“It is a challenge for me to try and give what I think is the appropriate amount of attention to each and every direct account,” says Hallenbeck, “Another problem is that each account is drastically different than the next, therefore there isn't a cookie cutter approach to each.”

Each account requires Hallenbeck to come up with a new angle and a different strategy to help the business grow. “This is what makes the job exciting as well as challenging,” says Hallenbeck, “I think that the variety of work is the biggest allure for the geographer.”

And a variety of work definitely describes Hallenbeck's work. “The advantage I have gained from being a geography major is the skill of approaching each issue from different angles,” says Hallenbeck, “I am successful in my job because of my ability to bring many perspectives to each project.” Perspectives she learned as a student of geography.

“My undergraduate work gave me the skills set that I needed,” says Hallenbeck, “It gave me great problem solving skills that I use to approach an issue.”

“Geography taught me how to approach a problem in terms of economics, of history, or of the environment,” says Hallenbeck, “Although, nothing I did in college has any direct correlation with what I do now, I do use the skills I learned in school everyday.”

The fact that geography is so diverse and limitless with possibilities was one of the reasons Hallenbeck couldn't stay away. When Hallenbeck was an undergraduate at Dartmouth, she would go through the course book and circle the classes that she was interested in. “I just kept going back to the geography section over and over again,” says Hallenbeck, “I didn't think that it was fair that I had to choose one major, but geography is so interdisciplinary and this characteristic allowed me to feel like I had five majors.”

“Geography encompasses history, economics, geology, government, and so much more that you could almost make anything geography,” continues Hallenbeck, “You can do anything with Geography.”

Hallenbeck encourages students to take geography courses. “Geography is so much more at the college level,” says Hallenbeck, “My first geography class fascinated me because my professor, Adrian Bailey was so animated and excited about the history of U.S. cities and urban theory that I got sucked in.”

After studying geography, Hallenbeck took her geographic knowledge into sales. “I think geography is so misunderstood,” says Hallenbeck, “It is so refreshing when someone says, “Oh what a fascinating major!” Hallenbeck also believes that there is a lot of potential for geographers in her field and in all other fields as well.

“Yes, there definitely is a lot of growth and opportunities for geographers,” says Hallenbeck, “ If you can't pick just one thing – pick geography.” Hallenbeck feels that she can do a lot and touch on a lot of different areas because she is a geographer.” “You can do anything you want to in geography.”

Christine Hallenbeck is a geographer in an unlikely place who has already used her skills in geography and all before you've even had your morning breakfast.

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