Team Member Spotlight Q&A with Natalie Calhoun

This week we sat down with our Marketing Analyst, Natalie Calhoun, to ask her ten questions about herself and her experience at Continual Care Solutions. Check out her most recent article, Increase Funding for Your Nonprofit with the Power of Data.

1. What is your role at Continual Care Solutions?

I’m the Marketing Analyst here at Continual Care Solutions where my responsibilities range from designing and maintaining the website, managing our social media and blog, distributing our email communication, and creating physical and digital promotional materials. 

2. Why did you decide to join the Continual Care Solutions team?

I decided to join the Continual Care Solutions team because I thought that it would be interesting to join a startup. I was the first non-founder to join the company and because of that, I’ve been able to do many aspects of marketing that I normally wouldn’t be able to do at a larger company. All of the team members at Continual Care Solutions have a lot of experience and knowledge in various fields and it’s been great being able to learn from them.

3. What is your favorite thing to work on as part of your job?

My favorite thing to work on is probably the blog since I enjoy making sure we are on schedule and that all of the blog posts go out on time. It has also been very enjoyable reading all of my colleagues’ pieces since their topics have all been very different and they each have their own unique writing style. I’m excited to see the blog develop even more and continue to gain traction.

4. Before working at Continual Care Solutions, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

The most interesting job I had was when I was 16 to 18 years old, where I owned a small painting business. I sold miniature paintings at local art shows and on Etsy for two years, until it became too difficult to do while also going to college. I really enjoyed seeing people’s excitement and appreciation for my paintings, and it was fun getting custom requests, especially of people’s pets! Having to produce so many paintings was definitely hard to keep up with, but I would love to get back to doing it for myself at some point.

5. What knowledge, skills, or insights have you gained since starting work at Continual Care Solutions?

I have definitely gained knowledge on the non-profit world. Since imPowr was designed specifically for human service organizations, I’ve had to learn more about non-profit funding, organizational structure, and who they serve. Gaining knowledge about non-profits has given me even more appreciation for them and makes me glad that Continual Care Solutions can help make their job easier. 

6. If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? 

If I were to do another job for one day, I think I would like to try interior designing! I have had so much fun decorating the new house I’ve just moved into, incorporating a bit of mid-century and farmhouse design in my furniture and décor. I repurposed and refurbished a lot of antiques to get the style I was looking for. As an interior designer, it would be a lot of fun trying out different design styles that I wouldn’t normally go for myself. 

7. What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I like to do a variety of different hobbies and always loved the idea of being a 'renaissance woman'! Most recently I have gotten into flower pressing and have collected more than a hundred different flowers and leaves, some of which I have framed in my home. I love it because it’s a way to preserve all of the small pieces of beauty in nature! I also enjoy baking, doing puzzles, gardening, reading, and cycling. I also used to do a lot of painting, which I would love to get back into. 

8. Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

The best place I have traveled was most likely Jordan, which I visited in April of 2019 to do a cycling trip. It was very much out of my comfort zone since it was very different from any country I had ever been to, and because I went there alone to meet up with a group of people I had never met before. However, I was surprised by the lack of culture shock that I experienced and immediately loved the people of Jordan who would all yell “you are welcome!” as a way to show us that we were welcome in their country.

Jordan was incredibly beautiful and had a very diverse landscape, ranging from valleys, mountains, and deserts. Everywhere you looked there was an incredible view. On the trip I was able to do so many things I’d never done before such as ride a camel, float in the dead sea, sleep in a tent in the desert, and cycle more than I ever have before in my life!

9. Where is your favorite place to eat?

My favorite place to eat is a place called El Rincon Mexicano in Sodus, NY. It has the best authentic Mexican food. I live about 45 minutes away from it now, but I still make a trip out there a couple times a year for their sopes and chalupas!

10. What is one of your favorite quotes?

“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live” 

Dalai Lama XIV

To read Natalie's blog article, Increase Funding for Your Nonprofit with the Power of Data, click here.