Pi Beta Phi - University of Minnesota

3 Minnesota Alpha P i Beta Phi at the University of Minnesota helped Terry Sutton '81 gain the confidence to follow her dreams. It all started with the sisterhood that Terry found, which inspired her to become involved in the Minnesota Alpha Chapter. She served as Social Chairman, working closely with the President, as well as various positions for social events. "It just really made me feel like I could be my own person and contribute and feel at home," Terry said. "I felt a part of a community of women." Throughout college, Terry worked toward achieving her goal of moving to New York City. When she made it there about a year after she graduated, she began a fulfilling career in design and started working in the fashion industry. After about eight years, Terry was recruited by companies in California, where she switched to designing home furnishings and ended up at Williams-Sonoma. While working there, she was recruited to return to New York to launch and run merchandising businesses for Martha Stewart. Terry was with Martha Stewart for about six years before deciding she wanted to move on and create her own company. She embraced the rewarding opportunities to create products for the companies she worked for, and TSUTTON & CO is a combination of everything Terry has done in her career, including merchandising, product development and brand development. One of the key highlights of her career is traveling the world. Terry will always take Pi Phi with her, no matter where she goes. Her friendships stay strong, and she embraces them. "That has really been one of the richest gifts I've ever gotten; just being able to travel and learn about different cultures and really experience them. I truly love New York because it's just a city that's constantly full of energy and inspiration, and my home. I made such long-term friends in Pi Phi that I felt like I could move to New York and still keep in touch with all these women that I went to college with," Terry said. "I've been able to see these friends over the years because of my travel, and it's just a really incredible bond that I have to this day with many of those women." While Terry was able to stay connected while traveling, it was hard for her to stay involved with Pi Phi as she was constantly on the move. About eight years ago, however, the New York Eta Chapter at New York University reached out and asked for her assistance on the Alumnae Advisory Committee, and it has been a fulfilling experience. "It's really been rewarding to work with these women that are in college, year after year, and see how they respond and how Pi Phis in this day and age think. All the changes they're making, and what they're going through with COVID-19 and other issues — it's really brought those memories back." Terry has been able to stay connected with Minnesota Alpha Chapter in other ways. Her friends from the chapter have had daughters who moved to New York, and she has become their connection. "I feel suddenly like Auntie Terry to these girls — to help them out a little bit or be a sort of family when they're far away from home," Terry said. "I'm here to guide their way through living and thriving in New York." Many people have an organization that they're passionate about and for Terry, it's giving back to Pi Beta Phi, a place that made her feel comfortable and at home. "A lot of people will contribute financially, but I find that if I can give my time and my knowledge to these young women and help them make their transition into the working world a little easier, or a little more inspiring, that can pay itself forward much faster and greater." With the house that gave her so much, it is important to Terry to give back any way she can to help create a home that will help members succeed for years to come. "If making that house a better place welcomes the girls and makes more women want to get involved purely because they're in nice surroundings, then that's my gift to them," Terry said. "If that nurtures them, makes them grow, makes them happy and makes them want to study, then that's what I can give back." Terry enjoys a rich, fulfilling life full of shopping, traveling, eating and cooking. Since her business has always been about lifestyle, she loves entertaining and hosting dinner parties. She also enjoys skiing a few times a year and exercising. You can connect with Terry at tsutton@terrysuttonassociates.com. ACHIEVING GOALS AND EMPOWERING SISTERS Terry Sutton '81 Gives Back to Minnesota Alpha Chapter President Izzy Thorne '20 Vice President Operations Mason Gilchrist '19 Vice President Risk Management Kara Flaherty '20 Vice President Member Experience Alejandra Sosa '19 Vice President Finance/Housing Grace Hobday '19 Vice President Community Relations Riley Grainger '19 Vice President Recruitment Eva Metz '18 Executive Council Visit Us Online e CHC Website mnalphachc.com e Chapter Website umn.pibetaphi.org e CHC Instagram mn_alpha_chc e Chapter Instagram mnpibetaphi G CHC Facebook MN Alpha Chapter House Corporation

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