Moon Township, Pa. – High above sea level in the Swiss Alps,
Justin Mayfield dined at a swank, rotating restaurant this past January.
The spellbinding views so fascinated this redshirt junior lacrosse player, who is earning undergraduate degrees in management and marketing and a masters in organizational leadership, that the crisp images remain imbedded in his mind.
"Breathtaking," Mayfield said.
His 10-day stint in Switzerland was part of an ongoing marketing program known as the Global Consulting Project. The initiative connects students from around the globe with students at St. Gallen University in Switzerland. The six-member teams are then tasked with doing market research and developing business plans for select Swiss companies.
The three representatives from
Robert Morris University, Mayfield, Melissa Reinbold and Megan Gold, a member of the women's lacrosse team and Mayfield's girlfriend, were chosen by the head of RMU's marketing department, Jill Maher.
In all, 90 teams, featuring three students each from St. Gallen, are vying for the top three prizes of $6,000, $3,000 and $1,500. Winners will be announced in September as part of a televised event.
"We have a great team, and I think we have a good chance of competing for the top spot," Mayfield said. "This has really been awesome because it's given me a peek into something that I might be doing professionally some day."
Mayfield's team is working with a Swiss industrial company that produces power tools. Due to a confidentiality agreement, Mayfield can not disclose the name of the company or the product.
He did reveal, however, that the project is equal parts challenging and rewarding.
"We've put our time in, but it's been really cool," he said. "We were able to tour the facility and learn about the products. We then set goals and objectives via Skype with our team at St. Gallen. We've completed the market research phase and we're working on the sales plan. When we're done, we'll send it to the client here in Pittsburgh."
In putting the plan together, Mayfield and the team spoke with countless industry experts to gain insight into how to market and, ultimately, sell the tool in the United States.
Mayfield alone has conferred with experts in Washington, South Carolina, Florida and Massachusetts.
"They're all really helpful because they know it's university research," said Mayfield, who first learned about marketing through his father, Jim, the creative director for FleishmanHillard in St. Louis. "I didn't know much about the tool industry when I started this, but it's pretty cool to be involved and to learn so much about it."
Despite all the sweat equity he's dedicating to the project, Mayfield still finds time to maintain a 3.67 grade point average and serve as the captain of the lacrosse team.
This is his best athletic season yet. The Colonials are 8-3 overall and 4-0 in the Northeast Conference. He has three goals and nine assists, good for eighth-best on the team.
Mayfield's talents, and contagious attitude, made an immediate impression on coach
Andrew McMinn.
"Justin has become a tremendous leader for our program," McMinn said. "He truly embodies what we believe is a Colonial lacrosse player. We set standards and expectations for our student-athletes to strive for excellence in everything they pursue. His actions and leadership abilities carry well beyond personal improvements as he challenges those around him to strive for excellence as well."
Mayfield said being named captain by his teammate was enough to make him yodel like one might hear in the Alps.
"In my sporting career, it's the best accomplish I'll ever have," said Mayfield, who took a redshirt last season after enduring knee surgery. "Coming from St. Louis, lacrosse wasn't a big sport. So when I got here, I thought I could bring a lot of energy and a good attitude. Hopefully, guys see me as someone they can look up to and lead us in the right direction. I just feel really blessed that I'm a part of this team and I want to give it my best every time I'm out there."
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