For Immediate Release
Contact: Kim Schmelz, Foundation Director
Phone: 608.822.2379
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: April 16, 2020
Alumni Spotlight – Matt Schneider, 2005 Finance graduate
Fennimore -We have an amazing amount of faculty and staff who are also Southwest Tech alumni. We want to take this time to give them the spotlight to share their Southwest Tech story.
Matt Schneider is a 2005 graduate from the Finance program and now serves as a Student Success Coach.
I first looked into going to Southwest Tech after a teacher in high school suggested it. I am a first-generation college student and did not know much about the process and honestly was not very focused on going to college after high school. I looked into Southwest Tech in March of my senior year and applied in April. It was the only college I applied to. Paul Bell and Karyl Nicholson were my main instructors. They took a kid that did not enjoy school to someone who loved to learn. I owe a lot to them! I definitely would not have had the opportunities I have had without my education at Southwest Tech. I have and still use what I learned in the classroom in my career, in addition, my experience gave me the confidence to continue my education.
Soon after graduation from Southwest Tech, I started as the Marketing and Group Sales Manager for the House on the Rock properties. This was an amazing opportunity to put my education to work. I worked on marketing strategies that ranged from individual travelers, motor coach groups, golf outings, weddings, and overnight packages. A big portion of my position focused on bringing motor coach groups of all ages to Wisconsin and the House on the Rock. I traveled all over North America with a group from Wisconsin and the tri-state area promoting this region as a destination. I also took on roles as President of Circle Wisconsin and the Southwest Wisconsin Visitors Bureau. I worked at House on the Rock for eight years and decided a career change was necessary when having a family. The last year I was there I had 25 work trips that required flying and that was tough with a young family. The opportunity came up at Southwest Tech and I jumped on it. I have now been here for the past six years.
Building a network is extremely important and I would encourage all students to get involved on-campus and find an internship. I am very proud to work with students that were just like me. Many are in the same position I was in and advising them through situations such as which program to choose, navigating the college process, looking for that first career job, and transferring credits is very rewarding.
Outside of work I’m passionate about my family, friends, hunting, and trapshooting! #swtcproud #swtcalumni
