Get to know Steve Immel, Oleya Pearsall, and Jennifer Wilkins in the series of staff profiles.
By Human Resources
May 30, 2024
Steve Immel
What’s your favorite thing about the place where you live?
That I literally live less than 10 minutes from Thai food. That's a location requirement for me.
What’s your favorite quote, and where’s it from?
In various forms: "Wherever you go, there you are." It's a reminder that you bring with you perspectives and habits (sadly not just the good ones) to new environments.
Oleya Pearsall
Can you tell me about a hobby you like to practice in your free time?
One of my favorite hobbies is knitting. I’ve been knitting for 17 years! Once I made a garment flag for the Museum of Contemporary Craft. There were many late nights full of frustration over tangled strands, but it’s one of my most successful pieces. Right now I'm knitting a sweater for my daughter's 2nd birthday. I probably won't make the deadline but I think she'll forgive me. Tell me about the last book you read.
What was something you particularly enjoyed about it?
The last book I read was Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs. Working at Reed has made me curious about Steve Jobs' life, so I decided to learn more starting with this memoir written by his first child. Right now my favorite kinds of books involve memoirs, complicated family dynamics, and single-parent households. Small Fry had all of those elements so it made for an especially captivating read. Lisa is an incredible writer and puts such tenderness and care into her descriptive prose.
Jennifer Wilkins
What's something you could watch over and over again that never gets old?
I never get tired of the series, The Leftovers. I’ve watched the entire series 3 times now, and can’t wait to start it over again. The premise is that about 5% of people on the planet suddenly disappear. The great thing is that the show doesn’t really care about what happened or why it happened. Instead, it focuses on the stories of those left behind. It’s mysterious and confusing and beautiful and heartbreaking. I find something new and feel moved in a new way every time I revisit it.
What’s something on your desk, a nearby wall, or out the window that cheers you up during the day?
At my desk I have an acrostic name tag my daughter, Pearl, made for me for Take Your Child to Work Day. It says: J(oyous) E(nergetic) N(erd) N(erd) I(s crazy) F(un) ER. I love that she just ran out of steam by the last 2 letters and that she doubled down on calling me a nerd.