Our Gardian of the Month is Judy Spanogle, Business Operations Coordinator for Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI).
EG: What is a topic you are currently interested in learning more about, but have yet to pursue?
JS: I’m really excited to dive deeper into AI. These days, a lot of my work revolves around outreach and education. I’ve seen coworkers use AI effectively to transform content into engaging and informative emails, newsletters, and blogs. While I have a basic understanding of how to use the technology, I'm eager to learn more about asking the right questions to get the best results and exploring new ways to leverage AI. It's fascinating to think about all the ways AI can be used, and I can't wait to see how it can further enhance my work.
EG: What are some effective strategies you use for initiating conversations at networking events?
JS: I actually love networking events. They’re a great opportunity to meet new people. Since I’m not shy, the introduction part is pretty easy for me, but moving the conversation forward can get tricky, especially if the other person is on the quieter side. My go-to strategy is to focus on asking questions and really listening to the responses. This approach not only shows warmth and genuine interest but also helps find common ground to keep the conversation lively.
Here are some questions that can help spark an engaging conversation:“What brought you here [to this event]?”
“Is [this event] related to the work you do?”
“Have you been doing this type of work long?”
“How did you get started in your field?”
“What’s your favorite part of your work?”
“What’s the biggest challenge you face?”Active listening is the key. The more I do that, the more naturally the next question comes. The goal is to find the spark that leads to an enthusiastic answer, which helps the conversation grow organically. Before I know it, I have a new connection.
EG: What is a challenge you have encountered applying new skills to your work and how did you overcome it?
JS: New skills are never introduced smoothly, are they? It's like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole at first. Offering grace to myself and others around me leaves room for time, patience, and practice, until the new skill yields the results you want. So often it seems like a new process will fit easily into your work—make it go easier, look better, improve the outcome—but there’s always a learning curve. Acknowledging that learning curve is key for me. My patience level goes up because the bumps are expected, and it’s easier to inject humor into a messy process, which eases tension and anxiety for everyone.
For the last few years, I’ve been using Constant Contact (CC) to create and send outreach emails for a project. Prior to that, I’d been using a very basic template in Outlook and too many words in my messages (boring!). Constant Contact has a building tool that lets me be more creative in the email design, while knowing that it will fit their email parameters.
The learning curve in using the building tool was pretty steep for me. When I first started, each email would take me hours. Then I’d send out a test email to myself and colleagues and, well, that was where most of the laughter (and frustration) ensued. Those first emails needed so much help. Fortunately, I have some wonderful co-workers who shared tips and tricks, and even some basic knowledge in email design. They offered me the grace that I might not have shown myself as they helped me improve my skills and get more comfortable creating an engaging email.
Now, an email can be built in less than an hour, and more importantly, our engagement with those emails has increased steadily compared to the beginning.
EG: Just for Fun - What is your favorite hobby and how did you get into it?
JS: Walking is a great way to de-stress, and I combine my walks with photography—mostly flowers and nature. It started when a friend and I began exploring many of the parks and gardens around Lansing. Another friend suggested incorporating all our senses into the walk, as a way to be in the moment; to pay attention to what we see, hear, smell, etc.
Adding photography to the walks really helped me do this. I notice so much now: the colors all around me; the shapes of tree branches in winter; the sounds of the birds & animals. I even started taking videos, just so I could capture the birdsong. I have many of my favorite photos scrolling on my desktop. Just seeing them takes me right back to the place I was when I took the photo, and brings me a moment of calm even when life is crazy.
This is one of my favorite photos, taken on campus at Michigan State University.
EG: What is a resource that has been valuable to you in your work, and what makes you appreciate it?
Click the video below to see Judy's response!
