Member Spotlight: Andrea Citrin Gardner

Written by Victoria Williams.

Meet Andrea Citrin Gardner. Gardner, who has volunteered with Women Communicators of Austin for several years, is currently in charge of managing postings listed on the WCA Job Bank. In addition, she has been chosen as this month’s Member Spotlight. We recently spoke to her about her experience volunteering with WCA. This is what she had say:

Q: How did you become involved with WCA?

A: I can’t really remember. I lurked for a few years and finally decided to attend meetings, volunteer and meet people. I’m pretty sure Amy Hufford had a hand in getting me to join and volunteer.

Q: What does your volunteer post with the organization entail?

A: I worked on Banner Brunch two years in a row. Once on the marketing team and once as co-chair of marketing. I also worked on the Get Smart PR team. For the last couple of years, I have been updating WCA’s Events Calendar under the guidance of Eva Gonzales. I update and post WCA@Lunch and WCA@Night events, Connect Over Cocktails, Careers Over Coffee North and South and anything else Eva asks me to do. It’s gotten me familiar with WordPress and HTML.

Q: How do you spend your time when you’re not volunteering?

A: I’m working. I have a kid. I’m an herbalist and making my own herbal tinctures and am always studying. I want to get better at plant identifying…I love being able to identify and pick something and make fresh product. I exercise. I study nutrition. I want to write more and am figuring out how to do a daily herb post. I have a little knowledge of Photoshop and want to work in some daily training to get more comfortable with it, but it’s been hard to find the time. I’m still trying to figure out the timing. I want to learn ukulele, but the timing is harder for that too, because the time I have is at night when everyone is sleeping. I’d have to find a place where I wouldn’t disturb everyone. I have two dogs and a cat, all rescues.

Q: How have you benefited from being a part of the organization?

A: I’ve met some really great people and developed some useful job skills. I also like keeping busy and, during down times, volunteering has kept me out of trouble. I have really enjoyed meeting new people and being inspired by their stories.

Q: What has the WCA helped you to accomplish professionally?

A: I think the biggest things I’ve gotten out of the organization are marketable skills and people I have done work with who will be references when I have been job hunting. That, and a professional/social network that I enjoy getting to hang out with on the rare occasions we see each other in person.