PHOTO BY COLLING PHOTOGRAPHY
Todd Maberry ’03
MODERN M EDI C INE Alumni in healthcare
▲ Drs. Landon ’02 and
Amber (Hoskins) ’04 Colling Harman Eye Center Lynchburg, VA Landon: Ophthalmologist, diagnosing and treating diseases of the eye. Amber: Optometrist, providing primary eye care to patients. Landon’s greatest reward in his job: “Surgically restoring vision.” Amber’s advice for current Olivet students: “Be open to exploring different career paths. I began my time at Olivet believing that I needed to determine the Lord’s ‘will for my life,’ what one specific vocation He had in mind for me to do. I came to realize that the Lord’s will is for us to be in a relationship with Him and to seek His guidance in all decisions.” Jon Williams ’11 Doctoral student, physical therapy, Ohio University
Director of academic formation and programs, Duke Divinity School; Pastor of The Refuge Durham, N.C. How Olivet prepared him: “A lot of what I’m doing now in academic administration is based on my relationship with Woody Webb while I was at Olivet. Woody approaches his administrative position pastorally. That has helped me in working with students. Dr. Jay [Martinson] taught me about commitment to family. I remember that and desire that for my life, too. I know it’s possible because I saw him do it.” Emilie Padgett ’10 Physical and health education teacher, Phnom Phen, Cambodia Advice for current Olivet students: “Throughout college, I worked two jobs and took 16 to 18 credit hours. I was always overwhelmed and felt like I had no time to spend with God or anyone else. I have learned not to allow worries to overcome me, but to seek out God in everything I do. No matter what profession you go into, God has a huge plan to use you!” Rusty Funk ’07 Sports coordinator for Breakthrough Urban Ministries, Chicago, Ill. Most fulfilling part of job: “Working in an organization and a community that understands God’s desire is for His followers to extend His grace and care to the poor. In my job, I get to apply God’s longing for social justice and racial reconciliation to our neighborhood situation through creative avenues such as youth sports!”
Athens, Ohio
Katie (Eleiott) Ficker ’06
Canilla, El Quiche, Guatemala Job description: “We work primarily with an underserved indigenous population (the Quiche Indians) who will walk up to five or six hours each week to have their blood pressure checked, be given some Tylenol for their pain, or receive an ultrasound or milk for their malnourished child — grateful for each small gesture that we can offer.”
Best workplace in Chicago
PHOTO BY MARY BURKLIN
Advice for current Olivet students: “Strive to thrive and grow where you are now. Become who you are in Christ. Listen to the Lord’s call for your life, dream big and go for it. He will make a way for you. Find your sweet spot, that which you feel God has placed you on this earth to do. Don’t let anything stop you from doing it. Trust that the Lord will provide a way. He sure did for me!”
Registered nurse, Adonai International Ministries
L a Toyia strickland ’06
M
A R T S A ND CR A F T S
by Luke Olney ’10
Alumni in the arts
“My career path has honestly been amazing,” says LaToyia M. Strickland ’06 of Chicago. “I never would have guessed that I would be blessed with any of the experiences that I have had.”
▲ Dave Mohr ’09 Lead guitarist for Remedy Drive, Nashville, Tenn. Most surprising thing so far: “Since I left Olivet and moved to Nashville, every day has been a constant surprise. I was playing full-time as a hired gun within eight months of moving. I played for a variety of different artists in a variety of different genres and styles. Now, traveling full-time in Remedy Drive, it’s a surprise every time I get off the bus in a new city with new people to meet and a new room to perform to, minister to, and fellowship with.”
From 2005 to 2008, LaToyia worked in advertising research for Johnson Publishing Company (Ebony/Jet Magazines), the oldest national publishing company in the country. After that, she was hired at Condé Nast Publications (Vogue, W, GQ, Portfolio, Glamour, Allure, Lucky and many others). She was also one of the youngest account executives for Clear Channel Communications, working for WGCI, V103, Inspiration 1390 and KISS-FM.
Aaron Alyea ’01 Graphic designer and print engineer, Triguard Memorials Danville, Ill.
M ISSION M INDED Alumni in ministry and social services
Biggest career challenge: “Learning to be creative even when I don’t feel like being that way. For me, there is an ebb and flow to how creative I can be. On the days when I’m just not feeling it, I’ve learned to grind it out instead of waiting for the light bulb to turn on. Employers aren’t too fond of someone who is waiting for inspiration.”
▲ Stephanie Smith ’10
Steve Cargile ’09
Student at University of Notre Dame, Theological Studies
Actor at Sight & Sound Theatres
Recently returned from Rotherberg International School at Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Lancaster, Pa.
Bourbonnais, Ill. Favorite verse: “Deuteronomy 1:29–31. I first learned it in Spanish while I was studying abroad in Quito (NILI program) my last semester at Olivet. It reminds us to remember how God has freed us in our past; carries us now on our journeys, holding us in His arms like a Father cradling his child; and will fight for us in the future.”
The Olivetian 11
PHOTO BY DUKE PHOTOGRAPHY
Issue 3 | 2011
“ I w a n t to be here ” Now, LaToyia is a client research manager at Centro, LLC, which
was ranked by Crain’s Chicago Business as No. 1 on its “Best Places to Work 2011” list. As a client research manager at Centro, LaToyia provides support in the form of research and analytics to advertising and marketing departments, aiding in their efforts to brand their company and secure funds for advertising. “Basically,” she sums up, “it’s a nerd’s job in a cool kids atmosphere!” Centro works hard to maintain a fun, yet productive atmosphere so that its employees enjoy coming to work and can take pride both professionally and personally. After five years at Centro, employees are given a three-week paid sabbatical. They can travel, stay at home or do anything they would like to do during that time. The company also offers yoga classes in the middle of the work day and has fresh fruit delivered
Most fulfilling part of job: “I’m grateful to be doing what I love every day in such a positive and wholesome environment. Prior to working at Sight & Sound, I’d been struggling to find work in the entertainment industry that didn’t force me to compromise my beliefs and convictions. I am blessed that God has surrounded me with people who share my faith and has also has given me the opportunity to share my faith with others.”
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