As any true Volunteer would know, there is nothing that hits home more to UT like tradition. It is something that sticks with you from the moment you step on campus, and for Mason Jones, it is a way of life.
    
Jones’ company, Volunteer Traditions, began in 2006 while Jones and his good friend Brock Dosson were in their second year of law school. Both happened to notice another student proudly displaying his South Carolina belt buckle.
    
After making some snide remarks about how the student was not even from there and held no real ties to the state, Jones was struck with an idea. Why not make products for people who are proud of our state?
    
Due to a lucky connection, their first product attempt was selling belts at tailgates. Unfortunately, when they finally arrived they were much too small to fit anyone. Several attempts later they found that customers wanted more variety, such as caps and ties.
    
Both Jones and Dosson finished law school, but Dosson was offered a job, which left him with no spare time to devote to the endeavor. Jones, realizing his true passion was indeed his company, bought Dosson’s share, moved to Nashville and started working with the company full time.
    
Since then sales have doubled in the last three years. Though based in Nashville, the company has reached out to many states throughout the South. Using the same traditional themes, Auburn, Oxford, Fort Worth and more have all taken to the brand.
    
The company’s current marketing operations manager, Kimber Billard, who was originally from Texas, expressed her enthusiasm about the growth.
    
“It’s been exciting to step into a growing company and help it expand across the South,” Billard said.
    
Politicians are great supporters of Volunteer Traditions. Bill Haslam has been spotted wearing their products on several occasions.
    
Jones really enjoys working with the campus representatives and even entrepreneurial students due to their interests in entrepreneurial studies and other related subjects, such as manufacturing and online expenses. He feels that this connection is what keeps him aware of what students really want.
    
He has even taken to hiring interns and will be looking for a new one for the upcoming Spring Semester in the next few weeks. Jones believes this would be an excellent opportunity for any aspiring entrepreneurs on campus. For more information about this position, interested students are asked to check the Volunteer Traditions Facebook page.
    
The current UT intern, Jimmy Beard, was able to reflect fondly on his time with the company.
    
“One of my favorite parts about working with Volunteer Traditions is seeing so many people across campus wearing the brand.”
    
One thing is for sure, Volunteer Traditions has certainly come a long way, starting with an idea formed while joking around in class. If you ask Jones, his response is indicative of why the company was first founded.
    
“I don’t think we are changing the world or anything,” Jones said. “But I hope we have at least made customers proud to be where they are from.”