Definitely the people. I've worked with many of my colleagues for almost a decade and have made some close friends. Even though we're now in different roles, we talk every day. And I still keep in contact with people who I worked with for years who have since left the company. Something else I like about working at Tria is the flexibility that we have. I'm thankful to be able to work for a company and a manager that understands that things happen in life.

I'm most proud of the relationships I've built. I am very much a people person; I started my career in HR because I wanted to feel like I was helping people. I'm able to build relationships with everybody, and it can be anything from helping them with work assignments to learning about people on a personal level. I know it sounds silly to say my coworkers are my family, but I really feel that way because we stay connected and that is important to me.

One person doesn't know everything. Something I am very strong in, someone else might not be, and vice versa. If there's something I can't figure out, I ask my colleagues. Sharing knowledge and getting to know each other on both a professional and personal level are so important. We're working together toward the same end goal.

People might be surprised to learn that I was born in Nuremberg, Germany! My mom is German, and my dad was stationed there in the Army. They met because my dad used to go to the deli/bakery where she worked, and he learned German so he could talk to her. Another fun fact is that I used to do the CureSearch Ultimate Hike, which are fundraisers for pediatric cancer research. The hikes usually start at 4am and are up to 30 miles long. I did it for four years in West Virginia and Indianapolis.

I feel like I'm making a difference because I'm helping to protect national security. I constantly keep my head on a swivel and make sure that I'm doing what I can to protect the interests of employees, the company, and national security.