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I'm thrilled to introduce Jennifer Goodrich, our new Director of Digital Project Management and newest Team Member at Foster Made!

Q: Welcome Jen! Starting with the basics, where are you from and what do you like best about living there?

A: Thank you so much! Presently, I live in the Lake Sunapee region of New Hampshire and I love the combination of mountains and lakes. There is no traffic until we get close to Boston and it is full of artists, musicians, and small business owners. It is a small state but very dynamic.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your family.

A: I am married to David Swords and between us we have three children. We have two grown-up daughters (my stepdaughters), Julie and Melanie, and one son we had together, Alex. They are a bright, lively bunch and we try to see each other when we can, usually in New Orleans or Port Aransas, Texas because Melanie has three sons and she works for the Navy. Julie works in Pharma for a company revolutionizing skin cancer detection and Melanie teaches Navy pilots how to fly in simulators. Alex is in the Air Force and is becoming a SERE instructor to help pilots Survive, Evade, Resist and Escape. Yes, he is way tougher than I am! 🙂

Q: Given the distance between New Hampshire and Richmond, how did you hear about us?

A: I heard about Foster Made through Tech Ladies, a terrific organization of women helping women find jobs in tech. I am really impressed with the resources and women who are a part of the Tech Ladies community.

Q: What inspired you to join the team at Foster Made?

A: I was really intrigued by the diversity of projects, the small and vibrant nature of the organization, and the company’s values which closely align with my own. When I met Paul and Shawn and they took me to lunch, I felt an instant connection and great vibes.

Q: What excites you most about your new role at Foster Made?

A: The people; both the staff and the clients/prospects I have been introduced to so far. I am really touched by the kindness and generosity I see throughout the organization as well as the obvious talent. This small team is doing so much.

Q: When you’re not in work mode, how do you like to spend your downtime? Any hobbies or pastimes that you’re particularly passionate about?

A: I like to be outdoors and on the water as much as possible. We are sailors and cyclists so we are often boating, swimming or on bikes. My husband writes music and we have a wide circle of musician friends so we spend lots of time listening to live music and having music-oriented gatherings.

Q: What music do you enjoy listening to? Any favorite band, group or individual artist?

A: I like americana, folk, rock, blues, and jazz. Classical too but I listen less to classical these days. My dad loves jazz so when I am with him, we usually listen to jazz or blues. He is struggling with memory issues (he is 90) so we bought him a drum about 2 years ago and drumming is his happy place where he becomes my dad again and he does not struggle to communicate or be a part of conversations. Music opens his pathways so that language and memories come flooding back. It is remarkable! If you have not watched Alive Inside, I highly recommend it.

Q: If you could switch roles with any fictional character for a day, who would it be and why?

A: I would like to join the Star Trek gang so that I can beam from place to place that interests me and so that I can see the people I want to see instantaneously!

Q: What are your all-time favorites for the following? ( You can list more than one)

A:

• Board games: Clue and Risk

• Movies: Juno, Ladybird, Jerry McGuire

• Foods: Avocados, seafood, cajun cooking, indian food

• Holidays or traditions: Thanksgiving

• Books: All the Light We Cannot See

• TV shows: Call My Agent

• Sports: Hiking, sailing, swimming, cycling

Q: Lastly, if you had to describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be and why?

A:

• People lover … I love people of all ages … understanding what makes them tick, what they are passionate about, why they do what they do.

• Empathetic … I try to be a very good listener and to empathize with the challenges that others face. This trait has been useful in software development since our primary goal is usually to solve problems.

• Analytical … my former colleagues have said my superpower is being able to make sense of large and diverse sets of data very quickly and communicating these learnings in ways that are easy to understand and act upon.