Meet Gator in Retail: Susan Chronister

Susan studied at UF and the Miller Retail Center, where she gained valuable connections and guidance toward a career in retail. While attending UF, she was on the Student Advisory Board of the Miller Retail Center and had two internships, one at JCPenney and one at Hallmark. After graduation, Susan held many positions in merchandising, management, and sales and is now leading sales at consumer electronic company, Belkin. Susan thinks the soft skills that are imperative for students to develop are listening skills, collaboration, adaptability, critical thinking, and being able to put critical thinking into action. Susan says she uses her knowledge of algebra and Excel regularly. She believes that UF and the Miller Retail Center are the best places to learn and build connections that will assist students in their success. She believes it is just as important to have people you know as it is to have a breadth of knowledge in business. The people at the Center gave Susan the guidance and mentorship to pursue a career in retail. Before her involvement with the Miller Retail Center, Susan didn’t know what career path she wanted to take, and it was the Center and the people there helped her find her path. This is the reason she wanted to come back and sit on the Executive Board for the Miller Retail Center. She wants to be able to provide networking and connection to students like she was given when she was a student. She is proud to be a part of the Center that provides students the opportunity to become strong candidates for retail jobs through classes, mentorship, internships, and events.