“Growing up in Mason County, college just didn’t feel like something that was talked about often or seen as realistic for many students,” Ethan said.
“Things began to shift when I transferred schools and started surrounding myself with students who were goal-oriented and driven. It made me believe college—and more—was possible for me.”
That shift in mindset set Ethan on a bold journey. As a high school student, he spotted pallets of merchandise outside a liquidation store on Route 60 and saw an opportunity. With no roadmap and little guidance, he began buying, selling, and reinvesting. Those early yard sales and Facebook Marketplace transactions became the foundation of his first business venture—and the profits helped support his family and fund his education.
“It was like a lightbulb moment,” Ethan said. “I didn’t have resources, but I had grit.”
That grit carried him to Marshall, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in management and marketing in 2023 and immediately entered the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. Ethan completed his final coursework through a study abroad program in Italy this summer and participated in Marshall’s Winter Commencement Ceremony.
Along the way, he’s expanded his entrepreneurial footprint, launching multiple businesses including a Great Clips franchise and an insurance agency, all while weathering personal challenges like the loss of his home to a fire and his father’s time in the ICU.
Since completing his MBA over the summer, Ethan has expanded his insurance agency, Starkey Insurance Group, to offer services in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.
“There were times I wanted to quit,” Ethan admitted. “But my past became fuel. I reminded myself why I started, who I was doing this for, and how many people believed in me. That helped me push through, even on the hardest days.”
He credits much of his growth to the Marshall community. Professors like Amanda Meadows, Rex McClure, Tate Uday, and Susan Lanham went beyond teaching coursework to provide encouragement, mentorship and compassion in times of need.
“Marshall changed the entire trajectory of my life,” Ethan said. “Professors didn’t just teach; they truly cared. They helped me believe in myself.”
One of his most transformative experiences came through the study abroad program in Italy.
“It was life-changing,” Ethan said. “It reminded me that the world is much bigger than where we start—and that we should dream accordingly.”
Inspired by President Brad D. Smith’s journey from small-town beginnings to global leadership, Ethan says he hopes to follow a similar path: building successful businesses while giving back to the university that believed in him.
“Professionally, I want to keep growing my businesses and creating opportunities for others,” he said. “But long term, I’d love to mentor, teach, or serve at Marshall in some capacity. It would be a dream to help the next generation of students who feel like the odds are against them.”
As he looks ahead, Ethan carries with him the same determination that first sparked along Route 60.
“I’d tell my younger self, ‘Don’t stop,’” he said. “Even when no one understands what you’re doing—keep going. One day, it’ll make sense.”
And for Ethan, it has.
“Marshall means belonging, growth and pride,” Ethan said. “It’s more than just a school. It’s a place where people believe in each other. Marshall took a chance on me, and that belief made all the difference.”
