Greyhound Grad Lukas Cash is the director of Innovation for New Mexico United, an American professional soccer team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Lukas graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor of Art in Communication with an emphasis in Broadcast Production and a Minor in Fine Art in 2006 and a Master of Arts in Mass Communication in 2009.

He shares his plans to "elevate and inspire the state of New Mexico" using skills he obtained during his time at ENMU:

Why did you choose ENMU?

I grew up in Clovis and wanted to stay close to home. With the lottery scholarship and ENMU's amazing tuition, I loved the prospect of graduating debt-free. Both my mother and older brother graduated from ENMU, so I knew that it was a quality choice from an educational perspective as well.

How did you choose your field of study?

The ENMU broadcast facilities are the best in the state and one of the best in the country. When I discovered the broadcast production emphasis and realized that I could study production in a dynamic, hands-on way, I was sold. I wasn't limited to just sitting in classrooms, which is great for a hyperactive guy like myself. I was going to be able to work on shows that were actually going out over the air; I was going to be able to build, climb ladders to change lighting configurations, run cameras, edit, etc.

Which activities were you involved in at ENMU? Which academic honors did you receive?

I graduated Cum Laude, and I made the Dean's List several times. In my senior year, I was named one of the outstanding students in broadcast production.

Most of my activities were related to shows I worked on – News 3 New Mexico, Sportslook, Cultura and Creative Living.

I was a graduate assistant during grad school and helped teach the lab portions of Beginning Television and Audio Production courses.

Discuss your experience at ENMU

My ENMU experience was full of amazing people. I had a number of amazing professors, but the few that stand out are Dr. Janet Roehl, who was the chair of my graduate committee, and an amazing human being in general. My daughter Marlee was born while I was an undergraduate, and Dr. Roehl loved spending time with her and was always more than happy to watch her if I was busy with one of the labs. Dr. Patti Dobson is one of the kindest individuals I have ever met and was a constant source of positive encouragement. John Kirby was the instructor of the first actual production course I took. His intensity terrified me in the beginning, but as our relationship grew, I came to respect his incredible experience and tenacity to make the best of his students.

I met my beautiful wife, Kacy, in my sophomore year, and we were married soon after. I got the best wedding gift in the form of my gorgeous stepdaughter Karabella. We also welcomed Marlee into the world before I graduated.

I met a few legendary fellas while in school, who are still my dear friends to this day. Paul Hunton is the general manager at the PBS Station in Lubbock, Matt Livingston is starting his own production equipment rental company and Casey Loofbourrow is probably roaming the wilderness as we speak.

Tell us about your job. What inspired you to work in that role?

I am the director of Innovation for New Mexico United, a professional soccer team that plays in the USL Championship. I have had a few different titles while with the team, including digital media manager, and director of Broadcast and Production. When Peter Trevisani, the owner/president/CEO of United, approached me with an offer to join the front office, he said I was going to help elevate and inspire the state of New Mexico. The opportunity to change the narrative around the home state I love so much was an offer I couldn't refuse.
I manage the team social media accounts, direct the in-stadium experience on match days, serve as a producer for our broadcasts on TV and radio, and, more than anything, I am tasked with figuring out solutions to complex problems. I am a bit of a Swiss army knife.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

First and foremost is the people. My coworkers, the coaches and players and the fans have become my family. There are way too many people to name individually, and I would hate to leave someone out. I will give a special shout out to my boss, Peter Trevisani. He has taught me so much about leadership, ambition and approaching my life and career with a joyful fearlessness.

I love that I am a part of something that is truly uniting our state. These are contentious times we live in, and it seems that too often, people look for reasons to disagree, not come together. As nonintuitive as it is, this soccer team has been the answer to so many of my personal prayers. It eats at my soul when I see these bitter arguments and disagreements related to politics or religion. Peter says it often – you can come to one of our games and see folks who speak different languages, pray to different gods, earn vastly different salaries and believe wildly different things about the world, but for 90 minutes, they are all on the same page. They are in perfect harmony as they cheer on this team.

This team is already altering the DNA of our state. For too long, New Mexico has been at the top of all of the bad lists and the bottom of all of the good ones. For too long, we New Mexicans, myself included, suffered from a poverty of imagination. After just one year, we are changing the narrative. We are growing the economy of hope, and it's mind-blowing to witness.

I'll end on a selfish note. I'm also super proud that my kids brag about me to their friends. Every dad wants to be a rockstar in their kids' eyes.

Previous jobs?

I was an academic advisor and part-time faculty at UNM and CNM. I was also an advisor at ENMU, and my first ever professional gig was as the Special Programs coordinator in ENMU's Distance Learning department. Shout out to the amazing Trish Maguire for taking a chance on me.

How did ENMU prepare you for your career?

In addition to the technical skills I acquired in my undergraduate work, ENMU taught me how to think in a more critical and meaningful way. It taught me the importance of relationships and the value of gritty tenacity.

What advice would you give to a student interested in working in your career field?

Fortune favors the bold. Don't live in fear – take risks, shun professional safety and abandon the notion that a career is a nine-to-five thing. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and don't waste time competing with or comparing yourself to others. Evolve daily, and perpetually strive to be a better version of yourself. Support your supports. If someone loves you and supports you, make their investment worth it.

What do you hope to achieve in your career?

World domination….just kidding. I want to keep meeting amazing people and making New Mexico the best New Mexico it can be.

Tell us about your family and your background

I have been married for 14, almost 15 years to Kacy Cash, and have four amazing kids: Karabella Finley (18); Marlee Cash (14); Abrahm Cash (10); Roger Cash (3).

My mom is Dianna Boatman, my dad is Bill Cash, my pop (stepdad) is Charles Boatman and my brother is Paul Cash.

I moved to Clovis when I was seven months old (I was born in Wheatland, Wyoming, but don't remember anything about it). I graduated from Clovis High School in 2003. I was a band nerd and played on the tennis team

Who influences you? Who is your role model?

My wife is my hero. She works an incredibly difficult job as an assistant principal to learners with special needs, but still makes time to be my rock. She's an amazing mother and my best friend.

Hobbies?

I'm a follower of Jesus, but will definitely enjoy a craft beer, glass of wine or tasty whiskey if it is offered to me. As a result of my job, I am a social media addict. Disney movies are my favorite. I'm a decent chess player. Though I work in soccer, and you'd think I might be tired of it, my favorite relaxing activity is watching Liverpool matches on weekend mornings with my best friend (aka my wife).

What is an interesting fact about you?

I was a decent drummer growing up, and while I was in college, I helped run an underground music venue that definitely operated in a legal gray area.