From creative DIY projects to her love of reading and lifelong learning, there’s much to discover about Chania, including the career milestone she’s most proud of and how she’s grown alongside Caliber in this month’s staff spotlight.

Kate: What is your favorite nickname, and how did you get it?

Chania: When my now 6-year-old nephew was a toddler, I tried to teach him to call me “Nia” because it’s easier for a kid that young. For some reason, instead of saying “Nia,” he would try to say “Chania” and somehow ended up saying “Yaya”! It caught on immediately with my family, close friends and high school classmates, and even stuck with me through college! I’ve had many nicknames, and Yaya is my all-time favorite — I love it. My mom runs a daycare, and even the kids there exclaim “Yaya!” or “Nia!” when I come to visit.

Kate: Where do you consider “home”? What is special about it?

Chania: I’m an Ohioan through and through! I grew up and still live in Northeast Ohio, in a small town right on Lake Erie. It’s special because it’s where I grew up and made close bonds with friends. Northeast Ohio is slow-paced and quiet; much time is spent outdoors, in the garden or going for long walks along the lake. I love working in my garden, which is full of roses, hydrangeas, lilies, tiger lilies and other flowers, and we also keep hummingbird feeders up that bring a lot of activity in the warmer months.

Long walks along the lake are my favorite. I don’t actually like going in the water, LOL, but I love being near it — especially at sunset. On clear days, you can even see Canada from the shoreline, which never gets old!

Kate: What non-work activities inspire you?

Chania: I love reading. My favorite Christmas gift I’ve received was my Kindle. I enjoy unwinding after work with my Kindle or doing a coloring book by numbers! Any type of slow-paced, relaxing hobby helps me reset, get inspired and de-stress from everyday life.

Kate: If you had to include one ingredient in every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Chania: Tough question! This probably wouldn’t work for every meal, but one food I can’t live without is definitely cheese! I love all kinds, especially Colby Jack! Anything with cheese is a win for me — mac and cheese, pizza, grilled cheese and queso dip are all favorites. It’s just one of those foods that always makes a meal better!

Kate: What’s a book, podcast or creator that’s shaping your thinking right now?

Chania: I recently started reading Within Her Stillness by Emma Halden. I’m not too far into it yet, but it’s already reshaping how I move through my everyday life! It’s helped me reframe the way I think and be more intentional in how I approach my relationships with friends and family, slowing down and being more present. Even small shifts in perspective have made a noticeable difference. It’s worked wonders for my confidence in my professional skills as well.

Kate: What’s one accomplishment from your childhood that you still brag about?

Chania: I wouldn’t say I have one specific accomplishment from my childhood, but I’m proud that I explored a variety of different extracurriculars as a kid — sports, dance, music, clubs and languages. Even when something didn’t stick, my curiosity always drove me to keep learning, improving myself and exploring.

Kate: What’s something your colleagues don’t know about you?

Chania: Something my colleagues might not know about me is how hands-on and DIY I am outside of work! I cut, color and style my own hair (and sometimes help friends with theirs), and I really enjoy creative outlets like photography. I’m also currently in the process of becoming a wedding officiant!

I’ve always loved learning new skills and figuring things out on my own, especially when it involves creativity and attention to detail.

Kate: As a former co-director of diversity, inclusion and belonging and Chapter President at Kent State PRSSA, you earned the organization’s highest honor, the Gold Key Award. What does receiving this recognition mean to you?

Chania: The Gold Key award meant the world to me! It felt great to be recognized for the work I put into my academic career at Kent State, especially through the PR Kent program, which offers strong faculty support and hands-on experience. During my time there, I served as co-chair of DEI for two years, competed on PRSSA’s Bateman National Competition team and served as president during my final year. I also traveled to professional conferences across the United States, was part of the first cohort of the EMERGE: The Plank Center & The Grossman Group Leadership Academy and completed internships in branding, traditional public relations and social media. I couldn’t have done any of it without the support and recognition from my faculty and friends at Kent State.

Kate: When you think about your time at Caliber, what career accomplishment or milestone makes you feel most proud?

Chania: One milestone I’m really proud of was my promotion from graduate associate to account coordinator, especially considering it was earlier than expected! I worked hard as a graduate associate to acclimate myself to the role and industry. I couldn’t have done it without my amazing teams and my fantastic manager, Emily Mann. Everyone at Caliber is invested in each other’s professional development. I’m growing into the well-rounded professional I want to be!

Kate: Name one thing that amazes you about fintech or innovation in financial services.

Chania: The vast amount of services, solutions and resources financial technology provides! When joining Caliber, fintech was brand new to me. Now that I’ve been working in this space, I am deepening my expertise in both fintech and my clients’ businesses — it’s clear how deeply ingrained financial technology is in society and how it will continue to grow and innovate.

Kate: What’s your favorite Caliber Perk?

Chania: Definitely the wellness allowance, as well as the unlimited PTO. Transitioning to post-grad life can be tough. Managing multiple schedules can be difficult, which is why Caliber’s understanding and commitment to employee well-being matters. The flexibility they provide allows us to show up 100% for both the company and our clients.

Kate: Can you describe your experience as our 2025 summer graduate associate? What was it about Caliber’s program that attracted you compared to opportunities at other PR agencies?

Chania: LOVE the program! It made the transition from college to the professional world so smooth. I was able to get a preview of agency life without the added pressure of a full-time role right after college. I took the time to really get to know myself as a professional, as well as the company and industry. Caliber provided so many resources to help me acclimate more effectively to the role. Learning sessions, job shadowing and the onboarding process really helped me make a lasting impression on my colleagues and secure my promotion to account coordinator.

Kate: What’s your favorite thing about working at Caliber?

Chania: The remote aspect of working from home, as well as the people. At first, working in a completely remote environment can be nerve-wracking. You may think you can’t form close bonds with your colleagues, but you absolutely can! We have so many opportunities to connect with our direct teammates and colleagues working within other teams. Everyone is so welcoming.

Kate: What’s the best career advice you’ve received?

Chania: The best career advice I’ve received came post-grad while working at Caliber. One topic we’ve explored openly is imposter syndrome. Everyone struggles with it at some point, regardless of their experience or seniority, so it’s reassuring to know it’s normal. The key lesson is not to let it define your confidence in yourself or your professional abilities!

Want to join Chania Crawford at Caliber? Check out our job postings page for open positions.

The Staff Spotlight Q&A series highlights Caliber team members for the stellar work they do each day and the important part we all play in the company. Read more Staff Spotlight Q&A posts to learn more about our top-tier team.