ETSU x Creative Energy: Elevating Students to Go Beyond

ETSU and businesses like Creative Energy are committed to launching careers and creating real-world opportunities. That multiplier effect in workforce growth is resonating throughout the region.  

Under the leadership of President and CEO Tony Treadway, the advertising agency stands as a beacon for ETSU graduates by offering enriching experiences and opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.  

Isaiah Harwood, a testament to the agency's impact, shared his experience: "I graduated in December of 2021, and I started working here during finals week. I know a lot of jobs and schools don't set you up for that type of success, so I was really lucky to get that from ETSU."  

Treadway highlighted the agency's more than three decades of success stories, including individuals who, within their first week, worked on major national accounts, creating messaging featured at a national trade show.   

This unwavering commitment to multiple impactful opportunities for future generations has resulted in over 50% of the agency's current workforce being ETSU graduates.  

As the agency thrives, Treadway reflects on the impact of ETSU on his life as a first-generation student: "When I look back at what ETSU offered me, it set me up for success. I've got to pay it forward. That's what we've been doing for more than three decades." 

• Video Transcript

  Tony Treadway (President & CEO of The Creative Energy Group Inc.): 
  We want great students to look to Creative
  Energy and say, "Gee, that's my first job." 

  Tony Treadway:
  There's been more than 100 ETSU grads who have gone through our doors and had an enriched experience after being elevated at ETSU. 

  Isaiah Harwood (Junior Graphic Designer at Creative Energy/ ETSU Alum):
  I graduated in December of 2021, and I started working here during finals week.  I know a lot of jobs and a lot of schools don't set you up for that type of success, so I was really lucky to get that from ETSU. 

  Bradley Eshbach (Managing Director/VP at Creative Energy/ ETSU Alum):
  Tony chose to do the hard work, thinking about what kind of business could we start here in this community that would sustain and could keep hiring ETSU graduates for decades.

  Tony Treadway:
  Thirty-two years later, now we're one of the top-ranked agencies in certain niche areas such as food service.  The number-one advertiser in America. I really just wanted the opportunity to work at big agencies working on big national accounts. 

  Bradley Eshbach:
  I have many memories of adult figures saying, "You need to go see what's out there."  What I wish would have been added to that was, "Leave and then come back and tell us what you learned.” 

  Tony Treadway:
  Today, more than 50 percent of our employees are ETSU grads.  One person got the opportunity within the first week of her career to work on a major brand,  to create messaging that was
  on a major national trade show.

  Tony Treadway:
  The client was so pleased that they paid for this person to go to Chicago, and to see it for someone who walks off the stage after getting their diploma to be walking on the world stage, I'll 
  never forget it.

  Bradley Eshbach:
  Creating a center for community and a place where people can come together because I think it's such a key part as people move to our communities, people graduate, 
  as people come to ETSU and they're looking for their collective, their people. 

  Isaiah Harwood:
  I got paired up with Stacey Suarez,  who actually was also an ETSU alumni.  She works as the senior designer here, and the things that she's taught me has been invaluable. 

  Tony Treadway:
  At Creative Energy, we've always looked at technology as a force multiplier and not a challenge.  Imagine gigantic walls or rooms that you create. That's all
  done by AI cameras. That's one of our most recent things that we've done.

  Bradley Eshbach:
  I think we live in a time right now that if you have passion or a curiosity about something, just go for it.

  Tony Treadway:
  I'm the first person out of my family to ever graduate from college. It made a profound impact on my life.

  Tony Treadway:
  When I look back at what ETSU offered me, it set me up for success that I've got to pay it forward. That's what we've been doing for more than three decades.

   

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East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.