Many marketers dream of working on big-name commercial ad campaigns. But Clinton blazed a different path. He paired his love of politics and interest in marketing to become a lobbyist. And today he’s using his skills in Harrisburg to advocate for his clients and help them achieve their legislative goals.
As a lobbyist with Greenlee Partners, I spend my days helping my clients achieve their legislative goals. I am responsible for monitoring legislation for potential impacts to my clients. If changes to law are sought by my clients or others, I then advocate for changes to the current law, for the creation of new laws, or against the proposed changes. While my clients engage in their respective businesses, I serve as their brand ambassador before Pennsylvania's government.
I use my degree several ways in my line of work. As with any service industry, I am constantly marketing our firm to prospective clients. In the course of my advocacy on behalf of clients, I market their ideas and concepts to legislators, legislative staff, and other stakeholders to gain their buy-in to make changes to law. Outside the halls and walls of the Capitol, I help market my clients' businesses through social networking to build their respective presence in Harrisburg.
Lobbying can be incredibly demanding on your time during certain periods throughout the year. One of the most rewarding things though, is that the other times provide for great flexibility in your schedule. That flexibility has allowed me to give back to the community through volunteerism with the YMCA of Pennsylvania, Visit Hershey & Harrisburg, Harrisburg Young Professionals, and others. I find it satisfying to be able to help others and give back to the community where I work.
In addition to having an academic program that I found interesting and challenging, Penn College was willing to work with me as an incoming transfer student. The dean sat with me and discussed courses that I had previously taken that did not "automatically transfer" to the curriculum. It was then I knew Penn College faculty was committed to serving the students above the institution.
In my experience, Penn College faculty have taught from a position of experience and practical application of the knowledge contained in the textbooks. It is not just about what the facts and theories are, but what to do with that knowledge outside of the classroom. Additionally, the faculty invests themselves in the students. They prepare you to enter the workforce knowing that you have the tools to hit the ground running.
Don't just take the word of faculty at Penn College that this is the place for you. Reach out and talk to any of the thousands of success stories that got their start from the academic schools at Penn College. The value here is in more than just the degree you earn; it is in the people you will meet and who will help you get along the way.
"Marketing is both a science and an art. I'm an analytical thinker by nature, but the thought of being trapped in spreadsheets for my life was not very appealing. Marketing provided a way to view things beyond just the data and get creative with solving problems."
Clinton Cullison
Clinton received the Distinguished Alumni Award at Fall 2019 commencement. He graduated magna cum laude and continued his success story with Greenlee Partners, a Harrisburg-based lobbying and government affairs firm where he still works today.
Clinton returned to his alma mater for the Student Government Seminar—an annual event hosted at Penn College. He shared his real-world experience as part of the ‘How Government Really Works’ breakout session with area high schoolers.
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