While we’re all social distancing and working from home, our team thought it would be a good time to share a bit about us and how we’re spending our time! You can see our likes, any courses we’re taking, books we’re reading, and activities we’re getting into. We hope that you can get some ideas from this as well and try some new things.
Amanda Ronan
Position: Director of Programs
Likes: Being outside, spending time with family & friends, trying out new restaurants in the Triangle
Courses: Continuing ed classes on Coursera, and RTI’s virtual innovation series
Books Reading: “What Alice Forgot” by Liane Moriarty
Miranda Welgos
Position: Boxyard RTP Events Coordinator
Likes: Dancing, playing soccer, baking, Harry Potter, getting outdoors
Courses Taking: Learning ASL at startasl.com, courses on FutureLearn, etc.
Books Reading: “The Time in Between” by María Dueñas, “The Art of Gathering” by Priya Parker
Activities: Dancing Brazilian samba, juggling a soccer ball, gardening/building, cooking new recipes, learning to sew, riding my bike, watching new TV shows and movies
Janina Griffis
Position: Frontier RTP Events Coordinator
Likes: Puppies, chocolate, reading, movies, rainy days
Courses Taking: Instagram Marketing
Books Reading: “What A Time To Be Alone” by Chidera Eggerue
Activities: Walking, napping, painting and crafting
Abby Gingrich
Position: Leasing Manager
Likes: Baking, cooking, reading, petting my dog
Groups Joined: Made a book club with my friends
Books Reading:
– “Spinning Silver” by Naoimi Novak
– “Radiance” by Catherynne M. Valente
– “The Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson
Activities: Cooking new things!! So far I’ve made pork steam buns, gnocchi, paleo chocolate cake (made out of sweet potatoes, dates, and avocados mostly) – a vegan curry is next!
ReShockie Furnace
Position: Program Manager, STEM RTP
Activities: Setting up Zoom “reunions” with high school friends (my hometown Detroit has been hit pretty hard with this), college buds, and family
Roz Dodd
Position: Senior Property Manager
Likes: Cooking, Exercising
Books Reading:
– “Breakthrough” by Scott Duffy
– “Be A People Person” by John C. Maxwell
– Podcast: How I Built This with Guy
Activities: Walking daily, lifting weights daily
Anita Kamwendo
Position: Marketing and Events Lead, STEM RTP
Likes: Writing, reading
Groups Joined: Playing lots of DND via Zoom! It’s free and a fun exercise in creativity.
Books Reading: “Less” by Andrew Sean Greer
Activities: Taking long walks with my sister to read all the chalk encouragements left on the sidewalks by kids in the neighborhood, as well as working on my writing!
Kristie VanAuken
Position: VP of Stakeholder Engagement
Likes: Family time, reading the NYT, running, cycling, triathlons, yoga
Groups Joined: Take Back 2020 Challenge
Books Reading: “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng
Activities: Running, cycling, frisbee golf, yoga, walking meetings with Linda, trail running and hiking, online shopping
Danila (Dani) Degno
Position: Meeting Facilities Supervisor at RTP HQ
Likes: Cooking-baking, writing poems, art, watching horror movies
Courses Taking: Duolinguo German Language Course (Free!)
Groups Joined: BBG Community, Kayla Itsines, Health & Fitness Group
Books Reading: “City of Girls” by Elizabeth Gilbert
Activities: Going to the dog park with Ollie (my 4 months old German shepherd), working out, arts and crafts with Nico (my 2 1/2 year old son).
Rae Heyward
Position: Administrative Assistant
Likes: Cook, Spend quality time with family & friends, entertain, watch tv & movies, shop online
Activities: My husband and I are walking every day to get some exercise in and then working on multiple house projects. I also zoom and duo with family and friends. I’m getting ready to start putting old photos in scrapbooks.
Emily Ashby
Position: AR/AP Specialist
Likes: Reading, painting, exercising, being outdoors
Books Reading: I’ve read quite a few books during quarantine, but my favorites thus far have been:
– “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah
– “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr
– “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides
Activities: Painting: Currently enjoying watercolor, gauche, and acrylic.
Kevin Patterson
Position: IT Director
Likes: Reading, Movies, Playing Kid Games
Courses Taking: Security+, Cyber Security Courses, FREE
Books Reading: Exam Cram Security+
Activities: A lot of exercise, gardening/yard work, sidewalk art
Morgan Weston
Position: Marketing and Communications Manager
Courses: The Science of Well-Being through Yale
Books Reading: “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek
Activities: Walking my dogs!