Employee Spotlight – Christina Shaffer

Christina, a member of our Employee Advisory Group (EAG), has been with the organization for two years. She said it was the organization’s values, purpose, and scope of work for the position that drew her to Career Path Services. Christina is the program and compliance specialist for our Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program. Throughout the pandemic, her focus has been on getting her team up to speed on new policies and virtual systems to help them better connect with the people in their community. We asked Christina some questions to get to know her better; see what she had to say below. 

1. What is your favorite part of your job? What is your least favorite? 

My favorite part of my work is that I am part of an amazing team, I also enjoy improving the systems and processes for our staff and customers. My least favorite would have to be all of the red tape we have to go through between local, state, and federal policies to best serve our communities.

2. What made you want to be a part of the Employee Advisory group? 

I interact with every position on my team, so I felt that would make me a good advocate that our team could feel comfortable sharing their concerns with. I also love to help develop new processes and brainstorm on how we can continue to improve. 

3. Do you have a motto or personal mantra? 

God will never give you more than you can handle, which I tell myself when I feel overwhelmed.

4. What is the one thing you can’t live without? 

My family! I love my husband and son, and we’re expecting another little one later this year.

5. What is one food that you cannot resist? 

I cannot resist donuts. 

6. If you could pick any superpower, what would it be? 

I would want the ability to teleport. I love to see new places, but I don’t love the traveling part.

7. What motivates you to wake up and go to work? 

Knowing that people are in need of help and that I am providing for my family keeps me motivated.

8. What do you like to do when you’re not working? 

I like to play music; I play flute and piccolo in the Grays Harbor Symphony and Grays Harbor Concert Band, and I also support the pit orchestras in several theaters around Grays Harbor.

9. Who inspires you? 

My mom is an inspiration to me; she has always been a hard worker and made sure she had time to be a mom too. I hope I can find that same balance for my kids while still making an impact at work.

10. What’s your favorite memory while working at career path services? 

A couple of years ago, we used our “Make a Difference Day” funds to buy Christmas gifts for foster kids. It was a lot of fun wrapping all of the gifts. It was a great feeling when we saw the caseworker’s faces light up when they saw all of the gifts we had for the children. 

11. What would you do for a career if you weren’t doing this? 

I would be a musician in a traveling pit orchestra

12. Tell me something that most people might not know about you. 

I like pineapple on pizza; there, I said it!

13. Do you have any closing thoughts or anything else you would like to share? 

I am so grateful to be part of a fantastic organization committed to making a difference in the communities we serve!