Office: Chicago
Title/Role: Marketing Manager/Content Manager
School(s) you graduated from: Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Saluki Life)

Get to Know Jana!

What’s your most niche, non-work-related interest? I absolutely love Karaoke and my go to song is Proud Mary by Tina Turner (and I guess I have to mention) Ike.

What’s a book you’d recommend to just about anyone? Why? The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. It truly is a guide to become a master of oneself.

What does a perfect weekend look like to you? Brunch with mimosas followed by a spa day.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up and why? When I was 5 years old, I wanted to be a bus driver because I liked to travel.

LJC Office Location: STL
Title/Role:  Associate Principal
School(s) you graduated from: Southern IL University of Edwardsville

Get to Know Kelsey!

What is something about you that you think would surprise your co-workers? Im an amateur cookie decorator. I started around 10 years ago and I absolutely love to do it and have gotten pretty good 😉

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up and why? A performer of some sort – a toss up between a country singer or a broadway musical actor/singer/ dancer. I kinda still wanna be that when I grow up – stay tuned.

Office: St. Louis
Title/Role:  Junior Marketing Coordinator
School(s) you graduated from: Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, MO

Get to Know Mallory!

What’s the last TV show you binged and enjoyed? What was so good about it? This summer we binged the newest season of Stranger Things, I love the characters and how they tied everything together. Plus anything that my husband and I can agree on and watch together is always a win in my book!

What’s a book you’d recommend to just about anyone? Why? Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey as an audiobook! He narrates it himself, he is a natural at storytelling, and he is a great example of showing what it takes to follow your dreams and working hard for what you want.

What does a perfect weekend look like to you? A weekend full of my favorite things: reading, running, golfing, church, and brunch

Office: Chicago
Title/Role: Graphic Designer
School(s) you graduated from: DePaul

Get to Know Sam!

What movie can you watch over and over again? What makes it so special?
My favorite movie of all-time is Robocop (1987). I’ve watched it at least twenty times. As a kid, I enjoyed it for the spectacle; As an adult I find it deeply funny and human, somehow existing both as a satire and an embodiment of the decade of excess that was the 80s.

What’s your most niche, non-work-related interest?
I have a deep passion for learning about history, particularly the American Civil War. I make it a point to rewatch Ken Burn’s documentary Civil War at least once a year.

What are you most proud of accomplishing in your life, NOT professionally, so far?
A million year ago, I was in a band; We played a Halloween show as Rage Against the Machine and somehow made it through our set without screwing up. More importantly, everyone laughed at my jokes. It’s one of my cherished memories.

LJC Office Location: Chicago
Title/Role: Principal/Director of Communications and Marketing
School(s) you graduated from: University of Iowa

Get to Know Shelby!

If you could speak another language, what would it be? Why? Bonjour! I've always wanted to speak French fluently. France is so beautiful and romantic, and so is its language.

What's your most niche, non-work-related interest? Photography. I seemed to have been born into this medium. My Grandfather owned and ran a Blackbox studio here in Chicago. He and my dad would commute from Lake Geneva to Chicago, where he was his ace assistant. Growing up, my dad was the photographer in the family. Then in high school, he built me a dark room in the basement where I would dabble in black & white film development. Fast forward, I marry a professional editorial photographer, and we travel and take pictures of all the places we go. Now I take pictures of everything and anything, including families. If you're curious, you can see my work at https://www.thepickledpixel.com/

What was your first job, and what is most memorable about it? I worked at Family Video; I would check in and out VHS tapes (be kind, rewind). I was only there a short time, as it was the summer job before my first year of college. The job itself was eh, but what did make it memorable was being interrogated by police soon after I resigned. Someone "on the inside" stole all the cash from the back office on my last day of employment. There was no sign of a break-in, just a large sum of money missing from the safe. I never did learn who it was. As an 18-year-old, and it was my first job, it freaked me out!

Office: Chicago
Title/Role: Creative & Proposal Manager
School(s) you graduated from: University of Chicago, MA in English Lit / Professional Writing + Michigan State University, BA in English Lit / Gender Studies

Get to Know Veronica!

What is something about you that you think would surprise your co-workers?
I'm not sure if it's surprising, but I have figure skated my whole life! I competed for Michigan State synchronized skating during undergrad and can't say I miss the 5 AM practices before lectures, but do miss the ice! If you don't know what synchronized skating is, YouTube is here to explain this very bizarre discipline.

What was your first job, and what is most memorable about it?
I worked at really cool, fancy boutique shoe store at my local mall. You may never have heard of it, but it was called Payless ShoeSource. Yes, home of the BOGO over-priced homecoming dance pumps, the perennial Y2K work flats, and the light-up Buzz Lightyear shoes. I like to think I ushered in its demise. The company didn't even last a decade after I transferred across the mall (from the Sears wing to the Nordstrom wing) and changed paths to hocking over-priced denim at Lucky Brand Jeans.

What is your most niche, non-work-related interest?
Well... I run a book club (Discord server and all, with 25+ of my friends from all over the US and Europe!) so I try to keep up with contemporary publishing, and what's hot in the literary world but can't promise I know too much. I also do occasional freelance hand embroidery work (not to be confused with cross-stitch – no patterns for me, please!) and traditional pen and nib dip calligraphy! (lunch & learn when?!)