Bryan Palmer, a small business and entrepreneurship major, chose to make the most out of a difficult life situation. After being laid off from his job in 2008, Bryan earned an associate’s degree in business administration from Ivy Tech. Ready for the next step, Bryan decided to pursue his bachelor’s degree at the Judd Leighton School of Business and Economics. “I chose the Leighton School because it had a well-known reputation,” explained Bryan.

The father of two young children was re-hired by his former employer and works as a project manager in the manufacturing company. “Working in business,” he explained, “I find my classes at the Leighton School are very relevant to my work.”

One of the school’s biggest advantages, according to Bryan, is the strong focus by the business faculty on real-world applications. In Bryan’s venture creation class, he and his classmates went out and tried to sell a product to local companies. “It was a real wake-up call for those of us who were thinking about starting our own businesses,” he explained. “We also learned a lot about other businesses and their products.”

As Bryan looks to the future, he may want to start his own business or manage a small business someday. Regardless of where his career path may lead, Bryan feels his degree has prepared him well. “I absolutely, recommend the Leighton School,” he commented. “It’s been a good fit for me.”