There's more to Image Management than being master website designers. We are a strong team of talented individuals! Image Management CEO Claire Weslaski gives us a glimpse into her exciting life!
What is your favorite part about working at Image Management?
I love everything about working at Image Management. I love working with my husband, Kevin, and now our daughter, Paige, who joined the company after her college graduation. All of our employees are super great people. They are smart and hard working. I couldn't ask for a better group to work with. I also enjoy the work greatly. Do you want to know how much I love my job? I recently went to Hawaii. About half way through our vacation I told Kevin, "I'm ready to go back to work!"
What are some of your hobbies outside of work?
I keep very busy at work, but I keep even busier when I'm not at work. Each day is jam packed. I am in a masters swim class in the mornings, so I can have 4,000 yards in the pool before work even starts. My lunch hour can be a run from my office in downtown Racine, up to the beach and zoo, and back. I really like that route, the path along the beach is beautiful. Lake Michigan looks different every day. Weight lifting and biking are hobbies also. In the summer I compete in several triathlons with friends from the local Strive Triathlon Club. (Image Management sponsors the club too!)
My other hobby besides training and exercising - and this may seem strange - is my family. I enjoy being the mom of Paige & James and wife of Kevin. I love nothing better than cooking them amazing healthy feasts, and just being a general support for whatever it is they need. They are very successful at everything they do and I feel a great sense of accomplishment and pride every time they succeed in their endeavors. Even if I'm "just" doing laundry or chopping up fresh veggies, I take great pride in it!
My family and I love to attend Packers, Brewers and Bucks games. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention our two cats Daisy & Boo. Having cats is not just a hobby for me, but a necessity. I've had cats all my life. I don't know if they are relieving stress, or what, but when I'm playing with them everything else in my head just goes "poof!"
What has been your favorite project so far at Image Management?
My favorite things to work on are brochures and photo retouching for Case Construction Equipment. I work mostly with Case. They keep me very busy. One of my personal strengths is managing many jobs at one time, so Case is happy to oblige by giving us many projects. At any given time we are working on over 30 projects. I need to make sure we are meeting deadlines, and providing the best possible end product with no mistakes. Each Case product (Excavator, Dozer, Loader Backhoe, etc.) has several models. Each of these models needs what is called a Specification Sheet. We also create these "Spec" Sheets for Case. They are usually 5-10 pages of data including Engine, Drivetrain, Electrical, Hydraulics, Dimensions, Standard & Optional Equipment to name a few. Did you know that a Case CX350D Excavator weighs 82,483 pounds (37,414 kg)? The bucket alone weighs almost 3,000 pounds! AND it can dig a hole almost 30 feet deep! Is that not fascinating?! And the Lift Capacities... well I'll save that for another day.
What's your favorite book?
I love to read every night. It's the perfect way to transition from a super busy day, to sleeping! (another of my favorite hobbies) I have a stack of about ten books next to my bed that I'm reading at once, and I just choose which one I'm in the mood for that night. The current stack of books includes one on improving my swimming, a business success story, The Bible, one on the mind of champions, an inspirational triathlete's story, among others.
What's your favorite TV show?
My favorite and ONLY TV show that I watch is Survivor. I look forward to it every Wednesday night. This show really intrigues me. I love the physical challenges in each episode. But also the 24/7 social challenges that each castaway has to maneuver. It's amazing how, when faced with voting out a member, they may choose to eliminate someone with great physical strength, to keep someone because they like them better. Also, the whole tribe might be so mad at one of their members, only to love them the very next day. It's so fickle, just like in the real world. If you ever feel like the "world" is against you, just wait a day! :)
What's your favorite inspirational quote?
I heard one recently from my daughter Paige that went like this: "Great minds talk about ideas, Average minds talk about events, and Small minds talk about people." - Eleanor Roosevelt
I have always liked this one too:
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work!" - Thomas Edison
This reminds me of how I started Image Management. The origins began when I was working at Case Corporation three decades ago, and was in charge of things no one else wanted to deal with... the organization of marketing files and the photography library. Who knew I was paving the way to creating my own grass roots Digital Asset Management system we are still using today! Talk about opportunity! DAM is now one of the most important aspects of every corporation's marketing department.
Who is your role model?
I don't really have one role model. I am the type of person who will see a good quality in someone and try to emulate that quality. For example, one of my kid's past swim coaches has a very even keeled temperament. I noticed it once when a high profile swimmer decided to leave the team for another team. He just took it in stride, wished them well, and then focused on the kids that were still on his team. My husband Kevin is a role model for me in his hard work ethic, generosity, communication skills, to name a few. We started "Family Meetings" when our children were very young. These meetings start pretty casual and the next thing you know, it's an hour later and we have hashed out everything from soup to nuts. I came from a family of nine and I was lucky to get a hi from my mom and dad on certain days. I'm so happy we communicate with our kids this way on a regular basis.
My kids are also my role models believe it or not. They have grown into such amazing selfless, Christian, funny, interesting adults. I'm not sure what they learned from me when growing up, but I am sure learning a lot from them now. They are teaching me to be a better person every day.
Published on February 8, 2016