Andrea Houck

Andrea first applied at DWA as a single woman fresh out of Purdue with an interest in planning. No job was available, but she was told they’d keep her resume on file. Nine months later, she was thrilled to be called in to DWA for an interview.

“I was shocked that they had really kept my resume on file.”

Andrea loved DWA. “The people were so warm and welcoming. It was like being accepted into a family. For the first time, I looked forward to going to work every day.” And ten years later, she still loves coming to work each day! So she took the job as DWA’s first Project Coordinator in 2001; DWA’s second Project Coordinator started work the following day. Andrea’s first assignment was responsibility for two speaker trainings and, as “senior” (by one day!) Project Coordinator, the mentoring of new project coordinators. She later was promoted to Project Manager.

Marriage and a baby led to her role as Human Resources Administrator, and then she joined the ranks of DWA’s “boomerang employees,” people who leave for a time and return to a warm welcome. Andrea left when her husband’s job was relocated, but she knew from day one that she had to come back.
“I missed the people, the environment, and the professionalism. There’s SO much opportunity here.”

Andrea returned as a project manager and was promoted later to Avant as an account manager. Andrea’s dream job then became available—that of Deborah Wood’s assistant, or more formally, Manager of Corporate Administration. Having held a number of positions at DWA, and with the growth of her family to three boys, Andrea values the fact that as her life and needs changed, and she could find a position within the company that worked with her circumstances.

“You may not see it at first, but the company is willing to create and adjust roles if the employee is fit for the position. There’s a huge support system here. And it’s not just heads down working all day. We have summer bashes and other fun activities.”

So what does she think about working here? She highly recommends it.

< Back to DWA Personalities