Mr. John Pritchard (’05) completed his degree in business here on the Hill and would later add an MBA from Texas A&M University. John currently serves as the owner and operator of Stone Co. Climbing, an 18,000-sq-ft indoor climbing gym in College Station, Texas, where the focus is on building a strong team, serving the community, and leading the business through both growth and challenges. In addition, he does consulting work in operations and finance. He and his wife, Janet, have two young children, and this season of life is full, stretching, and incredibly rewarding as they balance family, work, and faith.
I chose ETBU originally because my older brother and best friend were both attending at the time, and I also had the opportunity to play baseball with some scholarship support. Being just a couple of hours from home made the decision even easier. After visiting campus, I knew it was the right fit—I actually didn’t apply anywhere else.
Looking back, two people stand out. I have to call out Ms. Janice, who worked on the cafeteria staff, for having a unique way of connecting with people—she kept things light and authentic, and she always made an impression on me. The other, Dr. Charles Williams, Dean of the Business School at that time, also had a significant impact. He brought a level of real-world experience and practicality that stood out. I appreciated his authenticity and perspective, and he later wrote me a letter of recommendation that helped me get into the MBA program at Texas A&M.
Some of my closest lifelong friends are from my time at ETBU, including my brother James and his wife Kim, as well as Jeremy Roberts and Chris Saucier. I still stay in touch with all of them, and those relationships have remained a meaningful part of my life.
I also keep an eye on many other ETBU alumni, especially those who are leading ministries across the country. It’s encouraging to see how God is using people from our time there in meaningful ways. I stay loosely connected with former roommates and genuinely care about what they’re doing and where life has taken them.
I think of my time at ETBU as a really important developmental period. It was a transition point where I began to think more seriously about life. I developed socially, physically, and personally through friendships, baseball, and dating. ETBU provided structure and a values-driven environment that helped guide that growth. The balance of independence and guardrails, along with a strong community, made it a great setting for that stage of life. Balancing academics with varsity athletics taught me discipline, prioritization, and responsibility early on. That foundation has carried forward into my career as a business owner and operator. The coursework, including Bible classes, also helped shape how I think about purpose, values, and leadership. That combination of practical discipline and a values-based perspective has been important in how I approach both business and life today.
If I could share with ETBU students today, I would encourage them with:
- Pick your head up and go. Stop playing it so safe. Take the risk—try something new, ask her out, give it a shot even if it's clumsy. No one looks back and says they wished they'd been less courageous.
- See the world as full of opportunity, not something to be afraid of. God doesn’t operate from scarcity, and as long as we're looking to Him, we can move ahead and know that we’ll grow into whatever comes next. If He asks us to do something, then we should ask ourselves if there's really any risk at all.
- At times, I have tended to wait around for clarity before moving, but in reality, clarity comes with movement. So, get moving, stay open-handed, and go build something.