Central Missouri Alumni Stories

Caitlin Peterson graduated with her Bachelor's from UCM in 2010. During the 2010 and 2011 seasons she was a graduate assistant coach for the Jennies' Volleyball team. She then coached in Spring Hill for a season, before returning to the Jennies. It is currently her 9th season and she holds the title of Senior Associate Head Volleyball Coach.    

This month, Cory was joined by UCM Alumni, Tim Doke. Tim is now (mostly) retired, and has a wealth of knowledge and insight to share. During a distinguished career, Doke held executive positions at American Airlines, Brinker International, Dell, Freescale Semiconductor, Alaska Airlines, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Hill & Knowlton. Follow us on social media so you never miss out on a new episode: Facebook: Central Missouri Alumni Stories Twitter: @AlumniStories Instagram: @centralmissourialumnistories

On this episode of Central Missouri Alumni Stories, I was joined by Dr. JL Adolph. He graduated with a B.A. in English from UCM in 2005. He later obtained a Master's degree and a PhD from Mizzou. He has taught at several universities and now works as an Assistant Professor of English at Georgia State University Perimeter College. JL is passionate about aiding others in finding their purpose. He is currently working to empower inner-city marginalized fathers through his project Dad Cypher:  A Hip-hop Guide to Fatherhood.  Find his project here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJkzs7oxbzbr3_w3aHiR1Vg  

Amanda Fischer-Penner is Marketing Manager at the Miller Group. She graduated from the UCM PR Program in 2006 and 2008 with her undergraduate and graduate degrees respectively. She is constantly working to improve her skills. She has held elected positions with KCIABC and the Lexington, Nebraska Area Chamber of Commerce.  Follow us on our socials: Twitter - @AlumniStories Instagram - @centralmissourialumnistories Facebook - Central Missouri Alumni Stories

Shannon M. McClendon is a communications leader with vast experience. She graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and minor in Textiles and Fashion. She also has a masters from Georgetown University. She is currently the Public Relations Manager at the American Nurses Association in the D.C. Metro area. 

This week Cory was joined by Cara Finger. Cara is a 2011 graduate of the UCM PR Program. She has spent most of her professional career working with Associated Wholesale Grocers. She is currently serving as the AWG Cares Foundation Chair. In this position she works with 11 other AWG employees and the employees as a whole to raise funds and distribute them to causes nominated by AWG employees. She is also teaching a class at her alma mater and aids their PRSSA chapter as a professional advisor.    We already have our next guest lined up so follow our social channels to stay up-to-date!   Twitter - @AlumniStories Facebook - @CMASPodcast Instagram - @centralmissourialumnistories  

This week Cory sat down (virtually) with Heather Woodard. She is currently the Director of Multicultural PR & Engagement at McDonald's USA, but she has worked in numerous segments of the PR world. Tune in to find out how a UCM alumni was recruited by one of the largest corporations in America. We have some great guests lined up in the near future. Follow us so you don't miss out! Twitter - @AlumniStories Facebook - @CMASPodcast Instagram - @CentralMissouriAlumniStories

Central Missouri Alumni Stories is back! My guest on this month's show may be a familiar face. It was a privilege to talk with Kelly Murphy, the Director of Military and Veteran Services at the University of Central Missouri. Kelly was also the “Tough as Nails” Champion on the summer hit CBS series.   It was eye-opening to learn how many people Military and Veteran Services help and support at UCM (and beyond). Kelly, or “Murph” as you may know him from the show, is a Marine Corp veteran himself that retired eight years ago. I had a great time learning more about the production that is a reality TV show, the grueling schedule that Murph and his teammates kept, and ultimately everything that helped lead him to victory.   It is also important for veterans and for people in the UCM community to understand the services available. It was great to hear Kelly share his insight.   Once again, congratulations to Kelly on his success on the show & we all look forward to seeing the impact you're sure to have on so many lives in the future!

Central Missouri Alumni Stories is back! I am joined by Emily Crawford for this month's episode. Emily is the Founder of OA Creative Concepts & Treo Marketing. Emily is a fellow UCM Alum & an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. She has designed and created the Lavelu Lounger and the BUMbleee, both products you can find at Wal-Mart and on Amazon. I have no doubt you'll enjoy learning more about Emily and her incredible mind for business, and how beneficial her UCM education has been in her professional career. She shared a great story about her experience with Shark Tank along with other lessons she's learned along the way. Tune in & learn more about another amazing Alum!

Central Missouri Alumni Stories is back! On this episode I have a very special guest that many of you may recognize. Nate Taylor, Kansas City Chiefs Beat Writer at The Athletic, kindly took time to have a fun conversation with me where he shared his story.

Central Missouri Alumni Stories is back with an exciting new episode! My good friend and fellow UCM Alum Aaron Norris joined me recently via Zoom to share his story. You may recognize Aaron and/or his artwork from Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter where it's received well-deserved recognition. During our conversation, he took the time to show some of the pieces he's working on currently, including an incredible Chiefs Super Bowl Champions oil painting. I can't wait to see the finished product.

Rob is a fellow Alumni Foundation Board Director, Distinguished Alumni, and UCM Athletics Hall of Fame member. With both his undergraduate and Master's degrees from UCM, Rob enjoyed a successful career in Texas as an Agency Field Executive with State Farm. That wasn't until after Rob was working for the University recruiting students to UCM while he was completing his Master's Degree. You'll want to hear about some of fears Rob had to overcome to serve in that role successfully. Rob was part of the first Mules baseball team to make the World Series. In retirement, he's committed himself to a role of service to UCM among several wonderful organizations and he's a key contributor to the MuleNation Dallas Fort Worth Chapter. Be sure to stick around to the end of this episode to hear the Mule Minute & Rob's advice he shares with others. Thanks again to Rob for taking the time to talk with me and I am comfortable saying I can speak for Alumni and Future Alumni when I say UCM is lucky to have you as an advocate.

I'm excited to share this month's episode of Central Missouri Alumni Stories. I am joined by Joe Neuerburg, the Co-Founder of Isaac's Dream. It is a nonprofit organization working in Ghana, Africa, to provide educational needs to those with no options, breaking the cycle of lost childhoods and giving hope for generations to come.

In this episode of CMAS, our guest is Meryl Lin McKean. You may recognize her from Fox 4 News where she worked for over 30 years as a producer, reporter, and anchor. While her professional honors include Emmy Awards among many others, she was also the recipient of UCM's Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014 & she is now a fellow Board Director for the UCM Alumni Foundation. It was an honor to chat with Meryl Lin about her story that begins in Warrensburg, MO where she was born & raised. I enjoyed learning about how her studies at UCM helped to prepare her (the best they could) for a career in the news & on camera. Tune in & enjoy

Tune in to this week's Central Missouri Alumni Stories to hear Homer Kay, former Hallmark Cards International CEO (and UCM Alumni Foundation Board Director) share his story. It was great to hear him speak about a few specific professors, and events, from his time at UCM that made a lifelong impact.

Central Missouri Alumni Stories is back! On this episode I'm joined by Tiffany Cochran, the Director of University Events at UCM. We discussed what back-to-campus has looked like in the midst of COVID-19, exciting events on the horizon for regional chapters of MuleNation around the country, and what the University is doing to promote involvement for current students upon graduation. Tune in!

This week's guest on Central Missouri Alumni Stories, Billy Knabe, says “Mr. Lonely” by Midland is his current go-to song. Watch this week's episode to hear about much more than Billy's karaoke jams. He played on the UCM Golf Team, studied Graphic Arts Management, pursued a career as a professional golfer after college and now he's the President and Owner of his own Insurance Firm. I always love an unconventional journey. You're going to enjoy it, too.

This week on Central Missouri Alumni Stories, Cory Bittner interviewed Logan Freeman. Watch or listen to this week's episode to hear Logan's inspirational story. A football player at UCM followed by a brief, humbling experience with the Oakland Raiders, Logan has the perspective to identify what were key turning points & transformational periods in his life. Logan has both his Bachelor's and Master's degree's from UCM and has put them to use in his career. After working for a few different companies, Logan started his own consulting business before establishing himself in Commercial Real Estate, a business he wanted to find a way to break into. It was a pleasure to chat with Logan and learn about his ambition, his commitment to his craft (along with the grind it requires), the sacrifices he's made, and the lessons he's learned. Make sure you stick around until the end to hear Logan's advice that he gives others and a candid conversation about the things he'd do differently with the benefit of hindsight. If you enjoy Central Missouri Alumni stories – please make sure you give the show a five-star rating wherever you listen to podcasts, and a thumbs up on YouTube.

On this week's episode of Central Missouri Alumni Stories, Cory Bittner interviewed a fellow podcaster. He talked with Eric Hughey, Founder of GenWhy Leaders Podcast and Media Account Executive at Informa. Eric received both his Bachelor's and Master's Degree from UCM. He's held a few different professional positions in his career in which he shares some insight around how UCM helped prepare him. More recently, Eric started the GenWhy Leaders Podcast. If you're wondering what the podcast is about, here's the description from the GenWhy Leaders Podcast Facebook page: “Entitled, lazy, unreliable. These are just a few of the words used to describe Millennials. It wasn't too long ago consumer and employer reports were being built about us, and how we would acclimate to the professional world. Now, we'll soon be leading the workforce. According to Forbes, 75% of the national labor force will be millennials by 2025. Despite the negative stereotypes, this generation is full of individuals already taking leadership positions at companies, starting their own businesses, and pursuing their purpose to support themselves and their families. In the GenWhy Leaders Podcast, we learn why leaders in this age group do what they do, what keeps them motivated, and how they succeed in this ever-more competitive marketplace.” Tune into this week's episode to listen to Eric tell his story and share why he started his podcast, and what he's learned.

On this week's installment of Central Missouri Alumni Stories, Cory Bittner had a very special guest. He talked with Courtney Goddard, V.P. of Advancement and External Engagement Executive Director, UCM Alumni Foundation. While Courtney completed her undergraduate studies at Florida State University, she attended Law School at Mizzou and was a practicing attorney for many years before switching career paths. Her & Cory talk about her recent promotion & the role that she plays working for the Foundation. Tune into this week's episode for an update from Courtney about the UCM Alumni Foundation & all the exciting activity on the horizon for UCM Alumni. She shares why now is a fantastic time to be an Alum, and why it's the perfect time to re-engage with your Alma Mater.

This week on Central Missouri Alumni Stories, Cory Bittner, CRPC interviews Nick Bianco, Co-Founder of Kansas City Custom Hardwoods. College wasn't always part of the plan for Nick but today he recognizes that attending UCM is one of the best decisions of his life. Nick admitted while he didn't take college seriously enough initially, a dose of reality forced him to learn what it would take to succeed. Tune in to this week's episode to learn how Nick buckled down in college, a pivotal point that made him more of a leader, and his journey from sales to eventually co-founding Kansas City Custom Hardwoods. His advice for anyone and everyone is, “Go for it” so go for it & listen to this week's show!

Central Missouri Alumni Stories is back! On this episode I'm joined by Tiffany Cochran, the Director of University Events at UCM. We discussed what back-to-campus has looked like in the midst of COVID-19, exciting events on the horizon for regional chapters of MuleNation around the country, and what the University is doing to promote involvement for current students upon graduation. Tune in!

This week's guest on Central Missouri Alumni Stories needs no introduction! It was an honor to sit down with Dr. Best, the 16th President at the University of Central Missouri. We covered a lot in our conversation. We discussed the road that lead Dr. Best to UCM in 1995 and the journey to being inaugurated over 20 years later. Additionally, you'll want to listen to what Dr. Best has to say about the current state of the University, his top priorities, what the future holds for UCM and the biggest challenges ahead. Finally, we talked about Alumni Involvement and Engagement. Did you know there are 100,000 UCM Alumni around the country (and world), and nearly 60,000 of them are in the Kansas City area? Dr. Best shares his insights on how decisions are made with Alumni in mind along with current students, and the one easy, actionable task for Alumni to take today to re-engage.

Andrew's story begins long before RoKC, however. Andrew was in the Army ROTC Program at UCM and co-founded the UCM Climbing Club his junior year. After graduating in 2009 he spent six years in the Army serving our country. As a Captain in the 75th Ranger Regiment during his THIRD Tour in Afghanistan, Andrew found himself dreaming of climbing the cliffs surrounding the combat zones he was fighting in. Upon his return, his new mission became RoKC. A few short years later, RoKC has expanded to three facilities and continues to grow leaps and bounds!

This week on Central Missouri Alumni Stories, Cory Bittner, CRPC interviews Dr. Shannon Kennedy, DC. When it came to deciding what college to attend, Shannon was originally leaning towards KU but after several visits, she decided KU just didn't feel like home. After talking to a friend about where she was going, Shannon toured UCM and found she felt at home on this campus. Shannon majored in Pre-Med Biology and shared her favorite classes she took while attending UCM. After attending UCM she went on to attend Logan College of Chiropractic, discovering this school wasn't for her she took a year and a half off. During her year and a half off Shannon explored other colleges and developed her work experience. After her year and a half off, Shannon transferred to Palmer College of Chiropractic. Shannon is now a Doctor of Chiropractic and she is continuing to explore where she can go in this field.

In this episode, Cory Bittner, CRPC set up shop at the MuleNation Alumni Event in early August and talked with Alumni, the Director of University Events, and the V.P of Advancement, Executive Director of the UCM Alumni Foundation. We discussed favorite memories, why UCM, previous and current jobs, and much more!

This week's guest, Toriano Porter, has an incredible story to tell. Born & raised in south St. Louis by a pair of high school dropouts, football afforded him the opportunity to attend college at the University of Central Missouri. He shared with me his journey as a scholar-athlete that lost a full ride scholarship as a freshman, flunked out as a sophomore, returned after a one-year hiatus to not only set multiple records on the field, but to develop and grow off the field. Be sure to stick around to listen to Toriano discuss an adversarial relationship with a Professor at UCM that transformed into a friendship, and how his professional career has evolved over the years. He is a Columnist and Editorial Board Member at The Kansas City Star, the author of two books (and working on a third), and a Speaker.

In this episode, we talk about - What led Lisa to UCM - Lisa's memories from Warrensburg - Lisa's professional career - What comes next for Lisa - And much more!

Central Missouri Alumni Stories is back! On this episode I have a very special guest that many of you may recognize. Nate Taylor, Kansas City Chiefs Beat Writer at The Athletic, kindly took time to have a fun conversation with me where he shared his story.

Central Missouri Alumni Stories is back with an exciting new episode! My good friend and fellow UCM Alum Aaron Norris joined me recently via Zoom to share his story. You may recognize Aaron and/or his artwork from Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter where it’s received well-deserved recognition. During our conversation, he took the time to show some of the pieces he’s working on currently, including an incredible Chiefs Super Bowl Champions oil painting. I can’t wait to see the finished product.

Rob is a fellow Alumni Foundation Board Director, Distinguished Alumni, and UCM Athletics Hall of Fame member. With both his undergraduate and Master’s degrees from UCM, Rob enjoyed a successful career in Texas as an Agency Field Executive with State Farm. That wasn’t until after Rob was working for the University recruiting students to UCM while he was completing his Master’s Degree. You’ll want to hear about some of fears Rob had to overcome to serve in that role successfully. Rob was part of the first Mules baseball team to make the World Series. In retirement, he’s committed himself to a role of service to UCM among several wonderful organizations and he’s a key contributor to the MuleNation Dallas Fort Worth Chapter. Be sure to stick around to the end of this episode to hear the Mule Minute & Rob’s advice he shares with others. Thanks again to Rob for taking the time to talk with me and I am comfortable saying I can speak for Alumni and Future Alumni when I say UCM is lucky to have you as an advocate.

I’m excited to share this month’s episode of Central Missouri Alumni Stories. I am joined by Joe Neuerburg, the Co-Founder of Isaac’s Dream. It is a nonprofit organization working in Ghana, Africa, to provide educational needs to those with no options, breaking the cycle of lost childhoods and giving hope for generations to come.

In this episode of CMAS, our guest is Meryl Lin McKean. You may recognize her from Fox 4 News where she worked for over 30 years as a producer, reporter, and anchor. While her professional honors include Emmy Awards among many others, she was also the recipient of UCM’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014 & she is now a fellow Board Director for the UCM Alumni Foundation. It was an honor to chat with Meryl Lin about her story that begins in Warrensburg, MO where she was born & raised. I enjoyed learning about how her studies at UCM helped to prepare her (the best they could) for a career in the news & on camera. Tune in & enjoy

Tune in to this week’s Central Missouri Alumni Stories to hear Homer Kay, former Hallmark Cards International CEO (and UCM Alumni Foundation Board Director) share his story. It was great to hear him speak about a few specific professors, and events, from his time at UCM that made a lifelong impact.

This week’s guest on Central Missouri Alumni Stories, Billy Knabe, says “Mr. Lonely” by Midland is his current go-to song. Watch this week’s episode to hear about much more than Billy’s karaoke jams. He played on the UCM Golf Team, studied Graphic Arts Management, pursued a career as a professional golfer after college and now he’s the President and Owner of his own Insurance Firm. I always love an unconventional journey. You’re going to enjoy it, too.

This week on Central Missouri Alumni Stories, Cory Bittner interviewed Logan Freeman. Watch or listen to this week’s episode to hear Logan’s inspirational story. A football player at UCM followed by a brief, humbling experience with the Oakland Raiders, Logan has the perspective to identify what were key turning points & transformational periods in his life. Logan has both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree’s from UCM and has put them to use in his career. After working for a few different companies, Logan started his own consulting business before establishing himself in Commercial Real Estate, a business he wanted to find a way to break into. It was a pleasure to chat with Logan and learn about his ambition, his commitment to his craft (along with the grind it requires), the sacrifices he’s made, and the lessons he’s learned. Make sure you stick around until the end to hear Logan’s advice that he gives others and a candid conversation about the things he’d do differently with the benefit of hindsight. If you enjoy Central Missouri Alumni stories – please make sure you give the show a five-star rating wherever you listen to podcasts, and a thumbs up on YouTube.

On this week’s episode of Central Missouri Alumni Stories, Cory Bittner interviewed a fellow podcaster. He talked with Eric Hughey, Founder of GenWhy Leaders Podcast and Media Account Executive at Informa. Eric received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from UCM. He’s held a few different professional positions in his career in which he shares some insight around how UCM helped prepare him. More recently, Eric started the GenWhy Leaders Podcast. If you’re wondering what the podcast is about, here’s the description from the GenWhy Leaders Podcast Facebook page: “Entitled, lazy, unreliable. These are just a few of the words used to describe Millennials. It wasn’t too long ago consumer and employer reports were being built about us, and how we would acclimate to the professional world. Now, we'll soon be leading the workforce. According to Forbes, 75% of the national labor force will be millennials by 2025. Despite the negative stereotypes, this generation is full of individuals already taking leadership positions at companies, starting their own businesses, and pursuing their purpose to support themselves and their families. In the GenWhy Leaders Podcast, we learn why leaders in this age group do what they do, what keeps them motivated, and how they succeed in this ever-more competitive marketplace.” Tune into this week’s episode to listen to Eric tell his story and share why he started his podcast, and what he’s learned.

On this week’s installment of Central Missouri Alumni Stories, Cory Bittner had a very special guest. He talked with Courtney Goddard, V.P. of Advancement and External Engagement Executive Director, UCM Alumni Foundation. While Courtney completed her undergraduate studies at Florida State University, she attended Law School at Mizzou and was a practicing attorney for many years before switching career paths. Her & Cory talk about her recent promotion & the role that she plays working for the Foundation. Tune into this week’s episode for an update from Courtney about the UCM Alumni Foundation & all the exciting activity on the horizon for UCM Alumni. She shares why now is a fantastic time to be an Alum, and why it’s the perfect time to re-engage with your Alma Mater.

This week on Central Missouri Alumni Stories, Cory Bittner, CRPC interviews Nick Bianco, Co-Founder of Kansas City Custom Hardwoods. College wasn’t always part of the plan for Nick but today he recognizes that attending UCM is one of the best decisions of his life. Nick admitted while he didn’t take college seriously enough initially, a dose of reality forced him to learn what it would take to succeed. Tune in to this week’s episode to learn how Nick buckled down in college, a pivotal point that made him more of a leader, and his journey from sales to eventually co-founding Kansas City Custom Hardwoods. His advice for anyone and everyone is, “Go for it” so go for it & listen to this week’s show!

This week’s guest on Central Missouri Alumni Stories needs no introduction! It was an honor to sit down with Dr. Best, the 16th President at the University of Central Missouri. We covered a lot in our conversation. We discussed the road that lead Dr. Best to UCM in 1995 and the journey to being inaugurated over 20 years later. Additionally, you’ll want to listen to what Dr. Best has to say about the current state of the University, his top priorities, what the future holds for UCM and the biggest challenges ahead. Finally, we talked about Alumni Involvement and Engagement. Did you know there are 100,000 UCM Alumni around the country (and world), and nearly 60,000 of them are in the Kansas City area? Dr. Best shares his insights on how decisions are made with Alumni in mind along with current students, and the one easy, actionable task for Alumni to take today to re-engage.

Andrew’s story begins long before RoKC, however. Andrew was in the Army ROTC Program at UCM and co-founded the UCM Climbing Club his junior year. After graduating in 2009 he spent six years in the Army serving our country. As a Captain in the 75th Ranger Regiment during his THIRD Tour in Afghanistan, Andrew found himself dreaming of climbing the cliffs surrounding the combat zones he was fighting in. Upon his return, his new mission became RoKC. A few short years later, RoKC has expanded to three facilities and continues to grow leaps and bounds!

This week on Central Missouri Alumni Stories, Cory Bittner, CRPC interviews Dr. Shannon Kennedy, DC. When it came to deciding what college to attend, Shannon was originally leaning towards KU but after several visits, she decided KU just didn’t feel like home. After talking to a friend about where she was going, Shannon toured UCM and found she felt at home on this campus. Shannon majored in Pre-Med Biology and shared her favorite classes she took while attending UCM. After attending UCM she went on to attend Logan College of Chiropractic, discovering this school wasn’t for her she took a year and a half off. During her year and a half off Shannon explored other colleges and developed her work experience. After her year and a half off, Shannon transferred to Palmer College of Chiropractic. Shannon is now a Doctor of Chiropractic and she is continuing to explore where she can go in this field.

In this episode, Cory Bittner, CRPC set up shop at the MuleNation Alumni Event in early August and talked with Alumni, the Director of University Events, and the V.P of Advancement, Executive Director of the UCM Alumni Foundation. We discussed favorite memories, why UCM, previous and current jobs, and much more!

This week’s guest, Toriano Porter, has an incredible story to tell. Born & raised in south St. Louis by a pair of high school dropouts, football afforded him the opportunity to attend college at the University of Central Missouri. He shared with me his journey as a scholar-athlete that lost a full ride scholarship as a freshman, flunked out as a sophomore, returned after a one-year hiatus to not only set multiple records on the field, but to develop and grow off the field. Be sure to stick around to listen to Toriano discuss an adversarial relationship with a Professor at UCM that transformed into a friendship, and how his professional career has evolved over the years. He is a Columnist and Editorial Board Member at The Kansas City Star, the author of two books (and working on a third), and a Speaker.

In this episode, we talk about - What led Lisa to UCM - Lisa’s memories from Warrensburg - Lisa’s professional career - What comes next for Lisa - And much more!