Last year Blanket and Board was awareded the EmpowerHER Grant from 84 Lumber and the Pittsburgh Penguins. That money helped make it possible for Blanket and Board to hire their first team members. Within a few months we built a strong team of 5 Event Coordinators, a Lead Event Coordinator, and an Operations Manger. This blog post will help introduce you to our Lead Event Coordinator T'Jha Taylor and our Operations Manager Nicky Ertzman. Keep reading to learn some fun facts about them!
Question: Who did you look up to as a child?
T'Jha: "My parents, particularly their strength and resilience, inspired me."
Nicky: "My Gram. She was a strong, independent woman who truly shaped me from the inside out."
Q: If you could only eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
T: "Mac and cheese, or pasta of any kind!"
N: "My husband makes this amazing Mexican chicken soup that's served over rice and I could eat that all day every day no problem!"
Q: What is the bravest thing you've ever done?
T: "Taking a leap of faith by packing mine and my girlfriend's cars completely full with all my stuff and moving to Pittsburgh from Virginia Beach. This was right when I was settling into my first big girl job and had told her I would consider moving months down the line. Originally she was supposed to come see me for just the weekend and we both ended up leaving together!"
N: "Restarting my sobriety journey at 27 years old which ultimately lead to me quitting my very stable full-time job to pursue work that protected my mental health rather than hurting it."
T'JHA HARD AT WORK PREPPING FOR A GRAZING TABLE AND PICNICS
Q: If you could only watch one movie or television show for the rest of your life, what would it be?
T: "RENT! (the movie or the musical)"
N: "E.R. I've watched the whole show all the way through at least 3 or 4 times."
Q: Who is your most listened-to artist?
T: "Jhene Aiko and H.E.R."
N: "Mac Miller and A Day To Remember"
Q: What is your favourite season and why?
T: "Spring, my birthday lands in the springtime and it is the season of blooming for flowers and people."
N: "Fall! Mostly because fall clothes are my favorite. Also, bonfires."
Q: What is one thing you've learned that you wish you could tell your younger self?
T: "Protect your energy, people can drain or charge you. I only allow myself to be surrounded with people that charge my spirit."
N: "You can't control what happens to you, but you can control your reaction to it."
Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?
T: "I know I’ll always keep my genuine personality for as long as I live but I see myself growing and blooming more and more every year with no specific goals in the end as long as I continue to get learn."
N: "In five years my oldest son will be going to first grade which is absolutely mind-blowing! I hope that by then I have figured out what exactly is next for me in my career path. I'd love to find a way to transition the part-time work I do with Blanket and Board into a full-time career once my kids are in school."
Q: What job did you want as a kid?
T: "Veterinarian, I still am an animal lover!"
N: "A doctor. Definitely because I watched so much E.R. Funny now because I hae become quite squeamish over the years."
Q: If someone paid you to write a blog or book about anything, what would it be about?
T: "I am currently trying to write and self-publish my own book that is about self-care and organizing life to fit rest and relaxation into the schedule of everyone’s lives."
N: "Honestly, I'd probably write an auto-biography. Not to sound full of myself, but I really do think reading about my life and my experiences could be helpful to others."
Q: What was your favorite subject in school?
T: "AP Psychology, I have always been really intrigued with the way our minds work differently and how intricate the brain is. I would ask for books about the mind for Christmas in high school but spent most of my time studying the pages with the pictures and labels just mesmerized by how much a brain contains."
N: "I think it was social studies/history, but I honestly am not sure. I was overall a good student so to be honest all of the subjects kind of run together for me."
There you have it! Blanket and Board is so lucky to have found amazing team members like Nicky and T'Jha. Their efforts really do keep this business running day in and day out and we are so very thankful!
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