The best thing about a UNC education is that it allows you to pivot. ——丹尼斯·伯吉斯 '82
Alumna 丹尼斯·伯吉斯 is no stranger to success, and even so, the recently named chair of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce remains humble. 在与全班同学交谈时 of 1982 alumna, we gained a great deal of perspective on her 职业生涯 and the pride she has in her family, her work, and her school – 北卡大学校友会.
As a UNC student, Burgess studied journalism, which at the time was housed in 业务. The academic alignment of journalism and 业务 was perfect for Denise. 她把 业务 courses as part of her journalism major; an opportunity that afforded an education in the basics of 业务 while also providing her the ability to the engage 参加各种校园活动.
“The best thing about a UNC education is that it allows you to pivot. 这是 a great thing for an entrepreneur, because you can have a journalism degree and successfully 经营建筑公司.”
The flexibility and critical thought Burgess gained from UNC allowed her to work across 行业. Before running her current enterprise Burgess Services, she started her 职业生涯 managing a radio station in San Diego, California. 十年后，伯吉斯 returned to Colorado to work alongside her father on marketing the family 业务. Her smooth transition from managing a radio station to managing a construction company came through her ability to set goals and motivate others. 技术知识 she didn’t have, she gained from her father, and from a graduate certificate she completed 作为一个新企业主.
“这是生活的常识性应用. 你可以梦想并希望成功，但是 皇冠app官方版下载为你提供了实现目标的工具.”
Burgess understands that she’s an African American woman in a male dominated industry, but that doesn’t stand in the way of her hard work and success. 此次,她 knows that everyone has challenges to overcome and she keeps that in mind as she does 她的工作和指导新的专业人士.
“I always tell young women of color that they bring a whole different gift to the table. They are going to see things from a completely different perspective, and that 只会让我们的工作更有效率.”
That gift made headlines in 2017, when Burgess was named the first-ever African American, and sixth-ever female chair of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
“This speaks to how Colorado works – We are the people that say ‘If you work hard 足够，做得足够好，这才是最重要的. 这是当务之急。”.”
While her hard work, earned her the distinction of being chair, being the ‘first’ 会带来一定程度的额外压力.
“You have to feel it, because you’re the first. 你打破了那些玻璃天花板 会有碎片. But it doesn’t change how I do 业务; it simply means that 更多的人知道我们的业务.”
Now, half a year into the role, Burgess is pleased to share that fellow small 业务 主人经常接近她. Approximately 80-85% of her conversations with member organizations focus on the chamber’s response to common 业务 issues like making payroll, paying health insurance, providing benefits packages, and still being profitable. 伯吉斯的 personal experience as a small 业务 owner allows her to recognize the struggle, realize the joy in the journey, and set new goals for her 业务.
These connections and a commitment to her fellow members reflect the family legacy Burgess aims to follow– to leave her family and her community better.
“You do that in different ways: mentoring, giving, leading by example, and that’s 留给我的遗产. Some [colleagues] mentored me by example – I watched how they acted, treated others, and did things; and others took me under their wing – If they took the time for me, I can take time for others as well. 这也是皇冠app安卓下载安装 how you do 业务, treat your clients, and make your 业务 grow through a sense 诚信和社区.”
给n her desire to pay it forward and celebrate community, it is no surprise that Burgess counts UNC as part of that community.
“The Mayor of Denver hosted an event to honor me as the first African American chair of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Alton [Dillard '82] was there. 在 the proclamation, and right after the mayor said my name, Alton shouted “熊!’ right in the middle of the entire event, and fellow bears in the crowd also shouted “熊!’”
In honor of Denise and more than 130,000 fellow alumni – Go Bears!
校园文化 & 加维35号
丹尼斯·伯吉斯 recently volunteered to moderate the February 1 成功 Looks Like ME alumni 职业生涯 panel, hosted as part of the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center’s 35th 周年纪念日.
When sharing her own thoughts about the community at UNC, Burgess stated the following:
“The inclusiveness of UNC is that any student belongs there. 这是的能量 the school, and The Garvey has helped galvanize it. 它重申了学生们的愿望 a place to go just to take a breath, and gives them a place to call home.”
花点时间看看我们的 在线相册 to see all of the memories and connections made during the Marcus Garvey Cultural 中心35周年庆典.
