Student Spotlight

UT Tyler Soules College of Business

Ashley Kutach

Tell us a little about you.

I graduated in December of 2019 with a Ph.D. in Human Resource Development from the Soules College of Business at UT Tyler. I had been away from college for 20 years when I began the program in 2016. I completed by B.A. in Speech Communication at Texas State University in 1996 and my M.A. in Speech Communication at the same university in 1997. At that time, I promised myself that one day I would reach my goal to earn a Ph.D. and I am thrilled to have accomplished that goal at UT Tyler. I didn't do it alone though. I had a wonderful cohort of students who provided unwavering support, professors who genuinely cared about my education, a husband who gave endless love and grace, and three teenaged kids who provided fun distractions when I needed them most. People often said during my Ph.D. journey, "I don't see how in the world you do it all." I always responded with, "I just do. One day at a time." I am so thankful for each day that provided new opportunities to learn, grow, laugh, cry, and ultimately led to the reality of a dream come true.

What did you do right after graduating?

At the time of graduation, I was already in a role and with a company that I loved, so I continued 'business as usual' in my career.

Tell us about your current job and what you do.

I am currently the Vice President of People and Chief of Staff at Mentoring Minds which is a K-12 education company. I currently lead three areas of operations including product and customer engagement, customer service, and human resources. I love what I do and the people I have the pleasure to work with. I am very lucky to have a part in an organization that has a huge impact on the lives of children and teachers across the country.

How did your Soules College of Business Degree help you with your current position?

My career has traversed all areas of human resources including recruiting, on-boarding, benefits administration, compliance, talent management, organizational development, training, instructional design, coaching, employee relations, engagement, retention, succession planning, change management, and leadership development. The degree program helped me understand the research component that guides best practices across the practice of human resources development. I was already very familiar with the practical side but had no idea all that went on 'behind the scenes' to generate the knowledge that guides practical execution. The experience has given me a much more critical eye to the decisions I make as a leader and change manager.

What was your favorite Soules College of business class and why?

It is so challenging to choose just one class! I love to learn, and each class certainly challenged me with learning new information and skills. One class that stands out in my memory is HRD 6310 Advanced Theoretical Foundations of Human Resource Development. The course reviewed various theories of human resource development and the scholarly process that is required to develop sound theories. This course seemed to come at the perfect time in the program and allowed me to make connections between content I had learned in other courses. It was like a lightbulb went off in my head, which was so rewarding!

Any Soules College of Business / UT Tyler memories you would like to share?

Since the program was an executive format, my colleagues were from various geographical locations and brought a huge diversity of experience and knowledge. We often shared meals together after late night classes, stayed up late chatting at our hotel, and depended on each other in order to survive. I met and learned from some amazing people! The relationships that were formed will be forever cherished.

Were you involved in any student organizations while a student here?

Unlike in undergraduate school where I was very involved in student organizations, my time as a doctoral student was focused on juggling classes, a full-time job, teaching as an adjunct professor at Tyler Junior College, and raising three teenaged children.

What advice would you give current Soules College of Business students?

You can do it! Stay organized, take one week at a time, and don't lose sight of the end goal. Much like a career, an education is a process and a journey. Prove to yourself that you can finish what you start.

What insight do you have for Soules College of Business students that are about to graduate on how to land their first job?

As a human resource professional, I have a lot of insight to share—too much for this forum so I'll share just a few ideas. I encourage you to speak, act, and dress for the role you want, not the role you have. From avoiding 'water cooler' talk to keeping your phone tucked away during meetings, your words and actions reflect on your character. It's not enough to work hard and do good work. Companies are looking for employees who can communicate effectively, collaborate well with others, display positive personal attributes, and keep their head up even during challenging situations.

 

Charles Parker

Tell us a little about you.

I am a resident of Whitehouse, TX, where I am currently serving my third and final term as mayor. I have served my community for almost 15 years between the city council and mayor. I have also served as a Scoutmaster, band booster fundraising chairman, and several other things to help make my community a better place to live. My undergraduate degree in Business Finance was completed at the other ASU, Angelo State University. I have worked in the insurance business for more than 20 years. My wife is a UT graduate and works for the Innovation Academy, and both my children graduated from UT Tyler. My daughter was the first student to complete her undergraduate degree via study abroad while at UT Tyler and through the University of Hiroshima in Japan. She recently graduated with a degree in International Business at a University in Taipei, and speaks Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, and English. My son used UT Tyler as a jump start to law school and is an attorney in Tulsa, Oklahoma. My family and I have completely embraced UT Tyler and our entire community.

What did you do right after graduating?

When I finished my last exam, I celebrated with a nap that lasted 4 or 5 hours. Studying is exhausting and I was incredibly happy to finish. However, on Monday morning I was in my office ready to work.

Tell us about your current job and what you do.

Currently, I am employed by Hibbs Hallmark and Company, and work in the employee benefits arena. I install and advise business owners, and their employees regarding the rules and pitfalls surrounding the health insurance world. It is a minefield of regulation involving numerous alphabet government agencies such as the DOL, IRS, CMS, and others. Benefits can be difficult, but they do not have to be with competent advice.

How did your Soules College of Business Degree help you with your current position?

The insurance world involving employee benefits has evolved for both the employer and the employee since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, aka, Obamacare. As the need changed so did the necessity for me to increase my personal skillset. In the course of my normal day I deal with business owners and noticed that most small businesses under 100 employees do not have access to Human Resource professionals to help guide them through a myriad of employment and compliance related issues. Adding a master's degree in Human Resource Development, provides me with the credentials to be able to assist employers at a higher level than my competition can offer. With the help of the professors and classes through UT Tyler, this has allowed me to expand my business from traditional insurance sales into a consultancy business model, which enables me to provide more value to my clients. Because learning never stops, my next goal is to gain some professional designations within the Human Resource area.

What was your favorite Soules College of business class and why?

Every one of the courses were extremely valuable, but there were two classes that stood out. Organizational Development through Dr. Andrea Ellinger in combination with Performance Consulting through Dr. Judy Sun were the most challenging and fun. Using the tools learned in these classes I was able as mayor to recommend to the City of Whitehouse the production of a Strategic Management Plan for the city. This plan developed through those classes helped solve numerous internal issues and helped us attract and hire a new police chief and city manager for the city, while providing new leadership with a specific road map that facilitates better communication and engagement with employees and citizens. The professors help, knowledge, and feedback has been integral in moving the city forward.

Any Soules College of Business / UT Tyler memories you would like to share?

Working in teams can be challenging especially via online/distance learning classes. I learned so much about my teammates during the exercises and genuinely enjoyed gaining the different prospective they had to share. One semester a classmate had a baby while writing a group paper, she still had the dedication to finish and keep up with the group. That was impressive!

What advice would you give current Soules College of Business students?

Make the most of every class and look to truly learn the material and not work for a grade or just to pass the class. Be sure that you engage the professors as they will help you even if you mess up or misunderstand something. By engaging in learning, the material will stick, and the grades will take care of themselves if you put in the effort. My final advice is to work toward a goal of knowing what you want to do with the degree to help you with future employment. From observation many of my classmates did not really have a plan or direction except to obtain the degree. A degree is only as good as what you use it for in life, but it is hard to accomplish goals without it. My last advice is to develop a plan, and follow it, plans can change, but making the most of the opportunity in front of you is key.

What insight do you have for Soules College of Business students that are about to graduate on how to land their first job?

Find something that you are at least somewhat passionate about in life. For me it has always been about helping others, my business plan is about providing value to clients and helping make sure that they stay out of trouble legally and in compliance with regulations, while providing needed products to make sure their employees stay healthy and productive in life. I like helping people and found a way to make a living doing that. Find a passion and match that up with a profession then become an expert by finding your niche.

 

Alec de Jong

Tell us a little about you.

I am a recent graduate from from UT Tyler with a degree in Marketing. I am married to my beautiful wife who is currently a student in the Fast Track BSN program at UT Tyler. I would consider myself as an outdoorsy nerd. Which means I love video games, movies, and comics just as much as I love camping, hiking, sports, and most other things outdoorsy. I really enjoyed my time at UT Tyler.

What did you do right after graduating?

I attended the Category Management Association in Las Vegas and Interviewed with multiple companies.  

Tell us about your current job and what you do.

I am a Marketing Business Analyst at Oracle in their Oracle Data Cloud division. It is a consultant role so I get to do all the fun parts of marketing. I mainly analyze many forms of data and create creative marketing strategies based off of those analytics.

How did your Soules College of Business Degree help you with your current position?

It gave me exposure to category management and data analytics which were some of the reasons I got the job with Oracle. It also provided me with real industry experiences through working with 7-Eleven and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.

What was your favorite Soules College of Business class and why?

My favorite class was the Special Topics in Marketing class. We partnered with 7-Eleven and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits to increase wine sales in 7-Eleven stores. This class provided me with very valuable industry experience in data analytics and working with a corporate client. At the end of the course I was one of the people who presented our recommendations to executives form both 7-Eleven and Southern Glazer’s.

Any Soules College of Business/UT Tyler memories you would like to share?

Being able to attend the Category Management Association Conference as a Soules College of Business representative was an amazing experience. I learned so many helpful skills and gained valuable knowledge that will help with my career. Also, I gained some very valuable contacts with some very big companies and organizations that will be beneficial in the future.

Were you involved in any student organizations white a student here?

Soules College of Business Ambassadors

What advice would you give current Soules College of Business students?

Talk to your professors and listen to their advice! A lot of them have over 20 years of industry experience and they know what they are talking about! Don't be afraid to meet with them after class. They love talking to students and that can lead to opportunities you did not know were available.

What insight do you have for Soules College of Business students that are about to graduate on how to land their first job?

Use LinkedIn and be creative with your resume. Recruiters only look at a resume for about 5-10 seconds so if it doesn't stand out your resume will be tossed out. Also, do not be discouraged if it takes a while to hear from a company. Things take a long time to process especially with big companies. Don't be afraid to reach out to someone at the company and get their advice.  

 

Crystal Traylor

Tell us a little about you.

I graduated from UT Tyler in Dec 2013 with my BBA in Marketing and I am currently a Pricing Analytics Analyst with Ingersoll Rand (Trane/American Standard) and have been with IR for 3 years. I will also be publishing a novel before the end of the year.

What did you do right after graduating? 

I worked many temporary positions right after graduating and that was the perfect way for me to test the waters in many companies/industries without obligation. If any of those positions were to have extend an offer on the first day, I would have jumped at the opportunity, but (with the exception of my current employer) by the end of the assignment I was happy to be able to move on. That experience was able to help me narrow down what I was looking for in a position/company as well as manage my expectations.  

Tell us about your current job and what you do. 

As a Pricing Analytics Analyst, I support the retail and project-based pricing teams at Ingersoll Rand with reporting and analytics for all residential HVAC products in the US. We use a combination of different data manipulation software programs, including Tableau and Alteryx, to accomplish this.

How did your Soules College of Business Degree help you with your current position?

More than anything, my degree helped me prepare for the mindset that would be needed in my current position. Luckily for me, I chose a degree that has a broad range of applications. One may link analytics to Mathematics before Marketing but, going down to the fundamentals of marketing with the 4 P’s (Product, Price, Place, and Promotion), pricing is also in my job title. Like fingers on the same hand, those fundamentals are all connected and my job encompasses, in some form or fashion, all of them; even though it wasn't in the traditional marketing realm of sales or advertising. 

What was your favorite Soules College of Business class and why?

I knew I chose the right degree when every marketing class was my favorite! Just when I thought I loved a class the most, I took another class and it was like, “But wait, there’s more!” in the best possible way. My all-time favorite class was Marketing Research. But close runners-up were Retailing, Consumer Behavior, and Operations Management.  

Were you involved in any student organizations while a student here?

I was involved in the student organization ENACTUS and was able to participate in their second Rising Phoenix Project event. I loved being able to connect with the community in a way that was encouraging and instilled hope for a brighter future while giving real tools and practical advice.   

What advice would you give current Soules College of Business students?

My college experience was not the typical experience. I am a first-generation college graduate and was a mother of three children under 5 years old when I began taking classes. I would tell students that college is difficult but not impossible and totally worth it! Take advantage of the opportunity to learn and use it to challenge yourself to grow. Get involved in student organizations. Talk to your professors. Ask questions. Pay attention and keep in mind the classes you love and seek out advice to find employment in those areas. Keep in touch with good study partners, they will be a good networking resource later.  

What insight do you have for Soules College of Business students that are about to graduate on how to land their first job?

Talk to your professors! I asked advice on which local companies to look at for the areas of skill that interested me. I remember saying “This is what I would like to do but I don’t know what companies do this.” Those conversations were invaluable to me. I would also say not to discount or dismiss opportunities for temporary positions, even if it's in an area outside of your field of study. I was able to network through connections with past assignments and a temporary assignment was how I was introduced to the company I currently work for.  

 

Jeffrey Fannin

Tell us a little about you.

My name is Jeffrey Fannin and I currently work as a Category Development Manager at Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits. I am a big tennis and basketball fan and play both sports whenever I can. I attended UT Tyler from 2013 to 2016 and graduated with a bachelors degree in marketing. 

What did you do right after graduating?

I wasted no time and started hunting for jobs as soon as I could. I sent many applications to various companies for many different positions. I was blessed to find one as quickly as I did.

Tell us about your current job and what you do.

I currently work as a Category Development Manager on the dedicated HEB account team at Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits. In this position, I use data and analytics to develop insight to improve our business, as well as our customers (HEB).

How did your Soules College of Business Degree help you with your current position?

My degree helped me with my job in various ways.  I took multiple courses during my time at UT Tyler that allows me to do the job I do today. Retail analytics, 7-Eleven Case Study, and the course for Microsoft Excel taught me many things that I use on a daily basis when analyzing data.

What was your favorite Soules College of Business class and why?

I had the opportunity to be a part of the 7-Eleven Case study class at UT Tyler. That class was my favorite class because it introduced me to category management, and allowed me to gain some tangible experience in the field. The best part was being able to develop a strategy for 7-Eleven and present it to their merchandising team at their corporate office.

Any Soules College of Business/UT Tyler memories you would like to share?

The 7-Eleven class had some fun times interacting with professors and students, and presenting our findings to the merchandising team was a great experience. Their feedback was also very useful.

What advice would you give current Soules College of Business students?

Gaining work experience is just as valuable as an education. My 6 years of experience in a grocery store helped differentiate me from other candidates. Get to know your professors! They are a useful reference when applying for jobs!

What insight do you have for Soules College of Business students that are about to graduate on how to land their first job?

Be willing to branch out when applying for jobs after graduating (ex. moving to new areas/cities). Don't be afraid to apply for positions were you don't meet all the qualifications (Ex. My job required a masters degree and years of experience in category management. I had just received a bachelors degree and only had roughly 5 months of category management experience. I was able to convey my knowledge of the field and retail during my interviews). Don't be afraid to reach out to the recruiter regarding the position. I reached out to the recruiter to let him know I wanted to interview and apply for the position I have now.

 

Ericka Reina

Tell us a little about you.

My name is Ericka Reina, I am a very happy, adventurous person who likes to travel and try new things. I spend most of my free time drawing or painting, and when I get a chance I go for mini road trips. As a DACA recipient and a Faulconer Scholar, I was able to complete undergraduate school and obtain a job in my field of study. I graduated from The University of Texas at Tyler in the spring of 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing.

What did you do right after graduating?

I started job hunting right away and interviewed with different companies in East Texas. 

Tell us about your current job and what you do.

I am an advertising Associate for Brookshire Brothers in their corporate office in Lufkin, TX. My role is putting together the weekly ad, in-store audio messaging and music for all of Brookshire Brothers retail locations. I also work closely with category managers and graphic designers and write the employee newsletter for our private label brands.

How did your Soules College of Business Degree help you with your current position?

My Soules College of Business degree gave me exposure to real industry experience and data analyzing.

What was your favorite Soules College of Business class and why?

Special Topics in Marketing. We partnered with 7-Eleven and Southern Glazer's Distributors to increase wine sales in 7-Eleven stores. It was an amazing experience to see how we took everything that we learned from all of our Soules College of Business courses and combine them to a real life scenario. I was able to strengthen my data analyzing skills by understanding how to read and interpret the data, do in-depth research, and it also helped me improve my presentation skills. 

Any Soules College of Business/UT Tyler memories you would like to share?

7-Eleven/Southern Glazer’s Case Study. It was a challenging course but I learned a lot and It was a great experience interacting with the professors and being able to present our findings at the 7-Eleven Headquarters.

What advice would you give current Soules College of Business students?

College is not easy, but it’s not impossible! On my last semester, I took 19 hours and worked full time, so I know how critical time management is when you have a busy schedule. Don’t be afraid to talk to your professors, they have the best advice to give you. Try to apply to internships – it’s a great opportunity to gain experience while you work on completing your degree. Experience is just as important as education.

What insight do you have for Soules College of Business students that are about to graduate on how to land their first job? 

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a job right after graduation. Apply to the company you want to work for, even if you don’t meet all the qualifications – it never hurts to try. Be creative with your resume, make it unique and let it stand out. Your resume is a representation of yourself. Also, take advantage of LinkedIn, employers do actually look at your professional profile. Be mindful of what you post in social media – it shows a lot about who you are, and in a lot of cases employers search for you before you interview.