Chi Omega - Kansas State University

M egan (Specht) Shepherd '06 and Janna (Pfeifley) Coglizer '06 were both drawn to Chi Omega because of the welcoming, friendly, down-to-earth, and fun women, and they felt at home right away. The two met on the first day of recruitment and became attached at the hip. Their friendship has only grown stronger over the past 18 years. "You know when you meet someone and immediately connect on a profound level? Someone you click with instantly and find a great rhythm? Megan and I had that day one on the recruitment floor, and we've been best friends and each other's biggest supporters ever since," Janna said. Megan and Janna were excited that they both joined Chi Omega and became roommates their sophomore year. Throughout their undergraduate years, they had endless fun together. Janna recalls "borrowing" owl and horse costumes with Megan and sneaking into fraternities to creep out their boyfriends and friends. Megan recalls making the best of Work Week with her sisters, participating in Tea Timing with her pledge class, and wearing stick-on mustaches around Aggieville. She shares that joining Chi Omega was one of the best decisions of her life, and Kappa Alpha Chapter gave her some of her closest friends who have become a big part of her life. Those sisters were by her side when she tragically lost her brother recently. "The outpouring of love and support from my Chi O sisters was something that I will never forget," she said. To Janna, Chi Omega was a formative experience that helped her develop her independence. It provided her with new opportunities to lead and grow within a supportive community of women. After college, Janna moved to Kansas City and she and Megan both married their college sweethearts (fellow ATOs). They both began working in corporate software, but after nearly 12 years, they felt stuck. "Like many others, COVID had us wanting more out of life and recognizing that our corporate jobs weren't fulfilling or allowing us to have the impact we truly desired," Megan said. The friends both loved and had a knack for design; they wanted to create something that was more than a pretty picture and inspired joy in others. Outside of work, Megan and her husband had flipped two homes and Janna had flipped one and built another. "What started slowly as a side hustle with a million tiny ideas quickly blossomed into something we decided with our husbands could be a real thing," Janna shared. Thus, their design studio, Mid-West & Co., was born. "At first, we planned to build our portfolio by designing our own short-term rentals," Megan shared. "We maintained our full-time jobs but received inquiries almost immediately, working with our first clients on nights and weekends. Less than six months later, we both fully transitioned from the corporate software world." Throughout this journey, Megan and Janna have felt a whirlwind of emotions: excited, nervous, motivated, scared, humbled, anxious, and challenged, but they are grateful for how far they've come. They've had the pleasure of working with amazing clients, including 14 Chi Omega alumnae. They also recently wrapped up one of their first Signature Homes, an 1800s farmhouse in Belton, Missouri, which was unique and special. The people make their job fun, and Megan and Janna have loved chasing their dream together. You can connect with Megan and Janna at howdy@midwestandco.co. A few areas of the house where Megan and Janna worked their magic! Pursuing Passions TWO CHI O SISTERS SHARE THEIR JOURNEY IN BUILDING A BUSINESS These ladies helped with the house remodel after the tornado! "It was surreal to go back and see the room that we shared in Chi O in such disarray from the tornado. We were honored to be asked to help, and we really enjoyed designing spaces and selecting pieces that we felt would be special for the girls. We were blown away by the time and energy that the board poured into the project, working incredibly hard to get the best possible set-up for the actives. We were very grateful to be part of the project and to have the opportunity to help." "Chi O created a strong bond for Janna and me—a sisterhood that created a foundation for our friendship and now our business." –Megan Megan Janna Kappa Alpha Chapter 5

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