What is the first thing you do when you get in the office each morning?
The first things I do each morning upon arriving at the office are, one, start my computer; two, get a cup of coffee; and three, check my email. That assumes no one needs technical or administrative assistance. If someone has a problem, I begin by learning the nature of the problem, then I get coffee (are you sensing the pattern here?) and then I try to assist them.

What's your favorite non-electric tool you use for work?
My favorite, low-tech tool I use for work is my small spiral notebook. I write everything in it: messages, to-do items, notes from meetings, etc. It's almost like a diary of my work life that I can refer to for needed information. Each notebook is dated and I have notebooks from 1999, my first year at Hammock. And believe it or not, I have referred back to those early notebooks when recollection fails me or I need past details. They tell the story of my life at Hammock, sometimes personal details too.

What do you reach for when you need an afternoon pick-me-up?
My afternoon pick-me-up is usually my leftover bag of chips from lunch. The sandwich shop downstairs insists that you take chips or a drink, and since I don't like fountain drinks, I always take the chips. That, and I love chips!

Which meal fuels you better for the day, breakfast or lunch?
I think the best way to answer your question about which meal fuels me best is to say that I am not a morning person. Even though I rise early and eat breakfast before coming to the office, I am not truly at my best until mid-day. As my daughter learned at an early age, mornings are not my best hours.

My resolution for the new year is to post more entries on this page. I have not been an active participant and I plan to change that. Happy New Year!

Our offices are closed beginning at 1:00 pm on Christmas eve. We will re-open on Monday, January 5th. I will be checking e-mail and voice mail, so feel free to leave me a message. I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season.

Having joined the team in 1999, Julia considers herself an “old hand” at Hammock until she takes a look around at all the folks who have been around for more than 10 years. She began as the office manager, handling many administrative tasks, from the minutia to the more intricate. Julia was and remains heavily involved in the financial reporting and accounting management of the business.

In recent years, Julia has also assumed responsibility for Human Resources. She enjoys being the “company mom,” and it fulfills her childhood dream of having a large family. Although she never personally realized that goal, she will readily tell you that the one daughter she has could not have been improved upon. But at Hammock, she’s happiest with her computer and a desk-full of papers, solving her number puzzles and creating large spreadsheets. Somehow at the end of each year, she also manages to balance company books, as well as participate in procuring client and supplier gifts and putting on the company holiday party.

Julia’s career spans 37 years in various administrative roles for businesses involved in manufacturing, health care, advertising, property management and finance. When she’s not working, Julia enjoys reading, sudoku, jigsaw puzzles and walking, especially along the Stones River Greenway.