trenzio turner From Tarleton to marketing partnership, Turner enjoys success

From Tarleton to marketing partnership, Turner enjoys success

B Y Ph IL rIDDL e

there’s no denying Trenzio Turner’s time at Tarleton was marked by one word—success.

The 2000 graduate with a degree in marketing wisely banked his experience on campus to create a blueprint for even more success after graduation.

As a student, he won the 1999 MLK, Jr. Leadership Award, the 2000 John Tarleton Spirit Award, and the 2000 John Fielding Higgs Award as the Most Valuable Player of the Texans football team.

As planned, he also has been successful after graduation, working in the advertising industry, and earning a partnership in a highly regarded Austin firm.

“Everybody I came across took time out to chat with me,” Turner said of his time on the Tarleton campus, “not just about school but about life. I learned a tremendous amount.

“I look at contracts every day now, flashing back to some of those things I learned in business law class.”

A standout football player at Austin’s Crockett High School, Turner accepted a scholarship offer as a linebacker for Tarleton, anchoring the Texan defense for three seasons, and more importantly learning valuable lessons.

“Playing collegiate athletics taught me a lot,” he said. “You have to get a bunch of guys headed in one direction. My football coaches used to tell me I was learning things that would help me in the business world and I used to smile at that. But I’ll tell you, they were right.”

His relationships at college, and even in high school, turned out to be vitally important to Turner’s future plans.

Turner had become friends with a brother and sister in high school in Austin. Little did he know those siblings’ dad was a Tarleton professor who turned out to be an academic ally for the incoming freshman.

“Dr. (Robert) Newby was my first college class, 8 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” recalls Turner. “I didn’t know him at the time, but when I got to class he knew who I was. I finally figured out ‘Oh, you’re Milam and Noelle’s dad.’ He really helped me out a lot when I first got there. It was nice to have a friendly voice and face who knew me from home.”

His connection to the Newby’s was cemented when, for his 40th birthday, the family created a Tarleton marketing scholarship in his name.

“Dr. Newby is a dear friend of mine and I treasure that friendship,” Turner said. “He and his family have been very good to me.”

As an upperclassman and through continued relationships with the Newby family, Turner applied to and was hired at Austin advertising powerhouse GSD&M, where he plied his trade for five years. In 2005 he moved to SWG&M, which became Sanders/Wingo a year later. By 2010, he was a partner.

He credits Tarleton with providing him the tools to work in the industry.

“They do a great job of teaching the foundational pieces, setting you up to go out into the real world and apply them,” Turner said of his Tarleton professors. “I always felt like college was a mini real world. You have some guard rails around you, so you don’t just completely fall off the cliff. You’ll have some peaks, some valleys and you’ll have to work with people from all different backgrounds, perspectives and persuasions with the goal of getting things done.

“That’s exactly what I do every day, and Tarleton did a great job of setting up a situation that allowed me to learn and grow there.”

Turner and his wife, Ursula, have a five-year-old son, Chase, who might be a Texan in the future.

“My cousin, about nine years younger than me, went to Tarleton,” Turner said. “A big part of the reason he went was because I’d had such a great experience there. When it came time for him to look, it was an easy choice. I would definitely do the same for my son.”

Turner returns to his alma mater as frequently as he can, speaking to student organizations when invited.

“Tarleton gave me such a complete experience,” he said.