The Orr Fellowship: Building Indy’s Future

In less than 24 hours, I received two phone calls that launched the start of my unexpected career path in marketing technology. In December 2012, the former president and CEO of TechPoint, Jim Jay, called to extend a job offer on behalf of Right On Interactive (ROI). The following afternoon founder and CEO of ROI, Troy Burk, called to welcome me to the team. I was a 22-year-old Ball State senior with minimal software experience quickly welcomed into what some consider the “Marketing Technology Capitol of the World,” more commonly referred to as Indianapolis. How did an opportunity to work for one of Indy’s most dynamic, high-growth companies come my way? I give credit to a combination of my hard work and the The Governor Bob Orr Indiana Entrepreneurial Fellowship.

Named after former Indiana Governor Bob Orr, the Fellowship is an opportunity for undergraduate students seeking an outstanding professional experience following graduation. Fellows are selected from hundreds of applicants each year to break into the professional world through paid positions with thriving Indiana tech companies. The Fellowship aims to identify, attract and develop Indiana’s next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs, and this mission is rooted in the personal and professional growth initiatives taken on by fellows throughout their two-year Orr tenure.

“Many smart, driven people will be individually successful. However, when smart, driven people are brought together and empowered with experience, confidence, and a powerful network, extraordinary things can happen.” – Mike Langellier, Orr Fellowship Class of 2004 and President & CEO at TechPoint

After a whirlwind semester of interviews with the Fellowship’s Board of Directors and host company C-suites, ROI ultimately hired me as a client success manager to support clients on their Customer Lifecycle Marketing™ platform. Since officially joining the team in June 2013, I have made great strides in my knowledge of the product and marketing technology as a whole. The work I do as an entry-level employee is important and meaningful to the overall success of my company and the community. I truly enjoy spending my days with the ROI team and working together to win, keep and grow business not only for ROI, but for our valuable clients as well.

The Orr Fellowship and ROI have dedicated their time and resources to guide, support, and challenge me to prosper both personally and professionally.  There is a joint effort to guide my early career in a positive and meaningful direction, and I am appreciative and thankful for this extraordinary opportunity.