Meredith Cline became an active alum almost immediately after graduating, initially serving as a judge for the Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) before transitioning into the role of an alumni advisor for Paul’s FIRE Program.
For Cline, the decision to become an active alum was an easy one. She was active as a student and wanted to continue giving back to the community that had shaped her college experience.
Cline graduated with a degree in Business Administration: Marketing and works as a trade development manager at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.
What does the role of an alumni advisor entail?
The FIRE program allows you to be flexible with your involvement. For me, being a peer advisor looks like attending a couple of classes each semester to introduce myself, talk about my college experience, and my employment experience since leaving UNH. Beyond that, I'm a resource to the peer advisor and the curriculum, however they see fit.
Some peer advisors have utilized me more than others. Sometimes I've come in and do resume reviews or LinkedIn training sessions. I've also done exercises where each student emails me a professional introductory email to get feedback on their written communication skills. Other peer advisors have primarily wanted my presence to help guide the URC presentation because of my presentation experience. It really is different each year, which is why I enjoy coming back — there's always a bit of variety.
What do you enjoy most about being an alumni advisor?
I enjoy working with college-aged students. I think the most rewarding stuff comes from the connections that I'm able to make with the peer advisors, because I work a little bit closer with them on a one-on-one basis.
It’s fun to see them evolve and grow. They’re usually nervous in their first class but by the time they get to the URC, they’re confident and celebrated by their teams.
One of my past advisors recently reached out to me to see if she could potentially secure an interview where I work. I just took it as such a compliment that she thought of me years later and wanted to potentially work in my industry and with me.
Can you describe your career journey since graduating from UNH?
I worked with New Hampshire Distributors, a UNH alumni-owned Anheuser-Busch distributor, in Concord, NH. I served as their sales and marketing analyst for roughly three years. After that, I transitioned to Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, starting out as a business analyst for three years before moving to my current role as Trade Development Manager.
As a Trade Development Manager, I'm the liaison between our supplier partners, sales team, and local management teams. I cover Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, working with 20 to 25 suppliers, including brands like Aperol, Campari, Espolon, 1800, and Jose Cuervo. My role involves helping these brands build their presence in the region through our sales team.
What advice do you have for alumni who are considering getting involved?
The same advice I offer current UNH students: Just do it! If there’s an opportunity that’s even remotely interesting to you, go for it and get involved. I feel that the potential impact of a program like this is far greater than the time and energy invested to participate in it.
If you'd like to get involved with FIRE, contact Saege Robinson at Saege.Robinson@unh.edu
