Post image provided by Megan Custodio
Orr Fellowship elected its chief of staff for the year.
Former IWU marketing major, Mariah Mason, was elected to the role on January 31, 2025.
“..even though I’m president here, I actually don’t have a vote in that process. It’s all peer-led and then peer-elected,” Steven Emch, the president of Orr Fellowship, said. “But this was really more about her proving herself as a standout amongst a group of really high-achieving individuals.”
Fellows, the title for people in the Orr Fellowship, have the opportunity to run for leadership positions eight months into their 2-year partnership with Orr Fellowship.
“I spent eight months in the fellowship just really trying to dig roots in and be present where I am and go to all the events that I could,” Mason said. “And then after that time, I really realized that I felt like I had more to give.”
According to the Orr Fellowship’s website, the organization was founded in 2001 as a way to recruit and train the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs.
The organization takes in recent college graduates from all over the state and helps them connect with partner companies.
“I started Orr Fellowship last June. That’s when each new class is onboarded, and on that day, somebody gave me advice, and I take things pretty literally. They said, ‘Say yes to everything for the next six months,’” Mason said.
Mason attended 94 out of the 112 events she was invited to.
“Everybody just wants to be in community and at Orr, there’s probably 99% of people, that if you call them or text them and ask them to go do something, play pickleball or go out to lunch or whatever that looks like,” said Mason, “if you need a fourth person for laser tag or whatever you’re into, somebody will show up.”
Emch said that one of Mason’s strength is the ability to quickly build a meaningful relationship with people from different background.
“Nobody that gets into Orr who isn’t going to be a hard worker, but (Mason) certainly is, and I appreciate that about her, especially when these younger generations consistently don’t always love hard work,” Emch said. “I think it’s always refreshing when somebody that wants to dig in and do the things, is willing to have hard conversations.”
Emch said even though Orr Fellowship operates in the business world, Orr is focused on helping those with high ambitions.
“I think that that’s been the hardest part is just making sure that I’m balanced in all areas and that I don’t lean too much into one space, especially now as Chief of Staff,” Mason said. “I really have to make sure that I am seeing everything and being good across the board, instead of being great and just one specific area.”
