Project Manager and Designer,
Facilities Management Department
- Where are you from? Wichita, Kansas
- What is your educational background? B.F.A. in physical education and exercise science with a pre-physical therapy emphasis from Calvin College, M.A. in interior design from Harrington College of Design.
- When did you start at the Bank? 2013 as an intern
- What do you do at the Bank?
I wear a lot of hats at the Bank, but my main role is that of construction project manager and designer. Although the façade of our building remains the same, the inside is constantly changing. In Facilities we manage everything from the daily maintenance and upkeep of our building to small and large-scale renovation projects. The workplace and the technology we use are constantly evolving. We are part of the group of people responsible for ensuring that our spaces match that evolution.
In my role, I do everything from small office renovations to space reconfigurations and large space build outs. My most recent project was the design, construction, and opening of the 7th District Innovation Center. This project was a true test for our team as it was unlike anything we’ve ever built. The walls, ceiling, floor, and color – everything about this space is different. It was designed as a space for people to escape to and collaborate in with others from within and outside of their department. It stimulates innovative thinking processes that may not occur inside a normal conference room.
In addition to “bringing the cool” to the Fed, I also maintain and manage the Bank’s Fine Art Program. Every Reserve Bank has a fine art collection that represents artists and themes from their District. At the Chicago Fed we have a collection of more than 1,200 pieces across all of our facilities.
- Why do you like working here? I love working at the Bank because of the people I get to work with and the variety of projects I get to work on. Things are constantly in motion here and always changing. It keeps the job interesting.
- Why would you recommend the Chicago Fed as a good place to work? The people make the Chicago Fed a great place to work. They are committed and loyal, hardworking and persistent (in a good way), and make the challenging aspects of the job more manageable and fun. In addition to their commitment to their job here, people are also committed to caring about one another. These people are friends and family. The comradery I experience here is unlike any other work environment I’ve ever experienced.
- What do you do in your free time? The bulk of my free time is spent running and training for endurance races. Right now I’m training for a 56-mile Ultra Marathon in South Africa that I’m running in June of 2018. I actually hate running, but I run with a group called Team World Vision raising money for clean water and child protection in Africa. It’s a great cause that keeps me going. I love watching football (Go Patriots!), baseball (Go Cubs!) and basketball (Rock Chalk Jayhawks!), and love playing sports even more. More specifically, I love playing basketball as I played in both high school and college. All the running makes it hard to squeeze in court time, but I do it when I can. I also really enjoy crafting, baking, and planning/hosting events and parties.
I wear a lot of hats at the Bank, but my main role is that of construction project manager and designer. Although the façade of our building remains the same, the inside is constantly changing. In Facilities we manage everything from the daily maintenance and upkeep of our building to small and large-scale renovation projects. The workplace and the technology we use are constantly evolving. We are part of the group of people responsible for ensuring that our spaces match that evolution.
In my role, I do everything from small office renovations to space reconfigurations and large space build outs. My most recent project was the design, construction, and opening of the 7th District Innovation Center. This project was a true test for our team as it was unlike anything we’ve ever built. The walls, ceiling, floor, and color – everything about this space is different. It was designed as a space for people to escape to and collaborate in with others from within and outside of their department. It stimulates innovative thinking processes that may not occur inside a normal conference room.
In addition to “bringing the cool” to the Fed, I also maintain and manage the Bank’s Fine Art Program. Every Reserve Bank has a fine art collection that represents artists and themes from their District. At the Chicago Fed we have a collection of more than 1,200 pieces across all of our facilities.
