The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) College of Business and Economic Development and its Business Advisory Council is delighted to honor Christopher Spence as the 2020 Boardman Young Alumnus of the Year. Spence was recognized during a video shared to the Southern Miss Business YouTube channel on Friday, Oct. 23.
“In 2011, the College of Business and Economic Development and the Business Advisory Council began honoring an outstanding young alumnus of the year to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of graduates who are 40 years of age or younger. This year, it is my pleasure to announce Mr. Christopher Spence as the 2020 Boardman Young Alumnus of the Year,” said Dr. Bret Becton, Dean of the USM College of Business and Economic Development.
Spence originally entered the workforce as a network engineer where he designed and constructed large client network and server systems for a major defense contractor at NASA. Within a couple of years, he was promoted to managerial roles and decided to further his education in business.
During the video, Spence reflected on his decision to go back to USM for his MBA. He shared a valuable lesson the business faculty taught him about business and entrepreneurship.
“We may be able to create new technologies; we may be able to make new products, but the business school at USM was very quick to point out that making the product is only part of it. You have to make it profitable in order to be sustainable,” said Spence.
After completing his MBA from Southern Miss, he co-founded two successful firms in the healthcare industry and then later solely founded a private consultancy, all over the course of a 10-year period. He later obtained a second graduate degree, this time from Harvard University, concentrating in Finance.
Spence performed contract-executive and investment work with his firm until he was retained by Spartan Mosquito, where he serves as their Chief Executive Officer.
About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is a comprehensive public research institution delivering transformative programs on campuses in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites in central and southern Mississippi, as well as online. Founded in 1910, USM is one of only 131 universities in the nation to earn the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education’s "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity” designation, and its robust research enterprise includes experts in ocean science and engineering, polymer science and engineering, and large event venue safety and security, among others. USM is also one of only 37 institutions in the nation accredited in theatre, art and design, dance and music. As an economic driver, USM generates an annual economic impact of more than $600 million across the state. USM welcomes a diverse student body of more than 14,000, representing 71 countries, all 50 states, and every county in Mississippi. USM students have collected four Truman Scholarships and 36 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, while also leading Mississippi with 24 Goldwater Scholarships, an honor that recognizes the next generation of great research scientists. Home to the Golden Eagles, USM competes in 17 Division I sports sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). For more information, visit usm.edu.
