BEST OF Archives | Math for Grownups

I’ve had such a great time this year getting to know people and their occupations on a deeper level. It’s that time of year when we reflect on what has been and dream of what will be. I’m thinking back on all the great interviews I had. A few come to mind that I’d love to share with you — just in case you missed them.

First on my mind is Mary the Non-Profit Principal. Loved her sense of humor! She knew how to turn a serious interview about math and work into an entertaining read. She is gifted on so many levels.

Then I am recalling Louisa the Greeting Card Designer. What a job! I love the creativity that she unfolds into her designs. If only some of those vibes were transmitted to me during our interview!

The next one that comes to mind is Andy the Design Director. I guess I just have a thing for the creative types! As I recall the math in his job is mostly done by the computer. Just think of it though… the math that it takes to do graphic design. The computer makes his job so much faster in so many ways.

What about Shayna the Cook Supervisor… remember her? Talk about crunching some numbers. She has to convert recipes on a daily basis as well as manage the food budget. Because I love math, that sounds like a mighty fun job! I’m not so sure about the actually cooking part though. With me at the stove, the food might not be so great!

Finally, I have to include Kathy the Company President who heads up a manufacturing company. As the president, she has a lot of numbers to look over including tolerances on the design prints, payroll, quality scores and much more. I love hearing about the industry that is the heart of so much in our country. I hope she inspires students to pursue STEM occupations. (Um… she’s also mom to Kelly, my virtual assistant, which is pretty darned cool!)

As 2014 draws to a close, I hope you all get some much deserved time off work and begin calculating your goals for next year. I’m excited about next year’s Math at Work Monday interviews, but for now it feels good to focus on the holidays. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Photo Credit: Jon Glittenberg via Compfight cc

Math for Grownups readers love Math at Work Monday. And here are the top 10 interviews of the year.

Mary Ellen the FBI Profiler

In her book, Dangerous Instincts: How Fear Can Betray Us, Mary Ellen O’Toole, PhD, puts these experiences to work everyday life. And in this interview, she reveals how she uses math in her work.

Melissa the Speech Therapist

Lots of people think of speech therapists in the school setting, working with kids. But my sister, Melissa, works with adults, who are critically ill or recovering from an injury or illness in rehab.

Katie the Costume Designer

As a costume designer and technician, Katie Curry worked for the Berry College Theatre Company and the Atlanta Shakespeare Festival. She recently started her own venture called Nancy Raygun Costuming that caters to folks who are into cosplay and conventions or just want a fun costume.

Jennifer the Retail Buyer

Merchandise at your favorite store doesn’t magically appear on the store shelves. In fact, there’s a lot of planning that goes into the number and types of candy bars that fill checkout-line racks. And that’s where Jennifer Cassara comes in.

Graham the Fish Hatchery Technician

Graham Laing is my brother, and I don’t think he’d be offended by my telling you that some of us in the family were a little worried that he might not amount to anything. But that’s another story for another day. Today, he’s afish hatchery technician, which basically means he raises trout — “from eggs to eating size,” he says.

Tiffany the 6th Grade Teacher

I know what you’re thinking. “It’s so obvious how a 6th grade teacher would use math! She’s teaching fractions and division and percents!” But there’s always a lot more to teaching than the rest of us may think.

Brette the Cookbook Author

When my friend and fellow writer, Brette Sember let me know that she has a cookbook coming out, I jumped at the chance to feature her here. It should be no surprise that math is a critical ingredient of all recipes. The Parchment Paper Cookbook is no exception.

Shana the Jewelry Designer

Art and math are diametrically opposite, right? Wrong. Shana Kroiz is a Baltimore-based, acclaimed jewelry designer and artist, whose work has been shown in the some of the country’s most esteemed galleries and museums, including The Smithsonian and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City.

Kim the Copywriter

If you’ve ever visited the website of a prescription medication or picked up a brochure from your doctor’s office, you’ve seen the kind of work that Kim Hooper does. And she’s proof that math and writing are not mutually exclusive endeavors.

Ron the Web Designer

Ron S. Doyle is both a web designer and a freelance writer. In fact, he’s found a particular niche in developing web sites for other freelance writers. He’s also got a wicked sense of humor and uses math in his work.

I’m planning for the New Year. Who would you like to see interviewed for Math at Work Monday? Share in the comments, or shoot me an email.

BEST OF

Best Math at Work Monday Interviews of 2014

Math at Work Monday: Best of 2011