student success!

​​Michele Derr

Marketing

Business Management 


Michele Derr.jpg

Michele Derr arrived at The University of Findlay as a freshman student-athlete on a full basketball scholarship with an undecided major. When she graduates this December, Derr will leave the University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and business management and the knowledge to begin a successful career.  

            

Derr’s involvement in on-campus activities and an internship allowed her to practice the principles she learned in her classes.             


“Being part of the Marketing Club has given me hands-on experience with local businesses,” she said.   


Derr and other students had the opportunity to speak with local business owners and help them develop marketing strategies to improve their businesses. Club members assist with logos, tag lines, printed materials and promotional ideas. The club also hosts an Xtreme Marketing Makeover event, during which 


​teams are given a short amount of time to meet with a local business owner, develop marketing ideas and a presentation of those ideas, and give the presentation to the other participants and the business owners. The team with the best presentation wins the challenge. 


Derr’s involvement with the Marketing Club also gave her the opportunity to help local businesses in other ways. For example, after Findlay flooded in 2007, club members helped the owners of Rocking U Restaurant by cleaning its basement so the restaurant could reopen. 

 

Also on campus, Derr was a Dana Scholar, which gave her direct access to local business leaders in a variety of industries, which, she says, was a great networking opportunity. 


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Derr gained additional business experience during an internship with Marathon Oil Co. in Atlanta, Ga. As a wholesale marketing intern, Derr was assigned approximately 15 wholesale Marathon customers, mostly mom-and-pop retail stores. She responded to questions and requests from each client, taking care of their day-to-day business needs. Derr also mapped out territories for managers to use in their travels and did some traveling of her own to Tampa, Fla., Charlotte, N.C., and Nashville, Tenn. 

 

As a three-year member of the women’s basketball team, Derr gained valuable life lessons. “Sports is one of the best ways to make you a hard worker and make you balance work, life and school,” said Derr, whose basketball career ended with a repeat knee injury. 

 

Derr is confident that her college experience has prepared her for a career. “College is when you learn what you want to do, and it’s about preparing you for life in general,” she said. “Business has prepared me for the working world. … When I was doing my internship, I felt comfortable. I was able to pick up on things quickly, and college has helped prepare me for that.” 

 

She also utilized the tools and resources available to her at Findlay. “I’ve had a great experience here,” said Derr. “Everyone I’ve met was always willing to help me with anything I’ve needed. … The University does a lot more than most people realize.” 

 

Derr advises incoming freshmen to do some research and get some experience before selecting a major. She suggests job shadowing and finding an internship during the first couple of years in college. 

 

After graduation, Derr hopes to find a job in sports marketing.

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