Alumna Abigail Payne ’21 Accepts Digital Marketing Role at Outdoor Living Brands

Abigail Payne ’21 of Richmond, Virginia, who graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (marketing concentration), accepted an exciting first job in her chosen field of interest, just three months after graduating from Shenandoah University. On Aug. 16, she became a digital marketing specialist with Outdoor Living Brands, a leading franchisor of premium residential and commercial outdoor living services located in Richmond. In her new role, she creates and posts content on the firm’s various social media platforms and supports other areas of marketing as needed.

I’m so happy I found a place to work where I already feel so comfortable. Everyone has been so nice and helpful that it makes me enjoy coming to work every day. I feel very lucky to have found such a great job right out of college, especially related to my major.”

Abigail Payne ’21 | Digital Marketing Specialist | Outdoor Living Brands

While much of Payne’s success may be attributed to her drive, tenacity, and personal accountability, it also reflects her commitment to academic preparation, including earning several digital marketing certifications related to her coursework; accessing job-related experiences in and out of the classroom; and embracing hands-on learning opportunities while serving as marketing team leader for the Shenandoah University School of Business inaugural Legacy Golf Tournament in May, which helped to raise $20,000 for an endowed scholarship to benefit first-generation, high-achieving local and regional applicants who want to pursue a degree in business.

Payne said her experience as the golf tournament marketing team leader challenged her intellectually, often pushing her beyond her comfort zone.

I attended meetings with our media sponsors, iHeartMedia, and helped coordinate pre-event promotion with Dr. Astrid Sheil, Dr. Cathy Loranger, and the university’s Office of Marketing & Communications. This whole experience opened my eyes to event planning and made me want to start a career path in it within the marketing field. It’s something I’m really passionate about, and I’m very grateful to have had this experience.”

Abigail Payne ’21