Graduating from USC Upstate in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation marked the beginning of my career, but much of what prepared me for it came from my experiences at Upstate.
Outside of the classroom, I represented USC Upstate on the Cross Country and Track & Field teams. Balancing school, training, competition, and travel taught me discipline, time management, and accountability. Those are lessons I still rely on every day in my career.
My time in the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics helped prepare me for the business world in ways I did not fully realize until after graduating. I owe a thank you to all of my professors for the time they invested in me and for sharing their own experiences.
One class that stands out was Sales and Management with professor Kim Land. Her class gave me the chance to learn sales in a hands-on way and develop skills that I now use every day in my career.
After graduating, I entered the electrical industry with EF Lombardi, a manufacturers’ sales agency, where I currently serve as the Eastern Carolina Territory Representative.
I work directly with electrical distributors, manufacturers, contractors, and customers throughout my territory. I have quickly learned that sales is less about simply selling a product and more about knowing your customers, understanding what they need, and building relationships that last.
My Entrepreneurship and Innovation degree has also helped with the way I manage my territory. I have to treat it almost like my own business. I am responsible for finding new opportunities, growing accounts, supporting customers, introducing products, and helping the manufacturers we represent grow throughout Eastern Carolina.
My background in athletics has carried into my career as well. Sales, much like running, requires consistency. Results do not always come immediately, and there are going to be good and bad days. What matters is continuing to put in the work and improve over time.
I am still early in my career, but I can already see how my time at USC Upstate helped prepare me for where I am today. I am thankful for the professors, teammates, and experiences I had at Upstate and proud to carry those lessons with me as I continue building my career in the electrical industry.
Get in the spotlight.
Each month, we spotlight one of our alumni to learn about their experiences since graduation. Through their stories, often in their own words, we discover the impact Upstate has made on their journeys.