Alumni Highlight:
Dannelle Tomarchio
Dannelle Tomarchio
Product-Program Manager, Girl Scouts,
Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas
What's your current position? How long have you been in this position? Can you give me a brief overview of what it is you do in your work?
I am the Product- Program Manager for Girl Scouts - Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. I've been in this position for approximately six months. I along with two other women manage the Girl Scout Cookie Program and Fall Product Program for the entire state of Arkansas and some counties in Oklahoma and Texas. This year roughly 5,500 Girl Scouts in our council sold $6 million worth of cookies! I manage the Girl Scouts Give Back Program, of which, we donated over 22,000 boxes of cookies to veteran students at universities across the state. I also design our program materials, handle volunteer and customer issues, and manage the Northwest Arkansas region's cookie cupboard.
What would you say most motivates you to do what you do? What are you most excited or passionate about? What are the goals you most want to accomplish in your work? Not so much the goals that are in your job description, but the goals you hold personally?
My career is with the Girl Scouts; but my passion is mentoring and coaching through softball, and teaching life skills through sport. Girl Scouts is where I'll hold my career, but my I hope is to have a foundation that helps girls in poverty break the cycle by giving them the opportunity to play competitive softball and, hopefully, gain scholarships to go to college through the sport. My foundation would consist of a training facility and a place where girls can go to not only train, but hang out and get help with school work. Older girls will also have the opportunity to work at the facility and intern to learn about administrative and leadership roles. I feel there are so many talented and intelligent young girls out there that, if given the chance, could become something greater. Competitive softball can cost a family thousands of dollars a year, not to mention all of the travel involved, i.e. hotels, gas, meals. Some of these girls' families may not even own a car, let alone the finances to join a team. Softball is more than sport, it teaches you how to properly deal with failure, how to pick yourself up ... Sport teaches motivation, dedication, teamwork, patience, resilience, and confidence. Girls who learn these things early can become successful leaders. Something that I think the world needs more of... Women in leadership roles to make the world a better place.
What led you to this job? What were you doing before you came here?
Before finishing my degree at WSU, I was in the US Air Force for 10 years. I'm originally from Arkansas and wanted to give back to the girls in my community, so I moved to Bentonville after graduation. I grew up in Girl Scouts and understand how important the Girl Scouts can be for young girls growing up in the world. It teaches leadership, goal-setting, and entrepreneurship. Girl Scouting also builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. It just seemed like a nobrainer given my passion to build strong girls!
Did you have any key mentors or people who influenced you?
I have a handful of people that I can look back at in my life and say they influenced me to be the person that I am today. My grandmother, Donna, who helped raise me. She taught me how to be selfless and considerate of others. She also saw my potential at a young age and introduced me to a retired English teacher at the young age of 4. Her name was, Leola, and she taught me how to read, cook, count money, sew ... the list goes on, all before Kindergarten. My mother, Debbie, was my softball coach from ages 8 to 12. She made me a humble player. She also taught me to stand my ground and fight for what I believe is right in the real world. Taught me to never let anyone run over me. My World History teacher, Mr. Mills, in 9th grade taught me to think outside of the box. He was notorious for throwing away the text books and teaching us that what you read isn't always the full story. To go beyond and do your research. Always keep learning.
I also was influenced by my high school coach, but not how one may think. My basketball/volleyball/softball coach from 7th-11th grade ... Coach Myrick. He showed me that the world was unfair and racism existed. We lived in a small backwoods town where you didn't see any people of different races. He came from Southern Arkansas to coach sports in Northwest Arkansas. Yes, that small town where the girls had one coach for every sport. 1999 was the end of my junior year in high school and he saw my mother out to dinner with a black man just before our Athletics Banquet. My mother said she walked by his table to say hello and he completely ignored her. I was the starting point guard, leading scorer in volleyball, leader in stats across the board in softball and had a great relationship with him. At the Athletics Banquet, as he named the awards, my teammates would try to guess who it was going to before he called our names. Most every award that was called my team would whisper, "That's Dannelle! " ... One by one the awards were called and warranted one confused look after another by my teammates as he called all names except for mine. Once he was done, I was the only person still sitting on the bleachers. Alone. The scholarship that was being talked about earlier in the year was, coincidentally, no longer an option. I learned that no matter what, you must take your life into your own hands. You can't leave your fate up to others. It was also my first taste of racism being a girl from a small town in Arkansas. This is where I truly learned about racism and how unfair the world could be. Not the kind of influence you would want, but I am grateful for him showing me a little bit of what others went through all of their lives. It helped me to put myself in other's shoes and understand who they were and where they came from. I am now able to get along and work well with everyone I meet. And for that, I thank Coach Myrick!
I also would like to give a nod to the entire Sport Management Department. Returning to college as an adult student after the military wasn't easy. They helped me gain momentum and encouraged me to push forward with my passion and goals of building this foundation for girls. I learned so much in the program and thank them for pushing me at times when the stress of being a student, a single mom, and holding a job seemed unbearable.
Were there specific experiences you gained while studying in the Sport Management program that prepared you for the work you do today?
The marketing and design aspects of some of the courses have given me a huge leg up, not only in branding myself as a coach, but also in my career with the Girl Scouts. Design and marketing work is a great asset in the workforce. Having it on my resume was what helped me get the salaried position that I am in currently.
Dr. Vermillion's Sport Psychology class was very interesting to me and a very valuable tool for anyone wanting to go into coaching. I had already been coaching for almost 10 years before taking his class, but the curriculum gave me so much insight that I have since used on a daily basis. It has helped me to form better bonds and gain more trust of parents and players. I incorporated his teachings into my practice plans and have yet to meet someone who doesn't back my goals.
I was also able to put down on paper, exactly what I would require when starting my dream foundation. It helped me to realize the scope of my dream and what it would take to make it a reality. Anyone got $2.5 million they'd like to invest?!
I also want to mention the overall benefit of the curriculum. I have used most all of what I studied since leaving WSU. I can say that I have gained knowledge from every course included in my studies and am very grateful for the quality of education I received.
What advice or suggestions would you give to someone that wanted to pursue a degree in Sport Management?
Really drill down into what it is you are wanting to accomplish in the sporting world. Make sure you take electives that will actually benefit what area you are wanting to work in. Civil rights classes, journalism, landscaping, marketing, psychology, accounting, statistics ... think outside the box. Don't cheat yourself and take something that is easy. Take full advantage of your education. It all costs the same and the stress is short lived. It's only a few years of your life and it'll be over before you know it. You'll be glad you did.
How did your experience at Wichita State help you find your first position after graduation?
To be honest, it was really hard finding a job at first. It's unfortunate, but discrimination runs rampant through the workforce. Being a single mom isn't conducive to the long hours of the sport world, at least that was what I was told more than once. I will say that when I reached out to my professors for advice, I was met with encouragement and leads to keep on trying. I made it work by giving lessons, working part-time, and coaching until I found the Girl Scouts. Looking back, it was all meant to be and I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. Know that it may take some time to find your first position. Reach out to your professors, they are here for you.
How difficult was it to transition from college life to your professional life? And what advice would you give to students that are close to graduation?
Advice. Have an alternate plan of income while looking for a job. Update your resume and always be actively networking. Start applying NOW! It's never too late to start interviewing just to get some experience under your belt. And, don't expect to land your first interview or you will set yourself up for a huge disappointment. Your spot is out there, it'll happen when the time is right.