Moody Grads Make Their Mark in Business
Moody Grads Make
Their Mark in Business
22 Moody College businesses
among Texas Exes’ fastest growing
Five years ago, Dave Mead left his career in advertising to get into the water business. At the time, he was drinking a lot of Topo Chico, which was then an almost-uncontested leader in the market. He felt like Texas should have its own brand.
In 2018, he and fellow UT grad Jeff Trucksess, along with James Moody, created Rambler Sparkling Water, a sodium-free, limestone filtered mineral blend that proudly partners with Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation and the nonprofit American Rivers. Soon after launching in Austin, Rambler began showing up in bars and restaurants in and around Texas. Five years later, it is available in four flavors and can be found at grocery stores across the country.
“There are days when it feels like we're crawling at a snail’s pace and days I reflect on how far we’ve come in five short years,” said Mead, who graduated with a degree in advertising in 1993. “It’s pretty wild to see it on shelf in far-away cities where we don’t have the support of friends and family. To see it selling in those markets is exciting. It means we’ve truly built a quality product."
This year, Rambler was ranked number 3 in a list of the 100 fastest-growing Longhorn businesses, known as the Longhorn 100. A total of 22 of the 100 businesses were started by Moody College grads, spanning media, technology, nonprofits, food and beverage and more.
“Seeing these numbers, it’s clear that entrepreneurship is not an add-on to what we do here at Moody anymore,” said Rachel Davis Mersey, interim dean of Moody College. “The communication skills involved in launching and sustaining any entrepreneurial endeavor are now an integral part of the learning experience. That’s evidenced by the overwhelming number of winners of this year’s Longhorn 100 who graduated with degrees from the College of Communication.”
Rambler partnered with Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation to celebrate 100 years of Texas State Parks with a special 12-pack design. Photo by Lizzie Chen
Rambler partnered with Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation to celebrate 100 years of Texas State Parks with a special 12-pack design. Photo by Lizzie Chen
“It’s pretty wild to see it on shelf in far-away cities where we don’t have the support of friends and family. To see it selling in those markets is exciting. It means we’ve truly built a quality product."
This year was the inaugural Longhorn 100. The contest was started by the Texas Exes alumni network to identify, recognize and celebrate the success of Longhorn-owned or led businesses across the world. Businesses applied to the competition, and Whitley Penn, an independent accounting firm, calculated each company’s compounded annual growth rate in sales or revenue to rank the top 100.
The Texas Exes celebrated the winners at an award presentation in May.
“What I love about Longhorn 100 is the story we tell of the entrepreneurs we have in every corner of UT,” said Chuck Harris, CEO of the Texas Exes. “It shows the diversity and the entrepreneurial spirit across campus.”
The Texas Exes celebrated the winners at an award presentation in May.
Photo by Marsha Miller
Photo by Marsha Miller
Photo Courtesy of Hunter Beaton
Photo Courtesy of Hunter Beaton
Hunter Beaton, who graduated from Moody College last year with a Communication and Leadership degree, said he was surprised to see his nonprofit, Day 1 Bags, on the list.
“I’m a 2022 grad. I haven’t been out of UT for long so the fact that we got this is exciting,” Beaton said. “I am honored.”
Beaton started Day 1 Bags when he was in high school as part of an Eagle Scout project. The nonprofit gives free duffle bags and backpacks to foster children to carry their belongings when they are adopted into homes. Beaton is the older brother to three siblings from foster care. He noted how these children come into their new homes with all of their belongings in trash bags, which has a negative effect on how they see themselves.
“The fact that these youth are getting trash bags, it tells them that what they have and what they are isn’t worth much, just like a trash bag isn’t worth anything,” Beaton said.
Beaton started Day 1 Bags in his home of Kendall County with just 100 bags. Today, the nonprofit works in 45 states and has given out more than 120,000 bags.
Beaton took several nonprofit communications courses at Moody College and said the biggest thing he learned as a student was how to effectively communicate to donors the value of their contributions and where their gifts are going. “Also to thank your donors and the people who support you,” he said. “That’s super valuable.”
“The fact that these youth are getting trash bags, it tells them that what they have and what they are isn’t worth much, just like a trash bag isn’t worth anything."
Photo courtesy of Elaine Garza
Photo courtesy of Elaine Garza
In addition to giving back to their communities, many of the top businesses in this year’s Longhorn 100 also give back to Moody grads. Elaine Garza, who started the PR firm Giant Noise nearly 20 years ago, said 60% of the company’s staff started out as interns and many of those were Moody graduates.
“Even if they go on to do other things, we encourage it,” Garza said. “To see the kids at Giant Noise go on to incredible careers is inspiring.”
Garza, who graduated with a degree in journalism in 1994, started her career in publishing in New York City. When she moved back to Texas, she said there weren’t a lot of PR firms. She started Giant Noise with two clients. Today, they have more than 100 clients and offices in Austin, San Antonio and Dallas and have been named one of America's Best PR Agencies by Forbes. Garza credits her success to her UT Austin education.
“You are working with the most talented people,” she said. “It really helps you to bring your best and be the best to compete with your peers.”
Photo Courtesy of Paramount Theater
Photo Courtesy of Paramount Theater
Photo by Karissa Rangel
Photo by Karissa Rangel
Photo by Chad Wadsworth
Photo by Chad Wadsworth
The Texas Exes expect to continue the Longhorn 100 as an annual competition, which will help encourage businesses to join the Longhorn Business Network, which helps business owners to connect with one another and to promote their work.
Nominations for next year’s Longhorn 100 open in September.
This year’s full list of Moody College winners include:
365 Things Austin
Asher Media Inc.
Austin Deck Company
BIRD Bakery
Beatbox Beverages
Cavalry Strategies
College Inroads
Daito Design
Day 1 Bags
E & Co. Tech
Forcura
Garrison Brothers Distillery
Giant Noise
Horseless Cowboy
Independence Brewing
Jimmy Cakes
Rambler Sparkling Water
Reveal Suits
Stems
Texas Standard
Third Rail Creative
Watters International Realty
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