First-Gen Graduate to Force for Good: When Marketing Skills Become a Mission
Alumnus Adam Simpson ’15, ’18 MBA proves careers are not linear: they’re anything but, and families across Northwest Ohio are better for it.
As a first-generation college graduate who cut his teeth selling tickets for Rocket Athletics and pumping up game-day crowds at UToledo, Simpson is now channeling those same skills into something just as impactful: providing refuge for families in their darkest hours.
As the Communications and Marketing Coordinator at Ronald McDonald House Northwest Ohio, Simpson is applying his marketing expertise to help create lifelines for families facing unimaginable medical crises.
The Unexpected Pivot
Simpson’s journey started as an intern with Rocket Sports Properties, grinding through 30-hour work weeks while juggling a full class schedule. He earned his bachelors degree in Marketing and Professional Sales in 2015, then continued to complete his MBA in Marketing in 2018 while working as a Graduate Assistant in the Athletic Department.
His trajectory seemed set: sports marketing professional, climbing the ladder in athletics, living the dream. And then parenthood changed everything.
When Marketing Became Personal
“Our son was 14 months old, and we’ve had a few hospital visits already,” Simpson explains. “Even in those brief moments, you realize how vulnerable, emotional and overwhelming it can be.”
That realization transformed his entire perspective. Suddenly, the mission he encountered years earlier, when he helped build a playground at the Ronald McDonald House through Habitat for Humanity, became deeply, urgently personal.
He understood that behind every fundraising campaign, every awareness initiative, every volunteer recruitment drive were real families experiencing the worst days of their lives.
“Seeing families leave the House with their child, whether after a one-night stay or more than 200 nights, never stops being emotional,” Simpson says. “It’s a reminder of why this work matters.”
Building a System of Support
Simpson oversees multiple critical functions: fundraising operations, marketing strategy, campaign coordination and storytelling that drives support.
“The most meaningful part of my work is knowing that what I do each day directly impacts families who truly need support,” Simpson says. “Whether I’m fundraising, promoting our services, coordinating campaigns, or sharing stories, everything ultimately contributes to a family feeling supported during a traumatic, uncertain time.”
Simpson discovered something remarkable at a College of Business job fair: five students he spoke with had stayed at a Ronald McDonald House at some point in their lives. The Rocket community isn’t just supporting RMHC, many Rockets have been those families.
That connection drives Simpson’s continued involvement with UToledo. As President of the Neff College of Business and Innovation Alumni Affiliate Board, he’s creating pathways for current students to discover non-profit careers while strengthening the pipeline of skilled professionals entering the sector.
His message to current students reflects this philosophy: “There are so many meaningful ways to give back, and even small engagements can spark a passion or open a door. The nonprofit world is full of opportunities to use your skills for something bigger than yourself.”
As the first person in his family to graduate from college, Simpson understands what it means to navigate unfamiliar territory.
Now, he’s paying it forward and showing students, that marketing expertise is more extensive than selling products and filling seats. That the same expertise can save lives and support families.
