Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1524796
30 WAC Magazine | wac.net Love and trivia "I was working crazy-long hours, and it's hard to meet people in a new city," Maria explains when musing on her path to WAC membership. "My younger sister Missy was already a member, and she had let me tag along on some WAC events. But I wanted a social group of my own." She found that and more. "I joined and just started attending events even if I didn't know anyone," Maria recalls. "at's a great thing about the WAC— you don't have to know anybody or even be very good at small talk. e conversa- tion starters are already built for you." Very shortly aer being introduced to the WAC, Maria met her future husband, Troy Finlayson, at the Club. During a trivia contest one fateful night in Hag- erty's, Troy recruited Maria to his team. "Troy is a big, fun personality," she says. "I'm lucky that one of his friends didn't show up that night, so when he needed help, he asked me." A few months later, when Troy need- ed help picking a bow tie for Jubilee, he messaged Maria. Little did he know, Maria is colorblind. "I didn't know what to do!" she says. "I just went with it—I must have made the right choice." Two years of dating and one Savan- nah, Georgia, proposal later, the couple was engaged. ey wed at the WAC in 2012 and celebrated in the Crystal Ballroom with a reception that Maria remembers as full of "wonderful food, beautiful decorations, and just tons and tons of people." Maria's involvement of the WAC in various aspects of her life stands out to President & CEO Chuck Nelson. "She's a great example of the WAC's value to the full life-cycle of membership—as an in- dividual, a couple, a family, professional- ly and socially," Chuck says. "She holds a wonderful perspective of the whole Club and brings a strong personal, pragmatic lens to the role of Chairman." Maria and Troy Finlayson met and married at the WAC. Their wedding took place in November of 2012. The couple (right) 12 years later in Suncadia.