Spotlight on Julie Gaetze

Julie Gaetze (pronounced “Gates”) manages the Print Center for the Communications & Public Engagement department.

Julie and her husband Charlie on a rickshaw in China

How long have you worked for ESD 112 and what does your job entail?

I have worked for ESD 112 for 20 years. I am the print shop manager. My job is to open the emails from our clients and to send them to the machines in which they will be printed. I do an invoice for all jobs. There are estimates that need to be done, I am also in charge of those. I keep everything running so we don’t miss a deadline.

What do you like best about your job?

My job has variations every day. It is always changing. I like to do the print jobs when the client is not sure we can do them. My motto is if there is a way to do the job, it will get done. I love a challenge.

What do you find most challenging about your job?

The most challenge with my job is to get everything done in an eight hour day. It seems I am always behind.

What do you consider to be your greatest on-the-job skill or asset?

My greatest asset to being the manager for so long is that I have seen it all. I know the jobs that we have ran in the past and approximately when we will see them in the next fiscal year. Most of my clients know that I have been around a while, and they know they can call and ask how to complete a print order or how to get us a job we have never printed.

Single? Married? Kids? Pets?

I am married to my husband Charlie of 38 years. He just recently retired. We have two children. Chase is 33 years old and is a commercial electrician in California and Lynsae is 31 years old, and is a medical assistant at Camano Island.

Julie’s photo of the Great Wall of China

What do you enjoy doing with your free time?

I love going to Long Beach. We own our own property. We are about 3 miles from the beach. Casinos are also fun for us.

If your coworkers wanted to surprise you with a little treat sometime what should it be?

I love coffee and popcorn.

What is something that no one would guess about you if they just met you?

My husband and I went to China last year and we just got back from Costa Rica. We already planning next year’s vacation to Canada.

What animal best represents you and why?

Lion – I am hungry for a challenge of any kind.

If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future and why?

I like the past. It seems like everyone had more time to visit and we were not always in a rush.

Would you rather live in the city or the woods? Why?

Definitely the woods. I live on 7.5 acres at the end of a road. It is so cool in the evenings to hear the animals and to see them on your front lawn.

What’s your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas. I love to have all our family together. We do not see each other much–only about two times a year. We will sometimes do a little hiking, shopping and just relaxing with a cup of coffee.

If you could abolish one piece of modern technology, what would it be and why?

I would say all of the computer software for making everything to be done in groups on your computer. Most of the people we work with in the schools do not know anything about Google and yet they are told to keep their files accessible for everyone in their office. Most of them do not know how to send their files to us by giving us permissions. I just like the old way of sending us a pdf format.

If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?

I like where I am today. 60 is a good age. I am still healthy enough to do everything I want to do and I can enjoy do things with my children and I don’t feel too old.