10 Within 10 Recognition

Job: Manager of CRM and data strategy for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Current city: Los Angeles

Hometown: Mount Pleasant

What is your favorite memory of CMU? The student body of CMU can't be overlooked. The people I met throughout campus, in classes at Finch, group projects in Grawn, or some lifelong friends made from freshman year in Troutman will stick with me for a while.

What has been your coolest moment since graduation? I've been fortunate enough to experience some incredible moments over the past 10 years working for various teams in sports. The opportunity to be around fans during milestones like Adrian Beltre's 3,000th hit, the retirement ceremony for Kobe Bryant's jersey numbers, or just postseason baseball, in general, are memories I won't forget. Oh, yes, and winning the NBA championship is good fun as well.

What advice would you give to new graduates? Everyone you meet is a future alliance, so make a good impression. Volunteer for things. Regardless of your role, you're never too important for mundane tasks. If you can, move somewhere you've never lived.

What about CMU helped you succeed? All it took was one counselor in a tiny office in the Towers to guide me in the right direction. Once I knew which classes were right for me, and aligned with what I wanted to do, the remainder of my time at Central felt more relevant and purposeful. When it was time to find work in the industry, CMU's network of alumni and relationships helped me initially get my foot into the world of sports. Having a university and department like RPL behind you is a true asset.