As we hire new talents at Bridge, we typically ask a bunch of fun and personal questions that we send out to the entire team in an effort to break the ice, as many other companies do. We thought we could go a step further and also share these with you, our clients and partners, because we appreciate so much the relationships we have been building together over the years.
What attracted you to an opportunity in the immigration space?
My family hosted foreign exchange students when I was in middle and high school, from China, Brazil and Germany. I didn’t realize until much later in life how much those experiences shaped my perspective of the world. When I think of these countries now, I think of the people I know in each.
The immigration space attracted me because it can have such an incredible impact on individuals and families for generations, both the people who immigrant and those they encounter. It’s a challenge to move between states within our country. How much more to move to a different country? And yet, there are people willing to take this risk, to move across the world, to pursue a better life for themselves and their families. The chance to work with and for people like that? Sign me up.
What problems in the industry are you most excited to see solved?
I’m pretty new to the space and to the problems that people face within it, but I get excited about simplifying complex tasks and helping people to understand things that are confusing. We can’t do much to change the system itself, and the changes that do happen will come about slowly. But we can take the current process and explain the parts that are confusing, organize the steps in a way that makes sense and help people keep track of their progress.
What stands out to you about the immigration process from either your own experiences or that of your family/friends?
A family I know from South Africa moved to the US over 20 years ago. Their three children just became full citizens a few years ago. The entire family was ecstatic and threw a huge celebration.
It is a very long and difficult process. Even after filling out all the paperwork, waiting, and finally being approved to move forward, you have to go through rigorous tests proving your knowledge of the United States. I’m pretty sure each member of that family knows more about my country than I do and has a greater appreciation for it.
Where were you born (city/state/country)?
West Palm Beach, FL, USA. At the time, my family lived in Jupiter, FL so I like to tell people I was born in Jupiter.
When you were little, who was your favorite superhero?
Zorro, no question. He’s a superhero right?
Are you a morning or night person?
I grew up as a night person, but with marriage and kids I’ve transitioned to a morning person. I get up at 5:30am every day for some coffee and me time.
What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?
Not sure I have a great entry here. Grilled octopus was probably the strangest looking. It was delicious.
What is your favorite cuisine?
I like food. It’s going to be hard to narrow it down. I could eat tacos, chips & salsa every day and not feel the slightest disappointment.
What is the favorite city you have visited outside the United States?
Venice Italy. This city was so much fun to walk around. You can wander without worrying about getting lost. Or, if you do get lost, it’s not too difficult to find your way again. The edges are very well defined. Haha.
If you forget to plug your headphones in at work on Monday, what song are we most likely to hear?
Right now, I’m stuck on either Damien Rice (O) or Sigur Ros (Valtari)
What is the most recent thing you completed on your bucket list?
Bought a house! It’s about 30 minutes south of Cincinnati, OH with 15 acres!
What is your favorite sports team?
I grew up as an Auburn football fan. My grandfather played there and my grandmother would take me to games after he died. More recently it’s been Chelsea as I keep hoping to see Pulisic get more playing time.
Beach or mountains?
mountains
What is your favorite season?
Fall, when the leaves are changing and it cool enough to have fires and go camping without roasting alive.
What is your favorite app on your phone?
Draft - it’s an iOS app I created for myself. When it’s working, it’s an app for writing rough drafts.
What is your favorite neighborhood in San Francisco?
I’m not sure. I have visited 2 or 3 times and really enjoyed every where we went. What neighborhood is Humphry Slocombe in? Cause that one is probably it.
Besides working at Bridge (of course!), what is your dream job?
Not sure I have a dream job. I like building things in a calm environment with fun people. Anywhere I get to do that is a dream :)
What is your favorite TV show of all time?
Of all time? Geez. Based on the number of rewatches it would probably be Parks and Rec. I’m more of a book person when it comes to entertainment. In that realm, it would be the Wheel of Time series which I’ve read at least four times. To give you an idea of the scale of that nerdiness, there are 14 books in this series and each one is 800-1k pages. Crazy, right?
