What was your major?

It was computer information systems.

Did you ever think, "I want to be a CEO when I grow up?”

I didn’t want to work for somebody necessarily. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur. I knew that there was a lot to be learned by going and getting a job but I also knew that long-term I wanted to build something on my own, have something that I could say, “I did this.” Or at least “tried to do this.”

How did Walker College of Business help you get there?

You know, I think that some of the strengths of the college of business really revolve around the professors. I had some great professors. I had a class with Dr. Conca. I don’t think he’s here anymore. But the class was to go out and find a business, do a project for it, build something that they implement, and that was so radical compared to any other class I had.

You go out, you build, it’s got to work, they’ve got to use it. And that was an amazing class to take.

Advice for those considering Walker College?

If you are a student and you’re thinking about going to business school, I think this is the perfect mix. I think you get a great education, but also you’re not a number. I knew almost all of my professors. A lot of the classes were relatively small. Some were a little bit larger, but most of them were relatively small. The professors knew you. You can make what you want of your education here. And I think that’s a good thing to say.

Sure. That tight-knit community - having those relationships with your teachers - has that helped you along in your career?

It has. You know, I’ve had professors write me letters of recommendation before. Coming back here, we did the entrepreneurship program and we met Jon [West] and Chad [Ledford] and were able to bring them onto the team (his company NeboWeb). You know, we met a couple people today and if we have positions, I think they’ll be strong candidates.

Do you have a favorite – Alumni Day, Entrepreneur Summit … any activities that –

I like the entrepreneurship summit. I think it’s really cool to hear the student’s ideas. I think it’s good to see the students. They get up there, they’re so proud of what they’ve done. They’re nervous and they get up there and they give their speech and you hear some of the good ideas. I think that’s really cool.

Can you describe the strengths of the entrepreneurship center?

I think just building awareness, getting students involved and getting students thinking about it. You know, a lot of people have the idea, “Hey, I want to do something.”  Or how do I start my own business? But putting that seed in there and just taking it from somebody that’s like, “Hey, I’d like to start my own business,” to giving them steps to do that.

Those students who present those ideas, now they’re on the path. Whether they start their own business or not, they went through this entire path that gave them the thought and the methodology of, “I start with nothing and build a business plan.” And they go through the whole thing. I think that’s great. I think it’s contagious. I told a couple of the classes today about the program and I said, “You know, this is … this is really, really something that I think could really take off.” So I think the entrepreneurship program’s biggest thing is that what it’s doing is really just giving students an opportunity to start that process.