Business grad uses HC education to help investors succeed
FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Huntington, Ind. " Money is a very personal subject to most people. That's why Huntington College business graduate Jeff Dieringer takes time to listen to his clients about their investments. He gives them sound advice, taking time to explain things thoroughly through the perspective of wise stewardship. Dieringer, a 2000 graduate, is a broker with Edward Jones in St. Mary's, Ohio. Though he said his occupation is given a bad reputation by money-hungry advisors ready to make advancements for themselves, Dieringer relies on the Lord for guidance.
I can see how people fall into a trap of not necessarily doing what's right for the customer and client because of the money they need to bring in, Dieringer said. It's a daily battle to win people's trust, but if I do things morally and ethically right for my clients, I know the Lord will provide.
As a commission-based salesman, Dieringer puts his focus on the things he can control " such as his attitude, his presentation and how many clients he meets with " and not those things that are out of his control " such as the specific amount of money he makes. Before he ever entered the working world, Dieringer was prepared for such issues by his business professors at Huntington.
Professor O'Donnell talked quite a bit about real-life issues, especially about people who are money hungry and dishonest. Because Professor O'Donnell and Professor McEowen had worked in the business world before teaching, they shared many stories that went along with the instruction. I thought that was outstanding and made the business concepts easier to grasp, Dieringer recalled.
It was HC's biannual Visiting Executive Seminar (VES) led by Professor O'Donnell that gave Dieringer the links he needed to get his first job out of college. Through connections he made at VES, Dieringer landed an internship at the local Edward Jones company where he sat in on client meetings and learned how to service accounts. After his internship, Dieringer received a positive letter of recommendation that helped him start his career after college.
Huntington College not only prepared Dieringer for the working world, but also allowed him to grow spiritually. When he arrived at HC as a freshman, he knew no one. The friendships he developed and the professors he learned from challenged him daily in his Christian walk.
HC gave the accountability that I really needed as a person and as a Christian in order to grow, Dieringer stated. It was given to me, not necessarily because I sought after it, but because it was what the College was all about. My experience at Huntington was priceless.
As a member of the Huntington College baseball team, Dieringer was able to play the game he loved while being positively influenced by his teammates and coaches. He said that while at Huntington, he was around godly coaches that he admired.
Baseball is a sport that I truly enjoy and love, and to be able to play it while spending time around great individuals and coaches for four years was outstanding. I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything in the world, Dieringer said.
HC's nurturing atmosphere and the friendships of many students, faculty and staff during his four years on campus allowed Dieringer to develop close ties and make connections that would shape his future.
I don't feel like I would have been as prepared to go into the business field as I was if I hadn't come to Huntington College, Dieringer admitted. I think if you're a Christian going into business, there's not a better place to get real-world experience from the professors and the opportunities offered at HC.
Huntington College is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 60 academic concentrations. USNews & World Report ranks Huntington among the top comprehensive colleges in the Midwest. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington College is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in Huntington, Indiana. The College is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
