Women in Technology: Patti Ream

Liquid Web’s Executive Assistant at iThemes on promoting worker recognition, doing what it takes to support her team, and being a lifelong learner.

Patti Ream was born in Winfield, Kansas. For trivia buffs, Ream shares Winfield as a birthplace with Mary Ann’s character in Gilligan’s Island. When Ream was 8, her family moved to Hawaii for a military stint. “In my heart, Ewa Beach, Oahu, is my hometown,” Ream says. After graduating from Derby, Kansas, Ream eventually moved to Oklahoma, where she met her husband.

Ream’s tech profession began in February 2014 when she began at iThemes because the Executive Assistant. “Before that, I wasn’t actually a tech person,” she says. “But I used to be the one who learned the processes and programs and trained the staff on them. As well as, I did the weekly maintenance in our satellite offices for the Techies.”

Now, Ream is within the unique position of being a support for the entire iThemes team. “Need assistance with a project? I’m there. Need information gathered? I’m there. Need anything, if I don’t know the best way to solve the difficulty, I’ll doggedly trace down the reply,” she says. Ream began because the Exec Assistant, running the office, tending to anything that didn’t need to do with developing or support—payroll, insurance, accounts payable, providing onboarding materials, and helping recent employees. Now she does the identical for the Developers and Support staff, helping to maintain things running within the background. “Each thing I do teaches me something recent,” she says.

In accordance with Ream, one of the best a part of working in tech is the people. “It’s so inspiring to be around brilliantly minded, forward-thinking people who find themselves creating their futures and changing the world at the identical time,” she says. “I grew up pre-computers but have all the time loved exploring with them. I actually have never met a program I couldn’t tackle and master.”

One highlight of Ream’s tech profession has been running an Worker Recognition Program for over 2,200 people and 80 locations. “It was very successful and standing room only at our ceremonies. I actually have a heart for service and loved making our employees feel great concerning the wonderful things they did for Oklahoma,” she says.

A curious learner, Ream’s work style is to dive in deep. “I would like to know the best way to do it, but I also need to know why we do it and the way it helps the following person within the chain,” she says. As well as, Ream makes it her mission to remain honest, kind, and determined. “After I promise something, I don’t relent. I’ll learn whatever I would like to learn to get the job done and spend as much time because it takes to do a great and thorough job, regardless of the challenge.”

Ream says there isn’t a limit to where women in tech can go and what might be achieved. “Gender has nothing to do with the strength of the mind. Tech is the extent playing field of the longer term,” she says. “I might, and do, tell every young woman in my family: Our world has completely modified after the last couple of years. Online technology is the brand new steam engine.”

If she could offer one piece of recommendation to women just starting in tech or who’re fascinated by the industry, Ream would tell them simply to go for it. “Find the sphere of technology that interests you and learn every thing you may. Discover a mentor within the WordPress community and learn from them, too. I actually have been lucky to have excellent mentors throughout my profession. Yes, I actually have had a couple of. Everyone at iThemes is my mentor. Every one among them is a wealth of information that they’re willing to share.”

Ream says that working at iThemes and learning from her team has kept her involved and relevant. “I’ve learned things I never thought I might have the chance to learn and done things I never thought I might. Regardless of your age, keep difficult yourself.“