Maverick Matrimony

Mankato business leaders and COB alum, Mass Comm alum celebrate 25 years of marriage

Before attending their first classes at Minnesota State Mankato, Ryan and Jennifer Spaude (née Eibs) coupled with each other— and the campus – in ways that lasted far beyond their academic careers.

“We met at a social gathering before we started school in the fall,” says Jennifer, who, like her husband, transferred to the University in 1995. “And the rest is history – we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary (in 2022).”

Jennifer majored in mass communications and took full advantage of the professional development opportunities offered by the University. She wrote for The Reporter, assisted with pledge drives at KSMU Radio and worked at University Advancement, all while juggling offcampus jobs. Ryan, a finance major, spent most of his undergraduate years hunkered down in Morris and Armstrong Hall, the Centennial Student Union and hit the books at the campus library, where he studied alongside Jennifer.

“We were both pretty focused on getting school done and having some fun, too,” says Jennifer, who was raised near Arlington, Minn. “We enjoyed campus life and Mankato.”

Though their finances at the time didn’t afford many opportunities to splurge around town – “We were broke,” Jennifer says with a laugh – the couple would scrounge together enough cash to patronize diners near campus, go to a movie or cheer on their fellow students at Maverick sporting events.

It wasn’t until after college that the Spaudes, who now live in upper North Mankato with their dog and two children who are both experiencing college life themselves, started roaming the area’s range of nature trails. Today, Ryan hunts and has a keen eye for observing trail cameras.

“We both enjoy the outdoors, and that’s a big part of our life now – exploring Sakatah (State Trail), Minneopa, Red Jacket and other area trails,” says Ryan, a native of Gibbon, Minn. “We definitely love to get outside.”

Real connections

The Spaudes married in 1997, after Jennifer graduated and months before Ryan earned his degree in spring 1998. The couple didn’t envision setting down roots in Mankato, but their professional trajectories led the way. After graduating, Jennifer earned a marketing job at Taylor Corporation and later began to work for the Mankato-based telecommunications company HickoryTech. Through a series of promotions and acquisitions, she now oversees 23 states in her role as senior vice president of corporate communications at Consolidated Communications, a top 10 fiber provider in the U.S.

“Jennifer is so consistent and effective in her work,” says COB Dean Brenda Flannery. “She’s one of the top business leaders we have – male or female.” sits on the COB’s Executive Committee and regularly speaks to the College of Business Finance Club, helping recruit and mentor Maverick interns to assist Eide Bailly during tax season.

After receiving his diploma, Ryan became a Certified Financial Planner, which eventually led to a partnership at Eide Bailly, a nationally renowned CPA firm with 40 offices across the country.

“I have a passion for the College of Business since I went through the program,” he says. “I received a great education and I wanted to give back. … And at Eide Bailly, we support the College of Business and help students get opportunities for internships and employment down the road.”

Flannery lauded the Spaudes’ ongoing commitments and service to the University.

“It’s awesome that they met here and are both leaders,” she says. “They’ve both given back a tremendous amount to the University. Jennifer is so integral to the Foundation Board and supporting College of Business scholarships, and Ryan is always there to help; he’s extraordinary. I just think the world of them.”

It wasn’t evident when they first stepped