Alumni Profiles

Peter J. Dalton '94, Affiliate Support Manager: Habitat for Humanity International Briefly, what is it that you do?: Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit organization that sells homes to low-income families for no-profit and without charging any interest. Homes are built using volunteer labor and supplies that are donated or purchased with monetary donations. As an Affiliate Support Manager, I act as an internal consultant to independent, volunteer-driven Habitat affiliates in the Northeast US (Delaware to Maine). My role is to give advice on organizational issues, represent HFHI, and encourage affiliates to increase their ability to eliminate substandard housing in their service areas. How did you get your current job?: In April 2004, I made a lateral move within Habitat to this position. For the prior four years as Northeast Resource Development Manager, I trained affiliates on how to do fundraising and I developed funding partnerships that benefited multiple affiliates. I started with Habitat International when a former co-worker from my first job alerted me to the opening. What, if any, obstacles did you face trying to get your first job in this field?: Pay can be a significant obstacle when working in the non-profit field. Salaries are less than with for-profit companies. At first, it may be difficult to manage when you are coming in at the entry-level. However, there are significant opportunities to move up quickly in an organization or in a field. So at a relatively young age salary concerns can be lessened while enjoying a more advanced position in organizations. What advice would you give to students interested in working in your field?: Two great ways to start out& #8212;1. AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps/VISTA & #8211;While the pay is very low, it also comes with money to pay off student loans and it& #8217;s a great way to make contacts and gain experience. 2. Consider Resource Development (fundraising). This is an area in which there is always a wealth of job openings, comparatively higher pay, and many opportunities for advancement. If someone takes a job as a Development Assistant, it unlikely that they will have to stay an assistant for very long. No matter what you want to do with a non-profit, funding is likely to always be a major issue. So even if you don& #8217;t intend to stay with fundraising, it will expand your future options. What are some of the out-of-class activities you were involved with while at college?: As it happens, Habitat for Humanity was a major part of my SLU experience. I helped found the campus chapter, served as chapter president, and worked with the local affiliate. The best part of my Habitat experience was meeting my wife Jen (nee Joyce) & #8217;94 who also volunteered with the group. I was also involved to varying extents with other service clubs, student government, as a student representative for a Board of Directors committee, a local tutoring program, and a couple intramural sports teams. How can students best prepare themselves while still in college?: Weave your course work in with your interests and your beliefs. As an Environmental Studies (& Government) major, I did an independent study on energy efficiency options in Habitat for Humanity homes. I suspect that there are connections between any field of study and the broad spectrum of societal needs that non-profits address. For example, in St. Lawrence County (my home county) over 20% of children live in poverty. Clearly there are social, historical, environmental, and economic implications and causes related to this one fact. Needs that can be expressed in literature or art, in political action, or remedied in part by science or applications of math. In retrospect, is there anything you would have done differently with regard to your career? No, I& #8217;ve been fortunate. Even though I worried about things along the way, my path seems to be working out. What are your future plans?: Just in April of this year, I moved (within Habitat) to my first job that is not exclusively fundraising. I will still be dealing with many fundraising issues, but I will also be actively involved in a broader array of organizational issues including leadership development, conflict resolution, fiscal accountability, legal issues and strategic planning. I am excited about what I will learn and contribute in support of others. Additional Alumni Profiles: John Marino, '83 : Vice President for Marketing, Actelion Pharmaceuticals, South San Francisco, CA Dawn Montanye, '89 : Manager of Conservation Economics, World Wildlife Fund Northern Great Plains Program, Bozeman, Montana Amanda Valenta '04 : Senior Audit Associate, McGladrey & Pullen, LLP Moira Collins '84 : Senior Vice President, Product Development, Gartner, Inc. Bruce E. Seely '75: Professor History and Department Chair, Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Technological University Mark Tavern '94: Director, A&R Administration at the RCA Music Group, a unit of SONY BMG Music Entertainment and home of the J, Arista and RCA record labels. Anthony (Tony) Ross '75, M'78: Vice President for Student Affairs California State University, Los Angeles George Ashline '89: Associate Professor of Mathematics, Saint Michael's College, Colchester, VT Alissa Bibb '03, Program Officer: American Councils for International Education Rick Persons, '83, Senior Television Producer, PGA TOUR Productions Ronald T. Burkman, M.D., '65 Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Ken Dowling ‘84, Executive Vice President, Grey Worldwide Advertising David Dusek ’93, Senior Managing Editor of golfonline.com Noelle Laing ‘03, Senior Consulting Associate at Cambridge Associates Dan Lee 05', Investment Banking Analyst, Cochran, Caronia & Co. Armand A. Rapetti ’73, President, CEO: JBS & Associates, Lakeland, FL Ken Polk & '91, Major Accounts District Manager: Automatic Data Processing, Williamsville, NY Wendy Davidson Freihammer & #8217;94, Financial Advisor: American Express Financial Advisors, Cambridge, MA Mayela C. (Calabria) Harris '87, Family Therapist (Social Worker): Hospice of Wake County, Raleigh, NC Peter J. Dalton '94, Affiliate Support Manager: Habitat for Humanity International