What do you want to be when you grow up?
It's a question we’ve all been asked countless times as children. Whether it was a fireman, an astronaut or a professional baseball player – the answers often came easy. But as we progress through high school, our response to this age-old question become more and more important, and often times, more and more difficult. For 2011 alum Tucker Sholtes, that answer took some time, as he admits, college wasn’t always in the plans. But that all changed his senior year.
"I found my focus. I worked hard, got some great recommendations, and was accepted to SUNY Oswego. At the time, I thought I might want to own a business one day, so I set my sights on the Business Administration program. But it wasn’t until my sophomore year that things started to really take shape,” said Sholtes, 2011 grad.
Just a couple of years later, with a valuable mix of business, public relations and marketing under his belt, along with a diploma from SUNY Oswego, it was time for Sholtes to prepare for the next stage in life – entering the workforce.
“I never imagined I’d work anywhere remarkable,” said Sholtes.
Boy was he wrong.
Almost immediately after graduating, Sholtes landed a job with the world’s largest IT consultant firm, Accenture, where he spent 18 months. He’d later go back to school, enrolling in an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Clemson. With yet another prestigious degree in hand, Sholtes was ready to explore new industries. Thanks to a relationship he had built at Oswego years earlier, PricewaterhouseCoopers came calling.
PwC is the second-largest professional services network in the world. When the company needed a project management strategy associate, they turned to Sholtes. Armed with a major role in massive company, Sholtes’ was set to travel the globe. In 2018 alone, this Spartan grad took more than 180 flights, living nearly half the year in hotel rooms.
“For many, that sounds like a nightmare, but for me, it was a dream come true. I was constantly learning—about process excellence, working with executives, and building solutions that had a direct and positive impact on clients. Looking back, I’m so grateful for the opportunities I had at PwC. It was an intense, fast-paced environment that challenged me in ways I hadn’t experienced before,” said Sholtes.
Fast forward to 2023, and Sholtes received the offer of a lifetime – becoming a CEO.
It all started when Evergreen Services Group purchased Infonancial, a technology solutions provider to the financial services industry. The company offers “dynamic and specialized financial software solutions for financial institutions of different sizes.” When the newly acquired company needed a leader, they turned to Sholtes.
“It’s surreal to be leading a company. It’s one of those things I lightly dreamed about but never really thought would be in the cards for me. Being a CEO is a unique and humbling experience. It’s the most demanding role I’ve ever had, but also the most intrinsically rewarding. There’s something incredible about watching team members grow, push past challenges, and overcome obstacles. Seeing products release and knowing they’re helping credit unions serve their members is a feeling that’s hard to describe. It’s a constant reminder of the purpose behind what we do,” said Sholtes. He continued, “While there’s no handbook for leadership, I’ve learned that it’s about staying grounded, embracing the tough decisions, and celebrating the wins—big or small. Leading Infonancial has been a journey I never expected but feel incredibly grateful for every day.”
Since graduating in 2011, Sholtes has gained a world of knowledge and experience, especially when it comes to careers. He earned his first job at Weis Markets when he was 16. To this day, it’s the only job he’s ever applied for.
“Every other opportunity has come through relationships, referrals, or recruiters. The people who know you, or get to know you, are your greatest asset when it comes to finding the right fit. Don’t get caught up in the numbers game of job applications. Instead, leverage your network. Never underestimate the power of building connections. A strong network can open doors you didn’t even know were there,” said Sholtes.
Throughout his career, Sholtes has also learned a lot about that age old question – “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“Focus less on answering the question, “What do you want to do when you grow up or graduate?” and instead ask yourself, “What do you want your life to look like?” I believe this is a much more important and practical question. Think about it: What do you want a typical week to look like? Do you want to be indoors or outdoors? Do you want to work with people or independently? Do you want to be home for dinner most nights? Do you see yourself having kids? How many? Where do you want to live? What do you want your weekends to look like? Answering questions like these helps you shape a vision for your life. And as you do, you’ll naturally start narrowing down career options that don’t align with that vision. Too often, people only start thinking about what they want their life to look like once it’s too late—after they’ve already committed to a career or lifestyle that doesn’t fit,” said Sholtes.
Sholtes’ family has been part of the Maine-Endwell community for more than 50 years. Both of his parents are graduates, and lived in Endwell their entire lives, before moving to Charleston, South Carolina in 2015.
“Maine-Endwell is such a special community, and honestly, I don’t think I truly appreciated it until I went away to SUNY Oswego. I’ll never forget meeting people in college who told me they met their best friends in high school. For me, I’ve known my closest friends since I was six years old in some cases, and those I didn’t meet at Homer Brink Elementary, I had the privilege of meeting at Maine-Endwell Middle School. Those relationships shaped so much of who I am and gave me a sense of connection and belonging that I’ll always value,” said Sholtes.
But it wasn’t just the relationships with his students that he holds close. Sholtes credits his educators for shaping the person he is today.
“I was far from a good student and often found myself in trouble. But I was fortunate to have teachers like Rachel Murat and John Perricone who saw me for my potential, even when I couldn’t see it myself. They encouraged me to want more out of life, to push myself, and to strive for something greater. Without the support and belief of people like them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Maine-Endwell taught me about resilience, community, and the importance of people who truly care—and those lessons have stayed with me every step of the way,” said Sholtes.
So… what do you want to be when you grow up?
As Sholtes proved, sometimes not having that answer right away is okay, and often times, it leads to a world of adventures.