At the Tessitura Center for Professional Development, one of the key benefits of the Comprehensive training courses is the opportunity to work directly with Tessitura staff instructors. Students consistently praise the instructors and the high teacher-to-student ratio as a key benefit of the course. 

For our upcoming spring Comprehensive Ticketing Course (starting March 2, 2020), we asked the three instructors to tell us a bit about themselves. Read on to learn why they love sharing their knowledge with members of our community.

Director, Tessitura Center for Professional Development

Favorite quote:
“There can be no lotus flower without the mud.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh

Where you live:
Nashville, Tennessee.

Favorite movie:
Ghostbusters (1984).

Favorite book:
This task is impossible.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?
In the quiet moments, I am usually doing one of three things:
1) Reading one of the many books I have going at the same time; there’s typically one per room;
2) Queuing up the next five records; or
3) Appreciating plants in a very nerdy way.

What are you most looking forward to at TCPD?
That first ‘A HA!’ moment for a student that shifts their perspective on either a particular piece of configuration or a long-held belief in a certain process. It usually happens on the first day of class – and is always greeted with applause!

Favorite thing about teaching at TCPD?
I love witnessing the collaboration between students. Every student brings a unique perspective to the classroom; the exchange of ideas, puzzles, and skills start on day one and continues well past the last day of class.

Who inspires you?
My dog, Penny. Her heart is so open and loving, yet she is so fierce. She also has a splendid hairdo.

Where is your favorite place in the world?
Anywhere I can sit outside and watch the birds.

Who would you most like to swap places with for a day?
An astronaut on the ISS so I could see our “pale blue dot” from outer space.

Which three individuals, living or dead, would you like to eat dinner with the most?
Mary Oliver, Amy Poehler, and Terry Pratchett.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Beans and rice.

What job would you be terrible at?
Flight Attendant – I hate to fly.

If you could have any one superpower, which would you choose?
The ability to speak and understand any language, written or verbal.

What’s one thing you love to do that you get to do nearly every day?
Enjoy a big belly laugh.

If you could pick up a new skill in an instant what would it be?
Skateboarding – it just looks cool.

Implementation & Training Consultant

Favorite quote:
Marty DiBergi: Why don't you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?

Nigel Tufnel: [pause] These go to eleven.

—Christopher Guest, This is Spinal Tap

Where you live:
Austin, Texas.

Favorite movie:
Too many to pick just one!  But it’s probably a Sci-Fi movie, to be honest…

Favorite book:
Also hard to narrow down (I have over 200 books in my house!). Generally, whatever book I’m engaged in at the moment is my favorite — currently it’s Drop Dead Healthy, by A.J. Jacobs.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?
I play in a pool league, sing in a karaoke league, and generally enjoy catching up with people face-to-face.

What are you most looking forward to at TCPD?
Connecting with the students and seeing the progress throughout the week.

Who inspires you?
Anyone who manages to be kind, funny, and intelligent all at the same time!

Where is your favorite place in the world?
Right here, right now — wherever I am.

Who would you most like to swap places with for a day?
Billy Collins – I’d love to get inside his head for a day.

Which three individuals, living or dead, would you like to eat dinner with the most?
Jimmy Fallon, Barack Obama, and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pasta. And cheese. So – pasta with cheese, apparently.

What job would you be terrible at?
Ballet dancer.

If you could have any one superpower, which would you choose?
Transfiguration.

What’s one thing you love to do that you get to do nearly every day?
Take a walk.

If you could pick up a new skill in an instant what would it be?
Being able to dance (see above answer about being terrible at it!).

Senior Learning Designer

Favorite quote:
“Do or do not, there is no try.”

Where you live:
Cincinnati, Ohio.

Favorite movie:
Star Wars.

Favorite book:
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?
Baking, reading, playing video games.

What are you most looking forward to at TCPD?
Getting to know the class of students.

Favorite thing about teaching at TCPD?
Seeing people gain confidence as they increase their understanding of Tessitura.

Who inspires you?
My kids.

Where is your favorite place in the world?
The beach.

Who would you most like to swap places with for a day?
An astronaut on the space station.

Which three individuals, living or dead, would you like to eat dinner with the most?
My father, Patrick Stewart, and Jim Henson.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pasta.

What job would you be terrible at?
Construction.

If you could have any one superpower, which would you choose?
Flight.

What’s one thing you love to do that you get to do nearly every day?
Pet a purring cat curled up on my lap.

If you could pick up a new skill in an instant, what would it be?
Speaking another language.