What do you love most about your job?
It’s hard to pick one thing I love most! I love and respect the people I work with.
Tell us about a work-related success story that you’re proud of.
In 2019 I was given a project to design a non-fiction book by Nic Stoltzfus on The Nicholas Stoltzfus House, German Lutherans to Pennsylvania Amish: The Stoltzfus Family Story. Although I’d designed many large catalogs as well as radio station program guides (WDAC and WBYN) and event information guides (Horse Progress Days) in my time at DavCo, this was the first bound book that I designed start to finish. The customer had a very clear idea about what the design direction for the book and was a joy to work with, so that was very helpful!
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I am active in my church serving on the lighting team, the “house” team (mostly greeting, but we also help wherever we are asked to. Our motto is “Yeah, we do that!”). I lead a monthly “Open Art Night” one Saturday evening a month with some ladies from church. I like to get out in nature when I can for short hikes and I LOVE to get out on the water with my kayak!
Describe an interesting hobby or pastime that you have.
Lately I have been doing a series of watercolors that I call “Delftish” inspired by my family heritage in the Netherlands.
What’s something surprising that not many people know about you?
I’m an “Extra” class amateur radio operator and used my skills as a member of Middle Creek Search and Rescue on the Communications Team. (I’m still technically a member, but I haven’t been active for the last three years or so.)
Do you follow any sports teams?
Nope. Sometimes I wish I did!
What are some of your favorite local spots to visit?
Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, Speedwell Forge Lake and Speedwell Forge County Park.
What’s something that you’ve always wanted to try or learn?
I would like to learn Morse code (also known as CW in the Ham Radio community).
Tell us about a personal success story that you’re proud of.
Passing the test for the Extra Class license for amateur radio. I studied hard for months to achieve that goal.
How has your role evolved since you joined DavCo?
Over the almost 20 years that I have been at DavCo, the nature of the work that I have done has not changed a great deal. Most of the time I am doing graphic design. I have done web design as part of the job intermittently. I started overseeing our file sharing site in 2009 and maintained/administered it since then. I do more “giant catalogs” and other large projects now than I did when I first started.
What’s the best trip you’ve ever been on and why?
My husband, Michael and I made a trip to Texas before he and I were married. We flew out with my (now) step-son, Tony. My Mom and Dad drove out to Odessa from Arizona. My parents made it there before we did. When we arrived at the airport in Midland, they were all waiting for us and were acting like they had been lifelong friends although they had never met before. We got to spend time with Michael’s sister Ellen and his grandmother also. My parents and I were welcomed into the family with open arms. We did many touristy things, and we spent a lot of time just getting to know one another.
What’s your favorite memory from working at DavCo?
So many favorite memories, but one that often comes to mind is when the cows from the farm out back got loose and everyone was out in the field trying to round them up and get them back in the barnyard. A close second would be attending our annual Christmas party held at a local smorgasbord one year when comedian/ventriloquist, Taylor Mason, was our entertainment and we laughed so loud, we were later scolded by the folks at the venue. When I tell the story I say we were “kicked out” …but I’m not sure exactly what happened behind the scenes. We didn’t go back to that venue for our Christmas party the next year or for several years after that.
What would you like to learn or improve in the future?
I would hope to always be learning new things about the programs I use every day and improving my skills, keeping up with the changes in technology.
What is one thing you can’t live without?
Jesus!
If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be?
The Netherlands. I lived there for a few years when I was a child and would really like to go back. My mother was from there, and I still have family there whom I keep in touch with.
What does your typical day at DavCo look like?
I arrive about 7:30am, I check my email, respond to emails, check to see if there are any jobs in my bin, I make corrections to old jobs, assess my priorities on any new jobs I’ve been assigned. I do graphic design on a wide variety of projects, catalogs for furniture, agricultural equipment, flyers, business cards, posters, directory ads, etc. I administer the file sharing site so I check my emails to see if I need to update any of our customer sites with files from newly-completed projects. I maintain the company website davcoadvertising.com as well as the website for Horse Progress Days, so sometimes there are tasks that need to be seen to in relation to that. My job is never boring. I have a wide variety of projects that I get to work on. Typically, I will reassess my priorities as new jobs or changes come in for old jobs. I eat about 11:30. I go home at 4:00. The stuff in between varies from day to day.
Tell us about your family / kids / pets.
I am blessed to have been married to my husband, Michael for 24 years. I have one step-son, Tony (34) who lives close enough to us that we are able to share a meal together on a fairly regular basis. We have two rescue cats, Nutmeg and Doodle who are the best cats ever. Nutmeg is a “Blorange” (blonde-orange) tabby who is super lovey. Doodle is a gray and black stripped kitty with white mittens and boots. She is the most vocal cat we have ever owned. We also have a cockatiel named Gabriella.
Anything else you’d like to add?
DavCo is a great place to work. If you get the chance to work here, take it!