Department under the ASU Work Study Program. I reported to the Executive Secretary Marilyn Sue. She was lovely. While there I began to engage with multiple Professors including Dr. Richard Shaeffer, John Geary & the legendary Pat Patton. My Sophomore year I became an RA in East and worked Security at night so my Work-study program ended but I had my eyes on Walker College.. My Junior year, I was asked to stay in East and be an RA for a 2nd year. With a room to myself, a kitchenette, a private bathroom and a co-ed dorm, I could not go wrong. I zeroed in on a BS in both Marketing and Management. I joined Pi Sigma Epsilon & became an officer within that organization. My Senior year, I moved right above Boone Drug Store in an efficiency, exactly 2 blocks from Walker...my new home away from home. I was grinding my way through Statistics with Mrs Gaynor, a lovely woman. Pushed my way through Accounting and managed through Business Law & built a lifelong relationship with Dr. Shaeffer. In fact I just spoke to him in May 2021. He owns the beautiful company called Dewoolfson Linens near Banner Elk. I loved the Marketing Classes with Pat Patton. He made us laugh and kept us moving on project to project in small groups. During the senior year, I arranged to have a number of professionals come to Boone to speak to the Pi Sigma Epsilon members. We hosted a dinner at Mikoto Japanese restaurant on Thursday night and had 10 speakers the next day including the legendary Ty Boyd from Charlotte NC. Ty just passed away in 2020 but not before he put his stamp on the students of Walker College. God Bless Ty. In all, it was a lot of work. Graduated with a double major and a 3.3GPA. I came back to Walker in 2008 and 2009 years & spoke to the Seniors on Alumni Day about: Sales career & negotiating the sale, Credit Scores, and Interviewing techniques. I really loved it and I received some very nice recognition including two personal notes from Jennifer Henley. I even made the cover of the Appalachian News Paper.
My experience in the Walker College prepared me for my life and work...
Upon graduation, I knew I was locked and loaded for my career in Sales. Moving to Birmingham, Greensboro, Memphis, Houston and back to Charlotte, the life in Sales has been excellent. Now I am in Global Sales & I love that aspect of the business. People ask me today "When are you going to retire?" and I just smile and say "I'm just getting started". In fact I just won again the top award at Konica Minolta as the #1 rep in the US. Life is great. Thank you Walker College!!! Thank you App State.