HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Melissa Stricklin knew she wanted to start her career as soon as possible, and that Wallace State was the best way to do that.
“Wallace was close to home, and I knew it would provide a great foundation for a career path,” Stricklin said.
Stricklin attended Wallace State from 1983-1985, and again in 2014. She majored in Business/Finance and earned her Business Technical Degree, AAS, and Business Finance degree. Her time at Wallace State allowed her to learn the fundamentals of business and feel confident going straight into the workforce after graduating.
Stricklin said, “I am thankful every day that I learned business from entry level and was able to progress my career based on this foundation. It all started at Wallace!”
She immersed herself in any business club she could at the time and made lasting connections with her fellow classmates and professors. It was recommendations from these fellow Lions that helped her obtain her first post-grad job at Lanson Industries in the Human Resources Department. In 1988, she began working at General Dynamics and has been there for 38 years, beginning in Human Resources then moving to Contract and Program Management. After two promotions, Stricklin became the first female Business Segment Director for the Cullman General Dynamics facility.
Along with this honorable role, Stricklin also goes by wife and mother. “My real loves in life are my husband, Jeff Stricklin and my three amazing adult children: Paige Harbison Clabo (and her husband, Wes), Waid Harbison and Jordan Stricklin. Watching them maneuver their lives and progress their own careers and desires has been my greatest joy,” said Stricklin.
Stricklin continues to support Wallace State by donating to scholarship programs and encouraging her own children to attend the college. She stated, “Wallace was a great place to learn and achieve. I loved it so much that I continue to stay involved… I have had the pleasure of watching my children grow and learn at Wallace with many of the same takeaways for their adult careers that I enjoyed.”
This is one in a series of stories celebrating Wallace State Community College alumni during Community College Month in April.
