If you ask most people how they got into marketing or communications, you’ll probably hear a well-worn story about “always loving creativity” or “falling into it accidentally.” My path was a little bit of both. From the beginning of my career, I found myself drawn to roles where creativity met public service—two worlds that surprisingly overlap more than you’d expect.

While attending Missouri Western State University, I was an on-air “personality” for Eagle Radio (yes, apparently that’s what we call DJs now—very official, very fancy). If you ever listened to Q-Country 92.7 in northwest Missouri during the late-night hours in the early 2000s… well, congratulations: you’ve survived “Clark In The Dark.” Goofy sound effects aside, that experience taught me early on that I belong in communications. I loved knowing my words and work were out there being consumed to inform, entertain, or at the very least keep someone awake on a long drive. I informed. I promoted. I sold. I shared new information with the masses—all while playing truly questionable early-2000s country and Billboard Top 40 hits.

And honestly? I wouldn’t trade it. I made some great friends. Got a better understanding of broadcasting. And made some lifelong friends.

Goofy sound effects aside, that experience taught me early on that I belong in communications. I loved knowing my words and work were out there being consumed to inform, entertain, or at the very least keep someone awake on a long drive. I informed. I promoted. I sold. I shared new information with the masses—all while playing truly questionable early-2000s country and Billboard Top 40 hits.

And honestly? I wouldn’t trade it. I made some great friends. Got a better understanding of broadcasting. And made some lifelong friends.

After graduation (and post following my dream) I took my first full-time position with the City of St. Joseph, where I managed the government-access television channel, created cross-departmental public information campaigns, tax initiative campaigns, and even produced and directed live broadcasts of city council meetings. (If you’ve never tried troubleshooting a broadcast feed seconds before going live, I highly recommend it for character development!)

I also helped spearhead the city’s online video streaming efforts, led press and newsletter communications, developed interactive public information tools, and became the go-to creator for anything video, web, or design-related. This was at the very early days of “live streaming” and the use of the internet as a broadcast tool of information sharing. I felt like I was on the cutting edge of something. The beginning of my communications and marketing enlightenment.

I look back on those days fondly. The lessons learned. Relationships both garnered and lost. And, the true beginning of my journey of learning what kind of professional I wanted to be. Those foundational experiences shaped the communicator I am today: strategic, adaptable, creative by design, and always ready to build something worth talking about.

I guess sometimes the first little stepping stone can be the biggest step you take.It was during these years that I realized something: I didn’t just enjoy communications—I enjoyed making systems, stories, and information accessible. I liked translating complexity into clarity. I liked making things better. And I liked bringing a creative lens to environments where creativity wasn’t always the default.