Sheri Barker

Background

About Sheri Barker

When my Human Resources position in the hospitality industry was made redundant, I had exactly one day to decide whether I was going to go back to school as a full-time student or begin looking for another career position. Ever the organizer, I sat down and wrote out a pro and con list which looked considerably different than it would have a decade before. School was the hands-down best choice for me to make. I knew that the commitment to my education would make life challenging for a while, but it was worth it. I met some personal goals while I was in school: I conquered a life-long math disability, and even made the Dean’s List. Being in school also gave me time to challenge myself and give deep consideration to my life goals. By the end of my first semester, I knew that I did not want to go back into private industry of any sort. I wanted to graduate and find a position that would match my ethics and values. I wanted to build a career with an organization that works to help people; and to work with colleagues who believe in treating people with respect and compassion. I wanted to do work that would make a difference in people’s lives. Less than a month after completing my course work, I interviewed with my current employer. In that first interview, I knew I had found the job I had been determined would be mine. When I was offered the position I knew it would be a bit of a gamble to accept, but I never had a doubt that it would be worth the risk. Three years in, I love the work I do, and I admire and respect the people I work with. Thirty years into my career in office administration, I know I'm in the right place, and that I definitely made the right choice five years ago.