Terri Shoemaker

What have you learned in the last year that will benefit HPI going forward?
We had many new employees join HPI (reception and three accounting positions). Of course this made for a big learning curve. While we have different personalities, and different challenges, we need to always remember that the most important thing is to simply stop and really listen … communicate … and we can get it done together. Everyone has weak points and strong points so where one person is weak another person excels.

Which is the best vacation you’ve ever had in your life?
California. I’ve been there on many occasions and spent time mainly in Carmel, Monterey, San Francisco, and touring highway one. I found it absolutely gorgeous and relaxing. The weather was conducive to many outdoor adventures whether it be shopping at quaint little shops where the streets had little nooks and crannies with more shops, hiking up a mountain to tour a lighthouse or outdoor dining (which included being gently serenaded by live music and sometimes a chicken quietly strutting by your table) … it put a whole different aspect on life.

Who was your favorite teacher or subject in school and why?
My favorite subject was any math class but especially algebra. Math came easily to me so like anything else in life I guess you tend to like what you feel good about. I also had teachers who I found engaging … they were able to make the teaching flow in a way that made learning easy.