Caring in Common: A Customer Spotlight on Pam Cottle

How long have you been working for your organization?

4.5 years.

What’s a typical day in your role like?

When your title is ‘operations,’ that could mean anything from “the kitchen sink is clogged” to presenting to the Board of Trustees. I interact with Community Impact, Resource Development, Volunteering, Database, Finance, as well as handle all Marketing and Communications for our organization. It depends on what season of the year we are in to figure out which area will take priority that day.

What motivates you to come to work every day?

I have always worked. I grew up on a 1,500-acre farm with lots of chores; feeding cattle and pigs, baling hay, tending to horses, or simply helping my Mom make lunch to take to the fields for my Dad and brothers. It was a great upbringing which instilled a sense of work ethic in me. I had no idea what “sleeping in” meant as we were usually up no later than 7 AM, even in the summer. I’ve worked for for-profit companies, I’ve owned my own business (for four and a half terrifying years!), and I now work for a nonprofit organization, and I love my job!

Above: A United Way billboard reminding the community that they are not alone and can call 211 for help.

What’s your favourite aspect of your job?

Interacting with our staff, knowing that what we are working toward will ultimately help people in our community become self-sustaining citizens. With a team of five full-time and two part-time staff, we are small but mighty!

Tackling different projects helps to keep things fresh. During my first year as a Butler County United Way employee, I attended the Andar Users Group conference in Tampa. It was announced that a host was needed for the following year. I came home and suggested to our president that we throw our name in the hat to host the conference, and she gave me the green light. We submitted a proposal and, shockingly, we were awarded the conference for the next two years. What a great experience! Ohio certainly isn’t the beach or the mountains, but we sure had fun at Top Golf! 

Above: Pam with other attendees at the Andar Software Users Group Conference event at Top Golf.

What are your biggest professional challenges?

There are lots of people who need to understand that sometimes they can’t do it on their own, and there should be no shame in asking for help to get back on their feet. Communicating that to the communities we serve is a challenge that I gladly accept.

If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor? Can you tell us why?

There are many people that I admire for different reasons, so I can’t pick just one. I think we continually learn from each other (good things and bad things) as a way to better ourselves. However, I suppose I will be ordinary and choose my parents. They are both ninety-three years old and going strong. My Dad still has a four-wheeler that he rides around on the farm with, and this year planted a garden with forty-five tomato plants! Does anyone need tomatoes? My Mom still cans tomatoes and beans from that garden. That work ethic I spoke of before? That’s where it comes from.

What’s your personal mantra?

“This, too, shall pass.”

Do you have hobbies outside of work? What are they?

I love to cook and enjoy feeding people who like to eat! I enjoy watching sports, even the Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals, who can break your heart every time they play. I am continuing to tear apart my house and put it back together again and even learned to lay the tile floor that is in my kitchen. My next project is to finish my basement.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

I suppose it has to be reality television. 'Married At First Sight' is a favorite. I also love 'Big Little Lies' and 'Shameless.' Somehow, shows like this make me feel better about myself!

Caring in Common is a spotlight series that showcases different nonprofit professionals on the last Friday of each month. The goal is to highlight Andar Software customers from all walks of life, levels of experience, and areas of expertise. Their answers will inspire you, give you insight about the nonprofit industry, and motivate you on both a professional and personal level.