When it comes to business, you can never have too many connections. For Taylor Turner, the networking she did at Eastern Illinois University not only facilitated a seamless transition from college to the work world, but continues to come in handy as she pushes forward with her marketing career.
Turner, owner of both a bachelor’s degree in marketing and an MBA from EIU’s School of Business, is the marketing manager for Prairie City Bakery in the Chicago suburbs, a position she’s held since finishing up grad school last year. It all started when she met the company’s founder and president on campus.
“I met Bill Skeens at a professional event at EIU,” Turner remembers. “We just kept in contact, and when this position became available he kept me in mind. I believed I fit well in the company, and he thought so too.”
That’s hardly where the theme of networking ends, though. Turner says the connections she developed at Eastern have continued to pay off as she’s gotten her career off the ground at Prairie City.
“Since I’ve gotten the job, I’ve actually stayed in contact with a few professors,” says Turner. “I’ve reached out and I’ve had questions here in the real world. They’re still there for me, even though I’m not a student anymore.”
It’s safe to say EIU has impacted Turner in a positive way and continues to do so.
“EIU has definitely prepared me for anything that comes my way,” Turner says. “Because every day is different, I have to be in tough situations. EIU has given me the confidence to see those objectives through and make sure what we do here is successful.”
