10 questions with…Michael Lofton
Next month, we’re featuring Erin Voss, a marketing specialist with Argent Capital Management. Have a question for her? Leave it as a comment below.
1. Where do you work?
I work at Brown Shoe Company in their corporate office. I am a talent manager and Total Rewards specialist working on the human resources and benefits team.
2. How long have you lived in St. Louis?
I have worked in St. Louis for about 2 1/2 years. It will be three years in May.
3. How did you end up here?
I grew up in the Detroit area. My dad took a job here, so we moved to St. Louis after I graduated high school. I went to the University of Dayton for my undergraduate and graduate schools.
4. How and when did you get involved with GenNext?
Evan Krauss, who works at United Way, introduced me to GenNext. He encouraged me to apply for the steering committee. I was actually familiar with United Way from college – I worked on the fundraising aspect when I served as chair of the United Way student campaign — so Evan suggested I get involved with the volunteer side of United Way through GenNext.
5. What’s been your favorite GenNext activity or memory?
The steering committee retreat. The retreat gave us an opportunity to come together and discuss what we want to accomplish this year and in the future.
6. Why are volunteerism and philanthropy important to your generation?
For our generation it is important because, all of us, during our development, have been helped by others. Someone helped us along the way in order to be successful, not just professionally, but also in our happiness and all aspects of our lives. This is the way to give back. Our greatest asset is to help the community. We have been granted an opportunity in the country to be able to help others. Volunteering at this age is important — not everyone can make a big impact like a CEO of a company and donate a lot of money. There are so many others that need help.
7. Where you would like to see GenNext in five years?
It is important as we grow to sustain that growth and also the success of GenNext. I would like GenNext to be considered the strongest asset in St. Louis and also the strongest arm that United Way has in terms of reaching out to young professionals out in the community. I would like GenNext to be a model for what other cities around the U.S. can develop to reach out and affect the community.
8. What was your favorite TV show as a kid?
I have two. Saved by the Bell and G.I. Joe. I was a big G.I Joe fan when I was a kid.
9. Cardinals or Rams?
Cardinals. Absolutely.
10. What city or country would you most like to visit?
Beijing, China, or Tokyo, Japan. I would like to see how much their government affects education there. I would want to see how much they stress education in their households. I would explore how much their country has developed over the years, by studying their math and science scores and how much technology has developed. I would like to spend a month or so there and interview government officials and ask where they see their country heading in the next couple of years. I know it’s not a very romantic answer!