When starting out in the Missouri Western Business Department, Brendon Clark ’05 did not anticipate entering the banking industry. He initially chose Missouri Western because “it was a great opportunity for me to stay close to home, get a quality education and also be connected with my career interests that I had at the time.”

Missouri Western gave him opportunities to connect with business professionals in the area and expand his horizons until he discovered what a career in finance could really be about. “Missouri Western exposed me to all sorts of different business connections around town.” He eventually began his career at Commerce Bank. He began as a commercial lender and now serves as St. Joseph market president for Commerce Bank.

Clark appreciates the opportunities that he received while he was a student at Missouri Western and believes that the university provides these opportunities for all students. “The opportunities to get involved and participate in the community are second-to-none here in St. Joseph,” Clark said. “I think the university really helps propel that and puts students in a position where they can meet people and they can network with people.”

Clark believes that it is vitally important to give back to the community, and is grateful his employer, Commerce Bank, supports his efforts. He utilizes the skills he gained as a student at Missouri Western as a member of four different community organizations – Family Guidance Center, Allied Arts Council, Pony Express Museum Board of Trustees and East Side Rotary Club. “The more that we, especially alumni, can advocate for our story and leverage our education really helps support the university, which in turn supports the community.”

Kylee Strough ’03 currently serves as the president of the United Way of Greater St. Joseph. She is celebrating her 17th year with the United Way, including her 12th year as president. Strough loves working with different individuals around St. Joseph and being a “helper.” She is incredibly passionate assisting those in need around the St. Joseph community.

Strough initially chose to attend Missouri Western because she wanted to stay close to home. She knew she would be able to keep her part-time job, attend school and take advantage of the extracurriculars she was interested in. “It had everything I wanted and was in my backyard!” Strough joined the business department and knew it was where she belonged. She intended to work in a business and use volunteering to fulfill her need to serve the community. After graduation, she had the opportunity to volunteer with the United Way. Shortly following, a position opened up and she applied. She has been working there ever since.

Strough has remained strongly connected with the university throughout her life. “I have been fortunate to experience MWSU in several ways – as a kiddo growing up and going to basketball and football games on campus, as a student, as a member of the Board of Governors,” Strough said. “[My husband and I] are Gold Coat and Foundation supporters, and I serve on the Craig School of Business Advisory Council.”

She believes that people are the sum of all their experiences, but says she wouldn’t be where she is today – personally or professionally – without Missouri Western. “My degree path and experiences at MWSU prepared me to be able to handle much of what crosses my desk and to know when I need to reach out to an expert for help,” she said. “One of the things that I could not have gotten anywhere else except MWSU is a network of contacts.” Many of the professionals that came into her classes or that helped with activities during her time as a student are people she has had a chance to work with during her career.As a Missouri Western alumna serving as the president of the United Way of Greater St. Joseph, Strough sees an unlimited number of opportunities for the city and university to unite together in positive ways. “MWSU is our university. It’s here in our community. It’s providing jobs, attracting students and educating the next generation of our citizens,” Strough said. “You don’t have to be an alumni to support it: wear black and gold, attend events, be welcoming to students. They’re in St. Joseph – let’s give them a reason to stay!”

Jason and Jamie Grayson both graduated from Missouri Western in 1998. While life has taken the twins down different paths, they both show a commitment to serving the community and a dedication to their alma mater.

Jason currently serves as the human resources director for Tyson Foods and serves on the Missouri Western Foundation Board and United Way Board. Jamie recently retired from the banking industry and currently serves as the executive director/founder for People of All Colors (POAC) Succeed – a non-profit organization that works with schools and businesses as a “pillar for change in Kansas City.”

Having grown up in Plattsburg, Missouri, Jamie and Jason were recruited to participate in athletics at several universities, but they both chose Missouri Western. They had a dream to play sports together at the same school, and when they came to Missouri Western, they discovered that it was more than somewhere to play sports together. “Missouri Western was like a family. The vibe and family atmosphere is something that I gravitated toward,” Jamie said. “You’re not just a number,” Jason added. “You have an opportunity to forge relationships with the faculty and staff. Still to this day, I talk to some of my professors and it’s exciting to see they still remember me.”

Relationships are what Jason and Jamie are all about. They both spent four years at Missouri Western playing football (both as wide receivers), forging relationships with faculty and staff, and forming a brotherhood with their peers. “Leadership is all we know,” Jason said. “Be it on the football field or in the classroom, leadership is something that was instilled in us. It’s what we do to this day.” Now, they are both leaders in different aspects – Jamie through his position at Tyson Foods and on his Boards, and Jason through the development of POAC Succeed.

“We were taught by our mother from a very young age that we were blessed with a lot of things and it is our responsibility to give blessings to others, to give back,” Jason said. “It’s something that I want to make sure my wife and I teach our kids.” Jamie echoed the importance of giving back: “We were born and raised to give to the community. What people see me doing today is actually what we were raised to do. One of the biggest awards I’ve received is actually the Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice award back in 2010.”

But relationships aren’t all that Jamie and Jason gained during their time at Missouri Western. “Missouri Western has allowed me to become the person I am today,” Jamie said. “I’ll put my degree up against any institution. It’s prepared me for the work I’m doing in the community, and in the banking industry I recently retired from. I’m very proud to say I’m a Griff.”

Patrick Modlin ’88 and his wife, Terri, are the owners of Room 108 and Felix Street Gourmet, both located in downtown St. Joseph.

Modlin is committed to connecting St. Joseph – particularly downtown – to Missouri Western. As a child, Modlin recalls visiting a vibrant, bustling downtown with his family. As an adult, he is determined to restore that atmosphere with a strengthened connection to Missouri Western. He envisions St. Joseph as a thriving college town. “Missouri Western is one of the most important assets for St. Joe,” Modlin said. “We are so blessed to have such a prominent university that delivers not only a great education but also has successful athletics and community programs.” 

“It is unquestionably the best value-based education, in the region – if not the nation. I had to pay for my own college, so I recognize how important that is, particularly for first-generation students,” he said. “For the price and value of the education, it’s hard to beat.” As the youngest of nine children, and a first-generation student, Modlin had a serious decision to make – it wasn’t just about what college to attend but whether to even go to college. Missouri Western was the right choice. “Missouri Western prepared me for a successful career in the corporate world, exceeding many others from larger and more expensive universities.”

Modlin has remained actively involved with Missouri Western since moving back from Kansas City in 2006. He currently serves on the board of the Missouri Western Foundation, and its Development Committee, as well as the Executive Advisory Council for the Craig School of Business. He and Terri have served as volunteers and board members for the revitalization of downtown for several years. Continuing to strengthen the relationships between St. Joe and the Missouri Western campus remains a top priority.

Modlin describes Missouri Western as a benefit to the community, and envisions thriving relationships between St. Joe and Missouri Western to continue to grow. He wants to ensure that local students realize how fortunate they are to have a prominent university in their own hometown.