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Q: What branch of service are you affiliated with?
A: Air Force
Q: Briefly tell us a little bit about yourself.
A: I have a wonderful family. My husband, Rob, is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am also mother to Annika, 3rd grade, and Cole, 1st grade. Every single day, they help me to see that life is complex but worth it. Love is so powerful.
I am also an engineer. I love to work. I love to solve complex problems. I love to make a difference in innovative, yet practical, ways. I am driven by an undeniable need to contribute to a better world. I just can’t seem to let things be that need to be better. If obstacles are in the way then we need to take the time to remove or address them in a responsible and sustainable way.
Q: Where has the military taken you?
A: The military has taken me soaring higher than I ever thought was possible to sinking into places lower than I ever wanted to find myself. I feel like I have had to reach in to the depths of my heart and my soul to discover just who I am and who I am willing and capable of becoming.
Geographically speaking… Colorado, Oklahoma, Florida, Washington, and Illinois.
Q: What do you do for a living and are you working in your chosen career field?
A: I am currently working as the Lead Career Management Consultant and Corporate Consultant for a business I started in 2011.
This is not my desired career field. I dream of being a great engineer, or doing great work within the engineering management arena.
However, throughout my journey to achieve my engineering career goals, I encountered such tremendous challenge and continually met others who encountered even greater challenges, that I felt compelled to leverage my skills and personal experience and refocus my efforts to changing the hiring and retention landscape, removing obstacles, and empowering others to persevere within the current market. These changes are important for not only myself but for others and the companies that are missing out on great talent.
I am doing my part to make the world a better place and that is an awesome feeling! My journey has given me a very unique opportunity to make real and lasting changes.
Q: What resources, programs or initiatives have you used to keep your career on the move?
A: Prior to 2011, I used my networking and research skills extensively and developed my résumé writing, interviewing, and LinkedIn® skills through exhaustive trial-and-error application and seemingly endless iterations to refine them. I jokingly refer to this experience as my time as a “professional job seeker,” but in all seriousness, I learned by doing it and discovered firsthand what worked and what didn’t work. I also relied on my professional organizations, my college career center, and my trusted peers, mentors, friends, and family.
Now, I rely on an entirely different collection as a business owner and consultant: trade organizations, business support organizations entrepreneur groups, and of course networking.
Q: What advice would you give to other military spouses who want to keep a career through the military lifestyle?
A: Stay true to your career goals and ambitions — and persevere! Reach out to other military spouses who have similar career goals. There is great power in finding the right support and not feeling alone. Also, don’t let anyone else diminish your career goals. As military spouses, we do have unique challenges but we are valuable and each one of us can help break down the barriers that make employment and career success difficult. One day, one interview, one talk with our boss, one remote-working arrangement request, one resignation letter at a time – how we conduct ourselves and how we interact with our workplaces can make a difference in the way employers value, respond, recognize, and appreciate us.
How are you “Keeping a Career on the Move®”? Share your story with fellow military spouses. E-Mail the MOAA Spouse team at moaaspouse@moaa.org to learn more.