Staff Spotlight: An Interview with Janie Taylor

January 12, 2018 | by Laura Ross

Categories: Spotlight

This week we are spotlighting Executive Vice President Janie Taylor. 

Janie joined the staff of TSAHC in August 2006 as the Manager of Marketing and Development. Over the years, her role at TSAHC has included marketing and fundraising for TSAHC's programs, as well as government relations. This past September, she was promoted to the position of Executive Vice President. 

Below is our interview with Janie to help you get to know her better.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up in a large household with seven brothers and sisters in Mission, Texas. I went to college in San Antonio, and after graduating I moved to Austin and have now lived here for 23 years—longer than anywhere else.

I started my career doing public relations and external relations for large semiconductor companies but after more than a decade in the high-tech industry, I needed a change. I wanted to work in an industry that had a significant impact in people’s lives. Knowing close to nothing about affordable housing, I took a leap of faith and accepted a newly created position with TSAHC.

What do you like most about working at TSAHC?

I’ve been at TSAHC for over 11 years and in that time the organization has experienced low staff turnover, so I frequently get asked what makes TSAHC a good place to work.  My answer is that it’s the people who work at TSAHC that make it a great organization. From the top of the org chart to the bottom, I’ve never worked with people who are as hard working, bright, innovative, collaborative, fun or supportive as the staff at TSAHC.

What do you like to do in your free time?

My husband and I are super busy so spending time together with our daughter is a top priority. She plays basketball so we go to a lot of basketball games.  And, whatever free time I get to myself I spend getting some sort of exercise.  

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you most like to go?

My family loves to travel and we take two or three trips a year, usually to somewhere with good surfing or to Maine where my husband is from. But, I’ve been dreaming of going to Italy for years and hope to go next year.

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?

Being a good mother to my daughter is by far my most fulfilling accomplishment.  I recently lost both of my parents whom I was very close to. They were amazing human beings and great examples for me.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

When I was a kid and I would complain about not liking a situation, whether it was a class or the car I was driving, my mother would tell me, “if you don’t like something, then work on making it better or stop complaining.” That pretty much sums up my approach to life.  

If you could choose anyone from history to have dinner with, who would you choose and why?

Jesus or America’s founding fathers. I have so many questions, mostly “what exactly did you mean by…?”

If you had to do something else for a living, what would it be?

I originally went to college to become a psychologist and then changed majors. But I think I would have enjoyed being a therapist or career coach. 

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