Nolan Ellis, BS ’19, MBA ’20

Nolan Ellis, BS '19, MBA '20, came to UIW in 2016 after earning a spot on the UIW 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 UIW, 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 UIW, 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 UIW with providing the discipline, knowledge and foundation needed to succeed as an entrepreneur.