Trulaske alum Brandon Tucker talks about preserving memories, protecting a legacy

On a gray, rainy October day in Columbia, Missouri, Brandon Tucker, BSBA ’13, sits in his office at Miller’s Professional Imaging, preparing for the hectic pace of the upcoming holiday season. 

Miller’s has carved out a name for itself by printing high-quality images for professional photographers and is the largest professional lab organization in the United States. Customers turn to Miller’s for school photos, sports team pictures, wedding albums, newborn portraits and more. 

As one might expect, a company that’s in the business of capturing and preserving memories finds itself particularly busy during the holiday season. While Tucker says holiday card sales are down this year, he predicts increased interest in photo prints and wall art, which will require the hiring of extra employees during the holiday season to keep up with the increased demand. But when the cornerstones of your company’s success are customer service, quality and a quick turnaround, being prepared to keep pace with increased traffic is fundamental.

Miller’s Professional Imaging has nearly 90 years of experience in producing high-quality images and providing stellar customer service. The family business traces its roots back to Bill Miller, who opened his own photography studio in Pittsburgh, Kansas, in 1939. His love of photography grew while capturing pictures from the front lines of World War II, and in 1964 he opened his own photo lab to help other photographers print their photos. Under the leadership of Bill’s son, Richard, the business continued to thrive, adapting to keep pace with changing technology and expanding to keep up with growing demand, eventually adding a second state-of-the-art facility in Columbia.

While Miller’s has made a name for itself by helping customers preserve their memories, the company always stays at the leading edge of the latest technological advancements, including the addition of services like Mpix, a web-based digital imaging lab that caters to both emerging professionals and photo enthusiasts.

Tucker expects AI to spur significant changes in photography, enabling users to quickly cull and enhance images and significantly cut the amount of time it takes to create photo books. 

He also forecasts an industry trend in cost-cutting, with many looking to save money by opting for lower quality materials. It’s not a trend Miller’s plans to follow.

“A core competency of ours is the use of archival materials for printing images,” Tucker said. “We have a big responsibility to preserve, in print, the moments that matter the most.”

Stepping into the role of COO of a company like Miller’s, which boasts a rich, extensive history, was daunting, admits Tucker. 

“There’s definitely some pressure that comes with it because it’s grown dramatically over the years, and I want to help ensure we keep that pace,” Tucker said. “But it’s been an awesome experience. We’re working to protect and maintain our core principles, while also continuing to modernize.”

Tucker points to the tenure of Miller’s staff as an important component of the company’s success. Institutional knowledge is key, he says, particularly in sales and customer service, where an extensive knowledge of the business helps ensure that customers receive quality products in a timely manner.

The company’s ability to maintain that tenure requires a deep commitment to its employees, Tucker says. Since profit-sharing is a substantial part of the staff’s compensation, making sure the company is thriving is never far from Tucker’s mind. 

“I feel an enormous amount of responsibility to do right by our employees,” Tucker said. “Our employees benefit dramatically when we’re successful.” 

Tucker credits his education in the University of Missouri’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business for preparing him for that responsibility. 

“I was a first-generation college student,” Tucker said. “It introduced me to a level of professionalism and competition that I’d never experienced before.” 

Balaji Rajagopalan, Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. Dean of the Trulaske College of Business, said that Tucker has set a high standard for those following in his footsteps at Trulaske.

“Brandon’s commitment to seeing that this business continues to grow and thrive, while also ensuring that employees thrive right along with it, truly reflects the leadership mindset that we’re working to instill within the Trulaske College of Business,” said Rajagopalan. “We couldn’t be prouder of Brandon’s success and the standard that he’s setting for future Trulaske graduates.”

After high school, he could have been content continuing to manage a movie theater in his hometown of Festus, Missouri, but a conversation with Mary Beth Marrs, an associate teaching professor in the management department at Trulaske, convinced him that pursuing a business education would open up a world of options. 

“Even then, he had a curiosity about simply everything and was motivated to learn as much as he could,” Marrs recalled. “That curiosity, along with an unrivaled work ethic instilled in him by his parents, and his personal traits of authenticity and humbleness, are what make him such a special person and leader.”

Tucker says his trajectory was forever changed thanks to Marrs’ mentorship and the opportunity to learn alongside other driven young professionals.

“Just being around other motivated students that wanted to compete in the business world really upped my game,” Tucker said. “That was the best decision I ever made, going to Mizzou and choosing to attend the business school.”

Mizzou’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business prepares students for success as global citizens, business leaders, scholars, innovators and entrepreneurs by providing access to transformative technologies, offering experience-centered learning opportunities and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.