Posted on June 9, 2023
Each month, we highlight a “behind-the-scenes” team member whose work supports our mission, but whose face you might not often see on our social media pages.
We’re excited to help you get to know our innovative team and the complex work we do.
So, tune in for our #TeamMemberSpotlight, where our team members share in their own words a bit about themselves!
What is your job title? Special Assistant to the CEO
How long have you been with Penn-Mar? It will be 7 years in early November.
How did you get connected with Penn-Mar? Living in Shrewsbury for the past 18 years, I was very familiar with Penn-Mar and would see the people we support out in the community with their DSPs all the time. When I saw the job opening, I immediately applied and with the help of Jackie Summers, I was able to meet Greg Miller and Kathy Rogers which then led to an interview.
What was your previous work experience prior to Penn-Mar and how did it prepare you for your current role? I was the Marketing Director for Chick-fil-A in Shrewsbury and assisted in opening and marketing new Chick-fil-As around the York and Lancaster areas for about 7 years prior to coming to Penn-Mar. Before that, I was a corporate trainer for a large national property management company for almost 10 years. But my first job out of college was being a water-skiing stunt performer at SeaWorld because, why not? 😊
What does your work entail? I assist Greg Miller along with the Leadership team and I also help the Advancement team in various areas such as fundraising events and donor acknowledgement.
What’s an average day like for you? I don’t think I ever have an average day and that is okay because I love to be busy and help in any and all areas that I can.
What is your favorite part of your job? Helping with Penn-Mar’s Annual Gala every year is always very rewarding. I may have even shed a couple of tears when we hit the 1MM mark in the money we raised for the Building Bold Futures capital campaign at this year’s Gala.
What’s one thing you wish people realized about your job? That I am very approachable and that they can always come and talk to me or ask me anything. I may not always know the answer, but I will do my very best to find an answer for them if I don’t have it.
In another life, your career path is… With about 20 years of dance, theatre, and voice lessons under my belt as a young child through young adult, I always wished I would be able to make a career on stage, but I am very happy with where my life has taken me and that it led me to Penn-Mar.
Why is Penn-Mar’s mission important to you? I truly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live their best life and that I should do whatever I can to help as many people achieve that as possible.
What’s one thing you wished the general public knew about people with IDD? How incredibly wonderful and sweet they are. It is so refreshing to communicate with someone who is genuine and real and shows you what’s on their heart from the first moment you meet them.
What is your favorite quote or mantra? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Any hidden talents or fun facts someone wouldn’t know about you? Besides working at SeaWorld after college, I was also an arena football cheerleader in Orlando for a year.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, you’d visit… Since I have never really been outside the United States before, I would be so grateful just to go anywhere…Paris, Italy, Jerusalem, you name it.
In your spare time, you’ll be found… Probably working out or scrapbooking, or if I was really lucky, sitting on a beach.
A book, movie, TV show, sports team, etc. you love: I am a huge Dallas Cowboys fan and if you are ever in my office, you would know that to be true.
Something fun, interesting, or meaningful about yourself: Being a mom to my children has been my greatest joy and accomplishment in life.