1). Name, spouse/partner name, kids, grandkids - Alexis Urquhart, living single and free!
2). Where were you born and raised? I was born in Amish country outside of Cleveland, Ohio. I bounced around the midwest growing up (Indiana, Illinois in the far southern suburbs of Chicago, and back to central Ohio).
3). Current job or retired job - School Transformation Facilitator at a Southwest Denver Middle School. That entails a lot of number crunching to understand our students' baseline data, how they're growing, and setting good goals for students and our school. I also facilitate intervention meetings that help provide the right supports for students that are at-risk in Attendance, Behavior or Course Performance (the ABCs).
4). Hobby or interests - Fiction reading, Gardening, Movies (all kinds - I have seen more movies than anyone else I've met), Cooking (but not baking), Art classes, yoga, TRAVEL (I'm itching to travel again, especially internationally), languages (spanish).
5). I joined the Denver Lions because…. I've been in Denver long enough but never felt like a true participant or contributor. The organization has a long and valued history of improving a comnunity and people and I want to be part of that.
6). What I hope to accomplish as a Lion - I'm excited to get out and volunteer, participate in discussions and connect with community members. I'm ready to mingle!
7). What three words best describe you - Vibrant, good listener, flexible
8). Name a couple of bucket list items for you - I have several places lined up to visit once things calm down: Georgia (the country not the state), the Baltics and hopefully Bhutan. I have a banjo gathering dust in a closet I'd love to learn how to play. I want to make really great french bread. I've been ruminating a lot on a screenplay I'd like to write.
9). When you were a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? I thought a lawyer would be perfect for me (until I worked at a law office for almost a decade). I also wanted to be a therapist and help people by listening.
10) What was one of your biggest accomplishments? From a personal level, I see my changing careers as a big and scary accomplishment. I quit my job in the legal field and moved to Costa Rica for 2 years to get my MBA, and now I'm working in education in Denver. I can also play six degrees of Kevin Bacon extremely well.
11) Where did you go to school? My undergrad is from Ohio University (political science with minors in film and spanish) and my MBA from INCAE Business school in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
11) What else should we know about you? First, I'm looking to transition away from my current job at the end of this school year, and I'm eager to learn from folks' experience at the Lions - I want something different and I'm exploring what's out there and what suits me. I'd love to pick brains as I get to know everyone more! Second, If you've got tech/media/handiwork issues, you can always ask me- I may not be able to help, but I'll always try! Lastly, I can both prune apple trees and make applesauce and pie - you never know when that might come in handy.
