Most people picture lawyers wearing suits and ties and working long hours, but not Jayson Rumball ’01. Jayson is on a mission to challenge traditional stereotypes of law professionals, proving you don’t have to wear an expensive suit or spend countless hours inside offices and courtrooms to be successful in the field. Further, Jayson serves as a mentor to show other young men and women that achieving your biggest dreams, no matter what they are, can become a reality.
Jayson grew up in Ortonville, just over 100 miles to the northeast of The University of Olivet. Originally, it was the promise to play football that drew the offensive lineman to campus, but Jayson quickly found the tight-knit community to be the perfect fit, reminding him of the close relationships in his hometown. Greek life, and especially the Adelphic Alpha Pi fraternity, shaped Jayson’s college journey. He even had the opportunity to tap into his leadership skills, serving as president of his fraternity and joining OC’s Intersociety Council.
In addition, Jayson joined Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS), OC’s professional insurance and risk management (IRM) fraternity, focusing his studies in business administration and IRM. He came to realize it was the opportunity to submerge himself in a people-centered environment and connect with others that truly made him happy.
“In sixth grade, I told my dad I wanted to be a professional football player in the NFL,” Jayson said with a laugh. “By the time I was in ninth grade, I had a chance to take a law class and was fascinated with the subject. I told my dad I wanted to be a lawyer, and he might have thought I was just as crazy as when I told him I wanted to play in the NFL, but the idea stuck and he always supported me.”
Jayson didn’t take a break from pursuing his dreams and entered law school the same year he graduated from OC, pursuing a Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University’s Cooley Law School. Just five years later, Jayson passed the bar exam and launched his career. Getting his foot in the door as a law clerk, Jayson served as an associate attorney at law offices in mid-Michigan for eight years before founding his own practice at just 36-years-old.
Now, Jayson proudly owns and operates Rumball & Wojtkowicz, PLC, with friend and partner Jakob Wojtkowicz. The practice offers services in estate planning, business planning, real property, contract, criminal misdemeanors and civil litigation with offices in Grand Blanc and Goodrich. “Most lawyers don’t come from an undergraduate law program,” Jayson explained. “It was the on the job training that really helped me launch a successful career, paired with the motivation to achieve my dreams that The University of Olivet helped me develop. I’ve known my partner, Jakob, since he served as my intern at a large company, and our goals aligned with each other. I’m really proud of what we’ve built together.”
Jayson jokes that he benefits from some of the typical rewards of being your own boss, including setting his own hours and determining the dress code. He admits, sometimes he wears shorts to the office and only works 25 hours a week, but reflects that he’s only able to do so because of the hard work he’s put in to get to this point. Most importantly, Jayson says that the flexibility of his role allows him to do his two favorite things in life – spend time with his family and serve his community.
Steadily, Jayson has also taken on a number of volunteer roles in his community, including serving as trustee for Greater Heights Academy in Flint, trustee for Brandon Township, as well as on the Parks and Recreation subcommittee and Election Commission, president of Ortonville Lions Club, a member of Brandon Groveland Youth Assistant board of directors, and his favorite, head varsity and junior varsity boys’ and girls’ golf coach at Brandon High School.
In addition to Jayson’s passion for leadership, he explained that, “My community made me who I am so it’s very important to me that I give back. I want to help provide a strong foundation for success to other students, and to be a role model that shows them you can achieve whatever you set out to do, as well as not to be confined by traditional stereotypes.”
Jayson added that he is proud to serve as an ambassador for The University of Olivet, exemplifying how the support he received as a Comet helped further push him to achieve his biggest dreams. “Summed up, I never had a bad experience at Olivet,” Jayson said. “There was always someone to help you and make you comfortable. I have lots of great memories from my time as a student. As an alumnus, I’m looking forward to returning to campus and am especially excited to see the completed Hosford House and Lawrence Archives.”
Jayson and his wife, Colleen, are the proud parents of Chloe, 11, and Mea, 9.
Learn more about how The University of Olivet can help you, like Jayson, prepare for a successful career. Visit campus or attend an upcoming admissions event to find your fit as a Comet. Contact the Office of Admissions at 800.456.7189 or admissions@uolivet.edu for more information.