Sorority House Rebuilds, Committees & Career Pivots

In today's episode of Sorority Chat, Liz Alexander welcomes Colette Buxton, a Pi Beta Phi alumna from Oklahoma State and an owner’s rep with Cooper Project Advisors, to discuss how her volunteer leadership as house corporation president and building committee head led her chapter through a tear-down and rebuild of its outdated 1962 chapter house and ultimately helped her pivot careers after 30 years in IT software sales. Colette shares lessons from completing a 36,000-square-foot rebuild with collegians moving in January 2025, on time and under budget, including why building committees must stay small, require firm commitments, and clarify decision-making authority for a multi-year process. They cover why her chapter chose to rebuild based on a feasibility study and renovation uncertainty, how they raised $9.6 million through alumni engagement and house tours, the value of hiring professionals early, and how an owner’s rep helps manage complex stakeholder communication. 📌 Connect with  Colette: In linkedin.com/in/colettebuxton/   (  / colettebuxton  ) 🌐  cooperpa.com (https://www.cooperpa.com) 📌 Connect with Liz:  📸 ⁠⁠Instagram: @pdrinteriors⁠ (  / pdrinteriors  ) 🌐  ⁠Website: PDR Interiors⁠⁠ (https://www.pdr-interiors.com/)   • Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Sorority Chat on your favorite podcast platform! If you loved this episode, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share it with a friend in your sorority circle! Sorority Chat explores Greek housing, design, and the relationships and experiences that help women thrive in college and beyond. Host Liz Alexander, an Alpha Gamma Delta alumna and owner of PDR Interiors, welcomes guests for approachable conversations about chapter houses, recruitment, leadership, friendship, and life after campus. Each episode offers practical insights for collegiate members, alumnae, house directors, and sorority leaders. Sorority Chat is the official podcast partner of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). Episode Highlights:00:00 Podcast Cold Open00:53 Meet Colette Buxton02:30 From IT Sales to Construction03:23 Joining Pi Phi05:29 House Corp and Rebuild Vote07:20 Remote Volunteer Committees09:03 Right-Size the Committee13:09 Tipping Point to Rebuild15:47 Feasibility Study Explained17:23 Fundraising Wins and Tours20:11 Why Hire an Owner's Rep21:13 Decoding Project Acronyms22:38 Skincare Fridge Surprise23:10 Bring Pros In Early24:10 Changing Student Needs25:31 Finish On Time Under Budget26:31 Midyear Move-In Strategy29:03 Owner Rep Perspective32:30 Choosing The Right Rep34:49 Career Change Courage38:08 House Hot Take Wow Moment39:20 Final Wrap And Credits