@Liz Stone: We would have had so many production migration issues if it weren't for your testing. Your knowledge of this product and attention to detail allowed us to catch a lot of issues.
I met Liz stone when she worked the reception desk at the Seattle Art Museum fielding hundreds of phone calls and emails from inquiring visitors as well as balancing the requests of staff, many who were academics, specialists, non-profit administrators, and board of trustee members with very demanding and specific needs. All the while she dealt with requests with a smile, calm demeanor, positive attitude and always with her eyes on the prize of serving the goals of the museum and the Seattle community at large.
When the world started to move from print to digital, I lobbied SAM’s leadership to let me bring her into the new media department to help me deal with the ever increasing work-load of managing content and people in order to run databases, websites, email campaigns, and special interpretive projects for the galleries. She picked up the slack of organizing large-scale content projects and managing people, allowing me the time to implement new tools for SAM. While she was working for me, she also led a museum-wide green initiative following her own passion and interests.
She is currently working on a career change with a focus on animals, nature and the environment. Although she does not have any prior wildlife experience, I know her work experience, her maturity and her ability to focus and work in the line of fire makes her a perfect candidate. On top of that, she has a wicked sense of humor. If you take a chance on her, you won’t be disappointed. You would have made the right choice.
Many times over the last 13 years I've congratulated myself on hiring Liz Stone. Not only has her performance been exemplary in a variety of roles here at the Seattle Art Museum, but she's been a wonderfully pleasant presence in my work life, both when I've functioned as her manager and when we've worked as colleagues. This letter is intended to provide the highest possible recommendation on Liz's behalf.
Liz Stone has much to recommend her. She is committed and passionate about the environment and the natural world...I believe I'm not over-stating myself when I say that no other staff person was more instrumental in the formation of the Seattle Art Museum's "Green Team" than Liz. She repeatedly and continually took on Green Team roles that required much but provided little professional benefit to her. As one of many such cases in point, I'm reminded of the time, when due to budgetary constraints, the museum's Environmental Steward position was eliminated. Liz responded by freely assuming several key functions of the position, and even initiated a program to get staff names removed from junk mail lists. I can honestly say that I know of no one who cares more about the planet than Liz...it's a mindful commitment as well as a heartfelt devotion for Liz. And, if one combines this commitment and passion with Liz's many other qualities we have a highly effective environmental leader.
Among her qualities is her proactivity. Liz is always receptive and open to engaging an issue that presents itself. While she's capable of directness, her typical understated approach wins cooperation and helps ensure progress on issues she engages.
Liz is flexible. She's adaptable...willing to bend to make things works. She's smart. She's a quick study...learns fast. She's fun...mature and serious to a point that she knows not to take herslf overly serious. Her sense of humor is wonderful, and always there when an edge needs to be shaved off. She's great to work with...very easy.
While Liz has an abundance of individual qualities to recommend her, the statement I believe that most poignantly summarize her is that "Liz is the consummate collaborator." While Liz works with matured independence, she seeks the input of stakeholders and experts continuously, and readily follows direction of managers when given. She is almost instinctive in her ability to work with colleagues and move a project forward to resolution. Perhaps it's her calm and curious temperament, or her ever ready sense of humor that enables her ability to collaborate so adeptly; but clearly she has a wonderful gift that benefits her employer and those with whom she works.