Name: Meredith Kussmaul
Position/Institution: Program Manager, Trademarks & Licensing; University of Cincinnati
Number of years in your position: 3
Alma Mater(s): Hope College '13, Michigan State University '16
Hometown: Hartland, MI
Twitter (personal): @meredith_kuss
 
1. Why did you become involved in ICLA?
I became involved in ICLA as soon as I started at UC. I didn't really know what it was at the time, but my boss, Marty, got me signed up and it's been a great resource ever since!
 
2. How has your involvement with ICLA influenced your career?
ICLA has helped me a lot with my career. I started my career at UC with no collegiate licensing experience, and ICLA has helped me to gain a much better understanding of collegiate licensing. I love that ICLA is a community filled with people always willing to help and share their experiences with one another!
 
3. If you could choose one (1) amenity to add to the workplace, what would it be?
Dogs! I don't have a dog, but I would definitely get one if I could bring it to work with me every day.
 
4. What is the biggest challenge to working in a university environment?
I find the biggest challenge being things tend to move slower than I'd like in a university environment. I understand that a lot of it has to do with procedures and finding the right person, but I don't like things to sit on my to-do list for too long.
 
5. What is the most important skill you have developed in your career?
The most important skill I've developed in my career is being a team player and understanding how to work with different groups of people. I pride myself in being approachable, and I think that has helped me a lot in my career.
 
6. What hobby would you get into if time and money weren't an issue?
If time and money weren't an issue, I would definitely want to try photography as a hobby.
 
7. When people come to you for help, what do they usually want help with?
In my work life, people usually come to me to ask about internal consumption issues. In my personal life, people usually come to me for advice – usually about their wardrobe.
 
8. Why/when did you decide to pursue a career in collegiate licensing?
I was introduced to collegiate licensing when I was a graduate assistant in Michigan State's athletics department. The job at UC opened up after I graduated from MSU with my Master's – it was perfect timing!
 
9. Who has been the most influential person in your career?
The most influential person in my career is a former boss I had when I was working in the Parks and Recreation Department in Ann Arbor. She pushed me and helped me grow as a leader, while always making sure we were having fun in the workplace. I love that we still stay in close contact and, even though we aren't in the same field anymore, we can still share a lot about our work lives.
 
10. If you didn't have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
If I didn't have to sleep, I would want to travel, play pick-up basketball more often, visit more breweries in the Cincinnati-area (we've got close to 70 here!) and learn to bake.
 
11. Who's your role model? Why?
My parents are definitely my biggest role models. They have supported my sister and I in everything we've done and have worked hard so that we could pursue new adventures.
 
12. What's your favorite quote?
"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out." – John Wooden
 
13. What is your biggest pet peeve?
I have two pet peeves – people who are chronically late or make me late, and when people don't walk on a moving walkway and block others from passing.
 
14. If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you have a good chance at winning medal a for?
Remembering song lyrics! I only have to listen to a song a couple times and I can remember the lyrics years down the road.  
 
15. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the field of collegiate licensing?
The best piece of advice I've ever received is the advice my grandpa would give to me after every basketball game, "keep working hard, kid." He always encouraged me, no matter if I scored the team-high in points or had the team-high in turnovers. For someone looking to enter the field of collegiate licensing, my advice would be to reach out to as many people in the collegiate licensing world as possible and soak up the wealth of knowledge that is in the ICLA community.  
 
16. In your opinion, where is collegiate licensing headed in the future?
I think there are a lot of exciting things coming for collegiate licensing, especially with all of the NIL talk. We are definitely going to have to be on our toes and lean on each other for advice as the NIL recommendations roll out in the coming months.
 
17. What is your favorite family tradition?
My favorite family tradition is spending time together at my parents' house near Lake Michigan in Holland, MI – especially in the summer!
 
18. What are you really good at, but kind of embarrassed that you are good at it?
This is a tough one, but I'd say I'm really good at organizing. I'm not that embarrassed about it, but I am a little embarrassed that my closet has to be sorted by color. 
 
19. What percentage of your work-week is spent in your office?
85-90%
 
20. What are you most looking forward to at the next ICLA Convention or Winter Symposium?
I am most looking forward to seeing everyone and continuing to build relationships :)