Behind the Resume #62 – Toni Payne

What is your title at EvCC, and what will you be doing in your day-to-day endeavors at the College?

Fiscal Analyst 2 Accounts Payable is my job title. I will be helping students, staff and vendors with any Accounts Payable/Accounting questions they may have while processing PO invoices, other invoices/vouchers and also working on other Accounts Payable related needs.

Mini golf with my friend family in South Lake Union

Tell us a little about your professional background.

I have worked in Accounts Payable/Accounting departments for over 18 years in the following industries: Travel, Education, Medical, and Construction. I learned a great deal from each position and company on how to take care of their Accounts Payable needs and provide the best possible customer service to clients, internal staff and vendors.

Me at the Ballard Locks


What was your most memorable job? Why?

Apollo Group (University of Phoenix) – great manager I had that was fun to work with in the office, or traveling to meetings out of state when needed.

Me and my partner


What does a typical day look like for you?

Get up before it is light out and get ready, head to the bus stop and walk into work at my designated time. Check emails, phone calls and jump into whatever needs looked into or worked on for the College’s Accounts Payable needs. I take the bus to head home and eat. Depending on the weather I will go on a walk or unwind the rest of the evening by watching a movie or reading a book.

My brother and cousin, Jeremy


Describe yourself at 12 years old.

I organized my things in my room and changed up my bedroom every once in a while to take advantage of posters or pictures I wanted on my bedroom walls.

View from park in Bellingham looking west to the San Juan Islands

What is your favorite meal/ snack in winter? Favorite winter beverage?

Meal: Steak and mashed potatoes this time of the year. Winter beverage: Hot chocolate.


What would be the title of your autobiography?

Local Traveler

View from Gas Works Park

What is the first concert you attended?

Cranberries at the Gorge

What is a defining moment in your life?

When I was 20, I lost my Mother to a 4 year fight with breast cancer. Shook my emotional foundation, and still gives me pause certain times of the year with how much I miss her. I participate in local breast cancer and other walks during the year in honor of her and giving funds to a cause in the hopes other young children don’t have to go through what I went through.

View of the Twin Sisters south of Lynden

What are you reading right now/ what was the last book you read?

Reading on the bus from work to home a Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novel called Look Alive Twenty-Five.

What one food do you wish had zero calories?

Pasta

My nephew and sister at Funko

Where is your hometown? Were you born and raised in the same place?

Bellingham is my hometown. No, I lived out of state until grade school, then lived in the Bellingham area until college, then in the greater Seattle area the past 19 years or so.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Still working at EvCC and helping out with students, staff and vendors with their Accounts Payable needs, and living closer to campus – hopefully.

Mt. Baker from the trail along the Snohomish River

What do you like to do on your days off?

I like to explore local Pacific NW cities/towns to enjoy the views of the Sound or mountains in the area, find somewhere fun to eat, and check out what the shops have to offer.

Do you have a favorite quote/ piece of advice?
Different
Individuals
Valuing
Each other
Regardless of
Skin
Intellect
Talents or
Years

Behind the Resume #61 – Lori Greenwood

Lori Greenwood new employee photoWhat is your title at EvCC, and what will you be doing in your day-to-day endeavors at the College?

My title is Communications Consultant/Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Specialist. My day-to-day workload will include the launch of two relationship technology systems: Radius CRM and Mongoose Texting. Once implemented, these systems will help to communicate with and track prospective students as they progress toward enrollment.

Tell us a little about your professional background.

I’ve had more than 20 years of experience as a multi-faceted communications professional. With hands-on understanding in traditional advertising, as well as digital marketing, I enjoy using campaign analytics to build data-driven strategies. I have previous experience implementing Radius CRM and Mongoose texting for higher ed enrollment management, and I look forward to working with the EvCC implementation team on this project.

selfie of Lori Greenwood in front of computer monitors
I’m temporarily located in Jenny Marin’s office, OLY 206B, while she’s out on maternity leave – feel free to drop by and say “hi.”

What was your most memorable job? Why?

Previous faith-based, nonprofit work as a communications specialist was especially memorable because it enabled me to travel to more than 25 nations of the world — where I developed a great love for diverse cultures, customs, and cuisines.

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day at work is pretty exciting! I not only have the opportunity to write persuasive copy/content, I also write criteria logic, with the goal of building fully-automated communications plans designed to guide prospective students through next steps. While our campus implementation team is early in the process, once “live,” the system data points will allow users to zero-in on target audiences, and tailor messages based on where a student is in the enrollment process. Sounds awesome, right? But wait until you hear the best part… My role will include training system users. And, since we have unlimited user licenses, any staff or faculty member that would like to work with prospective students can use the system to do so.

Describe yourself at 12 years old.

At 12 years of age, I attended a small parochial school in the Chicago area with my two sisters and one brother. I haven’t been able to wear plaid, since.


What is your favorite meal/snack? Favorite winter beverage?

Influenced by the years of international travel, some of my favorite meals include Ayam Kampung and Nyama Choma. Favorite beverage is coffee – especially in the winter.

 What would be the title of your autobiography?

Okay, this question stumped me. So, I asked Buzz Feed for some help (really). After filling-out their short questionnaire, here’s their title suggestion… I Don’t Wanna Talk About It: My 52,000,000-Word Autobiography.”

What is the first concert you attended?

Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Sir Georg Solti conducting.

Lori, husband and 3 kidsWhat is a defining moment in your life?

For me, a defining moment in life was to be a first-generation college student, however, it’s second to becoming a parent! Here’s my family (left to right): My husband Tom, me, our son-in-law Austin, who is married to our oldest daughter Crista, and our youngest daughter, Anna.

What are you reading right now/what was the last book you read? Are you participating in any reading challenges?

I’ve had this book for a while now, but I am finally getting around to reading Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Written as a letter to his son, Coates tries to make sense of racial injustice and exposes the irony of living in a world that refuses to allow him the freedoms that many others take for granted.

 What one food do you wish had zero calories?

Ayam Kampung, of course… or maybe Nyama Choma.

Where is your hometown? Were you born and raised in the same place?

I was born and raised in Chicago and lived there until I completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Other locations I’ve lived include New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. I relocated to Seattle, Washington in 2004, and I live just south of the college, in Lynnwood.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years (and beyond), I see myself here at EvCC, contributing to the success of our community.

What do you like to do on your days off?

I use my days off to try to catch-up on various home improvement projects. Lately, I’ve been scrapping a popcorn ceiling. Yep, it’s as fun as it sounds! When I need a break from the projects, I enjoy spending time at Seattle Art Museum, which I often refer to as “my happy place.”

Do you have a favorite quote/piece of advice?

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do, than by the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain

Behind the Resume #60 – LaRea Sylvester

LaRea Sylvester new employee photoWhat is your title at EvCC, and what will you be doing in your day-to-day endeavors at the College?
My title is Campus Security Officer. My day-to-day endeavors will be making sure our campus is safe, secure, and prepared if emergencies occur. Another big part of my duties will be acting as an ambassador of the College in order to make sure that our campus is accessible to our community while helping our students, staff, and faculty reach their immediate and long term goals and destinations. I act as a support and safety net for all those who come on to our properties including our satellite campuses.

Tell us a little about your professional background.
I held a DOL issued Unarmed Security Guard license prior to joining the EvCC team. I performed duties on a contractual basis from Bellingham to Seattle, including Bellevue/Redmond. I also have 15+ progressive years of experience in the Tribal Gaming industry. Although I primarily worked in Slot Operations and Slot Systems, I am also certified to deal Poker, Black Jack, and Roulette.

What was your most memorable job? Why?

Me, freshman year at Everett High School
Me, freshman year at Everett High School

I have had too many jobs to single out just one as most memorable. The job I enjoyed the most was being a Slot Technician. I was responsible for all mechanical and technical aspects of 2500+ slot machines. The field is constantly growing and evolving, so there was never a dull moment.

What does a typical day look like for you?
My day starts early! My shift begins at 6:00 a.m.; the first thing I do is debrief with the night shift so I can stay up to speed on anything that has occurred. I also like to conduct a safety check of the campus right away in order to identify anything out of the ordinary or unsafe, so we can correct or fix the issue prior to community arrivals. After completing safety checks, I begin daily patrols of our campus to meet and greet everyone, provide excellent customer service, and help manage any and all things related to parking.

Baby Rea
Baby Rea

Describe yourself at 12 years old.
I was invincible; I could do and be anything I wanted, and at 12 years old I wanted to be a “grown up.” Now (27 years later) I just want to be in elementary school again for recess and field trips.

What is your favorite meal/ snack in winter? Favorite winter beverage?
Pozole or Menudo and Eggnog Chai Tea Latte

What would be the title of your autobiography?
Rea the Rebel: Blessed & Unstoppable

What is the first concert you attended?
Boyz II Men at the Tacoma Dome

What is a defining moment in your life?

Me & my daughter
Me & my daughter

The birth of my daughter is the defining moment in my life; who I am and everything I do is attributed to her. She keeps me grounded, focused, and accountable to someone bigger than myself. I am very fortunate and thankful that I became a parent.

What are you reading right now/ what was the last book you read? Are you participating in any reading challenges?
I am reading two books:
How to Win Friends & Influence People, by Dale Carnegie
The Lotus Sutra, Translated by Burton Watson

What one food do you wish had zero calories?
Doughnuts

Surfing off of Maui
Surfing off of Maui

Where is your hometown? Were you born and raised in the same place?
I’m a military brat, so I have a few home towns:
(1) Riverside, CA (2) Las Vegas, NV (3) Honolulu, HI (4) Everett, WA (save the best for last)

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I will still be a Security Officer with the EvCC team, but BETTER! I will be highly knowledgeable, a recognized ambassador to the community, AND I will know and remember everyone’s names.

What do you like to do on your days off?
What I like to do changes with the season (except watching UFC, that’s 365).
Summer: wakeboarding, surfing, hiking, riding my motorcycle
Fall: football, shooting
Winter: STILL football, snowboarding
Spring: riding my motorcycle, missing football, hiking

Do you have a favorite quote/ piece of advice?
“You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice.”
~Leo TiagoLaRea Sylvester

Behind the Resume #59 – Max Gerloff

Max Gerloff New Employee PhotoWhat is your title at EvCC, and what will you be doing in your day-to-day endeavors at the College?

Science Lab Assistant.   

Tell us a little about your professional background.

I was a biology/life science teacher/track coach for 30 years in the public school sector.  Retired from that endeavor in 2011.

What was your most memorable job? Why?

Teaching science to 7th graders.  They are so eager and waiting to be filled with knowledge and want to learn!!

What does a typical day look like for you?

Get up and check on my home chickens, then off to EvCC!!

Describe yourself at 12 years old.

Grew up in a small farming and oil community, got my first job mowing yards!

What is your favorite meal/ snack in fall? Favorite fall beverage?

Coffee is the favorite beverage and nachos is always the best snack!

What is the first concert you attended?

Blood, Sweat, and Tears  in Abilene, Tx.

What is a defining moment in your life?

When my first grandchild was born three years ago.

What are you reading right now/ what was the last book you read? Are you participating in any reading challenges?  

“Three Day Road” by Joseph Boyden

What one food do you wish had zero calories?

Any Mexican dish!

Where is your hometown? Were you born and raised in the same place?

Aspermont, Texas;  born and raised. Population:  800

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Probably fully retired; more traveling.

What do you like to do on your days off?

Tend my chickens and yard with my wife.

Do you have a favorite quote/ piece of advice?

“Feels like Far”…referring to life’s journey.

Behind the Resume #58 – Caitlin Jacques

 

Caitlin Jacques new employee photoWhat is your title at EvCC, and what will you be doing in your day-to-day endeavors at the College?

My title is Student Success Technology Specialist. I am currently working to implement the new Starfish platform, and will be providing support on that platform once it rolls out.

Tell us a little about your professional background.

Doctoral Hooding at Johns Hopkins, June 2016
Doctoral Hooding at Johns Hopkins, June 2016

My background is a bit of a hodge-podge. I have an undergraduate degree in general engineering, and a masters and doctorate in civil engineering, looking at the impact of disasters on healthcare systems. My previous jobs before coming to EvCC, though, were tutoring K-12 students in math and English, and working with a legal firm to coordinate the mass filing of civil cases.

 

What was your most memorable job? Why?

Hiking Taylor's Mistake in Christchurch, NZ, July 2013
Hiking Taylor’s Mistake in Christchurch, NZ, July 2013

In 2013, I lived in New Zealand for several months as an earthquake researcher, sponsored jointly by the US and NZ governments. That was especially memorable because it was both my first time living abroad and the first time I coordinated a large scale project by myself. It was also memorable because the South Island of New Zealand is indescribably beautiful, and those three months included some of the best hiking of my life.

 

What is your favorite meal/ snack in fall? Favorite fall beverage?

In the fall, I love to make soups. Beef stew, chicken gnocchi, avgolemono, fishball udon. My favorite, though, is turkey Italian wedding soup, with lots of sage and homemade turkey stock.

With my sister on the Washington coast, 1990 or 1991
With my sister on the Washington coast, 1990 or 1991

What are you reading right now/ what was the last book you read? Are you participating in any reading challenges?

Currently, I am reading Seanan McGuire’s The Girl in the Green Silk Gown. Her books are always delightful, and it’s nice to support a local author.


Where is your hometown? Were you born and raised in the same place?

I was born and raised right here in the north end of the greater Seattle area! I lived in Shoreline and Mountlake Terrace my entire childhood. When I finished my graduate degree on the east coast, I knew I had to come back here, because there is no place in the world like the Pacific Northwest.

 

What do you like to do on your days off?

Appearing as Princess Leia with Saber Guild in Atlanta, September 2018
Appearing as Princess Leia with Saber Guild in Atlanta, September 2018

In my free time, I dress up as Star Wars characters and do lightsaber shows to raise money for charity, as a member of several international clubs. I also sew a lot of film-accurate costumes as a part of my involvement with these groups. Most weekends, you can find me out in the community somewhere, dressed as a Jedi or Princess Leia or an X-wing pilot and generally being nerdy for good causes.