Q: What is the superpower that you often use at work?
A: Genealogy - I love uncovering family connections to continue the cycle of giving.
Q: What is one thing Apra Indiana has done for you?
A: Apra Indiana has given me a space to grow in my craft and a community that I can come to whenever I need assistance. I’ve developed friendships with this group that I know will last, and I appreciate that those members will go to bat for me whenever I need it.
Q: If the annual Apra International conference could be anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be?
A: Seoul, South Korea. I love Korean food!
Q: How do you explain your role to people outside of Development?
A: I’m an internal maximizer. I help gift officers build their relationship portfolios by analyzing giving metrics and showing them where we can unlock fundraising potential.
Q: If you were not in Prospect Research, what career would you have?
A: I would be an academic advisor at a college or university. I love helping students achieve their goals!
Q: If you could tell your 15-year-old self about your job, what would you say?
A: You get to be a real-life version of Nancy Drew! You uncover facts about people’s philanthropic interests and then use those facts to send people out and build relationships in hopes that the institute will thrive for years to come.
Q: Why did you join the Apra-Indiana board?
A: I love giving back to the community that has poured into me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the mentorship and guidance from experts in the field.
Q: Why do you think Apra-Indiana and the local Apra chapters matter?
A: The local chapters are more equipped to contact individuals on a one-on-one basis than Apra International is. It’s also more cost-effective for people to join a local chapter than it is to join Apra International.
Q: What is your #1 productivity tip?
A: Get yourself a to-do list and be ready to accomplish anything!
Q: Best advice ever received?
A: Treat others the way you would want to be treated.
Q: If you wrote a book about prospect development, what would it be called?
A: From Ancestors to Assets: Unearthing Connections Through Genealogy and Prospect Research
Q: If you wrote a memoir on your life, what would it be called?
A: "Pivot! Pivot! Pivot!”
Q: What book are you reading right now?
A: Prospect Management by Ruthie Giles
Q: Currently, what is your favorite restaurant?
A: Bento Bowls in Valparaiso
Q: What is your favorite social platform to connect with people?
A: LinkedIn
Q: What is the last movie or TV show series you watched?
A: Hamilton
Q: If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why? A: I would love to have dinner with my great-grandma, Mary Terlep. She came over from Yugoslavia in the early 1900s, and I would love to hear stories about her family and life before coming to the United States.
Q: What is your hobby?
A: I love spending time with my friends, family, and dog, Butterscotch. I also enjoy baking, crocheting, solving crosswords and sudoku puzzles, reading romance and mystery novels, and volunteering in my community. Yes, I’m old-school and LOVE IT!
Q: Are you a texter or a caller?
A: I am 100% a caller. It usually takes me 7-10 business days to respond to a text.
Q: Who or what inspires you?
A: My faith, family, and coworkers inspire me to be a woman who loves the Lord, loves others, and excels in my profession.
