From young Bearcat to emerging leader:

Ever since he became one of the University of Cincinnati's Roar Guides in 2023, Colin Finnecy has conveyed an important message to the prospective students he shows around campus: “The school is large, but the community is small.”

The Cleveland native recognized that unique dichotomy even as he toured UC as a high school student.

“There are so many opportunities because it’s a huge school,” he explains. “It has so many sports, so many professional opportunities, and great academics. But it also has that small community atmosphere. Joining organizations helps provide that smaller, tight-knit community.”

Finnecy has flourished in this best-of-all-worlds university. He has honed his skills through co-ops and academic study in the Carl H. Lindner College of Business, built friendships through the Delta Sigma Pi co-ed business fraternity and Student Alumni Council, and served UC as a Lindner Ambassador and PACE leader, a mentor organization in Lindner. These and other experiences and more have been facilitated by the scholarships he has received.

“UC's scholarships and awards have been a strong source of motivation, pushing me to remain committed to academic excellence, professional growth and service,” Finnecy says.

"I am a driven student who wants a successful career, but for now, I want to keep the Bearcat spirit alive by stepping up into leadership roles and making an impact at the university that has given me so much.” 

A marketing major with a minor in professional sales and a certificate in public relations, Finnecy started fast as a first-year when Lindner partnered him with the Cincinnati Reds. Working alongside other students with the Reds’ ticket agency, Finnecy helped present strategies for drawing younger fans to the games. “As someone who didn’t grow up following the Reds, getting the opportunity to work with a Major League Baseball team was huge,” he says. “It really set me up for success in interviews because it gave me real-world experience collaborating with professionals, managing projects and presenting ideas.”

A co-op with retail data science company 84.51° exposed him to corporate media campaign operations. Two subsequent co-ops with UKG, a platform for human resources, pay and workforce management, enabled him to work on go-to-market projects and AI.

Academically, Finnecy was enlightened to the foundational principles of marketing. “Before I started college, I thought marketing was all about promotion,” he says. “I now understand it’s about connection. Most of my coursework has been about understanding how messaging influences emotions, behaviors and overall engagement.”

Finnecy has found Delta Sigma Pi, Lindner’s co-ed business fraternity, particularly valuable, as it surrounds him with “some of the best and brightest people in Lindner doing the most amazing things.” In addition to offering networking opportunities and peer support, the fraternity ensures that its members have fun. As Philanthropy Chair two years ago, Finnecy shaved his head for a charity event and raised $12,000.

Finnecy, who performed in high school plays and sang in the choir, has a theatrical bent that he hopes to merge with his business acumen and people skills. His long-term goal is to work in the media-entertainment industry with a role in marketing, sales, advertising or branding. 

“I’ve always been someone who loved watching movies and telling stories," he says. "I love community and connection. That’s what drew me to marketing and sales in the first place. I’ve also enjoyed the strategic side of business, whether it involves organizing projects or solving problems, alongside my creative drive for storytelling and bringing people together. That’s what excites me most about pursuing a career in the media industry: It allows me to connect with people.”

Featured image at top: Colin Finnecy is a student in UC's Carl H. Lindner College of Business. Photo/UC Alumni Association