Experience

Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.

• United States
• Hospitality
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Engineering Administrative Assistant

  • Nov 2016 - Present

  After taking some time off and searching for just the right opportunity, I found my perfect fit. I am in the Maintenance & Engineering shop at the new Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs. My official title is Admin to the Director of Engineering. I am located in the basement maintenance shop and I love it! I was able to use my engineering experience from Lockheed Martin and apply it towards the things I do here. I am learning a lot about a whole different industry from defense where I spent most of my career. I am also able to use my love of home DIY projects and add to my knowledge as I watch all the goings on here in the shop. My desk is in an open area in the shop where I hear the drone of the chillers and other mechanical equipment all day long. The shop is also located next to the housekeeping/laundry department so I watch large carts of sheets and towels coming and going all day, and get to hear of the troubles they have had with the new and very expensive ironer/folder machine. I work with a great crew of guys - yes again I am the only female in the organization - and have a Director and Chief Engineer who are happy and fun bosses. I was a part of the crew during the first months of opening who got to learn all about the different mechanical systems that run this place like the fire suppression system, the boilers and generators, and water pumps. I have been all over the property from the basement where I spend most of my days, up to the roof where I learned how to walk between the ductwork on a very windy day. My job duties consist of creating forms and checklists, ordering parts, setting up accounts for service and parts, processing purchase orders, some payroll functions, and other odd jobs when needed (which have included bussing tables and cleaning rooms). Its a great company to work for and I love being a member of the "Pack". Employees are treated to many benefits and we even get to howl at staff meetings and company events!



Self Employed and Part-time Things Forgotten (but not lost) Moving Company

• Semi Retired/Unemployed - Some part-time at a Senior Moving Company

  • Aug 2014 - Nov 2016

  After 23 years working for Lockheed Martin in the Defense and Aerospace Industry, I was laid off. I took the unemployment and searched a while but then decided to take some time off. I had worked long enough and was now old enough to collect my life-time pension from LM, but it isn't enough to live on. I found a way to cash some stock and enable me to take some time to help out family. My single uncle was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Dementia, so I helped relocate him from Texas to Colorado near me and took on the role of his power of attorney making his financial and medical decisions and overseeing his care. I've learned a lot about senior living by doing this, including having to move him to a second facility after almost a year due to decline in standards where he was. I also spent some grandma time with my grandson and was there when my new grand-daughter came home from the hospital after a stay for life-saving surgery. Then I got a call from my sister that my elderly father had broken his ankle and she needed my help caring for both my parents. When I returned from those trips, I had enough experience helping people, especially seniors that friends started to suggest I do something like senior services. I stumbled upon a senior moving company (yes, there is such a thing!) and started working for them. It has been interesting and enjoyable work (and back-aching too), but the hours are too unpredictable and scattered and the income is not nearly enough. So, I am on the hunt again for just the perfect next thing for me. Not sure what it will be, but I have found I do enjoy the senior service industry and there are lots of unexplored areas.



Lockheed Martin

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Configuration Analyst

  • Feb 2005 - Jul 2014

  Work on a small maintenance and engineering contract in the program management office on a staff of three with 17 other employees located at two sites overseas (Korea and England) and two sites within the US (Ohio and Maryland). I work the day to day issues such as contract deliverable reports to the customer, HR and administrative issues for other employees, some finance, some contracts, basically whatever is needed as we have only a small staff here. Work on a small maintenance and engineering contract in the program management office on a staff of three with 17 other employees located at two sites overseas (Korea and England) and two sites within the US (Ohio and Maryland). I work the day to day issues such as contract deliverable reports to the customer, HR and administrative issues for other employees, some finance, some contracts, basically whatever is needed as we have only a small staff here.