12 |
featured alumni
An Idaho tech leader
TAMELA GATES MAY CONTINUED... [which I] ended up being selected for. That was
college experience had on her life. “I visited Idaho
the shot in the arm I needed to keep going. It
State in November for the first time in over 30
was so impactful that I have never forgotten it.”
years.” During her visit, May established the Tami
May’s
local
Gates Scholarship Endowment Fund for Fearless
classifieds newspaper, the Thrifty Nickel, where
Pursuit of Personal Success, a scholarship aimed
she worked during school and after earning
at assisting students in their junior or senior
her degree. “When I moved to Boston, that
years that are struggling financially, much like
experience helped me to get a job in advertising
May was. “[I wanted to] give them the same
for a magazine focused on the technology
encouragement I received to continue on.” May
industry, which eventually led me to working
also sought to honor the many professors that
with cybersecurity manufacturers advising them
she said helped her chase her own success.
on their overall marketing strategy.”
During her visit back to campus, May was faced
As her career progressed, May realized her ability
with a lot of emotion. “What kept running through
H earing from
to not only get through difficult situations, but to
my mind as I traversed the campus paths I had
(CEO) of a tech company that recently
lead highly talented teams. “Honestly, the most
crossed so many times in decades past, was a bit
received one of the state’s largest private
personally fulfilling accomplishment was having
of a poem I authored from the emotion of the
equity investments ever, warrants some
several individuals seek out the opportunity
visit, ‘For a time it was ours, now it is theirs and
intimidation. But, as Paris Cole introduced
to work for me,” May said that as she moved
the tomorrows of ISU will go on forever.’” It is
himself to the room of accounting and
from company to company, there were several
scholarships like the one May received, like the
business students at this year’s Accounting
individuals that followed. “To me, that is a strong
one she established, that keep so many Idaho
Career Vision Symposium, it was evident
indicator of whether or not you are a respected,
State students going or make it possible for them
that Cole is a down-to-earth, fellow Bengal.
viable and effective leader.”
to earn an education. And the impact of that
“I first want to share my background with
In concluding her career, May found herself
education is profound.
you,” said Cole, pointing to some basic
career
actually
began
at
the
reflecting on the impact her education and the
the Chief Executive Officer
facts on the screen. “I grew up in Caldwell,
