"In one class we learned how the Grateful Dead and the NBA are marketed. This gave me a broad understanding of how businesses can become successful."
- Darren and Debbie Murphy, UMUC MBA Graduates
MyUMUC Story:
Couple Opens John Deere Dealership with MBA Expertise
By Celeste Ryan
When the brand new Murphy Farm and Lawn opened for business in Anderson, Missouri, owners Darren and Debbie Murphy realized a dream come true. The couple credited UMUC’s MBA program with preparing them to run their new John Deere dealership.
“UMUC played a large role in preparing us to plan, open, and operate a new business,” Darren said. For his final MBA project, he submitted a comprehensive proposal to Rosemary Hartigan—MBA program director in UMUC’s Graduate School of Management and Technology—for acquiring a John Deere dealership. The proposal included everything from a statistical analysis of market feasibility and marketing plan to a business plan and financial requirements.
“She must have thought it was good because she gave me an A,” he chuckled.
John Deere must have thought it was good, too, because they gave him the contract to open a dealership.
Debbie Murphy also appreciated the program, especially those classes that supplemented the business knowledge she had gained in five years working for John Deere.
“We did a lot of marketing research and studied all the major companies,” she recalled. “In one class we learned how the Grateful Dead and the NBA are marketed. This gave me a broad understanding of how businesses can become successful.”
Darren, too, has a history with John Deere, having worked for 12 years for the 169-year-old farm equipment company with its universally recognized yellow-on-green leaping deer logo.
“I know John Deere inside and out,” he admitted, “having worked in everything from marketing and sales to training and project management.”
In pursuing their careers with John Deere, the couple has moved frequently—at different times, they’ve called Kansas, California, Texas, and Nevada home—and that made the portability of UMUC’s MBA program a strong selling point.
“It’s a fantastic tool for the working adult,” said Darren. “I’ve been all over the country while working on my MBA. When you’ve got the schedule most of us have in corporate life, being able to work around time constraints is a necessity. It enabled me to study at any hour, day or night.”
“We’re looking to attract homeowners, including women and children,” said Darren, noting that the town is growing because people are migrating from the cities, buying a few acres, and building homes. “They’ll need small tractors, lawn mowers, and lawn care equipment.” He also sells merchandise with the popular John Deere logo and look—toys, shirts, and hats.
Darren serves as dealer, owner, and general manager, overseeing marketing and sales. Debbie handles the financial side and human resources. Both do a “little bit of everything.”
Thanks to their UMUC MBAs, they’re well prepared.
