Kaitlyn Riehle is a recent marketing graduate from Athens, Wis., who decided that making a big impact could start long before graduation. As a student consultant at UW-Eau Claire’s Small Business Development Center, Riehle has worked on behalf of area small business for the past year. (Photo: UW-Eau Claire)
As University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire graduates know, the desire to go out into the world and start making a positive impact is fierce, and graduates prove every day that the difference is theirs to make—in local, national and global level.
Kaitlyn Riehle is a recent marketing graduate from Athens, Wis., who decided that making a big impact could start long before graduation. As a student consultant at UW-Eau Claire’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Riehle has worked on behalf of area small business for the past year.
“It’s been an incredible experience,” says Riehle. “I’ve worked a little bit of everything from consulting with a law firm and a construction company to consulting with businesses in areas like nutrition training, horticulture and food service.”
Riehle has consistently brought her passion and drive for business to assist over 40 SBDC clients in nine Wisconsin counties on projects such as website and logo design, social media strategy, business plan development and implementation of successful marketing strategies.
Harlie Juedes, interim director of the SBDC, says Riehle has been a strong asset to their team, an empathetic communicator who is ready to meet any challenge in front of her in the business.
“Beyond her technical expertise, Kaitlyn has a natural ability for leadership and collaboration,” says Juedes. “Her ability to manage multiple projects with precision and dedication while maintaining client confidentiality reflects her strong work ethic and reliability. Kaitlyn brings enthusiasm and a proactive approach to everything she does.”
This enthusiasm and proactive approach is reflected in all elements of the Blugold student experience for Riehle, especially her dedication to student organizations and her participation in the University Honors Program. Riehle’s high-impact student experiences include:
- Serving as vice president of the American Marketing Association chapter at UW-Eau Claire
- Podcast Manager for Eau Claire Hometown Media
- Student presenter at UW-Eau Claire’s Celebration of Research and Creative Activity
- Social media interns for the College of Business
- Co-founder of the new student organization Student Leaders and Managers Organization
Dr. Scott Swanson, professor and chair of the department of marketing and supply chain management, praised Riehle’s accomplishments and contributions to the College of Business.
“Among all the students I have taught over 25 years, Kaitlyn stands out for her extraordinary dedication, curiosity, and skills that she developed academically and through practical experiences through AMA, various employment positions, multiple internships and community service.” says Swanson.
Riehle, who says she started as a psychology major at UW-Eau Claire, will graduate in three and a half years.
“While I didn’t expect to change my major, I think switching to marketing made a lot of sense for me,” she says. “The field of marketing is a focus on how people think, why they behave the way they do as consumers, and how to influence their thinking – my background in psychology has served me well.”
After graduation, Riehle plans to pursue opportunities in Eau Claire or the Twin Cities area, with a possible focus on marketing analytics.
Written by UW-Eau Claire
Link to original story: https://www.uwec.edu/stories/cob-grad-kaitlyn-riehle-ready-business
