Meet Evan Maxon
Evan Maxon is key to the Fervor team as the Lead Digital Strategist. He’s remarkable — and we think you’ll agree. Get to know Evan.
At Fervor, Evan is: Lead Digital Strategist. Basically, “a digital Swiss Army Knife,” he says.
What and where he studied: Evan received his Bachelor’s degree in Finance-Econ (plus a minor in English) from Rockhurst University, where he also earned his MBA.
English minor? Completely an accident: “I was encouraged to take screenwriting and playwriting with Charles Kovich. He was wonderfully eccentric,” Evan says. The professor was not only eccentric, but he was the foremost Beowolf expert and committed to his craft. “He’d tell us that if we were serious about wanting to write, we should tell our friends we couldn’t go out drinking because we had writing to do. We couldn’t watch TV because we had writing to do.” Evan took every class Kovich offered, and the credits added up. Accidental minor, earned.
Before Fervor: Evan spent a few years in financial services, including banking, planning and advising. He also worked with the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, and was an original employee at the Plaza’s Apple Store when it launched. He’s also spent eight years at TextCaster. Today, in addition to his work at Fervor, he’s working to launch the financial planning site LifeStarter.
What brought him to KC: Originally from Lawrence, he came to Kansas City for college — “far enough away from home.”
Family and four-legged friends: Evan is married to Laura and they have two daughters — Charlotte is 5 and Greta is 3 — plus a pug, Norman. “They all conspire to deprive me of sleep.”
Full House: “Pretty big in our family is my wife’s work.” She’s the regional director for international exchange organization CIEE. Laura manages a team of local coordinators who find homes for foreign exchange students, then manage their stay while they’re here. So also part of his home is a foreign exchange student. Evan and Laura currently host a high school boy from China, and will host a high school girl from Germany next year.
Outside Fervor, you’ll find him: Primarily with his family, as well as with his church, Restore, where he’s part of a small group and helps out with sound on Sunday mornings.
Digs Fervor because: “At this season in my career, I’m really enjoying the new challenges. Every day is different,” he says. “I’m being pushed at the edge of that comfort zone a lot, so there’s tremendous opportunities to learn something new every day and have it be put into use.” Furthermore, Evan loves who Fervor serves. “Fervor is for people out to make an impact.”
Where he heads for happy hour and what he orders for beer tests: With two kiddos, it’s a rare occasion. But he and his wife Laura love being foodies, so they’re always up for trying a new spot.
Favorite place for a cup of coffee: Hipster spot? Quay Coffee. “But Caribou is in my backyard,” he says, “so it’s hard to go beyond that.”
A community he loves: His CrossFit community, KCI CrossFit. “CrossFit in general has changed how I think people should view beauty — it’s not models on magazines, and not everyone can look like Brad Pitt, but we can all control our level of fitness.” CrossFit is so supportive, Evan says. They’ll check in if you miss a class, but that’s only the beginning. Take the woman who entered her first CrossFit competition a month after beginning, at 300 pounds. “She was the last to finish a rowing event, and everyone in the community cheered her on,” Evan says. “I have yet to experience that support for your fellow athlete, particularly in a competitive setting. It centers on fitness, surrounded by community.”
TV favorites: “My wife controls the remote,” he says. Evan and Laura are wrapping up Mad Men, and seem to catch every season of Survivor, Amazing Race and Shark Tank.
Favorite read: Evan is beginning a personal reading project, exploring the Gospel in context. A multi-year endeavor, he hopes to “understand the nuances and cultural meanings that would have been obvious to the people who experienced the stories, read the original letters and heard the original sermons.”
Business books that had an impact: The Lean Startup, The Talent Code and Drive
What drives Evan up a wall: Like fellow Fervor Creative Maureen, oblivious drivers.
Evan, in a few words: Intrinsically motivated.
Fervor wouldn’t be Fervor without: Evan’s knowledge and aptitude towards technology in different platforms. (Yes, that digital Swiss Army Knife.)