CougsFirst! News
Entrepreneur Tony Poston Hired Executive Director Of CougsFirst! Business Network
March 16, 2022
Pullman entrepreneur Tony Poston has been hired to lead the CougsFirst! business network. Poston has been hired as the group’s executive director. Read here.
How WSU Luminaries Came Together for Cameron Ward NIL Deal
January 11, 2022
Newly committed Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward will be highly visible in Coug Nation in the coming months but not just because of his work on the football field. Read here.
CougsFirst! Mentors Help Carson Students Prepare for Workplace
March 2021
The CougsFirst! board of directors has embraced mentoring as a way to support Carson College students. Mentors work with students on goal-setting, interviewing skills, and networking. Read here.
Glenn Osterhout Talks 6th Annual CougsFirst! Show With KOMO News
March 2, 2018
CougsFirst! Chairman, Glenn Osterhout discusses the rapid growth of CougsFirst! and the Show & After Party. Watch now.
6th Annual CougsFirst! Show & After Party
March 9, 2018
Over 2,000 WSU alumni & friends gathered to reconnect, network and discover 100s of Cougar -owned, -managed and -affiliated businesses showcasing their products and services. Cougar Pride was everywhere! Watch now.
WSU Carson College Business talks CougsFirst! and connecting students with WSU Alums
October 2017
This year, 38 Carson College undergraduates attended CougsFirst! to meet alumni and learn more about Cougar owned businesses.
As part of the CougsFirst! experience, Carson students visited Nordstrom and Tableau Software headquarters. Full story here
Seattle Times talks CougsFirst! and WSU Alums
April 5, 2017
Former WSU quarterback Jack Thompson thought WSU alums in the business world should try to help each other. So he enlisted some WSU friends and started an independent business network called CougsFirst!. Full story here
How CougsFirst! Got Started
March 3, 2013
Rob Tobeck remembers driving in downtown Tampa, Fla., when without warning, he spotted a car with a Cougar license plate. Diverting from his original destination, Tobeck followed the car for a few blocks.
“Just to say hello to him,” Tobeck recalls.
It’s that unique connection Cougars have with fellow Cougars that sparked a thought in the minds of Jack Thompson and Rob Tobeck.
Interview With Rob Tobeck
April 20, 2013
2nd Annual CougsFirst! Show - In The Media
Over six hundred WSU alumni and friends joined us to reconnect, socialize, and network. Washington State University’s, Athletic Director, Bill Moos, joined the event as an exhibitor and Keynote Speaker. Show highlights, watch here.
Bellevue Business Journal: Loyal WSU volunteers stage events to promote products, services from Cougar-affiliated businesses. Full story here.
The Snohomish Times: Apparel, wine, getaways, mobile car detailing, and professional services are among dozens of products and services that will be showcased at the second annual CougsFirst! trade show. Full story here.
CougsFirst! Press Release: The free event, open to Washington State University alumni and friends, is scheduled for Thursday, March 8th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, Washington and on Thursday, April 19th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Grand Davenport Hotel in Spokane. Full story here.