Nolan Ellis, BS ’19, MBA ’20
Nolan Ellis, BS ’19, MBA ’20, came to ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ in 2016 after earning a spot on the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Cardinal baseball team. He played for three years with aspirations of competing at the professional level, but chose to forge a new path with his talents.
While at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, Ellis studied business marketing. He was fascinated by the versatility of marketing and the unique ways brands and companies connect with their audiences. Although he never expected marketing to play a role in his baseball career, he understood that baseball would not last forever and believed it was important to have a plan for the future.
Throughout his time at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, Ellis enjoyed his education, the close-knit community and the camaraderie he built with his teammates over three seasons. One of his most memorable experiences was pitching against Texas A&M, a moment he recalls as both exciting and surreal during his collegiate career.
In 2020, Ellis and his business partner opened Elsewhere, a local outdoor restaurant and bar that welcomes families and pets. Elsewhere was built on the idea of fostering community connections. Recognizing that a venue focused solely on nightlife would not be sustainable, Ellis and his business partner instead set out to create a welcoming space where people of all ages and backgrounds could gather, connect and engage with one another. Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the pair successfully grew the business, and Ellis graduated with his MBA.
With the growing success of Elsewhere, Ellis and his business partner opened a second location on the North Side of San Antonio, aptly named Elsewhere Too. Ellis credits his time at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ with providing the discipline, knowledge and foundation needed to succeed as an entrepreneur.