Collegiate Times

Image: 2012-09-19 22:26:28

Building a personal brand

In addition to building a voice for the College of Business, PRISM allows students to develop their personal brand and follow their dreams, as Wertalik’s painting states. According to Wertalik, it is this aspect of the organization that continues to attract valuable, motivated students.

Every fall, Wertalik takes a dozen students to New York City to meet with various marketing firms. This year’s group will leave the first week of October, visiting various high profile firms as Spotify, ESPN, McCANN and Facebook.

Petrucci attended last year’s trip as a new member of PRISM and is scheduled to go again this year.

“We will present a video that will promote PRISM, our end goals and other projects that we are working on,” Petrucci said.

Petrucci said that while last year’s trip was more about gaining feedback and asking for help, this year’s trip is aimed towards presenting what PRISM has already accomplished and what it has to offer.

“We are visiting different agencies this year with a whole new message,” Petrucci said. “We are proud of where we have come.”

Students not only get the opportunity to learn about key dynamics of industry marketing, but they also get to network with these professionals.

Each year, there are several students who get a job or internship through this trip; this year, Wertalik will be visiting several former students at their new industry jobs.

“At the end of the day, it is all about the students,” Wertalik said. “It is through the high profile students (PRISM) has had and their word-of-mouth that has brought our strong force for expanding out.”

Recognized by students

PRISM is not the only entity that has been gaining notoriety in the past year. This fall, Wertalik was recognized as a “Favorite Professor” on Bloomberg’s BusinessWeek.

While Wertalik expressed excitement for the personal recognition, she placed more emphasis on the award’s potential to bring light to Pamplin as a whole.

“I was shocked and moved. Personally, it was one of those pinnacle moments in my career,” Wertalik said. “But overall, it gave an opportunity for Pamplin to shine among some major business schools. It put us where we should be.”

The meaningful aspect of the award for Wertalik was the fact that it was determined by students.

“It was a once in a lifetime moment, to see my face up there and it was because of the students — that is why it meant more than anything,” Wertalik said. “My job is to launch their brand so if I do good job, they will remember that.”

Petrucci, a senior marketing management and studio art major, has had Wertalik for two marketing classes in addition to her involvement in PRISM.

Petrucci described Wertalik as a phenomenal professor, a mother figure, and a professional role model.

“I couldn’t think of any other faculty member to be more deserving,” Petrucci said. “It is all for her students; her passion resonates with them. That is why so many people are in PRISM — she gets people excited about it.”

As a result of chasing her dreams, Wertalik can add to her collection of awards and memories. 

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A version of this article appeared in the Sep 20 issue of the Collegiate Times.