Erin Twenter
April 28, 2020
Erin Twenter (2019)
Erin Twenter grew up in Pilot Grove, MO before she enrolled at Truman State University. After college, she moved to Kansas City where she worked in marketing designing training manuals. She later moved to Columbia, MO and currently work as a Marketing Coordinator and Event Planner for FläktGroup SEMCO.
Erin has a graduate certificate in Non-Profit Management from the University of Missouri and is currently working on her MBA also from the University of Missouri. She is a member of the local Rotaract organization and still have close contact with the friends she made at Truman State University!
What year did you graduate and what was your concentration?
I graduated in December 2015 with a major in Communication (Public Communication) and English (Writing).
What extra-/co-curricular activities did you do?
I was involved in Tau Lambda Sigma, Communication Club, Advertising and Public Relations Club, Lambda Pi Eta, and Omicron Delta Kappa.
Did you go to grad school? If so, where? Was it immediately after you left Truman or did you wait? Why?
I am currently obtaining my MBA from the University of Missouri. I had been at my job in marketing at FläktGroup SEMCO for 3 years and decided I wanted to understand the business better as a whole. An MBA seemed like the perfect way to enhance my skills and learn new ones so I am now working full time and attending school part time!
What was your first job after graduation?
I worked in marketing at a company called IST in Kansas City. I designed project management documents and training manuals.
Erin in a helicopter at a recent company event she planned (2020).
What work do you do/What are you doing now?
I now work as a marketing coordinator and event planner at FläktGroup SEMCO in Columbia, MO. I am in charge of lead generation and planning events for our customers.
How has your Liberal Arts/COMM education helped you?
The liberal arts emphasis at the Truman gave me skills in areas I would otherwise have avoided. My biology class helped me with my internship at John. D. Macarthur Beach State Park. My Spanish classes have helped me on several trips. My statistics and calculus classes helped me better understand data at my current job.
Which class did you dislike at the time you took it, but now you’re grateful you took it?
I was not a fan of Calculus but ultimately, it has actually helped me!
What was your greatest accomplishment at Truman?
My greatest accomplishment at Truman was my involvement in extra curricular organizations. Students learn a lot in classes, but the extracurricular organizations such as Advertising and Public Relations Club allowed me to put those ideas into practice. These organizations are also a great way to learn more about and get involved with the Kirksville community.
Erin (2nd from left) and friends after graduation (2015).
Why is Truman a good place for a student to study?
Truman’s small size makes the campus feel like a community. By the end of my experience at Truman, I was able to recognize most of the students and had developed a wide network of friends and future contacts.
What would you say a COMM student should absolutely do while at Truman?
I think a COMM student should definitely explore the concentrations thoroughly by taking time to explore different organizations in the department. This could be Advertising and Public Relations Club or one of the campus media outlets. They should do this early to decide which concentration they truly fit in with.
What advice would you give someone who wants to go into the same line of work as you?
I would advise students to try and job shadow at as many places as they can. It’s difficult to understand the culture of a company or a line of work unless you are up close. Job shadowing and meeting with alumni in your future line of work are a great way to start understanding different companies.
What do you miss most about campus/Kirksville?
I miss the close community in Kirksville. I loved going to the lake with friends, shopping in the square, and trying out all of the restaurants. The small community was a great place for me to study!
What tag line would you create for the COMM department at Truman?
“Communication: Worth the walk to Barnett.” (Editor’s note: Seriously, it’s not that far.)
If you could come back to Truman and teach a class for a semester, what would be its title and what would it be about?
I would teach a class called “Your First Job” and I would go over things like benefits, finding the company culture that is right for you, interviewing, and finding out what motivates you.
Erin right before graduation (2015).