Getting to Know: Patty Giovannelli

As Managing Director of Finance, Patty Giovannelli manages a team that is responsible for the annual budget, long-term forecasts, strategic planning, pricing, developing, and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs), monthly reporting of financials, and other statistics.

BEFORE WORKING AT DQE, WHAT WAS THE MOST UNUSUAL OR INTERESTING JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?

During the summer months in college, I worked on the grounds crew at a country club. Initially, I was responsible for all the flower beds and landscaping around the clubhouse. Eventually, I moved to the golf course maintenance, which included sand traps and cutting tees and greens. This was a great summer job and led to one of my hobbies: landscaping and gardening.

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WOULD SURPRISE US.

I come from a large, closely-knit Irish family. I am four out of eight siblings!

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT SO FAR AT DQE?

Not so much a project but a favorite part of my job. I really enjoy working on large customer requests for proposals (RFP). The process involves almost every group in the company – Sales, Sales Support, Operations, IP Engineering, and Finance. The process is very collaborative, and we work together to develop/engineer a solution for the customer and price it appropriately. It is exhilarating when DQE is awarded the RFP, and we move to the fulfillment and customer service stage.

WHAT ARE THREE CAREER LESSONS YOU’VE LEARNED THUS FAR?

If you are not passionate about your job, make a change.

In college, I majored in Industrial Engineering. I worked as an Engineer for less than a year and realized that I was not passionate about my job or the field. I decided to get my MBA in the hopes of making a career change, which I did once I graduated.

Pay attention to details.

Developing strong attention to detail makes you more effective in the workplace, increases your productivity, and reduces the likelihood of error. Because attention to detail and quality of work are often closely linked, it is a very desirable skill and is valued by employers.

Be a team player.

Collaboration within a group can help solve complex problems. Brainstorming is an excellent opportunity for a team to exchange ideas and develop creative ways of doing things. By working together, teams can find the solutions that work best.

WHAT DOES TRUE LEADERSHIP MEAN TO YOU?

The company is currently rolling out new leadership model competencies: Vision, Empathy, Inclusion, and Empowerment. Those are the exact competencies for what leadership means to me, in and out of the workplace.

WHAT DREW YOU TO DQE INITIALLY?

A former colleague who works at DLC reached out to me with a consulting opportunity at DQE. At the time, DQE had less than 40 employees, focusing on sales and operations. DQE needed someone to help with several back-office projects/initiatives. I liked that DQE was a small company but had the support and guidance of a much larger organization. I had only worked for larger companies in the past, so the small start-up environment was very appealing to me.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PROSPECTIVE DQE CANDIDATES?

Since we are a relatively small company with less than 80 employees, there are opportunities to have a meaningful impact on the business. You can directly see your work’s impact on the company’s success.