Senior marketing student Mark Galan with a SeaWorld San Antonio colleague,
and during a show
Commencement Close-up: Mark Galan builds relationships for life
(May 7, 2002)--Whether he's swimming with the magnificent killer whales he trains at SeaWorld San Antonio or the metaphorical "sharks" encountered in the business world, UTSA senior marketing major Mark Galan is sure success in either kingdom comes from the quality of relationships built with others.
The San Antonio native, who is set to receive his bachelor's degree this semester, began college at UT Austin, where he had considered majoring in psychology. Then came the fateful summer of 1991, when he saw a Shamu show at SeaWorld.
"I was really intrigued by how the trainers used psychology--behavior
modification--in working with the whales," he says. He learned about
SeaWorld's apprenticeship program for trainers, applied and was accepted.
Galan began with the smaller, more docile white-sided dolphins and beluga
whales, gaining insight into reading animal behavior.
During his apprenticeship, he decided to postpone his education temporarily.
When his job evolved into a full-time position, he needed to make a choice
about whether and where to continue pursuing a college degree.
"I decided to enroll at UTSA and major in some aspect of business--while
I'd love to be swimming with killer whales for the rest of my life, I wanted
another profession to fall back on," says Galan.
He has been happy with the decision and says he has gained much, citing UTSA's
smaller class sizes, which offer more personalized attention to each student,
in both upper- and lower-division courses. Galan also gives high marks to
UTSA's faculty and staff who "move beyond the textbook and out of the
box" in going that extra step to help motivated students attain their
goals.
Galan's SeaWorld work schedule is demanding, sometimes taking him out of town
for off-season media junkets, goodwill visits to area hospitals or educational
tours, promoting SeaWorld's important environmental conservation message.
"I wanted to complete my degree as soon as possible but was finding it difficult to get in those last few classes and hours. The College of Business, from the dean's office to the academic advisers to the faculty (Associate Professor of Marketing Vic Heller), worked to accommodate my need for scheduling flexibility, permitting me to take some independent studies courses to complete my hours."
And although the "office" looks very different, the skills he uses in his work at SeaWorld are not that different than those honed in class for the corporate world. He has contact not only with marine animals, but also with thousands of school children each year, members of the news media and the general public.
"In the end, success in any degree program or profession comes down to creating relationships with others and building on their trust and mutual respect, whether its in completing a business transaction or working with a killer whale.
"You'll never dominate a killer whale, nor will it respond to fear-instilling
tactics. They will teach you things, if you allow them. They sense your commitment,
and they know when you have stopped 'working' the relationship with them--and
they can 'remind' you about it if you forget this important principle."
In addition to his work with Keto, Ky and Kayla--SeaWorld San Antonio's three
killer whales--Galan is also committed to his wife, Jennifer, and to pursuing
an MBA at UTSA, beginning this fall.
He credits Joel Saegert, chair of the marketing department in the College of Business with recruiting him for graduate school. "I first met him in 1999, and we have kept in touch over the years," Galan said.
He credits the whales with helping him recruit Jennifer; Galan met the former
television sales representative on a SeaWorld media/goodwill trip and proposed
to her 10 months later as he rode astride one of the glistening black-and-white
mammals during a "Shamu Visions" show before 4,000 park visitors.
They will celebrate their first anniversary May 12, one day after Mark receives
his UTSA diploma.
----------------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
Nominations
sought for Howe excellence-in-service award
UTSA
survey finds majority would vote against PGA district
President
Romo receives Women's Institute Report
Commencement
Close-up: Ian Maurer-Stothert juggles roles
Commencement
Close-up: Patrick Ruettiger to try out new degree
Commencement Close-up: Mark Galan builds relationships for life
----------------------------------------------------------
© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2002