{"id":1043,"date":"2023-07-01T21:24:13","date_gmt":"2023-07-02T01:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adpr.utk.edu\/beta\/?page_id=1043"},"modified":"2026-04-14T10:24:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T14:24:33","slug":"featured-alumni","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cci.utk.edu\/adpr\/alumni-friends\/featured-alumni\/","title":{"rendered":"Featured Alumni"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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We are Volunteers<\/p>\n\n\n

Featured Alumni<\/h1><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Our alumni are spread around the globe, doing amazing things in their careers and communities, and we\u2019re always excited to hear about what they\u2019re doing. We\u2019re so proud of the many who have graduated from our programs and continue to spread the Volunteer spirit wherever they go.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Alumni Spotlights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our graduates have been employed worldwide by leading agencies and organizations, some of which include: Google, Nike, Hulu, Disney, Coca-Cola, Dollywood, St. Jude\u2019s, Boeing, Regal Entertainment, and the Country Music Association. We always appreciate staying connected with alumni and keeping up with their many successes. Here’s just a few alumni success stories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Build-a-Bear,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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President and CEO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Sharon Price John (’86), Build-a-Bear, Inc.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“My experience and education at\u00a0CCI, as well as my internship at\u00a0Tombras, provided a great foundation for me to start my career. UT\u2019s Ad Club trip to New York City was the catalyst for me to move to Manhattan and secure a position at a global advertising agency, which became a critical stepping stone to my subsequent roles in marketing and brand divisions of multibillion dollar companies. And, those experiences provide a direct link to my current position at Build-A-Bear Workshop. In fact, I still refer to some of the writing stills that I learned on Circle\u00a0Park\u00a0Drive all those years ago.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Kea<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Senior Research Director<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Kea Wheeler, Escalent<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I loved advertising but would always wonder why they would make ads that didn’t make any sense….to me. At ADPR, I realized it was because they made it for someone else. And the research told them who they should make the ad for. I then realized that is what I wanted to do, find out more about the people the ad was made for and why.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now as as a qualitative researcher, I am the voice of the customer, providing customer input into the development of ads, products, and services, for a variety of industries. And my job has taken me across the U.S., and into South Africa, Indonesia, and Malaysia, all in the pursuit to learn more about the people brands are hoping to connect with and engage.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Isaac<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Founding Partner<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Isaac Wright (’03)<\/em>, Forward Solution Strategy Group (FSSG)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The ADPR program at UT teaches more than just creative communications strategies and cutting edge tactics. Our program instills the kind of strategic thinking that sets our alumni apart from others across the country.  The faculty and staff here, the best and brightest in the country, invest individually in their students in a way that builds networks and national careers. The UT ADPR program opened doors and provided opportunities for me I could have never had otherwise.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Robert<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Director of Corporate Communications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Robert Lambert (’03), Centerstone<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I am honored to be a part of the Alumni Advisory Board at the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations. The time I spent there provided me with invaluable experiences that I have used to grow my skillset and advance my career. I want to ensure that every student coming out of the school is set-up for success and is well-equipped to have a positive impact, and I think participation in the board will afford that.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Alumni News<\/h2>\n\n\n