Liquid Internet’s Govt Assistant at iThemes on selling worker recognition, doing what it takes to assist her workforce, and being a lifelong learner.
Patti Ream was born in Winfield, Kansas. For trivia buffs, Ream shares Winfield as a birthplace with Mary Ann’s character in Gilligan’s Island. When Ream was 8, her household moved to Hawaii for a navy stint. “In my coronary heart, Ewa Seaside, Oahu, is my hometown,” Ream says. After graduating from Derby, Kansas, Ream ultimately moved to Oklahoma, the place she met her husband.
Ream’s tech profession started in February 2014 when she began at iThemes because the Govt Assistant. “Earlier than that, I wasn’t truly a tech particular person,” she says. “However I used to be the one who realized the processes and applications and educated the workers on them. As well as, I did the weekly upkeep in our satellite tv for pc workplaces for the Techies.”
Now, Ream is within the distinctive place of being a assist for the entire iThemes workforce. “Need assistance with a challenge? I’m there. Want info gathered? I’m there. Want something, if I don’t know easy methods to clear up the problem, I’ll doggedly hint down the reply,” she says. Ream began because the Exec Assistant, working the workplace, tending to something that didn’t should do with creating or assist—payroll, insurance coverage, accounts payable, offering onboarding supplies, and serving to new staff. Now she does the identical for the Builders and Assist workers, serving to to maintain issues working within the background. “Every factor I do teaches me one thing new,” she says.
Based on Ream, the perfect a part of working in tech is the individuals. “It’s so inspiring to be round brilliantly minded, forward-thinking people who find themselves creating their futures and altering the world on the similar time,” she says. “I grew up pre-computers however have at all times liked exploring with them. I’ve by no means met a program I couldn’t deal with and grasp.”
One spotlight of Ream’s tech profession has been working an Worker Recognition Program for over 2,200 individuals and 80 places. “It was very profitable and standing room solely at our ceremonies. I’ve a coronary heart for service and liked making our staff really feel nice concerning the fantastic issues they did for Oklahoma,” she says.
A curious learner, Ream’s work type is to dive in deep. “I wish to know easy methods to do it, however I additionally wish to know why we do it and the way it helps the following particular person within the chain,” she says. As well as, Ream makes it her mission to remain sincere, type, and decided. “Once I promise one thing, I don’t relent. I’ll be taught no matter I have to be taught to get the job accomplished and spend as a lot time because it takes to do and thorough job, irrespective of the problem.”
Ream says there isn’t any restrict to the place girls in tech can go and what will be achieved. “Gender has nothing to do with the power of the thoughts. Tech is the extent taking part in discipline of the long run,” she says. “I might, and do, inform each younger lady in my household: Our world has utterly modified after the final couple of years. On-line expertise is the brand new steam engine.”
If she may provide one piece of recommendation to girls simply beginning in tech or who’re within the business, Ream would inform them merely to go for it. “Discover the sector of expertise that pursuits you and be taught every thing you possibly can. Discover a mentor within the WordPress group and be taught from them, too. I’ve been fortunate to have wonderful mentors all through my profession. Sure, I’ve had a couple of. Everybody at iThemes is my mentor. Each one among them is a wealth of information that they’re keen to share.”
Ream says that working at iThemes and studying from her workforce has saved her concerned and related. “I’ve realized issues I by no means thought I might have the chance to be taught and accomplished issues I by no means thought I might. Regardless of your age, maintain difficult your self.“