Connecting Creators

A Network for Alumni Entrepreneurs

A new Entrepreneurship Alumni Network is made possible through funding from the Wyoming Innovation Partnership. It is an opportunity for entrepreneurs at UW and across the state to come together and to connect to build their careers while also building a strong Wyoming business community.

From mentorships to networking to casual meet-and-greets, the Entrepreneurship Alumni Network brings UW alumni together to build relationships in meaningful ways. Whether you want to be a mentor, find a mentor, extend your professional network or simply stay in the loop on happenings at UW, this network has something for every entrepreneur.

All networks are completely free to participate in, including networking and campus events.

You can participate in mentorship programs for entrepreneurs as a mentor or as a mentee.

All networks have one annual signature event, and the Entrepreneurship Alumni Network’s inaugural get-together is planned for the spring of 2025.

Keep reading to meet the leaders of this exciting new network — Hayden Hassinger and Tucker Norman. Both are 2023 graduates of the UW College of Business who founded Veron Media (veronmedia.com), a visual marketing agency based in Cheyenne that launched in January 2024. The company provides comprehensive marketing and visual media services, including video production, website development, graphic design, print marketing and brand redesign for businesses lacking the time or expertise to handle these all-important aspects of their business on their own.

These impressive young entrepreneurs are not only building their own business. They also are working to strengthen Wyoming’s entrepreneurial community. Their commitment to their home state and to helping other business owners is particularly inspiring.

Hayden Hassinger

Hayden Hassinger exemplifies a new generation of Wyoming entrepreneurs who are choosing to invest in their home communities rather than leave the state. Born and raised in Cheyenne, Hassinger recognized the unique value of Wyoming’s tight-knit community during his education at Laramie County Community College and UW. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing, economics and sales from the UW College of Business.

Hassinger’s early passion for visual media and gaming as a child would later shape his professional trajectory in unexpected ways. “As a kid, I thought I’d follow suit with everyone in high school and just leave Wyoming behind,” Hassinger says. “Something that a lot of young people miss when they leave Wyoming is the tight-knit community — especially those who attended UW, because it seems like most alumni mesh really well. I think a lot of alumni really miss that once they leave Wyoming, and it seems like they always come back at any opportunity they get.”

In 2023, alongside business partner Tucker Norman, Hassinger co-founded Veron Media, a company whose name combines the concepts of “true” (verity) and “image” (icon). The venture emerged from a conversation at a UW football game that built upon their long-term collaboration and friendship as leaders in UW’s Ethics Club as well as their shared love of photography. Despite both Hassinger and Tucker maintaining other full-time commitments, the partners are building their business from the ground up, dedicating countless evening and weekend hours.

Video and photography are Hassinger’s specialties: “I’ve always loved visual things, whether that’s photography or graphic design. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so when you have 30 frames a second, that’s a thousand words per frame. I dig that visual media can convey a wide range of emotions.”

Hassinger adds, “I think it’s important to outsource some of those things (marketing) to people who are passionate about it so that you can remain passionate about what your business is.”

Hassinger has taken on a leadership role in fostering Wyoming’s business community as one of the inaugural leaders of the UW Alumni Association’s Entrepreneurship Network. His vision for the network emphasizes the importance of supporting both introverted and extroverted entrepreneurs. He believes that success comes from taking action rather than overthinking. Whether Hassinger is working on his marketing agency, playing golf or building business communities, his commitment to Wyoming and its entrepreneurial ecosystem exemplifies his belief in the power of local communities and meaningful connections.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Hassinger says. “Facilitating a way to network with business leaders and other alumni who have wanted to start their own businesses is super exciting. The university is the spoke on the wheel to get everyone connected. That’s really powerful.”

Tucker Norman

Tucker Norman embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that drives Wyoming’s next generation of business leaders. He was born in Pine Bluffs, just 40 miles from Cheyenne and a stone’s throw from the Nebraska border. Norman graduated in 2023 from the UW College of Business with degrees in marketing and professional sales.

During their time at the college, both Norman and Hassinger were very involved in the college and built strong relationships. “We both were super-involved in the College of Business,” Norman says. “We often joked about being the ‘mayors’ of the College of Business, thanks to our strong connections with professors and fellow students.”

After graduation, Norman quickly put his sales education to work — first as a sales development representative at a tech company and then in roofing sales at PRQ Exteriors in Denver, his current position. His entrepreneurial journey took a decisive turn during a UW football game, where a conversation on the sidelines with his friend and future business partner, Hayden Hassinger, led to the creation of Veron Media.

“Hayden and I invested significant time planning before launching the business,” Norman says. “Our past projects proved we worked well as a team, and we both felt a strong drive to help owner-operators who can’t always focus on marketing. By taking on that role, we’re not only filling a gap but actively helping these businesses grow and succeed by adding effective marketing to their toolkit.”

Norman is one of the inaugural leaders of the UWAA’s Entrepreneurship Network, where he works to create meaningful connections among UW alumni entrepreneurs across all industries and disciplines. Norman believes in the importance of both physical and mental fitness, having completed the challenging 75 Hard program, as has Hassinger. Norman also believes in the power of community and continuous learning. His vision for the entrepreneurship network reflects his personal philosophy — creating not just a social club but also a valuable resource where entrepreneurs can share ideas, seek advice and learn from one another’s experiences to avoid common pitfalls in business.

“The entrepreneur alumni network is a powerful platform for reconnecting with peers and engaging with professionals from diverse fields,” Norman says. “It’s a place where entrepreneurial talent can come together, exchange fresh perspectives, and collaborate across disciplines, driving new ideas and opportunities.”

 He continues, “One of the most exciting aspects of entrepreneurship is learning from such a diverse range of experiences. The field includes everyone from marketing professionals to ranchers, oil and gas experts to insurance agents. This diversity benefits everyone involved, bringing together unique perspectives and skills that enrich the entrepreneurial community.”