Expanding Boundaries Pays Off
Chris Lubbesmeyer came to Peninsula College after serving in the Navy from 2000- 2014, where he did tours in Afghanistan and Kuwait. His decision to attend Peninsula College was influenced by the college’s outstanding veteran program. “I called quite a few different colleges, but Peninsula College sold me on the first call,” Lubbesmeyer said. “Terry Smith and the Student Services staff were outstanding at expressing the various ways the college supports veterans. Their communication and encouragement sealed the deal.”
He gives credit for his success in the business field to Dr. Jill Snyder of Peninsula College’s Business Administration program, who challenged him to continually improve his skills while he pursued his degree. “Dr. Snyder inspired me to be actively involved in the campus community,” he said. “She really encouraged me to expand my boundaries and explore new opportunities. I was tutoring and mentoring other students, achieving an internship assignment, combined with working, and everything worked out perfectly.”
As a part of his degree, Lubbesmeyer successfully completed an internship at First Federal Savings and Loan in Port Angeles. During the first week, he was given a set of financial statements by the credit administrator, and Lubbesmeyer was able to conduct a trend analysis utilizing various ratios that he’d been taught in Peninsula College’s accounting program. The administrator was impressed by his level of knowledge as an intern and what he was learning in the business administration courses at Peninsula College. Lubbesmeyer was encouraged to take an entry level position at First Federal as a customer service representative, hoping to get his foot in the door for future advancement opportunities.
Upon graduation from Peninsula College in June of 2016, he received an AAST degree in Business Administration- Entrepreneurship Foundations. Lubbesmeyer says he is looking forward to completing PC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management program, but has put those ambitions on hold while he works at his new career.