Adventure of a Lifetime: Alum William Bean Carves Unique Career Path Supported by Lifelong Network
November 8, 2024 | 3-4 min read
Florida College alum William Bean (‘15) has turned adventure into a career and credits much of that path to his time on campus. After all, it’s where the social media strategist and international photographer received a homework assignment that changed his life.
A native of Colorado, Bean claims he “signed up for Florida College at birth.” Parents Craig and Tami ran the Colorado FC Camp before creating and overseeing Camp Acapella in Tampa.
Bean was influenced by his grandfather, a Wisconsin welder and business owner, to pursue a degree in business. He studied entrepreneurship and marketing under the business department, where he was issued a challenge by Organizational Leadership professor Philip Yoho.
“He had an assignment that he said would change our lives, but students were skeptical,” Bean remembered. “He told us to go out and interview people in our potential industry, so I asked him the best person to talk to in Tampa about marketing.”
That conversation led Bean to Barry Wallace, marketing director of a national fishing company, which segued to Bean’s first job as a marketing assistant.
“Barry served as my mentor and really helped develop and encourage me to pursue social media strategy, photography and video production,” he said. “He pushed me in the right direction.”
Two years later, Bean left to launch his own business.
“Last year I ran into Philip Yoho and told him that assignment really did change my life,” he recalled.
Bean began traveling for work in 2018 and has since visited 53 countries on every continent but Antartica, capturing stunning images for clients including Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchors, Blazer Boats, Suzuki Motors, Yamaha Motors and Berkley Fishing. When not traveling, he’s at home in Temple Terrace, but far or near, he finds comradery in FC connections.
“I’ve been able to travel with former peers from FC, and visit some who live abroad,” Bean said. “Everyone knows FC has this nationwide network, but it goes much farther than that. It’s something I did not expect.”
“When traveling internationally you must be willing to talk to strangers,” he said. “That’s a big tenant of FC, because everyone is there with a similar purpose and wants to make friends. The travel community has a similar vibe, because everyone’s seeking adventure and wants to connect over shared experiences.”
To see some photos from Bean’s travels with other alumni, click here.