An Idea Maker

Marketing grad Shelby Milock has big ideas for the world of small business—as an entrepreneur and student, she’s already making it happen. 

Shelby Milock has made her mark at Fox Valley Technical College for some time now. When some health problems interfered with her education at Oshkosh West High School, Milock turned to FVTC to complete her high school diploma in 2006. Then she enrolled in FVTC’s Marketing program, located on the Oshkosh Riverside campus, earning her associate degree in 2009. But she’s not done yet.

"I’m working on an entrepreneurship certificate at the Oshkosh campus also, which I’ll finish up this semester,” says the 21-year-old, who describes herself as an aspiring entrepreneur. “And then I’m going to get my associate degree in Business Management.”

Don’t misunderstand. It isn’t that Milock can’t make up her mind. She just believes the hands-on, real world experience she’s getting in the classroom at Fox Valley Tech is something she couldn’t get elsewhere.

Ahead of the Curve

As part of the coursework for her marketing degree, Milock completed three different projects—each of which replicated the kind of work most students never see until they hit the workplace. “We completed a marketing plan for a real start-up company, created a full-blown advertising campaign for an Oshkosh steel manufacturer, and did a market research project for the Fox Valley School of Massage,” says Milock. “Working on real jobs with real clients helped me decide that this is what I want to do the rest of my life.”

The “rest of her life” is happening at a remarkable pace. Along with Milock’s work in the classroom, she has three different jobs, including her own fledgling freelance marketing business and a job working for her mother’s marketing and Web design firm. She’s also active in the FVTC chapter of Delta Epsilon Chi, a marketing and management association for college students, and has worked on campus as a volunteer and a tutor. “She is unstoppable,” says Sandy Plank, an FVTC Marketing instructor. “Shelby knows what she wants and where she’s going, and she has the ability to really connect with people.”

That combination helped Milock win the 2009 STAR Ambassador award, which recognizes the most outstanding student from each of the 16 Wisconsin technical colleges. In winning the award, Milock won the right to give the commencement address for her graduating class, an experience she described as “absolutely amazing.”

All in the Family

Milock’s love for FVTC is perhaps rooted in her family’s genes. She is part of the third generation in her family to take classes at FVTC, following in the footsteps of her grandmother, dad, mom, stepmother, older brother, and one of her sisters. “My sister, Krystal Maloney, studied marketing at Fox Valley Tech before me,” says Milock. “It was inspiring to see someone accomplish so much in such a short time. And she gave the credit to the courses and her advisors.”

“Sandy and Teri Stark, my Delta Epsilon Chi advisor, are like family to me,” Milock adds. “The people at Fox Valley Tech have a lot of passion for teaching, and they care about their students.”

When Milock finishes her studies at FVTC, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in Marketing; then she wants to work with small companies. “As long as I can help others generate ideas like so many people did for me, that will be very worthwhile,” she says.

A Touch of Entrepreneurialism

Ready to start your own business? FVTC’s Entrepreneurs Start-Up Venture certificate program can provide you with the training you need.

FVTC’s Entrepreneurs Start-Up Venture certificate program prepares budding entrepreneurs to start their own business.

Courses Include:
Entrepreneurial Innovation/Choice Analysis (3 credits)
Planning Your Entrepreneurial Venture (3 credits)
QuickBooks (1 credit)
Entrepreneurial Marketing (3 credits)
Venture Financing (2 credits)
Business Internship (1 credit)