My AU story started in the 1950s when my uncle Earl started a grocery store, formerly known as Hawkins Market in Ashland. My family is originally from West Virginia, and when the store finally got going, a lot of them followed suit and made the journey to northeast Ohio to work at the family store. Earl’s life story is a classic example of “The American Dream,” and was a major influence in my decision to start my own business. I came to Ashland because I wanted to pursue my MBA at a smaller, Christ-centered school where I could network and meet people on a personal basis from different backgrounds and nationalities. I’ve loved my time here at Ashland so far, and I look forward to traveling and learning about international business while building my own in a grass-roots type environment like my uncle did many years back.
