Employee Profile: Olga Stefanyuk

February 28, 2022
Published by master

We like to let you get to know our employees, even if you don’t deal with all of them directly. You still get a sense of the closeness we have as a home builder in SW Washington and how we get along with our coworkers who are still involved in one way or another in building your home. This month, we’d like to introduce you to Olga Stafanyuck, our Accounting Specialist.

Olga has an interesting background and an active life inside and outside work. Although she’s a native of Vancouver, WA, her family, including her parents are from Ukraine. Of course she speaks English, being born in the US, but as she explains, “since my parents immigrated to the US before I was born, I was raised with a lot of Ukrainian influence. I can speak both Ukrainian and Russian.”

Olga has her AA in Business Administration from Clark College, and a bachelor’s in Finance from Washington State University at Vancouver. She has done work with various businesses ranging from Umpqua Bank where she audited their PPP loans to helping out her mother’s after-school daycare with jobs ranging from accounting to planning kids activities, showing some real flexibility and teamwork.

She joined us last year. “I started as an Accounts Payable Specialist temp in August, but was officially hired in November as an Accounting Specialist.” Her job sees her covering a variety of tasks, including supporting and backing up Accounts Payable processes, processing credit card and expense reports, assisting with projects, and responding to vendor inquiries. Though she’s still doing some training and doesn’t have a completely typical day yet, there’s one thing that is fairly consistent. “The most common question that I have been asked has been, “Has this been paid yet?”

The fact that no day is ever completely the same can be explained by her view of working with us so far: “There is a great emphasis on coaching, allowing all employees to talk about their

ideas and concerns in a safe environment. I see PLH as a supportive company that realizes the people are its greatest asset – it helps us grow and challenges us professionally. It is amazing to be part of the homebuilding process – helping people build their dream home.”

Helping people is also a big part of her life outside of work. She’s very active in her church and has been a Sunday School teacher for seven years, and has been volunteering with the summer camp since she was 14, gradually gaining more responsibility, becoming a counselor and now a leader. It’s only one week a year, but one that she truly looks forward to each year.

Her volunteer work doesn’t stop there. “In addition, I volunteer with two organizations that are special to me, In HisHands Ministry, and Compassion Clinic. In His Hands Ministry provides day camps and outings for disabled kids and adults. Compassion Clinic sets up free clinics, varying in type, around Washington and Oregon, and anyone who needs the help is able to receive it.”

When she’s not working hard for us or working hard to help others, she does manage to find time to enjoy a variety of hobbies. From reading and watching movies – foreign films are a big favorite right now – she also enjoys floral design, photography, and baking. Still, she also makes time to enjoy the beauty of the PNW. She loves hiking, as well as traveling, both domestic and international. She’s also a big soccer fan who supports the Ukrainian National Football Team, Manchester United, and also supports the Portland Timbers, a team a little closer to home. It’s good to have options.

On top of all of this, she’s also a musician.”A fun fact about me is that I can play multiple instruments. I have played the flute since I was 10. I picked up guitar during my freshman year of college, and during quarantine I started learning the piano. I am hoping to learn the violin sometime in the future.”

With the drive and dedication she has shown in her career and her personal life, we’re sure she’ll be successful in her desire to learn the violin in the not too distant future. For now, we’re just glad to have her as part of our team. She does her part to make us a quality home builder in SW Washington, as we work to make sure our clients are happy with the entire home building process.

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This post was written by master