1. What was your very first job?
I was a dishwasher at a now defunct restaurant named Countryside Deli in Pawtucket, RI. The problem with that job? I was so good at it that I kept getting put on to work the crazy hard shifts, like Friday and Saturday nights. You don’t know sorrow until you’ve spent an hour scraping a 2 inch thick layer of burnt tomato sauce off the bottom of a sauce pot bigger than your own body!
2. What’s your favorite weekend activity?
I think for me it’s seasonal and with the summer approaching I’d have to pick playing in the Providence Kickball League! For five years I have been the captain of a Star Wars themed team in this league that is basically a bunch of grown ups goofing off in a field all day Saturday on the West Side of Providence. It certainly helps that one of the league’s main sponsors is the Narragansett Brewing Company!
3. If you were moving to a deserted island and had to choose three things to take, what would they be?
Very good question… I would have to start with my fully loaded iPod (with a solar charger attached!) as I don’t think I could get through life on an island without a variety of good music. Up next a blank journal to chronicle my adventures and leave a record for those coming after me. I love to write so a good sized journal would be a must! And lastly, with comfortable survival in mind, I would say a well seasoned cast iron skillet. I’m a passionate cook and I think solid cast iron would be great for a variety of uses on the island.
4. If you had to choose, what’s one of your favorite job responsibilities? Why?
In my previous role as Office Coordinator and in my new role as Marketing Administrator I have had the opportunity to be involved with the planning & execution of several of NEC’s employee and client based events. This is one of my favorite things to do because there is a lot of creativity involved with providing attendees with a pleasurable experience and events also require a well crafted attention to detail. These are skills I have developed through my past work and through my continued fascination with the Disney Corporation and their emphasis on customer service & engagement. It is very satisfying to walk away from a completed event knowing that you met your goals and have given those individuals a memorable moment.
5. What’s one of your favorite past projects you’ve worked on at NEC?
It may sound a bit odd but I would say that my favorite project I have worked on in my short tenure with NEC has to involve our obtaining new high capacity printer/copiers for the office. On the surface it would seem to be a simple endeavor but it involved so much more that just selecting office equipment. This project reached across all of our departments and as a brand new Office Coordinator it was a fantastic vehicle for helping me truly understand the needs and processes of the individuals that make up our team. It was also my first opportunity to present to our Senior Leadership Team, a daunting yet rewarding task for a new employee. I’d also add that I think it has worked out great in the end for everyone involved!
6. If you had to give one piece of advice on happiness, what would it be?
For me happiness comes down to two core concepts. The first, define it for yourself and do not let anyone else’s opinion dictate what should or shouldn’t bring you joy. Second, realize that often happiness can be found when we stop devoting all of our energy towards things that we have no control over. You can exhaust yourself beating your head against the immovable object in your path or you can find relief understanding that it is you who determines the twists and turns of that path. Oh, and whatever you do, don’t take yourself too seriously!
