20 things: A Deep Dive into our New Staff

Now that Chris and Courtney have wrapped up two months as full-time employees we thought we would take a minute to share a little more about them with everyone.  If you have been through facilitation with The Spark Mill you may have participated in an icebreaker activity called “20 Things.”  The premise is everyone in the room writes down a list of 20 things they think their co-workers/teammates may not know about them.  Then they work their way around the room reading off interesting facts one-on-one until they get to something the other person didn’t know, and move on to the next person, then the next...It is a great way to build relationship and make connections with people you spend lots of time with, but probably don’t know very well.   Chris and Courtney decided this would be a great way to introduce themselves to you.  So here are their 20 things…age before beauty...or alphabetical order... 

Chris

1. I am signed up to run the Richmond Marathon

2. My undergrad is from Virginia Tech, BA in Communications Studies

3. I have a Masters of Divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA

4. I have 2 boys

5. Being a father is both the hardest and most fun job I have ever had

6. I am chronologically 5 years older than my wife, but still way behind her in maturity and just about everything else…

7. I have done 3 Ironman Triathlons (before kids…)

8. I grew up in Richmond

9. I love to kayak

10. I love to read

11. I order my books by Dewey Decimal system (don’t hate…I can easily find what I am looking for!)

12. I am terribly allergic to poison ivy

13. I prefer rain and thunderstorms (the Pacific Northwest or the hills of Scotland would be perfect for me!)

14. Stephen King is one of my favorite authors

15. I am a huge fan of the Marvel Universe

16. I have a leather bag addiction…

17. I am an ordained protestant pastor

18. Every once in awhile I have nightmares that I am being chased by zombies

19. Theodore Roosevelt is one of my favorite historical figures

20. I think that Daniel Craig is the best James Bond (Sean Connery is #2)

Courtney

1. I hate icebreakers

2. I LOVE showtunes 

3. My hair started graying in my early twenties

4. I think Laura Lee’s burger with mixed greens (not fries) is the best meal in RVA

5. I was an Intelligence Analyst in the US Air Force

6. I have lived in 7 states (AK, CA, GA, OH, SC, TX, VA)

7. I grew up in Powhatan

8. My dad and I drove from Alaska to Virginia

9. I was an All-Metro, All-State softball catcher in high school

10. I eat pasta at least 5 times a week (sometimes for breakfast)

11. I am an only child

12. My favorite book is Heart of Darkness

13. I asked for a case of Campbell’s soup for Christmas when I was a kid

14. I kept the case of soup under my bed in my room

15. When my case of soup got low I stole soup from the pantry to replenish my stash

16. My first dog was ½ beagle, ½ dachshund name Muffin

17. My favorite short stories are “A Clean Well-Lighted Place” and “Bartleby, the Scrivener”

18. I have 2 tattoos, so far

19. My favorite television shows of all time are The West Wing and The Golden Girls

20. I put hot sauce on just about everything

If you read all the way to here - thanks for indulging us!  If you see Chris or Courtney out and about, say "Hi!"