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A: I live in Farmers Branch, Texas (near Dallas) though I grew up about a half-hour from the Brookfield magazine in Wisconsin! I began publishing with DE during the pandemic in 2020. I was working as a Facilities Manager for JCPenney, regionally over the Northwestern states, and we had to close our stores briefly so I used my furlough downtime to join Decided Excellence.
I have 5 children, though only our high school senior is left in the home. Our eldest, Katee, recently transitioned from Trauma Therapy for 6 years to Human Resources for an alternative energy company; Rachel graduated from Georgia Tech last year (Catholic Harrison Butker was the keynote speaker at the Commencement address and he was phenomenal!) and now lives in Austin and works for Oracle; Mary Grace is a senior at St. Louis University, training to become a labor and delivery nurse; Helen is a sophmore at Purdue University studying aerospace engineering; and Patrick is enjoying being an “only child” these days.
Q: What do you love most about working at DE?
A: Three words. Faith. Faith. Faith. I love that it has deepened MY Faith. I love that it allows me to be a conduit to deepening our readers’ Faith. And I love that it has allowed me to build up the Faith of team members and people I’ve met through this company and this business. God is amazing!
Q: What is your favorite liturgical season and why?
A: I love Advent because it allows preparation time to reflect and make sacrifices, and it allows me extra time with my family as the kids can return from college and we can take some time off of our work schedules, and we can truly celebrate Mass together and remember the precious Baby who appeared in our world – to change our world – forever.
Q: If you could go anywhere for a 10 day vacation, where would you go?
A: This is a tough question so I’ll just give a few options I would have to choose from: Italy, Greece, Garabandal, Medjugorge, Lourdes, Paris. I would also love to walk the Camino.
Q: What’s your most prized possession and why?
A: My Faith. No one can take it away from me and it leads me every moment of every day. As far as material items, my Dad was a woodworker and the crosses and other items he made are very special to me.
Q: What topic could you spend hours talking about?
A: I love to hear people’s stories of miracles and to relate them to others. There are signs and wonders everywhere and we just have to open our eyes and look for them.
Q: What advice would you give to someone new in the business?
A: Activity wins the day!! When you don’t feel like dialing . . . pick up the phone. And don’t put it down until you’re MORE than set up for the week! Dial and pray. Pray and dial. Repeat.