Andrew Flinn ’13

Major: communication/PR emphasis
Hometown: Kenton, Ohio
Andrew Flinn, a 2013 graduate of The University of Findlay, is a Web manager for WKTN Radio in Kenton, Ohio, where he has been establishing a career in the communication industry since 2001.
Because Flinn was working full time in the communication industry while he attended Findlay, he was able to immediately apply what he learned in class to the work place. Flinn further applied his knowledge to a senior assessment project to help improve WKTN’s business. Flinn developed a media management project that included a comprehensive website redesign and social media proposal, which he presented to his colleagues at WKTN.
“As soon as I graduated from Findlay, I dove right into the website project for WKTN,” said Flinn, who worked with other members of the WKTN staff to launch a user-friendly, audience-focused site in 2013.
“As a student at UF, I learned how to effectively research a project. I learned the importance of using data to make educated decisions,” said Flinn. “We – as a company –  need to be a trendsetter, not a follower. The only way to do that is to constantly do your research. If something isn’t working, find out why and either change it or eliminate it.”
Flinn chose to attend Findlay because its location allowed him to continue working full time, and nearly 100 percent of his credits from other institutions transferred toward his degree.
Though Flinn names each faculty member in the Department of Communication as someone who influenced him, he cites Chris Underation, assistant professor of communication, as being especially helpful with talking through ideas for the new WKTN site.
“Great teaching is a knack, a talent which I’ve concluded some can learn, but much of it is instinct,” said Flinn. “As a student, you know it when you see it, and with Chris, you couldn’t ask for a better example.”
In addition to helping with a major project like implementing a high-traffic news site, Flinn credits the University with helping him improve skills that he already was using on a regular basis, such as news writing and marketing the radio station.