Career changes are common in today’s workforce. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average number of jobs an individual will have in their lifetime is 12. 29% of our workforce have completely changed career fields since their first job after college.

There are several reasons why people change jobs.

1) Seeking a higher salary.

2) Lack of opportunities at their current job, including remote work.

3) Poor management and workplace toxicity.

4) Lack of satisfaction in their job.

Meet four Penn Staters who have transitioned into new careers. Hear their stories and learn what they did to successfully navigate a career change.

Panelists: Samantha Condolff, Malorie Feidner, Meghan Kelleher, Jon Stoltzfus

Bio: Samantha Condolff is a Project Manager in Quality Assurance for Catholic Health. Prior to transitioning into the Healthcare Industry, Samantha spent 6 years in Product Development for FoodHandler and also 7 years as an Internal Auditor and Financial Analyst for the Sherwin Williams Paint Company. Samantha is also a freelance copy editor and a Certified Associate in Project Management.

Samantha is a proud Penn State alum (times two). She received a BS in Finance in 1996 and an MBA with a Marketing focus in 2003, both from Penn State University.

An avid traveler, Samantha currently lives on Long Island, New York with her husband and three teenage children. When not at Catholic Health, Samantha enjoys swimming, camping, and attempting to exhaust her Australian Shepherd.

Bio: Malorie Feidner is a 2016 engineering grad whose career has taken a unique path through data analytics, sales, and consulting. Malorie is currently pursuing a Master's degree in counseling, with the intention of becoming a licensed mental health professional.

Malorie also offers career coaching for neurodivergent professionals, as well as consulting for companies striving to embrace and support neurodiverse talent. She is a passionate advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace and firmly believes in prioritizing an inclusive culture and a healthy work-life balance.

Bio: Meghan Kelleher is the Founder & CEO of Corner Market Communications. With 15 years of in-house and agency experience, Meghan has represented 60+ brands including Oatly, KIND, Google/Waze, Banza, Safeway, Magnolia Bakery, General Mills, and more. She is certified in nutrition through the Tufts x Ketchum Nutrition Certification Program and holds a Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. Some of her favorite "wins" include helping turn a little-known Swedish oat milk company into a new iconic brand (Oatly); leading Safeway's PRSA Silver Anvil award-winning campaign; sharing traffic reports on Good Morning America as a Waze spokesperson and having her Waze marketing strategy converted into a Harvard Business School case study.

Meghan is known for her media relations skills, having secured cornerstone business and consumer features that drove awareness, web traffic, and sales for brands. In addition to leading all strategy and business communications for all clients, Meghan is a crisis specialist and has handled everything from voluntary recalls and FDA complaints to data breaches and CSR-related issues. Meghan is committed to supporting the growth of the next generation of business leaders and communications professionals. She serves as a mentor for SKU, is an advisor for multiple companies in and outside of food, and has guest lectured universities including NYU and Syracuse. She recently moved to Austin, Texas after 13 years in New York.

Bio: Jon Stoltzfus is a Penn State aerospace engineering grad (B.S. '95, M.Eng. '02) who transitioned from a successful career in the U.S. defense industry to copywriting and digital marketing. Jon spent 13 years at Penn State's Applied Research Lab before leaving to enter the private sector. Throughout his career he moved from being an engineer to a project manager and then a business development manager.

He started his career transition to copywriting in 2013 and has worked with large brands in the financial publishing and online education markets. He's also led an international team of freelance copywriters and now helps companies with creating and implementing their complete online marketing strategies.

In his free time, Jon enjoys traveling with his wife and 3 daughters, expanding his marketing skills, and golfing.