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EKU senior juggles classwork, internship and two successful businesses

Jade Rice
Jade Rice

RICHMOND, Ky. (April 19, 2018) — Jade Rice, an Eastern Kentucky University senior marketing major from Richmond, already owns two successful businesses: Jade Rice Photography and a Le-Vel health products, in which she works as an individual brand promoter.

Her photography business has achieved its first fully-booked season, and she has earned the third highest rank in Le-Vel, selling $40,000 worth of products each month.

Business acumen seems to be in Rice’s blood. Her father and grandfather own a small business and have passed that passion down to her.

“I have learned the importance of hard work and dedication, and how special it is to be able to support your family when your success came directly from the hard work you put in,” Rice said.

Among the lessons she has learned from her family are the importance of honesty and “taking care of those who choose to do business with you.”

Rice also credits her parents for her unrelenting work ethic and drive to succeed.

“They have always been tough on me and held me to very high standards,” she said. At this pivotal time in her life, she said she appreciates the way she was raised. “My hope is that I can make them proud, and that they can see their own success in my future success.”

Rice fell in love with marketing in high school. Before her junior year, she said she only thought of marketing as advertising. A marketing internship with Lectrodryer, a Richmond-based firm that produces commercial dryers for companies all over the world, changed her mind. The creativity, organization and communication skills the job demanded sparked her interest. She decided to pursue a major in business and never looked back.

“My favorite thing about marketing is how broad and unpredictable it is,” she said. “Most people don’t realize it, but marketing ties all functions of the workplace together, and assists in almost every function in some way.”

Rice’s marketing resume does not end there. In spring 2016, she began the “internship of a lifetime” with MAP Group, which owns several car dealerships, Papa John’s franchises and other businesses. She provides marketing for Lexus of Lexington and has been offered a full-time position after graduation.

So how does Rice juggle school, extracurricular activities, an internship and two businesses?

“I live by my planner,” she admitted. “I would lose my mind without it.” She routinely makes weekly schedules and daily to-do lists. “Prioritizing, budgeting and goal setting have been the best thing for me.”