As a WMU grad on the ground, Zach Terrell changes hometown teams.

Zach Terrell

Western Michigan University (WMU)
Finance, B.B.S. ’15, M.B.A., in progress)

Hometown

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Employment

Executive Development Associate, Zeigler Auto Group

A Favorite College Memory (or Two)

Athletically, winning the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship and going to the Cotton Bowl are at the top of my list of highlights. Running out of that tunnel in Texas, hearing everybody chant “Row the Boat,” and seeing three-fourths of that stadium filled by Bronco fans was breathtaking. Personally, my greatest accomplishment in college though is having met my wife.

Putting Down Roots

Neither my wife or I am from Kalamazoo, but it has become our home. We love it here. We love the people. We love this community. We feel strongly about staying, putting down roots, and continuing to make this our home.

On the Job

At Zeigler, I’m in a management development program. I’m selling cars, the core of the business, and helping to lead their cultural leadership and team development program called the Elevate Leadership and Development Academy. Zeigler is giving me the opportunity to share what I have learned along the way from tremendous leaders in college, football, academia, and my experience in the NFL.

Lessons Learned

I got this role because of networking and building relationships through WMU. The things you learn in school obviously help, but honestly forming relationships have been the biggest piece. I’m not in the business of cars; I’m in the business of people and everybody here wants to exceed our client’s expectations. That’s my job every single day: to exceed people’s expectations—how we treat people and how we make them feel.

Looking Ahead

There’s a lot that excites me about Southwest Michigan’s future seeing the development and things being brought here. We have some major corporations that have chosen to stay, but also new and fun things are coming to the area that, as a young adult, really excite me.

A Few of Zach’s Favorite Things

Going to football games and eating. The Kitchen House in Richland. Arcadia Brewing Company, Bell’s Eccentric Café, and the different breweries in downtown Kalamazoo. For breakfast, it’s Maggie’s Café on Stadium Drive.