Justin Clupper ’07

Communication

Biography

Upon graduating from Taylor University, I worked with a start-up tech company that was part of the burgeoning digital signage industry and was named in 2008 Newcomer of the Year at the industry's annual conference. The role was multifaceted, as most start-up positions are. After about three years, it was time to move to a new opportunity, where I entered the nonprofit world as the Director of Events at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. From there, I helped rebuild the museum's event programming and create sustainable funding through third-party venue rentals. During my time at FWMoA, I met my wife, Jessica, and became engaged. The long days and late hours of my position with FWMoA weren't best for a new family, so I took a new position with the Chamber of Commerce directing their talent retention efforts. This responsibility grew into also overseeing community leadership development efforts, including Leadership Fort Wayne. During my time at Greater Fort Wayne Inc., Jessica and I had two children, Caroline and Dean. In early 2019 I had the opportunity to move from my position on the Board of Directors for Community Transportation Network (CTN) to the Executive Director position. As executive director, I am the chief executive of the organization, reporting to our board of directors and overseeing a growing team of more than 30. CTN eases the burden of transportation so that more people can maintain life-sustaining and purposeful connections in the community. It is truly the only organization of its kind across the country. Today, I get to lead a team that provides over 100,000 trips annually to low-income seniors, people with disabilities, children, young adults, and families. We keep people healthy, happy, and independent. We keep them engaged in the community in meaningful ways.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

I had the privilege of leading WTUR for most of my college career and loved every minute of it. We were able to rebuild the station from near closure into an important part of the campus culture. I'm very proud of the trust we rebuilt with the administration during that time. I also loved the varied experiences we had through our production classes, like going to Muskatatuk, and producing a short film for Legacy of Truth.

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

Interactions with my profs at Taylor were a critical component of my success. They became my first professional mentors as I began navigating what I wanted to do with my life. They were sounding boards who challenged me to look at problems and opportunities differently. They trusted me and let me fail—just so I could learn from the failure.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

I've held a variety of different jobs since graduating. My liberal arts education gave me a wide knowledge to be successful in a variety of areas. I always tell people I don't know everything about one thing, but I know a bit about a lot.

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

Find your coaches and mentors as soon as you graduate. Find people a few years older than you that you can learn from. Find people 15–20 years older than you that can challenge you. Find people who are 30+ years older than you who can champion you. And don't forget to fail. We learn the most when we fail. And we usually fail because we are constantly trying something new, not settling for good enough.