FROM THE MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FINANCE
The minute you meet Sam Holliday you know you are encountering an energetic and persevering person. After talking with him for a few minutes, you discover that those are just two of several adjectives that describe Sam. He grew up in the Nixa, Missouri area, attending Nixa schools K through 12. Soon after graduating from Nixa High School, Sam enlisted in the Marine Corps where he served from 1995 – 1999. He spent most of his four years in the Marines as an infantryman in the middle of the Mojave Desert at 29 Palms, California. Sam attributes a lot of who he is today to his military service.
After leaving the service, Sam returned to the Springfield area and attended a three month Law Enforcement program at Drury University after which he went to work for the Greene County Sheriff’s Department. Sam started out as a deputy working in the jail. A short time later he was promoted to patrol deputy where he again spent a short time before being promoted into the Criminal Investigations Division as a detective.
In August of 2005, taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, Sam quit his job at the Sheriff’s Department and went back to school. He earned his Associate of Arts in General Education at Ozarks Technical Community College, and then transferred to MSU where he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with a minor in Economics. Sam is now completing the accelerated MBA program with an emphasis in Finance. He plans to graduate in December 2009. As if working to get his MBA isn’t enough, he is also studying for the Chartered Financial Analyst exam which he plans to take in June 2009.
Sam is well on his way to learning all about balancing professional and personal life. In addition to his full-time student agenda, he is a husband and father. Sam and his wife Whitney were married in 2002 and their son Mason Cole was born in July 2007. Sam’s eyes literally light up when he talks about his wife and son. Mason loves to go along on family hikes. Sam carries him in a back pack as Mason slaps him on the head shouting “Go, go, go.” In addition to hiking, Sam is an avid road bike rider and participates in a number of local charity rides.
As for plans after graduation, Sam said he hasn’t decided for sure, but will either seek employment with a private company or pursue his PhD in finance. Whatever Sam and his family decide, rest assured that Sam will be a leader in any organization he joins and an alumnus that MSU can be tremendously proud of. Sam, we wish you and your family the best!