We live in Husker Nation and spend much of the year celebrating with our teams, cheering them on and following the athletes as they pursue their dreams. However, many of us lose track of those athletes after they leave the university and may wonder where they end up. Many of those athletes have become successful businessmen and women and have stayed in our community or returned to it to raise their families and grow their businesses. We started our Big Red Business series over a year ago focusing on former football players, but wanted to open it up this year to all sports. This month starts the 2014 Big Red Business series which will introduce you to a handful of these former athletes turned businesspeople. If you know of other former Husker ladies and gentlemen succeeding in our community, please let us know so we can consider featuring them in the next installment! Go Big Red!!
Troy Watchorn, T7 Fitness, LLC
T7 Fitness works with a diverse population of clientele to enhance their functional mobility. They are a group of trained functional movement specialists who have helped individuals from ages 8 to 80+ years young. T7 works with individuals/groups who are looking to improve their day to day performance/functional abilities such as: stroke/cardiac rehab, knee/hip rehab, neck/spinal rehab, shoulder rehab, basic weight loss, and sports specific training of youth, high school, collegiate, and professional athletes.
Register your athlete for summer speed camps today at www.t7fitness.com.
Flash Back Facts:
Husker team played on: Nebraska Football Team
Years played on the team: 1996-2000
Position played on the team: Free Safety
Sports career after college: Arena Football
T7Fitness@gmail.com | www.t7fitness.com
Matt Plooster, Bridgepoint Merchant Banking
Bridgepoint Merchant Banking is a full-service investment banking and private equity firm with offices in Lincoln and Des Moines. Matt is Co-Founder and Managing Principal of the Firm. The principals of Bridgepoint, through their broker dealer relationship with M&A Securities Group, Inc., are dedicated to serving companies over their corporate lifecycles by providing merger and acquisition and capital raising advisory services. In addition to its investment banking activities, Bridgepoint also invests and manages its proprietary private equity and venture capital funds.
Flash Back Facts:
Sports team played on: Nebraska Football Team
Years played on the team: 1999-2001
Position played on the team: Wide Receiver
(402) 817-7900 | mplooster@bridgepointmb.com
www.bridgepointmb.com
Clete Blakeman, Carlson & Burnett Law
Clete is a trial lawyer who works exclusively with serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. With over 20 years of experience in settlement negotiations and in court, Clete has helped many grieving families and individuals overcome the traumatic effect of debilitating physical injury or the death of a loved one from incidents involving motor vehicle collisions, boating accidents, unsafe commercial or private property, fire, medical negligence, and other similar situations. So, if you have been physically injured or lost a family member due to someone’s negligence, call Clete to discuss and protect all of your legal rights.
Flash Back Facts:
Husker team played on: Nebraska Football Team
Years played on the team: 1983-1987
Position played on the team: Quarterback
Sports career after college: Referee (#34) in the National Football League
(402) 553-1212 | www.carlsonburnett.com
Beau Reid, Holmes Murphy & Associates
Holmes Murphy & Associates is a premier independent risk management and insurance brokerage firm partnering with Nebraska businesses for more than 13 years. Beau Reid serves as Division Leader of Holmes Murphy’s Omaha office, driving growth and strategy for the firm.
With more 22 years of Employee Benefits experience, Beau has earned a reputation for delivering smart solutions and compensation plans that lower long term medical inflation. His philosophy is one of seeking solutions as opposed to merely suggesting alternatives. Outside of work, you can find Beau spending time with his family and volunteering as a youth sports coach.
Flash Back Facts:
Husker team played on: Nebraska Basketball Team
Years played on the team: 1986 – 1991
Position played on the team: Wing Position, named GTE Academic All American twice (1989 and 1991).
Sports career after college: Participated in Sacramento Kings Rookie Camp, played on an Australian team.
(402) 697-4741 | (866) 220-4625
breid@homesmurphy.com
www.holmesmurphy.com
Matt McKay, Ideal Images
We bring years of experience in the promotional products industry, and take pride in building successful promotional partnerships. In business, image is everything—we specialize in a full range of apparel, promotional products, print marketing materials, and web-based corporate store hosting. It’s our goal to help you develop the best look for your business, and to help you promote your internal and external brand. Allow Ideal Images to be the company you can count on.
Flash Back Facts:
Husker team played on: Nebraska Baseball Team
Years played on Husker team: 1993-1994
Position played on Husker team: First Base and Outfield
P: (402) 740-8872 | C: (402) 596-1002
matt@ideal-images.com | www.ideal-images.com
Scott Warren, Absolute Customs, Majestic Homes and Absolute Roofing
Absolute Customs and Majestic Homes are real estate development companies, with Absolute Customs offering new custom homes in the $500,000-3M price range and Majestic Homes offering new semi-custom homes in the $225,000-$450,000 price range. Absolute Roofing is a shingle replacement company that specializes in asphalt, stone coated and synthetic roofing systems. Scott Warren is the President of the three companies. As a former UNL athlete, four-time All American and still a current UNL record holder, his commitment to perfection has translated into one of Omaha’s most innovative home builders. Absolute Customs focuses on a “Fixed Fee plus True Cost” method of home building. This unique method of new home construction allows for a better building process, with openness between the contractor and the client, which ensures a positive outcome for all involved. Clients are able to participate in the selection of a floorplan that can be 100% customized to suit their unique lifestyle, as well as provide specific input related to the selection of materials used to build their new custom dream home.
Flash Back Facts:
Husker team played on: Nebraska Track and
Field Team
Years played on the team: 1994-1999
Position played on the team: Javelin, Hammer, Discus, Shot Put and 35lb Weight
Sports career after college: 2000 and 2004 Olympic Trials
(402) 880-9494 | www.AbsoluteCustomsInc.com
www.Majestic-Homes.com
www.AbsoluteRoofingLLC.com