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Jordan Danner '01

Alumni Profile: Jordan Danner

Featured in the Winter 2012 issue of Western News

What is your current title/position?

I am a senior marketing representative at John Deere Harvester Works for the S-Series combines and front end equipment.

What positions did you have leading up to your current position?

I was a product specialist for John Deere World Wide Combine Product Development/NTA for the marketing department to help with the S-Series combine launch.

What interested you in your field and how did you decide to pursue it?

I have always had a love for agriculture and working with growers. Being able to be the voice of growers and producers gives me a sense of pride knowing that I had a hand in helping to solve an issue or problem we may have had with our combines.

What would you consider to be the highlights of your career up to this point?

I was able to be part of the photo shoots for the S-Series combines and the largest new product introduction in John Deere history. It was also great to get the chance to travel around the world and see things that not everyone gets a chance to see in their lifetime.

Tell us about your responsibilities and some changes in your position?

One of my responsibilities includes getting to work with the different regions of the world to build market share for John Deere with combine sales. I have two main regions I work with: South America (Region 3 in John Deere terms) and China and South Africa (Region 1). As these two markets grow their harvesting practices, I work with local product marketing representatives and engineering groups at product devleopment to develop and deliver combines and front end equipment to the different, ever-changing markets. I also help develop material for new product introductions and training in North America, as well as other regions in the world.

To what do you attribute your success as a young professional?

Networking! Often, it is not what you know at the time, but who you know. That can get you in the door so your work ethic and determinication can shine through.

What advice would you give to students graduating from Western in the near future?

Keep an open mind on available positions. It may not be exactly what you want, but it could lead to what you want to do. Netorking! Networking! Networking! The more people you know, the better. Enjoy your time at WIU. For a small university, it has been amazing how many people I have met just at John Deere who graduated from WIU.

How did your time at Western prepare you for where you are today?

The knowledge that was gained from the agriculture professors at WIU is invaluable. Western has a great mix of big time university with the “everyone knows your name” small town feel.