What started off as a dream to run hotels ended with landing the perfect job in the Office of Continuous Improvement at Valparaiso University for Melanie Steider Trowbridge. She originally graduated from Purdue University with two degrees: one in management and the other in restaurant, hotel, institutional, and tourism management. Eventually, Steider Trowbridge went back to school in 2014 and obtained her Master of Business Administration at Valparaiso University.
At the time, she was looking for a part-time job, but then a position fell into her lap that made her hopes a possibility. Now, 10 years later, she is still at Valparaiso University and is in her fourth role as the director of Enterprise Process and Project. Her positions have changed throughout those 10 years, though. Steider Trowbridge started off as an office coordinator, then moved to adjunct faculty, then graduate enrollment and market analyst, and she even served as the Lilly Endowment grant project manager.
Steider Trowbridge has always enjoyed thought-provoking, project-based work and improving those projects. In her current position as associate director, her department runs with these exact aspects in mind. Not only does this make Steider Trowbridge a great fit for the office, but it allows her to feel fulfilled as she carries out her responsibilities each day.
“I actually really like the work that I'm doing,” said Steider Trowbridge. “I don't think I ever would have been able to define this as something that I wanted to do. It's turned out to be a really good fit for me.”
Her department will take anywhere from a couple weeks to a year to work on a big project, and her background in banking has helped her gain a perspective on the overall operation. Valparaiso University’s Office of Continuous Improvement works with processes and systems across the campus to make things smoother and more efficient. The work throughout those projects also includes ensuring that everybody understands their unique role in the process.
Helping students along the way is what Steider Trowbridge and her team thrive to do. Since the processes that her office carries out have a direct impact on student’s experiences, it’s important to Steider Trowbridge that those students are involved in her work. In the end, her and her team are then able to ensure that all those impacted are a part of the conversation, helping them to achieve the best student experience.
Not only is Steider Trowbridge involved at Valparaiso University, but she is also involved in the greater community. She has had many stewardship projects that she has been involved in dating back to 1998. These projects include the Duneland Exchange Club, Flint Lake Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Little Lamb Preschool, Valplayso: The Next Generation, Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) Chapter, Valparaiso Parks Foundation, the City of Valparaiso Board of Zoning Appeals, and many more.
One project in particular that she is excited to be working on is the skatepark that is being added to the City of Valparaiso. It’s always been just an idea, but a proposal was made to revive the skatepark for the community and Steider Trowbridge is excited for its continued development.
Flounder Skatepark, located at Rogers-Lakewood Park, needed great repair as it had been worn down from usage, so the community and park leaders decided it was time to implement a plan for a new skatepark. Current plans have the new skatepark set for development at the northwest corner of Fairgrounds Park.
“There had been a lot of investment in the skatepark for a while,” said Steider Trowbridge. “But there's definitely still a demand for a skatepark in the community.”
A design and location have been chosen, and the city is in the process of finalizing budgets and finishing up fundraising.
This skatepark renovation project holds a special spot in Steider Trowbridge’s heart as her son was friends with the young skateboarder Keegan Whaling who passed away in 2017. Whaling’s parents have been very involved in the process of getting the skatepark up and running, along with the memorial.
No matter the project, Steider Trowbridge will never pass up an opportunity to help those around her and in her community.