Staff Spotlight, Lucy Chermak

Tell us about yourself!

Hi! I’m Lucy Chermak, Site Director at our Toogood site for adolescents and young adults in St. Paul, Minnesota. I’ve been at The Emily Program since 2011.

What do you like most about your job?

I love the people I work with. We have such kind, empathetic staff who are just FUN! Working with adolescents definitely draws in a certain personality type which makes every day a blast…not to mention that working with teenagers keeps me spry.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working? 

I really enjoy home improvement projects—from painting walls to full kitchen remodels. It relieves stress while also allowing me to check things off the to-do list!

What has the past year taught you?

The past year has provided a lot of lessons, but my top three would include learning how to balance the different areas of my life, prioritizing the things that bring me joy, and not sweating the small stuff.

Weirdest job you’ve ever had? 

When I was in college, I worked for a race director, which was a really awesome and eclectic experience! I did everything from setting up race courses to screen printing t-shirts to marking triathletes for their races. It was a non-stop work environment where you had to be on your toes.