How Space Planning Won a Standout Student’s Heart
July 14, 2025
When Max Prok graduated from Xavier University, he had plenty of career options. He chose retail space planning—work he now describes as solving a complex puzzle where every decision shapes the shopper’s experience.
Prok’s interest started early during childhood grocery trips, where he found himself wondering why products were placed where they were. At Xavier, that curiosity grew through marketing courses and leadership in the Sedler XCEL experiential learning program. But the turning point came in the Retail Analytics Practicum, where students completed a real project with Kroger and P.L. Marketing.
The experience introduced Prok to space planning and showed how data, strategy and in-store execution come together. It also connected him with the team at P.L. Marketing, where he now works as a space planning analyst using industry tools and data to optimize store layouts.
For Prok, the role blends curiosity, analytics and creativity—proving that sometimes the right career simply clicks into place.