Employee Q&A: Sarah Armellino

This question is always tricky because whenever I tell someone I work in proposals they get this look in their eyes like they have no idea what I’m talking about, which, to be fair, I had no idea what proposals were until I became a Proposal Coordinator. Essentially, I work with our SMEs and other technical experts to submit proposals that win us work. As a Proposal Manager, I create timelines, outlines, and compliance matrixes to make sure that any work we submit is the best representation of who The Building People are and what we are capable of. The Building People has grown so rapidly just in the year and a half that I have worked here, and a really cool part of my job is working with the proposal team and others to define what our processes related to proposals should look like.

What do you like most about working in your role?
I love the collaborative nature of what I do. My PI profile is Captain, and I always joke that it means I love to talk (which I definitely do), but I am also an “introverted extrovert” in that I can be closed off and shy when first meeting people, and I feel like stepping into my role as Proposal Manager has really helped me hone my communication skills. Having the privilege of working with so many different people at TBP every day has been a really great experience, and I am excited to see what my path forward with TBP brings.

How do you define success?
Most people would probably define success in relation to money or titles, but for me I define it in terms of happiness. I have never shared my struggles with my mental health in my professional life, but I feel like it is becoming less stigmatized. About 5 years ago I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression, and I did not realize how badly it was affecting not only my personal life, but my professional life as well until I started managing it. Defining success for myself right now would mean I am truly happy and content in both my personal and professional life.
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What is a fun fact about you that people might not know?
I am a total metal head. My dad is part of the lucky generation that saw bands like AC/DC, Metallica, and Black Sabbath in concert when he was in his 20’s, so I grew up listening to them as well. So far, I have seen Metallica, Judas Priest (twice!), Anthrax, and Queensrÿche in concert.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
Right now, one of my goals is to learn either piano or guitar in the next year. I played flute/piccolo for 12 years, so I am trying to tap back into my musical side.
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Do you have a favorite quote that resonates with you?
One of my favorite quotes comes from a poem written by Sarah Williams called “The Old Astronomer (to His Pupil)”, written from the viewpoint of astronomer Galileo. It reads “Though my soul may set in darkness / it will rise in perfect light / I have loved the stars too fondly / to be fearful of the night”. The poem is written in both retrospect and in regard to the future, and the lines above have always stuck with me as a message of perseverance and hope even when all seems dark.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
One of my professors in college taught me to always keep learning, whether it be pursuing another higher education degree, getting a certification, or even picking up a new hobby. I think the concept of continuous learning is so important and provides so many benefits to not only yourself, but your peers as well. Any time I learn something new related to my job, I try and pass that information along to the proposal team so we can all have that information.

What is the accomplishment you are the proudest of to date?
It sounds corny, but I am really proud of myself for being promoted. I struggled a lot with self-doubt when I first joined The Building People, so to know that the time and effort I put into my professional development has paid off is a major point of pride for me now.