Former Fresno State Basketball Player Started His Own Company!

Former Fresno State basketball player Scott Graham came to Fresno State this week with a message of inspiration and hope for students as this fall’s Entrepreneur in Residence.

Graham, 29, a Fresno State graduate, is the CEO of XPACS (Xtreme Personal Assistant Concierge Services), a business that provides concierge services to different target markets including professional athletes, entertainers, celebrities, as well as various corporations.

With a love for inspiring people this young business man came to Fresno State to tell students about his life experiences and the journey he went through to get to where he is today.

“When I was coming up and growing up sat in the chair where those students are sitting, the people that inspired me… their message resonated in me and affected my life. So I try to do the same to them (students), give back to them what I’ve learned,” said Graham.

Graham hopes that he can give the students better clarity or insight for their visions and goals, and that maybe he can help them avoid the mistakes that he made along the way.

He also wants to send out a message of inspiration, hope and determination. Graham quotes his mother: “Don’t let anyone stay in your head, reign free.”

He explains that someone’s always going to try and tell you what you can and cannot do, or that you need to do this or that, but it’s important to believe in yourself.

He said: “If what you’re trying to do makes sense, do it with all your might, with all your passion.”

Graham’s originally from Newport Beach, California, and came to Fresno State because it wasn’t too far from home, but more importantly, because of the business program.

“I was very impressed,” he said, “I’d went to a couple of other schools prior to Fresno State and none of the business programs compare to Fresno State’s. It’s very vigorous and very challenging.”

While at Fresno State Graham played basketball and although he had aspirations of playing at the next level, a career in business was always his primary goal.

He said: “I had a bigger purpose as far as why I was in school, it wasn’t to go to the big league, it was really first and foremost to get my education and excel.”

And while he was in his senior year, he started thinking about the business idea that was to become XPACS. “I realised I wasn’t going to the NBA so I figured I might as well use the brain to make some money some how,” he smiled.

Graham realised that a lot of entertainers, athletes and people in general needed assistance with getting the day-to-day tasks done but they didn’t know how to, and so he came up with the concept of a personal concierge idea. He makes it sound simple by saying ‘there was a need and I provided a solution.’

And now almost ten years later the company’s a success and has even gone global with clients from countries such as Australia, Canada, China, Europe and Mexico.

Graham admits that at times it was a real struggle and things didn’t always go smoothly. But he says it’s how you respond and react to these obstacles, trials and tribulations that determines a lot about you as an individual. That if you can overcome these problems and keep going, then you can overcome a lot.

One of the main reasons for Graham’s success is the fact that he never once doubted himself, he always knew he’d be successful. He’s very confident, determined and competitive in what he does.

He said: “I really view myself of a different breed, I don’t think I’m human. Really, some of the stuff I do, just in terms of the passion and the drive.

“I always tell people if it’s me and someone else in a room and you have to place a bet, you better not place it on them cause you’re going to lose your money,”

Graham is extremely sure of himself, however not cocky, he has a way of speaking so that just listening to him inspires you and makes you want to pursue your own goals nonstop until you achieve them.

Currently Graham is involved in a few other companies and is starting his own internet venture, however, he has two main goals in life. Firstly, to own his own sports team, but more importantly, to be a billionaire.

Unlike the majority of people Graham does not want to be a billionaire for himself, but so he can help other people. He’s very passionate about many causes like homelessness, aids in Africa, and poverty in general, and there are a lot of things that he could do for these causes if he had the money.

He wants to be able to challenge other people who are wealthy to ‘put their money where their mouth is’ or even challenge them to invest in a cause if they are not doing so already.

“For me social entrepreneurship is very important. Not just making money for yourself, but making money so that you can give back to those that are less fortunate,” he said.

“I think this is the sole purpose of why I work so hard and try and achieve all of my goals.”

Fresno State PR students Raise Money for the Mass Communications and Journalism Department

A class of Fresno State Public Relation students hosted the MCJ Alumni Hall of Fame Induction to raise money and renovate the MCJ computer labs last night.

It was the MCJ 159 class, consisting of 11 PR students, which planned the first MCJ Alumni Hall of Fame Induction.

The event was organised to honor Ray Steele Jr, a 1968 graduate from Fresno State, for his successful journalism career, and to thank him for his generous donation of $50,000 to the MCJ department. With this donation 20 new i-mac computers were purchased.

"Being able to take part on an event with such great calibre was incredible," said Joann Mercado, a senior public relations major.

The students only had two months to organize and execute the event by themselves, which they hoped would raise enough money to make additional upgrades to the computer labs, so that facilities are up-to-date and the students can learn to the best of their abilities.

Jan Edwards, lecturer for MCJ 159 said: “The students have limited time to fulfil a task so they need to have equipment that is going to be reliable.

“Also we need to continually upgrade and have the programs to be able to do the job of mass communications that we are teaching.”

Before the night even began a total of $4200 had been received in donations. These proceedings will be used for new furniture, window coverings and carpeting, along with other necessary technologies.

The PR class is very excited about this and already sees the event as being a success, even before the donations received during the evening have been counted.

There was also a personal benefit for each student involved in the organization of the event.

With a small group of 11, each student had to take a key role in the planning

and execution of the event, meaning they were able to better themselves and learn new skills in a real life environment.

“You don’t really think that in a classroom you’re going to get this kind of practice,” said Rebecca Hellwig, one of the CEOs in class 159. “That’s one of the really cool things about it, fantastic experience.”

Edwards thinks that letting her students put on events such as this is the best way for them to learn. She said: “I think the best lesson is often through experience.”

She says that this way the students can not only learn from what they have done right, but also from their mistakes.

Overall the MCJ 159 class were just so appreciative of all the support they’d received, both from the school and the local community in Fresno.

“It’s a great opportunity to allow coverage for the MCJ department because we work so hard to do what we do,” said Mercado, “Fresno State has done so much for us so it’s our turn for the 159 class to give something back.”

Donations from the night are still being calculated but will be revealed soon.