Alumni Career Feature
Jacob Metzger
We feature alumni with interesting careers from a variety of career areas. To find out more about the alumnus profession contact them via the e-mail provided. Or if you are interested in being featured, e-mail us at alumni@pct.edu.
Jacob Metzger
- B.S., Graphic Design, 2005
- Sheetz, Inc.
- metzger@sheetz.com
Jacob's Background
Jacob Metzger is a creative individual who realized his artistic talent while taking art lessons at a young age. He continued to develop his skills by choosing the commercial art and graphic design curriculum at The Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center. He excelled in the program. With the help of some friends, Pennsylvania College of Technology came into the picture. After touring and researching the Penn College art department, he knew the College’s graphic design major was the one for him.
Sheetz, Inc.
Jacob graduated from Penn College in 2005, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design. He is now a graphic designer for the Sheetz, Inc., an Altoona-based company and one of the top convenience retailers in the nation. Jacob designs a variety of materials used to market the company’s products and services. From indoor and outdoor signage, gift cards, and coupons, to gasoline tanker graphics, Jacob and his department create and maintain the Sheetz brand identity. Jacob takes pride in his work and loves making people say “wow”. In fact, he was recognized by General Motors Corporation for his graphic package for the Sheetz’s E85 Flex Fuel Launch. A GM spokesperson said they had never before worked with a company whose E85 graphics were so effective, and completed under such short notice.
Penn College
When asked how Penn College prepared him for his current position, three areas came to Jacob’s mind. First was the ability to accept constructive criticism and critiques. Jacob did not always agree with his professors’ critiques, but he knew they were trying to help him better his work. He now realizes that he must be open-minded to the requests of his peers. Second was the ability to multitask and meet deadlines. As a student, Jacob had a variety of projects running simultaneously. He credits his time management skills to the teachings of his professors. It was not acceptable to miss a deadline at Penn College and the same holds true at Sheetz. Third was the ability to sell his work. Jacob was taught as a student that to be a successful graphic designer, one must learn how to sell his or her work. Jacob uses that lesson everyday to help his peers understand the concept behind his creations.
Advice
Jacob offers his advice to students interested in the graphic design field. Prepare for extreme criticism and don’t get attached to your work. The requirements of a project change constantly and you must be flexible to meet the needs of your clients. Learn the printing aspect of the field too. Understanding print limitations can make the difference between a successful project and an unsuccessful one. Finally, Jacob stresses the need to believe in yourself and your talent. Jacob says you must be determined to better your work and continue to develop your skills.
