Tony Griffin '22: From classroom to community, making a difference in Georgia

Tony Griffin, who earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 2022, is using his marketing skills to transform the lives of homeless veterans and individuals with criminal records who have difficulty finding jobs in Georgia. As the Chief Marketing Officer for Georgia Vocational Solutions (GVS), Griffin said the nonprofit organization offers people with challenging backgrounds and circumstances the opportunity to rebuild their lives through vocational skills training (e.g., forklift certification, HVAC apprenticeships, commercial driver’s licenses, etc.).

In Fall 2023, Griffin facilitated a partnership between GVS and online retail giant Amazon to host a major job fair in Atlanta. When planning the event, Griffin used the market research skills he learned at Texas A&M-San Antonio to identify the best location for the event and develop advertising strategies to promote the job fair. During the event, Amazon interviewed, hired, and onboarded 250 people to work at an Amazon fulfillment center in Atlanta.

"Life's setbacks shouldn't be roadblocks but detours leading to better opportunities. Everyone deserves a second chance that empowers them to earn a livable wage and provide for their families,” Griffin said.

In addition to managing the marketing for GVS, Griffin owns and operates FAi Marketing, a consulting company in San Antonio, Texas.

Interested in networking with Tony? He can be contacted through his LinkedIn profile.

Mario Siller '19: Making a Splash at the San Antonio River Authority

Mario Siller, who earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 2019, is using his marketing skills to further the mission of the San Antonio River Authority. Responsible for the development and implementation of social media activity for the agency, Mario’s dedication and hard work increased attendance at San Antonio River Authority events by 30% in about 6 months. His commitment to safe, clean, and enjoyable creeks and rivers is an example of the societal impact of the College of Business, which leads to the betterment of people, economies, and the environment.

During his time at the San Antonio River Authority, the number of messages sent across all social media platforms increased by about 92%. Nicole Marshall, Public Affairs Officer at the San Antonio River Authority, said that in “a little over 6 months Mario has brought a fresh and well accepted new look to the River Authority’s social identity. His strengths include great communication with internal departments, external partners, and the community. His ability to be open to learning new ideas and being adaptive to the intense workload has definitely been a positive addition to the San Antonio River Authority.”

The photograph features Mario (on the right) with 2 of his colleagues from the San Antonio River Authority as they celebrated the 2023 Race the River event. This competitive race invites canoers and kayakers to paddle through downtown San Antonio’s iconic River Walk. 

Interested in networking with Mario? He can be contacted through his LinkedIn profile