Interview with Alumna Lauren Gardner

Today is Bid Day for MI Gamma!  

In honor of Bid Day we have a former VP Membership, Lauren Gardner, participating in the Interview Series.  Lauren can't say enough good things about her time as an active at MI Gamma and even more great words about the effect Pi Phi has had on her post graduation.

Initiation Year: Spring 2005

Offices Held: VP Membership, Associate Director- Greek Week '07, Director of Greek Week '08

Did you live in the house?  How many years? Yes, 1 year (junior year).

What did you enjoy about living in? There are so many great memories from living in.  Bonding with girls you never knew before living in, late night chats in the laughing corner, late night snacks in the kitchen, never missing any of the action, raids by fraternity boys, movie marathons in the basement, always having someone to go to Rick's with....I could go on.  Everyone should live in!!

Lauren with her Little Sis Nickie

Favorite Pi Phi memory? My favorite memory would definitely be my time as VP Membership.  The team I worked with (Erin Closser, Hazel Stinson, Laura Sauer) was awesome, and despite the stresses and lack of sleep that come with it all- we had an amazing recruitment...which is also when I met my one and only amazing little sis, Nickie Currie.

What are you up to now? I live in Chicago and work as a Media Supervisor at an agency called Starcom Mediavest Group.  I oversee all of the local/regional (and some national) broadcast media buying for Allstate, and I love my job.  I'm also involved with Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and volunteer as part of an auxiliary board that raises funds and awareness for pediatric brain cancer.

How has Pi Phi influenced/affected your post-college life? Pi Phi is definitely still a huge part of my life.  All of my best friends in Chicago were sorority sisters, and being in Pi Phi is what initially bonded all of us.  Additionally, I think that the leadership positions held in the sorority really helped prepare me for management roles in "the real world".

What do you wish you had known when you were in college? It's ok to not have your "life"/job/etc figured out by the time you graduate in May.

Lauren (center) with MI Gamma Alums Meghan and Sarah

Giving what you know now, what advice would you give to your college-age self? Don't stress as much, and don't take a job just to have a job.  I was lucky enough that my second job has very much become something that will be a life-long career.  My first job wasn't.

Do you have any resume pointers or interview skills to share? Don't be afraid to reach out to your network for help and advice.  I'm co-captain of the Michigan State Recruiting Team at my agency, so I get to come back to campus and present a few times a year.  I always encourage students to email me their resume, and am happy to provide feedback.  You have to do a good job of merchandising yourself, and taking the time to tailor your experiences to match each job you're applying for.  When I'm looking at entry level candidates, while internships are very important, I'm going to take a second look at someone who's taken the time to explain how their other experiences indirectly provided them with applicable skills for the job.  Don't be afraid to talk about extracurricular involvement as part of your "experience" on your resume.

What is something you wish you were better at? Playing ANY sport.  Athletic abilities are not something I was blessed with!

Do you have a personal motto? Things typically happen the way they're supposed to.

Do you have a favorite quote? "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible" -When Harry Met Sally (I'm a sucker for rom-coms)

Celebrating the holidays with MI Gamma Pi Phis

Favorite TV Show and or Movie? I love TV, so it's hard to narrow it down.  Right now I'd say a tie- True Blood/Revenge/Parenthood.  I also LOVED the series Homeland on Showtime.  Not a huge movie person but if I had to pick- Almost Famous.

What is something on your bucket list? I haven't been to Europe yet! A little cliche, but I'd like to make it sometime!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Hopefully a Media Director at a big agency! And a husband and a couple kids would be nice too :-)

What is something people may not know about you? I love cooking and baking.  It's really relaxing and fun and there's nothing I like better than conquering a new recipe!

Thanks Lauren for participating and sharing what you've learned and all your valuable interview and resume tips!  It's great to hear how much Pi Phi has influenced your life :)  Hopefully soon you'll be able to travel to Europe!

Interview with Alumna Jen Sutherland Davis

2012 is in full swing as we enter the second week of the year.  The start of a new year allows us to start fresh and tackle goals we have for ourselves.  Our next Alumna interviewee is current MI Gamma AAC member Jen Davis Sutherland and one of her life goals is to visit all 50 states...and she's so close to checking this off!

Initiation Year: Fall 2004

Office(s) Held: Leadership Nominating Committee Chair, Greek Week Chair & Standards Board

Did you live in the house? Yes I lived in the house.  How many years? 3 years :)

What did you enjoy about living in? I loved living in the house.  Every year a new group of girls moved in.  It gave me the opportunity to get to know others better than if I didn’t live with them.  There was always someone to talk to if needed.

Favorite Pi Phi memory? I have many favorite memories in Pi Phi.  One of my favorite memories would be Big Sis Revealing.  I also enjoyed Greek Week and social events held in the chapter every year.

What are you up to now? I am living in East Lansing :)  After I graduated in 2008, I continued my education to receive a master’s degree in child development.  For the last couple years I have been working with Early Head Start as an infant/toddler teacher and now as a home base teacher.  As a home base teacher I go into family homes and educate parents on parenting skills, child development milestones, and connect them to resources in the community.  I also got married in August of 2010!

How has Pi Phi influenced/affected your post-college life? Pi Phi has allowed me to become more confident in my leadership and communication skills.  It is important to communicate with others in the “real world.”  Pi Phi gives you the opportunity to hold a leadership position within an organization.  I also feel that Pi Phi helps with balancing events in your life.

Are you involved officially as alumnae (Alum Club, AAC, House Corp)? What chapter? I have been on AAC with Michigan Gamma for the last year.  I currently serve as an adviser for VP Philanthropy and VP Event Planning.  An alum club in Lansing is currently in the works, and I will join that once it becomes official.

What are your thoughts on your involvement as an alumnae in the group you participate in? I love continuing to be involved with Michigan Gamma.  I enjoy going to the house and continuing to see the sisterhood that I had during college.  I would like to continue to help them in any way that I can.

What do you wish you had known when you were in college? Good question.  I had changed my major three times during my first two years.  I had to find my niche.  After taking many classes, I found my passion for working with families and children.  I only I wish I would have figured it out sooner!

Giving what you know now, what advice would you give to your college-age self? I wish I would have had more of an idea of the majors offered at Michigan State during my freshman year.  I may have found what I was passionate for earlier than I did.

Do you have any resume pointers or interview skills to share? During an interview I feel that you need to be confident in your skills. When applying for a position, make sure you know the duties that are involved so you can ask questions during the interview process. If you ask questions, they will know that you are interested and may take you more seriously. Also, practice talking in front of a mirror or a friend :)

What is something you wish you were better at? Keeping in touch with friends from college.

Do you have a personal motto? Always look at the glass as half full.

Do you have a favorite quote? “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”- Eleanor Roosevelt

Favorite TV Show and/or Movie? I like any food network or HGTV television show. As for a favorite movie, Mean Girls is a classic.

What is something on your bucket list? I would like to go to all 50 states. I only have two left: Mississippi and Arkansas.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Having a family of my own and having further advanced in my career field.

What is something people may not know about you? I would secretly love to be an event planner :)

(from left to right) Jen with Alumnae Rachel Morgan and Meghan Straw

Thank you Jen for participating!  Your thoughts on choosing careers and interview tips are great and defiantly helpful! :)

Interview with Alumna Katie Revak Schwarze

T.G.I.F to all MI Gamma Pi Phis!  Our next interviewee, 

Katie Revak Schwarze, had the following to say to all current Psych majors:

"I'm willing to have any current psych majors shadow me for a day or two if they want to know what being a school psychologist is like.  (It's an amazing gig that fits well with family life once you have kids, etc......spring break, summer break!!!)"

If anyone is interested please leave a comment on this post!

Here's Katie!

Initiation Year:  January 1992 (Fall 1991 Pledge Class) 

Did you live in the house?   YES!  

How many years?  2 years (Sophomore and Junior years)...LOVED IT!

What did you enjoy about living in?  It was so much fun getting to really know my pledge class and the other ladies living in those years.  Having bus boys and a cook didn't hurt either.....although I do remember one year having a new cook and he always used WAY too much dill in EVERYTHING!  One late night we broke into the kitchen and threw his BUSHEL of dill out.  He was.so.mad!

Favorite Pi Phi memory?  Various social events, but my very favorite was Senior Walk Out.

What are you up to now?  I'm living in Ada (just outside Grand Rapids) with my husband and 3 boys.  I'm a school psychologist for Zeeland Public Schools and involved in the Junior League of GR  (and have met some other Michigan Gammas alumni in that group as well!  Small world!!)

How has Pi Phi influenced/affected your post-college life?  Post graduation I've lived all over the country (San Francisco, Charleston, SC, Ft. Myers, FL and now GR) and have always met Pi Phis.  These connections have always made these big cities seem smaller.  Besides that, it was an easy transition into the Junior League which focuses on helping women and children through volunteerism.

What do you wish you had known when you were in college?  When I was in college, I wish I would have explored more career options....I honestly didn't really know what was out there.  I wish I would have job shadowed in different areas, etc.  I am lucky that I LOVE what I'm doing, but in the back of my head, I wish I would have thought to look into interior design or something like that.......

Giving what you know now, what advice would you give to your college-age self?  Everyone always says that college is the best time of your life.....and they are right.  Enjoy yourself, take chances and risks, and be true to yourself.

Do you have any resume pointers or interview skills to share?  As far as resume, just put down things that pertain to the position you're looking for.  Don't fluff it up with "filler".  During interviews, know that you are selling yourself.  Don't be self conscious about bragging about yourself and what you know/do.  But at the same time be friendly and yourself.  These people who are interviewing you want to know if you are someone who can not only do the job, but if you are someone who they will want to be around.

What is something you wish you were better at?  Singing??   I don't know......I think I'm pretty good.  In the car. By myself.  With the windows up and the radio LOUD.  ;)

Do you have a personal motto?  God never gives you anything you can't handle.

Do you have a favorite quote? "And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."  -Roald Dahl

Favorite TV Show and/or Movie?  I'm not ashamed to yell from the rooftops that I love trashy reality TV haha.  Especially the Real Housewives franchise and the Bachelor/Bachelorette mess.  I also love Mad Men.   Movies?  Parenthood, Cousins, Somethings Gotta Give, everything by John Hughes.

What is something on your bucket list?   Visit Australia!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?  Gosh, will I have 1 son in college and 2 in high school??  Eek!  Hopefully I'll still be a school psychologist, but with all these attacks on education, I'm always wondering how that job will look in the future?  I'd love either a vacation home in Charleston or on the Leelanau Peninsula up north.

 

What is something people may not know about you?  I am very passionate about Autism Awareness.  My oldest son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS/High Functioning Autism when he was 2 (after I pushed and pushed for testing).   With tons of interventions when he was young, he's found great success.  It was the hardest time of my life dealing with that diagnosis and fighting for my son before autism became "in style" and people knew what it was.   Now when I watch him I'm so proud of all he's achieved, but also know life will be harder for him due to his quirks.  Helping him through this is the achievement I'm most proud of. 

 

Thanks Katie for participating and sharing your great stories from living in the Pi Phi house!  If anyone is interested in Katie's offer at the beginning of the post make sure and leave a comment below or email msupiphi@gmail.com.

Interview with Alumna Kim Sutton Eberhardt

Hope everyone had a great holiday season and a wonderful New Year's Day!  I'm sure we were all glued to our TVs watching an amazing bowl game win for MSU!

Speaking of bowl games, going to the Rose Parade in Pasadena is on this next interviewee's bucket list...

Next up in the Interview Series is former Recruitment Chair

Kim Sutton Eberhardt!

Initiation Year: Spring 2000

Offices Held: Recruitment Chair & Internal Social Chair

Did you live in the house?  How many years? Yes, 1 year.

What did you enjoy about living in? Living in the Pi Phi house was non-stop fun.  I enjoyed forming closer relationships with the other women in the house, late night karaoke in Jessica McDonald Behmke's room, chatting with my roomies - Jessica (Wertz) Dipzinski and Robyn Novak.  Most of all, it was the sense of camaraderie and inclusion.

Favorite Pi Phi memory? It's difficult to pick just one.  One of my favorites was recruitment in Fall of 2001, when I was the Rush Chair.  I remember standing across the street and encouraging the girls to sing louder!

Kim (far left) with fellow alumnae at the Pi Phi house for Homecoming 2011

 

What are you up to now? I am married to my college sweetheart Mike Eberhardt and we live in Ferndale, MI (in Southeast Michigan) with our mischievous dog Cooper.  I work as the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at an entrepreneurial finance firm - Hennessey Capital.  I will graduate with a master's degree in Public Relations from Michigan State in May.  I also serve on the board of the American Red Cross (Southeast Michigan Chapter.)

How has Pi Phi influenced/affected your post-college life? The friendships I made through my involvement in Pi Beta Phi have truly lasted.  It has been wonderful to "grow up" together with my Pi Phi sisters and be involved in their lives as they have married and welcomed their own children into the world.  The bond we shared as Pi Phis can never be broken.

Are you involved officially as alumnae (Alum Club, AAC, House Corp)? What chapter? Not currently, but would love to lend a hand where needed after I complete my master's work this Spring.

What do you wish you had known when you were in college? Mixing tequila and vodka is always a bad idea.  Also, embracing who you are and being comfortable in your own skin is paramount to happiness in the long run.

Kim and Alumna Jessica McDonald Behmke at Homecoming 2011

 

Giving what you know now, what advice would you give to your college-age self? Hard work really does pay off- so stick with it.

 
Do you have any resume pointers or interview skills to share? Proof, proof and re-proofread your resume.  I see numerous resumes with spelling errors come across my desk.  Have as many people proof it as possible to catch mistakes that you might overlook. Don't ever say you are a "people person" in an interview.  It doesn't mean anything and professional communicators cringe when they hear it.

 
What is something you wish you were better at? Math!

Do you have a personal motto? Make sure the people most important to you know it - each and every day.

 
Do you have a favorite quote? "Lessons often come dressed up as detours and roadblocks" - Oprah Winfrey and "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right" - Henry Ford

Favorite TV Show and or Movie? "Parks & Recreation" is my favorite current TV show. I love Amy Poehler! 

What is something on your bucket list? Go to the Rose Bowl Parade (hopefully when MSU makes it to the Rose Bowl!)  

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Happy and healthy is all I ask for!

What is something people may not know about you? I love the Oscars! Each year I try to see all of the movies nominated.

 Thank you Kim for sharing such great tips and sharing your wonderful memories of your Pi Phi undergraduate experience!  Hope you can make it to the Rose Parade someday soon!