Penn State Brandywine graduate Amelia Klaus established her leadership skills, not only in the classroom, but also by becoming involved in countless ways with the Media campus. Her hard work paid off a week after earning her bachelor's degree in business in May 2013, as she accepted a job she enjoys every day.
As an account coordinator for Health4Brands (H4B) Catapult (part of the HAVAS advertising group) in Hamilton, N.J., Klaus is responsible for managing the finances of the organization's digital practice. She assists in forecasting brands' monthly goals and manages their budgets, making sure they don't exceed their financial plan and that they're allocating their resourses properly.
While a student at Penn State Brandywine, Klaus served as the vice president for the Brandywine Student Government Association (SGA), treasurer of the campus' Marketing and Advertising Club, worked as an Orientation Leader and competed in the Kohl's/Smeal case competition twice. These opportunities gave her great leadership experience and provided her with valuable skills she uses in her new job with H4B Catapult.
"I value all of my involvements at Brandywine very highly," Klaus said. "Collectively, all of them have really prepared me for my job."
While finishing her last semester at Brandywine, she secured an internship at the marketing firm Stratus Interactive, located in West Chester, with fellow classmates and now Brandywine graduates Amanda Dzwill and Brett Robinson. The trio was able to work and learn together, giving them real world experience before graduation. Klaus explained that even though she has taken on new responsibilities with H4B Catapult, she applies concepts learned at her internship to her job every day.
Brandywine Instructor in Marketing and Management Lori Elias was a big part of Klaus' success. Elias taught Klaus in several of her marketing classes and served as the faculty adviser for the Kohl's/Smeal case competition and the Marketing and Advertising Club.
"I think it is only the beginning of what she can achieve in the advertising and marketing world," Elias said. "One of the things I liked about Amelia is that she always questioned things. She never took things at face value. She really tried to dig into assignments and readings and get the most she could out of them."
Klaus pictures herself with her new company for the foreseeable future and feels right at home after only four months of work. She's ready to take on any task thrown her way and is excited to see what the future will hold.
"There is so much room for growth and the sky is the limit," Klaus said. "I took this job because it isn't just a job, it's the start of my career. The culture at Catapult is amazing. It's intense, challenging and a lot of hard work."
