A-List Profile: by Chad Pipkins

Here is what being an A Lister means to me:

For starters, when I was growing up in Northern Michigan I had the pleasure of my father taking me to school every morning; I always enjoyed the talks and lectures that he gave me; to sum it up he always preached to me, "son if you want to be somebody someday you need to get an education!" Not knowing until I graduated from high school and went off to college that my father didn't graduate from high school. He was still able to create a large amount of success for himself and give his family everything they wanted. I'm so very thankful. 

So, I am the first person in my entire family to go to college, so that was a huge step for me and a bit scary at first! However, I always told myself that I am going to do my best and give it 110% no matter what happens and if I fail I can at least say I gave it my all. 

When I got that email stating that I made it on Professor Beck's A list, it showed me that I can do anything if I put my mind to it. It showed me that I can create my own personal success. 

Not only was it me that pushed myself, but it was the influence from Professor Valerie Beck that motivated me to do my best! She understood me and inspired me to be the best person I can be!

Being an A Lister is more than a title or an incentive, its proof that with hard work and determination you can achieve anything! The world is in your hands, don't give up, believe in yourself and you can achieve your wildest dreams!

Best wishes and regards,

Chad Pipkins 

A-List Chocolate and Macaron Party

“A passionate belief in your business and personal objectives can make all the difference between success and failure. If you aren't proud of what you're doing, why should anybody else be?”
- Richard Branson

Deeply proud of my students at the Spring 2017 A-List Chocolate & Macaron Party: Benedita Silva Pinto, Martim Castro, Sean Johnson, yours truly Valerie Beck, Michael Wulfstat, Doina Railean, Kadisha Mukhamejanova.
Looking good!

A quick quiz for you:

Q: How do you get onto the A-List?
A: Earn an A in my class!

Q: What do you get on the A List?
A: Perks!

As the Spring 2017 term drew to a close at Kendall College, where I am an adjunct professor alongside my business Chocolate Uplift, I asked seasoned A-Listers what type of event they would like in order to celebrate the end of another successful season, and to welcome our new A-Listers into the club: pizza party on campus, or elegant dress-up event off campus, and they chose the latter!

So I arranged a special chocolate and macaron party with the amazing team at the magnificent Peninsula Chicago Hotel, and our A-Listers who attended were:

Martim Castro
Sean Johnson
Kadisha Mukhamejanova
Doina Railean
Benedita Silva Pinto
Michael Wulfstat

Wave if you love chocolate!

I am proud of my A-Listers!

We enjoyed special-order chocolate caramel brownie batons, delightful macarons, coffee and tea, and chocolate bars that I brought from craft chocolate maker clients of mine such as always-popular Violet Sky Chocolate, plus awesome ambiance at the five-star Peninsula, and engaging conversation!

For example, we talked about what our top students love about Kendall College, and what they would change. Those who hadn't had the chance to get to know each other before, got to do so in our positive environment of celebration and reflection.

I presented our students with certificates, as a tangible token of their accomplishments, and for an item to put into an e-portfolio or onto LinkedIn.

As a fun and meaningful activity, I asked everyone to pass their certificate to their right, and let their neighbor write a compliment to them, while they wrote a compliment to their neighbor from the left. The certificates were passed around - maybe not always in order, as A-Listers often apply their own creative style! - until everyone had given and received compliments. I also wrote a personal note to each student.

Isn't it uplifting to have something like that for a "rainy day file" - that is, on a down day, you can take out your certificate, remember how others have praised and appreciated you for your hard work, your success, and for simply being who you are, and then perk back up with renewed belief! I first encountered that idea years ago from a past mentor, have seen it written about in a few places as in the link above, and was thrilled to see my mentees embrace it as well.

From Benedita, Doina, and Martim! Wow, thank you!

I felt appreciated too, through the warm attitude of each dear student, and through the lovely olive-infused bath gift that is like a Mediterranean vacation!

We had fun with photo moments, before sailing off on our chocolate clouds, until the next A-List perks!

A-List group-selfie magic with Benedita, Sean, yours truly, Doina, Martim, Kadisha.

With ladies of intelligence and elegance, Benedita and Kadisha on my right, and Doina on my left!

With gentlemen of distinction, Sean and Martim!

Congratulations, A-Listers!

Onward and upward!
Valerie Beck