2023 Best & Brightest Business Major: Alex Blankinship, Florida Southern College

Alex Blankinship

Florida Southern College School of Business

“Caring, inventive, and committed. Ultimate team leader, allergy expert, and random knowledge enthusiast.”

Fun fact about yourself: I was a swimmer for 10 years

Hometown: Woodstock, Georgia

High School: River Ridge High School

Major: Accounting and Business Administration (double major)

Minor: None

Favorite Business Course: Foundations of Managerial Accounting

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College: President of Delta Sigma Pi (Business Fraternity), Chair of Dean’s Advisory Council for the Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise, Board Member of Student Accountability Board

Where have you interned during your college career? Holder Construction Group, Atlanta, GA, Finance Intern

Where will you be working after graduation?  Currently searching and applying for positions, pursuing my CPA License

Who is your favorite business professor? My favorite professor is Celina Jozsi, CPA. She has been an incredible resource both in and outside of the classroom. She is so passionate about accounting and provides outstanding support to her students. Many times, other peers or I have found ourselves talking with Professor Jozsi for hours on end, and the advice she gives is immeasurable. She has inspired my love for accounting and encouraged my career decision.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The greatest lesson I’ve learned from studying business is the importance of networking and taking advantage of every opportunity to meet and connect with people.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? They should network and build connections with their faculty. It is never too early to start building your network; faculty are a great place to start. They have many contacts within the field.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? The most surprising thing was the amount of opportunity that accounting has. When I started taking accounting classes, it was completely different from what I had thought. Accounting has a presence in every field and industry.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? There is nothing I would do differently; I’m genuinely proud of what I have accomplished while at Florida Southern. It has been a journey from starting as a business administration major, then adding accounting as a major, and now being enrolled in the Early MAcC program. My experiences have truly set me up for success.

What business leader do you admire most? The business leader I most admire is Ed Crenshaw. I had the opportunity to meet him for the first time when he guest spoke at my business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi. Hearing Mr. Crenshaw’s story made it apparent his indirect impact on my life. Growing up in North Georgia, Publix was my family’s go-to supermarket. Mr. Crenshaw was responsible for launching the Florida-based Publix Supermarkets’ Atlanta division. I admire his career progression as he started as a supermarket clerk and worked up to becoming the CEO. Even after he retired from Publix, he still gives back to his community and serves as chairman of the Barnett Business Advisory Board at Florida Southern College.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? The achievement I am most proud of is being elected chapter president of my fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi. I am excited to serve in this role as it is proof that my chapter has the confidence in me to lead them in the right direction. Through this role, I have grown the fraternity, presented at national conferences, and have had the opportunity to impact my community directly. We have hosted numerous professional and service events and built our chapter’s connection with the College and business community.

Which classmate do you most admire? The classmate I most admire is Alina Jeglie. Alina was my first friend at Florida Southern. Over the years, I have seen that she has a definite moral compass, a strong sense of determination, and is the true embodiment of a hard worker. She is a Biology major with minors in Chemistry and Exercise Science and will attend medical school at Lake Erie College of Medicine after graduation from Florida Southern. Alina has a rigorous course load, often studying throughout the night for exams weeks away. Still, she makes time to spend quality time with friends, competes on the Florida Southern Equestrian team, and participates in Kappa Delta Sorority. She inspires me to work harder and be better.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I want to thank my dad, Greg Blankinship. He has always encouraged and supported me as worked towards a successful and fulfilling future. From a young age, he instilled strong morals and values in me, which show today in everything I do. He is a small business owner, and that is where I got my love for business and inspiration to start my accounting career.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? The two top items on my professional bucket list are to obtain a professional certification in accounting ( CPA) and to make a significant impact in my community using my accounting skills.

What are your hobbies? Some of my hobbies include going to Disney World, trying new food, and getting outdoors.

What made Alex such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2023?  

“Alex is a born leader with a consistent positive attitude and winning smile. While he is wise beyond his years, his unrelenting spirit impresses me the most. Alex is not only hard-working and determined, but also generous. As president of Delta Sigma Pi, chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council, and a resident advisor, he’s always ready to help a fellow student; he dives-in to fix problems and advocates for those around him. He is committed to helping others make the most of their opportunities.”

Professor Celina Jozsi
Instructor of Accounting

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