Glenn Kirby is always looking for opportunities to grow and learn.
When Kirby heard about UVM’s Upskill Vermont Scholarship Program, he jumped at the chance to enroll.
“I enjoy being a lifelong learner, and if there’s a chance for me to learn something new, I am right on it,” says Kirby. He graduated from Temple University in 2018 and now works as an Associate Account Manager for Fuse Marketing in Winooski.
The Upskill Vermont Scholarship Program offers Vermonters two free online career workshops to gain the skills, confidence, and support needed to achieve their career goals.
“It was a no-brainer for me to take courses through the Upskill Vermont program that Vermont offered to residents for free. The courses offered provide a lot of value.” he says.
Kirby enrolled in the Digital Marketing Fundamentals course and Fitter, Faster, Stronger course. The online courses served Kirby professionally and personally—to hone his digital marketing skills at Fuse and learn about nutrition as he hopes to qualify for the 2023 Boston Marathon.
Kirby, who previously worked at Red Bull, joined Fuse in January 2020. His first task was to recruit, interview, hire, and manage 50 TikTok college brand ambassadors. Now he works directly with Fuse clients to deliver marketing solutions as an associate account manager.
In the Digital Marketing Fundamentals course, Kirby learned about the latest developments in everything from SEO to paid search to mobile marketing.
“The digital marketing landscape is constantly evolving. We’re always finding a new way to get in touch with consumers,” he says.
Meanwhile, Kirby jumped at the chance to take to the Fitter, Faster, Stronger course when he learned that instructor Jamie Sheahan is a nutritionist, personal trainer, and runner. Kirby will run in the Philadelphia Marathon in November, a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon.
“I don’t know much about nutrition and diet, but I know those two aspects can help me train and recover smarter as a runner.” he says. “I became more cognizant of what fuel I am putting into my body through this course. This knowledge has helped me reach some personal goals.”
As for his professional goals, Kirby says Upskill has helped him grow his career at Fuse.