hooswhere

Sit tightly as we take a journey through the life and accomplishments of Evan Baum, a distinguished UVA alumni and the current Vice President at Ares. An engaging conversation that sees us traverse from his college years, where he was not only a prodigy in academics but also a stand-out soccer player, to his career transition from banking to real estate. His journey is a testament to the power of mentorship and the strength of networks, as he reminisces about his early days on campus, the influence of his mentor, and his decision to leave a potential soccer career behind. 

Buckle up for the second leg of our chat with Evan as we move from the field to the world of banking and then real estate. His stories of transitioning from public markets to the buy side serve as a lesson to anyone looking to make their mark in the finance industry. Dive deep into his portfolio-level underwriting experiences, relationships fostered along the way, especially with UVA great Ronde Barber, and his invaluable insights about asset classes. And as a cherry on top, we delve into his experiences of the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Rondes importance in his life. Join us for this exhilarating journey of growth, transition, and the power of networking!

Redefining Leadership in Education with Principal Dare'ra Spragg

Join us on an intriguing journey with Dare'ra Spragg, a remarkable figure in the field of education, and the principal of Leadership Preparatory Brownsville Middle Academy. She is redefining leadership and reshaping education from the helm of her school in Brooklyn, New York. In this episode, she takes us through her non-traditional path from UVA to Teach for America, and eventually finding her calling as a school principal. She opens up about her day-to-day challenges, her commitment to her students, and her relentless pursuit of creating a safe, supportive environment for academic excellence.

Dare'ras story is one of passion and perseverance. She shares her experiences from her college days at UVA, where she found her sense of community in various clubs, leading her to join Teach for America. We discuss the critical skills she honed during this period and her eye-opening experiences in Atlanta public schools. It was here that she witnessed the stark achievement gap in America, a realization that spurred her decision to earn a master's degree, backed by a robust support system embodied by her family.

In the final segment of the episode, listen to Dare'ra as she reflects on her journey to becoming a principal, supported by her post-graduate experience at Johns Hopkins University. She discusses her experiences teaching in Baltimore and New York City, and how these experiences prepared her for her current role. We also delve into the significant impact of the pandemic on student learning, the importance of fostering relationships within the classroom, and the critical role of school safety. If education and leadership inspire you, or if you enjoy hearing about the journey of a passionate professional, this episode with Dare'raa Spragg is a must-listen.

From Interior Design to Full-Time Painting: An Artist's Journey with Lucy Clare Spooner

Ever wondered how an interior designer turned full-time painter navigates the uncertainties of the art world while still pursuing their passion? Meet Lucy Clare Spooner, a creative soul from the small town of Williamsburg, Virginia, now thriving on the bustling streets of Brooklyn, New York. Clare takes us through her interesting journey, from majoring in Psychology and French at UVA to her unexpected transition into painting. Hear first-hand about her experiences moving back to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia at a young age and the cultural shock that ensued.

In our engaging conversation with Clare, we uncover the fascinating dynamics of art business pricing and company valuations. She enlightens us on the complex art of pricing artwork, factoring in size and materials, and the concept of allowing potential buyers to determine the worth of a piece. We also dive into the unpredictable nature of art fairs and the rollercoaster ride that is making money in the art industry. Join us as Clare shares her unique journey and learn how she successfully juggles her love for interior design with her commitment to painting.

Are you familiar with the journey of a student-athlete, from the struggles of maintaining a balance between sports and academics to chasing dreams of making it to the NFL? Join us as we navigate the inspiring journey of UVA Football Alumnis, Austin Pasztor & Perry Jones. 

Transitioning from a thrilling football career to finding a new passion can be quite a challenge.  In this episode you will see there's more than meets the eye when it comes to the life of a student-athlete. Buckle up as we delve into the challenges of transferring schools, the importance of staying focused amidst adversity, and the path that led to each of their current positions.

Whether you're a sports enthusiast, an aspiring athlete, or simply looking for some motivation, this episode promises to captivate you with profound insights into the dynamic world of sports.

Summary

In another light-hearted conversation, listen in as Chase, Max and their friend Billy Schautz touch on college experiences at UVA and how they contributed to the Billy’s career in the gaming industry. They discuss Billy’s current position at Mythical Games, a prominent startup in the gaming space, and his thoughts on the gaming industry as a whole. 

Billy spills the beans about his time as an intern at EA, where he dove into the world of Madden and NCAA games. His focus? Player ratings and crafting game modes that would ignite passion among gamers. Triumph followed as he led the charge in running Madden Ultimate Team and Madden Mobile, overseeing a crew of 30 talented individuals. However, he soon realized that his growth within the Madden realm had its limits. And so, a new path beckoned—a journey that led them to the realms of Amazon and Twitch streaming. He discovered his prowess in business development and brokering deals between Amazon and EA to deliver epic game content to hungry audiences, which ultimately became his passion.

Connect with Billy:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bschautz/

Hooswhere Podcast_Tia Nichols_Show Notes

What does it take to pursue a career in art in today’s highly left-brain excited world? Perseverance? Definitely. Passion? No doubt. Networking and community-building? That’s not something we know a lot about.

In today’s conversation, you’ll hear about how Tia Nichols, an art-lover since childhood, decided to pursue the path seriously in college and how she landed her first job through her connections. She shares how she sustains herself as an artist by building a brand for herself and working multiple jobs. She also talks about the grant opportunities available for artists and the importance of networking to get recognized in the industry. Tia is currently a gallery manager, chief curator, and multimedia artist. 

You’ll also get insights into the real challenges faced by artists, especially by those from the minority communities. Being involved in the Black Student Alliance at her university showed Tia the challenges of being a minority in a predominantly white institution first-hand. 

If you’re an artist, you’ll love learning about the process of curating an art exhibition, starting with brainstorming a theme and then selecting relevant artwork to showcase from Tia. You’ll also benefit from learning how to leverage your connections in the art world, valuing your community, and staying focussed and working hard in making a sustainable life out of a career in art. So, do not forget to plug this 30-minute conversation somewhere in your schedule today!

Episode Highlights:

• Building a brand is crucial for artists to get recognized in the industry.
• Working multiple jobs is an effective way of sustaining oneself as an artist.
• Grant opportunities are available for artists to fund their art and supplies.
• Accessibility of art is essential, and everyone should have the ability to see, obtain, and create art.

About Tia Nichols

Tia Nichols is an artist, gallery manager, and curator from Detroit. She completed American Sign Language and Deaf Studies from the University of Virginia. 

Housing costs in the United States are constantly rising. 

Why that matters? Is because an increasing number of individuals and families continue to struggle to find quality and affordable homes today!

Jason Bordainick, our guest for today’s episode, and the co-founder of Hudson Valley Property Group, recognized this issue and addressed it. And sitting with us today, he’s talking about everything it took for him to identify the problem and remedy it. 

Bordainick's entrepreneurial journey began at the University of Virginia, where he founded Off Campus Partners, a company that helped students find off-campus housing. After completing his MBA at Stanford, he founded Hudson Valley Property Group with his childhood friend, Andrew Cavaluzzi, with a focus on making sustainable improvements to affordable housing and providing a better standard of living for their residents. 

Bordainick's journey shows that entrepreneurial success can come from identifying a need and providing a solution that serves both customers and investors.

In this episode, Jason Bordainick speaks about his decision-making experience and entrepreneurship. He discusses the strong sense of connection he feels to UVA's culture. He also discusses how he’s found a sense of community through athletics and the McIntire school 

And in case you’re wondering, Bordainick's interest in entrepreneurship dates back to his childhood, where he was always fascinated with the idea of starting a company. He started a business during the dot-com bubble in 2000, until later navigating the challenges of raising capital during the bust and founding Hudson Valley Property Group.

Throughout this 40-minute conversation, Bordainick emphasizes the importance of finding the right partner and gaining experience along the way. He also touches on the negative perceptions surrounding affordable housing and how his company is working to change them. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Bordainick advises that businesses are built around solving a problem and making something better!

Episode Highlights:

• Identifying a need and providing a solution that serves both the customers and the investors is the recipe for entrepreneurial success.
• Finding a good partner is crucial to success in business.
• Balancing academics with social activities and extracurricular pursuits can lead to success both in and out of the classroom.
• Building relationships with professors and alumni can lead to valuable opportunities after graduation.
• Starting a business during a downturn can be challenging, but it's possible to bootstrap your way to profitability.
• Businesses are built around solving a problem and making something better.

Meet Jason:

Jason Bordainick is the co-founder of the Hudson Valley Property Group, a company he built with a vision to create a preeminent housing preservation firm, improving upon the availability, quality, and affordability of housing across the country. Jason is a recognized industry leader and applies his creativity, tenacity and business acumen towards building an impactful organization that achieves outstanding results for its partners – both for-profit and nonprofit, and the communities it serves. He leads the strategic direction for the firm and ensures each project, partnership and investment is structured for success.

Connect with Jason:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-bordainick-4b80861/

Summary

An exclusive behind-the-scenes peek into the thoughts of a passionate literature student in the AI-ridden world of today, how to thrive amid fears of being replaced by robots, and what it takes to become a Jeopardy! contestant. Didn’t expect the last one? That’s one of our biggest highlights from today! Join Lloyd and your curious hosts Chase Minnifield and Max Milien as they catch up with Llyod about student journey so far.

From acing the online and in-person auditions to the high-pressure moments on set, Lloyd shares the exhilarating and nerve-wracking experience of being a Jeopardy! contestant. The conversation also has Lloyd also discuss his academic background, his passion for pursuing literature, and the challenges facing English departments in today's world. This is NOT a conversation to be missed for many reasons, including these interesting highlights:

•A walkthrough of Jeopardy’s participation process that includes an online test, auditions, and a mock game with potential contestants.
•Top advice on pursuing one's interests and passions.
•Lloyd’s experience graduating with a double major in CS and English and pursuing a PhD in English Literature, with interests in the intersection of tech and the humanities.
•Insights on the impact of technology on education and the need for English departments to teach critical thinking skills.
•A discussion on the rising cost of college and the employability of degrees like English, with acknowledgement of the difficulty of obtaining a tenured professor position.
•Details about the process of looking for teaching jobs, involving a job list released by the Modern Language Association.
•Lloyd’s willingness to teach at any type of college in the United States and their broad application strategy.

Connect with Llyod!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyd-sy-63422066

Hooswhere podcast is where UVA alums catch up with UVA alums.  Hosted by Chase Minnifield, and Max Milien they catch up with UVA alumni's and see what they are doing post graduation in business, life and entrepreneurship.

EPS 159 ft. Zander Geronimos - we discussed how he ended up at UVA, the community he is building through Real estate at UVA and him becoming the go to guy when it comes to prop tech investing and consulting

Website: http://www.hooswherepodcast.com/​​​
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6f4eQqa...

Chase Minnifield: @chaseminnifield
Max Milien: @multimili