Growing up in South Bend, it always seemed like my peers were counting down the days until they could leave – for college, for jobs, or even for military service. For many, success was measured in how many East Coast schools offered admission, or how far away from Michiana a job would take them. I, too, did my fair share of exploring opportunities outside the region, but something always kept me rooted at home. The sense of possibility and genuine civic pride in the wake of the region’s revitalization over the past ten-plus years definitely played a big role in my formative years, and kept me invested in the community’s success.
So rather than follow the lure of supposedly greener pastures elsewhere, I decided to stay at home and water our own grass a little more.
By the time I graduated from high school, I knew my next step would be right down the road at Notre Dame to study philosophy. By the time I graduated from college, I knew I was staying at Notre Dame to earn a master’s degree in nonprofit administration. And by the time I finished my program, I knew that I would be joining enFocus and living in South Bend - Elkhart Region for the foreseeable future. I’m happy things have played out this way.
While a philosophy degree may not seem like the most natural segue into the business world, the analytical and communication skills I developed throughout undergrad are proving essential to my work. Philosophy really helps me consider all sides of an issue, look for strengths and weaknesses in each potential approach, and get to the root of an issue. Plus, my interest and background in ethics keeps me grounded in doing business the right way, putting the effects organizational decisions have on people always at the forefront of my mind. That commitment to people is what drew me to enFocus as an organization that could use business tools to make real, lasting improvements in people’s lives.
Being able to do this work right in my hometown sealed the deal. This community has given me so much, and I’m eager to pay that forward for others.
The South Bend - Elkhart Region has so much potential, and I’m ready to play my part in unlocking it.