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Staff Interviews

ONE-on-ONE with

Gayle Massingill

Position: Account Tech II

Education: Parkland College; Continuing Ed-UIUC

What made you decide to earn your associate's degree in Accounting?
I had been playing with my father's checkbook since I was five years old. I always found math easy in high school and really excelled in it during college. I definitely consider myself a numbers person. When dealing with everyday situations, I usually break the facets of the problem down into some sort of number problem, because it seems to make more sense to me.

What was your first professional position?
After ten years of working in the banking industry, I started working with the Parking Division on University of Illinois' campus in the Accounting Division.

What was your first professional recreation position?
I then transferred to my first recreation position at Campus Recreation where I would continue to work in an Accounting office. I was seeking a more friendly atmosphere and found this at Campus Rec. I appreciate the way that I am considered an asset to the organization.

What are your current job responsibilities?
Currently, I handle the bill paying, ordering, extra help payroll, grad payroll, and assist the head accountant in all financial aspects of the Campus Rec office.

What is the best part about working for Campus Rec?
The answer to this question is easy: my co-workers. I also appreciate the way that my boss allows me to have as much responsibility as I think I can handle. This amount of respect from a boss, allows me to invest more of myself in the job and keeps things interesting.

What is the most challenging aspect of working for Campus Rec?
The most challenging aspect of working for Campus Recreation is prioritizing the needs of everyone. The office is flooded by bills from every department within Campus Rec. The other aspect of the job that is often difficult is passing along restrictive rules designated by the campus. Having to say "no" to someone is never fun.

What are you most proud of accomplishing professionally?
It is very difficult to keep up with the changes regarding accounting on the University. I pride myself on keeping up with these ever changing rules and new software programs. The one constant thing on campus is change.

What are your future professional goals?
While I can't pinpoint one specific facet of the profession that I would like to accomplish, my overall goal is to continue to grow within the department.

What is your personal fitness philosophy?
I would just like to remind everyone that different shapes and sizes are what make our world interesting. Not everyone is a size 8. Men and women of all sizes are beautiful and should receive the same respect as anyone else.