Tell us a little bit about your NACRO involvement and what about your current role with NACRO excites you.

I have been a member of NACRO since 2015, and my first conference was at Georgetown University. I am on the Guest Experience Subcommittee for the upcoming Annual Conference. I love how collaborative NACRO members have been – especially in the Raleigh area!

What is your role at your institution?

I am Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at the College of Charleston.

How did you get involved in corporate partnership work?

I started working in corporate partnerships as the Associate Development Coordinator at the South Carolina Aquarium. The focus was to find donors to sponsor each exhibit. This was pre-construction, so I vividly remember sharing small cardboard models with prospects to “imagine” what the aquarium would look like upon completion.

What aspects of conference in Raleigh are you most looking forward to?

Since I was involved with planning this conference, I can’t wait to experience all the places that I researched in Raleigh.

What advice would you give to someone considering attending conference for the first time?

Use the Whova app to organize a group dinner or carpool to the UNC, Duke or NC State campus tours to network. Also, consider turning your trip into an extended vacation to explore North Carolina’s scenic mountains and beaches.

Think about some of your successes at work. How has NACRO allowed you to be successful and maximize your program?

The advice and progressive ideas that NACRO members have shared have been invaluable as I built the College’s first Corporate and Foundation Relations Office. Those best practices provided the core foundation of our policies and procedures. Implementation has led to countless mutually beneficial partnerships and a strong reputation as a transparent and honest broker.

What was one of your strangest jobs in your career and why?

In high school I was a DJ at a roller-skating rink. I had full control of the music and lighting system and a collection of different hats that I would switch out based on the music.