Blessings in Action
Staff Interview Dana Hess
Church Office & Facilities Extraordinaire a.k.a Office Manager You will either see Dana at the front desk when you arrive in the church office, somewhere in the church managing all the groups that use the building, or attending church on Sunday. Tell us about yourself. Hello, my name is Dana Hess. I graduated from Arapahoe High School and from Colorado State University. My husband graduated from Columbine and University of Santa Barbara. While we met here in Colorado, we started our life out in San Diego, California. My family and I moved back to Colorado to be closer to family in May of 1999. We have two beautiful daughters that graduated from D’Evelyn High School and are now up in Fort Collins; one as a freshman and one as a senior. My husband and I are now empty-nesters and are trying to get used to not going to soccer games, carpooling, and helping with homework. We now get to go on dates and spend more time with our furry dog son. How long have you worked at Abiding Hope and what is your role? Up until one year ago, I worked in retail management for Barnes & Noble. I had just finished my graduate degree in Human Resources and began searching for something a bit different. As luck would have it, Abiding Hope had an opening for an Office Manager. I help our staff with scheduling, maintaining supplies, and communication. I also help oversee facilities use, management, and HR. I get to work with a bunch of wonderful people and have enjoyed learning new responsibilities. What made you say yes to Abiding Hope? We often called Abiding Hope “Kiera’s church.” When she was set to begin confirmation, she wanted to be closer to where her friends were. That was seven years ago. Thus, began our journey towards a new church home. We have been blessed to meet so many special people and be a part of this church. Where do you see God showing up in your work here? I see God showing up at Abiding Hope daily! It is so nice to be a part of a staff that is full of grace and laughter. We all work towards a common goal of making this the best church ever. It is amazing to be a part of the work that goes into creating an open and supportive environment.
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How have you felt transformed since you began working with Abiding Hope? The biggest transformation for me has been being surrounded by faith. It is helping/reminding me to continue my journey with God. I get to experience our staff worshiping and using their strengths so that others can get closer to God. Through our church staff, I have discovered new meaning in scripture and in music. It is truly a blessing!
