Before she was even a student at UNT, Erin Balint Hogue ('99) hoped to become a Kappa Kappa Gamma. Her mother was a Kappa alumna, and whenever they moved, the first thing her mother did was reach out to the local Kappa Alumnae Association for support. From playdates to doctor recommendations, the sorority had her mom's back.

"Kappa isn't just a four-year college experience," she says. "It is a lifelong connection."

As a Kappa, Hogue developed many of the soft skills that have fueled her career since college, from merchandising to consulting. It's one of the reasons she can build consensus and bring teams together around a common goal. She's volunteered with Kappa ever since and was elected treasurer of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity's International Council in June 2026, where she helps guide the fraternity's strategy, governance and financial stewardship.

"You are part of an organization that has structure, hierarchy and accountability. It's almost like a precursor to getting a job," she says. "It's your first entry on how to navigate conflict, how to build consensus and contribute to something that's much bigger than yourself."

'Everything is a Team Sport'

Once Hogue enrolled at UNT, Kappa transformed a massive campus into a close-knit group of friends. Membership became a crash course in cooperation, leadership and conflict resolution. It gave her the chance to develop those skills and gain experience before joining the professional world. It was also how she met her husband, Kyle Hogue ('96, '02 M.P.A.).

"We met during Greek Week of my freshman year," she says. "I'd say that's the biggest thing that came out of my time at North Texas."

Hogue earned her marketing degree, but her next steps were uncertain. When a friend at another sorority suggested she pursue the merchandise training program at Zale Corporation, she knew she had found a career that perfectly blended art and science. Zales led to JCPenney and The Container Store, where Hogue worked her way up to vice president of merchandising. As a merchant, she translated customer insights into products and experiences, collaborating with teams across design, sourcing, planning, logistics, stores and digital to bring those ideas to life.

"Everything is a team sport in retail," she says. "It starts with understanding the customer -- what they need, what they value and what problem you're trying to solve. From there, you're bringing together teams across planning, sourcing, logistics, stores and digital to bring that vision to life. No one person makes it happen. The best results come when the entire team is working toward the same goal."

Her role at Buff City Soap also began through a UNT Greek life connection. CEO and fellow alumni Justin Delaney ('08) was a member of a neighboring fraternity. He posted on LinkedIn that he was looking for consultants, and Hogue answered.

"I signed the message with 'Go Mean Green,'" she says. "I figured if nothing else, it may make him smile."

What began as a consulting engagement evolved into a full-time leadership role as chief merchandising and digital officer. Hogue helped guide the company through a period of expansion, growing from fewer than 20 stores to more than 250 locations.

Troubleshooting

After years of leading merchandising teams, Hogue realized what she enjoyed most was solving complex business problems. She knew it was time to start her own consulting practice. Until then, she had worked as part of the merchandising organization from within companies. Today, she partners with organizations navigating change, embedding herself with teams across the business to understand both the people and the processes. That perspective helps her uncover root causes, build alignment and develop practical solutions.

"What I love most about the work is solving complex problems," she says. "I really enjoy digging into the 'why,' helping businesses figure out what the root cause is, and then moving forward."

Her clients include Nike, Signet and AAFES. But consulting isn't a role one can just hop into. Years of experience leading merchandising teams shaped Hogue's approach.

"I've actually done the job of the team I'm working with," she says. "That's where I gained perspective, judgment and credibility. Not every project has gone exactly as planned, not every idea has been the right one. But through my career, my biggest lessons have been working through difficult situations. That's not anything you can shortcut."

Today, Hogue balances her consulting practice with continued leadership in Kappa Kappa Gamma, helping guide the fraternity's strategy, governance and financial stewardship while continuing to give back to UNT as a member and former chair of the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism Advancement Board.

"UNT is one of those schools where what you put into it is what you're going to get out of it," she says. "But it's also a school that has a ton of opportunity to be involved. You just have to raise your hand."