Maricich Family
David Maricich (‘94, Marketing) and Georgiana Maricich (Senior, Management/Entrepreneurship)
Georgiana Maricich (left) with her father, David Maricich
Did your college experience influence your parenting style? If so, how?
David: I was lucky enough to meet my wife of over 25 years while a student at San Diego State
University. She studied nursing at SDSU and learned quite a bit about child development,
bringing many of those skills into our parenting. Georgi and her brother, Miles, were
given a good start with nutrition, then lots of developmental engagement such as being
read to every night, getting muddy head to toe in the yard and so forth. I guess you
could say Georgiana was given a holistic upbringing, but we had some ice cream, junk
food and TV woven in there too. I think Georgi would’ve liked more of that!
Did your dad’s education at SDSU inspire you to attend?
Georgiana: Growing up, very early on, I took an interest in the business world. I often visited
my dad’s work and learned about marketing, design, and management. We’d also watch
the show “Shark Tank” together. When it was time to choose a university, San Diego
State was a top contender, as I heard many wonderful stories from my dad’s time there.
I also saw how his marketing education was crucial to the success of his business.
In the spring of 2019, my dad and I attended Explore SDSU together where we visited
the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center (my current program), the KCR radio station (his
old stomping grounds), and several other areas. After seeing the campus and spending
the day exploring San Diego, I knew that following in my father’s footsteps was the
right fit, and I’m thankful to this day that I chose to attend SDSU.
How do you think your SDSU experience was different from Georgiana’s?
David: I’ve been really impressed with Georgiana’s education and the evolution of the business
program such as the Lavin entrepreneurship center and ZIP Launchpad. The opportunities
for Georgiana to get hands-on startup and general business experience through the
program have been excellent. I had some great instruction as well, especially on the
marketing side with Professor Mickey Belch and others. I applied my SDSU education
towards independent music promotion which eventually led to my first job in the music
industry. My entrepreneurial adventures were a bit more DIY out of necessity since
there was no Lavin program around when I attended in the early 90s.
When do you anticipate you’ll earn your bachelor’s degree?
Georgiana: I’ll earn my BSBA in May 2023. I’m currently a management major with a specialization
in entrepreneurship, with minors in both sustainability and real estate.
What are some of your favorite things about SDSU?
David: I was so fortunate to attend SDSU. The school and city of San Diego offered so many
opportunities. There was always something to do, places to go, activities to try.
I just happened to land on campus at a time where there was an alternative music renaissance.
I would surf in the morning and play on stage at the Casbah and other clubs at night,
somehow managing to pass my classes in between! The campus radio station, KCR, became
an epicenter of culture and new music discovery. I had the 6 – 9 a.m. shift, riding
to the on-campus studio on my skateboard in the dark. I had no idea at the time how
important the station and my marketing classes would be to my first career in the
music industry and my second act of running a healthcare marketing agency.
Georgiana: San Diego State has become a real family affair. Other SDSU alumni include my mom, Tori (Olson), and Uncle Sean Loftus. My first cousin David Loftus also currently attends and is a business major with a finance emphasis.
