Melinda Holm & Associates Blog

Howdy! I suppose that’s the salutation you expect to hear from a southern gal born and raised in Texas.  Truth be told, I’m a Northerner at heart.  Growing up in a house filled with Detroit native [heartbroken] Lion’s fans, I’m not what you might call a “typical cowgirl.” Upon graduation from U of Houston, I drove a large U-haul truck to Chicago to pursue my love of improv right here in the coldest city on earth.

Is there any money in improv?  No, none at all.  However, I truly believe that when you combine talent and love you can expect a masterpiece.  Chicago is and has been the key to becoming the best you can be when it comes to improv.  I have performed on the same stage as Chris Farley, Mike Meyers and Dan Akroyd-award in itself!!  I am having the time of my life and meeting my best friends here J

Some things I’ve taken up since being around you Midwesterners:

·         Bicycling

·         Ann Sathers

·         Goose Island brews

·         Gasping in disbelief when the sun warms the city to a comfortable 75 degrees

·         Lowering my standards on Mexican food

What can I say? Chicago hasn’t been that bad to me.  I certainly do miss home, but everyday I get closer and closer to becoming a Midwesterner myself!

- Annie Donley, Office Coordinator, Melinda Holm & Associates

I ended up moving to the big city while in college at DePaul University.  I grew up in the Northwest suburbs and will always have a special place in my heart for Woodfield Mall, IKEA, Septemberfest, above-ground pools, and kickball in the caul-de-sac. You suburbanites know what I’m talking about.  Still, the city has been good to me and there is nothing better than summer in Chicago.  I worked through college at the best bar in Wrigleyville, The Full Shilling.  How can you go wrong with free hot dogs before and after every Cubs game?  Genius.

Melinda Holm & Associates took me in shortly after graduating from college.  I have been here for 2½ years and, although it may sound trite, I consider myself to be extremely lucky to work amongst such a dynamic group of ladies I can both learn from and have a great time with.  Although this is my first “real” job, I find it impossible to believe that anyone out there is having as much fun as we are; while still getting so much done. 

I’ve recently kicked the nasty habit of smoking. Although I do miss it immensely!  On a side note, if anyone else is looking to ditch the cigarettes, I highly recommend cold-laser therapy.  I wasn’t really even looking to quit, but figured I would give it a try after receiving a couple sessions as a gift.  It worked great and is a great mood-booster as well.  Thanks Mom!  Since quitting smoking, I’ve been on the hunt for a new hobby.  I’ve been looking into cooking, but I wouldn’t say that I have a knack for it.  So far I’ve done a lot of cookbook reading and made one chicken breast all by myself.  Progress!!

Some other fun facts about me:  I’m a complete klutz and am incapable of having a drink and not incurring some sort of semi-serious injury.  I still sleep with the same teddy bear I’ve had since I was 2 years old.  (It’s not weird, I swear.)  I find Shia LeBouf and The Burbs to be more comforting than chicken noodle soup on a winter day.  I am a Netflix addict.

- Amy Sroka, Recruiter, Melinda Holm & Associates

Although I was born just outside of Chicago and lived here for the first five years of my life, I grew up in Rochester Hills, MI (about 30 miles north of Detroit).  After graduating from Western Michigan University, I worked for three years selling wine for a distributor in the Detroit area.  I then decided it was time for me to get out of Michigan so I moved to Chicago where I was still close to family and friends but more opportunities in a larger city. My first job here in Chicago was selling copiers which was definitely not a fit (I was personally escorted out of many buildings in the loop).  After that, I decided to take a job bartending when looking for a new full time position.  A couple years and a few bars later (The Gin Mill, Hi-Tops, Suite Lounge, and a Wrigleyville Rooftop), I decided it was time to get back to work.  Although bartending was a fun chapter in my life (I even met my husband!), it was time to move on… 

That’s when I started here at MHA.  I started from the ground up and learned from the best!  I’ve now been here since 2006 and have really enjoyed my time–I work with a great group of people.   That’s my journey thus far and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m a true believer that everything happens for a reason!

- Nicole McGrath, Recruiter, Melinda Holm & Associates