Chi O Living

Today we welcome Sister Tisho Holtby Jessop, Pi Epsilon, to Chi O Living! Tisho usually describes herself as “Wife, Aunt, Dog Lover & Komen supporter. Working every day to keep my promise to my Aunt Barbara”. Tisho moved around most of her early childhood and finally settled on the east coast where she attended high school in Virginia. She stayed in Virginia for college and eventually moved to Maryland when she married her husband Stuart in 1998. They relocated to the Atlanta area in 2016. When she’s not playing Aunt to her 11 nieces & nephews, you can find her traveling the world, one bite at a time. Her favorite activity in a new country is to find a local grocery store and buy one of each cookie and potato chip to experience new treats. Tisho works for Event 360, an event management company specializing in peer-to-peer fundraising events, and spends her workdays coaching participants on ways to fundraise and achieve their physical goals – in most cases to walk 60 miles in three days for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. She not only talks the talk, she also walks the walk, having walked the 3-Day eight times and raising over $31,000 in the fight to end breast cancer. She walks in memory of her Aunt Barbara. She was initiated into Chi Omega at the Pi Epsilon chapter at Roanoke College and is currently an active member of the Atlanta Chi Omega Alumnae Association.

Today we welcome Celeste Burke Knisley to Chi O Living. Celeste is an initiate of our Lambda Delta Chapter at Kent State University and help the Executive Board position of Personnel Chair. Celeste is a Growth and Change Strategist helping ambitious and driven career women who feel stuck unlock their zone of genius, ignite their network into a super-power that levels them up, and propels them into the career they love and DESERVE. Celeste has over nineteen (19) years of experience within the non-profit and for-profit arenas; holding both a B.S and M.S. degree, as well as a Coaching Certification.  Most recently, Celeste held the position of Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for a privately held hospitality management company overseeing 19 properties, a sales team of over 50 associates and $105,000,000 in annual sales. She has seen what works, and what does not work. She has witnessed countless people who stay stuck in a role that they do not love - simply because they: · do not realize what is possible, · how to overcome fear, or · do not know where to start. In early 2020, Celeste branched out on her own to scale her own coaching business, has several JV partners, and is growing a side hustle.  Celeste resides in Denver Colorado with her husband and daughter and spends her free time with family, reading, and diving into new business ideas (including the Chi Omega Holiday Showcase and the Chi Omega Small Business Hub & Quarterly Vendor Showcase – which she is going to tell us all about!) Now…let’s meet Celeste! You can reach celeste at [email protected] and check out her websiste at www.truenorthyourlife.com.

Today, we welcome Rae Ann Gruver to Chi O Living! Rae Ann is a Clemson University graduate and member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. After graduation, she met her husband Stephen who attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and are the proud parents of three beautiful children! In 2017, Rae Ann and Stephen sent their oldest child, Max, off to college at THE Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Like so many of us, Rae Ann and Stephen had so many hopes and dreams for Max’s future. They wanted him to eat well, get good rest, study hard, and enjoy all that a campus like LSU has to offer – including pledging a fraternity. What they never anticipated was that after they moved him in into his dorm, gave him a blessing and said goodbye, that that would be the last time they would ever see their precious Max alive. Today, Sisters, you are going to hear the excitement of Max beginning life at LSU and of pledging a great fraternity…then Rae Ann is going to tell us of the excruciating hazing which Max endured that led to his lonely, painful, and tragic death in just three weeks of his arrival on campus. This is not a fun, easy listen, Sisters…but, in order for us to maintain the standards upon which we were founded, we must face these despicable acts in Greek Letter Organizations to END HAZING ONCE AND FOR ALL. This episode is for both our active chapter members and our alumnae…it is not a lecture…it is the horrifying truth that we must put an end to now! Rae Ann and Stephen Gruver describe their son Max as a “gentle giant.” He was a sports fanatic and wrote for a sports website even before starting as a journalism major at LSU. Just weeks into his first semester, Max died after being forced to consume 190-proof alcohol in a fraternity hazing ritual. The Gruvers have been fighting hazing ever since, including founding the Max Gruver Foundation (#fly high max!) and worked to pass new hazing laws in Louisiana called The Max Gruver Act. It was signed into law May 2018, just 8 months after Max died. The Gruvers received the 2019 Hank Nuwer Anti Hazing Award for commitment to end hazing. Rae Ann and Stephen live in Roswell, Georgia, with their son Alex and daughter Lily Kate. This episode is dedicated to Rae Ann and Stephen’s mission to end hazing, and - in loving memory of their precious son - Max. Fly High Max!  Now, let’s meet Rae Ann….

Sister Susan was born in Monroe, Louisiana and grew up in Knoxville, TN.  She went to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and pledged our Epsilon Beta in 1981. A year and a half later, Susan transferred to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and affiliated with our Pi chapter in 1983. Susan served Pi as Chapter Historian her Junior year and then Recruitment Chair her Senior Year. Upon graduation and marrying her husband Jay, they moved to Atlanta where she worked for the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company. They returned to Knoxville in 1990, and she then began volunteering for Chi Omega. She served as Pledge Advisor until 1996 when they moved to Appleton, WI. Since then, Susan has served as State Recruitment Information Chair (SRIC) for Wisconsin, Regional Alumnae Director for the Midwest for two rotations, served on the Scholarship Committee for the Foundation, continues to serve on the Donor Relations Committee for the Foundation, and is currently on the Ever At Heart Campaign for the Foundation. As we closed in our 125th Anniversary at Convention in 2020, Susan issued a challenge to Chi Omegas everywhere: If five thousand sisters donated $10.00 or more, she would gift $125,000 to the Chi O Foundation. Needless to say, Chi Os answered her challenged, and we could not be more grateful to Susan! “I am grateful every day for the friendships I have made and continue to make in Chi Omega. I volunteer and donate to Chi Omega in honor of my mom and dad, their friends, alumnae, and women in the chapter who mentored and guided me throughout college. I want to pay it forward by providing the resources to protect our collegiate Sisters and help them make wise choices.” Now, let’s meet Susan…

Today, we are chatting with Marve Ann Alimo! Marve Ann – originally from Chicago – is a long-term Floridian who attended the University of Florida and was initiated into our Eta Delta chapter. Today, she is the financial advisor at our Pi Mu chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University! The experience of Sisterhood is very different today...especially during the COVID-19 quarantine! Today, we are chatting with Marvee Ann about what Sisterhood looks like in today's culture and how we can support our active and alumnae chapters! If you want to reach out to Marve Ann, you can find her on Facebook. Check out her food blog on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mysweetnsavorylife/ Now! Let’s chat with Marvee Ann!  #chiomega #biggestandthebest #sistersonpurpose #chioliving

Welcome, Sisters, to EPISODE SIX of Chi O Living! Today is a very special episode as we talk about the issues of the history, diversity, equity, and inclusivity of our Sisterhood. As we reflect on the 125 years of Chi Omega and the social and racial disconnect in our country today, we must learn from any mistakes in our past, make a decision today to accept others with respect, and forge an even brighter future focused on the dignity and honor upon which we were founded. This starts with being honest and open in our conversations. Today, Chi O Living begins the conversation on these issues. Chi O Living is thrilled to open the conversation with Sister Quanna Walls who was initiated into our Theta Delta chapter at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI, April 1997. There she served as Community Service Chair, Social Chair, then Panhellenic President, and finally as President of the Interfraternity Council for all fraternities and sororities on campus. Quanna got her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Capella University in Minneapolis, MN. Currently, Quanna works as an intensive in-home individual/family therapist and intake specialist for Orion Family Services. She has remained active with Chi Omega ever since she accepted her Chi O bid. She has served as the Scholarship Advisor and Panhellenic Advisor for Theta Delta. At this time, Quanna serves as Theta Delta’s Alumnae Relations Advisor, as well as the House Corporation President for our Nu Chapter at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Currently, Quanna resides in Janesville, WI. She is the proud aunt to a nine year old niece, and 15 year old nephew, as well as the proud godmother to 12 year old twins and an 11 year old little guy. If you would like to connect with Quanna, you can find her on Facebook! Today, Chi O Living is delighted to WELCOME Sister Quanna Walls to share her Chi O Story! Now! Let’s talk with Quanna!

For Episode FIVE, we have Sister Susan Baker Dance who was born and reared in Knoxville, Tennessee. She has a remarkable story as a TRIPLE LEGACY and pledged Chi Omega in 1981 at our Pi Chapter - The Univ of Tennessee - Knoxville. In Freshman year, she served as Chaplain of her Pledge Class and was voted Best Pledge by her pledge class sisters. Susan served as Recruitment Records Chair as an uprising junior and finished her chapter experience serving as GM her senior year. Upon graduation, Sister Susan traveled as a National Leadership Consultant (NLC) for two years before being asked to join the National Chi Omega HQ Staff in Cincinnati. The last 32 years Susan has worked for the American Heart Association. Serving in various national roles from launching American Heart Association’s quality of healthcare improvement initiatives, to leading the Women’s Market, to establishing an Entertainment and Sports Strategy Team, and as of this - week moving to lead the Healthy Living Consumer Business including mental and physical health and even pet companionship. Susan’s national Chi O volunteer work has included serving as a founding member on the national Recruitment Team, facilitator at many Conventions and Firesides; served as a Regional Alumnae Director; and most recently is serving on The Nancy Walton Laurie Leadership Institute. For more information on the Nancy Walton Laurie Leadership Institute of Chi Omega, go to https://chiomega.com/leadership-training/ . If you would like to reach out to Susan, you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or you can e-mail her at [email protected]. Let's meet Sister Susan Baker Dance, Pi!

Today I am chatting with Dr. Karen Russell who is going to share her Chi O story. Karen was Personnel Chair and GH of her chapter and is currently the Scholarship Adviser at our Mu Beta Chapter, University of Georgia. You can connect with Karen on Twitter @KarenRussell. Now! Let's talk with Karen!

Today I am chatting with Jackie Edmundson who is going to share her Chi O story. Jackie was GKA of her chapter and served two terms as the Atlanta Alumnae Association President among other roles. Under her leadership, the Atlanta Alumnae Association has grown and won numerous awards. Jackie is on Facebook, Instagram, and you can connect with her through LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackieedmundson.

First, you’re a part of it…then it becomes a part of you. The purpose of this podcast is to share how Chi Omega has continued to enrich our lives even decades following our graduation! This podcast is not connected to the national organization of Chi Omega in any way, and all of the thoughts are my own and of the sisters that I will be chatting with! Today! I am soooo excited to be chatting with Penny Pierce Kilpatrick – who just like me – has a few decades of experience to share with us. She was both GM and GH of our Delta Alpha chapter at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, she was a chapter visitor, in many Firesides and conventions, has served on many national teams and is now on the National Ritual Education Team which she is going to tell us all about along with how Chi Omega has continued to enrich her life since graduation!