Professional History

After taking class from one of the teachers at Shawl-Anderson Dance Center (SADC) during her time at Santa Clara University, Piper knew she had stumbled upon something special. She applied for and was granted work-study at SADC within a month of moving from the South Bay to the East Bay, and remained in the program until the week before she had the honor of joining the ranks of staff at the end of July. 

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, SADC took time to review whether or not it was adhering to the inclusivity stated in its mission. From July 2020-November 2020, Piper was promoted to Equity Practice Advisor, a position she created in partnership with the directors to come up with a plan to assess and improve diversity, equity, and inclusion organization-wide. This temporary role was not reinstated due to budgetary reasons and Piper chose to leave, understanding that the organizations priorities were not where they claimed to be in terms of progressing toward a more just operating model.

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

SF DANCE GEAR 

MAY 2018 - AUGUST 2019

Starting as a Sales Associate in June 2018, shortly before SF Dance Gear opened its doors, Piper learned on the job quickly becoming adept at pointe shoe fitting and gained general knowledge about the many brands and styles of dance wear and shoes. Using her marketing background, she now consults on SFDG social media and is heavily involved in community outreach in addition to being on the sales floor.

SHIFT LEAD/LEAD SPIRIT EDUCATOR/BRAND AMBASSADOR

HANGAR 1
JULY 2018 - JANUARY 2019

In just 4 short months, Piper moved up from a Tasting Room Associate to a Shift Lead based on her knowledge of Hangar 1 products, ability to communicate with the team as well as customers, and her genuine leadership qualities. She learned more about spirits in this job than she ever knew there was to know! Ask her what distinguishes vodka from all other spirits--she gave so many tours of the distillery, she doesn't think she'll ever forget!

OFFICE ASSISTANT/RECEPTIONIST

PUBLISHER'S GROUP WEST: AN INGRAM BRAND/HACHETTE BOOK GROUP
FEBRUARY 2018 - JUNE 2018

While this wasn't the position Piper thought it would be, she is grateful for the time she spent here and the things she learned helping out the Accounts Receivable department with projects, sending and receiving international mail, and getting a first look at some amazing books!

SHIFT  LEAD/BARISTA/TEAM MEMBER

PEET'S COFFEE AND TEA
MAY 2017 - JANUARY 2018

This is, to this day, one of Piper's favorite jobs. She considers herself lucky to have been able to work in Downtown Berkeley at the beginning of her time in the very same city. It gave her an appreciation of the culture of the city while also giving a first-hand look at how rapidly a city can change and the effects it can have on the most down-trodden community members. Piper worked her way up from Team Member to Shift Lead and enjoyed both the growing responsibilities of management and cash handling as well as learning about the finer details of coffee and being able to share that with the team and her customers.

INTERIM MARKETING MANAGER/MARKETING ASSISTANT

SCU PRESENTS @ SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY
JUNE 2015 - MAY 2017

Knowing that degrees in Dance and English could only get her so far, during college, Piper applied to be a marketing assistant hoping to learn how to market the skills she had worked so hard to gain. What she found in this job was so much more; she found a passion, a knack, and a family who she knows she can rely on for professional or personal advice. She continued to be a Marketing Assistant after she graduated, earning a part-time job and acted as the Interim Marketing Manager for a summer, helping create brochures and media for the arts departments at SCU as well as for visiting artists. She also helped to maintain the website, design programs for shows, and assist with social media as Interim Marketing Manager, which she continued to do once the position was permanently filled and she returned to her Marketing Assistant role.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR / ASSISTANT PROGRAM DIRECTOR / JUNIOR INSTRUCTOR-COUNSELOR

AMERICAN DANCE TRAINING CAMPS
JUNE 2013 - JULY 2016

Over 4 summers, Piper worked her way up from the Junior Instructor-Counselor (the front lines of camper communication and fun!) to Program Director, responsible for overseeing the success of the camp and activities as well as remaining the point of contact for parents and management of staff. Piper learned a lot in these positions from teamwork, to choreography, to spreadsheets and inventory/ordering, to management, to how to "cure" homesickness...and the list goes on.

Why did Piper have so many jobs? First off, this isn't even the complete list! That aside, its because she knows her worth and her aspirations and when she no longer feels as though she is being challenged, she moves on.