Carrie Huckeby: A Passion For Learning

February 3, 2022

I chose not to attend college right after high school. A little bit due to the unknown and partly due to financial concerns. I was fortunate that after high school, I settled into a great job, loved what I did, and advanced in the company. Even so, I had the desire to improve my resume and to learn more about business. I wanted to be better prepared should an opportunity arise.

I knew one day I would go back to school, but like so many others, a tight schedule and life’s demands were not making it an easy decision. When Motlow announced the ACE program, I realized I could manage two nights per week.

I attended Motlow from 2007-09 and graduated with an associate degree in General Studies. My children were older and my husband was a fantastic supporter. The program was developed and advertised for working professionals. It was appealing to spend time with other working professionals with the same objectives and goals. My dad’s favorite saying was that life is about choices, so I chose to jump in and give it a try. I made some fantastic friends and connections during those two years.

Motlow’s program was the foundation of all future learning and degrees. I realized after finishing the ACE program, I wanted to complete an additional two years. The completion of the degree meant knowledge, but also represented discipline, commitment, and persistence.

In 2009, after I completed the associate degree at Motlow, I was offered the chance to serve as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for a management/executive team overseeing the marketing for multiple telecom companies in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. It’s entirely possible the opportunity would have presented itself without the degree, but the knowledge gained and the commitment to learning were positives. After taking on the new role, I completed my four-year degree, and later completed my MBA in 2016 at the age of 54. I retired from the CMO position in 2018.

Recently, a new opportunity presented itself, and I accepted the position of Executive Director for the Tennessee Broadband Association. I moved from CMO to chief storyteller. I look forward to representing the association and telling the member stories about their efforts to ensure Tennesseans have access to broadband. If the pandemic has taught us nothing else, it has proved that broadband is critical to education and quality of life.

If not for Motlow and the ACE program kickstarting my love for education, I don’t know that I would have pursued additional degrees or been blessed with the many opportunities that I have experienced throughout my career.  Like my dad said, life is about choices and saying yes to the ACE program was the right one for me.

Whether you’re 18 or 48, I recommend Motlow and the ACE program. It is a commitment that’s not easy, but it can be a great opportunity to learn, to grow your network of friends and business connections, to build confidence, and to improve your resume. More importantly, it can be the chance to learn things about yourself you may not learn otherwise.