Team Member Spotlight of the Month
We love to feature our team members for their quality of work and assets they bring to the Partnership. Check back each month for a new team member spotlight.
Seth Buffkin
Technology Communications Coordinator
What is your role at the Partnership and what does it involve?
On paper, I’m a Senior Communications Generalist 2. But no one really knows what that means. Truth is, I’m my team's go-to producer and tech guy! You need a YouTube series that discusses emotional development? Give me some footage and I’ll edit a tear-jerker. Having trouble with your Zoom controls? I’m a direct message away!
What inspired you to join the Partnership?
A job is nice and all, but one that has a meaningful and fulfilling impact on your community? You can’t pass that up! After I joined, I also learned how compassionate and stalwart my teammates are (shout out VEIPD!). I’m blessed to have a job where I lift others up with my incredible team.
How does your work contribute to the mission of the Partnership?
I use my skills to help my team’s content shine. The VEIPD’s content specialists create the material, and I add design to amplify and drive home the message. Your local conduit!
What’s something you're proud of accomplishing in your role?
My onus is to add spice to our content. Recently, my team’s 7-hour virtual training needed an intermission. Introducing Seth, the office chair yoga instructor! I now offer a 5-minute escape into pliability with the help of a Zoom background of an idyllic mountain vista.
What does a typical day look like for you?
After signing autographs and escaping the paparazzi, I’ll design a slideshow for an upcoming webinar about improving infant feeding. Amongst my inundation of fan letter emails, I’ll help participants of our trainings troubleshoot technical issues. Once my daily call with Dolly Parton wraps up, I’ll edit content on our website. I end the day with some whole wheat toast. Eat your complex carbs, people!
What do you enjoy most about the work you do here?
I’m always onto a new project, a blank canvas for my creative whims. Keeps me busy and entertained!
How do you collaborate with other team members or partners?
The beautiful part of my job is that it is entirely collaborative. I’m always working with someone to elevate their material. Awesome for me, maybe unfortunate for the collaborator; I can only mention complex carbs so many times before it gets stale like my whole wheat toast.
What experience or background do you bring to the team?
I’m Gen Z, live in Richmond, and sport a bushy mustache. You can do the math. I’m your perfect storm of artsy tech bro with a quirky sense of humor.
What excites you about the future of this work?
Technology is rapidly developing, and we can harness it to enhance our support for others. I hope to aid in that implementation.
What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the work we do?
WE ARE NEEDED. WE ARE NECESSARY. IT IS A DUTY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT.