Happy 5 year work-versary to me!

Alright, so I am sucker for anniversaries.  Have you ever seen that episode of Parks and Recreation where Ben and Anne get overwhelmed because Leslie is always celebrating anniversaries?  Well, I'm not that bad, but I do like milestones and use them as a time to reflect, remember, and look forward.

In addition to my 5 years living in Albany that I hit last month, just yesterday I also hit another anniversary-- 5 years since my start date of June 9th at the company I work for!  Looking back now, I had no clue how much taking that job would affect me and I vastly underestimated where those 5 years would take me.  I signed on for a 2-year program that involved 8-month functional rotations.  About a year or so into the job, I had a pretty good idea that I'd be made an offer to stay with the team after the program ended.  So after doing a rotation in public relations, a rotation in employee communications, and a rotation in marketing communications, the team created a role for me leading digital communications.  After a year and a half in that role, I moved to a different part of the company, leading marketing communications for a division of one of the businesses.

Working at a science and engineering company has been an adventure to say the least.  I had no appreciation for engineering before I came in to this company.  I applied for the job because it was the only one I could apply for in the fall of my senior year of college.  I'm actually pretty sure I missed the e-mails advertising it and only knew about it because I ran into a friend in my major on campus while she was heading to an info session (I was probably heading to the bar or something...)  I am so glad the stars aligned as they did (and side note: that friend is a blog reader.  hi Sarah! do you remember this?) After applying and interviewing for the role, I was made an offer and accepted it because I was in desperate need of a paycheck and wanted a JOB.  They could have assigned me to do anything in any part of the country and if it meant money, I would have accepted.  Well, they sent me to Albany and so began a big phase of my life.

On my first day they gave me a pair of safety glasses and started talking about steel toed boots and proper environment, health and safety protocol for the labs.  I had no idea what the hell was happening.

And now, honestly, I can’t imagine that there is any other company I could work for, or job I could have accepted, where I could have learned as much.  The subjects I was writing and talking about were so diverse from healthcare to aviation to energy to home appliances.  In doing my day job, I learned so much about how everything in the world works and about business in general.  Literally the first 3.5 years my job was like living inside of an episode of “How Stuff Works.”

Still, every day, I don’t just learn professionally and functionally, I’m literally exposed to new things every day that makes me a better, more well rounded person.  From how power is produced to how emerging markets meet their energy demands to the cultural norms of the many nationalities I work with.  I am always learning.

In my 5 years I have traveled to Germany twice (soon to be 3 times!), Connecticut, Orlando, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Denver, Toronto, Atlanta, New York City, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, and more.  I’ve gotten to climb a wind turbine, have lunch with an astronaut, work with politicians, CEOs, top tier media, be interviewed on screen, write for print publications, meet incredibly smart scientists, engineers, bloggers, writers, and creative minds.  I've had world class trainings, made lifelong friends, and worked on projects and programs that I truly am proud of and feel are making a difference in the world.  There has been multiple days when I think to myself, “I can’t believe I get paid for this!” or “Am I really allowed to be doing this?”

I’ve developed such a great appreciation for the world around me and the technology that goes into everything in our lives.  From airplanes to electricity to light bulbs.  My job has changed my thoughts on all of these things from mundane parts of life to incredible technological achievements.  I’ve become even more curious, found the world to be even more beautiful, and expanded my mind in incredible ways.  I call myself an “engineering groupie” and although I am not sure what my next few roles will be, I can’t imagine myself working outside of the technology sector ever again.

My first 5 years in the working world have set the standard HIGH for the rest of my career.  I’m a bit worried that it could only possibly go downhill from here. Not to mention, if it weren’t for this job, I wouldn’t have met some of the most interesting and inspiring people I’ve ever come across.  People who have become some of my best friends.  For all of this, I will always be grateful.  It’s hard to believe it has been 5 years, but that’s what the calendar says.  I can only hope that the next 5 years bring as much learning and new experiences as the past!  Happy 5 year work anniversary to me!

Here are just a few random pictures from the past 5 years.  I enjoyed going through these so hopefully you enjoy checking them out :)

One month on the job in Crotonville, NY!

Scientists at work at Global Research in Niskayuna, NY

Presentations in Trevose, PA

American Renewal commercial filmed in Niskayuna, NY

The clean room of Global Research in Niskayuna, NY

Meetings in Minden, NV

Lunch on the roof top in Schenectady, NY

The Energy Learning Center in Niskayuna, NY

Customer event in Osnabruck, Germany

Our team at AWEA 2012 in Atlanta, GA

Inside a wind turbine blade in Gainseville, Texas

Flash mob at AWEA 2012 in Atlanta, GA

With a jet engine in Atlanta, GA

First business golfing experience with the guys outside Atlanta, GA

Conference in San Francisco, CA

Trade show giveaways in Orlando, FL

Midnight tour of FedEx Global Hub in Memphis, TN

Global Parts Warehouse in Olive Branch, MS

Trade Show in Toronto, Ontario

Training in Crotonville, NY

Team bonding in Denver, Colorado

Cooking in Greenville, SC

CEO event in Munich, Germany

Chalk art in Chicago, IL

Tornado at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL

Cubs game in Chicago, IL

Thumbs up at AWEA 2013 in Chicago, IL

Team outing in Saratoga, NY

Training in Orlando, FL

Volunteering in Greenwich, CT

And a number of pictures from one of my all time favorite life experiences... climbing a wind turbine!