Meet Emily, RoleCall’s New Director of Operations

RoleCall is thrilled to announce our new hire, Emily Wenzel! As RoleCall’s Director of Operations, Emily will oversee all the processes and systems behind the scenes that keep RoleCall running efficiently and bring our clients’ big goals to life. Her background as a chamber of commerce professional gives her a deep understanding of community and economic development. We are growing, and Emily’s research skills and workflow wizardry are going to help RoleCall bring revolutionary talent attraction to more communities around the country. Read on to find out more about Emily, her favorite unexpectedly awesome place, and her go-to seasonal drink.

Job Title: Director of Operations

Pronouns: She/Her

Location: Toronto (for now)

Dog: Benny

You're currently living the digital nomad life — where are you now, and where are you headed next?

Currently we are in Toronto, in an adorable little Airbnb in the Roncesvalles neighborhood. Later this month we are driving back to California to drop Benny off with his grandpaw before flying to San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico to spend a month with the in-laws in their bed & breakfast. After that it’s Christmas in Fresno and two months in Portland, OR. 

What makes you most excited about your new role (hehe) at RoleCall?

I am very much a process person, and I am excited to use those skills to help RoleCall grow.  

What's the most unexpectedly awesome place you've ever been?

Coming from California, I was absolutely shocked at how cool and interesting Iowa City is. I apologize to the people of Johnson County for my coastal elitism!

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?

I've had a very hard time picking a city, hence the nomad-ing. This might be because my dream place is just outside of a city, near enough to get there quickly but far enough to have plenty of space and trees to surround my modestly sized A-Frame with a disproportionately large kitchen and a loft bedroom. 

Describe your perfect Saturday: where are you, what are you doing, what's the weather like, what are you eating, etc? 

The perfect Saturday starts late (and even the dog understands this). I love to wake up slow, enjoy coffee in bed, and then eventually get up and go out for brunch. My go-to is eggs benedict and a mimosa, because I am a basic, and I am really comfortable with that. Then I like a quiet afternoon at home, knitting and listening to podcasts, and then taking a long walk with the dog when the weather is nice. The perfect dinner for a lazy Saturday is a cheese & charcuterie plate (AKA grown-up lunchable), usually eaten in the living room while drinking wine and watching movies late into the night.  

In addition to being our new director of operations, you're a talented mixologist. What's your current favorite drink? Bonus points if you have an easy recipe to share!

I am a rye gal, and believe a whiskey sour is a great drink any time of year. But when it’s cold, I find myself making more and more complex old fashioneds. (But Emily, how do you make an old fashioned complicated? It's literally 3 things!) I start to split bases (1 oz rye and 1 oz applejack is a great combo, or rye and aged rum), add more and more bitters, maybe some infused syrups. The last one I made was a honey syrup infused with cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise, which was delightful and very warming on a chilly Canadian evening in November.

Welcome, Emily! We’re so excited to have you on the team.

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