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A Kentucky State University alumnus went from installing car audio and alarm systems to working as the head of retail and leadership training at Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) over the course of his career.

Jason F. Fullman, class of 2010, said he always wanted to work in the automotive industry.

“In high school I installed car audio and alarm systems, which led to me majoring in applied mathematics/physics (at Kentucky State) and electrical engineering (at North Carolina AT&T State University),” Fullman said.

Fullman said he received his first internship as a freshman, with the help of Ron Banks (now a member of the Kentucky State University Board of Regents) at the Kentucky State career services office through Inroads, Inc.

“This led me to numerous summer internship and co-op opportunities with Cincinnati Milacron, Delphi Automotive Systems and General Motors,” Fullman said. “Due to the amount of experience I had acquired, this ultimately made me very attractive for a position at Mercedes-Benz USA.”

Fullman was recently promoted to head of retail and leadership training at MBUSA, assuming the new role at the beginning of 2019. The promotion led to a relocation from Long Beach, California to the MBUSA corporate headquarters in Atlanta.

“I’ve been with MBUSA for 18 years and began my career in engineering services,” Fullman said. “I have over 22 years of experience as a leader in automotive training and as engineering/technical professional.”

Fullman said Kentucky State gave him a chance when others did not.

“I was accepted into Kentucky State on an appeal, but through grace and hard work received a 4.0 my first few years there,” Fullman said. “I made the dean’s list, received the President’s award and athletic academic award. I am truly grateful to Kentucky State for allowing me to grow as a human being. I will forever cherish the experience and family that I have here.”

Pledging Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., playing baseball and receiving the Career Services Student of the Year award in 1998 are some of Fullman’s best memories at Kentucky State.

“I learned valuable lessons of strong character, work ethic and the ability to persevere,” Fullman said.

Fullman encouraged current and future Thorobreds to embrace all that the college on the hill has to offer.

“Have school pride. Go to the sporting events and participate on campus,” Fullman said. “Be enthused about your craft. Get to know your fellow Kentucky State faculty and students. Enjoy this time, but most of all, study well.”

Fullman earned a Bachelor of Arts in applied mathematics at Kentucky State, a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from North Carolina A&T State University and an MBA from Benedictine University.