Get to Know HudsonAlpha: Jeanette Calvert
Jeanette Calvert is HudsonAlpha’s accounting manager. While her primary duties involve assisting the CFO and managing day-to-day operations such as payroll and accounts payable, Jeanette understands that every position within the institute is important when it comes to supporting and advancing the HudsonAlpha mission.
Q: Where are you from originally, and where did you go to school?
A: I am originally from Hernando, Mississippi, a small town about 20 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. I attended Ole Miss for undergraduate, majoring in accounting, and earned a graduate degree in accounting at Strayer University in Washington, D.C. It was quite a challenge initially for a small town girl entering the big metro area of D.C., but I adapted quickly and loved the area.
Q: How and where did you begin your career?
A: My first job out of college was with the American Diabetes Association in Alexandria, VA. It was my first exposure to a research environment. Although I worked as an accountant, I communicated regularly with some of the researchers and saw the passion they had for finding a cure for diabetes. The ADA was also the first place I had an opportunity to meet a real actress and actor. I’m telling my age here, but Meredith Baxter Birney and Kris Kristofferson were spokespersons for the ADA and I met them on one of their visits to the ADA. That was big stuff for a small-town Mississippi girl.
Q: What led you to Huntsville and ultimately to HudsonAlpha?
A: I moved to Huntsville in August 2007 from the Phoenix area because of my spouse’s transfer. I’ve lived all over the country during my spouse’s military and defense career. When the opportunity to relocate to Huntsville was presented to us, we did not hesitate. It brought us back to that great southern hospitality.
I became aware of HudsonAlpha after reading a feature article in The Huntsville Times. The information on cancer research really struck me. I was so intrigued that I went online searching for more information. Like most, I have family members and friends affected by cancer. Having worked with nonprofits before, I immediately knew I wanted to work at HudsonAlpha because of the excitement around the emerging field of biotechnology. It is such a joy to work for and with people who are excited about their work and the people who are helped by the research.
Q: What is different about working for HudsonAlpha than other places?
A: The culture here is positive, open and supports a productive work environment. The employees are friendly and very helpful, and the work-life balance is exceptional. The atmosphere is pleasant and I have to admit that I see more employees smiling and talking to each other than any other place I’ve worked.
Q: What do you most enjoy about being here?
A: There is so much…from learning about the kinds of research that is taking place, to walking into a building that doesn’t feel like work.
Q: Is there a mission area that is especially close to your heart?
A: Education is very close to my heart. It is the panacea for most societal issues. We have lost our dominance in education among high school students. We will need those students as future researches, doctors, teachers, economist, accountants and so on. It’s just as important to self-educate as well. Information regarding personal health and technology changes frequently and it is so important stay abreast of those changes.
Q: As someone who does payroll, you have no doubt noticed the organizational growth over the past 18 months.
A: The number of employees has increased dramatically since I started. Considering the excitement around HudsonAlpha, I suspect employment figures will continue to rise over the next year and a half.
