UNCW Swimming & Diving Class of 2007
Events: 200 IM, 200 Back, 100 Back
Degree: Communications & Film Studies
Profession: Co-owner Hollywood East Brewseum and SVP of Publicity for Universal Studio Group, a division of NBCUniversal
Current residence: Los Angeles, CA
What is your favorite memory of being part of UNCW’s Swimming & Diving program?
I’ll never forget the feeling of being part of a four-time CAA Championship winning team nor will I forget seeing Coach Allen, in all his Hawaiian shirt glory, losing his mind screaming “the hurricane” during my races when I would finally decide to kick in the last 50 yards. He was a truly special person that took a risk bringing me into the program, sight unseen, and shaped the trajectory of my entire life.
How has your experience as part of UNCW’s Swimming & Diving program impacted or influenced your life?
One of the greatest lessons being part of the program taught is me is how a group of strangers with a common goal can come together to achieve something extraordinary. As a kid from California, walking onto that pool deck for the first time and looking around the room at these people I had never met – a few with really thick accents and two first names (looking at you Sarah Beth Wood) – and having to eat, live, train and travel with them, was overwhelming. But as we pushed ourselves to figure out this new world of college swimming & diving we bonded, became teammates, then friends, and then four-year CAA Championships. And then we learned how to adult together. While my class is spread out across the country, we are all incredibly close and always will be. Nearly my entire class was at my wedding, a majority standing beside me as I married my husband. The strangers who I walked onto that pool deck for the first time back in August 2003 with are still my very best friends and support system to this day.
What have you been up to since your days on the UNCW pool deck?
I moved to Los Angeles shortly after graduation to work in the entertainment industry. I started out as a publicist for actors and reality stars before moving over to handle publicity for shows at the E! network. Now, I am the Head of Publicity at Universal Studio Group, the TV studios at NBCUniversal, overseeing the campaigns for their current and library series such as Law & Order: SVU, The Office, OneChicago, The Four Seasons, We Were Liars, Hacks, Ted, The ‘Burbs and the upcoming Dig and Dungeon Crawler Carl.
I’m now a dad to an awesome 2 year old son Archie and our dog Brom Bones. My husband and I are co-owners of a new business just opening in Wilmington called Hollywood East Brewseum. If Planet Hollywood and a brewery had a love-child, that’s what our place is; a combination of everything we love about entertainment and focusing it on North Carolina with a movie-theater theme, featuring props, costumes and memorabilia from locally shot tv series and films. My hoarding of collectables finally found a purpose!
I’m also a proud member of our alumni council, working to keep former swimmers & divers connected to the program and keep the spirit Coach Allen started, alive.
Favorite stomping grounds from your time at UNCW?
Forever and always, Flaming Amys; P.T.’s when Sarah Beth Wood & Melissa Quaranto could hook us up with free fries; Screen Gems Studios (now CineSpace) where I worked as a tour guide after practice; Hell’s Kitchen because of the Dawson’s Creek nostalgia; and, often regrettably, The Penthouse.
Favorite UNCW Swimming & Diving slogan or cheer?
“Expect to win!”
Parting advice for current UNCW Swimmers and Divers and/or recent alumni?
Being a college athlete is not always easy, but stick with it. It’s a major accomplishment you can always point to as you move on in life. Plus, championship rings go great with anything outfit.
Tap this community of alumni as resources when you enter the workforce.
Finally, don’t lose touch with those on this journey with you. It’s a bond and friendship worth putting the effort into.
Go Seahawks!