05/29/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/29/2025 13:22
Courtney Gee, Class of '13 and '17
Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Courtney Gee, and I'm from Mena. I graduated from Henderson State in 2013 with a BBA in Marketing, and an MBA in 2017. I started my career working for Henderson Admissions from 2014-2016. I transitioned to a sales job for the current company I work for (ESS) then moved to Dallas in 2018 to switch to management with ESS. I now work as vice president of operations covering North Texas and Oklahoma.
ESS specializes in placing qualified staff in daily, long-term, permanent, and virtual K-12 school district positions, including substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, and other school support staff.
How did your education and experience at Henderson prepare you for your career path?
My education, experiences, and time spent at Henderson truly helped shape the professional I am today. I appreciate the direct attention I received from professors, advisors, and all HSU staff. It helped me stay on course with school and helped me learn how to creatively think and professionally network with individuals of all walks of life. I am successful at my job today because of my ability to think outside of the box and by finding a way to connect with my peers.
What were some of your favorite memories from your time at Henderson?
My favorite memories as a student were attending student events with my friends. I loved the football games, break for breakfast, Henderson Idol -- really anything that was a student event. As a professional, I will never forget my time in Admissions. I was a very young professional and the guidance and true friendship I received from my coworkers will last a lifetime.
How did your college experience shape who you are today?
I grew up in a small, isolated town where things came naturally. Henderson taught me how to be successful through discipline and hard work in the classroom. Henderson also gave me a ton of friendships, many that are my closest friends to date.
Were there any specific courses or professors that had a significant impact on you?
The entire College of Business was so impactful. Each teacher truly cared about how you were doing in their class and got to know you as a person. I also had a brief stint as a chemistry major and Ms. Jani O'Donnell was my favorite person from freshman year forward. She was always so fun, caring, and her door was always open.
What message would you like to send to future Henderson students?
College is what you make it, and Henderson can be a wonderful, fun place. Get involved anyway you can and enjoy it!
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
To be able to speak any language. I love to travel and would love even more to speak the language of where I am going
What is your favorite hobby or activity to unwind after a busy day at work?
You can always catch me with a good book in hand!
What is the most interesting place you've ever visited and why?
I just recently went on a trip to Australia, and I loved exploring all of the wildlife and the great barrier reef. It was stunning.
If you could listen to only one music genre for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Country
What is the best piece of advice you've ever received, and how has it influenced your life or career?
An upperclassman told me my freshman year of college, your 20s are your selfish years. I took that to heart and truly believed it made my college experience and the rest of my 20s. I tried so many different hobbies, things of interest, clubs at HSU, anything that sounded halfway exciting I wanted to try. By experiencing so many different things and being selfish, I gained a profound knowledge of people. That knowledge has translated well into my professional career.
Do you have any hidden talents or skills that might surprise people?
Not sure if it is a talent, but I have won over 50 radio contests