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HEART OF THE MATTER
Nick Morrison’s life-changing decision after his brush with death PHOTO BY MARK MORGAN
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ork can be a pain. But for Nick Morrison, when pain turned into a neardeath experience, he knew it was time for a drastic change. “I was working in financial services in Oregon, but was miserable,” says Morrison. “On a particularly stressful day in 2011, my arm kept cramping.” As a former college golfer, soreness was nothing new, but this was different. “I had a heart attack – at just 23,” says Morrison. “In the hospital, the doctor gave me two choices: re-think my career or die young.” Morrison quit his job, and – after recuperating in his native Idaho – relocated to the Valley in 2012 with just a suitcase and golf clubs to his name. He was able to combine his expertise in finance with his passion for people, as a corporate recruiter. At the same time, he joined GET Phoenix, a local nonprofit that provides networking and development opportunities to young professionals. Today, he is a senior recruiter at VincentBenjamin and on the board of directors for GET Phoenix, where he also chairs its membership committee. “What didn’t kill me really did make me stronger,” laughs Morrison.
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Wait – you help others get into a field that nearly killed you? Absolutely not! I am more of a career matchmaker, focused on helping controllers, senior accountants, financial analysists and even CFOs find the right company, and vice versa in helping major companies across the United States find good leaders. I want to help people do it right the first time – and avoid the ER! Tell us more about GET Phoenix…We focus on helping young professionals in three core areas: networking, professional development opportunities and servant leadership, including getting them involved with volunteering and service projects for Valley organizations. UPTOWN |
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| OCTOBER 2016