Guy E. Curtis III ’02 chose Shenandoah because of the opportunity to play on the men’s basketball team. He also was attracted to the small class sizes the university offered and the location of the campus. “SU is a great place to gain a lot of experience in a small, but impressive environment,” said Curtis. “With great faculty and staff in a unique setting, the university offers so much.”
Curtis’ fondest memories of Shenandoah involve his time on the men’s basketball team and being a part of something bigger than himself. He enjoyed when they traveled to San Antonio, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada, but also the practices and games.
Curtis is the director of marketing at Laurel Ridge Community College (formerly Lord Fairfax) in Middletown, Virginia. In this position, he develops a yearly comprehensive marketing strategy and supporting budget to achieve revenue and student growth goals. He is also the owner of G3 Golf Tournaments where he supports non-profits and corporations with fundraising tournaments and events.
In 2019, Curtis received the Learning Resources Network International Award for Excellence in Marketing for his work on Laurel Ridge’s Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education Program. He is also active across the Virginia Community College System in marketing and best practices, and is recognized as a leader in their professional development and continuing education units for marketing.
The most rewarding part of Curtis’ current position is helping individuals find careers and elevate their earning potential, all while supporting local businesses in need of a highly skilled workforce through his marketing strategies. During his career, he has also enjoyed working with local sports event promotion company Russ Potts Productions (in the national spotlight facilitating events), helping launch business operations and generate revenues for the Sportsplex Indoor Sports & Event Center, and supporting student development and marketing recreation activities for George Mason University’s Athletic/Recreation Program.
Shenandoah prepared Curtis for the workforce through many different ways, including an internship, practicum, work study position as well as being a member of the men’s basketball team. “From soft skills to practical business practices, SU’s all around experience prepared me well for my career,” said Curtis.
Curtis’ advice to students is: “It’s important to align your interests with your skills and abilities. If you can determine your level of ability, it’s important to understand if you are a good fit or not for your chosen career. If you’re destined to be the CEO, president or leader of any organization, be sure to take steps to prepare yourself for a leadership role by taking additional course work in leadership, volunteer in student or non-profit organizations, and read/listen to the latest thought leadership speakers. Becoming a leader is a continuous effort to grow your skills and experiences.”