Employee Spotlight: Susan Shipman

You may wonder, “who is that mysterious woman on the other end of the phone when I call MKSD?”  Her name is Susan Shipman and she is the glue that helps our office run seamlessly.  From coordinating marketing materials, invoicing clients, helping pull specifications together, assisting with finish boards, or just making sure we have all the supplies and materials we need daily Susan wears many hats.  We are so glad she came to join our MKSD family and could not ask for a better person to be the first impression of MKSD.  We hope you enjoy getting to know her a little more and feel free to say a quick “hi” to her when you call or stop by the office!

What does a typical day look like?

A typical day at MKSD for me starts with checking messages and emails and figuring out the priorities of the day.  Those priorities change at different times of the month, depending on deadlines and where my help is needed.  Then, getting home late afternoon I like to work out on the treadmill and have dinner with my husband.  We both like to cook and try new “healthy” recipes.  Since we were both working at home during the Stay-at-Home order, we started walking together at lunch, so we have been trying to still do that in the evening now.  It is much more enjoyable than the treadmill.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

What I enjoy most about my job is that it is not the same every day and I am able to help in many different areas, whether it be proposals, finish boards, specs, or invoices.  This also means I get to work with different people all the time.  I enjoy talking to everyone and realized how much I missed that when the office was shut down.

What was your first job and what did you learn from it that influences the way you work today?

My first job was working as a salad bar runner at the Round Table Restaurant when I was 14 years old.  After a while, I would occasionally hostess as well.  That job taught me responsibilities like time and money management and it also taught me a lot about working with customers.  All of that influenced the way I worked in my varied career path as a department store buyer, a middle school art teacher and now as I work at MKSD.

What are the three things you cannot live without in your workspace?

My Chai Tea Latte, my To Do List, and my family pictures.

What is one unique thing that others may not know about you?

I love to dance.  Get-togethers with certain friends can easily evolve into a dance party.  I am not saying I am a great dancer…but play some good songs and you will find me on the dance floor!

How are you involved in the community?

After losing my art teaching job due to budget cuts, I became involved with the William Allen Arts Alliance (formerly known as the Allentown Arts Academy Alliance) to support and promote art education programs at William Allen High School.  I have been the Treasurer for several years on this board and we have been able to raise money for visual art, theater, music and dance departments so that they can offer students programs in the arts which was always so important to me and my own children in high school.

Where is your favorite place to eat/visit/hang out in the Lehigh Valley?

There are so many places I like to go to with friends and I am looking forward to being able to do that again freely in the future.  Restaurant hopping in all of the downtown areas – Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton is always fun, going to Iron Pigs games, hanging at the local breweries, hiking South Mountain, biking on the rail trails, even just hanging out with friends around a fire pit…there are a lot of places I like!