222 S. 22nd St.
Laramie, WY 82070
Phone: 3077664166
Fax: 3077666824
Email: uwalumni@uwyo.edu
Welcome to UWAA's virtual library featuring our Cowboy2Cowboy (C2C) Recorded Alumni
Interview Series. We have expanded our online career resources for current UW students and alumni by conducting virtual interviews with alumni in a specific industry so they can share their career
advice for those interested in that area or occupation. Students and alumni can utilize these videos as a learning tool when deciding on their desired career
path or when learning about a new industry.
These videos are also in a playlist on The UWAA YouTube Channel, suscribe to our channel and receive notifications when new videos, like these and many more,
are posted.
Follow the UWAA on LinkedIn to grow your professional network.
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.
Virtual Opportunities | College of Engineering | University of Wyoming (uwyo.edu)
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
*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.
222 S. 22nd St.
Laramie, WY 82070
Phone: 3077664166
Fax: 3077666824
Email: uwalumni@uwyo.edu