This blog is essentially my brain explosions! Originally created to help me think out the processes of my thesis. However, I’ve moved on from the post higher education world on to “real life”. So now, it’ll be more life related.
About Me:
I am originally from Central New York and now call Greenwich, CT my home with my husband and two cats. Moving from the city has given us a backyard, chirping birds, crickets, and a close-knit community. It's also shined some light on the importance of a life/work balance with in the Facility and Project Management world; something I still struggle with.
Long version:
In the fall of 2001, I began my extra-long journey through higher education; and the building of extremely high school loan debt - crippling in hindsight. I attended three schools in three semesters starting in a private Catholic college, then moving to a community college, and finally settling on Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. Five years and lots of money later, I graduated with a Dual Bachelor of Arts in Communications / Political Science and a minor in Technical Theatre. (BA Thesis 1 - Legalization of Euthanasia; BA Thesis 2 - Communication in Emergency Situations: Hurricane Katrina & 9/11.)
After working a few years in theatre, I decided that the operation and operating of theatres fascinated me. I initially thought that path I wanted to take was Arts Management. After spending a year and a half...on 7/4/2011, my world spun upside down when my mentor and thesis advisor was murdered.
It redefined how I looked at life, and what aspects of my job at Pratt Institute made me truly happy. I found solace in improving and fixing MY theatre. I finished my Masters of Professional Studies (MPS) in Arts and Cultural Management in the spring of 2012. The thesis is outlined in part of this blog, feel free to peruse.
As a result of my found solace and my passion for facility management. Another mentor of mine told me that I should immerse myself in IFMA and other related theatre facilities organizations (NATEC, USITT, etc.). After a great experience at the North American Theatre and Engineering Conference in 2012, I decided that I needed to continue my education in the facility management world. As a result, I applied to Pratt Institute's Master’s of Science in Facility Management program.
In February of 2013, through my program at Pratt Institute, took part and presented in an International Facility Management Competition in Kufstein, Austria. The topic was Sustainability in Real Estate focused on the hospitality sector.
I went on to work in a non-profit organization in the Lower East Side of Manhattan that served the underprivileged community. I was the Facilities Management Coordinator; I oversaw 18 facilities ranging from Homeless Shelters to After-school programs to Senior citizen centers.
Then I jumped back to the higher education sector working as the Operations Manager at NYU's Kimmel Center for University Life. One building, over 400,000 square feet of space – we ran about 200 events & classes per day. In 2016, I was hired as an Operations Manager at a global law firm. I ran everything from mailroom operations to multi-million dollar renovation projects. It was a great experience that allowed me to spread my wings and find another part of FM that I enjoyed... Project Management.
Currently, I work at FujiFilm North America Holdings. I work with multiple domestic sites, doing everything from space planning to full ground up builds.
*updated 9/12/20
