WINONA, Minn. - Nicci (Johnson) Schoen was a 4-year member of the Winona State Track & Field team. A Prior Lake, Minn. native, Schoen graduated in 2009 with a degree in Marketing along with a minor in Business Administration. She currently works in St. Paul, Minn. for Ergodyne, a company that designs and produces safety work gear.
 
 
What was your favorite sports memory during your time at WSU?
I was able to attend the Drake Relays a few times and it was such an amazing experience to be able to compete alongside some really top-notch athletes.
 
What would you say is your greatest athletics and/or academic accomplishment during your time at WSU?
My greatest athletic accomplishment was hitting my PR in the 200 and the 400 in the same day at a meet where my family was able to attend. My greatest academic accomplishment was being able to network with the help of my professors to get a job at Fastenal which ended up launching my career to where it is today.
 
How has your WSU athletics experience been influential throughout your life?
Being a college athlete teaches you a kind of motivation that is really special. If you want to be great in both an academic sense as well as a physical sense, you need to be structured and regimented. I think the reason I am able to take on as much as I am now is because I had to figure out how to juggle a lot while I was in that learning phase of my life.
 
Please share any recent professional or personal accomplishments.
I will be celebrating my 13th year at my current company. I was recently promoted to Associate Director of Brand Experience, which was a goal of mine for some time.
 
What is your current occupation, and what are your career goals?
I am the Associate Director of Brand Experience at a company based in St. Paul, MN called Ergodyne. I am in charge of creating trade show displays and experiences, planning large corporate events, managing our retail merchandising process and program as well as helping with packaging, training, and our NASCAR sponsorship. My goal is to continue to learn and grow every year and to never stop being curious.
 
What advice would you give to current WSU student-athletes?
I struggled to figure out what I wanted to do for a career. I was very driven, but I was having a hard time wrapping my head around what I could be passionate about career wise. My coach was so much more than a coach on the track, he made sure we were supported in all aspects of our life. He sat down with me and helped me realize my strengths and brainstorm how I could turn those into a career. With his help, I came to the realization that I wanted to be an event planner. And once I realized that I made it my mission. I have been working on events and trade shows in some capacity for 14 years now!
 
Please include any additional information you would like to share.
Just remember that this is just the beginning. You don't have to have it all figured out now. Ask questions, stay after class to get to know your professors, maintain contact and network with EVERYONE. You just never know who might be the right person to connect you. And don't be afraid to ask for what you want. Know you are worthy.
 
 
 
If any current Warrior student-athletes are interested in connecting with Nicci Schoen, please reach out to your SAS team advisor to get his contact information.
 
If you are a Winona State student-athlete alum and would like to be featured in the Alumni Spotlight series, please fill out the Alumni Spotlight Questionnaire.