I was really interested in crime shows. I wanted to be a forensic anthropologist, so I got a degree in criminal justice.

Somehow, my jobs always landed more into the arts and crafts side of things. I was a temporary employee in the sign shop, so any sign that said “Stop” or a location, we had our hands on it making it.

Around 2019, I was just waiting for the elevator, and there was a loop screen with job opportunities within the department. There wasn't much information on it. It had a health care equipment planner. I had no idea what that was. It would be selecting the standards for equipment in certain rooms, like exam rooms, procedure rooms, and working with the construction team to standardize the items.

You would walk into an exam room and there'd be an exam table—that would be an equipment item. We'd have the sharps container, we'd have the otoscope with the Welch Allyn board, down to the trash can. We can be working on projects that are up to $100 million in equipment.

There are a lot of opportunities where we may not have answers to things. You have to start investigating the problem and looking for solutions.

Even through my crafts or my house or any project I'm on, I want my signature on it that I am proud of it.

Video and photos by Matt Barr