My name is Donald Barrett and I'm a 1989 graduate of Fairfield. I live down in Charlotte, N.C., with my wife and two young children, ages 20 months and 7 months. By the way, my second child was born two days after my last day of work! Hence, the start of a stress-filled four months.
        I started using FAN around the time I was let go from my job at Wachovia upon their merger with Wells Fargo. I was a Senior Portfolio Manager at the bank for over nine years. Because of the troubled economy, especially in the Financial Services area, I knew networking would be a big part of me finding my next job. Most of my contacts were people I worked with so I knew I needed to expand it further - much further.
        I concentrated my efforts on the Charlotte Fairfield alumni. At first, I didn't think there were too many of us but I happily discovered there were a good number of us down in Charlotte. I e-mailed the alumni who were in the Financial/Investment areas and waited for responses. I did receive about three responses of alumni who were more than happy to help. I met with each of them personally and they all gave me other contacts that they developed over the years. And through those contacts, my network expanded even further.
     I believe FAN is a great tool for people in my situation but should certainly be used by new graduates, especially in this economy. My advice to alumni: Don't be afraid to branch out of your current location. You never know who might be able to help or who would have a connection. Feel free to contact me at DBarrett@EvergreenInvestments.com.

Go Stags,
Don Barrett

My name is Jason Rusche and I graduated from Fairfield in 2009. I graduated as a history major, and marketing minor. I also had a strong interest in the legal field. I was able to secure an internship in the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office the summer after graduating and a position as a legal assistant in a solo attorney's office. In late summer and early autumn, I began to use FAN at the suggestion of my girlfriend (also a Fairfield grad; she found a job in NYC in the marketing field). I was able to make contact with many alumni and found them very responsive. Alumni were more than willing to discuss my resume, their respective fields, and possible job prospects. As my search continued, I became more intrigued by the insurance industry. I was able to talk to alumni at various insurance companies in the Northeast and located a number of prospective positions within these companies as a result.
        I was in contact with a Fairfield grad from the beginning of my search. She was extremely helpful and put me in contact with a recruiter at her company, The Hartford Insurance Co. After a few interviews for a great entry-level position as a handler in the Complex Claims Group with the Fortune 500 Company, I was offered the position. I have been at The Hartford about eight weeks now and have really enjoyed my time there.
        I have to thank the FAN network and the Alumni Relations Office for its ability to keep alumni connected with the University and available to graduating students. I think it speaks to the character students build at Fairfield that we want to give back to the University and help each other. The alumni network is very well organized and makes it easy to connect students with alumni.
        I applaud them in this respect. Thank you.

Very truly yours,
Jason Rusche