1. Where was your first Not-for- Profit/Museum job? Position? What did it teach you?
The first retail, not-for-profit organization (I had a five-year stint as a social worker for a non-profit working with youth when I first got out of college) that I worked for was the former Parks and History Association overseeing the retail operations of 13 parks and national monuments in the DC area which included the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, Fredrick Douglass House, Ford’s Theater and nine park sites in other National parks located in Maryland and Virginia. It was an immersion into American history and nature, and I loved learning all the different missions of each site and how each of those sites played a role in extending the visitor's experience beyond their boundaries by fulfilling their educational missions through well-crafted stories selling mission-related products. It was a discovery zone of knowledge!
2. Name a mentor that most influenced you: How did they help you?
Reflecting on a life of learning, it is difficult to say that there was one person who influenced me more than another. I learned so much from so many different people during my retail career. The work had the most influence and helped me learn many vital skills. The biggest influence probably came from a handful of people. From my college boss who gave me two great books, the first, The Art of Positioning and the second, The Power of Organization: my boss from my 10 years in the hotel business who showed me how to organize chaotic work processes and the importance in training people to find value in the work they do: and more collectively all the people whom I have known from my interactions with the Museum Store Association that have taught me how to be creative, brave and to take challenges and not be afraid to take risks. It is like the old saying IT TAKES A VILLAGE!
3. What was your educational background? Was it useful?
I grew up in Nashville. I attended Catholic schools and a small Southern Baptist school called Belmont University. I had a double major in Psychology and Social Work with a double minor in Finance and Administration. Having attended Catholic schools in my youth showed me the importance of community, and by college, I learned the diversity of people. All of this has been a powerful player in my life.
How did you get into retail?
It is in the blood, so to speak. My grandfather was a watchmaker and owned a couple of jewelry stores, so I grew up going to his store to play. In high school and college, I worked in retail for a grocery store and a bookstore. After college, I took a few years away from it, but ultimately, when I moved to Washington, I had two choices to support myself—either social work or retail. Retail won. I haven’t looked back since.
What tips would you like to pass on to a future colleague:
Stop, listen, and learn: think, get organized, and act: be brave, take risks, and don’t fear failure. It is all a cliche, but I would say it is true. Find what you love doing and do it to the best of your abilities, and enrich yourself with growth and people who respect you.