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Russell Wyman Jr. (B.A. ’06) is this week’s featured alum in our new Alumni Spotlight series for the This Week at Meadows e-newsletter. Each week, a different Meadows alum will be highlighted for their accomplishments post-graduation.

At the intersection of technology, travel, and events, Russell Wyman Jr. is redefining how groups connect and communicate. A graduate of the Temerlin Advertising Institute (TAI) at Meadows, Wyman is the Founder and CEO of GruupMeet, a purpose-built platform that streamlines the complex logistics of group travel and event management.

During his time at Meadows, Wyman immersed himself in hands-on learning experiences that pushed him to think differently and prepare for change. Understanding how to approach problems not just as hurdles, but as creative opportunities, laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. He credits his time in the advertising program with teaching him to blend creativity, strategy and collaboration in ways that continue to shape his career.

“Meadows pushed me to think differently and sparked my drive to solve business challenges,” says Wyman. “TAI helped me understand the importance and value of constant change and innovation, especially in response to evolving tech, shifting consumer behaviors and digital trends.”

And this mindset continues to guide his growth and decision-making today. After graduating, Wyman founded GruupMeet to solve a persistent problem in the events space: the chaos of coordinating group arrivals, transfers, registrations and on-site communication.

Today, GruupMeet serves enterprise clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to leading destination management companies, boasting over 95% client retention and recently achieving EBITDA-positive growth after a decade of bootstrapping.

“Our focus is where others tend to overlook, that critical intersection between travel, registration and real-time attendee coordination,” Wyman explains. “It’s more than just a communications tool – it’s a coordination engine built to reduce friction, elevate guest experience and drive operational efficiency.”

Wyman remains deeply grateful for his Meadows experience and the opportunities it provided. In fact, his inspiration for GruupMeet stemmed from internships he landed through Meadows, which helped him understand the power of professional networks and hands-on learning.

To current students, his advice is simple but bold: “Be relentlessly curious and unafraid to try things outside your comfort zone. Don’t wait until graduation to start or take a business risk—small steps can open big doors.”