Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business is honoring Ryan Freeman, Eric Hulshizer and Aaron Wilson as Outstanding Young Alumni.

Since 2001, Outstanding Young Alumni awards have distinguished recent Spears Business graduates who provide significant service and achievement early in their professional careers. Nominees must be 40 or younger during the year the award is presented.

This year’s Outstanding Young Alumni will be recognized during the Spears Business Hall of Fame banquet Oct. 9 at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. Spears Business will soon announce the 2026 Hall of Fame inductees.

“We applaud Ryan Freeman, Eric Hulshizer and Aaron Wilson as outstanding young leaders in their professions and communities,” said Dr. Jim Payne, Spears Business dean. “Their achievements will inspire current and future Spears Business students. We look forward to celebrating this impressive trio of alumni and seeing what they accomplish next.”

Ryan Freeman, ’07, ’09

Freeman is a founder and board member at Pure&Clean LLC, a Missouri-based healthcare company. He also works for Cisco, managing strategic accounts out of Missouri.

Freeman graduated with his bachelor’s degree in management and marketing in 2007 before earning his MBA in 2009, all from Spears Business. From 2003-09, he was a member of the OSU wrestling team as a wrestler and graduate assistant coach.

As an adjunct professor in OSU’s School of Marketing and International Business, Freeman teaches Professional Selling. In 2023, he won the Spears Business Online Teaching Award for undergraduate instruction.

Freeman was also selected as a founding member of the Spears Business Marketing Academy to provide industry insights on the marketing curriculum and serve as a mentor to students. He has financially supported the OSU Alumni Association, Spears Business and the general university.

Freeman lives in Nixa, Missouri, with his wife and two sons.

Lt. Col. Eric Hulshizer, ’09, ’15

With over 17 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Hulshizer has commanded three diverse financial management squadrons and shaped policy at the highest levels.

Most recently, he commanded 240 members at Aviano Air Force Base, Italy. As the 31st Fighter Wing’s Chief Financial Officer, he was responsible for delivering expert decision analysis and accounting support regarding a $150 million annual portfolio.

In 2009, Hulshizer graduated from OSU with his bachelor’s degree in political science and economics. He served as an officer cadet in the Air Force ROTC program and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. In 2015, he earned his MBA from Spears Business.

Hulshizer, who has served in financial roles at the Pentagon, is only the second Financial Management Officer to graduate from the School of Advanced Air & Space Studies in the school’s 33-year history.

Currently, he is a graduate student at the Joint Advanced Warfighting School in Norfolk, Virginia.

Aaron Wilson, ’08

Wilson serves as the executive manager and owner of Wilson Auto. Since taking over Wilson Chevrolet in 2013, he has turned the small, family-owned business into one of the country’s fastest-growing Cadillac dealerships.

In 2008, Wilson graduated from Spears Business with his bachelor’s degree in economics.

He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Freshman Representative Council, President’s Leadership Council and Student Government Association, along with serving as Spears Business Student Council President and OSU Homecoming King.

After graduation, Wilson moved to Wichita, Kansas, to work at Koch Industries. During his five-year stay, he learned key principles of managing and conducting business before returning to Stillwater to run the family business.

Under his leadership, Wilson Auto rose in the sales rankings from 450th among Cadillac dealers to 29th.

However, he said his most successful moment was when he decided to start giving back to his alma mater. Wilson has provided financial support to OSU Athletics and the Alumni Association.

Visit the Spears Business website to learn more about Outstanding Young Alumni, including past winners.