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Melissa Traylor
Major While Attending OU: Organizational Communication
Position Held in UPC: Executive Vice Chair (06-07) and Special Events Vice Chair (07-08)
Contact Melissa
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| Where are you now? Job, location, a brief description of what you do at work, etc:
CONTECH Construction Products Inc., West Chester Ohio, Administrative Legal Assistant, Assist the legal team, process legal bills, type memos and other documents, answer phones, make copies…(this is by all means not what I went to school for, but hey! It’s a job in this economy!)What did you learn from being involved with UPC, related to your career?
How to stay organized and on top of things. That last minute changes can be worked through and everything will still be fine. To be positive in any situation. Favorite memory while being a member:
Mom’s Walk, the fist BreakFest that the VC’s planned last year, and the first Block Party on South Green Beach…it was really fun to plan and execute those events. Any advice or anything else you would like to include:
Get involved as much as you can! The more you do the more you will learn. What is your dream job? Wedding planner / Party Planner for the rich and famous! |
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Leah Grill
Major While Attending OU: Organizational Communication with Public Relations and Professional Sales specializations
Position Held in UPC: External Relations and Vice President
Contact Leah
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| Where are you now? Job, location, a brief description of what you do at work, etc:
PR Newswire Cleveland, OH-- I do consultative sales and support the public interest account managers with their non-profit clients. I help clients decide how to promote their initiatives/brands/etc and target their audiences through PR plans and monitor results after.
What did you learn from being involved with UPC, related to your career?
I learned how to communicate effectively and take different perspectives and ideas and bring them together for one event or campaign. I also learned how to be a better public speaker, motivate others and plan and execute promotions. I used a lot of examples from UPC during my interviews. UPC really helped to develop my communication skills which I use daily at work. Favorite memory while being a member:
Bringing the Fray to OU while they were getting more and more popular was really exciting! Also just brainstorming at board meetings and in the UPC office with everyone was always entertaining.
Any advice or anything else you would like to include:
Take the chance to get to know people you wouldn’t have otherwise and be dedicated to whatever UPC is doing at the moment—not just the events specific to your position or committee. Don’t be afraid to network with your peers and people you meet through UPC. Make it fun and worthwhile!
What is your dream job? To do PR in a big city for an exciting brand and to be able to travel for work. |
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Rachel Crites
Major While Attending OU: Organizational Communication
Minor: Political Science
Position Held in UPC: Street Team Member, Special Events Co-Chair, Vice President
Contact Rachel |
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The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Light The Night Campaign Manager for the Central Ohio Chapter in Columbus Ohio. I manage our annual Light The Night event that takes place in the fall. I recruit sponsors, teams and individuals to participant and plan logistics for upwards of 6,500 people. We raise funds for blood cancer research, patient financial aid and patient support materials.
What did you learn from being involved with UPC, related to your career?
I learned a lot about professionalism and how to work with people in a corporate way, not just working on a school project. It taught me to have more confidence in the projects I was doing and know that I could take on a major event.
Favorite memory while being a member:
Paul Wilkins and Natalie Pariano were our treasurer and President at the time. All of us dreaded budgeting night because it was always a long meeting so Paul came walking in with a money suit and chain on, playing the money song and they also brought us all Taco Bell. It was hilarious
Any advice or anything else you would like to include:
Do not be afraid to give your opinion. That is where you learn and grow the most. It helps you be more confident and ready when it comes to your career. You start to think of things you may not have thought of before by getting feedback from other people. Also, do not be afraid to seek advice and guidance from people, others want to help and it will get you where you want to be.
What is your dream job? I am still trying to figure that out, though I do love what I do now. |
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Katie Kelso
Major While Attending OU: Promotional Event Planning (Specialized Study)
Position Held in UPC: Special Events Chair 2004-2006
Contact Katie
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| Where are you now? Job, location, a brief description of what you do at work, etc:
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, Central Ohio Region, Development Associate. Our office is located in Columbus, OH, but we have offices in Cleveland and Cincinnati. As the Development Associate, I plan all four of our internal fundraising events (two Walks for Wishes, Gala, and Golf Outing) and I work on the Students for WishKids and WishMakers on Campus programs.
What made you join UPC?
I attended the Mom's Walk for a Cure my freshman year, and asked how to get involved in planning it.
What did you learn from being involved with UPC, related to your career?
The most important lesson that I learned from being a part of UPC is how important it is to work together as a team to pull off a successful event. UPC also offered the opportunity to communicate with various individuals and vendors, and allowed me the opportunity to develop confidence in my communication and organizational abilities.
Favorite memory while being a member:
My favorite memories of UPC are the late nights and long days we spent working together as a board (Mom's Walk, Homecoming parade, Taste of Athens, etc.)
Any advice or anything else you would like to include:
Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy! I loved every minute of UPC and learned so much. Allow yourself to learn from others and speak up in meetings. You never know what great event may develop from one of your ideas! (That one is for Chad. I know how much he loves those late nights J)
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Elyse Morelli
Major While Attending OU: Journalism / Public Relations
Position Held in UPC: Street Team Member 2003-2004, Concerts Co-Chair 2004-2005, Public Relations Chair 2005-2006
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| Where are you now? Job, location, a brief description of what you do at work, etc:
Position: Communications Coordinator
Employer: AcademyHealth
Location: Washington, DC
Description: AcademyHealth is a membership association with a focus in health policy. As Communications Coordinator, I support the communications team by editing and coordinating production of various AcademyHealth publications, compiling and distributing member newsletters, managing relationships with print vendors, creating messaging to promote AcademyHealth events, and assisting with media outreach.
What made you join UPC?
I joined UPC because of the variety of responsibilities to both the organization and the university itself. It is a very unique student organization.
What did you learn from being involved with UPC, related to your career?
As a member of UPC, I learned to manage large contracts, negotiate with vendors/booking agencies, collaborate with senior level university officials, coordinate on-site logistics for 2,000+ event attendees, staff and media, and develop effective promotion strategies. Though not all of those skills are directly transferable to my career, the basic elements of delegating responsibility, promoting events, communicating with senior staff, and collaborating with a team can be applied to involvement in virtually any organization.
Favorite memory while being a member:
Working the Homecoming Parade with everyone was always my favorite.
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Natalie Pariano
Major While Attending OU: Journalism / Public Relations
Position Held in UPC: Special Events 2003-2004, President 2004-2005
Contact Natalie
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| | Where are you now? Job, location, a brief description of what you do at work, etc:
Employer: Denison University
Location: Office of Student Activities/200 Slayter Union/Denison University/Granville, Oh 43023
Position: Assistant Director of Student Activities for Programming
Description: In my position I work with students and the programming efforts on campus. I advise several campus organizations including the Student Activities Council (UPC's Denison equivalent), The Bandersnatch (campus coffee house), Red Tech (student sound production group), and The Adytum (yearbook staff). I also plan major events on behalf of our office such as comedians, concerts and festivals. Annual events such as Aestavalia, Welcome Back and D-Day are also some of my projects. Additionally, I work with campus organization advisers, office space allocation, and manage the web site for our office.
What made you join UPC?
I attended a ton of great events as a freshman and sophomore and I started to catch on that most of these were run by students. I remember watching Mitch Hedberg, my all-time favorite comedian one year, and when a UPC member came out to introduce him before the show I said to myself "I want to be that person." The next year, I was!
What did you learn from being involved with UPC, related to your career?
I owe a lot to my time in UPC. Several of my closest friends during college and today are former UPCers. My work with UPC scored me some killer internships at MTV News and Penton Publishing. Almost everything I do on a daily basis in my position is directly related to my UPC experience. I learned how to communicate with agents, performers, publications and university officials. I became very detail-oriented, a big thinker, and a leader in UPC. I learned how to make things happen.
My time in UPC also led me to my career in Student Affairs. I always wanted to be in communication until I learned what an amazing impact I could have in university administration. UPC led me to some amazing mentors, helped me win scholarships and gave me a lot of great answers for tough interview questions.
Favorite memory while being a member:
There is no such thing as one singular favorite UPC memory. I have tons!
All of our time in the old 407 Baker Office goofing off on the balcony and the roof.
All UPC Retreats at Burr Oak.
Moving our UPC cookout into 407 Baker.
Every single Moms Walk for a Cure.
Taking 3rd place in the Grammar Smackdown!
Guster live in concert.
Senior Sendoff 2005, especially the roasts!
Chad firing up Bobcat One to pickup Pedro when he missed his flight.
Breana making crazy faces during meetings.
Kacie refusing to concede to anything.
Themed, costumes-required budgeting meetings.
Yelling at Paul about forgetting his office hours.
UPC socials on Franklin.
Eating dinner with Al Franken.
The reaction of students to Mr. Belding!
Getting lost with Breana after taking artists back to the airport.
Tons and tons of snacks courtesy of Bobcat cash.
Any advice or anything else you would like to include:
Commit to UPC. Don't just make it a weekly meeting, make it a part of your life. You'll make great friends, great memories, and great contacts for the future.
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