ALUMNI Advice
CHAIRMAN, DEALERSHOP USA
SENIOR ADVISOR, THE CARLYLE GROUP PRIVATE EQUITY AND VENTURE CAPITAL
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were in school to prepare you for life after sports?
Spend just as much time on planning for a career/ life outside softball as you do playing softball
How has your Student-Athlete Experience helped you in your career?
Majoring in Engineering while playing varsity softball prepared me to lead and succeed in a demanding world and pay it forward to others that what they dream, they can achieve.
What's the best career advice you have been given?
Determine and then exceed expectations...redefine the bar on "the best" role model performance in your field/ position.
West Bloomfield, MI & Naples, FL
marypetrovich@comcast.net
Mary Petrovich
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N
PATIENT CARE COORDINATOR AND OPERATIONS
MANAGER, PREMIEREMED LLC
ORTHOPEDIC MEDICAL DEVICE DISTRIBUTOR
your career path?
m us I was unhappy as a bout it and did my best r opportunity came up
you in your career?
g to schedule workouts ed make it a habit after was far from perfect as a those mistakes as best I could.
u have been given?
ue vibration/frequency fore entering the office bring your best energy
ah
N T A C T R M A T I O N
VA son@gmail.com
Midlothian,
Clementson
DISTRICT MANAGER - SOFTBALL UNIVERSITY INSTRUCTION/COACHING
What general advice would you give those that are in college now?
Enjoy every minute of the experience by living in the moment Understand this will be the most challenging experience you have been faced to manage your time effectively and efficiently Learn the ideal process that works for you
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were in school to prepare you for the workforce?
Finding your ideal career path comes through trial and error
Don't be afraid to explore opportunities beyond any of your predetermined assumptions of where you see yourself in the workforce.
How has your Student-Athlete Experience helped you in your career?
I am disciplined in prioritizing tasks. Learning how to communicate with others that might have uniquely different views than myself
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N Tacoma, WA keltate18@gmail.com
Tate
Kellyn
HEAD OF SOCIAL IMPACT, DEI, & EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT | LEGALZOOM TECH
How has your Student-Athlete Experience helped you in your career?
Knowing what it takes to put the time in to achieve greatness. Surrounding yourself with the right people is everything, from your leader to your colleagues to the values of your organization. You will have moments of individual glory, but that's only achieved because / esponsibility to make sure others to be supportive and jump in to help.
vice you have been given?
ay of what you want to achieve.
other advice do you have?
ou have as a Student-Athlete and orld" You may not realize it now, ucceed in your sport has put you mes to professional development. yourself the best organizations sity in every way, and create safe o thrive and be 100% themselves.
Santa
mgoblue21@gmail.com
Catherine Davie
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N
Monica, CA
AVID COORDINATOR AND TEACHER, SAN JACITNO HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were in school to prepare you for life after sports?
I am able to work with a diverse group of people toward achieving a common goal I am patient and always willing to listen to someone else's point of view
What are some things you should NOT do when finding your career path?
You should not base your career choices on money.
What other advice do you have?
Base your career choices on something you would be willing to do for free or little money. Passion and impact will lead to a lifetime of fulfillment.
Murrieta, CA
ngray@sanjacinto.k12.ca.us
Niki Hoover
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N
CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER, HEALTH GORILLA HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HEALTH IT LAW
What skills are you looking for in a new hire?
Soft people skills in addition to technical acumen They need to be able to work well with people, in person and remote and cannot hide behind their computers -- which is challenge for this current generation whose social skills development is behind due to the pandemic
How has your Student-Athlete Experience helped you in your career?
a lot of hard life lessons at UM but they did not dissuade me rsonal goals for my life I learned to handle disappointment airness and while not the first time, my UM experience was and it has informed how I have handled both personal and professional challenges throughout my life
t's the best career advice you have been given?
s act with integrity Live your life with character and be true our word You will have good jobs and bad Good colleagues ad ones, even bad leaders Don't let the naysayers dissuade you from pursuit of your own goals, your own north star
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N Washington, DC ms.carol.allis@gmail.com Carol Allis
SOFTBALL COACH SPORTS
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were in school to prepare you for life after sports?
I didn’t take classes to prepare me for my future I took classes for “my major” and I feel like I wasted my time
What general advice would you give those that are in college now?
Take classes that take you out of your comfort zone and that you will need for your future career
What's the best career advice you have been given?
Everyone is different. Autonomy is a good thing.
Sara Griffin Webster
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N Columbus, OH saragwebster15@gmail.com
PRO ATHLETE, ATHLETES UNLIMITED ASSISTANT TEACHER, MUNSON HEALTHCARE CHILDREN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SPORTS AND HEALTHCARE
What are some things you should NOT do when finding your career path?
Have a plan Expect things to not go your way and roll with it Sometimes the most unexpected is the biggest blessing
areer advice you have been given?
you love and do that for as long as you can
w that you wish you knew when you o prepare you for the workforce?
agement more and prioritizing work life vs Learn how to escape and turn the brain off ter work, don’t bring work home with you
Haylie Wagner
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N
City, MI
Traverse
Hwags@umich.edu
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N Ann Arbor, MI faithcan@umich.edu Faith Canfield ASSISTANT COACH - UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ATHLETICS
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE - US FEDERAL, GARTNER TECHNOLOGY & PUBLIC SECTOR
What are some things you should NOT do when finding your career path?
DON'T give up when things get hard Entry level jobs are entry level for a reasonthey're a stepping stone to more advanced and rewarding work My first job required cold calling on a daily basis, and it was awful! But I stuck with it and worked hard to get promoted into a role and career I am passionate about today
e Experience helped you in your career?
h sales industry is incredibly competitive Being a d my competitive drive, taught me to establish a ach my goals, and showed me the importance of n the small things regularly and repeatedly to be successful
est career advice you have been given?
one of the student-athlete events in college: "It's you know, it's about who knows YOU" What can o stand out and make yourself memorable when ow can you intentionally network to achieve your ost important piece is establishing your personal at you're known for, and "walking the walk" every day
Lauren (Connell) Tabler
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N
TX
Dallas,
lacon@umich.edu
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
NORTHROP GRUMMAN AEROSPACE/DEFENSE
How has your Student-Athlete Experience helped you in your career?
Time management, teamwork and organization
What's the best career advice you have been given?
Follow your passion .
Debbie Mirageas
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N
Springs, CA dmirageas@yahoo.com
Palm
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N Hudsonville, MI karlawojtas22@gmail.com H S nt-Athlete Experience helped you in your career? t's the best career advice you have been given? What skills are you looking for in a new hire? TEACHER REETHS-PUFFER MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATION Work ethic pays off Perseverance Team player
TEACHER, JENISON HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were in school to prepare you for life after sports?
So much of who you are and what you do in the workforce wasn't learned in a textbook in college You will learn more by interacting with people and being curious that you will find success in your job
How has your Student-Athlete Experience helped you in your career?
The characteristics that one develops such as teamwork, perseverance, commitment, etc. can be carried over into college and a career. "Who you are today, is who you will be tomorrow".
What's the best career advice you have been given?
Do something that you have a passion for. That is worth more than money ever will be.
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N
Haven, MI kkossen@jpsonline.org
Grand
RECREATION COORDINATOR, CITY OF SANTA CLARA MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, PARKS & RECREATION
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were in school to prepare you for the workforce?
Your degree doesn't always have to determine your direction
Be open to opportunities that present themselves because you never know where it will lead.
What skills are you looking for in a new hire?
Confidence, the ability to effectively communicate and problem solve and someone who can work independently as well as collaboratively
at's the best career advice you have been given?
t supervisor once told me, "Remember, we are a team Each person is integral to our success. They are not 'your' staff, dless if you are their supervisor. If you treat staff like they are s than, you will get work quality that is 'less than'. If you treat aff as part of the whole, they will take pride in their work and more often than not, you will receive superior quality work.
Jessica Carter
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N Santa Cruz, CA rmgoblue1797@gmail.com
PEOPLE STRATEGY MANAGER, BEDROCK MANAGEMENT SERVICES REAL ESTATE
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were in school to prepare you for life after sports?
It's okay to not have it all figured out
What general advice would you give those that are in college now?
Take advantage of every resource that is offered to you while in school. Attend the career fairs, utilize the people around you, and start asking yourself now, what is my plan once college and sports are over?
What's the best career advice you have been given?
Network! Who you know can help make a big difference.
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N Detroit, MI msbonek@umich.edu
Sbonek
Mary
MANAGER, BRANDS WASSERMAN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were in school to prepare you for the workforce?
It’s ok to not know everything at of college. Hard workers whose are sponges go far.
helped you in your career?
Learning how to work with different personalities, time management and being able to work on big projects with little stress
What's the best career advice you have been given?
When you start don’t try to do everything and take on too much Do what is given to you well and earn your bosses and co workers trust That’s how you’ll grow and get more work
C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N Long Island, NY linmonte@umich.edu
Montemarano
Lindsay
