Today, we had the chance to chat with Sean Taverna.
Tell us a little about yourself and your position at the Public Safety Group.
I’m a lifelong Massachusetts resident; I've always lived within 20 minutes of Boston. However, it is funny to be told that I "don’t have an accent" when I visit other parts of the country. Of course, it’s fun to put on a Boston accent when it feels appropriate.
I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Technology with a Minor in English, so working for a publisher was the perfect way to mix my two interests together. I joined Jones & Bartlett Learning in 2016, and I came over to the Public Safety Group in 2018. While working here, I developed a passion for education technology. Now, I get to work with that passion in my role as a Field Account Executive, while being the go-to advocate for some of our customers.
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
My favorite thing about my job is the people I get to work with on a daily basis, including my team at Public Safety Group and our customers. We have a great collection of people here. Working with educators toward a common goal of helping the success of students who want to save lives is pretty fulfilling, and I couldn’t ask for much more meaningful work.
What's something you've done that most people haven't done?
Stand-up comedy. I first gave it a try back in high school and it went well, so I got back into it within the past few years. I encourage anyone who thinks they might get a few laughs to go to an open mic and give it a shot. I use it as a creative outlet, and it’s also great public speaking practice.
Outside of work, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy?
I started exploring the world of long distance running and road races last year as another way to stay active. I also like unnecessarily spicy food and spicy food challenges, such as the Extreme Vindaloo, "Death Nut Challenge," and the Carolina Reaper pepper. I’m a big New England Patriots fan, and I'll often travel to away games as a reason to visit a new city. Tampa Bay is at the top of the list right now.
Stay tuned for the next "People of PSG" feature!