You see them at all kinds of events, dressed from head to toe in green. They circulate through the crowd, spreading school spirit before coming together for a rousing drumline performance. For all that they seem ubiquitous with UVU, the Green Man Group has only been around since 2010. And the creation of this integral part of the UVU identity is thanks to one incredible man: Clint Pulver.
Pulver’s original ambition at UVU was to become a pilot — a lifelong ambition. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with an eye disease that ended his dream. “I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with the rest of my life,” Pulver said. “I went from having purpose and direction to having no idea what I wanted to do. But UVU is such a supportive place. I found opportunities and broadened my perspective of what was possible in life. It gave me the opportunity to connect with extraordinary people who were doing extraordinary things.”
Pulver began pursuing a degree in communication because he saw the value in being able to communicate well and said that his advanced public speaking class really lit a fire within him. “[Advanced public speaking] was the most useful and practical class in the whole program,” he said. “It really springboarded my career and sparked my passion and strength for public speaking.”
But Pulver pursued more than just academic excellence during his time at UVU. As an accomplished drummer who has appeared on “America’s Got Talent” and has headlined in venues like the Vivint Smart Home Arena, Stadium of Fire, and the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, Pulver wanted to create something completely new at UVU. So, he founded the Green Man Group, UVU’s drumline, in 2010. He directed the group for six years before going on to direct drumline for the Utah Jazz until 2015.
Pulver regularly uses his drumming skills in his current career as a professional keynote speaker. President and founder of The Center for Employee Retention and often referred to as “The Undercover Millennial,” Pulver has worked with companies like Keller Williams, AT&T, and Hewlett-Packard to help them retain, engage, and inspire the next generation of employees.
Pulver hopes to keep growing his business as his career continues. He plans to publish a book next year and is even working on filming a mini-documentary and TV series showcasing his work as The Undercover Millennial.
To current UVU students, Pulver says, “College is a chapter of your life that you won’t get to experience again. Jump in, 100%. Build connections and take advantage of the experiences that it offers. Find the joy in the journey of college. Don’t just try to ‘get it done.’ Slow down and realize that this experience is actually part of your career, not just a hoop to jump through.”
