Employee Spotlight: Deb Stipa

STATS

  • Name: Deb Stipa
  • Title: Business Development Manager
  • Branch: Washington, DC Landscape Management Branch
  • Ruppert Tenure:  4 years

Q&A

  • Briefly describe what you do all day (at work). I build and nurture relationships.
  • What’s the best thing about your job? Meeting people and helping them solve landscape problems.
  • What’s your favorite thing about the company? Ruppert is a company that truly cares about its people and customers.
  • What’s your favorite memory at Ruppert? All my favorite memories have to do with the people that I have worked with and the friendships that I have made while working for Ruppert.
  • What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this? I would still be a business developer.
  • What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now? Life has changed rather drastically over the last few weeks. I would say at this exact moment, reaching out to customers and seeing how I can help them.
  • Who has been your greatest mentor and why? Jason Dixon from Neuberger and Company changed my life
  • What are five words (or less) of advice for others in your profession? Believe in yourself.
  • What inspires you? My kids.
  • How do you define success? Good health.
  • What’s the last book you read? In the Distance by Hernan Diaz
  • What’s the last movie you saw? 1917
  • Tell us something that might surprise us about you. I am a published white-water photographer.
  • If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Divide it with my kids.
  • What was the last experience that made you a stronger person? I think we are all in the middle of that experience right now.
  • How do you like to spend your free time? Hiking, or photographing along a river.
  • What is your favorite family tradition? When everyone comes home at Christmas.
  • What’s your favorite indoor/outdoor activity? Anything outdoors is at the top of the list.
  • If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Speak Spanish and maybe knit, haha.
  • Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why? I love visiting family in Italy.
  • Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be for the best? Losing my last job – which gave me the opportunity to work at Ruppert.