Taking Care of Business

KELLEY HICKMAN ’19 MBA ’21 set a goal for herself a decade ago: She would earn her bachelor’s degree by 2021. Not only did she meet her goal, with time to spare, but she also surpassed it.

“I’m going to have to my bachelor’s and master’s degrees,” says Hickman (pictured above, at left), who graduated from Alverno’s MBA program this May and gave the benediction at the commencement ceremony.

Hickman’s desire to keep climbing reflects her desire to continue sharpening her business acumen. “My mind is so entrepreneurial,” she says. “I want to learn more.”

Hickman has put her entrepreneurial spirit to work in Alverno’s A-Store, which she has managed since summer 2019 as a graduate student assistant. Her first order of business? Turn the physical store into a warm and welcoming place. “People are stressed. They come to the store so they can get away for a minute, shop and listen to good music,” she says.

Meanwhile, Hickman had a crash course in retail: reviewing inventory levels, evaluating pricing, identifying vendor partners and proposing new merchandise. She did all of that, and more — like successfully launching an online storefront. The site (the brainchild of Brooke Wegner ’99, MA ’03, assistant dean of students and a fellow alumna) debuted last spring.

Shop the A-Store anytime online at astore.mybrightsites.com. For questions or current store hours, please call 414-382-6505.