Cardinal Stritch University recently spotlighted alumnus Alan Lendeen, who graduated from the university in 2001, on its website.

Lundeen has been with Cousins Subs for nearly 50 years, having started there when he was only 16. When he began, the sandwich shop had only seven locations and Lundeen poured himself into the work, waiting to attend college until he had attended manager training that the shop offered him. 

Lundeen worked with Cousins Subs for six years before he left and came back to the company as an area director in 1988. A decade later, he enrolled in Cardinal Stritch University’s adult undergraduate evening courses where he earned an associate’s degree in business administration. 

“His Stritch classes, including a business case study course, allowed him to apply what he was experiencing in the field to what he was learning in the classroom,” the school wrote. 

Lundeen took an oral communications course and gained the courage and skills needed for proposals in the company. 

“My degree opened up doors. They hired me because of my management experience and knew they could train me,” Lundeen said.

Many years later, Lundeen is still with the company that he originally started with. He is now the senior director of talent management and loves bringing his experience to the team. 

Lundeen believes that his job is a true gift as he loves going in to work every day. He brings a high degree of positivity to the company and tries to support the employees as best he can, while always helping them to become more skilled at doing what they love.

“I’ve seen the impact Stritch’s degree had on me. The degree was worth the time and investment, and there are many roles you won’t be considered for without that degree,” Lundeen said.