As Chase Westover prepares to graduate from Missouri State University this December, he looks back on his time at MSU with a deep sense of accomplishment and gratitude.
“My experience at MSU has been invaluable,” said Westover, who is majoring in marketing and minoring in enterprise risk management. “It has made me excited and prepared for life after college.”
Westover, who hails from St. Louis, Missouri, was attending community college when he first saw MSU’s campus. He felt drawn to it and decided to transfer here in the fall of 2021.
“I chose to study marketing because it’s a career path that allows you to build new relationships everywhere you go. I love talking to people, so I figured marketing was right up my alley,” he said.
Redefining AMA’s culture
One of Westover’s most notable achievements was serving as the president of MSU’s American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter since December 2023.
His leadership redefined the organization’s culture and set a new course for future students.
“The executive board and I were able to broaden our chapter’s culture to include community involvement, hands-on engagement and genuine connectedness,” he said.
“Our AMA chapter genuinely feels like a family of supportive, like-minded students and it’s so fulfilling to know that many students have made lifelong connections and memories within our chapter.”
Leadership across campus
Westover’s impact did not stop at the AMA chapter. He also held leadership roles in other campus organizations. He served as the marketing officer for Gamma Iota Sigma (a fraternity for academics in the fields of insurance, risk management and actuarial science) during his junior year and held the position of philanthropy chair for Theta Chi (a fraternity for male undergraduate students to increase scholarship, forge connections and engage in philanthropy).
These experiences, combined with his academic pursuits, helped him gain a well-rounded understanding of both marketing and enterprise risk management.
Internships that shaped a career path
As a student, Westover also invested his time in gaining real-world experience.
He interned at The Crismore Agency, an independent insurance brokerage based in Kirkwood, Missouri, in summer 2023.
“I managed the Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, created email and direct mail campaigns and developed a client onboarding pamphlet, all aimed at improving client retention and acquiring new clients for the agency,” Westover said.
This summer, he returned to St. Louis to intern at Lockton, the world’s largest independent insurance brokerage.
He learned about various verticals within the insurance industry and how brokers serve as intermediaries between clients and providers. His responsibilities included reviewing policies, editing client program graphics and servicing accounts.
These two opportunities solidified his career aspirations.
“I can confidently say I’m going into the insurance industry,” Westover said. “I plan to help clients analyze risks within their business models and provide coverage for them as a commercial insurance producer.”
As of January 2025, Westover will work as an associate underwriter for AmWINS, an insurance wholesaler. He will be enrolled in the company’s Underwriter Development Program, which is a sales program that will teach and train in excess and surplus lines.
Expressing gratefulness
In a note of thanks, Westover expressed his appreciation to Sandy Meyers, assistant professor in the department of finance, economics and risk management and Dr. Jenifer Skiba, associate professor in the department of marketing. Skiba is also faculty advisor for the AMA chapter.
“Professor Meyers never missed an opportunity to connect me with insurance professionals and always encouraged me to learn more about the industry,” Westover said.
“Dr. Skiba always pushes me to be innovative, show up for myself and others and keeps me accountable for doing what I say I’m going to do. She puts so much time and effort into our AMA chapter, and I don’t know where we’d be without her.”
Words of advice
Based on his personal experience, Westover shares these words of wisdom with current and future students.
“Say yes to any opportunity presented to you. There are so many doors of opportunity waiting all around you, but you won’t realize it until you start knocking,” he said. “Also, surround yourself with people who are better than you. You’ll grow by learning from them and then eventually, you’ll be able to do the same for them.”