Eric Bedrosian
Butler University, Lacy School of Business
“If it happened at Butler, a DECA conference, or Arby’s, it’s already a LinkedIn post.”
Fun fact about yourself: I appeared on the cover of the Netflix series Starting 5 with one of my best friends from high school.
Hometown: Westfield, Indiana
High School: Hamilton Southeastern High School
Major: Marketing & Finance
Minor: N/A
Favorite Business Course:
Without a doubt, my favorite business course was MK495 – Special Topics in Marketing (Sales Management) with Todd Wottring. The class focused on the full sales process and how to build a sales team capable of guiding consumers from initial cold calls through the final sale and beyond. The course was highly experiential, with students divided into teams and partnered with startup companies to design sales processes that would position those organizations for success as they entered their industries.
The class also provided the opportunity to collaborate with the Lacy School of Business on the new Real Business Experience storefront, a sophomore-year initiative where student teams build and operate real businesses selling products and services. Our sales class helped design the storefront, which will serve as a permanent on-campus space where teams can sell their offerings and retain the profits they earn at the end of each semester.
Ultimately, the best part of the class was the person teaching it, Todd Wottring. He is incredibly down-to-earth, hilarious, and genuinely kind. After years of hearing great things about him, I was thrilled to finally take a class with him. We still stay in touch, and I am confident he will remain a mentor and professional contact for many years to come.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:
* Collegiate DECA International President: As International President for Collegiate DECA, I had the honor of directly serving 5,400+ members across 210+ college campuses and representing 299,000 DECA members overall. In this role, I supported the organization’s local, state, national, and international initiatives while helping DECA’s mission advance through member engagement, leadership development, and program growth. Alongside the Executive Officer Team, my focus was to motivate and inspire members, advisors, staff, educators, and partners to pursue excellence and maximize their DECA experience. During my term, I led a team of three vice presidents from across the country. Together, we achieved 20%+ division growth and helped oversee the development and chartering of 53 new Collegiate DECA chapters.
* Indiana DECA Collegiate Division Charter Lead, Association President, and Volunteer Coordinator: In March of 2025, Indiana received its Collegiate DECA charter and began programming during the 2025–2026 membership year. After three years of planning, coordinating, and working alongside the Indiana DECA State Board to apply for and receive the charter, I’ve had the unique opportunity to serve as the association’s inaugural president as part of “Team One.” In addition to supporting the launch of Indiana Collegiate DECA, I have served on the Indiana DECA Board as the Judges and Volunteer Coordinator – recruiting, organizing, and coordinating judges and volunteers to help deliver a high-quality competitive events experience. Today, Indiana Collegiate DECA represents 400+ members across seven college campuses throughout the State.
* Butler University DECA Founder & President: In September 2022, we founded and chartered Butler University DECA with the goal of bringing Collegiate DECA to the heart of Indiana. Since launching, our 260+ members engage in DECA programming through a wide range of competitive events and professional development opportunities each season. Today, Butler University DECA is the 2nd largest Collegiate DECA chapter in the world among 210+ campuses.
* Butler Student Ambassador (Tour Guide): As a Butler Student Ambassador, I’ve had the pleasure of providing prospective students and families with an opportunity to learn more about BU through the eyes of a current student. Through tours, information sessions, and more, ambassadors help to recruit and build the foundations of the incoming Butler classes.
* Lacy Scholars Program Member: Lacy School of Business provides a select group of students with Lacy scholarships. These students join a small group known as Lacy Scholars. This group works together to make the business school, and Butler, a better place through business-oriented events and leadership opportunities.
* Jack Engledow Endowed Scholarship: Established to provide financial support to a junior business student entering his or her senior year and who displays a high potential for entrepreneurial and ethical business leadership. ‘The student should have demonstrated, in and outside the classroom: a creative mind, a willingness to work hard, a zeal for challenging the conventional and taking intelligent chances, a belief in the importance of ethical behavior and integrity in business and personal life, and an ability to inspire others and urge them down the same path. It may well go to a student who hears a different drummer, the beat of the future may come from an unfamiliar band.’
* Charles O. McGaughey Leadership Award (2x): Established to provide financial support to designated students who demonstrate leadership abilities and appreciation for basic American values as evidenced by a record of achievement in service to the community and to the University.
* William T. Rasmussen Memorial Scholarship Recipient: Established to honor the leadership and accomplishments of William T. Rasmussen, a Butler alumnus. This scholarship provides financial assistance to a top student in the Lacy School of Business. William married Ruth Duckwall ’39, also a Butler graduate, who has endowed several scholarships at Butler.
* William C. Scheetz Memorial Scholarship: The Beta Theta Pi Foundation awards roughly 100 tuition-based scholarships each year to Betas and their sons/daughters.
* 1st Place LSB 2022 Top Dawg Competition: Our First Year Business team placed first place in the Lacy School of Business Top Dawg competition in December of 2022. Each year, Lacy hosts a competition between all first-year business students (55 total teams).
Where have you interned during your college career? Throughout my time at Butler, I had the opportunity to intern at five different organizations across a range of industries. Thanks to the Lacy School of Business, I felt more than prepared to enter the workforce well before graduation.
First Internet Bank | Fishers, Indiana: Finance Intern with SBA Credit Department: As the Small Business Administration (SBA) Finance Intern, I supported and actively participated in a team environment with duties assigned to support the SBA Credit functions. During the internship program, I obtained a working knowledge of the SBA Program and the basics of the current Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
Royal Bank of Canada (Promus Wealth Management) | Indianapolis, Indiana: As the Financial Solutions intern for Promus Wealth Management (RBC), I had the opportunity to work with some of the industry’s strongest leaders. Through project-based and hands-on learning experiences, I gained a portfolio of knowledge in wealth management strategy, investments, Salesforce, and more.
Irving Materials Inc. | Fishers, Indiana: Enterprise Resource Planning & Finance Intern: As the ERP + Finance intern with IMI, I operated with numerous cross-functional teams to pinpoint our main areas of improvement during the organization’s ERP implementation. Although some days were spent in the office attending meetings and providing feedback to upper-management decision-makers, I took the opportunity to shadow and ride along with key stakeholders from the organization to gain feedback and insight into operations.
AES Restaurant Group, LLC. | Zionsville, Indiana: Marketing Intern: As the marketing intern for AES Restaurant Group, I have taken on various tasks to help promote the reputation, public relations, and branding of the company, including the planning, designing, and building of “Meat Mountain Studios.” The studio helps to integrate information with entertainment for all 8,000+ employees of the franchisee. As the 2nd largest Arby’s franchisee in the world, AES operates in 20 states with 344 locations.
Where will you be working after graduation? I would love to be able to answer that question… but I can’t quite yet – so stay tuned!
Who is your favorite business professor? My favorite business professor during my time at Butler has been Nick Smarrelli. Without a doubt, he has been my biggest mentor and champion since I first met him at the beginning of my sophomore year (when he joined LSB as a professor). During the second week of his Real Business Experience class, I approached him for advice and asked if he would consider serving as a second advisor for our DECA chapter on campus. From that moment on, he has done everything he can to help both me and the entire organization succeed. He has helped secure funding to make attending conferences more financially accessible, connected us with incredible guest speakers, and consistently served as one of DECA’s strongest advocates on campus.
But beyond the resources and support, Nick has become more than just a professor. He’s become a friend and someone I genuinely look up to for guidance, mentorship, and perspective. Over the past three years, he has given an incredible amount of his time and energy to support me – no matter what I need. He rarely says no. When he does, it’s usually because he’s keeping me grounded and pushing me to seek the right person or resource. Nick isn’t afraid to be honest with me, and he consistently challenges me to think clearly and make the best decision in the end.
From his time as our DECA advisor to his work reimagining Butler’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation program, his impact is felt across campus, throughout the community, and beyond.
Here’s why he truly inspires me. Even with everything he has going on, he still makes time to be present at home with his wife and their three kids. Not many people are able to maintain a healthy work-life balance while still making such a meaningful impact professionally. However, Nick has found a way to do both, all while continuing to pursue his passion projects, traveling to some of the most random places at times, and being an asset to so many students. I couldn’t be more grateful for a friend and mentor like Nick, and I’m excited to see what he does next, both as a professor and business professional, and in everything beyond that.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Imposter syndrome is very real in business. You work hard to get where you want to go – so when you finally get there, don’t forget the blood, sweat, and tears you put into the journey. You earned the job, you earned the title, and you’ve earned the happiness, recognition, and confidence that come with it. There were so many moments over the past four years when I felt like I didn’t deserve the opportunities I had. For the first time, I was the one giving advice and helping others instead of looking for someone in a higher position for direction. Learning to trust myself in that role was one of the hardest things to overcome. Once I did, it made the journey, and everything that came with it, so much more rewarding. So, take charge and lead with confidence – you’ve earned it.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Double major if you’re able to. I can’t tell you how many times my double major in Marketing and Finance has helped me tackle complex business problems – combining strong financial analysis with real sales and marketing skills. The blend of both disciplines has given me an edge in job applications, classroom work, and leadership roles across the organizations where I’ve been involved. It’s a somewhat unconventional pairing – one more analytical, the other more creative – but it’s been a major differentiator in both my academic and professional career. This – combined with getting as involved with your peers, on-campus organizations, and volunteering with organizations you are passionate about – will help with self-fulfillment over the course of your time on campus. Take advantage of opportunities. Say Yes. Believe in yourself.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? One of the most impactful classes I had the opportunity to take was Marketing Analytics with Professor Zhang. What I appreciated most was how intentionally she integrated AI into the course to help us build real, modern skills for the marketing industry. My perspective shifted from worrying that AI would take over our lives to recognizing how valuable it can be across a wide range of industries. Throughout the semester, we used different AI tools to create content, strengthen and edit copy, and clean messy survey data. We also completed current events presentations focused on emerging AI tools and innovations, which kept the class relevant and forward-looking. I genuinely enjoyed the course, and Professor Zhang was a great sport as we experimented with new platforms and learned how to use them effectively. The biggest insight I gained was that AI is most powerful when it’s used as a tool, not a crutch. It can support organization, exam preparation, writing and editing, and so much more when used responsibly. Rather than avoiding AI, Butler is embracing it through coursework, curriculum, and hands-on learning, and I’m grateful I had the chance to be part of that experience.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? It has been mentioned a few times already, but my time with Collegiate DECA – founding our chapter during my freshman year, being elected International President at the end of my sophomore year and helping serve as a chartering member of our state association board – has been the best journey I could have asked for during my time at Butler.
During the second week of my freshman year, I began creating the chartering documents for Butler University DECA. What I expected to be a simple, one-year process turned into a four-year journey of growth, learning, competition, and leadership alongside students from across the world. Over the past four years, our chapter has grown to more than 260 members, making us the second-largest active Collegiate DECA chapter in the world across 210+ college campuses. What continues to impress me most is how much the chapter accomplishes year-after-year because of the leaders who stepped into the role after me. Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
At the end of my second term as chapter president, I took a leap of faith and ran for International President. With an incredible candidacy team, we spent a week in Austin, Texas meeting with delegates, delivering speeches, and working hard to earn support. After an unforgettable election process, I was honored to serve a full term as International President alongside an outstanding team of executive officers. Together, we helped launch chapters on 53 new campuses and grew division membership by more than 20%. What I valued most wasn’t just the opportunity to speak at conferences with more than 8,000 members. Instead, it was building lifelong relationships with people who have become some of my biggest mentors and supporters throughout my academic career at Butler.
After my international term, I returned home to Indiana and helped launch the Indiana Collegiate DECA association – something that had been in the works since the founding of our Butler chapter. Now, we have the opportunity to support chapters across the state, host conferences, and help members learn and grow from one another through competition and beyond.
My DECA experience has been exceptional because of the “say yes” community within the Lacy School of Business. LSB embraced our competitive spirit, encouraged us to try new things, and supported us every step of the way. Butler DECA has set high expectations and standards for student organizations on campus, and I’m incredibly grateful to have been part of its growth and success over the past four years.
Which classmate do you most admire? Not everyone gets the chance to stay close with the same friend from second grade on. For the past four years, I’ve been fortunate to continue my education alongside my best friend since second grade, Ajay Singh. I’ve known Ajay for more than half my life, and he has been there for me every step of the way. I’ve seen firsthand just how hard Ajay works, between meeting in Boy Scouts nearly 14 years ago; working in freezing garages building props and prepping scripts for our Destination Imagination teams; and competing together on international DECA stages.
Ajay’s family has been nothing but kind to me. Coming from a Sikh household, his extended family has always made me feel welcome. During COVID, I spent so much time with Ajay and his family, and they’ve consistently offered their support and help with anything I’ve needed throughout my academic and professional journey.
I genuinely don’t know where I’d be without Ajay. Whenever I come to him with some crazy idea or big vision, he either tells me I’m nuts, or he runs with it. He’s always been my go-to person to debrief, rant, and get honest advice. Ajay is the kind of person I know will go far in life, and I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes after graduation. Ajay – Thank you for an incredible 14 years, and here’s to another 14 as we step into the next chapter of our friendship.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? Of course, I wouldn’t be here without my parents. They’ve both taught me so much: my dad for how to lead people and make an impact, and my mom for how to be the best version of myself. I love them both, but I have to choose someone else, so they don’t banter about this for the next 20 years…
The person I most want to thank for my success throughout my collegiate career is Ms. Janice Brown. As my DECA advisor at the association level, she trusted me to run with, and take on, so many incredible opportunities. During my freshman year, I on a whim found her number online and gave her a cold call to ask if I could help out with Indiana DECA and to ask for her support in running for international president. While she could have hung up the phone, not answered or simply told me “No,” she embraced the vision I had and helped me dive straight in.
As an alumna of the organization, Janice recognized from day one the passion and drive I have -not only for DECA, but for my professional life as well. She has consistently been there to lend a helping hand, connect me with others, and guide me toward the right pathways for success in school, DECA, and beyond. Someone who was once a stranger has become, in many ways, a third grandma to me. From quick coffee runs to catch up on work to hours-long work sessions at Rosie’s Café in Carmel, Janice is someone I can always count on to bounce ideas off of and work with whenever I hit a roadblock.
Without her help, can-do attitude, and unwavering support of my aspirations, I’m not sure I would have accomplished everything I have during college. I’m deeply grateful to Butler, my family, and my friends for my success. Over the past four years, Janice has been a key reason I felt empowered to take risks, run for office, and lead with confidence. I can’t thank her enough, and I’m excited to see what we do next to strengthen our incredible organization.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
1) Become a successful franchisee. I grew up in a family involved in franchising, and I’ve always been fascinated by the opportunity to own my own business while building on a proven concept. I’m entrepreneurial, but I’m more drawn to improving and scaling an established model than creating a product from scratch. Franchising would allow me to own and grow a business using an existing blueprint, and scale it in a way that makes a real impact on people.
2) Create a foundation to give back. No matter what company I build, I want to create a nonprofit foundation that allows me to give back to the community. Whether it’s a few thousand dollars a year or millions, I want to support the people and places that have given me so much throughout my life.
What made Eric Bedrosian such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?
“The Class of 2026—and the Lacy School of Business at Butler University more broadly—has been profoundly shaped by Eric Bedrosian’s leadership and initiative. Eric arrived at Butler in August 2022 with a clear vision: to establish a collegiate chapter of DECA. Drawing on his high school DECA experience, he immediately engaged faculty, administrators, and student leaders to bring this idea to life. Through his drive, confidence, and perseverance, Eric and his peers successfully founded Butler’s Collegiate DECA chapter in September 2022. Since then, the chapter has grown exponentially and is now the second-largest Collegiate DECA chapter in the world, with consistent participation in programming and competitions.
Eric’s impact has been recognized at the highest levels. During his junior year, he served as International President of Collegiate DECA, leading efforts that resulted in the chartering of 53 new collegiate chapters worldwide. At Butler, DECA programming has driven increased student engagement, heightened interest in the business curriculum, and Top 10 international finishes across multiple competitions. Eric’s work has left a lasting legacy within the Lacy School of Business.
Beyond DECA, Eric excels academically as a double major in Marketing and Finance. Faculty describe him as an engaged, organized, and forward-thinking student who actively considers the evolving marketplace and advocates for curricular innovation. He frequently credits Professors Nick Smarrelli, Todd Wottring, and Chi Zhang for their mentorship and for challenging him to think critically beyond emerging technologies.
As Eric’s academic advisor, I have consistently admired his balance of confidence and humility. He speaks thoughtfully about his experience on the international stage while also candidly acknowledging the challenges of managing rigorous academics and significant leadership responsibilities. His ability to navigate both with maturity and purpose makes Eric Bedrosian an exemplary member of the Class of 2026 and an invaluable contributor to the Lacy School of Business.”
Courtney Hatch
Associate Dean of Faculty
Professor of Marketing
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