At ECE, we take pride in celebrating the talented individuals who make us who we are. Our "Meet the Team" blog series offers a behind-the-scenes look at the unique personalities that drive ECE’s success. Discover fun, surprising, and captivating stories from our team members as we explore the magic that makes ECE truly exceptional!
Meet Alison Zaharias, Evaluator.
Alison Zaharias, an evaluator at ECE, brings a rich and dynamic background to her role, having previously worked in event planning and operations at Milwaukee’s American Family Field. At ECE, she navigates documents from 24 countries, enjoying the mix of variety and consistency. When she’s not diving into foreign transcripts, you’ll find her leading a wild troop of Girl Scouts or dreaming about space travel. A fan of Laotian pho, nonfiction books, and being a "professional passenger princess," Alison brings passion, fun, and curiosity to everything she does at ECE.
Q & A Session
Q: What's your background? What did you do before joining ECE?
Prior to ECE, I worked at Miller Park (now known as American Family Field), home of the Milwaukee Brewers! I was involved in event planning and operations, assisting with small events like meetings, big events like Brewers home games, and giant events like a Paul McCartney concert. The work was hard, but the energy was so fun, and I got to experience so many cool things. I helped a couple plan their surprise wedding—telling their guests it was an engagement party and surprising them with a wedding. I also got to meet big names like Bob Uecker, Hank Aaron, and the Racing Sausages.
Q: What do you do at ECE? What excites you most about your position and/or your team?
I'm an evaluator here at ECE, and I feel really lucky to be here. I enjoy it because there's so much variety—I work with 24 different country systems (the smallest is São Tomé and Príncipe, and the largest is India). Each day, I get to work with different types of documents from all over the world, but I still use the same methodology for each report, which keeps me in my comfort zone. It's the perfect balance for an anxious but fun person like me ;)
Q: What are three words that describe ECE's culture?
Passionate, engaged, and forward-thinking. It's so refreshing to work with people who care not just about the accuracy of the work but the purpose as well. Although we have different tasks, and the work can be more independently driven, we are all working toward the same goal.
Q: Q:What’s one of your favorite activities when you’re not working? Tell us something that others might find surprising.
I'm a Girl Scout troop leader! I lead a troop of 16 first-grade girls, and it's the opposite vibe of ECE—loud, crazy, and unstructured, but in the best way. It's so fun and helps me let loose after a day at work.
Q:Are there any books or movies that you simply could not put down or kept thinking about long after you had read or watched them? Why?
During the pandemic, I started reading about space travel, which culminated in my reading Bringing Columbia Home by Michael Leinbach and Jonathan Ward— a book I still think about now, four years later. It is a nonfiction book about the recovery of the Columbia explosion. I’m still hoping to visit Kennedy Space Center one day and am trying to talk at least one of my kids into becoming an astronaut.
Do you have a favorite cuisine? If yes, a particular dish you love?
I love Laotian pho; it is my favorite. I think I could eat it every single day; it ticks all the flavor boxes I need (cilantro, garlic, broth, noodles). Just thinking about it, I already know what I want for lunch.
Lightening Round!
Q: Night or morning?
Night. I love nighttime, so quiet and peaceful.
Q: Passenger or driver?
Passenger. Professional passenger princess here. I'm a great navigator, DJ and snack holder.
Q: City or country?
Country. I would love to have space for a small farm. We have chickens now, but I'd love to add sheep or goats.
Q: Cooking or being cooked for?
Being cooked for. I'm a horrible cook and for the sake of everyone it's best if I am being cooked for.
Q: Lose sleep or skip a meal?
Lose sleep. I love eating, usually if I lose sleep, it's for a good reason.
Q: Sweating or shivering?
Shivering. Being hot is torture to me, it makes me so uncomfortable. I'll shiver any day.
Q: Fiction or nonfiction?
Nonfiction. I love non-fiction, especially when they read like fiction.
Q: Reality shows or documentaries?
Reality shows; my guilty pleasure. Sometimes my life feels boring, and I can't help but watch other people's drama.
We hope you're enjoying our "Meet the Team" blog series, where we showcase the incredible talents and passions that make ECE shine. We invite you to keep joining us on this fun-filled journey to meet the vibrant personalities that define ECE and make us truly special.