Q: What originally brought you to Butler Community College?
A: I originally came to Butler because of the opportunity to play volleyball. I was recruited to the program, and at that stage in my life, athletics was my primary focus. I often joke that I went to college to further my volleyball career and ended up earning a degree along the way. Butler was also a practical choice for me. Staying close to home allowed me to continue my education while managing the financial realities of college. Living at home made it possible for me to pursue both academics and athletics without creating a significant financial burden for my family.
Q: Is there a faculty member, mentor, class, or experience at Butler that had a lasting impact on you?
A: There were several people at Butler who left a lasting impact on me. My volleyball coach, Dave Slayton, certainly tops the list. Dave was one of the warmest and most welcoming people I've met, but he was also highly competitive and wanted to win. That combination of genuinely caring about people while still holding high expectations is something I continue to admire and try to emulate as a leader today. As a team captain, I often found myself serving as a conduit between the coaching staff and my teammates. Coach trusted me with that responsibility, and those experiences helped shape many of the leadership skills I still rely on today; communication, accountability, and bringing people together around a common goal.
Q: What are you doing today, and how did your time at Butler help shape your path?
A: Today, I am the founder and CEO of Veracity Consulting, a business and technology consulting firm that employs roughly 150 people and continues to grow.
While Butler gave me a strong educational foundation, many of the lessons that shaped my career came through athletics and leadership opportunities. As a volleyball team captain, I learned that success is rarely about individual talent alone. It comes from aligning people around a shared goal, creating trust, and helping everyone understand their role in achieving the outcome.
That lesson has carried through every stage of my career. Whether leading a project team, building a company, or working with clients, I have found that the ability to bring people together is often the difference between success and failure.
Q: What does being a Butler alum mean to you?
A: Being a Butler alum means being part of a community that creates opportunities and opens doors.
When I arrived at Butler, I was focused on volleyball and finding a practical path to continue my education.
My family didn't have the financial means to send me away to school, and Butler provided an opportunity that made college possible while allowing me to stay close to home. Looking back, it's incredible to think that the journey from a small-town student-athlete to leading a growing company started with the opportunities Butler made available to me.
That's one of the reasons I continue to support the Butler Foundation. I want students who may be facing financial challenges or questioning what is possible for their future to know that their current circumstances do not define their potential. There is often something much bigger waiting for them than they can see today.
