Michael Benning
Major/Department:
Management (concentration in marketing)
Minor/Department:
English
Research project or internship/co-op experience:
Sales/management intern at The Buckle, a national clothing retailer
Extracurricular interests:
IMPROVment, Case Marketing Association, American Advertising Federation
Hometown:
Indianapolis, Indiana
Biography:
Marketing manages to take some of my strongest interests—design, writing and music—and combine them into a career. Even outside of classes, I enjoy looking to see how I can incorporate my experience and talents in these areas to expand and grow organizations I’m in at Case. I also enjoy photography and reading.
Why did you choose to attend Case?:
I chose Case because of its reputation and ease of changing degrees. When I first came to college, I wasn’t exactly positive what I wanted to go into for a career, so flexibility was a very important factor.
What do you like best about Case?:
The accessibility of the professors, especially outside of class, is something not found at many universities. I think it shows the school’s commitment to both its faculty and students.
What's it like to live in Cleveland?:
Aside from the occasionally chaotic weather, Cleveland’s a good city. I love going to concerts, from symphonies to the Grog Shop, and there is no shortage of that in this city.
What has been your biggest challenge as a student at Case?:
Save navigating the construction on Euclid Avenue, I’d say the biggest challenge as a student was my Mechanical Manufacturing class. The amount of new material paired with a lab was a very rewarding, but exhausting, experience.
What do you do for fun on the weekends?:
On any given weekend, I’m either doing some improvisational comedy in the Eldred Blackbox or am at a concert somewhere in the city.
Describe the best professor you've had at Case. What made him or her special?:
My favorite professor would definitely be Nico Lacetera for the class Entrepreneurial Strategy. Not only was the class design very open, but he really encouraged us to think about the cases we studied and was always following up on our questions, even outside of class.
What do you plan to do after graduation, and how has Case helped you reach that goal?:
After graduation, I plan to work in a marketing or advertising firm for a few years to build some career experience before going on to law school.
