Young Alum Reflects on Dream Job and Choosing Bradley

01/18/2011 11:30 AM

For one small-town student-athlete, there were plenty of attractive opportunities to leave home for college. “I submitted my application and was accepted early,” said Joey Camp ’03. “I was lucky to have been contacted by colleges and universities all over; perhaps I had too many choices.” In the end, Camp chose the university less than 40 miles from his home; a school that later helped him meet his future wife and land his dream job.

As a Running Territory Manager for Mizuno USA, Camp is charged with integrating his background of sales and marketing, as well as public relations, the degree he obtained at Bradley University. On a personal level, Camp is thrilled to meet world-class marathoners and Olympians on a daily basis. “We employ grassroots efforts at road race expositions, and also have a presence at races like the Chicago and New York City marathons,” he said. Camp says he loves the running industry as a whole, and as a former member of the Bradley Men’s Cross Country and Track teams, he has a deep respect for his company. “My boss was previously head of Nike’s global running production, and our head designer imagines shoes that have been worn by millions of people,” he said, noting that despite a busy schedule, he never feels burned out.

Prior to his time as a road warrior for Mizuno, Camp enjoyed a fulfilling experience at BU. He says one of his favorite outside-of-the-classroom experiences was watching his school rally around its athletes. “Knowing someone on the field or the court makes you more invested in the outcome,” he said. “It’s inspiring to see a friend perform at such a high level.” Academically, Camp’s favorite classes consistently included group projects; retrospectively, he says these experiences mirror what he does now professionally.

Camp, who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota with his wife Jessica Norris Camp ‘04, says he enjoys attending Bradley alumni events and new student receptions in the Twin Cities area. Camp says his interactions with high school students remind him of how he felt when pondering his search. “I like assuring them that any uneasiness and apprehensions are normal and that I felt the same thing. I turned out just fine, and they will too.” A professional at selling Bradley University, Camp’s recruitment efforts began back in 2003 when he aided sister Allison Camp Schieferle Uhlenbrock ’07 with her college search; they are two of seven family members to have graduated from BU.