Jonathan Hartwig, Class of 2007, majored in Communication at Bethany Lutheran College. He now leads as the founder and principal owner of an e‑commerce media firm, where no two days are the same. His work spans business development, client outreach, scheduling production crews, auditioning talent, running shoots, and producing professional video content tailored for web audiences. Each project requires both creative vision and operational coordination to bring stories to life.

Jonathan describes his inspiration succinctly: “Opportunity. The nine to five is great for a lot of people, but I was never very good at it. So I started freelancing and doing what I loved and what I was actually good at. Over time I’ve been lucky enough to work with a lot of talented people…”

His vision extends beyond business growth: “Ideally I always want to come from a place of contribution. We’ve actually let go of business where we didn’t think we were going to have the impact the client deserved! So in addition to growing this business, we want to grow everyone around us.”

Jonathan reflects on how Bethany prepared him for his vocation: the real-world exposure and creative agency at Bethany granted meaningful experiences in broadcast and production early on. “You get your hands on the same tools and equipment we actually use in a professional broadcast environment,” he recalls. He also notes the freedom to run student-produced shows and films—opportunities uncommon at larger schools.

His college years remain vivid in memory: late nights in editing lounges, film festival screenings, sports events, and the friendships formed in a close-knit academic setting. “Always the people,” Jonathan says—highlighting that relationships formed the heart of his Bethany experience.

Jonathan’s journey—from Communication major to entrepreneurial media professional—exemplifies how Bethany Lutheran College nurtures graduates with creative confidence, technical skill, relational leadership, and a heart for meaningful contribution.