Spartan Sagas

David ("Dave") Brower is a native of the Lansing area, having graduated from Okemos High School in 1965. He attended MSU, completing his BA in Accounting in June 1969 and his MBA in Finance in December 1970. He was an auditor at the public accounting firm of Ernst & Ernst, Lansing Office, from 1971 - until October 1979, obtaining his Michigan CPA certification in 1973. Mr. Brower held various positions at MSU during his career, which spanned 32 years, retiring at the end of December 2011. In October 1979, Mr. Brower started his career at MSU as Assistant Controller of Student Services and moved to the position of Assistant Controller of Administrative Services in 1982. In 1995 he was promoted to Controller and to Assistant Vice President, CFO and Controller in 2001. In this position, he worked to ensure that MSU operated with the highest degree of financial integrity; that issues affecting the financial health of the university were identified and strategies formulated to deal with those issues; that timely and appropriate financial decisions were made; that University assets were safeguarded; and, that accounting financial policies and procedures were developed and updated as required by state and federal regulations and changes in governmental accounting standards. For several years before his retirement, Mr. Brower's served on a MSU steering committee charged with developing and replacing MSU’s 40-year-old financial system and it’s over 25-year-old Human Resource and Payroll Systems. As a result of this effort, in 2011 MSU implemented the Kuali Open-Source Finance System and the SAP HR/Payroll Systems, which have evolved and are still being used today. Mr. Brower committed several years to assist in conceptual development of "The Kuali Open Source" financial software and was a member of the related Kuali Foundation developing the software. Mr. Brower's involvement in the development of the Kuali Open-Source Financial System was instrumental to its success. Mr. Brower was widely respected by the campus community as an open and inclusive leader. He is a strong advocate for transparency and win-win solutions to problems. In 2009 he was one of the recipients of the MSU Outstanding Supervisor of the Year award. As part of his university outreach activities Mr. Brower represented MSU in numerous areas. He was a board member and officer for the Lansing/Jackson Chapter of the National Association of Accountants for many years. For over 30 years, he was a board member of the University Club of MSU, serving as treasurer or president for many of those years. Upon his retirement, he was made an Emeritus Board Member of the Club. Mr. Brower has been recognized on numerous occasions for his long-time dedication to area community service organizations, including the YMCA Board of Metropolitan Lansing, an organization he became involved with in 1980. He served in various leadership roles for the Y over the years and was awarded the Y’s Volunteer of the Year award in 1985 and 2022. He also served on the Capital Area United Way Board and was awarded their Volunteer of the Year Award in 1999. His volunteer service continues up to the present time. A long-time member of the Peoples Church of East Lansing, he has been a member of the Finance Ministry for the past 25 years, having served as church treasurer for 7 years during that time. After retirement, he served for 12 years as board member and treasurer of Burcham Hill Life Care Community in East Lansing and started volunteering for the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts as a member of their Inner Circle Volunteer support group. At their recent Inner Circle Volunteer Event in May 2026, he received the Wharton Center Directors Award for “for exemplary volunteer service, dedication and friendship.” Mr. Brower was elected as the MSU Retirees Association (MSURA) President for fiscal years (FY) 24-25 and FY 25-26, his second year ending June 30, 2026. He served as the MSURA Treasurer for 10 years prior to being elected president and, was an at-large board member prior to that. He received the MSURA’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2023 and, for a second time in May 2026. Mr. Brower supports MSU in many ways. He is a major donor whose interests include the MSU Music School, the Wharton Center for Performing Arts, MSU Athletics scholarships, and the MSURA Endowed Scholarship Fund. He was also an early supporter of the MSU Leadership Spartan Scholarship Challenge Fund. In addition, he has long held season tickets for MSU athletics and the Wharton Center. In retirement, he enjoys traveling, movies, reading and attending various events and functions on campus. He also enjoys biking and walking on campus. Since retirement, he has become a big jazz music fan, volunteering at local jazz festivals and enjoying performances by MSU Jazz faculty and students. 

Segment 1: The Hook & The Hustle Theme: Setting the stage, from small-town Flushing to full-blown financial independence. The Intro: A bubbly, high-energy greeting. Briefly cover your "elevator pitch" (Broad student, MHRLR admit, fitness instructor, brand partner). Leaving the Small Town Behind: Discussing the mindset shift from growing up in Flushing to wanting more out of life. Financial Independence as Fuel: How paying your own way through college wasn't just a burden, but the exact catalyst that made you ambitious. Takeaway for Spartans: You don’t need a safety net to succeed. Financial independence forces you to be resourceful, network harder, and say "yes" to opportunities that others might skip. Segment 2: Academic Grind Theme: Academic grind, strategic planning, and leveling up. The Undergrad Grind: What it takes to survive and thrive at Broad. The MHRLR Master's Acceptance: The strategy behind applying for the shared HR master’s program. Takeaway for Spartans: Success in a massive college like Broad is about finding your niche and planning ahead. Talk to advisors early. Segment 3: Finding Your Rhythm – Cycling & Community Theme: College, money, training, food That First Class at MSU: The story of walking into your first indoor cycling class and how it instantly clicked. Stepping up to the Podium: The transition from rider to instructor. How building a community in the cycling studio became your ultimate stress reliever and leadership training ground. Brand Partnerships ($) + Food (HUEL & BTFast): How promoting health and wellness authentically led to working with brands you actually love, money. Discussing the importance of protein and meal prep when your schedule is packed. Hotel (Marriott): Making many connections and furthering my interpersonal skills with my co-workers and guests. Takeaway for Spartans: Your campus experience shouldn't just be about academics. Find an intramural sport or a fitness class . Even consider getting a part-time job to find your people. Community is what grounds you when the academic pressure gets heavy. Segment 4: The Balancing Act & The Blueprint Theme: Time management, overcoming burnout, and handing the blueprint to the next class. The Reality of the Grind: Candidly discussing how I balance being a full-time student, working, teaching cycle, and maintaining brand deals. (Admit that it gets messy sometimes, but the discipline is worth it). Overcoming the Odds: Reflecting on the biggest hurdles you’ve faced and how being forced to fend for yourself early on gave you the grit to push through. The Spartan Blueprint: Your direct message to incoming MSU students who feel overwhelmed. Takeaway for Spartans: Time management is everything. Utilize your calendar, prioritize your physical health (like fueling properly with protein!) Segment 5: Branding Deal Side Hustle BTFAST: Talking Points Local + Young Entrepreneurial: every meal is produced here as Spartans in our Lansing community! Supporting an up and coming business (before its more $$) and bringing more business to Lansing! Macronutrient-Balanced: Every single meal is perfectly macro-balanced. No Seed Oils: This is a huge non-negotiable in the fitness space right now. BTFast uses absolutely zero seed oils. I am getting clean energy that actually sustains me through those brutal hill climbs in the studio, without that heavy, sluggish feeling you get from processed oils. Taste & Convenience: "And the best part? It tastes incredible. It’s like having a personal chef who knows exactly what your body needs to perform, packaged up and ready to go.”

Tom Mitchell is a long-term friend and trainer who started the 'Spin Class’s at MSU over 20 years ago, he has ridden some miles. In this episode we cover Tom's journey into the #ReFirementZone, his 50-year career at MSU, from Ag Econ to Purchasing this man has done it all. A fine athlete, serious competitor and great trainer Tom can be reached by email @ mitch27@msu.edu In my friend’s words these are a few tips- Be curious not judgmental Accountability is the key to success Spin, what is it and why should you try it Is exercise the "Fountain of Youth"?

Kendell Brooks was an intern for Brock Fletcher of the Selling Team of Keller Williams and now a pro football player for several teams, currently the Tennessee Titans. Kendell Brooks is an American professional football safety for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He played college football for the North Greenville Crusaders and Michigan State Spartans and was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2023. The Titans signed Kendell Brooks to the team's practice squad early in the 2024 season to add depth to special teams and in the secondary. Prior to joining the Titans, the 6-foot-0-inch, 206-pounder spent the offseason with the Indianapolis Colts and a brief week with the Washington Commanders. The Swansea, S.C., native was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Arizona Cardinals following the 2023 NFL Draft and spent the offseason program with the team. TITANS TIDBITS: • Since being signed to the Titans, Brooks has been heavily involved in the community by attending weekly school visits. 

Michigan State Athletic Communication Department, East Lansing, MI September 2022 – Present Student Assistant/Sports Information Director Intern Directed communication efforts supporting 25+ varsity athletic programs, strengthening fan engagement and brand visibility. Executed live game coverage for Men’s and Women’s Soccer on Twitter/X, delivering 100+ in-game updates per season to 14,000+ followers. Facilitated official live statistics on NCAA.com for Men’s Soccer and Basketball, ensuring accuracy across 50+ games. Published 100+ postgame interviews with players/coaches, producing content for press releases and social media. Partnered with national broadcast networks (FOX, Big Ten Network, NBC/Peacock, CBS) as Timeout Coordinator and Official Statistician, directly contributing to production quality viewed by 500,000+ fans per broadcast. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI January 2024 – Present NIL Peer Innovator, Sales/Marketing Lead Led a team of 3 to develop a Q1–Q4 framework supporting 3 student-athletes in navigating NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) landscape. Conducted market research to analyze the demographics, interests, and preferences of student-athletes and their fan bases. Built partnerships with 5+ public agencies and brands, expanding athlete exposure to an audience of 20,000+ fans across digital and in-person channels. Panel Member discussing NIL strategy and athlete brand development at MSU’s 3rd Annual NIL Business Summit, 2024 Atlanta Tipoff Club/Naismith Awards, Remote August 2024 – Present social media Captain Produced social media content across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, and YouTube, reaching 50,000+ followers total and generating 15 million impressions per month during the men’s college basketball season. Conducted and published athlete interviews, creating original video and written content that drove a 25% increase in engagement across campaign posts. Represented Naismith Awards as credentialed media at the NCAA Men’s Basketball Sweet 16 and Elite 8, capturing live content that expanded brand visibility to a national audience of 500,000+ viewers. Barstool Sports, Remote January 2024 – Present Social Media Manager Represented MSU by creating social media content that showcased athletics and student life while aligning Barstool’s brand voice with campus culture. Grew Instagram followers by 15,000 (129K → 146K) and Twitter/X followers by 14,600 (55K → 70K) through targeted strategies and engaging content. Collaborated with another student creator to design and execute social campaigns reaching 255,000+ followers across platforms (Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok). Actively engaged with the MSU community to strengthen the Barstool brand presence

Scott Warriner is a legend in the high school athletics coaching world. Both as a wrestling coach, winning 4 state championships, Scott also coached softball for 20 years. He amassed over 500 wins in both sports in his tenure. Today's episode, we discuss these topics High expectations Longevity of coaches Building relationships Enhancing athletes' skills to enjoy the sport Understanding that an athlete's passion can fuel coaches With eight grandchildren, Scott now loves to coach up his children's children, isn't that what we all should do?

Jared Kozinn is the Deputy Athletics Director, Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer for Michigan State Athletics where he is responsible for maximizing and diversifying revenue streams within Michigan State Athletics. Jared oversees partnerships, marketing, branding & creative services, sports information and ticketing. Prior to joining Michigan State Athletics, Jared was the Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, Premium & Events for the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he was responsible for overseeing and leading sales, activation and event operations while developing and enhancing relationships with current and prospective partners. Jared has also held various other corporate partnerships, premium and ticketing leadership roles for organizations in Major League Baseball, the National Football League and the National Hockey League. Jared grew up in Buffalo, NY and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison before earning his J.D. and M.B.A. from Saint Louis University.

As a graduating senior from Michigan State University, Carson White is an amazing young man. Maintaining a 3.98 GPA in Finance, this story has several elements that should make you happy to listen to.  College life- How did you do it what are some tips and tricks. How to get that job! Personal life and the credit that Carson shares about his parents, Steve and Jody, sister Hannah and his girlfriend Faith Professional life- Working at Stryker, finding your place! Sports-The Bears and college sports, where are we

Devian Johnson is an Evans Scholar alum who earned his way through college by caddying, which led to a full-ride scholarship at Michigan State University. Throughout school he worked with companies like Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Rocket Mortgage, and Octagon, and held leadership roles on campus — including serving as the New Scholar Educator for the Evans cohort and completing a speaker development program that allowed him to share his story at MSU events. Today, he is an Organizational Change Management Analyst at Lansing Board of Water and Light, using his lived experience to help others grow, adapt, and pursue their potential.  @Devian.inspires - Instagram , TikTok , YouTube Devian Johnson - Instagram , Facebook, LinkedIn Human capital advantage - YouTube devianjohnson.wordpress.com - Website