September Duhawk Dozen
Ali (Reeg) Burgmeier (’18)
Marketing & Business Administration
Dubuque, Iowa
Five years ago, Ali (Reeg) Burgmeier (β18) was just starting life after ΒιΆΉΤ΄΄ and maneuvering through a new career. Pushing herself out of her comfort zone as a student helped lay the groundwork for success after graduation. Being uncomfortable in the workplace and her personal life doesnβt make her afraid, but rather, she sees it as a sign that she is growing and working towards her goals. Her dedication to making the communities she is a part of better than how she found them makes her our September 2023 Duhawk Dozen recipient.
Ali has built a life around the relationships that matter to her. From growing up in the small town of Bellevue, Iowa, to coming to ΒιΆΉΤ΄΄ and being involved with many co-curricular activities, the relationships she has formed have helped her find her calling in life, especially with her Duhawk friends. βDuhawks are such a unique group of individuals, and no matter what organization you join, you meet people who stick to you post-graduation. You run into them in the most random places, and you get friends for life!β
Aliβs Duhawk network remained strong after college as she headed to Denver, Colorado, with her fiancΓ©, now husband, John Burgmeier (β17). After a while of working remotely, fellow Duhawk Celia da Silva (β19) reached out and asked Ali if she ever thought about a career in real estate, something she hadnβt really thought of until that point. βOnce I started thinking how to grow my own business around people and not just houses, as well as weighing out some of the pros and cons while going part-time into real estate, it opened my eyes to a client relationship business I absolutely love.β
And she hasnβt looked back. The Burgmeiers moved back to the Dubuque area, where Ali has helped numerous Duhawks, family, friends, and clients through one of the biggest buying decisions. βMy two careers didnβt really have a lot in common, but what I loved about the account management role is only stronger as a real estate agent. Working with people and being able to take things off their plate to help them through different phases of life is so rewarding.β Plus, she says Duhawks are some of her favorite clients!
Remaining one of the most connected young alumni, Ali works hard on social media to keep up to date with her peers and meet face-to-face. βAs we get older and further post-grad, itβs harder to reach out, but donβt be afraid to make the first move. Whether itβs a text or a comment on a post, let people know you are thinking of them because it goes a lot further than you may think.β
Ali mentioned she is excited to celebrate her classβs 5-year reunion this October 6, 7, & 8! βTime does fly after graduation. It will be cool to see how our classmates are finding their rhythm and where people are landing in person, not just on social media!β
Hear more from Ali as she talks to Young Alumni Advisory Board communications chair Anna Johnson (’18), by listening to this monthβs podcast. Also, catch her at Homecoming 2023!
