What area do you work in within the VPFA portfolio?
I work in the Vivian Olum Child Development Center.

What is your current position, and what are your job responsibilities?
I’m technically an office specialist, but am utilized in many different capacities at Olum. My job includes welcoming children and parents, answering phones, processing payments, paying invoices, ordering supplies, creating snack menus, student scheduling, and filling in for teachers in classrooms – pretty much supporting all the work that happens at Vivian Olum during the day!

What has been your career path; how did you end up in your current position?
My first “real job” was as a patient coordinator at a dental office. I liked working with people and learned that I was good with computers and had admin skills. I started out as an Art major at Portland State, but I quickly realized that might not be a great financial move, so I switched my major to Child & Family Studies. I knew I wanted to work with kids, but I didn’t know how exactly. I saw the posting for this job at Olum and knew it was a great match for my skills, but I missed the application period and didn’t get to apply. Instead, I became a catering and sales manager at a hotel. That was totally different work – I loved the people, but I didn’t like the sales work at all. It was way too schmoozy. When I saw this job at Olum come up again a few years later, I knew I had to apply right away and ended up absolutely loving it! It really matches my skills and my passion for working with kids.

Share a little about yourself personally:

• Family – I’m married to my high school sweetheart, Lucas. We’ve been together since we were 16. We have an acre of land with chickens and cats and a big garden, and are working on building a house! My mom lives in Springfield and I have a sister in Portland who has 2 kids. On my husband’s side of the family, I have 7 more nieces and nephews. I love being an auntie!
• Favorite food – All Mexican food, but especially tacos. I’m lucky because my husband’s family is Mexican and his family makes great food!
• Best movie you’ve seen - The Notebook

If you could only take three items with you to a deserted island, what would they be?
If it doesn’t have to be survival stuff, I would take my husband, and a hammock… and maybe just a lot of tacos.

(Aug 2022)