Employee Spotlight: Gabby Brown

Job Title: Manager of Learning & Development
Location: Verona Operations Center
Tenure: 8 months
Tell us about your family. My husband and I got married in July of 2022. He truly is my best friend and my life is infinitely better because of who he is. One of my favorite quotes about marriage is "what a beautiful gift it is knowing that God chose your spouse to be the person you get to love and care for during their time on earth" and that couldn’t be more true for how we view each other.

Tell us about your pets. We have two dogs, Rocky (11) and Skye (4). They could not have more different personalities, but they bring so much laughter and joy to our house. My husband is definitely their favorite human.

What is your favorite personal mantra or motto? My favorite motto is that two things can coexist. I am a big believer that life is not always clear, and sometimes the emotions you feel overlap in ways you may not expect. Instead of shaming yourself for what you are feeling in a season of life, I really work to acknowledge what those emotions are revealing to me about myself.
What is your favorite movie, or quote from a movie? My favorite movie is Mulan. I absolutely LOVE the classic Disney movies. I could probably sit down right now and watch that move and know most of, if not every one of the words.
What is your favorite season? I can't pick one! Spring and Fall are my favorites. I love the rebirth (in so many forms) that spring provides, and I love fall because its football season! And from a temperature perspective, they both feel AMAZING!
What is your dream vacation destination? The Maldives - it is my dream to stay in the overwater bungalows.
What is your favorite place you ever visited? I have been fortunate to travel out of the country to different places, but truly my favorite place to go is Hilton Head, SC. My family has gone there for vacation every year since I was a little girl, and the amount of memories I have there as a child, young adult, and now with my husband make it a hard place to beat in terms of my favorite. It truly is my second home, and vacationing there always feels like my heart is smiling the entire time.

How do you define success? I define success as the choice to be obedient to what God even when it is uncomfortable. Whether that is healing from something, committing to a new habit, broadening your perspective, having a hard conversation, learning a new skill, etc. I think success is less about what the world defines as worthy, and more about what God is calling you to do on your individual journey.
What is the most interesting or favorite aspect of your job? I really enjoy being able to think through new ideas for creating learning opportunities that empower our employees to grow both professionally and personally. I also love seeing how new trainings can close a gap, whether it’s learning a new skill or equipping employees with the confidence to navigate a change.
What three words would your friends use to describe you? Loyal, intentional, supportive.
What is one random fact you'd like to share? I used to be a figure skater - I started when I was 8 years old, and I stopped when I went to college. I did synchronized skating as well during that time, and even taught kids while in high school!

What is a piece of advice you would go back and tell yourself? You are not defined by what the world thinks of you, and you do not have to shrink to keep others around you comfortable. Be who God called you to be.