Here’s the next installment in a series of alum profiles leading up to your 10th year reunion.
Below are updates from Emma Lewin, Alex Cohen, Douglas Helal, Kathleen Rivard, and Josh Fredman.
Yes, many of you have been keeping up with each other on Facebook, but sometimes it’s nice to stop and reflect a bit on the last 10 years. We’ll take the slow path and try to feature as many of you as possible before October.
In that vein, if you want to see your friends in next month’s post, refer them by completing this quick form — it’s a great way to shine the spotlight on a good friend!
10 years later, what are you up to (career, family, where you’ve lived, etc.)?
For about six years now I have been running a bike and walking tour company called Van Gogh Tours, vangoghtours.com. It was started by my grandparents 25 years ago. We offer week-long vacations in Europe, namely The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Austria, and Germany. I spend most of my time doing the administration aspect of the company, but during the spring and summer I get to travel to Europe to lead some of the tours. It is a lot of time spent traveling but it is a ton of fun! I really enjoy learning about the culture of the places and attempting to speak their language.
What’s the best thing you’ve done in the last 10 years?
Taking over the company was a big challenge but I am very happy with my decision. I had to learn a lot about the business world and the day to day tasks of running a business in a short amount of time. I am still learning new aspects to being a successful business owner every day! On a less work-related note, two years ago I backpacked for three weeks through Norway and it was really a spectacular trip. It is a gorgeous (but expensive) place.
Who is the one person you most want to see at Reunion (classmate, professor, etc.)?
I’m hoping to have a mini-reunion with my house mates from junior and senior year. There were four of us living together and we really had a blast. We haven’t all been together since UVM!
Do you have a post-graduate tradition with your UVM friends? (ex. You get together at the beach each summer).
Unfortunately, nope.
How is your UVM degree relevant to your career?
I majored in English and minored in business, so I think this was a fairly good combination for what I do now. I use my writing skills to better communicate with my clients through emails, my website and social media, and I keep in mind some of the things I learned in my business classes to help with the running of the business.
What were you involved with at UVM?
I was involved with gymnastics. I started with the team having never done it before, but the group was welcoming and happy to help me. I really learned a lot in a short period of time and I made some life-long friends. I am so glad that I got involved with that club because it made my time at UVM really special.
10 years later, what are you up to (career, family, where you’ve lived, etc.)?
I am living in Norwalk, Connecticut, with my wife of three years, and our 5-month-old baby boy. After UVM, I lived in New York City, Warren, Vermont, and a bunch of places in Fairfield County, Connecticut. I spent about seven years in finance, and the last three years in sales, and marketing. I’ve been lucky to be part of Bombas Socks for the past several years, and it’s truly great to love what you do.
What’s the best thing you’ve done in the last 10 years?
I recently had a baby boy, Bodhi, and he has literally changed my life. Marrying my wife, and getting this little man are probably the best things I could have done in the past 10 years.
Who is the one person you most want to see at Reunion (classmate, professor, etc.)?
I saw some of my professors a few years back, but I haven’t seen Deri Meier in almost that amount of time. I obviously hope to see other professors, and classmates as well.
Do you have a post-graduate tradition with your UVM friends? (ex. You get together at the beach each summer).
As any UVM grad, I’ve had several roommates head West in search of bigger mountains, and champagne powder. We’ve tried to do some good trips out to Utah. Not every year, but we’ve probably made the trip 4 or 5 years now.
How is your UVM degree relevant to your career?
Teamwork, and networking has been integral to my success. I learned a lot from interacting with other students in classes, but also in extracurricular activities such as the Marketing Club. Additionally, time management has helped me succeed as learning how to get a lot of work done in a short semester has helped me build strong robust pipelines, and has helped me gauge timelines.
What were you involved with at UVM?
I was part of the Marketing Club, did one or two years with the Snowboard Club, and also worked at Sugarbush Resort in Warren.
10 years later, what are you up to (career, family, where you’ve lived, etc.)?
I moved to Montreal (great city!) right after UVM and worked for one year at a dot com startup. I then moved back to Connecticut and have worked in online media sales for the past 10 years. Currently, I am the Digital Sales Manager for four Broadcast stations in New England. I miss the B-Town lifestyle and used to go back for years after until most of my friends moved on from Burlington.
What’s the best thing you’ve done in the last 10 years?
The best thing I have done was get engaged and will actually be married on 6/2/17. That may surprise some people who knew me at UVM…lol
Who is the one person you most want to see at Reunion (classmate, professor, etc.)?
I would love to see Alfred Snider aka TUNA again, but he sadly passed away. He was a great mentor and taught me many life lessons. In place of him would be my political science professors and a few friends like Andy Trainor and Nick DeNeffe!
Do you have a post-graduate tradition with your UVM friends? (ex. You get together at the beach each summer).
I try to stay in touch with the ones who still live around New England and get together when we can. A lot of them moved throughout the country so we stay in touch via social media but don’t meet up very often.
How is your UVM degree relevant to your career?
Sure, UVM actually gets mad props as being a great school (even better since I graduated). I am not sure how I got in and how I graduated with a 3.0 but god bless ‘merica! Many of my friends didn’t make it all 4 years, so I guess I was doing something right.
What were you involved with at UVM?
I was involved with making sure the ice cubes were cold at the parties and that enough people showed up to make them a good time! I am looking forward to bringing back the good times at the reunion!
10 years later, what are you up to (career, family, where you’ve lived, etc.)?
I still can’t believe it has been ten years since we graduated. Shortly after graduation I began my career with Comcast Spotlight where I have worked my way up to Senior Account Executive. I am also a committee member with Make-A-Wish of Vermont as part of the Vermont Wish Project (Young Professional Board of MAWVT) where I served one term as the director. Life has been a whirlwind of excitement from marrying fellow alum Chris Rivard in 2010 to buying our first home in 2011 along with adding our puppy, Rio, to our family, traveling throughout the U.S. and Internationally to Japan, then buying our second home in Hinesburg in 2015 where we currently live and welcoming our first child, Wren, in October 2015.
What’s the best thing you’ve done in the last 10 years?
Become a Mom!
Who is the one person you most want to see at Reunion (classmate, professor, etc.)?
It will be great to connect with past professors as well as coaches and players from Rugby!!
Do you have a post-graduate tradition with your UVM friends? (ex. You get together at the beach each summer).
We actually get together with a rather large group of friends for “Friendsgiving” in November, for July 4th at a friend’s beach house on the ocean and for a Pub Crawl in the fall. Logistics have proven to be more challenging as many of us in the group now have kids, however we make it work.
How is your UVM degree relevant to your career?
I use my sociology and psychology education on a daily basis in my current career with Comcast Spotlight. I act as an advertising sales consultant for local businesses, sharing my knowledge and expertise to help them grow.
What were you involved with at UVM?
While attending undergrad at UVM, I was a proud member of the UVM Program Board, valued player on the Rugby team, and dedicated work study employee in the director’s office and mail room.
10 years later, what are you up to (career, family, where you’ve lived, etc.)?
I’ve settled in Chicago—having lived here since early 2008. It’s a terrific city and my wife, and I love it. I’ve worked for United Airlines since moving here and it has afforded me the opportunity to follow my passion for commercial aviation and to travel the world. I currently work in the Alliances group and we are responsible for all airline to airline partnerships and relationships.
What’s the best thing you’ve done in the last 10 years?
I’ve been fortunate to have many incredible travel experiences—top of the list is a trip to southeast Asia with my wife and a trip with some friends to New Zealand and India.
Who is the one person you most want to see at Reunion (classmate, professor, etc.)?
I’m looking forward to seeing classmates and other faculty and staff I have lost touch with. It’s tough to keep in touch with everyone and knowing that I’ll have an opportunity to re-connect with many of them (I hope) will be great.
Do you have a post-graduate tradition with your UVM friends? (ex. You get together at the beach each summer).
Though the desire is there to see each other often, we’ve settled all over the country—still, a number of us do get together at least once a year. With family, work, and other commitments, it’s become difficult to get together more regularly. We have discussed, though, hopefully going to Africa on safari together someday.
How is your UVM degree relevant to your career?
UVM is not the aviation hotbed school some of my colleagues attended, but my studies in Political Science and Economics is widely accepted as having merit and acceptance in my work. Living in the Midwest, I have also noticed when I tell someone today that I graduated from UVM, it’s no longer—where is UVM? It’s now, “Oh that’s a great school” and most times they know, or have heard of Burlington. This was not the case earlier on in my career.
What were you involved with at UVM?
I was an Advocat, member of Senior Class Council and ACCESS student leadership board.