Major: 
Integrated Strategic Communication
Year Graduated: 
1996
Hometown: 
Lexington, Kentucky
Current City: 
Laguna Beach, California
Current Employer: 
Founder/CEO of Buckley Media Group
Top played song on your playlist?: 
“West Coast” (ZHU Remix) by Lana Del Rey
Where has your CI degree taken you?: 

New York (Grey Advertising and Landor), back to Kentucky (Director of Marketing for an Equine Advertising Firm), then out to Southern California (a series of startups with the Castello Brothers) where I’ve been based full or part-time since 1998.

What is your favorite thing about your job?: 

Every day is different. Some days I work on brand strategy and creative campaigns; other days I broker six and seven-figure ultra-premium domains (think: Rate.com and Razors.com); most days I do both! I get to work with really smart people; research, strategize, and generally play detective…and negotiate fun deals.

What¹s the most valuable thing you learned in CI?: 

My favorite advertising professor, Mr. Dennis Altman, taught us so much. My two standout memories: The importance of presentation and delivery! (I’m a ham so this was fun for me.) Second, Mr. Altman once spent an entire class educating us about the miracle of compound interest and the importance of saving for the old people we’d hopefully be one day. I found it incredibly generous and touching.

What advice would you give to current CI students?: 

Focus on designing the life you want instead of a job title. I knew I wanted freedom, flexibility and independence within an intellectually stimulating and challenging career…oh, and it had to be lucrative. So I started my own company. Don’t be afraid to fail, and to take detours along the way. Both are tremendously educational!