At ECE, our team is made up of a diverse group of fascinating individuals, each adding their own spark to our shared identity. In our fun "Meet the Team" blog series, we’re giving you an insider's look at the amazing people who make ECE what it is. Join us as we dive into the lives of our talented team members and discover what makes them—and ECE—truly special!
Meet Donald Vick, Evaluation Associate Supervisor.
Meet Donald Vick, Evaluation Associate Supervisor. He is an integral part of our team. From his lifelong love for Milwaukee to his passion for exploring new ideas, Don brings a unique perspective to both his work and personal life. In this blog, we take a closer look at his journey—from his background and favorite activities to his thoughts on books, food, and travel. Get to know Don beyond the office as he shares his passions and what makes him tick.
Q & A Session
Q: What's your background? What did you do before joining ECE?
I have lived in Milwaukee my entire life. I attended Wisconsin Lutheran High School and worked at Captel in downtown Milwaukee from age 18 until just before joining ECE.
Q: What do you like most about working at ECE?
I love the culture at ECE. Everyone here is helpful and excited to be here. It’s really cool working somewhere that strives to communicate across all levels of the organization via things like Town halls.
Q: Q:What’s one of your favorite activities when you’re not working? Tell us something that others might find surprising.
I think I have two. The first is camping, which was one of the most common vacations my family took, and now I try to go a couple of times a year. The other is rock climbing, which I picked up a while ago and recently rediscovered. It's a great way to stay active, and there's a surprising amount of thought and strategy involved.
Q: Where have you traveled inside or outside of the U.S.? Do you have a favorite country, city, or region that you like to visit?
I haven't been out of the country, but I've traveled all over the U.S. One vacation I've been thinking about repeating is camping in South Dakota. I have family there that I haven't seen in a long time, so it would be awesome to camp in the Badlands and visit them again.
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?
I'm a big fantasy fan, and while it's not a single book, The Stormlight Archive series is one of my all-time favorites ever written. It contains so many great lessons that, to this day, I often find myself reflecting on its quotes and themes. A few of my favorites include, 'Journey before Destination,' and, 'The hardest step a person can take isn't the first one; it's always the next step.' I highly recommend the series to any fantasy fan.
Q: Do you have a favorite cuisine? If yes, a particular dish you love?
I like a lot of different foods, but if I had to choose one, I would probably have to say Italian cuisine is my favorite. I love pasta, especially any dishes including seafood.
Lightening Round!
Q. Vacation or Staycation?
Vacation - If you had asked me a year ago I would have answered differently, but as I get older I find that I want to travel and experience more. Resting at home is great, but every now and then everyone needs a change of scenery.
Q. Netflix or Hulu?
Netflix - I don't really watch a lot of tv shows anymore, but the ones I do watch tend to be Netflix original shows these days.
Q: Night or morning?
Morning - Another thing that’s changed over time is that I find it hard to sleep in. When I do, I find that I feel like I'm not utilizing my time to the fullest.
Q: Passenger or driver?
Passenger - All my friends joke about this, but I really don't enjoy driving. It's much more enjoyable to just stare out the window and watch the world move by.
Q: Be embarrassed or be afraid?
Be afraid - I would rather be afraid. For one thing, there tends to be a way to overcome fear if you can find a way to face it. My other reason is that embarrassment usually comes after you've already done something, making it harder to get over.
Q: City or country?
City - As much as I love camping and being in nature, the convenience of city life is something I don't know if I'll ever be able to live without.
Q: Fiction or nonfiction?
Fiction - There's something so pure about reading a story and knowing that anything can happen.
Q: Reality shows or documentaries?
Documentaries - I love learning, so any opportunity to explore a topic I'm interested in and learn more about it is a win in my book.
We’re excited to offer you a peek into the diverse talents and passions that power ECE through our "Meet the Team" blog series. Each interview shines a spotlight on the incredible individuals who shape our culture and fuel our success. Come along as we celebrate the voices and experiences that make ECE one-of-a-kind.