Inspiring Graduate: Charlie Casper (’23)
- Hometown: St. Paul
- Degree: B.S. Real Estate Property Management
- Minor: Business Administration
For Charlie Casper, property management runs in the family. His family owns three popular St. Paul restaurants – The Nook, Ranham Bowling Center and Shamrocks, the Irish Nook.
So, earning his B.S. in real estate property management from UW-Stout seemed the natural course.
“From the hands-on experience to the people I met along the way, I have reason to advocate and recommend Stout as a polytechnic school,” said Casper, who crossed the commencement stage on Dec. 16, along with 526 graduates.
“My time here was an invaluable experience. If I had to do it over again, I would not have changed a thing. I learned and grew so much; I don’t think I could have gotten this experience anywhere else,” he said.
He plans to next earn his real estate license and work in a property management position for one of the major real estate companies in the Twin Cities.
How well has UW-Stout prepared you to work in your field and why?
I would say my time here at Stout has matured me in ways a lot of peers outside of Stout have yet to experience. I feel that I gained wisdom as well as knowledge as a result of my experience and education at Stout.
Stout has prepared me for my industry. Not only did the program educate me on specific scenarios, career-long tips and professionalism, but it has also included professional certifications that are highly regarded in our field. Our program also has a very high employment rate upon graduation.
What stands out about your UW-Stout experience?
Our property management labs and lectures are very comprehensive and led by enthusiastic and interactive instructors who want us to succeed. I can think of numerous classes in our curriculum that I was excited for.
There are so many internship opportunities, and they are structured to nurture what students learn in the classroom and apply it to real world experiences. I had an internship with Dominium, in downtown Minneapolis, and with Clarity Commercial.
How did your involvement on campus impact your experience?
As a member and co-president of the Student IREM (Institute of Real Estate Management) Club, it has helped me exponentially in my professional network building and getting familiar with leaders of the industry. Through the club, we have access to exclusive scholarships from professional organizations.
UW-Stout students’ roles in associations prepare them for careers in real estate, hospitality
Continue ReadingThis year, I was one of the 10 nationally recognized students to receive the IREM Student Leader Award. I was officially recognized at an all-expense paid trip to the IREM Global Summit in Toronto. I was also posted on their blog, social media and a column in their Journal of Property Management.
This has helped me in my employment search by connecting me with recruiters and major companies.
What challenges did you face in earning your degree and how did you overcome them?
Time management, priority management and attention to details were challenging. For example, I was quicker to tackle assignments in my major curriculum than my general education classes, causing unnecessary stress near deadlines that could have been avoided with better planning.
What are you most proud of as you finish your degree?
I am proud of graduating Cum Laude on top of being able to balance schoolwork, professional development, helping run the IREM Club and maintaining a good personal and social life.
