Traveling the world is just too much fun to keep to ourselves. Starting in January 2017, my husband and I set out to travel the world for at least one year. First stop, Iceland. From there, who knows. We will be hiking, working on farms, and trying everything from yummy cakes to sheep testicles (yeah, that actually happened...). Find out what we're up to on our website at www.westbyadventures.com and on our YouTube channel. You can also follow us on Instagram @westbyadventures.

The Eddie Bauer Creed: To give you such outstanding quality, value, service and guarantee that we may be worthy of your high esteem. During my role at Eddie Bauer as the Assistant Store Manager, I was head of Safety (filling out monthly inspection sheets and testing employees for knowledge) and Assets Protection as well as ongoing employee training and development. I was also assigned the role of "Clienteling Captain." In that role specifically, I was tasked with not only creating new clients for myself, but developing my peer's knowledge and training to gain new clients for themselves as well. Instead of just giving customers a great experience, we tailored their experience, built relationships, and obtained their contact information in the form of a loyalty program so we could invite them back. We created repeat business instead of waiting for it to happen. I also assisted the Store Manager with hiring and training and was routinely the number one backup in our district for management call-outs because I was willing to be so flexible with my time and schedule. When I knew that I would be leaving the company, I informed my Store Manager and District Manager three months beforehand so I could help in the hiring and training of a new manager. At the time, our district was short on management talent and this allowed us to hire and train my replacement without hassle. I thank Eddie Bauer for having the opportunity to work for them. They were very supportive in the months leading up to my separation to follow my dream to travel the world. Live your adventure!

At foodguys (all in lowercase) the motto is that we can source "anything under the sun." foodguys is an ingredient supplier, similar to a broker, but offers logistics handling, warehouse programs, and direct importing. They like to think of themselves as an extension of their client’s procurement teams. During my role at foodguys, I was in charge of my client's sourcing, negotiating, transportation, warehousing, delivery, and financing of food ingredients. I handled all the paperwork for each process. I was a one-stop shop for my client's industrial food ingredients. I had a fantastic time being part of my client's procurement teams, big or small, to make their manufacturing processes more efficient and cost-effective.Not only did I work for small businesses, but I regularly dealt with large international companies and food manufacturers. To gain new clients of any size, I had to run my own business, so to speak. I was "warm" calling, always with the intention of helping people and never just trying to win business. Instead of just sourcing my client's ingredients, it was more beneficial for me to learn their entire manufacturing process so I could make recommendations that would save them time or money. Thank you to foodguys for the amazing opportunity I had to work with them. If you are on a procurement team, need food ingredients for your product, or just want to see if you can save time or money with your sourcing, I can attest to their knowledge, commitment, honesty, and loyalty. I would highly recommend them.

My role stretched far beyond that of a traditional Teaching Assistant. At the Austin Entrepreneurship Program, I helped with grading, but was also heavily involved in event planning for executives to speak on campus. For these events, I organized and planned catering, seating, timelines, and even introduced speakers in front of large audiences of up to several hundred people. I was a full-fledged event planner, and we regularly hosted events, sometimes multiple events per week. I also gave many campus tours to prospective students looking into the business program, and was even specifically asked for by the Dean of the College of Business to give a tour to her family. I also worked with the program's social media, hosted professional development workshops, and was a licensed food handler.

During my two summers as an intern at Target, I learned to be Leader on Duty, leading a store with over 100 team members, and dove deep into the roles I was assigned. I learned so much about the roles that I created and presented a logistics program to the District Team Leader, without prior assignment or being asked to do so. I was the area's first Sophomore intern, therefore interning for two summers, which had never been done. I really enjoyed the people and the culture at Target and was offered a job after college which I turned down. I'd like to note that there wasn't a problem with the company or something I didn't like, but I wanted to try something newer and out of my comfort zone which is why I chose to accept another offer. I often think about my time at Target and reference it regularly. I would love the opportunity to work for them again someday, and highly recommend this company to build many skills. Target is a great place to grow and develop as a person, manager and communicator. There is an endless set of tools you can gain by being employed at this company.

I had the opportunity to start my own company during my freshman year of college. Over the course of three years, I developed and founded Cycle-Jacket LLC, a high-end bicycle cover. I had heard of Community Outreach Inc. (COI), a nonprofit based in Corvallis, Oregon and knew they needed some support with a program dedicated to helping women in transition from homelessness. When developing the business, I had a need to have my covers sewn, and the women were in desperate need of jobs that would also allow them to be at home with their children. I saw these needs and felt I had a responsibility as a business owner and community member to give back, which is where a partnership was formed. We taught the women sewing skills to make the bicycle covers and worked with them one-on-one to help them move out of the program. Even after leaving the COI program, we continued to work with the women, and taught them higher-level skills to continuously invest and support them in their development. Creating and implementing this solution allowed me to help others improve their livelihood and standard of living. Because of Cycle-Jacket, I won the National Association of the Self-Employed Future Entrepreneur Award of $24,000 to go towards my education, along with several other scholarships totaling over $40,000. I have also been broadcasted through Victoria, B.C. radio, won the opportunity to go to an entrepreneurial bootcamp in Victoria, B.C., given presentations for the OSU College of Business on several occasions, and pitched at the Willamette Angel Conference Pitch Competition where I won 2nd place.

Duties included proficiency in: conflict resolution, policy enforcement, social justice, inclusive communities, sexual assault response, suicide response, CPR and First Aid certification.

Lifeguard responsibilities, teaching swimming lessons (3years-15 years old), working with children, CPR and First Aid response, strong swimming skills.