UWAA Cowboy2Cowboy

Jeff Pivic, Assistant Athletic Director | Oregon State University Foundation

Working in Athletics 
During this interview, UW alumnus, Jeff Pivic, will share about his professional journey to becoming Assistant Athletic Director, Integrated Revenue Strategies at Oregon State University Foundation. Jeff graduated from UW in 2008 with a degree in Secondary Education and a concurrent degree in Mathematics. Our Cowboy2Cowboy Alumni Interviews aim to provide insight on a multitude of career paths for our students and alumni.

Randi Downham, Bank President | First Interstate Bank

Working in Banking 
UW Alumna Randi Downham, B.S. '05 finance with a minor in banking, talks to us about how a relentless work ethic will set you apart, the importance of developing relationships in the banking industry and how she worked her way up from an internship to the Bank President at First Interstate Bank in Laramie, WY. 

Barry Allen Sears, Head of Technology and Operations Audit | CLS Group

Working in Banking as an Internal Audit 
UW Alumnus Barry Allen Sears, '93 B.A. International Relations & B.A. German, talks about four important skills that will up-level your professional opportunities, what it takes to work on Wall Street, how to deal with the 'grey' areas in an organization and how he came to be Head of Technology and Operations Audit for CLS Group in New York City, NY.

Christian Lasher, Head of Business Development/Co-Owner | Unified Title Company/NOCO Flow

Working in Broadcast Journalism 
UW Alumnus, Christian Lasher '95 B.S. Broadcast Journalism, tells us about working as a sports broadcaster, transitioning into a news broadcaster and why he decided to retire from the television industry to work as an Account Executive at Canyon Title Company in Fort Collins, CO. Christian offers great advice on how to stay involved with the University of Wyoming Alumni Association, the best ways to get connected to other alumni in your area and how students at UW can take full advantage of all the resources available to them. 

Clint Schroeder, Regional Publisher & Managing Director | North Idaho Newspapers & Hagadone Media Group

Working in Journalism 
UW Alumnus Clint Schroeder, '98 B.S. Political Science and Mass Communications, talks about starting out working for the Laramie Boomerang, how technology has changed the journalism industry over the past 20 years and how he became the Regional Publisher & Managing Director of North Idaho Newspapers & Hagadone Media Group in Coeur d'Alene, ID. 

Gary Cameron, U.S. On-shore Land Manager | Royal Dutch Shell

Working in the Energy Industry and Being Successful in your Career 
UW Alumnus Gary Cameron, B.S. '81 business management, talks about his 37-year-career in the oil and gas industry and shares professional advice for students and alumni seeking to become successful in their careers. For 22 years Gary lived and worked in a variety of locations abroad, he was responsible for drafting and negotiating oil and gas contracts among many other things and finished out his career as the U.S. On-Shore Land Manager for Royal Dutch Shell. Listen in for some expert advice on being a team player, the importance owning your mistakes and why he tries to live by the Code of the West. 

Rita Meyer, Director of Wyoming Infrastructure Investments | Rocky Mountain Power

Working in various industries 
UW Alumna Rita Meyer, '82 B.A. Education and '89 B.S. Accounting, shares about her career, which was a "patchwork quilt of experiences." From a 23-year-career in the Wyoming Air National Guard, to two tours at the Pentagon, to working at an accounting firm, to serving in two theaters of war and also serving as the Auditor for the State of Wyoming, Rita believes your shouldn't take the safe route in your professional pursuits. Rita is currently the Director of Wyoming Infrastructure Investments for Rocky Mountain Power in Cheyenne, Wyoming. 

Ahmed Balogun, Data Scientist | UL LLC

Working as a Data Scientist 
During this interview, UW Alumnus Ahmed Balogun, will tell us about the importance of exploring new opportunities while you're in college, why he chose to pursue mechanical engineering and how he came to work as a Data Scientist for UL LLC in Laramie, WY. Ahmed graduated from UW in 2017 with his Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Shelly Gams, Certified Financial Planner | Retirement Solutions

Working as a Financial Planner 
During this interview, UW Alumna Shelly Gams, will tell us about how she found her calling as a successful Certified Financial Planner for Retirement Solutions in Billings, Montana. Shelly graduated from UW in 1993 with a B.S. from the College of Business. Our Cowboy2Cowboy Alumni Interviews aim to provide insight on a multitude of career paths for our students and alumni. 

Galand Thaxton, Owner of Thaxton Insurance Agency Inc. (State Farm)

Owning Your Own Financial Services Business 
During this interview, UW Alumnus Galand Thaxton, will tell us about how he went from playing in the NFL to owning Thaxton Insurance Agency in Laramie, WY. Galand returned to UW after his time in the NFL playing for the Atlanta Falcons, the San Diego Chargers, and New York Giants to finish up a few credits and graduated in 2013 with a B.S. in Business Management. Our Cowboy2Cowboy Alumni Interviews aim to provide insight on a multitude of career paths for our students and alumni.

Kaite Krell, Correspondence Director | U.S. Senate, Senator John Barrasso
Conroy Stout, Legislative Assistant | U.S. Senate, Senator Michael B. Enzi 
Rachel Vliem, Press Secretary | U.S. Senate, Senator Michael B. Enzi 

Working in Washington, D.C.
During this interview, three UW alumni will talk about how they came to work on Capitol Hill and what advice they have for UW students and alumni pursuing a similar career path. UW alumna, Kaite Krell, is the Correspondence Director for Senator John Barrasso and graduated with a B.S. Political Science & Government in 2016. UW alumnus, Conroy Stout, is the Legislative Assistant for Senator Michael B. Enzi and graduated with a B.A. in Communication & a B.S. in Political Science in 2014 and also a M.A. in Communication in 2017. UW Alumna, Rachel Vliem is the Press Secretary for Senator Michael B. Enzi and graduated with a B.A. Journalism and also a Pre-Law Minor in 2015.

Chase McNamee, Senior Project Manager | Office of the Chancellor of Denver

Working in Higher Education
During this interview, UW Alumnus, Chase McNamee, will tell us about how he became interested in working in higher education and he will also share some insight on how you can pursue a similar career path. Chase graduated from UW in 2013 with a B.A. in History and again in 2015 with a M.S. in Counseling and will soon earn his EdD in higher education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Our Cowboy2Cowboy Alumni Interviews aim to provide insight on a multitude of career paths for our students and alumni.

Erika Patten, Marketing Project Manager | Ogilvy 

Working in Marketing 
During this interview, UW Alumna Ericka Patten, will tell us about the importance of finding your strengths, why it's important to keep your professional resources updated and how she came to work as a successful Marketing Project Manager for Ogilvy in Denver, CO. Ericka graduated from UW in 2016 with a B.S. in Marketing.

*Video coming soon!

Mara Johnson, Philanthropy Director | Habitat for Humanity

A Career in nonprofit Fundraising 
During this interview, UW Alumna Mara Johnson, talks about her experience as a student athlete, how the hardest experiences often turn into unforeseen opportunities and how she became the Philanthropy Director at Habitat for Humanity in Fort Collins, CO. Mara graduated from UW in 2013 with a B.S. in Microbiology and again in 2016 an M.S. in Kinesiology and Health with a focus in Biomechanics.

*Video coming soon!

Nicole Hauser, Executive Director | Cathedral Home for Children

A Career in Social Work 
During this interview, UW Alumna Nicole Hauser, will tell us about what it takes to be successful in her line of work, why it's important to earn your masters degree in this field and how she came to be the Executive Director at Cathedral Home For Children in Laramie, WY. Nicole graduated from UW in 2005 with a B.S. in Social Work and in 2007 with her Master's degree in Social Work.