1. What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of your job and why?
Certainly working in health care, albeit behind the scenes, is very rewarding. The technology we support helps to ensure excellent care is delivered to our families, friends, and neighbors. However, on a day-to-day basis, I’d say that leading others is the most challenging and rewarding aspect of my job all rolled into one. It’s much like raising a child. You have a tremendous responsibility to guide and shape the future of others and in doing so you rise in their victories and fall in their defeats. As such, the sense of pride and accomplishment when you see one of your staff succeed and go on to achieve great things is very rewarding.
2. Who do you look up to or admire in business and why?
As someone who comes from humble roots, I find that I generally admire people who are selfâmade. More specifically, I admire women in business who have been able to rise to great heights despite starting off with very little.
3. What has been the high point of your career so far?
I always find it difficult to pinpoint one pinnacle moment as I see my career as a collective body of work, but I’ve certainly experienced a great sense of accomplishment when completing a major system conversion or implementation. I’d equate it to the engineer that is designing and building a bridge. When they stand back and see the finished product it’s a pretty phenomenal feeling.
4. Thinking back on your career, what advice would you give your 21âyearâold self?
I would advise myself to take more risks and save half of my paycheck from day one. Looking back, it would have been much easier to make bold moves in my career when I didn’t have to juggle the responsibilities that come with providing for and raising a family. As for saving half my paycheck, the time value of money is a simple concept that I don’t think resonates with most 20-somethings. Investing small amounts early can yield extraordinary gains over time — gains that ultimately allow for more risk-taking down the road.
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5. What would you say are the best things about living and working in Dane County?
If you can get past the cold weather, what’s not to love about a city that is consistently ranked one of the best places to live in the U.S.? The Madison area is naturally beautiful, serves as a vibrant cultural hub, and is teeming with youthful exuberance thanks to the college students.
6. Do you have any secret talents or abilities that people would be surprised to discover?
Not really. I love helping others, so if there is a skill in my toolbox people are usually aware of it.
7. What are your guilty pleasures?
I have a serious sweet tooth, so anytime I get a chance to indulge in a sweet treat I will. One that people find the oddest is my love of Peeps. I like to open the package and let them “air toast” for a couple of days before devouring.
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