This story is part of a recurring feature meant to highlight members of FAU that are accomplished in their field, i.e. leaders, entrepreneurs, creators. If you would like to nominate someone for Owl of the Week, email Features Editor Hope Dean at [email protected]. Students, faculty, and staff are all eligible.

Bryan Rammel was a fish out of water in his hometown.

Coming from the one high school town of Paris, Tennessee to the 24 high school town of Boca Raton, Rammel always knew there were bigger things out there, and would later come to live and breathe entrepreneurship as a business management major.

Growing up in humble beginnings, Rammel first stepped into the business world by washing windows, doing construction, and transporting cars. Fast forward a few years later, however, and he is now the vice president of two student organizations, an intern three days a week, and a co-founder of a start-up company, all while enrolled in 18 credits.

“I accomplish the things that I can, and don’t worry about the things that I can’t,” Rammel said.

For a year and a half, Rammel has served as the vice president of FAU’s American Marketing Association (AMA), where he and President Anthony Escoboza are constantly connecting with local businesses to learn more about marketing.

Rammel “consistently displays leadership skills with both fellow students as well as faculty and guest speakers. He is always willing to help and is well-liked and respected by all,” said Joanne Chive, a faculty adviser for the AMA.

President Escoboza noted that Rammel dedicates his free time to reach out to sponsors and organizations in regards to working together for AMA.

“He puts the organization first,” Escoboza said.

Rammel is also the vice president for Visionary Owls, a club that strives to “bring together other active and involved members at FAU and to create a club of leaders.”

In addition to these, he works as an intern at Regal Home Services in Tamarac, where his duties include assisting with marketing, social media, and auditing. His internship has even provided him a job offer in medical sales after he graduates this spring.

Rammel’s entrepreneurship doesn’t stop there. He is in the process of co-developing an app called Kanyu that helps college students find side gigs for some extra cash.

“There are a lot of odd jobs in south Florida,” Rammel said. He believes that this could be a crutch for busy college kids like him to fall back on because “not everyone can work at 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., after all.”

Rammel and Chris Cerda, a FAU marketing major, are in the process of registering for the annual FAU Business Plan Competition sponsored by the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship for the chance to win the grand prize of a whopping $10,000 to fund their startup.

Whenever he needs motivation, Rammel said he thinks about how hard his parents have worked, adding, “Oh, and the money.”

Like many college students, Rammel began his career at FAU unsure of what the next four years held in store, stepping foot on a campus 981 miles away from his hometown without declaring a major.

“I just wanted to do my four years and get out,” he said.

He said that apathy came from the fact that he “wasn’t taking advantage of all the free opportunities that FAU had to offer.”

That ‘get in, get out’ mindset was soon overshadowed by a swell of love for FAU and Boca Raton, to the point where he wants to come back for graduate school eventually.

The first time he visited Boca during high school, Rammel was completely in awe with not only the business and networking potential, but with the essence of the city.

“A lot of the things you see even on the road – the cars, the shops, the mall – they all blew me away. It was a whirlwind. I had to come [to FAU],” he said.

“I’ve had the chance to work side by side with so many great FAU faculty and staff members,” Rammel said. “Those people give me more connections to the real world.”

Connections seem to be a recurring theme in Rammel’s life. Whether it be getting a job through his internship or connecting with faculty, he sees connections as the silver lining of the business world.

“Every day is a field day,” he said. “You never know who you’re going to step out and meet.”

This was the case at his very first AMA meeting.

“I went into an AMA meeting, my first ever, and they had guest speaker Phillip Buchanon, an ex-NFL defensive back. My friend Chris and I just walked up to him after because we felt like he was a real person, like he was really speaking to us. We shook hands, exchanged contact information, and now he mentors both of us,” Rammel said.

In order to stay sane despite a hectic schedule, Rammel likes to plan everything ahead.

“This year, I downloaded Google Calendar and I’m on that thing at least ten times a day,” he said.

To wind down from meetings, work, and class, Rammel goes to the gym to keep the balance in his life. He is also an avid FAU sports fan who has been involved in several intramural sports, and is the life of the party at football tailgates, according to Escoboza.

“He’s always one to get up on a stage and hype up the crowds,” he said.

Rammel has simple advice for students looking to get involved but afraid to take the leap: “Do it.”

He suggests students take the initiative to get involved freshman year by hopping on Owl CareerLink’s website.

“Look up 10-20 organizations and see which ones excite you. That way, by the time you’re a junior, you’re either super involved in one and have a position or know what direction you want to go in,” he said.

His final words of advice would be to “develop yourself before you try and join a club in search of self-development.”

Kristen Grau is a contributing writer with the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected].