Every person in the GW Engineering community contributes to the fabric and culture of what makes us great and unique. As an institution of higher education, we often celebrate the achievements of our students and faculty. However, without the tireless work of GW Engineering staff, nothing would be possible. From our facilities, to our technology, to supporting our events, the staff at GW Engineering keeps our school moving forward. Each month we will highlight one staff member in our Local Hero editorial feature. Take the time to meet the people who are at the foundation of our school.
Human resource (HR) professionals play a crucial role in an organization’s success by managing its most valuable asset: its people. They are responsible for employee-related activities from talent acquisition and oversight of benefits and wellness programs to fostering a positive work environment and promoting career development opportunities. At GW Engineering, HR Manager Marion Flythe-Inman oversees these areas, working tirelessly to attract, recruit, and retain top talent in engineering. Read below to learn more about March’s Local Hero, Marion Flythe-Inmanl!:
Q: How long have you been working at GW and what is your position?
A: I am the Human Resources Manager at GW Engineering. I’ve been at GW for 28 years, soon to be 29 this November!
Q: What led you to this career?
A: My career in HR was not the path I originally chose. I started at GW as a temporary Administrative Assistant in Alumni Relations. I was hired by Alumni Relations as a full-time Assistant in 1995, then transitioned to the Division of Operations as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director for Facilities. It was then that I was approached by the HR Manager for Facilities at the time to apply for an open position as an HR Coordinator, and the rest, as they say, is history. I served as the HR Manager for Facilities from 2008 until 2017, when I transferred to GW Engineering.
Q: Why did you choose GW?
A: As I mentioned, I started at GW as a temporary employee. It was an assignment that I didn’t think would last longer than 3 months. However, the longer I was at GW, the more I liked working here. I found the people I worked with to be very friendly. I was able to attend and plan for Alumni and Families Weekend, attend the Distinguished Alumni Celebrations at the Mayflower Hotel and Union Station, host Tailgates in the Alumni House, now the President’s House, before games, and plan and host the GW Crew Regatta races on the Waterfront.
Q: What is one thing you wish you’d known when you started working at GW?
A: I wish I had realized how many opportunities GW has to offer earlier on in my career at GW.
Q: What is your favorite part about working at GW Engineering?
A: Working at GW Engineering has been so enlightening. What I treasure most is the relationships I have built with some of the faculty. They were pivotal in helping me to learn about working with research faculty, such as Drs. Louri, Broniatowski, Szajnfarber, LeBlanc, Bardet, Deason, and Manzari, and to understand and appreciate STEM and how it plays out in our everyday lives by just helping to attract, recruit, and retain top talent in engineering.
Q: Why would someone want to work at GW Engineering?
A: Why not? GW is a wonderful place to work. I often tell new employees that the sky’s the limit at GW. You have so many opportunities, go explore and find them.
Q: What is your biggest work pet peeve?
A: No communication or lack of communication about things I need to know. I like to be prepared and sometimes when I don’t have timely communication, this can cause me not to be as prepared as I would like to be.
Q: What’s your ideal way to spend the weekend?
A: Watching a movie and spending time with my grandkids.
Q: What's one of your favorite memories from the past year?
A: Meeting and taking a picture with President Granberg.
Q: Tell us something people don't know about you.
A: I am not a pet person, but my husband is.
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: Yes, I have an American Bully. Her name is Spyce.