by Jordan Foley, Student Public Relations Writer
Few college students can say that they are the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for a multimillion dollar company. But that’s exactly what Ben Hutton can say as he leads the marketing for CoinHub Media, an online business for coin collectors.
Hutton, a junior marketing major at Cedarville University, was selected for this position by his friend, Blake Alma, a 23-year-old entrepreneur and the CEO of the company. The decision by Alma to step back from his multimillion dollar business became a life-changing opportunity for Hutton.
CoinHub Media is an online business that makes coin collecting more accessible. By offering a fast-paced auction experience on the platform WhatNot, coin collectors can easily grow their collection.
Hutton and Alma first met at a homeschool event when Hutton was in seventh grade. They developed a fruitful friendship that has since bolstered CoinHub’s success.
The marketing position was first presented to Hutton through an Instagram post by Alma. What was first thought to be only a summer marketing internship has turned into the chief marketing officer role for Hutton.
“When we had the interview, I had no idea I would be given the role of CMO,” said Hutton. “After our interview, he offered me the role of CMO as part of my internship with the company and promised me a bright future. CoinHub Media has allowed me to be a part of an incredible and rare experience.”
Despite his success, Hutton finds that balancing student life and being the CMO of a successful business is challenging. As the CMO, his work is demanding, requiring him to develop marketing strategies, manage the team, oversee marketing campaigns and digital marketing, and network with other companies — while still focusing on his academic studies at Cedarville.
“There are many times where I’ve experienced burnout and exhaustion,” said Hutton. “Working hard and giving credit to the Lord is the most valuable thing I have learned at CoinHub Media.”
Hutton credits Cedarville’s Integrated Business Core (IBC) organization for teaching him the importance of teamwork and problem-solving. Additionally, the Cedarville University Entrepreneurship (CUE) program has instilled in him a new vision for business and entrepreneurship.
“Ben Hutton has a rare gift. His enthusiasm is infectious, and his talent is more refined than professionals three times his age,” said Dr. Kary Oberbrunner, Berry Chair of Entrepreneurship at Cedarville University and a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author.
Hutton’s role as CMO of CoinHub Media and his dedication to earning his degree are a solid testament to his professionalism and maturity.
Cedarville University, a Baptist institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by the Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.