Lynn Makela

Lynn Makela '07 began work in the digital marketing industry at a local marketing firm before joining Michigan Tech in 2008. After serving as the Director of Marketing for the School of Business and Economics, she chased a career opportunity out west and ultimately landed at POSSIBLE, a global digital marketing agency in Seattle, before returning to the Keweenaw in the summer of 2017. “Working at Michigan Tech after graduation was an amazing way to see the inner workings of a place that believes in students, teachers, and staff. The amount of work that goes into operating a University is astounding and the people make all the difference.”

While attending classes at Michigan Tech, Lynn says that an exposure to a wide variety of subjects in classes that she enjoyed was essential for her career. “When I earned a degree, there were no classes in digital marketing but I had graphic design, technical communication, website design, business strategy, and other marketing courses that guided me to my profession.” While at Michigan Tech, Lynn was involved in the Outdoor Venture Crew, Society for Tech Communication, and YP Women in Engineering.

Upon returning to the Keweenaw in 2017 and bringing back a remote job as the Business Development Director for a location independent marketing collective, Lynn opened a coworking space titled 101 Quincy Coworking in downtown Hancock. The space was created to offer traveling professionals, remote workers, and start-ups a shared workspace to foster collaboration and break out of the traditional office setting. Read more about her involvement in this project here.

Lynn is a strong supporter of her community, “giving back is the best because you meet new people, walk a mile in someone else's shoes, and hopefully help someone else not make the same mistakes you did. You never know when meeting someone new could change a life—and maybe it's your own!” Her advice to students is “Take your educational experiences and apply them to your life, not just a job or a career. We grow as people when we connect with others, ideas, and opportunities that stretch our understanding and beliefs. And that's where all the magic happens.”

Updated July 6, 2018