DREAM COME TRUE FOR TEGHAN COLLINS

Teghan Collins, BBA '11, ABJ '11, was recently named Director of Social Strategy for OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. What can only be described as a result of patience, persistence, and hard work, Teghan has finally received her dream job. She shares, "My journey from a University of Georgia undergrad to a Director at the Oprah Winfrey Network has been long, full of obstacles, challenging, rewarding and draining. But my dreams never allowed my determination to dim. So in the end, my journey was worth it... but it's also still just beginning."

After turning her vision into a reality, one thing is for certain, her future is bright. Stay tuned because we are not done hearing from this Double Dawg.
Teghan's advice for students and alumni who may be encountering obstacles in their own job search, "Never give up on your passion or your career goals if they don't come to fruition right away. Every role that I've had up until this point has been preparing me for this opportunity at OWN and I am so grateful for all of them". 

IFCO SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES HERNDON AS PRESIDENT OF IFCO NORTH AMERICA

IFCO Systems, a leading provider of reusable plastic containers for fresh food packaging, announced Candice Herndon, BBA '98, as president of IFCO North America. “I am pleased to welcome Candice to the IFCO team,” said Michael Pooley, CEO of IFCO Systems. “Her strong leadership skills and proven track record in strategic planning, customer collaboration and innovation, and operational excellence make her the ideal person to lead our North American business".

Candice most recently served as the Vice President, First Mile Solutions (FMS) and Key European Accounts, at CHEP where she led efforts to eliminate waste, risk and cost in supply chains through product development and creative solutions. "The company’s vision of an efficient, sustainable fresh food supply chain is imperative now, more than ever. I look forward to working with IFCO leadership, the North American team, our customers and the entire fresh food supply chain to advance that mission."

Pictured above: May Hu

Pictured below: Wes Disher

MAY HU SHINES WITH HELP FROM THE TERRY EDGE

Like most college freshman, May Hu, BBA '21 started out feeling lost and unsure of what career path she needed to take. She was eager to do well in school and wanted to prove herself academically. She soon discovered an opportunity through Terry College. Previously the Terry Mentor Program, May was able to get paired with an alum to offer career advice and support. "I was blown away by the idea that people were willing to volunteer their time to provide guidance just because I'm a Dawg!"

Her mentor match was Wes Disher, BBA '15. As a recent graduate, Wes was able to relate to the various difficulties May was facing as she navigated her college experience. "When I first met May, she had already established some big goals for herself including graduating with a 4.0 GPA", said Wes. "So the first step for me was to figure out how I could best support her".

Over time Wes worked with May to provide feedback and encouragement that has helped her find academic success as a Leonard Leadership Scholar and honors student studying Management Information Systems, International Business and Psychology. The pair has kept in touch over the years, as May's professional journey continued to evolve, which has helped her prepare for her new role as Program Manager Intern at Microsoft. May specifically credits Wes for helping her find her inner confidence through mock interviews and networking tips.

When asked what advice they had for students looking to expand their network or find support through the current TerryConnect platform, "Be specific with your messaging. Include questions that are skewed to who you are asking - to make it personal", said May. Wes then added, "Yes, this approach is helpful to give the other person a better idea of why you're reaching out and why you thought they would be the person to ask. May was successful because of her intentionality". 

Due to her positive experience, May is already looking forward to the time when she will be able to pay it forward to an incoming student, as an alumni professional. Visit our website for more information about getting involved and supporting Terry students.