Together at Home and at Work: Meet Some of Our Schneider Couples
Credit to Author: Kristen Larsen| Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2018 13:00:56 +0000
The night before I started working at Schneider Electric I remember lying in bed feeling anxious, wondering what my new job was going to be like. It was 2011 and I was 22 years old and about to start my first real office job after college. A thousand questions rushed through my mind. Am I going to be good at my job? Was it going to be easy to make friends? Would I enjoy being in corporate America? Would I fall in love?
…Just kidding – the last thing on my mind was meeting the person I’d spend the rest of my life with. But that’s exactly what happened.
Our 2013 EPN Community Impact team at a Habitat for Humanity site
In college I had been involved in many different extracurricular activities, and I wanted to be sure to get involved at Schneider. One of our business resource groups is the Emerging Professionals Network (EPN). The EPN hosts professional development sessions as well as social networking events to help improve employee engagement and increase the opportunity for communication between emerging professionals and senior leadership. This group started in West Kingston, RI with just a handful of people and has expanded to over 15 locations across North America.
I joined the group and became involved right away, volunteering to help with advertising for upcoming events. I had a marketing degree and enjoyed graphic design, and I was partnered up with the current marketing chair, Chris Larsen, to help brainstorm new ideas for drumming up involvement.
Chris and I started off as coworkers bonding over our joint passion for marketing and giving back on our Community Impact team, quickly became friends and shortly after started officially dating.
Chris and I were married in 2015, surrounded by many of our Schneider Electric coworkers who had become some of our closest friends. Over the years we have both grown tremendously in our professional careers, being promoted to new jobs in different business units and departments, and we were even both working in HR (our desks were 15 feet away from each other) for almost a year.
Now Chris works as a Global Program Manager for Strategic Accounts and I am a Social Media Specialist for our North America Employee Branding Team. Personally, I really enjoy working in the same office as my husband. On a busy day it’s great to be able to take break together for lunch. When I’m nervous about a big presentation I can send him a quick Skype message for some last-minute encouragement. On the rare occasion when we bump into each other in the hallway it’s nice to see his smile. I ask his feedback when dealing with challenging situations, and he helps to think outside the box. Chris has a very analytical mind, and I secretly love to listen to him on conference calls and hear how he manages his projects and team.
When asked about what he likes about working in the same office as his wife, Chris replied “Being able to immediately see Krissy if I am having a stressful day helps me calm down and stay focused. Krissy is a people person and her upbeat personality always keeps me in check.”
While we may work for the same company, we both have very different passions outside of work. I love performing and am currently a member of an improv comedy troupe. I also work on the weekends as a performer for children’s birthday parties. Chris enjoys working on his cars, racing them at the track, traveling all over the US (for work and personal) and keeping fit. We both love dogs, especially our two girls, Shelby and Misty.
I love my career at Schneider Electric for so many reasons – the development opportunities, having a great work/life balance, the company culture of giving back, and especially the people that I’ve met. Chris stated “I love the opportunities here. I have moved roles quite a bit in my 9 year tender at Schneider Electric. External customer support and internal customer support, management and individual contributor, executive level interaction and new hire interaction, the spectrum is wide and rewarding.”
When I started working for Schneider Electric I knew I would have a fulfilling career, but I never expected to meet my husband. I’m proud to say we’re not the only Schneider Electric power couple, and in honor of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to share the stories of a few of our Schneider Electric couples. Read below to see what some of our #SEGreatPeople had to say about what they love about working together and their favorite things about Schneider Electric.
Meet Some of Our Schneider Couples
Toby & Leanne
What are your names and your roles?
Leanne Johnson (Service Sales Manager) & Toby Johnson (Digital Marketing Manager)
How did you meet?
We met in the Customer Care Center in 2007. Toby had been here for a few months and I was new to the company. I was scheduled to call shadow with his podmate but Toby made sure that I sat with him so we could hang out. The rest is history!
What do you like to do outside of work?
Travel, cook together, explore the Providence restaurant scene and hang with our two year old son.
What do you like most about working with your partner?
We like being able to see each other throughout the day especially when it is unexpected. Lunch dates are always nice too. Plus talking about work is easy because we both come from the same company. Plus it is nice having sales and marketing under one roof!
What is your favorite thing about working for Schneider Electric?
We love working for a global company that gives us endless possibilities of where our careers can go. Hard work is often rewarded and the employees are the coolest around.
Amanda & Andrew
What are your names and your roles?
Amanda Steelman – Customer Project Specialist, Square D and Andrew Widlacki – Energy Engineer II, Energy and Sustainability Services
How did you meet?
We met in college, we were both studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Upon graduation, Drew moved to Dallas to start work with Schneider Electric and I graduated a year later and went to work in Houston in the oil & gas industry. Last year, I made the move up to Dallas and started as a project manager with Square D.
What do you like to do outside of work?
We’re currently taking advantage of the downtown Dallas life. We’re season ticket holders for the Dallas Mavericks so we’re at a game at least once a week during basketball season. Otherwise, just exploring the city and activities with friends.
What do you like most about working with your partner?
Actually, the fact that we don’t work together! We’re in two totally different divisions so it’s the best of both worlds. We get to enjoy all the benefits that comes with working for the same company but on a daily basis, we can see each other as much (or as little…) as we want. It doesn’t actually feel like we work together since our jobs are vastly different and we work in different parts of the building but it definitely comes in handy when you run out of the house in a rush in the morning and forget something at home… We’ve both had to make that call to the other before.
What is your favorite thing about working for Schneider Electric?
The people! It’s awesome to work in a place where you look forward to seeing your coworkers. It’s also great to work for a company with so many different divisions and areas. There are a lot of different opportunities out there and a lot of different paths you can take with your career all while staying with the company.
Jenn & Mollee
What are your names and your roles?
Jenn Bennett is a University Recruiter for the US and Canada and Mollee Kumpitsch is a Service Coordinator for North American Operations. They both work in the West Kingston, RI office and live in Connecticut with their dog, Marley. They were recently married in October of 2017.
How did you meet?
Jenn: We met through our mutual friend, Christine. I grew up playing basketball with her and Mollee ended up playing rugby with her in college. We met at her house in 2009 and the rest was history. Christine actually officiated our wedding.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Mollee: When it starts to get warm out, we’re almost always outside after work and on the weekends grilling, playing with the dog, lawn games, etc… We also like to try and find new breweries in the area to check out whenever we can.
Jenn: In addition to all that, I like to sing at just about any opportunity I get (around the house, in the car..) and drive Mollee crazy 
What do you like most about working with your spouse?
Mollee: We carpool every now and then to save on gas. The building is also so big that we really need to plan to see each other—we never just randomly run into each other, so it’s nice every once in a while to plan a lunch or coffee break together.
What is your favorite thing about working for Schneider Electric?
Jenn: I love the company culture. The people I have met have not only become coworkers, but friends as well. I also like that I am constantly challenged in my role and encouraged to better myself and advance my career.
Mollee: I love working for a company that cares about its employees and has so much opportunity for growth.
Eileen & Weston
What are your names and your roles?
Eileen Hansen – Manager, Strategic Accounts Inside Sales and Weston Bishop – Channel Manager, Southern California
How did you meet
In the Costa Mesa office on the Inside Sales Floor
What do you like to do outside of work?
Cooking, hiking with our pup and traveling as much as possible
What do you like most about working with your partner?
We always have two brains to tackle any work challenges going on and the carpool perks aren’t bad either
What is your favorite thing about working for Schneider Electric?
SE is big on work-life balance and allows us to fully take advantage of our free time to travel and explore more of the world
Kim & Kevin
What are your names and your roles?
Kim McDonald-Claims Specialist and Kevin McDonald-Technical Support Engineer.
How did you meet?
Kevin worked for Schneider Electric in Canada and used to come down for training in the U.S. We were introduced by other mutual Schneider friends.
What do you like to do outside of work?
We love to travel! We have been to Scotland, Dominican Republic, Philippines (for work) and many places within the United States and Canada.
What do you like most about working with your partner?
We both work from home, so it’s nice to bounce questions off each other if needed. It’s also nice to have our lunch breaks together
What is your favorite thing about working for Schneider Electric?
The great people we work with and whom are some of our best friends!
Skip & Trish
What are your names and your roles?
Skip Welsh (Software Architect), Trish Welsh (Offer Quality Data Analyst)
How did you meet?
We met in 7th grade and started dating our senior year of high school
What do you like to do outside of work?
We like to snow ski and travel.
What do you like most about working with your partner?
We like riding into work together and ending our workday together.
What is your favorite thing about working for Schneider Electric?
We both work with great teams of people so I think the best thing is the people we work with.
Erin & Joe
What are your names and your roles?
Erin Johnson, Director of Global Data Operations and Joe Johnson, Director of Client Management, Commercial
How did you meet?
We met at an after work happy hour with co-workers
What do you like to do outside of work?
We enjoy camping and lake time with our two kids
What do you like most about working with your spouse?
Being able to talk to one another about daily issues/challenges and to have the other one understand the culture and provide a different point of view and understanding of the challenge
What is your favorite thing about working for Schneider Electric?
Culture: fast-paced, upbeat environment with people that truly care about one another
Adrian & Stephanie
What are your names and your roles?
Adrian Holt, Senior Project Manager & Stephanie Holt, Senior International Project Manager
How did you meet?
We met in January 2007 while working as Manufacturing Engineers in Smyrna, TN.
What do you like to do outside of work?
When we’re not working, we’re spending time with our 4-year-old daughter, Rhory. We also enjoy traveling, brewing our own beer & entertaining friends!
What do you like most about working with your spouse?
It’s always funny to see how people react when they realize we both work for the same company in the same office space 
Their first question is “How do you manage to work together all day”. For some, this may seem weird but for us, it’s the norm. We’ve always worked together…first in Smyrna, then Columbia and now, the Hub. We enjoy comparing our projects & customers, bouncing ideas off one another & providing that extra support on those rough days!
What is your favorite thing about working for Schneider Electric?
Our favorite thing about working for Schneider is the flexibility & balance! It’s not always easy for the both of us to manage large, complex orders with travel requirements and time constraints. But, Schneider has allowed us to be successful by providing the flexibility required to successfully manage two growing careers and a beautiful family.
Rebeca & Hugo
What are your names and your roles?
Hugo Tadeo – Demand Planner and Rebeca Garcia – Purchasing Project Leader. We work together at the Raleigh Design Center.
How did you meet?
We used to work together in the same company 12 years ago both in the supply chain area, so we had day to day communication, I think we fell in love talking about shortages and production expedites =P
What do you like to do outside of work?
We enjoy our family and friends life, we enjoy to have friends at our house for “carne asada / BBQ” every weekend!
What do you like most about working with your partner?
Its really convenient to drive only one car during the week, it saves lots on money on gas! Plus we can ask each other for a work advise, as we both still work in Supply Chain.
What is your favorite thing about working for Schneider Electric?
Our favorite thing about Schneider is how they make us feel they really care about employees.
John & Lisa
What are your names and your roles?
My husband and I are John and Lisa Brewer. John is an Engineering Development Lab Manager and I am a Staff Technical Writer. We work at the Knightdale, NC facility.
How did you meet?
John and I both worked here for several years—in offices just a few doors down the hall from each other—before we met. One day I saw John in the break room. He had a cast on his hand and I asked him what happened. That started a conversation that bloomed into romance and eventually marriage. We kept a pretty low profile about it at work. To this day, someone will say to me “I didn’t realize you and John are married!”
What do you like to do outside of work?
John likes to work on old machines and bring them back into working service—Ham radios, Cub Cadet tractors, and a 70’s era Corvette Stingray. He also collects guns and likes to shoot. I own an Anglo-Arabian horse, “Buddy,” and enjoy riding. Buddy and I take dressage lessons once a week and show occasionally, but our favorite thing to do is to ride through fields and trails along the Neuse river.
What do you like most about working with your spouse?
Working for the same company at the same location makes it possible for John and me to do things together during the day—have lunch, go for a walk, take a coffee break together. Since we sometimes work on the same projects, it also gives us much to talk about over dinner. And occasionally John travels to interesting destinations on SE business—Nice and Barcelona, for example—and I go along.
What is your favorite thing about working for Schneider Electric?
My favorite things about Schneider Electric are the people I work with and the products and services we make for providing clean and efficient energy. I feel proud of what our company does.
Kelsey & Horacio
What are your names and your roles?
Kelsey McPhillips Leal, Procurement Manager – Lincoln, NE
Horacio Rene Leal Barrera, Program Manager – SC Deployment, Lincoln NE
How did you meet?
We both worked in the Leesport, PA plant for a few years before we started dating.
What do you like to do outside of work?
We LOVE traveling together. We have a sense of wanderlust and embrace every opportunity to go on adventures.
“Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures…” Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
What do you like most about working with your partner?
Having the same vacation schedule… to take vacations.
What is your favorite thing about working for Schneider Electric?
The endless opportunities within Schneider if you are open and willing to pursue them.
Jennifer & Chris
What are your names and your roles?
Jennifer Oliver, Sr. Executive Assistant and Chris Oliver, Quotation Specialist
How did you meet?
Chris and I originally met online in 2004, embarrassingly on the website hotornot.com where you would rate someone’s’ profile photo. I used to never tell our real story, but meeting online is very common now these days. We were friends first for a year and visited each other once per month since I lived 3 hours away. We finally started dating while I was still in college. Fast forward to 12 years later and we are happily married with a 4 year old son!
What do you like to do outside of work?
Aside from spending time with our son and friends, we enjoy going to concerts! Chris is a hardcore metal fan and I (Jennifer) am more into singer-songwriter and indie rock. We also love our Nashville Predators and going to hockey games, as well as arcades that have pinball and old school video games.
What do you like most about working with your partner?
When we have the same schedule that day, carpooling is great. It saves money and makes for a better commute. It’s also nice when Chris in the office and we need to communicate something quickly to one another. We usually make it a point not to always eat lunch together so we have time to catch up on our days on the way home.
What is your favorite thing about working for Schneider Electric?
We love the people we work with and making a difference in energy efficiency. We have some of the best coworker/friends that we have found here. Also, the Nashville Hub has been a wonderful place to move to and we are so proud of our beautiful building and love the view.
Sugeily & Chase
What are your names and your roles?
Chase McGrady – Forecasting and Sugeily McGrady – Project Manager
How did you meet?
I (Chase) was tasked at work to show the new hire around town. It worked. We both met working as Engineers in Automotive
What do you like to do outside of work?
Enjoy traveling with our two children… Olivia (5) and Emmit (8 months)
What do you like most about working with your spouse?
That we get to catch up during our lunch break without “parenting”
What is your favorite thing about working for Schneider Electric?
Flexibility and the new office!
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