Over the past few months, Catapult has been growing rapidly.
From growing our team and building internal capacity to relocating our office, there has been a lot to navigate and a steady stream of new challenges to manage. Amid all these exciting developments, one Catapult team member has been key to keeping everything organized and moving forward.
That team member is Sheree Jennings. As Executive Assistant to President and CEO Tammy Thompson, Sheree manages Tammy’s schedule and steps in wherever needed to ensure the office runs smoothly.
We sat down with Sheree to learn more about her role, what brought her to Catapult, and what she finds unique about the organization.
To start, can you tell us a bit about yourself and what led you to become an executive assistant at Catapult?
I’m from the North Side of Pittsburgh. Before coming to Catapult, I worked as a billing manager and supervisor, so I’ve always been in billing. This was a big career change for me. One of the reasons I chose Catapult is that I really like what the organization stands for. I wanted a job where I felt like I was making an impact, where I was giving something back to the community.
One day, I just woke up and realized I didn’t have a voice in my job. Being here at Catapult, I feel like I do have a voice and that it’s helping make a difference.
Was it difficult to transition from billing to this new role?
It was hard at first, mostly because I was used to being micromanaged. I found myself overthinking things. If someone sent me an email, I would stop what I was doing and respond right away, even if it meant derailing my workflow. So it was definitely an adjustment, but a good one. Now I’m in a place where people encourage me and want to see me grow.
What does your day-to-day look like as an executive assistant at Catapult?
I manage Tammy’s calendar and take care of office needs, things like ordering supplies, making sure we’re stocked with everything we need to do our jobs well, and ensuring everyone feels comfortable when they come in. I’ve also been working on streamlining processes, like how we handle check requests when people come to the office to pick them up.
You work closely with Tammy and the leadership team. How would you describe Catapult’s internal culture?
What excites you about the future of Catapult?
I’m really excited that we’ve finished the big office move — that was a huge project! Now I’ve been focusing on getting the space unpacked and organized. I’m also excited about our new art gallery and starting to host events there in the future. There’s a lot of great energy in this next chapter.
