Faces of Davenport

Everyone has a story. Davenport alumni explain how Davenport fits into their life stories and their successes. Here are a few faces of DU.

Rebecca Dutcher, ‘00

Sales & Marketing 

Job Title

CEO & Founder, RED66 Marketing

Work Passion

What I love are the relationships I build with my team and my clients. We get to help businesses grow and solve problems through marketing communications. In the 25 years since I graduated, marketing and technology have changed fast. It’s never the same thing every day. As an owner, I’ve built a workplace with incredible people and helped them grow personally and professionally. It’s pretty awesome to see. 

Davenport Highlight

I appreciated the amount of hands-on work that was done in the classroom with real applications. This was true for many of my classes, and it allowed the use and application of what we learned to do the work outside of the classroom.

Key Mentor/Decision

I’ve had a lot of mentors and people who influenced my career and personal success, so this is a hard question. I was on the board at GROW for a long time and worked for a couple of agencies during that time. The CEO of GROW, Bonnie Nawara (now retired), encouraged me to start my agency and business. In high school, the teacher who led the marketing class and ran the school store exposed me to marketing as a career choice. Since 7th grade, I thought I would be a veterinarian, but it was in that marketing class where a Davenport representative came to speak, and I was hooked right there. That’s how I ended up choosing Davenport.

Anne Wendling, ‘16

Bachelor of Science, Nursing

Job Title 

Chief Nursing Officer, Vice President of Patient Care Services

Bronson Lakeview Hospital and Bronson South Haven Hospital

Work Passion

Nursing is my passion; it is the core of who I am. I love that I have the opportunity to be involved as an executive, leader, team member and mentor. I enjoy being involved clinically and running the business side of healthcare; it is the best of both worlds. I have grown many teams and other leaders and find great joy in this.

Davenport Highlight

I had been a registered nurse out of college for 20 years and did not know the first thing about going back to school with the differences in virtual options and technology. I was fortunate to connect with a Davenport admissions recruiter (Amy Doxtater) who supported me and gave me the courage to enter the BSN program. (I was so scared!) This positive Davenport experience gave me the determination to continue my education, and I received my Master of Science in Nursing in 2019. I felt supported as well by the instructors and enjoyed having several other students work through the program at the same time and attend the same classes.

Key Mentor/Decision

I have always felt extremely supported by my leaders throughout the years at Bronson. Many have mentored and provided support in each position I have had. They encouraged me to continue to elevate in the organization. Also, I have been highly encouraged by my husband to step out of my comfort zone to continue my education and grow in my profession.

Carey Brechting, BBA ‘10, MBA ‘16

Business Administration, Accounting

Job Title

Chief Financial Officer, CK Snacks

Work Passion

I love leveraging my experience and strategic thinking to support the company’s operations effectively. Finance is a crucial support function, and I take pride in translating business plans and strategies into meaningful financial insights. Helping bridge the gap between vision and financial reality ensures informed decision-making and drives sustainable growth.

Davenport Highlight

I appreciated the real-world experience that Davenport’s professors brought to the classroom. Many were actively working in their respective fields, which provided valuable, real-life perspectives. Their insights, case studies and practical applications made learning more relevant and impactful, bridging the gap between theory and real-world business challenges.

Key Mentor/Decision

A key factor in my career has been the combination of strong mentorships and pivotal decisions that shaped my path. I’ve been fortunate to learn from leaders who challenged and guided me, helping me refine my skills and strategic mindset. One of the most impactful decisions I made was pursuing roles that pushed me beyond my comfort zone—taking on leadership opportunities, embracing complex challenges and continuously investing in my growth. I believe that the next step of growth should always make you feel slightly uncomfortable because that’s where true development happens and transformation begins.

Wesley Trimpe, ‘11

Finance

Job Title

Vice President, iCOR Solutions

Work Passion 

This would fall into two categories for me. I currently have a heavier focus on optimizing risk for our clients through avenues of the insurance market, and I enjoy being a disruptor in the industry. The business community has unfortunately been conditioned to accept a lack of creativity in their risk management strategies, low levels of service and year-over-year annual increases in their programs. I enjoy rolling up my sleeves, professionally challenging our clients to think differently and delivering results that help them grow in their initiatives.

The second category is cultivating a culture that is considered best-in-class across all industries. Emulating a growth-minded and collaborative culture, we practice what we preach in working alongside our clients to achieve their short- and long-term initiatives.

Davenport Highlight

The personal and professional growth I was able to obtain while I was at Davenport far exceeded my expectations. Coming from a larger state university, there was a clear difference and a heightened and strategic focus on real-world development. There was value-added knowledge transfer from professors who had years of experience in the field, and professional staff who genuinely cared about how to help students position themselves for their future endeavors beyond the classroom.

Key Mentor/Decision

Frank Cox, the chairman and CEO of iCor Solutions, has been a crucial mentor for both my personal and professional success. I found myself joining the team at iCOR because of his genuine faith in me as a business professional, but have found myself becoming a better husband, father and leader due to his continued mentorship and guidance.