Eric Engberg

What do you do? Retired radio/TV correspondent, CBS News Washington Bureau. How did you get your job? I was working for a broadcasting company, Westinghouse, when it closed its Washington Bureau, laying off 12 people, as an economy measure. I sent letters, resumes and writing samples to all the networks. (There were then only three). … Continued

Eston B. Ellis

When most 18-month old children were beginning to talk, young Eston Ellis was also reading letters on signs aloud to anyone who would listen, an extraordinary accomplishment for a toddler. Perhaps it didn’t hurt that his parents’ favorite pastime was reading. As a kindergartener, his precociousness went unnoticed by school officials. In fact, the school … Continued

Keith Ecker

What do you do? I am a professional freelance writer, essayist and comedian. I write editorial and marketing copy for a variety of clients, from international corporations to regional magazines. I also produce and host the popular Chicago-based reading series Essay Fiesta. Each month we invite a cross-section of artists to share true, first-person narratives. … Continued

Rachel Ebeling

What do you do? I run a nonprofit organization called “The Angel Band Project.” Our mission is to promote hope and healing through music for those affected by sexual violence. This project was founded after the rape and murder of a dear friend, Teresa Butz, in her home in Seattle. It was inspired by her family’s … Continued

Emily Dulcan

What do you do? I am the Digital Director for the Peace Corps, the international volunteer service agency founded by President Kennedy. I manage the day-to-day operations of social media and online content creation for the agency. How did you get your job? I got my job through an acquaintance of an acquaintance who was … Continued

Betty Cole Dukert

Why did you choose to attend the Missouri School of Journalism? I intended to become a journalist from about age 13. I can’t imagine why, as I knew none. Probably it was movies. Fortunately, when I began to think about specific colleges, I lived in Missouri and knew the journalism school at MU was tops. … Continued

Amy Bannister DiGiacomo

What do you do? I’m in charge of the marketing and public relations for a 140-bed hospital outside of Charleston, S.C. How did you get your job? My husband and I wanted to move to S.C. to be closer to family, so I posted my resume on Monster, CareerBuilder, and a number of marketing and … Continued

Walt Denny

What career steps did you take before opening your own ad agency? I started as a copywriter for Western Auto Supply at their home office in Kansas City. I worked there for three years before going to a mid-size agency, Barkley & Evergreen, also in Kansas City. There, I worked as a copywriter and worked … Continued

Ward Degler

The Early Years Ward Degler was born May 4, 1935, in the small town of Phillips, Wis. The country was in the depths of the Great Depression. His father, a forester from Indiana, earned about $60 per month as a superintendent for the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC, a public work-relief program for unemployed men, … Continued

Mike DeArmond

What do you do? On Feb. 11, 2012, I covered my last athletic event for The Kansas City Star after 41 years with that newspaper either as a correspondent or a full-time reporter/editor. After filing my story on Missouri’s basketball victory in Columbia, Missouri, over Baylor, I officially retired, having covered high schools for one … Continued