Corbin Smith, Prospect Research Consultant, The Ohio State University

What was your first job?

I worked at an ice factory stacking tons of bags of ice onto pallets for eventual delivery to gas stations and grocery stores around the state. The work was cold, the money was great, and the work was exhausting. I loved every minute of it!

How did you get into fundraising and/or prospect research?

I went to Ohio University and ended up working in their call center for most of my four years in Athens. I started out as a student caller and worked my way up to call room supervisor before graduating. It started out as a way to earn some beer money and ended up being my career—who’d have thought!?

If you could live in any state, which state would you pick?

Colorado, for sure. I love hiking, hunting, skiing, spending time outdoors, and I don’t mind the cold and snow. Bring on the mountains!

What did you want to be when you grew up? Are you doing it?

I wanted to be an assistant director in the movie business—went to college for it and everything. I worked in the business for about two years before I decided it wasn’t for me. Turns out, not knowing where your next job is coming from or where it will be is really stressful!

What piece of advice would you give to yourself at the beginning of your career?

I would say, “You’re looking for a career, not a lifestyle. Something that is stable, healthy, keeps you in one place, with the same people, that doesn’t make you miserable.” I had to learn that the hard way, but that’s okay because now I have a job that makes me happy, I work with awesome people, and I come home to my wife and my cat and my own bed every day. I can’t ask for much more than that!