ISC Alumni Symposium Focuses on Louisville Career Opportunities
Panelists include five university graduates working in advertising, direct response, public relations, event planning and sales. ISC senior Meagan McKee will serve as panel moderator.
The program will feature Ryan Fertig of LeapFrog Interactive, Glenn Goodman of Power Creative, Christine Kurapkat of Louisville Marriott Downtown, Karrie McKinnon of Southern Wine and Spirits, Kelley McCabe Roberts of The JAM Brands and Holly Weyler of Bandy Carroll Hellige. All are UK ISC graduates.
“Many of our students come from the Louisville area and would like to return there after graduation. Louisville is also a fertile area for us for internships,” said Beth Barnes, director of the School of Journalism and Telecommunications. "We also have a large number of graduates who work in the Louisville area, so focusing on opportunities there seemed a natural emphasis for the symposium."
Ryan Fertig is a Louisville native who graduated from the UK College of Communications and Information Studies in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in ISC. Like many other college students, he changed his major several times, resulting in the “six-year plan.” ISC was new and seemed like the perfect fit. Once pointed in the right direction, he found his calling. At LeapFrog Interactive, he helps clients piece together the best marketing strategies to maximize their investments with optimal returns. Other areas of focus include prospective client development, organic growth of existing accounts, maintaining and building upon client engagement.
After a meandering path and a couple of detours, Glenn Goodman graduated from the UK College of Communications and Information Studies in 2006 with a bachelor of science in ISC. Glenn took a junior copywriting job at Power Creative, but spent many nights and weekends in the office to ascend to senior writer, the position he holds today. Currently, Goodman serves as a writer on several accounts, including GE Aviation, The Hartford, Jarrett's Joy Cart and the University of Louisville. Goodman resides in Louisville.
Karrie McKinnon graduated from the UK College of Communications and Information Studies in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in ISC and a minor in business. After starting off her career with the Greater Louisville Sports Commission, her event background led her to a position with Maker’s Mark. Eventually evolving into more of a marketing role, this experience in the beverage industry now spans nearly 10 years and has expanded into roles with Beam Global and Heaven Hill. She presently works for Southern Wine & Spirits of Kentucky, representing the Diageo, Diageo Chateau & Estates, and Moet-Hennessey portfolios as an On-Premise Sales Specialist to bars and restaurants around the Louisville area.
Kelley McCabe Roberts graduated from the UK College of Communications and Information Studies in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in ISC. For the last seven years, Roberts has worked her way up the ladder at The JAM Brands in Louisville, currently acting as vice president of event and operations for The JAM Brands. The JAM Brands is an event-producing company that hosts cheerleading and dance events across the United States and Europe. During the 2011-12 competition season, JAM will host approximately 150 competitions with more than 175,000 athletes and 275,000 spectators. In December 2010, The JAM Brands launched a sports division. JAM Active, the company’s largest sports brand, offers "fun, competitive, and entertaining events for today’s active lifestyles," including marathons, triathlons and other events.
Holly Weyler graduated from the UK College of Communications and Information Studies in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in ISC and a minor in anthropology. After gaining event and marketing experience in the Kentucky Derby Festival, she joined Bandy Carroll Hellige Public Relations in 2009. Weyler uses the skills acquired in the public relations path of the ISC major on a daily basis, managing media relations, promotions, special events and crisis management for clients including McDonald's Restaurants of Kentuckiana, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's Healthcare, The Bridges Coalition and The Frazier History Museum. Since early 2010, Weyler has been heavily involved in the production and promotion of The Forecastle Festival. Weyler resides in Louisville.
The symposium series is named in honor of Richard Wilson, Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame member and former reporter for the Courier-Journal. He initiated the program while serving as interim director of the School of Journalism and Telecommunications.