If you’ve visited one of our booths at a conference or event, you’ve probably met our Tradeshow Manager, Suzi! In this Q&A, Suzi shares her passion for crafting, her background as a teacher, where she would travel in time, and more!
The Basics
Name and title: Suzi Streppone, Tradeshow Manager
Has been at IXL for: 3 years
Hometown and current city: Born and raised on Long Island, N.Y. Currently lives in Tampa, Fla.
Life at IXL
What did you do prior to coming to IXL?
I was a classroom teacher for 10 years. I mostly taught 3rd grade, but I also taught 1st grade for 2 years. Then I got this amazing opportunity with a start-up company, where we taught teachers how to teach math. I was the elementary school specialist and also the technology specialist. There were a lot of different, really cool ways that I was still in the classroom with the teachers. While I was working there I also got my master’s degree in Education and Technology Integration.
What do you do at IXL? Give us a taste of what a typical day at work is like for you.
I don’t have a typical day; I definitely don’t. Every day is different. I like variety. I thrive on it. I am in charge of researching and planning all of the tradeshows and events that we do. When I go to the shows, I usually fly up, check in, and then I set up the booth and work the show. [see photo, left] I always laugh because I’m in my sweatpants and baseball hat on Day 1, and on Day 2, I’m all dressed up! I stay at the booth all day to talk to the teachers. A lot of them come up with questions about their classrooms, and my background really helps me answer them because I not only worked in the classroom myself, but I also worked in hundreds of other teachers’ classrooms.
What skills/qualities does it take to do your job?
Energy. I have a lot of energy, and you need a lot of it to do this job. I’m a big-time people-person; I’m a talker. I love to talk about education and I love to talk about IXL in education, so when I’m at a show talking to teachers, I just love the conversations we have.
Life beyond IXL
What do you like to do in your free time?
I’m a crafter—I love doing craft projects. I have this cutting machine called the Cricut, and I’ve been spending a ton of money on paper; it’s my newest hobby. I also do a lot of video editing and Photoshop work. We have a tradition in my family where my three sisters and I make each other Christmas gifts every year—this coming Christmas will be our 16th year doing this. It has become a competition of who can outdo the others. One year, I actually made my sisters into Barbie dolls. I’ve also made a personalized Monopoly game called “StrepponeOpoly.” [see photo, left] We call it Make-a-Gift, and as creative as we are, we have the most uncreative name, which is kind of funny!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a teacher. I was 7 years old—I remember the day I woke up and decided I wanted to be a teacher. And I never veered from that except for a short period of time in high school where I thought I was going to be a fashion designer.
What’s your favorite:
Source: http://theleagueofheroes.yuku.com
- Food: My mother’s cooking. Hands down. My mother makes the best stuffed shells, eggplant parmesan, and sauce and meatballs. It is my grandmother’s recipe on the Italian side, and I would choose my mother’s cooking any day of the week.
- Movie: I’m a huge, huge Star Wars fan. But I’m a Star Wars purist. I am all about Episodes IV, V, and VI. I’m very much looking forward to Episode VII. I will be dressing up. My sister is going as Luke, so I’m going to go as Leia, but I don’t want to go as “buns” Leia; I’m going to go as Hoth Leia [see photo, right]. So I’m working on that costume.
- Subject in school: In the 9th grade, I took a computer course and learned BASIC [an early programming language]. I was the only girl in the class and I loved it. And I think that’s where my love for technology began.
Just for Fun
If you could have any superhero power, what would it be, and would you use it for good or evil?
As far as superheroes go, I definitely relate to Wonder Woman, and yes, I would love to have her Truth Lasso. Of course, I’d use my powers for good.
You invented a time machine! Where and when do you travel to first?
I just want to go back to my thirties! My thirties were awesome!
Interesting in joining the IXL marketing team? We’re currently hiring an Email Marketing Manager and a Growth Marketing Associate. Apply here!
