On this episode, Kelly kicks off a new series of interviews with the Alpha Sigma Alpha National Headquarters staff. This first episode features Krystal Geyer Slivinski, Gamma Rho, Executive Director.
On this episode, Kelly kicks off a new series of interviews with the Alpha Sigma Alpha National Headquarters staff. This first episode features Krystal Geyer Slivinski, Gamma Rho, Executive Director.
Disclaimer: This transcript was developed with an automated transcription program, spelling and grammar errors may occur.
Kelly
Welcome to the Alpha Connect sisterhood series podcast. I'm your host Kelly McGinnis Beck, National President. This podcast is all about sharing the stories of our members and our connection through Alpha Sigma Alpha. Thank you for joining us today. So welcome Krystal Slivinski to the podcast as we kick off our series with our national headquarters staff.
Krystal
Thank you, Kelly.
Kelly
I'm excited to share this and I thought you'd be the perfect person for us to start with as our executive director. And I'm gonna start with how we normally do for every podcast, which is for you to share your ASA story, how did you become a member?
Unknown Speaker
So I attended East Stroudsburg University, which is in north eastern Pennsylvania. And as a freshman, I, well in high school, I was very involved in yearbook staff. And so just a way to get involved in the campus. As a freshman I started I got involved in the yearbook staff. And one of the editors, one of the main editors on that yearbook staff, her name was Brenda, she was an Alpha Sigma Alpha, and got to know her throughout my freshman year. And I believe she invited me to a recruitment and the recruitment event was actually at the very end of my freshman year, so a little bit different. I actually received a bid from Alpha Sigma Alpha at the very end of my freshman year, to then start and join in the fall in my sophomore year. So I had a whole summer to get excited and think about it.
Kelly
So you came through like a continuous open recruitment process?
Krystal
Yep.
Kelly
Oh, that's awesome. So it was Brenda that kind of encouraged you to join then?
Krystal
Yes. Yep.
Kelly
That's awesome. So you joined there. And your chapter is Gamma Rho.
Krystal
Yes,
Kelly
From Stroudsburg. University. And so tell us a little bit about, you joined East Stroudsburg. And if I remember correctly, your degree is in biology and yet you found your way to headquarters staff and have been what I believe is the longest tenured employee that we have, probably separate from maybe Rosie Fellin, and have been on staff for quite some time, but I'm getting ahead of myself. So, So tell us a little bit about how you how you found your way to Alpha Sigma Alpha, despite having a undergraduate and I believe a graduate degree in biology?
Krystal
Yes, so I attended as an undergraduate and yes, my degree was in biology and environmental studies. And after, actually, when I was a senior a leadership consultant, Jill Wittenberg at the time, came and visited our chapter. And I was standards chairman at the time. And on our one on one meeting, she just happened to say to me, have you ever thought about traveling as a leadership consultant for Alpha Sigma Alpha, and that one statement that she made, probably changed the trajectory of where I have gone in my life. So I did apply for the consultant position and got it and then traveled for a year. After that year, I went back to grad school, not knowing what I really wanted to do. And just since my major, original major was biology, I went back and got a master's degree in biology and wildlife resource management. And while I was in grad school, as grad school was at East Stroudsburg, I served as the grad assistant for Greek affairs. So I oversaw the the Panhellenic Association there. And I took the Panhellenic officers and was the chaperone to what was then called the NGLA conference, which was the Northeast Greek leadership Association, and I took them there. And while I was there, Jennifer Griggs, who was on staff at the time for headquarters was there. And so we connected and we were just chatting. And she had said, Well, you know, there's an open position at national headquarters right now. And you're graduating soon from your masters. I was like, Oh, yeah. So I applied. And I got the job. And I believe the title was assistant director of collegiate services. I think that was that was the title and got that position, and then has been at Alpha Sigma Alpha ever since.
Kelly
And so that was, if I remember correctly, about 22, the year the year 2000, right?
Krystal
Yes. Yep, 2000.
Kelly
So you know, it's been on staff since the year 2000. And kind of worked your way through. When did you become executive director? It's been at least 10 years if memory serves me correctly?
Krystal
Yes. So it was in 2006. The position, our our current executive director at the time, Nancy Coleman had left staff and went through an interview process. And I still remember that interview and meeting with Lari Scott and Angela Baldry and going out to lunch with them. And doing the during the interview at headquarters as well. And it was 2006 when I became executive director, and yes, Rosie does still have me beat, I believe.
Kelly
But not for long, I'm sure. So there's so many places, I want to go from that. But before we get into your headquarters role, let's circle back to your degree. So, because I remember as a volunteer and seeing something, you know, even when we hired you, I think Lisa Longo was still on testing. She's got a degree in biology, we're not quite sure what we're doing with that part. And I think, you know, we've had the opportunity to apply that especially I didn't realize you had a wildlife component to your master's degree as I think about the building that we're located on and the property and kind of the protection there. So maybe I imagine you were very involved in some of that work.
Krystal
Yep, that was all me.
Kelly
So maybe you can share for listeners who have never visited our headquarters facility, the things that you have done there from a wildlife perspective.
Krystal
Sure. So we, just very passionate about the environment. Still, I still do some volunteering and that area. I'm an avid birdwatcher, and I've certainly led some birding excursions on our national convention outings if the place was appropriate for that. But at our national headquarters facility, we have a what we call we registered, there's a lot of property behind our headquarters facility. And I registered that with the National Wildlife Federation as a backyard habitats. And it just what that basically means is you're not going to use pesticides, you're there's there's areas that are good for wildlife. As far as you're not, you're providing shelter, you're providing water, there is a small stream that runs behind our headquarters, so that fulfills the water component. And food, obviously food so we don't necessarily mow a portion of our property and let that be a little bit of a prairie area. And so then wildlife can join and we have lots of birds. I do have a pair of binoculars in my office, every once in a while when I need to stand up and, and take a breather, I, I stare out the window a little bit. We also have seen coyotes, raccoons, deer. Lots of different wildlife in that area.
Kelly
Fun, very, very fun. Thank you for that. I think that's a good way for us to preserve kind of the earth and and wildlife especially since just the other day, as we're recording this it was Earth Day.
Krystal
Yes.
Kelly
So let's go back to your current role at Alpha Sigma Alpha. You are the executive director, why don't you share for everybody a little bit of you know, what that job entails? And what kind of is a day in the life of the executive director?
Krystal
Oh, goodness. I think why one of the things why I love what I do is that there is no day in the life, it is every day is different. And so every day working with different volunteers, different problems, or problem solving and different. Not in a bad way. But you know, there's a an issue that comes up and need to be creative and how we solve that. Providing opportunities for women, and all the different ways we can do that, brainstorm and get energy behind that. You know, from our leadership programming, to our to our resources for chapter officers, for our keynote speakers that we do now doing virtually this year. It's just empowering to be able to push some of those things out to our members and constantly be thinking of different ways we can do that and different delivery methods as well. I oversee our staff who are just rock stars and implementing so many of these things that we do. And then also they're working with volunteers that are helping to do these things and fulfill our mission and vision. But then I'm also working with our board at the governance level and helping them with strategic planning and fulfilling what their their wishes and our in our organizational priorities and our strategic vision, helping, helping implement that to make sure we're fulfilling those those priorities.
Kelly
So you have been on staff for some time, what are some of the more notable or remarkable things that you have seen since you joined staff in 2000.
Krystal
So a couple things come to mind. Our Centennial convention was a big celebration. I absolutely love, love convention. I love everything about it. I love seeing the people, I love the governance aspects. I love the leadership aspect. It is a lot of work for staff and is absolutely exhausting. I need about four days after convention to recuperate, but it is so much fun. And so that centennial celebration, being a part of that was, was really cool. Not just in the celebration of being with people, but then just recognizing our history and celebrating that. So that was great. And then another highlight would have to be our facility and our the building of that the dedication of our new headquarters facility. When I was a consultant, I was in Springfield, Missouri and then while I was in grad school is when Alpha Sigma Alpha moved to Indianapolis. So I've, I've been a part of the Springfield, Missouri headquarters, I've been a part of all of the offices we've had, and moved around in Indianapolis. And then of course, then the seeing the work that went into designing and building and decorating the headquarters for, for us for members to be proud of and then for a great place for staff to work was a really a highlight.
Kelly
Fun. And I it's it's funny when you say you were part of the Springfield group, and I think about you know, so when I was in college, I was a senior, you were my leadership consultant, you're the last leadership consultant I had. And then I went on to become a leadership consultant. So I was that first group in Indianapolis. And just the change from there, and how we've seen the organization grow has been a lot of fun.
Krystal
Yep. Yeah.
Kelly
What, um, what would you say? Is it and this might be a hard question, but what would you say is your favorite part about the work that you do?
Krystal
Um, there's so many favorites, right.
Kelly
Rattle them all off!
Krystal
The people, the interacting with people. So whether that be staff, whether that be the board, whether that be our members, whether that be talking with advisors, or collegiate chapters every day, that interaction that happens is a lot of fun.
Kelly
What, what have you learned about yourself since you joined the organization?
Krystal
Oh, goodness. I think back, you know, when I first started on staff and some of the things you know, either Lisa Longo as the executive director at the time, or Kelly Skinner, who was the director of chapter services at the time, you know, things that they would say to me, to help me in my professional development, and I think back when I first became executive director, and just some of the some things, there's just a lot of growth and that's what happens. Growth happens over time and, and learning habits over time is not you're going to come into something and just be the perfect and know it all executive Director and just I can't pinpoint anything, but just there's been so many lessons that I have taken from and board presidents to so from National Council presidents from you and Melissa and Cindy and Lori, and, and other board members and national council members. I just, there's little snippets every day that I learn and grow from
Kelly
What has been some of the more surprising things that you have seen over the years.
Krystal
Surprising. I think some of the the trends in fraternity Sorority Life that you know, we go on this, run a membership retraction, but then we go and grow and then back down again. And it's just this constant wave of membership, when we have not so great years in membership and then really great years and I don't know that's surprising, but it's just something that not being on staff you don't think about because everything we do depends on our membership, right? So. So I think that was a big "Oh, well, it's a it's a year with less members. And so that impacts that definitely impacts on what we can then provide to members." So I think that was a learning opportunity when I first came on staff.
Kelly
I would agree, I think that makes sense in terms of we don't, we do now. But I think in the in the early days, you don't necessarily think about how memberships ebbs and flows and how that impacts our staff and our delivery and all of that. And, you know, certainly now we're in a position where we're trying to look 5, 10 years out forecast, what do we anticipate? And how do we continue to be relevant and flourish as we see kind of the ups and downs of membership as we look at birth rates and high school graduations, and all things that, you know, I, I would certainly say prior to coming on to the board, I had never really put into context and considered when you think about how we operate as an organization.
Krystal
Yeah.
Kelly
And we're certainly in that membership contraction period. Now, as we look at birth rates have declined, you know, and, and I was listening to a podcast where they talk about you have to look 10, 15, 20 years ago, and then you start to see and forecast and all of that. And I was like, Hmm, I didn't think through that, you know, previously, and look at it in that context, I guess. So it was, it was a learning for me, that's for sure.
Krystal
Yeah. And then of course, all the data around all of, all of it is definitely going to be impacted by the pandemic. And we're not going to end up seeing how that truly impacts us for another, potentially 10 years.
Kelly
So let's talk a little bit about what was it like, what is it like I should say, we're not quite out of the woods yet of leaving the organization through a global pandemic, right? Because that is very different than saying, Okay, we've got a decline in membership, and need to pivot. This was a whole different kind of pivot, if you will.
Krystal
Yeah, and there's so many trendy words out there, you know, pivot, flexibility and adaptability. And I feel like those words were coming out of my mouth every every day. And it is absolutely been a year like none other I've ever experienced. And the staff, the headquarter staff just really chipped in, or buckled down and got it done. We had to shift pretty much all of our operations, we had to revamp all of our recruitment efforts, we had to revamp all of our recruitment efforts and education, all of our chapter operations and how do chapters operate remotely, when they're not together, we had to revamp all of our events, and how delivery methods on those. So every, every single thing we did, we had to revamp and redo and create new resources and new guidance and communicate that out. And it was constant, it was it's still is a little bit, I feel like our chapters now feel like this is a little bit of, okay, they've done it for a few semesters now. And now they're able to operate. So it's not as quite as much communication, but there's still things coming up daily that, you know, a question from a chapter or a Housing Corporation that we get a question on how to handle this, it's instance or issue and we have to think through it, so.
Kelly
yeah, there was certainly no foresight and planning to say, Hey, we might have to shift how we operate as an organization, how we deliver our membership experience, there was no foresight to that. So it was it was very much kind of an overnight, you know, we went from, we're going to close the office for two weeks, right? We all thought in the whole country, oh, it's gonna be two weeks and everything will be fine. And here we sit, you know, over a year later. Very different, although it does look like some of our schools are going to open to in person learning in the fall. So we'll start to see more of that come back. And I imagine, as we move forward, we will also have to think through, you know, what, what do we carry forward from what we have just experienced? Like, what are the benefits and the good things that came out of that, that enable us to grow in different ways.
Krystal
I think about the sisterhood meetups, which were part of our originally started part of our virtual convention. And just our members had so much fun with those that, you know, we heard that they wanted to continue though, so we've continued those throughout the year and I think it's a great way for women to connect, who wouldn't normally be able to connect. So you know, somebody in Alaska and somebody in Pennsylvania are now on a sisterhood meet up together and, you know, doing a craft night. So I think that's awesome.
Kelly
It has been fun. And I think that's a really good point is we found ways to connect members virtually that we might not have thought of before. And it allows more members to get to know each other. Because if you don't come to a in person event, like a convention, or at the academy for what for an alumnae chapter event, and even there, there's a, there's a group of people that come to those events, you get to know. But this has allowed, you know, other members in maybe South Dakota where they don't maybe have an alumnae chapter, they can join a sisterhood meet up and get to know other members and, and whatnot. And it's it's been fun. I know, the most recent one I think I was on was a Disney trivia night. And just, you know, people showed up with their ears and dressed up. And you know, we got into these breakout rooms, and we became relatively competitive as we were trying to figure out the right answers. And then I know my group, we we had a blast, we would answer and then we'd spend the rest of our time in the breakout group, just talking. And there were women in that group I had never met before. And so I got to know them a little bit better and share stories. And it was just it was a really fun way to connect that I hadn't thought of and I had done a one the murder mystery one and my stepdaughter joined me and got to kind of see that experience. It was also you know, my way of introducing her to this is a little bit of what sorority looks like, aside from you seeing me on conference calls or hearing that I travel, you can kind of hang out with me on murder mystery night, and help me try to figure out who did it. And so she thought it was fun. She was really interested, she didn't want to be on camera, she had to sit off to the side. But she was she was fascinated just to hear the interactions and see that and so it was a nice way I think to bring that experience to her. And let her see another element of i and she's, she's a sixth grader, right. So she has several years before she's headed to college. But just to plant that seed of this is what sorority is like and something you might want to think about, you know, when you're ready to go to school. So what other fun things or things nobody would would necessarily think to ask or know about when it comes to working at headquarters, would you want to share and then I'm going to get into some of our fun rapid fire questions like we did with the board.
Krystal
Well, not necessarily working at headquarters, but working in the fraternity sorority field one unique thing that many people who know me know this, but don't necessarily know outside, but my husband works for a national fraternity, and he's the executive director there. So we very much know, the job and, and can have discussions and, and things like that. But we are both involved with the Fraternity Executives Association, which is the Association for all the executives. So it's kind of neat, having having that husband who's in the same field knows knows the job, that we both know the jobs that we're doing and can also understand when we have board calls and and when we're working with staff on different projects and recruitment and things like that. So we know the lingo and so it's kind of fun.
Kelly
So do you and Jeremy ever sit down and say, okay, we're just not going to talk about fraternity sorority at all, and find something else because you kind of live it and breathe it?
Krystal
Yeah, usually at the dinner table. We try to not talk about it because the kids obviously know fraternity sorority, no the verbiage and the lingo. But we try and keep dinner table time not talking about our work.
Kelly
And so do you think that JD and Henry will join a fraternity someday when they go to college?
Krystal
I don't know. I think it all really depends on where they go, right? And what's the best fit? So hopefully, but we'll see.
Kelly
They'll certainly come on campus and be experts in fraternity lingo and, and experience given the fact that they have parents that lead a staff organizations. So you mentioned FEA, the fraternity executive Association. So you are now a past president of that organization. And I believe Jeremy is the current president, right? So share a little bit about FEA and that because I know you know, from an Alpha Sigma Alpha standpoint, we were very proud when you became president of that association. Certainly a very notable accomplishment in your career history as well but share a little bit. I think that's kind of a fun thing for people to know.
Unknown Speaker
Yeah, so FEA is, again, it's an association that provides resources and education and all the camaraderie for the, all the executive directors and the staff member also education on headquarters staff members, too. So we there's been some great things that I've taken out, we have an annual conference. And then you know, of course, roundtables as well. But you know, it's a place where I can learn what some of the industry, what's going on in the industry that then brings back and I can help improve Alpha Sigma Alpha because I, I know what other groups are doing. And I know what industry changes there might be in the fraternity sorority world and certainly been able to use that association to help me professionally, but then also help Alpha Sigma Alpha.
Kelly
Very fun. And so was it, I don't know what the word is. I want to ask, was it strange to have your husband follow in your footsteps?
Krystal
No, I think we served on the board together. I think for a year, it was just a year, I think it was just a year or so that was an interesting being the president and my, Jeremy being on the board.
Kelly
Yes, that's a unique experience, I'm sure to share. Alright, so before we wrap up, one of the fun things I thought that we can do. While I'd love to do all of our 73 questions that could also take us another, you know, 20, 30 minutes, so I whittled it down to 15 that I thought I would ask you as a fun way for people to also get to know you. And these are supposed to be rapid fire, so don't put a lot of thought into them and don't feel like you need to explain them and I tried to pick ones that should be easy to do. But just we'll kind of launch into this and let people get to know you a little bit better. So are you ready?
Krystal
I'm ready.
Kelly
All right, here we go. What was the first thing you thought when your alarm went off this morning?
Krystal
Put my Apple watch on so I can track my exercise.
Kelly
Very good. What is your favorite TV show growing up?
Krystal
Facts of life? Oh no, Macgyver, Macgyver.
Kelly
Oh I liked Macgyver too. I liked Facts of life. Window or aisle seat.
Krystal
Window.
Kelly
What a song that you know all the words to? Making your cringing face that she thinks.
Krystal
Shoot by salt n pepper.
Kelly
What is something most people don't know about you?
Krystal
Oh, I like reading presidential biographies.
Kelly
Oh, yes. Which one are you on, now?
Krystal
President Tyler, some of these presidents are getting hard to find books about.
Kelly
If you had the ability to change something in this world, what would it be?
Krystal
Oh, people being kind to each other.
Kelly
Agree. Salty or sweet?
Krystal
Salty.
Kelly
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Krystal
Laziness.
Kelly
What's your favorite season?
Krystal
Fall.
Kelly
What is your favorite holiday?
Krystal
July 4, just because it's right before my birthday. Gotcha. So I had to ask him to take a break here. So being an avid bird fan, does Thanksgiving bother you? With the turkey?
Kelly
No.
Kelly
Okay. It just popped in my head. I was like, I wonder if she'll say Thanksgiving. All right. What is your favorite word?
Krystal
Word? I use awesome a lot.
Kelly
What is your favorite type of flower?
Krystal
Lily of the Valley.
Kelly
Starbucks or dunkin donuts?
Krystal
Well, I stopped drinking caffeine.
Kelly
Oh my goodness.
Krystal
I know all my coffee is decaf that I drink just because I need something. So I pretend it's caffeinated. But it's not really. But I would say Dunkin
Kelly
Beach or mountains?
Krystal
Mountains.
Kelly
Heels or sneakers?
Krystal
Heels.
Kelly
And I'm gonna add an extra one here. Lastly, what has been your favorite memory from being an ASA?
Krystal
Oh, I don't even know there are just been so many memories. I mean, from being an undergraduate to an alumna to working on staff this time. The headquarters dedication, which is up there.
Kelly
I would imagine that was a pretty unique and monumental experience.
Krystal
Yep.
Kelly
Awesome. Well, Krystal, thank you. This has been fun. I think it's a great way to let our members get to know a little bit about our staff and headquarters, I think it's always one of those mysteries, if you will love only wonder what it's like, kind of a deal. So I think this series will be fun to bring some more, I don't even know what the word is realization for lack of a better word, of what that experience is like. So thank you for being the first and I look forward to sharing the rest of the series with everybody. And thank you for your service to Alpha Sigma Alpha, especially as our executive director, we certainly value all that you do and, and lead our staff and work with our board. So thank you for all of that.
Krystal
Well, thank you. This has been awesome.
Kelly
Yeah, it's been fun. And to our listeners, until next time.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai