Welcome Marianna Ridley to the Distance Learning Team

The Distance Learning team is so excited to have a new member, so please join me in welcoming Marianna Ridley. Marianna's role is Distance Learning Designer and her primary responsibilities are to design and develop instructor-led and self-paced learning materials.

In this post, we get to know Marianna!

Question: What can you tell us about this picture?

Answer: In late August, I started graduate school at Boise State University.  I am not a big fan of college football, but my husband is, and he got me a jersey. I don't pay too much attention to games, but I do love the blue field.

Question: Where do you live (state/country)? 

Answer: I live in beautiful Charleston, SC, where the winters are superb. (I am originally from Brooklyn, NY, where the winters are the opposite of superb: cold, cold, long, and cold.)

Question: What is your favorite thing to do when you aren't working? 

Answer: I love (a) eating-especially Mexican food, (b) bargain shopping-consignment stores and Goodwill are my close friends, and (c) reading, which is a good thing, because I edit my husband's books. He writes young adult science fiction: http://rwridley.wordpress.com/. 

Question: If you could visit one place in the world, where would you go and why? 

Answer: Italy.  It's my heritage...my maiden name is Della Rocca. (Yep ... Marianna Della Rocca ... way too many syllables. People would fall asleep while I introduced myself!). I took a brief trip there in 1984. I'd love to go back. 

Question: What are your hobbies?  

Answer: See #3 above .  Also, I make beaded jewelry, and my husband and I watch a lot of movies.  (Yes, I'll admit it, I actually enjoyed Zombieland.)

Question: How long have you been at Blackbaud? 

Answer: It's been a decade!  

Question: What inspired you to work at Blackbaud? 

Answer: I really wanted to work for a company that asked "Why do the hands on a clock move clockwise?" on its employment test.

Question: What do you love most about your position at Blackbaud? 

Answer: The chance to keep learning new things. I took the StrengthsFinder test, and Learner is in my top five. For any Meyers-Briggs aficionados out there, I'm an ESFJ. 

Question: What is your professional background?

Answer: At Blackbaud, I have been a customer support analyst, technical writer, information specialist, and courseware developer. Before Blackbaud, I wore a number of hats. For example, I was a proofreader, band manager (does anyone remember the local band Cejema?), sales rep, and, once upon a time, I stuffed envelopes at a bank.

Question: Is there anything else you would like to share? 

Answer: I am thrilled to be a member of the Distance Learning team!  My graduate program is in instructional and performance technology, with a focus on elearning, so it's a great fit.  Two other things: (1) Every single interaction I have had with people on the team has been truly fabulous. I know I will love working with you. (2) Everyone on the team is thrilled to be on the team. The synergy must be amazing!   

Marianna, I speak for myself as well as members of the Distance Learning team when I say we are thrilled to have you with us. Thank you for sharing some of yourself with us and we look forward to getting to know you better.

Until next time!