Charton leaves to start consulting firm
April 4, 2008
When UM system spokesman Scott Charton started his tenure with the university on April 1, 2005, he bought a new BlackBerry phone to help him with his job. Three years later, just when Charton announced he would leave the UM system to start his own consulting and communications firm, his Blackberry broke down, and he had to get another for his new job.
Charton joined the UM system after 25 years of working in journalism. His first interview was at age 15 with then-Arkansas Attorney General Bill Clinton. After working for two state radio networks and reporting from the Capitol in Arkansas, Charton moved to Missouri to work as the Jefferson City bureau chief for The Associated Press.
“When you love covering the news, the heart and mind are willing but the body slows down,” he said. “It loses its luster after a while.”
Charton said experience as a journalist helped him transition into the UM system, especially reporting in the state Capitol and seeing the sometimes poor treatment higher education receives.
“From my experience in the Capitol I found there were many priorities,” Charton said. “Historically, if there were your top 20 priorities, higher education would be 21 or lower. The message we have is that higher education is an investment.”
Charton said he was drawn into the UM system after interacting with former system President Elson Floyd. Charton saw him speak and asked Floyd why he was worth his salary. Floyd later contacted him twice before Charton accepted a job with the UM system.
Charton began in 2005 to oversee the newly created University Communications department, and he said a lot of advancements have made in regard to convergence media and transparency.
With a team of experts, Charton has helped the UM system begin using high-definition video and posted the video of President Gary Foresee’s induction. He also helped to make public notices and news releases more accessible and develop the UM system Web site further. The UM system will also soon begin podcasting.
“We’ve had some real advancements,” he said.
After Floyd left the university in December 2006, Charton stayed on to help then-interim President Gordon Lamb through the transition.
“Scott has wonderful contacts throughout the state with all the press groups,” said Lamb, who is now the UM system executive vice president. “That was very important because I came in very quickly. Scott was very helpful setting up meetings with me and as I went across the state.”
Charton said his original intent was to stay with the UM system for two or three years, because he was on sabbatical from the AP. But he said that when the presidential search took longer than expected he again “stayed in the saddle.” He helped Foresee transition into the position when he was selected president in December 2007.
“Scott Charton has been an integral part of the university of Missouri leadership team for three presidents,” Foresee said in a news release.
Charton said the team he worked with to improve the transparency of the UM system “won’t miss him too much,” and that it will be a smooth transition.
“If they need me they can call anytime and I’m glad to help,” he said.
Charton said his firm would specialize in helping clients understand and work with convergence media.
“I want to tell my clients about the media and if they want, tell the media about my clients,” he said.
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