Employee Spotlight: Pat

Each month we will be highlighting one of our amazing employees. We’ll ask them some work-related questions and also some not-so-work-related questions – hopefully, you’ll be able to see why we think we’ve got the best people around.

Today, our spotlight is on Pat Benninger, Program Manager in our performance management department.

Before working at Motivation Excellence, what was the most unusual/interesting job you had?
Prior to joining the incentive industry I worked in a textile manufacturing company in their laboratory, measuring window shade material samples for strength, burst, tearing and fire resistance.

What drew you to Motivation Excellence originally? And since you joined the team, how has the company changed?
I worked for another incentive company before joining the MEI team.  A friend referred me.  One of the biggest changes is our technology.  Our custom programs are designed to not just meet our client expectations but to exceed them.  How exciting is that?

What’s your style: messy or organized?
My style is organized and very detailed.

Best vacation you’ve ever been on?
My best vacation was a trip with my friends to Ixtapa, Mexico.  On a horseback riding adventure we traveled through the jungle with spiders the size of your palm draped across the path that led down the mountain to the beach.  You couldn’t be frightened by them because of their beautiful neon colors.

If you could be anyone from any time period, who would you be and why?

Shirley Temple Black, the child star who made everyone smile with her singing and dancing.  Later in years she became the US Ambassador to Ghana, Africa.

If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
My mother’s homemade potato pancakes with sour cream and applesauce.

Do you have a motto or personal mantra? What is it?
My motto is:  when life throws you lemons, make lemonade.

People would be surprised if they knew:
I saved a young girl from drowning in a public pool using the lifesaving skills I was taught at our neighborhood Boys/Girls Club swimming class when I was a teenager.