Liberty University’s PRSSA chapter hosts the owner of Rookie’s to discuss integrating faith into the workplace

Liberty’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) branch held a Faith in the Workplace event Thursday, Feb. 6, offering a unique experience for students to discuss the integration of biblical values in corporate settings. 

The event, held in the Jerry Falwell Library Terrace Conference room, welcomed students who have a passion for business and communications. 

A table at the entrance offered an array of cookies, which was appropriate considering Jordan Nickerson, founder of local cookie sandwich business Rookie’s, was the featured speaker at the event. 

PRSSA leaders welcomed members and guests. Tables discussed an icebreaker question, “if you were a cookie, what kind would you be?”, and shared their answers with the rest of the room. 

Nickerson discussed his experience building a business from the ground up. 

He started out his time at Liberty as a youth ministry major, before switching to communications with the intention of building his resume and adding a skill set. Nickerson graduated with a degree in communications in three years, before doing a “victory lap” as a GSA in his fourth year. 

As a recent graduate, Nickerson battled between the options of full-time ministry or a career in business – culminating in a choice between seminary and acquiring his MBA. He chose to pursue his MBA online.

Nickerson developed the concept for Rookie’s during his time as a resident director at the Hill dorms. 

Liz Fitch | Liberty Champion
COOKIE GAMES — Members of PRSSA participated in activities before Nickerson spoke.

Sitting down with his wife one night, he said “I think I need to start a business, but I don’t know what.”

When figuring out the specifics, he explored the activities that he loved doing and how they could potentially become a business venture. He enjoyed baking cookies, and said it was a great “thinking space” for him – so baking became the plan. 

Overwhelmed by the first responses to his product, Nickerson quickly realized the need for not only a much larger mixer, but a tangible location to sell the
cookie sandwiches.

He purchased a trailer off Craigslist and renovated it within a year to become one of the most popular college hangout spots in Lynchburg.

“We wanted to build something aesthetically pleasing so that the image would drive the traction and traffic to us,”
Nickerson said. 

The iconic white food truck lined with tasteful wood accents, surrounded with hanging lights, quickly became a key spot in Forest, known for both its product and atmosphere. 

A couple weeks after the food truck opened, Nickerson said he was burned out—excited for the future of the business—but tired from the effort it was commanding. As he headed to an evening shift at Rookie’s, his wife texted him a photo of a massive line of excited customers. 

This culminating moment displayed the results of his hard work and provoked emotion in Nickerson after reading the text.

“It was really cool to see (the result of) a couple years of obedience and faithfulness, and also the Lord’s blessing on something we didn’t deserve,” he said. 

In July, Nickerson will leave his position as a Resident Director on Commons III to focus on Rookie’s full time. 

“For me, jumping into business was very much an act of obedience in the Great Commission,” he said. 

Hamer is a news reporter. Keep up with her on Twitter.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *