Alumni Feature: Karen (Look) Diedrich

VP Finance - 1985/1986

THEN...

Before my term as VP Finance, I really did not know what area of business I wanted to go into after graduating. As VP Finance, I was involved in the day to day financial cativities of council in conjunction with the full-time USC Controller and financial staff (unfortunately, in 1985 the executive positions were not full-time paid positions). I also had the opportunity to assist with texternal financial audit and this is when I first became interested in obtaining my CA after graduation. My position with the USC definitely opened doors for me when applying to the to then "big eight" accounting firms. In particular, I was able to interview in London with the USC's auditiors, Clarkson Gordon (now Ernst & Young) and was offered a job in Toronto in my desired area of focus. I do not believe this opportunity would have been available to me without my experience as the VP Finance.

NOW...

I currently live in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, which is a small Historical city about 30 miles outside of Cleveland, Ohio. I moved here in 1995, after meeting my husband on a ski trip to Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, NY. We have two children, a 17 year old son and a 15 year old daughter who are now dual citizens. I have been very fortunate to find part-time professional positions, primarily in the BioTech industry, since my son was a year old. During this time, I also completed my US reciprocity exam to obtain my CPA designation. I am currently the Controller for a publicly traded NASDAQ BioTech company and work in downtown Cleveland. As a result of technology, I can still maintain my flexible work schedule and enjoy a great work-life balance.

MEMORABLE EVENTS FROM YOUR YEAR...

As it was 30 years ago since I was on council, I had a hard time recalling our board’s accomplishments; although I am sure we had some! I had planned to skim through my old bound copy of the year’s Gazettes, but did not manage to find the time. I am fairly sure I remember that we managed to secure an increase in the student fee for the USC’s portion. My most memorable times were those spent with my Executive Council, Board and the USC staff. We had a great group of people who worked hard and had a lot of fun together. I would love to reconnect with my fellow council members- hopefully at the 50th reunion. I did have the wonderful experience of reuniting with Vicki Macauley in the Finance department at the USC this summer. It was so great to see someone from my term still working there! Way to hang in there Vicki!

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD...

I am very excited that my son has applied to Western for fall 2015. He was reluctant to apply to Canadian Universities until we went on some campus tours. After touring Western, it became his first choice! I had n

ot been back to Western for about 20 years and now have been back twice in the last six months. First on the official campus visit with my family and then again recently to attend a Varsity Men’s basketball game and tour some additional residences. It is amazing how much has changed since I graduated, although I was very happy that a few of my favorite places, such as Joe Kool’s and The Spoke were still around (even though The Spoke is in a totally different location). It was also strange to tour Sydenham as a co-ed residence attached to Medway. When I was at Western, they were both all-male residences and they were quite competitive with each other. Of course, the addition of the amazing new athletic facility, Ivey Business School and the Health Sciences building, not to mention the shiny high-tech Ontario Hall hybrid residence (where my son wants to live), have made Western and even better place to go to University. I wish I could go back! I am really looking forward to attending the 50th anniversary reunion and hoping that a number of my fellow Board members will attend the events at Homecoming 2015. With any luck, I can visit my son and my old friends all in the same weekend! I cannot imagine anything better!