Author Archives: kbest

Taking a Big Idea and Running With It

Matt Helbig (’03)

What started as just an idea between two friends keeps getting bigger.

Longtime acquaintances and former Truman track and field teammates Matt Helbig (’03) and Ben Rosario (’03) were enjoying a run together when they came up with the idea of opening their own store. Following the advice “do what you love,” they formulated a business plan, raised nearly $100,000 from friends and family for start-up funds and opened their first running and walking specialty store in August 2006.

In less than a decade, Big River Running Company has gone from an idea to a multimillion-dollar entity. Today, the company has four locations in the St. Louis metro area, with 35 full- and part-time employees. The initial success of Big River Running has also led to greater achievements for its two founders and their community.

In 2012, Rosario sold his share in the company to Helbig and moved to the running mecca of Flagstaff, Ariz., with his wife, Jen (Tesmer) Rosario (’03). Rosario now coaches and manages Northern Arizona Elite, a professional sports organization with a mission to recruit, develop and produce distance runners to compete at the very highest level of international athletics. His athletes have won national and international events, represented the United States at the World Championships and are considered strong contenders to make the 2016 Olympic Team.

“During my six amazing years at Big River I learned a lifetime’s worth of lessons, but I’d say hard work, the value of relationships and how to create a powerful brand were three of the biggest,” Rosario said. “It’s those three things, above all others, that I think are helping me succeed in the world of professional running.”

Helbig has an additional business venture as well after spearheading the launch of Big River Race Management in 2007. That company helps plan and provide chip timing for races all across the U.S. Its impact can especially be felt in St. Louis where last year Big River Race Management timed more than 150,000 athletes at no fewer than 220 events, many of which they helped sponsor or bring to the area.

“It is really pretty simple. We wanted to share the passion we have for running with others, some of whom share that passion and others who are learning about the sport of running for the first time,” Helbig said. “The goal was always to create a true community of runners and walkers around the stores.”

Getting involved in the community may be one of the secrets of success for Big River Running, and its efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2009, the City of
St. Louis named it a Neighborhood Business of the Year. In fact, every year since its inception, Big River Running has been named one of the 50 best run specialty stores in the country, and was one of four finalists for the award in 2012.

All of his hard work has earned Helbig some attention too, as this year he was recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal on its “40 Under 40” list.

“Big River Running has been very successful and it’s not by luck. A lot of hard work and care went into building and growing the stores into what they are today,” Helbig said. “I truly believe success comes much easier when you are authentic and passionate. People naturally gravitate towards those qualities, and being authentic and passionate is part of the fiber of Big River Running.”

Putting Others First

Kevin Urbatsch (’88)

In football, an offensive lineman’s primary job is to protect the quarterback. Kevin Urbatsch (’88) did just that while playing at Truman, and now continues to protect others with his legal expertise.

A three-time all-conference player and one-time All-American, Urbatsch excels at everything he does. Today, he is a partner at Myers Urbatsch P.C., a law firm that works in planning for the needs of people with disabilities. He has been named a Northern California Superlawyer for four consecutive years, and was named one of the nation’s Top Child Advocates in 2013 by Parenting Magazine.

“I work six days a week, and have promised not to work on Sundays,” Urbatsch said. “Although I’ve broken that promise a few times, I work this hard because I love what I do, and I love working for the people.”

As a student, his hard work on the football field earned him a spot on Truman’s All-Century Team, comprised of the top 95 football players and coaches of the past century. Urbatsch was also one of the founding members of Phi Kappa Tau social fraternity.

After graduating from Truman with a degree in history, Urbatsch played minor league football in Florida and Arizona for a few years before taking the LSAT and attending law school at St. Louis University. One of the highlights of his legal career was arguing before the Ninth Circuit of Appeals and reversing a district court order in a published decision.

Urbatsch has spent the last 21 years in San Francisco working in estate planning and helping those in need. He also uses his legal abilities to help veterans of World War II and the Korean War receive benefits.

“Because of my background and understanding of benefits for people with disabilities, it’s nice to help the veterans receive their benefits as well,” he said.

Additionally, Urbatsch has used his background and knowledge to help other lawyers who are looking to develop a practice. He published a two-volume set of books titled, “Special Needs Trusts: Planning, Drafting and Administration,” which took more than 20 authors and two years to complete.

“When I started in special needs, there was nothing to guide young practitioners on how to develop a practice,” he said. “I thought of all the things I wished someone had told me about this area of practice, then put it down in writing.”

Urbatsch believes his greatest professional accomplishment to be establishing his own law firm. From starting with nothing in San Francisco, to creating a name for himself, Urbatsch has built a practice that is now one of the most respected estate-planning law firms in the Bay area.

“We all think about the things in our lives that bother us. When I sit down to talk to people with disabilities, I realize my problems are pretty insignificant,” he said. “It’s very inspiring to talk and learn from them.”

Outside of work, Urbatsch spends time with his wife, their two dogs and three cats. In his spare time, he enjoys visiting wineries in Napa and Sonoma Valley and watching the San Francisco Giants, especially when they beat the Cardinals.

A Busy Bulldog

Brenton Freeman (’05)

Brenton Freeman (’05) rarely has a dull moment at work. As an anesthesiologist in Des Moines, Iowa, he balances his workload between two area hospitals and two outpatient surgery centers. He has to be prepared to work with patients ranging in age from one to 100, on anything from a simple outpatient procedure to major trauma. Although some might find it unsettling, the hectic atmosphere is actually something he enjoys.

“It can be challenging at times, but I love every second of my job,” Freeman said.

“Whether I am involved with a minor procedure, a major operation or an obstetrical delivery, the most rewarding part of my job is seeing patients after surgery feeling comfortable and appreciative of their care.”

The ability to balance a busy schedule is something Freeman honed during his time at Truman. In addition to the hours of coursework he undertook to earn his degree in exercise science, he was also a member of the men’s soccer team.

“As an athlete, I knew I was going to be traveling and competing, but I still had exams and other school work to complete, so I had to be organized and focused,” Freeman said. “I felt like being a student-athlete made me more successful in both academics and athletics.”

In the fall of 2003, Freeman was one of three captains for the soccer team, which had its most successful campaign ever. That team would go undefeated in the regular season, advance to the national quarterfinals and finish the year ranked No. 4 in the country with a record of 20-1.

“That season was filled with so many great memories and stories,” he said. “That team knew how to work hard, but we also had a lot of fun together. Those guys are still some of my best friends and we regularly keep in touch despite living around the country.”

Since his time at Truman, Freeman himself has been scattered around the country. Following graduation he stayed in Kirksville, attending A.T. Still University and earning his osteopathic degree in 2009. His last two years of medical school took him to Phoenix, Ariz., for clinical rotations, followed by an internship in Las Vegas and his anesthesiology residency in Iowa City, Iowa.

Today, Freeman is employed with Associated Anesthesiologist in Des Moines. This September he will be married to Hillary Farmer. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, running and biking—pretty much anything outdoors, although surprisingly not usually playing soccer.

“I still love the game and follow it as much as I can, but most of my playing days are behind me,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to not have a major injury throughout my sports career, so I have no interest in hurting myself now.”

From Sales Rep to CEO

Most entry-level jobs act as a resume-builder for applications elsewhere, but not so for alumnus Greg Brown (’84). During his 30-year span at Learfield Communications, Brown has created a reputation as a skilled worker and trusted leader, which helped him rise to the top of the company.

Learfield Communications began as a regional radio network in Jefferson City, Mo. Since its inception in 1972, the company has grown into a diverse multimedia enterprise and respected pioneer in collegiate sports media and marketing. With two primary operating units, Learfield News and Learfield Sports, the business not only provides news and agriculture broadcast programming to hundreds of radio stations throughout the Midwest, but also manages the multi-media rights for some of the biggest programs in college sports.

Immediately after graduation, Brown began his career with Learfield, managing the account with the Iowa State Cyclone network. Eventually, he worked his way to becoming the head of Learfield Sports. Under his leadership, this primary operating unit grew from a client base of six schools to more than 50 schools, conferences and associations, and today boasts a portfolio of relationships with nearly 100 major university athletic programs.

In 2009, Brown was promoted to his current role of president and CEO of Learfield Communications. Although the company has grown much larger since Brown first joined the team, Learfield maintains close personal relationships with its clients and employees.

“We work hard, treat our people exceedingly well and strive to create an incredible culture internally, which makes for very productive external relationships,” Brown said. “The integrity and cultural values of Learfield are effectively transferred between all of these relationships.”

Brown’s dedication to Learfield has been heralded by many. In 2012, he was named a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in the Central Midwest. That same year, he was listed as the 23rd most influential executive in college football by SportsBusiness Journal. While Brown appreciates the recognition, gaining personal acclaim has not been a focus in his career.

“Trying to gain accolades and awards for myself–that’s not where it’s at,” Brown said. “I’ve had 30 years of experience working alongside a lot of talented people who are doing great work. I’m more focused on how we’re doing as a company, as individuals, how we are serving our partners and clients, and how we’re doing as leaders in our field.”

When reflecting on his experience at Truman, Brown noted that the opportunities to serve as the president of Sigma Tau Gamma and as a senator on Student Senate gave him access to professional skills, while his work with the Missouri Student Government Internship Program helped him develop important relationships to jumpstart his career. As a senior, Brown served as an intern in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office under John Ashcroft.

“Fundamentally, it’s about relationships,” Brown said. “The relationship that I formed with John Ashcroft’s chief of staff while I served as Mr. Ashcroft’s intern led me to contacts which were incredibly helpful in securing my position at Learfield. It is about being intentional with the relationships you have and engaging people in a meaningful way.”

With many accomplishments under his belt from his illustrious career at Learfield, Brown advises anyone looking to develop a similar career path to search for something that really tugs at their heart.

“Engaging in something you are passionate about is critical,” he said. “If you don’t, it’s merely a job and a paycheck. Why do that when there is so much more out there for each of us to pursue?”

Love of Books Leads to a Career

Emily Hall (’11)

Nestled between crumbling brick storefronts and restaurants, Main Street Books is a beloved staple in the Historic District of St. Charles, Mo. Among the knotty pine wooden panels and cozy ambience, University alumna Emily Hall (’11) feels at home navigating the displays of bestsellers and sorting through piles of unread books. Hall and her parents took over the popular bookstore in an unexpected turn of events.

Hall’s mother heard the previous owner of Main Street Books, Vicki Erwin, was planning on retiring and closing. She offhandedly suggested buying the bookstore to her family and, in particular, her daughter. After working as a personal assistant at an insurance company, Hall was looking for something else to give her a sense of accomplishment.

“It was a decided family effort that hinged on me, but I thought I could handle it,” Hall said.

Her love of books feeds her passion for the bookstore. In an industry competing with e-readers and tablets, Hall believes there will always be people who want print books. Through coffee stains and folded corners, she says the pages of print books convey history and moments in time.

“A book doesn’t need batteries, doesn’t need to be turned off and you don’t have to take it out of your bag at airport security,” Hall said. “Plus, an author can’t sign a Kindle.”

In February, Hall and her parents officially signed the papers as joint owners of the bookstore. While her parents will provide financial support and assistance, Hall will control the day-to-day operations. Her long-term goal is to own at least half of the business within the next five years.

Erwin has helped Hall transition into her new role by providing knowledge of the industry. Besides helping customers, Hall’s duties revolve around meeting the representatives of publishing houses, devising a marketing strategy and ordering books for the store.

Hall is not expecting to make big changes to the face of the store. Besides adding her personal touches, she is looking to expand the young adult literature section. Hall is also hoping to providing a structured place for a reading group that would be accessible to young adults.

Although not in her original career plan, the process has been both terrifying and exciting. Her time in college helped to inspire and encourage her to pursue different paths. Hall graduated from Truman with an English degree. Since her experience with the Joseph Baldwin Academy in middle school, Hall always knew she wanted to go to Truman.

“I didn’t want to get a degree where I was pressured to get a career in a big town somewhere else,” Hall said. “I still refer to Truman as the best decision I ever made.”

Legal Expertise Leads to Forbes Recognition

Corey Owens (’06) and fellow Truman graduate Sarah Saheb (’06) at a labor rights rally in Washington, D.C.

Friends of the University may have noticed a familiar name on the Forbes “30 Under 30” list, released in January. Alumnus Corey Owens (’06) made a drastic change in his career to align his passion with his profession, and his efforts are certainly earning some attention.

After landing a job with Facebook in 2010 and serving as the social media giant’s manager of global public policy in Washington, D.C., Owens decided his skills could be put to better use fighting for an up-and-coming product he believed would be the next big thing. In March 2013, he left his job at Facebook and relocated to San Francisco to start work as the head of global public policy at Uber, a company that connects riders with high-quality drivers through a smartphone app.

“I had reached a point in my career where I really wanted to fight for something that I wanted to use, and Uber felt like that magical product,” he said.

Founded in 2009, Uber launched its first city–San Francisco–in 2010 and has since grown into a global company with millions of users in more than 80 cities and 30 countries around the world. Owens describes Uber as offering luxury rides at affordable costs. Instead of waiting for a taxi to drive by and flagging it down, Uber users can request a car through their smartphone and track its progress to their location.

Any company that experiences rapid expansion needs to be aware of its environment, which is where Owens, who earned his master’s in political management from George Washington University in 2008, shines. When Uber expands to a new city, he is on the front lines, working with local leaders to clear any legal hurdles that might arise, allowing the company to establish roots in the market.

Forbes took notice of Owens’ commitment to excellence and placed him among the “30 Under 30” to watch in law and policy.

“I’m really flattered and humbled, but I think the most exciting part of it is the recognition of the really cool stuff we’re doing at the company,” Owens said. “It’s about a growing company with a big idea, so as much as it’s a recognition of me, it’s a recognition of the work we’re doing at Uber.”

Owens has always been a bit of a trailblazer, so his work with forward-thinking companies like Uber and Facebook should come as no surprise to those who know him. After starting at Truman as a communication major in 2002, he eventually became one of the first students to apply for and declare an interdisciplinary studies major. He ultimately injected philosophy and political science classes into his communication course load and created a major he called rhetoric and power.

“It’s an exhilarating experience to learn about something you care about, and any kind of program that allows you to customize your learning experience to your needs and interests will set you up for success,” he said.

Owens, left, with the Uber Public Policy/Comms team at a retreat in Miami

To that point, Owens’ résumé speaks for itself. He has also occupied positions at the American Civil Liberties Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. In addition to his major, he attributes part of his professional success to the opportunities made available during his time at Truman as an avid member of the debate team and a disc jockey for KTRM. Owens can foresee a time when his former college town will cross paths with the company where he puts his skills to use today.

“Uber is technology that is on the right side of history,” he said. “It is not a question of if Kirksville will have services like Uber, it’s a question of when.”

Alumnus Finds a Home at Harvard

Jason Beckfield (’98)

As a freshman at Truman, Jason Beckfield (’98) laughed at the idea of pursuing a Ph.D. in sociology after his undergraduate degree. Now, after many laborious doctoral years, Beckfield has moved from the “Harvard of the Midwest” to full-time professor of sociology at Harvard University in Massachusetts.

The liberal arts program drew Beckfield to Truman, allowing him to explore different career paths and major options. With the help of his professor and mentor Jack Mitchell, Beckfield became interested in the field of sociology. Intimidating and demanding, Mitchell would often come to class still dressed for duck hunting, occasionally barking out questions to his students.

“His answer to all my attempts was something like ‘No!’ or ‘You’re thinking about it wrong!’” Beckfield said. “Being a student in his class was a little scary, and also intellectually thrilling.”

Mitchell was crucial in Beckfield’s decision to attend graduate school. He cleared up Beckfield’s initial hesitations and explained the positives of good graduate programs in sociology. His compelling lectures and excellent teaching helped Beckfield excel in school, which earned him a Chancellor’s Fellowship to Indiana University.

After Indiana, Beckfield taught as an assistant professor at the University of Chicago. Later, Harvard offered his wife a postdoctoral fellowship and the two moved to Massachusetts, where they still live with their two kids. Beckfield picked up work as a visiting assistant professor during his first year at Harvard, yet had no intention of staying.

“I thought I might go back to Chicago, or go somewhere else,” Beckfield said. “To our shock, both my wife and I were offered jobs at Harvard and we have been here ever since.”

Relieved and ecstatic, Beckfield was promoted to full-time professor of sociology at Harvard in February 2011. His job is equal parts research, teaching and service. In the past, he has served as director of undergraduate studies and is the current director of graduate studies.

“Few people in the world are so privileged as tenured professors,” Beckfield said. “We have a lot of freedom to ask and answer the questions that we find important, and we have very nice working conditions compared to nearly any other job in the world.”

Fairness, whether it is in working conditions or quality of life, is a particular area of interest to Beckfield. He is currently devoting his time to exploring the effect of the European Union on social inequalities, and how social inequalities in the United States compare to inequalities in other countries. With his research, Beckfield has published books, papers and numerous journal articles, including one of his favorites “The Social Structure of the World Polity.” In this article, he illustrated growing political inequality around the world.

Although Beckfield might not come to class dressed for duck hunting, he still relates to his Midwest roots. Compared to Truman, Harvard is a much larger environment with high research expectations. However, Beckfield says the universities are similar in the fact they both place a strong emphasis on undergraduate teaching.

“I am glad people still call Truman the ‘Harvard of the Midwest,’ because in some ways they do share a similar spirit of encouraging and nourishing the curious mind,” Beckfield said.

A Heart Committed to the Brain

Dawn (Wellington) Tartaglione (’90)

Having attended the University on the prestigious and exclusive Pershing Scholarship, Dawn (Wellington) Tartaglione (’90) is no stranger to elite company. She is among the less than 1 percent of doctors specializing in neurosurgery.

Since her first exposure to brain and spinal surgery in medical school, Tartaglione was hooked. Now a practicing neurosurgeon, she works 10 to 14 hours a day, rotating between office patients and hospital surgeries. During the weekend, Tartaglione is on call about a third of every month to check on patients and perform emergency operations.

Her hard work has paid off through many emotional and rewarding experiences. Tartaglione treats brain trauma and operates on movement disorders such as Parkinson’s and Essential Tremor, helping to control disabling symptoms of these diseases. This often results in an enormous improvement of life for the patient.

“People have their lives changed forever when they can again button their coat, put a key into a lock or drive a car,” Tartaglione said. “Sometimes they haven’t done those things for 20 years.”

Tartaglione’s research in deep brain stimulation is one way she helps patients. In the procedure, electrodes attached to wires are placed in the brain, brought out through a hole in the skull, tunneled under the skin down to the collarbone and secured to a battery that powers the electrode. She also explores the progressive technology of stereotactic radiosurgery.

“It is a specialized radiation treatment to the brain or spine that is based on the appearance of a brain tumor, or tumors, that a patient might have and cannot have traditional surgery,” Tartaglione said.

Before becoming one of the nation’s most exclusive surgeons, Tartaglione grew up in Maryville, Mo. She applied to several other Missouri universities, but felt she could not pass up the financial appeal of Truman. Like many others, Tartaglione endured the rigorous biology, chemistry and physics courses as part of her undergraduate biology degree. She went on to osteopathic medical school in Chicago and then finished her residency in Detroit. Not surprisingly, she did end up married to another osteopathic doctor, but they did not meet in a classroom or a hospital.

One night during her time at Truman, Tartaglione was in a car full of girls on their way to a mixer when a red car caught her eye. Thinking the car belonged to a guy she had previously dated, she jumped out of her car and sprinted out in traffic to the other. A brief glance at the unknown driver was enough to send her screaming and running back to her friends. The stranger in the car turned out to be her future husband.

“When we got to the mixer a guy walked right up to me and said ‘I think I saw you in traffic.’ I looked right at him and said ‘I doubt it,’” Tartaglione recalled. “Well, we talked for six hours and started going out the next night.”

After living in Detroit for 14 years, Tartaglione happily resides in Oklahoma City with her husband of 22 years. She does some volunteer work with the American Heart Association and frequently spends time with her nearby nieces and nephews. This year she returned to campus for a Pershing Society reunion and served as a panelist for an alumni presentation on careers.

Recent McNair Alumni Degrees

Since 1992, a total of 37 Truman McNair Program alumni have earned doctoral degrees and 171 have earned master’s degrees. The following alumni have earned graduate degrees since June 2012.

Ph.D. Conferrals
Manuel Chavez, Jr. (’96)
Philosophy Interpretation and Culture
State University of New York at Binghamton
May 2013

James Harrington (’05)
Public Affairs
University of Missouri-Columbia
May 2013

Alexandria Lockett (’06)
English (Rhetoric and Composition)
Pennsylvania State University
December 2013

Karyn Stewart (’05)
Sociology
Syracuse University
May 2013

Juris Doctor
Clement Warr (’08)
Indiana University Bloomington
May 2013

Master’s Degree Conferrals
Nohemi Alvarez-Landa (’08)
Master of Science, Nursing
Graceland University
December 2013

Chanee Anderson (’08)
Master of Arts, Educational Policy Studies
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
August 2012

Vianey Beltran (’11)
Master of Public Affairs
University of Missouri-Columbia
May 2013

Emmanuel Camarillo (’11)
Master of Education, Environmental Education
Western Washington University
March 2013

Jorge Camarillo (’11)
Master of Science, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Indiana State University
May 2013

Liza Castillo (’09, ’12)
Master of Arts, Communication Disorders
Truman State University
December 2012

Hailey Feldhaus (’11, ’12)
Master of Arts, Communication Disorders
Truman State University
December 2012

Jade Hicks (’10)
Master of Education, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Georgia State University
May 2013

Stephen Huss (’06)
Master of Arts, Political Science
Texas A&M University
August 2012

Tahamara Ibarra (’10)
Master of Arts, Spanish
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
May 2013

Dominique Johnson (’10)
Master of Public Health, Health Promotion and Policy
University of Missouri-Columbia
May 2013

Amber Jones (’10)
Master of Arts, Educational Studies
Emory University
August 2013

Gemmicka Piper (’09)
Master of Arts, English
University of Iowa
May 2013

Starr Skinner (’06)
Master of Business Administration
Lindenwood University
June 2012

Katherine Tolle (’11)
Master of Arts in Secondary Education
University of Alabama
May 2013

M“App”ing Out a Path to Google

Cody Sumter (’10)

Cody Sumter (’10) thinks he can make your smartphone better, and Google believes that he can do it.

Sumter is the co-founder of Behavio, a company that produces software that makes mobile technology more accessible and useful to the everyday user. Behavio is so promising and ambitious that it caught the attention of Google, which recently acquired the company.

“We’ve always looked at someone’s inability to use technology as a user problem,” Sumter said. “Our team saw it as the opposite. The issue wasn’t that people had a hard time understanding technology, but that technology wasn’t able to understand people.”

Sumter uses the example of going for a run with his phone. Taking the time to fiddle with various applications like GPS, a running app and a music player seemed unnecessarily cumbersome while running, and even potentially dangerous, especially since his preferences would change based on his heart rate, intended pace and the surrounding temperature and humidity. Instead, Sumter wanted to focus on a way to make the phone adapt to its surroundings to reflect the phone owner’s personal preference and context.

This style of inquisitive thinking has been propelling Sumter’s career since his time at Truman. After graduation, he moved to Boston to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he began working on “The Friends and Family Study,” a research project focused on understanding social and behavioral dynamics of communities through the use of mobile technologies.

Once the data from the project was collected, Sumter and his colleagues decided to open up the mobile sensing software they developed for their research to the public as an open-source platform that can be used by anyone developing smartphone software, particularly those dedicated to social issues like human mobility and disaster relief. The platform was named Funf, a reflection of the acronym used to abbreviate the name of the study.

After its initial launch in October 2011, Funf went on to win the SXSW Accelerator Competition in the News Related Technology track in March 2012, and then received funding from the Knight Foundation. This allowed Sumter and his colleagues, Dr. Nadav Aharony and Alan Gardner, to move to California and start Behavio.

“While Funf provided the sensing layer, our research was really focused around understanding human behavior and social dynamics,” Sumter said. “After having worked on the project for several years, Nadav, Alan and I wanted to take that ability to turn mobile sensor data into meaningful human behavioral insights out of the lab and into the real world.”

After Behavio’s sensory prediction technologies attracted the attention of Google, the small company was integrated into the web giant in April 2013. Sumter explained how impactful this acquisition was for him and his colleagues.

“We went from having a handful of engineers and frugal resources to having relatively unlimited resources while working with some of the smartest minds in the world,” he said. “To me, personally, this opportunity means that the dreams we had of what might be possible in 10 or 20 years suddenly can be thought about on a much nearer time horizon.”

Cody Sumter, right, and colleagues Alan Gardner, left, and Dr. Nadav Aharony, center, unveil Behavio at a joint MIT Media Lab/Knight Foundation event.

Starting something from scratch is nothing new for Sumter. During his time at Truman, he was responsible for bringing Humans vs. Zombies to campus. Among other activities, he served as the student representative on the Board of Governors and was the vice president of Truman’s chapter of the Association of Computing Machinery. Sumter credits the opportunity for these experiences as a major foundation for his budding career.

“When you’re starting a company you have to be able to do everything,” Sumter said. “That can only happen if you’re willing and able to learn new skills as you need them with a developed sense of self-motivation. Truman gave me the opportunities to set my own path and pursue my own passions.”

Truman Review

The magazine for Truman State University alumni, parents and friends.