Graduated with degree in Business Administration in 1979 with an emphasis on marketing, followed by an MBA in 1981
Growing up in Louisville with a family of Wildcat fans it always seemed like the path to UK was predetermined. The prospect for a college experience beyond my hometown was a strong draw and the distance, far enough to grow independently yet close enough for comfort, felt like the right balance. While I attended a relatively small Catholic high school (Presentation Academy) the idea of a large state university never seemed daunting. On an orientation visit, it was apparent there was a culture and sense of belonging I was looking for. I can’t deny the ability to room with one of my best friends from high school made the transition to college life a little less intimidating and certainly more exciting.
Upon arriving at UK I didn’t have any defined plan or a clear picture of what I wanted my career to be. It was during my sophomore year I determined the business college would provide me with a diverse business curriculum and the best range of options to explore. The courses and exposure to real-world thinking helped me discover where my strengths were, and were not (there is a statistics grade I’d like to forget)
It was a course on consumer behavior that was a “spark moment” that shifted my focus to marketing. The combination of psychology, data, and storytelling intersecting to influence consumer decision-making was fascinating. The process to try and understand how people make choices and why they become loyal to certain brands was so intriguing. I carried that curiosity and the approach to learning more about the consumer throughout my career which contributed to the brands I helped grow. I also learned I was comfortable operating in the converge of art and science that is marketing.
Ultimately the business courses honed my ability to develop marketing strategies that drove results for the brands I have worked for.
I am so proud of my UK foundation and how the MBA program shaped my perspectives and approach to leadership.
My 40-year career in marketing for consumer brands began with restaurant chains and ad agencies in Southern California followed by a short return to Lexington with Long John Silvers, and then the last 25 years in Columbus, Ohio.
The past 15 years culminated in leading one of the most iconic restaurant brands and America’s first fast food hamburger chain, founded in 1921. Our marketing team poured their heart into the business every day. We were inspired by the White Castle family-owned business legacy, passionate about serving our Cravers, and committed to fueling growth that would keep the Crave alive for generations to come. As you can imagine there is quite the nostalgic history that comes with a 105 year old company accompanied by crazy stories of passionate customers who went to great lengths to satisfy their cravings for the Original Slider.
The restaurant industry and consumer package goods (CPG) of food is just fun. They are categories intertwined in our daily lives, and many times sit at the center of memorable moments with family and friends.
Working for a privately held company also has advantages such as a family-oriented caring culture that permeates throughout the organization and allows for the ability to make decisions for long-term prosperity vs. a narrowed view for purely a short-term gain.
I have loved every experience along the way that included facing challenging business environments, leading creative solutions, making data-informed decisions in fast-paced consumer focused industries, and the opportunity to develop the talent of young professionals.
Having lived a professional life dominated by meeting marketing deadlines, it will be nice not to be tethered to any specific timeline for a while. Some travel to CA and to NYC celebrating milestones with family is on the horizon but after that we’ll see if the desire to get back in the game fires up.
The past two years I’ve enjoyed teaching a marketing class at the Ohio State University so would entertain more academic contributions in the future too; even back in the Bluegrass state.
