At Air Waves, we believe partnering with universities and colleges is vital in setting up students and recent graduates for success as they start on their career paths. Through job fairs, alumni networking, and other opportunities, Air Waves has connected with qualified, motivated, and creative individuals that have become a part of our team.
We had the opportunity to connect with a few former Falcons to learn more about how their time spent at Bowling Green State University helped shape them into the team members they are today.
Chris Barrett – CFO, ‘03
Q: What did you study during your time at BGSU?
A: I studied Architecture and Environmental Design Studies.
Q: Were you in any groups or organizations that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
A: A company called LifeFormations, which was originally spun out by a few Visual Technology professors when the class was actually pulled from being offered. They created animatronics across the world for rides and attractions. I had an opportunity to work and learn from some very creative minds who provided great mentorship.
Q: What is one class or project that you completed that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
A: We worked on an urban design project in conjunction with AIA Toledo which incorporated all the seniors in our major. The students had the chance to work on a large-scale model of the city of Toledo as they were undergoing some revitalization projects and focused on the necessary balance of big picture and fine level detail.
During this process, we worked in a very large team and those interactions were extremely beneficial entering the workforce and working within a larger organization to see how that balance of skill-sets is necessary for success.
Q: Is there a staff or faculty member at BGSU that had an impact on your education/career that you would like to give a shout-out to?
A: Abraham Musher-Eizenman and Salim Elwazani, both invested a lot into me during my time at BGSU but both also stayed in touch after college, and I got to partner with them and recruited a number of graduates to prior companies.
Lauren Adams – Director of Merchandising, ‘10
Q: What did you study during your time at BGSU?
A: Apparel Merchandising & Product Development, Minor in Marketing
Q: Were you in any groups or organizations that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
A: Chi Omega Sorority – roles such as Marketing Chair, Cabinet Director, and Secretary in this organization set me up for success when it came to managing teams in various jobs following college.
Q: What is one class or project that you completed that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
A: We took a textiles class, and I will never forget the day that we got to burn different fabrics to see the results. This class is one that I think back on often when sourcing goods for Airwaves.
Q: How did BGSU help prepare you for your career?
A: The AMPD program required a Co-op work experience to graduate. I was able to gain experience working in three different retail stores, including a small business boutique, a children’s clothing store, and a larger chain.
Marissa D’Anieri – Senior Account Manager (Retailers), ‘16
Q: What did you study during your time at BGSU?
A: Apparel Merchandising and Product Development with a Minor in Marketing
Q: How did BGSU help prepare you for your career?
A: I was given amazing knowledge from professors that have been around the industry for many years. With their help, I was confident in setting out to find a career in the world of fashion.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share about your time at BGSU?
A: Not only was it a great place to learn but it was also where I met most of my best friends who are now like family. Even though BG is a bigger campus, it felt like such a close-knit community where everyone knew one another. That’s one of the things I truly loved about my time at BGSU.
Sydney McMichael – Senior Account Manager (E-tailers), ‘17
Q: What did you study during your time at BGSU?
A: I Study Apparel Merchandising and Product Development with a Marketing Minor.
Q: What is one class or project that you completed that helped prepare you for your career after graduation?
A: I believe that the Omni-Channel retailing and consumer analysis in fashion classes helped me most with my career, especially with working in both brick and mortar retail and now in eCommerce account management and merchandising. The Omni-Channel retail class help me to be able to appeal to consumers in a variety of sales channels by translating techniques from one retail atmosphere to another, while the consumer analysis in fashion class allowed me to analyze consumer behavior from a numbers point of view, which translate across any retail sale channel.
Q: How did BGSU help prepare you for your career?
A: BGSU prepared me for my career and future in a number of ways. The curriculum and objectives of the classes within my field of study gave me the knowledge to prepare me for my career field and put me in a position to utilize what I learned during my time at BGSU.
Professors always took their time to answer any questions I may have had and provided resources to help get me down the path I wanted to go.
The job fairs that BGSU held gave me the time and opportunity to explore different career paths, to be able to talk to recruiters, and learn about their companies and what their days look like.
Q: Is there a staff or faculty member at BGSU that had an impact on your education/career that you would like to give a shout-out to?
A: I would love to shout out the entire AMPD program with a special mention to Mariana Mitova.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share about your time at BGSU?
A: I am proud to be a Falcon. I loved every moment that I had at BGSU. I would love to see the AMPD program continue to grow and give students the same opportunities and experiences that I had while attending the University.
Where Will You Go Next?
Are you interested in joining the Air Waves team? Visit our careers page to view open positions or connect with us to see if we will be at your school’s next job fair.
