What’s your go-to productivity trick?
To get up and move around for a minute! Sometimes I just need to get away from the screen for a moment to clear my mind and start fresh.
What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute your success to, and why?
I think my positive attitude! Not only does it impact myself and how I go into each workday, but I know it also affects how others view me, and that’s probably the most significant factor as to how I’ve come to be where I am today.
What led you to this career?
My stepdad was an IT manager in the healthcare industry, and he got me so interested in technology that I majored in IS. My first job out of college was working for the help desk at DRS. I left for a few years doing front and back end support for an insurance agency’s enrollment website before coming back to Involta in the Vendor Management/Procurement department!
What’s your favorite piece of technology? Why?
My iPad! Other than all the same capabilities my iPhone has, I use Procreate to draw (For fun, ask Mike Weber about his desktop background!?). I also love reading and am not a snob as far as needing to have a physical book in my hand. I love that I can have my whole library in one place and don’t have to worry about lugging different books around with me.
What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on?
Since I took mostly software-heavy classes in college, my weaknesses have always been hardware and networking and how they work in a day-to-day setting rather than some made-up scenario in a textbook. I’m really trying to better understand the products I’m purchasing, what the problem was for them to be procured, and how they’ll resolve the issue. I’m also trying to better understand our vendor relationships and how to build new contracts through procurement.
What’s the best advice you were given? From who?
My mom worked at GM (Lordstown) and was very career-oriented her whole life. She’s always drilled professionalism into me—respecting others, following things through until the end, and paying attention to detail. All those little things added together make a big difference!
