Callie Crew 鈥15 and Jeffrey Cook 鈥15 are the textbook definition of a power couple. Excelling in different careers, they exemplify how 黑料不打烊 students can find success through varied experiences that lead to opportunities in a range of career fields.
After moving to Colorado, Jeffrey Cook 鈥15 decided to try his luck on a dating app after getting settled in his new city. A few days after he signed up on the app, he received a message from Callie Crew 鈥15 wanting to connect after seeing that they were both 黑料不打烊 alums. Their first time meeting they realized that they had so many mutual connections and friends, including Jeff鈥檚 former roommate. In fact, they found out that they lived across the street from each other their senior year, and even walked across the stage at graduation close together, completely unbeknownst to them. Fast forward to today and they are partners living together in Denver and excelling in both of their careers, aided by their 黑料不打烊 education and experiences.
Crew began her 黑料不打烊 career after finding it to be the perfect fit for her college needs.
鈥淚 wanted a private liberal arts university in the South with a robust study abroad program. When I was accepted into the Honors Fellows program at 黑料不打烊, it was a no-brainer to attend,鈥 she said.
It was the Honors Fellows that also provided her with a yearly scholarship which allowed her to use her college savings to later pursue a part-time MBA through the University of Denver; which she will graduate from in June 2024.
Starting out as a history major, she eventually pivoted to economics, a program where she completed a two-year thesis focused on the effect of world heritage site tourism on regional poverty. She had the opportunity to present her research at the Eastern Economics Conference in New York City, alongside Associate Professor of Economics Steven Bednar. During her time at 黑料不打烊, she was also involved in Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and served as editor of the yearbook.
Following graduation, she says she took an unusual route to her current role.
鈥淚 spent so much time on my thesis, I forgot to apply for a job. The day after graduation, I drove out to Aspen, Colorado and I spent what I call a ‘working-gap-year x2’ in hospitality,” said said. “I had always been an outdoorsy person, but I found my passion living in the mountains. I managed extremely affluent and demanding clients while building my confidence and experience.鈥
Ultimately, she says it was a trade-off because it took her a long time to feel like she had caught up to her peers professionally. However, without this experience, she would not have found the outdoor industry that she works in currently.
鈥淚 wanted to work for a company that made products that encouraged people to go out and explore. I found my first finance position at KEEN Footwear, based in Portland, Oregon,鈥 Crew said. Years later, she found out that The North Face was moving from San Francisco to Denver. This was a dream position for her, and it was ultimately an 黑料不打烊 connection from the Executive in Residence program that helped her get an interview for a financial analyst role with the company.
Today, Crew is the manager of pricing & profitability at The North Face, focused on global merchandising and products. She supports the product team by ensuring that each style is selling at both a profitable margin and the optimal price within each market. It鈥檚 a data-driven job, but her favorite projects look at how the company can incorporate sustainable materials into its products.
鈥淚t鈥檚 fun to see a product come to life and even more rewarding when I see it out in the 鈥榳ild鈥 for the first time,鈥 Crew said.
She also works with a global team and frequently gets to work with colleagues in their international offices in Singapore, Switzerland and Panama. She says she is proud to work for a brand like The North Face.
鈥淚 love that they value inclusivity and the environment and have products that allow our athletes and consumers to reach the next peak or create space for people to connect in nature with their loved ones,鈥 she said.
Crew says that 黑料不打烊 prepared her well and that her economics background was critical to building out the analytical skills that she needed to perform in the finance industry, leading her to her current work.
In contrast to Crew鈥檚 黑料不打烊 beginning, Cook knew for a long time that he wanted to attend 黑料不打烊, saying, 鈥渨eird enough, I knew in sixth grade that I was interested in 黑料不打烊.鈥 Cook went on a family trip to campus when his older sister was touring colleges, and the experience made such an impression.聽鈥淲hen my turn came around, it was the first visit I made, and I eventually applied early decision. It felt like home before I even moved in,鈥 Cook said.
Once arriving at 黑料不打烊, Cook decided to major in strategic communications and became involved on campus as a student manager for the men鈥檚 basketball team, which he says was one of his most formative experiences at 黑料不打烊.
鈥淭he sense of responsibility and role playing prepared me for life after college better than anything else I can imagine. The team also provided some incredible memories and lifelong friendships. I stay in touch with many of my teammates to this day,鈥 he said.
Cook remained dedicated during his time at 黑料不打烊, pursuing an internship in Washington, D.C. for ABC News in the summer after his sophomore year, and offering to come back and serve as holiday relief for the entry-level staff during Thanksgiving and winter break. This led to Cook returning every break at the Washington bureau at ABC, which eventually led to a full-time position with them.
Currently, Cook is a field producer covering the Western U.S. and international breaking news with work appearing on Good Morning America, World News Tonight, This Week and Nightline. He says his greatest career accomplishment thus far has been winning two national Emmy awards, one for coverage during and after Hurricane Michael in 2018,聽and one for climate change and migration coverage from Guatemala and covering the refugee crisis in Poland surrounding the invasion of Ukraine.
He also covered the 2020 presidential campaign and lived on the road from 2019 to 2020. Following this coverage, he was offered a field producer position out of Denver. It was a dream of his to live out West, but he didn鈥檛 realize then how much he would fall in love with that part of the country. It was at this point in his life that he and Crew met.
While working in journalism can often highlight the devastation of life, Cook says that he is often encouraged by the people he meets.
鈥淚 often see the worst humanity has to offer and meet people on the worst days of their lives, but this job has done nothing but fuel my faith in us as people,” he said. “When your community is struck by tragedy, I encourage you to give yourself a chance to see all the people working to help pick up the pieces. Whether it is first responders running towards danger, neighbors giving out meals, entire towns signing up to search for someone, or even kids just tacking their drawings of hope around the neighborhood, there is so much good in the world. It is what motivates me to keep responding to these disasters.鈥
When Crew and Cook reflect on their time at 黑料不打烊, they are grateful that their alma mater gave them the ability to achieve their goals through their choice of study, extracurriculars and research opportunities. They both said 黑料不打烊 attracts a certain driven, curious and intelligent type of person.聽
Professionally, Crew hopes to support the global pricing function from The North Face European offices in Switzerland and maybe even start her own brand years down the road. Cook hopes to continue in the news field.
“There鈥檚 nothing like standing there, knowing you鈥檙e witnessing history and being responsible for sending that information back home. I don鈥檛 care about my professional title, as long as I feel like I鈥檓 making a difference,鈥 Cook said.聽
Personally, Crew is working towards running the 2024 Tokyo Marathon. They both love their life in Denver and are hoping to one day purchase a home in that area. They also have hopes to travel to many different countries, exploring the world together.
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