#SmealWeeklyRecap featuring John Peterson, ’03 Marketing
It has been so inspiring to hear the great stories shared by alumni on how their companies are reacting to the current pandemic. Thank you for providing positive news! Make sure you sign up for one of our Smeal Lifelong Learning Webinars or download a Smeal Lifelong Learning Podcast episode to continue your professional development. To view articles collected on entrepreneurship, visit this link. Learn about alumnus John Peterson, and how he found his passion as a Business Consultant for the Penn State Small Business Development Center at University Park!
Featured Alum: John Peterson (’03 Marketing) – Business Consultant, the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
John graduated from Smeal in 2003 and is currently a Business Consultant for the Penn State Small Business Development (SBDC) Center at University Park. He served as the Interim Director for the Penn State SBDC office for 2019, responsible for the overall management of the center. Now, his primary focus is providing confidential, one-on-one consulting to startups, and existing businesses within Lycoming, Centre, Clinton, and Mifflin counties. He enjoys working with current businesses to help them grow or assist with various needs. The best part of the job to John is that each day, he is helping job creation and business growth in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania as well as assisting the business communities with innovation and resources. John enjoys this role as many of his family members were or are entrepreneurs in various businesses. From this exposure, he learned about the opportunities, failures, and successes that happen with any business. As a business consultant, John has found his passion working with small companies and entrepreneurs. John lives in Happy Valley with his wife Christina and their two sons. In the community, he is the Cub Master for Pack 67, volunteer for State College Little League, and a coach for Centred Basketball. He is also part of the Happy Valley LaunchBox Advisor Program, Bellefonte SpringBoard advisory board member, Downtown Bellefonte Inc Economic Vitality committee member, Smeal College of Business Hammond Society member, Penn State DuBois Alumni Society board director and past Smeal College of Business Alumni Society board at-large director.
John's career tip: Personal goals help you in the workplace and life. To reach any goal with long term results through life and work is about getting better each day, not overnight. It is a good habit to create. Consider putting “first things first” in front of your life or work. Spend time on what is most important in the greater scheme.
Topics for the week!
Graduation 2020! Congratulations to our graduating class! Follow #Smealgrad #SmealAlumniAre!
Smeal Lifelong Learning Podcasts - Available on demand!
You can download them anytime on podcast apps like Apple, Spreaker, Castbox, Spotify and Google Play or visit our website to listen in!
Entrepreneurial podcasts:
Smeal Entrepreneurs: Elysium - A State of Bliss with Elyse Lupin ('02 Marketing)
Smeal Entrepreneurs - Finding Passion Through Creativity and Storytelling with Nick Savino ('18 Marketing)
Entrepreneurs: We have had extremely knowledgeable alumni entrepreneurial speakers in March, and April, with more to come in June! All webinar presenters added segments on the current crisis so be sure to visit our webinar library at the link above. Our last webinar until fall will be with, Smeal alumnus Phil Myers who can help your company be a success in a post-COVID world so please register at the link below. This article published in Forbes, briefly addresses how some entrepreneurs are adapting to a COVID-10 world by adapting, "hitting it hard," and broadening their perspective. CNBC shared that our innovators (entrepreneurs) will be called upon to solve problems related to the pandemic and preparing for any future problems as well. EY shared five things to learn from entrepreneurs who are meeting the challenge of COVID-19. Zoom was started in 2011, launching its software in 2013. For those investors in ZOOM, congratulations! CNBC reported that Zoom daily users spiked to 200 million in March, up from 10 million in December. The Verge says that they initially mislead with the number of 300 million and that Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and others are still chasing Zoom with new features and free services.
Upcoming Smeal #Lifelonglearning Webinars - Secure your spot today!
The webinars are LIVE on Wednesdays at Noon ET. Register for Spring/Fall 2020! Everyone is welcome!
New Developments in Digital Marketing - with Smeal's Dr. Arvind Rangaswamy, Anchel Professor of Marketing and former Senior Associate Dean for Research - May 20th
The Digital Imperative for Your Business in a Post-COVID World with Smeal alumnus, Phil Myers, General Partner at PerformanceEdge Partners (PEP) - June 17th
LinkedIn Optimization and Networking Best Practices - with our Smeal Alumni Career Services Career Coaches, Dr. Jenifer Nicholas and Doreen Glenning - September 9th
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Career Coaching Session for Smeal Alumi find out how we can assist in your career transition, working from home and career resources!