Staff Spotlight on Lisa Brooks – Yes She IS Related to Steve

Q: Tell us a little about who you are…
A: Who knew this would be such a hard question to answer.  I guess I can start by saying I’m one of the longest lasting employees with the company and sister-in-law to Mr. Spangler.  I started doing part time projects when I was 14 years old when Steve and Renee first started the company.  I’d mail out fliers to elementary schools about Steve’s programs.  I can honestly say I wasn’t great at it since I was a typical teenager and didn’t have the motivation I do now.  For some lucky reason, Steve and Renee kept me on and hired me full time back in ’97.  We’ve been inseparable ever since!

Q: What do you do at Steve Spangler Science?
A: I handle accounts payable and receivable, as well as conference planning.  If you’ve seen our booth at a conference, it’s because of yours truly.  I book the travel, make sure the product arrives safely, print lots and lots of maps and do everything just shy of planning their bathroom breaks…although, sometimes I plan that too.

Q: What do you like best about what you do?
A: Everything.  I’m one of the few people in the world who can say I LOVE my job.  I love the people I work with, I love the people we meet, I love the fast pace, the new ventures, the creative minds, the laughter in the office, the camaraderie with the customers and most of all, I love getting to work with my family every day (whether it’s the immediate family or the adopted employees).

Q:  What is your favorite Steve Spangler Science moment?
A: It’s hard to say since I’ve seen them all (or at least most of them).  I’ve seen the company at its beginning, I’ve seen it when it was up, I’ve seen it when it was down and I’ve even seen it almost burn down due to one of Steve’s crazy experiments.  Okay, not really.  Steve is very safe with his experiments, but we have seen some crazy moments.

If I had to pick my favorite moment with Steve Spangler Science, though, I’d have to say our days during Hands-On Science.  It was 2 of the hardest and longest weeks of our lives, but the payoff was immeasurable.  We spent each week with 45 teachers and created a bond you couldn’t imagine.  We knew everyone by name and they played practical jokes on Steve and the crew almost from day one.  That was when we realized that the teachers were our drugs. Hearing their excitement, laughter, oooohs and ahhhhs were and are still today, what keeps us motivated to do what we do.

Q: What is something you wish every SSS customer knew?
A: Yes, I am related to Steve and yes, there really is a Steve Spangler.  Funny when they ask me those questions in that order.

Q: What is your favorite science experiment?
A: The cornstarch experiment Steve did on Ellen.  Still bummed I chicken’d out on trying it myself.

Q: What do you like to do when not on the job?
A: There’s very little “downtime” in our household.  I can’t even blame it on having a 4 year old son and a 7 month old puppy.  There is always a household project to be done, a friend or family member who needs help, a yard that needs to be tended to, a late night at the office, or a late night work out.  The last time we sat on the couch together I think was back in 2006.  I’m not complaining, mind you.  We are a family of goals and we like getting stuff done.  Although I do have to admit, a date night or movie night at the house once every few weeks would be nice.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?
A: I like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain.  I may even have a slight addiction to Yogurtland. Admitting it is the first sign of recovery.