Nellie Harnisch appears to be a genteel lady and when one gets to know her, not only do you find gentility but a steeled warrior is revealed--one ready, even eager, to meet and overcome life's challenges. There is only one challenge that Nellie did not welcome, but she met it and overcame it, too. (Nellie is seen here with her hubby, Dennis, and two of her grandsons, Jacob and Johnny.)
Q: Were you employed elsewhere in JPL before your current position as Senior Accountant reporting to Deputy Director Mark Merritt?
A: My career with JPL began as a library clerk at SE Branch in December 2007 where I enjoyed working with customers at the front desk. After work, I attended the University of Phoenix and later received my Master’s degree in Accounting. I already had a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and had been Chief of Accounting for a company in my country of origin, Russia. Nevertheless, I recognized my need for further education to get my dream job in the U.S.
After my year and a half at SE, I took and passed the city’s test to receive a promotion and began working at DU as a Children’s Library Associate. My own children were adults by this time (my daughter was 26 and my son, 23) so it was lots of fun interacting with kids again. After a year and a half at DU, I transferred to UPK and stayed there two years as a Library Associate, conducting computer classes. I have warm memories of working with my UPK family and have maintained a good working relationship with UPK employees who are still with JPL.
I like a challenge and when the opportunity came, I took a test offered by JPL, passed it, and joined the E-library specialists team. In this interesting position, I promoted E-services and continued conducting computer classes. E-books were being offered at JPL during this time and customers had a lot of Q’s. Our E-library specialists did--and continue to do--a tremendous job promoting E-books and other E-services. I am very proud to have worked with them for a year and a half.
In June 2013, my “year and a half” stints changed when I took the Senior Accountant position in JPL’s Finance department. I had received my Master’s degree in Accounting and was ready to continue my dream career in Accounting! Mark Merritt and HR decided to hire me and I’ve been in this position till now.
Under Mark Merritt’s distinguished leadership, I am involved in all JPL Finance activities and maintain spreadsheets, prepare and monitor JPL’s budget, create monthly and annual reports; process all library purchases and invoices, conduct audits, process checks, and work with the JPL Foundation and with the city’s Accounting and Procurement divisions. I like my many responsibilities very much. This is me, my chosen career, my dream fulfilled.
Of course, I could not do my work without the excellent supervision of Deputy Director Mark Merritt and the rest of JPL Finance team’s contributions—Jim Skulsky, Darlene Nicholson, and Leila Wertman. I also want to acknowledge the JPL Foundation for their daily contributions to the ongoing success of JPL’s Finance department.
Q: How have all the additional hours for FY2016 impacted your work?
A: Starting November 14, the additional FY 2016 hours allocated by the City will be in place. This affects me very positively, both professionally and personally. With the 88 additional hours at 21 branches, we will incur more invoices as JPL begins to meet the needs for more programs, more collections, an additional 11 positions and increases in needed security and custodial service, etc. We have a new challenge in providing all these aspects of additional customer service and I’m excited about that. After all, my family and I are avid JPL customers, too.
Q: What major obstacle in your life have you experienced and what helped you most to overcome the hurdle?
A: This was one challenge I did not welcome and it was THE major obstacle in my life: cancer. One year ago, the disease seemed to come out of the blue and it affected not only my personal life but my career, too. I discussed the ramifications with my family--at home and at JPL (many of my waking hours are spent here with staff and I consider them family).
FMLA time was granted for me to have surgery and follow up with chemo and radiation. I returned to work six weeks later thinking that was the end of it. Not so! I had to continue the treatments. My FMLA time was almost depleted so I asked for official permission to continue working at home. Permission was granted and I was able to work full time online daily using the city’s remote system. Director Barbara Gubbin and Deputy Director Mark Merritt were so supportive during this time as was the Finance team—Jim Skulsky, Darlene Nicholson, Leila Wertman, and Toccaro Tracy (a relatively new employee). All of them were so helpful and without their professional help and their and my family’s understanding and cooperation, I would not have hurdled this awful obstacle in my professional and personal life.
My job gave me the incentive to conquer cancer, no matter what. In June of this year, I was able to come back to the office and continue my full time daily duties. Today, I am totally recovered, feel great, and have lots of energy: battle won! I will never forget this chapter in my life and I am very grateful to God and both my personal and work families.
Q: If you were not a Senior Accountant, what career path would you probably have taken?
A: Working at JPL in any other position is very interesting and exciting, as I mentioned earlier. It is fun to interact with people, have the opportunity to meet someone new, constantly learning, being exposed to new books and information, the world, and life in general.
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