Gamma Phi Beta - University of Nebraska-Lincoln

A Slice of Pi T orn between a passion for fashion and a more tradtional career in engineering, Abby Gross '05 decided to take a chance and follow her dream. Thanks to ΓΦB sister Ellie Kirke '03 showing her the ropes of UNL's fashion classes, Abby earned her bachelor's degree in textiles, apparel, and design, graduating with honors. The support Abby received from her sorority sisters, including her older sister, Emily Gross '02, and the lessons she learned through her Pi Chapter experience, gave her confidence to take the path less traveled. "Gamma Phi Beta prepared me to take that leap. I couldn't have done it without my sorority sisters by my side." Three months after graduation, Abby and Jenna Rathke Mitchell '05 moved to Los Angeles together, where they spent several years working in the fashion industry and public relations, respectively. After nearly seven years in L.A., Abby moved back to Nebraska and started her first clothing company, East Campus Clothing. The clothing company paid homage to her time as a fashion student at UNL, since East Campus is where the fashion classes are held. "It was kind of a passion project. Nebraska-inspired clothing that took Nebraska traditions and had my spin on it," she shared. "I sold items online for about three years and had different collections each year." Three years into running East Campus Clothing, Abby started thinking more seriously about the company's future. Was it what she wanted to do? Was it growing? Did she want to expand to other schools? Then, she researched the clear bag policy at UNL, which sparked an idea. In what would be her final season of East Campus Clothing, Abby made clear bags, as well as keychains to go with them; they sold out, and she had to do another production run. The success of her clear bags with East Campus Clothing launched the next step in her career—CHANT. "I wanted to do an environmentally friendly take on clear bags and the live- events industry in general," Abby stated. "I wanted to make the bags cuter. I had big plans and other avenues of how to make the events entry process easier, more enjoyable, and better on Mother Nature." On June 8, thechantbrand.com went live, and Abby hosted a live launch event for CHANT in Lincoln; subsequent pop-ups will be announced throughout 2019. Abby successfully created an environmentally friendly bag allowing people to "breeze through security lines" in style. "Being able to get in front of people, who are open to the idea and accepting with open arms how I had always imagined and envisioned, is the excitement that makes it all worth it," Abby said. "This entrepreneur life is not for the faint of heart." Abby's time in Gamma Phi, UNL, and L.A. prepared her for this bold entrepreneurial endeavor. However, Abby's confidence and faith in herself coupled with her passion for live events and fashion are what keep her motivated to achieve success as the owner and founder of CHANT. "I always go back to 'just trust your journey.' That's always been my tagline," she added. "It all ends up working out in the end." You can connect with Abby and find out more about CHANT at abby@ thechantbrand.com or follow along on Instagram at @thechantbrand. Founded on Environmentally Friendly Standards ΓΦΒ Prepared Abby Gross '05 for Success in Fashion Industry A b b y G ro ss '0 5 w it h h e r si st e r, E m i ly G r o s s ' 0 2 . CHANT, Abby Gross '05's stylish, environmentally friendly brand debuted its clear bag line in June. Marylou Luther Imparato '48 Marlene Purdy Goos '55 Norma Bossard Pearson '55 Marilyn Mousel Fitzgerald '56 Carolyn Orr '56 Judy Easter Miller '57 Sally Copple Jacob '60 Karen Schroeder Over '61 Sandra Moody Benavidez '62 Jean Pittman Cederburg '62 Katherine Carstens Safris '62 Donna Eschliman Marsh '63 Marcia Codner Ressler '63 Victoria Shurtz Downing '64 Barbara Knapp Brandt '68 Linda Lewis Shanahan '69 Marsha Votipka Turbett '70 Emilie Brown Ellingson '71 Jennifer Fix Reck '72 Kimberly Sullivan Harman '75 Susan McConkey '75 Tamara Heinson Fowler '76 Kimberly Osborne Salistean '76 Tammy Larson Miller '78 Robin Younger Drvol '79 Sara Persinger Henke '81 Lori Fuglsang Belford '83 Denise Hartman Miner '83 Brenda Fernau Schimenti '83 Jacqueline London Monasebian '85 Stacie Yost Higgins '89 Lori Lorenz-Byrne '89 Angela Seitz '89 Rhonda Richling Schmidt '91 Shannon Smith '92 Miranda Swanson Fricke '00 Karen Stokely Rodgers '02 Patricia Armentrout Lacquement '04 Kelsey Hohlen '06 Whitney Ebke Dam '09 Molly Nelsen '11 Thank You, Loyal Alumnae W e are truly grateful to the 41 generous alumnae who donated $8,430 to Pi Chapter's spring 2019 annual campaign appeal. Your contributions make a difference for the future of Gamma Phi at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Stay tuned for how you can give back to your campus home later this fall.

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