Heather McGrew, Vice President

Heather McGrew, Vice President of Fellow & Alumni Programs
212.400.3954
Heather@echoinggreen.org

Heather develops and manages technical assistance for Echoing Green Fellows, alumni outreach and support ,and the search and selection process for identifying new fellows. Heather has over seventeen years of experience in marketing, sales, operations, strategic planning, and management. She received her BA and MBA from the University of Virginia. Heather has worked as a volunteer in a variety of capacities supporting elementary education, adult literacy, community development, housing, youth development, AIDS education, and the arts.

Why do you do what you do?

wdydwyd sign: Some hills are meant to be climbed.

I had just gone hiking in New Mexico and had done a hike that was as mentally challenging as physically challenging. Some challenges you simply can't walk away from. Social change work is like that mountain. You might not be able to explain why you are drawn to the challenge and conquering it may be painful and insane but you pursue it none the less.

What's your favorite YouTube/Internet Video?

Maybe it is a generational thing - I don't spend much time on YouTube.  I do, however, love that I can forward my favorite video clips from The Daily Show or The Colbert Report via email or Facebook. The Stephen Colbert/Michael Steele Rap Battle is priceless.

What's your favorite recipe?

I love to cook so many different things it is hard to decide.  My friends simply swoon when I make Molten Chocolate Cupcakes.

What's the product you wish you invented and why?

There isn't a particular product I wish I'd invented but I wish I'd come up with the concept for Starbucks. But not the whole "selling an addictive and totally legal substance for an outrageous price" concept. Rather it would have been cool to have been part of the team that created community spaces where people can gather to talk, read, write, think and stay as long as they wish.  We completely take for granted now that you can find a coffee house - Starbucks or otherwise -  where you are welcome to simply hang out as long as you need to, pretty much anywhere you go.  It is easy to forget that these community gathering spaces were hard to find as recently as 12 years ago.

Any tips for surviving the recession?

As my dad says, we got to just keep on keepin'  on.  Stay focused, do your best, never stop learning or growing and don't give in to fear.  And if you find yourself out of work, remember this downturn won't last forever and you aren't defined by what you do for a living.  I worked in technology for years and lay offs were simply a way of life.  As horrible as it was for my friends and coworkers and myself to get handed the dreaded pink slip, we always ended up somewhere better in the end.  Getting uncerimoniously tossed off the path you believe you are on often times forces you to re-evaluate your priorities, gain clarity on your values and helps you to think creatively and expansively - all of which are good things.

What was your nickname growing up?

I didn't really have one.

Any pets?

I have two cats. Vinny and Frank. They are the neediest cats on the planet. But very sweet and loving. Frank takes heart medication every day.