People: Julius Dorsey
JULIUS DORSEY: CORPORATE PERFORMANCE EXPERT
In his freshman year at MSU, Julius Dorsey, Jr., '74, made a pivotal decision. 'I decided I was not going to make it in football,' he recalls with laughter. 'So I decided to take care of my studies.'
Since then he has been on a fast track, rising in the world of advertising and marketing. He is now president and CEO of his own management consulting company--Dorsey & Co., which is based in Cleveland and has offices in Chicago, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. Called 'one of the brightest young businessmen in America' by the Detroit News, Dorsey counts such corporations as Michigan Bell, Goodyear and Sherwin- Williams--not bad for the son of a garbage truck driver. 'I don't know about telephones or paint,' he explains, 'but I do have business insights that can help our clients increase sales performance.'
After graduation, Julius was hired by J. Walter Thompson Co., Chicago, which quickly made him account executive for Gillete products. Two years later, Burrell Advertising hired him to be sole account executive for McDonald's Corp., which was so impressed that it hired Julius as national marketing manager of new products. 'That was a fun place to work,' recalls Julius, who spearheaded many new products and marketing programs, including McRibs and the Chicken and Chips combo.
After that, he worked for several other companies, including a cable television company in Cleveland. The proud father of four children, Julius is heavily involved with education as volunteer teacher and philantropist. He credits MSU with his success. 'I was encouraged by professors like Ken Atkins and Ed Rutherford, who coached the football walk-ons,' he says. 'I'm glad I went to MSU, and now, 22 years later, I still think it's the best place in the world.'
